Author: Momo Chan

After my husband left for his business trip, he thoughtfully sent me a recording of his snoring. I always needed to hear it to fall asleep. But halfway through the recording, a woman’s voice abruptly cut in. “Julian, after last time, I was all swollen and sore for days… You have to be gentle with me today.” I froze, then rewinded and listened again, my heart pounding. That voice. It was my sister, Skylar. The day Julian left, he bent down and gently kissed my forehead. “Call me if anything comes up. I’ve even set up your exclusive snoring track. Listen to it when you miss me at night, it’ll guarantee you sweet dreams.” I watched him turn and leave, feeling an emptiness settle in my chest. He had to leave for several days, just a week before my due date. That night, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. I fumbled in the dark for my phone and opened the special “snoring sound” he’d recorded for me. The familiar snores started, with his unique rhythm, as if he was right beside me. The recording finished, and I was about to turn off my phone when I heard a faint “ding.” Then, a new audio clip automatically popped up, without warning. “Julian, slow down, you’re such a tease…” Her voice was so alluring it sent shivers down my spine. I stiffened, feeling like I’d been struck by lightning. It was Skylar. My own sister. I clutched my phone tightly, my fingertips icy cold. The next second, Julian’s low voice came through, laced with a hint of indulgence. “Naughty girl, we’re in your sister’s house. Aren’t you worried Chloe will hear us?” My breath hitched. Skylar giggled, her voice so close, it felt like she was right next to me. “She sleeps like a rock, how would she ever hear? Besides, she’s huge with a baby now, clumsy and slow. What’s she going to do, catch us?” “Don’t be ridiculous. She’s having a tough pregnancy; keep your voice down.” Julian’s voice sounded like a reprimand, but beneath it, there was a clear thread of indulgence. My world crashed down around me in that moment. The disgusting dialogue from the recording, Each word felt like a knife twisting in my heart. I shot up from the bed, my phone slipping to the floor with a dull thud. I listened to it repeatedly, terrified I’d misheard. In the end, I didn’t sleep a wink all night. After much hesitation, I picked up my phone and dialed his familiar number. The call was answered quickly. “Chloe? What’s wrong? Did you have a nightmare?” His voice was laced with obvious concern, So familiar it almost made me believe everything I’d heard was just a bad dream. My throat tightened, and I couldn’t utter a single word, Only a faint “Mm” escaped my lips. “Don’t be scared, don’t worry! I’m here for you! Is your stomach okay? Are you feeling uncomfortable? If not, I’ll rush back right away. You just wait for me, okay?” His urgent concern made it seem like he truly was the husband who only loved me. “N-no… No need.” I blurted it out instinctively. “Are you sure you’re okay? Your voice sounds really off.” He pressed on. “I’m fine, really, just… didn’t sleep well. Don’t worry.” I forced out a few words, trying to make my voice sound calm, but cold sweat already drenched my back. After hanging up, I collapsed onto the edge of the bed, feeling as if all my strength had been drained away. However, when I reopened the audio player, A new audio clip had appeared on the interface. The recording time was early this morning. My breathing stopped instantly, and my mind went blank. Was that… from just now?

My cold fingertips touched the screen, pressing play. “Julian, I want a baby.” Skylar’s voice, seductive with a hint of stubbornness, I could almost picture her nestled in his arms at that moment. “Skylar, stop it.” Julian’s voice was sharp, laced with impatience, “I’ve told you many times, in this life, I’ll only have children with Chloe.” “This is non-negotiable. I can’t betray her.” He rejected Skylar? A flicker of almost desperate euphoria sparked within me, But then, his next words brutally dragged me back down to hell. “I can give you my affection, but the title of my wife can only ever be Chloe’s.” His tone was flat, as if discussing an unimportant business deal. Skylar didn’t argue, just let out a soft laugh. Then came the faint rustle of clothes, the gradually deepening, intimate breaths. I didn’t want to hear the rest. I felt no pain, only a churning in my gut. A metallic sweetness rose in my throat. My stomach violently twisted and turned, I doubled over, but nothing came up, Only the tearing pain of dry heaves ripped through my chest. The tears could no longer be held back. The next day, he ultimately couldn’t rest easy and cut short his so-called “business trip,” rushing back home. He put down his luggage, habitually reaching out to hug me. I instinctively took half a step back, avoiding him. His movements froze, and a flicker of confusion crossed his eyes. “Chloe, what’s wrong?” “Just listen to something.” I placed my phone on the coffee table, my trembling finger tapping play. His and Skylar’s playful whispers and laughter sounded painfully clear. Julian’s face instantly changed, filled with a nearly enraged panic. “What is this? Where did you get it?” He tried to snatch the phone, But I held it tightly against me. He tried desperately to deny it, but that voice, that tone, it was so familiar, how could it not be him? “You listen carefully.” My voice was hoarse, forced out from my throat. “She said, ‘Mr. Julian, does your wife know how much fun you like to have?’ And you answered, ‘Her? She’s too busy being pregnant right now, she has no time to care about what I do.’” In the recording, his laughter was especially unrestrained. Julian’s face went completely white, veins throbbing at his temples, his eyes flashing with a hint of humiliated anger. He was silent for a few seconds, as if searching for words. “It was just casual flirting.” “Casual flirting?” I felt a sharp pain in my chest, almost unable to breathe. I was carrying his child, and he was having an affair with my sister, And he called it “casual flirting”? Seeing my lack of reaction, his tone grew harder. “Are you serious? It’s just a work thing, all men do it. You’re pregnant now, your temper’s getting worse, and you’re making a big deal out of this small thing.” “Besides, in the recording, Skylar and I were just messing around. Can’t you be a little more understanding? She’s your sister, after all!” He turned around and blamed me, as if I were the one who had done something wrong. I stared at him, Wanting to see through his face and understand what kind of person he really was. The doorbell suddenly rang insistently, breaking the deathly silence in the living room. Before I could react, Julian jumped up like he’d found a lifeline, rushing to open the door. “Skylar, why are you here? You… what’s wrong?” Skylar’s voice, tearful, rushed in, her eyes red, Looking as if she’d suffered a tremendous injustice. The moment she saw me, her body visibly stiffened, Then she stumbled and threw herself into Julian’s arms, Half her body clinging to him, her shoulders shaking with sobs. “Julian, I… I didn’t mean it. I had no idea…” “I thought it was just a joke between us, I didn’t know Chloe would be so upset…”

Behind her, my parents also walked in. My dad’s face was ashen. He walked straight up to me and slapped me across the face. “You’re a disgrace to this family! How could I raise such a scoundrel?!” I stared at my dad in disbelief. Earlier today, after Julian said he was coming back, I had sent the recording directly to our family SnapChat group. I thought my parents would stand up for me, But instead, this was what greeted me… My mom followed behind, pulling my dad away. “Talk to the child properly! Why are you hitting her?!” Then, she pulled Skylar to sit next to me. “Chloe, I know Skylar was wrong about this, but she knows she made a mistake.” “She’s still just a kid, after all. Just pretend this never happened…” But Skylar on the side wasn’t having it. “No! Julian and I are truly in love! It’s Chloe who stole him from me!” I froze, my mind spinning. How could she… “You’ve always liked to take my things since we were little, always trying to compete with me. And now you want to take Julian too?” Skylar’s tears fell instantly, rolling down her cheeks, her voice full of hurt and accusation. Take? What did I ever take from her? Growing up, my parents always told me to let her have her way. Every time she wanted something, didn’t I just give it to her without question? And now, she was twisting the story and blaming me to this extent! My body trembled slightly with anger. Seeing my reaction, My dad grew even angrier. “You broadcast that kind of mess in the family group chat! Are you trying to utterly humiliate me even more?!” “What’s next, are you going to start a live stream for everyone to see?!” Mom was also next to me, sighing deeply, Gently patting my back. “Chloe, you’re due any day now. Can’t you talk things through calmly? Don’t be so quick to jump to conclusions, causing Julian trouble.” “Exactly, Chloe. Julian finally came back from his business trip. For the sake of the baby, you should be more reasonable now.” Skylar seized the opportunity to interject, She leaned gently against Mom, like a startled fawn. I looked at them, at my closest family, But they seemed like strangers I was seeing for the first time. I looked up at Julian, He cleared his throat awkwardly, But still spoke. “Skylar, it’s okay, don’t blame your sister. She’s going through a lot too.” “As for you, Chloe, don’t worry about these things right now. You’re almost due; focus on having the baby first. We can discuss everything else later.” It felt like I’d been punched in the gut. Thousands of words wanted to burst from my throat, but not a single one would come out. My hand instinctively went to my lower abdomen. For the baby? Was I supposed to endure all of this for the baby? My heart felt like it was being ripped apart, the pain so intense I could barely stand. The sharp abdominal pain came out of nowhere, engulfing me like a tidal wave. I felt something suddenly flowing out of me. In a panic, I grabbed my mom’s hand. “Mom, my stomach hurts… something’s coming out…” Soon, I was rushed to the hospital. The faces of doctors and nurses swam before my eyes, I only heard their urgent shouts; the world was a blur. The baby arrived early, a whole month before his due date. I lay on the cold delivery bed, my hair drenched with sweat, utterly exhausted. A tiny, wrinkled figure was placed beside me. A faint cry tore through the hospital corridor’s silence. I struggled to lift my hand, wanting to touch him, but my fingertips could barely move. After being wheeled out of the delivery room, everyone in my family rushed forward. Julian’s face was beaming with uncontainable excitement. He pushed forward, took a quick peek, Then clenched his fists and pumped them, “Yes! I knew it would be a son!”

Just then, a familiar figure clung to Julian. Skylar intimately linked her arm through his, Her voice so sweet, like honey. “Julian, the company urgently needs you for a meeting. If the baby’s fine, shouldn’t we hurry?” Julian’s gaze finally shifted from the baby. When it landed on Skylar, it softened considerably. “Wait, I’ll just say a quick word to Chloe before I go.” He excitedly rushed over, planting a big kiss on my forehead. “You’re amazing, babe! Wait for me, I’ll celebrate properly with you once things at the company settle down!” After saying that, he smiled and made to leave. “Julian, don’t go!” My voice was hoarse, I yelled with all my might. I struggled to sit up, but only felt a wave of dizziness. Julian rushed over to support me. “Chloe, you just gave birth, don’t move. Just lie down…” Skylar also leaned in. “That’s right, Chloe. Don’t throw a tantrum now, the company really needs Julian.” As she spoke, she provocatively hooked her arm through Julian’s, “Even if you miss Julian, you still have to let him take care of business, right?” Julian looked at Skylar’s actions, He only frowned slightly but didn’t say anything. Turning back to me, he gently stroked my cheek. “Chloe, be a good girl. I’ll definitely come back to be with you tonight.” But I didn’t speak, I just clutched his other hand tightly. Julian’s face immediately turned cold. His eyebrows furrowed together. “Chloe, can you stop being so unreasonable? Company matters are urgent, what are you fussing about now?” “Hold the baby, just for a moment…” My tears instantly welled up, streaming down my cheeks. Julian scoffed, forcefully pulling his hand away. “Alright, alright, always crying. I told you I’d be back tonight!” After saying that, he turned to leave. I used my last ounce of strength, staring at his retreating back, my voice trembling with despair. “Julian, if you dare to leave today, we’re getting a divorce!” The air seemed to freeze. A subtle smirk played on Skylar’s lips. Julian’s footsteps halted. He slowly turned around, his face devoid of emotion. “Divorce?” He repeated the two words. He didn’t look at me again, nor did he spare another glance for our newborn child. He just sneered, turned, and strode out of the hospital room. Skylar followed closely behind. Before she left, she even deliberately turned back and smiled at me, her eyes full of triumph. The hospital room door slammed shut with a “bang.” My mom sighed, and the surrounding nurses exchanged glances, But they still pushed me into the room. That night felt incredibly long. As I expected, Julian didn’t come back. It wasn’t until the third day That he finally showed up, quite late. “Chloe, I’ve been swamped with company issues these past few days, I really couldn’t get away,” He carried several bags, Excitedly showing me the things he’d brought back. “Look, our son will look so handsome in this outfit,” “And this little pacifier, how cute will he be biting it…” I didn’t say anything, just watched him quietly. He seemed displeased by my expression, Huffed dismissively, And sat heavily on the chair beside me. “Let’s get a divorce.”

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Eight months pregnant, I went to find Julian, my husband, who was out fishing. Instead, I stumbled upon him wrapped in the arms of my best friend, Bethany. “Julian, when are you finally going to divorce that hag? My baby can’t wait.” “Relax, I’ve got everything planned. Her delivery day will be her death day!” “Then we’ll take her fifty million dollars in lottery winnings and settle overseas!” Their laughter echoed, and I felt like I’d been plunged into an ice bath. My husband of ten years, my best friend of fifteen, both wanted me dead. If that’s the game they were playing, then they shouldn’t blame me for packaging them up and sending them off first. Back home, I dialed Isabella, the mob boss. “Does your offer from last time still stand?” Isabella ran a high-end club. Once, a wealthy client offered a fortune to experience my husband. Isabella could have easily kidnapped Julian and delivered him. But because I’d saved her once, she’d held back. Now, hearing I wanted to get rid of my own husband, Isabella asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty, “I remember you telling me that you and Julian started dating in college. You gave up studying abroad for him, turned down an overseas promotion. You even went through ten rounds of IVF just to give him a baby. You loved him so much. Are you truly willing to… let him go like this?” Her words made my nose prickle, tears threatening to fall. It was true. We’d been together for ten years since college. After my parents died in a car crash, he became my only family. I sacrificed countless opportunities for advancement, all just to be with him. Even this baby – he said he wanted to experience fatherhood, and because he had a low sperm count, I went through ten rounds of IVF to conceive. Ten rounds of IVF nearly cost me half my life. Before, I never felt the hardship, believing that love could overcome anything. But tonight, I knew he didn’t love me at all. He wished for my death. “And Bethany, the woman you mentioned? I recall she’s your best friend? You two grew up together. In middle school, you lost three teeth protecting her. She mentioned wanting to buy a house, and you shelled out fifty thousand dollars. Are you really okay with this?” If it were before, I’d never be able to. But seeing her in Julian’s arms on that hillside, scheming for my money and my life, any affection I had for her vanished. Seeing my silence, Isabella thought she’d hit a nerve, her tone hardening. “You’re not actually regretting it, are you…?” Hearing her voice grow serious, I quickly clarified, “No regrets, Isabella.” “I didn’t agree before because I considered them family.” “Now, they’ve cheated on and betrayed me, planning to kill me and the baby during childbirth to steal my assets. For the sake of my child, how could I ever go soft?” At this, Isabella’s tone softened, tinged with a shared rage. “Damn it! My own husband and best friend screwed me over the same way!” “Don’t worry. That Mr. Ivanov, he’s a cruel man. Anyone who goes to him usually leaves half-dead, if they leave at all. If your husband and best friend end up with him, it’ll be a living hell!” Hearing that, a weight lifted from my chest. “Good. Then I’ll trust you. When should we do this?” “The day after tomorrow. I’ll let you know the exact time.” Just as I hung up, I heard the lock turn on the front door.

I quickly ended the call and deleted our communication history. I turned around to see Julian and Bethany, their clothes disheveled, fingers still intertwined. They probably hadn’t expected me, an early sleeper, to still be awake at 2 AM. They both jumped, quickly separating their hands. Julian stammered, “Bethany and I bumped into each other downstairs. She said she had a fight with her boyfriend and came to crash here. I didn’t want to wake you, so I just brought her up.” Bethany chimed in, “Yeah, yeah, Scarlett, please don’t misunderstand. Julian and I just happened to run into each other. He loves you so much; he’s just being extra nice to me because I’m your friend.” I looked at their faces, once so dear to me, and now I just felt pure disgust. Remembering their entwined bodies on the hillside, a wave of nausea hit me, and I rushed to the bathroom to throw up. Julian, as always, was instantly by my side, pulling out tissues, gently wiping my mouth, playing the perfect concerned husband. “Scarlett, my darling, have you been overworking yourself lately?” He tenderly pulled me into his arms. “It’s my fault, it’s my fault. I won’t go fishing anymore, I won’t make you wait for me again.” Listening to his false words, smelling his sickening, pungent scent, my hatred surged. I wanted nothing more than to grab a knife from the kitchen and stab him to death. But the baby in my belly kicked, bringing me back to my senses. Patience, Scarlett, patience. A moment of weakness could ruin everything. I forced myself to endure the revulsion, clinging to him and acting like my usual self. “Oh, Julian, you’re so good to me! How did I get so lucky to find such a wonderful husband?” “I truly love you so much! Our baby will love you just as much as I do!” Bethany, standing nearby, clenched her fists. She couldn’t stand it anymore and cleared her throat, teasing in a ‘good friend’ tone, “Alright, you two! How many years have you been disgustingly sweet? Aren’t you sick of it yet? I’m practically gagging over here! Think about how this third wheel feels, okay?” This was the first time I truly observed her expression when she said those words. Deep in her eyes, jealousy and hatred lurked, a smile plastered on her face that didn’t reach her eyes. How stupid had I been? I’d never doubted her sincerity, treating her like my second family. I feigned a shy laugh. “You always tease me!” “Oh, by the way, didn’t you get a boyfriend?” “I always hear you two fighting, but I still haven’t seen what he looks like. Bethany, show me a picture!” As I spoke, I walked over, snatching her phone, ready to scroll through photos. Bethany was caught off guard. When she finally reacted, she snatched her phone back. Perhaps realizing her reaction was too strong, she quickly added, “What’s so great about pictures? I’ll introduce you to him in person next time.” I had only done it to mess with her, so I didn’t press further, just smiled and went back to the bedroom. They, on the other hand, thinking I was gone, grew bolder. They started kissing shamelessly in the living room, and Julian’s hand even slipped under her clothes, giving a squeeze. “Julian, I don’t want you to sleep with her. When she’s asleep, come to my room, okay?” Julian chuckled, giving her a playful slap on the butt. “Still craving more?” “But we haven’t tried it while she’s around. Get ready, wait for me, baby.” Watching their blatant disrespect, treating me like a complete idiot, I stifled my disgust and sent another message to Isabella. 【I can’t wait another day. The sooner, the better.】 An hour later, Julian nudged me, made sure I was genuinely asleep, then carefully crept towards the guest room. In the quiet night, muffled moans from outside the door came in waves. My heart was torn, my fingernails digging into my palms, leaving streaks of blood. But none of it compared to the pain of betrayal. Another hour passed. The door creaked open, and Julian climbed back into bed. He habitually pulled me into his arms. I used the excuse of turning over to free myself from his embrace, and while he was sound asleep, I slipped into another guest room.

In the quiet of the night, I stroked my restless baby bump, whispering a promise: “Don’t be afraid, baby. Mommy is braver than you think. I’ll protect you, and I’ll protect myself.” The baby seemed to sense my resolve, kicking in response. Finally, at seven in the morning, after Julian and Bethany had left for work, I quickly took out my notebook and planned. Their prolonged disappearance would certainly arouse suspicion from Julian’s parents and Bethany’s family. If they reported it to the police, it could lead to trouble for me. After considering several options, I decided to send both families on vacation. Preferably to a remote location like Alaska, for about two weeks. With that thought, I called Julian. Hearing I was paying for his family to go on vacation, he was overjoyed and immediately called his mother, Mrs. Davies. Mrs. Davies, who usually never had a kind word for me, surprisingly called me directly for the first time. “Scarlett, darling, I heard you’re sending us all on a trip to Alaska? All-expenses-paid, hotels, flights, and even a thousand dollars for each of us?” I was about to nod when her disdainful voice rang out again. “That’s not very generous, is it?” “Scarlett, I heard you won the lottery! Don’t you think you should give us elders a five-thousand-dollar bonus each? A thousand is so cheap!” Mrs. Davies was always greedy, and once she found an opportunity to take advantage, she’d never stop. If I gave in now, she’d demand more and more. I wouldn’t give her that chance. “Mom, if you think I’m being selfish, then I won’t pay for this vacation, which is costing around thirty thousand dollars. I’ll cancel the trip right now.” “You wouldn’t dare! If you cancel, I’ll make Julian divorce you!” “Fine, I’ll cancel it then.” Fearing I actually would cancel, Mr. Davies intervened, saying a few placating words. For the sake of my plan, I didn’t press the issue and then called Bethany. Learning her family could go on a free vacation, she was as thrilled as Julian. However, upon hearing the flights were for the day after tomorrow, she asked cautiously, “Scarlett, why are the tickets booked so last minute?” Of course it was urgent. Just moments ago, I’d received a text from Isabella. 【Tomorrow night, 7 PM, The Golden Palace Club, Room 708.】 I was busy sending them both to hell; how could I let these people ruin my plans? I brushed her off, “Well, my due date is getting close, so I just thought they should go early and come back early, you know?” Hearing my answer, Bethany no longer seemed suspicious and calmly went to pack for her parents. To lure Julian and Bethany to the club, I suggested we have a farewell dinner at The Golden Palace tomorrow night. Everyone was thrilled. 【The Golden Palace! That’s a high-end club, it has everything! We’re so lucky because of Scarlett!】 【Yes, Julian is truly blessed to have such a wonderful wife. He needs to cherish her.】 Julian suggested inviting Bethany’s family as well. A cold laugh echoed in my mind. He truly kept Bethany in his thoughts, always making sure she got her share of any benefits. But this was exactly what I wanted. 【Sure, we’re all family, let’s make it a big celebration!】 Before going to sleep that night, I synced my plan with Isabella. She told me that once Julian and Bethany were led there, special people would intercept them.

Thinking that Julian and Bethany were still two lives, I opened the Bible and read it a few times. Julian, fresh out of the shower, saw me and teased curiously, “Why are you suddenly reading the Bible? Is someone about to die?” I turned my head, looking at him with a smirk. “Yes.” His smile froze. He scrutinized my expression intensely. Just as he seemed to think I’d discovered his plan to kill me during childbirth, I let out a giggle. “Look at you! You’re getting so serious as you get older, can’t even take a joke anymore…” Julian unconsciously let out a breath, but the suspicion on his face hadn’t completely vanished. “That joke wasn’t funny at all. Don’t make it again.” “Though, have you heard any rumors lately?” I feigned curiosity. “What rumors? Tell me, it’ll help pass the time.” Seeing that I truly seemed clueless, he finally relaxed a little and picked up his phone. Before bed, I handed him a glass of milk to help him sleep, just like always. Only this time, I added a little something extra. Sleeping pills. Once I was sure he was asleep, I used his face to unlock his phone and opened his chat with Bethany. 【Bethany, the plan has changed. Scarlett probably suspects something. We need to speed things up and get rid of her.】 Bethany: 【You’re overthinking it. Scarlett is an idiot. We’ve been hooking up for a year, and she hasn’t suspected a thing!】 Perhaps because Julian didn’t reply immediately, she sent another message. 【Remember when her parents found out you were cheating and wanted to tell Scarlett to divorce you? You found out and messed with their brakes, and Scarlett still thinks it was just an accidental death, right?】 My pupils constricted sharply. The pain was unbearable, I couldn’t breathe. It wasn’t an accident. Julian had killed my parents. And Julian, this murderer, had played the part of a loving husband and devoted son-in-law in front of all our friends and family. At the funeral, he’d stood before all our loved ones and my parents’ gravestones, promising: “I will take good care of Scarlett for you, Mom and Dad. I won’t let her suffer.” All of it was a charade! That beast! I slapped the sleeping Julian hard, then, fighting back the grief, typed on his phone. 【Baby, I heard there’s a special room at The Golden Palace with all sorts of toys. Shall we try it out tomorrow?】 Bethany cursed him playfully, then sent a few pictures of sexy lingerie for him to choose from. I mimicked Julian’s tone, my hands trembling. 【Bring them all. I’ll take them all, baby. I’ll make sure you have the time of your life.】 After sending the message, I deleted the recent chat history and put the phone back in its place. The next afternoon at six, everyone else went into a different private room at The Golden Palace. Julian and Bethany, however, were exchanging glances, trying to slip out the door unnoticed. I couldn’t let them leave together, so I deliberately called out to Bethany. “Bethany, my stomach hurts. Will you come to the restroom with me?” Before Bethany could react, I pulled her out. She suppressed the annoyance on her face, shot Julian a look, then reluctantly followed me out of the room. Halfway there, Bethany realized something was off. “Scarlett, where are you going? This isn’t the way to the restroom!” I stopped, feigning timidness as I looked at her. “I’m sorry, Bethany. Julian forced me to do this. If you want to blame someone, blame him.” She realized something was truly wrong, yanked her hand away, and tried to run.

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The ten-month-old goldfish died. That’s all it took. Suddenly, my husband and mother-in-law were demanding I get an abortion. My due date was just seven days away. I rushed to my parents, desperate for comfort. But my mom, who had always doted on me, grabbed my arm, her voice sharp with fury. “Why didn’t you listen? Why come back? Do you want to kill us all?!” My dad went even further. He snatched a fruit knife from the kitchen and wildly stabbed my belly. That was it. My baby and I died together. Then I opened my eyes again. I was back on the day the goldfish died. “Evelyn, look!’ My mother-in-law, Carol, beamed as she walked toward me, a pile of baby things in her arms. “I went out and bought all these things for our little one. Now we just wait for the baby to arrive!” My body trembled. I knew, with chilling certainty, that I had been reborn. In my previous life, Carol and I had always been close. My body was weak, making pregnancy an uphill battle. Three years of marriage had left my womb barren. When I finally conceived, Carol burst into tears, crushing me in a tearful embrace. Throughout my pregnancy, she’d cared for me meticulously. If anyone accidentally bumped my belly, she’d immediately whisk me off to the hospital for a full check-up. She used to say her greatest wish in life was to see my child born safely and grow up healthy. But in my past life, the moment our ten-month-old goldfish died, that loving mother-in-law vanished. Her face twisted into something unrecognizable. She became a woman possessed, screaming at me to get an abortion. “Evelyn, what’s wrong? You look so pale. Are you not feeling well?” Carol quickly put down her bags, reaching out anxiously to touch my forehead. I instinctively took a half-step back, shrugging her off. “I’m fine, Carol. Maybe I just didn’t sleep well last night.” She looked at me with a pained expression. “The bigger the baby gets, the tougher it is on the mom. You’re working so hard, sweetie. I’ll go make you some soup.” With that, she turned and headed into the kitchen, bustling about. I, however, went straight to the fish tank. I looked down, and my heart sank. The goldfish, the one we’d kept for ten months, was floating on the surface, belly-up, utterly lifeless. Just like last time. The moment Carol and Dylan found out that fish was dead, my baby and I would be in grave danger! Just then, Carol’s voice approached. “Evelyn, what are you looking at?” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her walking towards me. I spun around, forcing a shaky smile. “Nothing.” My hand, however, plunged into the water behind my back, deftly grabbing the dead fish and tucking it into my pocket. I changed the subject. “I’m a little hungry. Is the soup ready yet?” Carol chuckled. “Silly girl, not that fast! Why don’t you sit on the couch and watch some TV for a bit? I’ll cut you some fruit.” As she spoke, her gaze instinctively drifted towards the fish tank. Then, her face instantly fell. Her eyes fixated on the empty tank. “Where’s the fish?!”

Carol’s voice was loud, laced with a tremor of fury and outright terror. She rushed to the tank, pressing her face against the glass, inspecting it meticulously. After confirming the fish was gone, Carol snapped her head around, her eyes piercing mine. “Where did the goldfish in the tank go?!” The woman who, moments ago, had a gentle, loving smile, was now staring at me with a twisted expression. My heart pounded. I clutched the cold, slimy dead fish in my pocket, forcing myself to stay calm. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s hiding behind the water plants?” Carol’s voice was sharp, certain. “No way! I check on it every day; it never hides! Evelyn, you were just by the tank. Didn’t you see where it went?” Meeting her suspicious gaze, I quickly shook my head. “I didn’t see it. It’s just a fish, right? We can just buy another one. Why are you so worked up about it?” “You don’t understand!” Carol suddenly snapped, her voice tight. “This fish…” She cut herself off mid-sentence, saying no more. But my heart still gave a sharp jolt. This fish is problematic, just as I suspected! In my previous life, my in-laws, Dylan, and even my own parents’ attitudes had changed so quickly that I was trapped in shock and fear, unable to properly think about the strangeness of it all. Now, thinking back, their insane obsession with making me abort the baby was all because of this goldfish, wasn’t it? Dylan had bought this fish specifically when I first got pregnant. He said it was to keep me entertained, but he and Carol were utterly devoted to it. They bought the most expensive tank, the top-tier fish food, all just for this one fish! Even my parents, who had never kept fish in their lives, paid it endless attention. Every time they came to visit, they’d stare at that fish for ages. Last time, I thought they were just curious and entertained. I never imagined that this fish would lead them to try and kill me and my baby! But I still couldn’t figure it out. What was so special about this goldfish? Why could it turn my parents, who had loved me since childhood, and my husband and mother-in-law, who had desperately wanted this child, into completely different people? I looked at Carol, who seemed hesitant to speak, and asked, “Carol, what about the fish?” She avoided my gaze, her face darkening as she waved a dismissive hand. “It’s nothing.” With that, Carol forgot all about me and anxiously began searching the house for the fish. I felt the fish in my pocket, my mind in a chaotic mess. I just couldn’t understand. What was the problem with this fish? And what did my baby have to do with it? Why, if it died, couldn’t my baby be born either? And right now, what should I do? Throw it away? Destroy it? Or keep it, as a clue to uncover the truth? Forget it. First, I need to see what the big mystery with this fish is! Having made up my mind, I quickly slipped into the bathroom, locked the door, and cautiously pulled the fish from my pocket. I was just about to examine the goldfish closely for anything unusual when the bathroom door suddenly unlocked from the outside. I looked up, only to see Dylan, who I hadn’t realized was home, staring at me with a dark, ominous expression.

I jumped, quickly stuffing the fish back into my pocket. “Dylan, when… when did you get back?” Dylan’s eyes were fixed on me. He didn’t answer my question, only asked coldly. “What are you doing?” Meeting his chilling gaze, my heart raced, but I kept my face impassive. “Morning sickness.” “You know my pregnancy symptoms are pretty bad.” Dylan gave me a long, hard look, then glanced towards the fish tank in the living room, and asked, “Evelyn, do you feel unwell anywhere today? Stomach pain? Or anything else unusual?” Seeing that he didn’t ask about the goldfish, I was slightly taken aback, then replied, “No, nothing’s wrong.” Carol suddenly squeezed into the bathroom doorway, her face pale, tugging at Dylan’s sleeve. “Dylan, what do we do? The fish is gone. What if…” “It won’t happen, Carol.” Dylan cut her off, his eyes fixed on my belly. He said deeply, “There’s still time.” My heart tightened. Time for what? To get rid of the baby? I instinctively stepped back, but Dylan grabbed my hand, soothingly. “Evelyn, you don’t look so good. I’ll take you to the hospital for a check-up.” Taking me to the hospital again! Even though they hadn’t explicitly mentioned abortion, I knew that if I went to the hospital with them, my baby would be in danger! I quickly shook my head. “No, I don’t need to. I’m fine, just need some rest.” But Dylan, without a word, put his arm around my shoulder and started guiding me towards the door. “Better to get checked, just to be safe.” Carol also squeezed in. “Yes, Evelyn, the baby in your belly is our precious little one, we need to protect it carefully.” They flanked me, pulling me towards the front door with terrifying strength. I struggled, shouting in confusion. “Let go of me!” “Why do you insist on taking me to the hospital?!” They ignored my questions, just pulling me harder towards the door. But as Dylan opened the door, we ran straight into my parents, who were just about to knock. Seeing me being roughly dragged by Carol and Dylan, looking so disheveled, my mom instantly panicked. She rushed forward, pushed Dylan and Carol aside, and pulled me tightly into her arms. “What are you doing?! Can’t you see my daughter is pregnant? How can you treat her so roughly?!” My dad also stepped in front of me, his face grim. “Dylan, when you married Evelyn, I explicitly told you that my daughter is more precious to me than my own life. How dare you treat her this way?!” I was an only child. My parents had always treasured me, never even saying a harsh word. On my wedding day, they cried for a long time, reluctant to let me go, afraid I wouldn’t be happy with my in-laws. They’d visit me every few days. Now, seeing me treated so roughly, they were furious. Carol quickly explained. “Richard, Diane, you’ve misunderstood.” “It’s… it’s just that our goldfish went missing!”

I clearly saw both my parents’ bodies stiffen simultaneously. But just as quickly, they returned to normal. My mom even hugged me tighter. “It’s just a fish! If it’s gone, it’s gone. You still have no right to lay hands on my daughter!” “Evelyn, you must have been so scared, right?” “Come on, let’s go home with Mom and Dad for a few days. I’ll make you your favorite sweet and sour ribs.” My dad chimed in. “Yes, go home. With Dad here, no one can bully you!” My parents’ words were flawless. When they looked at me, their faces even wore loving smiles. But I couldn’t help but feel a shiver of dread. Something was wrong! They were wrong! Everything was wrong! If I went home with my parents, what awaited me would probably be death. Almost instantaneously, I used all my strength to shove my mom away, then dashed out the door like a madwoman! “Stop her!” “Evelyn!” I ignored their shouts, protecting my belly, desperately running down the stairs. In that moment, only one thought consumed me. Don’t get caught! I ran downstairs, straight towards the lake by the community entrance. That’s where the most people were, walking and fishing! “Help! Help me!” I yelled at the top of my lungs as I ran. “They’re trying to kill my baby!” “Please, someone call the police!” Heavily pregnant, running and screaming for help, I made everyone at the lake look my way. Dylan was hot on my heels, shouting. “She’s my wife!” “She’s having a breakdown! She’s not making sense!” But a young couple with a child stepped in front of me, blocking Dylan’s path. “Don’t you dare come any closer! We’ve already called the police!” Immediately, more people gathered around me, confronting Dylan and my parents. “Yeah, we’ve all called the police!” “No one is touching this pregnant woman until the police get here!” I was protected in the center of the crowd, panting heavily. My parents and Dylan looked furious, but they didn’t dare advance. Soon, several police officers arrived. Detective Miller, the one leading them, scanned the scene and asked. “What’s going on here? Who called the police?” Dylan quickly stepped forward, a friendly smile on his face. “Officer, it’s a misunderstanding!” “This is my wife. She’s emotionally unstable due to her pregnancy, and my mother and I were just trying to take her for a prenatal check-up.” My parents also nodded in agreement. “Yes, Officer. We’re her parents. Our daughter isn’t herself today; we were all just concerned for her.” I immediately retorted. “No, that’s not true!” “They want to kill my baby!” “All because a goldfish went missing at home!” “They’re all forcing me to get an abortion!” “When I refused, they even tried to kill me!” Though they hadn’t done that in this timeline, the situation was urgent. This was the only way to make the police take me seriously. Sure enough, faced with my horrifying accusation, Detective Miller’s brows furrowed. “Abortion and murder over a goldfish? What are you talking about?” Dylan didn’t even flinch. “Officer, she’s really distressed and talking nonsense.” “How could we possibly cause a death over a goldfish?” “That fish was hers, she’d kept it for a long time. She’s very upset it’s gone, which is why she’s imagining things.” Carol also nodded. “That’s right, my daughter-in-law normally loves keeping fish. Today, after the fish went missing, she’s just been completely out of sorts.” “We were worried her mental state was affected, so we wanted to take her for a check-up at the hospital. We never imagined she’d hallucinate something so absurd.” Detective Miller eyed us all with a complex expression for a while, then said gravely. “All of you, come with me to the precinct. We need to clear this up.” At his words, my parents, Carol, and Dylan’s faces instantly turned ashen. “Officer, is that really necessary? It’s just a family matter, we can resolve it ourselves.” My mom spoke up, looking troubled, clearly not wanting to go to the police station. But Detective Miller said sternly. “Please cooperate with our investigation.” Just as they were about to be led away, Dylan suddenly walked up to me, speaking softly, in a voice only we could hear. “You’re curious why we insisted on taking you to the hospital, aren’t you?” He then glanced at my pocket, his voice serious. “The fish is in your pocket, right? Look closely at it, and you’ll understand everything!” My entire body shuddered. I instinctively pulled out the fish and looked at it closely. Just one look, and my scalp prickled with horror! In that moment, I finally understood why they were so desperate to force an abortion after the goldfish died! Understanding everything, I leaped into the nearby lake in front of everyone, as if my life meant nothing…

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I had two cats. Then one day, out of nowhere, I understood every word they said. My British Shorthair, Lucky, scoffed. “Ugh, this disgusting woman, always touching me! I much prefer Chloe! I wish I could just lie on Chloe’s lap forever!” My Maine Coon, Obsidian, murmured. “She smells so good! I want to buy the best bed in the world and make love to her for three days and three nights!” Their voices… One was exactly like my boyfriend’s. The other was identical to my cold and intimidating CEO. It was 10 PM when I finally got home from work. I opened the door to my apartment, and a chaotic scene greeted me. Shattered glass, shredded paper, an overturned potted plant… a total mess. The culprit, Lucky, was sprawled comfortably on my roommate Chloe’s lap, being stroked by her. Before I could even speak, Chloe quickly tried to soothe me. “Nova, don’t blame Lucky. It looked like there was a mouse, and he just messed up the place trying to catch it.” Lucky was the name of the British Shorthair in her arms, a stray I’d rescued six months ago. When I found him, he was skin and bones. Now, he was plump as a ball, fluffy and adorable. As Chloe defended him, I swore I saw a smug expression on the cat’s face. I rubbed my eyes, then looked again. Lucky’s smugness hadn’t faded; he even curled one side of his mouth, a hint of defiance in his gaze. It was like he was telling me. Yeah, I did it. What are you gonna do about it? What the hell? Is this cat… sentient? “Nova, what’s wrong?” Chloe asked, seeing me staring strangely at the cat. “Nothing…” I shook my head, walked over to them, and bent down, reaching out to pet Lucky. “Lucky, good boy. If you were just chasing a mouse, I won’t be mad.” It was odd. This was a high-end, clean apartment in the city center. How could there possibly be a mouse? But as a devoted cat owner, I decided not to push it, hoping to melt Lucky’s heart with love. As usual, Lucky reacted swiftly, leaping up. He darted behind Chloe, peering out at me and hissing. His fangs were bared, his eyes full of warning. It was as if he’d fight me to the death if I dared touch him. “Ugh…” I sighed deeply. For some reason, this cat never wanted to be near me. My boyfriend, Daniel, once explained that everyone has a different scent, and cats have sensitive noses. Maybe my scent just wasn’t to his liking. I bought into it. Even though he didn’t like me, my kind heart still led me to adopt this blue cat, abandoned by his previous owner and nearly starved to death as a stray. I got up to start tidying the messy living room. Suddenly, a familiar voice erupted in my ear. “This disgusting woman, always wanting to touch me! What right does she have to touch me! I love sweet Chloe; she smells so good. I must keep my body and soul pure for her!” I whipped my head around to stare at Lucky. He was back in Chloe’s arms, being happily petted and stroked. “Nova, what’s wrong?” Chloe asked. “Nothing…” I patted my ear. I wondered if I was just too tired, hearing things. A cat talking, and in my boyfriend’s voice? I continued to clean the living room. Chloe didn’t offer to help; instead, she unwrapped a cat treat and fed it to Lucky, who was clinging to her. “Chloe is so good to me; she’s feeding me treats again!” The voice came again. I gasped, turning to stare at Lucky. “Once Chloe’s stable in her job and gets a foothold in this city, I’m ditching that repulsive woman!” My grip tightened sharply on a glass shard I’d just picked up. The sharp pain in my palm told me this wasn’t a dream. I could hear the cat talking, and this cat… seemed to be my boyfriend. Why would my boyfriend turn into a cat? Baffled, I decided to call Daniel to confirm. But first, I needed to deal with my hand. “Nova, why are you so clumsy!” Seeing my bleeding hand, Chloe rushed over, Lucky still cradled in her arms, looking genuinely concerned. “It’s nothing, just a minor cut.” A minor cut that hardly compares to the feeling of an arrow piercing my heart, the endless ache and fury. I focused on dressing my wound, trying hard to maintain a calm expression. Lucky. “Serves her right!”

After bandaging my hand, I immediately called my boyfriend. The call went through, but no one answered. I tried three times, still nothing. Chloe was sitting next to me and knew I was calling Daniel. She said, “My cousin Daniel seems really busy lately. He goes to bed at nine and keeps his phone on silent.” She seemed to know more about my boyfriend than I did. I gave up on calling and decided to confront Daniel in person tomorrow to find out what was going on. Just then, Lucky spoke again. “Ugh..Busy with work? My company gets off at six sharp every day, no overtime ever!” “It’s because a week ago, I got struck by lightning. Every night at nine, my soul possesses this cat, and it can’t return to my body until six in the morning.” “Cats live up to twenty years at most. Am I going to have to live like this for twenty years? And if the cat dies, will I die too?” So that’s what happened… Well, then, there was no need to see him in person. It must be fate, helping me hear all this. I silently gritted my teeth, tidying the living room without a word. In my mind, I was already plotting how to get revenge on that despicable pair! Chloe got up and sat on the sofa, asking sweetly, “Nova, how’s the job hunt going? When can I start at your company?” At that, I paused. Chloe. Daniel introduced her as his cousin a week ago. He even called his mother right then, saying he’d picked up his cousin and would arrange a place for her to stay. Now it seemed his “mother” on the phone might not have been his mother at all. It was all a charade they played for me. Daniel pawned off this supposed cousin on me, asking me to look after her for a while and help her find a job. Because I had some extra cash, and being naive, I agreed without hesitation. I truly loved Daniel and was serious about him, seeing a future with marriage. I thought, since we’re family, we should help each other out. That very day, we found this two-bedroom, well-furnished apartment, and moved in together. Who would’ve thought… I turned to look at Chloe. She was indeed very pretty. Big, round eyes, the sweet, delicate type that easily charmed people. I smiled at this seemingly harmless, delicate woman. “Don’t rush. The company is having layoffs right now. Once they’re done, I’ll introduce you right away.” “Nova! I knew you were the best!” Chloe beamed at me.

After cleaning the living room, I went to my room. I switched on the light, and a massive Maine Coon, Obsidian, jumped off my bed, rubbing against my legs. My terrible mood instantly lifted. I scooped him up and showered his face with kisses. “Smooch smooch smooch!” “Obsidian, thank goodness I have you. You’re my precious baby!” Obsidian was the other stray cat I adopted. I’d taken such good care of him. His fur grew shiny, soft, and he looked like a majestic lion. Unlike Lucky, who never let me get close, Obsidian was profoundly clingy. He followed me everywhere, constantly demanded cuddles, and even slept pressed against me at night. Obsidian’s size advantage as a Maine Coon made his fights with Lucky brutally one-sided. After finding Lucky covered in scratches one too many times, I had to start keeping Obsidian in my room. “You’re so heavy, my love! Wait for me on the bed, I’ll be out after my shower!” I placed the cat on the bed, pulled a towel from my closet, and headed to the bathroom. When I emerged from the bathroom, Obsidian was sitting on the bed, facing the door, his eyes bright and fixed on me. I couldn’t resist walking over and kissing his forehead. I blow-dried my hair, put on my pajamas, and got into bed. I cuddled Obsidian and drifted off to sleep. Obsidian purred in my arms. “She smells so good, I want to sleep with her! I want to buy the best bed in the world and make love to her for three days and three nights!” I shot up, electrified, reaching out to switch on the bedside lamp, my eyes wide with disbelief as I stared at Obsidian. “Huh? What’s wrong with her?” Obsidian, confused, walked over, wanting to snuggle again. I quickly got out of bed, rejecting his advances. “Obsidian, I’m not feeling well lately. I don’t want to get you sick, so can you sleep in the living room tonight?” It sounded like a suggestion, but I picked him up and tossed him out of the room. I locked the door and pressed a hand to my chest, my heart pounding. Obsidian’s voice… It was exactly like Vincent Sterling’s, my cold as ice, intense CEO! Had he been struck by lightning too and possessed a cat? “Meow-ow-ow-ow!” Outside, Lucky’s agonizing shriek echoed. “That despicable woman! Why did she let this cursed cat out!” “Help me!” Obsidian, meanwhile, was roaring. “You filthy scumbag! Die!” “You tried to use my Nova as a stepping stone, planning to throw her away after you were done! You beast! Die, die, die!” Wait? How did Obsidian know Daniel wanted to use me? Did he hear their plans at home? No, that’s not right. If they were both possessing cats at the same time, they wouldn’t have heard each other’s conversations. It was probably Chloe who accidentally let it slip at home. Good for you, Obsidian! Scratch him to death! I silently cheered Obsidian on, a thrill of satisfaction washing over me. “Oh no! Obsidian! Stop it!” Chloe, hearing the commotion, rushed out of her room. Obsidian scoffed. “You wicked woman! I’ll kill you too!” Chloe shrieked in pain. “Ahhh! Help me! Nova! Help me!” Afraid of disturbing the neighbors, I had to go out and stop Obsidian’s one-sided assault. Chloe and Lucky both had over a dozen deep red scratches, which looked incredibly painful. “Nova, it hurts so much! Am I going to get cat scratch disease? Will I have scars?” Chloe cried, tears streaming down her face. If she hadn’t protected her face so fiercely, it would surely have been injured. Lucky looked pathetic, licking his wounds, his internal thoughts vicious. “Damn it all! Tomorrow, when that wicked woman is out, I’m coming back to kill this black cat, then I’ll lie and say he ran away!” Hmph, you want to kill my cat? No way! I cast a cold glance at them. “It’s too late; the pet store is definitely closed. There’s disinfectant in the first-aid kit under the coffee table. You can clean yourself and Lucky. See a vet tomorrow. I’m going to bed.” “Nova…” I turned to re-enter my room, but Chloe stood up and called my name. Her face was full of pathetic pleading, wanting me to act like a doting mother and take care of them. My expression remained unchanged. “I have to work tomorrow. You wouldn’t want me to get fired for being late at this crucial time, hurting both myself and your chances of getting a job, right?” Chloe instantly fell silent. I walked into my room and closed the door. Obsidian murmured. “This woman… she finally smartened up today?” Yes. Without understanding cats, I’d still treat them like family. Now I know: Being good makes you a target. Being naive makes you a fool.

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To surprise my wife, I secretly went to her concert. But backstage, I stumbled upon her and a famous male star, Jax Peterson, in a passionate embrace in the green room. Jax grinned wickedly, “Between me and that useless husband of yours at home, who do you like better?” Chloe Miller, fawning, kissed him, “He’s not even in your league, Jax.” Through the slightly ajar door, I tore the new album signing contract she’d always dreamed of into shreds. Chloe Miller returned home at two in the morning. She walked into the bedroom, reeking of alcohol, and I was already in bed, pretending to sleep. Chloe whined playfully, “Honey, I drank too much at the celebration party, my head hurts so bad…” Usually, no matter how late she came home, I’d wait up for her and make her a hangover remedy. But this time, I didn’t even open my eyes. Chloe thought I was asleep. She let out an impatient hmph by the bed before taking her pajamas to the bathroom. Then, her phone on the pillow vibrated. A message from Jax popped up on the screen. “Baby, it’s only been a few minutes, and I already miss you.” Chloe finished her shower and quietly slipped into bed beside me. Her back was to me, her phone screen still glowing. Every now and then, I could hear her barely suppressed giggles. I didn’t sleep a wink that night. The next morning, among the pile of dirty clothes in the bathroom, I immediately spotted her black lace underwear with some unspeakable stains. As I stared, lost in thought, Chloe came up behind me and frantically snatched the underwear away. “This is a bit dirty; I’ll wash it myself.” She didn’t know that when she was flustered, her eyes would blink rapidly. I didn’t expose her, merely mumbling a faint “Oh.” Not long after, her assistant delivered a large bag of fresh groceries. Chloe said she was off today and wanted to cook lunch for me herself. She was busy in the kitchen all morning, and the table gradually filled with all my favorite dishes. This warm scene sharply contrasted with the gloom in my heart. If I hadn’t witnessed her and Jax’s affair firsthand yesterday, I never would have believed that Chloe, who once swore to love me forever, would betray me just six months into our marriage.

After only a couple of bites, Chloe hesitated before speaking, “Honey, tomorrow’s my birthday…” I put down my forks. “And?” “I invited some artists from the company over for a birthday party…” I understood what she meant. “I’ll make myself scarce.” Because of her career, we had kept our marriage a secret. Aside from a few executives at her entertainment company, almost no one knew she was married. Getting the answer she wanted, Chloe visibly relaxed. Just as she was about to say something, her phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, she glanced at me guiltily and took her phone to the balcony. She returned shortly, looking apologetic, “Honey, I forgot I have an important gig today…” I nodded. “Go ahead.” After Chloe left, I threw all the untouched food on the table into the trash. When I first met Chloe, she was just a small-time influencer live-streaming her singing on the street. I was captivated by her looks and voice and actively asked for her contact information. Soon, we started dating. Chloe was driven, ambitious, and talented. After learning about her dreams, I recommended her for a popular talent show. I leveraged my connections and meticulously planned everything, helping her stand out overnight and become a star under the spotlight. During one of our dates, I joked, “You’re famous now; you must have a lot of guys chasing you.” But she looked at me with deep affection, “You’re the only one I love.” Chloe’s New Year’s wish last year was to marry me. I was so touched that I lost my head. Ignoring my family’s objections, I eloped with her that very day. To better support Chloe, I quit my job and willingly became a stay-at-home husband. I just never expected that my trust and devotion would be repaid with her betrayal and heartbreak.

On Chloe’s birthday, I left early. I stayed at the library all day, only returning home when it closed. Faint light seeped from the apartment windows, suggesting Chloe’s birthday party had ended. Forgetting my keys, I rang the doorbell. Chloe opened the door. Seeing it was me, her face instantly changed. She lowered her voice, displeased, “Didn’t I message you to come back later?” My phone had died and shut off that afternoon. Just then, a man’s voice came from the bathroom, “Chloe, who is it?” Jax Peterson… Chloe frantically replied, “No one, just some random guy from the building.” With that, she shot me a look and slammed the door shut. Along with the door, my last shred of affection for Chloe was also shut out. I sat on a stone bench in the complex for a long time, until my legs went numb, before I saw Jax Peterson, heavily disguised, emerge from the apartment building and get into a BMW. Heh, what birthday party? Turns out it was just a party for the two of them. Chloe found me when I was dozing off at the stone table. She looked somewhat guilty. “Honey, given the situation earlier, I had to lie… please understand…” I ignored her and walked upstairs. Chloe continued to babble behind me, “Good thing I had a quick wit earlier.” “You know I’m in the prime of my career right now; if it ever got out that I’m married, it would be over.” I suddenly remembered soon after we got married, we were almost caught by paparazzi on our way home. At the time, I was still shaken. “Good thing we weren’t found out, otherwise your career would be ruined.” But Chloe looked nonchalant. “Let it be exposed. I wish the whole world knew you were my husband.” It turns out a person’s heart can change so quickly.

The room was a mess. Trash was everywhere, cake frosting smeared on surfaces, and there were even two half-eaten steaks on the dining table. It seemed they had quite a “party.” In the bathroom, the scent of shower gel mixed with an odor familiar to adults lingered in the humid air. I instinctively glanced at the trash can. Sure enough, nestled among the crumpled tissues was a used condom. Chloe, however, never noticed anything amiss with me. She even asked in a coquettish tone, “Honey, where’s my birthday present?” Birthday present? I had indeed prepared a nice birthday gift for her a while ago. It was the new album signing contract she had always dreamed of. The entertainment company only planned to heavily promote one artist in the second half of the year, and this contract was the key to securing that spot. But that invaluable birthday gift had been torn to shreds by me in her backstage room the night of her concert. Seeing my lack of reaction, Chloe looked disappointed. “Did you forget? You haven’t been paying much attention to me these past couple of days…” Looking at her sad expression, memories of our past happiness flickered in my mind. A flicker of doubt stirred within me. “Which artists came over today?” If she would just admit it… “All my close friends, of course…” She rattled off a string of artist names without a blush, conspicuously omitting Jax Peterson. At that moment, my last shred of hope for her shattered. I took a document from the nightstand and handed it to her. Chloe’s eyes lit up. “Wow, you said you didn’t get me a gift, but you were planning a surprise after all?” I chuckled softly. If she thought this was a birthday gift, then so be it. Sure enough, when Chloe saw the words on the document, her smile froze. “Liam, what is the meaning of this?”

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My mercenary husband Jax spent a night in the jungle with his drugged teammate Selene. Seven times, he claimed, he had to be with her to “burn the poison out.” When he returned, carrying her half-naked body, he knelt before me. “Iris, Selene was poisoned trying to save me. I have to help her!” After that, every time Selene was “drugged,” my husband would run to her. Six months later, he came to me with the ultimate plea. “Iris, Selene is pregnant with my child! You know you can’t have kids. So once it’s born, I’ll bring it to you. You can raise it as your own.” Agony twisted my heart. I swallowed back the tears and forced out a calm, “Okay.” The crumpled pregnancy test report I’d hidden in my hand was tossed into the fire pit. Flames danced, and Selene coughed twice from the smoke. Jax immediately pulled her into his embrace, frowning at me. “Iris, Selene has promised me she’ll hand the baby over to you once it’s born. You don’t need to threaten her. She won’t come between us.” I poked at the ashes in the basin, letting the smoke sting my eyes, a convenient cover for the redness already there. I spoke calmly. “Jax, let’s get a divorce.” Jax reached out anxiously, trying to pull me closer, pleading again. “Iris, don’t make a scene, okay? Selene took a bullet for me, and then she was forced to take a toxic injection to save me. I owe her my life. Giving her a child in return isn’t asking too much!” His tone was humble, but every word defended Selene. Seeing my expression, the others couldn’t stay silent either. Jax’s brothers also began to plead with me. “Yeah, Selene is pregnant. The only right thing for Jax to do now is marry her!” “Iris, you’re a homemaker. You don’t understand how dangerous it was for Selene to save Jax from under a gun. We all saw her sacrifices for him.” “If you ask me, Jax should just marry Selene!” “Shut up!” Jax roared, cutting them off. “Iris will always be my only wife! As for Selene, I’ll compensate her.” He looked down at the pregnant woman in his arms, a look of involuntary tenderness and concern on his face. A bitter taste rose in my throat. I opened my mouth, but no words came out. The others might not know, but Jax did. I, too, once fought by his side. I even took a knife for him. That time, I was in a coma for three months. When I woke up, he knelt by my hospital bed, his eyes red, begging me to resign my commission and never risk my life again. He promised he’d protect me forever. Now, he was kneeling before me again, but it was to protect another woman. I turned and walked away in silence. Jax quickly followed. “It’s cold out, don’t catch a chill.” He gently draped his coat over my shoulders, then tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. His warm scent on the coat instantly enveloped me. I touched my lower abdomen, almost telling him I was pregnant too, but his words cut me off. “Iris, Selene gets cold easily. Let her have the climate-controlled villa in the suburbs. You can go rest on the island for a while.” My words were stuck in my throat, swallowed back down. He’d built that climate-controlled villa specifically for me after I took the knife for him, leaving me with chronic issues. Living there felt like spring all year round. But the island villa was exposed to sea winds from all sides; my body couldn’t handle it. We’d only stayed there for a few days during our honeymoon. We never went back, and it had been abandoned for ages. He used to offer me all the best things. Now he wanted me to give them to Selene. His heart was no longer with me. I lowered my eyes and murmured, “Okay.” Jax happily kissed my forehead. “Iris, you’re always so understanding.”

I lay alone on the operating table. The doctor held my hand, comforting me. “Mrs. Black, your body is too weak. I’m afraid we couldn’t save the baby.” The first time I saw that tiny embryo on the ultrasound report, my heart had instantly softened. No matter how much the doctors urged me to terminate the pregnancy, I was unswayed. This was the culmination of my love with Jax. If I could trade my life for my child’s, it would be worth it. But now, there was no need. Cold instruments churned in my abdomen. I gripped the bedsheet, tears silently streaming down my face. My phone suddenly rang. The nurse pressed the answer button and held it to my ear. Jax’s enraged voice boomed through the receiver. “Iris Black, you’ve utterly shattered my trust! How could you do something like this to Selene?!” “What are you talking about?” I was completely bewildered, my voice hoarse as I asked him. “Selene has been kidnapped! The address they sent is that island I gave you!” Jax screamed hysterically into the phone. “Only the two of us know where that island is. Who else could it be but you?!” The pain was so intense I couldn’t speak, only shook my head desperately, forgetting Jax couldn’t see me. Getting no reply, he snarled, “If anything happens to Selene, I’ll make you pay a thousand times over!” The phone only offered the mechanical beeping of a disconnected call. The nurse’s face was flushed with embarrassment as she put the phone down. I closed my eyes in despair, my heart filled with desolation. When the surgery was over, the doctor wheeled me out of the operating room. But Jax’s brothers suddenly appeared, dragging me from the hospital bed. They bound my hands and feet with cold iron chains. “Jax said to take you to the island too. If they won’t let Selene go, we’ll use you to pay the price!” “Are you insane?! Stop it! She just had surgery!” The doctor ran up in a panic to intervene, but Jax’s brothers shoved him to the ground. I was forcibly thrown into a car. The brutal movements sent searing pain through my abdomen. I soon passed out from the agony. I don’t know how much time passed before I was roused by a splash of ice water. I jolted awake, my eyes fluttering open in a daze. Jax furiously slammed the water basin onto the boat deck. He reached out and gripped my neck. “Iris, have I been too good to you all these years? Is that why you’ve become so cruel and selfish, to the point you can’t even spare an unborn child?” My entire body was cold, my lips trembling, unable to form a complete sentence. “I… I didn’t… It wasn’t me who… did it…” But Jax didn’t believe me. His eyes red, he violently dragged me off the boat. Selene, heavily pregnant, was tied to the lighthouse, crying piteously. “Jax, it’s too dangerous, don’t come closer!” Seeing me, she cried out, “Iris, if you can’t stand me, I can leave! Why would you hurt my baby?” I frantically shook my head. “It wasn’t me! I didn’t do any of this!” “Jax, the person’s gone, must have run off.” Rook and the others had checked for any dangers around, then quickly untied Selene. Jax pulled her into his arms, his face a mask of agonizing worry.

Rook spat at me in disgust. “Ugh! We called you our sister-in-law, but you’re disgusting!” “Seriously, you’re so vicious, you’re not even fit to touch a hair on Selene’s head!” “Enough.” Jax coldly cut them off, then bent down to me. “Iris, you’ve gone too far this time. You’ll stay here and reflect.” He held Selene and turned to leave. I collapsed helplessly onto the sand. From a distance, I saw Selene turn her head and flash me a triumphant smile. Three days later, my body was numb from the sea wind, my lips cracked and painful, my eyes burning and constantly tearing up. Just as I thought I was going to die there, a blurred figure slowly approached me. “Help… help me…” I used all my strength, but only a faint whisper escaped my lips. Before losing consciousness, I heard a soft sigh. “Iris, what am I going to do with you?” When I woke up, I was lying on the basement floor. Opening my eyes, I met Jax’s complicated gaze. “You’re awake?” He brought a glass of warm water to my lips, but I instinctively turned my head away. He slammed the glass heavily onto the table. “Have you caused enough trouble?” His gaze was filled with disgust. “I’m not even holding you accountable for kidnapping Selene, and you’re still throwing a tantrum? Can’t you be less spiteful?” I scoffed. He hadn’t even investigated, yet he was convinced I was the culprit. If I truly wanted to deal with Selene, I could have done it half a year ago. Why wait until now? “Jax.” Selene’s fragile voice echoed. She slowly walked in, clutching her belly. “Why are you here?” Jax immediately went to her, carefully pulling her into his embrace. “I was worried about Iris, so I came to check. Is she okay?” Selene asked timidly, shrinking back in fear when our eyes met. “Don’t mind her. She won’t die.” Jax swept a disgusted glance at me, then said to me expressionlessly, “You’ll stay here for the next few months until Selene safely gives birth.” As they left, the basement door slowly closed. I struggled to crawl up from the floor and quickly drank the water on the table. A warm current spread through my body. I propped myself up and found a box in the corner of the basement. Taking out an encrypted phone, I dialed a number. “What you asked for, I agree.” “Really? You’re not kidding? That’s great… Where are you now? I’ll come get you.” “I have some things to deal with first. Wait for me.” “Okay, no matter how long, I’ll wait for you.”

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The package arrived on our seventh wedding anniversary. Inside, I found a customized USB drive from my wife, Seraphina. “Most cherished memories with my beloved,” the label read. A warm smile touched my lips. I was touched, thinking she had compiled moments from our life together. But when I plugged it into the projector, the screen filled with a horrifying scene: Seraphina tangling with her young assistant, Jax Sterling, in her office. My blood ran cold. Just then, my phone buzzed with a message from Seraphina. “Honey, I sent a business document home by mistake. Please don’t open it. I’m sending Jax to pick it up right away!” My breath hitched, and the world spun. A sliver of hope, a desperate wish that I was wrong, had clung to me. Seraphina’s text message, was a nail in the coffin, confirming the brutal reality of what I’d just witnessed on screen. I didn’t reply instantly, as I usually would. Moments later, Seraphina’s FaceTime call came through. “Hey, hubby! Your sweet wife sent you a message, why aren’t you replying?” “Spill it, are you secretly planning some anniversary surprise behind my back?” Seraphina’s voice was light, playfully teasing, and her smile was as radiant as ever. She looked completely normal, utterly unchanged. But inside me, my blood was slowly turning to ice. I had no idea how to face this woman I had loved deeply for over a decade. “Honey, you look a little pale. Have you been working too much lately?” Her tone softened, her eyes full of what looked like genuine concern. “Just relax at home today. As soon as I finish my meetings, I’ll fly home and we’ll have a sweet evening, just the two of us!” “Oh, and Jax will be by to pick up that package later. Remember to let him in.” With a few exaggerated blowing kisses to the camera, she hung up. I hadn’t uttered a single word throughout the entire call. My throat felt choked with cotton, my chest a searing agony of pain and bitterness. I couldn’t fathom it. How could Seraphina, of all people, be cheating? We were childhood sweethearts. Our families had been close for generations, and everyone always assumed we’d end up together. After sharing all our precious firsts, she would melt into my arms, her face flushed with bliss, and whisper as she kissed my lips. “Ryan, you are my true love. I want to spend forever with you.” For that single declaration of love, I was willing to give her everything. Even when Hayes Group was on the brink of bankruptcy seven years ago, I went against everyone’s advice, pulling them back from the edge. Amidst the envious gazes of countless people, I threw Seraphina a lavish, talked-about wedding, bringing her home as my esteemed wife. After we married, Seraphina worried having children would affect her health and beauty, so I agreed to a child-free lifestyle. No matter how unreasonable her demands, I would move heaven and earth to fulfill them. Everyone said I spoiled Seraphina rotten, more than any parent would spoil their own child. I’d just smile faintly, a proud glint in my eyes. “My wife deserves to be cherished, spoiled rotten. That way, she’d never look at anyone else.” Seraphina would always snuggle into my arms, telling me I was the only one who loved her unconditionally, that she would never let anyone come between us. Yet, on that projector screen, she was writhing under another man. In her passion, she even screamed his name, calling him “hubby.” When Jax Sterling first interviewed at the company, I immediately saw his fierce ambition. His eyes held a predatory glint, and he showed me no respect, just a flicker of veiled defiance. Seraphina insisted the company needed someone like him-innovative, capable of driving change. She later confessed to me, in hushed tones, that Jax had that devil-may-care charm she found attractive, reminiscent of an actor she once liked. I didn’t feel jealous or angry then. I just shook my head, chuckling, wondering when my ‘fragile’ wife would finally grow up. After more than a decade of shared history, I never once imagined Seraphina would betray me. It took the brutal truth of her infidelity, starkly displayed before me, for me to realize that I was the naive, foolish one all along. Just as my mind was reeling, a loud knock echoed through the house. “Mr. Blackwood, open up! I’m here for the package!”

Jax Sterling stood at my door, dressed in a trendy designer suit, his hair slicked back with gel, one hand casually tucked into his pocket. He looked like he’d just stepped out of a nightclub. To anyone who didn’t know, he could easily be mistaken for a sketchy club promoter. And it was this untrustworthy man who had stolen Seraphina from me. For a split second, I wanted nothing more than to smash my fist into his smug, pretty-boy face, to see him groveling at my feet. Marriage wasn’t a game, especially not ours. It involved the livelihoods of tens of thousands of people across both our families’ companies. I handed the sealed package to Jax. Just as he turned to leave, I spoke, my voice deceptively calm. “Wait.” Jax paused, a fleeting flicker of guilt in his eyes as he turned to me. “What’s up?” I vaguely pointed to his open collar, my gaze steady. “That red mark there. Mosquito bite?” Anyone with even a shred of experience in dating or relationships would know exactly what that mark, in that position, of that shape, meant. But Jax, unfazed, went along with it, a smirk playing on his lips. “Yeah, the mosquitoes at the office are real sticky, can’t shake ’em off.” My heart felt like it had been violently ripped open, a pain so sharp it made my jaw clench, almost betraying the carefully constructed calm on my face. After Jax left, I changed into an unremarkable gray hoodie and sweatpants, then got in my car and followed him. His car took several winding turns, but it didn’t head towards Seraphina’s office. Instead, it pulled into a secluded but beautiful villa community on the outskirts of the city. It wasn’t until I saw the familiar scenery that I realized with a jolt: years ago, when this development first opened, I had brought Seraphina here to look at a house, planning to buy one for our retirement. Seraphina had laughed then, calling me an old man, wondering why I was thinking about retirement in the prime of my life. She’d dragged me away after a quick tour. Jax’s car stopped in front of a rose-covered garden villa. My pupils dilated in shock. I recognized it instantly-it was the very same house I had shown Seraphina all those years ago! As I stood there, stunned, a familiar figure ran out of the house, throwing herself into Jax’s arms. No matter how much I wanted to deny it, I recognized Seraphina in an instant. She clung to Jax, demanding one long, lingering kiss after another, before finally speaking in a soft, sweet voice. “So, did he find out? I’ve been so worried!” Jax shook his head, scoffing disdainfully. “That guy’s always been too arrogant. Even if the evidence was staring him in the face, he wouldn’t believe anyone would dare to cheat on him!” He was right. It wasn’t arrogance. It was trust. My unwavering trust in Seraphina. She had spent seven years with me. Seven years where we faced everything together.

Watching them walk hand-in-hand back into the villa, I merely twitched an eyelid and made a call. “Dave, you have contacts in the Bayview Villas, right? I need a favor.” Initially, I was reluctant to say what was happening. But once Dave Miller realized I needed help to catch a cheating spouse, he immediately insisted on coming himself. “No, seriously, what the hell happened?” Dave arrived, looking disheveled from his rush. Before he got here, he’d already arranged for the villa community’s security to send me the surveillance footage. After watching it, I realized that every time Seraphina said she was “working late,” she was actually here, meeting Jax Sterling. Dave was silent after seeing the footage. After a long while, he finally spoke. “I really can’t believe Seraphina is this kind of person. If you don’t want to show your face today, I can handle it for you.” Dave sighed heavily. He had watched Seraphina and me from the moment we met until our wedding day. But I just shook my head. “No, it’s fine. I have to face it sooner or later. I’ll handle it myself.” I was now in the villa directly opposite theirs. I could see them, intertwined and sweet, in the villa garden. Seraphina’s genuine, unrestrained laughter broke something inside me. She hadn’t smiled at me like that in years. “Seraphina, when are you going to tell that idiot husband of yours?” Jax held Seraphina from behind. Seraphina hesitated for a moment, but it was just that-a moment. “No rush. I’ll tell him after his birthday.” “Hayes Group doesn’t need Blackwood Industries’ support anymore. I’m a free woman. I’ll do whatever I want, and no one can stop me from pursuing my freedom!” Seraphina revealed a rare, untamed side of herself. To outsiders, and to me, she had always been rational, sensible, never impulsive. No wonder when she hired Jax, she said the company needed someone ambitious, imaginative, and daring. Perhaps that’s when she fell for him. Immediately after, I called Seraphina. She glanced at her phone and hung up. “Baby, I’m busy. I’ll make it up to you tonight when I get home,” she quickly texted. But in reality, she was kissing Jax, doing things in the garden that would make anyone blush. I didn’t reply. Instead, I posted an update on Ins about looking at houses in the Bayview Villas. The photo accompanying it was of the very villa Seraphina was in, and the caption read: “Really wish I could see inside. Wonder who bought the house I always loved most.” Seraphina had special notifications set up for me, so she saw the post almost immediately. “Jax, let’s go back inside.” “What’s wrong, Seraphina? It’s not our first time in the garden, and the house next door is empty. What are you worried about?” Jax lifted her chin. But Seraphina’s eyes kept darting towards the garden gate. She pushed Jax away, who was getting aroused. “I have something to do. We’ll talk later.”

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The night my boyfriend proposed, I was in a car accident. Lying unconscious in the hospital bed, I overheard my boyfriend, Julian, talking to his friend. “You went too far this time. Scarlett’s legs are practically ruined. If you didn’t want to marry her, why bother with the fake proposal? You arranged for a car to hit her, and then you threw a birthday party for your assistant…” “I just don’t want to get married so early. I’ll still marry Scarlett eventually! Her broken legs are actually perfect; I can have my fun for a while, and I’ll make it up to her after we’re married.” “But you can’t arrange for a car to hit her and throw a birthday party for your assistant at the same time!” “I’m a little addicted to this assistant right now. I’m planning to have her move in! Scarlett can’t walk anyway. Just slip some sleeping pills into her milk, and once she’s deeply asleep, we can party all we want.” My heart squeezed so tight it felt like I couldn’t breathe. Seven years of love, and this is the kind of man he truly was. Fine. If you want a thrilling life, I’ll give you exactly what you wish for!

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you, Scarlett has a unique constitution. Large doses of sleeping pills could seriously harm her. You really need to think this through.” Julian’s friend, Marcus, looked serious as he tried to warn him, hoping he would know when to stop. “Just a little harm won’t kill her. Even if she ends up crippled or can’t have children, she’ll still be my wife, Julian’s wife. I won’t abandon her; you can rest assured about that.” Marcus stared, stunned. He never imagined Julian cared so little about my health. As long as I was alive, even if plagued by illness later, he wouldn’t mind. “Alright, just don’t regret it later.” “Don’t end up like Ryan, who’s now running all over the world searching for his wife, crying his eyes out every day, experiencing his own desperate scramble to win her back.” The hospital room was warm, but Julian’s words sent a chill straight to my bones. “If she runs off, I can just have fun with Brittany every day. I won’t marry Brittany, so I’ll just be with her while Scarlett is injured.” “Scarlett loves me so much; she won’t go crazy and run off like Ryan’s wife. I’m very sure about that.” So, he always knew how deeply I loved him, yet he betrayed my sincerity and trampled on my self-respect. He saw me as disposable, convinced I couldn’t live without him. Scarlett, you gave your heart to the wrong person. It’s time to wake up. Just then, his assistant, Brittany, pushed open the door. Marcus saw her and quickly left the VIP suite. As soon as he was gone, Brittany, with her alluring figure, melted into Julian’s arms. “Jules, how could you just leave without a word? Leaving me alone at the party… you’re so naughty.” Brittany purred, her hand exploring Julian’s chest, sparking his desire. “Honey, I threw you a birthday party; what more do you want?” He then punished her with a kiss, crushing his lips against hers. Right there, in my hospital room, they started to get intimate. I deliberately let out a soft cough, startling the two of them mid-embrace. “What are you two doing?”

Julian flinched at the sound of my voice, instinctively pushing Brittany away. He quickly straightened his collar, his eyes wide with panic as he visibly tried to rein in his raw desire. He walked toward me, putting on a worried expression. “Scarlett, you’re finally awake.” He hugged me tightly, speaking in the same loving tone he used to. “You scared me half to death, you know? I was still at the proposal ceremony when I heard about your accident. I went crazy, rushing to the hospital, tripping and stumbling several times. Brittany just came over to help me check my scratches.” Brittany also stepped forward, her voice dripping with sweetness. “Yes, Mr. Julian almost lost his own life when he heard what happened to you. Ms. Scarlett, us singles are so envious of you!” I watched as they exchanged secret glances, their faces betraying no guilt as they spun their web of lies. I had no intention of calling them out. Instead, I suggested that I wanted to recover at home, unable to stand the smell of hospital disinfectant. Julian agreed, taking me back to our shared apartment. Since I couldn’t walk, Julian carried me the entire way. “Scarlett, don’t be sad. I’ll hire the best doctors to heal your legs.” “Even if they can’t be healed, I’ll be your legs from now on. Wherever you want to go, I’ll carry you. We’ll never be apart, always together.” He finished speaking and kissed my cheek. If I hadn’t overheard the cruel truth with my own ears, I would have been foolishly happy and content right now. Looking at the man I had loved for so many years, I swallowed all the bitterness. Outside the door, Brittany’s expression turned grim as she listened to Julian’s heartfelt words. I lay down in bed, feigning exhaustion and a desire to rest, precisely because I didn’t want to drink the overdose of sleeping pills and harm my body. But Brittany still brought in the milk, handing it to Julian. “Scarlett, drink some milk before you sleep.” I looked with despair at the milk in his hand. Was he so eager to play his games with Brittany, so indifferent to my fate? You already had my legs injured; why can’t you leave my body alone? “Jules, I don’t want to drink it. Can I not?” Julian hesitated, clearly conflicted. Brittany, however, grew impatient. She smiled and said, “You two chat! It’s getting late, I need to head back!” She deliberately emphasized “head back,” a clear warning to Julian not to waste time. Julian got the message and no longer hesitated. He brought the milk to my lips, coaxing me like a child. “Come on, be a good girl.” “You sleep so poorly; only with milk can you get a good night’s rest.” I gave a cold laugh, closed my eyes, drank the milk, and pulled the covers over myself. Julian let out a sigh of relief, smiling as he kissed my forehead. “Sleep tight, goodnight!” Then he left with Brittany, closing the door behind them. Once they were gone, I sat up, grabbed my crutches, and limped to the bathroom, where I spat out the milk. Clutching my crutches, I painfully made my way upstairs. As I reached the door of our shared bedroom, I heard Julian’s sensual moans from within.

My hand trembled as I gently pushed open the slightly ajar door. What I saw—Julian and Brittany, naked, wrapped tightly around each other—stole my breath. Their passionate moans and gasps echoed in my ears, a stabbing pain. “Jules, who makes you feel better, me or Scarlett?” Julian let out a scoff. “Of course, it’s you, my little wildcat. Scarlett’s too reserved, not like you, who knows how to make a man lose himself.” “Then… why don’t you just break up with her and be with me?” Brittany leaned in, nibbling his ear, her voice a seductive whisper. “I’ve thought about it. Who wouldn’t get bored with the same flavor, the same routine, after all this time?” At that moment, my nails dug into my palms. I watched Julian, lost in a haze of lust. He, who once knelt at my family’s door, begging Evelyn to allow us to be together! What promises had he made to Evelyn then? He’d sworn he would never betray or abandon me, and if he broke that vow, he’d suffer for the rest of his life. Yet, in just a few short years, he had forgotten his vows completely. To avoid marrying me, he orchestrated a car accident to break my legs. To steal intimate moments, he slipped large doses of sleeping pills into my milk. Julian, Julian, if you no longer loved me, you could have just told me. I would have let go, never clinging to you. But you can’t use such cruel methods to punish me. This is more agonizing than killing me. Tears blurred my vision, and I stumbled away in a desperate escape. I had made excuses for him on the way here, but it was all just self-deception. Clutching my crutches, I walked like a zombie, mindlessly, until I lost my footing and fell down the stairs. The pain from my injury was so intense I nearly fainted. Perhaps the commotion was loud, as the couple upstairs stopped their activities simultaneously. I heard the hurried sounds of them getting dressed. Soon after, Julian emerged, his eyes still flushed with lust, but a worried expression quickly replaced it. Seeing me sprawled at the bottom of the stairs, his eyes flashed with guilt and alarm as he rushed down. “Scarlett, are you okay?” “You should be sleeping, why are you out here?” Faced with his frantic questions, I moved my lips, a bitter, self-deprecating smile. His neck was covered in hickeys, big and small, and he hadn’t even bothered to cover them before rushing out. Julian saw me staring at his neck without speaking. The next second, his gaze darted away, and he grabbed his robe to cover his neck. Just then, Brittany emerged from the room, fully dressed. Julian’s face stiffened, and he scrambled for excuses. “Scarlett, it’s not what you think. Brittany and I were discussing work matters. You know, as my assistant, she has to be at my beck and call at all times. And my neck… it’s because I ate peanuts today and had an allergic reaction.” “But you, why didn’t you call me when you came out?” He was really wondering why the sleeping pills hadn’t worked, why I wasn’t deeply asleep. Brittany chimed in, “Ms. Scarlett, don’t overthink it. Nothing happened between us. We were just working overtime in the same room.” As she said “working overtime,” she gave Julian a sweet, suggestive look, and they exchanged secretive glances. They were treating me like an idiot. Working overtime in a room in the middle of the night? What a ridiculous excuse. “I don’t know what happened tonight. After drinking the milk, my stomach felt very unwell, so I threw it all up. While I was looking for you, I accidentally fell.” Julian lied, so I lied back. Lies were the first cracks, shattering the foundation of our love. Hearing my words, Julian secretly let out a sigh of relief. He picked me up, feigning tenderness as he kissed my face. “It’s all my fault for not taking better care of you!” The thought of his lips having just kissed Brittany made me want to throw up. As he carried me away, he glanced back at Brittany. Back in the room, Julian changed my blood-stained bandages, then said he had more work to do and left. Once he was gone, I pulled out my phone and called Aunt Evelyn. “Evelyn, I want to go home. I don’t want Julian anymore!” “Scarlett, what’s wrong? Did Julian hurt you?” “Evelyn, I’ll tell you when I get home. My legs are injured, and I can’t walk. Please send someone to pick me up.” After exchanging a few more concerned questions with Evelyn, I hung up. Just then, Julian, who had returned, pushed open the door. “Who did you just say you were having picked up?”

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Vivian Thorne, the new coach at my gym, claimed she could offer “painless body sculpting.” Just lie down, and the weight would melt off. She blew up overnight. Countless celebrities and influencers flocked to the gym, her private sessions skyrocketing to hundreds of thousands of dollars each. But with every one of her private lessons, my own weight inexplicably ballooned. My friends mocked me. My boyfriend dumped me. Even worse, the insatiable cravings many of her clients experienced began to plague me too. I’d wake up in the middle of the night, desperate for high-calorie foods. A day without a sugary boba tea felt like torture. I stormed into the gym, demanding answers. Everyone just brushed me off, assuming I’d failed at my diet and was just lashing out at the celebrity coach. Facing my furious accusations, Vivian simply continued guiding a famous actress through some stretches. “Ma’am, please don’t interrupt my work. I’m about to take my VIP client to the Victoria’s Secret model casting. There’s no room for error.” As her team stunned the crowd at the casting, I suddenly collapsed. Overweight and suffering from heart and lung failure, I died on the spot. When I opened my eyes again, I was back. Back to Vivian Thorne’s first day at the gym.

“Cassie, look! The new coach, her body is absolutely insane!” My best friend, Chloe Miller, tugged my arm, her eyes gleaming as she stared at the entrance. I followed her gaze, and my heart plummeted. It was her! Vivian Thorne. She wore a perfectly tailored, blush-pink activewear set that hugged her flawless curves, not an ounce of fat in sight. Her high ponytail swayed gently with her movements, and a confident, approachable smile played on her lips as she chatted with Mr. Jenkins, the gym owner. She was a magnet, instantly drawing every eye in the gym. But all I saw was a demon cloaked in beauty. Of course, I remembered her. I remembered her smiling as she told me, “Obesity is simply a sign of weak willpower.” I remembered how she’d emerged from Derek Stone’s car, coolly handing me a flyer with her picture on it, just after he’d dumped me. And most vividly, I remembered seeing her on TV, basking in the spotlight of an interview, through the blurry window of the ambulance, right before I died. Now, that monster was back— No, *I* was back. I had been reborn. “Cassie, what are you staring at? Your eyes are practically bugging out.” Chloe nudged me. “I heard she’s a celebrity coach from overseas, specializing in painless body sculpting. You just lie there and get slim! I need to book a trial session, fast!” “Don’t!” I grabbed her arm, my voice trembling. “Listen to me, stay away from her. She’s not right!” Chloe paused, then yanked her hand away, a frown creasing her brow. “What’s gotten into you today? She just got here, and you’re already saying she’s ‘not right’? Are you just jealous because she’s so beautiful?” Jealous? A chill snaked up my spine. In my previous life, Chloe had been one of Vivian’s most loyal clients. Vivian had turned Chloe into her walking advertisement, while I had become her personal fat dumping ground, a sacrificial lamb. “I’m not!” I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. “Her methods are definitely flawed. They’re bad for your body!” “Bad? All I see is her perfect body and a stack of success stories!” Chloe was clearly annoyed. “If I can’t book her class, are you going to make me thin?” She didn’t believe me. Not a word. I spun around and marched toward the owner’s office. Mr. Jenkins was all smiles, pouring tea for Vivian Thorne. “Mr. Jenkins!” I burst in. “That new coach, you can’t use her! She’s a problem!” Mr. Jenkins’s smile froze. He looked at me, then at Vivian, his expression a mix of embarrassment and displeasure. “Cassie, don’t be ridiculous. Coach Thorne is my star hire, I paid a fortune for her. Her resume and expertise are top-notch.” Vivian picked up her teacup, gently blowing on it, not even glancing my way, as if I were thin air. That feeling of being utterly ignored was identical to my past life. “Her training methods aren’t scientific!” I insisted, my voice urgent. “It’s not fitness; it’s dangerous!” “Dangerous?” Mr. Jenkins scoffed as if I’d told the funniest joke. He gestured at Vivian. “Cassie, just look at Coach Thorne. She’s her own best advertisement. Are you just stressed from your diet? Have you lost your mind?” Vivian finally lifted her head, her gaze landing on me, a faint, unsettling smile playing on her lips. “Have we met before, miss? Your hostility… it seems rather sudden.” My blood ran cold. “Your good times are numbered.” I said no more, leaving that chilling remark as I turned and walked out. Behind me, I heard Mr. Jenkins’s profuse apologies and Vivian’s calm, soft laughter.

Vivian Thorne’s trial classes were fully booked. The gym’s main studio was packed. Chloe, having secured a spot in the front row, waved at me excitedly. I stood at the back of the crowd, watching everything with a cold stare. Vivian didn’t have anyone doing strenuous exercises. She simply guided them through some gentle stretches, coupled with what she called “specialized breathwork.” “Relax. Imagine all the excess, bothersome fat in your body, being expelled with every exhale.” Her voice was gentle yet hypnotic, carrying a seductive power. The clients closed their eyes, looking utterly blissful. What a ridiculous scene. If I hadn’t experienced it firsthand, I too might have fallen for her deceptive spiel. I fixated on Vivian Thorne. I could feel an unseen, viscous energy spreading from her, enveloping the entire studio. That web began to tighten, drawing something from each client. Finally, all the threads converged in my direction. It was here. That invasive, unnatural feeling, like something foreign being forced into me, returned. My body grew heavy. Breathing became difficult, as if invisible cement was being poured into my veins, weighing down my every limb. I couldn’t just stand there and let it happen. “Don’t believe her, everyone!” I burst forward, pointing at Vivian. “This isn’t fitness! She’s harming you! Your fat isn’t disappearing; it’s being transferred!” My shout startled everyone awake. They stared at me, bewildered. Chloe’s face flushed crimson. She rushed over, trying to clap her hand over my mouth. “Cassie, you’re crazy! Stop it!” Vivian Thorne’s composure cracked for the first time, but only for a fleeting second. She quickly regained her poise, walking toward me with a hurt, yet understanding, expression. “Miss, I completely understand that many traditional fitness coaches might question my new methods.” She turned to the crowd. “But the results don’t lie. Everyone, please step onto the body fat scales now.” The clients, still wary, did as she asked. The next second, gasps of astonishment erupted. “Oh my god! I lost three pounds! Just from lying here for an hour?” “My body fat percentage dropped by a full point! How is that even possible?” “This is insane! Pure magic!” Chloe also stepped onto a scale. When she saw the numbers on the screen, she shrieked with excitement. She turned back to me, her eyes filled with disappointment and anger. “Cassie! Did you see that? Is *this* the scammer you were talking about?” I felt utterly cold. Of course, they had gotten thinner. Because their fat was, at this very moment, inside my body. My hands trembling, I walked to an empty body fat scale. On the screen, the numbers spun wildly, finally settling on a figure a full five and a half pounds heavier than I had been that morning. “Everyone, look,” Vivian’s voice rang out above me, laced with a feigned pity. “This young lady’s weight… actually increased. I suppose some people are just like that. If they can’t achieve something themselves, they can’t stand to see others succeed.” “You…” I was shaking with rage. “How rude, ruining things just because she can’t stick to her own diet.” “Exactly. Look at her, she probably just overeats all the time.” “So pathetic, and yet so annoying.” The whispers and judgments stung me deeply. I looked at Chloe, hoping she would stand up for me, say something. But she just turned her head away, pulling her new ‘newly-slimmed friends’ with her, excitedly discussing where they should go to celebrate. Amidst everyone’s laughter and accusations, Vivian walked over to me. She leaned in close, whispering in my ear: “Garbage belongs in the garbage can.”

Vivian Thorne became an overnight sensation. “Painless body sculpting” was the hottest topic in the city’s elite circles. The gym’s classes were completely booked, and Mr. Jenkins was grinning from ear to ear, though he now looked at me as if I were a persistent nuisance. Vivian’s private sessions fetched a six-figure price tag, yet securing a spot was still nearly impossible. I, meanwhile, had become the sole punchline of this grand celebration. My weight began to skyrocket at an alarming rate. In just one week, I gained fifteen pounds. The reflection in the mirror was grotesquely swollen. My face was round, my beautiful collarbones long gone, replaced by a thick double chin. Even more terrifying were the desires that had appeared out of nowhere. I developed a frantic obsession with sweets and fried foods. I’d wake up starving in the middle of the night, my mind consumed by a single thought: *eat*. I couldn’t control myself. I’d open my DoorDash app and order everything at the top of the fried chicken, burger, and milkshake categories. When the food arrived, I’d ravenously stuff it into my mouth until a sharp, agonizing pain flared in my stomach, only then would I pause slightly. Afterward, came a deeper wave of self-loathing and panic. Derek chose that moment to break up with me. He asked to meet at our usual coffee shop. His gaze was cold, filled with an unsettling blend of unfamiliarity and disdain. “Cassie, we need to end this.” He just blurted it out. My fingers tightened around my water glass. My heart felt as if a giant hand had seized it. “Why?” Despite having already braced myself for it, I couldn’t help but ask. “Just look at you.” He didn’t bother to hide his contempt. “I can’t even take you out in public. My friends would laugh at me for dating someone who let herself go.” His words sliced through me like knives. I looked at him, the man I’d loved for three years. I remembered him taking such meticulous care of me when I was sick. I remembered him swearing he’d love me no matter what I became. Turns out, vows were cheap. “Derek, what if I told you someone *did* this to me? Would you believe me?” I made one last, desperate plea. He scoffed, his eyes full of the contempt one reserves for a lunatic. “Cassie, stop making excuses. Just admit it, you can’t control yourself.” Just then, a sleek, fiery red Porsche pulled up outside the coffee shop. The car door opened, and a woman, exquisitely dressed and stunningly beautiful, stepped out. It was Vivian Thorne. She strode directly to our table, casually looping her arm through Derek’s. She flashed me a triumphant smile. “Cassie, what a coincidence. Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Derek’s new girlfriend.” Derek didn’t pull away. Instead, he gazed at her with a doting expression. I understood. Everything became clear. Even after a new life, some things were just destined to repeat. “Cassie,” Vivian pulled a business card from her purse, elegantly sliding it across the table toward me. “This is my card. For Derek’s sake, I can offer you a twenty percent discount. Though, given your current condition, you’ll probably need double the sessions.” It was a clear, calculated insult. I shot to my feet, knocking my coffee cup over, sending a splash of dark liquid cascading down her pristine white dress. “Ah!” Vivian shrieked. A large, ugly stain bloomed on her expensive gown. Derek immediately jumped up, frantically dabbing at the stain with a napkin, while glaring at me. “Cassie, what are you doing! Apologize to Vivian, now!” Apologize? I wanted to rip that smug, fake smile off her face. I snatched the water glass from the table and *splashed* it straight into her face. Ignoring Derek’s furious roar and Vivian’s outraged shriek, I turned and stormed out of the coffee shop. I couldn’t wait any longer. I *had* to uncover her secret, or she’d drain me dry, literally, one way or another.

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At my wedding, the officiant asked me: “Willow Vance, what’s your biggest wish after getting married?” Amidst the cheerful chatter about a long and happy life, and maybe some grandkids, I calmly replied: “Divorce.” The officiant looked stunned. Being a seasoned professional, he quickly chuckled, “Our bride has quite the sense of humor!” “I’m not joking.” Seeing my serious expression, the officiant froze. All the guests present stared in disbelief. Then, everyone’s gaze shifted to my husband, Liam Caldwell, standing beside me. A flicker of panic crossed Liam’s eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. “Willow, don’t be so dramatic.” My husband gently brushed a strand of hair from my face. “Since I chose you, you’re mine. Forever.” My father-in-law, Arthur Caldwell, who stood behind Liam, smiled. He addressed the crowd, “Outsiders might think Willow isn’t a match for my son, but I, Arthur Caldwell, am not an unreasonable man. As long as my son is happy, that’s all that matters.” Everyone immediately seemed to relax, exchanging sympathetic smiles. [Willow must be totally dizzy from this sudden stroke of luck. She hasn’t even fully woken up yet.] [Right? Ever since Vance Industries crumbled, they’ve been nothing. It’s truly unbelievable that Mr. Caldwell would marry Willow.] [So many women were chasing Liam, all prettier than Willow, and many with similar backgrounds. Who would’ve thought the Caldwells would choose Willow in the end?] [I heard Liam actually pursued her first.] “Let’s continue.” Prompted by my father-in-law, the officiant snapped out of his daze and resumed the ceremony. After the wedding, my answer to the officiant went viral. It wasn’t surprising; the Caldwell Group was the most influential powerhouse in the entire city. The Caldwell family taking in a daughter-in-law was already a hot topic; such a dramatic moment was bound to break the internet. Despite my father-in-law and husband’s explanations, and the guests’ outward understanding, online, the skepticism exploded: “This marriage is messed up,” “there’s definitely something fishy going on,” “the Caldwells are actually shady,” and so on. Rumors spread like wildfire, engulfing the whole city. The Caldwell Group’s stock price began to fluctuate.

My father-in-law panicked. He publicly clarified the situation on television. After reiterating that my words stemmed from insecurity, he added an objective reason. “My daughter-in-law was running a high fever on our wedding day, which caused her to speak incoherently. In fact, she doesn’t even remember what she said afterward.” With that, he produced a diagnostic report with my name on it, showing a fever of 103.1°F. But netizens weren’t convinced; the negative comments continued. My father-in-law called me to his study. “Willow, you started this, and you need to put an end to it.” “No problem, Arthur.” I readily agreed. In the video, I spoke earnestly. “My father-in-law asked me to post a video clarifying what I said at the wedding, claiming I was delirious from a high fever. I think I really should respond. My answer is no. While most people get married hoping to stay together for life, I’m different…” My “explanation” only made things worse; netizens immediately blew up, demanding to know what had really happened. I didn’t respond. Before I even logged off, a flood of direct messages poured in. I only replied to one independent investigative reporter. I warned him, “You should stay out of my business; it could hurt you. If you’re not afraid for your safety, then go ahead. Think carefully.” He chuckled dismissively. “Ms. Vance, what I need is a breaking news story.” Then, he earnestly asked for my opinion, “You’re the breakthrough I need for my investigation. It might cause some trouble in your personal life. Do you mind?” “I don’t mind.” Days later, the reporter posted online with the headline: — *Saying ‘Divorce’ at the Wedding: A Complex Truth Behind the Scenes.* “Chairman Arthur Caldwell risked his entire fortune to make a last-ditch effort to save Vance Industries, but ultimately failed.” “After Richard Vance and his wife tragically passed away, Arthur Caldwell was so grief-stricken he didn’t eat for three days.” “Liam Caldwell and Willow Vance had an engagement contract long ago. After the Vance family fell, Arthur Caldwell honored his promise and had his son marry Willow.”

The content might have been brief, but it was impactful. [Wow, so the Caldwells and Vances have known each other for years!] [Arthur Caldwell is a man of his word, truly admirable!] [A rare gem of a man!] Everyone now understood why I had said those words. [No wonder she felt so insecure. So that’s what happened.] [She was already prepared for divorce.] [At least she’s sensible.] The positive impact was immediate; the Caldwell Group’s stock price soared. But my father-in-law was furious when he saw the report. “Who’s investigating this? That damn fool!” “Arthur, you should be happy. After all, this is good news.” Hearing me say this, my father-in-law suddenly realized he’d lost his temper. He quickly softened his expression and said, “I’ve always disliked drawing attention to myself.” As I turned to leave, I heard my father-in-law quietly order his son, “Find out who’s behind this, and shut it down immediately.” After that, my father-in-law’s family became exceptionally kind to me, showering me with meticulous care, as if I were a precious treasure they’d brought into their home. A few days later, the reporter posted online again. “To marry Willow Vance, the Caldwell family turned down many wealthy alliances, offending numerous business peers.” “To prevent Liam’s admirers from seeking revenge on Willow for not getting Liam, Chairman Caldwell specifically arranged bodyguards for Willow.” “The bodyguards are inseparable from Willow; Chairman Caldwell is incredibly devoted to his daughter-in-law.” Netizens were once again stunned, saying I, Willow Vance, was incredibly lucky to marry into the Caldwell family. They understood my wedding day comment even more. My father-in-law’s face grew increasingly dark. He chided his son for his inefficiency, “Didn’t you already find out who it was? Why didn’t you stop them?” My husband, looking distressed, said, “That reporter is very persistent. He said he’d already gotten Willow’s permission, so he refuses to give up.” My father-in-law gave me a sum of money to offer the reporter, hoping he’d drop the investigation. When I found the reporter with the money, he smiled, “I was just short on clues, and here they come.” I pretended not to understand him. “What do you mean?” The reporter stared into my eyes and said softly, “It clearly benefits your father-in-law, yet he doesn’t want the investigation to continue. That tells me he’s afraid of something.” I secretly nodded to myself. I hadn’t chosen the wrong person. But I warned him again, “You need to think this through. It’s not too late to stop now.” “Thank you for the warning, Ms. Vance. But I have to uphold my profession. And I owe it to the public.” A few more days passed. Another post from the reporter appeared online. “The Vance family’s bankruptcy was due to Richard Vance and his wife mistakenly signing a $3 billion contract, leading to their downfall.” “The Vance family was likely set up.” “The tip of the iceberg has been revealed. I intend to uncover everything. Please, netizens, be patient; the truth will soon come to light.” It was late, and the light in the study was still on. Through the crack in the door, I saw my husband angrily tell my father-in-law, “He took the money and still didn’t stop. He’s asking for trouble.” My father-in-law’s face was distorted in a menacing grimace, his voice barely a whisper, “I’ll tell you what to do…” Days later, I didn’t see any new posts from the reporter, but I heard about his death. My best friend told me. “Willow, did you hear? That reporter investigating you died. He was hit by a car.” “They say the driver was drunk and fled the scene overnight. The police have issued a warrant.” My heart felt as if it had been brutally stabbed with a knife. “Are you sure he’s dead?” “Yes. Your father-in-law demanded that the police absolutely catch the hit-and-run driver and punish him severely. He said after reading the reporter’s posts, he realized his dear friends’ deaths might have had a hidden motive.” “Your father-in-law said he had planned to investigate with the reporter, but now the lead is suddenly cut off…”

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