Author: Momo Chan

My boyfriend, Liam, and I had a trip planned for the long holiday weekend, but at the last minute, he said he needed to bring along a friend who’d been left all alone. I spent the whole night rebooking our hotel and remapping our itinerary. It wasn’t until we got to our destination that I found out the “friend” was his 21-year-old childhood friend, Cassie. Liam claimed she had nowhere to go for the holiday. He said we could help her out, you know, “like parents taking their son on a trip.” That night, while Liam was debating whether to stay in his “wife’s” room or his “son’s” room, I told him we were done. He flew into a rage, chose my room, and pinned me to the bed. “Don’t even think about running away. I’m sick and tired of you giving me the silent treatment and disappearing whenever you’re mad. I’m not accepting this breakup. I’ve got you tonight.” In the middle of the night, while he was asleep, I took my still-unpacked suitcase and went home. Don’t play me for a fool, Liam. Not anymore. 1 I stood in the packed airport terminal in the dead of night, suitcase in hand. Trying to get a flight home immediately during a peak holiday weekend was impossible. My only option was to pay an exorbitant fee for a long-haul taxi. The three days of vacation I’d earned by working a full year without a break were being spent on the road. Despite his words about not letting me run, Liam only called once, the morning after I left. “Penny, why are you so stubborn? It must be a rough ride back. I left some dumplings I made in your freezer. You can cook some when you get home. Take care of yourself.” I mumbled a quiet agreement. The car’s navigation system was speaking clearly in the background, but Liam prattled on, telling me what to do when I got home. After hanging up, I leaned back in my seat, exhausted from a sleepless night. The driver’s voice broke the silence. “Hey, kiddo, we’re not gonna make it home today. This GPS says we won’t get there ’til morning.” A moment later, he spoke again. “Kiddo, I gotta ask, what’s the point of all this?” Thump. He slammed his fist on the steering wheel, and I felt the whole car shake. He’d been on a righteous tirade ever since last night when I insisted on hiring him for an interstate trip. After all, who arrives in Vermont for the first day of a holiday weekend only to leave before the night is even over? Seeing he was about to drag me to his sister’s place for the night if I didn’t explain, I finally gave in and told him I’d had a fight with my boyfriend and just wanted to go home. That morning’s phone call, which I was too groggy to fully process, had been the last straw for him. “Does he think you can fly? That you can just get home in a day? Buying a ticket during the holidays isn’t that easy! Honey, you’re being a fool. You’re the one suffering on this long ride home, and I bet you anything he’s back there having the time of his life!” I just smiled without saying a word. This wasn’t the first time Liam had pulled something like this. He always had an excuse to bring his “little sister from next door” along. We’d had a huge fight about it just before the trip. I told him I was sick of Cassie tagging along on every single one of our dates. She was twenty-one, not eleven. Just because she went to college in our city didn’t mean she had to be our permanent third wheel. 2 Last month, when Liam proposed, I finally put my foot down. I told him I needed Cassie to be less a part of our lives. He promised. He swore she was just immature, like a little kid. He claimed he had no idea it bothered me so much. If I had just said something sooner, he would have been more careful! And yet, a month later, here we were again, same old story. I had worked for a year without a single day off just to make sure the hospital wouldn’t schedule me for this holiday weekend. I’d come straight from a night shift to spend hours booking hotels and planning our itinerary. When I showed up at the airport, dark circles under my eyes, the first thing I saw was Liam and Cassie, who had already been there for a while. “Penny!” Cassie waved at me from a distance, a sugary-sweet smile on her face. My own face went cold. “Liam, I thought you said ‘never again.’” He looked embarrassed and quickly wrapped an arm around me. “Penny, this was a special case, a real emergency! Her hometown is so far away, she couldn’t go back for the holiday, and she was all alone in her dorm. We couldn’t just leave her, right? It’s more fun with more people anyway.” He squeezed my shoulder. “We’ll just play Mom and Dad taking our kid on a trip. Come on, be good.” I didn’t say anything, just let him knead my hand in his. He probably took my silence as acceptance. He called out to Cassie, who was fiddling with a keychain. “Isn’t that right, son? Get over here and help your Mom and Dad with the luggage!” Cassie wasn’t stupid. Seeing my sour expression, her initial enthusiasm vanished. She listlessly dragged our three suitcases behind her. “Yeah, yeah, okay, Dad. Let’s go, let’s go!” I expected it to be like all the other times, with Cassie being everywhere, needing Liam’s help for everything. But this time, she was quiet the whole way. It wasn’t until we got to the hotel that I figured it out. Not only had Cassie booked her flight well in advance, she’d already booked her hotel room, too. Right next door to ours. It made the family suite I’d paid extra for at the last minute feel like a complete joke. 3 I sat alone in our hotel room, waiting for Liam to get Cassie settled in her room next door. My fingers scrolled endlessly through return flights and train tickets. I even checked the bus schedule. I was done being patient. I stood up, grabbed my suitcase, and headed for the door. “Penny, you won’t believe what Cassie just said.” Liam walked in the exact moment I stood up. “She’s hilarious. After I got her checked in, she asked me if I wanted to sleep with my wife or my son tonight. Can you believe that? Of course my wife comes first. A son is always just a son!” He pulled me into his arms. I remained silent. Liam finally seemed to notice something was wrong. He tilted his head, studying my face. “What’s the matter, Penny? Cassie was just kidding. It’s not like I’d actually sleep with her. We’re all adults here.” “Liam, let’s break up.” My own voice sounded terrifyingly calm. I was done fighting. “Penny, what are you talking about…” Liam froze. When it finally registered, his voice got louder and louder. “I don’t agree! You accepted my proposal. What is this about? Tell me! You do this every time, you just shut down and don’t say anything, and I’m supposed to guess what’s going on in your head? How am I supposed to know what you’re thinking?” I pushed him out of my way and started walking out with my suitcase. Liam’s strength was surprising. He snatched the suitcase and threw it aside, grabbing my arm and forcing me down onto the bed. “Penny Miller, I’m the only one who can put up with this temper of yours. You just shut down and disappear whenever you’re mad. Well, today I’m holding on to you. Let’s see you run now!” As he spat out the vicious words, he took a moment to send a voice message to Cassie. “Son, you’re on your own tonight. Don’t bother your Mom and Dad!” 4 I waited until he was sound asleep. At one in the morning, I took my things and went to the airport. I asked driver after driver, but most weren’t willing to make the long trip. This one, however, seemed to think I was a lost soul with nowhere to go. He insisted on knowing my story, then practically forced me into his car. Vermont was a long way from home. It was a place I’d never been, a place whose crisp winds and heavy snows I’d always dreamed of seeing. In college, I imagined I would one day visit with the love of my life. I never thought it would take me this many years to get here, only to leave like this. The driver spent half the trip cursing out scumbags. As I was getting out, he even tried to set me up with his younger brother. A solid, family-oriented guy, he promised, who would never pull any of this nonsense. I just smiled and didn’t respond. After getting my luggage, I told him to drive safe on his way back. “Alright, kiddo. But my brother’s a real catch, and a fantastic cook! There are plenty of good guys like us out there!” “I know, I know. Drive safe!” I watched the out-of-state license plate disappear down the street. Dragging my travel-weary body, I finally made it home and had a chance to check my phone. My family knew I was with Liam, so no messages. My colleagues at the hospital, whom I’d repeatedly begged for an uninterrupted vacation, also hadn’t reached out. Liam, probably figuring I was in a foul mood and not wanting to poke the bear, hadn’t sent a single text since that one phone call. But there was one message from Cassie. An explanation that she didn’t mean for this to happen, and that she’d told Liam to call me to make sure I was safe. I was silent for a moment. Then I tapped on her cartoon profile picture. Her latest social media post was right at the top. “Exploring Vermont with Dad! Eat, eat, eat, haha.” The picture was of her holding a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream bar with a bite taken out of it. Behind her, Liam, who has a sensitive stomach, was frowning, chewing on that exact bite of ice cream. I put my phone down and looked at the dumplings Liam had left for me in the freezer. He didn’t know how to cook much, but dumplings were the one thing his mother had made him practice since he was a kid. Ever since we met, he’d make a batch for me whenever he had time, worried I’d get home late from a shift with nothing to eat. But Liam himself couldn’t eat frozen, greasy, or fried foods. He never got used to the local cuisine here. So, on my rare days off, I would cook light, simple meals and bring them to him. I even put together a whole collection of healthy recipes so he wouldn’t get bored. But none of that mattered now. I took all the dumplings out of the freezer and boiled them. I ate most of them, tears streaming down my face. 5 In the adult world, you go to work even when your heart is broken. The three-day weekend flew by, especially since I’d spent it all in a car. The driver’s non-stop pep talks had barely left me a moment to feel sad. It wasn’t until I was back home that it hit me. It was really over. When I got to work that morning, a colleague teased me, “So, Penny, how was it? Vermont is totally different from here, right? Did you take pictures?” “Could you see any snow yet?” “Yeah, Dr. Miller! I’ve never been that far. I wonder if I can get a shift change during the winter season.” “God, the holiday crowds! I just want a break!” More and more people gathered around, and I felt a wave of embarrassment. We’d all worked together for so long, and I didn’t know how to just blurt out that Liam and I had broken up and I’d stormed home. “Alright, alright, leave our Penny alone! Everyone, back off—” Liam strode over from the OB/GYN department, his white coat still unbuttoned. He walked into the center of the group, a huge smile on his face. “I’ll show you the pictures. Please, I’m begging you, give my Penny a break.” The crowd laughed. The colleagues who’d been stuck on duty over the holiday were exhausted and eager for a distraction. They clamored to see the photos on his phone. Liam was tall, and he smiled and winked at me over their heads. My earlier awkwardness was gone, replaced by a pure, simmering annoyance. I turned and walked away. I could still hear their voices behind me. “Wow, the autumn colors are gorgeous.” “I want to quit my job and go right now!” “Hey, Dr. Adams, Dr. Miller is a pretty good photographer! You look so handsome in this picture!” “Where’s Dr. Miller? Let’s see if you made our hospital’s prettiest doctor look bad!” “Ooh, who’s this? She’s really pretty too. They really do have beautiful women up north…” 6 The voices faded. It took everything in me not to expose Liam’s whole charade right then and there. I quickened my pace. I’d just stepped into my office and was about to close the door when a hand shot out, blocking it. It was Liam, a look of exasperation on his face. “Penny, you got home and didn’t even let me know. I was worried about you. And you wouldn’t talk to me just now. Please, don’t be angry.” His voice was low and placating. “Let me show you the pictures I took in Vermont. You always wanted to go. The whole time I was taking them, I just kept thinking how much I wished you were there.” He held out his phone, scrolling through the photos. They were all solo shots of him, with a few landscape pictures mixed in. He kept flicking through them, one after another. Maybe he was going too fast, or maybe he just didn’t think it was a big deal, because suddenly he swiped right past the picture from Cassie’s social media post. “That’s enough!” I yanked the door open. Liam, caught off balance, stumbled. Though I was furious, I kept my voice as low as I could. “Liam, have you been playing me for a fool this whole time?! Why is Cassie always between us? And stop with the ‘son’ crap. She’s a woman, and her last name isn’t yours!” My words were rushed, forced through a tight throat. Liam stared at me, his smile vanishing, his face hardening. “Penny, I honestly don’t understand why you always have such a problem with Cassie. What has she ever done to you? This time, if she hadn’t convinced me, I wouldn’t have even bothered trying to win you back. It’s the same thing every time. The second something isn’t perfect, you give me the cold shoulder. Can’t we just talk things out? This constant silent treatment is just going to destroy what we have.” 7 No matter how quiet we were, our argument was overheard. A colleague, who had been on his way to joke about our trip, walked right into our tense standoff. His mouth was faster than his eyes, and though he saw the awkward atmosphere, the words still tumbled out. “Dr. Adams, hey, the guys were saying you two met a young lady on your trip. She got a boyfriend? Heh, I was hoping to get her num—” He trailed off, silenced by the heavy air between us. “Right, uh, I’m gonna go do my rounds!” Our fight was interrupted. Liam gave me a disappointed look. “Penny, if you have something to say, just say it. I don’t accept this breakup. You need to calm down, too.” He shut the door with a sharp click. I walked back to my desk and collapsed into my chair. How did it all come to this?

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The future CEO’s wicked stepmother? That was me. I frequently starved the little tyrant, beat him black and blue, and even sent away his favorite puppy. Then, one day, the System suddenly bound itself to me, ordering me to clean up my act and become a good stepmother. I was conflicted. Because just two minutes before the System connected, I had smacked the future CEO across the bottom. “What am I supposed to do?” “He won’t eat normal food. He cries hysterically until I agree to mix his meal with dog shit.” 1 In the living room, Brian sniveled, tears streaming down his round cheeks, stealing furtive glances at me. I ignored him. My head was pounding from the constant noise of the System vibrating inside my skull. A frantic, static-laced mechanical voice kept shrieking: 【Brian is only a four-year-old child! Why are you withholding dinner from him?】 【He will become a future trillion-dollar CEO, and his stomach cancer will be your fault, Host.】 That accusation hit me so suddenly I almost dropped my rice bowl. I scoffed mentally. Just two minutes ago, I had lifted my hand from Brian’s chubby, defiant bottom. The self-proclaimed “Stepmother Redemption System” had latched onto me at that exact moment. This System wasn’t just good at laying blame; it was also a nonstop chatterbox. 【Host, you cannot continue this way. Wicked stepmothers have no future.】 【We must nurture the little flower of the nation and ensure he grows up strong and healthy!】 Meanwhile, seeing that I wasn’t responding, the little terror in the living room cranked up the volume of his sobbing. “Waaah! Waaah!” 【The System shows Brian is currently in a state of extreme hunger. Host, please allow him to eat dinner.】 The System repeated the phrase relentlessly in my mind. Between the internal noise and the external wailing, I couldn’t even eat my own dinner in peace. Exasperated, I slammed my chopsticks down, feeling defeated and completely overwhelmed. “What am I supposed to do?” I snapped back internally. “He throws a fit demanding to eat rice mixed with dog shit.” “He refuses to eat perfectly normal meals unless they are mixed with dog shit!” 【Host, please—wait, what? Dog shit?】 The System went utterly silent for half a minute, crashing. 2 The System told me that my stepson, the one currently obsessed with eating dog-poop rice, would one day be a CEO worth hundreds of billions. This CEO would be a philanthropist, and his companies would make significant contributions to society. Yet, goodness wouldn’t save him. The CEO would develop health issues and be diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer. The System’s investigation concluded that I, the stepmother, had caused the CEO’s severe eating complex through childhood abuse, which led directly to his aggressive cancer diagnosis. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes, pointing at the still-sobbing, bare-bottomed future CEO in the living room. “So, are you telling me I should give in right now and feed him dog shit mixed with rice?” 【Uh…】 The internal static crackled even faster. The System, skeptical but cautious, tentatively suggested: 【Why don’t you try offering him a normal meal first?】 I immediately plated a bowl of perfectly nutritious food—mini chicken cutlets and steamed broccoli—and placed it in front of Brian, personally offering him a spoonful. “Open up, sweetie.” The little menace puckered his lips, stuck his index finger in his mouth, and mumbled, “No, wah! I want Shadow!” My face tightened. I pulled his finger out of his mouth. He had actually been digging in the yard with that hand half an hour ago. It was filthy. “Absolutely not!” “Waaaah!” Brian flailed, crying louder, refusing to even glance at the spoonful of food. The System asked curiously: 【What is ‘Shadow’?】 I gestured to the corner where a large, floofy Husky was lounging. “Shadow is the dog. But the kid means he wants Shadow’s feces.” 【He actually wants to eat it? Oh, dear God…】 The System audibly ‘vomited’ inside my head. My expression darkened. “What are you doing? Did you just puke data all over my brain?” 【I merely purged some residual data, Host. Don’t worry, I immediately re-ingested it into my core memory banks.】 Now I felt nauseous. I addressed the System: “Do you believe me now?” “If you still doubt me, I can wait until Shadow goes to the bathroom, mix it into the rice, and you can watch him happily gobble it down.” 【No need, Host. I believe you.】 “Waaah! Waaah!” Brian continued his dramatic, tearless wail. I fixed him with a cold stare. “Are you going to eat or not?” “Mean lady!” Brian burrowed his face into the sofa cushion, presenting his smooth, defiant butt toward me. I automatically gave it a gentle, quick swat. “I’m the mean lady, and you are the bad baby.” Brian’s crying hitched. I pressed on. “Bad baby. Brian Maxwell is a bad baby.” “Waaaah! I am not! You are mean! I am a good baby!” I snorted. “No, you’re not.” “Only babies who eat the food I give them are good babies. If you don’t eat, you’re a bad baby.” “Bad babies get their bottoms smacked.” The little terror’s lips trembled. He reluctantly sat up. He slapped the sofa repeatedly with both hands, his small face fierce. “Eat! Eat!” The System was dumbfounded. Fighting back a smile, I held the spoonful of food to his mouth. “Good boy. Open wide.” I slipped the bite in, then cajoled him. “One bite, just one more.” The little cub tried to push the bowl away. “No more!” “You have to finish this to turn back into a good baby. Otherwise, you stay a bad baby.” A small child? I had this in the bag. 3 Robert Vance, the future CEO’s father, and I met through mutual friends and got married quickly once we realized we were a good match. He was upfront about having a son from a previous relationship. The boy was being raised by his ex-girlfriend. I was perfectly fine with that. I wasn’t keen on having children of my own, so it suited me well. However, on the sixty-fifth day of our marriage, Robert returned from a business trip, bringing a skinny, quiet little boy with him. That was Brian. Robert explained that his ex-girlfriend had disappeared, leaving Brian alone at home. He had no choice but to bring the child back. I initially thought I’d been conned. But I hired a few private investigators with the generous monthly stipend Robert gave me. The investigation confirmed his story. The day after the kid arrived, Robert had to leave for an overseas trip. He begged me repeatedly to watch the little brat for one month, swearing he would take over full custody when he returned and promising I wouldn’t be bothered further. Considering the allowance he gave me was three times my old salary, I agreed. I could be a temporary nanny. I just had to tolerate this toddler for one month. What I didn’t anticipate was that on the third day of Robert’s absence, the little demon, fully recovered from his initial shock, started playing with dog feces. Oh, Shadow, the Husky, had arrived with Brian, too. I tolerated the poop-playing, excusing it because he was barely four. But then, when dinner was ready, and I was preparing to feed him, the boy refused the meal. He snatched the bowl and ran toward Shadow. Right there, under my very nose, he grabbed Shadow’s fresh feces, mixed it into his rice, and scooped a spoonful into his mouth. Gag. I actually gagged out loud twice. After recovering, I lunged at him to pry his mouth open. The boy, perhaps thinking I was trying to steal his ‘food,’ bit down hard and started wailing, hitting me. That was the first time his little bottom received a proper spanking lesson. Every day since then, at mealtime, I’ve had to administer a few swats before he would quietly eat. And then, the System found me. 4 There were still two days until Robert returned from his trip. Outside, the weather was beautiful, perfect—if only the sound of a bawling child wasn’t echoing through the house. I yawned. “System, I’m going for my nap. You watch him. Don’t let him hide any dog shit.” The System was firmly on my side now, sounding utterly convinced. 【Rest assured, Host. I will keep a close eye on the little tyrant.】 I happily sank into my soft bed. After a few minutes of quiet contemplation, sleep began to creep in. 【Host! The dog went! The little tyrant’s hand is on it!】 The System screamed hysterically. 【Aaaah! I have digital OCD! I can’t look! My virtual eyes are burning!】 I was instantly wide awake, cursing under my breath as I dragged myself out of bed. “Brian Maxwell!” The little boy tried to hide the hand clutching the feces behind his back. “I didn’t! Didn’t!” “I saw everything. Hand it over!” I grabbed his tiny arm and hauled him to the sink. As I frantically scrubbed his hand, I internally screamed: “I can’t take this! I’m sending that dog away!” The System cautioned me: 【You can’t, Host! The System indicates the little tyrant may have mild autistic tendencies due to severe trauma.】 【Shadow is his only constant. Sending Shadow away could severely destabilize him.】 I was at my breaking point. “So, I just have to watch him hide, play with, and eat dog shit every single day?” 【Er… Perhaps you should just smack him a few more times?】 5 When Robert returned, I mentally set off fireworks. I grabbed Brian under the arms, lifted him straight up, and shoved him into Robert’s embrace. “Is this really your biological son?” I demanded. Robert, confused, scrutinized the boy’s face. “Yes, of course. How could I mistake him?” My expression was a complicated mix of three parts disgust, four parts regret, and three parts nausea. “Did you like eating dog shit when you were a kid?” Robert’s smile froze. His eyes widened. “Elara, what are you talking about? That’s dog feces! Why would I like that?” I stepped back two paces, curling my lip in distaste. “The little menace you’re holding loves eating dog shit.” “Every meal, he tries to grab the feces and mix it into his bowl.” Robert was baffled, staring at me blankly. “Huh?” After ten seconds of stunned silence, Robert let out a booming, hearty laugh. “Elara, darling, what are you saying? That’s impossible!” “Fine, don’t believe me.” I shrugged. “You promised you’d take care of the little cub when you got back. Now you’re home, I’m going to take my afternoon nap.” That was usually my nap time. But it was also the time the little cub usually stood guard over Shadow, waiting for him to poop. I was genuinely exhausted. The System, lacking a physical body, couldn’t stop him. Too many times, I’d been woken up by the System screaming, only to find the culprit red-handed. How long had it been since I woke up naturally? Robert smiled, nodding. “Okay, sweetheart. Thank you for your hard work.” “Oh, and Elara.” Robert pulled a gift bag from his suitcase and gave me an ingratiating smile. “A little something for you.” I paused, considering, then took the bag. My internal guilt surged, but I still went to wash a bunch of grapes. I handed the fruit bowl to Brian. “Daddy is putting away his clothes. Can you feed Daddy a grape?” Brian’s eyes, as big and bright as grapes themselves, swiveled toward Robert. He hugged the bowl, bobbed his head, and chirped in his sweet, baby voice, “Yes! Good Daddy!” Such a cute little boy. Too bad he loved eating dog shit. I leisurely retreated to the bedroom to play on my phone. The System was perplexed. 【Host, aren’t you going to tell Robert about the dog feces?】 I popped a grape in my mouth. “I did tell him. He didn’t believe me.” 【Then—】 I cut it off. “Don’t worry. He’ll believe me soon enough.” The System pressed: 【Why?】 I hesitated slightly. “Did you forget? The little cub hid a piece of dog shit under the sofa foot.” System: 【?】 I didn’t elaborate. Honestly, my first impression of the cub had been great. He was tiny, with huge, round eyes. His smile was the cuteness champion of the universe. But I couldn’t forget that first afternoon. I had washed a bowl of grapes and started feeding them to him. He then started feeding them to me. I was scrolling on my phone, and my positive initial impression made me open my mouth without thinking. The first one was a grape. The second one was a grape. The third was a small, firm piece of dog feces. I only avoided it because a terrible intuition made me look down just in time. The feces was less than two inches from my lips. I nearly contaminated myself. The System suddenly shrieked: 【Host! Emergency!】 6 I took a deep breath, forcing myself to remain calm. “What is it?” 【The little tyrant just dug the dog feces out from under the sofa.】 【He is walking toward Robert…】 【He is holding it up to his mouth…】 A wave of panic hit me. Robert and I were married, after all, and he had just bought me a gift. I wanted to rush out and stop it, but my feet felt encased in concrete. I stayed motionless on the bed, guilt swirling inside me. 【Aaaah! He ate it! Gag…】 The System, a full witness, was having a breakdown. “What is this…? Ptui! What, gag…” Robert’s confused, nauseated, and utterly horrified voice echoed from the living room. I fell back onto the bed, feeling deeply conflicted. Robert hadn’t noticed. He had actually eaten it. Well, I thought grimly, at least now he’ll certainly believe his son likes dog shit. “Gag…” I was never kissing Robert again. Not even for triple the allowance. “Gag…”

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For three years, I had sponsored Caleb, a student from a disadvantaged background. Today, he had finally graduated from college. He stood at my doorstep, his arms laden with bags of gifts from his hometown, his sun-weathered face beaming with simple gratitude. “Jenna, I wouldn’t be where I am today without you. Please, you have to accept these small tokens of my appreciation.” I smiled warmly and invited him in, a genuine happiness blooming in my chest. But as I turned to get him a glass of water, a cold, insidious voice echoed in my mind. This apartment is in a prime location. If I kill her, it’ll all be mine. My hand trembled, and the glass I was holding slipped, shattering on the floor. 1 I took a deep breath, swept up the broken glass, and poured a fresh glass of water. Composing myself, I walked back into the living room with a practiced smile. “Here you go, Caleb. Have some water.” “Thank you, Jenna.” He took the glass, his eyes still radiating that same rustic innocence. Her parents’ old place is worth a fortune, too. I remember her mentioning it was in a historic district downtown, a prime school zone. Tomorrow, I’ll go ‘visit’ them, under the guise of thanking them for their support. Once her entire family has died in ‘accidents,’ I’ll be the master of this house. Then I’ll use her identity to take out loans and figure out a way to drain her company’s funds. Perfect. This young man with the guileless smile was sipping his water, his eyes filled with what looked like a hopeful gaze toward the future. My back was instantly drenched in a cold sweat. I clenched my fists so hard my knuckles turned white, just barely managing to stifle a scream. It wasn’t a hallucination. This boy, whom I had sponsored for three years, whom I had treated like a younger brother, was methodically listing off a venomous, step-by-step plan to murder my entire family. A viper I’d welcomed into my home, now poised to strike and steal everything. Run! Call the police! That was the first thought that screamed through my mind. But I couldn’t. There were no security cameras inside my apartment, and there had been no physical altercation between us. If I acted rashly and the police came, what would I say? That I could hear his thoughts? They’d think I was having a psychotic break. Worse, it would tip him off. This wolf in sheep’s clothing, this monster masquerading as a simple boy, would only retreat deeper into the shadows, devising more subtle, more insidious ways to destroy me and my family. I had to stay calm. I forced a smile, gesturing toward the gifts he’d brought. “Caleb, this is so thoughtful of you. Have you eaten dinner? Why don’t you stay? I’ll cook something special.” Caleb immediately set down his glass, his eyes lighting up, his smile somehow becoming even more “sincere.” “Oh, I couldn’t possibly impose! That would be too much trouble for you, Jenna.” Eat? Of course, I’ll eat. This is the perfect chance to add the special ingredient I brought. It’s a powder ground from poison mushrooms foraged from the mountains back home. Colorless, odorless. Ingesting it causes total organ failure within three hours. Not even a miracle could save her. The police will rule it accidental food poisoning. My heart plummeted into an icy abyss. He’d even brought the murder weapon with him. I glanced at the overstuffed canvas bag. Those seemingly innocent hometown specialties were my death warrant. “No trouble at all,” I said, my voice strained but hopefully steady as I stood up. “What would you like? Let me see what I have in the fridge.” I needed an excuse. An excuse to get out of his line of sight and call for help. “Jenna, I’d love anything you make,” Caleb said, rubbing his hands together in anticipation. “Oh! The dried bamboo shoots I brought would be amazing in a soup. How about we make a pork rib and bamboo shoot soup tonight?” He was showing his hand. My heart hammered against my ribs, but my face remained a mask of pleasantness. “That sounds delicious! Great idea. But…” I feigned a look of distress, wrinkling my brow. “What terrible timing. I had a bad reaction to some seafood a couple of days ago. The doctor told me to stick to a bland diet for a while, so I can’t have rich soups right now.” A flicker of almost imperceptible disappointment crossed Caleb’s face. Too bad. The soup would have been so easy. But it doesn’t matter. She has to drink water eventually. Pretending not to notice, I walked toward the kitchen. “Don’t worry, I’ll still make it for you. I’ll be happy just watching you enjoy it. I’ll start the rice.” The kitchen had a semi-open layout; he could see my every move. I couldn’t make a call or send a text. Any unusual action would trigger his suspicion. With my back to him, my mind raced. I needed backup. Someone who would understand my situation immediately, someone formidable, someone who didn’t play by the rules. The police were out. My friends were mostly office workers like me… Then, a name exploded in my mind—my cousin, Marcus. Marcus was… well, he knew how to handle things. He’d run with a rough crowd in his youth but had gone straight and now owned a successful security firm. He employed a crew of guys who specialized in solving “difficult” problems. He might seem like a carefree joker, but we grew up together, and he was more protective of me than an actual brother. Only he could handle this unconventional demon with unconventional methods. I poked my head out of the kitchen, smiling. “Caleb, I just remembered. I promised my cousin I’d help him find a reliable intern. Since you just graduated and are looking for a job, what if I called him over? You two could chat in person.” “A job?” Caleb’s eyes lit up, a flash of raw greed passing through them. Perfect! After I kill her, I can use the ‘internship’ as a legitimate reason to get inside her company and prepare for the next phase of my plan! His thoughts confirmed it. This was the perfect bait. “Yeah,” I said, pulling out my phone and pretending to scroll through my contacts casually. “My cousin owns his own company. He’s a great guy, really generous, and he’s looking for a sharp assistant. I think you’d be a perfect fit! If you’re interested, I’ll call him over to join us for dinner.” “Interested? Of course, I’m interested!” Caleb shot to his feet, practically vibrating with excitement. “Thank you, Jenna! You’re truly my guardian angel!” I smiled, dialed my cousin Marcus’s number in front of him, and hit the speakerphone button. The phone rang twice before he picked up, his lazy drawl filling the air. “Yo, Jenna. What’s up? Did some deadbeat boyfriend break your heart again? Need your big bro to come knock some heads together?” A massive weight lifted from my shoulders. I cleared my throat and adopted a light, almost boastful tone. “Get lost! I’m calling to offer you some top-tier talent! Remember that student I sponsor, Caleb? I told you about him. Well, he graduated and came to visit me today. I thought, since you’re looking for people, maybe he could come work for you.” Caleb leaned in close to the phone, his voice a mix of nerves and politeness. “Hello, Mr. Marcus!” Marcus was silent for a beat, then burst out laughing. “Alright, alright. If you’re recommending him, Jenna, then I gotta give him a shot. Tell you what, I’m in the neighborhood. I’ll be there in half an hour. I’ll bring a good bottle of whiskey, we can eat and talk.” “Great, but hurry up,” I said, adding emphasis. “Oh, and bro? On your way over, could you do me a favor and deal with the mad dog from old Mr. Henderson’s place downstairs?” Marcus’s voice paused. “Mad dog? I thought Mr. Henderson had a little poodle.” My heart seized, but my voice remained calm. “Ugh, don’t even ask. I don’t know what’s gotten into it lately, but that poodle’s gone rabid. It tries to lunge and bite at everyone. It even tried to break into my place yesterday! I’m here alone, and it’s terrifying. You’ve got those big dogs, right? Could you bring a heavy-duty steel cage? We need to lock it up before it hurts someone.” I spoke slowly and clearly. “Mad dog.” “Tried to break into my place.” “A heavy-duty steel cage.” It was our code. When we were kids, our families lived across the hall from each other. A neighbor had a vicious dog that nearly mauled me once. It was Marcus who saved me, cornering it with a baseball bat. Ever since, “mad dog” had been our code for an extremely dangerous person. The line was silent for a few seconds. I could picture the playful smirk vanishing from his face, replaced by a cold, hard focus. “Right. I get it,” his voice was steady and clipped. “I’ll bring the cage. Lock your door. Wait for me.” After he hung up, I let out a long, shuddering breath. Caleb was completely oblivious, still basking in the glow of his supposed job offer. This cousin sounds like some rich idiot. Perfect. After I inherit everything from Jenna, I’ll absorb his company too. A murderous rage churned within me. Absorb my cousin’s company? Caleb, you will never get the chance. Tonight, this home is the steel cage I’ve prepared just for you. Half an hour felt like a century. I pretended to be busy in the kitchen, washing and chopping vegetables, but my peripheral vision was locked on Caleb in the living room. He sat on the sofa, appearing restless and antsy, his hands constantly rubbing against his pants like a nervous young man before a job interview. But his mind was a different story. What is this woman doing, puttering around in the kitchen for so long? The rice isn’t even on yet. What if her idiot cousin shows up and complicates things? No, I can’t wait any longer. I have to stick to the original plan. First, get her to drink the drugged water. My stomach dropped. I saw him pick up his water glass and walk toward me. “Jenna, you’ve been working so hard. Take a break. Let me help.” His face was a mask of profound concern. But I saw it. As he got closer, his fingertip quickly brushed the rim of the glass. A fine, colorless powder dissolved silently into the water. “No, no, I’m almost done!” I said, waving my hands, my heart about to explode out of my throat. “Jenna, just have a sip of water. You’re sweating.” He was insistent, pushing the glass toward my lips, his eyes holding a glint of unyielding obsession. I stared at the glass. Dissolved inside was a poison that would destroy my organs from the inside out. What could I do? Knock it away? That would mean showing my hand, and physically, I was no match for him. In a flash of inspiration, I swayed violently, pretending to lose my balance. The kitchen knife in my hand “slipped,” clattering to the floor with a loud clang, the tip pointing directly at his feet. “Ah!” Caleb yelped, instinctively jumping back to avoid the blade. The sudden movement caused the water in the glass to slosh out, spilling most of its contents onto the floor. “I’m so sorry, so sorry!” I apologized frantically, crouching down to pick up the knife. “I’ve been working so much overtime lately, I think my blood sugar is low. I just got dizzy.” Caleb’s face was a thundercloud of fury, but it quickly smoothed back into his usual harmless expression, though a new layer of impatience hardened his eyes. Useless woman! Can’t even hold a glass of water steady! It seems the gentle approach isn’t going to work. This woman is more alert than I thought. He bent down, reaching out to help me up, but I could hear the vicious snarl of his thoughts. I’ll have to tie her up first! When her cousin gets here, I’ll find a way to lure him onto the balcony and push him from behind! A twenty-story fall, he won’t survive. Then I’ll come back and finish her off. I’ll say they were arguing, that he killed her in a fit of rage and then jumped to his death. My body went rigid. “Jenna, are you okay?” he asked, his hand on my arm, while his other hand crept toward the canvas bag with the “gifts.” From the side of the bag, I could see the unmistakable end of a coarse, thick rope. Ding-dong! Ding-dong! Just as Caleb’s fingers were about to touch the rope, the doorbell rang. Sharp, loud, like a thunderclap of salvation. Caleb’s movement froze, his face a mixture of surprise and frustration. Who is it? Her cousin said half an hour! It’s only been twenty minutes! Pure joy surged through me. I scrambled away from Caleb’s grasp, practically crawling toward the front door. “Must be the delivery I ordered! I got some fruit!” I babbled, fumbling with the doorknob. Caleb was right behind me, his eyes fixed on me like a wolf’s, one hand already reaching for his pants pocket. I could see the hard outline of what looked like a folding knife. He was ready to kill me. My hand on the doorknob was shaking uncontrollably. Please, let it be Marcus. Please. I threw the door open. Standing on the other side was, indeed, my cousin Marcus. And he wasn’t alone. Behind him stood four burly men in black t-shirts, all built like brick walls, with sharp, watchful eyes. They were professionals. And Marcus, at the lead, had shed his usual jokester persona. His expression was as cold and hard as ice. In his hand, glinting under the hallway light, was a large, heavy-duty, steel pet cage. The scene was surreal. The color drained from Caleb’s face. The hand gripping the knife in his pocket froze solid.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “384756”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

After my family went bankrupt, I was pawned off to Tim Bernstein as his fiancée. When he saw me sitting at his doorstep, holding a dog on a leash, his face was as black as thunder. “Little thing, are you even weaned yet?” Just as I was about to let my dog bite him, a stream of text suddenly floated before my eyes. 【LMAO! I’m dying! Who the hell has a three-year-old fiancée?】 【Congrats to the villain on his brand new daughter! Instant fatherhood, no labor required!】 【The villain doesn’t know yet, but this little thing is a lucky charm. Whoever raises her strikes it rich! It’s a shame she snuck out to find her parents one day and got hit by a car.】 Hit by a car? A shiver ran down my spine. I hugged Tim Bernstein’s leg tightly. “Hubby, I’m hungry!” 1 I was dozing off, leaning against Baron, my billion-dollar husky, when the grand front door finally swung open. A handsome, refined man stepped out. When he saw me and my dog camped out on his porch, his expression darkened. “Where did this brat come from?” he asked, his brow furrowed. I quickly fished a crumpled piece of paper from my pocket. It bore my father’s sloppy signature and a bright red thumbprint. “I’m here to pay off a debt,” I announced, puffing out my chest to seem more grown-up. Tim Bernstein took the paper and glanced at it, his face growing even stormier. “David Miller owes me twenty million, and he’s using you as collateral?” He looked me up and down. “Little thing, are you even weaned yet?” I was about to unleash Baron on him when several lines of semi-transparent text floated in front of my face: 【LMAO! I’m dying! Who the hell has a three-year-old fiancée?】 【Congrats to the villain on his brand new daughter! Instant fatherhood, no labor required!】 【The villain doesn’t know yet, but this little thing is a lucky charm. Whoever raises her strikes it rich! It’s a shame she snuck out to find her parents one day and got hit by a car.】 I blinked. The words were still there. Hit by a car? My whole body trembled, and the leash slipped from my hand. Baron, thinking this was his cue, shook out his fluffy coat and charged ferociously toward Tim Bernstein. Then, he screeched to a halt, flopped onto his back right in front of Tim’s gleaming leather shoes, and exposed his soft belly, his tail wagging like a helicopter propeller. “Traitor!” I stomped my foot in frustration. This was the third time Baron had abandoned me for a handsome face. The last time was for the long-legged clerk at the pet store. Tim’s mouth twitched. He looked down at me. “What’s your name?” “Daisy Miller,” I answered quietly, my eyes still fixed on the strange, floating text. Another line appeared: 【Out with the old dad, in with the new. Little Daisy doesn’t know that even though this guy is the villain, he only has it out for the male lead!】 【Who needs those heartless parents anyway? This villain could buy you an entire amusement park with a snap of his fingers!】 My eyes lit up. Without a second thought, I lunged forward and hugged Tim Bernstein’s leg. “Hubby, I’m hungry!” Tim froze, looking as if he’d been struck by lightning. The pop-up comments exploded: 【LMAO, HUBBY, I’M DEAD!】 【She’s only three and already knows how to secure the bag. This kid’s going places!】 【Tim Bernstein: I’ve been single for 28 years and suddenly I have a child?!】 “Who taught you to call me that?” Tim’s voice was tight, as if forced through gritted teeth. I looked up at him, batting my eyelashes. “That’s what they do on TV. The fiancée calls him hubby.” It was a line from a soap opera I’d watched a few days ago. Whenever the actress called the male lead “hubby,” he’d agree to anything she wanted. Tim took a deep breath and turned to his butler, who was standing by, his face red from holding back laughter. “Arthur, get David Miller on the phone and tell him to come get his kid!” But the call went straight to voicemail. The agreement had been signed with Tim’s grandmother, Mrs. Bernstein. Everyone in the city knew Tim Bernstein had no interest in women; some even whispered he preferred men. Mrs. Bernstein knew my father had a daughter, but she had no idea that daughter was only three years old. So she proposed I become her grandson’s fiancée to settle the debt. By now, my parents were probably on a plane out of the country. “Arthur, contact social services at once—” The comments started buzzing again. They said if I was sent to an orphanage, the director would abuse me, and I would run away in three months to find my parents, only to get hit by that car. Reading that, I clung to Tim’s leg even tighter. “Don’t send me away! I’ll be really good! Hubby~” 2 Baron let out a pathetic howl, flopped to the ground, and started whimpering like a tiny steam engine. Between the two of us, we managed a two-part harmony of pure misery. “Waaah… Daddy doesn’t want me… and now you don’t want me either… Baron and I will have to beg on the streets… It’s so cold in the winter, we’ll freeze to death…” I wailed, peeking through my fingers to gauge Tim’s reaction. A vein throbbed in his temple. “Stop crying.” I cried even louder. “I said, stop crying!” he raised his voice. The shout startled me into a hiccup, a fat tear clinging precariously to my cheek. Baron scrambled to his feet and stood in front of me, staring warily at Tim. The standoff was tense. Arthur, the butler, chose the perfect moment to interject. “Sir, perhaps we should let Miss Daisy stay for now? The collateral agreement was signed by Mrs. Bernstein, and she’s currently in Switzerland for treatment. We can’t reach her. We can decide what to do once we’ve contacted her. A child this young, at an orphanage… it would be…” Tim rubbed his brow. “Where would she sleep?” “The guest room is ready, sir,” Arthur said quickly. “It’s right next to your bedroom.” I immediately stopped crying and raised my hand obediently. “I can take my own bath, get dressed by myself, and I can even recite poetry! A-tisket, a-tasket, a pocket full of posies…” Tim’s mouth twitched again. He raised a hand to cut me off. “Who taught you that?” Was he stunned by my intellect? I lifted my chin proudly. “I’m self-taught! My daddy said I’m a genius!” “Heh…” Tim chuckled dryly, then turned to Arthur. “One night. First thing tomorrow, contact social services.” With that, he walked out. Arthur prepared a feast for me. I sat at one end of a dining table long enough to be a slide, my short legs dangling far from the floor, waiting for Tim to come home. “Arthur, when is hubby coming back?” Arthur struggled to suppress a smile. “Miss Daisy, Sir is much, much older than you. He’s almost old enough to be your father. You can’t call him hubby.” Not hubby? Then what? I wracked my tiny brain but couldn’t come up with any other titles. The pop-up comments appeared again. 【High-alert! Tim is about to find the female lead on the side of the road!】 【Skyler got dumped in the rain by Ethan. Tim, being a good guy, is about to pick her up.】 【Oh no, Ethan is going to show up tomorrow and cause a scene!】 Skyler? Who was Skyler? And who was Ethan? Did Tim find a dog, too? I found Baron on the side of the road. My mom left him to keep me company before she passed away. But as soon as she was gone, the new woman my dad married just wanted to cook Baron in a hot pot. I wondered if the dog Tim found was prettier than Baron. I sat by the door, waiting eagerly. When I finally heard a sound at the entrance, I shot off like a little cannonball. Tim walked in, soaked to the bone. Behind him was an equally drenched, very pretty lady. Her eyes were red like a little rabbit’s, and she was clutching a soggy handbag. It wasn’t a dog. I was a little disappointed. The comments were scrolling like crazy: 【The female lead, Skyler, has entered the chat!】 【Tim’s good intentions are going to backfire. The male lead is going to hate him for this.】 【That punch Ethan throws tomorrow looks like it really hurts.】 “Sir, this is…” Arthur hurried over with a dry towel. “I found her on the road,” Tim said with a frown, clearly not used to explaining himself. “Miss… Skyler, the guest room is on the second floor. Arthur will get you some clean clothes.” Skyler nodded timidly. “Thank you, Mr. Bernstein. I’ll leave first thing in the morning.” I stared at this new lady, then suddenly charged forward and hugged Tim’s leg. “Hubby! Who is this aunty?” 3 The living room fell so silent you could hear a pin drop. Skyler’s eyes widened. “H-Hubby?” Tim’s face turned a dangerous shade of purple. “Daisy Miller!” The comments went wild: 【LMAO, what a power move!】 【Skyler: Am I supposed to be joining this family?】 【Live footage of Tim Bernstein’s social death!】 I blinked innocently. “The TV said you’re supposed to ask that when you see your hubby bring another woman home.” Tim grabbed me by the back of my collar and lifted me up like a kitten. “First, you are not to call me that. Second, you are not to watch trashy television. And third…” He glanced at the shell-shocked Skyler. “Miss Skyler is just having some trouble and is staying for one night.” I tilted my head and looked at Skyler. “Miss, were you pawned off by your daddy, too?” Skyler let out a small laugh, then crouched down to my level. “No, sweetie. I… I got lost. Mr. Bernstein was kind enough to help me.” Tim massaged his forehead. “Arthur, take Daisy to bed.” The next morning, I was woken by a loud banging on the front door. I rubbed my eyes and sat up. Baron’s ears perked up, on high alert. “Tim Bernstein! Get your ass out here!” A furious male voice vibrated through the windows. The comments appeared right on cue: 【Ethan’s here to catch the cheaters!】 【Classic misunderstanding scene!】 【Quick, Tim, release Daisy to save the day!】 I ran downstairs barefoot just in time to see a tall man grab Tim by the collar. The man was handsome, but his face was twisted in a snarl, like he wanted to eat someone. “Ethan, have you lost your mind?” Tim said coldly. Despite being held, his presence was just as intimidating. “Why did Skyler spend the night here? What did you do?” Ethan roared. Skyler rushed over to pull him away. “Ethan, you’ve misunderstood! I was just…” “Shut up!” Ethan shoved her aside. “Even a dog can see what your intentions are toward her!” Hearing his name, Baron let out a confused little “woof.” I couldn’t stand it anymore. I ran over and bit Ethan’s leg. “Agh! Where did this little monster come from?” Ethan yelped, letting go of Tim. I stood in front of Tim, hands on my hips. “Bad man! Don’t you bully my daddy!” The entire room went silent. Tim: “…” Skyler: “???” Ethan: “…Daddy?” The pop-up comments went berserk: 【Daisy with the god-tier save!】 【From hubby to daddy in one second. Tim’s reputation is in shambles.】 【Ethan’s CPU just fried!】 I pressed my advantage, tears welling up on command. “Waaah… if my daddy dies, no one will buy me toys anymore…” Skyler’s expression softened instantly. “Ethan, you’re mistaken. Mr. Bernstein was just being kind. He has a daughter this young…” Ethan awkwardly lowered his fists. “I… I didn’t know you had a child…” After he left with Skyler, the villa was quiet again. I stood barefoot in the middle of the living room. Baron nudged my leg, his wet nose pressing into my palm. Tim loosened his crooked tie and looked down at me. “Now, about the ‘daddy’ issue.” I bit my finger, my eyes darting around. “Because…” I drew out the word, a flash of inspiration hitting me. “Arthur said you’re too old to be my hubby!” Arthur, who was pouring tea, fumbled, spilling it all over the table. The comments exploded again. 4 【’TOO OLD’ LMAO!】 【Arthur: When did I ever say that???】 【Daisy kinda has a point. He’s 25 years older than her. That’s pretty old.】 【Arthur looks like he’s about to cry, hahaha!】 Tim slowly turned his head, his gaze as sharp as a razor, and fixed it on Arthur. “Oh? Is that what Arthur said?” Arthur frantically wiped the table. “Sir, I swear! I would never say such a thing! Miss Daisy, she… she…” Sensing trouble, I quickly added, “Arthur didn’t say the ‘old’ part! He said you weren’t young anymore!” I counted on my fingers. “You’re 28, and I’m 3. 28 minus 3 is… um… it’s…” I ran out of fingers and gave up. “Anyway, it’s just… a lot!” A vein throbbed in Tim’s temple. “So, in your eyes, 28 is old?” I nodded earnestly. “Super old! My next-door neighbor, Mr. Henderson, his new wife secretly told someone he’s thirty years older than her, old and ugly, snores, but at least he’s rich! Everyone says he’s robbing the cradle!” The comments were hysterical: 【Daisy overheard the trophy wife complaining and learned a new idiom!】 【Tim: Suddenly classified as a senior citizen!】 【Daisy, if you run out of fingers, you still have toes!】 Tim took a deep breath, visibly trying to remain calm. “First of all, 28 minus 3 is 25. Secondly, that’s not how you use ‘robbing the cradle.’ And finally…” He narrowed his eyes. “Arthur, what exactly have you been discussing with Daisy?” Arthur looked like he was on the verge of tears. “Sir, I just casually mentioned that you were old enough to be her father. I had no idea she would interpret it this way…” Tim shot him a glare, then bent down and lifted me up. “Daisy Miller, we need to talk.” He placed me on the sofa and crouched down to my level. “Listen,” he said, his voice unusually gentle. “Thank you for helping me out today. But no more lying from now on, understand?” I swung my feet. “I wasn’t lying! You really could be my daddy!” I counted on my fingers again. “You let me live in a big house and have Arthur give me yummy food. Isn’t that what daddies do?” Tim was stunned. The comments floated by: 【Kid logic is flawless!】 【An irrefutable theory on parenting!】 【Tim: Am I being scammed?】 Arthur chimed in at the perfect moment. “Sir, Miss Daisy is still very young. She needs a guardian…” “I don’t need a guardian,” I declared proudly, puffing out my chest. “I need a daddy!” Then I added in a whisper, “Or a mommy would work too. Can you be my mommy?” Tim: “…” Arthur wiped a tear from his eye and murmured, “Sir, the poor child… her mother passed away when she was two. And that monster David brought his pregnant mistress home right after…” Tim’s expression was complicated. He awkwardly placed a hand on my head and ruffled my hair. “I can’t be your mommy, but… you can call me ‘brother.’” Brother? But didn’t Arthur say he was a lot older than me? I wrinkled my nose and tried it out. “Brother.” Tim: “…Hmph.” That night, a loud clap of thunder jolted me awake. Lightning tore across the sky outside like a monster’s claws. I scrambled out of bed in a panic. Baron, startled by my movement, sleepily licked my face. “BOOM!” Another crash shook the entire house. I couldn’t take it anymore. I jumped out of bed, grabbed my little pillow, and bolted out of the room barefoot. Baron followed close behind, his furry body pressed against my trembling legs. Tim’s bedroom was at the end of the hall. 5 I had to stand on my tiptoes to reach the doorknob, pushing the door open just a crack. “Brother…” I peeked in, my head just barely visible. The room was pitch black. “Daisy?” Tim’s voice came from the darkness. A flash of lightning lit up the room, and I yelped, darting inside so fast my pillow fell to the floor. “Can… can I sleep in here?” I twisted the hem of my pajamas. “Just when it’s thundering… I promise I’ll sleep on the floor! I won’t bother you!” “I-I’m not scared of thunder!” I stammered. “It’s… it’s Baron! He’s scared! I wanted to bring him in here…” Baron tilted his head innocently, even though I had been the one clinging to his fur just moments before. The pop-up comments appeared: 【Aww, the poor baby!】 【Tim, hug her right now!】 【My sweet angel! Come sleep with mommy~】 The bedside lamp flickered on. Tim looked at the two of us, a pair of pathetic, shivering messes. He sighed, then lifted a corner of his duvet. “Get in.” I couldn’t believe my ears. “R-Really?” “You have three seconds. After that, the offer’s off the table.” I immediately scrambled onto the massive bed. It was so soft and smelled like fresh pine. I carefully curled up on the very edge, afraid of taking up too much space. “Move in,” Tim frowned. “You’ll fall off and start crying again.” I quickly scooted toward the middle but still kept a safe distance from him. Baron wagged his tail, preparing to jump up. “Not you,” Tim stopped him. “Whine…” Baron, seeing his charms had failed, circled the rug a few times before finding a comfy spot to lie down. Just as I was about to drift off, Tim suddenly asked: “Do you wet the bed?” I was instantly wide awake, turning to face him indignantly. “Only babies wet the bed! I’m a big girl, I don’t do that!” The comments floated by: 【LMAO, the million-dollar question!】 【Tim: Can’t risk the twenty-thousand-dollar mattress!】 【Daisy: You can question my bravery, but you can’t question my bladder!】 To my surprise, Tim let out a low chuckle. I could feel the vibration of his chest through the mattress. “Alright, big girl. Now go to sleep.” I huffed and pulled the covers up to my chin. “I stopped wetting the bed a long, long time ago! My friend Chloe, who’s a whole year older than me, wet her pants last week, and I didn’t even laugh at her…” My voice trailed off as my eyelids grew heavy again. In the hazy space between wakefulness and sleep, I felt him gently stroke my hair. His voice was so soft it was almost a whisper to himself. “…She’s actually pretty well-behaved.” The next morning, when I woke up, Tim was already dressed, fastening his cufflinks. “Daisy, time to get up.” He tapped the nightstand. “You’re going to preschool today.” I blearily opened my eyes, then shot up in bed. “Preschool? Why do I have to go to preschool?” “You don’t want me anymore?” The thought of the car crash brought tears to my eyes instantly. Tim awkwardly wiped them away, frowning at the snot on my nose. “I never said that. You can make new friends at preschool.” “And you can learn new things.” At that, I immediately stopped crying, rolled off the bed, and hugged his leg barefoot. “Then… will you come pick me up?” He looked down at me, the sunlight tracing a golden edge along his handsome profile. “…I will.” “Pinky promise!” I held out my little finger. He sighed but bent down and linked his pinky with mine. “Now, can you please go get ready?” 6 I cheered and ran to the bathroom. The comments: 【Tim is learning to compromise.】 【Who could say no to Daisy’s puppy-dog eyes?】 【Wait, isn’t Daisy getting a bit too much screen time?】 【Hey! Shut up! This kid is adorable, who would want to see her get hit by a car?】 Twenty minutes later, I stood by the door in a brand-new pink dress, a little white bunny backpack on my shoulders. Tim was on the phone, his brow furrowed. “…We’ll discuss the South City project this afternoon. Meet at The Embers.” He hung up and looked at me. “Let’s go.” “Can Baron come with us?” I asked hopefully. “No.” “Oh…” I pouted and followed him. Baron slumped by the door, watching us leave with sad eyes. The entrance to Sunflower Preschool was crowded with parents and children. Tim’s black Maybach pulled up, drawing countless stares. He held my hand as we walked to the reception desk, young mothers turning to look at him the entire way. “And this is…” The teacher, Ms. Peterson, with her round glasses, had a kind smile. “Daisy Miller,” Tim said curtly. Ms. Peterson crouched down to my level. “Daisy, you’re so cute! And this is your…” She looked up at Tim, her eyes sparkling. “Brother!” I said loudly. Ms. Peterson’s smile grew even wider. “Oh, so you’re Daisy’s brother!” After finishing the enrollment paperwork, Tim crouched down and patted my head. “I’ll be here to pick you up at four.” His voice was softer than usual. “Be good for your teacher.” I nodded, suddenly reluctant to let go of his hand. But seeing the other kids staring, I felt too embarrassed to be clingy. I just waved. “Bye-bye, brother!” After Tim left, Ms. Peterson held my hand as we walked to the classroom. “Daisy’s brother is so handsome. Is he married?” I tilted my head, thinking. “No, but he doesn’t like girls.” I’d learned that from the pop-up comments. Ms. Peterson’s smile froze on her face. “Oh… I see…” The comments were hysterical: 【Daisy just outed Tim’s sexual orientation!】 【The sound of a teacher’s heart breaking.】 【Tim: Thanks a lot, kid!】 Four o’clock. The children were being picked up one by one. I pressed my face against the window, waiting anxiously, but there was no sign of Tim. The comments were in a state of chaos: 【Oh no! Skyler’s being forced to drink by a client! That old creep is trying to take advantage of her!】 【Tim happens to be at the same hotel for a business meeting. When he runs into them, Ethan is definitely going to misunderstand again!】 【Daisy is still waiting for Tim… my heart…】 They said Tim was going to be misunderstood again? Does that mean he was going to get hit again? I snuck a glance at Ms. Peterson. She was hiding in a corner, lost in a phone call, not paying any attention to me. This was my chance! I crouched down, blended in with a group of parents, and slipped right out the preschool gate! I had to go save Tim! Remembering the address mentioned in the comments, I hailed a taxi. The driver, a kind-looking man, stared at me in shock. “Hey, kiddo, you all by yourself? Where are your parents?” I put on a serious face. “Mister, take me to The Embers Hotel!” The driver’s eyes widened. “What are you going there for?” I clenched my little fists, my eyes determined. “I’m… going… to… bust… a cheater!” The comments exploded: 【PFFT… LMAO, BUST A CHEATER!】 【Daisy, where did you even learn that phrase?!】 【The driver: This is the peak of my career.】 The driver practically jumped out of his seat. “Bust a… what?!”

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It was on my wedding day with Larry that I realized I’d picked the wrong target. Right now, he was pinned against a wall in the dressing room by his childhood sweetheart. “Larry, run away with me, please?” she begged. His eyes darkened. He gripped her waist, his own eyes red-rimmed as he rasped, “Ask me properly.” Outside that door, the System’s voice echoed in my mind, a frantic, desperate wail. “Host, we got it wrong! Your target is his best friend, Jason! You only have one hour left!” And so, just before Larry could jilt me at the altar, I bolted first. I spun on my heel, stormed into the room next door, and crushed my lips against his best friend’s. “Jason,” I whispered, my voice trembling, “what if I told you that I love you? That with your friend… it was never real? Would you believe me?” Jason slowly wiped the blood from his lip where I’d bitten him, a cold smirk playing on his face. “Little siren,” he drawled, “you really get off on this, don’t you?” 1 I had the wrong guy. And I only found this out on the day I was supposed to marry Larry. Inside the dressing room, a girl was wearing my wedding dress, her voice a saccharine purr. “Larry, do I look beautiful in her dress?” His voice was a low, rough growl. “Hideous.” “Hideous? Then why are you still so—ah!” Her words shattered into a sharp gasp. Today was my wedding day. Larry’s childhood sweetheart, Phoebe, had heard the news and flown back from overseas overnight, dead set on crashing the ceremony and stealing the groom. An icy dread washed over me. If this wedding was called off, the System would erase me for mission failure. From inside the room, Phoebe’s breathless, triumphant voice floated out. “See? You do still love me.” Larry’s face was a stony mask, but his actions didn’t stop. “Don’t flatter yourself.” Phoebe’s voice broke into a sob. “Larry, don’t marry that pathetic doormat. Run away with me, please?” “Beg me.” “I’m begging you.” And then, I heard the sound of him kissing her. A pain so sharp it stole my breath lanced through my chest. I was about to shove the door open when the System, which had been dead silent for ages, suddenly shrieked in my head. 【AHHHHHHHHHHH!】 I jumped, my heart hammering against my ribs. The System’s voice was pure terror. 【HOST, STOP THE WATERWORKS! YOU’VE BEEN SIMPING FOR THE WRONG GUY!!!! THE DEADLINE IS ALMOST UP! AHHHHH…】 The world tilted on its axis. “The… the wrong guy?!” 【That’s right,】 the System sobbed. 【Your target is Larry’s best friend, Jason… and you have one hour left.】 My legs turned to jelly, and darkness swam at the edge of my vision. I nearly fainted right there. For the past six months, I had meticulously played the part of the devoted, adoring girlfriend. I was at his beck and call, enduring every whim, all for the single goal of getting Larry to marry me. And now you’re telling me I was chasing the wrong man? One hour. Where in the hell was I supposed to find Jason and get him to marry me in one hour? I might as well just lie down and wait to die. “What do I do?” I whispered, my heart a dead weight in my chest. The System’s voice was a faint thread. 【A kiss can extend the mission timer! The more intimate the contact, the more time you get. I suggest a forced kiss. Immediately.】 Life surged back into me. I hiked up my dress, my eyes blazing with murderous intent. “Where do I kiss him!?” 【The ceremony hall!】 A few minutes later, a mismatched pair of fiancés stood at the altar. Tears welled in my eyes, threatening to spill over. After all, if I couldn’t get to Jason, I was a dead woman walking. Larry was as cold and distant as ever. “Ava,” he murmured, a cruel glint in his eyes, “excited to finally be my wife?” He was clearly looking forward to the drama when he rejected me, picturing my heartbroken sobs. But I had no time for him. The System’s frantic countdown was screaming in my head. 【HOST! JASON IS APPROACHING THE MAIN ENTRANCE! COUNTDOWN: TEN, NINE, EIGHT…】 I subtly gathered the hem of my gown, bending my knees slightly, preparing for a sprint. The officiant’s voice boomed through the hall. “Do you, the bride and groom, promise to have and to hold, for as long as you both shall live?” Down in the pews, Phoebe was flushed with excitement, her face glowing. Larry lifted the microphone, a smug smile tugging at his lips. “I do n—” 【HOST, GOOOOOOOOOO!!!!】 Before the horrified eyes of every guest, my face twisted into a mask of grim determination. I launched myself forward. Like a human cannonball, I shot down the aisle with impossible speed, a blur of white satin and desperation. Jaws dropped. The massive doors of the chapel burst open with a resounding bang. I grabbed the first man I saw and vanished with him into the blinding sunlight. Leaving a stunned Larry and a speechless officiant standing alone at the altar. A long, silent moment passed. “Holy…” The officiant’s voice cracked. He turned to Larry, utterly bewildered. “Did the bride… just… run for it? She did, right?” 2 In a dusty, forgotten storeroom, Jason leaned casually against the wall, his clothes in disarray. He was a portrait of ravaged beauty. “Had your fill?” he asked, his tone lazy, utterly unbothered. It was as if being ambushed and kissed senseless was nothing more than a mild inconvenience. The System panted in my mind. 【Phew, the forced kiss worked. Congratulations, Host, you’ve earned thirty minutes of survival time.】 【It would be even better if you could sleep with him. One time could extend the clock by days.】 Only thirty minutes for a kiss like that. That was Jason for you—notoriously difficult. As the youngest heir to the formidable Calloway family, Jason was known for his volatile and darkly unpredictable nature. People went out of their way to avoid him. Who in their right mind would dare to try and seduce him? The System, its virtual face contorted in a snarl, presented me with a digital novel: The Psycho CEO Wants to [Redacted] Me (Steamy). 【Trust me, Host! Just follow the plot. You’ll have him eating out of your hand!】 A few minutes later, I found myself perched on Jason’s lap, wearing a slinky red dress with a thigh-high slit, my face burning. The stark contrast between my pale legs and the black fabric of his suit trousers was electrifying. The System whispered, 【This book is pretty twisted. You’re going through a lot for this, Host.】 It’s not hard work, it’s a hard life. I dug my nails into my thigh, forcing tears to my eyes. “Jason,” I whimpered, “what if I told you that I love you? That with your friend… it was never real? Would you believe me?” Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the fine hairs on my skin. Jason’s eyes narrowed, a dark fire kindling in their depths. “Little siren, you really get off on this, don’t you?” His cool, smooth voice was enough to make my legs weak. Suddenly, Larry’s furious voice echoed from outside. “Search every room. When you find Ava Stone, break her legs.” Jason glanced down at my wedding dress, now a torn heap of fabric on the floor, and a mocking smile touched his lips. “Come closer, little siren.” The System shrieked again. 【HOST! LARRY CAN’T SEE YOU WITH HIM! IT’LL DEDUCT SURVIVAL TIME!!!!】 I jolted, scrambling to get up and lock the door. But Jason’s hand shot out, his fingers wrapping around my waist and pulling me flush against him. A clean, sharp scent of mint flooded my senses, overwhelming me. He was so impossibly clean, so pristine. His hand traced the curve of my waist before giving a light, sharp squeeze. A startled gasp escaped my lips. Then, he pushed open the window. Bright spring light poured in. A rack of clothes perfectly obscured Jason’s upper body. From outside, all Larry could see was me—cheeks flushed, straddling a pair of long legs clad in black suit pants, my expression one of pure panic. The System wailed. 【SURVIVAL TIME NEARING ZERO! COUNTDOWN: TEN, NINE…】 【AHHH, HOST, FORGET KISSING, SLEEP WITH HIM! IT’S FASTER!】 My hands fumbled frantically at Jason’s belt buckle. The next second, Larry’s enraged roar ripped through the entire courtyard. “AVA STONE, YOU STOP RIGHT THERE!” “I SWEAR, IF YOU AND THAT BASTARD WALK OUT OF HERE IN ONE PIECE TODAY, I’LL CHANGE MY LAST NAME!” Jason remained utterly composed, stroking my hair. “Put your hands behind your back.” “Huh?” Outside the window, a crowd of wedding guests was starting to gather. Jason calmly unwound his own tie and, in one smooth motion, bound my wrists together. He offered me a gentle, chilling smile. “Didn’t you want to sleep with me?” “Didn’t have the strength? Then how are you going to fuck me in front of everyone?” Not… Were all these people here because he’d called them? The precious survival time I had just earned was plummeting. With my hands tied, I was on the verge of a full-blown panic attack, my voice cracking as I sobbed. “Untie me! Or I can’t do it!” The look of detached amusement on Jason’s face vanished instantly. He raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a cold line. “You really want to?” “Does it look like I’m faking it?!” Under the crushing threat of imminent death, my body went limp. I collapsed into his arms, shaking with uncontrollable, desperate sobs. It was probably the first time Jason had ever seen someone cry because they couldn’t sleep with him. Outside, the crowd of onlookers grew larger. A black jacket was suddenly thrown over my head, covering me completely just as the first of them arrived. The countdown stopped. Jason’s voice was laced with a dark, mocking humor. “What’s with the drama? You’d think you have a terminal illness. Pathetic, Ava.” 3 Just as Larry was about to break down the door, Jason scooped me up. He carried me out the back, weaving through a maze of clothing racks, and settled me into his car. Inside, my heart was still pounding a frantic rhythm against my ribs. I couldn’t stop the hiccuping sobs. Jason’s expression was grim. “What are you crying for? Because you couldn’t sleep with me?” I nodded furiously, clinging to him like a limpet, silently counting the seconds as my survival time slowly crawled back up. Jason stared out the window, his expression cold and distant, lost in his own thoughts. The car glided into a gated community of sprawling villas. “Get out.” Jason’s voice was sharp. “Aren’t you coming?” “I have work to do.” That was absolutely not an option. The System screamed in my head. 【HOST, KISS HIM UNTIL YOU CAN’T KISS ANYMORE!!! I DON’T WANT TO DIE!】 I cautiously leaned closer. “Can I… can I kiss you?” Jason stared at my tear-dampened lashes for a long moment before his fingers closed around my chin, tilting my face up. He allowed my desperate kiss, his lips cool against mine. The rough pads of his fingers traced the line of my neck, sending an indescribable shiver through me. It felt so good. Suddenly, a sharp rap on the car window shattered the moment. My eyes flew open to see Larry’s face pressed against the glass. I let out a shriek, my heart nearly stopping in my chest. “You absolute moro—” 【Host, maintain your green tea persona.】 I slapped a hand over my mouth and scrambled down, hiding myself beneath his legs and looking up at him with pleading eyes. Thankfully, Larry couldn’t see clearly into the car. He kept knocking, his voice tight. “Buddy, do me a favor.” Jason glanced down at me, then pressed my head lower. “Good girl. A little lower, and he won’t see you.” From this… compromising position, the minty scent of him was even more intense. The window lowered a crack. “What is it?” Jason’s voice was coolly indifferent. “Ava ran off.” Jason’s eyebrow twitched, his expression unreadable. “Oh. Well, she’s certainly… playing with fire.” Larry lit a cigarette, his frustration palpable. “Help me out. Some guy carried her out the back door. I remember you had men stationed back there; they must have seen something. Find out who he is. I’m going to make sure he can never have children again.” A jolt of panic went through me, and I accidentally knocked my head against… a certain part of him. Jason let out a soft hiss, his eyes narrowing as he looked down at me. “Well now, do you want to make sure I can’t have children either?” I clamped my mouth shut, not daring to make a sound. Larry, however, squinted through the crack, trying to get a better look. He froze. “Who’s the girl? She looks… flexible.” “Someone new. She’s a biter.” Larry pressed closer, practically trying to shove his head through the gap. “So young. Not going to introduce her to your friend?” He reached for the door handle. The driver instantly hit the locks. Jason smiled. “She’s shy. Easily scared. Next time, maybe.” With that, under Larry’s suspicious gaze, Jason raised the window. He lifted my face and noticed my lipstick was smeared all over his trousers. He patiently wiped the smudges from my lips. “Now what are we going to do? Looks like your ex-fiancé is interested in you again.” “Which means,” he added softly, “I’ll just have to hide you away.” 4 “Jason Calloway is a total psycho.” I lay sprawled on Jason’s massive bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. After locking me in his villa, that psychopath had simply left, replaced by a secretary who delivered mountains of living supplies. The walk-in closet was now overflowing with silk nightgowns and designer bags. The System, ever the pot-stirrer, commented, 【Host, he certainly has a flair for keeping someone. Very ceremonial.】 But did I need money? No. I needed him. Yet for some reason, Jason was content to just dangle me on a string—close enough to see, but never to touch. As my survival time dwindled, I paced like a caged animal. 【Host, why don’t you jump out the window? Jason is at a gala not too far from here. If you leave now, you can still make it.】 So I did. I actually ran for it. The villa’s security system erupted in a deafening shriek. A second later, my phone rang. It was Jason. I answered, and his voice, cool and amused, slithered through the line. “Darling, is this your idea of sincerity? You’d better pray I don’t catch you.” I hung up, annoyed, and glanced at the timer floating in my vision: ten minutes left. I pushed myself to run faster. The ballroom was a cacophony of voices and music. I scanned the crowd, turning this way and that, when suddenly, a hand tangled in my hair and slammed me against the wall. Pain shot from the back of my head down to my tailbone, making me hiss. “Ava. Where have you been the last few days?” Larry materialized behind me, his face a thunderous mask. I held my breath, my entire body tensing. The last time he and Jason were in the same room, I’d nearly died. “Larry,” I said softly, “let me go.” “Let you go? So you can run back to your lover and live happily ever after?” He tightened his grip, yanking my hair viciously. “Tell me, who is he? I’d like to teach him that not all trash is worth picking up.” I’d almost forgotten what a hateful monster Larry was. Back when Phoebe ignored him, he’d used me as her stand-in, forcing me to lose weight until I was as fragile and willow-thin as she was. The moment Phoebe spoke to him again, he’d find me, his stand-in, an eyesore, and demand I gain weight so I wouldn’t resemble her. This vicious cycle had gone on for six months, leaving me with a chronic stomach condition and frail health. “System, can I call him a fucking asshole?” 【Your persona is a manipulative siren, Host,】 the System said regretfully. 【You can’t break character.】 I was being choked, struggling for air, when Phoebe appeared out of nowhere. She gasped, covering her mouth as her eyes instantly filled with tears. “Larry… why are you letting her filthy hands touch you?” Larry whipped his head around, a flash of panic in his eyes at the sight of her. “Phoebe, it’s not what you think—” “You liar!” Phoebe’s voice was thick with tears. “Don’t touch me! You’ve been touched by her. You’re so, so dirty…” Seizing the opportunity, I broke free from Larry’s grasp and scrambled toward the hallway. But Phoebe stuck out her foot, tripping me. I lost my balance, crashing into a table of beer bottles and falling heavily to the floor. Shards of glass bit into my palm. Phoebe was sobbing hysterically. Larry wrapped his arms around her, then kicked me. “Hey. You upset my girl. Apologize to her.” I bit my lip, my eyes fixed on the ten-minute countdown. The primal urge to survive drove me to crawl forward. Phoebe’s eyes glinted with malice as she lifted her foot, the sharp point of her stiletto heel aimed straight for my hand. In a flash of desperation, I grabbed a large piece of broken glass and plunged it into her ankle. A bloodcurdling scream tore through the ballroom. An ice-cold notification sounded in my head: 【Attacking an NPC. Survival time deducted by five minutes.】 It was the voice of the 【Arbiter】, the ultimate authority over all Systems, whose judgments were absolute. The timer above my head turned a threatening red. The System shrieked. 【Host! You have to find Jason, now!】 I gritted my teeth, staggered to my feet, and burst through the main doors. My eyes scanned the area, and there he was—Jason, surrounded by a crowd, walking slowly in my direction. 【Host, lure him somewhere Larry can’t see! And then get on him!】 That was exactly my plan. Jason murmured something to the person beside him and then started walking toward me. My face was pale, my heart pounding as I darted down the corridor, searching for the perfect place to strike. His lazy voice drifted from behind me. “Ava. Don’t tell me you escaped just to get yourself all battered and bruised.” His legs were long; one of his strides was worth three of mine. He followed me at a leisurely pace, like a predator letting its prey have a head start. The countdown in my ear was like a death knell, hammering on my frayed nerves. As I picked up speed, Jason’s voice turned cold. “You’d better run faster. Because if I catch you, you know what will happen.” Finally, around a corner, I spotted an empty reception room with its door ajar. The countdown was almost at zero. I spun around so fast that Jason didn’t have time to react. I grabbed him, dragged him inside, and slammed him down onto a sofa, kissing him with a wild, desperate frenzy. The timer, which had been about to hit zero, began to slowly tick back up. Jason’s entire body went rigid, the icy fury in his eyes slowly melting into confusion. My lips were on his, silencing any words he might have spoken. His large hand slid down my back, gripped the collar of my dress, and with a gentle tug, pulled me away from him. His handsome face was dark with anger. “Ava, stop—” “Don’t talk! Just let me kiss you!” Like a starving ghost, I lunged at him again, devouring him, ravaging his lips. The cool scent of him mixed with the rich aroma of wine was intoxicating, pulling me under. But it wasn’t enough. I wasn’t getting enough time. Panting and dizzy, I grabbed his tie. “Jason, let’s sleep together! Right now!” It turns out, in the face of death, a person loses all sense of reason. So much so that I failed to notice we weren’t alone. In fact, there were quite a few people in the room. “You—you let go of our Chairman!” a trembling voice stammered from behind me. I whipped my head around. A dozen pairs of eyes were staring fixedly at my hand, which was currently trying to unbuckle Jason’s belt. Their expressions were grim. Could someone please tell me where this group of middle-aged men came from? And then Jason, that bastard, started to laugh. “Congratulations,” he said, a wicked gleam in his eyes. “You just announced your intention to screw me in front of my entire board of directors.” 5 Once again, Jason looked thoroughly ravaged. My lipstick stained his thin lips, and his tie and shirt were hopelessly wrinkled. He looked listless, like an innocent man who had been utterly taken advantage of. Seeing this, the board members grew even more protective, slamming their hands on the table and rising to their feet. One of them, with tears in his eyes, sputtered, “How could you… sleep with him! He has a weak heart! What if something happened to him?!” Jason let out a short, sharp laugh. “She’s right. She charged at me like a little bull. Nearly took my last breath.” That damn psycho… he was enjoying the show again. Suddenly, the emotional dam I’d been holding back for so long finally burst. Faced with their accusatory glares, I buried my face in Jason’s chest. When I looked up, my eyes were red and brimming with tears. “Jason,” I choked out, “is it a crime to love you this much? Why are you letting them humiliate me like this?” Jason’s expression froze, the handsome lines of his face hardening into a dark scowl. “Out.” My mind was a whirlwind of curses. I started to get up, but Jason’s arm snaked around my waist, holding me in place. “I was talking to them,” he growled. “Get. Out!” The board members looked horrified. “We can’t! Sir, you have a heart condition! You can’t engage in such… strenuous activity—” “Get out.” For the first time, a raw, dangerous fury flickered in Jason’s eyes. The men scurried out, casting worried glances back at us every few steps. One of them even thoughtfully closed the door on his way out. So Jason had a heart condition. No wonder he always looked so pale and fragile, like a strong breeze could knock him over. Jason reached up and gently wiped the tears from my cheeks. “Don’t like an audience?” …Was I that kind of person? When had I possibly given him that impression? Perhaps my resentful glare was too obvious, because Jason pressed his lips together. “Fine. And here I thought you were so bold.” With that, his long, elegant fingers began to unbutton his shirt, one by one. His smooth collarbones were gradually revealed, a sight that made my blood run hot. Seeing me just staring at him, Jason’s lips curved into a smirk. “Weren’t you the one who wanted to sleep with me? This offer is for a limited time only.” The skin beneath my fingertips suddenly felt scorching hot. Jason was like a seductive fox spirit, his lazy gaze fixed on me. In the bright light, even the joints of his fingers seemed to glow with a faint pink hue. I felt a sudden shyness, unsure of where to even begin. His fingers traced a line from my neck, sliding slowly into my soft hair, and then his hand tightened its grip. A dark, dangerous desire swam in the depths of his eyes. “Come here, darling.” My body felt weak and pliant, and my voice trembled when I spoke. “Can we… turn off the lights?” “No.” “I want to watch you cry.” “It’s more exciting that way.” … An hour later, I stumbled out of the meeting room, my legs unsteady and my vision blurry. My knees buckled, and I nearly collapsed. The System smacked its lips contentedly. 【Host, that was good for a whole half a month of survival time. Jason is amazing.】 Yeah, amazing. I almost died. Jason, that wolf in sheep’s clothing, followed me out. He sauntered over, hands in his pockets, and leaned down to whisper in my ear with a smirk. “You got the back of your skirt dirty. Remember to throw it out when you get home.” My face flushed crimson. The next moment, a pair of hands settled on my hips. Jason untied his own jacket and wrapped it around my waist, giving my butt a light pat. “Go on, go play.” “…” I stood frozen. Jason chuckled again. “What? Can’t bear to leave me?” I took a deep breath and suddenly turned back to him. “Jason, can you stay with me tonight? All night?” His dark eyes studied me for a long moment before a slow smile spread across his face. “Alright.” I grabbed his tie, pulling him down for a fleeting, butterfly-light kiss. “Wait for me right here, okay?” Then, I turned and walked back toward the ballroom, a calm and determined expression on my face. The System was confused. 【Host, where are you going?】 A savage grin stretched across my lips. “Isn’t it obvious? I’m going to go carve up those two idiots.” I had half a month of life. It would be a waste not to spend at least some of it on revenge.

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My brother was in love with the campus belle, Stella. Stella was in love with Sam Croft. For the sake of my brother’s happiness, I decided to sacrifice my feminine wiles and conquer Sam—the campus’s resident ice king—myself. After finally winning him over, a slip of the tongue during a moment of carelessness ruined everything. I tried every trick in the book, but Sam remained unmoved. Just when I was ready to give up and dive into the arms of a 6’2″ freshman jock, Sam appeared before me, smelling of liquor, his eyes rimmed with red. “It’s okay if I’m just another fish in your pond,” he said, his voice raw. “Just… keep fishing for me.” 1 The 10,086th time my brother, Leo, confessed his love to Stella and got rejected, I was standing off to the side, finishing an ice cream cone. After swallowing the last bite of the waffle cone, I dusted off my hands and strolled over to my heartbroken brother. I stood on my toes, slinging an arm around his shoulder like we were buddies. “Don’t be sad, big bro. I’ve got a plan.” His face lit up with hope. “Really? What is it?” “Stella just said she’s into Sam, right? So, I’ll go out and make Sam mine. Once he’s off the market, maybe she’ll finally give you a second look.” As I spoke, I discreetly plucked the small necklace box from the bouquet of roses he was holding and slipped it into my pocket. The hope on Leo’s face curdled into stunned silence, then morphed into pitying concern. “Nora… maybe we should get your head checked. And also, give me my necklace back.” He reached for my pocket, but I dodged him with a practiced move, snatching the roses from his other hand while I was at it. Ignoring the murderous glare he was sending my way, I made a quick escape. “You won’t be needing these anymore,” I called over my shoulder. “I’ll put them to good use!” 2 High ponytail, crisp white blouse, pleated skirt. Paired with a clean, “no-makeup” makeup look. I admired my reflection in the mirror, flashing my signature, award-winning fake smile. Perfect. He wouldn’t stand a chance. But just as I was about to head out, the heavens opened up and it started pouring. Time for a change of plans. I shoved the roses into the fridge, grabbed an umbrella, and bolted out the door. I stood in the covered walkway of the academic building. Just as I was making my Nth attempt to fix my wind-flattened hair, I caught a glimpse of Sam about to exit the building. Showtime. I quickly hung my umbrella on a nearby rack and stood by the entrance, feigning distress as I stared out at the downpour. As Sam drew closer, I turned and stepped into his path, pitching my voice to sound soft and helpless. “Excuse me,” I began, “I, uh, forgot my umbrella. Would you mind walking me back to my dorm?” I finished with a shy, doe-eyed look, my clothes slightly damp from the rain. The picture of a damsel in distress. Heh. The most skilled hunters often appear as prey. 3 Before Sam could answer, I saw someone grab my umbrella from the rack and start to walk away. “Hey! Umbrella thief! Drop my umbrella!” Forgetting my act entirely, I shot past Sam in pursuit. Hearing my shout, the thief popped the umbrella open and made a run for it, disappearing into the curtain of rain. Damn it! First my food deliveries get stolen three times, and now my umbrella. I was going to blast this thief all over the campus confession page! Wait… I forgot something. I turned around and found myself face-to-face with Sam. We just stared at each other. In that instant, all my carefully crafted plans and confidence evaporated. I cleared my throat twice, forcing my voice back into that delicate tone. “Um, I…” I stammered, unable to form a coherent sentence. Great. Not only did Sam know I’d been lying about the umbrella, but now I actually didn’t have one. Just as I expected him to refuse and walk away, he opened his own umbrella and stepped beside me, tilting it to cover me. An almost imperceptible smile played on his lips. “Let’s go. I’ll walk you back.” The moment we reached my dorm, I immediately pulled out my phone, ready to exchange contacts. “Thank you so much for walking me back. How about I get your number? I can buy you a coffee sometime to thank you properly.” Sam offered a polite but distant smile. “No need. It was nothing.” He started to turn away, but I quickly grabbed the corner of his sleeve. “Wait! Let’s exchange numbers anyway. There’s something important I need to talk to you about!” “Talk about what?” “Add me, and I’ll tell you.” A moment later, after he’d sent the friend request, I met his confused gaze with my sweetest smile. “About us dating.” … 4 Staring at the chat window with just our two names, “Sam Croft” and “Nora Hayes,” I was at a complete loss. My roommate, Cici, bounced over. “Nora, are you going to the big basketball game against Northwood State tomorrow?” “Nah, not interested.” “Really? Sam is playing. I wonder how many girls will be fighting to give him a water bottle this time.” She shot me a teasing look; she knew all about my grand declaration to conquer him. “Even if Sam is playing, I’m… definitely going! What time? We need to get there early to grab good seats!” I immediately opened my chat with him. 【Hey, I heard you have a game tomorrow! Can I come bring you water?】 After a long wait, a single, crushing reply came back: 【No need.】 Ha. Men. Playing hard to get, are we? When a man says no, he means yes. The next day, I did a complete 180 from my innocent look. I curled my hair into beachy waves, slipped into a ridiculously short skirt, and went for a full glam makeup look. I pulled the roses from the fridge and gave them a once-over. Yep, still usable. Waste not, want not. Then, I grabbed Cici and we sprinted to the gym. 5 Wow, Sam really was popular. The cheers in the stadium were deafening, and most of them were for him. Not one to be outdone, I whipped out the pair of five-dollar, fluorescent green pom-poms I’d bought from a street vendor the night before. I shook them with all my might, screaming at the top of my lungs, “SAM, LET’S GO!” Maybe it was my volume, or maybe it was the blindingly green pom-poms, but his eyes drifted in my direction, locking with mine for a brief second. He seemed momentarily stunned, but then he turned and sank a perfect three-pointer. The moment the halftime buzzer sounded, I grabbed a water bottle and charged toward him. And was promptly swallowed by a wall of people. There were so many girls trying to give him water. I fought my way through the crowd, even spotting Stella in the mix. A quick glance back revealed my brother, Leo, staring forlornly from the stands. With one last push, I broke through and held the water out to Sam. “You worked hard out there, senior.” But his response was the same as before. “Thanks, but no.” 6 A player next to him laughed. “Dude, a pretty girl offers you water and you say no? Hey, if he doesn’t want it, I’ll take it. I’m dying of thirst.” He reached for the bottle. Just as I was about to hand it over, it was snatched from my grasp by a pair of long, elegant fingers. The teammate’s hand was left hanging in the air. We both turned to look at the hand’s owner. Sam leisurely twisted the cap off, took two long swallows, and then glanced at his teammate. “Sorry,” he said coolly. “I’m thirsty too.” My heart did a little flip. Okay, maybe this mission wasn’t a lost cause after all. I looked at the other player apologetically. “Sorry about that. Let me buy you another one.” Sam shot him a sideways glance. “He can buy his own.” The teammate just grinned knowingly. “Yeah, don’t worry about it. I’ll get my own.” He winked and jogged off. Sam finished the water, looked at me, and said, “Wait here a second,” before running off. He returned a minute later holding a light button-down shirt. He glanced away, a hint of awkwardness on his face, as he handed it to me. “There are a lot of bugs in here. You can wrap this around your legs. To keep them from biting you.” Bugs? I hadn’t seen any bugs. I looked down at my miniskirt and understood. I took the shirt and tied it around my waist. Yes! Getting him to accept the flowers was going to be a piece of cake! I shot a triumphant look at my brother in the stands. When I turned back, Sam’s face had darkened, and he was already walking away. 7 Unsurprisingly, our team won. I picked up the roses I’d stashed and was about to walk over to Sam when a shadow fell over me. I looked up to see a clean-cut, handsome guy smiling at me. “Hey, I was watching you during the game. Can I get your number?” “Sorry,” I said, trying to step to the right. He mirrored my movement, blocking my path. “Come on, just your number. We can just be friends.” I could see Sam and his team about to leave. Clutching the roses, I dodged around the guy. “Sorry, no phone, I live under a rock.” As I hurried away, I glanced back toward Sam and saw that he’d been watching us the whole time. “Sam!” By the time I caught up to him, his expression was thunderous. Wasn’t he happy about winning? I held out the roses. “Congratulations on the win!” He didn’t take them. He just stared at the bouquet for a long moment. Then, he let out a short, cold laugh. “Regifting, are we?” My heart skipped a beat. I nervously tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. How did he know these were the flowers my brother failed to give Stella? I examined the bouquet again. They were only a day old, and I’d kept them in the fridge. There was no way he could tell. I forced a laugh, about to make something up, when one of his teammates came over to drag him to the victory party. Sam’s eyes were dark pools as he looked at me one last time before turning to leave. “Your shirt,” I said, starting to untie it from my waist. Without looking back, he called out, “Don’t need it. Just throw it away.” 8 I angrily shoved the roses into a trash can. This was all my brother’s fault. The water bottle went fine, but the roses were a disaster. There must have been something wrong with them. Then I untied the shirt from my waist and threw it in the trash too. 【Forget it. I’m done. This is too much trouble.】 I sent the text to my brother, and a second later, a notification popped up: $50,000 has been deposited into your account. It was followed by another text from Leo: 【Keep pushing! I believe in you!】 The audacity! How could he…! I could. I meekly retrieved the shirt from the trash can. What can I say? He gave me too much money. Over the next few weeks, I became Sam’s shadow. I brought him breakfast, engineered “coincidental” run-ins, and crashed his classes under the guise of wanting to learn. The result? The breakfasts were usually rejected, ending up in either my brother’s stomach or his roommate’s. When we “bumped into each other,” he’d ignore my dazzling fake smile and walk right past me. And during class, whenever I’d start chattering, he’d just say, “Nora, if you’re going to crash a class, at least pay attention.” So, after all my hard work, all I had to show for it was a new reputation as a pathetic clinger. 9 I was trailing behind Sam, holding a taro boba tea, chattering away. “Hey handsome, special delivery. It’s got taro, it’s got milk tea… but if you want the boba, you’ll have to come and claim it yourself.” The figure in front of me stopped dead. I didn’t react in time and walked right into his back. “Ow,” I muttered, rubbing my nose. “Why’d you stop all of a sudden?” Sam turned to face me. “Nora, why are you always following me?” “I’m pursuing you, obviously,” I said with a grin. He was silent for a moment, his expression unusually serious. He looked me straight in the eye. “Do you like me?” His gaze was intense, complex, as if he could see right through me. There was a hint of darkness in his eyes, a flicker of something that looked almost… lonely. I froze for a second, then my eyes darted around nervously as I forced a laugh. “Of course! Why else would I have been chasing you for so long?” I didn’t look at him, so I missed the brief, stunned expression that crossed his face. After a long pause, all I heard was a nearly inaudible sigh. When I turned back, a cool, soft pressure met my lips. A warm hand cupped the back of my head, and the clean scent of pine filled my senses. My brain completely short-circuited. All I could see was Sam’s face, magnified before me, his eyes closed as he kissed me gently. Before I could even process what was happening, he pulled back slightly, drawing me into an embrace. “Then let’s be together.” My head was still spinning. I leaned against his chest, dazed. “Okay.” 10 “No way, Nora! You actually did it!?” Under the stunned gazes of my brother and Cici, I lifted my chin with a smug little smile. “Sam Croft? Conquered.” I patted Leo’s shoulder like a disappointed mentor. “Bro, if you still can’t win Stella over now, maybe you should start questioning your own charisma.” “Get off me!” he swatted my hand away. After we got together, the tables turned completely. Sam brought me breakfast, Sam bought me coffee, and Sam came to my classes to sit with me. Everything was great. Except for my brother. When I arrived at the private room in the bar, Leo was a sobbing, snotty mess, clinging to his friend. Yep. Rejected by Stella for the 10,087th time. The moment he saw me, he stumbled over, crying. “Even without Sam in the picture, she still doesn’t like me!” I pushed him away with a look of disgust. He wiped his tears and looked at me. “Since it didn’t work, you don’t have to keep pretending to be with Sam for my sake.” “I…” Seeing my hesitation, Leo forgot to cry. He stared at me in shock. “Nora, don’t tell me you’ve actually caught feelings.” Caught feelings? I wasn’t sure. But my mouth moved faster than my brain. “Of course not! It’s not like I actually like him. Besides, why would I give up a whole pond full of fish for just one guy?” “Nora.” I froze at the sound of that voice. I whipped my head around to look at the doorway. Sam was standing there, his expression hidden in the shadows, making it impossible to read. 11 Sam stepped out of the darkness, and the dim lights of the room slowly illuminated his face. He was smiling, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. Draped over his arm was a women’s trench coat. I watched, stunned, as he walked toward me. “Sam, what are you…” He held the coat out to me. “It’s getting cold outside.” “You were… When did you get here?” I wanted to ask if he’d heard me, but the words wouldn’t come out. “Just got here. Why?” “N-nothing.” “I’ll go now. You guys have fun.” As I watched him leave, a strong, unsettling premonition washed over me. I didn’t see the self-mocking smile that twisted his lips the moment he turned away. Something was wrong with Sam. Very wrong. He must have heard what I said. But why didn’t he say anything? 12 My brother’s grumbling voice broke through my thoughts. “That kid Sam just gets on my nerves. Nora, when are you going to dump him?” When I didn’t answer, he continued, “Nora, I know you have a lot of admirers, but you’ve never even dated before. Where’s this ‘pond of fish’ you were talking about? You were just…” I clapped a hand over his mouth. “Bro, you’re rambling.” I scrolled aimlessly through my phone. When I finally came to, I was staring at my chat with Sam. The image of his empty smile flashed in my mind, and the unease in my heart grew stronger. I stood up and headed for the door. I had to find him. “Where are you going, Nora?” I shot my brother a guilty look. “I have to go. You guys carry on. I’ll be back to comfort you after your next rejection.” “Hey! Can’t you wish me some luck for once?”

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My mom set me up on a blind date. Her selling point? “He’s got a rock-solid government job.” When I met him, he was a devastatingly handsome ice prince. He slid a photograph across the table. “Do you know him?” It was my scumbag ex-boyfriend. A jolt of electricity shot through me. “Know him?” I seethed, my teeth clenched. “Even as dust and ashes, I’d know that bastard.” A cold smirk touched his lips. “Good,” he murmured. “Then our goals are one and the same.” I thought he wanted to help me get revenge. My heart fluttered, ready to be his. Until he pulled out a pair of gleaming steel handcuffs and snapped one around my wrist. “I’m a cop…” 1. “You must be Lia.” The man across from me spoke, his voice as flat and cool as his expression. Just yesterday, my mom was screaming at me over the phone. “Lia, listen to me, you’re thirty! How much longer are you going to be this picky? This one’s a federal employee, a stable job for life! If you dare stand him up, I’ll break your legs!” So, here I was. The man in front of me was named Ethan. He was undeniably good-looking, with deep-set eyes and a sharp, high-bridged nose. The cuffs of his crisp white shirt were rolled up, revealing strong, corded forearms. But his presence was overwhelming. He sat there, perfectly still, yet I felt a nervous energy crackling in the air, making me squirm in my seat. I managed a nod. “That’s me.” He hummed in acknowledgment, and then… silence. The waitress came to take our order. He asked for a black iced coffee, then his gaze shifted to me. “I’ll have the same,” I said. As the waitress left, the awkwardness thickened. I started to question everything. Was this really a blind date? He finally spoke again. “So, Miss Reed, what do you do for fun?” I pulled myself together. “Watch movies, shop, a bit of travel.” “I see.” And… silence again. I decided to take the lead. “So, Mr. Cole, what exactly do you do? My mom just said you worked for the government.” He looked at me, his eyes so deep I couldn’t read a single emotion in them. “My work is classified.” Okay, then. This conversation was officially dead on arrival. I picked up my glass of water, planning to sit for another ten minutes before making a polite excuse to leave. But then he reached into his briefcase and pulled out a photograph. “Do you know him?” The face in the picture was one I could never forget. Alex. My ex-boyfriend. The con artist who had stolen my heart and my money before vanishing three years ago. I froze. What was my mother thinking? Was this some kind of bizarre test to see if I still had feelings for him? I slammed my glass down on the table. “Know him? Of course, I know him.” My voice was laced with venom. “Even as dust and ashes, I’d know that bastard!” Ethan leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping to a low, intense murmur. “Good.” “Then our goals are one and the same.” My heart gave a violent lurch. 2. In that instant, my mind raced with a thousand a melodramatic soap opera plots. Had Alex conned Ethan, too? Or maybe one of his relatives? “You…” I asked, testing the waters. “Are you looking for him, too?” Ethan took a slow, deliberate sip of his coffee. “More than just looking.” He set the cup down, his gaze locking with mine. “I’m going to catch him.” Catch him! The words sent a thrill through my entire body. Three years ago, Alex had vanished with the fifty thousand dollars I’d saved up to start my own business. I’d filed a police report, but it was like he’d ceased to exist. His ID, his phone number—everything led to a dead end. The police told me it was a common type of case, to wait for news, and then… nothing. For three years, he had haunted my nightmares. I despised him, fantasizing about tearing him limb from limb. And now, a man so handsome it was practically a crime was telling me he was going to catch Alex. I looked at Ethan, my eyes shining. “I can help you!” I blurted out. “I know so much about him! His habits, his old friends, the places he used to go!” Ethan watched my excited outburst, and something new flickered in his eyes. “Easy,” he said, tucking the photo away. “That’s all for today.” He stood, paid the bill, and turned to me. “Give me your number. I’ll call you when I need you.” I rattled off my digits instantly. He saved the contact, gave me a curt nod, and walked away. Clean, efficient, no wasted motion. I sat there, my heart still hammering against my ribs as I watched him disappear through the cafe door. I pulled out my phone and texted my mom. “Mom, about this guy… I’m very, very satisfied.” She replied in seconds: “Really?! That’s wonderful! I told you he was a great catch!” I smiled at the screen. Oh, he was a catch, all right. Handsome, driven, and we shared a common enemy. I think… I was already starting to fall for him. 3. A week passed, and Ethan didn’t contact me. I stared at my phone constantly, refreshing my messages, terrified I’d miss his call. My mom, on the other hand, was relentless, hounding me daily for updates. “Lia, honey, you need to be more proactive! Men like it when a girl takes initiative.” “Ask him to a movie! Or dinner!” Her nagging was giving me a headache, so I just mumbled, “I know, I know.” Just as I was about to break down and call him myself, my phone rang. It was Ethan. “Are you free tonight?” His voice was as cool and crisp as ever. “Yes! I’m free!” I nearly leaped off the sofa. “Seven o’clock. I’ll pick you up at this address.” He hung up. I stared at the address he’d texted—it was my own apartment building. I blinked. How did he know where I lived? Then again, for someone in his line of work, finding an address was probably child’s play. I shot into my bedroom and threw open my closet, a whirlwind of clothes and makeup. At seven o’clock sharp, a black SUV pulled up in front of my building. Ethan was behind the wheel. He saw me and gave a slight nod. I slid into the passenger seat. “Where are we going?” I asked, buckling my seatbelt. “A place Alex used to frequent.” My heart sank. So, this wasn’t a date. I’d just been getting ahead of myself. He drove to an old strip of bars on the Southside, parking the car on a quiet street before killing the engine. “He used to love a bar here called The Night Owl.” I nodded. “Yeah. He always said they had the cheapest drinks.” Ethan turned to look at me. “You still remember him so clearly.” “Of course,” I sneered. “If a dog bites you, you make damn sure you remember what it looks like.” He didn’t respond, just watched me. The silence stretched for a good ten seconds, making my skin prickle. Finally, he spoke. “Besides this bar, any other places? Or any… unusual habits? Something most people wouldn’t know.” I thought for a moment. “He has a burn scar on the inside of his left wrist. From a cigarette. It’s tiny, like a single, perfect period. He told me it was an accident from when he was a kid.” Ethan’s eyes sharpened. He took out his phone, seeming to type something down. “Anything else?” “He had a gambling problem,” I said. “The fifty thousand… he told me it was for an investment. I found out later he bet it all on sports. Lost everything.” Ethan’s fingers tapped a light rhythm on the steering wheel. “Which betting site?” I shook my head. “I don’t know. He never let me near his phone.” Silence fell again, the atmosphere turning icy. I felt a wave of disappointment, like I hadn’t been helpful at all. “Um…” I said softly. “Thank you.” “For what?” “For still investigating him. For being willing to catch him.” Ethan started the car. “Don’t thank me,” he said, his voice flat. “It’s my job.” He turned the car around and headed back toward my place. As we neared my building, he asked an odd question. “Are you close with your parents?” I was taken aback. “Yeah, they’re great. My dad dotes on me.” “What does your father do?” “He’s in international trade.” “The company name?” “Unity International,” I answered. “Why?” Ethan shook his head. “No reason. Just curious.” The car stopped in front of my building. I unbuckled my seatbelt, ready to get out. “Ethan,” I said, mustering all my courage. “Yeah?” “Can we… talk about something other than Alex sometime?” He looked at me, his expression unreadable. After a long moment, he finally spoke. “Okay.” 4. That one word, “Okay,” kept me walking on air for days. I started asking him out. “I know a new sushi place that’s supposed to be amazing,” I’d say. “Okay.” “There’s a new movie out with great reviews.” “Okay.” “The weather’s going to be perfect this weekend. We could go for a hike outside the city.” “Okay.” He never said no. But somehow, our dates always morphed into case briefings. At the sushi restaurant, I’d just be lifting a piece of salmon to my lips when he’d ask, “Did Alex like raw fish?” At the movies, halfway through the film, he’d lean in and whisper in my ear, “Do you remember the last four digits of his Social Security number?” On a mountaintop, as I was admiring the breathtaking view, he’d casually drop, “Did he ever mention any countries he wanted to escape to?” I was going crazy. But I couldn’t bring myself to give up. Because every now and then, I’d see a different side of him. Once, at dinner, I choked on a fish bone. He was on his feet in a second, moving behind me and performing the Heimlich maneuver. His arms wrapped around my waist, his chest pressed against my back, his warm breath fanning against my ear. In that moment, my face was redder than it had been when I was choking. Another time, we were leaving a restaurant when it started pouring. He took off his jacket and held it over my head, shielding me from the downpour. Half of his body was soaked, rain dripping from the ends of his short, dark hair. I looked up at him, and my heart hammered in my chest. I was becoming more and more certain. I was falling for him. And I even started to think he felt something for me, too. Why else would he agree to do all these things with me that were clearly outside of “work”? Why else would he have looked so panicked when I was choking? I told my mom what I was thinking. She was ecstatic. “I knew it! A mother’s intuition is never wrong! Lia, you’ve got to lock this one down!” I decided to be even bolder. We met for dinner again. Afterward, I didn’t let him take me straight home. “Let’s go for a walk by the river,” I suggested. He glanced at me but didn’t object. The night air by the river was chilly. I’d deliberately underdressed, and now I was shivering. I thought he might offer me his jacket again, like last time. He didn’t. He just looked at me and said, “If you’re cold, we should go back.” My heart plummeted. I wasn’t ready to give up. I stopped walking and turned to face him directly. “Ethan.” “Hmm?” “What… what exactly am I to you?” The words tumbled out before I could stop them. “Are you just using me for this case, or… do you actually like me, even a little?” He fell silent. The river breeze whipped his jacket and tangled my hair. I waited, the silence stretching so long I thought he’d never answer. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, nearly carried away by the wind. “We’re getting close to a breakthrough in Alex’s case.” A flicker of hope ignited inside me. Did that mean once the case was over, we could finally… He cut through my fantasy. “When this is all over,” he said, his eyes fixed on mine, “I’ll give you an answer.” 5. When this is all over. I clung to those words like a promise. I dove headfirst into helping him, dredging up every memory I had of Alex. I dug through old chat logs, emails, photos—everything—and sent it all to him in organized folders. I even drew a map of Alex’s hometown from memory, marking all the places he might be hiding. Each time, Ethan’s reply was a simple “Received.” It was curt, but for me, it was all the encouragement I needed. I felt like we were soldiers fighting side by side. No, more than that—partners on the verge of becoming something more. One night, Ethan called me out of the blue. “We’ve got a lead on Alex.” My heart leaped into my throat. “Where?” “He’s in an abandoned factory on the west side of town. We’re moving in to apprehend him.” “That’s fantastic!” I exclaimed. “Lia,” he said my name, his tone serious. “We need your help.” “Anything! Just tell me!” “We need you to come to the site. To make a positive ID.” “Okay! I’m on my way!” I hung up the phone. I grabbed my keys and bolted out the door, not even bothering with a jacket. The abandoned factory he mentioned was in a remote area, and it took me nearly an hour of following my GPS to get there. A few unmarked cars were parked near the entrance.

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After I started high school, my mom gave me a ten-thousand-dollar monthly allowance. My desk mate, consumed by envy, tricked me into swapping our souls. She ran towards the luxury town car, ecstatic. “A rich mommy! You’re all mine now!” I quietly slung her worn-out backpack over my shoulder, got on the back of her mom’s electric scooter, and let out a silent sigh of relief. Thank God. I’m finally free of my mother. 1. Just before the last bell, Marie Jensen handed me a smoothie. “It’s my first time buying you something. I saved up for two weeks to get the most expensive one. I hope you like it.” I hesitated for a moment before taking it politely, sipping it a couple of times. It was strawberry, my favorite. “Thanks, it’s really good.” The words had barely left my lips when a flash of white light blinded me. When I opened my eyes, I was staring at myself. We had swapped bodies. “Marie, you—” “Shh,” she hissed, her eyes gleaming with triumph from inside my body. “You’re Marie now. From today on, I’m Anna Sterling. And the rich mommy? She’s all mine.” 2. Staring at the ecstatic new me, it all clicked. A few weeks ago, she’d borrowed money for a smoothie and had accidentally seen the seven-figure balance in my bank account. She’d stared, counting the zeroes over and over. “Anna, how do you have so much money?” “My mom gives me ten thousand a month. It just adds up.” “Your mom… she’s so rich. What does she do?” “She owns a few companies.” “Wow, that’s incredible! You’re so lucky!” Marie had complained between sips. “My mom’s a stay-at-home mom, and she’s so cheap. She only gives me five dollars a day for lunch. That’s why I had to borrow from you.” I listened quietly, my eyes fixed on the smoothie in her hand. The truth was, I envied her. Because after I turned ten, I never had another smoothie. And I never tasted happiness again. 3. After that day, Marie constantly told me how sick she was of her mother, how much she wished she could be my mom’s daughter. I thought it was just a passing fantasy. I never imagined she would actually use a soul-swapping trick to steal her. “Just accept it, Anna. We can never switch back.” While I was still in shock, Marie—in my body—downed the rest of the doctored smoothie and sprinted towards the black town car that picked me up every day. Watching her giddy figure disappear, I slowly shouldered her old backpack, found her mom’s electric scooter in the crowd, and felt a wave of relief wash over me. Thank God. I’m finally free of my mother. 4. “Marie, honey, you look happy today. Did something good happen?” Marie’s mom handed me a helmet. She wasn’t wearing any makeup, just an old black jacket and worn-out sandals. She looked thin and tired, but her eyes, as she looked at me, were incredibly gentle. “Yeah. A problem I couldn’t solve just… figured itself out.” I fumbled with the helmet, getting the strap tangled. Seeing me struggle, her mom immediately parked the scooter and carefully adjusted it for me. She didn’t scold me, just affectionately tapped my nose. “You’re acting like a little kid. Hop on.” I got on the scooter, a strange warmth spreading from where her fingers had touched my nose. Ever since I was ten, I had lived on my own. My mother was always busy, flying all over the world. She never picked me up from school, never allowed me to waste time with something as frivolous as affection. We hadn’t touched in years. Our interactions were like those between a CEO and a subordinate: she gave orders, and I executed them. If I performed well, she transferred money. If I didn’t, there were punishments. The memory of those punishments sent an involuntary shiver down my spine, a fear so deep it felt etched into my bones. It’s okay, I told myself. You’re Marie now, not Anna. You’re not going to die. 5. Marie’s apartment was even smaller than I’d imagined. The living room was cluttered, with children’s books and toys piled on the sofa. Right, Marie had mentioned she had a little sister, not even three years old. “Marie, are you still mad at me?” Her mom placed a shoebox on the coffee table. “Those shoes you wanted? I scraped the money together and bought them for you. See? Are these the ones?” I opened the box. Inside was a pair of knock-off Loro Piana loafers. I knew they were fake because just last week, my mother had bought me the real ones, with strict instructions to wear them to school on the fifteenth of every month. I hated them, but I had numbly followed her command. Marie had noticed them that day, looked up the price, and had been in a foul mood for the rest of the day. “Marie? Did I buy the wrong ones?” Her mom’s gentle, hesitant question pulled me back. I looked into her hopeful eyes, and a warmth bloomed in my chest. “No, it’s just… a classmate has the same pair. Could I maybe pick a different style?” “Of course, sweetie. Here’s my phone. Add what you want to the cart. I’m just going to run next door and pick up your sister.” She handed me her phone and left. So, she had to leave her younger daughter with a neighbor just so she could pick up her older one. A girl Marie’s age could easily take the bus. She didn’t have to do this every day. Was it to save the two-dollar bus fare? I looked at her phone. It was an old model, three years out of date, with two cracks across the screen. The lock screen and wallpaper were both photos of Marie and her little sister. It was clear her mom was frugal with herself but lavished love on her children. How nice, I thought. A mom this good is finally mine. 6. Because I chose a cheaper pair of shoes and patiently read stories to my new little sister, Marie’s mom made a huge platter of sweet and sour pork to reward me. That night, for the first time, I ate what I wanted. I took as much as I wanted, not following the rigid, timed, and portioned meal plans my mother enforced. The perfectly balanced nutritional and body-sculpting meals of my adolescence were cold and clinical. Shrimp flown in from Argentina held none of a mother’s warmth; it couldn’t compare to the love cooked into the food in my bowl. “Marie, what’s wrong? Don’t you feel well?” “No, it’s just… Mom, your cooking is so delicious, I don’t want to finish it.” “Silly girl. If you like it, eat up. I’ll make more for you tomorrow.” She scraped the remaining pieces from the platter into my bowl, leaving none for herself. My eyes stung. The broken pieces of myself, shattered for so long, slowly began to mend. So this is what it felt like to be loved by a mother… Like a spring breeze, a winter sun. But just as I thought I could slowly pull myself out of hell in this warm and loving home, Marie’s mom got into a terrible fight with her husband. Over me. 7. Two in the morning. The sound of a key turning in the lock echoed from the living room. Marie’s mom slipped out of bed. I was a light sleeper and woke up just in time to hear a man’s angry voice from outside our door. “She’s a teenage girl! Isn’t five dollars enough for lunch? Why does she need more?” “Marie likes meat, and a single hot dish is almost five dollars now. Sometimes she needs to buy school supplies, too. It’s really not enough.” “If she’s so expensive, maybe she should just drop out and go sell herself!” Silence. My heart hammered against my ribs. Sell herself? He couldn’t mean… I couldn’t believe a father could say something so vile. “Joe, three years ago, you asked me to quit my job to have a second child. You promised five hundred a month for the household. Two years ago, you cut it to three-fifty. This year, you’re only giving me two hundred. Just give me the three-fifty, and I’ll cover the increase in her lunch money.” CRASH. The sound of something shattering. Her husband had lost it. “All you three do is ask for money! You couldn’t even give me a son! Why should I spend three-fifty a month on you? For that much, I could keep a girl on the side!” Another suffocating silence. I thought that after being humiliated like that, she would surely demand a divorce. But she said nothing. She just came back into the room, her shoulders slumped in defeat. I quickly shut my eyes. She didn’t notice I was awake as she tucked me in, then sat beside the bed, crying silently in the dark. In that moment, I finally understood why Marie had so desperately wanted a rich mother. 8. In the morning, Marie’s mom apologized, telling me the neighbor couldn’t watch my sister, so I’d have to take the bus. “I transferred twenty-two dollars to your account. Two for the bus, twenty for lunch.” “I thought it was fifteen…” Last night, her husband had refused to give more. “You’re a growing girl. You can’t skimp on food. An extra five dollars a day is nothing. I’ll cover it.” She gently stroked my face. “Marie, don’t deny yourself at school. Buy whatever you want to eat.” The calluses on her fingertips felt rough against my skin, a little itchy, a little painful. I couldn’t help but hug her. “Thank you, Mom.” She stiffened for a second, then gently patted my back. “You’re acting so different lately,” she murmured. I snapped back to reality. I hadn’t expected her to notice something was off so quickly. I practically fled the apartment, pulling out my phone once I was safely outside. A flood of messages from Marie popped up. 9. [The etiquette tutors just praised me. Said I’ve improved a lot.] [I got three ‘excellents’ in my public speaking class. You probably couldn’t even get one, right?] [My therapist is so cute, lol. She actually told me to ‘get more sunshine.’ My life is so perfect, even if it rained every day, I wouldn’t get wet.] [Guess what? The butler just told Mom I completed all my Tuesday objectives. She was so pleased, she bought me a couture dress on the spot.] A couture dress? What was so exciting about that? My closet was full of them. Those expensive, elaborate clothes were less comfortable than my school uniform. Wearing them meant I wasn’t Anna anymore; I was “Ms. Sterling’s daughter,” an accessory at some stuffy event where my expressions and emotions weren’t my own. “Marie, your mom couldn’t drive you again today?” A girl from the next class, Hailey, called out to me. Her sympathetic voice pulled me from my dark thoughts. I managed a smile. “Yeah, she has to look after my sister.” Hailey tilted her head and linked her arm through mine. “How come you’re not mad? I thought you hated your sister.” Hated her sister? Marie’s little sister was a soft, cuddly ball of fluff. When she looked at me with her big eyes and called me “sissy” in her tiny voice, my heart melted. Why would Marie hate her? Was it about money again? 10. On the bus, I scrolled through more of Marie’s messages. [Mom is coming back next week. I’m going to tell her I want to transfer to a private school and then study abroad.] [We were desk mates for three years, so I guess we have a connection. As long as you keep all my high school secrets, I can give you a nice payoff before I leave.] At midnight, she’d sent a photo of the glittering city skyline from her new bedroom window: [Jealous? Marie, this is the penthouse you’ll never reach, the life you’ll never have.] The last two messages were from five minutes ago: [The Princess has transferred you $100.] [Marie, I just saw you waiting for the bus. Did your mom ditch you for your sister again? How pathetic. Take a taxi. I’ll wait for you in class.] I accepted the money and turned off the screen. It seemed Marie was adapting to the role of “Anna Sterling” perfectly. She could stomach the bland nutritional meals, endure the stressful private tutoring sessions, and live in that empty, lifeless house. She was the perfect daughter my mother had always wanted—a robot who followed orders with precision. My mother must have been so pleased with her performance yesterday. Wait… A cold realization washed over me. I gripped my phone, my palm sweating with fear. Marie had made three fatal mistakes. 11. I made it to school just as the bell rang. As I put my bag down, Marie, who was scrolling through videos, glanced up. “You took the money. Why didn’t you get a taxi?” I frowned, snatched her—my—phone, and quickly closed the app. “Stop watching that. You’ll get in trouble.” “What trouble? It’s just a video.” She glared at me. “Give it back.” “All your social media is monitored. The house is full of cameras. She knows everything you do.” I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady. “You’ve made three fatal mistakes. With her personality, we’re both screwed.” “Mistakes? My performance last night was flawless. Even the butler didn’t suspect a thing. Who are you trying to scare?” “I’m not trying to scare you! Will you just listen to me—” “No! Marie, give me back my phone right now, or I’ll make you buy me a new one.” I was speechless. Suddenly, an arm reached over. Ryan Hunter, the class heartthrob Marie used to have a huge crush on, snatched the phone from my hand and presented it to her with a charming smile. “Anna, here’s your phone.” “Oh.” Marie took it without much enthusiasm and tossed it in her desk. Ryan lingered, blushing slightly. “Anna, everyone says you’re amazing at Go. Want to play a game after lunch?” “No, I’m busy.” She rejected him flatly, opening her English book without even glancing at her former crush. Ryan retreated awkwardly. I didn’t understand her reaction either. Just a few days ago, she was engineering “accidental” run-ins with him. Noticing my stare, Marie lifted her chin smugly. “I’m going to be the CEO of Aura Corp one day. Ryan Hunter is beneath me. To me, he’s just like you now—an insignificant grain of sand that will leave no trace on my life.” 12. I realized Marie truly saw herself as “Anna” now, and she was reveling in everything I had once despised. This was exactly what I wanted. As long as she could keep my mother fooled, we could both live the lives we desired. I tried multiple times that day to warn her that Seraphina Sterling was not the benevolent mother portrayed in the news, but a cold, ruthless monster. Marie was convinced I was just jealous and trying to drive a wedge between them. Finally, I gave up. I spent the entire afternoon writing down the one hundred and twenty-one house rules in a notebook and gave it to her. She barely glanced at it before tearing the pages to shreds. “I don’t believe you. This is just your pathetic attempt to get your life back.” “And even if it’s true, I don’t need your warnings. I’m confident I can win Mom’s approval.” “Maybe she’ll notice I’m a little different, but she’ll just think I’ve realized my mistakes and changed for the better. From now on, I’m going to be the perfect, obedient daughter.” “I’ve read your text history. I don’t get why you’d want a mother who’s just… around. I’m grateful that my mother is out there conquering the world. If she were like some stay-at-home mom, chained to her house and kids, I’d be living like a beggar, unable to even afford bus fare.” She wasn’t lying. Once, during a downpour, her mom forgot to transfer her bus fare, and she had to borrow two dollars from me. Just then, a message popped up on my phone: [Sweetie, I’m cleaning the neighbor’s house. Can you take the bus home? I made your favorite pork dumplings today. If you’re hungry when you get back, you can boil some.] Even though her mom had forgotten the bus fare again, a warmth spread through my chest. She had made dumplings just for me. 13. After school, Marie saw me heading for the bus stop and blocked my path. “Did your mom ditch you for your sister again? How pathetic. Here’s another hundred. Take a taxi.” She transferred the money without waiting for a reply and strode off toward the town car. I accepted the money, but I had no intention of taking a taxi. Marie’s family was struggling. Her mom was cleaning houses to make ends meet. I would save the money and give it to her. It was rush hour, and the bus was packed. People got on and off, but it remained crowded. I didn’t notice the man in the baseball cap who stood next to me for several stops. Until the driver slammed on the brakes. The passengers lurched forward, and the man fell against me, his hand landing on my chest. It didn’t feel like an accident. “Oh, it’s you, little lady. Sorry, lost my balance.” He seemed to know Marie and greeted me casually. I pressed my lips together and turned my back to him. I thought that would be the end of it, but then his hand snaked around my waist. “Hey, let your uncle here just steady himself, okay?” The hair on my arms stood on end. I grabbed his hand, my grip like steel. The taekwondo I had been practicing since I was a child finally came in handy. And I finally understood why Marie never wanted to take the bus. She must have been harassed by this creep before. That’s why she needed her mom to drive her every day. The moment her mom couldn’t, she was in danger again. But why hadn’t she told anyone? Why hadn’t she gone to the police? Three hours later, I had my answer. 14. It was nine o’clock by the time Marie’s mom picked me up from the police station. “Marie, go home and get cleaned up. I’ll go get your sister.” “Okay.” Her eyes were red and swollen, and a wave of guilt washed over me. I hadn’t been hurt—in fact, I’d knocked out two of the pervert’s teeth—but she kept blaming herself for not being there to pick me up. She had done her best, rushing to the station in her dirty apron, trying to stay calm and handle things rationally. But when the police said this was the man’s third offense, her composure had shattered. The gentle, soft-spoken woman had transformed into a raging lioness. She had grabbed the man by the hair, dragged him to the floor, and was about to smash a chair over his head before the officers intervened. During the ordeal, she had called her husband. His only response was: “You’re a disgrace. Get your asses home now.” I wasn’t surprised by his reaction anymore. What I didn’t expect was that the moment I walked through the door, he would charge at me and slap me across the face. “You little tramp! Always trying to seduce men! I told you to go back to the countryside and get married! Twenty thousand dollars, down the drain!” “You knocked out two of his teeth! I’m not paying a dime! You can sell yourself to pay for it! I can’t believe I’m stuck with three unlucky bitches like you!” He screamed at me, then, not satisfied, he unbuckled his belt. He didn’t care what had happened to his daughter. He only cared that she had embarrassed him. “Joe, are you crazy? It’s not her fault! That pervert was the one who assaulted our daughter!” At the critical moment, Marie’s mom threw herself in front of me. Joe just swung the belt, catching her across the face. “Useless hen! It’s all your fault for letting her go to high school! What’s the point of educating a girl? She just ends up acting like a whore!” My little sister started wailing. Marie’s mom stood there, trembling, all the fight she’d shown at the station gone. “Joe, that’s enough!” she finally managed to choke out. Her weak protest only fueled his rage. “What, Linda, you want a divorce? You willing to leave your precious little chicks? Don’t forget, you don’t have a penny to your name. The court will never give you the kids.” He raised the belt again, and she instinctively flinched, burying her head, silently enduring the abuse in front of her children rather than uttering the word “divorce.” 15. My taekwondo came in handy for the second time that day. I kicked Joe until he passed out. As I was about to deliver a more permanent blow, Marie’s mom wrapped her arms around me, holding me tight. “Marie, no! You’ll go to jail! Stop, please!” My little sister clung to my pant leg, sobbing, “Sissy, hug.” I didn’t want them to keep crying. I took a deep breath and stopped. Once the house was quiet and my sister was calm, her mom started to move toward Joe. I grabbed her arm. “Mom, can you please divorce him?” “Marie, you just focus on your studies. Don’t worry about grown-up problems.” She wiped her tears and wouldn’t meet my eyes. In that moment, I felt a profound disappointment. But then, I understood the real problem.

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The system tasked me with romancing the innocent male lead. I gave Damien Blackwood my all—relentless, whispering sweet nothings by day, curling up beside him at night. Each morning, I demanded a kiss before letting him rise, his face flushed crimson. My passionate assault quickly ensnared the innocent lamb. We confessed, dated, and became engaged in a whirlwind romance. But at our engagement party, the system screamed back to life: “I said romance the innocent lead, so why seduce the psycho villain?!” “What part of him seems innocent? Every time you flirted, he bought a new ‘toy,’ saving them for tonight—for you.” “He’s about to go nuclear, and you’re humming nursery rhymes!” Panic seized me. I spun to flee, only to crash into a solid chest. Damien’s arms locked around me, his smile gentle but his grip unbreakable. “Darling,” he purred, “we missed our morning kiss. How about we spend all night making it up?” 1 “Mmm…” The first thing I registered upon waking was the sound of ragged, urgent breathing. I lifted my head. A man was slumped against the wall, his handsome face flushed, his shirt torn open to reveal a wide expanse of toned chest. He looked like the textbook definition of a male lead who’d just been drugged. My jaw dropped. My name is Nina, and I’m a ‘transmigrator.’ Just moments ago, my system had thrown me into this novel. It had only managed to spit out, “Your mission is to romance the pure, innocent male lead, Damien Blackwood…” before the connection fizzled out. But it had failed to mention that this innocent little flower was this… intense. My eyes lit up. I couldn’t stop myself from walking toward him. If the innocent lamb was in trouble, then who was I to deny him a proper rescue? But I’d barely taken two steps when a brutal force clamped down on my wrist. The world spun, and the next thing I knew, I was slammed against the wall, my arm twisted behind me. Damien’s eyes were dark and stormy. “Who are you?” he growled. “What are you trying to do to me?” The words should have been terrifying. But in his drugged state, his voice was breathy, the ends of his words trembling ever so slightly. He sounded less threatening and more… adorable. A wicked grin spread across my face. “What do you think?” I purred. “I’m here to help you with your little… problem.” Damien’s brow furrowed, his grip on my wrist tightening. “Looking for a death wish?” But before he could do anything else, another wave of the drug hit him. His strength vanished, leaving him paralyzed. He could only watch, his eyes wide with a mixture of anger and confusion, as I slung his arm over my shoulder, half-carrying, half-dragging him. With a final, decisive shove— SPLASH! A huge plume of water erupted as we both tumbled into the oversized bathtub, plunging into the icy water. 2 Damien was soaked to the bone. He broke the surface, gasping for air, his voice dripping with fury. “What. Are. You. Doing?” Each word was a dagger. He was genuinely furious. But I was too busy enjoying the moment to notice. I tilted my head back, a triumphant smile on my face. “Like I said, I’m helping you with your problem.” I gestured around us. “See? You’re not even trembling anymore. It’s working, isn’t it?” Damien froze. He seemed to realize, for the first time, that the burning heat that had been consuming him was now mostly gone, extinguished by the cold water. His mind felt clearer. A complex expression crossed his face. “…You really were just trying to help?” Well, not just. I had my own selfish reasons. Pretending to wipe water from my eyes, I secretly peeked at him. His white dress shirt was now semi-transparent, clinging to his body and outlining the sharp, defined muscles beneath. It was a subtle, tantalizing kind of temptation. My face grew warm. Nina, you’re terrible, I scolded myself. Taking advantage of a poor, innocent man like this. But Damien hadn’t noticed my leering. He was lost in thought. “Why didn’t you kill me?” he finally asked. I blinked. What? “I don’t know if you were sent by the old family or our rivals from the port,” he continued, his voice low and serious. “But either way, you should have been here for my life. Why didn’t you kill me when I was vulnerable?” Okay, what was happening? I wasn’t that terrible. And why was an innocent romance protagonist talking about assassins and rival gangs? Anyone overhearing this would think he was some kind of mafia boss, not the hero of a love story. After a moment of silent mental facepalming, I finally explained, “What are you talking about? I’m here to win you over. I don’t want your life. I want you.” Damien went completely still. He stared at me, his eyes wide with disbelief, as if he hadn’t heard me correctly. “…What?” The system had told me that with pure, innocent guys, the key was to be bold, passionate, and direct. So, I gazed at him with all the affection I could muster and repeated myself. “I said, I’m here to pursue you. To date you. To make you fall in love with me. To—” “Enough,” he cut me off with a short, humorless laugh. “I get it. A honey trap.” The corner of his mouth lifted in a cynical smirk, his eyes turning cold and distant. “The people who sent you must be fools. I grew up surrounded by blood and death. Did they really think they could entice me with something as childish as love?” I was completely lost. What on earth was he talking about? None of this made any sense. But one sentence did stick out. “I grew up surrounded by blood and death.” His childhood must have been horrifying. Witnessing such things from a young age… what kind of brutal family had he grown up in? A wave of sympathy washed over me. I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him into a hug. “Don’t be sad, sweetheart,” I murmured, my voice soft. “You’ve been so strong, surviving all this on your own. Let me walk with you from now on. I’ll protect you. I won’t let anyone hurt you again.” Damien’s breath caught in his throat. For a long moment, he was silent. Then, slowly, he rested his head on my shoulder. “Really?” he whispered. “Then… I’ll be in your care.” Finally! The innocent male lead was acting normal! I was so relieved that I patted his back reassuringly. I didn’t see the way his eyes, hidden from my view, darkened with a dangerous, predatory light. He stared at my neck, his lips forming silent words. “It doesn’t matter if you’re lying. Now that you’ve made your move—” “Don’t even think about running away.” 3 After Damien recovered, we drove to his home. As we pulled up, my eyes went wide. Before me stretched a sprawling estate of modern mansions, each one oozing luxury. A line of bodyguards in sharp black suits stood at attention, their presence an intimidating wall of silent power. This was the real deal. This was the life of a novel’s male lead! As I gaped at my surroundings, a man approached and bowed to Damien. “Mr. Blackwood, we’ve caught the traitor who drugged you. How would you like to deal with them?” Damien answered without a second thought. “Feed them to the sharks, of course.” I froze solid. Wait a second. Was this really the pure, innocent hero? The way he talked about “blood and death”… was he the one causing it? Damien glanced at my petrified expression and seemed to realize something. “Don’t misunderstand,” he said smoothly. “I have a pet shark. ‘The Traitor Who Drugged Me’ is just the name of its fish food.” The man who had reported to him blinked, then immediately turned to me with a strained smile. “That’s right, miss. I’m in charge of feeding the young master’s shark. To keep things organized, I give the different food pellets… creative names. Like ‘The Traitor Who Drugged Me,’ or ‘The Enemy Who Signed His Death Warrant,’ or ‘The Uncooperative Business Partner.’” He paused. “All of these people… I mean, pellets… end up as fish food.” Though he was trying his best to smile, his eyes held a chilling, untamed ferocity. You’re a very strange man, I thought. You know that, right? I met more of his staff, and they were all the same—tough, intimidating, and looking like they could snap a man in half. And the strangest part? As soon as they finished speaking with Damien, they would immediately retreat, keeping a distance of at least thirty feet. It was as if they were all deliberately… shunning him. Ostracizing him. My heart ached. “Do you work with these people every day?” I asked quietly. “They all look so mean, and they clearly don’t like you. Do they… bully you?” Damien paused. He slowly lowered his gaze, a sad, vulnerable smile gracing his lips. “They do,” he said softly. “They’re supposed to be my subordinates, but they never listen. They bully me behind my back. I feel… scared, and very lonely, every day.” My heart shattered. No wonder Damien was so pure and delicate. Not only had he suffered a tragic childhood, but now he was being bullied by this gang of thugs. A fierce protectiveness surged through me. I took his hand. “Hey, don’t be sad anymore. From now on, I’ll come to work with you every day. I’ll stand up for you. I promise, no one will dare to bully you again, okay?” I could have sworn that as I said this, the faces of several nearby guards twitched, their expressions a mixture of confusion and disbelief. But before I could get a better look, Damien’s lips curved into a breathtaking smile. The light in his eyes was like the spring sun dancing on a lake, sending ripples through my soul. “That would be wonderful,” he said, his voice warm. “With you by my side, I’ll feel so much safer.” The sudden flash of his perfect smile hit me like a physical blow. I blushed and quickly looked away, completely flustered. And so, I missed it. I missed the way Damien turned his head slightly, catching the eyes of the guards who looked like they wanted to speak. He raised a single, elegant finger to his lips. “Shhh.” In an instant, the world fell back into absolute, unnerving silence. 4 That night, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. The room Damien had prepared for me was undeniably luxurious. The furniture, the lighting, the massive bed—everything whispered of immense wealth. But I couldn’t bring myself to like it. Everything was black. There was no warmth, no life—only a cold, oppressive atmosphere that made my chest feel tight. It didn’t feel like a place for rest. It felt like a cage. As I lay there, my thoughts drifted to Damien. If even I felt suffocated here, how could a gentle soul like him have endured it for over twenty years? And he’d said it himself: “I feel scared, and very lonely, every day…” The thought spurred me into action. I slipped out of bed and tiptoed into his room, determined to offer some comfort. The room was pitch black. I couldn’t tell if he was asleep. I moved silently toward the bed, careful not to make a sound. One step, two steps, three… Suddenly, my wrist was seized in a grip of iron. An immense force pulled me forward, and I tumbled onto the soft mattress. Before I could even process what was happening, I was pinned down. Damien loomed over me, his voice sharp and cold. “Who is it?” “Ow, that hurts!” I yelped instinctively. Hearing my voice, Damien froze. The pressure on me eased. His tone shifted, becoming low and husky. “It’s you? What are you doing in my room in the middle of the night?” I rubbed my sore wrist, pouting. “I wasn’t planning anything bad,” I mumbled. “I was just worried you’d be lonely all by yourself, so I came to… help.” The word “help” seemed to change the air in the room. Damien’s gaze intensified, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. “And how… were you planning on helping me?” Under his heated gaze, I reached up, wrapped my arms around his neck, and burrowed into his broad chest. And then… I closed my eyes and promptly fell asleep. Damien waited. And waited. But nothing else happened. He let out a short, incredulous laugh. “Nina,” he said, his voice tight with a mix of frustration and amusement, “are you messing with me?” I was already half-asleep after the day’s events, but I managed a sleepy shake of my head. “No… not messing with you. Just keeping you company.” My words were slurred. “You were bullied all day… sleeping all alone at night… I thought you might be lonely, so I came to stay with you…” Damien went completely still. A long silence stretched between us. I yawned, fighting to keep my eyes open. “Do you… not want me here? If you don’t, I can go…” Before I could finish, his arms wrapped around me, pulling me tight against him—a silent answer. Listening to the frantic rhythm of his heartbeat, I finally lost the battle with sleep and drifted off. The next morning, when I opened my eyes, Damien was already awake, sitting on the edge of the bed and getting dressed. The morning light sculpted the powerful lines of his back, each muscle perfectly defined. My inner flirt stirred. It was time to tease my innocent little lamb again. I reached out and threw my arms around him from behind, hugging him tight. His breath hitched. “…Don’t,” he said, his voice strained. “Let go.” But I just snuggled closer, my voice a playful whine. “Nope! The only way I’ll let you go is if…” I leaned in, my lips brushing against his ear as I whispered, “you give me a good morning kiss.” The tips of his ears instantly turned bright red. Oh my god, I thought, stunned. He’s so pure! Just the mention of a kiss made him blush like that? But to my surprise, he didn’t push me away. He quickly turned and planted a soft, fleeting kiss on my cheek. “There. Can I go now?” I finally released him. The moment I did, he shot up and hurried into the bathroom, the red on his ears still visible. A moment later, I heard the sound of the shower running. I was baffled. Didn’t he shower last night? Why was he showering again this morning? Was this… the legendary germaphobia of a novel’s male lead? … In the days that followed, I stuck to Damien like glue. I whispered sweet nothings to him during the day and held him tight at night. I made him give me a good morning kiss every single day, or I wouldn’t let him get out of bed. And just as I’d planned, the innocent little lamb couldn’t resist my relentless affection. The way he looked at me slowly filled with a deep, overwhelming love. He indulged my every whim, his patience seemingly endless. Soon, we confessed our feelings. He proposed. We got engaged. Everything was moving along perfectly. On the day of our engagement party, after greeting an endless stream of distinguished guests, I was exhausted. Damien, ever the gentleman, told me to go rest while he handled the remaining pleasantries. I went back to his room alone, took a quick shower, and threw on a fluffy bathrobe before collapsing onto the bed. Honestly, I would never be this casual in anyone else’s room. But this was Damien’s room. Pure, innocent Damien. We had slept in the same bed for weeks, and all we ever did was talk. It was the very definition of chaste. I’d come to believe that Damien just wasn’t interested in that side of a relationship. Perhaps he preferred a more platonic kind of love… As I was pondering this, a shaky, electronic voice echoed in my mind. “H-Host… why are you lying on… Damien Blackwood’s bed?” It was my system, back from the dead! My spirits soared. “Because of the mission, of course!” I bragged. “See? I’ve already captured the innocent male lead’s heart. He’s completely in love with me. He even proposed!” Before I could continue, the system let out a deafening, panicked shriek. “WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, YOU FOOL?!” “WHAT PART OF DAMIEN BLACKWOOD SCREAMS ‘INNOCENT’ TO YOU?!” “HE’S NOT THE MALE LEAD! HE’S THE VILLAIN! THE PSYCHOTIC, MANIPULATIVE, ARCH-VILLAIN!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “384750”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

The day Christopher screwed his assistant, I went online and posted a tweet: “Urgently seeking a new husband. Must be handsome, a sweet-talker, squeaky clean, with 10/10 loyalty. $100k/month allowance, full benefits package included. First come, first served.” That night, the internet exploded. “Award-Winning Actor Brawls with Male Models for a 401(k)!” “Famed Screenwriter and A-List Director Trade Blows for Pocket Money!” … A week later, Christopher returned from a business trip abroad. I was at home, playing cards with a few A-listers, my face covered in lipstick marks from losing a round. His eyes were bloodshot. “Clara, don’t you love me anymore?” I glanced at him, a wild smile spreading across my face. “Christopher, it’s not that I don’t love you anymore.” “It’s that the Clara who loved you is already dead.” “She died the night you and your little assistant were kissing and groping in your office, ignoring her desperate calls for help.” 1. After I got sick, I left the entertainment industry. I rarely left the house, except for appointments with my therapist. Friends slowly drifted away. Nothing held my interest anymore. But today, a sudden, sharp longing to see Christopher hit me. So, for the first time in ages, I went to his company. Standing outside his office, I saw a young woman lying on the sofa across from his desk, her face deathly pale. Christopher handed her a cup of hot ginger tea, then leaned over to tuck a blanket around her stomach. “If you feel this bad, why don’t I give you the day off? Go home and rest.” She took the cup, her voice firm despite her condition. “A good assistant doesn’t let her boss work all alone.” Christopher gestured with his chin toward his private lounge. “Then at least go lie down in there for a while.” The assistant took a sip of the tea, a playful glint in her eyes. “I can’t do that, Professor. You’re a married man now. I have to keep my distance.” Christopher let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head in fond exasperation. And then, his eyes lifted and met mine. The smile on his lips froze. I stood there, momentarily stunned. I was still processing that smile—the one he’d just given his assistant. My illness had dulled my senses, but as I replayed the moment, it hit me. It had been a long, long time since he’d smiled that freely, that easily, in front of me. But the moment passed. His expression shifted back to the familiar, composed mask he always wore around me. He walked toward me. “Clara, what are you doing here?” He reached for my hand, but I flinched back, a pure reflex. Christopher’s hand hovered in the air, suspended. “Well, well, a surprise inspection from the boss’s wife,” the young assistant chirped, holding the cup Christopher had given her. She stood beside him, beaming, and extended a hand to me. “My name is Chloe. I graduated from Axton University, too. Do you remember me?” Chloe… Chloe… I studied her face. After a few seconds, it came back to me. This wasn’t the first time I’d seen her. She had been in the same department as Christopher at university, a few years behind him. She’d fallen for him the moment she saw him during her freshman orientation. She was bright and energetic, a little sunbeam, and she pursued him with a fiery passion. Back then, I was already in the industry. Christopher and I were deeply in love, but my schedule meant I couldn’t always be by his side. He, however, was meticulous about shutting down any interaction that might threaten our relationship. He told her flat-out that he had a girlfriend and completely ignored her advances. Naturally, she didn’t believe him. A girlfriend you’ve never seen is like Schrödinger’s girlfriend. She thought it was just an excuse. It wasn’t until I finished a shoot and returned to campus that she finally accepted the truth. I remember the look on her face—pure dejection, her eyes welling with tears. She gave me a pathetic glance and asked, “Can I at least get his number? For school stuff? The romance is dead, but my GPA can’t be!” Before I could answer, she turned to Christopher, pleading, “Professor, if I can’t win your heart, can you at least let me be a regular classmate? You’re a legend in our department. I’ll definitely have questions about coursework later on. You have to lend a hand!” She sounded so innocent, so open. But how did Christopher respond back then? He’d said, “Sorry.” “That’s not necessary.” “You can ask the professors if you have questions about your studies.” I won’t deny it; I was ecstatic. Standing by my side, he had given me all the security in the world. Now, all these years later, Chloe was still the same person—a sunbeam, warming everyone around her. And I… I had lost all joy for life. I was a black hole, swallowing any light that dared to come near. 2. In the end, Christopher gave Chloe a half-day off to go home and rest. I spent the entire afternoon in his office, waiting for him to finish work. He was in meetings. I just stared at the half-empty cup of ginger tea Chloe had left on the coffee table. After work, I sat in the passenger seat of his car. As he leaned over to fasten my seatbelt, my eyes landed on a small figurine on the dashboard. It was a soft, adorable little white rabbit. It wasn’t the kind of thing you’d expect a man as stoic as Christopher to have. The rabbit’s sweet, plush face seemed to smile at me, but a thick, heavy gloom settled over my heart. I stared at it for a long time before I finally spoke. “So, Chloe graduated.” “Yeah,” Christopher replied, then quickly explained, “Last year. She sent her resume to our company right after graduation. We were short-staffed, and I saw her potential, so I hired her.” He sounded like he was trying to soothe me, but the more he said, the more it felt like he was digging a hole. He eventually fell silent. The flicker of energy and interest I’d felt earlier that day had completely vanished. I didn’t have the strength to ask any more questions. I just leaned my head against the window, watching the city blur past. Maybe, for the sick person I had become, it wouldn’t have mattered. Even if he had said “that’s not necessary” today, just like he did all those years ago, even if he had given me all the security in the world, I still wouldn’t have been able to feel any happiness. 3. After seeing his smile in the office that day, I started paying more attention to him. It seemed he was always being patient with me, always accommodating me. Perhaps it was because of my illness. He used to share funny stories from his startup days, finding humor in the struggle. He used to text me during work, saying he missed the coffee I made for him, the chicken soup I cooked. He used to listen patiently as I chattered on about the bizarre drama of the entertainment world. He used to share his joys, his sorrows, his every thought. Now, the only emotion he ever showed me was a gentle, careful tenderness. It was as if, without realizing it, I had lost the desire to share anything but my unhappiness. And in doing so, I had dragged him into my black hole. We still held each other as we fell asleep. We still ate breakfast facing each other. On the surface, nothing had changed. But there was a chasm between us, unspoken and deep. The image of Christopher’s easy smile in front of Chloe haunted me. It had been so long since he’d looked that relaxed around me. I was the one making him unhappy. I had to change. Our wedding anniversary was just a few days away. Maybe a bouquet of flowers, a cake, or the coffee and chicken soup he used to crave could help pull me out of this state, help us tear down the wall between us. So, on the day of our anniversary, I called him. “Christopher,” I said, “I bought roses today, and a cake. I made chicken soup, and I brewed some fresh coffee.” So, will you come home early for dinner? Christopher was probably surprised by my sudden burst of enthusiasm. He was silent for a moment before replying, “I have an urgent project tonight, I have to work late. But I’ll be home before midnight.” “I got you a gift. Wait for me, Clara.” “Okay. I’ll wait.” I hung up and sat alone in the dim candlelight. The vibrant roses, the sweet cake, the fragrant soup on the table—none of it could bring me an ounce of joy. There was only an endless darkness, threatening to swallow me whole. Finally, I packed up the soup and the cake, grabbed the roses, and walked out the door. I’ll go to him. Maybe if I go to him, I can escape the darkness, escape the silence, escape this crushing, suffocating helplessness. By the time I drove through the night and reached the underground parking garage of his office building, I saw him rushing out of the elevator. Before I could even get out of my car, he was in his, engine roaring as he sped away. He was in a hurry. He had abandoned his “urgent project.” There was something more important. Was he coming home? Home to drink my soup, eat cake with me, and celebrate our anniversary? Or… I followed him. I told myself that if he was going home, I couldn’t let him wait too long. But five minutes later, I knew he wasn’t heading home. As the night grew darker, so did the storm clouds in my heart. Subconsciously, I already knew the truth, but a part of me was still fighting, still desperately clawing for another explanation. Maybe… maybe it’s just my illness making me paranoid. I kept my foot on the gas, tailing him. Staring at his taillights, a dark, extreme impulse surged through me. What if I just crash into him? End it all, right here, together. Then nothing I feared could ever happen. As we approached an intersection, the light turned yellow. I didn’t slow down. A large truck was approaching from the right. If I ran the red light, maybe I could push both our cars under its wheels. Then we would die. And I would never have to face the bloody reality that was waiting for me. A deafening BLARE from the truck’s horn jolted me back to my senses. I slammed on the brakes. “What the hell is wrong with you? You wanna die?! Don’t take the rest of us with you!” a driver yelled from his window. I was awake now. My heart hammered against my ribs. I slumped over the steering wheel, drenched in a cold sweat, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. I really was sick. So sick that even my desire for death had become this venomous. The light turned green. I suppressed all the horrifying thoughts and followed Christopher. He pulled up to an apartment complex and got out of his car in a flash. He ran right past me without a second glance. He was on the phone, his voice urgent as he rushed into a residential building. “I’m almost there!” I sat in my car, staring at the building for a while, before I finally followed him inside. The elevator was broken, surrounded by yellow “Under Maintenance” signs. But the voice-activated lights in the stairwell were on. Christopher must have taken the emergency stairs. I stood at the entrance, looking at the dimly lit steps that seemed to lead into the maw of some great beast, ready to devour me. But I went in anyway. One step, two steps… One floor, two floors… I followed the sound of his running footsteps, trailing in the wake of the lights his presence activated, climbing step by step, all the way to the thirteenth floor. The lights on the fourteenth floor didn’t turn on. His destination was here, on the thirteenth. I climbed a few more stairs and sat down on the landing between the thirteenth and fourteenth floors. Then, I heard frantic footsteps. Christopher’s voice was laced with panic. “Hang on, I’m taking you to the hospital right now.” I slowly peeked around the corner. I saw Christopher, carrying a moaning Chloe in his arms, rushing out of her apartment and down the stairs. He was so worried, so desperate. His entire focus was on the pale, fragile woman in his arms. He didn’t see me. The voice-activated lights flickered on one by one as he descended, and then winked out behind him, plunging the stairwell back into darkness. Only the faint green glow of the “EXIT” sign remained. I sat there, letting the darkness swallow me whole. Something had changed, long before I ever realized it. In Christopher’s heart, there was now something more important than his company, more important than me. My phone alarm went off. It was midnight. “Happy anniversary, Clara,” I whispered to myself. 4. Going down those thirteen flights of stairs felt infinitely harder than climbing them. Each step was a descent deeper into a personal hell that seemed to have no end. Below me, a dizzying sea of concrete steps. Ahead, the terrifying, gaping mouth of the darkened stairwell. A vicious, self-destructive whisper echoed in my mind. Just fall. Just throw yourself down the stairs. It would be so easy to die, to stop this lonely, arduous journey. When Christopher came back from taking his precious assistant home, he could find my body on his way out. What a shame, though, about the cake, the roses, and the chicken soup. I closed my eyes and lifted my foot. All I had to do was step into the emptiness… Ding. The sound of a notification on my phone was jarringly loud in the empty stairwell. I froze. I stood there in the dark for a long time before I finally opened my eyes and looked at my phone. It was a message from Christopher. Clara, something urgent came up. Can’t make it back. Sorry. I stared at the name—Clara—and finally, step by step, I made my way down. I found a homeless man on the street and gave him the cake, the flowers, and the soup. Then I drove home, alone. Insomnia was my constant companion. I was used to it. I lay with my eyes open until two in the morning, when Christopher finally came home. He went straight to the bathroom. When he slipped into bed and wrapped his arms around me from behind, he whispered, “I’m sorry.” Sorry for what? For not making it home before midnight? Or for finding someone more important, for abandoning me to climb thirteen flights of stairs for her? I never found the answer, not even as the first light of dawn broke through the window. I just turned to him as he got out of bed and said, “Christopher, I don’t want Chloe to be your assistant anymore. Can you let her go? Make her leave the company.” Christopher’s hands, busy with his tie, paused. After a long moment, he finally said, “Okay.” It was an unspoken understanding. I didn’t even need to give him a reason. 5. Christopher agreed, but I felt no joy. After he left for work, I sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, staring at the sycamore tree in the yard for the entire morning. A phone alarm finally jolted me back to reality; it was already noon. I’d given last night’s soup to a stranger, but a stubborn part of me still wanted Christopher to have it, as if that simple act could somehow mend the cracks between us. So, I made a new batch and took it to his office. But he wasn’t there. The office was empty. His secretary stammered something about him stepping out for an urgent matter and being back soon. I nodded and sat down in his chair to wait. My medication was running low; it was almost time to see my therapist again. The pills weren’t doing much, anyway. My mind just felt foggier. I was lost in thought when the door opened. I looked up, and my eyes met the visitor’s. “Clara?” It took me a moment to recognize him. He was Leo, Christopher’s college roommate, his best friend, and his business partner. He was looking for Christopher. “He’s not here.” Leo nodded but didn’t leave. He sat down on the sofa across from the desk. “I know. He’s at the hospital.” “Chloe was admitted last night. Stomach hemorrhage. He went to see her.” My hand, resting on the desk, trembled slightly. It felt like another tear had been ripped into my heart. But Leo kept talking. “Our company’s grown so fast, and with more deals come more dinners, more drinking. Chloe’s had to come with us to a lot of those functions. She’s so young, and her stomach is already a wreck.” He sighed. “Man, with her in the hospital, you can really feel something’s missing. After a grueling morning, Christopher and I would have lunch with her, and it was like we were instantly recharged. Her personality… she’s so full of life. A total firecracker, a little sunbeam. I love having her around.” So that was it. That was why Christopher smiled so freely around Chloe. She was his firecracker, his sunbeam. She was his light. I thought my heart was so numb, so scarred, that it couldn’t feel pain anymore. But those words—firecracker, sunbeam—sent fresh waves of agony through me, leaving my already mangled heart a bloody mess. All I had now was a black hole of emotion. The one thing I could never be was a light. “If she left,” I heard myself whisper, as if asking Christopher himself, “if that sunbeam left the company, what would happen to you?” “People are drawn to light, Clara.” Leo looked at me, his expression complicated. “I know you and Christopher have been together for years. I’ve watched it all. You sacrificed so much for him. You worked yourself to the bone taking roles to fund his business. You lost your first child for him. You missed your father’s last moments because he couldn’t get back in time.” “But I don’t think those things should be chains, binding you both.” He spoke with such sincerity; I could tell he’d wanted to say this to me for a long time. Every word was another stab to my heart. Back then, to make more money, I took on so many acting jobs. I always got too deep into my roles, unable to shake them off. The emotions of a hundred different characters lived inside me for so long that I eventually got sick. Then came the miscarriage, my father’s death… one blow after another, and my illness worsened. I only ever knew my own pain. I never realized that, to others, he was suffering in this prison with me. “After you got sick, he had to manage the company and take care of you,” Leo continued. “I’m his friend. I’ve watched him run himself ragged between work and home. I’ve seen him grow more and more withdrawn. I know how hard this has been on him. I honestly thought he was going to collapse. And then Chloe showed up…” He looked me straight in the eye. “Do you get it? With you, you’re the one who needs to be taken care of. With Chloe, he’s the one being admired and supported. She’s a huge asset to him at work, and in life, she’s a constant source of positive energy. For a while now, the only time he genuinely smiles is when he’s around her.” “I know what you’re thinking. They’re too close, so you want Christopher to fire her. But there’s really nothing going on between them. It’s always the three of us together. I’m always there.” “If something was going to happen, it would have happened back in college when she was chasing him so hard. Why now? You know how much Christopher loves you.” “But if you take away the one positive thing in his life right now… are you trying to drive him insane? Turn him into you?” “Clara, the truth hurts. Just… think about it.” Long after Leo left, his last words echoed in my head. Are you trying to drive him insane? Turn him into you? I am a burden. I was the one making everyone miserable. Christopher had to take care of me, so all he could offer was a mask of gentle concern. I pulled the bottle of pills from my pocket and swallowed them all. So, this is all my fault? 6. In the end, Christopher never got his soup. He didn’t return to the office that afternoon. His phone went straight to voicemail. Instead, I was summoned to the old family estate by Christopher’s mother. The moment I walked in, she pointed at my thermal container. “Pour that out and fill it with the soup I made. Take it to Christopher. I made it specially for him, hoping he’d come for dinner, but he called this afternoon and said he’s catching a flight abroad for business tonight. If you hurry, he can have some before he leaves.” A heavy rain had started to fall. It had taken me two hours to get here from the office; there was no guarantee I’d make it back in time. But I knew his mother had never liked me, had always looked down on me. Staying would just mean more of her passive-aggressive torment. I didn’t argue. She rushed me out the door. As I was changing my shoes in the entryway, I heard her say to a nearby maid, her voice dripping with disdain, “Finally, she’s gone. I’ve been watching Christopher for a while now. It’s obvious he has a thing for that little assistant.” “He’s just clinging to some misplaced guilt for that jinx. The assistant ending up in the hospital is the perfect catalyst. I bet Christopher is rolling around in bed with her right now. If that little jinx walks in on them, all the better.” “I want her to know that feelings are the most unreliable thing in this world! Once the love she clings to as her only saving grace is tainted, we’ll see if she still refuses to get a divorce!” I stood frozen at the door, the container heavy in my hand. I don’t remember getting into my car or how I ended up on the highway. All I remember is being blinded by a pair of high beams. I swerved to avoid a truck, and the car tumbled, flipping over the edge of a cliff. It came to a jarring halt halfway down, stopped by a cluster of trees. A thick branch had punched through the car and straight through my shoulder. The searing pain jolted me back to my senses. Leo’s words, his mother’s words… they all came flooding back. Suddenly, I had no will to live. I was a burden. My only foundation was gone. It was better this way. Isn’t this what I’d been wanting? But a voice seemed to whisper my name. Clara. Clara. So annoying. But she sounded like she really cared. She didn’t want me to die. Clara. Clara. With a sigh, I slowly opened my eyes and dialed 911. But I’d lost too much blood. My consciousness was fading. It was pitch black, and I had no idea where I was. I couldn’t give them my location. The operator was getting impatient. Forget it. I hung up and dialed Christopher. The phone rang and rang until it automatically disconnected. No answer. My phone had three bars of battery left. In this rain, it could die any second. My vision was blurring. In a daze, I dialed his number again, but my mind suddenly drifted away, back to his office. It was empty, but I could hear sounds coming from the private lounge. I floated through the door. What I saw inside made me freeze. I had always believed that nothing and no one could ever come between Christopher and me. Not even Chloe. I had even tried to deceive myself with Leo’s words, telling myself that Christopher would never cross that final line. But there they were. Christopher and Chloe, fingers intertwined, lost in a passionate kiss. On the nightstand, an open box of Durex. His phone lay on the carpet by the bed, vibrating, the screen lit up with my name: Clara. It vibrated until the screen went black. “Haha…” I covered my face with my hands, a laugh bubbling up from my chest. It was hilarious. Utterly hilarious. My phone was dead. And in my current state, I was probably dead too. I had gambled my last breath on Christopher, the person I trusted most in the world, and I had lost. They had finally crossed the line. Just like on our anniversary, when faced with a choice between me and Chloe, he chose her. Last time, she was sick, and he chose her. This time, I was dying, and he still chose her. He chose to lose himself in bed with her, deaf to my cries for help. Now, I was dead. He was free. I was no longer his burden. But if I’m dead, why does my heart still ache like this? As if it’s being shredded by a thousand knives. A sudden gust of wind blew through the window, knocking over a lamp. The room plunged into darkness, and the sounds they were making became even more piercing. The only mercy was that I was suddenly back in my own body. I was lying alone in the wilderness as the rain poured down on me. I stared up at the oppressive, black sky and slowly closed my eyes. Maybe it was better to die like this, quietly, alone. I would no longer be a burden to anyone. “Clara?” A voice called my name again. But I had no strength left to answer. “Clara?” The voice persisted, unwilling to give up. But I could feel my soul dissipating. My last conscious thought was a question: If I had never gotten sick, if I had let Christopher go, let myself go, how would I have lived? And then, in the vast, desolate wilderness, I dissolved into the biting wind and the cold, unforgiving rain. 7. When I regained consciousness, I was in a hospital. A police officer handed me my phone. He said I had dragged my broken body from the bottom of the ravine to the side of the road and flagged down a passing car. That’s how I got here. I had no memory of it. The doctors said my wounds had healed at a miraculous rate; otherwise, I never would have made it. I couldn’t explain it either. After everyone had left, I held my shattered phone and plugged it in. It was surprisingly resilient; it turned on. But there were no missed calls from Christopher. My desperate plea for help from the night before had vanished without a trace. But this time, I felt no sadness. I could even let out a small, derisive laugh. It was as if after dying once, the illness that had haunted me for so long was just… gone. The memories with Christopher felt like they belonged to another lifetime. I was no longer a participant in our story, but an observer. There was a dull ache, a suffocation, but no heartbreak. And that ache wasn’t for our love, but for the person I used to be. I felt sorry for her. The old me, the me before the illness, the me whose parents were still alive, the me who wasn’t trapped in a cage with Christopher—that me could have lived more fiercely than anyone. I loved him, and sacrificing for him wasn’t my mistake. Getting sick wasn’t my mistake. My illness was not an excuse for Christopher and Chloe to get together. He could have divorced me to free himself. But he shouldn’t have used my sickness as a justification to let his heart wander, to end up kissing and groping her in his office before our marriage was even over. Clara, you wanted to know how you would have lived without the illness, without Christopher, didn’t you? Watch closely. Without these chains, you can be happy. You can be the sunbeam, the firecracker. You can be a black hole of emotion. But you will never, ever be anyone’s burden again. 8. I checked myself out of the hospital that night and found my old phone. After I got sick, I had cut myself off from the world, unwilling to interact with anyone. Every word of concern felt like another source of pain. So I got a new phone, a new number, and sealed away all my old friends, family, and the millions of fans on my social media accounts. I left myself with only one person: Christopher. Perhaps the old me had clung to him as my only support, my only light in the darkness. But I didn’t need that light anymore. I turned on the old phone, and the first thing I did was block and delete Christopher’s number, kicking him out of my life for good. Then I found a lawyer in my contacts and asked her to draft a divorce agreement for me. My friend, either fearing I’d change my mind or having anticipated this for a while, drew it up and sent it over in record time. “Damn, Clara! We’ve been calling you for a year, showing up at your door, and nothing. I honestly thought you were going to be stuck on Christopher for the rest of your life.” I saved the divorce agreement, forwarded it to Christopher’s email, then printed out a few copies, signed them, and replied to my friend with a smile. “How boring would that be? Why give up an entire forest for one rotten tree?” I couldn’t believe those words came out of my mouth. My friend seemed just as surprised. The chat bubble showed her typing for a long time, but no message came through. After all, the old me—even the pre-illness me—would never have said something so audacious. But who cares? I’d died once. Now, I was going to live freely. The pain, the constraints, the conventions, the love, the suffering—I was done with all of it. I placed a signed copy of the divorce agreement on the table just inside the front door, where he couldn’t miss it. There was nothing else I wanted to take. Holding my old phone, I walked out of the home Christopher and I had once shared. I logged into the social media account that had fifty million followers but had been dormant for over a year. I typed out a post and hit send. “Urgently seeking a new husband. Must be handsome, a sweet-talker, squeaky clean, with 10/10 loyalty. $100k/month allowance, full benefits package included. First come, first served.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “384749”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel