Author: Momo Chan

My wife Chloe’s adopted sister, Sophia, had taken her own life. Before she died, hundreds of photos of me and her were found in her study. Behind each photo, the words “MY LOVE” were scrawled. So when I got a second chance at life, and my mom asked if I wanted to marry Chloe, my childhood sweetheart… I shook my head. Instead, I chose her adopted sister. I had a secret: I had been reborn. In my previous life, I chose to marry the true heiress of the Winters family, Chloe, the woman I’d loved for over twenty years. On our third wedding anniversary, I came home early, hoping to surprise her. I opened the bedroom door only to find condoms scattered all over the floor. Her first love whistled mockingly, provoking me. “She said you couldn’t satisfy her in bed. Might as well give up now.” I lunged at him, and we got into a brawl. He picked up the switchblade from the bedside table and plunged it into my chest. With my last ounce of strength, I begged Chloe to take me to the hospital. She just looked at me with cold indifference. “Don’t ruin the mood, Lucas. Deal with it yourself. Our sex isn’t over yet.” I was left alone on the cold floor, listening to the moans resume from the room until I completely lost consciousness. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to that afternoon when my parents asked me about my marriage.

“Are you sure you want to marry Chloe’s adopted sister, Sophia? I thought you loved Chloe?” My mother confirmed again. I nodded. “I’m sure.” “Alright, as long as you’re happy! I’ll go ask Sophia right away!” After getting my confirmation, Mom immediately turned to contact wedding planners and book the venue. My phone rang shortly after. It was Chloe. “Lucas, could you *be* any more pathetic?” Her voice was full of sarcasm. “I haven’t even agreed to marry you, and you’ve already booked the wedding venue?” “Chloe, the truth is, I’m marrying—” “I don’t care what you want to say.” She cut me off with a cold laugh. “I love Marcus Davies, and I’ll only marry him. Stop bothering me.” She hung up. I put my phone down. Good. She’d find out soon enough that the person I was marrying was her sister. My family and Chloe’s had been close for generations, and Sophia was her family’s adopted sister. We grew up together. Once we were adults, our parents had always expected Chloe and I would marry. But in my previous life, Chloe suddenly wanted to call off the engagement to marry someone else. I refused vehemently, and we had a huge fight over it. Although I eventually married Chloe, the woman I’d loved for over twenty years, she rarely came home after we were married. It wasn’t until our third wedding anniversary, when I saw her in bed with her first love, Marcus Davies, that I realized she’d been cheating on me for three years. In the end, her first love stabbed me through the heart, and I begged her to take me to the hospital. But she told me to deal with it myself and continued having sex with Marcus. Ultimately, I died on the cold floor. Chloe didn’t even attend my funeral; she took Marcus on vacation instead. But after my death, Sophia cried at my grave until she fainted. Three months later, Sophia ended her life in her study. The police found hundreds of photos of me in her study, each with “MY LOVE” written on the back. My parents died of grief within a year, and the entire family business fell into Chloe’s hands. She and Marcus lived a loving life together. In my previous life, marrying Chloe led to my tragic death and made me betray the one who truly loved me. This time, I would protect the person who truly loved me.

After the wedding venue was confirmed, my mother urged me to finalize the overall plan quickly. To apologize for not being able to help with the wedding preparations, Sophia sent me a sleek black card from Geneva. I booked a consultation at the wedding planning company’s Upper East Side showroom. When I arrived, I found Chloe walking out of the VIP room. “Lucas?” Chloe stopped, looking surprised. “What are you doing here?” I said softly, “Here to finalize the wedding plan.” “Lucas?” Chloe’s expression instantly turned cold. “Are there no other women in the world? Is that why you *have* to marry me? When did I ever say I’d marry you?” I looked at her calmly and replied blandly, “Chloe, I told you, I’m not marrying you.” Her face fell, and she scoffed. “You *deliberately* picked this exact day to show up here, and you’re still claiming you don’t want to marry me?” She glanced towards the VIP room, her eyes full of affection. “I told my family last night that I’m canceling our engagement. Even if everyone disagrees, I’m marrying Marcus!” I offered a polite smile and said softly, “Then I wish you both well. I’m marrying someone else very soon. Our engagement is off.” I motioned for Chloe to move, but she stared at me intently, refusing to budge. “Lucas, what game are you playing now? Who else could you possibly marry besides me?” That’s when Marcus Davies walked out. He exclaimed in surprise, “Chloe, what are you two doing?” Chloe immediately turned, hurried to Marcus’s side, and tried to take his hand. Marcus flinched away, and she immediately understood. “I’ll just wipe my hands clean. Wait for me!” Marcus and I met eyes. His held undisguised disdain and smugness. Just then, Emily, the planning director, walked over quickly. “Mr. Davies, the wedding package you wanted to confirm has already been booked. Please take a look at other options.” Marcus glared at Emily in annoyance. “My fiancée is the eldest daughter of the Winters family; she’s loaded! She said I can have any package I want, she can afford it all!” Saying that, Marcus turned to me and said ominously, “Besides, engagements can be called off, let alone a mere booked plan.” Emily looked at me, almost on the verge of tears. I didn’t want to make things difficult for Emily, and choosing the same plan as them would leave a sour taste anyway. I smiled nonchalantly at the staff. “Emily,” I said, pulling out the black card Sophia had given me. “I recall your company designed a private island wedding for a certain royal family?” “I want a similar concept, but nothing repetitive.” Chloe, who had just come out, overheard this. She looked at me coldly. “Lucas, I told you the person I’m marrying is Marcus! There’s no way I’ll marry you, so why are you bothering me here?!” “And do you even know the price of a private island? Ten million! How will you afford that?” I smiled, pulled out the black card, and handed it to the employee. “No need to consider. Can we sign a letter of intent today?” “Absolutely! I’ll immediately have our CEO come down to personally assist you.” Under Chloe’s shocked gaze and Marcus’s resentful one, I turned and left.

That night, as I was dealing with documents in my study, Sophia sent a FaceTime request. Even though we were about to get married, I still felt nervous. After the video call ended, I stood by the window for a long time. Until the doorbell rang—it was Chloe. “Lucas, what was that all about today?” She walked straight into the living room. “I told you I wouldn’t marry you, and you tried to snatch the wedding plan from my fiancé? Don’t you feel ashamed?” I had just talked to Sophia and was in a great mood. Now that she’d ruined it, I was really annoyed. “Chloe, this is the last time I’ll explain this to you: I’m not marrying you!” Chloe looked at me disdainfully. “Don’t play games with me, Lucas. The man I love is Marcus; I would never marry you.” “If you want to keep any dignity, then stay out of my sight!” She was driving me crazy, so I angrily told her to leave. She swung her limited-edition handbag and stomped out, fuming. Her Ins status updated shortly after: “The eighteenth of this month, Marriage Registry Office, marrying for love.” The accompanying picture was of her and Marcus on a yacht. Unfortunately, Sophia and I had also scheduled that day. I arrived at the Marriage Registry Office half an hour early, wearing the custom suit Sophia had prepared for me. To avoid Chloe and Marcus, I had specifically chosen 7 AM. Unexpectedly, we still ran into them. At 6:55 AM, Chloe and Marcus arrived with a group of friends. When she saw me, her expression instantly froze. “You actually came?” She pulled her hand away from Marcus and strode over. “Lucas, how many times have I told you I won’t marry you? What are you doing?” Her friends started to snicker. “Winters, your childhood friend is really persistent!” “Is he planning to crash the wedding?” “Need us to call security for you?” Marcus walked over, his hand resting on my shoulder. “Blackwood, need me to introduce you to some decent dates?” “I told you,” I pushed his hand away, “today, I’m not marrying *her*.” Chloe’s laugh was sharp and unnatural. “Then who are you marrying? At this hour, dressed like this,” She reached out to touch my suit lapel, but I blocked her hand. “You’re not seriously going to say you’re waiting for some other woman, dressed in haute couture at 6 AM outside the Marriage Registry Office, are you?” Her friends burst into louder laughter. “Lucas, stop messing around.” One of the men patted my shoulder. “We all know you’ve loved Chloe for twenty years. But now she’s chosen Marcus, you need to learn to let go.” “Yeah, how about I introduce you to some models? Definitely better than being a laughingstock here.” Chloe smirked disdainfully. “Him? Please. Boring, rigid, can’t even crack a smile—I wouldn’t take him even if he was free.” Listening to Chloe’s insulting words, I could no longer suppress my anger. In my past life, she had used the same tone to tell Marcus, “Him? His size can’t even satisfy me.” I took a deep breath. “Chloe, do you not understand plain English? I told you, I was *never* going to marry *you*!” She laughed, unangered. “Lucas, who would believe that? You’ve wanted to marry me since you were five, even resorting to forcing an engagement!” “So tell me, where is the woman you’re dressed up like this to marry? It’s been so long, why hasn’t she shown up yet?” I glanced at my watch. 7:00 AM. “She’s never late.” Just then, a Rolls-Royce glided through the morning mist. A clear, yet gentle voice rang out. “Chloe, why are you bothering my fiancé again?”

