Author: Momo Chan

Liam Hayes and his older brother, Dominic, got married at the same time, both to twin sisters. But Dominic’s wife, Isabelle, died in a tragic accident. His mother-in-law, Mrs. Carter, wept with heart-wrenching grief. Then, she made a shocking proposition: she suggested Liam’s wife, Audrey, should bear a child for Dominic. … “My poor daughter, she left us without even a child,” Mrs. Carter sobbed, wiping her tears. “Liam, Audrey and Isabelle were twins. Their genes are identical.” “Please, Liam, as your mother, I’m begging you. Let Audrey have a child for your brother. Our family used to have a tradition of surrogate pregnancy. Since the sisters shared the same genes, biologically, it’s like Isabelle left Dominic a child.” Liam’s face turned deathly pale. Before he could speak, his own father, Mr. Hayes, also pleaded, “Liam, ever since your sister-in-law passed, your brother has been like a ghost, unable to eat or sleep… Seeing him like this, I genuinely worry he won’t make it.” “I’m begging you too, son. Just agree. Let Audrey bear a child for him. With a child, he’ll have hope to live on. It’ll be good for both our families.” They spoke as if Liam’s refusal would make him responsible for his own brother’s death. Liam bit his lip, remaining silent. His father had always favored Dominic, a fact he’d grown accustomed to. What truly mattered to him was the opinion of his wife, Audrey Carter. Liam was the middle child, with an older brother and a younger sister. Growing up, Liam had always been the least favored in his family. He’d never felt truly loved until he met Audrey Carter. Unlike everyone else, Audrey always put him first. When he fell ill, his parents would impatiently tell him to see a doctor. But Audrey would drop everything, rushing to his side to comfort and care for him, even if it was just a common cold. When they went shopping, she’d always be mindful of him. If he so much as glanced at something in a store, it would mysteriously appear on his bedside table the very next day. No matter how hard to find his favorite trendy snack was, Audrey would wake up hours early to queue up and buy it for him. An heiress like her, who didn’t need to bend for anyone, was willing to stand in line for hours, just for him. Everything related to him, Audrey handled personally. Even their engagement ring was her own design. On the day he proposed, Audrey gazed into Liam’s eyes and promised with deep affection, “Liam, your parents may not love you the most, but from this day forward, I promise I will be the one who loves you most. I understand all your unspoken grievances and insecurities.” “I swear, after we get married, I will always prioritize you. You will forever be my first priority, and no one will ever shake your place in my heart!” Before their marriage, no matter what happened, Audrey would always stand firmly by Liam’s side. And now, she stepped forward again, shielding Liam without hesitation. “Dad, Mom, stop pressuring Liam,” Audrey declared firmly. “Your idea is ridiculous. Not only does Liam disagree, but so do I!” As she spoke, she knelt before her parents. “Although Isabelle sacrificed herself to save me, I should compensate Dominic… But I cannot betray Liam. Besides bearing a child for my brother-in-law, I’m willing to do anything else for him!” Mrs. Carter cried until her eyes were nearly dry, but Audrey remained unmoving. She just knelt silently before her sister’s tombstone, staying there for an entire day. Liam’s eyes welled up. He truly hadn’t married the wrong person. Audrey was indeed the person who loved him most in this world. But that very night, as the city slept, Liam faintly heard the sound of his brother’s unrestrained panting coming from upstairs. Liam froze. His first thought was, *had Dominic remarried?* The panting continued, intermittently, seeping into Liam’s ears. Unable to contain his curiosity, Liam threw on a jacket and crept upstairs. Upstairs, Dominic’s bedroom door was ajar. The room was a mess. His tall, well-built brother was pressed against a fair-skinned woman, his strong, lean waist thrusting vigorously. The woman’s figure was blurry, but she looked incredibly familiar. A sense of foreboding instantly rose in Liam’s heart. Just then, moonlight streamed through the curtains, illuminating the woman’s face. This time, Liam finally saw clearly. The woman lying beneath his older brother, panting softly, was none other than his wife—Audrey Carter—who had stood so firmly by his side just that afternoon! 2 That afternoon, Audrey had stubbornly refused to bear a child for her brother-in-law. As punishment, her father had confined her to the old study for the entire night, telling her she could only leave when she came to her senses. Liam had assumed Audrey was still there, serving her punishment. He’d even gone to check on the study just now, but it was empty. Seeing the scene before him, Liam let out a self-deprecating laugh. The bed upstairs creaked incessantly, throughout the entire night, finally falling silent only when dawn broke. Liam hadn’t slept a wink. At daybreak, he found a lawyer and drafted a divorce agreement. Infidelity, deception… his entire family had treated him like a fool, putting on such a grand show for him. He had clearly misjudged her. A marriage like this was worthless. Liam took the drafted divorce agreement and entered Audrey’s study. He deliberately flipped to the last page and handed it to Audrey. “Sign here.” Audrey signed her name without hesitation. “Aren’t you going to look at what this is? Just sign?” Liam said calmly. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll sell you off?” “Not afraid,” Audrey replied, her tone full of affection. “No need to look. Whatever it is, if my husband asks me to sign, I’ll sign. Even if you sell me, I’d gladly count the money for you.” Audrey was always like this, sweet words always on her lips. Liam had once believed this was a sign of her love for him. Now he knew, it was nothing more than casual flattery. As night fell, her father, Mr. Carter, again coldly ordered Audrey to be confined to the study. Audrey’s face was resolute: “Dad, you can forget about it. I’d rather die in that study than agree to bear a child for Dominic!” She spoke with righteous indignation, but that very night, Liam again heard the muffled sounds of panting from upstairs. Later, Audrey seemed unable to control herself, even letting out explicit cries… The next few nights were the same. Pregnancy isn’t something you can guarantee with just one try; naturally, they needed to try multiple times to ensure success. Liam began to suffer from sleepless nights. The moment he closed his eyes, he couldn’t help but imagine: Just a wall away, upstairs, his wife, the woman he loved most in this life, was at this very moment lying beneath another man, panting softly… Due to insomnia, Liam gradually grew gaunt, his face so pale it was almost bloodless. In contrast, Dominic, his brother, looked rosier by the day, clearly well-cared for and thriving. The house was filled with a joyful atmosphere. Liam truly felt like an invisible man. So many people in the house, yet not a single one noticed his dark circles, his vacant expression, or his pale, increasingly thin face. Yet, when Dominic had been thin and drawn, the entire family had been frantic. Mrs. Carter would cook him all sorts of delicious food, just hoping he’d eat one more bite. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes would spend all day with Dominic, terrified he’d be even slightly unhappy. Even Audrey racked her brains to prepare surprises and cheer him up. Now, Liam’s dwindling physique was met only with accusations: “Who are you putting on that gloomy face for? If Isabelle hadn’t sacrificed herself to protect your wife, you’d be the one alone right now!” “You have no empathy at all, not even helping your own brother. Your conscience must have been eaten by dogs!” And so, Liam understood: they weren’t oblivious; they simply didn’t care about him. Liam said nothing more, quietly preparing his documents, and then applying to his company for an overseas work assignment. Since no one in his family cared about him, he didn’t want this family anymore. Not long after, under Dominic’s nightly efforts, Audrey finally became pregnant. The family was overjoyed, even setting off fireworks. Liam calmly drank his cereal, then lifted his eyes to look at Audrey. “Audrey Carter, is the child in your womb truly mine?” Audrey paused, then immediately bristled. “Husband, what do you mean by that? Are you doubting me?” To prevent Liam from suspecting anything, Audrey had deliberately spent a few nights with him during this period. Liam felt disgusted and had resisted touching Audrey, but one night he drank too much. Even though he was drunk, he remembered clearly: he hadn’t touched Audrey. Yet, when he woke up the next morning, Audrey had a shy, demure look, even hugging him and praising his “prowess” from last night… “Husband, I haven’t spent much time with you lately, but you can’t doubt me! And aren’t you well aware why I haven’t returned to our room to be with you at night?” “I wasn’t out with some toy boy! I was confined to the study as punishment by my father! And wasn’t I punished entirely because of you?” “I openly defied my parents for you, and yet you misunderstand me like this. Husband, anyone can doubt me, but you must believe me. I will only love you in this life.” Audrey reached out and hugged Liam, her face filled with grievance. Liam remained unmoved, calmly continuing to eat his cereal. Seeing this, Audrey sighed softly. “I shouldn’t have told you this, but if I don’t, you’ll just keep doubting me… Fine, I’ll tell you!” “Dad found a new woman for Dominic. She’s Isabelle’s best friend. The elders want a child, so let’s keep this between us, and don’t tell anyone else.” “Now you can rest assured, right? Someone else is bearing a child for Dominic, so I’m no longer needed!” “Now that I’m pregnant, we just need to take good care of our own child… Liam, promise me you’ll love the child in my belly with all your life!” 3 Liam nearly laughed. His entire family truly thought he was a fool. Not only did they secretly arrange this surrogate pregnancy scheme behind his back, but they also tried to trick him into becoming a cuckold, to raise this bastard as his own child! Audrey was already pregnant. That evening, her father no longer punished her with the “study confinement.” Audrey didn’t go upstairs to find Dominic either; instead, she returned to Liam’s room. But shortly after she entered, Mrs. Carter’s anxious voice came from outside: “Audrey, Dominic isn’t feeling well. Go check on him quickly.” Audrey’s face showed a flicker of hesitation, but in the end, she chose to go upstairs. “Liam, I’ll just go check on him and be back soon,” Audrey said. “Dominic isn’t well; he can’t manage alone.” Liam’s heart was already dead, and he was too weary to hold her back. And so, that night, Liam again heard faint panting sounds from upstairs. Audrey was clearly pregnant, yet they were still carrying on upstairs… Liam thought he was beyond sadness, but tears still soaked his pillow. Audrey didn’t return until dawn approached. She hugged Liam from behind, sounding weary. “I’m exhausted… Liam, don’t overthink it. Dominic had a stomachache, and I massaged his stomach all night. We didn’t do anything else.” She still carried the scent of Dominic’s men’s cologne. Liam felt a wave of nausea and pushed her away. “You should just stay with Dominic from now on,” Liam said coldly. “My brother-in-law is widowed and needs a woman. I don’t.” Audrey paused, then erupted in anger. “What do you mean? Isabelle sacrificed herself to save me! Now Dominic isn’t well, what’s wrong with me helping her care for him?” She glared at Liam, her eyes full of disappointment. “Liam, you don’t actually think there’s anything going on between Dominic and me, do you? If you think that… fine then, I won’t get involved in Dominic’s affairs anymore.” “I’ll avoid any hint of impropriety, then!” After saying this, Audrey slammed the door shut and left. For the next few days, she indeed had no further contact with Dominic. Even when Dominic fell ill and needed to go to the hospital, she kept her distance. “Dad, Mom, you take Dominic to the hospital. I can’t go, lest Liam overthink things and believe there’s something between Dominic and me.” With that one sentence, she successfully redirected the conflict to Liam. Mrs. Carter shot Liam a venomous glare. “I’ve never seen anyone so petty! We’re all family, what’s wrong with Audrey helping to look after her brother-in-law?” “Since you’re so petty, then from now on, you’ll be responsible for Dominic’s daily care, and you’ll take him to the hospital if he falls ill!” After saying this, she rudely urged Liam to start the car. Liam said nothing, simply grabbed the car keys and went to the garage. As soon as the car pulled out, Dominic suddenly swayed and fell, landing beneath the car wheel. Liam hadn’t even registered what had happened before he heard Dominic’s voice: “Ah… my leg… my leg hurts so much!” His cries drew everyone’s attention. Audrey rushed forward, darting to his side. “Dominic, are you alright?” “It hurts so much,” Dominic whimpered, clutching Audrey’s hand. “Audrey, my leg isn’t broken, is it?” Audrey was filled with distress. She whispered, “Dominic, don’t be afraid. I won’t let anything happen to you.” In her deep emotion, she no longer called him brother-in-law, but affectionately used his first name. Liam’s eyes involuntarily welled up. But before he could even register his sadness, Mrs. Carter suddenly pointed at the car and shouted, “Liam Hayes was driving! He hit Dominic!” 4 Everyone swarmed forward, pulling Liam out of the car. “Liam Hayes, how could you be so cruel? He’s your own brother!” Mr. Carter immediately slapped Liam across the face. “Your sister-in-law died saving your wife, and now you’re trying to run over your brother… Do you have no conscience at all?!” The slap was brutal, splitting the corner of Liam’s lip. But Mr. Carter wasn’t satisfied. He grabbed Liam’s hair and continued to beat him. Mrs. Carter also stepped forward, slapping Liam while sobbing uncontrollably. “My daughter is dead! And now you’re trying to run over her husband? What kind of monster are you?!” “You wouldn’t even agree to the surrogate pregnancy; you not only want to end Dominic’s lineage, but you want to end his life!” Liam was beaten until his face was covered in blood, but Audrey just stood by, watching coldly. It wasn’t until Mr. Carter shoved Liam so hard that he slipped, his head smashing against the car door, bleeding profusely, that Audrey finally spoke, her voice cold. “Enough! Stop hitting him!” “Dominic is injured; the priority now is to get him to the hospital.” After saying this, Audrey helped Dominic into the car. Dominic kept claiming his leg was broken, yet there wasn’t a single drop of blood on it. In contrast, Liam was covered in blood, beaten by his in-laws and his own parents. But Audrey didn’t spare him a glance, only drove Dominic to the hospital. Liam collapsed onto the ground, his heart frozen solid, so cold that not even tears would come. In the end, he went to the hospital by himself. He received five stitches on his head, his face was swollen beyond recognition, and his body was covered in bruises, from the pinches of his parents and in-laws, almost no patch of skin left unmarred. The young nurse applying medicine to him tried her best to hold back but eventually couldn’t resist asking, “Brother, were you domestically abused by your wife? Do you need me to call the police for you?” Liam gave a bitter smile and shook his head. He had indeed been abused, but not by his wife. It was by his entire family. Just then, Audrey emerged from another hospital room, shielding Dominic. The doctor walked out alongside her, saying, “Your husband is fine, just a scrape on his leg. Apply some ointment, rest for a few days, and he’ll be good as new.” Audrey nodded repeatedly. “Thank you, Doctor. I’ll make sure to take good care of him.” She didn’t bother to explain that Dominic wasn’t her husband, but her brother-in-law! After bidding the doctor farewell, Audrey carefully helped Dominic walk out. Dominic suddenly chuckled, “Audrey, don’t we look like newlyweds right now?” Audrey smiled back. “Indeed! And I’m even pregnant.” Hearing this, Dominic looked smug. “Pregnant right after getting married? I must be quite the man then.” Audrey blushed, then playfully punched Dominic. “Brother-in-law, you’re awful.” Dominic caught Audrey’s soft little hand and continued to laugh, “Am I not? Who was it crying, ‘No more!’ last night?” The two began to flirt openly in broad daylight. Liam averted his gaze, no longer wanting to watch. The young nurse beside him suddenly gasped, “Oh dear, why are you crying?” “Does your wound hurt too much? Should I get you some pain medication?” It was then that Liam realized, a grown man, he didn’t know when he had started to weep. He smiled through his tears, wiping them away. “Yes, the wound hurts too much.” Physical wounds could be treated with medicine; they would heal. But what about the wounds of the heart? How could they ever be mended? 5 Although Dominic was completely unharmed, after returning from the hospital, he became the family’s revered patriarch. Everyone in the family treated him with extreme care, especially Audrey, who doted on him endlessly. Whatever he desired, Audrey would find a way to get it for him. Even if he woke up in the middle of the night, suddenly craving a drink, Audrey would immediately get up and go buy it for him. “Liam, don’t you understand? My being so kind to Dominic is all because of *you*!” Audrey always had plenty of excuses. She grandly declared, “I’m atoning for your sins!” “Isabelle sacrificed herself to save me; we already owe Dominic a life. And then you tried to run him over… We owe Dominic far too much!” “The reason I didn’t protect you that day was because I didn’t want everyone in the family to resent you… I hope you’ll stop causing trouble. I’m trying so hard to atone for you; can’t you be more considerate and stop constantly targeting Dominic?” Hearing this, Liam couldn’t help but smile. He nodded, saying calmly, “Don’t worry. I won’t cause any more trouble.” Nor would he shed another tear for her. “Really?” Audrey’s face lit up with surprise. She hugged Liam, then said with immense relief, “That’s wonderful, you’ve finally come to your senses. Dominic and I really have nothing going on. He lost his wife, and I’m just taking care of him in place of my deceased sister.” “If there really was something between us, let alone you, would my sister in heaven ever forgive me?” Audrey didn’t know that true heartbreak wasn’t about shouting or making a scene; it was calmly accepting, then leaving. Shouting and making a scene meant one still loved deeply, still couldn’t let go, still wanted to salvage things. But once he stopped arguing, stopped making a fuss, that relationship had truly reached its end. Liam said nothing, allowing his entire family to treat Dominic like a king. He quietly prepared his documents for going abroad. He was leaving soon. For these last few days before his departure, he wanted to live in peace, without any trouble. But Dominic suddenly sought him out, looking smug, like a victor. “Liam Hayes, you must have guessed already, right? The child in your wife’s belly is mine.” “I hope you’ll be sensible, divorce Audrey on your own, and hand her over to me. That way, I’ll be lenient and let you off the hook.” Liam almost laughed. He asked calmly, “Dominic, are you really so sure that after Audrey and I divorce, she’ll marry you?” “You’re her sister’s husband. Her marrying you would be incest.” Dominic immediately flared up. He grabbed Liam by the collar and snarled, “Liam Hayes, do you think just because my wife is dead and yours is alive, you’re superior to me?” “What do you have to be proud of? You’ve always been inferior to me, ever since we were kids! Do you really think Audrey genuinely likes you?” “Ha! Let me tell you the truth! Audrey doesn’t like you at all! She slept with me not just because of the surrogate pregnancy!” “Even after Audrey got pregnant, she’d still come to my room every other night… She said I was passionate and potent in bed, unlike you, who’s so lifeless and boring!” Liam didn’t even bat an eyelid, just calmly said, “Even a paid escort can be passionate in bed, but no one marries them for love.” That one sentence successfully enraged Dominic. Dominic raised his hand, intending to slap Liam. But his hand paused mid-air. He didn’t actually bring it down. “Little brother, do you still remember a game we used to play when we were kids?” Dominic curved his lips into a wicked, eerie smile. Liam froze. He vaguely sensed what Dominic intended to do, and instinctively reached out to grab him. Unfortunately, it was already too late. Dominic’s face still held that wicked, eerie smile. He leaned back forcefully, tumbling backwards down the stairs! 6 “Little brother, let’s play a game.” That sentence was once Liam’s childhood nightmare. Liam was the middle child in his family, with an older brother above him and a younger sister below. After his sister was born, his parents focused all their attention on her. They had no time to care for young Liam, so they left him with Dominic. Dominic was only a teenager then, in his rebellious phase. He should have been enjoying his youth, but instead, he was cooped up at home babysitting. Naturally, he resented it. But he dared not defy his parents, so he took all his anger out on Liam, often hitting and scolding him. “Waaah, brother, please don’t bully me anymore. If you do, I’ll tell Mom and Dad,” little Liam, powerless against his brother, could only resort to threatening to tell their parents. But faced with the threat of being reported, Dominic suddenly smiled eerily. He said, “Little brother, let’s play a game.” Then, still smiling eerily, he picked up Liam’s toy and brutally smashed it against his own head! “This game is called ‘Let’s See Who Mom and Dad Believe’,” Dominic said, his head bleeding profusely, yet still smiling. “We’ll go to Mom and Dad together and see who they side with in the end!” After saying this, Dominic dropped the toy, then clutched his forehead and began to wail, “Waaah, Liam, don’t hit brother’s head with a toy, that’s wrong, brother hurts so much…” Liam was very young then, completely terrified by his brother’s eerie smile and blood-covered face. He was so scared he couldn’t even speak… The result was obvious: his parents believed Dominic and locked the stunned Liam in his room for a severe beating. Dominic had tasted victory and became even worse, often secretly beating and abusing Liam, then bloodying himself and tearfully complaining to his parents that Liam had done it. This was Dominic’s favorite game to play with Liam when they were children. As adults, Dominic hadn’t done it anymore. Liam never expected that after so many years, Dominic would pull the same trick again. “Ah——” A piercing scream echoed through the entire living room. Dominic tumbled down the stairs, then lay sprawled in a pool of blood. Audrey rushed over immediately. Seeing Dominic lying in blood, her face instantly turned terrifying. She shot Liam a vicious glare, as if she wished to tear him to shreds. But in the end, she said nothing, only frantically motioned for the house staff to come. Then, together with them, she lifted the unconscious Dominic and rushed him to the hospital. After all, saving him was the immediate priority. After Audrey took Dominic to the hospital, Liam arrived shortly after. But he wasn’t there voluntarily. He was dragged to the hospital like a criminal, while his parents and in-laws violently beat him. “Audrey, I heard you say on the phone that Dominic lost a lot of blood and needs a transfusion,” Mr. Carter asked with concern, twisting Liam’s ear and roughly dragging him forward as he spoke. “If Dominic needs a blood transfusion, use his blood! He and Dominic have the same blood type!” “He pushed Dominic, so he should donate blood to Dominic. However much blood Dominic needs, draw that much from him!” Even though there was enough blood in the hospital’s blood bank, Mr. Carter forcefully pushed Liam forward, ordering the doctor to draw Liam’s blood to transfuse into Dominic! 7 Fortunately, Mr. Carter wasn’t the ultimate decision-maker, so all eyes turned to Audrey. Waiting for her to speak, to decide Liam’s fate. Audrey looked at Liam with immense pain. “Liam, why did you do this?” “I’ve explained countless times that the child in my belly is yours, not Dominic’s. Dominic and I are completely innocent; there’s nothing illicit between us. Why don’t you believe me?” She paused, her eyes growing cold. “Liam, I want to side with you, but you’ve deeply disappointed me… If I don’t punish you for this, I’ll be disrespecting Isabelle’s memory!” “Someone, take him away and make him donate blood to Dominic. However much blood Dominic needs, draw that much from him!” At her command, Liam was seized and dragged away by numerous people. He struggled desperately, crying out through his tears, “It wasn’t me! I didn’t push him! He fell himself!” “Audrey Carter, when we got married, didn’t you promise me you’d always believe me, no matter what the consequences?” “I’m telling you now, I didn’t do it; I’m being framed. Do you believe me?!” He was hoarse, his throat nearly raw from shouting. But Audrey didn’t even glance at him. She didn’t believe he was innocent. His tears seemed to have run dry, only his heart still bled. Liam was forced onto a hospital bed, a thick needle piercing his skin. He trembled uncontrollably from the pain. Crimson blood was slowly drawn away. 200 milliliters. 400 milliliters. 600 milliliters. … As his blood was lost, his body temperature began to drop. Liam suddenly felt so cold. It was so quiet around him, as if the whole world had shrunk to just him. So cold, so lonely. In a daze, he felt like he was back in his desolate childhood, his brother coming to play games with him again, his father reaching for the belt to punish him severely, his sister smashing toys at his head, his mother scolding him for being inconsiderate, for not letting his sister have her way… Dominic had his father’s affection, his sister had his mother’s love. They all seemed to belong, while he was always alone, an invisible presence in a home that was anything but warm. He thought everything would change after marriage. He thought his wife would always stand by him, believe in him, support him, and never leave him alone again. But now, the wife who should have been on his side was the one sending him to hell… After extensive resuscitation, Dominic finally emerged from danger. “Audrey, thankfully I’m still alive. Otherwise, leaving you and the child as a widow and orphan in this world, I truly wouldn’t be able to rest,” Dominic said weakly. “How’s our baby? Have you been taking good care of yourself these past few days?” Hearing Dominic’s words, Audrey showed a pained expression. Though it hurt her to do so, she slowly pushed Dominic away. “Brother-in-law, you’re mistaken,” Audrey said. “It’s not *our* child. It’s your child with Isabelle.” 8 Dominic froze instantly, staring at Audrey in disbelief. “Audrey, what do you mean by that?” “Brother-in-law, don’t misunderstand,” Audrey explained. “You’re a very charming man, but I cannot do anything to betray Isabelle.” “And I already have Liam in my heart. I love him, and I won’t divorce him.” “Liam has certainly done many absurd things lately, but he did them because he loves me desperately… I think he must have discovered something, which led to his jealousy and then his frantic, reckless attempts to harm you.” At this, Audrey couldn’t help but smile, seemingly a little smug that Liam loved her so much. “Brother-in-law, we were very clear at the time: our arrangement was purely a surrogate pregnancy. We wouldn’t talk about feelings, only about having a child to leave a legacy for Isabelle.” “So, I hope that after this child is born, you will treat him as *your* child with Isabelle, not as *our* child.” “Once the child is born, I will leave all of the Carter family’s assets to you and the child. Liam and I will move out to avoid Liam harming you again out of jealousy.” Liam, who had just recovered, happened to be passing by that hospital room and overheard everything Audrey said. He couldn’t help but smile: *How grand and selfless!* Leaving all the family assets to Dominic, and her cheap love to him. Liam’s heart was utterly dead. He turned around and walked away without looking back. *Audrey, keep your cheap love to yourself. I don’t want it.* Upon returning home, Liam began to pack his belongings. Over the years with Audrey, he had treasured every single item she had given him. The first bouquet of roses she gave him, he’d pressed into a dried flower bookmark. The movie they saw together, he’d taped the ticket into his meticulously kept journal… And those exquisite gifts, they filled nearly an entire room. This room was full of traces of their love. Once, Liam had cherished these items, not daring to let anyone else touch them. But now, he couldn’t even be bothered to look at them. He threw them all into the backyard and set them ablaze. In the backyard, there was also a peach tree that Liam and Audrey had planted together when they got married. Peach blossoms symbolized love, and Audrey had once smiled, saying she hoped their love would grow as strong as this peach tree… Liam glanced at the peach tree, then swung an axe, chopping it down without hesitation, and burning it along with the other items. After doing all this, he took out the divorce agreement he had prepared long ago and placed it on the dresser in their bedroom. After placing the divorce agreement, Liam thought for a moment, then picked up a pen and left a note for Audrey. 【Audrey Carter, goodbye. Don’t come looking for me. I don’t want to see you again. Our paths have diverged. Let’s never meet again from this day forward.】 After leaving the note, Liam took his suitcase and left. He boarded a plane for a foreign country and flew away without a single backward glance. This land, which had never truly loved him, was not worth looking back at. Meanwhile, after settling Dominic, Audrey went to another hospital room to visit Liam. But the room was empty. “Mr. Hayes has been discharged,” the nurse said with a smile. “You must be Mr. Hayes’s sister-in-law? You and his brother are truly devoted!” “It’s spread throughout the hospital: after your husband was injured and unconscious, you stayed by his bedside for two full days and nights without eating or drinking!” Even the nurse mistakenly believed that Audrey and Dominic were a couple, and Liam was merely their younger brother. Audrey frowned, but she didn’t explain anything. She merely asked with a hint of displeasure, “When was Liam Hayes discharged?” “This morning,” the nurse replied. Audrey nodded, not overthinking it, and drove straight home. She wanted to have a serious talk with Liam. But when she arrived home, she saw the chopped-down peach tree, the emptied bedroom, and on the bedroom dresser, the farewell note and the divorce agreement! 9 Seeing the divorce agreement on the dresser, Audrey looked confused. *Why was her name signed on the last page? When did she sign this thing?* In her confusion, Audrey suddenly remembered that Liam had indeed asked her to sign a document a few days ago. After they married, Liam managed all her money. In the past, Liam often brought her financial documents to sign, so she had naturally assumed it was another investment document. She hadn’t even looked at it, just signed it directly. Liam studied finance; he had a good financial mind. His investments in stocks and wealth management products all showed excellent growth, and Audrey trusted him completely with her money. She never scrutinized any documents he asked her to sign, just signed them. But she never expected that the document she signed that day wasn’t an investment document at all, but a divorce agreement! *This shouldn’t count, right?* Audrey thought. *I didn’t sign it voluntarily. Liam tricked me into signing it; it can’t be legal.* Thinking this, Audrey suddenly smiled: *She understood! This divorce agreement had no legal validity. Liam was just having a tantrum with her; he never intended to actually divorce her.* If he truly wanted a divorce, shouldn’t they have a big fight first, and then divide their assets? Leaving without a word like this—what kind of divorce was that? Audrey felt that Liam’s behavior, rather than a divorce, was more like a scene from a TV drama: the male lead, in a fit of pique, leaves home, expecting the female lead to suffer remorse and then embark on a desperate quest to win him back. “He’s just pouting,” Audrey chuckled. “My Liam is so cute.” Once she figured this out, Audrey felt completely at ease. She didn’t take the divorce agreement seriously at all, simply tearing it up and throwing it in the trash. As for the farewell note placed with the divorce agreement, she tossed that aside too. *What ‘paths diverged,’ what ‘never meet again’… it was all just a ploy to entice her to come looking for him.* Audrey was confident that Liam loved her desperately and would never bear to leave her. But confidence aside, when it was time to chase her husband, she had to do it seriously. If she didn’t get him back soon, wouldn’t a fake divorce become a real one? So Audrey immediately ordered her subordinates: “Go investigate and find out where Liam went.” “Yes, ma’am!” Her subordinate took the command and immediately began the investigation. Audrey figured that since her husband wanted to play the “he runs, she chases” game, he would probably hide quite well and wouldn’t be easy to find. If necessary, she’d hire a private investigator; it wouldn’t cost much anyway. However, to Audrey’s disbelief, her subordinate had already uncovered Liam’s whereabouts that very evening. “Ms. Carter, Mr. Hayes went to K-country,” her subordinate reported respectfully. Audrey raised an eyebrow. “You found him that quickly? Is this a trick?” *That was too easy! Did Liam even try to hide properly?* “No, ma’am, I’ve confirmed it,” the subordinate said. “Mr. Hayes’s company recently opened a branch in K-country and needed to dispatch a general manager. Mr. Hayes submitted an application.” This made Audrey a little uncertain. Because such overseas work assignments were usually long-term, requiring at least three to five years abroad before returning. If Liam was just having a tantrum with her, wouldn’t he just escape abroad? Why go through the extra trouble of a work assignment? Though a bit unsure, at least he was found. Audrey wasn’t the type to worry needlessly. Rather than overthinking, she preferred to fly directly to K-country and clear things up with Liam! So, without any hesitation, Audrey booked a flight to K-country for the next morning.

