Author: Momo Chan

On the day I was supposed to marry Serena Sterling, her adopted brother threatened to jump from a building, claiming he’d take his own life. Serena, still in her wedding gown, abandoned me at the altar, rushing to his side. Faced with the mocking stares of a ballroom full of guests, I made a public marriage proposal, “Whoever walks up here right now, I’ll marry them!” Three years later, Serena returned to the Sterling family, her adopted brother Blake by her side. I was sitting comfortably on a leather armchair, holding our child, sipping coffee, and watching the news. Serena stared at the baby in my arms, her teeth gritted. “Who is this bastard child?” I took a slow sip of my coffee, a cool smile playing on my lips. “Why, he’s the Sterling family’s rightful heir, of course.” Blake Sterling stared at me, his face a mask of shock. “Alex, even if Serena ditched you at the altar back then, she still let you keep the title of husband, allowing you to enjoy wealth in the Sterling family. How can you be so shameless, bringing an illegitimate child into this house?” My gaze swept over him. “Blake, you’re an adopted member of the Sterling family, yet you openly pursue your own sister. If we’re talking about shamelessness, who could possibly outdo you two?” Blake immediately whined, looking at Serena. “Serena, we’ve been careful to keep a low profile these past three years. But he has a child that’s already this old! This is a clear betrayal of you!” At the word “betrayal,” Serena furiously raised her hand and slapped me across the face. “You scum! You bring a bastard into this house and then dare to slander Blake and me? Get out of the Sterling family!” A sharp sting. I was stunned for a second. Three years ago, Serena left with Blake, abandoning me alone at the wedding to face everyone’s ridicule. In a fit of rage, I publicly announced I’d marry anyone who stepped forward. It was Victoria, Serena’s aunt, who walked onto the stage and completed the ceremony with me. Victoria was a powerhouse in the business world. Since marrying her, everyone treated me with profound respect. After we adopted the baby, Victoria treated him as her own, prioritizing us both above all else. Today, Serena dared to lay a hand on me. If Victoria found out, she would never let it go easily. To prevent things from getting worse, and for the baby’s sake. I said coldly, “If you two leave now, I can pretend none of this happened.” But they didn’t appreciate it at all. Instead, Blake grabbed my collar. “Serena, he’s just feeling guilty! He wants to kick us out so he can use this child to seize control of the Sterling family’s assets.” Serena spat, “Shameless! So this was your plan. I’ll never let you get away with it.” I pulled free from Blake’s grip, my face cold. “The moment you two abandoned the wedding, Grandpa Sterling disowned you from the family. The Sterling family has nothing to do with you anymore.” Blake scoffed lightly. “That was just Grandpa Sterling’s anger talking. Serena is the Sterling family’s only granddaughter; there’s no way he’d actually disown her.” Serena’s face also lit up with smugness. “Grandpa Sterling always said everything in the Sterling family would eventually be mine.” I shielded the baby, my voice cold. “But from now on, it won’t be. The child beside me also carries Sterling blood.” I thought my words were clear enough. But Serena glared at me, her eyes furious. “You bitch! So you are trying to pass off this bastard as a Sterling heir! Today, I’m going to make you regret this!” Another, harder slap landed on my face. Shielding the baby, I stumbled and fell to the floor. Looking at their twisted, menacing faces, hearing the baby’s cries, my heart filled with terror. Fearing they would harm the baby, I quickly cried out, “This child isn’t a bastard, he’s—”

But before I could finish, Serena leaned down and shoved the spilled coffee and broken pieces from the floor into my mouth. “Blake and I worked tirelessly for three years, while you’ve been living in luxury here with a bastard child!” “I’ll make you drink it all!” Choking, I couldn’t make a sound. The shards cut my mouth, filling it with blood. I tried to raise a hand to resist, but Blake stomped on my hand with his dress shoe. Pain shot through my hand, but I couldn’t scream. After forcing all the debris into my mouth, Serena spat, then finally stood up. Blake’s shoe tip moved towards the child I was shielding. Terror gripped me. I desperately clutched his ankle. Victoria couldn’t have children of her own. This child was the orphan of one of her old friends. We adopted him out of compassion, cherishing him ever since. Blake’s face was full of mockery. “Alex, you look like a pathetic stray dog protecting its pup, so miserable.” Serena frowned, staring at the baby. “If word gets out that I was betrayed, how can I ever show my face in this circle again? Blake, teach him a lesson!” I shook my head frantically, spitting out the filth and blood in my mouth. I managed to gasp, “This child… he’s Victoria’s…” Serena paused, then burst into laughter. “Alex, you can’t even make up a convincing lie! Everyone in town knows Victoria isn’t interested in men and decided years ago she wasn’t having kids.” “Now I’m the only direct bloodline left in the Sterling family. Otherwise, why would Grandpa Sterling have been so desperate for me to marry and carry on the family name?” Blake chimed in, “Serena is the only heir. Grandpa Sterling even froze her credit cards just to force her back.” “Your lie is laughable. You’re still trying to drag Victoria into your ridiculous stories even after being exposed.” Serena and Blake had run off three years ago, vanishing without a trace. Grandpa Sterling was truly disappointed in her, which was why he froze her cards and cut off all financial support, intending to completely disinherit her. But now, they were clearly beyond reason. To avoid provoking them further, I didn’t argue. I just repeated, “I’m not lying. This child really is Victoria’s.” “If you don’t believe me, I can call her right now.” I shielded the baby with one hand, reaching for my phone on the coffee table with the other. As long as I contacted Victoria, the baby and I would be saved. She would rush here immediately. But just as my fingers brushed the phone, Serena snatched it away and smashed it to the floor. The screen shattered, and my heart sank into a dark abyss. Serena grabbed my chin. “Victoria has an unpredictable temper, a veritable titan in the business world, feared by everyone.” “If she knew I couldn’t even handle this kind of ‘family scandal,’ she’d definitely think I’m incompetent. How would she ever entrust the family business to me in the future?” “Alex, you were trying to pull a fast one by calling her, weren’t you?” I shook my head frantically. “No, this child is—” Before I could finish, Blake kicked me in the stomach. “Serena, why waste words on this guy? Just get rid of this bastard and go explain things to Grandpa Sterling.” The blow to my abdomen, combined with the baby’s startled cries, filled me with an unprecedented terror. I pleaded, “Please, I beg you, spare the baby…” Blake pulled out his phone and pointed it at me. “Now, get on your knees, bark like a dog twice, and say you’re a pathetic excuse for a man. Then I’ll let the baby go.”

To protect the baby, I swallowed my pride, knelt, and did as he demanded. Blake bent down, looking triumphant. “Alex, when I begged you to give up the engagement all those years ago, did you ever imagine you’d see this day?” Back then, Blake had come to me, claiming he and Serena were deeply in love, asking me to voluntarily break off the engagement. The Sterling-Sterling alliance was an arrangement decided by our elders, involving significant business interests. If I were to back out, the blame would fall entirely on my family, and we’d face severe repercussions. So, I refused his request. I hadn’t expected him to hold a grudge until now. I had no mind for old grievances at the moment. I just begged, “Please, call an ambulance. The baby needs to be checked…” Serena kicked me in the back. “Alex, you’re truly despicable! You’ll do anything for this bastard!” I collapsed to the floor, my abdomen hitting the cold, hard surface, burning with pain. “You said… you’d let the baby go…” Blake’s tone was dismissive. “I said I’d let him go, but Serena didn’t, did she?” “You used this bastard, parading him around with the Sterling name. You think I’d let you off? No way!” Serena kicked my abdomen again. A fresh wave of agony swept over me, and I curled up on the ground. Feeling the baby’s cries growing weaker in my arms, I looked up in despair, my eyes burning with hatred. “Serena, Blake, you will regret this!” Blake stood beside Serena, his gaze sinister. “Serena, he still refuses to admit his mistake. Looks like he hasn’t been taught enough of a lesson!” Serena scoffed. “Oh, I’d like to see who regrets what!” “Blake, find some rope.” Blake understood immediately and quickly returned with a long rope. I dragged my body backward, my eyes wide with terror. “What are you trying to do?” Their excited faces were my only answer. They threw the baby onto the ground, tied my hands and feet with the rope, and then dragged me from the living room out the door, leaving a long trail mark on the floor. At the edge of the swimming pool, Serena kicked me into the water. My limbs were bound, I couldn’t move, and I sank in despair. The pool water covered my mouth and nose, and a sense of suffocation washed over me. Just as I thought I was about to die, Serena pulled the rope, dragging me out of the water. “Alex, do you admit your mistake? Do you dare to betray me again?” I gasped for air, but then I heard the baby’s cries, left in the room, growing fainter. Though I knew the baby’s chances of survival were slim, I wouldn’t give up the last shred of hope. I pleaded again, “I admit my mistake, I won’t ever dare again. Please, spare the baby.” “The baby needs medical attention, please, I beg you…” Serena spat, “You pathetic wretch, still thinking about that bastard! Looks like you have no remorse!” “Today, I will not let this bastard leave the Sterling family alive!” With that, she raised her foot again, intending to kick me back into the pool. I closed my eyes in despair, my heart filled with the fear of drowning. Just then, the front door of the Sterling family mansion burst open. Victoria rushed in, her face etched with anxiety, and shouted furiously, “Stop!”

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I got a second chance at life. This time, Grandpa wanted me to choose one of the Thompson sisters for a family alliance. No one expected me to pick Victoria, Chloe Thompson’s older sister. Everyone knew I’d been obsessed with Chloe since childhood. I’d gone to desperate lengths to make her my wife. I forced a bitter laugh, remembering the last life. On our wedding day, Chloe ran off with Leo, the young man our family had taken in. She declared she’d only marry him, abandoning me at the altar. I stood there in my long-awaited tuxedo, utterly humiliated. Only then did I realize her agreement to the engagement was just a twisted plan to get revenge on me at the wedding. After being reborn, I started avoiding her at all costs. Later, when I held her sister close, my lips swollen from kissing, Chloe–who’d always looked down on me–suddenly lost it. Once the wedding date was set, I started preparing everything needed for the ceremony. I never expected to run into Chloe and her friends at the mall. “He follows you everywhere, your man’s got you on a pretty tight leash, huh?” Her friend teased her with a playful grin, making Chloe frown. “He is not my man. Say that again, and I’ll stitch your mouth shut.” Chloe spotted me from afar and marched over, annoyance etched on her face. “Liam, seriously, what is your problem? Why are you following me everywhere?” “You forced our families to tie us down, and now everyone knows you’re marrying a Thompson. Are you happy now?” I stayed silent for a moment, my expression calm. “I’m not trying to tie you to me. You’re mistaken.” Her emotions flared, and she gripped my wrist tightly, a dull ache spreading through my hand. “Then why are you here? Isn’t it just to track me?” I pulled my hand away, instinctively rubbing my reddened wrist, and explained, “I’m here to pick up some things for the wedding. I didn’t expect to see you.” Her friends noticed the tension between us and immediately gathered around. “Wedding stuff? Chloe, you’re so lucky, your fiancé handles everything, you don’t have to lift a finger.” Chloe shot a fierce glare at her friend, ignoring the comment. “Liam, don’t think that just because our families are merging, you can get me this way.” “You’ll get my person, but never my heart. I despise manipulative, toxic men like you.” Her eyes were cold, her voice thick with suppressed anger. But I felt nothing. I just wanted to escape this drama. I looked up, meeting her gaze calmly. “Who said I want your heart? Don’t flatter yourself. And I’m not marrying you.” At my words, Chloe’s face instantly fell. “What are you even talking about? You used every trick in the book to force me to marry you before, and now that you’ve finally succeeded, you’re saying I’m not the one you’re marrying…” Her friend nudged her shoulder. “Chloe, can’t you see? He’s just playing hard to get, saying things to spite you.” “He’s personally out here picking out wedding decorations, and you’re still being sarcastic. Do you think Liam would be happy?” Chloe’s expression softened slightly. She stared at me, her face a mix of emotions, before finally managing a sentence. “I’ll be there for the wedding on time, but I stand by what I said: don’t think I’ll ever like you.” Suddenly, something dropped behind us. Chloe and I turned simultaneously, seeing Leo standing there, dressed in casual clothes, a look of shock on his face. He was the young man our family had taken in. He had poor health and was a frequent patient at the hospital. My mother pitied his difficult living situation and brought him to live with us. Now, he looked like a delicate young man, with clear eyes framed by fluttering eyelashes. Chloe immediately let go of me and darted over to him. “Leo, let me explain! It’s not what you think!” Leo turned and walked away, not giving her a chance to explain. The group dispersed, following Leo’s exit. As Chloe left, she spat a threat at me. “If Leo gets sick because of this, I swear I’ll make you pay.” I let out a self-deprecating laugh, wondering for a second if the Chloe I grew up with had been swapped out for someone else.

After that whole ordeal, I lost my interest in shopping and went home early. It wasn’t until evening that Chloe brought Leo back. She carried bags overflowing with items, and the driver following her carried several more boxes. The boxes contained expensive fruits and imported snacks. It was clear Chloe had bought a lot to appease Leo. They walked in just as I was lounging on the couch, watching TV. I deliberately didn’t look her way, but she approached me anyway. At first, she didn’t speak, just pursed her lips, seemingly waiting for my reaction. But I kept my eyes on the TV, not even sparing her a glance. “Liam, you clearly saw me bring in all these things. Why didn’t you help me?” I casually glanced at her. “Why should I help you? Those weren’t bought for me. What does it have to do with me?” Her face darkened. “If you want them, just say so. People will laugh at me if they know Chloe’s fiancé has to beg for these things.” Chloe wasn’t listening to what I’d said at the mall, and I was too tired to keep repeating myself. She’d understand that I wasn’t marrying her on the wedding day itself. Chloe picked up a punnet of blueberries and tossed it near me. With too much force, the box bounced on the couch before falling to the floor. “Here, a treat for you. Don’t say I mistreat you.” I looked down at the blueberries but felt no desire to pick them up. To do so would be like a pathetic dog begging for her crumbs of attention. I didn’t need that kind of charity. I curled my lips into a cold sneer. “You’re certainly making yourself at home here, aren’t you? Don’t you have any manners as a guest? Don’t shame the Thompson family’s reputation.” We had grown up together, always familiar with each other’s homes, but I had never spoken such humiliating words before. Chloe’s face flushed crimson, her eyes glaring at me as if they could kill. Mom and Dad weren’t back yet, and the housekeepers were busy with their own tasks. The living room was just me, Chloe, and Leo. Chloe acted as if I didn’t exist, pressing Leo against the wall and brushing a feather-light kiss on him. She murmured, “Leo, if anything ever upsets you, just tell me. Don’t let it ruin your health.” Leo’s clear voice reached my ears. “I know. I knew you were the best to me.” With Leo’s response, they continued their intimate display, lost in their own world, making me feel a flush of discomfort. I switched off the TV, walked around the couch, deliberately keeping my distance as I headed for the stairs, planning to go to my room. As I reached the middle of the staircase, Chloe’s eyes suddenly snapped open, startled, as if she’d just remembered someone else was there. She instinctively pushed Leo away. Leo didn’t notice her strange behavior, just reluctantly ended the kiss. Then Leo looked up at me, his eyes full of defiance and disdain, as if to challenge me. Back in my room, I received a message from Leo. [Liam, Chloe might be giving you a wedding, but the title of Chloe’s husband can only be mine.] [Liam, whatever fate you met in your last life, you’ll meet again in this one. You can’t beat me.]

My heart sank when I saw that message. So, I wasn’t the only one who’d been reborn. In my last life, after Chloe accepted the engagement, I thought my sincerity had finally moved her. After all, I’d chased her for over ten years; even a stone should have warmed up by then. But she’d only accepted the alliance to humiliate me terribly at the wedding. In front of all the guests, she clutched Leo’s hand tightly. She announced to everyone that she couldn’t marry me, that Leo was the only one she loved, and she would marry no one else. I was utterly humiliated, left alone in my tuxedo, lost in a storm of despair. Everyone around me knew how much I loved her, how I’d neglected my health, making myself so sick that I was close to death. All of it just to soften my parents’ hearts and secure an alliance with the Thompson family. I had debased myself, shamed myself and my parents, only to be met with Chloe’s revenge. She resented me for using my family’s power to force the engagement, tearing her and Leo apart. I also passed away from my illness, a pain I vowed never to experience a second time. So, after being reborn, I gave up on Chloe and chose her older sister, Victoria. But I never expected my engagement to Victoria to proceed so smoothly this time. There were no obstacles; I just had to wait for next month’s wedding to arrive. In my previous life, Victoria had worked overseas and remained single her whole life. Everyone assumed she had some hidden condition. Even Grandpa, hearing my decision to marry Victoria, had double-checked with me. Was I truly set on marrying Victoria? I nodded. Even if she did have a hidden condition, so what? If I had to choose between them, a respectful, peaceful life was far better than a life scarred by heartbreak. The next day, I went to the jewelry store to pick up Victoria’s and my wedding rings. But the staff told me Chloe had already taken them. This jewelry store was part of the Thompson Group, so if Chloe wanted them, the staff couldn’t stop her. Out of so many couple’s rings, she just had to take my wedding rings. A sudden fury surged through me. Those rings were my own design. Since childhood, I’d dreamed of wearing my own design with the person I loved on my wedding day. I used to think Chloe would be the one wearing the female ring. But now, with a different fiancée, I’d torn up the old design. The final version, the one that was made, was specifically designed for Victoria. And Chloe had just snatched it from me. Just as I was about to call Chloe to demand an explanation, I saw a new post on Leo’s Ins feed. [A one-of-a-kind ring, from my darling you.] The picture showed him and Chloe wearing my designed rings. The comments section was full of blessings for them. Unknowingly, my eyes welled up. Even if the alliance had caused Chloe distress, I had stopped in time, giving her freedom. Why did she have to keep chasing me to humiliate me, even letting Leo steal my wedding rings? I couldn’t wait another second. I didn’t want to bicker with Chloe over the phone. So, I hailed a cab and headed straight for Chloe’s office.

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When I was dying of late-stage cancer, I fell in love with a “blind” massage therapist. Then I got pregnant. For my baby, I gave up chemo. I worked myself to the bone, saving every dollar for him and our child. I even signed a cornea-donation form—my final gift—so he could “see the world” after I was gone. But then, in the hospital director’s office, I saw a photo of him surfing—eyes bright, locked on the waves. “This is my son,” Director Vance said. I froze. “Your son… isn’t blind?” “Blind?” Vance laughed. “Of course not. He just has this weird hobby—loves role-playing. I heard he’s been pretending to be a blind massage therapist lately.” I looked down at my swollen belly. And I made up my mind. “Dr. Vance,” I said calmly, “sign me up for the new-drug trial. But under one condition—I want to play a role-playing game too.” Leaving the hospital, I finally heard Asher’s voice message. “Hey babe, pulling a double at the parlor tonight. That’s an extra twenty bucks toward your necklace.” Before, I’d have replied with a sixty-second voice memo, all honey and heartbeat. Now, my voice turned to ash before it could leave my throat. In that photo I’d just seen, he wore his half of a matching set with another woman. It’s an eight-figure custom design. A wave of bitter pain washed through me, seeping into my bones. Ding! Another voice message. “Why aren’t you answering? You don’t want it?” My fingers trembled, hitting the wrong icon. His reply was instant. “Why did you just send a period?” I stared at the screen. A sound escaped me-half laugh, half sob. He could see. He had always been able to see. Snowflakes needled my face. I threw open every door down the street. Finally, in a private booth, I found Asher, surrounded by people. A burst of laughter hit me first. “Asher, when are you going to reveal the truth?” He tilted his head back, draining half his glass. And for the first time, I truly saw those eyes. Cold, Sharp. Just as beautiful as they had been in my dreams. He used to sigh, saying that restoring his sight would take a cornea donor and a fortune in surgery. I had actually considered it. Donating my corneas to him after I died. I’d even researched what every part of my body was worth on the market. Surely, I could piece together a million. Giving him back the light was my last, desperate purpose. So tell me, Asher. What’s the price for three years of genuine love? At the table, his voice was flat, bored. “I’ll come clean whenever. I’m tired of her. She’s the one who can’t move on.” The girl from the photo lunged, planting a wet kiss on his cheek. Grinning, she went for the velvet box in his pocket. He caught her wrist. “That’s a five-dollar trinket. Yours is being delivered from the high-end boutique.” The room erupted. “Cheap girls get cheap prizes!” She pouted, all playful venom. “Asher, promise me one thing. When we get engaged, we invite that old hag to watch.” Asher took a drag of his cigarette. The ember glowed, then faded. He said nothing. “Don’t tell me you actually fell for it, Asher,” someone sneered. “That woman was devoted! Her mother’s entire life savings went to him. That’s the seed money for his ‘struggling blind masseur’ act.” In the roar of laughter, the world dissolved. I was falling. My mother’s last words, whispered through morphine, surfaced like a curse. “He’s an orphan. No family, no prospects. My darling…I’m just afraid he’ll break your heart.” But she still left the money to Asher. “My daughter is marrying you. This is her gift.” That day, Asher looked at the shop deed, face averted, hands trembling.

I thought he was too moved to speak. The truth was, he was fighting not to laugh. Every sacrifice my mother made, every piece of myself I broke off and gave, was just loose change in the ashtray of his decadent life. The girl tilted her head, her smile sweet. “Don’t laugh at Asher, guys. I’m the one who didn’t want to have a baby, so I told Asher to keep that one. If it’s a boy, he can buy it for two hundred thousand. I hear she’s stingy and materialistic. If it’s a girl? Just give her some child support.” Every word was a knife, stabbing into my chest. How I yearned for Asher to refute even one sentence. He only looked away. Then, a cackle cut the air. “Nicole, your prank target is so pathetic! Her old man got on his knees for ten grand, begging me to take his land! What a dirt poor? I nearly choked trying not to laugh!” The girl giggled, falling into Asher’s arms. Asher’s expression wasn’t good, as if he thought I had embarrassed him. But all I could see was my father’s hunched back, walking twenty miles through rough terrain. He finally placed the money in my hands. Every crumpled bill, every coin he’d saved for a lifetime. It was all meant for a surgery to make a blind man see. Mud crusted his clothes, but his eyes were bright. “My daughter is so beautiful… her husband must at least get a glimpse of her.” I watched the scene calmly. Inside, my world had already shattered. Ding. A new message from Dr. Vance. Attached was the confidentiality agreement, along with a text. “Hailey, I advise you to reconsider. The pain from this trial is unsustainable. Our attrition rate for male participants is nearly forty percent.” I signed my name directly. No. Nothing in any lab could ever hurt more than this. It was like I had planned to die in winter, only to be dragged back to life by excruciating pain. Back in my cramped apartment, I moved through the agony.I packed every trace of Asher into black bags and dragged them to the trash. I even cut up that precious scrapbook, my album of wishes. During bungee jumping, he held my trembling body. After fainting during diving, he nervously gave me CPR. When fear locked my joints at the plane’s edge, his laugh was the push that sent me falling. I thought those life-and-death firsts were shared treasures. To him, they were just items to check off a list. Asher came home, his blind cane tapping a deliberate, loud rhythm against the floor. He complained softly, “Why didn’t you come to pick me up?” In the past, I’d always rushed to meet with apologies and comfort. But not today. “Still pinching cents on gas? So cheap.” The word hung in the air. I couldn’t believe my ears. I was the one who saved on painkillers. Who stitched baby clothes by hand. Who, believing him an orphan, had never stinted on giving him everything. Even that was a lie. The silence turned suffocating. Asher’s mask slipped. Then, from my numb fingers, a small bottle slipped. It spun once, hollow and frantic, and stopped at his feet. My heart hammered against my ribs. If he took off his dark glasses, he would see the glaring ANTI-CANCER label on the bottle. Perhaps, he would feel a sliver of regret. All those nights I’d burned my eyes red, translating mountains of text to save pennies for a man who needed none of it. And he had always, always, pretended not to see. He began to bend down. His phone rang. Asher’s lips suddenly curved into a smile. He hurriedly tossed a box to me. “Your birthday gift. I need to take a client call.” I looked at the velvet box, feeling utterly hollow for the first time. As I walked into the room to get my medicine, I heard Asher’s soft chuckle on the phone. “It’s fine, her illness isn’t contagious. She should be fine by now; she’s just being dramatic.” “I secretly swapped out her medication, and nothing happened, did it?”

My head reeled. So that’s why I’ve been failing so fast. A wave of nausea twisted my insides. I scrambled to the bathroom, throwing up violently. Asher dropped his phone, his fists pounding on the door. “Hailey! Is it the morning sickness?” His voice was all false urgency. I didn’t answer. My eyes were fixed on the vivid, thread-like streaks of red swirling in the water. Then I calmly flushed them away. When I came out, I brushed away his hand as he reached to hug me. “I’m fine.” Asher’s smile stiffened. My odd behavior all evening was clearly irritating him. Upon seeing the unopened gift box, his anger reached its peak. He suddenly slammed his hand on the table. “I bought it for you, why haven’t you looked at it?” Did he expect me to be grateful for a fake? I slowly said, “I like it.” Before the words were fully out, a nosebleed gushed out without warning, and my vision began to blur. “Asher…” But he had already turned away, coldly muttering that an unsophisticated hick wouldn’t appreciate quality. Then he grabbed his blind cane and slammed the door shut as he left. I collapsed heavily to the floor. Warm blood continuously spilled from my nose and lips, quickly pooling around me. Outside the window, there was a sudden bang, bright as day. In a haze of agonizing pain, the words “Princess Nicole” illuminated my utterly pathetic state. My eyes glazed over as I watched. So beautiful. My phone vibrated madly. My bank account balance plummeted from $40,000 to zero. I laughed, a shaky, hysterical laugh. Asher was punishing me in the cruelest way possible. But he didn’t know that money was always meant for him. I had foolishly fantasized. How touched he would be when he received this inheritance. But in the end, all my desperate efforts were just part of a grand romantic gesture he made for someone else. My phone suddenly rang. I instinctively answered it. But then, abruptly, a woman’s intimate moans came from the other end. “I love you.” I heard Asher’s voice. Those words he had never spoken to me. I listened to every second. Let each sound carve into me. But there was no pain left to feel, only a brittle, weightless calm. Asher didn’t return for the next few days. But his “client’s” Instagram did. Feed after feed of desert climbs, skydiving over canyons. So, calluses on his hands weren’t from massaging after all. Everything that had touched me was a lie. Nicole’s hands were tightly clasped with his, his name tattooed on her chest, her eyes full of sweet devotion. Asher only sent me a few cold, clipped voice messages. “Do you know you were wrong yet?” “Did you put on the necklace?” “Send me a picture.” I knew he was waiting for me to humbly admit my fault and beg him to come home, just like before. But I never would again. Just then, Dr. Vance called. “What’s the check-up date?” My gaze swept over the Vance family’s newly announced engagement date, and I instantly sobered. “December 28th. Let’s make it that day.” But on the morning of that day, Asher appeared at my door, looking awkward. “Come with me somewhere.” At the charity gala, elegantly dressed people mingled, and glasses clinked. Only we wore faded, worn-out clothes. He seemed oblivious, gently coaxing me. “Hailey, these are all friends from the disability assistance association. You’re pregnant and it’s hard work, so I applied for a donation.” Even through his dark glasses, I could see the expectation in his eyes. He was waiting for me to react as I always had. My eyes red, throwing myself into his arms, saying, “You’re so good.” But I merely gave a faint “Mm.” Asher paused. Nicole intimately linked her arm through mine. “Hailey, you are elegant, you’re even beautiful pregnant… but your outfit is a bit shabby.” Just as I was about to pull away, Asher casually interjected, mediating. “Hailey, the neighbors said you dress really tacky and low-class. Nicole has good taste; why don’t you go change?”

Someone nearby snickered. “Hailey, you’re not married yet, are you? Maybe if you dressed up a bit, a man would marry you! When you collect the donation, remember to say you’re a single mother-to-be!” Their words cut deep, each one a slap across my face. But Asher’s silence was louder than any slap. Nicole yanked me into the dressing room, casually pointing to a dress. “This one’s reserved especially for you, Hailey, two thousand nine hundred. You’re not trying to freeload, are you?” Under her malicious torment. I slowly pulled out a wad of small bills, tens, fifties, barely enough to make up the amount. Nicole gasped dramatically, “You didn’t actually smash your piggy bank, did you?” I calmly nodded. “I did.” Asher’s face instantly changed. That piggy bank was something we bought when we first got together. I told him that once we saved enough money, I’d take him to Switzerland to treat his eyes. He paused then, a soft laugh escaping him. “When I can see, I’ll take you to the Alps to see your favorite snow.” At the time, I smiled, saying nothing. Because I knew my life wouldn’t last until that day. I just wanted Asher to regain his sight and watch our child grow up with his own eyes. But now, only disappointment and lies remained. Asher tightly gripped my hand, his voice hoarse. “We’re not going to see the snow mountains anymore?” I laughed casually. “No, I don’t like snow anymore… This winter, it’s just too cold.” Asher’s expression grew darker. “Hailey, you’re not comfortable. I’ll take you to change.” Asher glanced at Nicole, then confidently released my hand. Watching their silent, synchronized interaction, I finally understood. That was the impassable divide between us. As I was changing into the gown, Nicole’s voice grew chilling. “Were the fireworks pretty?” “It was just a game for my amusement, but you actually went and got pregnant, clinging to my man.” “Do you know how disgusted Asher is by you? He said he pretended to be blind because he couldn’t stand the sight of your torn underwear; it made him sick.” Seeing my calm expression, a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes. Then she sneered, wiggling the tip of her shoe. “The necklace you gave him? It wasn’t thrown away. It’s stuck to the bottom of my shoe.” “Are all you people from the gutter so pathetic? The second you farmer father heard ‘charity,’ he came crawling. So embarrassing.” My mind went numb. My father had lived with dignity. How dare she insult him so! By the time I reacted, my hand was already gripping her collar. “Give me back the necklace… Apologize to my dad!” She let out a sharp, theatrical cry. Then, with a vicious smile, she swung the entire cash box into my chest. A searing pain erupted from my chest. I fell backward, banknotes fluttering like snow. The door burst open, and gasps of alarm filled the room. I realized I was half-naked, exposed to countless malicious eyes. The room erupted in mocking laughter. “She’s all bones. Probably lies there like a dead fish.” Asher’s hand shot out, then froze in mid-air. “Hailey? What happened?” He He began groping blindly, his voice rising in panic. I laughed, a bitter, desperate sound, tears streaming down my face. I was laughing at his performance. He clung to his blind man’s costume so fiercely, he let my dignity be torn to shreds at his feet. Nicole offered a fake apology. “Oh dear, I’m so sorry, I forgot to lock the door.” Before her words faded, her foot hooked under the chain of my mother’s necklace and kicked it into the fire. That necklace was my mother’s dying gift. Now it vanished into ash. Something in me detonated. I lunged at her like a mad woman. But just then, the door crashed open. A hunched figure stumbled into the chaos.

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My sister, Selene, and I fought for ten long years over Lucian, the Alpha heir of the Shadowhowl Pack. In my first life, I won. For seven brutal years, I gave him six sons. After I delivered the seventh, he pushed me off a cliff at my weakest moment. As I fell, his icy voice echoed. “Your only value was breeding strong heirs. Seven is enough. You can disappear now.” I died consumed by hatred. In my second life, I simply walked away. I thrust the engagement ring into Selene’s hands. “Go on, Selene. You’re the one Lucian truly wants.” Five years later, our mother’s loyal physician risked her life to bring back a bruised and battered Selene. Selene wailed, “Aria! Lucian never love me! He only used me as a sex toy! He beat me every single night.” Soon after, Selene died. Then I opened my eyes again, reborn. This was my third life. Lucian arrived once more, proposal in hand. Selene and I exchanged bewildered glances. That bastard Lucian, who does he actually want to marry? My mother, Evelyn, looked at the nameless engagement agreement, just as confused as we were. She asked, “Is Lucian marrying Aria?” Mom thought of me first because Lucian and I had been childhood sweethearts. Lucian hadn’t found his true mate yet. His father, Marcus, the Alpha of the Shadowhowl Pack, wanted him to marry into our family as soon as possible. I was still reeling when Lucian nodded, answering my mother. “Yes, I’m marrying Aria.” I quickly refused. “No, I’m not marrying him.” The nightmare of my first life was still searingly clear in my mind. For eight years, Lucian wove a fantasy for me, saying he loved children and wanted the pack to flourish. He allowed no recovery, no respite. Six pregnancies in seven years. The pack toasted my fertility, envying the “perfect love” between Lucian and me. Until the eight winter arrived. After giving birth to my seventh child, I suffered a severe hemorrhage because my body was too weak. As the healers fought to save me, Lucian waved them away. He leaned in close, forcing wolfsbane poison down my throat. “Aria, I don’t love you. This marriage was your doing, not mine. Now that seven children are enough. My breeding tool has served its purpose. Go die.” Rage simmered within me. I fought through the excruciating pain tearing through my insides, weeping and desperate for an answer. Lucian hesitated, then said, “Fine, I’ll tell you. The one I truly love is-” But I died before I could hear him finish. The agony of my first life made my whole body tremble, yet my mind was clearer than ever. I refused again. “Mom, I’m not marrying him.” Mom knew. She’d watched me trail after Lucian since we were kids. I’d waited an entire month, sick with dread, the first time he went on a rogue patrol. When he came back bleeding, I didn’t sleep for two weeks, tending to him. Mom stared at me, her confusion plain. “Aria, didn’t you used to say you absolutely had to marry Lucian?” I shook my head firmly. “That was a child’s vow, Mom. I didn’t know better then. I’ll find my real mate someday.” Mom’s face was etched with shock. She then turned to Lucian, apologizing. “Lucian, Aria is unwilling, and I can’t force her. How about Selene? She likes you too.” Selene, who had been silent until now, flinched and shook her head vigorously. “Mom, I’m not marrying him either.” Mom scolded her. “What’s wrong with you?” Selene glanced at me, stammering, “I… I’ll also marry my true mate someday. And he’ll be here to propose soon.”

Mom could only offer an awkward, apologetic laugh. “Lucian, I’m so sorry. I can’t force my daughters. Perhaps you should seek an alliance with another family.” Lucian, probably feeling his pride wounded, had kept a calm facade until now, but his expression finally tightened. He blurted out. “No! My father, Alpha Marcus, insisted I marry one of your daughters!” He then slammed the engagement agreement onto the table and turned to leave. As he walked away, he left us with a single chilling threat. “You have three days to decide. If you can’t make up your minds, I’ll just pick one of you myself!” After Lucian left, Mom, frantic, nudged us both. “If you two don’t want to marry Lucian, then hurry up and find your own mates!” Selene and I just stared at each other, utterly bewildered. For years, we’d been locked in a bitter struggle over Lucian, barely giving any other man a second glance. How were we supposed to know where our mates were? Mom noticed our unusual behavior, her brows furrowed. “Didn’t you two just say you’d already found your mates?” Seeing we couldn’t keep it a secret any longer, we finally told Mom everything about our rebirths. At first, Mom didn’t believe us, but as we recounted the details so vividly, she eventually accepted it. She concluded that the Moon Goddess must have given us a second chance, allowing us to be reborn. Then, Mom frowned. “So, who does Lucian actually love?” She asked.”If he already has someone in mind, why is he so determined to marry one of you?” I shook my head, feeling lost and guilty. “I died too quickly in my last life; I didn’t hear him finish.” I looked at Selene. She looked equally helpless. “I have no idea either. Lucian never spoke a word of it to me.” After hours of frantic brainstorming and chaotic discussions, we finally decided to split up and uncover the truth. Mom would help us search for our true mates. Selene would scout all the females in the pack, looking for anyone connected to Lucian. And I, knowing him best, would go to read his intentions directly. When I saw Lucian again, he was painting in his study. I saw a portrait of a woman, but it was only her back. Her face was missing. I leaned closer to ask. “Who is this woman you’re painting?” He calmly put down his brush. “Can’t you tell? Of course, I’m painting you.” A pang shot through my heart. I remembered how much Lucian loved to paint in my first life. He used to tell me he couldn’t capture my beauty on canvas because it was beyond any brushstroke, that I was too perfect in his heart. Now I know it was just another lie. I looked closely at the painting and noticed a small mole on the right side of the woman’s neck. I didn’t have one. I asked him directly, “Lucian, this isn’t me. I don’t have a mole on my right neck.” Lucian froze for a moment. When he recovered, he finally looked up at me, asking, “Aria, do you really want to know who she is?”

I took a deep breath, waiting for Lucian’s answer. But he just chuckled. “Silly girl, it really is you. That’s not a mole on her neck; it’s just a smudge of paint.” I was speechless for a moment. He continued, “We grew up together. I’ve always treated you better than any other girl.” His words made my heart soften slightly. He really had been good to me once. During the pack’s warrior training, he always personally taught me combat techniques. When I was sick, he would personally bring the medicine to my lips. And because I hated the bitter taste, he always had a candy ready for me afterward. Even in my first life, the wedding he gave me was legendary. The entire hall was a sea of ten thousand lilies, simply because my scent was lily. Such a kind person… I still don’t understand when he had changed. The sudden ache in my throat pulled me back to reality. I rubbed my nose, my voice muffled. “Lucian, if you truly wanted to marry me, why didn’t you write my name on the engagement agreement?” Lucian paused slightly, then continued. “Aria, everyone in the pack knows you and Selene have been fighting over me for years. I didn’t write your name to spare her feelings; she’s your sister, after all. I never thought you’d misunderstand me because of it and refuse out of spite.” The truth was, both Lucian and I knew Selene didn’t really care for Lucian. What she loved was the thrill of competing with me. When we were little, it was about toys, clothes, and our parents’ affection. As we grew up, she started going after anyone I showed interest in. My moment of distraction made Lucian think I was wavering. He didn’t miss a beat. “So, Aria, I’ve made up my mind. It’s always been you I wanted to marry. We’ll get officially engaged in three days. Once we’re married, I’ll make you your favorite cinnamon apple pie every day. How does that sound?” I looked at his sincere expression, fighting back tears, and choked out, “Okay, I’ll give you one more chance. But let’s skip the engagement ceremony. Selene would be heartbroken if she knew. Just come and marry me directly in three days.” Lucian let out a long sigh of relief, his face showing the expression of someone who had lost something precious and then found it again. Back home, Selene and Mom, Evelyn, were stunned when they heard the full story. Selene, uncharacteristically, didn’t argue with me. Instead, she slapped me. “Aria, snap out of it! You’re still going to marry a man like that? Haven’t you suffered enough in your first life?!” For the first time, I didn’t get angry with Selene. Instead, I calmly ran my hand over the wedding dress. “Marrying him is a must. But the bride won’t be me…”

Selene froze, her brows furrowed slightly. She asked uneasily, “You’re not trying to make me marry him, are you? I’ve never wanted to hurt you. If you dare to trick me, I’ll seriously get mad.” I rolled my eyes at her. “What are you thinking? In my last life, I thought Lucian liked you, which is why I let you marry him. Why would I ever hurt you like that again?” Selene finally let out a sigh of relief and continued, “So you mean, just find some Omega or a low-ranking female from the pack to be a stand-in bride?” I shook my head again. “Lucian is too arrogant and proud for that; he’d never marry a woman of low status. Besides, I don’t want to harm an innocent woman.” Selene frustratedly asked, “Then what do you want to do? Who else is there to marry?!” I looked up at Mom, Evelyn, and said softly, “Mom.” Mom gasped, stepping back two paces, waving her hands frantically. “Oh, no, not me! I’m old enough to be Lucian’s mother!” I couldn’t help but laugh despite myself. “I just want you to help with something. I think I know who Lucian truly loves.” Actually, I hadn’t realized it at first. Lucian had played his role perfectly; anyone listening would have believed he was genuinely in love with me. But his last sentence gave him away. I didn’t like cinnamon apple pie at all. In fact, I’d always hated the smell; it was stuffy and old-fashioned. However, he did remind me that there was indeed someone in the pack who absolutely loved cinnamon apple pie. And before coming home, I had specifically confirmed that person did have a small mole on the right side of her neck. So I made up my mind. Instead of openly defying Lucian, it was better to pretend to agree first. I leaned closer to Mom’s ear and whispered my plan. She immediately rushed out to prepare. Selene leaned on the table, laughing self-deprecatingly. “Aria, we fought over Lucian for so many years, only to lose to that woman. Are you really okay with that?” I smiled calmly. “Of course, there’s a part of me that’s not okay. But right now, I want revenge for both of us, for the suffering of our past two lives!” Selene wrapped her arm around mine-it was the first time she’d been so affectionate with me. “Alright, Aria. No more fighting between us. This time, we’re in this together. Let’s watch their downfall.” Lucian, wasn’t she the one you loved most, the one you most wanted to marry? I couldn’t wait to see how Lucian would react when she was actually delivered to him. The day before Lucian was supposed to marry me, Mom brought home two men. I recognized them. They were the twin sons of Alpha Rhys from the neighboring Wildthorn Pack. Mom excitedly told us, “My girls, I’ve finally found your true mates!” “What’s more, they are also heirs to a powerful werewolf pack. Their status, position, and strength are no less than that of that bastard Lucian!” Selene and I were speechless for a moment. Mom continued. “You two need to start dating these twins immediately! It would be best if they mark you tonight. Otherwise, other girls will snatch them up!” Selene and I looked at the tall, handsome twin brothers with golden curly hair in front of us and simultaneously agreed. On the spot, we signed engagement agreements with the twins. Holding the agreement, a huge weight finally lifted from my heart. I took Selene’s hand. “Come on, let’s go. Now, we’ll help Lucian prepare for his wedding. This time, I’m going to completely ruin his reputation!” The next day, Selene and Mom placed the thick white veil over the head of Lucian’s new bride. I smirked, a sarcastic smile playing on my lips. Lucian, this life, you’re finally marrying the one you truly desired, but the one you couldn’t publicly have…

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After I was kidnapped, my family was practically *relieved*. The kidnappers had gotten the wrong person; my older brother, Lucas, the one they *meant* to snatch, had escaped. When the police rescued me, blood was seeping from almost every pore, but I didn’t cry, didn’t make a sound. I was diagnosed with emotional apathy. No emotions. I could no longer feel sad about anything happening around me. I felt freer than I had ever been. But later, they all regretted it. They cried, begging me to go back to my old self. When I was discharged from the hospital and returned home, the house was empty. Even the furniture had been moved out. Unable to reach anyone, I called our housekeeper, Martha, only to find out they had moved. I went to the new address. My family was already seated at the dining table, ready for dinner. Seeing me walk in, everyone at the table looked a little uncomfortable. “Why didn’t anyone tell me you were moving?” “Oh, Lucas has been having nightmares lately, dreaming of being kidnapped. I thought maybe the old house wasn’t good for him, so we found a new place.” Mrs. Davis said, as casually as if discussing what was for dinner. “You’re back just in time. Sit down and eat with us.” The table was laden with all of Lucas’s favorite dishes. My face was covered with thick bandages, and I limped when I walked. No one seemed to notice or care. The old me would have been devastated. But now? I felt nothing. My emotions were gone. Seeing me calmly sit down, Lucas suddenly leaned over. “I’ve been so scared these past few days, I didn’t even dare to go out, so I couldn’t visit you. Mom and Dad were worried I’d get kidnapped too, so they stayed home with me. You don’t blame me, do you?” Before I could say a word, Mr. Davis quickly jumped in. “Come on, Hymen, it’s not that serious. You two are brothers; you should cut each other some slack.” I didn’t know how to react. *I* was the one who was kidnapped. Lucas laughed heartily. “Hehe, I just didn’t want him to overthink it! Hymen has always been so independent, much braver than me. I really envy people with courage.” He said, picking up a shrimp and placing it in my bowl. I silently put down my fork. I’m allergic to shrimp. No one at the table remembered. *No one.*

My name is Hymen. My older brother’s name is Lucas. No doubt about it, we’re biological brothers. An old fortune teller once told my parents that I had a difficult fate and shouldn’t be raised by them. So, they sent me away to live with my distant grandparents in a remote town. All those years, they barely visited me. They only brought me back after my grandparents passed away. I came home filled with hope, but I quickly realized this house wasn’t for me. The day I was kidnapped, Lucas insisted on taking a deserted alley. After a few steps, he claimed he needed to find a restroom and told me to wait right there for him. After that, I lost consciousness. I’ll never forget those memories. “Damn it, a worthless piece of trash.” The kidnapper’s fists landed on me, blow after blow, venting their rage. They had mistaken me for Lucas, they had kidnapped the wrong person. My family refused to pay my ransom, so they wouldn’t get a single dime. I was starved for three days, tortured for three days. My throat was raw, I couldn’t even scream anymore. When the police burst in, the kidnappers were about to strip me. Blood blurred my vision, but I still strained to open my eyes, looking behind them. No one. No one from my family had come. I wanted to cry, but no tears would fall. The doctor said I had Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, manifesting as a loss of emotions, medically known as emotional apathy. The hospital room was empty. After the investigating police officers left, no one else came. At the dinner table, they treated me like I was invisible. The three of them chatted and laughed, a picture of a happy family. In the past, I would always try to join their conversations, but today I did nothing. “I’m finished.” I casually grabbed a napkin from the table to wipe my hands. “Which room am I staying in?” Mrs. Davis paused, then collected herself. “The other rooms haven’t been tidied up yet.” Lucas interjected, “Hymen, don’t blame Mom and Dad. They’ve been so busy with everything lately, they just can’t keep up.” He sounded like he was protecting our parents, but he was really hinting that I was being inconsiderate – something he’d done countless times. I simply asked, “Did I say I blamed them?” I gently put down the napkin, my voice flat. “Then I’ll just pick an unoccupied room. You all enjoy your dinner.” I slowly walked upstairs, their voices drifting up to me. “Who did he inherit that prickly attitude from? Don’t take it to heart. Come on, Lucas, you haven’t had any of my special stew yet!” Lucas’s voice was calm, “My brother might just be scared.” Mrs. Davis disagreed, “What’s he scared about? He’s back home safe and sound, isn’t he?” I closed my bedroom door, shutting out their conversation.

Chloe came home that evening. She wasn’t Mr. and Mrs. Davis’s biological child; she was adopted, and Lucas and I called her sister. I once dreamed of having an older sister who would stand up for me. And Chloe did fit my image of a good sister, except she always protected Lucas. Towards me, this sudden interloper who seemed to take some of his spotlight, she was openly hostile. From the moment she walked in, Chloe hadn’t spared me a single glance, practically writing “unwelcome” on her face. How could I have been so naive before? Even with her attitude, I always wanted to get close, to care for her, to give her all kinds of gifts. I envied Lucas; I envied him for receiving all the family’s love. But with those emotions gone, everyone’s actions seemed deliberate and utterly uninteresting in my eyes. I felt a little hungry. Chloe, noticing I hadn’t initiated conversation, actually looked at me twice. “Hey, your stuff. I don’t want it.” She held out a beautifully wrapped gift bag. I recognized it; it was the birthday gift I had chosen for her. A piece of jewelry I had personally polished and crafted. I had given her many things, and every single one had been publicly returned. She and Lucas both seemed to enjoy the process of trampling my dignity. “Got it.” My attention wasn’t on her at all. The food was all served, but I had no appetite. A table full of seafood. Nothing I could eat. Just looking at it made my wounds throb faintly. Chloe, however, was stunned. Usually, I’d beg her to accept the gift. This time, I was surprisingly direct. Was I playing another trick, trying to get the family’s attention? “Sister, what did he give you?” Lucas asked, but his hand was already quicker, tearing open the gift. “Oh, what beautiful jewelry! He must have put a lot of thought into this, Chloe. You should keep it.” Chloe pursed her lips. Keep it? That would mean she accepted *me*. This was the person who made Lucas feel insecure, the one who caused him to cry countless nights. “I won’t accept anything from him. Take it back.” She looked at me, her tone brooking no refusal. My stomach ached with hunger. Faced with a table of inedible seafood, I just wanted to go out and eat something else. As I started to rise, Chloe, thinking I was trying to avoid the situation, grabbed my wrist. “Take your stuff away.” Lucas looked on, clearly enjoying the spectacle. In the past, I would have cried. “Just throw it away.” “What?” Seeing that no one moved, I picked up the jewelry and tossed it into the trash can. “I said, throw away what you don’t want. I’m leaving.” Everyone at the table fell silent. This version of me was too unfamiliar. I ignored them and simply left the table. Chloe felt a strange pang. Watching that annoying figure slowly disappear, it felt like something had quietly spun out of control. Lucas glanced at Chloe, his hand, still holding a fork, clenched abruptly.

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Everyone was scrambling to sell their accounts for the mobile game that was about to shut down. Only I stayed up all night, saying goodbye to each NPC in the game. My friends all laughed, calling me crazy for treating a bunch of data like real people. But then, monsters suddenly descended upon the world. The game’s NPCs became terrifying realities. Everyone was panicking, running for their lives. Only I was in my backyard, casually fishing and enjoying a barbecue. Terrifying realities? What terrifying realities? They were all my best friends. Eldoria Online, a globally popular game, announced it would shut down in one day. As soon as the news broke, everyone rushed to sell their accounts. My roommate, Leo, urged me to sell mine quickly too. “Even a little money is better than nothing,” he’d said. But I didn’t want to sell. For me, what that account meant to me, personally, was far more valuable than money. I politely declined Leo’s suggestion to sell our accounts together and logged in alone. I figured if the game was closing, I should at least give it a proper farewell. After all, this game had been with me through the hardest five years of my life. As usual, I logged on, harvested my garden vegetables, and tidied up my in-game yard. Then, I started visiting each character one by one. I went to the main city and spent all the gold in my account. I bought the old messenger his favorite pastries. I brought Professor Miller the paper and pens he wanted. I bought new shoes for the homeless man by the city gates. I brought something for every single game character. Watching them smile and say, “Thank you, noble hero,” filled me with satisfaction. I smiled back. “Goodbye for now. We might not see each other again, so please, take good care of yourselves.” I whispered to the characters on the screen. My roommate, Leo, scoffed dismissively: “I swear you’ve lost your mind. They’re just data. Once the servers shut down, they’re deleted with one click.” “Take care of yourselves? You actually think they’re real people? You’re out of your mind.” I lowered my eyes, my voice soft but firm as I retorted: “How you see it is your business.” “I consider them my friends. Please don’t insult them.” He snorted. “Alright, alright, ‘friends,’ hahahaha. You really need to see a shrink.” “Calling screen data your friends? How desperate for affection must you be?” “I told you before, something’s not right with him. We should tell the teacher to send him to a mental hospital.” As he spoke, he reached for my phone: “Stop being crazy. Just link your account with mine and sell them.” I pushed him away. “I said no. Leo, I’ll do what I want. Mind your own business.” “Besides, friends are people who provide good emotional support, and they give that to me. Why can’t they be my friends?” As we argued, the clock silently ticked past midnight. I frantically glanced at my phone, only to find the game had been forcibly logged off and shut down. Evelyn! I hadn’t visited Evelyn yet! It was all Leo’s fault, just one more to go. She’s so delicate; disappearing without saying goodbye would probably upset her for ages. But now, no matter how anxious I was, it was too late. Eldoria Online had officially shut down.

On the first day after Eldoria Online shut down, a fierce wind swept outside. A convenience store’s awning on the roadside was ripped up, base and all, flying several meters away. The frantic clerk tried to stop it but was pushed back by the strong gusts. The news repeatedly broadcasted reports of this global storm. Experts took turns analyzing it, but there was no definitive explanation. Some even speculated it was the end of the world. I looked at the dwindling food supply in our dorm and felt a surge of panic. The wind wouldn’t stop, making it impossible to go out. My remaining supplies would only last until tonight. Leo, however, was completely unconcerned: “See? I told you to sell your account with me.” “I made a fortune, eighty thousand bucks! Once the money clears, I can order takeout even if delivery costs a hundred. You just wait to starve!” I didn’t bother arguing with him. He hadn’t even considered that with the game shut down, no one would pay big money for an account; it was probably a scam. I got up to go to the bathroom and wash up when a mechanical system voice suddenly sounded: “Eldoria Online dungeon upload successful. Fantasy dungeon initiated. First mission: Find Ellie’s favorite thing!” “Time limit: 24 hours. Failure will result in annihilation.” “Ellie?” “What the hell is that sound? A mission? Who’s the crazy person talking?” Leo and I spoke at the same time, but our questions were completely different. Ellie was a character in Eldoria Online, the village elder’s granddaughter in the starting zone. She usually loved playing hide-and-seek in the grass by the stream near the village entrance, a really cute kid. But this must just be a coincidence, right? Same name. *Knock, knock, knock.* The dorm door suddenly rattled. Leo walked over and opened it: “Who is it?!” “Mark? What happened to you?” I leaned in to look. Mark was covered in blood, weakly clinging to the wall: “Help, help me!” He stammered the words, and before we could react, he collapsed to the floor. Behind him emerged a small girl with two pigtails, holding a lollipop, her big eyes blinking. She squinted at us and grinned: “Big brother, did you find Ellie’s favorite thing?” Leo jumped back in fright: “Where did this kid come from? You scared me! Kid, where are your parents?” I stared at the girl’s face, finding it increasingly familiar. Wasn’t this Ellie from Eldoria Online? Her clothes and appearance were identical to the game model. How could someone look exactly like a game character? Unconsciously, I shifted a step to the side—a habitual movement when I was thinking. But a sudden chill pierced my calf, making me flinch. What was that? So cold. I looked down. It was Mark! I knelt down and touched him. Mark, at some point, had stopped breathing. His whole body was ice-cold, like he’d just been pulled from an ice cave. I scrambled back onto the floor, stunned: “Dead! Someone’s dead!” “Dead? Are you losing your mind?” Leo turned back to glare at me, annoyed. At the same moment, computers, TVs, phones—every electronic device worldwide—suddenly switched to the same screen. “Experts have confirmed that this anomaly originates from a fantasy game: Eldoria Online.” “Urgent broadcast: We are seeking information from anyone familiar with this game!” “Remember, if you encounter anyone who strongly resembles a character from the game, do not stop! Do not look, do not listen, evacuate immediately!” “If you unfortunately encounter one, please answer any questions they ask with extreme caution. A wrong answer will lead to death!” “Repeat: All citizens must answer any questions posed by these characters with extreme caution!!!” “Now broadcasting character game screenshots.”

“No, no way. It’s a joke, right? Game characters actually came to life?” Leo stared back and forth between the computer screen and Ellie’s face, utterly disbelieving. Ellie still smiled at us, looking just like a normal kid. “Brother, did you find Ellie’s favorite thing? It’s getting late, Ellie needs to go home. Hurry and tell Ellie!” My hands trembled, not from fear or nervousness, but from excitement! I thought I’d never see my friends again, the ones who’d been with me for five years. A game shutting down is sad and helpless. No matter how much you don’t want it to, if the developers decide, everything you poured your heart and soul into—the people, the things, the account—can disappear overnight. And you’re powerless to stop it. The moment I saw the shutdown announcement, my blood ran cold. My mind was consumed by uncontrollable panic. I couldn’t imagine how I’d live without them. But now, they were back. Even if it was in this terrifying form that spread panic among the public, I felt overjoyed! “Ellie’s favorite thing? Who the hell knows? She’s just a starter zone guide. Her storyline is less than one percent of the game.” Leo’s eyes darted around. He suddenly grabbed me and shoved me forward forcefully. “Ask him! He knows! He found it!” *Slam!* He shut the dorm door, leaving me and Ellie locked outside. Through the transparent window on the door, he smirked at me triumphantly: “I’m not dying. You can die first, you monster.” “Besides, didn’t you love studying character lore? Now’s your chance to shine, good luck!” His eyebrows were raised, showing the arrogant swagger of a spoiled rich kid. He was utterly vicious. Just like he used to be, telling classmates I was crazy for treating screen characters as real people, leading everyone to ostracize me. It made my teeth itch with hatred. Fine, Leo, you treat me this way, don’t blame me. I looked at Ellie: “Ellie, I know what your favorite thing is, but after I tell you, you have to go ask that big brother over there. That big brother also wants to answer your question.” Ellie tilted her head: “That big brother also wants to play with me? Okay! You tell me first, and after you do, I’ll go find him!” Leo instantly panicked, pounding on the metal door and cursing: “Alex, you bastard! You’re trying to get me killed! Why don’t you just answer it yourself?” “Damn it! Damn it!” I ignored him, leaned close to Ellie’s ear, and whispered so only we could hear: “Our little Ellie loves big machetes.” A flash of insight sparked in Ellie’s eyes. She giggled: “Brother knows so much.” Leo’s pounding on the door grew louder: “What did you say?! Tell me! Alex, you can’t just leave me to die! We’re roommates!” “But… that’s the wrong answer!” What?! Wrong answer? How could that be? I was stunned, and Leo froze too.

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When it was time for year-end bonuses, I announced that everyone’s bonus would be doubled this year. But the company SnapChat group instantly blew up with a barrage of insults aimed at me. Thinking they were unhappy with the amount, I immediately announced the bonus would be multiplied tenfold. To my shock, the employees reacted even more violently this time. Someone even smashed up my office. I was completely baffled when I heard. Gritting my teeth, I decided to increase it to a hundred times the original amount. Yet, the next day, as soon as I stepped through the company doors, the employees swarmed me in a furious mob and beat me to death without a word. I died without ever understanding why. Then, I opened my eyes again. I had been reborn, back to the very day I announced the year-end bonuses. My entire body trembled as I stared at the message box, where the notice for the doubled bonus was still drafted. I frantically deleted every last word. Recalling my gruesome death in the previous life, all because I had doubled the year-end bonus, I was filled with a chilling confusion. Normally, I was incredibly good to my employees. They had all the benefits they could ask for, a four-day work week, and absolutely no overtime. I even set up a digital feedback system where employees could submit any suggestions, and I’d implement improvements immediately. They had even independently nominated me for a ‘Best Boss’ award from the local business community, which hung proudly in my office. As I was deep in thought, Liam, my boyfriend, pushed the door open and strolled in, smiling softly at me. “Hey, babe, everyone’s asking about this year’s bonus. Have you decided how we’re going to do it?” I froze. In my previous life, Liam had also been beaten to death trying to protect me. Our lives were on the line this time. I had to make a careful decision. After a moment of thought, I tentatively asked, “What do people think? I want to hear their opinions.” Liam shook his head, a wry smile on his face. “I knew you’d ask that, so I already checked. But everyone just said they’d follow your lead.” With the ball back in my court, I felt a familiar frustration. After a brief pause, I gently tapped my desk. “How about we stick to last year’s standard?” No changes. That had to be safe, right? “That could work…” Liam nodded. “But we’ve had a lot more business this year. If the bonus stays the same, won’t people feel…?” My heart clenched. I quickly changed my mind. “Okay, then besides the bonus, we’ll give everyone an extra three thousand dollars in shopping vouchers!” Last time, the problem arose from increasing the bonus amount. This time, I’d switch to physical gifts. Surely, that wouldn’t cause any trouble? Liam agreed, then posted the announcement in the SnapChat group. I waited anxiously for the employees’ reactions. Thankfully, the first reply was a huge thumbs-up emoji. More replies followed, all positive. Soon, the screen was flooded with approval. I breathed a sigh of relief. This disaster, at least, seemed to have been averted. But just as I was about to move on to other tasks, Liam’s face suddenly contorted. “Ava, look at the messages in the group!” A chill shot down my spine. I reopened the chat. Message after message popped up: “We hit double last year’s performance, and Ava gives us an extra three thousand in shopping vouchers? Wow, how generous!” “Company B, with less than half our performance, gets double our year-end perks. Clearly, Ava is the most ‘generous’ boss!” “When did Ava become so ‘magnanimous’?” Their words dripped with sarcasm. Cold sweat trickled down my back, and then it hit me: something was wrong. I knew Company B’s benefits. At most, their annual year-end perks barely reached twenty thousand dollars. Our standard year-end bonus alone was forty thousand, not to mention the extra three thousand in shopping vouchers. No matter how I calculated it, their claims didn’t add up to the situation. I was still pondering when Liam, visibly agitated, couldn’t hold back. His face was etched with alarm. “Everyone clearly disagrees! We need to come up with a new plan, fast!” I gritted my teeth. If shopping vouchers weren’t working, I’d try something else! I had Liam draft another announcement: “In addition to the above benefits, everyone will also receive the latest top-of-the-line Apple phone and an iPad!” 2. The group went silent after the message was sent. Still, my nerves were stretched taut, terrified of another disaster. Over half an hour passed, and there was still no activity in the group. Liam was the first to relax, forcing a smile. “Looks like everyone’s happy. They’re just too embarrassed to change their tune immediately, so no one’s saying anything.” I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding, about to put my phone down, when several messages popped up. They were from Chloe, the manager. “Ava, I’ve muted them all. These people are going too far, insulting you over a few benefits!” “Don’t worry, I’ll talk to them later. I promise this won’t happen again!” She even included a few fawning emojis, clearly believing she’d done me a great service. My brain exploded. I sent a voice message back at lightning speed: “Who told you to mute them! Unmute them in three seconds, now!” “If you waste one more second, don’t bother coming to work tomorrow!” Less than two seconds after I sent the message, the group chat blew up again, every message directed at me: “Ava really has some tricks up her sleeve, doesn’t she? Not only is she constantly stripping away our benefits, but now she wants to silence us too!” “Hmph, looks like her ‘good boss’ image was all an act. Her true colors are finally showing!” “Why bother talking to a heartless capitalist like her? Let’s just take her to court and make her lose everything!” Staring at those messages, I was completely overwhelmed. I had given them everything I could, and the benefits were far beyond what any previous year had offered. I couldn’t understand why they were increasingly unhappy, even turning hostile. Liam, beside me, was frantic, pacing like a caged animal, muttering “What do we do?” over and over. Finally, he suggested I try giving out several times more in bonuses. I, of course, immediately shot down that idea. After a brief period of thought, I finally made a decision: I would talk to everyone face-to-face and find out what they really wanted. But when I expressed my thoughts to everyone, they all remained silent. I grew even more confused. “If you’re all unhappy with my bonus plan, then tell me your thoughts! That’s the only way I can make things better.” To my surprise, an employee named Maya sneered, “Ava, you know exactly what’s going on. Why are you still pretending in front of us?” “If you want to exploit us, just say it directly. There’s no need for these roundabout games. You’re tired, and we’re even more tired!” Another employee, Sarah, scoffed, “Exactly. I actually thought Ava King was a good boss. Turns out you’re just setting traps for us to fall into!” “I’ve seen shameless bosses, but never one as shameless as you! Ugh!” Immediately, others joined in, their voices overlapping in angry discussion, all fuming at me. After being inexplicably insulted for half an hour, even my good temper snapped. “I keep adding to the bonus because you’re unhappy! The benefits you’re getting now are already far beyond any other company in our industry!” “Even if you’re still not satisfied, you can tell me your demands directly, and I’ll grant them! But you’re saying nothing, just constantly insulting me. How does that solve anything?” I thought someone would finally tell the truth, but everyone just stared at me with cold sneers, utterly silent. Their stares made my skin crawl. Remembering how those same faces had beaten me to death in my past life, I quickly turned and hurried away. 3. But behind me, I heard several mocking voices: “See? She’s clearly guilty, that’s why she ran!” “She put on such an innocent act just now, I almost believed her.” Then followed a torrent of vile insults aimed at me. Back in my office, I leaned back in my chair, staring blankly at the ceiling. I had done everything I could, yet I still couldn’t figure out why everyone harbored such resentment over the bonuses. If this continued, I truly didn’t know what to do! Just then, my phone rang. It was Liam. “Ava, I’ve been thinking, and I’m sure everyone still thinks the bonus is too small. But you rejected my suggestion to add more money last time.” “I know you care about the company’s finances. So, I’m willing to cover this expense myself.” “I’ve already sent out the notice for you: everyone’s bonus will be increased tenfold!” My mind instantly exploded. I screamed, “Liam, you need to retract that messag—” It was too late. A barrage of shouts and insults suddenly erupted from outside my office, growing rapidly louder. The next second, my office window was smashed to smithereens, and the door frame rattled violently from repeated kicks. I quickly ducked into the hidden cabinet I’d prepared, clamping my hand over my mouth, afraid to make a sound. The smashing and shouting outside continued for about fifteen minutes before gradually subsiding. Only after confirming it was safe did I emerge, gazing at the wreckage scattered across the floor. A chill ran down my spine. Though, based on my past life, a tenfold bonus shouldn’t cost me my life, being caught would undoubtedly lead to a lot of suffering. I dialed Liam’s number, furious at this screw-up. “Liam, from now on, you are not to make any decisions without my approval! Do you hear me?” Liam sounded completely bewildered on the other end, but after another stern warning from me, he meekly agreed. Chloe soon called, saying that the office smashing was just a few hot-headed male employees, most people weren’t involved, and the matter had already been resolved. I finally relaxed a bit, then asked her to relay a company-wide meeting notice for me. I then called the bank manager, requesting ten million dollars in cash be delivered immediately, escorted by armed bodyguards. In the meeting room, everyone stared in astonishment at the small mountain of cash behind me and the line of armed bodyguards. Liam and Chloe looked completely bewildered, unsure of my intentions. My gaze swept over everyone. I cleared my throat and said solemnly, “Given everyone’s hard work this year, I’ve decided to increase this year’s year-end bonus to a hundred times the original amount! And it will be distributed immediately!” The next second, the room erupted in uproar. Almost every employee’s face twisted in fury, glaring fiercely at me. Many even radiated pure murderous intent. If not for the deterrence of the armed bodyguards behind me, I had no doubt they would have rushed forward immediately and beaten me to death! Though no one dared to act, a tidal wave of insults washed over me: “Ava King, we worked our backsides off to make this company bigger and stronger. We put in so much effort, and you’re trying to drive us to ruin! Are you even human?” “Ava, if my whole family is pushed to their deaths by you, I’ll haunt you even as a ghost!” “Ava King, I’m going to fight you!” Several employees could no longer hold back. They grabbed chairs and charged at me, their eyes screaming that they wanted to smash me to pieces!

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“This pregnancy test is fake! You’re really going all out to get Hunter, aren’t you?” Hunter’s fiancée stomped my pregnancy test report under her heel. I wanted to argue, but Hunter just had the security guards throw me out. “It’s my boss’s big day! Get this fraud out of here, now!” That same day, I became headline news, subjected to everyone’s ridicule. “Hunter is a billionaire! No way he’d ever look twice at a cheap gold-digger like her!” “Who even knows whose bastard child that is?” “She’s pulling stunts right in front of his fiancée? She’s clearly a professional homewrecker!” He didn’t know it, but everything was about to end. This baby was the only thing I’d leave behind in this world. Three days after the scandal broke, Hunter never came to find me again. He was always like that. I opened SnapChat, and his profile picture had changed to a wedding photo with Brianna. Their most recent update was about their engagement ceremony. At the end of our chat history, there was my desperate plea. “Hunter, can we talk?” I tossed and turned all night, thinking, and then spent the entire night vomiting in the bathroom. I wasn’t sure if it was the torment of early pregnancy symptoms or the agony of late-stage stomach cancer. When I woke up again, Hunter was already sitting on the sofa, quietly watching me crawl weakly out of the bathroom. “Skylar, you shouldn’t cause trouble.” “My marriage to her is for business interests. You’re still my woman.” He was terrifyingly calm, dismissing his infidelity in a few words, as if everything was my fault. After three years together, it felt like I was meeting him for the first time. Hunter was still wearing his engagement suit, his hair meticulously styled. He looked like a perfect gentleman, but I found him utterly repulsive. He raised a hand to brush a strand of hair from my forehead, then pulled out a gift box. A delicate, high-end necklace lay inside. “Alright, that’s all over. Just stay by my side, and I can give you anything you want, except marriage.” I suppressed the nausea churning in my stomach, but still dry-heaved violently. His brow furrowed slightly, a hint of impatience in his eyes. “Feeling unwell?” I clutched my stomach, a bitter smile twisting my lips. “I’m really pregnant.” Hunter pushed me away, his gaze turning sharp. “Skylar! Don’t joke with me like this. We’ve always been careful. Manipulative women trying to get ahead always pull these kinds of stunts. When did you start playing their games?” I looked up at him, searching for any trace of the love he once had for me. Sadly, there was only suspicion in his eyes. “If you’re really unwell, I’ll take you to a doctor. Don’t lie.” Hunter’s phone suddenly rang. The ringtone was Brianna’s saccharine hum. “Hunter, pick up! Your little baby misses you!” I curled my lip, shaking his hand off. He put a finger to his lips, signaling me to be quiet, before answering the call. “Hunter, darling, help me choose a wedding dress! I’m completely overwhelmed.” “Just buy all the ones you like.” After the intimate call ended, only dead silence remained in the air. That sweet, coquettish tone, that patient expression on his face. When Hunter and I first got together, those were the words he’d whisper day and night, holding me close. “Skylar, you’re so perfect.” “So perfect that I want to spend my whole life with you, forever, no pressure, no shackles, just a simple life, that’s all I want.” “If that person isn’t you in the future, then I’ll definitely die alone.” Three years later, what I got was him with someone else. My eyes welled up, and I sank to the floor. People change. My voice trembled with a cry, forcing out a smile. “Just go. Go be with her.” Hunter sighed, then knelt down and pulled me into his arms. “That’s a good girl.” “I’ve already arranged for a doctor to come check on you. I’ll see you in a few days. Don’t eat takeout if your stomach is upset, it’s not healthy.” The lock clicked shut. I clutched my lower abdomen, looking at the room that was once filled with tender warmth. Those intimate memories turned into sharp blades, piercing me over and over again. Hunter had promised me a home, to keep me safe and secure forever. Every word sincere, filled with genuine emotion. “If you betray me, may you have a terrible end.” He had agreed. But I believed him, and now I was scared. “Never mind. Little Hunter, be safe and sound. I’ll pay all the debts for him.” I never thought this day would come so soon… I called my childhood friend, Dr. Ryan. “I’ve made up my mind.”

The next day at the hospital, during my check-up, my cancer had already spread. Aside from chemotherapy, surgery was the only other sliver of hope. And I was about to personally snuff out that hope. “You’ve thought this through. This medication will help you carry the baby to term, but it will also drastically shorten your lifespan.” Dr. Ryan looked at me, exasperated. “Does this child absolutely *have* to be born?” I patted his shoulder reassuringly. “My illness is incurable anyway, but I want to keep this baby.” Dr. Ryan didn’t speak, burying his head in front of the computer, repeatedly checking my medical records. Tears still uncontrollably streamed down his face. He knew in his heart that this was the best way. As I walked out of the consulting room, Hunter and Brianna collided with me head-on, coming out of the obstetrics department. His face changed, and he shot me a warning look, telling me to leave quickly. But Brianna spoke first. “Oh, it’s you? What, you’re *actually* pregnant?” Hunter’s expression was also difficult, and after a moment of silence, he finally spoke. “Let’s go, Brianna. No need to talk to irrelevant people.” But Brianna wouldn’t let up, continuing to mock me. “So, have you found out whose bastard child that is in your belly?” I couldn’t be bothered to argue with her. The more I got tangled, the more trouble it would be. As I turned to leave, Brianna deliberately stepped on the hem of my skirt, a malicious smile on her face. “Running away? Did I hit a nerve? Do you know that in our circles, bastards born to homewreckers like you never live long? Do you know why? Because their mothers are morally bankrupt!” My hands trembled uncontrollably, and I slapped her across the face. “Shut up!” “Bitch! How dare you hit me?” When Brianna reached for me, Hunter stepped in front, taking the blow himself. “Enough,” Hunter glanced at her. “Brianna, don’t cross the line. Watch your public image!” I rubbed my reddened wrist, leaning against the wall. Hunter’s tall figure trapped me in the corner, shielding me from the prying eyes and gossiping cameras of passersby. Then he whispered to me, “Go home and wait for me.” “No need,” I replied. He froze. “Don’t be difficult, Sky—” Before he could finish, I said, “Let’s break up.” Hunter laughed. “Here we go again. I told you our relationship won’t change. I can’t believe you’re still pretending to be pregnant, still wanting to argue! You truly disappoint me.” I sighed, took his hand, and gently placed it over my lower abdomen. But the next second, Brianna’s scream echoed from behind me. Blood seeped thinly from her thigh, quickly staining her dress. “Hunter! The baby! Our baby! After she hit me, I started bleeding!”

Hunter stared at me, then told me with absolute certainty, “Whether you’re really pregnant or faking it, this child cannot exist now!” He rushed Brianna to the emergency room and called a doctor to examine me. When my pregnancy test results were placed in front of Hunter, he didn’t even glance at them, showing no trace of joy. I remained silent too. After a long, silent standoff, he finally spoke. “She lost the baby.” I found it inexplicably amusing and looked up at his solemn face. “So? So you’re going to kill *our* child?” “My child with you… it can’t be an illegitimate child… your child can’t stay.” I paused, then looked up at him in disbelief. “This is our first baby.” Brianna, her face pale, rushed in from outside the hospital room and collapsed into Hunter’s arms, her swollen eyes accusing me of her pain. “What child? She clearly bribed the doctor to trick you! That report is fake!” I was about to speak, when Hunter slowly picked up the pregnancy test report and examined it carefully. Bodyguards dragged the fleeing doctor back in through the door. The man grabbed the hem of my dress, desperately pleading. “Ms. Skylar, I did exactly as you asked! You promised me a promotion if you succeeded! You can’t abandon me!” After a moment, Hunter tore the report to shreds and turned to look at me. “Skylar, give me an explanation.” I pursed my lips, holding back tears, and stared at Hunter, counter-questioning him. “Is that truly how you see me?” “Perhaps I didn’t know you well enough before. People change.” Brianna choked back a sob and threw a newspaper in front of us. The headline blared: “Star Schemer Uses Fake Pregnancy To Oust CEO’s Fiancée, Ends in Miscarriage Scandal.” “Ms. Skylar, you got what you wanted!” “You deliberately came here, appeared in front of us, and blew things up, wasn’t it all for this moment? You succeeded! My baby is gone! You have to pay the price!” Hunter reached up and rubbed my shoulder, his voice devoid of emotion. “Skylar, you were too eager, but not clever enough. Playing dangerous games always has consequences!” His words struck me as utterly absurd and laughable. He was the one who, after his celebration banquet that night, begged me for his child. A unique little one, just for us. I thought he was finally ready to settle down, finally ready to give me a home. But I never imagined it was just drunken babble, empty words. Only I took it seriously. “Hunter, let’s stop torturing each other. Let’s break up.” He curved his lips. “Don’t try that ‘playing hard to get’ act.” “You’re all alone. Without me, where would you go? How would you live? Get an IUD, and I can pretend nothing happened. We can go back to how things were.” Brianna, still sobbing, pursed her lips. “Just an IUD? She should be sterilized! Her womb needs to be ripped out to pay for my baby!” Hunter simply glanced at her, then repeated, “Her matters, I decide.” Only then did she quiet down, glaring venomously at my lower abdomen. He had always been domineering and autocratic. I mistakenly thought that possessiveness was love.

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A utility bill led me back to the home I bought years ago. An old con artist had moved in. Her son guarded the door. Their relatives forged papers to steal my deed. They wanted a free house. What they got was me— and the revenge I brought with me. Four years ago, I bought a property but never moved in. Two years later, out of the blue, I started receiving overdue utility bills. Confused beyond belief, I went back to check—and found strangers living in my house. After work, I received a utility payment reminder on my phone. Staring at the unfamiliar address on the screen, it took me a minute to remember that I did have a property at that location. My mom had bought it for me during college, wanting me to have a place off-campus. But, in a last-minute decision, I ended up studying abroad, leaving the place vacant and barely furnished. That was when it hit me: no one should be living there. So where was this utility bill coming from? With mounting confusion, I headed to Oak Hollow Estates, following my memory. … Standing at the door, I noticed that the door itself looked nothing like what I remembered. The black steel door here was new, a stark contrast to the original one I had from the builder. I checked the door number again, feeling unsettled. “808. It’s definitely this one…” Staring at the unfamiliar black door, I caught a whiff of a foul odor leaking from inside. An uneasy feeling crept over me. I didn’t waste any time and called a locksmith. The locksmith, Silas Truitt, arrived quickly, giving me a once-over. “This your place?” I nodded, digging my property deed and ID from my bag to show him. “Of course. Here are the papers if you’d like to verify.” Silas studied the documents and, still looking wary, handed them back. Hoping to get inside quickly, I said, “Look, if it speeds things up, I can pay you a hundred extra, alright?” Silas finally crouched down, opened his toolkit, and muttered under his breath, “Wasn’t there an old lady living here before?” “What did you say?” I asked, but before he could answer, an angry voice yelled from behind us. “What do you think you’re doing?” Something knocked my shoulder as a frail-looking old lady rushed toward Silas, jabbing a finger in his face and shouting, “How dare you, trying to steal from my home in broad daylight!” With surprising strength, she swiped at him, her nails catching his face and leaving a scratch. Silas staggered back with a yelp, clutching his cheek, and pointed toward me. “It’s not me! She asked me to unlock it!” The old lady’s head snapped toward me, her eyes flickering over my face before settling on my necklace with a flash of greed. “Oh, you little thief,” she hissed, striding toward me. “You think I’ll let you get away with this?” As she reached for me, I stepped back, avoiding her. She shot me a quick, calculating look before dropping to the ground with a dramatic wail. “Oh, my bones! This young woman tried to break into my home, and now she’s attacking an old lady!” she shrieked, loud enough to draw nearby residents out of their doors to watch. It was like nothing I’d ever seen. I fought the urge to back away, but as people gathered, the woman clutched at my leg, crying out, “Don’t leave! You knocked me to the ground, and now I can’t move. You’re responsible!” “What?!” I protested. “I never touched you! Silas here can vouch for that.” But when I glanced at Silas, he looked away, refusing to meet my eyes. The old lady’s expression twisted with smug satisfaction, her grip on my leg like a vice. “See? Good people don’t lie for thieves. Now, if you don’t want trouble, I suggest you compensate me.” She stared hungrily at my necklace, making her intention clear. Taking a steadying breath, I raised my chin. “Alright. What kind of compensation are you looking for?” Her eyes lit up, and she jabbed a finger toward my necklace. “Hospitals aren’t cheap! If you want me to forget this, leave that gold necklace as payment, and we’ll call it even.” I nodded. “Fine. But before I hand it over, answer a couple of questions?” Without hesitation, she agreed. “Ask away.” I gestured at the steel door. “First, is this your place?” “Of course it’s my place!” she snapped, not missing a beat. “Oh, really? Then why would my property become yours?” I asked with a pointed smile. She faltered, stammering, “I—I don’t understand what you mean.” “I mean it literally. Why are you living in my house?” A glint of guilt flashed in her eyes, but she squared her shoulders defiantly. “Who says it’s yours? I’ve lived here for years. What proof do you have that it belongs to you?” “Oh, I have proof, alright.” 2. Slowly, I pulled out my property deed, flipped to the first page, and pointed to the line clearly stating that Mara Carlisle was the registered owner. Behind me, my neighbor Alvin “Al” Renfield muttered in surprise, “So, it’s not even hers?” “Didn’t think she could afford a place like this,” another murmured. The crowd’s growing murmurs left the old lady’s face turning red with anger. She lunged toward me, reaching for the deed. I raised my hand just in time, laughing. “Weren’t you just unable to stand a second ago? Seems like you’ve made a miraculous recovery.” Realizing her blunder, she flushed, then shoved me hard, snarling, “I’ve been here for three years, so it’s mine now! Who are you to come out of nowhere and claim it?” I nearly laughed out loud. “So by your logic, anyone can move into any property and call it theirs after three years? Is that it?” “Yes, exactly!” Her shouting was so loud that finally, the complex’s security guard showed up. “What’s going on here?” he demanded. The old lady’s face lit up. “Oh, thank heavens you’re here! This girl was breaking into my home, saying it’s hers! You have to help me!” Without missing a beat, the guard stepped between us, glaring at me. “What are you doing here, disturbing the residents?” I’d never seen someone leap to conclusions so quickly. Exasperated, I shoved my deed toward him. “Why don’t you take a look and see who owns the property?” As he took in the document, his face briefly went pale, but with a glance at the gathered neighbors, he snatched for it. I pulled it back just in time. “What are you doing? I can hold it for you to read.” The guard’s face darkened. “Who knows if this is real or fake? Just waltzing in with a phony deed to take someone’s place? Get lost!” As he moved to push me away, the old lady took the chance to quickly unlock the door. The moment it opened, a stomach-turning stench wafted out, strong enough to make me gag. Inside, I saw heaps of trash, and a rat scurried out through the crack. The old lady darted inside and slammed the door shut. I started to knock, but the guard blocked my way, brandishing his baton. “Still here? I’ll kick you out myself!” Silas, the locksmith, finally spoke up in a low voice, “You might want to leave. That old lady is notorious for her antics. She’s always trying to take advantage of people, and no one wants to deal with her.” With a final sympathetic glance, he left. Glancing at the bulldog of a guard, I had no choice but to retreat for the moment. 3. Once outside, I headed straight to the Oak Hollow Sheriff’s Office, though I wasn’t holding my breath. The look on the deputy’s face confirmed my suspicions. “This case is a bit tricky. She’s older, and, well, she has a bit of a temper,” said Deputy Eli Boone, a touch sheepishly. His tone said it all: Agnes Forsythe, that “old lady,” liked to cause trouble. Even law enforcement had a hard time dealing with her. Seeing my frustration, he added, “The best option here is to file a civil suit. The court can issue an eviction order.” Who knew how long that would take? I could only imagine the state of the place by then, seeing how she was turning it into a junkyard. Taking a deep breath, I got an idea and asked, “Officer, I can go into my own property to clean up the trash, right?” The officer coughed and replied, “As long as there’s no lease in place, technically, you can. Just avoid any physical confrontations.” That was all I needed. With renewed energy, I left the station. Just as I stepped out, I saw the old lady herself, Agnes Forsythe, hunched over a dumpster, digging through garbage. Beside her, holding an oversized canvas sack, was none other than the guard—her son, Travis Forsythe. Freezing in place, I hid behind a sign just in time to catch their conversation. “Mom, you think that woman will come back for the place?” he asked. “Relax, Travis,” Agnes replied. “I won’t let her set foot in here again.” Ah. No wonder the guard had been so hostile. The two of them were in on it. “But she has the deed,” Agnes said, voice tinged with worry. “What if she calls the cops?” “Don’t worry,” Travis scoffed, puffing up his chest. “Next time, I’ll just grab the deed and rip it to pieces. No proof, no problem. Besides, Uncle Harvey Lane can make us a new one if we need it.” I clenched my fists, holding back a laugh. Did these two really think that destroying my deed would make the house theirs? Watching as the “Recording Complete” icon appeared on my phone, I smiled grimly. So, the Forsythe family thought they could stake a claim? They had no idea who they were dealing with. 4. Early the next morning, I gathered a small crew and returned to Oak Hollow Estates just as Agnes was out scavenging. Travis tried to block our way, but seeing the muscle I brought, he quickly stepped aside, muttering nervously. Reaching the door, I instructed the team, “Break it open.” The stench hit us immediately as the door opened, revealing an avalanche of trash—cans, cardboard, foam boxes, and unwashed takeout containers piled from floor to ceiling. I gagged and pinched my nose. “Clear it all out,” I ordered. Then, with a smirk, I added, “Carefully. Stack it all neatly by the garbage bins.” The hired team, worth every penny, tackled the job with professionalism, unaffected by the rancid smell. As they worked, Travis stepped back and whispered into his phone, probably summoning his mother. By the time Agnes arrived, clutching her oversized sack, half of her “collection” was gone. “Stop! Put it all back!” she shrieked, lunging forward. But one of the crewmen casually lifted her by the collar and set her aside. Sputtering with rage, she spotted me, screeching, “You little hussy! I’ll scratch your eyes out!” She was back at it again, her claws out. Another crew member lifted her and set her down in a corner, out of reach. I casually blew on my fingernails, glancing at the movers. “Hurry up and clear this place. I want the locks changed.” Fuming, Agnes screamed at her son, “Call your uncle! Now!” Amused, I watched as Travis dialed Harvey Lane Forsythe, the property manager. I was curious to see the man who had helped turn my house into a squatters’ paradise.