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My fiancé was playing a kissing game with his childhood friend, Scarlett, and I ripped into him for it. To get back at me, he uploaded our intimate videos online and started selling them. When I confronted him, he just shrugged, completely unbothered: “Scarlett and I were just playing a game. You called her shameless, humiliated her in public.” “Now you’re exposed for everyone to see. Seems fair, right?” My fiancé was playing a kissing game with his childhood friend, Scarlett, and I ripped into him for it. To get back at me, he uploaded our intimate videos online and started selling them. When I confronted him, he just shrugged, completely unbothered: “Scarlett and I were just playing a game. You called her shameless, humiliated her in public.” “Now you’re exposed for everyone to see. Seems fair, right?” My face went ashen. Facing his and his buddies’ sneering mockery, I dialed 91 1 Lucas hadn’t spoken to me in two days. Ever since he tongue-kissed Scarlett during a game of Truth or Dare, and I’d slapped him and chewed Scarlett out, he’d been giving me the silent treatment, furious. Today was the third day, and he finally contacted me, asking me to pick him up at a bar. After some thought, I decided it was best to clear things up in person. So I went. The moment I reached the private room, I heard unrestrained bursts of laughter from inside! “Lucas, you’re seriously generous! HD, uncensored footage, you really uploaded that?!” “Tsk-tsk, priced at just a dollar, and over a million sold! You could make a fortune off this, man!” “If Chloe found out, she’d absolutely lose it! That was her first time, for crying out loud, exposed to the whole internet!” “And damn, she sounds wild!” I peeked through the crack in the door, staring at the screen they were all watching, and all the blood drained from my face! It was *our* intimate video, Lucas and me. He’d said he wanted to record our moments back then, but I told him no. He still filmed it in secret. And now, it was right there, on display, for them to pick apart and comment on. Tears instantly gushed, and I trembled with rage! Lucas scoffed. “She didn’t have to be so rude, calling Scarlett shameless!” “Now we’re even!” “Lucas, after something like this, you’re still going through with the wedding?” I looked up at Lucas. He lit a cigarette, exhaling a plume of smoke before speaking: “I’m looking for a wife, not some celebrity who’s always in the spotlight!” The room erupted in laughter. My body swayed, and I almost collapsed. Gathering every ounce of strength to calm myself, I dialed Lucas’s number. The room instantly fell silent. “Lucas, I’m not feeling well.” “If you’re not feeling well, don’t come. Get some rest. Goodnight.” Lucas didn’t even notice the tremor in my voice. He ended the call abruptly. “She’s not coming. Still mad, huh? Just wait. When she sees these videos, she’ll come crawling back, begging me!” “Lucas, don’t let us miss the show! We have to witness it together!” “Yeah, I want to see what she’s like in person versus on screen!” Their words made my mind go blank. I took a few deep breaths, then quickly backed away. I pulled a mask from my bag and put it on, then stumbled out. Then I pulled out my phone and searched online. When I saw my face clearly displayed, I nearly fainted! The buyer comments were even worse. “Hot stuff! My man’s so generous!” “Selling off her first time? The seller’s a real bastard, but I like it!” “Selling? Local meet-up?” “Haha, you’re so smart, dude. You’re not in any of the shots yourself. What do you see her as, anyway?” Among the many comments, Lucas only replied to one: “What else? She practically threw herself at me, why wouldn’t I take advantage?” My heart tore in half. I struggled to steady myself, my gaze falling on the ring on my finger, and I burst into uncontrollable sobs. The man I’d loved for five years, the one I’d bravely asked for his number – in his eyes, I was just a cheap, easy hookup, someone who threw herself at him. Chloe, you were so blind! I returned home in a daze, looking at photos in my album—five years of Lucas and me. He called me his free, convenient comfort toy. I touched my face, finding it wet. Unaware, tears had streamed down my face. I pulled out all the photos, ripped them to shreds, and burned them. Then I sat on the floor, staring at my phone. A blizzard of texts and missed calls flooded my phone and inbox. This was Lucas’s gift to me. 2 I put my phone on do not disturb, then leaned against the sofa, spending a sleepless night. The next day, when Lucas came looking for me, he looked somewhat moved by my bloodshot eyes. But Scarlett, trailing behind him, annihilated any trace of guilt he might have felt with a single sentence. “Chloe, are you okay?” “Lucas said you wanted to apologize to me for that night. Honestly, it’s no big deal, we always mess around like that. Guess you just can’t handle it, Chloe.” “But wow, you’re pretty wild yourself, aren’t you? With such explicit videos of you and Lucas out there, how can you call *me* shameless?” Lucas glared at her, and Scarlett immediately clapped a hand over her mouth, sticking her tongue out playfully. “Oops, sorry! You’re not mad at me, are you, Chloe?” I looked at Lucas, shoving my phone, with the video playing, right in his face. “Was it you? Why?” Lucas was nonchalant. “You called Scarlett shameless! I was just following the principle of fairness.” “And you don’t need to take it so seriously. So what if people saw? They can look, but they can’t touch!” Even now, Lucas could say something like that. I raised my hand and slapped him hard, snapping his head to the side! “Chloe, you’re insane!” “I am insane! I can’t believe I wasted five years on a piece of trash like you, Lucas! Get out!” Scarlett grabbed his arm tightly. “Lucas, did I make her mad? But she started it, calling me names! Why’s she hitting people?” “You get out too! Say one more word, and I’ll hit you both!” She feigned innocence, shrinking behind Lucas, who grabbed my wrist. “Chloe, have you caused enough drama?!” “Scarlett cried all day because of what you said! She came here specifically to comfort you, and this is how you treat her!” “Apologize!” “Not just apologize to her. Get down on your knees and apologize properly!” Lucas held my hand in a death grip, refusing to let go, and I naturally resisted. But the strength difference was too great, and he started dragging me out. In that moment, I fought back with all my might, screaming for help and digging my nails into him. Soon, neighbors heard the commotion and came out. Seeing me being dragged out by a man, they immediately intervened. “What are you doing?! Let her go!” “Let go right now, or we’re calling the police!” Lucas was furious. “She’s my girlfriend!” I struggled desperately, seizing the chance to kick him hard, finally breaking free. But before I could even steady myself, Scarlett shouted from the side: “Chloe, Lucas was just looking out for you! You’re about to get married, how can you be making those kinds of videos?!” “Lucas is mad because you’re so shameless!” Scarlett’s phone screen was blatantly displayed, and the neighbors immediately looked at me with strange expressions. Several of the men nearby flushed crimson. A wave of fury washed over me, and I slapped Scarlett, grabbing her hair. “Yes, I’m not just shameless, you’ve driven me absolutely insane!” “You pushed me to this point! I’ll take you all down with me!” Scarlett screamed. Lucas exploded in anger, grabbing my wrist and shoving me hard to the side! “Are you crazy?! You filmed that disgusting stuff yourself, and now you blame others?!” I lay sprawled on the floor, my forehead throbbing where it hit the wall corner. Dizziness overwhelmed me, and blood blurred my vision. The people around us backed away. I looked up at Lucas, my heart tearing. “Did *I* film it? Lucas, tell me, did *I* film it?!” Lucas froze, a flicker of guilt in his eyes. “I…” “Lucas, I hurt so bad!” Scarlett clutched her face, sobbing pitifully. Lucas immediately dismissed his guilt, putting his arm around Scarlett and looking at me coldly: “Chloe, the wedding is off. We’ll talk about marriage again when you realize your mistake!” 3 Lucas, with Scarlett in tow, walked away. The neighbors looked at me with open contempt. “Such a loose girl, no wonder her boyfriend dumped her!” “Didn’t realize she had a decent body. These days, girls really have to be trashy to get ahead. Hey, sweetheart, how much an hour?” “You tramp, trying to hook up with my husband right in front of me!” They cursed and insulted me without restraint. Some even took the chance to grope me. I furiously grabbed anything I could find and threw it at them! They eventually backed off, calling me crazy. Someone called the police. When the police arrived, I was lying on the ground, covered in blood, my face swollen. My clothes were practically torn off me when they took me to the hospital. Downstairs, a huge crowd had gathered. Even with my eyes closed, I could hear the murmurs outside, and not a single word was kind. Lying in the hospital bed, I called my mom. “Mom!” “Mom’s on her way, darling. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of those videos.” “But, about you and Lucas’s wedding…” “Mom, I don’t want him anymore. I’m not getting married.” While I was recovering in the hospital, someone, I don’t know who, uploaded a video of me being beaten by the neighbors. The caption read: “She brought it on herself! Women who don’t respect themselves deserve whatever they get!” “This kind of woman doesn’t belong in our neighborhood. Kick her out!” I was subjected to a public lynching online, my video going viral. That’s when Scarlett popped up. “Lucas said the engagement is off.” “Chloe must be so upset. Everyone, please don’t be too harsh on her.” Her words led some netizens to praise her for being beautiful and kind. Scarlett even posted old photos of her and Lucas, deliberately misleading everyone. “You two are a couple! So why was Chloe engaged to Lucas?” Scarlett shrugged carelessly: “Don’t even ask! Our bond is unbreakable!” Her ambiguous words once again threw me into the eye of the storm. I became the internet’s most hated mistress. Netizens even sent funeral wreaths to my hospital room. I broke down. My already frayed nerves finally snapped. The sight of my phone made me tremble every day. Just then, Lucas arrived. Seeing me in the hospital bed, bruised and battered, he held a bouquet of flowers and looked somewhat moved. “Chloe, I’m sorry. I was wrong to treat you like that.” “Don’t worry, the wedding is still on. I’ll take responsibility for you.” “I’ve also found people to delete the videos online. Everything’s over now.” He gently held my hand, reassuring me that everything would be okay. I clung to him, as if he were a lifesaver. But I knew it was all an illusion. Lucas and I shared cloud storage and accounts. Half an hour ago, I’d seen his chat logs with his friends. “Lucas, if you cancel the wedding with Chloe, that’s no fun!” “This whole thing’s blown up, Lucas. Aren’t you worried you won’t be able to control the damage?” Lucas scoffed. “She’s so humiliated now, who else would she turn to but me?” “If I can’t control it, I won’t. I’ll just livestream the wedding. Then Scarlett will really get her payback!” Lucas, you are utterly vile! He showered me with concern, bought me gifts, brought me food and soup. He played the part of a perfect gentleman, an absolute angel. I suppressed my disgust and saved all the evidence. On the day I was discharged, Lucas said: “Chloe, I’ve arranged a dinner for you. Just a small gathering with friends.” “Okay, I’ll go change. You can go ahead and wait for me.” He didn’t suspect a thing. After all, for a week, I’d acted completely dependent. After he left, I got into Mom’s car and went straight to the police station. “I want to report someone for malicious dissemination of my private videos for illegal trade!”

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The night I found some other woman in my pajamas, sleeping in my bed, I just stopped coming home. I stopped replying, stopped taking his calls, and moved in with my bestie instead. When I finally came back on the fourth day, Jason was standing in the living room, his face dark. “Where have you been?” The bedroom door opened behind him. Chloe walked out slowly, rubbing her shoulder. “Emma, I wasn’t feeling well. Jason insisted I stay.” Jason didn’t look back at her. He looked at me. “Can you stop being so oversensitive?” I slipped off my shoes, glanced at the two of them, and said calmly, “Don’t mind me. Carry on.” 1. When Jason left me alone in the hospital, I had a fever of 103, I didn’t kick up a fuss, I just waited for him to get off work so we could celebrate my birthday together. I waited all night, but all I got was Chloe’s Instagram post. Jason was standing next to Chloe, with a three-tiered cake between them. [Someone who truly loves you will always make time to celebrate your birthday with you, no matter how important their other commitments are.] I immediately called him and we got into it. “Don’t be ridiculous, Chloe wasn’t feeling well and needed me to keep her company because she was emotionally unstable.” “I just see her as a little sister, can you stop being so paranoid?” He hung up on me and didn’t contact me for days, saying the company had an emergency and he’d celebrate with me once he wrapped it up. I had a high fever for days that wouldn’t break, but my mind was unusually clear. I started to think about our relationship and whether it was really worth sticking around for. This wasn’t the first time we’d fought because of Chloe. Every time, Jason would use the same excuse: “I just see her as a sister. Don’t make a big deal out of it.” Every time, I’d be the one to cave first, but these past few days, I found I didn’t miss him at all. I wasn’t anxious or on edge. I slept like a baby. Maybe because I wasn’t making any moves to patch things up, Jason called me first for once. “I’ll come pick you up from the hospital this afternoon.” “No need to trouble yourself, I can grab a cab home.” This was the first time Jason had taken the initiative to make up, but I didn’t bite. I wasn’t glued to my phone, just catching up on sleep. 2. I was a good girl, packed up my things and took a cab home by myself. Jason still wasn’t back. I didn’t call to ask where he was or nag him to come home like usual. I just whipped up something to eat, had a decent meal, showered, and hit the sack. With no one on my mind to fret over, I slept like a log and had sweet dreams. Early the next morning, I heard the keypad lock beep. Jason pushed open my bedroom door. “Emma?” “Hmm? You’re back?” I didn’t jump up to greet him all happy like usual. I just rolled over and went back to sleep. He stood in the doorway. “Chloe had another episode yesterday. I was worried she might do something stupid, so I got held up. Sorry.” “Mm.” My tone was flat. Jason tried to explain, “I know you’re pissed, but Chloe really needed someone there.” I laughed and glanced at him. “Pissed? What’s there to be pissed about? A brother looking out for his sister—isn’t that normal?” Jason was quiet for a moment. “Emma, I know I’ve been slacking lately…” “Go get some sleep,” I cut him off. “I need to catch up on my rest too.” Jason felt weirdly irritated. I’d never been this ice-cold to him before. When I woke up, I saw a table full of breakfast spread. Jason had cooked it himself. I was pretty surprised. In the past, I’d always bug him to cook for me, but he’d brush me off. “Emma, do you really have to have something I cooked? You’re not a kid anymore. Can’t you just make your own food?” “I’m wiped out from work every day.” But he, who was even more wiped out, could still dash to Chloe’s place to cook her a feast with one call. So it wasn’t that he was too tired—he just didn’t want to cook for me. “Emma, I made all your favorites. Hurry up and wash up.” “Mm, thanks for going through the trouble.” After washing up, Jason personally dished out rice and soup for me—treatment I’d never gotten before. Jason put a piece of eggplant in my bowl. “Emma, this is the eggplant you love. Have more.” I smiled and put it back in his bowl. “I’ve never liked eggplant. It must be Chloe who likes it. You got us mixed up.” 3. “But you used to…” Jason stared at me, stunned. I peeled some shrimp and started eating on my own. Every time we went out to eat, Jason would always order eggplant. It wasn’t my thing—I just pretended to like it because he served it to me, and I’d polish off the whole plate. A call came in. Jason stood up anxiously. “Emma, I can’t stay for the meal. Chloe’s having another episode.” “Go ahead, it’s fine. She’s more important.” I kept my head down, focused on eating, not bothering to look at his face. Every mealtime, Chloe would pull the same stunt to get Jason over. The clever Jason was always game. After eating my fill, I packed the leftovers and stuck them in the fridge. After a few sick days, I finally went back to work under Olivia’s constant nudging. Olivia came to me with a transfer order. “Emma, are you sure you don’t want to develop your career at headquarters in Beijing? The resources there are way better.” I’d turned her down multiple times before. “Beijing is too far from home. I’d get homesick.” Actually, I was scared of leaving Jason. I often daydreamed that if I went to Beijing, he’d be heartbroken without me. But now, I realized he probably wouldn’t be. I’d waited all these years to marry him and have our own little family, but he’d never brought up marriage—always excuses. “Emma, I’m not settled enough yet. Once I’m stable, I’ll go ask your family for your hand.” “Olivia, I’ve thought it through. I want to go to Beijing.” Olivia was surprised. “What? You’re willing to leave Jason now?” I shook my head with a smile. “I’ve decided to broaden my horizons.” Sophia called and asked me out for drinks. I agreed—it had been ages since I’d hung out with friends. Sophia slung an arm around my shoulders. “That’s more like it. You need to let loose sometimes.” We drank till late, and I crashed at her place. When I woke up, I had over a dozen missed calls and texts from Jason. I called him back. His voice had an edge. “Emma, where did you go? I called you all night. You never used to stay out all night before.” I yawned, acting casual. “I went out drinking with Sophia. It got late so I crashed at her place.” “Emma, what kind of attitude is that? Do you know how worried I was all night?” Even through the phone, I could feel his anger. In the past, when he’d get wasted and stay at Chloe’s, I’d wait up all night, calling and texting. All I’d get was, “Why are you so worked up? It’s just one night I didn’t come home.” I stretched lazily. “Jason, why are you so worked up? It’s just one night I didn’t come home after drinking.” “Alright, I’m heading back now.” Jason’s tone softened. “Emma, I’ll pick you up. Let’s grab a bite together.” “Okay.” I waited outside Sophia’s building. Cabs passed by. “Miss, need a ride?” I shook my head. “No thanks, someone’s coming to get me.” It was only a 15-minute drive, but I waited over half an hour before seeing Jason’s car. Chloe was sitting shotgun. The window rolled down. Chloe poked her head out. “Emma, I’m sitting in front. You don’t mind, right?” I got straight into the back. “Of course not.” “The power went out at Chloe’s place. I figured since three people eating is the same as two, I’d invite her along,” Jason said, glancing in the rearview mirror. I shrugged. “That’s fine, the more the merrier.” Jason frowned slightly—he couldn’t read me anymore. In the past, I’d have thrown a fit. Jason peeled shrimp for Chloe. Chloe gave some to me. “Emma, don’t be mad. Jason always thinks of me first.” I smiled faintly. “Why would I be mad? You two have such a good sibling bond.” Jason awkwardly peeled some for me too, but I didn’t touch them. The waitress looked at Chloe enviously. “Wow, miss, you’re so lucky. Your boyfriend is so attentive.” Jason frowned, but Chloe seemed pleased. “Emma, you’re not upset, are you?” she prodded. I just focused on eating. “Why would I be upset? You two look pretty good together.” Chloe sighed. “It’s a pity. If I hadn’t gotten sick, maybe Jason and I would have already…” Jason cut her off. “Chloe! Watch your mouth!” He slammed down his chopsticks. Chloe turned pitiful. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have come. I’ll go.” She covered her face and cried. Jason gave me a troubled look. “Go after her. Don’t let her do anything dumb,” I said proactively. He stood up. “I’ll go see. I’ll come back to take you home in a bit.” “Mm, thanks for the trouble.” I kept eating. After finishing, I took a cab home myself—I knew Jason wouldn’t be back. As soon as I got home, he called. “Emma, where did you go?” “I came home,” I said flatly. “Didn’t I say I’d pick you up?” His tone held resentment. “I figured you wouldn’t be coming back, so I grabbed a cab. I had nothing else going on anyway.” In the past, he’d always make excuses: “Why can’t you just get home by yourself? Can’t you see how swamped I am?” Silence on his end. I hung up and put on a face mask. As predicted, Jason didn’t come home all night. I slept like a rock. When I woke up, he’d made breakfast. “You’re up. Come eat.” It was rare for him to cook so often. I drank some porridge as he watched me with a complicated expression. “Emma, do you know what time I got home last night?” I shook my head. “No, why?” In the past, I’d call if it was past 10 p.m. Now, I didn’t care. Even when he smoked a whole pack at home, I’d only mildly say, “Smoking is bad for you.” Sometimes I didn’t even notice. Jason felt all out of sorts. “Emma, we’re both adults. If you’ve got something to say, just say it. Don’t be like this.” I finished eating. “What is there to say? I’m full. I need to head to work.” “I’ll drive you,” he offered for the first time. In the past, he’d say, “How can you compare yourself to Chloe? She needs me to drive her because of her health. I’m already so beat. Can’t you be more considerate?” “Okay, thanks.” “Emma, why did you suddenly become…” His expression was complicated. I’d become very polite, more reasonable—but it gave him a sense of loss. I sat in the back seat. He’d opened the front passenger door and stared in shock. “Emma, why are you sitting in the back?” I smiled. “What’s the difference?” In the past, I’d argue: “Why can Chloe sit there when I’m your girlfriend!” He’d respond wearily, “Do you really have to fight over this with Chloe, who’s sick? Can’t you be more understanding?” At the office, Jason called out, “Emma, there’s a company dinner tomorrow. Plus-ones are welcome.” “Oh? That’s nice.” I stretched indifferently. “Plus-ones are welcome, Emma. You can come with me.” In the past, I’d never miss such chances—eager for everyone to know I was his girlfriend. He rarely brought me before. “Okay.” I nodded and went in. Olivia handed me the transfer notice. “Are you really sure?” “I’m sure. I want to go to Beijing.” I signed without hesitation. I hadn’t told Jason, but there was no need anymore. 4. I got into Jason’s car and saw Chloe. “Emma, you don’t mind, do you? I begged Jason to bring me along. I’ve never been to these things before.” She linked arms with him, and he didn’t shake her off—as if I was the third wheel. “It’s fine. Why don’t you two go then? I’ve got paperwork to wrap up,” I said faintly. Jason frowned. “Emma, you already agreed. Now you’re not going…” “Isn’t Chloe going with you? That’s fine. She’s your sister, so she counts as your plus-one too.” I checked the time. “Just drop me off at the entrance.” He drove irritably to the office. I went in without looking back. “Jason, is Emma upset?” Chloe leaned on his shoulder. “Whatever,” he snapped. I leaned back on the sofa. My phone buzzed—a notification from my close friends list. Chloe had posted on Instagram: a photo of her leaning on Jason’s shoulder. [Caring is always being willing to bring me along, no matter when.] She loved posting; I’d followed her to keep tabs. Now, I casually unfollowed. She’d posted for me to see, but no one liked it. Everyone waited for my reaction. I didn’t care—soon it wouldn’t matter. “Emma, Jason got drunk and passed out at my place,” Chloe called using his phone. “Mm, then I’ll leave it to you to look after him.” She was just rubbing it in. Chloe and Jason were childhood sweethearts—his first love. She got sick, and his mom wouldn’t allow them together. She became the one that got away. I wondered if he’d been with me just to placate his mom. I showered, watched movies, and slept. In the middle of the night, Jason called. “Emma, I’m wasted.” “I know. Chloe will take good care of you.” Hearing no response, I hung up and slept. In the past, I’d immediately pick him up, no matter how late, and tell him off for drinking. He’d complain to friends, “She’s so annoying, tries to control everything. Not like Chloe—she’ll party with me and never holds me back.” 5. To get ready for Beijing, I had to finish all my work and hand it off. For days, I was slammed at the office. Sophia dragged me out for drinks. “Take a break, will you? You’ll work yourself to the bone.”

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On the day my husband welcomed another woman into our home, my sons stood beside her—and watched me fall into the river without stopping me. For eighteen years, I held this family together. I changed a man’s fate, raised children not born of my body, and sacrificed everything to keep them from destruction. Yet the moment she returned, my devotion became a crime, and I was cast as the villain who deserved to disappear. When everything finally collapsed, the System told me I was allowed to leave this world. I leaned forward, letting myself fall into the icy, bone-chilling river. I was a strategist, tasked with saving the antagonist and his family from tearing themselves apart over the heroine. What was tragic was that once the original male lead was gone, my husband and sons were eager to bring the widowed heroine into our home. The System’s voice chimed in: [Master, the mission has failed. Once your physical body in this alternate universe perishes, your real-world body will awaken. However, your time there is running short. Are you sure you want to leave here?] I nodded slightly. With the little time remaining, I just wanted to spend it with my family and friends. But the expected suffocation didn’t come. A strong hand grabbed my arm from behind and pulled me up. “What are you doing? Today is Sister Serena’s special day, and you’re pulling this stunt?” I turned around to see my stepson, Ethan, panting heavily, his bright eyes aflame with anger. He was one of my targets in this world and later became the most fervent antagonist in the story. He would become obsessed with the heroine, turn against his family, and ultimately become someone everyone shunned. When I became Victor’s second wife, Ethan was just six years old. His birth mother had passed away, and his father was always busy with work. As a child, he caused trouble in the streets, seeking attention but often ending up bullied. I brought him home, cleaned him up, and planned his future. Ethan wasn’t interested in studying, so I encouraged him, saying a man could achieve great things in business. For the first time, young Ethan had a dream. His eyes reddened, and he asked, “Can I call you Mom? They all laugh at me for not having a Mom, saying I’m a wild child…” With my permission, he hugged me gently. “Mom, when I grow up and make a lot of money, the first thing I’ll do is buy you a big house and give you a good life.” But when he actually achieved his dream, his first request was to make Serena his new mom. He stopped calling me Mom. He even hated me because Serena said it was my fault she got kidnapped by bad people and couldn’t come back to see him. The handsome young man in front of me overlapped with the child who used to call me Mom, but his eyes were now filled with coldness. “Stop pretending. You’re just trying to get our attention, right? If you really wanted to die, why choose the road where I’d be coming home from work, perfectly timed?” I was speechless. I just wanted to find a not-too-ugly way to leave, in a place with a nice view. I never expected to run into Ethan. Seeing that I didn’t reply, Ethan mocked, “If you really want to die, find a place further away. Sister Serena loves this river. She takes walks here when the weather’s nice, so don’t…” He suddenly stopped. I quickly dashed to the other end of the broken bridge and jumped off. Serena likes this river, right? Then I hope she never comes here again. Every time she does, I hate it more.

My body grew heavier, and in a daze, I heard the instruments ticking in the hospital room. Dad, Mom, wait for me! Your daughter will be home soon! Just when I thought I would succeed, a powerful force dragged me back to the shore. Ethan was soaked, his eyes misty with tears or water, I couldn’t tell. Looking at Ethan, I jokingly teased him, “You don’t want me dead, huh?” Ethan’s face twisted awkwardly, “You’re overthinking it. Whether you live or die has nothing to do with me. Even if you want to die, I wouldn’t stop you, but not today! I don’t want Sister Serena thinking of you and being unhappy on her anniversary!” Of course, it was for Serena. Seeing I didn’t respond, Ethan dragged me home. “Let’s go back. Today, you can’t die. If you really want to, find a place further away, at least where I won’t see you!” Ethan was strong, and I couldn’t break free. When we reached the Victor Family’s door, we ran into my biological son, Lucas, in this world. He wore a neat suit, looking incredibly handsome. He had rushed back from school, and upon seeing Ethan and me drenched, he gave me a quick glance but greeted Ethan, “Big Brother.” Ethan nodded in response. Lucas then remarked, “Why are your clothes wet? Be careful not to catch a cold. Big Brother, change your clothes quickly. Sister Serena and Dad’s wedding is about to start.” Throughout, he didn’t look at me once, as if I wasn’t his real mom but a stranger on the street. In the original story, Lucas was lost by the original character at birth and grew up in an orphanage, developing an extremely gloomy personality. The heroine would be the only light in his life. But now that I’m here, I gave birth to him myself, and I have high hopes for him. In my vision, he and I were connected by blood, not merely characters in a story. He didn’t need me to “strategize” him, he would naturally be on my side. I cherished Lucas like my own eyes, afraid he might get lost like in the book. I did everything myself to ensure his safe upbringing. Lucas indeed grew up to be a cultured gentleman, unlike the delinquent in the book. He was humble, respectful to his parents, cared for his brothers, and even became a school leader. I never doubted I could handle my own son. But once Serena appeared, my always considerate Lucas turned into a different person. He began doing all the things I disapproved of to show his dissatisfaction and rebellion against me. “Why does Mom always have to go against Sister Serena? Clearly, Mom is in the wrong!” I never expected that after reading so many books with Lucas, all those principles would become weapons he used against me. “Mom is jealous of Sister Serena, so she let her be kidnapped by bad people, showing no kindness. How can you be my Mom?” At the time, I stood there holding the nourishing soup I had gotten up early to make for him, feeling like I didn’t recognize the son I raised. He knocked the soup from my hands, saying he’d never eat anything I made again. My heart ached beyond words, and I slapped him. His eyes turned on me with hatred. Since then, we haven’t spoken a word to each other. Hearing Lucas’s question, Ethan looked uncomfortable. “Just now… she really jumped.” Lucas’s handsome brow furrowed slightly, his cold voice devoid of emotion. “Big Brother, don’t be fooled by her. With you there, how could she die? She’s just using women’s tricks, seeking death because Sister Serena is entering the family. Do you think she could really give up the wealth and prosperity here…” Before Lucas finished, I slammed my head against the doorpost. I sighed inwardly, hoping to die with some dignity, but these two boys were too noisy. Hot blood ran down my cheek, and the world went black. Before my consciousness completely faded, I seemed to hear someone scream “Mom” in agony.

When I opened my eyes again, my forehead throbbed. Above me was a modern and luxurious chandelier. I realized I had once again failed to leave this world. Every night, I teetered on the brink of death. This meant my time with my family in the original world was growing shorter. Time was incredibly precious to me. I stared at the chandelier, wondering if I could use it to end everything. Just as I moved, a hand tightly gripped mine. “Elena, stop fooling around, okay? Luckily, you’re weak, so you didn’t hit too hard. Otherwise, you’d have scared the two kids to death.” The speaker was my husband in this world, the company CEO, Victor. At this moment, his brow was furrowed, his eyes locked on the bandage wrapped around my forehead. His gaze was deep, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking. In the original story, Victor was the heroine’s most passionate admirer. Unable to attain his love, he eventually turned dark, even betraying the company and harming others to get closer to the heroine. When I first arrived, I drugged Victor to prevent him from pursuing the heroine, cutting off the source of his later crimes. Victor woke up wishing he could end me right there. I knew the story inside out, so I was sure the heroine wouldn’t be harmed. In the original story, Victor was the heroine’s most ardent admirer. Unable to win her love, he eventually succumbed to darkness, even betraying the company and harming others just to be near her. The first thing I did upon entering this world was to incapacitate Victor with a drug, preventing him from pursuing the heroine and cutting off the source of future crimes. When Victor woke up, he was furious, wishing he could end me on the spot. I knew the plot of the book inside and out and was confident the heroine would not be harmed. It wasn’t until he saw the heroine and the male lead happily together that Victor began to let go of his resentment towards me. He tried to understand me, cared for me, and even stood up for me during a difficult time when he mistakenly thought I was being bullied. During those challenging days, our hearts quietly drew closer. Later, I softened my demeanor, managed household affairs for Victor, cared for the family, and raised the children. Victor, like any ordinary husband who loves his wife, stayed by my side, promising to be together in the next life. The system informed me that the strategist’s favorability was steadily increasing and that my mission was nearing completion. At that time, my terminal illness in the real world would be cured, and I could choose to pause time in the real world to accompany the Victor family through this happy life. However, an unexpected change came without warning. One stormy night, the heroine returned alone. She threw herself into Victor’s arms, weeping and recounting the inhuman torment she had suffered over the years. Usually calm and composed, Victor was moved to tears. When he learned of my actions that had maliciously hindered him, pushing her into a predicament, the Victor family was furious. They carefully tended to Serena at home and ignored me. On Lucas’s birthday, I prepared a table full of dishes that the family loved, but no one returned even late into the night. It turned out they were out entertaining a despondent Serena, just to cheer her up. When I gave birth to Lucas, I endured pain all night before delivering. At that time, Victor promised to celebrate with the children every year because I hadn’t left them. But now, they’ve all broken their promises. When the Victor family returned, they merely said, “Serena doesn’t like the dishes you made, so there’s no need to make them again.” Recalling these events, I coldly withdrew my hand from Victor’s grip and calmly said, “I’m not being unreasonable. I just don’t want to live anymore…” Victor suddenly became somewhat annoyed, leaning over to hold me tightly. I couldn’t break free, so I just let him. After a moment, he finally spoke, his tone tinged with helplessness. “Elena, stop saying things like that, and don’t use death to threaten me and the kids. Our feelings won’t change, and I’ll discipline the boys. You’re forever the mistress of this house.” Victor’s words sounded sincere, as if he still loved me as before. But then he cautiously observed my expression and mentioned Serena. “I’ve already promised, Serena won’t take your place. You were unfair to her before; now she just wants a place to stay… So, where did you hide her? Tell me, and we can pretend nothing happened and continue living our simple life, okay?” I laughed coldly inside. Serena has disappeared again? Victor still thinks I did it? Seeing me laugh, Victor could no longer feign indifference, his tone becoming urgent. “Elena, stop pretending. I’ve searched, and Serena’s jewelry is clearly hidden in your room’s closet. Both of you disappeared early this morning… Tell me, where did you hide Serena?” It seems Serena can’t wait to drive me away, even using her wedding as a ploy. After all, as the heroine, she craves attention and can’t share a man with another woman. What she wants is to be the only one in the hearts of the Victor family. I suddenly burst into laughter, “Ha, yes, I did it. Serena is dead! I’m just jealous of her, so I killed her. Do you want to avenge her? Then kill me unless you can’t bear to.” Victor would do anything for Serena. As long as he kills me, I can go home. Victor was clearly enraged and lost his mind, gripping my neck with his hands. “Elena! How did you become like this… Serena has suffered enough, why do you keep tormenting her?” In reality, it wasn’t me who changed, but them, the father and sons. I didn’t resist, letting my breath gradually weaken. Finally, everything will end. The door was suddenly pushed open, and Ethan and Lucas helped Serena inside. 4. “Dad, Sister Serena is fine.” This sleep felt like it lasted a long, long time. I vaguely thought I was lying on a hospital bed, waiting for mom to come with a thermos to wake me up, gently saying, “Elena, come have some porridge. I made your favorite flavor.” But when I opened my eyes, what I saw was Victor’s red-rimmed eyes, Ethan and Lucas’s bewildered faces, and Serena looking particularly pitiful behind them. Unfortunately, these were the people I least wanted to face. Seeing me awake, Victor first sighed in relief, then furrowed his brows again, “Elena, quickly apologize to Serena!” Serena hid behind Ethan, tears falling like broken beads. “Sister, I just want a complete family, nothing else. Please don’t let anyone treat me like this anymore…” Lucas had clearly reached his limit, shouting at me, “How long are you going to pretend to be innocent? Do you think pretending to commit suicide to make us feel guilty will offset what you did to Sister Serena?” I was completely confused by what Serena said. Seeing my unresponsive look, Victor slowly said, “Elena, you lured Serena to a secluded place, intending for those bad guys to bully her. Luckily, someone passed by and saved her. This time, I must give Serena an explanation.” In my exclusive view, Serena was defiantly winking at me, unable to hide her smug smile. What a well-staged act, and the Victor family just falls for it. Ethan, who had been silent, suddenly spoke, “It’s impossible that she did it. She wouldn’t use such methods to take revenge on a woman, and you all saw it. She genuinely wanted to end her life today.” Hearing this, Serena’s expression instantly became uncomfortable. I looked at Ethan in surprise. He remembered I told him as a child that a woman’s dignity is important and using such means is the lowest. But what difference does it make if he remembers? This time, Serena’s scheme just happened to hit a small crack in Ethan’s memory, and he forgets even more. As long as Serena performs a new act, he might fall into it again. Lucas sneered disdainfully, “Big Brother, you business people are so single-minded. When did she ever succeed in dying with us watching? But the harm Sister Serena suffered is real, and so many people outside were talking about Sister Serena! If you trust her, how can you face Sister Serena?” Ethan fell silent. Whenever it involves Serena, the Victor family always unconditionally sides with her. But this time, Ethan’s persistence surprised me a little, “Mom, I’ll call you mom one more time. As long as you apologize to Sister Serena, I’ll still acknowledge you as my mom.” Lucas didn’t speak but didn’t refute either, and his eyes showed a hint of hope when he looked at me. I laughed coldly. Now it’s not that you don’t acknowledge me, but that I have no interest in this “family” anymore. “I won’t apologize, not even if I die.” Suddenly, a loud shattering sound echoed in the room. Victor had smashed our family photo. Those four smiling faces representing me, Victor, Ethan, and Lucas used to be displayed in the most prominent place in my room. Now they’ve become a pile of shattered pieces on the ground, lying quietly. “Elena, you’ve let me down too much. Reflect on your actions until you realize your mistakes, then come out of this room.” The Victor family left with red eyes, and the door was locked tightly. From that day on, I refused to eat. Victor sent my favorite meal, which was delivered and taken back untouched every day. Until the fourth day, when the maid opened the door to deliver food, her scream echoed through the room. 5. Blood started to gush continuously from my nose and mouth. The young maid pushed the door open, and when she saw me lying in bed covered in blood, she was so scared that her soul almost flew away.

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My wife had an affair and ended up pregnant. Her parents smiled and asked me to be understanding. The other man moved into my house, slept in my bed, and expected me to keep footing the bills. They called it family. So I agreed. I swallowed my pride, signed nothing, and said yes to everything. Because they didn’t have a clue— I wasn’t forgiving them. I was setting the stage to burn it all down and walk away clean. After Clara gave birth, her parents, David and Margaret, spared no expense booking her into a luxury postnatal recovery center. She stayed until she was fully healed, only coming home a month later. By then, I’d finished my pre-deployment training and wrapped up all the paperwork. One night, I was lying in bed, ready to crash. Then I heard voices outside the door. “Oh, look at that little nose. Just like Clara’s!” Margaret cooed. “And those eyes? Definitely Nathan’s.” “Such a perfect blend. You did amazing, sweetie,” David chimed in. “It was nothing,” Clara replied, her voice sweet. “I’m just happy I could give Nathan this gift.” They walked in, beaming like one big, happy family. Clara, her parents, and Nathan all gathered around the baby, passing him around on the couch like some prized trophy. “This baby just had to be Clara and Nathan’s,” Margaret declared. “Such a handsome man and a beautiful woman. The perfect match!” “Absolutely,” David agreed. “Can you imagine if Clara had Luke’s kid? Disaster! Dark, stubborn, and homely as a mule.” I stepped out of the bedroom just as he finished. The laughter died instantly. They all stared at me like I was a ghost. “Luke!” Clara gasped. “What are you doing here?” “You nearly gave me a heart attack! Why didn’t you make any noise?” Margaret scolded, clutching her chest. I scanned their faces—a twisted mess of guilt and annoyance. These were the same people who once bragged about having me as a son-in-law. Clara and I met on a blind date, the kind set up by relatives who thought they knew best. It was old-fashioned, sure, but it felt promising. We hit it off from the start. Hobbies, life goals—we agreed on everything, like fate itself had planned it. Her parents were thrilled. They loved my career. Margaret would gush about me to anyone who’d listen, her face lighting up whenever she said my name. To Clara, I was more than a husband. I was her rock, the one who made her feel safe. Back then, I bought it all. But now, watching them huddle on the couch like their own little perfect circle, I knew I didn’t belong. “Well, you’re here. I assume you know the situation. You’ve been quiet so far, so I take it you’re on board.” David cleared his throat, using his best patriarch voice. He looked around the room, silently urging the others to back him up. I let out a dry chuckle but didn’t answer. Clara bristled. “What’s so funny, Luke? Got a problem?” she snapped. “You’re so selfish! Nathan has kidney failure. After all he’s done for us, giving him a child was the least I could do. It’s only right!” Right on cue, Nathan coughed weakly, gripping Clara’s arm for support. “Clara, please, don’t get upset because of me,” he murmured, putting on a shaky, exhausted voice. “Your health comes first.” His act was flawless, pulling sympathy from everyone in the room. But I saw right through it. He showed none of the real fatigue or desperation of someone who’s truly sick. Clara, glowing with that new-mom softness, leaned into Nathan. Her voice turned sharp as she glared at me. “See how considerate Nathan is? Why can’t you be more like him?” Margaret stepped in to play peacemaker. “Luke, you’re always away on work. Never home. Clara is our only daughter. This family needs a man present.” She gestured to Nathan. “Nathan has always been here for us. He grew up with Clara. He’s like a son to us. Now that he’s sick, how could we not help?” The irony was almost painful. Since when did their “son” have a baby with their daughter? They’d formed their perfect little loop, and I was the loose thread messing up the picture. Nathan coughed again and offered an apology. “Luke, I get why you’re upset. This is my fault… I’m sorry for causing all this trouble.” The room simmered with irritation. My presence was clearly wearing on them. Clara waved a dismissive hand, her tone biting. “Luke, we’ve said all there is to say. Next week, we’re having a reception to introduce the baby to the family. Everyone will be there.” She pinned me with a look. “If you’re smart, you’ll tell everyone the baby is yours. Make a scene, and you’ll only humiliate yourself.” I did the math. Next week was my flight out. By then, I’d be gone, fully committed to my new life with the International Extreme Rescue Team. But before I left, I could give them a memory they wouldn’t forget. I shrugged, keeping my face blank. “Sure,” I said, my voice calm. “No problem.”

If I was leaving, I’d leave nothing behind. I started packing my things in silence. Every item held a memory of Clara and me, tucked away in drawers like artifacts from a life I thought we had. Maybe I was the only one who thought we were happy. My eyes passed over shared souvenirs, carefully saved gifts, movie tickets from all our dates. Once, these things warmed my heart. Now, they felt like shards of glass. Three months ago, on a cold, fateful night, I came home after weeks on an international rescue op. Exhausted but eager, I was craving the warmth of home and Clara’s embrace. But when I opened the door, I saw another man in my bed. I knew him. Nathan Sullivan. Clara’s childhood best friend. My chest tightened, the betrayal like a punch to the gut. And Clara’s pregnant belly was the final blow, a hammer of brutal finality. I didn’t need to ask. The kid wasn’t mine. “Hey, Luke! You’re back!” Nathan said, lounging in my pajamas like he owned the place. “Come on in!” Rage blurred my vision. I lunged at him, fists clenched. Before I could connect, Clara jumped between us, whacking my back hard with a broom. “Luke, what the hell are you doing?!” she screamed, shielding Nathan like a lioness. “You touch him, and you’ll regret it!” Her voice cracked with fake outrage. “Nathan is sick! Kidney failure. I had to give him a child. You have a problem, you take it up with me!” My love for her shattered right then, into pieces too small to ever fix. David and Margaret showed up soon after, turning the scene into a circus. David grabbed my arm, his face red. “What’s wrong with you?! Can’t you see she’s pregnant? You come home and start a fight? You’re an embarrassment!” Margaret even started crying. “This is a tragedy! Luke, why can’t you be understanding? Don’t you see how hard this is for Clara? You’re so selfish!” They hurled accusations like I was the one who’d betrayed them. I stood there alone against their tidal wave of hypocrisy, my heart completely numb. That’s when I knew nothing was left for me here. The next day, I signed up for the international rescue team and buried myself in training. Now, back in the present, a knock on the door snapped me out of it. Clara stood there, her gaze ice-cold. “Glad you’ve come around,” she said. “The baby’s done with the postpartum period. Since this is my room, I think Nathan should move in here. It’s practical.” I searched her eyes for any trace of the woman I once loved. From the living room, David’s voice boomed. “This house is in Clara’s name! She decides who stays where. That’s her right!” The arrogance was almost funny. I listened to their selfish logic, my heart completely empty. Arguing was pointless. I didn’t care enough anymore. I picked up my suitcase and headed to the storage room. It was dark and damp, smelling of mildew. Surrounded by junk and broken things, I set my suitcase in a corner and sat on it. The silence was a relief, a haven from the memories. No shared moments, no laughter. Just dark and quiet. I lit a cigarette, letting the smoke curl around me. Through the haze, bits of happier times flickered in my mind. From the living room, their carefree laughter rang out. “I’m getting the baby a protection charm,” Margaret said. “What should we engrave?” “How about ‘C&N’? It’s their child, after all!” David suggested lightly. Clara added, “I think we should use ‘Sullivan’. He’ll take Nathan’s last name.” I took a deep drag, the smoke burning my throat. I imagined breathing out all the pain in one long, bitter exhale. The confidentiality rules of the International Rescue Team were like invisible chains, cutting me off from my old life. As part of my final prep to leave the country, I had one last task—to officially erase myself from the national records.

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I caught my boyfriend cheating—red-handed—only to be accused of being “too dramatic.” While he comforted his other woman in the bathroom, I packed my suitcase in silence. Five years of love, unpaid labor, and self-abandonment ended with laughter on the other side of the door. His friends mocked me. He didn’t even notice I was leaving. That was the moment I realized—I wasn’t losing a man. I was finally getting my life back. “Elena, haven’t you had enough of this drama?” Ryan, my boyfriend – or rather, ex-boyfriend – sat on the couch, his face a mask of impatience. I looked at his irritated expression, a cold smirk playing on my lips. I had caught him red-handed, dancing intimately with his childhood sweetheart at a bar. Yet he had the audacity to accuse me of making a fuss over nothing. Fine, I thought. If he wanted drama, I’d give him a show. He was nothing but a philandering dog, and I was sick of him! “I’ve told you, Madeline and I are just friends. You’ve already embarrassed me in front of my friends. What more do you want?” he said. “Whatever. Think what you like,” I replied. His phone screen lit up, interrupting his tirade of accusations and complaints. I watched him get up and head to the bathroom. I followed quietly, and sure enough, Madeline’s coy voice drifted out, “Ryan, she’s not giving you a hard time, is she?” “Of course not,” Ryan replied, his voice unusually gentle and patient – a tone he never used with me. I listened to Madeline’s giggles floating out of the bathroom as I started packing my things. Damn it, what a pair of cheaters. As if I’d ever want him back! I sent Ryan a breakup text and blocked him. The conversation in the bathroom paused for a couple of seconds before resuming as if nothing had happened. Huh, he always acted so confident around me. I couldn’t blame him entirely. After all, I had been madly in love with him since freshman year, willingly playing the role of his doormat. All those years of washing his sports gear, buying him drinks and gifts – it was like pouring water into the Pacific Ocean. Now, even when I suggested breaking up, he seemed completely indifferent. The laughter continued in the bathroom as I quietly left the apartment with my suitcase, finally escaping this prison. As soon as I got in my car, my phone exploded with notifications from the group chat. Ryan’s buddies were tagging me relentlessly. “Elena, playing the runaway game again?” “How many times has this been now?” “If you ask me, you should grow a backbone. If you’re leaving, don’t come crawling back to Ryan. Save yourself from another dramatic exit.” “Ha! As if she could ever let go of Ryan.” Their mocking laughter hit me like a slap in the face. I stared at the screen coldly, quickly typing out a reply, “As you and Ryan wish, we’re done for good. Goodbye.” I left the group immediately after sending the message. Ryan’s friends had created this group chat specifically to mock me, though they had their own separate group for real communication. Even though I knew their intentions, I had pathetically joined the group just to catch a glimpse of Ryan’s occasional messages. Later, they added Madeline to the group, and Ryan’s messages became more frequent. I found myself consumed by jealousy, desperately searching for any hint that he might love me in his messages. Sadly, there were none. Instead, his chats with Madeline grew increasingly flirtatious, with no regard for my feelings whatsoever. As my best friend would say, I had become obsessed, poisoned by my feelings for Ryan. Looking back now, I realize how ridiculous I had been. Ryan didn’t love me. He was never gentle or caring towards me. He certainly never showed any concern or looked after me. He only called me when he needed something, and when he didn’t, he couldn’t even be bothered to say my name. What did I ever see in such a horrible guy? Did I admire his ability to eat, poop, and cause trouble?