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The day I found out I was pregnant, I, Willow, braved a heavy downpour to visit the private members’ club Liam Hayes frequented. Outside his private room, I wiped my soaking wet hair, planning to surprise him when he finished up. Through a slightly open crack in the door, I heard men’s voices, laced with laughter. “Liam, your wedding with Willow is just a week away. Are all the surprises for the wedding ready?” “All ready,” Liam’s cool voice, softened by alcohol, replied. “I’m going to give her a memory she’ll never forget.” My hand, wiping my hair, paused. A sweet smile unconsciously spread across my lips. In the three years I’d been with Liam, he’d truly doted on me, cherished me deeply, as if I were the most precious thing in his life. “Haha, bro, what if Willow finds out I’ve been impersonating you and playing her all this time? Will she just completely lose it?” “Haha, Willow probably can’t even imagine that Liam has an identical twin brother!” “Doesn’t she always act so high and mighty? If she knew she’d been played for three years by her boyfriend’s brother, I can’t imagine the look on her face.” The men’s malicious laughter froze me to the spot, my face turning deathly pale. I could barely believe my ears. My feet instinctively took a step forward, peering into the private room. The next second, I saw a man sitting next to Liam who looked exactly like him – from his appearance to his hairstyle, even the teardrop mole under his eye was identical! The man scoffed, leaning back lazily on the couch. “Who told her to mess with Blair? Blair is the love of my life, my brother’s precious darling. To punish Willow, to drag her down to hell at the peak of her happiness, my brother really went through a lot.” The friends, who usually greeted me warmly as “sister-in-law,” chimed in with teasing remarks. “Caleb, you’re the one who worked hard! You’ve been getting all the action these past few years!” “Hahaha, if I didn’t look different, I’d want a piece of that action too!” “Seriously, Willow’s face, her figure, tsk tsk. If she goes crazy after the wedding, why don’t you let us have some fun with her first?” “Liam came up with this plan for Blair, acted for three years, and still stayed faithful to Blair! What a real Prince Charming!” Liam Hayes, Caleb Hayes, Blair. My head buzzed. My blood felt like it was freezing, making it impossible to breathe. My body trembled uncontrollably. Tears streamed from my wide-open eyes, blurring my vision to a crimson haze. The happiness I thought I had found in love was a lie. It was a setup, orchestrated for Blair, my bully. I remembered countless nights, waking up from nightmares of Blair, with Liam holding me, soothing me, telling me not to be afraid. I remembered countless times, sharing my experiences of being bullied, with him comforting me over and over, taking me to see a therapist. I couldn’t believe it, wouldn’t believe it. I couldn’t understand how those moments of being loved, so vivid and real, could possibly be fake. The voices from the private room continued: “Blair’s coming back from abroad soon, Liam, and you won’t have to be constantly flying out of the country anymore. Don’t you ever get tired of flying every week?” “Three years of role-playing, and I can finally be myself again! Every time my brother flew abroad, it was me who went to appease Willow…” “Your voices aren’t the same. She never noticed?” Caleb scoffed. “That idiot. I purposely lowered my voice and told her I had laryngitis. Every time, she doted on me, even getting up before dawn to bring me home remedies for my throat!” Another burst of loud laughter erupted. Liam interrupted. “Enough. After the wedding, I’ll give her a substantial compensation, enough for her to live comfortably for the rest of her life.” “Liam, are you getting soft, are we?” My heart fluttered, and I instinctively held my breath, staring intently at the distinguished man. Two seconds later, he let out a cold laugh. “How could I?” “What about you, Caleb? After three years of sleeping with her, you didn’t catch feelings, did you?” Liam turned to look at Caleb, who shook his head abruptly. “Three years? I’m long tired of her. Bro, why don’t you take over?” Liam gave a cold smile. “She disgusts me.” “Alright, she practically begged for this wedding. Giving her money is just to ensure she doesn’t cling to me.” “Time is a bit tight; you guys help me get everything ready.” “In a week, after exposing the truth, I’m going to propose to Blair directly!” I don’t know how I managed to leave that private members’ club. Pelting rain lashed down, but I felt nothing. Only the conversation from that room echoed endlessly in my mind. Blair… Just hearing that name made my body tremble uncontrollably. I didn’t understand. She had already moved abroad; why couldn’t she just leave me alone? Why was she so fixated on utterly destroying me? It was just a “campus queen” title. Because my candid, untouched photo had somehow beaten Blair’s heavily Photoshopped competition entry, Blair had rallied a group of people to trap me in the bathroom, using every cruel trick to torment me, then forced my head into the toilet bowl. Because I refused to get down on my knees and beg for forgiveness, I lived a hellish life for the next three years. Ganging up on me, poking me with needles, putting thumbtacks in my shoes, turning the entire class against me, isolating and tormenting me, sabotaging my part-time jobs, spreading vicious rumors about me. She even arranged for several rich kids to pursue me. Once, I overheard her plotting to corrupt me with money, only to ruthlessly discard me later. Blair never succeeded. Even when she left to study abroad in my junior year, she hadn’t completely broken me. But by then, I was already suffering from severe depression and engaged in self-harm. Liam appeared at that time. He wasn’t like the other rich guys who pursued me, always eyeing me with a predatory gaze, as if I were a piece of merchandise, or who simply threw money at me. He had a sincere gaze, genuinely sought to understand my struggles, and listened to my needs. When he learned I had a Nana Rose who needed long-term medication, he never once judged me. Instead, he did everything he could within my comfort zone to improve my life. He even helped me find internships and part-time jobs, and he’d sit with me in convenience stores eating dinner between shifts, then gently stroking my hair. “Willow, you’ve worked so hard. You’re truly amazing.” Once, when Nana Rose fell ill while I was out of town, Liam was the one who helped take her to the hospital and stayed by her side, caring for her day and night. When I rushed back the next day, he looked utterly exhausted, yet he smiled and comforted me, “Nana Rose is fine, don’t worry. Don’t push yourself too hard.” At that moment, a voice in my heart told me: “He’s the one. Try to trust him, and cherish the present, no matter the outcome.” Later, he truly remained good to me, even bravely stood up to his family to be with me. Liam’s brother Caleb’s sneering laughter echoed in my mind again: “So stupid. How could the Hayes family possibly allow an orphan girl like her to marry into their family? It’s nothing more than hiring a couple of actors to put on a show. My brother just had to ‘defy’ his family for her, and she was completely devoted.” “So stupid, didn’t notice anything was off for three years.” “So stupid, still thinking Liam is madly in love with her.” “So stupid, so stupid, so stupid…” I stumbled and fell in the rain, tears mixing with the downpour. So stupid… Willow, you really are… so stupid. I suddenly looked up and laughed like a madwoman, letting the torrential rain mercilessly lash my face. My phone rang abruptly. It was Nana Rose’s caregiver. “Willow, hurry! Nana Rose is fading fast!” My head buzzed. My mind instantly went blank, my limbs weak. I scrambled to my feet on instinct, rushing to the roadside to hail a cab. But every car that passed by just flashed their lights, honked, and sped away. Just as I was about to run to the hospital, an SUV pulled up. The rugged man inside asked my destination. Without a second thought for my safety, I quickly got in. By the time I arrived at the hospital, the doctor had already given a critical condition notice. “Her breathing was failing; resuscitation was pointless. Just spend some time with her.” I dropped to my knees, grasping Nana Rose’s hand, which trembled in mine. Nana Rose smiled weakly. “Willow… don’t cry… I’m sorry, Nana Rose couldn’t hold on until your wedding…” I shook my head vigorously, unable to speak, unable to control my heartbroken sobs. Nana Rose’s gaze weakly searched around. “Where’s Liam…? Nana Rose wants to see him…” “Okay.” My voice was so hoarse it was barely audible. I pulled out my phone, dialing Liam’s number again and again. The calls were repeatedly hung up. I quickly sent a message. **Liam, Nana Rose’s heart is failing, she can’t hold on much longer. Please come to the hospital; she wants to see you one last time.** **Liam, Nana Rose is waiting for you, just one visit. Can you come?** **Liam Hayes, please…** My trembling hands furiously typed on the keyboard. Tears streamed from my bloodshot eyes, splattering onto the phone screen. At this moment, the lies and deceit didn’t matter. If only Liam could come, if only Nana Rose could pass peacefully, nothing else mattered. But Liam remained silent. I stopped, forced a strained smile, and squeezed Nana Rose’s hand, trying to comfort her. “Nana Rose, Liam must be tied up with something. Don’t worry, we’re very much in love, and we’re getting married next week.” “Nana Rose, I’ll be very happy… Please don’t worry…” The hand gripping mine squeezed back fiercely. Nana Rose stared intently at me. “Willow… live well… be happy…” Her hand went limp. The last look in her eyes was filled with worry… I stared blankly at my palm, then collapsed to my knees, crying hysterically. That night, I numbly followed the procedures for Nana Rose’s funeral arrangements, and still, I never received a reply from Liam. During a waiting period, I unblocked Blair’s SnapChat from my blacklist and clicked into her feed. **[Originally planned to surprise him by coming back early, but I was the one who got surprised!]** The accompanying picture showed an airport background. Liam, dressed in a mascot costume, held a bouquet of flowers, his sweaty face smiling, his eyes gentle. Another photo showed the two of them together. She was smiling sweetly, and Liam looked at her from the side, his gaze tender. I gave a bitter laugh and turned off my phone. The next day at noon, I returned to the hospital with Nana Rose’s urn and did two things. First, I scheduled an abortion for three days later. Second, I submitted an application form for Doctors Without Borders. Dr. Evans looked at me in surprise. “Aren’t you getting married soon?” I was silent for a moment. “Not anymore. Dr. Evans, I need to leave, the sooner the better!” Seeing my bloodshot eyes and urgency, Dr. Evans said nothing more. “You’ve just made the application deadline. Take these few days off to prepare.” “We’ll meet at the hospital to depart in a week.” “Okay.” A week later, it would be the exact date of my wedding with Liam. Not only would I be leaving that day, but I’d also be sending them a grand gift, one they’d never forget. Considering the dangerous location I was heading to, I decided to bury Nana Rose. I bought an urn pendant, placed a strand of Nana Rose’s hair and a pinch of her ashes inside, and buried the rest in the cemetery. I knelt before the tombstone, clutching the pendant at my chest. “Nana Rose, please don’t worry. I’m about to do what I’ve always wanted to do, and I’ll take good care of myself.” I returned to the villa in the evening. The moment I stepped inside, I heard laughter and cheerful voices. I froze, and Liam immediately noticed me. He quickly came forward and led me inside. “Come, let me introduce you to some friends.” A man and a woman on the sofa stood up, turning to look at me, their eyes sparkling with amusement. It was Blair and Caleb. My body trembled uncontrollably. This was my physiological reaction to facing Blair. Liam’s voice was laced with a smile. “Blair is my childhood friend, and Caleb is my twin brother. They just returned from studying abroad and made it just in time for our wedding.” Blair waved at me, smiling sweetly. “Willow and I know each other; we were college roommates.” Saying this, she rushed forward, took my arm, and whispered in my ear, “Right, Willow?” Countless images flashed before my eyes. Every time Blair bullied me, she would whisper in my ear, “Just a roommate’s joke, right, Willow?” I instinctively flinched and pushed Blair away. Blair sat on the floor, looking utterly wronged. “Willow, do you still dislike me? I just want to get along with you.” Both men’s expressions changed. Liam quickly rushed over to help Blair up, his gaze dark. Caleb frowned in displeasure. “Bro, your fiancée has quite a temper. She’s not even a Hayes yet, and she’s already this arrogant?” Liam shielded Blair behind him, his tone furious and cold. “Willow, apologize!” I looked at the three of them, my hands at my sides clenching silently. Thinking of what I’d overheard last night, my heart felt like it was being brutally ripped open. I silently turned, preparing to leave. After only two steps, my wrist was suddenly grabbed. The immense force pulled me, making me stumble. I looked up, meeting Liam Hayes’s eyes, swirling with rage. “Who said you could leave?” Caleb’s tone was cold. “The Hayes family is a prestigious one; we value manners above all else. Bro, your fiancée needs to be properly disciplined.” “You’re right.” Liam’s eyes were ice-cold. “Willow, you’re about to become a Hayes. You must be careful with your words and actions, and always restrain yourself.” “Reflect on what happened today.” With that, he forcibly dragged me to the basement, pushing me into one of the rooms. Before I could react, he slammed the door shut. No light penetrated the perfectly sealed door. It was then I realized this was a windowless, dark room. In the pure darkness, my breathing grew shallow, and I started frantically pounding on the door. But no matter how much I yelled, there was no response from outside. I sank into endless terror. In college, Blair had locked me in a dark room for three days. No sound, no light; the passage of time felt excruciatingly long. That time, I had a mental breakdown. Since then, I’ve been terrified of darkness and developed claustrophobia. For years, I had to leave all the lights on every night, even when sleeping. Liam had initially struggled to adapt, tossing and turning, waking easily. But after hearing about my past, he held me tenderly, saying, “It’s okay, it’s okay. From now on, we’ll sleep with the lights on. Don’t be afraid.” Every time I suggested trying to turn off the lights, he’d refuse. “Willow, you don’t have to force yourself to do anything. I can adapt.” He knew. They… they all knew. Yet they still chose to punish me this way, simply because I pushed Blair. My heart ached dully. I curled up in the corner, holding my trembling body tightly. Yes, their past kindness was fake, deliberately performed. Even this dark room, I suspected, was specifically designed for me. Two days later, Liam came to open the door, a pleased smile on his lips. “Blair isn’t mad at you anymore about the other day. Get ready; we’re going to try on wedding dresses and rings.” I was taken to the bridal shop. As soon as I got out of the car, I saw Blair and Caleb already waiting inside. Blair enthusiastically greeted me. “Willow, you’re here! I didn’t get to congratulate you last time. Liam and I are the best of friends, so let me help you pick out your wedding dress today!” A smile was plastered on her face, waiting for me to lose my composure. But I didn’t show the slightest hint of fear or disgust. Instead, I smiled and said, “Thank you, that’s very kind of you.” Blair’s face darkened for a fleeting moment, then she put on a bright smile again. She hooked an arm around Liam and Caleb, giving them a meaningful look. “Then I’ll try them on with you. Willow, I’ll be a bride soon too.” I smiled faintly. “Congratulations.” The light in Blair’s eyes completely dimmed. Next, Blair would call over a staff member and try on any wedding dress I lingered on for more than a second. Each time she emerged, she’d pull Liam’s hand. “Liam, what do you think? Do I look good?” And Liam would always be captivated, praising her without reservation. Caleb also hovered around Blair; the two of them completely ignored me. The staff members looked on enviously. “This bride is so lucky…” Blair let out a theatrical “Oh dear!” and turned to look at me, standing by the side like an outcast. “I’m sorry, Willow, you’re the bride, you should be trying them on first.” She then playfully punched Liam’s chest. “Liam, what’s wrong with you? How can you leave your own bride standing around?” The staff members looked awkward, and Caleb’s lips curled into a mocking smile. Only then did Liam look at me. “Do you like anything?” I casually picked a dress and went in to try it on. When I came out, all three of them were gone. A staff member looked sympathetic. “Madam, Miss Blair said she was going to pick out rings, and both gentlemen went with her. As for you…” “It’s fine.” I took off the wedding dress and handed it back, then left directly. Soon, Blair posted an update on SnapChat, with a picture of a diamond ring embedded with multiple gems: **[The diamond ring Liam had bid on at that exclusive auction.]** I only glanced at it before turning off my phone and continued packing. Besides the clothes and toiletries I intended to take with me, I gathered all my remaining belongings, including gifts I had once given Liam, and disposed of them. Any gifts Liam had given me, I left untouched. Just as I finished packing my suitcase and put it in the closet, Liam walked in, carrying a blue velvet box. “This is the ring I bought for you at the auction.” I recognized it—it was the complimentary gift from Blair’s SnapChat post. I calmly took it and placed it aside. My overly cold reaction made Liam frown. His gaze shifted, and he noticed the couple’s mugs in the trash can that I used to cherish so much. A flicker of unease inexplicably crossed his mind. He raised an eyebrow and asked, “Why did you throw away the mugs? Are you mad?” I pressed my lips together. “No.” Liam, however, became convinced. “Is it because of the wedding dress fitting? Blair is just my good friend. It’s been years since we last saw each other, so I paid a bit more attention to her.” He reached out and put his arm around me. “There’s no need to be jealous of her. If Blair and I had anything going on, we would have been together a long time ago, wouldn’t we? Willow, you’re my bride. Don’t you understand how I feel about you?” Hearing those words, my heart felt like it was violently squeezed, a sharp pain piercing through me. My eyes were slightly red. Liam, seeing this, stroked my hair. “I’m sorry, Willow, for making you feel wronged.” At his words, my fingertips trembled, then clenched into fists, my nails digging deep into my palms. In that instant, I was tempted to confront him, to distinguish his sincerity from his deceit, to know if there was even a shred of genuine feeling in him these past three years. But the words died in my throat, swallowed back. Liam’s phone rang. He quickly answered, “Blair… I’ll be right there…” After hanging up, he ruffled my hair. “I have something to do. Get some rest early. You’ll be the most beautiful bride in a week.” With that, he quickly turned and left. I sat on the bed, holding back the tears in my eyes. Two hours later, after washing up, I lay in bed, ready to sleep. In a hazy state, the bedroom door suddenly twisted open. Liam, who was supposed to be at the bar partying with Blair, walked in. He reeked of alcohol, casually ripped open his shirt, and pulled back my covers, then came down on top of me. The moment our skin touched, my sleepiness vanished instantly. I was terrifyingly awake, realizing— The person on top of me was Caleb. My body instantly stiffened, my face turning deathly pale. I used all my strength to push him away, shrinking back against the headboard. Caleb frowned at me for two seconds, then raised an eyebrow. “Still mad?” He rubbed his temples. His demeanor was identical to Liam’s, and his voice, soaked in alcohol, was no different. If I hadn’t overheard Liam say he stayed faithful to Blair, I wouldn’t have been able to tell them apart. He leaned in again, his hands propped behind me, our noses almost touching. “I already explained today. If I had feelings for her, I wouldn’t be marrying you.” Caleb was about to kiss me. My eyes widened. I abruptly turned my head away and gagged. My eyes were red from retching, but I couldn’t stop. I pushed the man away and rushed to the bathroom. Caleb watched my retreating back, his brow slightly furrowed, his eyes flickering. Inside the bathroom, I slid down the wall, crouching on the floor. Outside the door, Caleb’s voice suddenly rang out. “Did you guys hear that? She’s gagging. Could she be pregnant?” Then came a startled clamor, and one of his friends shouted, “Caleb, don’t take it too far! What if she gets pregnant and then clings to you when the truth comes out?” My spine instantly stiffened, my limbs turning cold. I realized Caleb’s phone had been on speaker the whole time. Blair’s voice immediately followed. “Liam, Caleb, you two are going too far…” “Too far?” Liam’s voice was icy. “She’s targeted you for so long. This is the punishment she deserves.” Blair worried, “What if Willow really is pregnant?” After a moment of silence, both men spoke in unison: “Impossible!” On the other end of the phone, Liam’s voice sounded exceptionally cruel. “Even if she is, we’ll take care of it. Caleb, wouldn’t you agree?” Caleb’s Adam’s apple bobbed twice. “Y-yes, of course.” Somehow, his heart clenched for a split second. The next second, he saw me open the door, my face deathly pale, staring at him. His heart skipped a beat. He quickly ended the call and stepped forward. “What’s wrong, Willow? Why do you look so bad? Are you feeling unwell somewhere? You’re not… pregnant, are you?” I stared at him, forcing a weak smile. “No, my stomach ache just flared up.”

