Author: Momo Chan

In my past life, after my dad Derek Jansen passed away, the wealthy Archer Smith took in my mom Luna Jansen and me, Vivian Jansen. Archer’s son, Jasper Smith, hated our presence from the start and repeatedly tried to drive us out of the house. To let Luna live peacefully in the Smith Manor, I started desperately trying to please Jasper. Over time, our relationship grew closer, so close that Archer thought I would eventually become Jasper’s wife. Until that day, Luna and Archer were in a car accident while out and died on the spot. Their only wish was for Jasper to marry me. Jasper agreed but never fulfilled it. At thirty, I was still unmarried. And twenty-six-year-old Jasper never mentioned marriage. He sneered and said, “Vivian, your mom seduced my dad, and now you’re trying to seduce me. Do you really think I’d genuinely respect you?” “You and your mom are the most despicable people I’ve ever met! Get out!” I was thrown out in the pouring rain and eventually married a divorced man who pursued me. A year into the marriage, I endured domestic violence and eventually chose to end my life by jumping. When I opened my eyes again, I returned to a time before Luna’s death. She was laying out several photos, asking me who I wanted to go on a blind date with this week. This time, I didn’t refuse and randomly picked one. Under the table, a hand touched my waist. I turned my head and saw 18-year-old Jasper sitting next to me, his face gloomy. Luna asked, “Are you sure it’s this one?” Archer said, “Pretty good, he’s about the same age as Vivian and has a gentle personality.” At the table, Luna and Archer smiled as they discussed, asking me when to meet. Under the table, Jasper’s fingers wandered around my waist. I jolted as if shocked and sprang up. “Tomorrow then! I can meet after work. I’m heading upstairs now.” After speaking, I quickly walked up the stairs and glanced down at the doorway as if sensing something. Jasper was still sitting at the table, staring straight at me. His face remained indifferent, but a dark storm swirled in his eyes. I knew he was angry. Jasper never hides his emotions. I still remember when Derek had just died, and Archer brought Luna and me into the Smith Manor for the first time. Jasper stood gloomily in the center of the living room. His face was pale as he picked up a cup and angrily threw it at us. I instinctively shielded Luna. The cup flew past my cheek, leaving a bruise on my skin. Jasper wore a mocking smile. “Where did this stray dog come from, barging into someone else’s house? So impatient, huh?” Archer was furious and stepped forward to slap him. Jasper’s face turned to the side from the slap, his eyes reddening heavily. He roared, “My mom just died a year ago, and you couldn’t wait to bring these two bitches into the house.” “Aren’t you afraid my mom will crawl out of her coffin to haunt you?” “Jasper!” Archer roared. I didn’t dare to speak. The first meeting was unpleasant. Even though Luna repeatedly emphasized that she and Archer were innocent and would never get married, Jasper still didn’t believe it. He was convinced we were outsiders vying for status and used every means to force us out. He covered our room with photos of his deceased mother, insisted on offering her food before meals, and the mix of burning candles and food smells made everyone at the table look uncomfortable. Luna stood stiffly on the side, at a loss. She stayed awake night after night, crying and blaming herself for staying here, while hesitating whether to stay for my future. Watching her wipe away tears alone in the middle of the night, I silently hugged her from behind. I said, “It’s okay, Mom, I will make Jasper accept us.” From that day on, I started to please him. He insulted me as a “bastard,” and I lowered my head and accepted it. He ordered me to be a servant, cleaning up all his messes, and I did it without complaint. But our relationship never improved. Until one stormy night, only he and I were left at home. The howling wind carried the heavy rain into the house. Startled by the sudden thunder, I hurried to the balcony to gather the drying clothes. When I finally returned with the clothes and shut the window tightly, I suddenly heard those heavy breaths drowned out by the sound of the rain. I froze, slowly walking toward the source of the sound. Before I got there, the figure on the sofa suddenly grabbed the corner of my clothes. Jasper was curled up in the darkest corner of the living room, his back tense, his body trembling uncontrollably. I looked down at his hand clutching my clothes tightly, and asked, “Are you okay?” He shouted, “Get out.” Getting a response, I nodded and turned to leave. At that moment, a lightning bolt suddenly struck, and Jasper screamed, instinctively gripping tighter. I was suddenly pulled down, falling onto him, and in the darkness, I clearly saw his pale face. Fear, terror, humiliation—various emotions intertwined in his eyes, with reddened rims faintly glistening with tears. Our breaths were so close that I could hear the sound of his heartbeat. The veins on his hand bulged as he gritted his teeth, reached out to tightly hold my waist, and whispered, “Don’t go, stay with me.” From that day on, our relationship completely changed.

At that moment, the door was suddenly knocked. I opened the door, it was Jasper. At eighteen, his sharp features still carried a hint of boyish innocence. His outstretched arm, lean yet strong, pressed against the door, stopping me from closing it. He said, “The weather forecast says there will be thunder tonight.” In his youth, he was used to treating me as a sedative. His eyes held little fear, but rather a sense of longing. He asked, “Can you keep me company today too?” I looked at him quietly for a long time, then finally sighed and said, “Jasper, you’re already eighteen. You shouldn’t be afraid of thunder anymore.” “Vivian!” he abruptly interrupted me, anger rising in his eyes as he barged into my room. “What do you mean? Why are you meeting another man? Don’t you want me anymore? You’re my sister.” As he spoke, he had already pinned me against the wall, burying his face skillfully in the crook of my neck. The word “sister” was bitten out heavily by him, filled with grievance and unwillingness. I suddenly found it laughable. I thought, “If he truly had any sincerity, he wouldn’t have made me wait so many years in my past life without ever hearing him mention marriage.” I broke free, my expression cold. “I will always see you as my younger brother. Even if I get married, you will still be my brother.” He looked at me in disbelief, then stormed out angrily and embarrassed. Early the next morning, as dawn broke, I got dressed and prepared to go on a blind date, only to suddenly see a dark figure curled up in front of my door. Jasper looked up at me like a stray dog, his eyes filled with gloom. He stood up and approached me, resting his chin tenderly on my shoulder, murmuring, “Please don’t go on the blind date, okay?” He dragged out the last syllable, as if he were whining. I said, “No.” I didn’t want to say more to him and turned to leave. He knocked over the vase at the door, the crisp sound echoing sharply in the empty villa. I instinctively turned back, only to see him standing amidst the shards as if he felt no pain, tightly clutching a broken piece of porcelain in his hand. Blood dripped from the back of his hand onto the ground, glaringly red. His eyes reddened, and he let out a painful groan, staring straight at me. “I’m hurt.” Maybe he was waiting for me, as usual, to feel sorry and anxiously tend to his wound, just to please him. But now, I had no desire to care about him anymore. I turned away coldly and said, “I’ll get the maid to help you with it.” “Stop!” He finally dropped the pretense, strode forward, grabbed my wrist tightly, and pulled me into his arms. His chest was scorching, pressed against my back. He said, “Vivian, are you trying to get rid of me now? Weren’t you the one chasing after me to please me before?” “What, have you found a new man? Don’t want me anymore?” I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to break free. “Jasper, stop it. I was good to you because I saw you as a brother!” He let out a cold laugh, his eyes dark and menacing. “What brother? Vivian, what kind of sister are you to me? Your mom will never marry my dad in this lifetime, so stop dreaming.” “You’re going on a blind date, right? Then I will too. There are plenty of women like your mom trying to climb into our family, one less won’t matter!” His voice grew louder and almost out of control. I suddenly laughed, forcefully shook off his hand, and said indifferently, “Suit yourself.” Then, I left without looking back. That night when I got home, I could hear fierce arguing coming from the living room from afar. Pushing the door open, I saw Jasper leaning lazily against the wall, watching Archer scold him, “Where did you bring that woman from? And you dare bring her home? Who gave you the nerve!” Jasper caught sight of me from the corner of his eye and casually curled his lips. “Vivian has started going on blind dates, how can I not be anxious? I need to find a girlfriend too.” Archer’s face turned red with anger. Luna quietly approached me and whispered, “Jasper brought several strange women home, and Archer kicked them all out. Archer almost beat Jasper up.” I walked past expressionlessly, pretending I saw nothing. Archer saw me, his expression softened a bit, and he asked, “Vivian, you’re back? How was the blind date today?” I smiled slightly, “Not bad, we get along quite well. This weekend, we planned to go to an art exhibition together; we have similar interests.” Hearing this, Jasper’s face instantly darkened.

Late at night, as I finished washing up and returned to my room, a hand suddenly reached out from the darkness and yanked me into the stairwell. “Vivian.” Jasper’s voice was hoarse, a faint, unreadable smile on his lips as he pressed me against the cold wall with his body. In the cramped space, our breaths intertwined, warm air brushing against my neck. He asked, “Why did you suddenly start ignoring me?” He had probably been drinking, his cheeks flushed unnaturally red. His already captivating eyes were now glistening. He said, “Aren’t I your favorite? Stop going on blind dates with other men, okay?” He slowly leaned in, his lips gently brushing against my cheek. I instinctively tried to dodge, but his large hand wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer. “Jasper, you’re crazy!” I frantically raised my hand to hit his back. Not far away, Luna and Archer had finished packing up and were ready to say goodnight. Hearing their footsteps getting closer, I grew more anxious. “Let go of me, they’ll see us!” “Then admit our relationship.” He suddenly looked up, his gaze a bit clearer but filled with mockery and amusement. “Weren’t you looking forward to letting my dad and the others know before?” “Isn’t this good for us? Anyway, your mom will never marry my dad in this lifetime. Marrying me would fulfill your goal, isn’t that what you want?” He spoke word by word, his tone clearly smiling, yet I saw a trace of instinctive disgust in his struggling eyes. Yeah, he has always thought of me this way and never looked up to me. The stairwell was eerily silent, suffocating me. Not until I heard Luna and Archer enter their rooms did I raise my hand and slap him sharply across the face. I said, “Jasper, I was foolish before. But from now on, I am your sister, and you should show me some respect.” “Don’t worry, I’ll get married right away. My mom and I won’t be in your way anymore.” I pushed him away and walked off without hesitation. I thought I made myself clear this time. No matter how unwilling Jasper was, he should let go. But no one expected that during a family dinner, he actually said in front of everyone, “Dad, I like Vivian, and I want to marry her. You’ll agree, right?” As soon as he said that, everyone was stunned. I quickly looked at Archer. His face darkened, and he sternly shouted, “Jasper, there’s a limit to your nonsense!” Jasper’s face also darkened, no longer casual like before. “I’m not joking.” I suddenly stood up and said, “Jasper! I was just advising you not to get too close to women of unknown background, and this is how you retaliate against me?” I urgently and angrily accused Jasper, successfully making everyone stop believing his words. Archer believed me, thinking Jasper was being reckless and vengeful, and angrily slapped him. Jasper’s head turned from the slap, but he said nothing, his eyes fixed on me, never looking away. My heart was pounding as if it would burst out of my chest, and I turned and fled upstairs. In this life, I want to stay far away from Jasper and never have anything to do with him again. But that night, he barged into my room again. I woke up startled from my sleep, my mind still in a haze. He softly called my name, leaving me dazed, unable to tell if it was the past life or this one. “Sorry, Vivian, don’t marry him.” He suddenly lunged forward, holding me tightly, his voice trembling, his face streaked with tears. His eyes were tightly shut, as if trapped in an inescapable nightmare. One moment he said he wanted to marry me, the next he begged me not to marry someone else, and then he pleaded not to jump. His tears flowed endlessly, soaking the front of my nightgown. I frowned, my tone icy, and grabbed a pillow to throw at him. “Get out!” Jasper suddenly seemed to snap back to reality. He stared at me blankly, confusion in his eyes, followed by a look of struggle and pain. “Vivian?” Seeing him step forward again, I didn’t hesitate and slapped him once more. The moonlight revealed his pale, lifeless face and the cold sweat on his forehead. Tears streaked his face as he stood there dazed, staring at me, unable to snap out of it. After a long while, he murmured, “Are you alive?”