I had a small, rundown apartment in the suburbs that my parents had left me. I hadn’t lived there for years, but now it was my only refuge. I spent three hours cleaning every nook and cranny until I was nearly exhausted. After a shower, I noticed a missed call on my phone. My heart skipped a beat. Could it be Ryan? But when I unlocked the screen, I saw it was from my best friend, Brooke. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly at myself. Old habits die hard, I guess. I was still foolishly hoping for his call, while he was probably having a great time with Madeline. I was about to call Brooke back when her call came through again. “Elena, did you have another fight with Ryan? Why bother? You’ll end up crawling back to him anyway, crying your eyes out.” Brooke’s words cut deep. Standing by the window, I shivered in the cold breeze. “It’s really over this time. We won’t be getting back together.” Brooke hesitated for a moment. “Really? What if he gets down on his knees and begs you to take him back?” I let out a cold laugh. “I’m not a glutton for punishment. It’s been five years. I’ve finally woken up.” “I don’t believe you!” Brooke exclaimed, then quickly changed the subject. “Unless… you come to our high school reunion tomorrow.” I was puzzled. “…” What did that have to do with anything? Brooke scoffed. “I knew you weren’t serious about breaking up.” I sighed. “…Fine, I’ll be there tomorrow, dressed to the nines. Happy now?” Brooke seemed satisfied. “There’s a surprise waiting for you!” What kind of surprise could there be? I was too tired to guess. “If you keep being mysterious, I’m going to bed.” Brooke quickly spilled the beans. “Your high school crush, Mr. Gu, will be there too.” Those three words jolted me wide awake, my hand tightening around the phone. Mr. Gu was our nickname for him. His real name was Julian Gray. He was the unattainable dream guy from our innocent high school days, the crush of most of the girls in our school. Smart, handsome, great at basketball, gentle and dignified. Brooke teased, “The whole point of this reunion is to welcome him back to the country. I heard he’s still single, and now you’re single too. Isn’t this the perfect opportunity?” I went to the bathroom and looked at my haggard reflection in the mirror, laughing bitterly. “That’s all in the past.” I hung up and silently applied a face mask.

I was woken up by the glaring sunlight – I had forgotten to close the curtains last night. Looking at my phone, I saw it was already past 10 AM. I stretched my sleep-softened limbs, realizing it had been ages since I’d slept so well. Ryan liked to stay up late, often going out drinking with his friends. I would often wake up in the middle of the night to pick him up when he was drunk, take care of him, and then go to work exhausted the next day, missing out on several promotions. “From today on, everything stays in the past. It’s time for a fresh start,” I muttered to myself, my lips curving into a smile. I made myself a simple breakfast of egg noodles in my tiny kitchen. The aroma was inviting, and paired with a glass of milk, I thought I might even regain some of my complexion. Life without Ryan wasn’t as bad as I had imagined. To keep myself from overthinking, I went to the nearby supermarket to stock up my fridge. From now on, I’d pack my own lunch for work and wouldn’t have to envy my colleagues anymore. As I passed by a cosmetics store, a sales assistant approached me. “Miss, we have a special offer today. You get a free face mask with every $20 purchase.” I found myself staring at the bold red lipstick on the assistant’s lips. I used to be that vibrant and lively too, but Ryan said he preferred me with light makeup, so I stopped buying dark lipsticks. “Miss, this color would look great on your fair skin,” the assistant said enthusiastically. Looking at my reflection in the mirror, I couldn’t help but smile. Seeing that I had bought quite a lot, the assistant offered to do my makeup. I nodded. Since I was already looking good, why not go all out? Instead of rushing to the supermarket, I decided to do some shopping. I bought a white suit, a silk dress to wear underneath, and some knee-high boots. Then I got my long hair cut short and dyed it a light brown with soft waves. It looked pretty good. Today’s shopping spree cost me three months’ salary. They say retail therapy is the best cure for a broken heart. … When Brooke saw me at the hotel entrance, she was shocked and circled around me several times. “Wow, Elena! I expected to see a dejected divorcee, not this! If I had known breaking up would make you look this good, I would have told you to dump that jerk ages ago!” I felt a bit smug. “Not bad, right?” Brooke happily linked her arm with mine and we walked into the private room, grinning. This hotel was one of the top luxury hotels in the city. Ryan and I had dined here before. The food was incredibly expensive and required advance reservations. I felt a bit nervous. “Brooke, if we need to split the bill tonight, could you cover for me first? I’ll pay you back when I get my paycheck.” If I had known we were eating here, I would have bought one less outfit. Brooke chuckled. “You don’t know? This hotel belongs to the Gu family. How else do you think our class monitor could book a private room here?” Julian Gray entered the room surrounded by classmates. He was wearing a light-colored suit with a black knit sweater underneath, and gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose. Well, now I knew what “gentle and refined” looked like in the flesh. Five years had matured him, his features more chiseled and defined. Just as I looked away, our class monitor joked, “Elena, you’ve become even prettier after all these years. Julian was just asking if you were coming tonight.” I was startled and looked at Julian in surprise. Although we had been desk mates in high school, we rarely spoke. He was the golden boy, and I was just an ordinary classmate. Julian greeted me with a gentle smile. “It’s been a long time, Elena.” His voice was pleasant, deep with a hint of warmth. My heart fluttered a bit, and I politely nodded with a smile. Brooke excitedly squeezed my hand and whispered, “Hey, I think you two have a chance.” Yeah, right. I knew my place. It was okay to have a crush, but showing it would be impolite. I chose a seat near the door, keeping my distance from the group of successful people. Just then, Julian took a seat too, just two seats away from me.

It had been several years since our last high school reunion, and today was particularly lively. The last to arrive was the class hottie. Despite the cold weather, she wore a sequined gown with a white fur coat and dramatic earrings, looking like she had just stepped off a runway. She had the looks to pull it off, now being a minor internet celebrity. “Wow, our class beauty actually found time to join our reunion!” Several classmates exclaimed excitedly. Quite a few guys had crushed on her back in the day. Her face, now with some “enhancements”, looked even more delicate than before. Her curvaceous figure made even the women’s hearts race. Almost all the guys at the table stood up to greet her, except for Julian, who remained seated quietly. After greeting everyone, the class hottie walked straight to the seat next to Julian and said with a smile, “Let’s switch seats, shall we?” The classmate sitting next to Julian happily gave up his seat. Everyone laughed and teased, but it was nothing new. Everyone knew the class hottie had a thing for Julian. Julian just nodded slightly in greeting. the class hottie asked, “Julian, are you planning to develop your career back home now?” Julian smiled lightly. “Yes, I’ll be relying on everyone’s help from now on.” Everyone quickly said they wouldn’t dare, knowing that the combined net worth of everyone else in the room probably wouldn’t match even a fraction of his. As the waiters started serving the food, the class hottie downed a glass of red wine and asked with a flushed face, “Julian, I heard you’re still single. Do you think I have a chance?” Her directness shocked everyone! I was curious too, and looked up just in time to meet his gaze. Julian took a sip of his wine and said, “I’m sorry, but I already have someone I like.” This news was even more shocking. the class hottie didn’t seem discouraged though. Instead, her smile grew brighter. “As long as you’re not married, I still have a chance.” They say it’s easy for a girl to chase a guy. I felt a bit envious of the class hottie’s boldness in love, remembering how I used to chase Ryan so desperately. I lowered my head and took a sip of red wine. It was smooth and not too dry. Good wine indeed. As the night went on and more drinks were consumed, everyone became more lively. Several guys I used to be close with in high school came over to toast with me. With rosy cheeks, I said, “I can’t drink anymore, I’ve had too much already.” My voice was naturally soft, and when I drank, it became even more coquettish. I was trying to refuse firmly, but to others, it sounded like I was being coy. I had hated my voice countless times before. the class hottie seemed a bit annoyed. “Oh, come on, stop pretending. If you’re going to drink, just drink!” Brooke was about to stand up to defend me, but Julian was quicker. He picked up his glass and said with a smile, “Elena has already had quite a lot. I’ll drink the rest on her behalf.” “Wow—” Many classmates exclaimed in surprise! I was also stunned. There were quite a few female classmates who had drunk too much, including the class hottie who had hinted for him to help, but he hadn’t made a move. Now he was suddenly helping me out. Was I being honored? Brooke had a knowing smile on her face as she tugged at my hand and said, “Come with me to the restroom.” Looking at my flushed face in the mirror, I was about to splash some cold water on it when Brooke grabbed my hand.

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My husband walked onto the press stage with another woman and a child at his side. after working through the night to prepare for the announcement of our marriage and the launch of the company’s new flagship technology, Ten years of a hidden marriage. I was the one who kept the company running. After that public humiliation, I didn’t scream. I did three things instead: I filed for divorce. I resigned. And I took the core research with me. From that moment on, his life entered its final countdown. At the press conference, David Blackwell, my husband, was about to announce his love for someone else when Ella Carter, his new executive assistant, suddenly stepped onto the stage holding a little girl. “Sweetie, Daddy’s calling you up here!” she said. The crowd instantly erupted, bombarding David with questions about his new romance. David didn’t deny it. Instead, he affectionately pulled the little girl into his arms. The display screens even showcased the company’s newest, multi-million-dollar prototype, developed from my research, dedicated to her. “Yes, we have a child,” he confirmed. Seeing me, Victoria Hayes, standing frozen, the reporters were only too eager to stir the pot. “Ms. Hayes, you’ve been the Lead Researcher for so long. On such an important day, shouldn’t you say something?” I smiled faintly, then handed the access key for the year’s foundational research to the new assistant. “Good things come in pairs,” I said. “Consider this the gift for your daughter.” When I gave the key to Ella Carter, everyone paused for a moment before murmuring in surprise. “Only Ms. Hayes could be so generous. That research was your life’s work!” “Ms. Hayes, you spoil Mr. Blackwell’s daughter so much.” Ella, hearing this, tilted her chin up and shot me a smug look. David, on the other hand, clenched his jaw, his deep, cold eyes fixed on me. Seeing him so uncomfortable only amused me. We’d been married for ten years. Yet, he’d always avoided officially announcing our marriage, using the company’s interests as an excuse. He never acknowledged my role publicly, leaving my contributions in the shadows. At the office, he kept a strict professional distance, refusing any personal acknowledgment. I was only allowed to address him as Mr. Blackwell. I never complained, quietly staying in this hidden marriage for a decade, supporting him as we built the company from the ground up. It wasn’t until yesterday, when the proprietary framework I developed secured the landmark deal, bringing in unprecedented investment, that he finally agreed to officially announce me as his wife at today’s press conference. I couldn’t believe it. After all these years, he was finally going to recognize me publicly. I’d stayed up all night finalizing the data packs. The next day, I woke up early, hoping to look perfect beside David. But in the end, the woman standing next to him wasn’t me. I was the punchline. If this had happened before, I would’ve been furious. But now, I just stood there, calmly watching the family of three on stage. “Wishing you all a lifetime of happiness,” I said, my voice steady. David’s eyes turned icy. He opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by the little girl’s crying. Ella tugged at David’s sleeve. “David, I think Hannah’s scared…” At her words, David shot me a cold glance. “Look at what you’ve done.” He waved his hand dismissively, shoving me aside as he scooped up Hannah and took Ella’s hand, leaving without looking back. The push threw me off balance. My heels twisted, and I fell, my head hitting the edge of the display console. A sharp pain shot through my back. Yet David didn’t even glance back. Watching his indifferent back, I couldn’t help but feel a bitter irony. He was kinder to a stranger than to his wife. Hannah Carter was only crying from being startled. But when our own daughter had a high fever, delirious and on the brink of death, he did nothing. Once, David and I had a five-year-old daughter. That year, while I was at a remote research facility, I asked David to take care of her. He promised he would. But instead of staying with her, he went out for meetings, leaving our daughter alone at home, burning with fever for hours. By the time I rushed back, it was too late. We fought terribly that day. Later, he knelt, crying and apologizing. I softened because of our shared history, and I forgave him. I was foolish back then, but not anymore. I turned and left the venue. After leaving, I took a taxi home, planning to tend to my wounds. As soon as I walked in, I saw Ella and Hannah on the couch. Hannah was holding my daughter’s favorite stuffed toy. When Ella saw me, she smiled. “Victoria, you’re back! Hannah wanted to see your place, so David brought us here. He said to make ourselves at home!” She then pulled out a data drive, waving it. “I heard this holds your life’s work, the core schematics? And the neural interface prototype Hannah’s testing is based on your daughter’s project, right? “I only mentioned it, and David just handed everything over. “Victoria, if you know what’s good for you, just leave already!” Before, I would have been furious. But now, I just gave her a cold glance and turned to head upstairs. I had no time for her games. But Ella blocked my path. The next moment, she roughly disconnected the prototype interface from Hannah’s temple and slapped her across the face. Hannah’s face turned red, and she burst into tears. Ella held Hannah and shouted, “Victoria, if you have a problem, come at me! But Hannah’s just a child!” I almost laughed. This was one of her usual tricks. Before I could react, David rushed over. His face darkened when he saw Hannah, and he slapped me. “Victoria, you’ve gone too far! How could you hurt a child? “Hannah is Ella’s niece! They were just lightening the mood. Why make such a big deal?” Pathetic acting, but David bought it. If this had happened before, I would have been furious. But now, I felt nothing. I picked up the prototype module from the floor, handed it back to Ella, and smiled faintly. “You were just lightening the mood. How could I hold it against you? “To show my appreciation, I even booked a five-star restaurant for us.” I showed them the reservation on my phone—originally booked to celebrate with David. Seeing it was real, David said awkwardly, “I’ll transfer you the money.” I refused. David’s tone softened. “Victoria, you’ve changed. I’ll make it up to you after the announcement.” But he didn’t realize that when a woman suddenly became more understanding, it was not because she was weaker. It was because she no longer loved him. This time, I was determined to be the one who walked away first.

After that, David took Ella and Hannah to the restaurant. I went upstairs. When I took off my heels, my ankles were swollen and red, covered in blisters. When the antiseptic touched the wounds, I sucked in a breath. I never liked heels, but David did. Over the years, I forced myself to wear them to please him. Looking back now, I realize how foolish I was. After treating my wounds, I slipped on comfortable flats and threw the heels away. This time, I wasn’t going to cater to anyone. With that thought, I took out my phone and sent a message to a major corporation that had been pursuing me: [I’ve agreed to the collaboration.] The reply came instantly: [Victoria, you’ve finally decided. Set the date. We’ll be ready.] This corporation was the leading enterprise in Larkhaven. Their CEO had always valued my expertise. Their offers were very attractive. But I had turned them all down. Because David needed me. The company’s operations and all its new products relied on my core research. I gave up my future, working tirelessly for him. But once the company grew stronger, he kicked me to the curb. It was then I realized that devotion wasn’t always reciprocated. Thinking of this, I replied: [I’ll report tomorrow.] I bought the earliest flight and began packing. As I packed, I realized I couldn’t even fill a suitcase. The closet was full of David’s suits. My clothes were few and worn. The only thing of value was the watch he had given me—an old model from over a decade ago. I treasured it. It was a gift from David, bought with his first bonus. Back then, he smiled brightly as he gave it to me, promising to love me forever, saying one day he’d buy me everything. But once he had money, he never bought me anything nice again. On our seventh anniversary, I asked him for a proper anniversary gift. He got angry, scolding me for being wasteful. After that, to “correct” my spending, he set a strict budget. Any expense over a certain amount needed finance approval. The man I loved had become a stranger. When did everything change? Maybe when Ella appeared. He restricted every penny I spent. But for Ella, he was generous. When Ella said, “I want this,” he bought her a limited edition smartwatch worth millions. He was always clear about boundaries with me at the office. But with Ella, he let her call him David casually. He took her out during work hours… As I was thinking, the watch slipped from my hand and fell. I picked it up and saw the surface was scratched, revealing cheap material inside. The watch was fake. I couldn’t help but laugh. This relationship was a mistake from the start. At least now, it wasn’t too late. I threw the watch away and cut up all our photos. Just then, my phone rang. An Instagram update from Ella. In the photo, David was holding Hannah, letting her messy hands touch his expensive suit, looking at her with doting eyes. Ella was leaning against him, feeding him a bite of food, and he ate it without disgust. It was so ironic. He had always been a clean freak. Once, when our daughter accidentally spilled juice on his shoes, he yelled at her and locked her in a room. And when I once mistakenly used his glass, he smashed it in front of me. “How disgusting!” But he only had a problem with our hygiene. I let out a cold laugh and gave a ‘like’. That only strengthened my resolve to leave. Once finished, I went to bed. I hadn’t been asleep long when I was woken by knocking. It was David. He hated using the passcode, so he always had me open the door. Before, he never even needed to knock. He’d just shout, and I’d run. But now, I just turned over and continued sleeping. The next second, David angrily kicked the door open, flipped the light on, and shouted, “Victoria, are you deaf? Why didn’t you open the door!”

The sudden light woke me. I had been sleeping deeply. Seeing David’s dark expression, I was a little surprised. Did he actually come back? Every time he went out with Ella, he’d always stay at her place. But once, when our five-year-old daughter said she was scared of the dark and wanted him to stay, he’d said she was being melodramatic. Back then, I would get into huge arguments with him. But now, I didn’t care. I gave a faint “Hmm,” pulled the blanket over my head, and went back to sleep. David froze, then frowned. “Don’t play around. I’m tired. Get up and draw a bath for me. And wash this.” He tossed his jacket at me. The collar had lipstick stains and smelled strongly of Ella’s perfume. It was disgusting. If this had been before, I would’ve eagerly gotten up to serve him. But now, he was just a nuisance. I tossed the jacket back. “You’re not disabled. Do it yourself.” David was stunned, then pulled a gift box from his pocket and threw it at me. “I know you’re upset. Here, this is for you.” Inside was a silver necklace. But he forgot I was allergic to silver. What was more ridiculous was that this necklace was something Ella had discarded. I’d seen it on her Instagram. I laughed coldly and tossed it in the trash. “If someone else doesn’t want it, I don’t either.” David’s patience ran out. “Victoria, have I spoiled you too much?” I yawned. “I’m tired. I’m going back to sleep.” Seeing my indifference, David gritted his teeth. “Fine! You’re pushing me away, don’t regret it!” He turned to leave, but I called out. “Wait.” He smiled, thinking I was playing hard to get. The next moment, I took a pen and paper from the drawer and handed them to him. “Sign this.” David’s eyes turned cold. “You stopped me for some meaningless contract?” I smirked. “Read it properly first.” After looking, David froze, then snapped the pen in his hand.

“Divorce Agreement? You want a divorce?” David narrowed his eyes, looking at me coldly. “Victoria, there’s a limit to jealousy.” I responded indifferently, “I’m serious.” David’s face darkened as he slammed the papers down. “I won’t sign.” I spoke calmly, “If you don’t sign, I can still leave. It’s just a matter of time.” Unable to argue, David gritted his teeth, snorted, and stormed off, stomping his feet. I knew what he wanted. He wanted me to chase him. In the past, whenever he got angry, I would rush to apologize. But now? Who cared? I had more important things to do, like sleeping. The footsteps faded, and I quickly fell into a deep sleep. The next morning, I woke naturally. As expected, David hadn’t come home. After breakfast, I took a taxi to the office and submitted my resignation to HR. Once done, I took out my phone and sent a message to our key partner. When we signed, their only request was for me to be the point of contact. Now that I was leaving, I needed to inform them. After taking care of that, I turned to leave. Just outside, I ran into David and Ella. So, he really did go to Ella. They were standing close, chatting and laughing. “David, I’m sorry about Hannah yesterday. Victoria wouldn’t mind, would she?” David scoffed. “What’s there for her to mind? She should learn to be more understanding.” I found it amusing. He wanted me to be understanding? Then why didn’t he apply that to our own daughter? When they saw me, both fell silent. The air froze. Soon, colleagues broke the awkwardness, crowding around, complimenting Ella and David. “Wow, Ella, you and Mr. Blackwell kept it a secret! You even have a daughter!” “So when are you two having a second child?” Ella chuckled softly, casting a shy glance at David. David didn’t object, letting them tease. But when my daughter and I came to the company before, and she called him “Daddy,” he angrily scolded her and told her to avoid causing trouble. Yet now, with everyone teasing, he didn’t say a word. What a hypocrite! As I thought this, Ella swayed over to me. “Victoria, why are you only just getting to the office? It’s already eleven. You should set an example.” David immediately grew cold. “Victoria, what’s with your attitude? “If you don’t want to work, just give your position to Ella. In terms of ability, she’s far above you.” I almost laughed. David knew the company depended on me. Ella couldn’t even handle basic data entry, yet he said she was more capable. I knew what he was trying to do: humiliate me and pressure me to give in. But I was in a rush to catch a flight. “It’s not complicated. I’ve resigned. I can give up the position right now.” Ella pretended to try to convince me. “Victoria, don’t be impulsive. At your age, after you quit, where will you find such a good job? You might even struggle to get a janitor role. “Besides, the company’s new product is about to launch. Leaving now would be a loss.” Her words made David angrier. He snapped, “Ella, don’t try to convince her! Let her go. The company will be fine without her! “Just one thing, Victoria. Once the new product launches, the company will soar. Don’t come crying to me when you regret it.” It was hard to say who would regret it. They had no idea I was the only one who held the core research. Without me, they couldn’t even prepare the prototypes. If he wanted to launch, maybe in his next life. I sneered. “You probably won’t even make it that far.” David frowned. “What do you mean?” At that moment, his phone rang. It was our partner. David immediately smiled, his eyes smug. “The partner must be calling about the launch. Now you’ll regret it, but it’s too late.” To provoke me, he put the call on speaker. But the next second, the partner’s words burst his bubble. “Why haven’t the latest prototypes been delivered? If you don’t send them today, your company will be facing a three-hundred-million-dollar penalty!” David stood frozen. “What prototypes…” Before he could finish, the partner hung up impatiently.

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Picking up my husband at the airport, I bumped into Brandon Harrison, my ex-fiancé who’d ghosted our wedding two years ago to go see elephants in Kenya with his adopted sister. I was wearing sunglasses, but he still spotted me instantly in the crowd. “Alexis Hayes, I’m back to marry you.” My eyes narrowed slightly. “You are…?” He gave a helpless chuckle. “Hey, sweetie, don’t be mad, I didn’t mean to ditch for so long. After Willow saw the elephants, she wanted photos, and she’s my only sister, so I had to spoil her.” “Two years of shooting and, boom, done! I rushed back to fulfill our engagement.” That’s when it clicked. This man was my ex-fiancé! But seriously, had no one bothered to tell him I married his uncle *the same day* he ran away? The airport was a madhouse. Brandon Harrison wheeled a luggage cart with one hand, a Chanel bag dangling from the other. Willow, her skin several shades darker, perched on the suitcase, letting Brandon push her along. Two years in Africa made them look like they’d spent two years digging coal. Absolutely sun-baked. Brandon used to be so fair, handsome, and in great shape. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have agreed to the arranged marriage. But now… Good thing he wasn’t my husband anymore. I took off my sunglasses, forcing a polite smile. “Oh, my apologies. Long time no see. You both have changed so much, I didn’t recognize you at first glance.” Willow, true to form, immediately spat. “Don’t pretend you didn’t recognize us! You’re obviously here to pick up Brandon!” “If Brandon and I hadn’t ditched our phones and gone completely off-grid after we left, you probably would’ve tracked us to Africa yourself!” “Honestly, I don’t know what Brandon sees in you. You’re just a pretty face with nothing else going for you.” Willow huffed, turning her head away dramatically. Brandon ruffled her hair, a helpless smile playing on his lips, and playfully poked her nose. “You can’t be so childish after Alexis and I get married.” “Otherwise, I won’t take you on your artistic journey to Africa next year.” After calming Willow down, he turned to me, explaining, “She’s just got a childish temper. You know her dad died protecting me in that car crash, and she lost her father because of it.” “Once we’re married, we’ll be a united front. I hope you can look out for her, treat her like your own sister.” Was he even listening to the BS coming out of his mouth? I rolled my eyes, a silent, elegant dismissal, and flashed the wedding ring on my finger. “Mr. Harrison Jr., thank you for bailing on me back then. It led me to a man a thousand times better than you.” “And please, don’t flatter yourself. I’m here to pick up my husband today.” Brandon froze. Then he narrowed his eyes at me for a long moment before raising an eyebrow and smiling. “Alexis Hayes, do you take me for a fool?” “The Harrison-Hayes merger was the talk of New York two years ago. Every socialite and dignitary was there. Everyone knows you’re *my* fiancée, Alexis.” “Okay, it was wrong of me to run away and embarrass you, but your reputation is trashed. Who else would possibly want you after this?” So that’s why he dared to run! He was convinced I’d be a “discarded woman,” that no one else would have me! He truly overestimated himself and underestimated me. To clean up his mess, Grandpa had to make some serious sacrifices, not just financially with company shares, but also by involving his own son, Devin. To soothe the Hayes family’s fury, Grandpa had personally offered to transfer the shares originally meant for Brandon, to me. Looks like Brandon had no idea. Of course. Spending two years off-grid for Willow, not even making a single call home, he wouldn’t know any of this. Still, I hope he can keep that smile on his face when he returns to the Harrison family estate tonight.

Brandon initially refused the arranged marriage, saying he’d rather die than yield. But then he saw me, fell instantly in love, and declared he’d marry no one else. He shamelessly pursued me for over half a year. Seeing that he kept himself out of trouble and wasn’t a playboy, I finally agreed. But before long, Brandon had Willow by his side, an adopted sister he spoiled like a princess. On our wedding day, he got a call from her. “Brandon, remember what you promised? To take me to Africa to see the elephants.” “I’m waiting for you at the airport. If you don’t come, I’ll jump from the top floor!” Brandon gave me an apologetic look, then, without hesitation, he let go of my hand, abandoned the guests, and sprinted away. I received two texts from him, then he became unreachable. *“Willow’s dad saved my life. Willow is his only daughter, I can’t let anything happen to her!”* *“Don’t worry, I’ll be back after she sees the elephants. A week at most, then I’ll be back to finish our wedding, and we can go to the Maldives for our honeymoon.”* Grandpa Harrison was furious. To give the Hayes family an explanation, Grandpa Harrison promised me: “Alexis, it’s entirely the Harrison family’s fault for raising such an irresponsible son. Tell me, what compensation do you want?” I pointed to Grandpa Harrison’s youngest son, and the current head of the Harrison empire, Devin Harrison. “Then give him to me. This wedding still needs a groom.” And just like that, I married Brandon Harrison’s uncle. Thinking of this, I checked the time. Devin’s flight should be arriving soon. I was about to text him when his message popped up: *My love, flight delayed. Just boarded, might be super late. Don’t wait up for me, Mr. Davies can pick me up.* *Love you.* Followed by a huge heart emoji. A soft smile touched my lips, and my brows smoothed out. Even my annoying ex-fiancé didn’t seem so irritating anymore. Brandon stood with his arms crossed, a knowing smirk playing on his face as he stared at my phone. “Oh, what’s this? Hired an actor? Saved as ‘My Love’? And ‘flight delayed’?” “Alexis, don’t joke around like that. You know I’ll get mad.” With that, he suddenly leaned in, reaching out to touch my hair. I quickly stepped back, leaving his hand suspended awkwardly in mid-air. “I told you, I’m married. If you keep harassing me, you’ll be lucky if you only end up with a broken leg when you get home tonight.” Brandon burst out laughing, as if I’d said something hilarious. He pointed to my neck, raising an eyebrow. “That necklace you’re wearing, Grandpa said he’d pass it down to *my* wife. And you’re wearing it, yet trying to tell me you married someone else?” The necklace was indeed a gift from Grandpa Harrison, but it wasn’t meant for his wife. “I married…” Before I could finish, Willow cut me off. “Is it *that* necklace?” She hopped off the suitcase and pushed her way between Brandon and me. When she saw it was the necklace she’d been coveting, her eyes instantly welled up. She clung to Brandon’s arm, her voice dropping. “Brandon, I’ve liked this necklace for ages, and Grandpa never gave it to me. Now he just gives it to some outsider.” “Grandpa… doesn’t he see me as family? I’m just a driver’s daughter, unlike Alexis, who was lucky enough to be born rich. Even Grandpa prefers her.” Hearing that, Brandon’s face softened with apology again. He looked at me, a hint of awkwardness in his gaze. “Willow is young, and she’s had a tough life, so she’s always a bit insecure. Just let her have it.” “She likes this necklace, just give it to her. I’ll buy you a new one later, I promise it’ll be prettier and better quality than this one.”

I laughed. A bitter, angry laugh. “I suggest you get your head checked. If I’m not mistaken, Willow is twenty-five this year, a few months older than me, right?” “First, I hate man-children. Second, I hate manipulative parasites who steal from people. And she’s both.” My words stung Willow, and tears immediately streamed down her face. “Brandon will spoil me no matter how old I am, you’re just jealous!” “You’re not even married to Brandon yet, what right does an outsider have to Harrison family property? *You’re* the shameless one!” Willow was nominally an adopted daughter of the Harrison family, but in reality, she was more like a glorified housekeeper. Brandon had once campaigned to make Willow a true heiress, but Grandpa Harrison firmly refused, so he had to drop it. Because of this, he felt guilty towards Willow. Now, seeing her upset, he looked truly pained. He frowned. “Willow is different from you. She doesn’t have parents, she only has me. Grandpa refused to let her change her name, that’s why she has no sense of security…” I cut him off, offering a suggestion. “You want Willow to be recognized? Easy.” “If you marry her, I’ll gladly give her this necklace. Consider it a wedding gift from me.” I unclipped the necklace from my neck and extended it to Willow. Willow’s eyes widened in disbelief, then undisguised glee. She reached out to take it. “No!” Brandon snatched the necklace away, clutching it tightly in his fist. “What nonsense are you talking about? Willow is just… just my adopted sister. You’re the one I want to spend my life with!” “She’s family, but you’re my love. Don’t say things you don’t mean, or I’ll really get angry.” Staring into those supposedly loving eyes, I felt no emotion except disgust. Not wanting to waste another second, I turned and walked away. Ignoring whatever Brandon was still saying behind me. Stepping out of the airport, a discreet Maybach pulled up in front of me. The driver got out and opened the door. “Madam, Mr. Harrison instructed me to pick him up later. Shall I take you home first?” Devin had been away on a business trip for two weeks. Grandpa knew he was returning today and specifically requested dinner at the family estate tonight. Suddenly, someone pushed past me and quickly got into the car. Willow settled herself, then sneered. “Didn’t you say you were married? Why are you still hitching a ride in *our* family car? Go take *your* husband’s car!” Willow recognized the Maybach; it was Devin Harrison’s. Brandon evidently recognized it too, looking pleasantly surprised. After all, his uncle didn’t usually bother with such trivial matters. He sat next to Willow, buckled her seatbelt, then turned to me. “You can sit in front. Willow is used to sitting next to me. I’ll have the driver drop you off at the Hayes estate first.” “No need. I have my own car. Driver, please take them back to the estate. I have other plans.” I pulled out my car keys, pressed unlock, and a Lamborghini Veneno in the distance flashed its lights twice. Seeing me drive off in a supercar, Willow’s eyes glinted with jealousy. Brandon sighed. “She specifically came to pick me up, she must be upset I didn’t get in her car.” Then he asked the driver, “Did Uncle send you to pick me up?” The driver answered truthfully. “No, sir. I’m here to pick up Mr. Harrison.” The air hung heavy for two seconds before Brandon spoke. “…What a coincidence. So where is Uncle?” “Flight delayed.” I went to the spa, enjoyed a luxurious treatment, and only headed back to the estate when it was almost dinner time. The moment I stepped out of my car, I saw two figures kneeling stiffly, like wooden stakes, right at the front gate. Turns out, after the driver dropped them off, Grandpa Harrison, upon hearing it was Brandon and Willow, immediately slammed his cane to the ground and refused to let them in. “Get out! Why didn’t you just die in Africa? What are you back for?” Brandon gambled on Grandpa’s soft spot, dropping to his knees at the door. Willow, to accompany him, also knelt. Seeing me arrive, Brandon stood up and blocked my path. His previously dejected expression vanished, replaced by a smile. “I knew it, you couldn’t stay away.” “Did you hear Grandpa was punishing me and rushed over in a panic?” I grimaced and tried to walk around him. But he blocked me again, putting on a pretense of concern. “Don’t go in. Grandpa’s still fuming. I’m afraid he’ll take it out on you.” Willow had approached at some point. She pointed a finger at my nose, her voice accusatory. “Are you still holding a grudge about Brandon ditching the wedding for me?” “You’re the one stirring trouble, aren’t you? Grandpa usually dotes on Brandon, why would he refuse to let him in?” “You’re just here to gloat!” With that, she lunged at me, trying to grab me. I sidestepped, and she face-planted onto the ground. Willow landed hard, scraping her knee, and tears instantly flooded her eyes. Brandon pursed his lips, his smile fading. He immediately knelt to check Willow’s injury. Seeing she was fine, he skillfully scooped her up in a princess carry and consoled her for a long time until she finally started to smile through her tears. Only then did Brandon remember me. He sighed. “Alexis, you’re acting so unlike yourself.” “Willow never means what she says. If you’re going to marry me, you need to learn to be more tolerant of her.” “Just apologize to Willow this once. In the future, I hope you can change your attitude.” What? My vision swam. I sneered. “Should I also offer some compensation to soothe her wounded heart?” A flicker of greed flashed in Willow’s eyes. “I need a car for getting around. That one you drove today is barely acceptable.” A Lamborghini Veneno. Limited to 3 models worldwide, worth $23 million each. Willow really had some nerve. Brandon started making decisions for me again. “It’s rare for Willow to like something, so just give her the car. Consider it compensation for hurting her.” I stared at him, my voice flat. “You’re truly something.” “What?” Brandon didn’t catch on. “I said, you’re sick.” I shoved Brandon aside and walked straight into the house. “Stop right there!” Brandon realized he’d been played. His face was livid, and he threatened, his voice sharp. “Alexis Hayes, I’m telling you now, if you don’t apologize to Willow, you can forget about marrying me, forget about stepping foot into my family’s house!” *CRASH—* Suddenly, a cane came flying out, striking Brandon squarely on the head. From several feet away, Grandpa Harrison’s booming voice, surprisingly strong for his age, echoed clearly for everyone to hear. “You imbecile! Do you even know who that is?!”

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After my wife, Eleanor Vance, was kidnapped, the captors demanded *me* in exchange. For my daughter and the company, I didn’t hesitate to take Eleanor’s place, enduring brutal torture from the kidnappers. “I’ll take good care of our daughter, and don’t worry about the ransom. I’ll find a way to get it.” But a whole year passed. It was like she’d vanished, never showing her face. I fought for my life and finally escaped, only to discover her marrying her childhood sweetheart, Spencer Gray. My parents and hers were there, celebrating joyfully. Lost in the crowd, I spotted Jolene, the head kidnapper who’d tortured me for a year, raising a toast. And my precious daughter? She was being treated like a servant, her expression blank as she served drinks to guests, constantly kneeling and begging for mercy at the slightest provocation. I choked back my agony, turning to call the person who rescued me. “Just get my daughter out of there, and I promise I’ll help you take down her company!”

As I pushed open the door, the cheerful music inside instantly died. All eyes snapped to me. The moment she saw me, Eleanor’s hand, holding a wedding ring, froze. But she quickly composed herself. “It’s a beautiful day, darling. Whatever it is, it can wait until tomorrow. Look at you, all dirty. Don’t ruin our guests’ mood!” I couldn’t believe my ears. Shouldn’t she be explaining what the hell was going on? Why was she standing there in a wedding gown, happily exchanging rings with her childhood sweetheart? And why was Jolene, the head kidnapper who’d abused me, attending *their* wedding? Eleanor’s mom’s shrill voice jolted me back to reality: “Where in the world have you been, you good-for-nothing?! Eleanor was so good to you, and you go and cheat with a kidnapper, gone for a whole year before you bothered to come back! You might be shameless, but our Vance family still has a reputation to uphold!” Cheating? It was laughable. So this was how Eleanor was covering up her betrayal. Just then, Jolene, holding a champagne glass, draped an arm around me, squeezing my arm with a vicious, chilling fake smile. “Still keeping our little secret, are we? You’re a naughty one.” Her voice was laced with blatant threat and warning. My body froze, my eyes wide and vacant. Seeing the scene unfold, the guests started buzzing: “No wonder Ms. Vance is marrying Mr. Gray. It turns out this scumbag cheated first. Poor things.” “Cheated for a whole year and didn’t even go home once? I’ve never seen such blatant nerve. The King family might be struggling and a disappointment, but *he’s* even worse!” “Hmph, Ms. Vance’s mom was bending over backward for Ms. Vance and Mr. Gray’s wedding. And here her daughter is, playing a little servant at the wedding. What a family, right?” Hearing the room erupt into chaos, Eleanor finally hurried over to me, her voice low and impatient. “Couldn’t you have waited until tomorrow to come back? It’s just a wedding for Spencer! I’ve been working so hard planning this for a year, and it’s the last step. Are you deliberately trying to embarrass us?” Just a wedding… But what about me? This past year, I’d been beaten relentlessly, old wounds layering new ones. When I was hungry, I had to lick stale food off the ground like a dog. So all my suffering, all the torture, even the shame of being branded a cheater, was just to pave the way for their lavish wedding. I despairingly closed my eyes, then reached out to grab my daughter, Lily. “Come on, Lily, let’s go.” But Lily recoiled as if shocked, then suddenly fell to her knees in panic, bowing her head and muttering: “No, no, no, Lily can’t leave! I have to stay and serve Ms. Vance and Mr. Gray well! I want to be their most obedient little dog!”

Seeing my daughter so terrified, so willing to humiliate herself, I was stunned. She was only seven… As she kept bowing her head, I noticed the dark bruises hidden beneath her clothes. Alarmed, I rushed forward to help Lily up, but she started slapping herself, seemingly oblivious to the pain. “Lily was bad, Lily deserves to be hit! I’ll go to the cold room for three hours right now!” I slowly turned my gaze to Eleanor, desperate for an explanation. But before she could speak, Spencer Gray hugged Lily, acting like a doting older brother. “You’re misunderstanding! Lily and I just play house like this sometimes. Sometimes I’m the servant, sometimes she is. Today’s just her turn.” My hand shaking, I pointed at the dark bruises on Lily’s neck. My eyes burning, I demanded: “Are *these* marks part of your game too?! Is this how you treat my daughter?!” Seeing Spencer’s face darken, Eleanor shoved me away, her eyes full of reproach. “What are you making such a fuss about?! Do you have to cause a scene like a madman? Do you really think Spencer is as calculating and manipulative as *you* are?” “Those are just paint marks Spencer got on Lily when they were drawing. They’re proving impossible to wash off! You, her own father, didn’t do your duty, and Spencer kindly looks after her, and *this* is how you repay him? Are you trying to make trouble?!” Seeing Lily’s obvious fear of Spencer, my heart ached to the point of suffocation. Tears blurring my vision, I looked at Eleanor. “Can’t you see how scared she is? And you still think it’s just a game?!” Eleanor fixed her gaze on Lily, observing her for a long moment, a flicker of doubt in her beautiful eyes. At that moment, Spencer’s eyes reddened, his voice choking up. “I thought if I treated Lily well, I could smoothly integrate into this family. But it turns out I’m just an outsider, destined to never be truly a part of it, to always be pointed at and judged. Maybe we shouldn’t get married after all. I’m just a complete joke, aren’t I?” With those words, Spencer took off the boutonnière from his lapel, thrust it into Eleanor’s hands, covered his face, and ran towards the bedroom. The groom running off sent the entire room into an uproar. But the guests’ murmurs were all directed at me, calling me disgusting. Watching Spencer’s retreating back, Eleanor’s brow furrowed with unconcealable annoyance. “Is this the example you set for our daughter? It’s just a ceremonial wedding! Do you have to turn everything upside down?!” “And your own daughter, who you raised yourself, pretending to be abused by Spencer in front of everyone? Such deep manipulation at such a young age, what will she be like when she grows up?! She should really thank you for being such a father!” Leaving that thought hanging, Eleanor quickly followed to comfort Spencer. Seeing her publicly scold me, Eleanor’s parents only joined in, blaming me for “cheating,” hating me for not being able to keep my wife content. I didn’t argue another word. Wrapping my bruised and battered arms tightly around my daughter, tears streamed uncontrollably from my eyes. “Don’t be scared, Lily… Daddy will get you out of here right away. You won’t suffer any more injustice.” I immediately messaged my lawyer to draft divorce papers and called the person who rescued me. “Help me this once. I’ll help you take down the company…”

Back in Lily’s room, I quietly packed up all our documents and some essential items. Just as I lay down, ready to hug Lily to sleep, I heard footsteps stop by the bed. “Still mad at me, hmm?” Eleanor’s cool voice drifted into my ears. She sat on the edge of the bed, speaking softly. “Leo, I only arranged that kidnapping to fool you because I was worried you’d get jealous and cause trouble for Spencer. Besides, Jolene’s my friend. They wouldn’t *think* of hurting you.” The woman sounded utterly convinced, as if she were showing off how well she’d protected me. But if she’d bothered to truly look at me, she’d have seen that there wasn’t a single uninjured spot on my entire body. I reluctantly looked away, deliberately keeping my distance, and asked calmly, “So, from now on, I’m supposed to be their punching bag, and let Spencer be Lily’s stepdad, right?” Sensing my attitude, Eleanor clearly lost the last shred of her patience, though she didn’t overtly erupt. “Don’t say such unpleasant things. If Lily calls Spencer her stepdad, people will talk even *more*. I’m just having a wedding with him so people won’t spread rumors about him seducing me.” She thought my words were unpleasant because I called Spencer a stepdad, not because I called myself a punching bag… I’d heard enough of her pointless excuses and couldn’t be bothered to respond. Eleanor, finding herself ignored, scanned the room with a puzzled expression. “Why are you packing? Where are you going?” I was just trying to come up with an excuse when Spencer’s phone call suddenly came through. His piteous, crying voice was audible. “Eleanor, Leo came back and immediately posted about me online, saying I stole his wife, saying I’m shameless, ruining the peace of the family, and even forcing me to leave…” “Please, beg him for me. Spencer really knows he was wrong. I’ll never mention having a wedding again. If I offended him today, I’ll go out and kneel to apologize right now. Please don’t make me leave…” Eleanor opened the link Spencer had sent, her eyebrows knitting together. The post was from an account with my profile picture, every word a threat against Spencer. I was about to explain, but a sharp slap landed on my cheek out of nowhere. “Spencer grew up in an orphanage, with no parents. And you tell him to get out?! How is he supposed to live alone?! You think too highly of yourself!” With that, Eleanor walked out, trying hard to control her anger, while using the gentlest tone to comfort Spencer. The immense contrast left me stunned. I wondered, when she threw me to the kidnappers all those years ago, did she ever think about how *I* was supposed to live alone? Did she ever worry if I’d run into any danger? I forced a bitter laugh, the metallic taste of blood spreading in my mouth, but my heart had long since grown numb. I spent the night sitting there, patting my restless daughter with one hand. The next morning, Eleanor knocked a few times on the bedroom door, then spoke in a commanding tone. “Spencer specially prepared a yacht party for you. First, to apologize, and second, to welcome you back. Hurry and bring Lily downstairs.” The time had come. Finally… this was about to end.

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At Daniel’s and my engagement party, a banner hung right in the middle of the room, screaming, “Homewrecker Takes Over!” My name on it was crossed out, replaced with a scrawled, ugly “Bitch.” Before I could even get angry, Daniel calmly spoke, trying to soothe me. “He’s just a kid who likes to play pranks. Don’t let it get to you.” Yes, Daniel had a son who loved to play pranks, so much so that we hadn’t been able to finalize our wedding for three years. I shoved Daniel aside, grabbed Fitzgerald by the collar. “Wipe it off! And I mean *lick it clean* if you have to!” Fitzgerald immediately burst into tears. Daniel’s face hardened as he strode over, pulling the child into his arms. “Alice, he’s just a child! Is this really worth getting so worked up over?” Before I could reply, a woman’s voice drifted in from the doorway. “Being a stepmom is tough, isn’t it, Alice? Didn’t you know that before?” The crowd automatically parted for her. My face darkened as I turned to Daniel. “She’s back?” A flicker of embarrassment crossed Daniel’s face. He nodded. “She’s been back for two months.” Two months. Daniel hadn’t said a single word to me about it. No wonder he’d been working late so often these past two months. And each time he came home, he carried a faint, sweet scent. I clenched my fists tightly, forcing myself to stand steady. Scarlett, with a familiar ease, took Fitzgerald from Daniel’s arms and greeted me with a smile. “Hello, I’m Scarlett Reed.” “Daniel’s ex-girlfriend, and Fitzgerald’s biological mother.” The entire ballroom fell silent. The story of Daniel and Scarlett, falling in love and having a child at eighteen, was always the dirty little secret no one in our circles dared to mention. No one dared cross the Miller family. After all, they had spun a story that Fitzgerald was Daniel’s younger brother to hide the scandal. Everyone just gossiped behind closed doors. Now, Scarlett, who’d vanished for six years, was back. And the drama was finally out in the open for everyone to feast their eyes on. “Mommy! I hate this woman!” “I don’t want her to marry Daddy! I don’t want to call her Mom!” Fitzgerald, in Scarlett’s arms, pointed at me, his mouth going non-stop. Seeing the “family” of three standing opposite me, I couldn’t keep my composure any longer. Daniel’s face instantly darkened too. He pulled Fitzgerald from Scarlett’s arms and brought him over to me. “Who taught you to talk like that?” “Apologize to Aunt Alice, now!” Daniel frowned, feigning anger as he barked at Fitzgerald. But everyone present could hear that his words were just meant to scare the child. Fitzgerald knew it too. So he cried, shaking his head. “I won’t apologize.” “Daddy, everyone says this woman is only marrying you for the Miller family’s money!” “Daddy, Mommy’s back, why can’t you marry Mommy?!” Daniel frowned, gently scolding him. “Stop it, apologize to Aunt Alice.” “I won’t!” “I hate you!” Suddenly, Fitzgerald pulled out a small pair of scissors from somewhere and slashed my wrist. Blood dripped steadily, and the entire room erupted into chaos. I pressed on the wound, looking up at Daniel. “Daniel, you can only keep one of us: me or him.” A collective gasp went through the room. “Alice, you’re putting me in an impossible position.” Daniel stood there, composed and aloof amidst the crowd, but his feet didn’t move an inch towards me. I continued. “Daniel, you have seven days. If I don’t get an answer within seven days, the engagement is off. And for this injury, I’ll make sure they pay back double!” My gaze landed on Scarlett and Fitzgerald. Scarlett instinctively recoiled behind Daniel, a victor’s challenge in her eyes. Daniel remained indifferent, his gaze cold. “Alice, you know I hate being threatened.” Mrs. Davis, the housekeeper, pulled me upstairs to bandage my wound, her face full of concern. “Just some childish antics, nothing to worry about.” Behind me, Daniel, as always, cleaned up the mess. That word, “antics,” seared itself into my heart. Scarlett held Fitzgerald, gently cooing. “Don’t be scared, Fitzgerald, I won’t let anyone hurt you.” Those words, clearly meant for me, pierced my ears. A chill crept up from my feet to the top of my head, freezing my heart and veins. Six years. All I got in return was being called “childish antics.” “Alice, don’t listen to them.” Mrs. Davis pulled me, quickening her pace. “I watched Daniel grow up; he likes you. That Scarlett, she’s not even fit to tie your shoelaces!” But Mrs. Davis’s words simply wouldn’t reach my heart. Daniel, in that moment, seemed utterly dead to me. I didn’t want him anymore. 2 “Alice, listen to me. Daniel is just confused by Scarlett right now. When he comes to his senses, he’ll come back to you.” Downstairs, Fitzgerald’s laughter and calls of “Daddy, Mommy” were grating. “Mrs. Davis, I’m tired.” Mrs. Davis hesitated, then sighed, told me to rest, and left. In the dark room, I sat on the edge of the bed, tears silently falling. I lost my parents young and grew up in Europe with my grandfather. Six years ago, I returned to the States for the first time. Grandpa always had my uncle take me out to see the world. The first party I ever attended was a celebration for baby Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald was held by his nanny, a fair-skinned, adorable little boy, charming everyone. I didn’t particularly like children, but even I found myself looking at him a few times. But to my surprise, he tugged on my sleeve and wouldn’t let go. “It seems the young master really likes Miss Alice.” That one sentence drew agreement from countless guests. Back then, everyone just thought I was a distant relative of the Thompson family, so they naturally tried to butter me up a bit. Later, I often visited the Millers for Fitzgerald’s sake and learned about Daniel and Scarlett. They fell in love young and grew up together. Even when Scarlett’s family, the Reeds, fell on hard times, the Miller family never officially called off the expected engagement. But after the young lovers’ forbidden tryst resulted in an unplanned pregnancy and a child, eighteen-year-old Scarlett took one look at the newborn and simply ran. That hit Daniel like a ton of bricks. From then on, Daniel’s personality completely changed. Arrogance and coldness became his defining traits. It was then that I became interested in Daniel. Even though Grandpa objected multiple times, I insisted on hiding my true identity and getting involved with the Miller family. I watched Fitzgerald grow up. Until he was three, he was attached to no one but me. But then, two years ago, everything changed. After Scarlett’s first brief return and interaction with Fitzgerald, he was like a different child. The endless pranks started then and never stopped. Yet, I always remembered the cute, clingy Fitzgerald from his early childhood, and I kept hoping he would change. Now I knew, no matter how good I was to him, it wouldn’t change the fact that I was an outsider. If two years ago it was Fitzgerald who changed, then now, it was Daniel. The party downstairs finally broke up at eleven. “Daniel, I want to stay here tonight.” Scarlett’s voice, sticky with a hint of alcohol, came from outside the door. Daniel didn’t respond, but he glanced up at my tightly shut door, an inexplicable irritation rising within him. “Daniel, are you really going to marry Alice?” “Back then, I was rebellious and disobedient, a real pain in your mother’s neck. So after I left, she picked you a docile, well-behaved girl like Alice, didn’t she?” “Daniel, do you truly love her?” Listening to their conversation outside, my chest involuntarily tightened. I didn’t hear Daniel’s answer. I closed my eyes. Darkness surged towards me from all sides, the sorrow almost suffocating me. I don’t know how long passed before silence returned outside the door. I stared at the number on my phone, and after a night of painful reflection, I called my uncle, Robert. “I want to go back to Europe.” He asked a few anxious questions, but seeing my lack of enthusiasm, he didn’t press further. “But before I leave, there’s a mess I need to clean up myself.” I stared at the ultrasound scan in the drawer, lost in thought. 3 This was Daniel’s and my first child, my most precious gift. But now, she was coming at the wrong time. The next morning, as I went downstairs, I saw a picture of a happy family of three. Scarlett had stayed the night. My steps felt leaden, heavy with dread. It seemed seven days wouldn’t even be necessary. “Alice, come join us for breakfast!” “Fitzgerald hurt you yesterday, and I feel terrible about it, so I woke up early to stew some tonics for you. We’re big on health drinks here. Not sure if you’re used to them.” Scarlett enthusiastically waved me over, serving a bowl of soup. I glanced at it, then pushed it away. “I’m not eating.” Daniel’s hand, turning the newspaper, paused. He looked up at me. “I asked Mrs. Davis to make you your favorite dishes.” “What happened yesterday was Fitzgerald’s fault, and I’ve already punished him severely.” Punished? Daniel, who doted on his son so much, when had he ever punished Fitzgerald? I remembered the first time we planned to get married: Fitzgerald stuffed timed firecrackers into my car tires. That time, I flipped the car, ending up in the hospital for a month. Daniel merely brought Fitzgerald to apologize and peeled an apple. Then Fitzgerald ended up eating the apple himself. Back then, I easily forgave Fitzgerald. But later, his pranks escalated, and I was practically worn out, my patience gone. Each time, Daniel would just say, “Fitzgerald is still young, he needs guidance. As parents, we need to be patient and encouraging.” “Alice, I’ll punish him for you.” But I never saw it happen. “Tomorrow, we’ll get married.” Daniel was trying to soothe me with just a few words again. But this time, it was useless. Beside him, Scarlett’s spoon clattered to the floor, the sharp sound echoing. Scarlett’s resentful gaze shifted back and forth between Daniel and me. Fitzgerald had already left for school, otherwise, he’d be the one causing a scene right now. “No.” “Daniel, I’m not going to marry you.” Daniel lowered his newspaper, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. “Alice, don’t be dramatic.” “It’s meaningless to make such a fuss over something so trivial.” Daniel remained calm, as if all this trouble was simply because I was being too dramatic. But for two years, Fitzgerald’s hurtful pranks—he treated them all as jokes. My endless patience, he didn’t see. My heartbreak, he didn’t care about. “When you cool down, we can talk.” Daniel abruptly stood up, the draft from his clothes brushing my hand, cold and distant. In the afternoon, Fitzgerald came back from school. I don’t know what Scarlett told him, but he started a rampage. First, he ripped out all my potted plants. Then he strangled my kitten. And finally, he lined up my pet goldfish, one by one, on the table. Fitzgerald looked at me defiantly. “Aunt Alice, I heard Daddy’s going to marry you again.” “These are my presents for you. Do you like them?” I stifled my rage, letting my nails dig into my palms. But when I saw my wedding dress, shredded by scissors, I couldn’t hold back anymore. “Fitzgerald! Today, I’m going to teach you a lesson!” I kicked away my chair, grabbed Fitzgerald, and marched straight for the fish pond. Behind me, Scarlett cried out Daniel’s name, but Fitzgerald was already in the pond. “Mommy! Help me!” Watching Fitzgerald thrash in the water, I grabbed Scarlett’s neck and pulled her closer. “Want to save your son?” “Then join him.” With that, I kicked her into the fish pond and turned the water hose on full blast into the pond. “What are you doing!” “Alice.” “Are you trying to kill them?”

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