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“I’ve made up my mind. I’ll marry that comatose Adrian Blackwood.” Seraphina Hayes leaned against the doorframe of the Hayes family mansion, a mocking curl gracing her crimson lips. Victor Hayes’s cigar almost dropped onto the priceless Persian rug. He shot up from his leather armchair, the wrinkles around his eyes smoothing out. “Sera, have you finally come to your senses? That’s wonderful! The Blackwood family has been pressing, you need to be married and settled in Northwood within half a month. What style of wedding dress would you like? Your father will have one custom-made…” “That’s it?” Sera scoffed, a cold glint in her eyes. “I’m marrying into that family in place of your darling bastard daughter. Aren’t you going to offer something more?” The temperature in the living room plummeted. Victor’s face darkened. “What kind of talk is that? What bastard daughter? That’s your sister.” “A sister shares the same mother,” she chuckled, ice forming in her gaze. “She’s the product of your affair, and I’ll never acknowledge her.” A vein throbbed on Victor’s forehead, but he forcibly swallowed his anger before it could erupt. He took a deep breath, ash from his cigar fluttering down. “What do you want?” “Ten billion dollars.” Her red lips parted slightly. “And, after I’m married, transfer Caleb Miller to protect your precious illegitimate child.” Victor’s expression froze. He stared at his daughter as if she were insane. “Are you out of your mind? Ten billion will wipe out all my liquid assets! And Caleb Miller? Isn’t he your favorite bodyguard? You used to constantly demand to marry him. You’re getting married and you’re not taking him with you?!” “Just tell me if you agree or not.” Sera grew impatient, turning to leave. “Fine!” Victor slammed his hand on the table. “The day you leave for Northwood to get married, I’ll take care of both those things immediately.” He didn’t have the luxury of delving deeper, only wanting to finalize this matter. Years ago, Adrian Blackwood, the only son of the Blackwood family, was a rising star. Victor had eagerly arranged an engagement between their families, intending to marry off his younger daughter, Willow, believing it would secure her a good future. Who would have known that an accident would leave Adrian in a coma? He couldn’t bear for Willow to suffer, which was why he eventually remembered that Sera was also his daughter… She waved a dismissive hand, her back still to him. Her high heels clicked sharply on the marble floor, a sound like a slap across someone’s face. Just as she gripped the doorknob, Victor’s voice echoed behind her again. “I can understand you wanting money, but weren’t you always so fond of Caleb Miller? How can you bear to give him to Willow?” Sera’s fingers stiffened. She didn’t turn around, but her eyes suddenly burned. That name was like a thorn, piercing the softest part of her heart. She pushed open the door forcefully, shutting Victor and his question behind her. It was late when she returned to her villa. Sera’s heels clicked on the stairs. As she passed Caleb Miller’s room, she heard a muffled gasp from inside. The door wasn’t fully closed. She glanced in, and her eyes landed on a scene that was terrifyingly clear— Caleb was propped against the headboard, his long fingers clutching a photo, his other hand working below his waist. His eyes were closed, a deep, sexy growl rumbling from his throat: “Willow… baby… so good…” It was a picture of Willow. Taken at her birthday party last year, she was in a white dress, smiling with that innocent sweetness. Sera’s nails dug deep crescent marks into the strap of her designer bag. Finally, she had the answer to Victor’s question. *Because he, like you, only loves Willow Hayes.* The answer churned in her, scorching her insides. Three years ago, she first saw Caleb on the day she was picking out bodyguards. Among a group of towering, burly men, her gaze landed on him immediately. The reason was simple: he was impossibly handsome. Six feet two, broad shoulders tapering to a narrow waist, sharp features, and those dark eyes—cold as ice. Sera was a notorious wild child in their social circle, intending only to flirt with him for fun. But after three years— She’d pretend to be drunk and fall into his arms, only for him to casually grab her by the scruff of her neck, like a cat, and place her back on the sofa. She’d knock on his door late at night, wearing a slinky slip dress, only for him to wrap her entirely in his suit jacket and respectfully escort her back to her room. She even faked drowning in the pool. He jumped in to save her but didn’t even touch her waist. No matter how much she tried to flirt, he remained chaste and aloof, always addressing her politely as “Miss Sera.” Yet, despite herself, she fell for him. She didn’t know how her heart had become so entangled. Perhaps it was because, ever since her mother died, she had been so terribly lonely. When she was seven, Victor had an affair and brought home an illegitimate daughter. Her name was Willow Hayes, and she was only three months younger than Sera. It turned out, for ten years of marriage, he had been cheating for nine. That day, her supposedly happy and peaceful family shattered completely. At the time, Sera’s mother was nine months pregnant with Victor’s second child, due in just a few days. Sera’s mother loved Victor desperately. She screamed at him hysterically, crying until she almost fainted, which triggered early labor. Rushed to the hospital, she died before even reaching the operating room, taking her unborn child with her. From then on, Sera hated Victor, and she hated Willow. She moved out of the Hayes mansion, went to school alone, ate alone, and grew up alone. It wasn’t until her striking beauty attracted too many leering playboys in their circle that she decided she needed a bodyguard. Caleb Miller was her first. After that, she wasn’t alone anymore. Caleb was with her for everything. She went from admiring him, to flirting with him, to falling for him. But three years, over a thousand days and nights, and he hadn’t so much as flickered an eyelash for her. She thought he was naturally cold, until that day she caught him pleasuring himself with a photo of Willow. And then, she watched him, after he’d finished, pick up a call— “Mr. Miller, how long are you going to play this bodyguard game? You’re the scion of North City, you can have any woman you want! If you’re so smitten with Willow Hayes, why not just go after her? Why are you playing this pure game, working as a bodyguard for her sister just to be near her?” Caleb’s expression was indifferent. “I’ve checked; Willow is an illegitimate child. She’s had a tough life and lacks a sense of security. Pursuing her directly would scare her off. I want to take it slow.” “Right, how did the Miller family produce such a devoted romantic? I thought with Miss Sera flirting with you daily, you might be tempted. I’m telling you, she’s a notorious wild child in this city, the line of men who want her stretches from here to Paris…” Caleb seemed to smile, but his words sent her plummeting into an icy abyss. “Really? Not interested. She’s not even worth a single strand of Willow’s hair.” Every word was like a knife, stabbing deep into Sera’s heart! In that moment, she stopped loving Caleb Miller, too. She didn’t know how long it continued, but for some reason, Caleb hadn’t finished today. Seeing this, she smirked coldly, and violently pushed open the door— #### Chapter Two The moment Caleb Miller’s eyes lifted, Sera saw a bottomless darkness in them. Perhaps because he was naturally a man of power, his expression showed no ripple of emotion despite being caught in such a private act. He calmly tucked the photo under his pillow, his long fingers unhurriedly adjusting the startling bulge back into his trousers. In just a few seconds, he had reverted to his usual stoic and aloof demeanor, as if the unbridled man from moments ago had been a mere illusion. Sera couldn’t help but sneer slightly. “Putting it back unfinished? Aren’t you afraid of the frustration? Want me to help you out?” Caleb’s expression remained unchanged. He simply leaned back slightly, increasing the distance between them. “Miss Sera, do you need something?” He was always like this. He could be so aroused by a photo of Willow, yet when faced with her, he was like a chaste and reserved monk. Sera’s nails dug into her palm, recalling Willow’s bland, innocent face—even though her figure wasn’t as good as Sera’s, and her looks weren’t as striking, everyone fell for that innocent act. *It doesn’t matter. I, Seraphina Hayes, have beauty, money, and a figure to die for.* *From today on, anyone who doesn’t like me, I don’t want them.* “There’s an auction tomorrow. You’re coming with me.” She stated coolly, then turned to leave. Caleb frowned slightly. “I believe I requested two days off…” “I heard Willow Hayes will be there too,” she said without looking back. A moment of silence, then his deep voice responded, “Understood, Miss Sera.” Sera’s heart felt a pinprick. *Of course. Mention Willow, and he breaks all his rules.* *Don’t worry.* *Soon, she would personally deliver him to Willow’s side.* The next morning, Sera stepped out of the villa to find Caleb already waiting by the car. His black suit perfectly accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist, the morning light casting a golden halo on his sharp profile. Usually, at times like this, she would deliberately flirt with him, perhaps feigning a twisted ankle to fall into his arms, or playfully breathing sweet nothings into his ear. But today, she simply got into the car with an impassive face, not even sparing him a glance. Caleb seemed a little surprised, giving her a prolonged look, but quickly averted his gaze and silently took the passenger seat. The car drove towards the auction house. Throughout the journey, Sera stared out the window, not making excuses to talk to him as she usually did. The silence in the car was so profound, they could hear each other’s breathing. The auction was held in the city center’s most prestigious hotel. Crystal chandeliers illuminated the hall as if it were daylight, filled with elegantly dressed dignitaries. As Sera entered, she immediately spotted Willow standing ahead. She was wearing a white dress, her long, straight black hair draped over her shoulders, laughing with a few socialites, exuding an air of pure innocence. Caleb’s eyes instantly changed. Although he was still behind Sera, performing his bodyguard duties, Sera could feel that his attention was entirely drawn to Willow. “Sister!” Willow spotted them and immediately rushed over, affectionately linking her arm through Sera’s. “What a coincidence, you’re here for the auction too?” Sera coldly pulled her arm away. “Don’t touch me.” Willow’s eyes instantly welled up, and she looked at Caleb with a wronged expression. “Caleb, I just wanted to be closer to my sister…” Caleb frowned slightly, looking at Sera with barely suppressed disgust. Willow seized the opportunity, tugging at Caleb’s sleeve. “Caleb, I heard that time I had a fever and wanted artisanal pastries, you went out in the pouring rain in the middle of the night to buy them and bring them to the Hayes mansion? It’s just that my fever was quite bad last time, and I’ve been recovering, so I haven’t had a chance to thank you.” Caleb’s stern features softened instantly. “Miss Willow, no need to be polite. It was just on my way.” *On his way?* Sera sneered. *He disappeared for five hours that day, came back soaked to the bone—and that was ‘on his way’?”* “Well, you still have to let me treat you to dinner!” Willow said sweetly. Caleb didn’t refuse this time. “As Miss Willow wishes.” “Then we’ll invite Sister along!” Willow looked at Sera, then suddenly exclaimed, “Oh, Sister, why do you look so tired? I’m the one who was sick…” Sera coldly cut her off. “Are we close? Daughter of a home-wrecker, mind your own business.” Willow’s face fell, and Caleb’s frown deepened further. Just then, the auctioneer announced the start of the auction, finally breaking the awkward conversation. Sera couldn’t be bothered with her anymore and took her seat. She was about to marry into the Blackwood family, and relying on Victor to prepare her dowry was clearly unrealistic. She had to prepare these things herself, which was her true purpose for coming to this auction. As she settled down, the first item was presented. A pigeon’s blood ruby necklace, starting bid one million. She raised her paddle without hesitation. “Two million.” To her surprise, Willow also raised her paddle. “Three million.” Sera looked at Willow, who offered a slight smile. “Sister, I like this one too. You don’t mind letting me have it, do you? After all, Dad’s allowance for you isn’t as much as mine, I believe.” Sera sneered. *Not just ‘not as much’—it’s pathetic.* From childhood, Victor gave Willow five million a month, while Sera only received five hundred. If it weren’t for her mother’s inheritance, she might have starved to death. *But things are different now. I have ten billion.* “Four million.” Sera raised her paddle again. Willow was clearly stunned, but still gritted her teeth and increased her bid. “Four and a half million.” “Five million.” “Five and a half million.” After several rounds of bidding, Willow’s face grew increasingly ugly. “Sister, where did you get all this money? Aren’t you afraid you won’t be able to pay?” “Ten million!” Sera doubled the bid, then gave her a mocking smile. “I’m starting to think, who’s actually struggling to pay now?” Willow’s face flushed alternately red and pale as guests around them began to whisper. The auctioneer politely asked, “Miss Willow, do you wish to bid higher?” “Wait a moment.” Willow frantically pulled out her phone to text Victor. A moment later, her face grew even more distressed. She had clearly been rejected. Sera smirked at the sight. *He rejected her, obviously.* *He’d already given away ten billion; he wasn’t about to spend more just to save his precious daughter’s pride.* Just at this awkward moment, a man in a sharp suit suddenly appeared in the center of the hall, announcing loudly: “We’re sweeping the auction for Miss Willow!” #### Chapter Three The entire hall erupted in murmurs. “Sir, are you saying…” the auctioneer asked, astonished. The man explained, “I am Mr. Miller’s assistant. Mr. Miller has instructed that every item Miss Willow so much as glances at today is to be acquired by us, no matter the price.” The auction hall instantly exploded with chatter. “Mr. Miller? The sole heir of the Miller family? North City’s infamous scion?” “Doesn’t he usually keep to himself, completely uninterested in women? How could he do this for Miss Willow?” “Looks like Miss Willow is really climbing the social ladder…” The discussions rippled through the room. Willow’s face went from shock to delight, finally settling into undisguised triumph. “Excuse me, where is Mr. Miller? Can I thank him in person?” Willow asked, her face flushed. Marcus respectfully replied, “Mr. Miller is unable to make an appearance at the moment. When the time is right, he will naturally meet with you.” Only then did Willow turn to Sera, her eyes full of victorious joy. “Sister, are you still bidding?” The next second, she added, feigning innocence, “Oh, I almost forgot, Mr. Miller is sweeping the auction for me. If Sister keeps bidding, I’m afraid she’ll be ruined. After all, in this circle, who has more money than Mr. Miller?” Sera’s face instantly changed. She sharply looked at Caleb, only to see him gazing at Willow with doting affection, his eyes filled with tenderness. The rest of the auction was like a romantic drama. Any item Willow so much as looked at, Marcus immediately announced they were buying it. That ruby necklace, an antique ceramic set, even a Monet Water Lilies painting with a starting bid of eighty million—all went into Willow’s hands. Sera abruptly stood up, no longer able to hold back. She confronted Marcus: “Does your Mr. Miller intend to leave nothing for anyone else?” Marcus carefully glanced at Caleb, who gave an almost imperceptible nod. “Apologies, Miss Sera,” Marcus replied coldly. “These are all gifts from Mr. Miller to Miss Willow. He only wishes for Miss Willow to enjoy this auction. The feelings of others are not within his consideration.” Sera laughed, her nails digging deeply into her palms. She looked at Caleb, whose gaze, however, remained fixed on the triumphant Willow. *Caleb Miller, you’re something else. You really are!* As the auction ended, Willow was surrounded by a crowd of socialites and wealthy ladies, receiving compliments like a queen. Sera couldn’t bear the hypocritical scene and quickly left the venue. Once in the car, she told James, “To the Night Owl Club.” She needed alcohol to numb herself. But before the car door could close, Willow squeezed in. “Sister, are you going to the club? I’ve been so bored lately, take me with you!” Sera was about to kick her out, but Caleb subtly held the car door, directly telling James, “Drive.” All the way, Willow excitedly chattered about the day’s auction. “Caleb, why do you think Mr. Miller is so good to me? We’ve never even met!” Caleb’s voice was incredibly gentle. “Because he likes you.” Willow’s eyes widened instantly, her cheeks flushing. “Caleb, don’t joke!” “A man knows a man best,” he said, looking intently at Willow. “Where there’s money, there’s love. Besides… Miss Willow is so wonderful, it’s no wonder he fell for you.” “Then… do you like me too, Caleb?” Willow suddenly asked. Caleb froze, about to speak, when Sera coldly cut him off. “If you two want to flirt, get out of my car! This is *my* car!” Willow’s eyes immediately reddened. “I’m sorry, Sister, did I bother you? I won’t talk anymore.” Sera ignored her, turning to look out the window. Through the reflection, she clearly saw Caleb’s eyes filled with tenderness and pity for Willow, while his gaze towards her was cold and disgusted. She gave a self-deprecating laugh. *Looks like all men fall for the manipulative ones.*

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I transmigrated into a dark, explicit novel, becoming the girl who sells protection. The original female lead had a tragic fate: one woman, many men, forced into eight abortions. And I was here to save her. I always appeared at just the right moment, offering little packages of life-blockers. “Sir, a box of condoms?” “Sir, how about a box? Passion with you, safety with them. Buy a box, benefit us all.” Until one day, I was cornered by the eight men from the novel in a luxurious mansion, forced to become part of their *play*. “Join us, Juniper.” “Julian, please… no… this isn’t right… I’m begging you, don’t do this.” After being forced into some outdoor intimacy with a man, Lily, the female lead, was crouched by the river, crying helplessly. I slowly approached, pulling out a morning-after pill. “You should call 911.” Lily stopped crying, her eyes red-rimmed as she looked at me, then slapped the morning-after pill right into the river. “I’m not clean anymore. Are you looking down on me too?” Me: “?” My heart ached beyond words. That was all the money I had, gone! But to get back home, I had to endure! I offered a polite smile. “You misunderstood. That’s not what I meant.” “What I meant was, if you were forced, you can call 911. The police will help you punish the bad guys.” Lily cried even harder. “I knew it, you all look down on me! I was forced, I was forced!” Me: “???” Was Lily out of her mind, or just born clueless? I pulled out my phone and dialed 911. The call connected. “Hello, this is 911. How can I help you?” Lily froze, then burst into uncontrollable sobs, slapping my phone right into the river with a loud *smack*. “I have no beef with you, I don’t even know you. Why are you humiliating me like this?” Me: “…” My phone, oh my god, my phone! I swear I wanted to crack her skull open and see what kind of garbage was rattling around in there!

Sighing dramatically heavenward, I swore I’d never stay up late reading smut again. Yes! I had transmigrated into a book. And it was one of those one-woman-many-men, female-torture smut fics. The female lead was forced to have eight abortions, each from a different man. But damn it all, in the end, everyone actually got a “happily ever after” with her. By the time I finished reading, I felt worse than if I’d eaten actual crap. I cursed the author, “Don’t readers’ feelings matter?!” Right after cursing, I transmigrated, becoming a nameless, insignificant extra. I had to make the female lead independent, to help her break free from the cycle of forced abortions through her own efforts, so I could escape this damn book. So when I saw Lily being forced into intimacy with a man in the woods, I quickly emptied my pockets and bought a morning-after pill. I was here to save her, but so far, I wasn’t saving a damn thing. I was boiling with helpless rage, screaming and thrashing on the ground in front of her. “Argh, you’re a piece of trash! Eight abortions? Hell, a hundred wouldn’t be enough for you to learn your lesson!” Lily’s face went ashen. Trembling, she pulled out her own phone and dialed 911 again. “Waaah~ Officer, this person is insulting me!” Me: “…”

Lily sat outside the interrogation room, red-eyed and sniffling, recounting my “crimes.” “She taunted me, looked down on me, and then crawled on all fours in front of me to humiliate me!” Does that sound like something a sane person would say? But the police believed her. “Why did you taunt her?” I shrugged. “I didn’t.” The officer scribbled two lines in his notebook, then asked, “Why were you crawling on all fours to humiliate her?” I was losing it. “I wasn’t! I really wasn’t! She slapped my phone into the river, and I was crawling to find it! Can you guys please listen? What human has four legs?!” The officer just looked down and scribbled some more in his notebook. In the end, they decided to detain me for three days as a warning. Then they offered Lily a whole lot of comfort. I was utterly stunned. This explicit novel’s world truly was messed up beyond belief. I was lonely, desperate, and cold. I missed my mom.

No money, no ID, no phone. The immediate priority wasn’t how to get back, but how to survive. I was afraid I’d starve to death in this book before I could succeed. Was I really going to have to beg? Begging was not an option. I looked at a public health information board about safe sex practices and free condoms, and a brilliant idea struck me. I grabbed two plastic bags from a trash can. I cut eyeholes in a black one and pulled it over my head, keeping a clear one in my hand. Then I promptly cleared out all the free condoms from the display. And so, from that day on, I became the girl who sells protection. For some reason, I always seemed to appear at the precise moment Lily was being forced into intimacy with a man. And wasn’t that a golden business opportunity? I could make money, and indirectly save the world. I couldn’t change that trash fire of a female lead, so I decided to target the men instead. As long as I could survive until the happy ending, and Lily didn’t get pregnant, there would be no abortions, and I could finally escape this book.

It was a pitch-black, rainy night, and I stood at the entrance of a bar, armed with my little bag of protection. Rain lashed wildly against my face. Damn it! I couldn’t stand this life another day. Just as I was cursing the heavens, cursing the earth, and cursing Lily, I heard her sweet, delicate voice again. “N-no~ Julian, please, not here… what if someone sees us?” The man’s shirt was unbuttoned two buttons down. He carried Lily, whose cheeks were flushed and whose tiny triangle of fabric had slipped to her ankles, towards his car. “Lily~ your body tells a different story~” Lily’s tears streamed down her face as she balled her fists and pounded the man’s chest. Damn it! Was Lily even trying? Those weren’t resistance punches; those were ‘turn-him-on’ punches! I silently rolled my eyes. The moment the man tossed Lily into the car and was about to close the door, I quickly extended my hand. “Sir, a box of condoms?” “Sir, how about some protection? Passion with you, safety with them, happiness for all involved.” My gaze was intense as I stared at the man before me. He hadn’t expected to be interrupted by me, and his eyes glared menacingly, finally landing on the condoms in my hand. He snatched them and slammed the car door shut. What the hell! He didn’t pay! The world’s gone to hell, there’s no justice. But I couldn’t risk it; I couldn’t afford to cross any of these powerful men. Julian Blackwood, the most powerful man in the book, with billions in assets, yet completely obsessed with Lily’s innocent facade.

I had to admit, the men in this explicit novel were incredibly potent. Just one box of protection, seven pieces, seven hours of action, no breaks. I listened to the whole thing, every word true. I was huddled by the car door, almost falling asleep, when finally, the car door opened. I heard Lily’s hoarse, tearful voice again. “Julian, how could you do this to me? I’ll never forgive you.” I lifted one eyelid and saw Julian Blackwood gripping Lily’s chin, a smirk playing on his lips. “I’m going to lock you up. Your body will forever belong to me.” I stood up. Lily looked up and saw me, reaching out a tearful hand. “Miss, please, help me, save me.” That’s when the male lead finally noticed I was still there. He turned to me and slowly spat out one word. “Get out!” I lifted my eyelid a bit higher, pointing to the used condom on the car floor mat. My expression was impassive. “Sir, small business here, no credit.” Julian Blackwood and Lily both fell silent for a moment. Lily stared at me in disbelief. “Miss, how can you be so heartless? Why won’t you help me?” Me: “…” Julian Blackwood stared at my face, then let out a scoff. “Gary! Pay her.” A man then got out of the driver’s seat. I gasped! I was shocked! Last night, with the moon obscured and the wind howling, I hadn’t even noticed the driver was there. The driver was there! Were they seriously that open? Did the world of explicit novels have no shame at all? I swear I couldn’t stand this life another day. But as the driver tossed a thick wad of cash at me, I decided I could tolerate it a little longer.

Lily was taken away by Julian Blackwood, and I, clutching ten thousand dollars, grinned like an idiot. I think I’d found a shortcut to getting rich. I spent the money on food, drinks, and shopping, but no matter what, I always carried a bag containing my secret weapon for wealth. After a few days, I mysteriously found myself in a large mansion. Lily was currently pinned on the grass by a blond, blue-eyed man, his hand already reaching a certain spot. Lily pleaded softly on the grass. “Klara, don’t do this, there’s only friendship between us.” This man was Klara Petrov, who had chased Lily from abroad all the way to Julian Blackwood’s grand estate. I wondered if it would be weird to pitch my product right now? But they were about to get to the final step, so I couldn’t just stand by. I darted forward, slid to my knees, and presented the condom to Klara. “Ultra-thin, ultimate pleasure. You deserve the best.” People who read smut fics always have surprisingly good memories. I knew each man’s preferences. The man looked at me in surprise but still took it. This man was more polite; he just scanned five thousand dollars to me with his phone. I pouted, a little annoyed. Julian Blackwood was more generous; he’d shelled out a whole ten grand! But my professional ethics were top-notch. I smiled, bowed, and bid him farewell. “Enjoy yourselves, have a wonderful time.”

The men in this explicit novel were all machines, relentlessly plowing day and night. Lily was even more incredible, a field that could be plowed endlessly without ever wearing out. Every day I was dragged around with Lily from place to place, time to time, feeling like the money I earned was endless, but I never had time to spend it. Since my clients were all so generous, I even upgraded my services. I’d occasionally offer expert tips and emotional support while they were getting intimate with Lily. I was a small-time millionaire now, having opened many automated adult novelty kiosks in the places Lily and the men frequented. Even near their homes. Of course, they never actually went in to get anything themselves; it was mainly so I could restock easily. But I felt like I was almost done with my mission. Tonight, in Julian Blackwood’s estate, was the climax for all the men and Lily, the supposed ending point of this explicit novel. And thanks to my diligent, tireless, indirect efforts, Lily hadn’t had a single “accident.” I just needed to get through tonight safely, and then I could go home. Honestly, becoming a millionaire in this book, I was almost a little reluctant to leave. But I still missed my mom more. Goodbye, Lily. Tonight, I set sail for home.

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Five years into our marriage, I took a pill bottle to the hospital, complaining that the ‘Vitamin C’ my wife bought tasted unusually bitter. The doctor examined it, then looked up at me. “This isn’t Vitamin C,” she said. “Doctor, could you say that again?” “I could say it a hundred times, it wouldn’t change,” the doctor pointed to the bottle. “It’s Mifepristone. Too much won’t just sterilize you; it’s also incredibly harmful to your health.” My throat felt clogged, choked by something unseen. My hand clenched around the bottle, knuckles white. “That’s impossible. My wife prepared these for me. Her name is Veronica, and she’s a doctor here too.” The doctor looked at me, her expression turning strange, with an unreadable hint of meaning. Finally, she just smiled. “Look, kid, you really should consider a psych evaluation. Dr. Veronica’s husband? We all know him. She just had a baby a couple of months ago. Don’t get caught up in fantasies; there’s nothing there for you.” She then pulled out her phone and showed me a group photo. In the picture, Veronica, wearing a white coat, held a baby in her arms. Beside her stood a man, his eyes crinkling with a smile. It was Liam, the guy she always introduced as her ‘foster brother.’ A buzzing noise filled my head, and my mind went blank. But the doctor said that was Veronica’s husband, and their child. My breath hitched, heavy and ragged. I stumbled into the elevator, desperate to reach the fifteenth floor, to find Veronica and demand answers. Just as the elevator doors closed, two familiar voices drifted in. I must have been well-covered today, with a hat pulled low, because the people ahead didn’t recognize me. They spoke freely, without any caution. “Veronica, aren’t you worried Ashton will find out? Why go through all that trouble to get him back? If you’d just married Liam earlier, you wouldn’t have to hide seeing your own kid like this.” It was Chloe’s voice. Veronica’s voice was cold. “He won’t find out. Chloe, watch your mouth. You know what to say and what not to say around Ashton.” “I really don’t get you,” Chloe scoffed. “Liam came to live with you when he was five. You doted on him so much back then, but when he grew up, Ashton just… swept him away.” “You sent Liam away for Ashton, then went to great lengths to bring him back. Who do you actually love?” Veronica was silent for a long moment before she finally spoke. “I love Ashton, but I can’t let go of Liam either. The thought of him struggling those years he was abroad just tears me apart.” “Ashton has the official title, but the child belongs to Liam, right? At least give him someone to depend on.” Chloe sighed, then pressed on. “What if you and Ashton had a child? Could you truly be fair to both of them? Liam is my cousin, after all.” *Ding*—The elevator chime suddenly rang out. The opening doors coincided with Veronica’s words: “I won’t.” Chloe paused, confused, unsure if Veronica meant she wouldn’t have a child or wouldn’t show favoritism. Bewildered, she followed her out. But I understood. She meant, they wouldn’t have a child. Because she had already prepared sterilization pills for me, removing any potential threat to Liam. The elevator was packed, hot and stuffy, but I felt like I’d plunged into an ice hole, chilling me to the bone. Not until the elevator reached the first floor did I gasp for air like a drowning man, coughing violently. My phone vibrated in my pocket, the screen lighting up—it was a screenshot of an airplane ticket from Veronica: \[*Ashton, see you at the race tomorrow. Remember to wear the good luck charm I got you.*] Seeing that message, the torrent of emotions I’d been holding back burst, and tears streamed down my face. Doctors are busy, but in all our five years of marriage, Veronica had always been there at the finish line for every one of my races, even if it meant a red-eye flight. She’d book the restaurant in advance, buy flowers, and greet my victory. Every single year. I remembered her friends teasing me, saying I was her ultimate prize, the one she’d fought tooth and nail to get back. To bring me back home, she’d battled foreign clubs, often pushing the limits; To keep me, she’d poured fortunes into hiring a top-tier coaching team, even opening a racing club exclusively for me. After we married, her devotion knew no bounds. He once mumbled in his sleep that he missed his mom, and she spent the entire night pulling every string, finding his mother’s lost keepsakes before dawn. But this Veronica, this very same woman, had secretly built another life behind my back. It suddenly clicked. No wonder Liam knew every corner of Veronica’s home better than I did. No wonder a guy who’d lived abroad for years knew all her friends’ nicknames. No wonder a “foster brother” could make her clear her surgery schedule for half a year to go racing with him. There was no ‘foster brother.’ He was a ‘child-husband’—a practice where a child is raised in a family to marry one of their own. Liam had been groomed to be Veronica’s husband since childhood. Just moments ago, I’d been thinking that if Liam dared to interfere, I wouldn’t tolerate it. Now I realized I was the intruder, and it was *my* place to leave. A bone-chilling cold crept up from my feet, numbing my limbs. I always thought people would scream and cry when they broke down. But now, in this moment, I understood that true collapse was silent. Only the unstoppable tears and a heart sunk to the abyss told me I was dying inside. It felt as if a giant hand was squeezing my heart, trying to wring out the last drop of blood. My phone vibrated again. It was a family photo from Liam, with a caption: \[*Ashton, don’t hog a spot that isn’t yours anymore. I thought you’d be smart enough to leave, but I guess you’re shameless. Veronica says the baby looks like her. What do you think?*] I just glanced at it and exited. He wants it? Fine, he can have it. But I knew Veronica too well. Once she set her mind on something, she wouldn’t let go easily, even if she no longer wanted it. My finger hovered over the dial pad for a long time, finally pressing a number I’d almost forgotten. The moment the call connected, I heard my own voice trembling. “Morgan, that old bet… is it still on?”

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“Hold on, ma’am, there’s still an outstanding bill of $18,000.” I was just stepping out of the restroom, ready to leave, when the buffet owner blocked my path. $18,000?! I was stunned. This place was supposed to be just $39.99 a head! “What $18,000? Are you serious? I already paid for my meal.” A fake smile stretched across her face. “Our premium restroom has only three minutes of complimentary use. Every minute over costs $1,000. You were inside for 21 minutes, so that’ll be $18,000.” I frowned. “I’ve never heard of such a rule! This is extortion!” “Ma’am, our pricing and operations are perfectly legal. Our restroom features luxurious fixtures and top-of-the-line amenities. It’s entirely normal to charge for such an experience.” Her self-righteous tone almost made me laugh in disbelief. “So, according to you, if you’re broke, you can’t even use the bathroom here? I’m not paying a cent!” Seeing my refusal, she immediately flicked on a megaphone. “Someone used our premium services and is refusing to pay! Everyone, come and be the judge!” As the crowd grew, I quickly sent the restaurant’s name to my secretary, Mia. “Look up the company behind this place. Acquire it. Immediately!” … At Brenda’s words, people swarmed from all directions, encircling me. “Well, well, look at her fancy clothes, but she won’t pay for the high-end restroom?” “Exactly! If you can’t afford it, don’t use their premium services! This place has a super luxury bathroom. No money, no entry!” A few planted voices, and Brenda’s heart swelled with delight. She stood in the center of the crowd, speaking with a condescending tone. “Ms. Avery, I know you’re a regular here, and I’m not heartless.” “How about this: pay the $18,000 today, and I’ll give you our top-tier membership. You’ll get 20% off all your future meals. What do you say?” Her utterly shameless logic almost made me choke with laughter. I, Avery, had lived over two decades, and this was the first time anyone had pointed a finger at me and called me a broke freeloader. I took a deep breath, my voice cutting clearly through the buzzing whispers. “Brenda, I will pay every single cent I owe for the meal.” “But please tell me, which state law dictates that a citizen must pay extra for using a merchant’s provided restroom?” “Law?” Brenda scoffed, a loud, theatrical laugh bursting from her, as if I’d just told the funniest joke in the world. “Listen, everyone! Look how clueless Ms. Avery is! Our luxury restroom package uses top-tier materials, space-grade nano-cleaning technology! Stay here for an hour, and you’ll shave a year off your age!” “Do you even understand high-tech? Do you understand health investment?” Her words instantly set the crowd abuzz. “What? A year younger! Brenda, let me pay and try it out!” “Some people are just cheapskates, blaming others for expensive stuff. They don’t know quality when they see it!” The tide of public opinion turned in an instant. The earlier looks of disdain now morphed into strong hostility toward me. Brenda stood on her moral high ground of “technology and health,” watching me smugly. What the hell kind of cult meeting was this? Brenda was insane, but these customers were even crazier! “Fine!” I laughed, fury boiling inside me. “Brenda, since you’re so sure you’re operating legally, let’s invite the relevant authorities to investigate.” I pulled out my phone and called the police right in front of everyone. “Hello, 911? There’s a suspected case of grand extortion here…” 2 Soon, two officers parted the crowd and walked in. Brenda immediately put on a pained expression and rushed to meet them. “Officers, thank goodness you’re here! This Ms. Avery enjoyed our exclusive services but is refusing to pay.” “We’re a legitimate business, all our services are registered with the consumer protection agency. You have to side with us!” She swiftly spun a web of lies around me. The officers, of course, wouldn’t just believe one side. I concisely recounted the events, emphasizing the absurdly high fee and her supposed anti-aging claims. The leading middle-aged officer frowned. He silently reviewed the approval documents Brenda handed him, pausing for a moment. My heart sank. This couldn’t be right. Was Brenda really that well-connected? “Ms. Avery, we understand the situation. After verification, this restaurant’s luxury restroom service—its pricing standards and relevant qualification documents—are all in order. It falls within the scope of legal business operation.” Meaning, the paperwork was complete. As for the effectiveness of the service, that was commercial advertising and not within their jurisdiction. A louder murmur of discussion immediately erupted from the crowd. “Just pay up, you cheapskate!” “Even the police say it’s fine, and she’s still stubborn as hell. So embarrassing!” Brenda’s triumphant smile was blindingly irritating. Yet, she still feigned a sigh. “Ms. Avery, why make such a scene? I run an honest business, and honesty is paramount…” Honesty, my ass! I clenched my fists tightly, barely suppressing the urge to flip a table. If there wasn’t something seriously shady going on behind the scenes, I’m not Avery! Ignoring them, I quickly unlocked my phone and messaged Mia. 【Find out the company behind this buffet. Prepare for acquisition.】 【I want to see the acquisition contract tomorrow!】 After sending the message, I looked at the smug Brenda again. “Brenda, I’ve paid for my meal. But for these illegal charges, you won’t get a single cent from me!” I couldn’t be bothered to argue with this lunatic any longer and turned to leave. Back home, the hallway light was on. Lucas was actually home at this hour. Usually, he was out networking or working late. I had just kicked off my heels when he stormed out of the living room, waving several papers. “Avery! Look at what you’ve done!” I glanced at the papers fluttering to the floor. It was a legal notice. Brenda Stone’s name was signed at the bottom. Huh, that was fast. “And this!” Lucas shoved his phone screen right in front of my face. On the trending topics, the hashtag 【Buffet Freeloader Avery】 was at number one. Clicking on it, there was a candid video from the scene. The comments were disgusting. “Freeloader and she called the cops? This woman has no shame!” “Girls, dox her! Make her social-death!” My name, my ID—everything was dug up. That crazy woman, Brenda, actually dared to stir up a mob online! Yet, my fiancé showed no concern for my distress, only relentlessly questioned why I’d caused such trouble. “Trouble? Lucas, your fiancée is being falsely accused of extortion, slandered, and cyberbullied, and you’re worried I’m embarrassing *you*?” I pointed to the legal notice on the floor. “That crazy owner, just because I used her restroom and didn’t pay $18,000, caused all this. Do you think that’s reasonable?” Lucas’s brows knitted into a tight knot. “But the police said it was legal. Why didn’t you just pay what you owed? It’s only $18,000!” “Come on, just record an apology video, pay the money, and this whole thing will blow over.” I looked at him, as if at a stranger. “Lucas, are you out of your mind? If you want to be a chump and a spineless idiot, go ahead and fork over your own cash to her, but don’t you dare drag *me* into it!” “Avery!” Lucas’s face turned scarlet. He pointed a finger at me and snapped, “You’re completely unreasonable! Do you know the company will fire you for this?” I watched him coldly, saying nothing. This company *is* mine. If anyone’s getting fired, it’ll be *him*, by *me*! Seeing I still refused to budge, he violently threw his hand up. “Fine, be Ms. High and Mighty! Let’s see how you get out of this mess!” He grabbed his jacket from the sofa, glared at me, and slammed the door as he left. I collapsed onto the small sofa in the living room and checked my SnapChat. Messages from friends kept popping up. And on my Ins feed, Brenda had seemingly posted something deliberately to annoy me. 【Just taught some cheap country bumpkin a lesson today! Couldn’t afford our premium restroom service but still called the cops! I’ve seen it all now!】 The post included an arrogant selfie of her giving the camera the middle finger, with the blurry sign of her rundown restaurant in the background. Such gall! Cyberbullying people and still acting so brazen. My finger unconsciously scrolled down, curious to see if any mutual friends had commented. Then I saw a familiar profile picture in the ‘likes’ section. It was Lucas! 3 My head instantly buzzed and exploded. Luckily, my hand was quicker than my brain, and I immediately took a screenshot. When I refreshed the feed, that red heart ‘like’ was gone. My fingers, clutching the phone, were icy cold. How did Lucas know Brenda? Whenever we went to restaurants, it was always me who ordered and paid. Lucas never got involved, did he? Suddenly, a blurred memory flashed into my mind. Two months ago, it was Lucas who had his arm around my waist, excitedly telling me about this newly opened buffet. After trying it, I was indeed impressed by their premium ingredients. I even considered booking company events there. I stared at the screenshot on my phone, took a deep breath, and called Mia. There were some things I absolutely had to get to the bottom of. The next afternoon, as soon as I arrived at the office, the front desk called me. “Ms. Avery! Someone’s causing a scene at the front desk, specifically asking for you.” Hearing the panicked voice of the receptionist, I probably guessed who it was. Sure enough, as I walked into the office area, I heard Brenda’s shrill, piercing voice. “Where’s Avery? That cheap freeloader who won’t pay needs to get her ass out here! Too scared to face me?” “It’s all because of that jinx! She made me lose a huge client! So unlucky!” The employees were dead silent, their gazes at me a mix of emotions. “Looking for me?” I pushed aside the employees blocking my way and walked towards Brenda, who was surrounded by a small crowd. “Oh, the coward finally dares to show her face?” She swayed her hips, her finger almost poking my nose. “Avery, if you’re smart, pay the $18,000 immediately! Do you know how much money I lost because of you?” “What do I care?” I raised my hand, wiped away the spittle on my face, and disgustedly shook it off. “It’s you! Freeloading then calling the cops, making me touch bad luck!” She suddenly gave a meaningful glance to two men beside her. “Hey, Mike, Sam, grab her! Take her to step over the fire to ward off bad luck! Otherwise, my business will be cursed!” Those two restaurant employees actually started moving towards me. A collective gasp filled the office. In broad daylight, in *my* territory, she dared to order her people to lay hands on me? A fierce rage shot straight to my head. Reason, image—to hell with all of it! I lunged and slapped her hard across the face. “Ah!!!” Brenda clutched her cheek, stunned for a full three seconds. “Avery! You dared to hit me!” “So what if I hit you? I hit you, you foul-mouthed lunatic.” I flexed my tingling palm. “I haven’t even settled the score with you for cyberbullying me, and you dare to come here and provoke me?” “You just wait!” Brenda was trembling with rage. She pulled out her phone and made a call. “Honey, I’ve been hit by an employee at your company! Come and defend me! She’s completely out of control!” Honey? My heart lurched. It couldn’t be that much of a coincidence, could it? After hanging up, Brenda’s face changed in an instant. “Hear that? My husband is coming out right now to deal with you!” “I advise you to get down on your knees and apologize right now, otherwise, I’ll have my husband fire you!” I laughed, my anger turning to pure cold amusement. Fire me? I’d like to see who has the guts. The elevator chimed, stopping on my floor. Everyone’s gaze turned towards it. The doors slowly opened. Lucas’s anxious face appeared before everyone. Brenda instantly fluttered over like a butterfly, tightly hugging Lucas’s arm. Every employee present gasped. “Honey, you’re finally here! It’s that cheap woman who freeloaded at my restaurant yesterday, she hit me today! Fire her, make her get out!” Brenda pointed at me, her face alight with undisguised malice and glee. But Lucas’s face froze. He hadn’t expected such a grand scene to greet him. So he didn’t even look at Brenda; his eyes were fixed on me. “Avery? You… why are you at the company today? Couldn’t you have just talked to me?” The triumphant expression on Brenda’s face instantly shattered. She abruptly released Lucas’s arm, stumbling back a step. “You… you called *her* honey?” I ignored their ashen faces and turned to Mia. “Mia, what’s the acquisition progress on the restaurant? Have the investors behind Gourmet Feast bring the contract to me, immediately!” Brenda seemed to snap back from the immense shock, bursting into loud laughter. “Avery, are you insane? A poor cheapskate who can’t even afford $18,000 for a restroom, and you think you can acquire our restaurant? Dream on!” No sooner had she spoken than the elevator chimed again. A middle-aged man in an expensive custom-tailored suit stepped out. Seeing the newcomer, Brenda’s face instantly lit up with the smugness of finding a powerful backer. “Mr. Thompson! You finally came! You have to side with me, this cheap woman, she…” But before she could finish, Mr. Thompson, whom she regarded as her savior, strode quickly towards me with an almost fawning smile. “Ms. Avery, why did you come yourself? I’ve brought the acquisition contract. When would you like to sign?”

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My wife, Elara, was washing dishes when I brought up divorce. She paused, then simply nodded. “Okay.” It was the fifth time I’d asked her. The previous four, she’d been shocked, furious, heartbroken, even pleaded with me, driving me utterly crazy. This time, though, she agreed. She agreed with such an air of indifference, so casually, as if it were a trivial matter. I watched her slender back by the sink. Amidst my excitement, a strange feeling stirred within me… I was still on the sofa, mulling over my strange, inexplicable feelings when Cynthia’s call came through. “How did it go this time? Did she agree?” Her soft voice held a hint of tension. I snapped back to reality, shook my head, and my voice was filled with relief. “Yeah, she agreed!” There was silence for a few seconds on her end, then she asked, her voice trembling: “Really? Declan, don’t mess with me!” My heart tightened. I spoke softly, “Cynthia, it’s true. She really agreed this time. We can finally be together, openly and without hiding!” A low sob came through the phone. “That’s wonderful… I can finally have you!” Feeling her excitement and overwhelming joy, my own eyes welled up a little. It was my fifth time asking Elara for a divorce. The previous four, without exception, had been rejected. Over two years, Elara went from shock and anger to pain and pleading. As for me, I went from initial guilt and a pang of conscience to numbness and outright annoyance. Every failed negotiation left me too ashamed to face Cynthia. She was so hopeful, so yearning, so patient. Despite the unconcealed sadness on her face, she would always turn around and comfort me: “We’re both women, I understand her. Besides, you two have a child. We can just work harder on a few more projects, give her more money. Sigh, if it weren’t for true love, why would we ever go down this path…” Today was my first time home in two months. I’d called ahead. When I walked in, Elara had already cooked a feast and was sitting quietly by the table lamp on the sofa, reading a book. Seeing me, she folded the corner of the page, set the book down, and calmly told me to wash my hands for dinner. She mentioned Lily was at a friend’s house downstairs for a birthday party. Before coming, Cynthia and I had agreed that if Elara still stubbornly refused to agree to the divorce, we’d raise the compensation amount in the previous divorce agreement by another 20%. I had even prepared myself for an all-night negotiation. But I never expected— The moment I opened my mouth with the first sentence, Elara so casually dismissed it. On the other end of the phone, Cynthia also sounded a bit confused. After a while, she mused, “Declan, do you think she’s playing some trick?” It wasn’t surprising that Cynthia asked this. As the Head of Negotiations for my company, she always thought one step further when faced with difficult deals. I shook my head. “I doubt it. Elara’s just a full-time homemaker; she doesn’t understand all those corporate games and deceptions.” Cynthia’s voice softened. “Looks can be deceiving, Declan. Just because she doesn’t understand it doesn’t mean she wouldn’t find someone to help. Anyway, for the company, for our future, I suggest you still be cautious.” I was silent for a moment. “Don’t worry.”

