Author: Momo Chan

I was a disgrace to the entire journalism profession. They said I chased “thrills,” which meant I starred in adult films and fell into a crippling drug habit. Dr. Julian Vance, the chief forensic scientist and my ex-husband, was the one who despised me. He threw me out of our home, accusing me of selling my skin for a quick buck. Later, I vanished completely, just as he wanted. It wasn’t until five years later that Julian received a call from the police department, asking him to pick up an abandoned child. “Can you help me find my mommy? She was sleeping in a red suitcase, and someone carried her away.” Lily’s innocent words brought a roar of laughter from the room. To them, I was just another junkie who had probably gotten high and disappeared on a binge. Julian’s face was dark as he pressed them. “Where is Aubrey Hayes, that wretched woman, hiding now? Did she run out of money for her fix and send you to beg?” I floated in the air, watching Lily raise a blood-spotted rag doll, timidly saying. “Mommy said this is a gift for the hero uncle. It has bad people’s secrets inside.”

I floated above, watching Lily. She was curled on a police station bench, covered in grime, clutching that blood-stained rag doll for dear life. Her small face was a mask of grime, her hair a nest of tangles. The officer beside her made the call, his face a mask of disdain. “Dr. Vance? Your ex-wife’s vanished again. Left the kid. Didn’t want her.” “Once a junkie, always a junkie. When the monkey climbs on their back, they forget everything, even their own child.” I was numb to their vicious, vulgar words. But Lily shouldn’t hear this. I tried to cover her ears, my hands passing through her in a ghostly failure. Powerless. On the other end of the line, Julian’s voice was clear. “I’ll be right there.” Thirty minutes later, Julian finally appeared at the police station entrance. He appeared at the station thirty minutes later, the smell of formaldehyde still on his coat, his expression stormy. He completely bypassed Lily, asking the officer nearby. “Where’s Aubrey Hayes?” The officer shrugged. “Her phone’s off. No one’s home..” Julian let out a cold sneer. “Probably overdosed in a ditch somewhere. Saves us the trouble. One less junkie on the streets.” Lily heard his voice and timidly looked up. “Are you my daddy? Mama said my daddy is a hero.” Julian recoiled in disgust, stepping back to avoid Lily’s outstretched, dirty little hand. “Don’t call me that. I don’t have a child with a junkie, let alone a bastard.” Lily flinched, tears flooding her eyes. In a desperate, hurried motion, she thrust her rag doll toward him. “Mama said to give this to the hero uncle. And we can get food.” Julian slapped the doll away. “Don’t you dare try to disgust me with that filthy thing!” Lily stumbled to the ground, crying as she picked up the doll, carefully brushing off the dust. Julian knelt down, staring at Lily. “Where’s your mother?” “Mama was put in a suitcase by a bad man.” Lily sobbed, hugging her doll tightly. “The suitcase had lots and lots of red liquid coming out of it. Mama told me to run, and to give the doll to Uncle…” The surrounding police officers burst into laughter. “A red suitcase? This kid must have inherited her mother’s psychosis.” “Aubrey probably got high and hallucinated, and the kid’s just making things up.” “Or maybe her drug dealers came for her. Aubrey skipped town with a huge debt, cooking up this red suitcase story to fool the kid.” Julian’s face turned grim, listening to their disgusting remarks. He grabbed Lily’s arm and pulled her towards the exit. “Come home with me. We’ll wait and see when your wretched mother decides to grace us with her presence.” By the car, as the headlights flashed, Julian noticed Lily’s bare arms were covered in dense bruises and tiny needle marks. His face changed instantly, erupting in fury. “Aubrey, that animal! Did she actually inject drugs into such a small child?” I cried out desperately beside him: No! That’s from when Lily was sick, and they drew blood for her medicine! But Julian couldn’t hear me. He only thought I was so depraved I’d even harm my own daughter. Lily didn’t understand the man’s anger. She rubbed her grumbling stomach and whispered, “Uncle, I’m hungry. I want white powder.” Julian’s eyes flashed with fresh disgust. “Drugs? At your age? Find your junkie mother for your fix.” Lily flinched, her small body trembling. “No! Not that white powder!” Lily pleaded, her voice shaking. “Mama said it means formula!” “Lies.” He yanked the car door open and shoved her inside. “You’ve infected your own child, Aubrey. Rot in hell.” The car door slammed shut. Terrified, she clutched her rag doll. “Mama,” she whispered, “will you come back?” Julian heard Lily’s whisper and snarled. “You’d better not.” I pressed against the car window, watching my daughter curled up in the back seat and Julian’s cold indifference. Tears silently streamed down my face.

Julian took Lily back to his villa. I looked at the familiar furnishings inside. This had once been our marital home, still spotless, but everything related to me had been meticulously erased. Lily stood at the entrance, looking at the clean floor, hesitant to step on it. She quietly took off her worn shoes, standing barefoot in the foyer. “Julian, you’re back.” Sophia Reynolds, a woman in a beige shawl, glided out from the master bedroom. It was Sophia, my mother’s adopted daughter. After I “fell” and left home, she seamlessly filled the void I’d left, completely replacing me, staying by my mother’s and Julian’s side. Seeing Lily, she clearly paused. “This child is…” “Aubrey, that bitch, just dumped her here.” Julian loosened his tie, annoyed. “She’s run off again.” Sophia walked over to Lily, kneeling down. “What’s your name, little one?” Lily hugged her rag doll tighter, timidly shrinking back. “Lily.” “What a sweet name.” Sophia smiled and reached out to touch her head, but Lily recoiled. Sophia’s smile faltered for a second, then quickly softened again. “The child is so dirty; I’ll take her to have a bath.” Julian nodded, and Sophia led Lily towards the bathroom. I frantically followed, a sense of foreboding washing over me. Sure enough, as soon as the bathroom door closed, the tenderness vanished from Sophia’s face. She intentionally made the water scalding hot. Lily screamed in pain, but Sophia pretended not to hear, vigorously scrubbing her wounds. “Shut up. A junkie’s daughter has no right to cry about pain.” I desperately tried to push her away, but I couldn’t even touch a strand of her hair. I could only watch helplessly as my daughter was tormented. After the bath, Sophia led Lily out and sighed to Julian. “Julian, look, this child has so many marks on her body.” Sophia lowered her voice. “It seems Aubrey’s life out there… has been a mess. Who knows how much suffering this child has endured with her.” Julian’s face grew even darker. “What good could a junkie ever do?” “Julian, please don’t be angry.” Sophia gently soothed him. “You’ve already done more than enough for Aubrey.” Lily’s eyes lit up when she saw the bread on the table, but she didn’t dare to take it. Julian casually picked up a slice of bread and tossed it at her feet, as if shooing away a stray dog. Lily was starving; she swallowed her pride, picked up the bread, and wolfed it down, almost choking. But she only ate half, then carefully wrapped the rest and tucked it into her pocket. Julian frowned. “Eat, why aren’t you eating more?” Lily was startled by his harsh tone, timidly saying, “Mama… saved for Mama. Mama’s in the suitcase, she doesn’t have food.” “She’s out there selling her body for her next fix. Do you really think she’d starve?” Julian sneered. Lily seemed not to understand. She pulled out a crumpled bill from her pocket, carefully smoothed it flat, and offered it to Julian. “Uncle, Mama said we shouldn’t take things for free. This is all my money.” That was the last ten dollars I got from selling my blood to pay for Lily’s medicine; it still had faint traces of my blood on it. Julian slapped the bill away. “Keep it. Maybe it’ll buy your mother a coffin.” The bill fluttered to the floor. Lily slowly picked it up, folded it neatly, and put it back in her pocket. “Mama said, if I’m good, she’ll come back.” “You actually believe anything that junkie says? She can’t even take care of herself, why would she come back for you?” Julian lit a cigarette. Lily shook her head. “Mama really is in the red suitcase. I saw her.” “I also saw men hitting Mama, and Mama bled so much red. Lots and lots of red…” Lily’s tears started again. “My doll also got red from the liquid. Mama said it has bad people’s secrets inside…” “Enough!” Julian suddenly stood up. “Has Aubrey, that bitch, taught you to lie at such a young age? What red suitcase, what bad guys? It’s all a twisted game she made up!” Lily was so scared by Julian that she collapsed to the floor, crying. My heart was in agony. I reached out to hug my Lily, but my hand passed powerlessly through her tiny body. I’m so sorry, Lily. Mommy was useless. Sophia stepped forward and took Julian’s arm. “Julian, please don’t be angry. It’s normal for a child to pick up bad habits from an adult like that, we’ll just have to teach her slowly.” She turned to Lily. “Sweetheart, what your mommy did was very wrong, but Uncle Julian and Auntie Sophia will teach you to be a good girl.” I looked at Sophia in fury, wishing I could rip apart her hypocritical facade. Before Sophia could finish, my mother stormed into the villa.

Lily was still kneeling, crying into her doll. My mother saw her and began to tremble with rage. “So this is Aubrey’s bastard?” Lily flinched, shrinking back and hugging her rag doll tighter. “Grandma.” she timidly began. “Don’t you dare call me that!” My mother stepped forward and pushed her. “We don’t have trash like you in this family!” Lily fell hard to the ground, hitting her head on the corner of the coffee table. Blood instantly gushed out. “No! Mom! Lily isn’t a bastard!” I frantically rushed to stand in front of Lily, my fingers trembling with fear and rage, but no one could see me. Julian moved to help Lily up. “Don’t you dare touch her!” My mother pointed at Julian. “Why did you bring this little mongrel, born to Aubrey and God knows who, back here?!” I watched helplessly as my daughter’s blood stained the floor. I wanted to hold her, to wipe away her blood, but I couldn’t do anything. How I wished I were still alive, so I could protect my Lily. “Mama…” Lily cried, crawling up, blood streaming from her forehead into her eyes. “Lily hurts so bad…” “Good, I hope it kills you!” My mother sneered. “Your mother was a whore who made adult films, a junkie so far gone she was barely human! You’re no good either!” “My mommy isn’t a bad person!” Lily suddenly cried out loudly. “Mama is a hero!” “A hero?” My mother laughed in disbelief. “A junkie who stripped for money – does she deserve to be called a hero?” She turned to Julian. “Two choices. You send her to an orphanage, or I die on this spot. Your move.” Sophia quickly stepped forward to support my mother, who was swaying precariously. “Mom, please don’t get agitated. Your health is important.” “How can I not be agitated?” My mother clutched her chest. “Aubrey, that wretched woman, has brought nothing but shame to our Hayes family! And now she expects us to raise her bastard child? Dream on!” Julian stood rooted to the spot, his face grim. He looked at Lily, whose face was covered in blood, then at his trembling, enraged mother. “I’ll contact the orphanage,” he said, closing his eyes, his voice weary. “I’ll send her there once I finish the case I’m on.” “No.” Lily cried, crawling to Julian’s feet. “I’ll be good, I don’t want anything, I just want to find Mommy.” “Your mother abandoned you long ago!” Julian kicked her aside. “Stop talking nonsense!” Just then, Julian’s phone rang. “Dr. Vance, we have a break in The Riverbend Dismemberment Case! A complete red suitcase was found at the scene. We need you here, now!” Julian hung up, glancing at Lily, who was sprawled on the floor. “She’s coming with me.” “Julian,” Sophia softly began. “Why not leave the child here?” “Take care of my mother,” Julian said, looking at Sophia. My mother scoffed. “Better if she dies in a place like that. Saves me the trouble of seeing her.” Sophia helped my mother sit down, gently soothing her. “Mom, don’t be angry. I’ll get you some water.” I clearly saw a subtle curve on Sophia’s lips as she turned to the kitchen. I knew she had deliberately told my mother, but I couldn’t expose her hypocritical face. I could only watch helplessly as Julian picked Lily up like a rag doll and tossed her into the car. The car raced into the night. Lily huddled in the back, the cut on her forehead crusted over. She hugged her rag doll, murmuring soft, broken words. “Mama, I found him, but he doesn’t believe me.” “Mama, I’m so scared.” “Mama, are you cold in the suitcase? Please come get me…” An agony I could no longer feel twisted deep inside me. I could only press closer, a silent prayer for warmth I couldn’t give. I’m so sorry, Lily. I failed you. I couldn’t even secure your future.

The car stopped by the riverbend. A crowd of onlookers gathered outside the police tape. Julian put on his gloves, his face expressionless, and knelt down. “Mama! Mama!” Lily, still in the car, excitedly pounded on the window when she saw the red suitcase. Captain Miller, the detective, frowned. “Dr. Vance, why did you bring the child?” “Aubrey’s bastard,” Julian said without looking up. “I’ll drop her off at the orphanage after this.” “No! She’s your daughter! Julian, you can’t send her away!” I screamed with all my might, but Julian couldn’t hear me. Captain Miller sighed. “This child is truly unfortunate, stuck with a mother like Aubrey.” “Unfortunate, really?” Julian sneered. “Like mother, like daughter. She’s only five and already learned how to lie and manipulate for money.” I watched my Lily crying, gasping for breath, my heart in agony. I turned to look at the now cold Julian, remembering seven years ago, when he saved me and his arm was gashed open, bone-deep. He had firmly told me, “No matter what happens, I will always trust you.” But who could have imagined now… The sound of the zipper opening was jarring, and a putrid stench instantly spread. Several young officers covered their mouths and rushed to the side, retching. My face inside the suitcase had been disfigured by acid, my hair shaved clean, and my body twisted into a grotesque angle. Julian used tweezers to turn over the corpse’s arm, telling Captain Miller, “The deceased’s arms are covered in needle marks, indicating long-term drug injection. Preliminary assessment points to a junkie.” “The cause of death is excessive blood loss. The killer’s method is highly professional, more like an execution.” He stood up, took off his gloves. “Send her to the dissection room.” Julian slid back into the driver’s seat. In the back, Lily was still crying, her small fists pounding against the window, her voice worn to a raw, hoarse whisper. “Mama… please don’t go…” A cold glance in the rearview mirror. “Shut up,” Julian said, his voice low and sharp as ice. “That is not your mother. God only knows whose bed a woman like that is in right now.” “Make another sound, and I’ll leave you out here for the dogs.” Lily shuddered, immediately silenced, but tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. In the dissection room, Julian shrugged into a blue surgical gown, his face a mask of detached professionalism as he stood over the table. “Another typical junkie,” he remarked to his assistant, Dr. Anya Sharma, his gloved finger pointing with open disgust at the track marks littering the inner arm of the corpse. “People like this will do anything for money. She deserved what she got.” I floated beside him, looking at those needle marks. They weren’t self-inflicted. They weren’t self-inflicted. The traffickers had forced the injections on me daily, just to keep me under control. But he didn’t know any of this. When Julian examined the ankle, his hand paused. There was a scar there, burned by a cigarette, skin puckered and gruesome. “This scar…” Dr. Sharma leaned closer. “The pattern suggests self-harm. It’s common among marginalized individuals with psychological trauma.” Julian said nothing, just stared at the scar for a long, long time. So long that I wondered if he was remembering something. I would never forget that day. Julian pointed at the new butterfly tattoo on my ankle, his face grim. “No shame at all, Aubrey? Getting trashy ink to help you sell yourself?” I didn’t explain. I just took a cigarette lighter and burned my skin, over and over, right in front of him. The smell of burning flesh filled the air. I trembled with pain, but I bit my lip, not shedding a single tear. “Are you satisfied now?” He looked at me, his gaze shifting from shock to confusion, finally settling into utter disappointment and disgust. “Since you insist on debasing yourself,” “Aubrey, then don’t blame everyone for looking down on you!” That was the last time we ever saw each other. … Julian’s hand, holding the scalpel, stilled. After a long moment, he seemed to snap back to himself and resumed the dissection, his movements now even more precise than before. It wasn’t until Dr. Sharma, sliced open my stomach that she let out a sharp gasp. “Dr. Vance, wait! There’s something… solid inside.” With painstaking care, she used forceps to extract the object and carried it to the sink. The water rinsed away the grime, revealing a ring. And there, etched inside the band, was a tiny inscription: “JV❤AH, 2019.5.20.”

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On our fifth wedding anniversary, I found a diary Derek had dropped under the bed. Curiosity gnawed at me as I opened it. “Three months ago, I was too busy making out with Tiffany while driving. I crashed. The woman in the other car died.” “If this gets out, Aurora will find out I cheated.” “Panicked. I poured the liquor from my trunk down her throat and all over the car. Made it look like she was driving drunk.” I knew Derek had a habit. He’d write his deepest thoughts in a diary to vent, then burn it. Three months ago, he’d grabbed my identical diary by mistake and burned it. My heart hammered as I read the final lines: “That girl was a stain. She’s dead, she has no future, but we do.” “I just wiped her away. God will forgive me, right?” Some “stain”! I clenched my fists. My sister, Lily, whom I’d been frantically searching for, was actually murdered by him and his mistress. Derek pushed the door open, a custom cake in his hands. He set it down and moved to hug me from behind. “Darling, I’m so sorry I’m late.” “Happy 5th Anniversary,” the frosting read. The words burned my eyes. His excuses buzzed in my ear. “Aurora, I waited two hours at your favorite bakery. Nothing could keep me from our anniversary.” I frowned and pushed him away, my voice cold. “You’ve been with another woman.” He froze, panic flashing across his face. “What? No!” But my nose has always been sensitive. Derek never wore cologne. Yet now, he carried a strange, cloying sweetness. Or maybe it had been there for three months. I’d just been too frantic, too blinded by my search for my sister, to notice. I met his plea with silence. My stillness seemed to agitate him further. “Aurora, believe me! I’d never cheat. Have you forgotten? When you were misdiagnosed with leukemia, I was ready to give you every bone in my body. When they said you couldn’t conceive, I got a vasectomy.” His voice was thick with passion, the corners of his eyes reddening with feigned sincerity. In the past, that look would have shattered me. Now, it left me cold.. I just lifted the photo and placed it in front of him. “What’s this?” Derek’s smile vanished the instant he saw it. He went pale. “Who is this girl?” “My sister. Lily Hayes.” Lily had been studying abroad for six years and was due to return this year. Derek had never met her. But that night, on her way to find me, she had an accident. Three months ago, the police called to say my sister had died in a drunk driving accident. “Impossible,” I’d told them, clutching the phone. “She’s allergic to alcohol. She never drinks.” But the officer insisted. “There were alcohol bottles scattered at the scene, and her tox screen came back positive for a high alcohol level…” I didn’t hear the rest before I rushed out of the house. For days, I investigated in secret. The private detectives found nothing. It wasn’t until I found Derek’s diary under the bed that I realized the secret he’d been hiding from me, the one that had tormented me so much. “Why didn’t you tell me your sister was back in the country, darling?” Derek asked, his voice dripping with feigned concern. “I haven’t even had the chance to meet her. I would have been planning a welcome party, not to mention getting her a proper gift…” Derek stood up, his face ashen. “”Where is she?” he stuttered. “Should I go get her?” “It’s okay. I already found her.” Derek’s face went pale. “What did you say? Found… found her?” Derek desperately tried to suppress the guilt in his eyes, forcing a smile that looked worse than a grimace. He’d sunk her car, with her body inside, to destroy the evidence. I nodded. “Three months ago, she was murdered. And I’ve found the killer.”

Derek’s face was pale and sickly. He didn’t touch the cake, squirming like he was sitting on needles. He picked at his food with his fork twice, then claimed to feel unwell and retreated to his study. But I heard him lock the door from inside. He frantically called Tiffany. “Did you let something slip?” “Did you really clean up the mess from three months ago?” Hiding outside the door, I listened, my fists clenched. My suspicions were confirmed. Derek’s hushed, frantic questions from behind the door pierced me like shards of glass. “Did you destroy the dashcam memory card? I’ve told you about that intersection camera. It’s a blind spot, but what if…” Tiffany’s voice was sweet but dismissive. “I handled it. It was dark, no one saw our car. What about you? Is your wife suspicious? You didn’t answer my call.” “Stop it!” Derek’s voice was impatient, then dropped to a guilty whisper. “You know Aurora. Her nose is sharper than a bloodhound’s, her mind as venomous as a snake’s. Miss Davis just looked at me, and Aurora ruined her business. She’s in jail! If Aurora finds out…” The rest became an indistinct mumble, but I felt a chill spread through me. He knew everything. He knew I was controlling, he knew I was ruthless, and he knew I hated betrayal most of all. That’s why he acted like a dog, wagging his tail for scraps while secretly gnawing away at my trust. And worse… he killed my own sister. I returned to the bedroom and took out the dashcam footage the police had given me, which they said was completely corrupted. With a calm expression, I cut my palm with a knife and lightly touched the blood to it. A faint white light flashed, and a moving image materialized in mid-air. It was the accident scene, reconstructed by sensing my energy. I saw Derek and his mistress, Tiffany, arguing in the passenger seat. Tiffany’s eyes filled with tears. “What do we do? Derek, someone’s dead! We have to call the police!” “No, we can’t call the police!” Derek forced down his panic. “You know everything I have now, my wife gave it to me!” “She didn’t care that I was broke, but she had one rule: never betray her.” “If we call the police, they’ll take statements and investigate. Everyone will question why we were together in the middle of the night. If my wife finds out, I’m completely finished!” Derek calmed down and started cleaning the scene. Tiffany was terrified, shaking all over, on the verge of tears. “This is a crime, we should still call the police…” But the man pushed her away ruthlessly. “What are you scared of? This is a camera blind spot! No one saw how this accident happened!” “As long as we handle the details, out here in the middle of nowhere, no one will ever suspect us!” They conspired for a long time, finally devising a ‘perfect’ plan. The crash already looked like an accident; if they faked it as her own drunk driving, no one else would be blamed. So, in a rush, they bought a bottle of alcohol from a supermarket and forced it into my sister’s mouth. But as they were pouring, they discovered my sister was still breathing. Both were horrified, staring at each other. Tiffany paused, then seeing my sister was alive, a flicker of hope appeared. “She’s not dead! Let’s call an ambulance…” But Derek, terrified, stopped her. His eyes turned cold. “No! She saw us. If she talks, we’re finished!” “Do you want what happened tonight to get out?” “Don’t forget, if you cross my wife, you won’t even be able to stay in this city!” So, Derek ignored my sister’s pleas, reaching out and strangling her to death. Once she drew her last breath, they faked it as a drunk driving accident and wiped away their fingerprints. I clenched my fists until my knuckles turned white. If they had just called for help, my sister would be alive. If they hadn’t been so wrapped up in each other, her life wouldn’t have been stolen for nothing. With a wave of my hand, the spectral images in the air dissolved into nothing, as fleeting as a bad dream. Downstairs, Derek was humming, busy at the stove as if it were any other day. I pushed the door open, stepped out, and fixed him with a cold stare. Derek would rather commit murder than let me find out. That’s because he knew all too well that I was a ruthless madwoman. For a man, I could make many of his admirers disappear, destroying people’s lives until they could never recover. But he was wrong. Compared to any man, my sister, Lily Hayes, was my true weakness. My precious little sister, whom I’d cherished like a delicate flowerbud, afraid she’d melt in my hands. As for you, Derek Miller, Tiffany Stone. You killers who murdered my sister, I will never, ever let you get away with it.

Derek had just finished showering when a knock came at the door late at night. The police. “Ms. Hayes, is that right? We’ve recently found new developments regarding your sister’s death. Could you please come to the station when you’re free?” I nodded, agreeing to go to the police station first thing tomorrow morning. From the moment the police appeared, Derek’s face turned unnaturally pale. He even lied, saying he had to work late tonight and I should go to sleep. Only after I started breathing evenly did Derek tiptoe over, whispering to test me, “Aurora, are you asleep?” When I didn’t respond, he put on his jacket and slipped out. The moment the door softly clicked shut, I opened my eyes. Derek had arranged to meet Tiffany at a hotel to coordinate their stories and details once more. But just as they were naked and getting into the deepest parts of their planning, I pushed the door open. “Still figuring out how to get away with your crimes?” “When you pushed her into the river, she wasn’t actually dead, was she?” “She was so weak, desperately begging you, promising not to press charges if you just spared her life.” “But you, afraid of exposure, still drowned her in the river.” “That was a living, breathing human life!” “She didn’t have to die, but because of your momentary evil, you condemned her to a desperate death.” Derek and Tiffany stared at me, naked from the waist up, their faces terrified. Tiffany reacted quickly, shrieking and pulling the covers over herself, while Derek frantically scrambled for his clothes on the floor. “Aurora? What are you doing here?” Derek’s voice was a trembling whisper, his face paper-white. “If I hadn’t come, how would I have ever heard your brilliant plan? Caught you red-handed?” I tilted the knife in my hand, letting the light glint cruelly off the blade. The sight of it made Derek’s legs buckle, nearly sending him to his knees. “Aurora, calm down! It was an accident!” “An accident?” My laugh was cold and hollow. “My sister was allergic to alcohol. She never drank.” “Was it an accident when you forced the bottle into her mouth? When she was begging you to stop? Did your hand ‘accidentally’ slip when you drowned her?” Derek looked like he’d seen a ghost. Tiffany leaped from the bed and threw a lamp at me. “You crazy bitch, stop making false accusations! Your sister crashed the car herself while drunk driving, it has nothing to do with us!” I dodged. The lamp shattered. She lunged again, and I backhanded her. She staggered back, lip bleeding. “Me, crazy?”I smirked, stepping forward, the knife pointed at her stomach. “Next to you two killers? Sure. I feel pretty crazy when I see trash like you. I want to gut you and see what color you are inside.” Tiffany went pale, clutching her belly. “Don’t you dare! I’m pregnant with Derek’s baby! If you touch me, he won’t let you get away with it!” I watched her silently, a mocking smile playing on my lips. “You think I wouldn’t dare?” With that, I raised my hand and slapped her twice. Before she could react, I slammed her against the wall, lifting her clear off the ground by her throat. “Aurora, you bully a pregnant woman like this, I’ll kill you!” She screamed. She knew Sanda, Taekwondo. Now, she fought back with everything she had, every strike aimed to kill. But to me, she was so slow. “Too slow,” I said, dodging effortlessly. “You don’t stand a chance.”

After saying that, my eyes hardened, and I punched her in the stomach. “Ah!” Tiffany screamed, clutching her belly in agony, collapsing to the floor, unable to get up. “Aurora, don’t be impulsive!” Derek yelled, his voice hoarse, trying to calm me. “I know you followed me here today to record our conversation as evidence for the police, to have us brought to justice, right?” I couldn’t help but sneer. “With me dealing with you, the police can wait.” Sensing the murderous intent in my eyes, Derek’s face went white, his lips trembling, unable to speak. From our brief encounter, it should have been clear I could beat them without breaking a sweat. But that mistress, Tiffany, clutching her stomach, still defiantly provoked me. “You old, controlling hag, you deserve this. No man will ever truly love you.” “I’m already pregnant with Derek’s baby! He told me he’d divorce you eventually!” “And when you have a child, we’ll switch them, so my child becomes the sole heir!” Still not satisfied, she raised her hand to slap me. But she wasn’t fast enough, and I slapped her twice more. “Haven’t had enough yet?” “Then I’ll be happy to oblige.” Blood streamed down Tiffany’s face, but I had lost all patience. I raised the knife high. This time, Tiffany finally panicked. “Derek! What are you doing? Help me! She’s going to kill me!” Derek, frozen until now, looked torn. At her scream, he snatched up a heavy stick and charged toward me. I merely shot a glacial glance over my shoulder. He faltered mid-step, the stick clattering to the floor. “Derek,” I stated. “You had a vasectomy. So how, exactly, is she pregnant with your child?” He trembled. “Aurora, it wasn’t me… She seduced me! She’s lying! That… that baby isn’t mine!” “I never betrayed you! And I know nothing about your sister, I swear!” Then, with red-rimmed eyes, he dropped to his knees in front of me. It was a trick. As he knelt, he swung the stick hard at the back of my head. I collapsed.

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I caught my best friend Chloe’s fiancé cheating. I couldn’t let Chloe marry a man like that. I helped her confront him and demand a ten-million-dollar settlement. Overnight, Chloe became a wealthy woman. But the fiancé, Damien? He just moved on and threw an even more lavish wedding for someone else. As Chloe watched the live stream of the ceremony, her face twisted with envy. Then she picked up a fruit knife and pointed it at me, hysterical. “This is your fault, Ava! If you hadn’t made me leave him, I’d be the one at that wedding!” Before I could explain, she slit my throat. I died on the spot. When I opened my eyes, I was back to the day I caught Damien cheating. This time, I swore I wouldn’t say a word. Let Chloe believe she can tame a playboy. But she has no idea that Damien’s other lover isn’t a woman…it’s a man! “Ava, what did you just say about Damien Hayes?” My best friend Chloe blinked, looking up from the wedding dresses, her eyes bright with excitement. Hearing that question again, the one that had pushed me into an abyss, I sharply drew a breath. That’s when I knew: I’d been reborn. I was standing there, having just caught Damien cheating, ready to expose him. In my last life, I’d seen Damien at a hotel, caught in an intimately ambiguous moment with a man. It all made sense. I’d screamed at him, called him a beast for using Chloe. Afraid Chloe couldn’t handle the full truth, I only told her Damien was cheating before their wedding, that he was no good, and marrying him would be a disaster! Chloe had cried until her eyes were raw, confronting him. But Damien dismissed her. “Chloe, don’t make a scene. It was a minor mistake. We’re getting married tomorrow. You know I love you.” Chloe sobbed, broken, unable to speak. She always said her love had to be perfect, a pure meeting of souls with no flaws. The truth about Damien would have destroyed her. So I helped her demand a huge settlement for her wasted time. Damien signed the check with a sigh. “Chloe, even without you, tomorrow’s wedding would still go on.” Chloe became an instant millionaire. And the next day, Damien married someone else in lavish, highly-publicized ceremony. Chloe watched the live stream, her face contorted with bitter jealousy. I quickly turned off the live stream, trying to comfort her. “Chloe, don’t watch it. He’s not the man you thought he was. He was never worth your heart.” But she grabbed a fruit knife and pointed it at me, hysterical. “Ava, it’s all your fault! Damien said he’d love me forever; he just made a mistake, one that all men make when they’re confused. How dare you make me call off the engagement!” “If it weren’t for you, that grand wedding would be mine!” “You just don’t understand me! I don’t want tons of money; I want tons of love!” Before I could explain, she slit my throat with that knife, and I died on the spot. “Ava, what are you thinking about?” Chloe’s face suddenly leaned in close, and I instinctively recoiled. Last life, I poured my heart out, planning everything for her, yet she mercilessly raised a blade against me. This life, I absolutely refuse to get involved in their messed-up love and hate. I touched my suddenly cold neck, forcing down my anger. “Oh, nothing. Just thinking how much Damien must love you, preparing so many priceless wedding dresses.” Chloe hugged her flushed face, swaying her body. “Ava, tomorrow I’m marrying Damien! It feels like a dream. To meet such a wonderful man, such genuine love, I’m truly so happy!” I sneered internally. Your happy days are just beginning, alright.

Her missed grand wedding finally gave her a moment in the spotlight in my previous life. All the shopping mall screens across the city broadcast the wedding live. The entire internet envied her, this Cinderella who’d soared from rags to riches. Only I knew, this magnificent wedding was just the start of her tragedy. One month later, I was buried in my books at the library when my phone started blowing up with messages from Chloe. I ignored them all, silencing my phone and shoving it into my bag. She barged right into the library, dressed to the nines, but her anger was undeniable. She marched to my table and slammed her phone down. “Ava, why aren’t you answering my calls?!” I kept my grip on my pen, slowly raising my head. “It’s a critical time for my exams; I wasn’t paying attention to my phone.” Chloe suddenly sniffled dramatically, plopping down beside me and digging her nails into my arm. “Ava, Damien’s been ignoring me lately. When I get upset, he just throws money at me.” “What do I want all that money for? I want his love!” “And what’s worse, yesterday his collar smelled like some strange perfume!” “It must be some blind hussy trying to get to him! You have to come with me to his company to catch her! We’ll teach her a lesson!” “I really don’t have time. Maybe you should find someone else.” “Ava! You’re not going to help me? Are you even my best friend anymore?!” She snatched my book and threw it into the trash can. My eyes widened as I yanked my arm away. “What are you doing?” She just shrugged. “Who cares about some book? Grad school won’t make you rich.” Of course not. She hadn’t studied since meeting Damien. She’d forgotten all our late nights, the bond we built over shared stress. Before I could answer, she was pulling me out of the library. We waited for half an hour before Damien emerged from his company, accompanied by a man in a suit. It was Julian Miller, his lover from my last life. As they walked side by side, the man’s hand casually rested on Damien’s shoulder. Damien didn’t pull away; instead, he smiled. Chloe was about to charge forward. I instinctively reached out to stop her, but then pulled my hand back. I was actually curious to see her reaction when she saw how intimate they were. Unfortunately, Damien was sharp-eyed. He spotted us before Julian could make a more intimate move. He walked over to us, naturally put his arm around Chloe’s waist, and spoke softly. “Chloe, what are you two doing here? This is Mr. Miller, my business partner. We just finished a project and were about to grab a bite.” He turned to Julian and smiled. “This is my wife, Chloe, and her best friend, Ava.” Julian’s lips curved into a smile, full of unspoken meaning. “Ms. Hayes, you’ve arrived at just the right time.” As Julian removed his hand from Damien’s shoulder, I clearly saw a matching pinky ring on his ring finger – identical to Damien’s. But Chloe, utterly drunk on Damien’s renewed affection, missed it completely. Instead, she tugged my arm, whispering excitedly. “See? Damien was busy with work. That perfume is Mr. Miller’s. I was just being paranoid.” “And you! You didn’t even try to talk me down. You almost made me ruin a good thing!” I wanted to shake her. God, I wanted to slap some sense into her.

I took a deep breath, forcing down the anger bubbling inside me. “Well, since everything’s fine, I’ll head back to school.” Chloe waved me off, a smile instantly lighting up her face. “Go on, go on. Don’t want to interrupt my quality time with Damien.” No sooner had I settled back into my seat at the library than my phone vibrated. It was a SnapChat from Chloe. It was a picture of a royal blue satin scarf embroidered with gold flowers. “Ava, look! This is the latest limited edition scarf Damien just gave me! He said he specially had someone bring it back from abroad. He really loves me so much!” It was followed by three starry-eyed emojis. “But it’s so strange. This scarf has a… a kind of stinky smell? Is that what luxury smells like?” That scarf wasn’t some latest limited edition at all; it was a runway piece from a luxury brand two years ago. My favorite celebrity wore the exact same one at an event the year before last, and I’d even looked up the details then. But I didn’t expose her. I just replied with a casual, “Looks nice. Glad you like it.” Let them deal with their own twisted love and hate. All I wanted was to quietly prepare for my exams and hoped she wouldn’t bother me again. Clearly, her brain wasn’t equipped to handle emotional problems independently. A week before my exams, she showed up again, sobbing hysterically, her face swollen and bruised. “I only lost one of Damien’s pinky rings, and he hit me! He said it was from his true love, and he wouldn’t let me come home until I found it!” I instinctively moved away, avoiding her touch, my gaze fixed on her red, swollen, and bruised face. To hit her that hard… Damien’s temper and possessiveness were finally showing through. I felt no sympathy, in fact, I almost wanted to laugh. Last life, she killed me for Damien. This life, experiencing his domestic violence felt like a twisted form of karma. Seeing my lack of reaction, Chloe cried, pressing me. “I’m practically dying of grief, how can you, my best friend, have no reaction at all?” I put down my pen, leaned back in my chair, and said, light as a feather. “Oh, he must *really* love you then, if that’s how he shows affection.” Chloe froze, staring at me with disbelief. “Look at my face! Do you think this is love? This is domestic violence! He hit me so hard!” Oh, so she wasn’t completely brain-dead yet; she knew this was domestic violence. I raised an eyebrow, playing along. “Well, if you can’t stand it, you can call the police, or just divorce him. Then you wouldn’t have to look for some stupid ring.” But Chloe reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, immediately retorting. “I can’t divorce him! Damien, he… he was just impulsive. The ring must have some very important sentimental value to him, that’s why he got angry!” “I forgive him. As long as I find the ring, he’ll definitely love me like before!” I couldn’t help but sneer. What kind of decent person, once married, still wears a ring from their “true love”? Chloe clutched my arm, her voice pleading. “Ava, please help me! I really don’t know what to do!” I frowned, frustrated. “You don’t even know where you threw it, how am I supposed to help you find it?” “I don’t care! If you don’t help me, I’ll bother you every single day and prevent you from taking your exams!” I forcefully pulled my hand away, my eyes hardening. “Chloe, don’t push it! You know how important this exam is to me!” Chloe curled her lips, looking at me with a menacing grin. “Then help me find the ring!” In that moment, seeing her twisted expression, I finally understood. Avoiding her was pointless. She would never let me be. Last life, I helped her, and she killed me. This life, if I didn’t, she’d ruin me. I came from nothing. This graduate program was my one shot at a future. I couldn’t let her take that from me. But I knew she would. So fine. If she insisted, I’d let her find the truth herself. The truth she could never see coming.

I softened my tone, asking sincerely. “I can help you look for the ring, but first, you need to tell me when and where you last saw it.” Seeing me relent, Chloe’s voice immediately became agitated. “Last night, Damien was meeting a client at the hotel. He got drunk, and I went to pick him up.” “Midway, he went to the restroom and handed me his ring, phone, and stuff. I just put them on the dining table. When we left, I only remembered to grab his phone.” “Later, I asked all the hotel staff, and they all said they didn’t see it!” “Who was the client he was meeting?” “It was Mr. Miller, Julian Miller.” Chloe’s voice paused, then she quickly added, “But it definitely wasn’t him! He’s Damien’s business partner; why would he steal a ring?” I sneered internally, but on the surface, I pretended to analyze seriously. “Since you were at the hotel, let’s go check the security footage first, to see if anyone else entered the private room when he went to the restroom.” “Also, Damien said the ring was from his ‘true love.’ Has he met anyone special recently?” Chloe thought for a moment, her tone uncertain. “These past few days, besides seeing me, he’s only been with Mr. Miller. But they’re just talking business!” I was silent for a moment before saying. “Tomorrow morning, we’ll go to that hotel and check the surveillance videos. If we can’t find it, we’ll have to resort to searching the trash dump.” The next morning, Chloe and I arrived at the surveillance room. The footage showed that as Chloe was helping Damien to the restroom, Julian casually picked up the ring. He compared it repeatedly with the ring on his own ring finger, a smile playing on his lips, then finally slipped the ring into his pocket. Chloe watched the monitor, her face turning pale in waves. “He… he has an identical ring?” “No, it can’t be what I’m thinking. They’re partners, even if they have matching rings, it’s nothing, right?” I ignored her, continuing to stare at the monitor. A few minutes later, Chloe returned, helping Damien, and Julian smiled as he watched them leave. Strangely, Julian didn’t leave the private room. It wasn’t until an hour later that he answered a call, toying with the ring. “The ring’s gone? Damien, that was our promise ring. Tell me, how should I punish your little wife?” “What do I say? I’m afraid you won’t want to.” “Then punish her by making her find the ring. If she doesn’t, she’s not allowed to come home!” I don’t know what the other person said, but Julian’s smile grew wider. “Good. For the next week, I’ll be staying at your place, keeping you company.” Hearing this, Chloe looked like she’d been struck by lightning, instantly turning to stone. A few seconds later, she erupted. She grabbed the monitor, shaking it, her knuckles white and eyes wide, staring at Julian’s face. “True love’? A promise ring? This is fake!” “No! This is fake! You’re all lying! Damien loves me! He said we were going to the Maldives!” The security guard, alarmed by the outburst, rushed over. “Ma’am, please calm down. Don’t damage the equipment!” Chloe turned on him, her voice a piercing shriek, her face wet with tears and snot. “Chloe turned on him, her voice a piercing shriek, her face wet with tears and snot!” After crying and screaming for ten minutes, she went silent. The despair in her eyes vanished, replaced by a savage, insane ferocity. She screamed as she stormed out. “I’ll make them pay!”

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My parents were pushing me into an arranged marriage with a 60-year-old billionaire. My stepsister, Vivian, panicked and immediately called my three childhood best friends. “Which one of you is willing to marry Iris? Otherwise, she’s going to have to marry that ugly old man!” Ronnie, the guy I’d had a crush on for 10 years, frowned at Vivian. “Vivian, you know perfectly well I like *you*.” Noah, my high school deskmate, scoffed. “Ha, like? You’re just the Sterling family’s butler’s son. How could you ever be good enough for Vivian?” My friend, Alex, leaned back lazily on the couch. “Iris, I’m already Vivian’s boyfriend! Sorry!” I froze. So, all these years, them hovering around me was all because of Vivian. Fine. If that’s how it is, then I’ll marry the billionaire. Vivian secretly glanced at Ronnie, her face flushing as she retorted. “Alex, when did you become my boyfriend?” Alex’s tone was firm. “I will be, eventually.” “Alex, you’re so foolish!” Noah wagged a finger. “Vivian, you can’t keep a guy like that. How about you be my girlfriend instead?” Vivian cupped her face in exasperation. “Alright, Alex, Noah, I really just see you two as brothers, stop messing with me.” Ronnie’s lips curved slightly. He pulled her closer, subtly asserting his claim. Alex’s face instantly darkened. Noah punched the coffee table, the glass shattering with a crash, fragments flying everywhere. Looking at the mess, I pointed towards the door. “Gentlemen, if you want to confess, make a scene, or smash things, please turn right out the door. That’s Vivian’s room.” But after I yelled, my heart felt hollow. I didn’t understand why Ronnie liked Vivian. When I was nine, Mom found out about Dad’s illegitimate daughter but chose to endure it. Yet, whenever she drank, she’d lash out at me, as I resembled Dad so much. Ronnie would always rush over and shield me, laughing carelessly. “Iris, don’t cry. Boys can take a hit; it’s fine.” When I was fifteen, Dad filed for divorce, and Mom jumped from the rooftop. Ronnie desperately covered my eyes and said, “Don’t be afraid. I’ll always be with you.” At eighteen, Dad brought his stepmother and stepsister home. I ran away, freezing unconscious under a bridge. That’s when Ronnie got angry with me for the first time. “You’re upset and didn’t call me? You’re cold and didn’t crawl into my arms? You just had to hide in a place like this, waiting to die?” I thought he’d always be by my side, that our marriage was only a matter of time. “Iris, I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize there wasn’t even one person willing to marry you.” Vivian clasped her hands, pleading with the guys. “Guys, don’t just stare at me! Iris is being forced to marry next week. Can you really stand by and watch her jump into a pit of fire? She’s only twenty-two, and that old man is sixty – he’s old enough to be her grandfather, even if he is the wealthiest man alive! If you have any conscience, you should step up and save her!” Seeing their silence, she seemed to make a huge decision, speaking in a self-sacrificing tone. “As long as one of you is willing to marry Iris, I… I’ll agree to anything.” I was about to cut short her performance when Ronnie spoke in a low, reprimanding voice. “Don’t be ridiculous.” He finally turned his gaze to me, his eyes dark. “You want to help her, but how do you know this arranged marriage isn’t what *she* wants?” Alex raised an eyebrow, his tone playful. “After all, the other party is a billionaire. Even crumbs from his table would be enough to fill the Sterling family’s current hole.” Noah suddenly understood, giving me a thumbs-up. “So what if he’s sixty? That’s prime time to hustle!”

“The old man has no heirs. Iris, you should quickly get pregnant, give him a child, and then after a few years when he’s gone, you’ll inherit everything. Instant millionaire!” He said, still shaking his head with a “tsk.” “Her father played this perfectly! I was just mentally cursing him for selling his daughter for money, but it seems I was wrong.” Vivian looked at me with feigned pity. “Iris, why do you have to sacrifice yourself like this? Even if the Sterling family gets richer, you won’t be happy!” “Or rather, are you really after the billionaire’s fortune?” She tilted her head, gazing softly at Ronnie. “If it were me, maybe I’m just not ambitious enough, but I would never give up love for money.” Ronnie returned a doting smile, but when he turned to me, his face instantly hardened. “It’s not that *you’re* not ambitious enough. It’s that some people have too much ambition; they’re never satisfied.” My throat tightened. But the truth was, Dad had only gone to meet the Hayes family yesterday to discuss business, and today, the news of the arranged marriage broke. I called him countless times, but he kept hanging up. When I was completely at a loss, these so-called childhood best friends came to mock me. Who did they think they were? “Yes! I’m ambitious! I’m vain! I’m not content just being a minor Sterling. I want to be the billionaire’s wife, and I’ll pay any price!” “What’s love? Anyone who stands in my way, I’ll kick them aside, including all of you!” I looked at Vivian, sneering. “You hastily rounded these guys up. Have you had enough of watching my humiliation? Can you all just leave now?” “Heh.” Alex let out a cold laugh, then stood up and walked away. Noah followed, sighing dramatically and looking back every few steps. Vivian’s eyes were red. “Iris, I didn’t know you thought of me so badly.” “I’m sorry, I meddled where I shouldn’t have and almost messed up your marriage.” Finally, only Ronnie remained frozen. He grabbed my hand. “The arranged marriage must be Uncle Sterling’s decision, right? If you don’t want it, I can go with you to beg him.” Begging him would help? Years ago, I knelt before him, begging until my knees ached, but didn’t he still divorce Mom? Looking at the concern in his eyes, I suddenly felt confused. “Ronnie, marry me…” Just a fake marriage, we’d divorce after a year. The next second, he brutally pushed me away. My lower back hit the table corner hard, and I doubled over in pain. Ronnie’s voice fell from above, cold and steady. “Iris, from the first moment I saw Vivian, my heart was set on her. For you, there was never anything like that.” “I’ve always just seen you as a friend, a sister I needed to look after. I’m sorry, I can’t marry you.” I pursed my lips. “Not even a fake marriage?” “No, I can’t let Vivian, in the future, be gossiped about for marrying a man who’s been married twice.” He paused, then seemed to soften. “I can convince Noah to marry you. He has a slight crush on you… Alex, though he has a sharp tongue, has a soft heart; maybe he could…” He said something else, but I didn’t want to hear it anymore. Tears blurred my vision. I stumbled out of the house, and only when I reached Mom’s grave did I finally cry out loud. “Mom, I’m getting married.” “It’s not Ronnie. It’s a sixty-year-old man, even older than you.” My throat tightened, and I forced a smile. “At least at his age, he won’t cheat and raise an illegitimate daughter like Dad did, right?” My phone vibrated. Someone added me as a friend. “Hello, Ms. Sterling, I’m your fiancé.” Looking at the animated, comic-book-character avatar, I replied. “Mr. Hayes, you have a very youthful spirit.” The other party quickly sent a laughing-crying emoji. “Actually, I’m not that old. Just a bit older than you, Ms. Sterling.”

I was speechless for a moment. Sixty and twenty-two, and he said “a bit older.” This was probably what they called inappropriate. Without the mood to chat further, I tossed my phone into my bag. As I walked out of the cemetery, I saw Vivian leaning against my car. “What, you’re coming to tell Aunt about something so shameful as marrying a sixty-year-old man? Aren’t you afraid you’ll make her so angry she’ll flip over in her grave?” Seeing my face change, she grew even more smug. “But she probably wouldn’t care, right? When she found out about me and my mom, didn’t she put up with it for six years? Looks like you and your mother are equally tolerant.” “Speaking of which, in those years, she drank herself silly every night at the bar, her personal life was a mess. She either hit you or yelled at you. I don’t think she even liked you as a daughter, did she?” “Shut up!” I couldn’t take it anymore and raised my hand to slap her. The next second, my wrist was seized by Ronnie. “When your mother was out of control and hit you back then, what did you hate most? And now you’re going to become just like her?” Alex shielded Vivian behind him, giving me a cold look. “Iris, you haven’t even become the billionaire’s wife yet, and you’re already throwing your weight around?” Noah raised his palm towards me. “Try laying a hand on Vivian, I dare you.” Vivian peered out from behind them, looking utterly wronged. “I just saw Iris driving out looking upset, and I was worried something would happen, so I followed her.” “Iris, these three guys are all your childhood friends. They don’t want to help you, you should look for the reason within yourself. Why are you taking it out on me?” The guys, who usually argued amongst themselves, now glared at me, ready to stand up for her. I retorted sarcastically. “Everything she just said, insulting my mother, is recorded on the dashcam. Want to listen?” Alex curved his lips playfully. “Things like that can be faked. I only believe what I see with my own eyes.” Ronnie rubbed his temples, looking exhausted. “Vivian cares about you. Why don’t you appreciate it and have to resort to violence against her?” Noah looked utterly bewildered. “Iris, why can’t you like Vivian like the rest of us? She really is such a sweet and kind girl!” “Is it really that hard to understand that I don’t like my dad’s illegitimate daughter?” I had no desire to argue anymore. One person couldn’t possibly argue against four mouths. As soon as I got into the car, my sixty-year-old fiancé sent a message. He said he wanted to meet before the wedding, that he had something to tell me in person, and he’d set the time for tonight. I was about to decline, but he sent a pleading emoji. “Okay.” My finger moved, and the message was sent. I suddenly felt a little curious. What kind of person was he, exactly? What if he had Alzheimer’s? The car door suddenly opened, and Ronnie got into the passenger seat. “I talked to Alex and Noah. They won’t agree to a fake marriage.” “We’ll go to the Hayes’ place, together, and talk to your fiancé. We’ll make him an offer to cancel the engagement.” In the back, Alex and Noah sat on either side, protecting Vivian in the middle. Vivian smiled. “Iris, it’s okay, I’m not angry anymore.” Alex ruffled her hair, a pained look on his face. “Such a kind, silly girl.” Noah glanced at me impatiently. “Just so we’re clear, if this doesn’t work out, don’t think you can latch onto us.” I silently started the car, not wanting to say another word. Whatever I said, it would only lead to a combined attack from the four of them. Just as we were about to reach the agreed-upon restaurant, an out-of-control truck suddenly swerved and crashed into us from the side. Ronnie cried out in panic. “Iris, how are you driving?!” “Vivian! Alex, Noah, protect Vivian!” “Bang!” The airbags deployed. A sharp pain shot through my head and chest. In a haze, I saw Ronnie, blood trickling from his forehead, frantically hailing a car by the roadside while holding Vivian. Alex and Noah were also injured, but they ignored themselves, just anxiously calling out to the unconscious Vivian.

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My girlfriend, Elara proposed to her assistant. I confronted her, but overheard her conversation with a friend: “If I don’t marry him, his family will force him to marry someone he doesn’t love.” “What about Asher? He’s your boyfriend. Aren’t you afraid he’ll get mad?” “What’s getting mad going to do? Asher and I have been together for seven years. He can’t live without me.” Later, I got married on the same day. As my wedding cars passed each other, Elara completely broke down when she saw me in the other car. “Mom, I’ve agreed to the family arrangement.” In the dim living room, my soft voice sounded hollow and numb. Mom was shocked when she heard me agree. “You weren’t willing before, were you? Why the sudden change of heart? Asher, marriage isn’t something to rush into. Whether it’s an arranged marriage or not, all I care about is your happiness. You need to think this through, don’t be impulsive.” Listening to Mom, my eyes welled up. “Mom, I’ve thought it through. You can start preparing for the wedding.” Mom knew I was hurting. After a moment of silence, she comforted me: “You and Elara have been together for so long, yet she never wanted to make your relationship public, and she always put off meeting your family. Your dad and I knew this relationship wouldn’t last.” Mom’s words were like a thorn piercing my heart. Turns out, everyone else saw it clearly. I was the only one who was blind. “Chloe from the Sterling family is someone your dad and I picked out for you as a suitable partner for an alliance early on. Your parents carefully vetted her. Putting everything else aside, her character and family background are undoubtedly excellent. My son deserves the best.” I took a deep breath. “Thank you, Mom. I trust your judgment and Dad’s.” Mom continued, “Shall we arrange for you two to meet in the next couple of days?” “No need. Just go straight to preparing the wedding.” After hanging up, Elara appeared behind me, I don’t know when, holding a small cake. She asked, confused: “What wedding? Who’s getting married?” Mine. I’m getting married. I answered silently in my head, but the words never left my lips. I calmly shook my head. “Nothing, just a friend.” As the words left my mouth, I noticed her expression visibly relax. A bitter pang hit me again. She was so tense just now. Was she worried I was going to pressure her into marriage? Or perhaps, was she getting married to her beloved assistant, Milo Jensen, and thought I had found out? “I brought you your favorite cake from that bakery. Do you want to eat it now?” Elara used to always bring me treats when she came home from work. Even if many weren’t to my taste, I still felt as sweet as if I were floating in a honey-sweet dream. Just because I felt the love of being constantly remembered and fed by the person I adored far outweighed the taste of the food itself. But now, looking at this box of cake, I felt nothing but irony. Just moments ago, I saw Milo change his previously private SnapChat stories to public. I only scrolled through a few before I couldn’t bear to look anymore. Now, I realized how ridiculous I was. This cake, it turned out, was Milo’s favorite. Not just this cake, but all the other nuts and snacks were Milo’s favorites too. Even more tragically, I discovered that Elara’s habit of bringing me food after work had only started after Milo joined the company. So, Elara, when you were feeding me, who were you pretending I was? Asher, or Milo? I swallowed the bitterness and spoke softly: “I don’t like sweets. They’re too cloying. Don’t buy them anymore.” Elara was surprised by my reaction. Her eyes showed a hint of bewilderment: “What? You never seemed to mind them before.” After all these years together, if she truly cared about me, how could she not have noticed my food preferences? Some things, when repeated too many times, become exhausting, eventually turning into a compromise. I didn’t argue further, just casually offered, “My tastes have changed recently.”

For several days, Elara seemed incredibly busy, so busy she even forgot my birthday. But I didn’t care anymore. Then she seemed to suddenly remember and, to make it up to me, bought tickets for my favorite musical. It was a popular show, hard to get tickets for. I hadn’t managed to buy any myself, so when Elara said she had tickets and invited me, I agreed. But on the day of the show, she didn’t show up. Instead, I saw Milo Jensen flaunting two tickets on his Ins. Two tickets. [Bored, heading to a concert. It’s so nice to have someone always ready to join you for some fun and relaxation.] Although the faces weren’t visible, the hand with the distinctive scar in the photo—I recognized it as Elara’s in an instant. The scar on her hand was from saving me years ago. Suddenly, I felt like a clown. I was outside, drenched in the rain, worried something might have happened to her, while she and her assistant were in the VIP seats inside, watching a concert. The cold rain pelted my face, and my heart and body grew colder by the minute. Just then, Mom messaged me, saying the wedding was set for two weeks later. She said if I felt it was too rushed, we could postpone it. I shook my head. “No need. This is fine.” The heavy rain had brought the city’s traffic to a standstill. I waited for a long time but couldn’t get a ride. Elara’s call came very late. “Why aren’t you home?” My voice was calm, devoid of any emotion. “I’m at the theater.” She seemed to remember something, falling silent for a moment. “I’m sorry, something came up this afternoon. Wait there, I’ll pick you up.” I didn’t refuse, but I also knew she wouldn’t come. Sure enough, the next second, Milo updated his status again: [My honey cooked ginger tea for me, worried I’d get soaked and catch a cold. A woman in the kitchen is the most beautiful. Want to marry her!] The accompanying picture was Elara’s back as she busied herself at the stove. I glanced at it once, then calmly closed the app. The heavy rain still inevitably led to me catching a cold and fever. Using the excuse that I didn’t want to infect Elara, I moved into the guest room. Breaking her routine, Elara put aside her work to stay home and take care of me. But I felt uncomfortable. “It’s just a mild cold. I’m an adult; I can take care of myself. Go back to your work.” She stared at me strangely for a while; “Didn’t you used to wish I’d be with you when you were sick? Why are you acting so unusual today?” I lowered my head, hiding all emotion in my eyes, and forced a smile. “I was immature before. Not anymore.” Elara looked at me with worry. “Asher, are you okay?” “I’m fine. You go.” She felt I was a bit off but couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong. Finally, she just stared deeply at me, sighed, and said: “Alright, then get some good rest. Call me if you need anything.” After she left, I let out a long breath and went back to sleep. When I woke up, I saw that Mom had sent me the detailed wedding plan. She also sent me about a dozen suits, asking me to choose. I casually scrolled through them, then clicked to enlarge a picture and started looking closely, so engrossed that I didn’t notice Elara appear suddenly. She snatched my phone from my hand and tossed it aside, her brows furrowed in displeasure: “What are you looking at suits for?” I thought she had discovered I was getting married and was about to just come clean. But her next words made me realize how ridiculous my assumption was. “Asher, are you trying to pressure me into marrying you? I told you I’d marry you. You don’t need to play these games to hint at it. It’s really unbecoming.”

“You misunderstood. I’m not…” But she waved her hand, cutting off my explanation: “I have something to do, so I’m leaving. I advise you to stop with these stunts that just chip away at my feelings for you.” The front door slammed shut, plunging the entire room into a deathly silence. I stood there for a long time, then gave a self-deprecating smile. Elara, how much affection do you have left for me, to even speak of “chipping away”? In the past, her misunderstanding would have left me sleepless and miserable. Now, I quickly composed myself. I continued to review the wedding arrangements Mom had sent. Before exiting SnapChat, I casually clicked on the red dot in her stories and saw that Elara, who rarely posted, had updated her status. [You’re so wonderful, of course, I’d marry you and keep you close, then I can finally relax.] The post included a solo picture of Milo and their wedding invitation. Less than a minute later, a mutual friend commented: [Did the groom really change just like that?] Immediately, Elara’s new post disappeared, but it quickly reappeared on Milo Jensen’s Ins profile. Then Elara’s call came in. In the past, I would have already taken a screenshot and called her immediately to demand answers. There would have been no way to avoid a huge fight. But this time, I let the phone ring until it stopped without answering. It was strange. Seeing that post, I wasn’t even very upset. Perhaps I was numb. My first thought was, how ironic, their wedding date is the same as mine. When Elara arrived home, I was already asleep. She quietly opened the door and walked to my bedside. “Asher, are you asleep? Why didn’t you answer my calls?” I lay with my back to her and mumbled, “I fell asleep accidentally. Didn’t hear it.” Elara sighed with relief, leaned closer, and reached out to check my forehead for fever. “Still have a fever?” As she got close, the scent of men’s cologne on her made me feel a wave of nausea, almost making me gag. I instinctively shifted away, avoiding her touch. Her hand hung in mid-air, filled with shock. She tentatively asked, “Asher, did you see something?” I buried myself completely under the covers, my voice muffled. “No, I just feel sick from the cold. I want to sleep.” I slept until the next day, finally feeling a bit lighter. I gathered my energy and started packing, slowly erasing every trace of myself from this house. It was then I realized I had bought many matching couple’s items. At first, Elara used them with me. But at some point, she had thrown them all into a corner. I packed all these useless things and tossed them into the trash. There was also an album filled with photos of Elara and me traveling, postcards we collected together, old train tickets from when we were long-distance, and letters she wrote to me. This album was brimming with all the memories Elara and I had made over the years. But ever since Milo appeared, no new photos had been added to the album. When Elara returned, I was throwing this album into the fire. She rushed over like a madwoman, snatching the damaged album from the flames. Ignoring the pain of her burned hands, she demanded angrily, “Are you crazy?! Don’t you know how important this album is to us? Why would you burn it?!” Elara rarely got angry with me; this was the first time she had ever raised her voice so much. The concern in her eyes didn’t seem fake, but it was also true that she was hiding her impending marriage to someone else from me. Not wanting to argue with her, I casually said, “The album got moldy and buggy. I’ve backed up everything inside; I’ll just make a new one later.” Hearing this, her anger subsided. While I applied burn cream to her hand, Elara stared at me and suddenly spoke. “Asher, you seem a bit off lately. Is work stress getting to you? I booked a custom trip for you. Go out and relax.”

My hand paused as I applied the cream. I looked up at her. “Just me? Aren’t you coming?” Elara sighed, sounding regretful. “I’m too busy with work; I can’t get away. Next time, okay?” But Elara, there won’t be a next time for us. I lowered my head and continued what I was doing. “It might be hard to get time off from the company.” “Don’t worry about it; I’ll handle it for you.” I insisted, “But I don’t want to go.” Her tone left no room for refusal. “I’ve already booked it; it’s non-refundable.” I didn’t say anything, but my heart grew cold. I remembered waking up in the middle of the night last night, hearing Elara on the phone with someone: “I’m not planning to tell him. I’ll keep it a secret for as long as I can.” “To be safe, during the wedding, I’ll book him on a trip to get him out of town.” The person on the other end sighed. “And then what? Are you going to make him the third party?” Elara didn’t speak for a long time. It felt like an eternity before she slowly said, “As for what happens later, we’ll have to take it one step at a time.” My heart twisted in pain. Lying in bed, my emotions gradually numbed. I felt like a joke after seven years. Elara, I think I never truly knew you. If you no longer loved me, why couldn’t you just say so instead of choosing to deceive me? Were you afraid I’d cling to you? Is that why you planned to send me away like this during your wedding? You didn’t need to go through all this trouble. Elara, I will grant your wish and completely disappear from your world. I asked her, “When’s the flight?” “Two days from now.” I smiled. “Okay, I’ll go.” Elara visibly relaxed at my words, instinctively reaching out to touch my head. I subtly dodged her hand. She froze for a moment, then smiled. “Let’s have dinner before you leave.” I thought about it, and finally nodded. Tomorrow would be our seven-year anniversary. Then let’s say a proper goodbye, clarify everything, and let this relationship begin and end on that day. The next day, I arrived early at the restaurant Elara and I had agreed upon. She showed up as promised, but with Milo by her side. “Asher, Elara and I were just doing some errands nearby, so we came together. Hope we’re not interrupting your dinner?” Milo said with a fake smile. I shook my head, though I felt a pang of regret. It seemed even this final farewell meal wouldn’t be complete. Elara ordered a table full of bland dishes. Seeing this, Milo couldn’t help but laugh. “Elara, the food you ordered is too bland. It probably won’t suit Asher’s taste, right?” Elara dismissed it casually. “You don’t like spicy food.” Milo chuckled. “It’s not that dramatic; you just care about me too much.” The two of them acted intimately, as if I wasn’t even there. I watched them coldly, my heart so calm that not a single ripple was stirred. We were in the middle of eating when someone suddenly shouted, “Fire!” The crowd immediately stirred, people scattering and rushing out. As I stood up, I saw a figure flash past me. Then, I saw Elara tightly shielding Milo Jensen, turning her back on me and rushing out with him. In a daze, it was as if I traveled through a time tunnel and saw that 18-year-old girl. It was the same scene, but back then, the person she protected with all her might was me. It wasn’t until they reached a safe place that Elara snapped back to reality. She turned to look at me, standing not far away, her eyes wide with shock: “I was too rushed just now. I didn’t mean to…” I smiled and cut her off. “It’s okay. I understand.” Soon, the day Elara had arranged for my trip arrived. I packed my luggage early. After double-checking that there were no traces of me left in the apartment. I picked up my suitcase and left without looking back. Of course, I didn’t go on the trip. Instead, I returned to my parents’ home. After all, my wedding day was also fast approaching. Meanwhile, Elara was busy trying on wedding dresses with Milo, completely oblivious to me. The wedding day arrived in a flash, and I met my arranged marriage partner, Chloe, for the first time. I had to admit, my parents’ taste was truly impeccable. She was even more beautiful in person than in her photos, flawless in both figure and appearance. The wedding procession was grand. I got into the car, and we drove majestically forward. As we passed another wedding car coming from the opposite direction, both sides instinctively stopped for the brides to exchange bouquets. The car window slowly lowered. In the car across from me, Elara and I locked eyes. A huge storm instantly raged in her eyes, and she stammered in disbelief, “Asher, how… how can it be you?”

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Christmas Day. My parents, chasing triple pay, had left me alone at home again. Thinking back to the last twenty years, how they always did this, I couldn’t stand another cold, lonely Christmas all by myself. So, I went looking for them. To my surprise, my parents, who constantly preached about needing to earn more money, stepped out of a luxury car, arm-in-arm with a boy about my age, laughing and chatting as they headed into a five-star restaurant. “Dad, Mom, is it really okay to leave Alex home alone like that?” My mom just shrugged, dismissive. “It’s fine. He’s used to it.” My dad chimed in, equally nonchalant. “He’s nothing compared to you, Leo. You’re our precious one!” I turned and walked away. They’d been faking poverty, lying to me all this time. This time, I didn’t want their company anyway. Back home, I dumped all the untouched food on the table straight into the trash. Before, I would never have dared. Ever since I could remember, I knew our family was struggling. Everything I ate and wore came from my parents’ tireless scrimping and saving. New clothes were a rarity. Every season, my mom would bring home a bag of used clothes. She’d always tell me, “These were worn by a colleague’s son. They’re clean, no need to buy new ones.” I had no idea where she got those old clothes. My childhood was practically devoid of anything new. I always wore ill-fitting clothes, and my classmates made fun of me, calling me a ragamuffin, like I picked my clothes from a dumpster. I buried myself in my studies, hoping that one day, I could earn enough to buy new clothes for myself. During holidays, I’d hand over any gifts or pocket money relatives gave me, just to ease my parents’ burden. But who knew, they had no burden at all. I’d looked it up. That luxury car was owned by the Davidsons, one of the city’s wealthiest families. The young master of that family had once been spotted cruising around in it with a famous actress, creating quite a stir. I’d seen that gossip news, and the rich kid’s face was unmistakably the same boy I saw tonight. Turns out, I was a rich kid myself! I found it ironically hilarious. I sniffed, wiping my nose, then turned back to my parents’ bedroom to search. Maybe they were too careless, leaving such important documents at home. When I saw my dad’s signature on a contract worth hundreds of millions, with a Montblanc pen tucked inside the papers, the last shred of hope in my heart died. I put everything back exactly as I found it, then quietly returned to my room, pulled the blanket over my head, and went to sleep. I just hoped I’d wake up and find it all a dream. The next morning, my parents were already bustling in the kitchen. I looked at the breakfast laid out on the table and suddenly realized: who eats gourmet seafood for breakfast? The smell was identical to the expensive seafood feast Professor Thompson treated us to last time. I glanced at the trash bag by the door. Sure enough. Empty seafood containers. “Mom, Dad, did we strike it rich?” I asked, sitting at the table, watching them. My mom looked surprised. “Alex, what are you talking about?” “Then how can we afford such expensive seafood?” I pointed at the trash bag. My mom’s face immediately changed. My dad chuckled beside her. “Oh, that? Last night I was working late with my boss, and he packed it for me. I couldn’t bear to eat it myself, so I brought it home.” “With your mom and my meager salaries, how could we ever afford seafood like this?” Right, of course. I nodded, sipping the porridge, but inside, I scoffed. Seafood, about seventy-five bucks a bowl. Last night’s dinner probably cost tens of thousands. If they were genuinely poor, this bowl of porridge would have tasted delicious. Now, it tasted like cardboard. I only ate two bites before standing up. “I’m full.” “Alex, why are you eating so little? Are you feeling unwell?” My mom asked, her face etched with concern. Her gaze didn’t seem fake. I shook my head, forcing a smile. “No, not at all! Aren’t we going to Grandpa George’s today? I’m saving room for a good lunch there!” Hearing that, my mom sighed in relief. My dad looked a little guilty, about to say something, when his phone rang. I glanced at the screen. The caller ID read, “My Precious Son, Leo.” Leo, his precious son. What about me, then? My dad quickly went out to the balcony, and my mom followed. I faintly heard him saying things like, “Be good,” and “Don’t let Alex find out.” A chill settled deep in my heart. So, they’d known all along. They’d been in on it, conspiring to keep it from me. I even wondered if my entire world was like The Truman Show. Yet, they felt so real.

After hanging up the phone, Dad came over to me. “Alex, something urgent came up at work. I need to go in for a bit!” Mom tried to reassure me. “It’s fine, sweetie, I’ll go with you.” I nodded, got ready with Mom, and we headed to Grandpa George and Grandma Martha’s place. When we arrived, Grandpa George saw me, pulled me in close. “Alex, you’re here! Come in, it’s cold outside!” His hands were soft and smooth, not at all calloused like a man who’d spent his life doing physical labor. This old apartment complex was part of a former industrial site; they said Grandpa George was a retired blue-collar worker from the plant. But looking at how pampered he seemed, it didn’t add up. Grandma Martha saw me and immediately pressed some money into my hand. I took it. “Thanks, Grandma.” Then I put it straight into my pocket. My mom looked a little taken aback. Usually, I’d hand the money straight to her. Back then, Mom would always say, “Alex is such a thoughtful boy.” But today, I acted completely out of character. Even Grandma Martha paused, then chuckled. “Our Alex is learning to keep his pocket money now!” I raised an eyebrow and smiled. “It’s not really ‘keeping’ it. I just want some pocket money for myself.” “That’s right, Alex is so responsible! He earns all his tuition and living expenses himself!” I didn’t need them to say it. I knew Grandma Martha would give me maybe seventy bucks at most. Compared to my tuition, that amount was nothing! They were clearly so wealthy, yet they squeezed every penny out of me. I didn’t understand this ‘hardship training’—why was it only for me? What was their game? Grandma Martha didn’t say anything else, just went into the kitchen and started bustling around. When the dishes were served, I took two bites and lost my appetite completely. The food was identical to what I’d seen last night at the five-star restaurant. Now I was absolutely sure: my entire family was loaded. My parents, despite their immense wealth, were putting on an act of poverty. Even Grandpa George and Grandma Martha were playing along. After dinner, my mom took a call, made an excuse about work, and rushed off. Grandpa George and Grandma Martha started yawning, looking sleepy. I felt awkward staying any longer, so I left. But I didn’t go far. I hid around the corner, watching. Sure enough, less than twenty minutes after I left, a stretched limousine pulled up. Grandpa George and Grandma Martha, surrounded by a group of people, got into the car and drove off without a backward glance. I took a deep breath, pulled my mask up, and walked over. I saw a few cleaning ladies tidying up. One of them sighed. “I don’t know what these people are thinking. They come here just one day a year, cook a meal, and then leave!” “But they do pay a hefty cleaning fee every time!” “You don’t know? This family has been doing this every year for over twenty years now. They have a huge mansion in the Hillside Estates. These are rich folks who come to slum it for a day!” Hearing that, my heart turned utterly cold. The Davidsons, the wealthiest family in the south of the city, had a mansion in the Hillside Estates. I rode my bike over there. I saw the magnificent villa perched on the hillside, with bodyguards outside. This kind of place was beyond anything I could imagine. When the bodyguard saw me approaching, he immediately barked, “Who are you? Get lost!” I took a deep breath. Just as I was about to turn and leave, a motorcycle roared past, pulling up from outside. I’d seen it online; that bike was worth almost three hundred thousand dollars. The rider was Leo.

He saw me too, clearly surprised. He stopped, looking me up and down, a sneer on his face. “Not as dumb as I thought, huh? Figured out how to find your way here!” I froze. So, he knew about me all along! “Why? Why is this happening?!” “Leo, am I adopted? Or are you all part of some project, and I’m just an observation subject?” Leo seemed to catch on to my confusion. He raised an eyebrow, wagging a finger. “No, you’re also a Davidson. A biological son.” “As for why they created this illusion of poverty for you, there’s only one reason: because I am the sole heir of the Davidson family!” “Alex, you were born just one minute before me. What makes you think you can compete with me?!” “This isn’t your place. Just get lost!” “Oh, poor thing. Don’t look at me like that. Mom and Dad put a lot of effort into raising you too, you know!” “Oh, and by the way, don’t bother Grandpa George and Grandma Martha for holidays anymore. They’re old, they don’t have the energy to keep up the act for you!” Leo revved his engine and sped inside. I stood outside for a long time, and then it all clicked. My birth, and Leo’s, seemed tied to the family inheritance. But what had I done wrong? All I ever wanted was my parents’ genuine love. They’d lied to me for so many years, but their kindness to me had also seemed real. Now, as I looked at the mansion and that expensive motorcycle, I began to doubt how much of their kindness was truly genuine. I turned to leave. Before I did, I called my dad. “Dad, are you coming home for dinner tonight?” “No, Alex, I won’t be back. Overtime tonight, triple pay for the next three days!” “Oh, and your mom is working too!” But I clearly heard the roar of a motorcycle in the background of his call. I simply mumbled, “Okay,” my mind already made up. Back home, I started packing my belongings. At the same time, I signed up for a special research project posted by the university. This project was based out in a remote location, a three-year commitment, completely cut off from the outside world. No one would disturb me there. Once I was packed, I printed out the photo I’d secretly taken of Leo’s back and placed it on my bedside table. That day, they didn’t come home. I was alone in the house. I called my dad again, but no one answered. Meanwhile, Gardner Corp., a Davidson family company, was giving out gifts. An employee posted on Ins, thanking their boss. She was just a regular employee, but her gift was worth over four hundred dollars! Many other employees also showed off their company benefits. My parents were front and center on stage, Dad in a suit, Mom holding a glass of wine. My mom had exquisite makeup, radiating an air of wealth. Below the stage, Leo was surrounded by people, and there was even a full family portrait of them. My parents seemed convinced that I was too busy earning money to pay attention to online gossip. They forgot that I was just an ordinary boy, raised in poverty and hardship. How could I not pay attention? A reporter interviewed them, asking about their New Year’s plans. My dad looked into the camera. “This year, our son Leo turns twenty-two. Every year, we arrange a trip for him, and today, we’re off!” My heart plummeted. I was twenty-two too. The farthest I’d ever been was a school field trip to the local zoo in elementary school. I scoffed, picked up my official papers, tracing their edges with my finger. It was almost funny. After I started college, my parents moved my official residence to the school’s address. They said I was an adult now and needed to be responsible for myself. Now was the perfect time to leave. I grabbed my luggage and walked out without hesitation. Dad, Mom, goodbye for good!

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It was Kindergarten Family Day. My wife, Serena, claimed she had company business and told me and our daughter, Lily, not to go. So, I decided to take Lily myself. As soon as we walked in, I saw Serena, one arm cradling a little boy, the other hand holding our childhood sweetheart, Ryan. They looked like a real family of three, laughing and chatting, perfectly harmonious. Until they saw Lily and me. Serena’s brow furrowed slightly, and she finally let go of Ryan’s hand. “Daniel, don’t misunderstand. It’s tough for Ryan, being a single dad. Today is his son’s fifth birthday, and he just wanted him to experience a mother’s love.” I shot her a meaningful glance, then crouched down, taking Lily’s small hand. “Sweetheart, say hello to Ms. Serena.” Seeing this, Ryan quickly took his son, his face apologetic. “Daniel, please don’t be mad. Serena meant well. Leo grew up without a mom, and today’s his fifth birthday. Serena was just helping him fulfill a dream of having a mother.” I stared at him, a half-smile playing on my lips. “If that’s the case, now that Lily and I are here, shouldn’t Serena come back to us? After all, we’re the real family of three.” Ryan froze slightly, but the boy in his arms wasn’t having it. “Mommy, you promised you’d spend today with Daddy and me!” The five-year-old glared at me with fierce eyes. I raised an eyebrow. “Mommy”? They’re already calling her “Mommy”? Before I could say anything else, Serena stepped in front of them, adopting a protective stance. Her tone was impatient. “Daniel, you’re a parent too. Do you have absolutely no empathy?” “Ryan and I grew up together. I’m just spending one day with them, just one day! Do you really have to be so petty about this?” I scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping me. Was Ryan’s misfortune my fault? Just then, other parents and their kids started arriving, and someone came over to greet us. “Leo’s dad, Leo’s mom, good morning! You two always come to Family Day together with Leo. Not like my husband, always saying he’s busy with work, never caring about our child’s growth.” Ryan awkwardly returned the greeting, and I saw a flicker of panic in Serena’s eyes. I couldn’t help but demand, “Serena, is this what you meant by ‘just one day’?!” Serena flushed with anger, grabbing my arm. “Daniel, there are a lot of people here, don’t make a scene!” She then looked down at Lily, lowering her voice. “If you make a fuss, it won’t be good for Lily, will it?” Lily suddenly heard her name and looked around confused. But she still didn’t seem to understand what was happening, just clinging tightly to my leg, her small hand clutching mine, already sweaty. I felt her unease. I knelt down, stroked her little ponytail, and whispered, “Daddy’s here, sweetheart. There’s nothing to be scared of.” I watched Serena, Ryan, and Leo walk away. Soon, they were surrounded by the crowd. Some parents, eager to flatter, smiled and greeted Serena. They were praising her successful career, how she’d become the CEO of a multi-billion dollar company in her early thirties. Serena was undoubtedly arrogant and smug, practically strutting with pride. And Ryan? He stared at Serena with shining eyes, looking as if he were basking in her reflected glory. Leo, still in Serena’s arms, suddenly looked back and shot me a defiant grimace. A cold laugh bubbled up in my chest. It looked like Serena had gotten way too ahead of herself. Even though I’d cut down my time at the company to be with Lily, 75% of Everwing Group’s shares were in my name. I was the real CEO, the actual boss. She had just latched onto me, and out of marital consideration, I’d given her a manager title. I pulled out my phone and messaged Chloe in HR: “Chloe, transfer Serena from her manager position. Internal announcement next Monday.” Then I messaged Marcus in Legal: “Marcus, draft a divorce agreement for Serena and me.”

A short while later, the Kindergarten Family Day activities officially began. Each family sat at a table that had been prepared beforehand. Lily looked at Serena sitting in the front row and asked sadly, “Daddy, why isn’t Serena sitting with us?” I pinched Lily’s soft, plump cheek. She was still so young; she shouldn’t have to deal with this dirty business. “Because Daddy’s a superhero, and to be fair, Serena went to help other little superheroes.” Just then, the kindergarten teacher announced the start of the first activity: building blocks, smiling as she added, “There’s a prize for first place! A LEGO spaceship!” Lily suddenly brightened, pointing at the spaceship. “Daddy, I want that!” “Alright, then let’s go for it!” The sand in the hourglass was almost gone when Lily raised her small hand and excitedly shouted, “Teacher, we’re done!” The teacher walked over and nodded, about to make the announcement, when a little boy came zooming over from the front row. It was Leo. He shoved over our completed block structure with one hand, then stood there, chest puffed out. “Now first place is mine!” Lily stared at the collapsed blocks, her eyes welling up with tears. Angrily, she picked up a large block and threw it at Leo. Serena’s first words as she arrived were, “Lily, how could you hit someone?! Apologize to Leo right now!” Lily was stubborn. “No, I won’t! He knocked down my blocks first! He’s a meanie!” I stood firmly behind Lily. “Serena, anyone with eyes can see who started it. Leo should apologize to Lily!” Ryan followed her, pulling on Serena’s arm. “Serena, let it go. No need to make a big deal. Adults overlook a child’s misdeeds.” The kindergarten teacher also tried to smooth things over. Just then, Lily suddenly burst into tears, whimpering, “Mommy, why aren’t you protecting me? Why are you being mean to me?” That single word, “Mommy,” instantly stunned everyone. Their gazes darted between me, Serena, and Ryan. Serena’s face flushed red and then white. Ryan looked like he wanted to speak but held back. At that moment, Leo stood with his hands on his hips in front of Lily, his voice venomous. “Who are you calling Mommy? What are you shouting about! She’s my mommy!” Lily was so startled she started hiccuping. She cried, her eyes blurry with tears, her little voice cracking as she shrieked, “Mommy, say something!” My heart ached, and I shot Serena a furious glare, my voice much harsher. “Serena, aren’t you going to explain? Are you just going to stand there and let Lily and me be misunderstood?” Serena’s eyes widened, and she snatched Leo into her arms. “Explain what? Today, I am Leo’s mommy!” She even patted Leo’s head. Instantly, the other parents began pointing and whispering about Lily and me. “Why is that child calling her ‘Mommy’ willy-nilly?!” “Lily’s family usually never comes to Family Day. This time it’s just the dad. Could she be someone’s mistress’s child?!” “I heard Serena is a CEO, super rich. Maybe Lily’s dad was trying to hook up with Serena, and his own daughter stumbled upon them and got confused.” As Lily and I were being attacked by rumors, Serena remained silent, simply comforting Leo. Ryan, standing nearby, barely concealed a smirk, glancing at me. I hugged a sobbing Lily, patting her gently. Though I wanted nothing more than to slap that conniving woman and that slimy man, it wasn’t the time. I couldn’t let Lily get hurt any further. Just then, someone trying to curry favor with Serena simpered, “Leo looks so much like you, Serena. You can tell they’re mother and son at a glance.” I looked up at Serena. A flicker of guilt crossed her eyes, then she quickly changed the subject. Ryan, meanwhile, looked absolutely smug. I’d seen this father and son before, but I’d never noticed that Serena and Leo really did share a certain resemblance in their features. Lily couldn’t stop crying. I had to ask the teacher to take us to the quiet room, hoping to calm Lily down first. In the quiet room, I comforted Lily until she eventually fell asleep. Looking at her swollen, red eyelids from crying, my heart twisted into a knot. I quietly slipped out, walked to the bend in the corridor, and called Chloe and Marcus. “Chloe, Marcus, bring my marriage certificate with Serena, the drafted divorce agreement, and her termination letter to Little Star Preschool now. Hurry!” As I was still discussing the details with them, I suddenly heard a scream—it was Lily’s voice! My heart sank to my stomach.

At the end of the hallway, by the bathroom door, Lily had been pushed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. Leading the pack of kids surrounding her was Leo, his face a menacing scowl. “That’s what you get for calling her Mommy! I’m going to beat you to a pulp today!” With that, he kicked Lily in the stomach. Lily cried out in pain, trying to dodge, but the little boy behind him grabbed her. “The mistress’s kid deserves a beating!” “My mom said illegitimate kids should be strangled at birth!” Lily flailed her small hands in protest, crying so hard she could barely breathe. “You’re lying! That’s my mommy! Mommy, Daddy, come save Lily!” “Lily hurts so bad!” “Mommy, Daddy, where are you?!” The moment I saw that, my mind went blank with a roar, blood surged, my veins felt like they were about to burst. The little boys spotted me, exchanged glances, and seeing my furious expression, scattered like startled birds. I scooped Lily into my arms, realizing she was shaking violently. I immediately called an ambulance. “Don’t be scared, sweetheart. Daddy’s here, Daddy’s here.” When the ambulance arrived, other parents crowded around, curious about what had happened. I raced towards the ambulance, carrying Lily. As I passed, Serena was smiling, building blocks with Leo, while Ryan stood by, wiping sweat from her brow. Hearing the commotion, she looked up, a confused expression on her face. As she stood up and started to ask, “What’s going on? What happened to Lily?” Ryan grabbed her hand. “Serena, you promised to spend today with Leo. You don’t know how happy he was when I told him last night you’d be with him all day.” Serena’s footsteps faltered. I had already gotten into the ambulance with Lily. Lily had passed out, and the paramedics immediately began checks and resuscitation in the ambulance. When a female paramedic lifted Lily’s dress, she gasped. “How could anyone be so cruel to such a small child?!” I instantly panicked. Lily’s milky-white skin was covered in bruises, purple and blue, with a fist-sized contusion on her side. Her tiny body trembled uncontrollably. The paramedic’s voice suddenly became urgent. “Quick, get the equipment ready!” Two agonizing hours passed before Lily was stable. Regret and hatred intertwined in my heart, growing wildly, tearing through me. My mother, Eleanor, cried tears of sorrow, complaining, “How could you let this happen, Daniel? My poor baby, what she’s been through!” Lily, hooked up to an IV, weakly opened her eyes on the hospital bed, looking at me blankly. “Daddy, why do they all say Lily’s a child Mommy didn’t want?” “But Lily has a mommy!” “Why didn’t Mommy protect Lily?” I gently kissed her forehead and told her, “Daddy will always, always protect Lily. Lily is Daddy’s most beloved treasure.” “As for your mommy, we don’t want her anymore.” When I returned to the kindergarten, the activity day was on its last item. Families were painting a portrait of their ‘happy family.’ Serena was patiently coloring a picture, Leo nestled quietly in her arms, and Ryan, a look of utter contentment on his face, was taking photos of them both. It truly was a picture of serene domestic bliss, a perfect happy family. But why was my Lily lying in a hospital bed, while the culprits were here, enjoying their happiness?! I stormed over, and without a word, landed a fierce punch on Ryan. The sheer force sent him stumbling back, and with a dull thud, he hit the corner of a table behind him. The sudden sound stunned everyone into silence. Serena shrieked, “Daniel, what are you doing?!” Then she quickly pulled Ryan into her arms, her eyes full of concern. “Ryan, does it hurt?” Tears rolled down Ryan’s face, but he shook his head, playing the victim. “Daniel, have you misunderstood something? I apologize to you.” I sneered. “Just a verbal apology? Isn’t that a bit insincere?” With that, I raised my hand to slap him again. Serena saw it coming and tried to block me. I changed direction, delivering the slap directly to Serena’s face. The five-fingered red imprint was starkly visible on her cheek. Serena clutched her face, stunned for a second, then went ballistic. “Daniel, are you sick?! Who gave you the right to hit me?!” Just then, the kindergarten teachers rushed over to intervene, asking me what was going on. I pointed at Leo, gritting my teeth. “This little brat, when I wasn’t looking, ganged up with a few other boys and beat up my Lily!” The words had barely left my mouth when Ryan anxiously interjected, “No way! Leo is a very sweet boy. Serena, you have to believe me!” I took a step forward. “No way? Then why do you think an ambulance just came?!” Serena once again positioned herself protectively in front of Ryan and Leo. “What harm can a little kid do? Kids roughhouse, it’s inevitable. But you? You’re overreacting, hitting people right away—a total brute!” Seeing my aggressive stance, Serena actually shoved me with force, sending me to the ground. My palm scraped against the ground, bleeding. Those who were trying to curry favor with Serena joined in, looking down on me, ridiculing and cursing. “Is he trying to stage an accident? Knows Ms. Serena’s loaded and wants to extort money!” “Look at his audacity! He’ll be crying when Everwing Group’s legal team is done with him.” “You think, maybe he tried to seduce Ms. Serena before and failed, and now he’s just causing trouble? He’s nowhere near Ms. Serena’s level!” “Definitely acting like a mistress’s man!” Just then, the roar of cars grew louder, and soon three luxury black SUVs pulled up to the kindergarten entrance. A sharp-eyed parent gasped. “Those cars have the Everwing Group logo! They’re executive vehicles!” Someone else, eager to flatter, added, “Ms. Serena is truly amazing, she’s already called the company’s legal team!” With that, the person spat at me, gloating. “You homewrecker, you’re finished! Everyone knows Everwing’s legal team is called the ‘Invincible Force of Oakwood City’! Get ready to pay up and go to jail!” An influencer parent was already buzzing with excitement, holding up her phone. “Wow, what a scoop today! Folks, hit that follow button! I’m livestreaming this brute’s downfall!” Ryan finally reacted, looking at Serena with surprise and affection, while Leo beside her became even more cocky.

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Eight years ago, I was framed for drunk driving, a tragedy that claimed dozens of lives. I wanted to expose the truth, but I found my parents had already fabricated evidence for my adopted brother, Caleb, forcing me to take the fall. I pleaded with my fiancée, Ashley, but she just screamed, calling me a murderer. Later, the victims’ families, in their grief-fueled rage, brutally severed my hand tendons, leaving me unable to ever hold a paintbrush again. Eight years on, I walked out of prison and became a security guard. My former fiancée, Ashley, reappeared. Her eyes were red, her voice laced with accusation as she gritted out: “Leo, why did you disappear? Do you have any idea how long your parents and I have been looking for you?” I sat motionless in the security booth, dressed in my uniform. “Ma’am, I think you’ve got the wrong person.” But Ashley wouldn’t let it go. She lunged forward, grabbing my hand, trying to drag me out. “You’re always so stubborn. Eight years ago, your stubbornness killed so many people. How long are you going to keep this up?” Her voice was loud, but it choked off the moment her gaze fell upon my right hand. She lowered her head, staring at my twisted hand, her fingers trembling as they traced the grotesque scars. Eight years had passed, and the old wounds no longer hurt. But Ashley’s fingertips felt like knives, slicing open my old scars inch by inch. Cold sweat instantly drenched my clothes. The terror of having my tendons brutally severed eight years ago came rushing back, and I couldn’t stop my body from shaking uncontrollably. Ashley’s voice was hoarse. “Leo, back then, did it hurt?” “I’m sorry.” I didn’t answer her, but her strange behavior had already drawn the attention of the security captain. He ran over anxiously, shouting, “What are you doing? Let him go!” Before he could get close, a group of students from a nearby art academy swarmed Ashley. “You’re Ashley, aren’t you? The most famous artist in the country! Could you sign an autograph for me?” Thanks to those students, Ashley released me. I instinctively took a step back, widening the distance between us. The captain finally understood what was happening. He turned to me, his face filled with shock. “These students are saying you’re someone important. Who exactly are you?” Before I could answer, one of the students spoke again. “I heard you’ve been looking for your fiancé from back then, the one who caused all that trouble. It couldn’t be this security guard, could it?” The student gave me a dismissive glance. “But your fiancé was a prodigy artist. This guy’s just a security guard, and he’s disabled. You must have the wrong person.” I gave a bitter laugh. Yeah, that’s me. Now, I can’t even hold a paintbrush. There’s nothing left of my old self. But Ashley, who was signing autographs, heard it. Her face instantly darkened, and her hand stopped mid-signature. “Shut up!” “This is between Leo and me. It’s not for you to talk about!” She pushed through the crowd and walked towards me, extending a gilded invitation. I looked down, the words on the card stinging my eyes. [Caleb Miller & Ashley Wedding Invitation] So, she was marrying my adopted brother. “Leo.” A flicker of pain crossed Ashley’s face. “Your mistake eight years ago caused me so much pain. Caleb was there for me, he stood by me for eight years. I can’t let him down.” “You once said you wanted to see me in a wedding dress. I hope you’ll come.” I took Ashley’s wedding invitation and simply placed it on the counter beside me, ignoring it. Just as I thought the matter was over, that very night, I received a termination notice from the factory. “You’re still young, and you used to be a great artist. You’re too good for this place.” Mr. Henderson’s voice trembled as he spoke over the phone. “I’ll pay you $500 for this month, but please, just don’t come back.” I was stunned. Before I could ask for more details, he had already blocked my number. Then, Ashley’s call came through. “Leo.” Her voice was thick with exhaustion. “You shouldn’t be a security guard. I’ve talked to the factory. Come home. Your parents and I will take care of you. I can even help you get back into the art world. You don’t have to…” She hadn’t finished her sentence before I hung up.

Why? Why did she always get to decide everything? Eight years ago, she wouldn’t listen to my explanations, convinced I was in the wrong. She punished me in her ‘own right way’ – letting my hand tendons be severed. And now, she doesn’t ask me either. She unilaterally shatters the peace of my life, without ever having trusted me or doubted the ‘truth’! Ashley’s words filled me with a nauseating rage. I sat on my dorm bed, taking a long time to calm down. My roommate, Mike, noticed something was off and poured me a cup of hot water. “What’s going on?” I knew he had a million questions. He had been good to me. When I first got out of prison, I had nothing, and my hand was crippled. He took pity on me, stepped in, and got me this security guard job. Even though the pay was only a measly $200 a month, with food and lodging included, it at least gave me a place to go. So, I decided not to hide anything from him. I bought some food, and I told him everything. He listened in silence for a long time, then patted my shoulder, letting out a sigh. “Forget it. We’ll find another job. If you have nowhere to go, I have a basement at my place. You can stay there for now.” I was supposed to move out of the dorm the next day. As I finished packing my luggage and stepped out, the victims’ families, somehow having learned of my whereabouts, were already blocking the dorm entrance. Seeing me, their emotions immediately ignited. “You animal! We finally found you!” “You killed our loved ones, why do you still get to live?” With that, they swarmed me, surrounding me completely. I was about to speak, but a kick landed on my stomach. I crumpled to the ground, clutching my stomach in pain, and then fists and sticks rained down on me like hail. Crimson blood seeped from my body, and my luggage scattered across the ground. *Drip, drop—* The sky was a dismal gray, and then, the rain began to pour down. Whether they were tired of hitting me, or because of the rain, they stopped their assault. A few frustrated kicks later, they left. After everyone dispersed, I was the only one left lying on the ground, unable to move. The heavy rain washed away the bloodstains on my body. I tried to get up several times, only to fall back down. “Are you okay?” Just then, Mike ran over with an umbrella. He helped me up from the ground and took me to the hospital on his old motorcycle. But no matter if it was a big hospital or a small clinic, they all waved their hands, refusing to admit me. Finally, an old doctor, unable to bear it, secretly slipped me a bottle of medicine and explained, “Kid, someone’s put the word out. No one dares to treat you.” “Go home quickly!” I laughed, tears streaming down my face. Ashley, is this what you meant by ‘helping’ me? You’re truly ruthless! In the end, I had no choice but to return to Mike’s basement. But just as I walked in and prepared to rest, there was a knock at the door. It was Caleb and my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Miller. Caleb saw me and immediately his eyes welled up. “Leo, why are you living in a place like this?” “I know you’ve always liked Ashley. If you don’t want this, then… then I just won’t get married. I’ll give her back to you…” By the end, he was whimpering softly, as if bearing an immense grievance. This was Caleb’s specialty. Ever since we were kids, whenever he wanted something from me, he’d use this trick. Because his parents had died in a car accident trying to save my parents, my parents showered all their guilt and affection on him. Whenever he cried, it was automatically assumed I had bullied him.

Sure enough, seeing his pitiful state, my father stepped forward and slapped me. “Don’t you dare put on such a disgusting act here.” “Do you think putting on this pathetic show will make us feel sorry for you, or make Ashley come back to you? Don’t dream about it!” My mother, Mrs. Miller, quickly comforted Caleb, then said to me coldly, “Alright, someone’s already found you. If you don’t come back with us now, the outside world will start saying we mistreated you, and it wouldn’t be good if those busybodies figured out what happened back then.” “Come back with us now!” Seeing that I didn’t move, my father interpreted it as a challenge to his authority. He angrily kicked me, hitting my unhealed wound square on. Blood seeped through, and my father’s hand, which was raised to hit me again, froze in mid-air. After a moment, he slowly lowered his hand. My mother’s voice also took on a hint of worry. “What are those injuries on your body?” I gritted my teeth, my body still trembling slightly from the intense pain. Caleb, seeing this, a flicker of panic crossed his face. “Dad, Mom, Leo must be so angry he’s hurting himself, like they do on TV.” He said, wiping away tears as he walked up to me. “Leo, please don’t make Dad and Mom worry. Don’t be so careless with yourself.” He sounded sincere, but then he leaned close to my ear and whispered, “Why didn’t those people just beat you to death? So useless!” After that, he feigned concern, giving me a few more insincere warnings. My parents clearly believed Caleb’s words again, and my father scoffed, “If he wants to harm himself, let him. Caleb, don’t be too kind. Let’s go, ignore him!” With that, they turned and left with Caleb. They didn’t see the triumphant smirk Caleb shot me as he looked back. After they left, I closed the door, retrieved the first aid kit, and, enduring the pain, changed my bandages. Just as I finished, Mike knocked and came in. He rubbed his hands, his face full of difficulty. “Sigh…” He paused for a long time, as if choosing his words carefully, then finally spoke again. “It’s not that I don’t want you to stay, it’s just… sigh, those people from the city came to talk to me. My kids are still young, and I just can’t risk it…” At that point, what more was there for me to understand? I didn’t blame him. I knew he had done his best. I thanked him again, and to avoid burdening him, I moved out that very night. As soon as I left, Ashley arrived with a moving company. Seeing her, my suspicions were confirmed. I frowned and spoke. “Ashley, what’s the point of this? Why threaten innocent people?” Ashley’s eyes darted away, glancing at Mike’s house, then she said, “Leo, I don’t want to either. You’re forcing my hand.” “Just come back with me. I’ll help you get out of this mess. What’s so hard about that?” I didn’t answer. The atmosphere became instantly oppressive. From that small town to the city, we drove in silence. When we arrived, it was a small apartment, and my parents were already waiting for me on the sofa. Seeing them, I instinctively wanted to leave, but Ashley slammed the door shut. My father spoke first. “Where are you going? Haven’t you disgraced us enough?” My mother scoffed. “For a murderer like you, it’s a blessing we’re even giving you a place to hide.” “I know you’re upset about Ashley marrying Caleb, but look at yourself. Do you think someone with a criminal record like you deserves Ashley? Until the wedding, you’ll stay here. You must report to us before going out and wear a mask!” My parents’ words almost made me laugh out loud. “Dad, Mom, me? A murderer? A disgrace?” “About what happened back then, you yourselves know…”

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I’d just sealed another major client for the company, yet, once again, my promotion fell through. I felt a fierce indignation bubbling up inside me. I was about to confront my boss – who was also my boyfriend – and demand an explanation. But as I reached his office door, I overheard him talking to a friend: “Skylar is so capable, why aren’t you letting her get promoted?” Adrian let out a mocking laugh. “Skylar? She’s just a fling, a bed warmer. What real ‘capabilities’ could she possibly have? That promotion is earmarked for Camilla.” “Aren’t you afraid she’ll leave if she finds out the truth?” Adrian laughed even louder this time: “She practically begs me not to use protection in bed. You think she’d ever walk away from this?” I clutched the promotion application in my trembling hand, crushing the papers. I called my mom. “That marriage you mentioned? I’m in!” Camilla snatched the document from my hand. “Skylar, you’ve failed five times already. You seriously think you’ll get promoted now?” She scoffed, flicking shredded paper onto my face. “Lack of ability. You could apply a hundred times, it wouldn’t matter!” Lack of ability? In seven years, I’d closed six multi-million dollar deals for the company. I’d been the top performer for thirteen consecutive quarters. I’d even landed in the ER twice with stomach hemorrhages from fixing my colleagues’ messes. No client I’d ever worked with had called me incompetent. Every time before, I’d get into it with Camilla about my competence. But now, I was just tired. It would just end up in front of Adrian, and I’d get some wishy-washy, half-hearted remark. “Past performance isn’t relevant. If your overall capabilities aren’t up to par, you just have to accept it.” Then, under his smooth persuasion, I’d go back to working my butt off, closing deals, desperate to prove myself. All while fulfilling his goal of getting high returns with minimal investment in me. Only now did I realize that the one who received the least fair treatment was myself. Adrian, you truly played your cards perfectly, didn’t you? Tears, uncontrolled, splattered onto my phone screen. *Ding-dong*. The screen lit up. [Come to my office.] My quieted heart fluttered, clinging to a fragile flicker of hope. Until I reached his door and heard Camilla’s muffled sobs from inside. “It’s okay, stop crying. I said you deserve it, and you do. I’ll take care of her.” Adrian’s gentle, patient tone was like a dull knife twisting in my heart, gutting me, tearing open old, festering wounds. Six months ago, when Camilla spread rumors that I slept my way to contracts, and I ended up getting beaten black and blue by a jealous wife who thought I was the other woman, unable to stomach anything but liquids for two days— I’d looked at him with the same aggrieved expression, pleading for him to clear my name. But he had only left me with one sentence. “You’re not new to the corporate world, you know you can’t be so delicate and naive.” A bitter taste spread through the fresh wounds. I had to admit, his affections hadn’t truly meant much to me either. I pushed open the door, feeling numb. Adrian’s hand, wiping Camilla’s tears, froze. He looked at me with displeasure. “I hear you’re unhappy about Director Camilla’s promotion? Has no one ever told you that the workplace isn’t about being articulate? Is it really that hard to admit someone’s more skilled?” I stared, stunned. “I didn’t…” He cut me off before I could finish. “A thousand-word apology letter, and a public apology at the afternoon staff meeting.” He demanded an apology letter and a public apology for an unverified complaint. It made all the real rumors that reached his ears, only to be ignored, seem like a cruel joke. Before, I could still comfort myself by thinking he kept his professional and personal lives separate. But after realizing I was nothing more than his cheapest labor, an expendable asset, I didn’t even have the courage to argue. I swallowed the bitterness, lowered my gaze, and forced a light laugh. “Yes, you’re absolutely right.” “I admit I’m less skilled. I apologize.”

I gave a small, forced bow to Camilla. “Director Camilla, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have questioned your abilities, and I shouldn’t have foolishly hoped for a review of my application.” She didn’t respond for a long time. Just as I was about to look up, Adrian pressed down on my lower back, hard. He leaned close to my ear, his voice a low whisper. “I promised her father I wouldn’t let her feel slighted. Just take it for her, play along.” He pushed my back down a few more inches, and a searing pain shot through me. Yes, Camilla’s father had helped him once. He owed her father, I get it. He’s repaying a debt. But what about me? Once, while accompanying him on a site inspection, a machine malfunctioned. Without a second thought, I rushed forward to shield him, taking the brunt of it. A control lever slammed into my lower back, causing a severe, lasting injury. Back then, he’d looked at me with red eyes, calling me reckless. He’d massaged my back every single day for my recovery. But now, he was pressing down on the very back I’d injured for him, forcing me to apologize to the person who had wronged me. What a pathetic way to repay a debt. Those brief ten seconds stretched out like an eternity. When I finally looked up again, my back felt like it had snapped; I could barely straighten. Camilla gasped, feigning concern as she looked at me. “Oh, I almost forgot, Skylar got that back injury for Adrian. Adrian, you really don’t know how to show compassion. It’s so disheartening!” Adrian’s hand suddenly released me, his gaze clouded. “N-nothing else. You can go.” I bit down on my lip, my jaw trembling. Gritting my teeth, I forced my spine straight against the tearing pain and walked out. Camilla’s words were the most painful. There were so many ways to make me apologize, to “play along.” But he chose the one that would cause me the most physical pain. It took me a long time to recover at my desk before I had the strength to hand my drafted resignation letter to my supervisor. He had tried his best to fight for me regarding the failed promotion. But Adrian’s “no” was something he couldn’t overturn. “You’ve given seven years to this company, Adrian knows your contributions deep down. You’re still young, there are many more opportunities ahead. Are you sure you don’t want to wait a bit longer?” “These years,” “ahead,” “next time,” and “wait a bit longer” had practically become etched into my ears. It was “next time” whenever I asked Adrian when we could go public with our relationship after our intimate moments. It was “wait a bit longer” every time I failed to get a promotion and asked when I’d have a chance to stand beside him. It was “next time” whenever my parents pressured me to get married, and I asked him when he’d come home to meet them. I never doubted my own resolve, but I couldn’t change the outcome he’d already planned for me. I shook my head, smiling faintly, helplessly. “Twenty-eight isn’t that young anymore. My peers are already married with kids. I can’t keep failing to hold onto my health, my career, or a family, can I?” He said nothing, looking at my pale face. He signed his name with a sigh of regret. “You can leave after you finish your hand-off this week.” “I won’t tell Adrian yet, to spare you any trouble these next few days. Besides, your current position doesn’t require you to report directly to him.” I finally breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Marcus.” After submitting the form, a message from Adrian popped up on my phone. [How’s your back? I bought some ointment, I’ll rub it in for you tonight.] This was his usual way of acknowledging he’d gone too far without actually apologizing. It was his subtle olive branch. I used to think this was his way of showing affection, and I’d even playfully flirt back. Now, I saw it for what it was: just a sugar cube to keep me from slipping out of his control. [No need to trouble yourself. I’ve already booked a massage therapist to come over.] According to company tradition, promotions were usually celebrated with a team dinner, hosted by the management. I used my pre-booked massage as a polite excuse to decline. But then, Camilla, with a wounded expression, tugged at my arm. “Is Skylar upset that I got the promotion over her? Is that why you’re making excuses?” “Anyone else can miss it, but not you. I really want your sincere blessing.” My brows furrowed, and I was about to speak. Adrian, who had just tacitly approved my leaving, now chimed in. “Everyone else is going, so it’s not right for you to skip it, is it? Don’t be so petty. As a senior employee, you should be able to let things go. Don’t make a scene.” “When can’t you get a massage?” I froze, a bitter pang twisting in my gut. I should have recognized Adrian’s cold indifference long ago. My feelings would always be secondary to greater interests.

When I was twenty-three, my second year away from home, he promised to spend our first birthday together. I cooked with a heart full of joy and waited for him all night. When I called him and mentioned it was my birthday, I heard a girl crying in the background. He offered no apology, no explanation, only a slight rebuke that I shouldn’t treat a birthday as such a big deal. Camilla’s mother had died during childbirth. Whenever she heard someone mention a birthday, she’d think of her mother and become sad. For the next five years, he never celebrated my birthday. Nor did he allow me to post birthday photos, claiming it would upset Camilla. Yet, when he wasn’t visible, he wouldn’t put in any effort for me either. Now, catching my supervisor’s cautionary gaze, I decided one less complication was always better. I’d treat it as my farewell dinner with everyone. At the dinner table, the two of them sat together. Camilla, in her chic business suit, looked perfectly matched with Adrian in his crisp suit. Sometimes, you just have to recognize the reality: some people, no matter how hard you chase, you’ll never catch up. So, when a colleague jokingly commented on how well they looked together, I nodded in agreement. “Yes, they’re quite a match. Their age, looks, and family backgrounds are all perfectly aligned.” The moment the words left my lips, Adrian and Marcus, the VP he’d been discussing me with earlier, both froze. Normally, in such situations, Adrian would inevitably be drawn into comparisons. Every time I heard such teasing, I always felt uncomfortable. I’d either pretend not to hear, staying silent, or just scowl. But today, I felt like an indifferent observer. Camilla, pleased with the compliments, shot me a triumphant look. Finally, when someone brought up the topic of marriage, she directed the conversation my way. “My dad’s been pressuring me to get married so much, it’s driving me crazy! I heard Skylar has a boyfriend you’ve been with for years but haven’t married. You’re twenty-eight, don’t your family pressure you? Tell me, how do you avoid the marriage talk?” Curious gazes turned to me. Even Adrian looked visibly tense. I feigned indifference. “Of course they do, but I’ve already broken up. So, I can’t really answer that question for you.” A moment of frozen silence followed. Many people looked at me with pity. Some of my closer colleagues joked about setting me up with someone. I pulled out my phone. “Sounds good. Send them my way.” *Bang!* Adrian’s glass shattered. Tiny shards of glass left fine red marks on his hand. I only glanced at it before looking away. No longer like before, where I’d be more anxious than anyone. The atmosphere at the dinner table turned strangely awkward. What began as a lively meal ended abruptly. I refused to share a ride with Adrian, who just happened to be assigned to the same car. I showed him my phone, where I’d already called my own ride. I went home alone. Just as I was about to relax, my door flew open. Adrian, reeking of alcohol, shoved me against the door. He kissed me fiercely, desperately, as if he couldn’t wait another second. He was desperate to push his way into me. My lower back slammed against the doorknob. A jolt of pain made me gasp, and I slapped him across the face. “Adrian, what do you take me for?” He stormed out, slamming the door. In five years, we’d never had this kind of unspoken tension, this direct confrontation. So, when he suddenly realized I was actually angry, Adrian didn’t bother pretending to care anymore. He assigned me to supervise the construction site in Northwood. When word got around, many colleagues spoke up for me. The Northwood project was unpaid rework on a project that hadn’t met specifications, and the temporary workers were furious. During the day, there were falling debris and nails sticking out everywhere. At night, relentless calls would harass them. They couldn’t ignore them, but going there would lead to strange and unsettling occurrences. Three male colleagues before me couldn’t handle it; they either ended up in psychiatric care from the trauma or hospitalized with injuries. Let alone a woman. Adrian had been dealing with this problem late into the nights, woken by those male colleagues. I’d once joked that if I ever disliked someone, I’d send them there. Or if we ever argued, I’d go there myself, out of sight, out of mind. Back then, he’d tapped my head, saying it was impossible; he’d never send me to such a dangerous place, no matter how much we fought. Yet, he still sent me. I packed up my desk belongings at lightning speed. Clean, efficient, as if I were never coming back.

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Seven years after our divorce, I saw Gaylen Thorne again at a nightclub. He was lounging on a sofa, casually scanning the women, looking for entertainment. The manager scurried over after the third group of stunning, curvaceous women were dismissed from the room. “Mr. Thorne, this batch of dancers… they’re the closest resemblance to your wife yet…” Gaylen smashed a liquor bottle on the floor before the manager could finish his sentence. As I walked past him, he suddenly froze. “Is that you?” I lifted my head, brushing a strand of hair aside to reveal half of my face, marred by burn scars, and gave him a faint smile. “Mr. Thorne, long time no see.” The air hung silent for a few seconds, as if time itself had paused. Gaylen stumbled towards me. His hands trembling, he cautiously spoke. “You’re alive?” His face was a mixture of disbelief and the profound joy of a lost treasure found. “All these years, why didn’t you contact me?” “Do you have any idea how long I’ve been looking for you…?” I didn’t respond, a flicker of bewilderment in my eyes. He was the one who practically wanted to banish me to the ends of the earth, to never see me again. And now, *he’s* the one claiming he’s been searching for me all this time. “Are you still mad at me?” His voice, raw and strained, suddenly broke the silence. His gaze fell on the scars on my face, a hint of anguish in his tone. “So mad that you’d rather work in a place like this than come to me, is that it?” I paused, surprised. Then I realized Gaylen had misunderstood. It was my birthday today, and I was simply celebrating at a venue I owned. But I couldn’t be bothered to explain. Hate was too much of a luxury for Gaylen Thorne. He didn’t deserve it. Gaylen seemed to suddenly realize something. He began to stammer, flustered and anxious. “I don’t usually come to places like this. It’s just… I remembered it was your birthday today, and I just… I missed you so much that I…” I watched Gaylen, a mocking smile playing on my lips. A murderer who had killed my parents and crushed the bones in my hand, was actually saying… he missed me? “Mr. Thorne, you’re crossing a line.” As if he hadn’t expected such a calm response, Gaylen’s face flickered with disappointment, regret, and a touch of sadness. He was about to say more when his phone suddenly rang. “Where are you? You haven’t been home in almost a month!” “I know what day it is today, did you go to—” My brow furrowed. Fragmented memories, laced with intense emotions, flooded my mind. I couldn’t help but let out a cynical scoff. Instantly, the female voice on the phone grew sharper. “Who is that? Who are you with right now?” The call was abruptly cut. Gaylen’s face was etched with impatience. He took a few deep breaths, trying to appear gentle and harmless, before looking at me again. He handed me a black card. “If you’re short on cash, take this card.” “After all, you’re… the former darling. You shouldn’t have to do this kind of work.” The darling. I hadn’t heard that title in so long, it made me falter for a second. But Gaylen Thorne’s condescending tone made my stomach churn even more. After all, he was the architect of all my nightmares. Why bother with this act of false sympathy? I pushed the black card back, said nothing, and turned to leave. But Gaylen insisted on following, babbling endlessly about how hard it had been to find me over the years. He talked about our old memories. Annoyance flared within me, and I finally couldn’t help but interrupt. “Mr. Thorne, I’m married. Please stop bothering me.” The biting cold wind prompted me to pull my coat tighter. Before Gaylen could fully grasp my words, I walked away, my boots crunching on the thick snow.

Half an hour later, I arrived at my childhood home. I was there to retrieve my parents’ belongings. I had thought that time had mellowed the raw edges of my emotions, but looking at the familiar furnishings in the house, my eyes still welled up with tears. Every birthday, my mom and dad would prepare a three-tiered cake for me. Dad would hold me close, his light stubble tickling my cheek. Mom would stand by, laughing and playfully scolding him for being silly. But now, the people in those cherished memories were just small, black and white photographs. I traced my parents’ photo, lost in thought for a long time, until the doorbell rang. Gaylen Thorne stood before me, a hint of apprehension in his eyes. Behind him stood Stella Vance, whom I hadn’t seen in seven years. “I knew you’d come back here on your birthday.” “Honestly, you don’t have to lie to me about being married.” “We grew up together, Alice. No matter what, I truly wish for your happiness.” Before I could even speak, Stella’s eyes already began to redden. She clasped my hand, her voice choked with tears. “Yes, he told me everything. You’ve had a really hard time these past few years, and you even became a hostess, didn’t you?” “Don’t degrade yourself like this. If you’re in trouble, just tell me!” “We’re sisters, after all. I’ve forgiven you for what happened back then!” Forgiven? I found it utterly ridiculous. I gave a faint, cynical tug at the corner of my mouth, then sat on the sofa and spoke calmly. “Seven years. I’m beyond caring about who was right or wrong.” “Gaylen Thorne, Stella Vance, if you’re just here to spout nonsense, please leave.” Stella’s sobs froze, and for a moment, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Gaylen looked at me, then broke the silence. “Go get her a coffee first, her favorite, with just a touch of sweetness.” His familiar, casual tone made me momentarily stunned. My thoughts drifted back more than twenty years. Back then, Gaylen and I grew up together, and we were engaged from a young age. When the Thorne family went bankrupt, his father was sentenced to life, and his mother driven to suicide. It was *my* father who, despite immense pressure, took Gaylen in. And it was my mother who held him close when others looked down on him, telling him he wasn’t an unwanted child. I remember little Gaylen, his eyes red and swollen from crying, stammered a promise: he’d make me the happiest girl in the world when we grew up. I believed him. And at first, he truly was wonderful.

He’d wait for hours in line for that limited-edition pastry I loved; he’d shield me fiercely during an earthquake; he’d remember every single one of my preferences, always surprising me with something new. I once believed that meeting Gaylen Thorne was the greatest fortune of my life. Then, I met Stella Vance. At the time, I was a piano prodigy who had won countless competitions. Stella, on the other hand, was a girl from a poor background, but with the same dream of playing piano. She pleaded with me, tears welling in her eyes, saying she also wanted to play the piano. So I took pity on her, brought her home, and my parents adopted her as their goddaughter. From then on, she became the Alice family’s second daughter. Unlike my outgoing nature, Stella always appeared delicate and vulnerable. She was often ostracized by our peers, and every time, Gaylen and I would stand up for her. I’d stand defiantly, one foot propped on a locker, declaring Stella my honorary sister. Anyone who dared to mess with her was messing with *me*. Gaylen would stand behind us, a helpless look on his face, always ready to pull us away if things got too wild. For countless afternoons in the piano room, it was always the three of us. I’d chatter on, explaining sheet music to Stella, while Gaylen watched with a gentle smile. Then, just as my throat went dry from talking, he’d perfectly time bringing me my coffee, with just a touch of sweetness. Until the eve of my big competition, when Gaylen and I walked down the aisle, I believed I was the happiest person in the world. But later, I discovered that this so-called happiness was just honey-coated poison. Which is why what happened later left me so utterly hysterical, so unable to let go. A warm cup of coffee was offered to me. Stella’s gaze swept over my plain white shirt. “Alice, it must have been so hard for you to make a living all these years, with your face ruined like that.” “Did you encounter many difficult clients while working as a hostess?” She asked, her words subtly loaded, while seemingly casually showing off her designer brands. “Gaylen bought me so many clothes, I can’t possibly wear them all. Maybe I could give you some?” “Don’t worry, they’re all brand new.” After all these years, Stella had only grown more fond of flaunting her possessions. It was a shame, though, that her taste remained as poor as ever. She couldn’t tell that the clothes I was wearing were custom-designed couture from Ryan Carter. Seeing my silence, Stella’s expression stiffened. She forced another smile and pushed on. “Alice, please stop this. I’ve forgiven you for your past mistakes, and I’m sure Mom and Dad wouldn’t want to see—” “Ah!!” I splashed the coffee directly onto Stella. Gaylen instinctively pulled her behind him. But when his eyes met mine, his composure faltered, and he ultimately said nothing. I let out a cold laugh. My gaze fixed on the man and woman before me. “Gaylen Thorne, Stella Vance, are you two truly clueless about whose fault it was back then?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “308337”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #后宫Harem #重生Reborn