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I rushed to the hotel entrance just to deliver a box of condoms for my childhood crush. The moment the door opened, I saw the passion he gave another girl. And in that instant, I finally understood: Twenty years of companionship had never meant anything to him. I thought I would never be able to love anyone again— until a boy named Ethan Callahan pulled me out of the darkness with nothing but his genuine heart. But just when I thought the past was over, Tyler suddenly turned back. (1) My “friend” suddenly announced he had a girlfriend. The caption read: “I’m not good with words, I just want to see you.” In that instant, my SnapChat exploded. All our mutual friends bombarded me with messages: “Riley, isn’t Tyler’s girlfriend supposed to be you?” Indeed. Why wasn’t I Tyler Harper’s girlfriend? Before I could process what was happening, Tyler sent me a message: “So, what do you think? Isn’t my girlfriend pretty?” Each word felt like a knife twisting in my heart. My hands were shaking so much I could barely see the screen through my blurred vision. He must have grown impatient waiting for a response because he sent another message: “My girlfriend knows we’re close. I don’t want her to get the wrong idea, so maybe don’t come find me for a while.” I read his messages over and over, then threw my phone aside and burst into tears. All these years, everyone knew I loved Tyler. Everyone except Tyler himself. He always thought I was just his best friend. His family without the blood ties. In this world, if we’re talking about who knows Tyler Harper best, I, Riley Bennett, would say I’m second to none. I know he likes his egg pancakes without green onions, his beef noodles without cilantro, his winter hoodies without hoods, and that his sneakers are half a size bigger than his regular shoes. I’ve made all his literature notes since we were kids, and when he first started college, I bought him his first set of formal wear. I used to be so proud of how much space I occupied in Tyler’s life. I thought no other girl could leave as many traces in his life as I had. I thought there was just one small step left between us. One opportunity that would make it all fall into place naturally. But I never got that opportunity. Instead, I got the fact that Tyler now had a girlfriend. He kept chattering away on SnapChat, telling me how great his new girlfriend was. How she surprisingly liked green onions and cilantro, and now he liked them too because she did. He shared pictures of the hooded sweatshirt she bought him, saying he loved it so much he’d wear it every day. He even mentioned how cute it was that she bought him sneakers that were too small. Every word felt like it was erasing my past. Finally, he sent me one last message, “My girlfriend says if you could bring us some condoms, she’d believe we’re just friends. Riley, hurry and bring them over!” He attached the address of a hotel. His audacity with me was entirely my own doing. Since childhood, I’d always given him whatever he wanted. If he asked for the stars, I’d have built a ladder to fetch them for him. Even his mom said there wasn’t another person in this world who’d be as good to him as I was. It was precisely because I was so good to him that he took such liberties. He took me for granted. I wiped away my tears and actually went. When I arrived, he was already impatiently waiting. As soon as he opened the door, he snatched the condoms from my hand, giving me a dirty look: “Riley, what took you so long? My girlfriend almost got suspicious!” He didn’t even give me a chance to speak before slamming the door shut. Before the door closed, I caught a glimpse of the girl. She was wrapped in a towel, her hair loose, water droplets still clinging to her skin. I saw Tyler eagerly walking towards her, about to embrace her… Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. I didn’t want to look so pathetic in front of Tyler, so I tried to cover my mouth, but I still couldn’t hold back a sob. Suddenly, I felt like a complete joke. I wiped away my tears and tried to message him in as calm a tone as I could muster: “Tyler, I won’t bother you anymore.” After sending it, I blocked him. Tyler and I had known each other since we were in diapers. After more than twenty years, there were too many memories. Just the photos of us together took up over 30GB of my phone’s storage. I deleted them all. Not just that, I even deleted all those childish photos we’d taken together years ago from my social media accounts. I made up my mind. From today on, I would no longer love Tyler Harper. (2) The next day, after class, Tyler cornered me. He looked at me, exasperated, as if I was being unreasonable. “Riley, what’s your problem?” I admit, it’s impossible to forget someone you’ve loved for so long overnight. Seeing him again, my heart still ached a little. I pretended nothing was wrong and acted like I hadn’t heard him. He was clearly getting impatient. “You’re making Mia really uncomfortable. She thinks she’s the reason we’re not getting along.” I looked at him, feeling a bitter taste in my mouth, unable to say a word. I could only quicken my pace to leave. Tyler cursed behind me, “Damn it, Riley, are you getting too full of yourself? Making such a fuss just because your bro is dating someone. Mia was right, you’re acting like a possessive bitch. Don’t tell me you actually like me?” I stopped in my tracks and turned to look at him. Suddenly, I had the urge to lay it all out. “What if I said yes?” “Huh?” Tyler awkwardly rubbed his fingers, seemingly caught off guard by my response. “I was just kidding. Uh, I gotta go. We’ll talk later, okay?” For the next two months, Tyler didn’t contact me, and I didn’t reach out to him either. I heard he’d been getting pretty serious with his girlfriend. They even signed up for a travel group, planning to go on a trip during summer break. My friends were indignant about this and messaged me to complain: “Doesn’t Tyler have a heart? How can he be so public about it? Doesn’t he worry about hurting you?” I paused for a moment before replying: “Let him be.” It would get better slowly. While Tyler was flaunting his relationship, I cried silently in pain several nights. But I forced myself not to think about it, not to ask about it. Later, I truly stopped thinking about it. I started focusing on my studies, keeping myself busy every day. Then one day, my roommate informed me that I was featured on the university’s confession wall. The confession was simple: “Riley Bennett from second-year Economics, I, Ethan Callahan, have decided you’re the one for me.” Well… To be honest, it was a bit underwhelming. Who still uses these cheesy, domineering pickup lines these days? I didn’t take it seriously at all, thinking it was just someone’s prank. But what I didn’t expect was that Ethan Callahan really did start pursuing me aggressively. Because of what happened with Tyler, I was extremely averse to the idea of dating, so I was very cold towards him. But he never got discouraged. In fact, he seemed to become more determined with each rejection. At first, every time I came out of the library, I’d see him waiting there, always holding a cup of my favorite cheese grape tea. He’d hand it to me as soon as I came out. At first, I refused to accept it, but he didn’t get upset. He just smiled and said, “But senior, I’ve already bought it. It’d be such a waste.” “If you really don’t want it, why don’t you just transfer me the money?” And just like that, he successfully got my SnapChat contact. I thought giving him my contact might be troublesome, but he was very considerate. He’d only occasionally like or comment on my posts, rarely actively disturbing my life. Gradually, I even started to get used to it. After a while, when I tried to transfer him money for the milk tea again, he refused, giving a very reasonable explanation: “We’re so familiar now. Treating you to a cup of milk tea is just what I should do.” Reading this message, I found myself sprawled on my bed, laughing uncontrollably. I never thought this kid would be so good at pursuing girls. He handled the boundaries between men and women just right. I started to enjoy interacting with him. After all, who doesn’t like a good-looking guy who knows how to treat a girl right? As I got to know him better, I found out that Ethan’s college entrance exam score was actually over 30 points higher than our university’s admission line. I couldn’t understand it: “Then why did you come here?” He seemed a bit embarrassed for once, scratching his head: “Because the person I like is here.” The atmosphere suddenly became a bit awkward. I coughed uncomfortably: “With 600 points, you don’t seem like someone who’d write that kind of confession.” This time, he was even more embarrassed, a blush quickly spreading across his face. “That was posted by my roommates. They were just messing around.” Ethan is very good-looking, a bit more than just conventionally attractive. Growing up, the most handsome person I’d ever seen was Tyler. But looking closely, Ethan seemed no less attractive than Tyler. As I stared at him for a while, I suddenly realized that I hadn’t thought about Tyler for quite some time. He seemed to have really disappeared from my life. Ethan started to occupy my time. Every day, he’d find new ways to cater to my preferences. I didn’t like eating breakfast in the cafeteria, so he’d wake up two hours early to buy me breakfast from my favorite store. It wasn’t just me; even my roommates benefited. Every time he brought something to my dorm, he’d bring a portion for my roommates too, making sure everyone got a share while ensuring mine was always the best. If I posted on social media in the morning saying I wanted to go out, by afternoon he’d be dressed up ready to take me on a suburban outing. When I casually mentioned wanting to eat a strawberry cake, that evening I received a strawberry cake he’d bought. It had the logo of “South Family Rice Shop” on it. This shop was near my home. I looked at him in surprise: “When did you go buy this?” Ethan looked a bit embarrassed, still catching his breath: “I went as soon as I saw your post. I was playing ball with my roommates in the afternoon and saw it a bit late. I almost didn’t make it in time.” This shop had always been popular. It had been there since I was little, but the owner was someone who really knew how to live. Every day, without fail, he’d close shop at 5 PM, regardless of whether there were still customers or not. The reason I knew this so well was because I’d passed by their shop countless times, but never bought anything. Their prices were about a third higher than other places. Even my mom only bought me one on my birthday each year. I couldn’t bring myself to buy one, but I always craved it. Every time Tyler saw me looking, he’d pat my head and comfort me like a child: “Don’t look anymore, little one. Big bro Tyler will buy you one next time.” But I waited year after year, and it never happened. Every time, he had an excuse. He’d spent all his allowance, or he didn’t have time to go buy it, and so on. Back then, I believed him. Now, looking at the small 6-inch strawberry cake in Ethan’s hands, I suddenly felt my eyes getting warm. So, if someone really wanted to buy it, it only took two hours. So this is what it feels like to be cherished. I couldn’t help but cry. Ethan immediately panicked, “Don’t cry! I really was playing ball and didn’t see your message, or I would have brought it earlier.” “When I got there, the owner was about to close. I had to beg him for a while before he agreed to make one for me.” “Riley, please don’t cry.” He looked so pitiful, seeming like he wanted to wipe my tears but didn’t dare. He was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. His reaction made me laugh. I took the strawberry cake and asked him: “Ethan, you really like me, don’t you?” “Of course!” He rolled his eyes, exasperated. “I wouldn’t spend two hours buying a cake for a girl I didn’t like.” Hearing this, I smiled slowly: “Then remember this. From today on, you have a girlfriend.”

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