Elara walked out of the bedroom, holding a document. I looked up at her. Her eyes were unreadable, her face serene. There was none of the usual broken sadness or hysterical displays. “I’ve signed this already. Let me know when you’ve booked a time with the Registrar’s Office.” She handed me the document and turned to pour some tea. The boiling kettle gurgled, a stream of water poured down, and the rich, earthy scent of tea immediately filled the room. She picked up the cup, and I instinctively reached out to take it. But she brought it to her own lips, taking a slow, relaxed sip. Seeing my outstretched hand, she looked at me strangely: “Isn’t the divorce agreement in your hand?” I frowned slightly, withdrew my hand, and began to read the “Divorce Agreement” carefully. Ten minutes later, I looked up, asking in confusion: “This isn’t the one I gave you last time? Not a single word changed?” Elara was leaning back on the sofa, casually sipping her tea and picking up the book she hadn’t finished. She looked up from it, her expression blank for a moment before realizing what I was talking about. “Oh, no, I didn’t change it. I think it’s fine.” I stared at her for a moment, then, after thinking, I spoke. “Elara, if you still can’t get past it, I can increase the amount.” She tilted her head, a faint smile on her face. “Increase it? Did Cynthia agree?” A wave of displeasure and annoyance immediately surged through me. For the past two years, whenever the topic of divorce came up, Elara would always bring Cynthia into it. Perhaps in her eyes, I was a cheating husband who gave in to temptation, and Cynthia was a shameless homewrecker who intervened in someone else’s family. But she simply didn’t understand. The depth of the painful entanglement and difficult struggles Cynthia and I went through to finally take this step.

In fact, Cynthia and I initially couldn’t stand each other. She was the Head of Negotiations my partner had hired with a high salary—always in killer heels, bold red lipstick, and figure-hugging skirts. She was decisive and efficient at work, assertive at the negotiation table, and dared to publicly contradict me in internal meetings. Elara had a gentle, serene soul. Bare-faced most days, dressed simply, her life revolved around caring for Lily and me, sipping tea, reading, and tending to her plants. I had never encountered a woman like Cynthia in my life. One time, when I was complaining about Cynthia again, Elara was carefully pruning an orchid. She tilted her head amidst the green leaves, smiling at me. “You’ve been mentioning her quite a lot lately!” My opinion of Cynthia changed when I bumped into her in the stairwell, sitting on the steps, her face buried in her hands, crying. She looked at me, her eyes red, quickly wiped away her tears, stood up, and muttered an apology before heading off with her head held high, her heels clicking loudly. Later, I learned from my partner that she had divorced due to domestic abuse, was raising a seven-year-old daughter alone, and her ex-husband still harassed her occasionally. Thinking of this vulnerable side beneath her tough, professional exterior, my attitude toward her shifted. Cynthia reciprocated in kind. We worked together, growing increasingly in sync. At the negotiation table, she understood my unspoken intentions, and I understood her bluffs. At social gatherings, she would shield me from drinks when I was drunk or quietly hand me a warm cup of tea. One time, I saw her ex-husband harassing her again, even trying to get violent. I rushed over and threw a punch, making her gasp in surprise. I remember coming home that night with a bandage on my head, terrifying Elara. She trembled as she hugged me, repeatedly asking, “Does your head hurt? Your head can’t get hurt! Are you really okay?” Cynthia and I first slept together three years after we met. It was during a company retreat in a historic town. Elara had always yearned to visit historic towns in the South. For one of her birthdays, she’d wished that I would take her and Lily to explore one properly. So, when the HR department asked me where to hold the annual retreat, I blurted out, “The historic town.” My intention was to surprise Elara, but during that time, Cynthia and I had developed an undeniable tension, something unspoken. On a strange impulse, I didn’t tell Elara. The night in the historic town was beautiful, the wine easily intoxicating, the scenery enchanting. Cynthia, wearing a nightgown, knocked on my door, and we spent a wild, forbidden night together. We both knew we had made a terrible mistake. After we returned, I thought it over several times and cut off my direct work contact with Cynthia. She accepted my decision without a single word of complaint, though her gaze was silent and sorrowful. Elara accidentally saw pictures of the historic town on my phone and asked, surprised, “When did you go to the historic town? Why didn’t you take me?” I felt incredibly guilty and vaguely explained, “A conference, just for one day, I didn’t tell you.” Later, Cynthia submitted her resignation. I accepted it. We both knew it was for the best. After she left, we didn’t contact each other once. Until three months later, we met during a project negotiation—she had joined the opposing company. At the bar, the opposing CEO and his subordinates were aggressively pushing drinks on me. When I was once again forced to drink, Cynthia, who had been silent, picked up a bottle and smashed it over the CEO’s head. She lost her job, lost all her money, and was detained for fifteen days. The day she was released from detention, I went to pick her up. We went straight to a hotel. We made love day and night. I had made up my mind. Life is only once. To hell with family responsibilities, to hell with bottom lines and morals. Let them call me a scoundrel, a betrayer. I would indulge, I would be wild. I couldn’t let down the woman who had sacrificed so much for me. … My thoughts snapped back to the present. As my seven-year marriage reached its final step today, I didn’t want to hear Cynthia’s name from Elara’s lips again. “I’ll let you know once the time is booked. Don’t miss it.” I said coldly, then left the house. As I entered the elevator, I met my daughter, Lily. She was excitedly carrying a slice of cake, her face beaming with joy, which instantly vanished the moment she saw me. “Lily, Dad—” I didn’t finish my sentence. She walked past me expressionlessly. I frowned. Lily used to hug my neck and sweetly call me “Daddy” whenever she saw me. After two months apart, she was treating me like a stranger. I had told Elara earlier not to tell Lily about the divorce yet. Clearly, she hadn’t listened. When I reached downstairs, I looked up at the window. Lily was happily feeding Elara a slice of cake with a fork, and Elara, with a gentle smile, was leaning down to take it. My phone vibrated. I tore my gaze away. Cynthia had sent me a message: [Babe, hurry home, your wife is going to give you a big reward tonight!] It was the first time she had called me “babe.” I could imagine how thrilled and excited she must be right now. I let out a long breath and walked away, my strides firm.

The “Divorce Agreement” stipulated that: Elara would have custody of Lily and keep the house we currently lived in. Given that the company was about to go public, my company equity would remain untouched, but I would give her $8 million as compensation, to be paid in one year. Cynthia was heartbroken for me when she saw the compensation amount. “You built this from nothing over these past few years, piece by piece, and you just give it away. How many projects will it take to earn that back?” I comforted her, “After all, I wronged her. We should be thankful. If she insisted on splitting our marital assets equally, it would be far more than this.” Cynthia leaned her head on my shoulder. “I just worry about your health.” She was very efficient and quickly helped me book the divorce registration. I sent the time to Elara, and she replied with a simple, “Okay.” During the waiting period, Cynthia was visibly happy. Yes, from the first time I brought up divorce two years ago, we had encouraged each other and walked this path together, bearing a lot, experiencing a lot. She still couldn’t quite believe it. “Why did she suddenly agree? “Is she really not playing any tricks? “Happiness came too suddenly!” Not just her, but a part of me also felt a little confused. One night, exhausted, Cynthia was sleeping soundly on my chest. I stared at the moon outside the window, smoking, my thoughts a tangled mess. Suddenly, I remembered a small incident. A little over a month ago, I was in a meeting when Elara called, her voice tinged with anger: “Why did you give Lily’s piano competition spot to Cynthia’s daughter?” I was annoyed at the time and scolded her: “Lily participates every year. Chloe has never had an opportunity like this before. What’s the problem with letting her have it just once? Besides, that institution is funded by me anyway. Lily will have plenty of chances in the future!” Elara was silent for a long time, then said softly: “Do you know how hard Lily worked for this competition? She said she wanted to prove with her talent that her father didn’t play favorites, and she wanted to win a championship to make you proud…” I hated being guilt-tripped by her like that and roughly said, “I’ll buy her a gift to make up for it later. Chloe is a poor child—” She hung up before I finished speaking. On the day of the competition, I drove Cynthia and Chloe to the venue. We got stuck in traffic halfway there, and I saw Elara. She was riding a scooter, with Lily on the back. Elara didn’t drive. The road from home to the institution wasn’t far but was extremely congested, so she often rode a scooter to take Lily to piano lessons. It was a very windy day. Both mother and daughter looked disheveled, their hair a mess. I turned to look at Chloe. She was wearing a beautiful, delicate princess dress, sipping milk and nestled in Cynthia’s arms. The scooter was grazed by a car that cut in, and Elara and Lily fell to the ground. I instinctively started to get out, but Cynthia pressed my hand, slowly shaking her head: “She already dislikes me and Chloe. This situation will only make her angrier. Don’t worry, they’re not hurt, they’re already getting up.” I looked over. Mother and daughter were helping each other stand. Chloe suddenly rolled down the passenger window and yelled, “Lily!” Then, proudly and loudly, she added, “We’re going to the competition in Declan’s car! Are you going to the competition too?” In a moment of panic, I met Elara’s gaze. I thought she would make a scene. But she only gave me a fleeting glance, then turned to comfort Lily and quickly rode off with her. … Ever since I decided to take this path, bearing the public scorn, I had deliberately avoided thinking about anything that might weaken my resolve. I couldn’t be unfair to one person only to be unfair to another. I told myself that compensating her more was good enough. A full-time homemaker, never having worked a day, would still get so much money for free. She wasn’t getting a raw deal. Compared to many, she was already lucky. I extinguished my cigarette butt. And stopped the sudden rush of memories in my mind.

On the day of the divorce registration, Cynthia insisted on accompanying me. She said she wanted to sincerely apologize to Elara. I hesitated. “What if she does something outrageous to you there…” She gave a bitter smile. “That’s fine. Consider it me repaying her.” We arrived at the Registrar’s Office ten minutes early. Cynthia held my hand, and we encouraged each other. When Elara appeared, I didn’t recognize her at first. She had abandoned her usual plain, bare-faced attire, wearing a navy belted trench coat and high heels. Her long hair cascaded down her back like satin, reaching her waist. With light makeup, her skin, already fairer and smoother than most, made her teeth seem even whiter and her eyes brighter, her features exquisite. She walked in, hands in her pockets, looking utterly serene. She seemed to carry a strange, captivating aura. Wherever she stood, a peaceful, tranquil atmosphere seemed to settle. It was like that at home, and it was like that outside. The hall suddenly grew quiet, all eyes drawn to her. I felt a pang of disorientation, a remote, blurry sense of familiarity washing over me.

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I was the most privileged heiress of the city’s elite. Caleb Thorne, on the other hand, was the poor student I’d supported for three years. He hated my overbearing nature, my unbearably entitled ways, yet he was powerless to escape. Until later, when he got into a top-tier university in the US for his PhD, stepping onto the highest award platform. I wired him a final, staggering sum, then turned around and announced my engagement. Before the wedding, I saw a news report where a reporter interviewed Caleb. “At this moment, what do you most want to say?” Caleb looked at the camera, his voice calm and cold: “I won’t be returning to this city. And, I wish her a happy marriage.” He truly had never loved me; it was only today that I was forced to admit it. 1 When Caleb pushed open the private lounge door, the man beside me was eagerly offering me a sip of his drink. The moment he appeared, the lounge went silent. The man feeding me wine looked a bit flustered, trying to set down his glass. But I pressed down on his hand. The cool liquid slid down my throat, and I squinted, a little hazy, before finally looking towards the door. Caleb was still in his white shirt and black trousers, a backpack slung over one shoulder, an academic vibe clinging to him. What was different from usual, though, was his expression. His eyes were frigid, carrying a world-weary detachment. His lips were tightly pressed, forming a thin line. “Blaire Harrison.” He called my name softly. No warmth, no emotional rise or fall. Yet, for some reason, I felt a flicker of fear. I had been slumped softly on the couch, but now I unconsciously straightened up a little. And instinctively closed my legs, tugging at my skirt. 2 “Caleb Thorne, congrats! A PhD from a TOP 1 university in the US, you’ve really shot to stardom, haven’t you?” “Yeah, Caleb, remember three years ago when we first met? You were so broke you couldn’t even afford a decent meal.” “After only three years under my wing, people would think you’re some rich heir now, wouldn’t they?” The words were unpleasant, almost grating. This crowd had never dared to speak like this before, because I fiercely protected those close to me. The last guy who dared to trash-talk him when drunk? He hasn’t set foot back in this city since. But tonight was different. Caleb had clearly fallen out of favor. I didn’t want him anymore. Those who’d always looked down on him naturally seized the chance to kick him while he was down. But Caleb seemed not to hear them at all. He walked through the crowd with a blank expression, heading straight for me. I sat there, looking up at him. “We’re celebrating you tonight, why are you so late?” “You owe us three shots then.” I lowered my eyes, signaling for someone to pour the drinks. But Caleb leaned over and directly grabbed my wrist: “Come outside with me.” “Caleb…” “Blaire Harrison, now. Come outside with me.” His tone remained calm, but the grip on my hand tightened. I saw his tense jaw, and the eyes under his fringe, cold as a deep freeze. I suddenly wanted to laugh. See? Three years, and he was still this cold to me. Still hated me this much. 3 “Playing the jealous type?” I deliberately flashed him a malicious smile. “Doesn’t really fit your ‘Big Shot PhD’ persona, does it?” He seemed too bothered to humor me. He simply pulled me up from the couch. I was too tipsy to stand steady, and stumbled awkwardly into his arms. Furious, I kicked him. My sharp high heel hit his hard shin bone. It only hurt me more. My heart felt like it was burning with a fire, threatening to turn me to ashes. But Caleb always just watched, detached. I held my breath, wanting to violently shake him off. But he gripped me tighter, his face grim, dragging me outside. I stumbled along, barely keeping pace with him. Until we were out of the lounge, reaching the end of the deserted corridor. Only then did he stop, drop his backpack, and press me against the wall. “What does this mean, Blaire Harrison?” “What do you mean, ‘what does this mean’?” “Those men, what did they mean?” “Exactly what you saw.” “Blaire Harrison, three years ago, we agreed. I wouldn’t have other women, and you wouldn’t find other men.” “I made the rules. Whether I keep them is up to me.” I lifted my face to him, reached up, grabbed his shirt collar, and pulled him closer. Those words had been swirling in my mind for so long, too proud to ever say them, but now I couldn’t hold back. “You and that junior colleague of yours, you’ve been ambiguous for a while, haven’t you? She followed you to study in the US, wanting to build a life together…” I lightly patted his cheek. “You wouldn’t think I’d cling to a man who’d been soiled, would you?” With that, I pushed him away hard, turning to leave: “Get lost. And stay lost. Don’t come back, don’t let me see you!” “I didn’t.” My steps faltered, but I didn’t turn back. “I never broke my promise to you, Blaire Harrison.” I lifted my chin, forcing back the tears. I used to believe that if I wanted something, I could have anything, even if I had to force it. But later, I understood: things you force to happen… they never truly last. It’s pointless. “It must have been hard for you these past three years.” I turned around, leaning against the wall, smiling at him. “I’m sorry. Sorry that you had to be with someone you didn’t like for so long.” Caleb walked towards me, step by step. “I don’t like owing anyone anything.” He gently took my shoulders, looking down at me intently. “Three years, just like we agreed. Three years.” “Blaire Harrison… if you want to find someone new, fine. After we’re done.” Then, before I could even speak, he lowered his head and kissed me. 4 That was the first time Caleb had ever initiated a kiss with me. If I remembered correctly. It was also the only time in our three years together. The only time we spent an entire night in the same bed. The only time I ever pleaded with him to stop. The only time I fell asleep in his arms. 5 Three-year countdown: Day 7. Caleb left the country to participate in an important international competition. As expected, his team won the gold medal. I watched him stand on the podium, radiant and full of confidence. What I thought was, *Good. Good that he didn’t become self-destructive or succumb to pleasure because of me.* *Good that he remained strong and upward-striving, still shining brightly.* Three-year countdown: Day

I called my assistant, Drew, and had him wire a sum of money to Caleb’s account. The amount was quite astonishing; even Drew was surprised. I changed my clothes and went downstairs. I told my father, who was reading the newspaper in the living room, “I’ve reviewed the candidates you mentioned. I’ll go with Sawyer Hayes.” The eldest grandson of the Hayes family, the legitimate heiress of the Harrison family. A perfect match of status and wealth. My father put down his newspaper. “No more rebellion?” I smiled. “No more rebellion.” Five years ago, my elder brother, Leo, and his wife, Clara, died in a tragic car accident on a trip abroad. They died instantly, leaving only my two-year-old nephew, Arthur, who miraculously survived. My mother couldn’t bear such a blow; she fell ill and couldn’t recover. Only when little Arthur cried by her bedside did she finally pull herself together. Three months ago, Arthur was kidnapped on his way home from school. When he was rescued, he was deeply shaken and withdrawn, almost catatonic. This time, my mother completely collapsed. Her bloodline now consisted only of me and my nephew. Yet my half-siblings were all successful and accomplished adults. My father had built his empire on the foundation of my mother’s family fortune. I couldn’t let this family business fall into their hands. “Then the Hayes family it is,” my father nodded, satisfied. Half a day later, the news of my engagement to Sawyer Hayes spread like wildfire across the city. The wedding date was set for six months later. 6 The day Sawyer accompanied me to try on wedding dresses and jewelry. The news was playing on the TV at home. I happened to look up and saw Caleb.

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Her Wedding Day, My Last Breath I heard my wife’s junior colleague was dying. His one and only wish was to have a wedding ceremony with my wife, Seraphina. The moment she agreed, I told the System, “Help me leave this world.” Seraphina asked me for a divorce twice. Both times, I couldn’t make it to the courthouse as planned. Not until I was lying on the operating table, a terminally ill patient. She, the lead surgeon, looked at me, horrified and desperate, “How can it be you?” What shattered her even more was this: I would, as per the System’s design, die by her hands. Leaving her with eternal guilt. Seraphina was a surgeon, the hospital’s renowned “golden hand.” She was incredibly busy. So busy that she only notified me of our divorce via SnapChat. “Find some time to finalize the divorce.” “Julian’s emotions are unstable; he can’t wait.” I stared at the table, laden with cold food, the edges of the cream cake melting. Just like our relationship – ten years, from our school days to wedding vows, all crumbling in an instant. I called her several times; she finally picked up on the fourth ring. Her voice was distant. “Something wrong? I was busy.” I instinctively wanted to apologize, thinking she was in surgery. Doctors, after all, always have to be responsible for their patients. But then, I heard a man’s soft chuckle in the background. “Clothes are off, come quickly.” Blood rushed to my head. “Seraphina, we’re still married, aren’t we?” She explained, her tone cool and collected. “You misunderstood. I was bathing Julian’s dog.” I closed my eyes, my nails digging into my palms. “Seraphina, if we divorce, I will disappear.” This was the System’s original setting; no one could change it. She didn’t reply. I heard movement on her end. She must have moved to a different spot to talk. She lowered her voice. “Liam, I’ve explained it many times. It’s just a ceremony.” “After I fulfill his wish, we’ll get back together.” “Why do you always use ‘disappearing’ to pressure me?” When she used my full name, it usually meant she was angry. Seeing that I didn’t answer, Seraphina’s breathing grew heavy. Because she’d once said she hated it when I was silent and unresponsive. “Liam, be rational.” I scoffed. “You’re at Julian’s place late at night, telling me to be rational? Don’t you think that’s funny?” Legally, she was still my wife, after all. There was a long sigh on the other end. Then, her indifferent words pierced my heart, one by one. “Liam, Friday morning. Let’s get the divorce done.”

I scooped a bite of cream into my mouth, a bitter taste spreading on my tongue. It was laughable. She remembered bathing Julian’s dog, but forgot it was my birthday today. Maybe her heart had wandered, and her memories had gone with it. “System, can you sing ‘Happy Birthday’?” “No, I only sing dirges.” I chuckled. “Then don’t bother. Save it for when I die.” “Help me leave this world.” If I left here, I could return to my original world. In that world, though I didn’t have a healthy body, I had a loving family and friends. I missed the rice noodle rolls from downstairs and the beef soup from the old street market. And of course, my dad’s warm, hearty porridge. Here, I only cooked for Seraphina. Because she was a doctor. Her hands were vital to her patients, and to her. But when I saw Julian’s Ins post, I completely broke down. Her slender, well-protected fingers, those hands I cherished, were patiently peeling crawfish for him. The caption read: “My golden hands only peel shrimp for me.” It made all my past efforts seem like a joke. “Host, won’t you try harder?” “No.” My heart was dead. The moment she decided to divorce, the mission was doomed to fail. It was just a matter of when I would die. Why not end it sooner? The System sighed faintly. “Self-termination will be a bit painful.” “Good news is, you get to choose how you die.” I thought about it seriously. A faint smile touched my lips. “Seraphina never believed I would disappear.” “Then I’ll die by her golden hands.” I bet her expression would be priceless then.

I couldn’t make it to the courthouse to finalize the divorce that Friday. After the termination protocol started, my body quickly showed signs of decay, my immune system severely weakened. I had a fever. My lips were dry and cracked. Subconsciously, I called out, “Seraphina, water.” Usually, whenever she was home, I would always have perfectly temperate water. I liked and was used to her accommodating me in small things. But opening my eyes, I remembered she’d moved out long ago. The day she agreed to marry Julian. “He’s my teacher’s son. For my teacher’s sake, I have to take care of him.” “He’s practically dying; it’s just a wedding ceremony. Can’t you be the bigger person?” That day, I stared at her blankly. “If it’s just a ceremony, why bother getting divorced?” She lowered her eyes, her fair, beautiful face tinged with frost. “We can’t have him known as the other man, can we?” Right, legally, we weren’t divorced, so he would be the “other man.” She was really going all out for this act. I looked at her indifferently. “Seraphina, if we divorce, I can’t ever get back together with you.” She froze for a second, dropping her suitcase. She gripped my arm tightly. “What did you say?” “You won’t be with me? Who will you be with?” “You said you were an orphan in this world; you have no family except me.” Perhaps she hurt me physically, and it also stung my heart. I patiently pushed her away. “Let go. You were the one who didn’t want me first.” But she ignored me and threw herself into my arms. Remembering our ten years together, my eyes welled up. “Don’t be sad, Liam. If you’re sad, I’ll be even sadder.” “How could I not want you?” She awkwardly tried to comfort me. Her kisses trailed from my lips down to my Adam’s apple. She said she was an orphan and her teacher had taken care of her so much since she was little. She said Julian was just like a younger brother. I believed her. After all, he had a rare, terminal illness and was dying, wasn’t he? The System said if we restored our marital relationship within three months, the mission wouldn’t be a failure. It wasn’t until a week later, when I went to the hospital to bring her some nutrient soup. Passing by the outdoor parking lot, Julian was in the driver’s seat, car windows fully open. She stood outside the car, hands in the pockets of her white coat, looking stunningly elegant. The next second, she bent down and kissed her “little brother.” It felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over my head. I watched numbly as she reached out a fair, slender finger and playfully ruffled his hair. “Be good, go home and rest.” He seemed to mumble something, then put on his sunglasses and drove off. All of this felt so familiar. She used to do all that for me. She wanted to fulfill his wish to marry her, and a chilling realization dawned on me. Was it merely sympathy and a sense of responsibility? Perhaps, her heart had already wandered? Wandered to another man, all while trying not to violate the vows of our relationship. No wonder she was so eager to divorce and get married to him. That day, I threw the nutrient soup into the trash. And along with it, the heart I once gave her so completely, so unconditionally.

In a feverish haze, my phone rang repeatedly. I struggled to reach for it and answered. Seraphina’s voice, tinged with annoyance, came through. “Do you have any sense of time? I’ve been waiting for you for half an hour.” Oh, I was burning up and forgot about the divorce today. I said weakly, “I have a fever. Can we reschedule?” I was so weak, I couldn’t even get out of bed. How was I supposed to go? She chuckled on the other end. “You forgot I’m a doctor? With your strong-as-an-ox physique, how could you possibly have a fever?” “You’re 28, not a little boy like Julian. Stop being dramatic.” I actually laughed, angered. “You might not know, but the ‘little boy’ you speak of is only two years younger than me.” She used to call me ‘little boy’ too. Maybe she was just tired of it now. It didn’t matter. I had no expectations of her anymore.

I missed the second divorce appointment too. On my way out, I had a bit of an accident. At a crosswalk, a two-year-old girl in a cheerful, cartoon-print overall dress, with her short legs, rushed out to find her dad. A car turning the corner lost control due to speeding. Without thinking, I pushed her forcefully to a safe zone. *Bang!* I felt like I was being shattered. The hit-and-run driver didn’t stop for a second, speeding away. I turned my head and saw the license plate – it looked familiar. In a flash of lightning, I remembered Julian’s car in the hospital parking lot. It was him. The girl was picked up by her frantic family, crying inconsolably. “Uncle, Uncle is hurt.” All I felt was pain, the kind that made my organs feel crushed. But there was no blood, as I’d expected. “System, am I dying?” It didn’t go as planned, a bit regrettable. But to save a cute little kid before I died, I felt no regrets. The System paused for a few seconds, then replied calmly. “Congratulations, Host. Before your designated death date, you temporarily cannot die.” “All the symptoms of the car accident will only manifest on the day you leave.” The System then sheepishly added, “This is a perk I managed to get for you.” 小·虎bot文件防·盗印，找丶书·机器人选小·虎，稳·定靠谱，不踩·坑！ I found the System unexpectedly endearing. I smiled. “Good. Then Seraphina can see what her new husband did to me.” Lily’s dad and grandmother surrounded me. Lily’s dad said with red eyes, “You saved my baby, you saved our whole family.” They almost knelt down to me. I repeatedly insisted I was fine, but they still enthusiastically urged me into their car and took me to the hospital. “How can you be fine? The car’s bumper was completely caved in.” “You’re telling me a person is tougher than a car?” Left with no choice, I called Seraphina in advance. “I was in a car accident. Can we reschedule?”

I never expected them to take me to Seraphina’s hospital. “Let me see the report.” A familiar voice sounded from above my head. Seraphina burst in like a whirlwind, her forehead glistening with sweat. As if she had just rushed back from somewhere. The other doctor patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Dr. Seraphina, he’s fine.” Before the System-assigned death date, no instrument could detect any issues with my body. Seraphina meticulously read every paper report. When she looked up again, her eyes held an unfamiliar sharpness. “No external or internal injuries. What kind of car accident is this?” “Liam, you’ve stood me up twice now. What’s your game?” I folded my hands. “A car accident, that’s what. Oh, and it was your new husband who hit me. He fled the scene too.” She didn’t even think, frowning as she retorted, “Impossible. Julian is a good guy; he wouldn’t do something like that.” “So you’re saying I’m not a good guy, that I’d lie?” Both of us froze after I said that. A flicker of awkwardness crossed her eyes. Because she, too, realized that she trusted Julian more than me. I asked the System in my mind, “Will he get caught?” The System replied definitively, “Yes. This world is still a society governed by law.” Oh, good, then I felt relieved. Let the law judge her ‘good guy.’ If it weren’t for the System protecting me, that massive impact should have killed me instantly. He was a hit-and-run driver. I raised my hand to check my watch. “Seraphina, let’s go. To the courthouse, now.” “Otherwise, I’m out of time.” Her hands were in her pockets, her tone flat. “What do you mean, ‘out of time’?” “I’m dying.” Three days from now, at 4 PM. I once asked the System, “Is there anything special about that time?” “Ten years ago, at 4 PM, was when you two first met.” Oh, full circle. Seraphina glanced indifferently out the window, her tone impatient. “Liam, you should see a psychologist.” I laughed, angered. “Seraphina, you’re the one who’s sick, wanting to have your cake and eat it too, you manipulative…!” I turned to leave, but she grabbed my wrist. “Haven’t been eating properly lately? You’ve lost weight.” “None of your business.” “Eat something first, Liam.” Just as I was about to refuse, her phone vibrated. I saw Julian’s name on the screen. Seraphina instinctively let go of my hand. He was whining on the phone, saying he had a nightmare and was scared. Seraphina softly soothed him for a few moments. She glanced at me, then replied to him, “Yes, I’ll be back soon.” When she ended the call, a flicker of hesitation crossed her eyes. “Liam, you go eat first—” I scoffed internally. A nightmare? Or was he scared and guilty from hitting someone? Perfect. By choosing him again, Seraphina missed our last meal together. When she thought back on it later, would she regret it? The final countdown of my life. I lay on the cold operating table. Waves of stomach-churning, organ-shattering pain washed over me. It’s okay, just bear with it.

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I heard Dr. Julian Hayes’s junior was dying. Her only wish was to have a wedding with him. The moment he agreed. I messaged the System, “Help me leave this world.” Julian had rushed me to get a divorce twice. Both times, I couldn’t make it to the divorce court as planned. Not until I, a terminally ill patient, lay on the operating table. He, my lead surgeon, looked at me with horror and despair, “How can it be you?” What shattered him even more was this: According to the System’s setup, I would die by his hand. Leaving him consumed by eternal guilt. Dr. Julian Hayes was a surgeon, the hospital’s renowned “magic hands.” He was incredibly busy. So busy that he only notified me about the divorce on SnapChat. “Find some time to finalize the divorce.” “Scarlett’s emotions are unstable, she can’t wait.” I stared at the table laden with cold food, the frosting on the cream cake melting at the edges. It was like our relationship, a decade-long journey from high school sweethearts to husband and wife, crumbling in an instant. I called him several times; he finally picked up on the fourth try. His voice was flat, “Something wrong? I was busy.” My first instinct was to apologize, assuming he was in surgery. Doctors, after all, are always responsible for their patients. But then, a playful female voice chirped in the background, “Clothes are off, hurry up.” My blood ran cold. “Julian Hayes, we’re still married, you know?” He explained it away with an unsettling nonchalance. “You misunderstood. I was giving Scarlett’s dog a bath.” I closed my eyes, my fingernails digging tightly into my palms. “Julian, if we divorce, I’ll disappear.” That was the System’s original setting. No one could change it. He didn’t reply. I heard movement on his end. He probably moved to another spot to take the call. He lowered his voice. “Audrey Hayes, I’ve explained it countless times. It’s just a ceremony.” “We’ll remarry after I fulfill her wish.” “Why do you always use this ‘disappearing’ as leverage?” Usually, when he called me by my full name, it meant he was angry. Seeing I didn’t answer, Julian’s breathing grew heavy. He had often said he hated it when I stayed silent and didn’t respond. “Audrey Hayes, be rational.” I scoffed, “You’re at Scarlett Reid’s house late at night, telling me to be rational? Don’t you find that laughable?” After all, legally, he was still my husband. There was a long sigh from his end. Then, his indifferent words, one by one, pierced my heart. “Audrey Hayes, Friday morning, let’s get the divorce done.”

I dug a spoonful of cream cake into my mouth, a bitter taste dissolving on my tongue. It was ironic. He remembered bathing Scarlett Reid’s dog but forgot it was my birthday. Perhaps his heart wasn’t in it anymore, and neither was his memory of me. “System, do you sing birthday songs?” “No, I only sing funeral dirges.” I chuckled, “Then no need for now. Save it for when I die.” “Help me leave this world.” If I left this world, I could return to my original one. In my original world, though I didn’t have a healthy body. I had loving family and friends. I missed the classic diner breakfast downstairs, and the hearty chicken noodle soup from the old market. And of course, my mom’s warm, comforting homemade stew. Here, I only ever cooked for Julian. Because he was a doctor. His hands were vital for his patients, and for him. But when I saw Scarlett Reid’s Ins post, I instantly broke down. His perfectly sculpted hands, the ones I’d always protected, were patiently peeling shrimp for her. The caption read, “My magic hands only peel shrimp for me.” It made all my past efforts feel like a cruel joke. “Host, won’t you try a little harder?” “No.” My heart was dead. The moment he decided to divorce, my mission was doomed to fail. It was just a matter of when I’d die. Why not end it sooner? The System sighed softly, “Self-initiated departure will be a bit painful.” “Good news is, you can choose how you die.” I thought about it seriously. And let out a faint laugh. “Julian never believed I’d disappear.” “So, I’ll die by his ‘magic hands’ then.” I guessed his expression would be priceless.

I couldn’t make it to the divorce court on Friday as planned. After the departure program initiated. My body quickly started showing signs of decay, my immunity critically low. I had a fever. My lips were so chapped they felt like sandpaper. I subconsciously called out, “Darling, water.” Before, whenever he was home, I always had water at just the right temperature. I loved, and had grown accustomed to, his pampering me in small ways. But opening my eyes, I remembered he’d moved out long ago. The day he agreed to marry Scarlett Reid. “She’s my mentor’s daughter. Out of respect for my mentor, I have to take care of her.” “She’s dying. It’s just a wedding ceremony. Be a little more understanding.” I stared at him blankly that day. “If it’s just a ceremony, why bother getting a divorce?” He lowered his gaze, his fair, refined face tinged with coldness. “I can’t let her be his mistress, can I?” Right, if we weren’t legally divorced, she’d be the other woman. So he was really committing to the act. I looked at him indifferently. “Julian Hayes, if we divorce, there’s no way I’ll ever remarry you.” He froze for a second, then dropped his suitcase. He grabbed my arm tightly. “What did you say?” “If not with me, then who would you be with?” “You told me you’re an orphan in this world, with no family except me.” Maybe he was gripping me too hard. Tears welled up in my eyes. I clenched my fists and hit him, “Let go, you jerk! You’re the one who gave up on me first!” But he pulled me into a tight embrace. My tears stained the collar of his white shirt. “Don’t cry, Audrey. Your tears hurt me.” “How could I ever give up on you?” He awkwardly wiped my tears away. Kissing me all the way from my forehead to my lips. He said he was an orphan, and his mentor’s wife had looked after him since he was young. He said Scarlett was just like a sister. I believed him. After all, she had a rare, terminal illness and was dying, wasn’t she? The System said if we restored our marital relationship within three months, the mission wouldn’t be a failure. A week later, I went to the hospital to bring him some nourishing soup. Passing by the outdoor parking lot. Scarlett Reid sat in the driver’s seat, all windows down. He stood outside the car, hands in his white lab coat pockets, his figure tall and imposing. The next moment, he bent down and kissed the “sister” he had spoken of. It felt like a bucket of ice water had been poured over my head. I numbly watched him extend a pale, slender finger and dotingly ruffle her hair. “Be a good girl, go home and rest.” She seemed to playfully say something, then put on her sunglasses and drove off. It was all so familiar. He used to do all that for me. The thought of him wanting to fulfill her wedding wish suddenly filled me with dread. Was it merely sympathy and responsibility? Or had his heart already strayed? Strayed to another girl, but in a way that didn’t technically violate our vows. No wonder he was so eager to divorce me and marry her. That day, I tossed the nourishing soup into the trash. And with it, the heart that had once loved him so completely.

In my feverish haze, the phone rang repeatedly. I struggled to reach for it and answered. Julian’s voice, laced with annoyance, came through the line. “Can you please have some sense of time? I’ve been waiting for you for half an hour.” Oh, I was burning up and had forgotten about the divorce today. I said weakly, “I have a fever. Can we reschedule?” I was so weak, I couldn’t even get up. How was I supposed to go? He chuckled on the other end, “You forgot I’m a doctor? With your strong as an ox physique, how could you possibly have a fever?” “You’re 28, not a little girl like Scarlett. Don’t be so dramatic.” I was genuinely amused. “You might not know, but the ‘little girl’ you’re talking about is only two years younger than me.” He used to call me ‘little girl’ once too. Maybe he just got tired of it. Whatever. I had no expectations left for him.

I missed the second divorce appointment too. On my way out, I had a little accident. At the intersection, a two-year-old boy in a cartoon T-shirt, with his short legs, dashed out to find his mom. A car, speeding around the corner, lost control. I didn’t think twice, pushing him with all my strength into the safety zone. *Bang!* I felt like I was being smashed to pieces. The hit-and-run driver didn’t stop for a second, speeding off with a roar. I turned my head and saw the license plate. It looked familiar. In a flash of insight, I remembered Scarlett Reid’s car in the hospital parking lot. It was her. The boy was scooped up by his panicked family, crying hysterically. “Auntie, Auntie is hurt!” I only felt pain, the kind of pain that felt like my insides were being torn apart. But there was no blood as I had expected. “System, am I dying?” It didn’t go as planned, which was a little regretful. But saving a sweet kid right before I died made it feel worth it. The System paused for a few seconds, then replied nonchalantly. “Congratulations. You temporarily won’t die before your scheduled death date, Host.” “The symptoms of the car accident will only fully manifest on the day you depart.” The System then added a little sheepishly, “This is a perk I fought for you.” I found the System strangely endearing. I smiled, “Good. Then Julian can see what his new wife did to me.” The boy’s parents and grandmother surrounded me. The boy’s mother, with red eyes, said, “You saved our baby, you saved our whole family!” They almost knelt down to me. I repeatedly insisted I was fine, but they still warmly insisted on putting me in their car and taking me to the hospital. “How can you be fine? The car’s bumper is completely dented.” “Is a person harder than a car?” Left with no choice, I called Julian ahead of time. “I was in a car accident. Let’s reschedule again.”

I hadn’t expected them to bring me to Julian’s hospital. “Let me see the report results.” A familiar voice sounded from above me. Julian burst in like a whirlwind, thin sweat beading on his forehead. He looked like he had just rushed back from somewhere. The other doctor patted his shoulder, “Don’t worry, Dr. Hayes, she’s fine.” Before the System’s programmed death date. No instrument could detect any issues with my body. Julian meticulously reviewed every paper report. When he looked up again, his eyes held a unfamiliar, sharp intensity. “No external or internal injuries. What kind of car accident is this?” “Audrey, what kind of drama are you trying to pull, missing appointments like this, twice?” I clasped my hands together. “A car accident, actually. Oh, and it was your new wife who hit me and then fled the scene.” He immediately frowned and retorted, without thinking. “That’s impossible. Scarlett is very innocent, she wouldn’t do something like that.” “So you’re saying I’m not innocent, and I’m lying?” We both froze then. A flicker of awkwardness crossed his eyes. Because he, too, realized he trusted Scarlett more than he trusted me. In my mind, I asked the System, “Will she be caught?” The System replied unequivocally, “Yes, this is a society with laws.” Oh, good, then I felt relieved. Let her “innocence” be judged by the law. If it weren’t for the System protecting me, that massive impact would have killed me instantly. She was a hit-and-run driver. I raised my hand to check the time. “Julian, let’s go. To the divorce court. Now.” “Otherwise, I’m running out of time.” He shoved his hands into his pockets, his tone flat. “What do you mean, running out of time?” “I’m dying.” Three days from now, at 4 PM. I had once asked the System, “Is there anything special about that time?” “Ten years ago, at 4 PM, was when you two first met.” Ah, a full circle. Julian looked out the window indifferently, his tone a bit impatient. “Audrey, you should really see a therapist.” I laughed in exasperation, “Julian, you’re the one who’s sick, wanting both… you cheat.” I turned to leave, but he gripped my wrist. “Haven’t you been eating well lately? You’ve lost weight.” “None of your business.” “Eat first, Audrey.” I was about to refuse when his phone vibrated. I saw Scarlett Reid’s name on the screen. Julian subconsciously let go of my hand. She was sobbing on the phone, saying she had a nightmare and was scared. Julian softly comforted her for a few moments. He glanced at me, then told her, “Yes, I’ll be back soon.” When he hung up, a flicker of hesitation crossed his eyes. “Audrey, you go eat first…” I sneered inwardly. A nightmare? Or was it fear and guilt because she’d hit someone? Good. Julian, by choosing her again, missed our last meal together. Would he regret it later, when he remembered?

The final countdown of my life. I lay on the cold operating table. Waves of agonizing pain, like my insides were being torn apart, washed over me. It was okay. Just bear with it. Soon, I could go home and have my mom’s homemade stew. Julian’s violent voice message still echoed in my ears. “Audrey Hayes, do you really think I don’t have a temper?” “Scarlett is dying, can you just be understanding, for God’s sake?!” All because I missed our third appointment. But I had told him, hadn’t I? I was running out of time. I was dying. He just didn’t believe me. Ten minutes later, Julian, dressed in surgical scrubs, entered the operating room with a blank expression. This surgery wasn’t originally his. But the System had set it up so that no matter who the surgeon was, it would ultimately be him. “System, what’s my terminal illness?” “A tumor surgery. Julian Hayes’s golden specialty.” The System almost sounded gleeful. The anesthetic had been administered. Julian was ready. His assistant couldn’t help but quietly ask, “Dr. Hayes, are you okay?” The assistant knew about me. They had even secretly admired him. “Dr. Hayes truly has an iron will.” “Only a ruthless person could operate on his own wife.” But Julian himself, for now, had no idea. Lying under the surgical drapes was the wife he had angrily scolded just an hour ago. He took the scalpel handed to him by the assistant. And with practiced ease, made a sixteen-centimeter incision on my abdomen. Compared to the surgeries he usually performed, this tumor operation wasn’t particularly special. Even if it failed, it would be within a reasonable scope. After all, the surgical difficulty was high, and the success rate extremely low. But thanks to his years of professional experience, the surgery was well within his control. However, the word “accident” is the one thing humans can never control. For instance, Julian unexpectedly discovered a faint pink scar on the skin near the incision. His hand immediately froze mid-air. The assistants were all a bit surprised. This had never happened before. Especially with the patient’s flesh already cut open. Dr. Hayes looked dazed. Only I, in the entire room, knew why.

That scar was all too familiar to Julian. How many nights, wrapped in loving intimacy, had he traced it, kissed it? “Audrey, this is your scar, but it’s my lifelong mark.” Because it was a mark from when I shielded him from a knife. When he was doing his residency, I brought him food. A patient, crazed after a failed surgery, was wildly brandishing a knife. He was just a fresh-faced young doctor then, and it had nothing to do with him. But as he was helping another fallen, innocent patient, The knife swung towards his abdomen. “Watch out!” I pushed him away, and in the chaos, the knife plunged into my lower abdomen. Julian immediately covered my wound. Blood seeped between his fingers, covering his hands. His face was ashen as he scooped me up and stumbled towards the emergency room. It wasn’t until my wound was treated that the hollow look in his eyes began to clear. He looked at me with red-rimmed eyes, burying his head in my neck. “Audrey, seeing you bleed… I hurt so much, I’d rather die myself.” I smiled and patted him, “Then will you promise to be good to me from now on?” He kissed my earlobe. “I’d give my life for you.” That day, he held me, carefully avoiding my wound. And said, with utmost seriousness, “Audrey, you’re too kind.” “Please, from now on, think more about yourself, okay?” He was the one who once told me to think more about myself. Now, he was the one calling Scarlett “innocent” and telling me to be “more understanding.” The assistant quietly prompted, “Dr. Hayes, is something wrong?” Julian paid no attention, quickly taking two steps. Suddenly, he pulled back the surgical drape covering my face. His pupils instantly constricted. His face contorted with horror and despair, “How can it be you?” At that moment, I couldn’t respond. I was under anesthesia, my eyes closed in a heavy haze. My face was pale, cold sweat beading on my forehead. It was the final stage of the departure process. It truly hurt. But it would be over soon. Julian’s throat bobbed several times, his voice trembling uncontrollably. “Audrey, you can’t be hurt. I won’t let anything happen to you.” He wanted to touch me, but couldn’t, fearing bacterial infection. The assistants were somewhat surprised. Didn’t Dr. Hayes know that the person under his scalpel was his own wife? But their professional training quickly brought them back to normal. They refocused on the operating table. The System said coolly in my mind, “This is probably Julian Hayes’s most agonizing surgery.” After all, this surgery had only a 5% success rate. Anyone would be nervous, right? He picked up the scalpel again, his fingers trembling slightly. But quickly, he controlled the tremor with astonishing willpower. Years of professional training took over. The surgery continued systematically. “More anesthetic.” “The tumor has spread, partly free-floating. There’s significant bleeding.” “Use embolization to block the blood vessels.” “Continue adhesion dissection, remove the diseased tissue.” Julian Hayes was indeed the hospital’s most renowned, youngest “magic hands.” Everything was as he said; he could control it. The assistant’s voice came through, slightly excited, “Success!” They were quietly cheering. But I wasn’t surprised at all. The surgery was temporarily successful, of course. Because my departure deadline hadn’t arrived yet. Only two hours left.

Post-surgery, according to protocol, I needed to stay in the observation room for an hour. Seeing that all my vital signs were good. Julian’s composed expression returned. The entire space was left with just him and me. Aside from the brief conversation at the hospital clinic after the car accident. We hadn’t been together for more than an hour in a very long time. He whispered in my ear, “I never thought these hands would one day perform surgery on you, Audrey.” My anesthetic wore off quickly. That was thanks to the System’s settings. I opened my eyes and mocked him. “I never thought your hands would one day peel shrimp for someone else.” In this world, I was an orphan, just like him. I earned my tuition bit by bit. I remembered when we first graduated. We were so poor we couldn’t even afford a washing machine. Southern winters were damp and bitingly cold. Every time I washed clothes, my fingers would turn bright red from the cold, but I never let him touch the water. “No need for you here. Your hands are for holding scalpels, for saving more lives and families.” “Audrey, do you have a filter for doctors or something?” “Yes.” In my original world, doctors had saved my life too. “Okay, I promise I won’t let your admiration down, Audrey.” The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Julian seemed to be choked by my words. After a long while, he sighed softly. “Audrey, Scarlett is dying. Can you please, not hold a grudge against her?” I chuckled, “I’m dying too. Why shouldn’t I hold a grudge against her?” Julian’s eyes instantly darkened. “You won’t die. Don’t you trust my skills?” Perhaps realizing I was now also a patient. His voice softened a bit. “When did you get this illness?” “The day you asked for a divorce, and didn’t believe I would disappear.” He was choked up again, so he changed the subject. “I know you care about your looks, so I stitched the incision beautifully. The scar will be very light.” I didn’t respond. The silence in the air became so thick it made him uncomfortable. He wanted to say something else. Chloe, the nurse, came in. “Dr. Hayes, your phone has been ringing off the hook.” “Audrey, I need to take this call.” After a while, Julian returned, his expression somewhat awkward. “Audrey, I have an urgent matter to attend to. I’ll have the nurse take good care of you.” Of course, I knew what he was going to do. His original plan was to divorce me this morning. And then, in the afternoon, have a garden wedding with Scarlett Reid. Dr. Hayes, truly quite the time management expert, he was busy. “Julian Hayes, I have less than two hours left in this world.” “Are you sure you don’t want to say your final goodbyes to me?” Honestly, I didn’t want to spend much more time with him either. But if he stayed. It would be his last small gesture of sincerity towards our years of shared feelings and marriage. Then I, too, would have been more understanding. Easing his guilt just a little. But he didn’t want to. Julian stood up, and even after three hours of intense surgery, he still looked energetic and graceful. The frantic emotion he’d shown when he realized I was his patient had vanished completely. “Audrey, after you recover, I’ll personally schedule you for a therapy session.” That composed, non-negotiable tone. Honestly, I really disliked it. I let out a cold laugh, “Dr. Hayes, I hope you don’t regret this.” Julian’s expression was calm, as if he thought I was just acting out. He glanced at me, a slight smile playing on his lips, “I won’t.” “Audrey, you need to rest now.” With that, he disappeared through the door. Because his phone, in his pocket, had been ringing with urgent calls for him. By now, his wedding should be bustling with guests. Scarlett Reid probably couldn’t wait any longer. I felt a sense of release. Julian Hayes, this was your choice.

After Julian left, the System sighed in my mind. “Alas, he missed his last chance.” I was surprised that the System would feel regret. “Host, you’re a kind-hearted girl. I secretly fought for an opportunity for you to live well in this world.” “If he had chosen you today, the surgery’s success would have become reality.” I chuckled, “System, did you forget? Even if he stayed today, I wouldn’t live.” “Because Scarlett Reid already ran me over and killed me.” The System was silent for a moment. “Yes, I know.” “Host, do you want to know why Scarlett Reid was speeding that day?” “Because she was rushing to the airport to pick up Julian Hayes.” That was right. That day was when Julian returned from his business trip. She was rushing to pick him up. Because Julian needed to rush to divorce me. The causal link was eerily clear. I sighed softly. “Even if I hadn’t been in a car accident, and the surgery was successful, I still wouldn’t want him.” “You don’t love him anymore?” The System had witnessed our decade together. “No.” “Why?” the System pressed. “Aren’t you the System? How could you not know?” “Ahem, the System isn’t all-knowing, there might be occasional oversights.” I smiled, “Scarlett Reid doesn’t have a dog.” Julian himself had told me that long ago. His mentor’s wife and his junior were both allergic to animal fur. “How could someone allergic to animal fur keep a dog?” The System was stunned for a long while. “So that night, they couldn’t have been bathing a dog?” That line on the phone, “Clothes are off, hurry up,” was enough to explain everything. He had strayed, both physically and emotionally. And yet, he had calmly and confidently lied to me. “System, he’s tainted. I can’t want him anymore.” The System, unusually, swore. “Damn it! What a scumbag. Let him drown in guilt!”

“No, the patient is hemorrhaging, tissue infection!” “Dr. Hayes’s surgery has a massive complication!” “Heart stopped! Put her on artificial heart-lung machine! ECMO ready!” “How did the patient’s liver, heart, and lungs rupture?” I had already completed the detachment. My soul floated above, watching my life slowly ebb away. “Why can’t we reach Dr. Hayes?” “Got through to one, but it was hung up.” I asked the System, “Do you know who hung up?” “Oh, this is good. It was Scarlett Reid.” The System sounded like it was enjoying the show. “Come on, Host, the System will take you to a wedding.” The System was getting cuter and cuter. Before leaving, I glanced at my body on the operating table. The car accident injuries had fully manifested. So, it was that serious? My entire body was shattered, my arm and left leg twisted at odd angles. Probably broken. How pitiful. I was glad I pushed that little boy away. He was so adorable, so sweet. I’m glad he was okay.

Watching someone else’s wedding was surprisingly interesting. Flowers piled high, balloons floating in a riot of colors. It was the picture of happiness. Except, it was stolen. “System, that cake on the long table looks delicious.” “Host, you seem… happy?” “Should I remind you, this is your… husband’s wedding?” I crinkled my nose. “Because I’m going home soon, of course I’m happy.” As for Julian, he couldn’t affect my emotions anymore. When I first found out he was straying. I was heartbroken, resentful. I even doubted myself. I cried myself to sleep night after night, losing clumps of hair. Closing my eyes, my mind replayed endless loops: him and her, hands intertwined; them laughing and kissing; even embracing in bed. The world I had once protected collapsed. Later, I realized such behavior was foolish. I couldn’t punish my kind self for a man who had changed his heart. What I needed to do was find opportunities to live in the sunshine again. “Host, look, there’s the scumbag.” Julian, in a black suit, appeared at the end of the lawn. Handsome, elegant, with an exceptional demeanor. The bride, well, she was beautiful too, her makeup impeccable. At least there wasn’t a hint of the panic of someone who had hit and run three days ago. I slowly floated over to Julian. I heard him quietly ask Scarlett, “Where’s my phone?” Scarlett’s eyes darted away for a moment, “In the dressing room. I put it away for you.” A phone stuffed into a perfectly tailored groom’s suit certainly wouldn’t look good. “Did I get any calls?” “I think there was one.” Scarlett paused, “Do you want to go get it? But… the wedding is about to start.” Julian hesitated, “No need.” He gazed calmly ahead. I wondered if he remembered our wedding. We were so poor we could only afford silver rings, but we were so happy. “Audrey, do you regret marrying a poor guy like me?” “No, Dr. Hayes is a rising star.” Indeed, he later had the means to buy me a huge diamond ring. But I no longer had that same joy. “Audrey, my junior is sick, she’s dying. Can I fulfill one of her wishes?” “She’s only 26, so pitiful. Julian, go quickly.” “Audrey, her wish is to marry me.” I froze instantly. “Julian Hayes, that wish is unreasonable.” “But she’s dying.” “Even if she’s dying, she can’t just steal someone else’s husband, someone else’s relationship.” “Darling, that wish is immoral.” That day, he stood on the balcony, smoking for a long time. Finally, he flicked the ash, and said, with profound coldness: “Audrey, you’ve changed. You’re not as kind as you used to be.” He left me with a room full of silence. “Julian Hayes, did you forget, I’m most afraid of being alone?” I sat in the empty living room, turning on every light, one by one, but still felt something was missing. Finally, I buried my face in my arms, curling into a ball. It wasn’t me who changed. Julian Hayes, it was you. When he was with Scarlett Reid, I called him. “My stomach hurts.” “Julian Hayes, my stomach hurts.” That day, he was with Scarlett at the very top of the Ferris wheel. Legend said that kissing there symbolized love and eternity. I didn’t actually have a stomachache. I was standing below the Ferris wheel, watching them sit intimately together. My heart hurt. Julian, of course, knew my body well. His tone on the phone was distant and cold, “Audrey, I’m a surgeon, not a gastroenterologist.” In that moment, I felt like I was going to die from the pain. When someone can’t tolerate your occasional whims. That’s probably when they’ve stopped loving you. Love and indifference are always starkly different.

“System, is it almost time for the ring exchange?” “That diamond ring is so sparkly, must have cost a fortune, huh?” The System was almost exasperated by me. “Host, shouldn’t you be concerned about when the police will arrive?” “What’s the rush?” Let them be “happy” for a little longer. That way, when the truth comes out, it’ll hurt even more. Scarlett Reid gazed shyly at Julian. “Julian, I’ve actually liked you for a long time.” “Today, that wish finally came true.” Julian’s expression was a bit unnatural. He lowered his eyes, slightly distracted. Perhaps he was thinking back to when we got married. He had said those very same words to me. “Audrey, marrying you, that wish finally came true.” The irony was, today he left me at the hospital to fulfill someone else’s wish. He had probably just taken off our wedding ring. There was still a faint imprint of the ring on his ring finger. But I had no such mark. The women’s ring I once cherished. The day he agreed to marry Scarlett Reid, I threw it in the trash, never wanting it again. At this moment, Julian’s elegant fingertips picked up the diamond ring, preparing to place it on Scarlett Reid’s finger. At the entrance arch, several uniformed police officers suddenly entered. The System’s voice was slightly excited. “Oh, the show’s beginning.” “What, need some popcorn?” “Ahem, Host, you forgot, I’m working right now.” I almost burst out laughing at the System. “Scarlett Reid, we have a public complaint alleging hit-and-run.” Scarlett’s lips trembled, like a drowning person, her hand gripping Julian’s arm tightly. “I… I didn’t.” The police were used to people who refuse to admit anything. They spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, “Surveillance footage shows that on the 11th of this month, at 2:10 PM, the car you were driving, license plate number XXX, was speeding on Oceanview Road, hit a person, and then fled the scene.” “The victim was a young woman.” At this, I saw Julian’s fingers twitch. He was so smart, he must have realized that at that time, the person Scarlett was supposed to pick up was him. Julian’s face turned grim as he pulled his arm away, taking two steps back. He glared fiercely at Scarlett. “You drove a different car to pick me up that day because your original car hit someone?” Scarlett was trembling uncontrollably. He couldn’t help but violently grip her neck. “Did you hit Audrey?” Scarlett stammered incoherently. “It hurts, let go! I don’t know, it’s impossible, there were no cameras there!” The police calmly informed her, “There were cameras. They were just installed the day before.” Scarlett’s body swayed forward. “Madam, we also need to inform you that you are suspected of purchasing falsified medical records and need to cooperate with our investigation.” Scarlett’s face instantly turned ashen. She didn’t even have the strength to argue. Finally, she collapsed like a rag doll and was led away by the police. Criminal prosecution awaited her. Among the guests, murmurs of indignation began. “What an embarrassment, getting arrested on your wedding day!” “She always seemed so sweet and innocent, but she hit someone and ran? How heartless can you be?” “She wasn’t even sick? Faking a terminal illness to gain sympathy? That’s really messed up.” “Isn’t the groom a very skilled doctor? Didn’t he notice anything?” Julian couldn’t have missed it. At that moment, he looked as if he’d been slapped hard across the face. “Host, did Julian really not notice?” I smiled, “Perhaps, he just didn’t want to notice.” He wanted to be the dragon-slaying prince saving the princess. But he never realized he was the dragon himself. The System indignantly spat, “Pfft, what a new breed of scumbag.” Julian finally got his phone from the dressing room. Unfortunately, it was dead, the screen black. He then turned and ran quickly towards the parking lot.

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