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Arabella Walker and Charles Clark are the most enviable loving couple in the entire military base’s family area. Charles is a famously cold-looking colonel, but all his tenderness is reserved for Arabella. When Arabella had her period, Charles would make her honey water. When Arabella had a high fever in the middle of the night, Charles would carry her through the snow to the hospital. Even when Arabella had a severe hemorrhage during the difficult birth of their daughter, Bonnie Clark, Charles ignored everyone’s advice and insisted the nurse take half his blood to transfuse to her. Arabella originally thought they would live happily like this forever. Until three years ago, Charles’s brother, James Clark, unexpectedly passed away, leaving behind his wife, Emilia Kelly, and their one-year-old son, Arlo Clark. Charles had a close bond with James since childhood. From then on, he took caring for Emilia and Arlo as his responsibility. At first, Charles only delivered some daily necessities and food to them from time to time. But later, at some point, the relationship between Charles, Emilia, and Arlo slowly changed. Emilia said she hadn’t worn new clothes in a long time, so Charles used all his salary to take Emilia and Arlo to the department store, buying new clothes from head to toe. Emilia mentioned that Arlo had never had a photo taken since birth, so Charles took them to a studio for a “family portrait.” Once, even when Arlo and Bonnie both caught a virus, Charles gave the hospital’s only dose of special medicine to Arlo. Arabella and Charles had argued, but every time after she lost control, Charles would hold her in his arms and repeat the explanation she had heard countless times. Charles said, “Emilia and Arlo were the people James loved most in his life. Now that James is gone, as his brother, of course, I have to take good care of them. Otherwise, how could I face James after I die?” “Don’t worry. I’ll only take care of them until Arlo becomes an adult.” “Arabella, you’re my wife. You should understand me. For my sake, can you bear with it, please?” Looking into Charles’s familiar gentle eyes, Arabella chose to trust and endure again and again. She naively thought Charles was just too responsible, which is why he treated Emilia and Arlo so well. She thought that once Arlo grew up, Charles would naturally return to being the considerate husband and father he once was. Until a month ago, Arlo suddenly had a nosebleed and was sent to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with leukemia and needed a bone marrow transplant. Everyone eligible for matching was tested, but no one was a match. That night, Charles stayed alone in the study and didn’t come out all night. The next morning, Charles grabbed Arabella, who was about to make breakfast, his voice hoarse but firm. Charles said, “Arabella, I want to have another child with Emilia.” With a bang, the plate in Arabella’s hand slipped and shattered. She looked at Charles in disbelief, her voice slightly trembling. Arabella asked, “What did you say?” A hint of pain flashed in Charles’s eyes, but it was quickly replaced by urgency. He said, “The doctor said that if there’s no matching donor, a sibling’s cord blood can save Arlo. James and I are brothers, sharing the same blood. So, the cord blood from a child Emilia and I have can also be used. That way, Arlo can be saved.” Arabella’s nails dug into her palms, leaving bloody marks. She struggled to steady her nearly collapsing body, her gaze slowly scanning Charles’s face, trying to find a hint of joking in his expression. But no. The urgency and seriousness in Charles’s eyes were completely genuine. Arabella staggered back two steps, forcing a smile that looked worse than crying. She never imagined her husband would suggest having a child with another woman. Arabella said, “Charles, for the past three years, you’ve left Bonnie and me time and again to be with Emilia and Arlo. I’ve endured it all because you said you’d only take care of them until Arlo came of age. “But now? You want to have a child with Emilia. “What about Bonnie and me? What do we mean to you?” By the end, Arabella’s tears were falling heavily to the ground. Seeing her tears, Charles felt a twinge of guilt, but Arlo’s frail figure and Emilia’s devastated expression kept flashing in his mind. He turned away, avoiding Arabella’s eyes, afraid he might waver. Charles said, “You and Bonnie are the ones I love most in this life. That will never change. Having a child with Emilia is only to save Arlo.” “Besides, with IVF technology now, Emilia and I can have a child without being intimate. That way, I wouldn’t be betraying you.” Arabella thought bitterly, “What does it matter if there’s no intimacy?” That child, once born, will share a blood relationship with him. At that time, should I tell Bonnie that her dad and her Aunt Emilia had a baby brother for her?” Arabella couldn’t do it. She wasn’t generous enough to tolerate her husband having a child with another woman. Arabella closed her eyes, her voice unusually calm. She asked, “Charles, what if I say I disagree?” After being refused several times, Charles was a bit angry. He didn’t understand why Arabella was unwilling. He was doing it to save Arlo, and nothing would actually happen between him and Emilia. He looked at Arabella with disappointment in his eyes. Charles said, “Arlo is James’s only descendant left in the world. No matter what, I have to save him.” These resolute words were like a sharp sword, piercing deeply into Arabella’s heart. It turned out Charles wasn’t discussing it with her; he had already made the decision and was merely informing her. Seeing Arabella unresponsive, Charles gave her a deep look. He said, “I’m going to the hospital to see Arlo. Arabella, I hope you can think it through.” After speaking, he strode away. Arabella stood there, watching Charles’s figure gradually disappear. Her eyes, always filled with love, were now only numb. She knew that from today, it was over between her and Charles. “Mom.” Bonnie’s voice pulled Arabella’s thoughts back. Bonnie asked, “Is Dad going to have a baby with Aunt Emilia? Will he no longer be just my dad?” She threw herself into Arabella’s arms, her voice trembling with sobs. Arabella hadn’t expected Bonnie to wake up and hear their conversation. Looking into Bonnie’s tear-filled eyes, Arabella couldn’t bring herself to lie to her. Arabella nodded reluctantly. Bonnie’s body stiffened for a moment, and the next second, tears streamed down her face. She asked, “Mom, is it because I did something wrong that made Dad angry, so he wants to have another child with Aunt Emilia?” Bonnie was too young to understand that Charles talked about having a child with Emilia to save Arlo. She only knew that her dad was going to have another child. Hearing Bonnie’s self-blaming cries, Arabella felt as if her heart was being stabbed. She crouched down and wiped away the tears on Bonnie’s face. Arabella said, “Bonnie, you did nothing wrong. “How about I get you a new dad? A dad who belongs only to you.” Bonnie hugged Arabella’s neck tightly and buried her head in her shoulder. She said, “Okay. Since Dad wants other kids, then I don’t want him anymore.”

The next morning, after dropping Bonnie off at kindergarten, Arabella rode her bike to the Courthouse and handed the prepared documents to the staff. Arabella said, “Hello, I want to apply for a forced divorce.” The staff member looked up at her in surprise, their tone very serious. He said, “Have you thought it through? Divorce is no small matter. Conflicts between spouses are inevitable. Don’t act impulsively.” Arabella nodded silently, her expression resolute. The thought of divorce had already taken root in her mind during these three years when Charles repeatedly “took care” of Emilia and Arlo. But thinking of young Bonnie and their past feelings, she kept persuading herself to endure. Until yesterday, when Charles suggested having a child with Emilia. This seed finally sprouted. Seeing her completely unwavering, the staff sighed. He said, “Forced divorce requires a one-month process. During this period, if you don’t withdraw the application, the marriage will be automatically dissolved.” Hearing this, Arabella felt relieved. A month later, she could leave with Bonnie. It was late at night when Charles, who hadn’t been home all day, finally returned. Arabella lay on the bed with her back to him, no longer throwing herself into his arms like before. Charles stared deeply at her back, his voice tinged with restraint and pain. “Arabella, the longer Arlo’s illness drags on, the more dangerous it becomes, so…” Arabella’s heart skipped a beat. The next second, Charles’s slow and clear voice echoed in the quiet room. He said, “Emilia and I started IVF today. In a week, the doctor can transfer the embryo into Emilia’s womb.” Even though she had decided to divorce Charles, hearing that he and Emilia had already started conceiving their child still tore Arabella’s heart apart. The man who vowed to love her for a lifetime when they married now had a child with another woman. How could she not feel heartbroken? But luckily, she had already decided to leave him. This pain will only be temporary. Arabella closed her eyes tightly, held back the ache in her chest, and nodded gently. Charles thought she would lose control like yesterday. He had his words of persuasion ready but didn’t expect her to be so calm. He looked at the unresponsive Arabella in front of him with a complicated expression. Charles asked, “Arabella, you agreed?” For some reason, knowing that Arabella agreed to him having a child with Emilia, he should have been happy, but he felt a bit uneasy. Noticing the trace of unease in his voice, Arabella gave a sarcastic smile. She said, “Even if I don’t agree, you and Emilia would still go for IVF, wouldn’t you?” Charles opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say. After all, he had indeed decided to go through with IVF no matter what. He carefully observed Arabella’s reaction and only breathed a sigh of relief after noticing she showed no signs of displeasure, then gently pulled her into his arms. Charles said, “Arabella, thank you for understanding. Everything I do is just to fulfill James’s wish to take care of Emilia and Arlo.” Arabella had heard the exact same explanation from him too many times, so she no longer held any expectations for his words. “Alright. I’m going to sleep. Bonnie’s kindergarten is hosting a parent-child fair tomorrow, so I need to get up early.” Thinking of young Bonnie, Charles’s eyes showed a hint of guilt. He said, “I’ve been busy looking for a match for Arlo lately and haven’t spent much time with Bonnie. I’ll go with you tomorrow.”

The next morning, Arabella dressed Bonnie in her favorite little dress. She twirled around excitedly, holding up her skirt. Bonnie said, “Mom, today I’m going to be the prettiest kid in kindergarten.” Arabella smiled and pinched her cheek. She said, “In my eyes, you’ve always been the prettiest kid.” Bonnie shyly threw herself into her arms. Charles just came out of the bedroom and saw Arabella and Bonnie laughing, feeling very tender inside. He picked up Bonnie in one swoop, then took Arabella’s hand, his voice full of joy. Charles said, “I’ll go with you too.” Bonnie hugged Charles’s neck and tentatively asked, “Dad, are you really not going to Arlo’s place today?” Although she had said she didn’t want Charles as her dad, Bonnie was still a child and secretly hoped to attend the parent-child fair with her mom and dad. After all, for the past three years, every time there was a parent-child activity at the kindergarten, Charles would choose to accompany Arlo. Over time, some classmates teased her for not having a dad. Bonnie’s words made Arabella’s nose sting, almost bringing her to tears. Charles felt a tinge of guilt in his heart. Since James passed away, he didn’t want Arlo to be teased for not having a dad, so he attended every event with Arlo, neglecting Bonnie in the process. If Arlo weren’t hospitalized now, this fair might have been… He stopped thinking further. Anyway, he would stay with Bonnie today. That was enough. Charles said, “Of course. I’ll play with you all day today.” A simple promise made Bonnie temporarily forget yesterday’s unhappiness and excitedly hug Charles around the neck. Bonnie said, “I want to introduce Dad to all my classmates.” She wanted to tell them that she also had a dad. However, just as they arrived at the entrance of the military base’s family area, they saw Emilia’s anxious figure. Emilia said, “Charles, Arlo doesn’t want to stay in the hospital and insists on pulling out the IV to run outside. He usually listens to you the most. Can you go to the hospital and help me persuade him?” She grabbed Charles’s sleeve, her tone extremely anxious. Hearing her words, Charles immediately frowned. He said, “How can he be so reckless? Emilia, don’t worry. I’ll go to the hospital with you right now.” Hearing him agree, Arabella was almost amused with anger. He had just promised to accompany Bonnie, and now he forgot. Arabella said, “Charles, today is Bonnie’s parent-child outing. You promised to accompany her.” Charles realized it too, his face stiffened, and he looked hesitant. Emilia let go of her hand and started sobbing into her palms. She said, “Charles, it’s me and Arlo who have delayed you too much. Go accompany Bonnie. I’ll go persuade Arlo alone. If he really doesn’t listen to me, then I won’t treat his illness anymore.” Saying that, she turned and left. Charles panicked instantly, then put Bonnie down and ran after Emilia. He said, “Emilia, how could that be? Bonnie’s matter isn’t important. Arlo is the priority right now.” After speaking, he turned around, his eyes filled with a deeply familiar guilt. Charles said, “I’m sorry, Bonnie. How about letting your mom go with you today?” Arabella’s nails dug deep into her palms as she trembled with anger. She thought angrily, “Why does he make promises he can’t keep?” As a mother, she couldn’t accept her daughter’s emotions plummeting from heaven to hell. This is too cruel for a child. Arabella was about to step forward to call Charles back when a small hand tugged at her sleeve. Bonnie’s face showed a calmness beyond her age. “Mom, let’s go. Having you by my side is enough. Anyway, I’m already used to days without a dad.” Even though Bonnie spoke nonchalantly, Arabella still noticed a hint of hurt in her eyes and a trace of sobbing in her voice. Arabella hugged Bonnie tightly with a heart full of ache, trying hard to hold back the sting in her eyes. She said, “I promise you, once we leave here, I’ll find you a dad who only cares about you.”

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My name is Olivia Moore. My husband Nolan Schmidt’s father, Liam Schmidt, had a sudden heart attack and was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment, but as a doctor, he let the intern Camila Hayes perform the surgery. Camila stood at the operating table, flustered, unable to even hold the scalpel steadily. She blinked and said coyly, “Mr. Schmidt, I’m a little scared.” Nolan dotingly tapped her nose, completely ignoring the steadily declining vitals on the monitor, patiently comforting her for ten minutes before guiding her step by step on how to perform a thoracotomy. As a result, Camila’s hand trembled and accidentally cut the aorta. She suddenly threw herself into Nolan’s arms, crying for comfort. Nolan held her tightly, soothing her softly. Meanwhile, Liam missed the best rescue window and died on the spot. When Nolan walked out of the operating room holding the still-sobbing Camila, he just shot me a cold glance. He said, “If you want to blame someone, blame your dad’s bad luck. Before you leave, write a thank-you letter to comfort Camila. Your dad lived to a good age, that’s enough. Don’t let his death leave Camila with psychological scars.” I froze in place. After a moment of shock, I realized he had always thought the one on the operating table was my dad, Wyatt Moore. I let out a sneer, “I’m afraid you’ll have to write that thank-you letter yourself.” Nolan looked impatient. “Olivia, can you stop being so unreasonable? Acting like this will only make people dislike you!” “Didn’t you see how terrified Camila was to perform surgery on your dad?” Camila burrowed into his arms with grievance. “Mr. Schmidt, don’t say that, Olivia will get upset. If I cause any discord between you two, I’d be heartbroken.” “It’s my fault for not being capable enough to save Olivia’s father. She has every right to blame me. Even if she wants to hit or scold me now, I’ll accept it.” As she spoke, she truly began to choke up. Nolan felt heartbroken and immediately held her tighter, gently comforting, “I’m here, let’s see who dares to touch you!” “Camila, you’re just too kind. It’s not your fault her dad unfortunately got sick, so don’t blame yourself for this.” Then, he turned his head and glared at me fiercely. “Olivia, that’s enough. Look at how badly you’ve bullied her!” “Take your dad’s body away immediately! Stop being an eyesore here! And hurry up and write a thank-you letter!” Watching their intimate behavior, I just felt disgusted. When Liam was first sent to the hospital, I immediately called Nolan. I heard he canceled several emergency surgeries to come over, and I felt relieved at the time. He is the top surgeon in this hospital, saving countless critically ill patients. I thought he didn’t trust others, which is why he was so eager to take charge, but I never expected he would dare to let an inexperienced intern lead the surgery. Now the patient is dead, and the family has to comfort the doctor instead? But after all, Nolan is the one who is actually related to Liam by blood, so I can’t say much. I spoke coldly, “I have no problem, just wondering if you also think this has nothing to do with the doctor and that we should thank the doctor for saving lives despite being scared?” Nolan sneered, his eyes contemptuous, “Olivia, stop with the sarcasm. Do you think I can’t understand your words? You’re just jealous that Camila can heal and save lives.” “I’ll make myself clear today, you can record it. Even if it were my dad on the operating table, I’d still say the same thing.” “The patient’s death has nothing to do with the doctor. Having a kind doctor like Camila is a blessing for the patients, and as family members, we should be grateful!” I just found it funny and quickly recorded it as he requested. Looking at his indifferent attitude, I just felt chilled to the bone. Earlier this year, when I brought my parents for a check-up, I remembered Liam occasionally mentioning his heart felt uncomfortable. Thinking about how he usually treats me with care, I went ahead and booked a full check-up for him as well. The results showed that my parents were in good health, but Liam was diagnosed with heart disease. At that time, he looked at me pleadingly, asking me not to tell Nolan, fearing it would upset him and affect his work. So when Nolan anxiously asked who was critically ill, I lied and said it was Wyatt who was sick. After hearing that, he let out a long sigh of relief, and there was even a trace of undisguised glee in his eyes. He even told me to spend more time with my parents since Wyatt is old, and heart disease isn’t easy to treat. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but looking back, he always thought it was Wyatt who was sick. I shook the recorder in my hand, sneering inwardly but putting on a reluctant face. “Since you’ve said so, I have no objections. After all, he’s our dad.” Nolan didn’t catch the sarcasm in my words and thought I had compromised with him. He smirked slightly and arrogantly ordered, “What are you standing there for? Move aside! Can’t you see Camila’s pale from exhaustion after saving your dad? Go back and make some nutritious meals for her.” After saying that, he wrapped his arm around Camila and brushed past me, striding away. As they passed by me, Camila nestled in Nolan’s arms, looking at me with a provocative gaze full of smugness. I couldn’t be bothered with those fools. When he finds out the person who died on the operating table was actually his biological father, his reaction should be quite something. By then, I hope he can still say, “A patient’s death has nothing to do with the doctor.” Over the years after marriage, Liam has always treated me well, often secretly supporting us financially. I couldn’t bear to see him leave in such humiliation, so I decided to send him off with dignity. I went alone to handle the death procedures. The people at the hospital were all shocked. When Liam was brought in, everyone already knew. Nolan insisted on being the lead surgeon, but no one expected Liam to pass away so quickly. But now, handling the aftermath, he’s nowhere to be found. Just as I was about to complete the final procedure, Nolan suddenly barged in with Camila, threw an agreement at me, and ordered, “Sign it!”

I glanced at it and realized it was an organ donation consent form. I stared at Nolan in disbelief, fury surging instantly. “Nolan, you know his obsession! He would never allow you to treat his body like this!” Before Nolan could speak, Camila sneered from the side, “Oh please, donating organs is a contribution to medicine. He should feel honored.” I shot her a cold glare. “That must be done with respect for the deceased, got it?” Nolan instantly got angry and yelled at me, “Olivia, don’t be ungrateful! He’s already dead anyway, his organs can still be of some use to society.” “Besides, this is also doing good for him. Who knows how much sin he committed in this life? Otherwise, why could others be saved, but he had to die? Maybe this is karma!” I was trembling with anger, my fingertips shaking. “Give up on this idea. I will never agree to sign it!” Nolan grabbed my hand forcefully, his grip almost crushing my bones. He said, “Olivia, don’t be ungrateful! This is my decision, not yours to make!” I was furious, my face flushed red, and I shouted at him with teary eyes, “How dare you bully me? My parents won’t let you off if they find out!” Nolan’s gaze turned icy cold as he forcefully shoved me away. I fell hard to the ground, my back aching from the impact. He said coldly, “You’re just relying on your family’s money. Wake up, your dad’s gone, and no one has your back anymore!” I endured the sharp pain in my hand, but a chill spread from my chest to my entire body. This is the man I insisted on marrying against my parents’ objections back then—he’s nothing but a complete scumbag! Tears rolled down my cheeks as I spoke wearily, “No matter what you say, I will never sign.” In Liam’s hometown, the custom is that the body must remain intact after death to have a next life. I really can’t bring myself to do something so heartless. Nolan tried to drag me to sign, but Camila suddenly said, “Mr. Schmidt, you’re also a family member, so you have the right to sign. Let’s do her a favor.” Nolan looked at her dotingly and praised, “You’re so smart, let’s just consider this a good deed.” Before he finished speaking, he had already swiftly signed his name on the consent form. I looked at him in disappointment. “You will regret this.” He gave me a disdainful glance, ready to go with Camila to dissect the body, but a phone call interrupted him. Before leaving, he specifically reminded, “Camila, I need to handle an emergency surgery first. Don’t be afraid, just do your best.” “Anyway, it’s just a corpse, and there might not be much usable. Letting you practice is her dad’s final value.” After Nolan left, Camila, as if deliberately provoking me, showed no respect for the donor. Instead, she vented her anger by ruthlessly sawing off Liam’s limbs with a bone saw. Then, she pulled out Liam’s organs and threw them everywhere. She even pretended to sigh beside me, “Ah, his organs have all failed. They’re completely useless, donating them is meaningless.” Then she took photos from various angles and sent them to Nolan. [Mr. Schmidt, do you think I’m brave?] Nolan replied: [Amazing, our Camila is the best.] I was so disturbed by the scene that I kept gagging. Camila glanced at me and sneered, “You’re so useless. Even though your dad’s corpse isn’t much use, at least it provided some experimental material for the doctors!” Looking at her smug expression, I couldn’t hold back anymore and sent a message to Nolan: [Nolan, let’s get a divorce!]

Nolan arrived quickly and mocked as soon as he walked in, “Olivia, can’t you see the situation by now? Your dad is dead, and you think you’re still that high-and-mighty rich girl? Without me, who do you think would want you?” I looked at him, holding back my disgust. “That’s still better than being with scum like you!” He seemed to have hit a sore spot, his face twisting instantly. “Aren’t you just relying on having a slightly better family background? Ever since school, you’ve acted all high and mighty! Do you think just because your family paid for a few years of my tuition and gave me some handouts, you have the right to order me around?” “Let me tell you, everything I have today is because of myself! It has nothing to do with your family!” I let out a cold snort. Over the years, we’ve given him far more than just financial support! Even his current fame was built with a lot of effort from us. But in the end, we raised an ungrateful monster! I said, “Nolan, if it were really all on your own, you probably wouldn’t have even graduated from college! Look at your self-deceiving face right now, it’s truly disgusting.” “Two choices: divorce or see you in court.” He stared at me fiercely, his eyes venomous as if he wanted to tear me apart. He said, “You think I don’t dare to divorce?” “I’d like to see how miserable you’ll become without me!” After saying that, he took Camila’s hand and walked away. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he turned around and glanced at the shattered, chaotic room. He said, “Hurry up and take your dad’s filthy stuff away. Don’t taint such a sacred place as the hospital.” I originally wanted to let him say a final goodbye to Liam, but now it seems completely unnecessary. Within half a day, I arranged the crematorium, set up the mourning hall, and informed friends, family, and Nolan. I’ve done everything I could for Liam. I just stepped outside to catch my breath, and when I came back, the sight before me made my scalp tingle. Liam’s funeral portrait was vandalized with red paint, disfigured beyond recognition.。 The pastor originally invited to pray was rudely sent away, replaced by a noisy band. The most infuriating thing is that Liam’s urn was taken, and a few people nearby seemed to be making something like fireworks, almost finished. I rushed in and shouted angrily, “What are you doing!” Camila chuckled softly, “Why are you making such a fuss? We’re having a joyful funeral; it’s all the rage now.” “Mr. Schmidt even praised me for being creative!” Nolan nodded with satisfaction, looked at the ruined portrait, and said coldly, “Camila meant well, lively and cheerful, isn’t it nice?” “Your dad’s ashes have been made into fireworks. Soon, we’ll send them into the sky—consider it sending him to heaven.”

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When I, Amber Lynch, returned from a business trip and just stepped into my home, I found the water was out. After contacting the property management, the repair personnel quickly came to check. But as soon as he walked in, he looked at me with a puzzled expression. “The owner’s group sent a notice yesterday saying there would be a water outage today, and you even replied. Don’t you remember?” My heart skipped a beat, and an inexplicable unease quietly arose. Because we found it troublesome, my husband Leon Burton and I never joined the owner’s group. After the repair personnel left, I immediately joined the owner’s group, opened the chat history, and found a woman claiming to be the owner of unit 1206 constantly speaking in the group. But 1206 is my home, how could she possibly be the owner of 1206? I immediately called Leon. He sounded relaxed. “It’s probably just a mistake. With so many buildings in the neighborhood, mixing up unit numbers is normal. Want me to remind her to correct it?” I smiled slightly and told him not to bother, it wasn’t a big deal. After hanging up, I immediately used another phone number to send a friend request to that 1206 owner. It’s only 8 p.m., and shortly after I sent the request, the other party accepted it. She sent a message: [Who are you? Do you need something from me?] My fingers quickly tapped the screen, sending a message: [Hi, I’m your downstairs neighbor. There’s been noise from your place, like someone walking around. Could it be a break-in?] The other party quickly replied: [I’ll go check right away.] I put away my phone, walked to the door, entered the password skillfully, and pushed the door open. This apartment is near the airport. Leon and I don’t stay here often; it’s just a temporary stopover when we’re in a rush during business trips. At this moment, Leon is in the downtown penthouse, and this place should be empty. A few minutes later, the crisp sound of high heels echoed in the hallway. I quietly looked over and saw a young woman standing at the door, naturally entering the password and pushing the door open. Now I’m finally sure she didn’t make a mistake with the note; my guess was right. The phone vibrated, and her message came: [Did you mishear? The water’s out today, there’s no one at our place, and the sound didn’t come from our house.] I replied perfunctorily with a couple of sentences, said nothing more, and walked out through the fire escape, re-entering my home. “Who are you? Why are you in my house?” I spoke first before the woman could react. Her face instantly turned red, her lips trembling slightly. “You must be Leon’s wife, right? I’m Ariana Roberts, his hometown friend.” “He said this house is vacant for a long time and was worried about thieves breaking in. Since I work nearby, he asked me to drop by occasionally to check and do some cleaning.” I don’t stay in this house often, but I specifically hired a cleaning service to come regularly. There’s no need to trouble anyone else. However, I didn’t expose her. Instead, I patted her shoulder, smiled, and said, “Thank you so much. It’s getting late today, so you should head back. I need to rest now.” Ariana nodded and dashed out quickly, as if something was really chasing her.

After she left, I sat on the sofa and scrolled through her Instagram. She had three pinned posts. The first was of her slender wrist wearing a men’s watch, captioned: [Let me play with it.] I instantly recognized the watch on her wrist as the gift I gave to Leon. Looking at the post’s date, I remembered tidying up the closet at home that day and noticing the watch was missing. Leon said he left it at the office, but turns out he used it to please another woman. Her second post was tagged in another city, captioned: [The hotel’s soundproofing is terrible, I don’t dare sleep alone.] That day was my birthday. Leon and I were having a candlelight dinner when he suddenly got up and told me the company had arranged a business trip, and he had to leave immediately. I was a bit upset and asked if he could leave tomorrow instead. He frowned at me and said he was working, telling me not to be unreasonable. The third post was a huge bouquet made of cash, almost engulfing Ariana entirely. If I’m not mistaken, this bouquet must have cost a total of $520,000. This money was withdrawn from my supplementary card. He really went all out, giving his lover a $520,000 bouquet, while all I got was a cheap bunch of roses. I couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh, lamenting how blind I was to have liked that idiot Leon. He even dared to let his lover live in the house under my name, not fearing I’d find out. I just feel like my intelligence has been insulted. Thinking of this, I immediately contacted my good friend Ella Stone. She’s a lawyer, specializing in divorce cases. After hearing my story, Ella angrily said, “Leon, that freeloader living off your family, actually dared to cheat?” “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he leaves with nothing.” I nodded with satisfaction. This is exactly what I want. I don’t want a tainted man, and more than that, I’ll make him pay. I had just hung up Ella’s call when Leon’s call came through. He said, “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming back? I could’ve driven to pick you up. The house near the airport has no water, so it’s inconvenient for you to stay there tonight.” “Also, you’ve met Ariana, right? She’s from the same place as me, and her parents know mine. She’s working hard here alone, so her parents asked me to look after her.” He brought it up on his own to ease my doubts, not knowing their little secret was already exposed. I pretended to be casual and said, “Yeah, I met her. I’ve been really busy lately, and I have an early flight tomorrow. I’ll just make do here for the night. You should get some rest too.” As I said this, the tablet in my hand was streaming the live surveillance of the downtown flat. I didn’t expect Ariana to be so bold. She had just met me and then turned around to go to the flat to act coy with Leon. Leon sat on the sofa, holding her in his arms, one hand playing with her hair, looking like a loving couple. On the other end of the phone, Leon clearly let out a sigh of relief upon hearing my words. “Alright then, it’s getting late. You should rest early.” “Next time you come back from a business trip, let me know in advance. No matter how late, I’ll drive to pick you up. Nothing is more important than you.” If I were still in the dark at this moment, I might feel touched hearing these words. But now, looking at the scene before me, all I feel is mockery.

After hanging up the phone, Ariana immediately gave Leon a kiss on the cheek. “I was so scared today, I thought we were going to get caught.” Leon pinched her cheek with a smile and said dotingly, “What are you afraid of? I’m here. Even if we get caught, so what? I’ll protect you.” “In a couple of days, there’s an auction. I’ll take you there for some fun. Buy whatever you like.” Ariana’s eyes lit up instantly. “Thank you, you’re really the best!” I contacted the assistant to freeze Leon’s supplementary card, ensuring he couldn’t spend a single cent. I want to see how he’ll “buy whatever” without my money. Ella is always efficient; before dawn, a complete timeline was sent to my inbox. Leon didn’t lie; Ariana is indeed his childhood friend, and they grew up together. A year ago, after Ariana came to this city, the two started getting close. He treated her extremely well, providing the best in food, clothing, and essentials. The spending records alone filled a fifty-page PPT. I roughly calculated, and the amount reached tens of millions of dollars. What’s more ironic is that many of those items are familiar to me. For example, the sapphire necklace he gave me on our wedding anniversary, which he claimed was bought for a fortune at an auction. Because the necklace was too extravagant, I mostly kept it in the cabinet and rarely wore it. But I just realized that everything he gave me was fake, and the real ones are all around Ariana’s neck. Looking at the pages of spending records, I was so angry that I laughed. Thinking about how touched I felt when I received those gifts before, I now feel nauseous. And Ariana, who owns the real ones, has built a “rich wife” persona online, showing off her jewelry, designer clothes, and bags every day. With these things, she’s gained hundreds of thousands of followers online. I clicked into her account and found her latest post, where she filmed me and Leon’s downtown marital home. Not only that, she even went into my walk-in closet, casually picked up my clothes, and said to the camera, “I have too many clothes at home, let’s pick a few lucky followers to give them away.” “Don’t worry, these clothes have never been worn, some even still have tags. I’ll give them away for free in a raffle. For those who don’t win, don’t be upset, there will be more of these events in the future.” The screen was flooded with pop-up likes, filled with envy and praise. Some even asked her why she was so wealthy. She replied, “It’s all my husband’s money. We grew up together, and he always gives me the best.” “In a couple of days, he’s taking me to an auction. I’ll make a video for you when we’re back.” I left a comment with my new account: [Can you livestream the auction tomorrow? We ordinary people have never seen what a real auction looks like.] Many people liked my comment, asking Ariana to livestream and let the fans broaden their horizons. Ariana quickly replied, “Alright, I’ll livestream tomorrow and let everyone join the auction immersively.” Seeing this, I finally breathed a sigh of relief. Leon wants to use my card to let her buy whatever she wants; it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t show up.

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On the second day of my wife Elsie Snyder’s business trip, I, James Stewart, was cleaning while casually telling the smart speaker at home, “Play some music.” A deep, unfamiliar male voice came from the speaker. “Alright, I’m your Sunshine. Also, a reminder for Elsie not to forget Leonel’s birthday surprise tonight.” I froze, the music suddenly piercing. I thought, “My wife is Elsie, so who is Leonel?” I immediately called Elsie. “Did you mess with the smart speaker at home?” There was a brief silence on the other end, followed by her casual laugh. “Oh, a friend came over a few days ago, maybe she connected her account. What’s up?” I laughed it off, said it was nothing, then hung up. Afterward, I pulled up the speaker’s login records and took a cab straight to the company address linked to that unfamiliar account. The taxi stopped below Solar Design. I looked up, the glass facade shimmering in the sunlight, dizzying, much like its overwhelming momentum in the industry over the past two years. Solar Design is the biggest competitor of Dream Builder Design Studio, which I founded. The receptionist was very professional, showing no discourtesy despite knowing I was the boss of a rival company. She simply handled it formally and dialed the internal line. A few minutes later, a man in a casual shirt hurried out of the elevator, looking clean and innocent. He is Leonel Mason. The moment he saw me, his eyes clearly showed a flash of panic, but he quickly composed himself and forced a very fake smile. He asked, “Hello, may I know who you are?” “The smart speaker issue,” I got straight to the point, looking at him calmly. “The login record shows it’s your account.” “Ah! That speaker!” He suddenly realized and then scratched his head awkwardly, saying, “That’s my roommate’s. A few days ago, he used my phone to log in, said his membership expired and wanted to borrow an account for a couple of days. Did it cause you any trouble? I’m really sorry!” His words were flawless, both distancing himself and appearing innocent. If I didn’t know Elsie, I might have actually believed it. She’s arrogant and sensitive; there’s no way she’d allow an unrelated intern to log into her home devices with a personal account. My gaze slowly shifted from his innocent-looking face to his wrist. He was wearing a silver bracelet. Two irregular rings intertwined, with one engraved with a tiny letter E. That was last year’s wedding anniversary gift I designed myself and had a craftsman friend make for Elsie. E is the first letter of Elsie. It’s one of a kind. Leonel noticed my gaze and instinctively tried to hide his hand behind his back. I smiled, took a step forward, and spoke gently. “That bracelet is quite special. Did your girlfriend give it to you? Nice taste.” His face turned pale instantly, his lips trembled slightly, and he couldn’t say a word. That’s enough. I stopped looking at him and turned to leave. Sitting in the taxi on the way back, I called my friend Alex Wood. He’s the best divorce lawyer in the business. As soon as the phone rang, his loud voice came through. “Yo, Mr. Stewart? You finally remembered me?” “Do me a favor.” I stared at the city streets rapidly retreating outside the window, my voice unnervingly calm. “Look into someone, an intern at Solar Design, Leonel Mason. Also, dig out all of Elsie’s financial transactions and hotel records from the past six months. Don’t miss a single detail.” Alex was silent for two seconds, then dropped the joking tone. “Did they cross you?” “Something worse,” I said. The call ended, and the car fell into dead silence. It wasn’t long before Elsie called. On the screen, the word “Honey” felt particularly ironic. I took a deep breath and answered. “James, what’s wrong?” Her gentle voice came through the receiver, as considerate as ever, with just the right amount of concern. “I heard from Alex that you asked him to look into something. Are you having trouble at work?” See, she even planted her informants this quickly. I suppressed the surge of emotions in my heart and replied in the most casual tone, “No, I just suddenly missed you.” On the other end, there seemed to be a sigh of relief, followed by a soft laugh. “Honey, I miss you too. Once I finish this project, I’ll fly back to be with you right away, my Sunshine.” The word “Sunshine” clearly drilled into my ears. My grip on the phone suddenly tightened. So, I wasn’t her only sunshine. Or maybe, I never was.

Alex’s efficiency was astonishing; in less than half an hour, I received a message. He sent a link along with a comment: [Performance of the year by the best actor, with such a complete chain of evidence that I feel bad charging you full price. Enjoy.] I clicked it open; it was Leonel’s social media account, set to public. The latest post was a close-up of a wrist wearing that oh-so-familiar bracelet, captioned: [Sunshine coming your way, Ms. S.] My “Sunshine” nickname, my bracelet, have now become another man’s trophies. I scrolled down expressionlessly. A photo’s background was our home study. Leonel held his face, smiling innocently, with the rare architectural books I brought back from Italy behind him. Caption: [Soaking up knowledge in Ms. S’s study, I feel like I’m getting smarter too!] In one photo, he held a pen sketching on a blueprint—that was the limited-edition pen I gave Elsie for her 30th birthday. Caption: [The pen Ms. S gave me is amazing. She said my hand deserves the best pen.] Another photo was taken at the private kitchen we often visited, featuring my favorite dishes. Caption: [At Ms. S’s secret spot, she said I’m the only harbor where she can completely relax.] Every photo, every word, felt like a precise scalpel, cutting into the softest parts of my memories. Until I came across the post updated three days ago. In the photo, Leonel held a printed design blueprint, smiling boldly and proudly. Caption: [Ms. S stayed up late helping me revise the design. She said I’m the most talented designer she’s ever met and will definitely win the Summit Center project. Go for it!] Summit Center is the project Dream Builder poured its heart into and prepared for six months, marking the most important milestone in my career. I suddenly jumped up from the sofa, grabbed my car keys, and rushed out the door. The company was empty late at night. I unlocked the door with my fingerprint and headed straight to Elsie’s office. Her computer screen was still lit with a screensaver—it was a photo from our wedding day, where she smiled gently and tenderly. I just felt a wave of nausea. I tapped on the keyboard, the screen lit up, and a password input box popped up. I tried my birthday—wrong. Tried our wedding anniversary—still wrong. I let out a cold laugh and entered Leonel’s birthday. The password was correct. The desktop was clean and tidy, and I immediately spotted the encrypted folder. I opened it, and inside was the final plan for “Summit Center,” with every detail embodying countless days and nights of hard work and inspiration from my team and me. Next to it lay another folder, quietly named with just one letter, “L.” I opened it and found that the plan was almost identical to ours, with only a few key load-bearing structures and design highlights slightly adjusted to avoid core patents while retaining the essence of the plan. The plan was signed under Leonel’s name. So it turns out Elsie not only cheated but also planned to steal my hard work and our company’s future to pave the way for her lover. My stomach churned violently, and I gripped the cold desk tightly to keep myself from collapsing. Turns out, jealousy and betrayal can truly change a woman beyond recognition.

The Summit Center project bidding event was bustling with noise and excitement. I found an inconspicuous corner to sit in, my eyes fixed on the figure of Solar Design’s representative walking onto the stage. It’s Leonel. He’s wearing a sharply tailored business suit today, with polished leather shoes and his hair neatly slicked back, shedding his previous innocence and exuding the sharpness of a corporate elite. He took a deep breath and began explaining the design concept. “My inspiration comes from ‘The Eye of the City.’ We hope it’s not just a cold building but a living entity that breathes with the city and witnesses the pulse of the times…” Every single word of this was what I had once told Elsie, night after night, over countless cups of coffee, with bloodshot eyes. I once thought it was the deepest soul connection between us as a couple. Now I realize it was just a one-man show, and she was the most patient thief. What’s more ironic is that Elsie is sitting in the guest seat on the judges’ panel. Her long hair is neatly tied up, her face adorned with delicate makeup—exactly the elite look I know so well. She listens intently, nodding frequently, and when her gaze falls on Leonel, it sparkles with a light I’ve never seen before—a glow that treasures him and longs to show him off to the world. She completely ignores me in the corner of the audience, as if I’m just an insignificant backdrop. The phone buzzed in my palm—it was a message from Alex: [Need me to drop in with a baseball bat?] I looked at the screen, and the corners of my tense mouth curved slightly as I replied: [Wait.] On stage, Leonel’s speech reached its climax, and the final render appeared on the PPT—the very one stolen from my computer. The room filled with low murmurs of astonishment. The speech ended with thunderous applause. The host took the stage. “Thank you, Mr. Mason, for the wonderful presentation. Next, let’s welcome the special judge of this competition, the highly respected industry veteran, Ms. Snyder from Dream Builder Design, to give a brief review of this proposal.” The microphone was gently handed to Elsie. She nodded slightly, cleared her throat, and her gentle gaze fell on Leonel as she slowly began, “To be honest, I’m quite surprised. “Mr. Mason’s design perfectly combines artistic aesthetics with practical functionality. Especially the subtle adjustments in several key load-bearing structures—very bold, very ingenious.” She used “ingenious,” the word she used to describe Leonel, the word she used to hurt me. She paused, her gaze calmly sweeping across the room. “I believe this piece is undoubtedly the best today.” Applause erupted again, even more enthusiastic than before. At that moment, my world fell silent, leaving only the dull thud of my heart pounding in my chest. The host smiled and took over, saying, “Thank you, Ms. Snyder, for such high praise! It seems Solar Design is determined to win this time. So, is there any guest or judge here who would like to ask Mr. Mason a question?” The venue fell silent. After Elsie’s “authoritative” high praise, it seemed there was nothing left to ask. Leonel stood on stage, bowed deeply, his face unable to hide the pride and joy. I put away my phone and slowly stood up just as everyone was about to applaud again. My movement was subtle, yet it instantly drew everyone’s attention. The host was slightly stunned and asked, “Sir, may I ask who you are?” Elsie’s smile froze.

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In the seventh year of my marriage to Alexander, the poor student we sponsored came to me with a swollen belly. Tears welled in her eyes as she whispered timidly: “Chloe, since you can’t have children, I’ll do it for you. I have cancer and don’t have long to live. My biggest wish is to give Alexander a child, to repay your kindness.” Her logic stunned me. I turned to Alexander and asked: “Are you sure the baby is yours?” Alexander showed no guilt for his betrayal, answering matter-of-factly: “I know this is hard to accept, but Luna is sacrificing her last days to fulfill your duty. Don’t be ungrateful!” Before I could speak, Luna burst into tears, sobbing dramatically: “Alexander, please don’t fight because of me. If Chloe doesn’t agree, I’ll go get an abortion right now…” “Don’t say that! You and the baby are what matter most now. Even Chloe has to prioritize you!” Watching Alexander hold Luna with a tenderness I hadn’t seen in years, I laughed bitterly. If he wanted to play daddy to someone else’s kid, that was his business. But I wasn’t taking the blame for this.

I went to the bedroom and dug out that old medical report I’d kept hidden for years, shoving it in Alexander’s face. “Alexander, look carefully! Which one of us is infertile?” He glanced at it, his face turning dark, then tore the report to shreds and threw the pieces at me. He pointed a finger in my face, his voice shaking with rage: “Chloe! How dare you forge a report saying I have azoospermia, just to stop Luna from having my child? You’re disgusting!” In seven years of marriage, Alexander had never yelled at me like this. My nose stung with unshed tears as memories flooded back. After two years of trying for a baby, tests showed Alexander had azoospermia. As we left the hospital, I was struggling to find the right words to tell him. Suddenly, we were attacked by a business rival. I pushed Alexander aside and took a knife for him. That knife pierced my uterus. After emergency surgery, I asked the doctor to tell Alexander that my uterus was damaged and I couldn’t have children. Back then, our love was strong, and I’d just risked my life for him. Alexander held me like a precious treasure, sobbing uncontrollably. He vowed that we didn’t need children—having me was enough. He promised to love me forever. How laughable that after just seven years, he’d forgotten those vows. “I’m not lying! If you don’t believe me, go get tested again!” Luna’s expression shifted slightly, her fingers tightening unconsciously. But Alexander acted as if he’d been deeply insulted, veins bulging on his forehead: “Chloe! I always thought you were kind and pure, but now you’re blaming me to cover up your own infertility!” “Doesn’t Luna’s pregnancy prove you wrong?” Luna chose that moment to grab my hand, her eyes red and voice trembling: “Chloe, I understand the pain of not being able to have a child as a woman.” “Don’t be too sad. After I’m gone, my baby will call you Mom. Treat him well, like your own, okay?” Her audacity made me laugh coldly: “You think you’re worthy of stealing my life?” I tried to pull my hand away, not using much force, but she let out a sharp cry. She fell back onto the couch, clutching her stomach and wailing: “Alexander, my baby! Is my baby going to be okay?” Seeing this, Alexander snapped. He slapped me hard across the face. I stumbled and hit the coffee table, a sharp pain shooting through my lower back. He knelt down immediately, cradling Luna and comforting her gently. Then he turned to me, his eyes full of hatred: “You vicious woman! Apologize to Luna! Now, right this second!” I bit my lip, refusing to yield. “Are you blind, Alexander? Can’t you see she faked that fall?” “Luna is pure and kind! She’d never risk her unborn child!” “You’re the one who’s been hostile to her and the baby since you found out!” Alexander stormed over, grabbed my shoulders, and forced me to my knees in front of Luna: “From today, you’re not allowed to go to the office. You’ll stay home and serve Luna.” “Wash her clothes, cook her meals, fetch whatever she wants. If she’s even slightly unhappy, I’ll cut off your brother’s medical payments!” Looking at the man I’d loved for ten years, I felt a chill run through me. “Alexander, I want a divorce!” Meeting my red-rimmed eyes, Alexander gritted his teeth: “I won’t divorce you. Don’t make me say it again. Apologize!”

I clenched my fists, the taste of blood filling my mouth. Thinking of my brother, whose health had just improved, I finally lowered my head. “I’m sorry.” Luna deliberately rubbed her stomach: “What did you say, Chloe? I didn’t hear you.” Alexander glared at me: “Louder!” “I’m sorry!” I shouted, tears of humiliation welling in my eyes. Luna nodded with satisfaction, then said in a sugary voice: “Alexander, I’m hungry. I want grilled lamb chops and pigeon soup.” “You heard her. Go cook.” I hurried into the kitchen, tears streaming down my face. The next day, while shopping at the import grocery store, my phone buzzed incessantly. My team members flooded me with messages: “Chloe, Mr. Alexander said you’re not coming in. What’s going on?” “Chloe, you weren’t at the project meeting today. Mr. Alexander let Mr. Wang take over. What happened?” I stared at the screen, unsure how to respond. Then, a notification popped up in the work WhatsApp group. It was from Alexander: “After investigation, Chloe has been found guilty of embezzling company funds. She is hereby terminated.” A wave of shocked question marks followed the announcement. “Is this for real? Did Mr. Alexander make a mistake?” “Chloe would never do something like this!” Reading those words, I felt frozen to the core. Alexander was framing me. He was trying to destroy my career! He wanted to cut off all my escape routes, force me to stay in this house, serve Luna like a slave, and raise her child. As I started typing a response, I was abruptly kicked out of the group. Rage and resentment burned through my mind. After calming down, I called Mr. David, who had always wanted to work with me. I agreed to join him, but asked for a favor. “Excellent, Chloe! With you on board, I’ll dominate the market!” I had to get out of this disgusting house. I would make them pay for what they’d done. But when I got home, the scene stunned me. The living room was cluttered with luggage. A man sat on the couch, legs crossed, picking at his feet and spitting sunflower seed shells everywhere. A woman next to him was wearing my clothes, eagerly trying on my necklaces and bracelets. Frowning, I suppressed my anger. “Who are you? Why are you in my house?” The foot-picking man looked me up and down, his tone dismissive: “Oh, you’re Alexander’s barren wife?” The woman put down the jewelry box, hands on her hips: “We’re Luna’s parents, here to enjoy life with our daughter!” Luna emerged from the bedroom, pretending to be sweet as she took my hand: “Chloe, don’t mind them. My parents worked hard all their lives in the countryside and haven’t seen much.” “Since I’m pregnant and you’re taking care of me anyway, I thought I might as well bring them here. It’s just two more people.” I shook off her hand coldly: “I agreed to take care of you for Alexander, not your parents!” Her mother strutted over, sneering: “What? A barren woman like you dares to be picky?” “Don’t you know who’s in charge here? My daughter is the lady of this house!” Luna’s father sprawled on the couch, wiping his foot-picking hand on the cushions, and pointed at me: “Stop yapping and get me some tea! I’m thirsty. And bring out all the fancy food rich people eat—I want to try everything!” Luna dropped her act, a nasty smile spreading across her face: “Chloe, my parents are old. Cut them some slack.” “If you don’t take good care of them, I can’t promise Alexander won’t get angry again…” Until David helped me with my plan, I couldn’t afford more trouble. Gritting my teeth, I stormed into the kitchen. But then I heard Luna’s mother’s loud, poorly hushed voice from the living room: “You stupid girl! Why are you so slow?” “If Alexander won’t divorce her, why not make her mess up so he hates her for good?”

“Once they’re divorced, Alexander’s money and house will all be yours! You’ll be the rightful Mrs. Alexander, and your dad and I can live in luxury!” “Ugh, you’re too dumb to pull it off. I’ll call your aunt and have your cousin Bobby come help.” Hearing their blatant scheming, I dug my nails into my palms until they nearly bled. But what confused me more: didn’t Luna have cancer and limited time? Why did they not seem concerned at all? Suspicion coiled in my mind like vines. I immediately took out my phone and contacted a private investigator online. Just as I put my phone away, Luna’s mother yelled again: “Hey, Barren! Why isn’t food ready yet? Trying to starve us?” I swallowed my anger and started cooking. But when I served the meal, Luna’s father threw his fork down: “What is this crap? No flavor at all! Are you messing with us?” I said it was standard nutritious meals for pregnant women. But Luna frowned: “Chloe, my parents are here for once. Can’t you make something they like?” When Alexander came home, he saw this scene. Without asking, he yelled at me: “Useless! Can’t even take care of Luna and her parents properly! What good are you?” With Alexander’s backing, Luna’s parents grew bolder: “Alexander, I really like that big master bedroom. Let your dad and me have it.” Alexander agreed without hesitation: “Fine, the master suite is spacious. You two take it. Chloe, move to the servant’s room tonight.” Looking at his cold face, the last flicker of hope in my heart died. In the following days, Luna’s family ordered me around, making unreasonable demands. To avoid complications, I endured the disgust and complied. One evening, Luna nestled in Alexander’s arms, her eyes suddenly tearing up: “Alexander, I’ve never had a proper birthday my whole life. With my time running out, I really want to celebrate one before I go.” Alexander held her tightly, his heart aching: “I’ll arrange it. You’ll have a grand birthday party.” Luna’s birthday was set for the weekend. I thought I could finally rest. But near midnight that day, Alexander called. When I answered, it was Luna’s voice: “Chloe, I’m suddenly craving the sour plum drink from that old shop in the south district. Go buy it for me now.” I rubbed my temples irritably: “It’s almost midnight. The night market will be closed by the time I get there.” “No! I want it now!” Luna’s voice sharpened: “Alexander, I really want something sour right now! Sour means it’s a boy! If Chloe refuses, does she hate our son?” Before I could respond, Alexander took the phone: “Chloe, if Luna wants it, you go buy it! Deliver it within an hour!” I hung up, looked at the divorce papers I’d prepared on the nightstand, and felt resolve harden inside me. I jumped out of bed, grabbed the papers, and ran out.

The shop in the south district was closed, but I had the owner’s contact from before. After much pleading, he agreed to get up and make a batch for me. When I delivered the sour plum drink to Luna, she was playing games with friends and said she didn’t want it anymore. Suppressing my anger, I handed Alexander a resignation document: “My resignation papers. You need to sign them.” He gave me a suspicious look. I said expressionlessly: “It’s company procedure. Your signature makes the resignation official.” Just then, Luna called out: “Alexander, I lost the game! Come help me!” He frowned, took the pen, and signed quickly. He didn’t notice the divorce papers hidden underneath. I picked up the documents and let out a long breath. Step one, finally succeeded. But as I turned to leave, Luna stopped me: “Chloe, wait. My jacket is in the lounge. Go get it for me.” Seeing her sly expression, I felt a twinge of alarm. Luna softened her tone, even sounding “considerate”: “Chloe, once you get my jacket, you can go home and rest.” I glanced at the lounge—it was just across from the living room, with Alexander and Luna playing games nearby. It should be safe. “Fine.” Pushing down my unease, I walked to the lounge. The room was dark. In the dim light, I could make out a tall, bulky man lying on the bed. The jacket was draped over a chair behind him. I reached for it. Suddenly, the man opened his eyes. A rough hand grabbed my wrist, and he grinned stupidly at me: “Cousin was right! Pretty lady is here! Bobby wants kisses…” I froze in shock, trying to pull away, but his grip was iron-tight. He dragged me toward the bed, puckering his lips. “Let me go!” I slapped him across the face, but he seemed unfazed, still grinning. He tore at my clothes with more force. In that moment, I understood what Luna and her mother meant by “make her mess up.” I struggled desperately, screaming for help. But the noise from the living room drowned out my cries. In desperation, I kneed him hard between the legs. “Ah!” He cried out in pain, finally releasing me. I scrambled up, my clothes disheveled, and burst out of the room. I saw Luna nestled in Alexander’s arms, a triumphant smile on her face. “Luna! You bitch! You’ll pay for this!” Eyes red, I charged over and slapped her across the face. The sharp crack cut through the party noise. Alexander jumped up, shoving me away: “Chloe! Are you fucking crazy?!” He held Luna protectively, his eyes filled with hatred. Just then, my phone vibrated. A message from David: “Done.” Good. I didn’t have to put up with these two anymore!

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My husband, Ethan Vance, lost everything and his family was gone, and I just walked away. After he’d rebuilt his empire, I’d come knocking every year. The first year, I held our daughter. He threw fifty thousand dollars at me and told me to get lost. The second year, I brought him my late-stage cancer diagnosis report. He didn’t even glance at it, gave me a hundred thousand, and told me to disappear forever. The third and fourth years, I vanished from this world, just as he’d wished. Until the fifth year, he received a call from our daughter. “Mommy, when are you bringing food? I’m hungry.” “Mommy, I’m so hungry.” I watched our daughter, Grace, sneak back home from the orphanage. She found my old phone, charged it, and started calling, just like I used to. When I was terminally ill, I often ordered takeout, and the delivery riders would always deliver my order last. When Grace was hungry, I’d call to rush the rider. So Grace thought if she just made a call, her little tummy would be full. Now, she dialed, just like me, but she called the emergency contact—Ethan Vance. She called again and again. The dimly lit screen illuminated her innocent face. I wanted to stop her, but my hand passed right through her body. A wave of frustration washed over me. It had been three years. How could I keep forgetting I was just a spirit? “Grace, don’t call him. He won’t answer.” He probably still thought I was just some gold-digger. “Go open the small box on the table. There’s money I left for you in there.” Most of the money I got from Ethan, I put into a trust fund for Grace’s future education and living expenses. I left a thousand dollars in the box for any unexpected needs she might have. As if by some sixth sense, Grace picked up that little box. But then, a crisp, cold voice came from the other end of the phone. “Aurora?” I froze, realizing the call had been going on for a minute already. “Didn’t I tell you to go die somewhere?” His tone was calm, emotionless, just as cruel as ever. I twisted my fingers, feeling a pang of shame to be cursed at by her father, right in front of our daughter. Even if they didn’t know each other. His voice was mocking: “Want more money? Fine, come beg me.” Grace stared at the phone, her eyes shining with delight. Her tiny, sweet voice piped up: “Uncle! When are you bringing me food? I’m hungry!” Silence on the other end for a moment. “Let Aurora answer the phone.” “You mean Mommy?” Grace’s face instantly fell: “But she can’t answer the phone anymore.” Ethan’s voice deepened: “What happened to her?” “Mommy said she’s sleeping.” A four-and-a-half-year-old child had no concept of life and death. A scoff echoed from the other end, clearly not buying such a lame excuse. “Is that so? I’d like to see what new scheme she’s cooking up.” I wanted to smile, but I couldn’t. What new scheme could I possibly be cooking up? Even trying to float over and scare him felt beyond my power. After hanging up, Grace curled up in the corner of the sofa, waiting patiently, a slight curve on her lips. But I was pacing frantically. Ethan hated me so much. What would he do to my daughter? An hour later, there was a knock at the door. My heart lurched: “Don’t open the door, Grace!” Grace had already opened it. Outside, there was no food as she’d expected, only a few security guards in suits. They surveyed the room, found no one else, and took Grace away. “No!” I was helpless, forced to watch my daughter being taken. When Ethan opened his door, he saw Grace, tears streaming down her face. He glanced behind her. “Where’s that woman?”

He was talking about me. I lowered my eyes. I didn’t even deserve a name from him anymore. A security guard reported truthfully: “When we arrived, only the little girl was in the house.” Grace broke free from their grasp and hugged Ethan’s leg. “Uncle, bad guys caught me.” I was shocked. Grace had only met Ethan twice before. She didn’t know Ethan was the father who refused to acknowledge her. But blood ran deep, making her instinctively trust him. Ethan seemed uncomfortable with her hug, frowning as he scoffed: “She’s so cruel, pushing her own bastard child out to face my anger.” I shook my head frantically: “No, Grace isn’t a bastard!” She’s our child. He wouldn’t believe it. After Grace was born, I found out she had the Vance family’s hereditary heart condition, and I had sought him out then. Ethan’s words still echoed in my ears. “Aurora, do you think I’m the same Ethan as before? You fooled me once, do you think you can fool me twice?” “Trying to pin a child you had with some other guy on me?” “Get lost. Here’s twenty thousand. Consider it a buy-out for our five years together.” I said, “It’s not enough.” He didn’t want our daughter, but she needed money for her surgery. Ethan gnashed his teeth in anger: “You really are obsessed with money. Fine, here’s fifty thousand. Because that’s all you’re worth.” Five years of love, reduced to a mere transaction. I knew this would make Ethan despise me even more, but it didn’t matter. Grace had her surgery with that money. She would live a healthy life now, and it was worth it. Now, Ethan asked Grace coldly, “Tell me, where is your mother hiding?” Grace looked up, teary-eyed. Her features were strikingly similar to mine. Ethan seemed a little lost in thought. “Mommy sleeps during the day, and at night, she turns into a star.” At her words, Ethan’s expression hardened, and he pulled his leg away. “Now she’s resorting to playing the victim?” Grace tumbled to the floor. I floated over, using all my strength, but I couldn’t catch her, watching her fall right through my embrace. The little box she clutched tightly also fell. Grace, who hadn’t eaten for two days, struggled twice before finally getting back up. A sharp pang twisted in my chest. Ethan watched coldly from the side, his fists inexplicably clenched. Grace hugged the little box, pretending to be brave, and patted her bottom: “Mommy, it doesn’t hurt.” I was startled, thinking she could see me. Then I remembered I was paralyzed in bed with late-stage stomach cancer. She learned to take care of me when she was two, even picking up plastic bottles while I slept. One day, she got into a fight with a stray dog and came back covered in bruises. I was so worried I coughed up blood. She, instead, smiled and comforted me. Saying it didn’t hurt. Hearing her words, Ethan looked around: “Aurora, come out!” The house was dead silent. I was standing right in front of him, but he couldn’t see me. Ethan waited a moment, found no sign of me. He sneered: “How cruel. To even use a child this big.” “Just send her away.” Ethan left those words and walked into his house. The security guards left Grace on the curb of the busy street. It was already dark. Grace stood there for a moment, lost, in the unfamiliar street. She looked bewildered, asking the little box: “Mommy, which way should I go?” My heart ached so much I couldn’t breathe. I could only pray the orphanage would quickly realize Grace was missing. Grace looked at the moon in the sky. “Mommy, can I find you by following the moon?” She was too hungry to walk and fell twice. She stumbled and found a trash can, discovering half a leftover cake. Her eyes lit up. She picked up the stale, sour-smelling piece of cake and eagerly put it into her mouth. I cried, trying to stop her: “Grace, don’t eat that, you’ll get sick!” She couldn’t hear me, but the cake in her hand was suddenly knocked away.

It was Ethan, who had appeared out of nowhere. I hadn’t even noticed him. He looked at the grubby Grace, gritting his teeth: “Aurora, this is how you treat your daughter, huh?” He led Grace into a car parked nearby. Grace cried and screamed, all affection for him gone: “Why won’t you let me eat? You’re a bad guy!” Then, she tried to lick the crumbs from her fingers. Ethan grabbed her hand, wiping her tiny hand clean with a wet wipe, his face a mix of disgust and gentleness: “Didn’t your mother teach you not to pick up things from the ground and eat them?” His movements were gentle yet meticulous. When we were dating, he always took care of me so attentively. My friends used to call him my ‘dad’ boyfriend—so mature and stable. But Grace was as stubborn as I was. When she pushed him away, her little hand slapped him across the face: “I don’t want you, bad guy, to tell me what to do!” I gasped in fright, looking anxiously at Ethan. I saw that he wasn’t angry. He lowered his eyelashes, threw away the wet wipe, and turned his head to the window, avoiding looking at Grace, whose profile was identical to mine. His tone was mocking: “Just as stubborn as your mother, isn’t she? Good thing she’s not mine.” I smiled bitterly. I’m sorry to disappoint you, then. The little box slipped from Grace’s embrace. He bent down to pick it up. He glanced at the dirty wooden box, finding it vaguely familiar. I instinctively wanted to stop him. If he opened it, he would discover the truth from all those years ago. He would live a lifetime of guilt. Better for him to hate me than to feel guilty. But then I looked at Grace, and I hoped she could live under her father’s protection. I was conflicted and nervous. To my surprise, he tossed the wooden box back into Grace’s arms: “What a piece of junk to pick up.” For a moment, I didn’t know whether to feel relieved or disappointed. Ethan took Grace home. He told Martha, the housekeeper, to cook something for her. He glanced at Grace’s bony frame and added, “Make it something easy to digest.” “I don’t know how that woman raised a child. Thin as a rail. Good thing I never married someone like her.” I nodded. I really was an inadequate mother. Ethan sat at the dining table, watching Grace pick out the carrots. He frowned and instinctively said, “Aurora Hayes, no picky eating.” Both he and I froze. “I’ll keep her right here, under my watch. I don’t believe Aurora won’t come to get you.” With those words, Ethan stood up and went upstairs, his back retreating, as if in a hasty retreat. Grace’s eyes lit up: “Really? Will Mommy come get me?” As night fell, Grace refused to sleep in the guest room, insisting on sleeping on the sofa. Martha tried to persuade her, but it was no use. Ethan seemed a little impatient: “Kids are such a bother. Let her be, she can sleep wherever she wants.” Grace slept on the sofa for three days. Ethan, seeing her curled up in a tiny ball, frowned deeply: “Is your mother that cruel to you? Doesn’t she ever let you sleep in a bed?” Grace shook her head: “No way. Mommy’s on the sofa.” Ethan looked bewildered, but I was crying uncontrollably. Because we only had one sofa at home. When I was gravely ill, I often lay on the sofa, drifting in and out of consciousness. Grace thought I was just sleeping. She would quietly crawl into my arms and hug me. Even at the orphanage, Grace liked to stay on the sofa in the reception area, as if sleeping in my arms. Ethan had been working from home lately, often staring blankly at the door. He watched Grace, who was also looking at the door, and asked: “Hey, what’s your name?” “Grace Hayes.” “Grace, your mother abandoned you too.” Grace instantly became a stubborn little beast: “No way! My mommy would never abandon me!” “Is that so? Then why hasn’t she come to pick you up after a whole week?” Just as he finished speaking. The doorbell rang. Ethan immediately stood up, a knowing smile appearing on his face. “Your mother’s here.” Grace scrambled up from the floor, looking expectantly at the door. The door opened. Both of them froze.

Grace pouted: “Liar, it’s not Mommy at all.” The newcomer was a striking girl in a red dress. I had seen her once before, the second time Grace and Ethan met. That was at the women’s health clinic, right after Grace’s surgery. Ethan had emerged with her, looking very intimate. The girl glanced at Grace, confused: “Where did this child come from?” Ethan replied casually: “Just picked her up off the street.” The girl’s eyes widened: “You’re picking up kids now?” She suddenly remembered something, pointing at the flower bed in the yard, furious: “Who pulled up my roses!” My heart ached inexplicably. So, they were already living together. Ethan glanced at Grace, who barely reached his knee. Grace guiltily averted her gaze and went back to the sofa. Ethan sounded disinterested: “It’s just flowers, we can plant more.” Seeing him say that, the girl didn’t press the issue. She followed Ethan into the house. As soon as she sat on the sofa, she covered her nose with her hand: “What’s that strange smell? Ever since I got pregnant, I’ve been really sensitive to smells.” I looked at her, shocked, at her still flat stomach. Watching Ethan and Grace’s interactions these past few days, I had still hoped that once he discovered Grace was his child, he would treat her well. But now that he had a child with another woman, what would become of my daughter? Ethan also noticed an unusual smell in the air. He looked at Grace on the sofa. He walked over, lifted Grace, and pulled back the sofa cushion. A pile of food wrapped in plastic bags and seven withered flowers were scattered all over the floor. Both of them were dumbfounded. Ethan’s veins throbbed: “Grace, what are you doing?” Grace cried out: “Don’t touch my things! These are all for Mommy!” I remembered my tiny daughter picking through trash outside. Some kind-hearted people, pitying her, would buy her food. She wouldn’t eat a single bite, always bringing it home for me. At the orphanage, the director caught her a few times and taught her. She learned to eat first herself, then save the best things for me. The other children often avoided Grace because of her smell, not wanting to play with her. Ethan’s gaze was complicated: “Why would you do this?” Grace cried sadly: “Mommy never got to eat any of these good things, and you said Mommy would come to pick me up, so I wanted to save them for when I see her.” Ethan tried to sneer, but couldn’t: “Didn’t she go off to live a good life with some rich guy? What hasn’t she eaten?” Grace shook her head: “No way. Mommy always said she wasn’t hungry.” At first, I said I wasn’t hungry so Grace would eat more. Later, when my illness worsened, I truly couldn’t eat. The girl beside Ethan asked: “Why is there an urn on the floor?” It was the little wooden box that had fallen. Ethan stared blankly: “An urn?” No wonder it looked familiar, like he’d seen it somewhere before. A stack of money and a letter fell out of the box. This letter felt like a thousand pounds. Ethan’s trembling hand tried several times before he finally picked it up. On the envelope was his all-too-familiar handwriting: [To my sweet daughter, Grace]. He opened the envelope. In an instant, his eyes turned red.

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On our wedding night, just as Dax and I were about to make love, his secretary, Serena, burst in. She slammed a domestic servitude contract on the table in front of me. “One, no freedom! No days off, available to the mistress 24/7!” “Two, no dignity! You’ll remove the mistress’s shoes, wash her feet, and provide kneeling service every night at the mistress’s bedroom door!” “Three, no shame! You’ll sleep with the master periodically to fulfill his needs!” “…” “Nine, the mistress is afraid of childbirth, so you must bear the master at least one son. The child will call the mistress ‘Mom.’” “Employer: Serena, Employee: Aria.” My mind froze the moment I finished reading. I felt completely numb. Not only did the mistress want to take my place, but she also wanted to hire me as her maid? Had she gone completely insane? “Serena, stop this nonsense!” Dax’s angry shout had barely faded when two burly bodyguards rushed in. “Mr. Dax, our young miss was swapped at birth. She’s just been found today, the true heiress of Silverwood City’s illustrious Silverwood Group.” “The young miss is still willing to marry you; you should be honored.” I was stunned again. Silverwood City’s Silverwood Group? Wasn’t that the company founded by Mr. Harrison Sr., the most powerful among my thirteen sponsors?

“Darling, do you still think I’m making a scene?” I was about to speak, but Dax, who had snapped out of his daze, embraced Serena, trembling with excitement. “No, not at all!” “Absolutely not a scene!” “My precious, I… I’m so madly in love with you!” As he spoke, they completely ignored me, as if I were invisible, and began passionately kissing. My heart felt like it was being slowly tortured, torn to shreds. I had planned a huge surprise for Dax on our wedding night, during our sweetest moment. Instead, I’d been struck by a bolt of lightning that left my mind blank. They grew more and more lost in each other, clothes shedding one by one. Just as they were about to take the final step… “Oh, dear!” Serena purred, pushing him away quickly. Dax paused, then awkwardly scratched his head. “My bad, my bad, I almost lost control. I completely forgot you’re on your period today.” I let out a self-deprecating, utterly desolate laugh. Dax could never remember when his wife, me, was on her period, but he knew hers. It seemed they had been intimate countless times behind my back, in the office, in the car. Serena jutted her chin at me, then added, “It’s fine. If you’re really desperate, isn’t there a ready-made option right in front of you?” Dax looked a little uncomfortable. “I’m about to divorce her. It wouldn’t be right…” “What’s wrong with it?” “The domestic servitude contract clearly states that when I’m unavailable, she’s your personal pleasure girl, there to fulfill your needs!” “Anyway, you’ve used this woman so much she’s practically worn out. I don’t mind you continuing to sleep with her. Better to sleep with your ex-wife than to look for someone random outside, right?” My anger flared. I tore the domestic servitude contract into tiny pieces. “You disgusting couple, I’m not interested in your sick role-playing games.” “Dax, we’re done.” I turned to leave, but the two bodyguards rushed over and held me firmly. “What are you doing? Let me go!” Slap! Serena slapped me, her voice haughty. “My word is law. Since I’ve chosen you as my maid, you have no right to refuse.” “You’ll accept whether you want to or not!” She then ordered the bodyguards to pry open my mouth. From her pocket, she pulled out a small pill and forced me to swallow it. That bitch, she came prepared! Soon, I felt like I was burning up, my cheeks flushed crimson, and my eyes grew hazy. “Darling, have fun tonight.” “Go wild, don’t hold back!” Bang! The bedroom door closed. Dax lunged at me like a madman, pinning me beneath him. He ignored my struggles, my screams, and was even more fervent and violent than ever before. Every previous time, I felt surrounded by happiness. But now, there was only pain. Endless pain! That night felt endlessly long… When I woke up in the morning, Dax was gone. Every cell in my body screamed in agony, as if torn apart. I could barely move an inch. A moment later, Serena pushed the door open. She smiled broadly. “You performed well last night. According to the contract, the ‘sleepover service’ is billed per session, $100,000 a pop.” “You know, many actresses in Hollywood don’t even get that price. You should be ecstatic!” With that, she pulled out a check and threw it at my face. I was instantly overwhelmed by extreme humiliation, feeling like a prostitute who had just finished with a client, utterly filthy! I don’t know how much time passed. After crying until no tears were left, I laboriously picked up my phone and dialed a number I hadn’t touched in ages. “Lilia, spread the word: I’m making a comeback.” “Also, help me organize a sponsors’ meeting. And make it quick!” I hung up, all pain and humiliation vanished from my eyes, replaced by boundless cold fury. The Black Phoenix, who once stirred countless storms in the global investment world, had returned from the ashes. And some misguided relatives, bringing home all sorts of undesirables, it was time for a purge.

The next day, I went to the company to finalize the divorce with Dax. As soon as I reached the lobby, I ran into Serena. “Oh? Well, look at you, resilient! I thought you’d be bedridden for at least three days.” “Where’s Dax? Tell him to come out. We’re finalizing the divorce today.” Serena frowned and snorted. “Who do you think you’re ordering around? Still acting like the boss’s wife?” “Get it straight! Our roles have reversed!” “I’m the master, you’re the maid!” The receptionist looked utterly astonished, clearly unaware of Serena’s new status. She immediately started frantically posting messages in the company’s WhatsApp group. “Oh my god! The boss’s secretary has lost her mind! She’s actually making the boss’s wife her maid!” Seeing more and more curious colleagues gathering, Serena clicked her tongue. “This awful pollution in Newport City is so annoying. My new shoes are dirty after just one day.” With that, she extended one foot toward me. “You, kneel down!” “Use your sleeve to wipe the dust off my shoes.” Seeing everyone stare, gaping in shock, Serena held her head high, a triumphant smirk on her face. I didn’t get angry; instead, I smiled. That bitch, she wanted to use me to establish her authority? As if I’d let her! I immediately stepped forward and stomped hard on her foot. “Ah!” “Aria! You’re dead!” She shrieked and raised her hand to slap me, but I was faster. Slap! I landed a brutal slap across her face and said coldly, “You’re just an employee. What right do you have to strut around in front of me?” “No matter what, I’m still the legitimate boss’s wife.” “Good slap!” “Serena is way too arrogant, she deserved it!” Employees cheered, but the next second, a cold shout suddenly came from the elevator. “Not anymore!” Dax walked out of the elevator, his face cold, and threw a divorce agreement at me. I casually glanced through it. My gaze lingered for a moment on the words ‘leave with nothing,’ then I immediately signed it. I didn’t care about his paltry possessions. Seeing this, the employees became anxious. “Mr. Dax, Serena provoked her first, the boss’s wife did nothing wrong!” “The boss’s wife knew you had stomach problems and brought you lunch every day, without fail.” “She always prepared milk and medicine for you before every business dinner. Even some of the company’s most profitable projects were led by the boss’s wife.” “It’s so unfair for you to treat her like this!” “…” My frozen heart trembled slightly again. All these years, my efforts had been seen by every employee. Only Dax, he never cared. Dax sneered, took Serena’s hand, and declared loudly, “Serena’s true identity is the heiress of the Silverwood Group!” “Now that she’s reunited with her family, I will marry her, and with the strong support of the Silverwood Group, our company will achieve even greater glory!” After a brief, dead silence, the entire hall erupted! “Silverwood Group? The famous conglomerate that set the record for the fastest IPO?” “With the Silverwood Group backing us, our salaries will at least double, right?” Everyone’s expressions instantly changed when they looked at me. The righteous indignation was gone, replaced by cold sarcasm. “What good is a domestic trophy wife, no matter how dutiful? Worthless in front of a wealthy heiress!” “Mr. Dax’s decisive action, that’s the style of a man who gets things done!” “…” Looking at their ugly, greedy faces, I shook my head and scoffed. As I turned to leave, a sharp pain shot through my calf. Thump! Dax kicked me, and I fell to my knees. I twisted my head, staring at him with bloodshot eyes, but he ignored me, pressing my head down to repeatedly bash it against the floor to apologize to Serena. “Serena, are you satisfied?” “No.” Serena pouted. “A mirror isn’t shiny unless you polish it; a wicked servant needs a beating!” “Darling, I want you to make this wretched slave kneel in front of everyone, to break her spirit!” A flicker of reluctance crossed Dax’s eyes. He whispered, “Serena, isn’t that a bit much? She is my ex-wife, after all…” Serena immediately raised an eyebrow. Just as she was about to speak, her phone buzzed. After reading it, her eyes lit up with fierce ambition, and she became even more arrogant.

“Serena, what’s wrong?” “In two days, Mr. Harrison Sr.’s boss is hosting a high-profile banquet in Silverwood City. Over a dozen of the nation’s top moguls will be attending.” “My dad wants to take you and me to experience it, but it seems you still have lingering feelings for this wretched slave, don’t you?” “I’ll tell my dad not to take you now, and I’ll reconsider our engagement.” As she spoke, she made a move to reply to the message. Dax snatched her phone, his eyes blazing with desire and ambition. “Serena, I think you’re absolutely right!” “This kind of wretched slave really does need a beating! She needs to know her place!” “Guards!” Soon, several security guards bound my hands and hoisted me up. I exploded, “Dax! How dare you!” “I am Serena’s grandfather’s boss!” Before I could finish, my legs were pinned to the ground. Serena glanced at the assembled employees and said, “You all praised her so much for being dutiful before. It seems you know her quite well, don’t you?” “Alright then, now start spilling her dirt!” Dirt? Everyone exchanged bewildered glances. Though they all wanted to curry favor with the wealthy heiress, they couldn’t think of a single thing. Seeing their hesitation, Serena publicly pulled out a wad of cash and slammed it on the reception desk. “$10,000 for each piece of dirt, unlimited.” “Get paid on the spot!” Under her ‘power of money,’ the atmosphere instantly became feverish. A female manager, who usually called me “Aria” and even wanted to be my ‘adopted sister,’ was the first to jump out: “I’ll go first! I’ve had enough of her for a long time!” “Before, she used to boss me around like a servant just because she was the boss’s wife. She often made me carry her bags, give her massages, and even feed her dog during work hours!” “She saw I was handsome and said she wanted to make me her sugar baby. When I refused, she slapped me in front of all the employees!” “I had it even worse! She knew my family was struggling, and my parents desperately needed surgery money. She threatened to fire me unless I became her boy toy!” “For my parents, I tearfully accepted, but I never expected her to be a pervert! She tortured me in various ways when I was with her…” “…” Serena giggled, opening a live stream on her phone, pointing the camera at me. She cooed, “Please, dear netizens, tell me what you think.” “Does a person like this deserve a beating?” The live stream comments quickly scrolled wildly. “Absolutely!” “We working people are already struggling enough every day. We serve the boss, and now we have to serve her, the boss’s wife? Does she think we’re animals?” “She’s even sexually harassing her own employees, that shameless bitch! She’s not even trying to hide it anymore!” “She’s the definition of a filthy rich socialite! Can’t your husband satisfy you? Are you that desperate for a man?” Serena contentedly ended the live stream, walked over, and pinched my chin. “Do you realize your mistake?” “Do you know what to do now?” Ptooey! I spit a bloody phlegm onto her face, my voice weak. “Bitch… you’re finished.” “Your father, your grandfather, your entire family will fall with you… I swear it!” “Ah!” “That’s disgusting! You bastard!” Serena snatched a belt and, enraged, splashed coffee all over me. “Still defiant when death is at your doorstep! I’ll teach you to be defiant!” Employees looked away, unable to bear the sight of me in my ragged, pathetic state. Watching Serena’s appreciative gaze, my lips trembled wildly. “You… you’re a psycho…” “You’re a maniac…” “Psycho?” Serena burst into another round of mad laughter. “This is just the beginning. The real madness is yet to come.” With that, she waved her hand. “Tonight, it’s company team-building, and I’m treating everyone to sushi.” “Bring this wretched slave along too. We’ll arrange the sushi on her body. A perfect way to ‘utilize’ her.” My mouth twitched violently. My eyes, filled with rage and disbelief, were like knives, wishing to gouge her out on the spot. “You… you wouldn’t dare?!” Before I could finish, a sharp pain shot through the back of my head, and my consciousness plunged into darkness.

When I woke up again, I was lying on a cold, large table. Everyone was gone. Mint leaves, sushi rice, and caviar pearls were scattered haphazardly on my bloodied, naked body. I stared blankly at the ceiling, replaying the humiliating scenes from not long ago. Every second I thought about it, my nerves felt like they were being pierced by venomous needles. The pain was nearly suffocating! I don’t know how long passed. Dressed in a work uniform given to me by a kind server, I returned home. Seeing my mom, Brenda, there, my numb nerves finally found a moment of solace. Then I noticed she was kneeling on the floor, gently massaging a pair of bare feet. My gaze slowly moved upward. It was none other than Serena. Before I could fully process it, I saw my brother, Kevin, running over with a basin of hot water, smiling eagerly. “Miss Serena, I’ll draw your foot bath.” Serena looked utterly delighted, then smugly turned her head to glance at me. “See? You didn’t want to be my servant, but plenty of others do.” “I just offered $200,000 a month, and your mom and brother were scrambling to try out. Tsk tsk… the power of money is truly effective!” I staggered, nearly falling. I couldn’t believe my eyes or my ears. “Mom, Kevin, what have you…” “Do you even know that I divorced Dax because of her!” “All these injuries on my body are also thanks to this disgusting couple. They even… they even made me into a human sushi platter!” Kevin shrugged indifferently. “Yeah, we know. Miss Serena told us everything when she got back.” “You can’t blame Miss Serena and Dax for the divorce. They’re a perfect match. You should have stepped aside a long time ago.” Brenda even admonished me, “You disobeyed Miss Serena earlier, so it’s only right that she taught you a lesson. From now on, you need to serve her diligently.” Then, she handed me a book. The Premium Domestic Service Handbook. Brenda continued, “Aria, you’re not the rich madam you used to be. You’re a nobody now, with no money, no home, no prospects.” “Now Miss Serena is even willing to hire you for $500,000 a month, plus the per-session payment for sleeping with Dax, your monthly income would exceed a million dollars!” “What more could you want? Hurry up and thank Miss Serena!” Listening to Serena’s grating, mad laughter, I gave a desolate smile. The little color left in my face completely drained away, leaving not a trace. As I turned to leave, Brenda shouted again, “Stop!” “If you walk out that door, we’re disowning you!” “Fine.” I replied, and without looking back, I left. Walking out of the complex, the biting night wind made me tremble uncontrollably, and the tears I had been holding back burst forth like a broken dam. “Aria…” “From now on, you have no family.” I murmured to myself, then contacted Lilia, my assistant, to book a flight, flying to Silverwood City overnight. Two days later. The ballroom on the top floor of a five-star hotel in Silverwood City was packed with celebrities and wealthy elites. Serena and Dax were among them, being led by Mr. Davies, weaving through the crowd, toasting. During this, Serena’s gaze kept flicking toward the majestic gilded armchair at the head of the table. “Dad, that chair is so beautiful. I wish I could sit in it.” Mr. Davies jumped in alarm, rebuking her quietly. “That chair is prepared for your grandfather’s boss. It’s beyond your reach.” “Oh, come on, I was just saying!” “But who exactly is grandpa’s boss? Must be over a hundred years old, right?” Mr. Davies’s face filled with admiration at her words. He sighed, “That is a legendary figure in the investment world, the Black Phoenix who once caused countless storms in global finance.” “Your grandpa says she’s quite young, probably around your age.” Serena and Dax secretly gasped. When they looked back at the gilded armchair, they saw someone was already sitting in it. After seeing clearly, both of them gasped in shock. “Aria?!” The next second, Mr. Harrison Sr. and the twelve other most powerful moguls in the room approached me, bowing in unison with faces full of reverence. “Boss!”

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For seven years, I chased Julian. Seven years he pushed me away. Everyone said Myra was obsessed with him, and Julian hated her. But what they didn’t know? Julian worshipped me in bed. Loved me with everything he had. Outside those walls, I gave everything. Got nothing back. Five years after we broke up, we met again at a reunion. My old high school classmate Sarah whispered, “Myra, still after Julian? He’s single. Go for it!” Before I could answer, Julian showed up—looking like a millionaire. “Myra, long time no see. How’ve you been these last five years?” I looked down, smiled cold. “Better without you.” Julian’s spoon clattered to the floor, the sharp sound echoing through the private dining room. His usually unreadable expression finally cracked the moment I smiled and spoke. While the server came to replace the cutlery, he leaned closer to me. “Myra…” I nudged my chair back slightly, putting an arm’s length between us. His beautiful eyes instantly dimmed. “I’ll drive you home after this.” “No thanks.” I refused without a second thought. “It’s raining. You can’t ride your bike.” Outside the window, the rain intensified. He was right, I couldn’t ride my bike. I’d have to call for a ride. “If you’d taken that compensation back then, you wouldn’t be living like this now.” I didn’t know if he meant a severance package or payment for an abortion. After all these years, he owed me more than just a little. Five abortions, just for starters. A wave of annoyance washed over me. I followed his gaze to the stain on my pants leg. That’s when I remembered being splashed by a black Maybach on the way here. So, Julian was the driver. He’d gotten a new car again. Guess he had too much money, buying cars to avoid taxes. “I brought my raincoat. Don’t bother.” Julian scrutinized me for a few moments, then sighed deeply. “Myra, why do you always have to be so stubborn…” “Julian!” A sweet, clear voice interrupted Julian. Everyone turned to look. A woman stood at the doorway, dressed in a light gray business suit, her exquisite makeup highlighting her striking features. Everyone exchanged glances, guessing her identity. I, however, didn’t even lift my head, quietly continuing to eat. I’d been sleeping a lot lately, waking up late in the afternoon. Sarah’s frantic calls had dragged me here before I’d even had a chance to eat. I was starving. “Myra?” Chloe, with an exaggerated gasp of surprise, grabbed my arm. My hand slipped from her grasp. “You’re here too? Julian said it was our high school reunion, and I wondered if you’d show up!” I gave a weak laugh, subtly pulling my arm away. “Who is this?” Sarah, sitting beside me, finally couldn’t resist asking. Everyone looked at Julian. “My fiancée, Chloe.” Julian’s words were brief, devoid of emotion. So, even someone like Julian would openly acknowledge his partner. Seven years of a secret romance, three years of a secret marriage. Ten years of being unacknowledged, reduced to a colossal joke. At first, everyone seemed confused, but then someone blurted out “Congratulations,” and the room buzzed with excitement again. Chloe took a seat next to Julian. They looked like a couple, accepting everyone’s well wishes. “I’m late, so I should chug three drinks. But Julian won’t let me drink these days, so I’ll toast everyone with a soft drink.” Chloe was savvy. Even with Julian staying still, she alone raised her glass and toasted everyone in the room. The atmosphere quickly livened up. Within minutes, everyone was singing her praises. “Oh, right, I heard someone in your class chased Julian for seven years. Who was it?” “I’m so curious, who had that much patience?” Chloe glanced around the room, asking playfully. I kept my head down, the smile gone from my face. No one in the room responded, and no one dared to look at me. They were all afraid I’d flip the table in a fit of rage. Growing up, I was known for my fiery temper and holding grudges. Except for Julian, almost no one could rein me in. That’s why, during the years I chased Julian, hardly any girl dared to talk to him. “She didn’t make it today.” Sarah kindly spoke up for me. “Oh? That’s a shame.” “I was thinking of sending her an invitation…” Chloe feigned regret with a sigh, then laughed and leaned into Julian’s embrace. Sarah’s eyes were wide as saucers, glaring at Chloe. “Seriously, what a brazen woman, right?” Watching Sarah turn her indignation into eating, I chuckled, pouring her a glass of water so she wouldn’t choke. Sarah threw her arms around mine. “Myra, is it really over between you two?” “Can you really not be with Julian?!” Sarah’s jaw dropped so wide, you could’ve fit an elephant in it. Her pupils actually trembled. I turned to Julian, seeking confirmation. “Isn’t that right, Julian?”

Julian’s brow twitched slightly, and he nodded, acknowledging it. “Seriously?!” Sarah instantly jumped up, becoming even more frantic. The whole room was stunned. After all, during the seven years I chased Julian, everyone thought he hated me to death. They even came up with the idea of “visceral disgust.” Chloe’s perpetually smiling face now looked utterly stiff. She hadn’t expected me to reveal my past relationship with Julian, nor had she expected Julian to confirm it. “So, Julian’s ex-girlfriend was Myra! How unexpected!” “Well, then I have even more to thank Myra for. Thank you for stepping aside and giving me a chance to be with Julian.” Chloe said, picking up a glass to offer a toast. A glass of orange juice for her, a glass of wine for me. I pushed the wine away, my face cold. “Sorry, I can’t drink.” “Why can’t you drink?” Chloe wouldn’t let it go, constantly pushing the wine glass closer. “I remember when you were a sales director at the company, you could really hold your liquor.” “Didn’t you even teach me how to train my alcohol tolerance back then?” In our senior year of college, Julian started his own tech company. Back then, for him, I turned down the job my family arranged and went to help him. His startup was struggling, barely surviving. Julian’s inherent pride meant he refused to grovel for money, but I wasn’t. I was the one who had to humble myself. Every contract, every partnership, every round of funding—I fought for them tooth and nail, drinking myself sick at countless business dinners to seal the deals. Julian was undoubtedly grateful to me then. That’s why he proposed. Our seven-year secret romance led to three years of secret marriage. Julian would make me comfort food, hearty broths to soothe my hangovers, and hold me close to lull me to sleep when I was a drunken mess. Even when we didn’t have much money, he’d remember every anniversary and buy me expensive gifts. Aside from refusing to acknowledge me publicly, Julian gave me almost everything. That’s one of the reasons I struggled to forget that relationship. I always felt that, in some ways, he did love me. Later, as the company gradually succeeded, Julian solidified his position with his exceptional talent. The company also started expanding. Chloe was hired around that time. I was the one who recruited her. Julian told me, “I don’t like you going out to negotiate deals. You can find someone else to handle the drinking.” From then on, I gradually retreated to a behind-the-scenes role. Chloe was young and naive, often getting completely wasted at business dinners. I started teaching her how to persuade clients to drink, how to build up her alcohol tolerance, how to close deals at the table. She was a quick study, with a natural talent. And because she was lively, outgoing, and attractive, she quickly secured several major contracts. Julian was very fond of her, a fondness he made no effort to conceal. Besides the well-deserved bonuses, Julian started giving her extra rewards. Expensive clothes, designer bags, jewelry—they flowed into Chloe’s pockets like water. They started entering and leaving the company together, intimately, as if no one else was around. I protested countless times, but it always ended with Julian getting angry and leaving. “Myra, don’t project your sordid thoughts onto other people.” “Myra, if you keep making a scene, there’s no point in us being together.” That relationship, at my expense, almost ruined my life. Looking at the beautiful glass of wine in front of me, I met Chloe’s gaze. “Didn’t I also teach you? Never pressure a woman to drink.” With that, I put down my forks and poured the wine from her glass into Julian’s. “Julian, if you can’t control your woman, don’t bring her out to make a fool of herself.” Julian’s face instantly changed. He grabbed Chloe, pulling her back. “Stop it.” “Sit down and eat. Even if you don’t eat, the baby in your belly needs to.” The moment those words left his mouth, the meal in front of me turned instantly tasteless. A wave of nausea surged through my stomach, and I shot to my feet. “Excuse me, I need to use the restroom.”

The moment I stepped out, the cold wind, carrying fine rain, burrowed into my coat, leaving me wet and shivering. I couldn’t help but shudder, and half the nausea dissipated. A baby. They were having a baby. Julian, the man who always claimed he disliked children, was having one with another woman. In ten years, Julian and I had a total of five pregnancies, but without exception, all were lost. Julian had one terrible habit: he hated using protection. Every time, I’d take birth control, and if I got pregnant, I’d have an abortion. The reasons for not having children were simple: we were in the middle of building his career, and he didn’t like kids. Each time I had an abortion, Julian would buy me many gifts to cheer me up. He always said we were still young, and we hadn’t had much time for ourselves during those busy years. Perhaps because I loved him too much, I was always swayed by a few words from him. Because of the drinking and long-term birth control, my body was already under immense strain. During the fifth pregnancy, the doctor said if I lost this one, I might never be able to have children again. On our third wedding anniversary, I prepared a table full of food, wanting to talk to Julian. I wanted to keep this baby. But he never came home. Instead, I found him and Chloe making out on the office sofa. “Myra, who allowed you to come in without knocking?” “Get out!” Julian snatched clothes from the floor and covered Chloe, who looked up at me, innocent as a startled fawn. That day, I fled. I even remembered to close the door behind me. When Julian returned that day, our home was a mess. I’d smashed the food and cake onto the floor, shredded all our photos together, and shattered everything I could. Julian walked past the debris and sat down in front of me. I was the first to speak. I asked him when it had started. “You don’t want to know.” “Myra, why can’t you just be happy as Mrs. Thorne at home?” Julian was as cold as ever, his words like icy blades piercing my heart. I snapped, dialing Chloe’s number right in front of him. Julian snatched my phone, smashing it to pieces. “Are you out of your mind? She doesn’t know anything!” The air instantly solidified. I laughed bitterly, asking him, “Julian, does she really know nothing?” Julian and I were secretly married. But anyone with eyes could see that our relationship was different. Chloe had inquired about Julian and me more than once; even a fool would have understood. “At least I never told her.” Julian’s cold words spilled out, and in that moment, I heard my heart shatter. “Myra, I’m warning you, if you cause her any trouble, we’re getting a divorce!” Over the past three years, whenever I was upset because of Chloe, Julian always threatened me with divorce. Every time, I’d humbly back down. But that one time, I agreed. “Julian, then let’s get a divorce.” Later, during the divorce, Julian made harsh demands to force me to compromise, practically insisting I leave with nothing. I was decisive, signing the divorce papers without hesitation. There was no cooling-off period then, so we finalized the divorce quickly. Outside the courthouse, Julian gritted his teeth, warning me not to regret it. Julian seemed so certain I’d come crawling back, full of regret. But I didn’t. For five years, I barely thought of him. If Sarah hadn’t insisted I come to this reunion, Julian and I would never have met again. A weight settled on my shoulder—a black suit jacket. A familiar, cool scent drifted into my nostrils. It was Julian. “Myra, it’s been five years. I can’t believe you really refused to come back.” Without thinking, I pulled off the jacket and handed it back to him. “Go back and be your mistress? Julian, have you no shame? Are you addicted to cheating?” Julian’s face hardened. He grabbed my wrist, then pulled up my inner shirt. My pale stomach was covered in dense, crisscrossing lines. “Myra, five years ago, did you give birth to my child?”

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Barely a month into our marriage, my wife’s sister ran off with her lover. Just as I pushed open the door, ready to comfort her, Seraphina Thorne handed me a document. “Asher, Ryker Sterling’s vast empire can’t be without an heir. I’ve decided to bear him a child in Mallory’s place.” It hit me like a lightning bolt. I ripped the agreement to shreds, roaring, “Seraphina Thorne, it’s the 21st century! Who treats their marriage like a business deal, offering up their spouse to someone else? What the hell do you think I am?!” Seraphina stared at me, unyielding. “Asher, it’s only for three years. I’ll come back afterward, and I’ll still be your wife.” “If Mom had only given birth to me back then, I would have been the one marrying Ryker Sterling. You wouldn’t even be in the picture.” My heart ached as I looked at the frantic Seraphina. Her familiar face had turned cold. “I’ll allow you to use IVF for a surrogate. That’s my biggest compromise.” Seraphina stood up, silently producing another agreement. “Sterling Holdings’ heir can’t be some cold, sterile product of science. It has to be born of passion.” She looked at me without a hint of shame. “For our families’ alliance, this child must be born. I’m merely informing you, not negotiating.” I clenched my fists, finally giving up completely. “Seraphina, let’s get a divorce.”

Her mother immediately stood up, slamming a slap across my face. “Seraphina has been so good to you, and you dare to suggest divorce? You’re utterly ungrateful!” Inside, the Thorne family relatives began to crowd around, trying to persuade me. “Asher, Seraphina still loves you. Otherwise, if she secretly got pregnant with Ryker Sterling’s child, you wouldn’t even know, would you?” “Exactly! Seraphina is doing this for the Thorne family. If Ryker Sterling gets angry, Thorne Industries will be in danger.” I stared in shock at these elders, spouting such nonsense, then let out a hollow laugh. Seraphina, mortified, yelled, “Stop talking, everyone! Asher will understand!” I scanned the room, looking at the furious relatives. These were the people, this was the company I’d saved, sacrificing a lucrative offer from a Fortune 500 company, pouring my heart and soul into it. A sharp, desolate pain pierced my chest. I lifted my head, forcing back tears, and looked at Seraphina. “Seraphina, we’ve weathered so many storms together. Do you really have to sacrifice our marriage for the future of Thorne Industries?” Seraphina fell silent, then, after a long moment, looked at me pleadingly. “Asher, I’m not trading our marriage for Thorne Industries’ future. No matter what, I’ll always be your wife, the one who loves you most.” “Asher, just think about it. Ryker Sterling is the richest man, his intellect and capabilities are unmatched, and he’s closely connected to several major families in New York. Your health condition,…” I stared at Seraphina in disbelief. She was finally speaking her mind. So, she had always looked down on my poor health, which was why she insisted on contraception throughout our six years together. But who did I drink myself sick for, damaging my liver? Who did I fight tooth and nail for, sacrificing a third of my stomach just to close those deals? A tear splashed onto the back of my hand. I lifted my head, my voice hoarse, and said, “Seraphina, what if I absolutely refuse?” “Asher, I know it’s hard for you to accept right now. It’s okay… I’ll give you time to think it over.” A flicker of guilt crossed Seraphina’s face, then she raised her voice. “A joint heir for the Thorne and Sterling families—I *will* bear this child. It’s for the company. You need to think long-term, don’t throw a tantrum.” I smiled bitterly, tears in my eyes, as I looked at Seraphina. At twenty-six, she was young and beautiful, already exuding the sharp aura of a powerful businesswoman. “You mean, not only are you going to have a child with Ryker Sterling, but this child will also inherit everything we have?” “And I, a cripple, am just a tool for making money, destined to live my entire life without my own children?” Seraphina pressed her lips together, her voice gone, her expression complex as she looked at me. All the relatives shifted their gazes uncomfortably. They stood up, offered a few more words of persuasion, and then quickly left. Seraphina also left indifferently, closing the door behind her. I sat there all night. As a sliver of dawn painted the sky, I wiped away my tears and called the company lawyer. “Please draft a divorce agreement for me. I want a divorce.”

Once the truth was out, Seraphina stopped trying to hide anything, openly beginning to flirt with Ryker Sterling. When the private detective sent me the investigation reports and photos, my hand trembled, and it took all my courage to open them. September 11th, 12 PM: Seraphina delivered chicken soup to Ryker Sterling. They stayed in his executive office until 1:30 PM. That evening, Seraphina waited at the hotel entrance. At 11 PM, she picked up Ryker Sterling and drove him home, not returning herself all night. September 12th, 8 AM: Seraphina spent two hours preparing seafood porridge and delivered it to Ryker Sterling’s office. They spent an hour together. September 13th: The two went shopping. Seraphina bought Ryker Sterling a suit and personally chose and tied a tie for him. September 14th, … Seraphina, who never used social media, posted a romantic photo from a high-end restaurant for the first time. Vibrant roses were presented to a pair of distinctly defined hands, and even the caption radiated boundless happiness: “My luck, being with you.” The clinking wine glasses pricked my eyes. After much thought, I commented below, “Dating another man? What about your husband?” Almost instantly, the comment was deleted. Immediately afterward, Seraphina sent several 60-second voice messages. “What were you doing commenting that nonsense? How do you expect people to react to *him*?” “You’re becoming so petty, getting upset over every little thing. I was just trying to win him over so we could have a child sooner.” Her mother was also furious. She stormed into our house, pointing at me and cursing, “Seraphina is younger than you and understands the importance of the company. You’ve lived thirty years for nothing; no wonder you’re a good-for-nothing!” “My family helped you become Vice President, gave you status and reputation, and you’re still not satisfied? You want to ruin Seraphina’s big plans!” “I’m telling you, if Ryker Sterling rejects Seraphina because of you, I’ll never forgive you!” I stared at her mother in shock. These were the ‘relatives’ I had honored like a mother, now humiliating and berating me with the most vicious words. I finally gave up completely, slowly handing her the divorce agreement. “Since I am so worthless, have Seraphina sign this. I won’t hinder her grand plan to revitalize Thorne Industries.” Her mother saw that I wasn’t just refusing to admit fault, but was even threatening them with divorce. She instantly flew into a rage, grabbing a vase from the coffee table and smashing it onto my head. “Your parents must have been absolute trash, raising such a disrespectful nobody. Today I’ll teach you some manners right now!” She then picked up the ashtray and smashed it on my head again with a *thud*. She glared at me fiercely, then spat on my face. “Such a pauper! Seraphina must have been blind to ever look at you.” I clutched my head, looking coldly at her mother. Ever since Thorne Industries escaped its crisis and got back on track, she had always looked at me with disdain. She always felt that I had climbed too high by marrying Seraphina, otherwise her second daughter could have married a rich young master, an heir to a top fortune, just like her eldest. But she forgot that it was she who had once clasped my hand, telling me how much she appreciated my hard work. She was the one who said I was the Thorne family’s savior, who, with a desperate spirit, helped Thorne Industries overcome its crisis. I had knelt in the bank president’s office, begging for loans. I had waited on a business partner’s father in the hospital, saving lost orders… I finally understood that some people only see profit, never emotion. Apparently, selfishness is hereditary. My heart suddenly calmed, no longer feeling any sorrow. Ignoring her mother’s continued shouting, I grabbed my car keys and rushed to the hospital. As I reached the second floor, I saw Seraphina walking over, clinging shyly to Ryker Sterling’s arm. The moment our eyes met, Seraphina’s face flashed with panic and embarrassment, then she quickly turned away and cleared her throat. “What happened to your head?” Then, with disgust, she added, “Look at you. What are you even capable of? A grown man getting his head covered in blood. If you had even an ounce of Ryker’s capability, I wouldn’t have to work so hard.” My gaze sharpened as I looked at Ryker Sterling beside her. The man’s expression was icy, his eyes dark and unreadable. At that moment, I admitted that I couldn’t compare to him; he was indeed unfathomable. “Alright, go get yourself checked out. Just don’t cause any more trouble.” She then walked away, arm in arm with Ryker Sterling, without a backward glance, as if afraid of touching something dirty. Just as they turned the corner of the staircase, Seraphina’s message arrived. “I’m pregnant. Ryker is throwing a party for me this Wednesday. You absolutely must attend.” “Ryker wants the child to be announced as yours publicly, then given to him after it’s born. Remember, don’t say anything out of line.”

I calmly deleted the message, then looked at the one my lawyer had sent me. “Mr. Vance, if you’re willing to walk away with nothing, the divorce proceedings will be quick. But if you want to divide assets, it will be more complicated, and you’ll have to wait a while.” I looked at the message and replied, “I’m entrusting you to liquidate the assets I’m entitled to. I’m not walking away empty-handed.” From graduating college and joining the failing Thorne Industries, I single-handedly orchestrated a success story, generating over a hundred million in profit in just three months. Why should I meekly walk away with nothing? I would take back what was mine. I’d rather donate my things than let that bastard child benefit from them. On Wednesday, I arrived promptly. Seraphina, arm in arm with Ryker Sterling, moved among the guests, soaking in their flattery. Ryker Sterling, too, smiled and conversed with everyone. I calmly handed my gift to Seraphina. She merely glanced at it, then, to avoid suspicion, stood three feet away. “Ryker has already given me a dozen gifts. You don’t need to join in.” I offered a faint smile. “Fine.” It seemed she already considered Ryker Sterling her husband. My gift, from her actual husband, was just “joining in.” I turned and handed the gift to Mr. Brooks, the family butler. “It’s for your mistress. Please take it back to her.” Mr. Brooks immediately thanked me profusely. “Mr. Vance, you’re too kind. I thank you on her behalf.” He bowed to me. See? Sometimes, a casual kindness to a stranger earns you overwhelming gratitude. But some people, no matter how good you are to them, they just take it for granted, thinking you’re nothing more than a simp, and that your devotion is just their due. Some business acquaintances came up to congratulate me. “Mr. Vance, you’re finally going to be a father! Congratulations!” Then, with a puzzled expression, one added, “Mr. Vance, why aren’t you personally looking after Mrs. Thorne? Why is Mr. Sterling always doing it?” I smiled calmly. “It’s all the same. We’re family. No need to distinguish so clearly.” The people around us looked at me with curiosity, then at Seraphina and Ryker Sterling, who were standing close together. They seemed to understand something, exchanging knowing smiles. Finally, a small voice from a corner piped up, “Mommy, the lady and gentleman look so good together! Their baby must be beautiful.” The grand hall fell silent. Everyone awkwardly looked at each other. Seraphina’s face flushed. Reluctantly, she walked over and linked her arm through mine. Then, with a disgusted whisper, she said, “Can’t you just stand next to me without being told? Do you want people to laugh at me?” I smiled indifferently. “I was wondering if Ryker Sterling would be angry, thinking I was still trying to claim you.” Hearing this, a satisfied smile appeared on Seraphina’s face. “At least you’re sensible enough to know your place. Ryker hates messy situations. From now on, you need to be careful when you see me. For the next three years, I am not your wife, you need to remember that. Don’t do anything to upset Ryker.” I scoffed, saying nothing more, and enthusiastically greeted the guests. Once everyone was happy, Seraphina abruptly let go of my arm, shaking her evening gown as if to remove something unpleasant. “Ryker and I are going home. The housekeeper has prepared nourishing soup for my pregnancy. You can go home on your own.” “I need to be with Ryker and rest for the baby these days. I’m leaving the company to you. Be diligent and don’t let anything go wrong.” With that, she linked her arm through Ryker Sterling’s and walked out. It seemed that, in her heart, Ryker Sterling was already her husband, and the Sterling estate was her home. I smiled and walked out into the night. “Detective Jones, I need you to do something for me. One million up front, and we’ll settle any additional expenses.” I wondered if her own sister, Mallory, would ever return home one day, and if Seraphina would still have a place there.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “305506”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic