Author: Momo Chan

For three years, Aubrey Hayes had tried to end her life over a hundred desperate times. When she woke again, she found herself in a hospital bed, her mind a complete blank. A middle-aged couple sat by her bed. Seeing her eyes open, they immediately frowned. “How much longer are you going to keep this up?” “Liam was supposed to marry Clara. You were just a consequence of a drunken mistake, an accident that forced his hand,” the woman said, full of impatience. “It’s normal that he doesn’t love you, or come home. But you? You constantly threaten him with suicide. After all these years, can you name one time he’s visited you after any of these attempts?” “If you weren’t our biological daughter, we honestly wouldn’t bother with you,” the man sighed, shaking his head. “You’re simply no match for Clara, not in the slightest.” Aubrey stared at them, bewildered. She’d lost all her memories, didn’t even know who she was. All she could piece together about her shattered life came from the accusations of this couple who claimed to be her parents. She was once the Albright heiress, kidnapped as a child. When she was finally found and brought home, she discovered her family had adopted a girl named Clara Miller. Her parents, who should have doted on her, now only had eyes for their adopted daughter. The place that should have been hers was completely taken by another. Later, she fell in love with Liam Sterling, the CEO of Sterling Enterprises. But his heart, too, belonged to Clara Miller. Then came that party. Liam, drunk, mistakenly ended up in her room, and he took her. After a night of reckless abandon, he was forced to marry her. But he also reserved all his coldness and resentment for her. Her parents didn’t love her, her husband didn’t either. Overwhelmed by despair, powerless to change her fate, she resorted to desperate acts, hoping they might finally notice her, finally care. “Alright, we need to go back and cook for Clara,” Mr. and Mrs. Albright said, rising from their seats. “You stay here and reflect on your actions.” The moment the hospital room door clicked shut, a sharp pain pierced Aubrey’s chest. Even without her memories, the sense of being abandoned by the whole world felt chillingly real. She couldn’t understand. How could parents not love their biological daughter, but instead lavish affection on an adopted one? And that man, Liam Sterling… It was *his* mistake. He went into the wrong room, he misidentified her. If he was forced to marry her, why couldn’t he treat her well? Why did he push her to the brink with such cruel indifference? She dared not delve deeper. Just listening to these unfamiliar past events made her heart ache as if being carved by a blunt knife. What about her former self? How utterly soul-crushing it must have been, day after day, living with parents who couldn’t care less and a husband who outright ignored her? Aubrey slowly pushed herself up, silently completing her discharge paperwork. But standing at the hospital entrance, she didn’t know where to go. She couldn’t recall her parents’ address, nor Liam Sterling’s. Even more tragically, neither home welcomed her. Suddenly, a commotion erupted at the hospital entrance. Aubrey looked up, seeing a tall, lean man striding purposefully, cradling a delicate figure in his arms. He wore a sharp black suit, his shoulders broad, incredibly handsome, exuding an undeniable presence with every step. The girl in his arms was carefully protected, her pale face pressed against his chest. He looked down at her with a tenderness that stung Aubrey’s eyes, his arm tightening possessively, his steps instinctively softening, as if afraid to jostle her. “Clear the way!” His voice wasn’t loud, but the onlookers instinctively parted, creating a path. “Oh my God, is that Liam Sterling?” someone behind her whispered in awe. “Who else could it be? Who in this city commands such a presence? He’s so impossibly handsome, my knees went weak just looking at him…” Aubrey froze. So this was Liam Sterling, her husband. And the one in his arms was likely Clara Miller, her adopted sister. As he passed her, his steps faltered almost imperceptibly. His eyes, dark as midnight, swept over her, cold as an ice blade against skin. But in an instant, he pulled his gaze away, hurrying towards the emergency room with the girl in his arms. Aubrey’s slender frame trembled slightly. She didn’t follow, still pondering where she was supposed to go— The next second, footsteps sounded behind her. She turned, only to find it was Liam Sterling, who had returned. He grabbed her wrist, his grip so tight she winced. “You’re Rh-negative, aren’t you?” Without waiting for an answer, he dragged her towards the blood donation room. “Clara was in a car accident and lost a lot of blood. The hospital blood bank is low. Donate some blood for her.” “I…” Aubrey was about to speak when Liam suddenly gripped the back of her head. He leaned down and kissed her. The kiss was cold and brief, a mere touch before he pulled away. “Can you donate now?” His voice was low, devoid of any warmth. Before Aubrey could fully process it, she was pushed into the blood donation room. Outside, the nurses’ whispers drifted in clearly: “That’s Liam Sterling’s wife? The one who tried to end her life over a hundred times? I heard the first time she tried to make him kiss her, the second time for a date, the third time to sleep with him… Always rejected. She’s truly shameless.” “And now Liam Sterling finally kisses her, but it’s only to make her donate blood for Clara Miller…” “She’s probably happy and heartbroken at the same time, right? Happy to finally get his kiss, but sad that it’s all for someone else…” Aubrey lay on the donor chair, watching through the glass window as Liam stood by Clara Miller’s bed, his long fingers gently enveloping her pale hand. He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her knuckles. Strangely, she felt neither happiness nor heartbreak. The pain of the needle piercing her vein felt muffled, as if through a thick veil. Even the emotions that should have been gut-wrenching were dulled by her memory loss. Perhaps forgetting everything was the universe’s mercy to her. After donating 400cc of blood, Aubrey emerged, her face pale, her vision blurring in and out. After struggling for a moment, she finally walked up to Liam. “Liam, can you tell me… our home address? In exchange, I can give you a gift.” Liam frowned. “What game are you playing now? Too many attempts, and you’ve forgotten where you live?” “No, I have amnesia…” “The driver is waiting outside,” Liam cut her off. “Have him take you back.” “Thank you,” Aubrey said softly. “I’ll prepare the gift.” “Don’t bother,” Liam’s tone was icy. “I’m not interested in any gifts from you, and you don’t need to try and win my affection.” Aubrey lowered her gaze, a faint, fleeting smile touching her lips. Is that so? But this time, you *will* like the gift. Once in the car, she found her lawyer’s number in her phone contacts and sent a message: 【Hi, I want a divorce and to sever parental ties. Please prepare a divorce agreement and a declaration of severed parental ties for me.】 The lawyer’s reply came quickly: 【Of course, Ms. Hayes. I’ll draft them as soon as possible.】 Aubrey put away her phone, watching the fleeting scenery outside the window. Amnesia was the universe giving her a chance—a chance to completely escape and start a brand new life. “Don’t go home yet,” she suddenly told the driver. “Take me to the immigration office.” The driver clearly paused, looking at her in surprise through the rearview mirror, but still respectfully said, “Certainly, ma’am.” The immigration procedures went smoothly. The staff informed her that all her documents would be ready in two weeks. When she got back into the car, Aubrey hesitated for a moment before speaking, “Please don’t mention today’s events to Mr. Sterling.” The driver’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. “Ma’am, Mr. Sterling has always… forbidden us from mentioning you in his presence.” Aubrey forced a bitter smile. So Liam Sterling detested her to such an extent that he didn’t even want to hear her name. Back at the mansion, Aubrey stood in the entryway, looking around. This home felt both familiar and alien. Familiar because every detail matched her aesthetic, yet alien because it was so cold and quiet, as if no one truly lived there. She gently traced the embroidered throw pillow on the sofa, thinking that when she had decorated this home, she must have been full of hopeful anticipation for a happy life with Liam. In the wedding photo hanging on the wall, her eyes were filled with love as she looked at Liam, but his handsome face only showed indifference. Aubrey shook her head and turned to go upstairs. Entering the bedroom, Aubrey instinctively pulled open a drawer. A leather-bound diary slipped out and fell to the floor. She opened the first page. The messy handwriting looked as if it had been written while drunk: 【Today is the first day of my marriage to Liam. He went to his study without saying a word. It’s okay, I’ll wait.】 Flipping through the pages, each entry felt like a knife plunging into her heart: 【My 37th attempt. He still didn’t come to see me. His assistant said Clara had a fever, and he stayed by her bedside all night. I lay in the emergency room, counting the drips until dawn.】 【My 89th attempt. I took sleeping pills. When I woke up, I heard him on the phone in the hallway, saying, “Let her die.” It was then I understood. What hurts more than death is hearing the person you love most wish for your death.】 【My 108th attempt. I’ve decided to give up. If this one doesn’t work, I’ll simply vanish for good. After all, no one in this world cares if I exist.】 Aubrey slammed the diary shut. Her chest felt as if it had been brutally torn open. The scars on her wrists suddenly burned, each one silently screaming of past despair. She slowly sank to the floor, hugging her knees. For three years, she had lived so humbly, like a dog begging for scraps, just for a glance from him. “It’s okay,” Aubrey whispered, wiping away her tears and placing the diary back in the drawer. “Aubrey Hayes, it’s okay if no one loves you.” The moonlight streamed through the window, casting a small pool of light at her feet. “As long as you love yourself, you haven’t lost.” Aubrey lived in the empty mansion for several days. Liam Sterling never returned. Without memories, without love, she didn’t find the solitude difficult to bear. In fact, she thought it was quite nice to quietly wait for her immigration documents to be processed. Until her mother’s call shattered the peace. “Tomorrow is Clara’s birthday. Seven o’clock in the evening, at the Grandview Hotel.” Her mother’s voice was cold and distant. “Don’t be late.” “I don’t…” “That’s settled.” The call was abruptly cut off, not even giving her a chance to refuse. On the day of the party, Aubrey chose the simplest black dress. Upon entering, she saw Clara Miller, surrounded by admirers, and Liam Sterling, whom she hadn’t seen in days. “Clara Miller is so lucky,” two women whispered nearby. “Her adoptive parents dote on her like the apple of their eye, and even Mr. Sterling is so attentive to her.” “Isn’t she? I heard Mr. Sterling personally arranged this party. Look at that champagne, specially flown in from France, each bottle costs six figures. And those flowers, freshly flown in from Holland this morning. The entire ballroom is decorated like Clara Miller’s favorite Monet garden, costing millions.” The guests’ murmurs continuously reached her ears. Aubrey took a sip of her drink, her gaze fixed on Liam Sterling not far away. He was wearing a black suit today, his shirt collar casually unbuttoned, revealing a glimpse of his collarbone, exuding a hint of lazy aristocracy. Yet this very man was now half-kneeling, adjusting Clara Miller’s skirt. His usually cold face even bore a smile. “And now, let’s invite Mr. and Mrs. Albright to offer their blessings to their beloved daughter!” No sooner had the host’s voice faded than Aubrey’s parents walked onto the stage with Clara Miller. Mr. Albright cleared his throat, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. “Today, I have an important announcement. Sixty percent of Albright Industries’ shares will be inherited by Clara Miller.” A gasp rippled through the audience. Aubrey’s hand tightened around her glass. At that moment, Liam Sterling also walked onto the stage, pulling a velvet box from his pocket. When he opened it, inside lay an antique emerald ring. “Isn’t that the Sterling family heirloom?” someone in the crowd exclaimed. “I heard that emerald ring was left by Mrs. Sterling Senior for her eldest grandson’s wife.” “Oh my God, giving the family heirloom to his wife’s sister… Mr. Sterling is openly humiliating Aubrey Hayes…” The ring slowly slid onto Clara Miller’s ring finger, a perfect fit. “Dad, Mom, Liam, isn’t this… a bit much?” Clara Miller suddenly looked towards the corner, her voice filled with feigned hesitation. “After all, big sister is the biological daughter of the Hayes family, and Liam Sterling’s wife. These things should belong to her, shouldn’t they?” Hearing this, Mr. and Mrs. Albright immediately grasped her hands. “Nonsense! Aubrey is well-married, with the Sterling family backing her. We naturally need to plan more for you. Giving you the assets is only right.” Liam Sterling merely stated calmly, “If it weren’t for that accident, this ring would have been yours.” Aubrey stood in the middle of the crowd, feeling like she was being stripped naked in public. Her parents’ words were like slaps, Liam Sterling’s words like knives, striking her face repeatedly. The gazes of the surrounding guests were like spotlights, leaving her nowhere to hide—pitying, mocking, gloating. Every single one of them screamed “pathetic.” She could even feel Clara Miller’s triumphant gaze, like a victor flaunting her spoils. In the past, she would have been so heartbroken she’d want to die. But now, she felt only peace. Aubrey gently set down her glass. As she turned, she heard someone whisper: “Look, her eyes are all red…” “She must be heading to the restroom to cry…” “How pathetic. Her biological parents and husband both favor the adopted daughter…” She didn’t stop, walking straight to the restroom. Her reflection in the mirror showed perfectly applied makeup, not a single tear shed. Because she had forgotten everything. She had forgotten how humbly she once begged for her parents’ affection, for Liam Sterling’s love. She no longer remembered how many times she had cast aside her dignity, just for a fleeting glance from them. These people, whom she once humbly looked up to, were now no different from strangers. Now, she simply needed to quietly wait for her immigration documents to be processed, and then learn to love herself properly. Aubrey reapplied her lipstick. Just as she was about to leave the restroom, she suddenly froze at the corner of the hallway. Not far away, Liam Sterling was pinning Clara Miller against the wall, kissing her deeply. His long fingers threaded through her hair, his other hand tightly gripping her waist, as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones. Clara Miller’s head was thrown back, her fair neck forming an elegant arch. After what felt like an eternity, Liam Sterling finally released her, gently caressing her slightly swollen lips with his thumb. His voice was low, “Satisfied?” Clara Miller leaned into his embrace, her voice soft and sweet. “Liam, do you think I’m being too demanding? I’ve already accepted your family heirloom, but I still asked for a kiss… If big sister saw us, she’d probably be sad again.” “I’m just in so much pain. If that accident hadn’t happened back then, we would have been together…” Liam Sterling’s eyes were calm as he held her even tighter. “Her sadness has nothing to do with me.” “I never liked her, and I never will in this lifetime.” “It’s always been you, Clara.” With that, he lowered his head and kissed her again. Aubrey stood frozen, her heart clutched by an invisible hand, making it almost impossible to breathe. She raised a hand to her chest, thinking: *This must be the lingering warmth of my past love for him.* *Once this last ember dies out, there will be nothing left.* Liam Sterling and Clara Miller kissed for a full three minutes before turning to leave. Only after their figures completely vanished did Aubrey emerge from the shadows. She took a deep breath, straightened her dress, and prepared to return to the ballroom to get her bag and leave. But just as she entered the main hall, Clara Miller rushed over and grabbed her wrist. “Big sister, if you liked the ring Liam gave me so much, I could have given it to you. Why did you have to steal it?” Aubrey froze. “Steal what? What are you talking about?” “Don’t pretend!” Clara Miller’s eyes were red. “I just went to the restroom, and the ring was gone! The waiter said only you came near my bag!” Mr. and Mrs. Albright arrived, hearing the commotion, and without a word, Mrs. Albright slapped Aubrey. “Aubrey Hayes, you just can’t go a day without causing trouble, can you?!” Aubrey’s cheek stung, and before she could react, her mother shrieked, “Someone, search her!” Several waiters immediately surrounded her, roughly tugging at her dress. Aubrey struggled desperately. “I didn’t steal anything! Let go of me!” “Rip!” The sound of tearing fabric filled the air. Aubrey’s shoulder was exposed, and gasps and snickers immediately broke out among the guests. “Found it!” A waiter pulled the emerald ring from her bag. “It was in here after all!” Clara Miller took the ring, tears streaming down her face. “Big sister, what do you have to say for yourself now?” Aubrey trembled, about to speak, when the crowd suddenly parted— A steady footsteps approached from afar. She looked up to see Liam Sterling walking towards her, his polished dress shoes echoing on the marble floor. Each step felt like it landed directly on Aubrey’s heart. “Why would you steal it?” His voice was soft, yet it silenced the entire ballroom instantly. “Don’t you know I never considered you my wife?” Aubrey looked up, meeting his icy gaze. “Aubrey Hayes, some things don’t belong to you,” his thin lips parted, each word like a poisoned blade. “They never will.” Aubrey suddenly smiled. That smile made Liam Sterling’s brow furrow almost imperceptibly. He had seen her cry, seen her throw tantrums, seen her become hysterical, but he had never seen her smile like this—a smile of release, or perhaps mockery. “I didn’t steal it.” Her voice was soft, yet every word was clear. The ballroom chandelier cast tiny lights in her eyes, like tears, or perhaps stars. “And—” She took a deep breath, enunciating each word: “I don’t love you anymore!” Silence descended upon the hall. Everyone’s eyes widened, disbelieving their ears. Aubrey Hayes, the woman who had been desperate for Liam Sterling, saying she no longer loved him? All eyes focused on Aubrey, faces etched with shock. Only Liam Sterling stood before her, impeccably dressed, his expression cold, not a ripple in his eyes. “How many times have you played this game of push-and-pull?” His voice was low, laced with undisguised mockery. “I’ve told you, it doesn’t matter how much you act out.” He leaned slightly, his thin lips barely moving, each word designed to crush her last shred of dignity— “I don’t love you, and I never will.” With his words, the surrounding guests finally snapped out of their shock, and whispers erupted like a tide. “I knew it! How could Ms. Hayes suddenly stop loving Mr. Sterling?” “Right? She used to try to end her life over a hundred times just to get him to look at her!” “Tsk, tsk, how pathetic and tragic…” Aubrey clenched her hands, her nails digging deeply into her palms, but she felt no pain. She opened her mouth, wanting to say it again— She wasn’t playing games. She truly, deeply, didn’t love him anymore! But before she could speak, Mr. Albright sharply interrupted. “Excuse me, everyone. It’s our fault for failing to raise our daughter properly, allowing her to commit such a shameful act of theft!” He waved his hand coldly, instructing the bodyguards, “Take her and throw her in the hotel’s cold storage. Let her freeze there overnight to clear her head!” Aubrey’s pupils contracted sharply. She suddenly looked up. “I told you I didn’t steal anything…” But no one listened to her explanation. Two bodyguards stepped forward, roughly seizing her wrists. She struggled desperately, but then a sharp pain shot through the back of her neck! She stumbled backward, her vision blackening, after being struck by the bodyguard’s bat. In the last second before losing consciousness, she met Liam Sterling’s eyes. He stood there, watching her coldly, not even a flicker of emotion on his face. Later, Aubrey was awakened by a biting cold. Frost coated her eyelashes, and her breath misted in the air. Her limbs were stiff with cold, her blood felt like it had congealed. The cold storage unit was minus thirty degrees Fahrenheit, and she was only wearing a thin slip. Her exposed skin was already turning blue-purple. “Can’t die…” She struggled to move her body. “I can’t die…” Her immigration documents would be ready soon. She had to leave this place. Soon, she could start a new life. She used all her strength, inching her way to the cold storage door. Her fingers, purple with cold, desperately pounded on the heavy metal door. “Help… me…” “Is anyone out there… help me…” Her voice was hoarse and unrecognizable, but there was no response from outside. Until— “Stop knocking.” A soft, laughing voice drifted from beyond the door. Aubrey froze. It was Clara Miller. “Everyone’s celebrating my birthday party right now, who has time to bother with you?” Clara Miller chuckled, her voice laced with unconcealed triumph. “Oh, and here’s something funny—” “Today’s your birthday too, isn’t it?” “Too bad no one remembers.” Aubrey bit down hard on her lip, the taste of blood spreading in her mouth. “I’m being celebrated in a lavish ballroom, while you’re freezing to death here…” Clara Miller laughed softly. “What if you’re a real heiress, Aubrey Hayes? What if I was just an orphan adopted from a welfare home?” “You’re still beneath my heel.” Aubrey closed her eyes, a metallic taste rising in her throat. Just then, Clara Miller’s phone rang. She seemed to intentionally put it on speaker, allowing Aubrey to clearly hear the voice on the other end— “Clara, where did you go?” It was Liam Sterling. His voice was low and gentle, with a tenderness Aubrey had never heard directed at her. “I feel a little dizzy…” Clara Miller’s voice immediately turned delicate. “I’m in the lounge…” “Wait there, I’ll be right over.” The call ended, and silence returned to the cold storage. Hearing Liam Sterling’s tender voice towards Clara Miller, Aubrey slowly closed her eyes. For some reason, she suddenly recalled the long nights she had written about in her diary. On the yellowed pages, the words were blurred by tears, each stroke her own despair etched onto the paper. She wrote about Liam Sterling booking an entire revolving restaurant for Clara Miller’s birthday, just so she could see a snowfall; She wrote about him staying by Clara Miller’s bedside all night when she had a fever, even missing his company’s IPO bell-ringing ceremony; She wrote about the tender warmth in his eyes when he looked at Clara Miller, like melting spring snow, while his gaze on her was only icy frost. So many days and nights, she had been like a pathetic voyeur, hiding in the shadows, watching them fall in love. Thankfully, now, she finally no longer loved him. This realization made Aubrey’s lips twitch, and she succumbed completely to the darkness. When she next awoke, Aubrey found herself in her mansion bed. Loud, exaggerated laughter and cartoon dialogue drifted from outside the door, the volume so high it seemed to shake the walls. She propped herself up and, pushing the door open, saw Clara Miller sitting cross-legged on the living room rug, snacking on chips, laughing uncontrollably at the TV. “Big sister, you’re awake?” Clara Miller turned, still smiling. “Oops, sorry, was my anime too loud?” She deliberately crunched her chips loudly. “I’ve felt a bit stuffy these past few days, and the air here in the mansion is so good. Liam said I could stay a few days to recuperate… You don’t mind, do you, big sister?” Aubrey instinctively looked at the sofa— Liam Sterling was sitting there, his long fingers flipping through financial reports, his expression cool and focused behind his gold-rimmed glasses. The TV was blaring, yet he didn’t even frown. Aubrey suddenly remembered something written in her diary: 【He lost his temper again today because I was eating an apple beside him. He said the chewing sound bothered his work and told me to leave.】 【Remember, from now on, when he’s in his study, even my breathing must be quiet.】 And now… Clara Miller rustled her chip bag loudly, exaggerated battle sounds boomed from the anime, but Liam Sterling didn’t even lift his head. The difference between love and not loving was so stark. She was about to speak, but Liam Sterling suddenly spoke first. “If it weren’t for that accident back then, this home would have been yours.” His tone was cold, his gaze still fixed on his documents. “She’s merely taken what isn’t hers. You don’t need to ask her permission.” “Right, no need to ask my permission,” Aubrey said calmly. “You can stay as long as you like.” Liam Sterling’s finger, turning a page, paused slightly. He finally looked up at her, his gaze behind his glasses subtly narrowing. This wasn’t like her. Normally, she would either cry hysterically or suppress tears with red eyes, never this… calm. But this slight anomaly only lingered in his mind for a second. He returned his gaze to his documents. After all, he never dwelled on anything related to her, much less cared. Aubrey didn’t care what he thought, simply closing her bedroom door. All day, Aubrey locked herself in her room, listening to the incessant, grating noises from outside. Clara Miller cranked the TV volume to maximum to watch variety shows, walked around on the hardwood floors in high heels, and even opened one of Liam Sterling’s treasured bottles of red wine to go with fried chicken. Every single one of these actions was typically a huge trigger for Liam Sterling. Once, she had accidentally bumped his bookshelf and earned a cold glare; walking too loudly in slippers would earn her a frown and a sharp correction; let alone touching his red wine… But now, she clearly heard Liam Sterling merely say, “Eat slowly, no one’s taking it from you.” Aubrey finally emerged for dinner. The dining table was already laden with dishes. Clara Miller sat beside Liam Sterling, her eyes curved in a radiant smile. “Liam, these are all my favorite dishes!” “Yes,” Liam Sterling’s gaze was tender. “I haven’t forgotten a single one of your preferences.” Clara Miller’s face flushed. She turned and saw Aubrey standing by the door, immediately calling out, “Big sister, come eat!” Aubrey silently walked to the opposite end of the table and sat down. At this moment, Clara Miller seemed like the lady of the house, and she, Aubrey, merely an uninvited guest. She took a forkful of the dish in front of her. After two bites, her throat suddenly felt itchy. She frowned, tried another dish, but the discomfort only grew more intense. “Big sister, what’s wrong?” Clara Miller suddenly exclaimed. “Why do you have red spots on your arm? Are you having an allergic reaction?” Aubrey looked down to see her arms indeed covered in red rashes. Her breathing became increasingly rapid. She tried to speak but no sound came out. She struggled to point to her bag, where her emergency medication was. Clara Miller frantically rose to check, but accidentally knocked over a steaming hot soup bowl— “Ah…” The scalding soup splattered all over Aubrey’s already rash-covered arm, and the intense pain brought tears to her eyes instantly. She saw Liam Sterling rush forward in a single stride, but it was— To shield Clara Miller in his arms! “Did you get burned?” He anxiously checked Clara Miller’s hand, his voice dripping with tender concern. “How could you be so careless?” Aubrey’s vision blurred in and out. Before losing consciousness, the last thing she saw was Liam Sterling’s retreating back, cradling Clara Miller… When she woke again, she was in a hospital bed. A nurse was changing her IV drip. “Your allergy was so severe, you almost died. And you have second-degree burns. Why haven’t any family members come to see you in two days?” Aubrey opened her mouth, but then heard whispers from outside the door: “I heard Mr. Sterling booked the entire floor?” “Yeah, all for Ms. Clara Miller’s minor burn.” “He spoils her so much. By the time he gets here, her wound will have already healed…” Aubrey slowly closed her eyes. “I don’t have any family.” The nurse looked as if she wanted to say more but eventually left silently. No sooner had the room quieted than her phone rang. Aubrey fumbled to answer it. A voice, old but full of vigor, came from the other end: “Girl, it’s Grandpa.” Aubrey froze. In her diary, Liam Sterling’s grandfather seemed to be the only elder who had been kind to her. “Girl, I know all about what’s been happening recently,” Grandpa Sterling’s kind and concerned voice came through the phone. “You’ve suffered. Since Liam married you, he should treat you well. Don’t worry, Grandpa will stand up for you.” This was the first time since losing her memory that Aubrey felt genuine concern and affection. Her nose stung, and she almost shed tears. “It’s okay, Grandpa, I’m fine.” “You always make my heart ache, girl,” Grandpa Sterling sighed. “You’re an heiress, but after being kidnapped, you suffered so much. Your parents don’t care about you, in fact, they’re better to their adopted daughter. And Liam, too…” “All these years, you’ve given so much for him. He’s picky and hard to please, yet you learned a whole set of massage techniques; for that limited edition tea set he loved, you traveled to over a dozen cities to find it; when he was hospitalized with a stomach ulcer, you cared for him sleeplessly for three days and nights; when his mother passed away, you handled the entire funeral… Yet he treats you so coldly, unable to give you his true heart. He *will* regret it!” Aubrey stared blankly at the sterile white ceiling. She didn’t remember any of these things, but just hearing them made her heart throb with pain. “Alright, Grandpa needs to go for a check-up now,” the old man finally said. “Remember, if you ever need anything, just call Grandpa to back you up.” Shortly after the call ended, the hospital room door was violently pushed open. Liam Sterling stood at the doorway, impeccably dressed, his eyes icy. “First, you have an allergic reaction and attempt to end your life, then you go running to Grandpa for help. Aubrey Hayes, besides ending your life and calling Grandpa, do you have any other tricks to get my attention?” Aubrey wanted to explain, but seeing his mocking gaze, she ultimately just said softly, “I didn’t deliberately attempt to end my life. I forgot I was allergic to peanuts.” “Forgot about a peanut allergy?” Liam Sterling sneered. “Why don’t you say you forgot who you even are?” Aubrey quietly looked at him. Yes, she had forgotten who she was. She had forgotten the Aubrey Hayes who had been so humble for love, forgotten the profound despair of those years, and forgotten… the deep-seated love she once had for him. But she didn’t say a word of it. Perhaps due to Grandpa Sterling’s pressure, Liam Sterling grudgingly stayed to “care” for her. But it was less care and more a form of torment. When her IV dripped blood back into the tube, he ignored it. When hot water scalded her hand, he remained indifferent. Even when she struggled to breathe and pressed the call button, he was only concerned with calling his assistant: “Has Clara Miller’s burn been redressed?… Hmm, send over the best scar cream.” The most ironic part was that even though she no longer loved him, Aubrey still felt suffocated. She couldn’t imagine how her former self, who had been so desperately in love with Liam Sterling, had endured years of this daily torment. Sycamore leaves drifted outside the window. She suddenly remembered the words written on the last page of her diary: 【If one day I stop loving you, it will be because my heart has died.】 Now, she realized, the Aubrey Hayes who wrote that line had probably died long ago, in countless nights of neglect. On the day of her discharge, the hospital room was empty. Aubrey knew Liam Sterling had gone to Clara Miller again. In three years of marriage, the days he spent by her side could be counted on one hand. She was used to it, silently waiting for her immigration documents to be approved. During this time, Clara Miller’s Ins feed was constantly updated— Swiss skiing, the Eiffel Tower, island sunsets… In the photos, Liam Sterling’s gaze was blindingly tender. The latest post showed Liam Sterling at the foot of a snowy mountain, his long fingers gently adjusting Clara Miller’s scarf, bending down to tie it tightly, while Clara Miller leaned into his embrace, her smile radiant. The caption read: 【He said he wants to show me the whole world.】 Aubrey calmly scrolled past, as if looking at a stranger’s feed. Three days later, the immigration office finally called, informing her that her documents were ready. She immediately took a taxi, picked up her passport and visa, and then went to the law firm to collect her divorce agreement and declaration of severed parental ties. Everything was in order. She could finally leave this place for good. Aubrey carefully folded the divorce agreement and the declaration, tucking them into the innermost pocket of her bag. Just as she zipped it shut, her phone screen lit up. Clara Miller: 「Big sister, let’s talk.」 Aubrey: 「About what?」 Clara Miller: 「You’ve occupied the position of Mrs. Sterling for three years. Isn’t it time you gave it back to me?」 Aubrey let out a cold laugh, and replied directly: 「It’s already yours.」 She sent the message, then tossed her phone into her bag and walked home without a backward glance. When she pushed open the front door, the motion-sensor light in the entryway didn’t come on. She frowned, fumbling for the switch on the wall. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through the back of her head— Before consciousness fully faded, she heard Clara Miller’s voice talking to a man. … When she next awoke, a biting wind lashed her face. Aubrey’s eyes snapped open, and she found herself dangling over a cliff edge! Rough ropes dug into her wrists, and below her was a bottomless abyss. She struggled to turn her head, realizing Clara Miller was also suspended not far from her, her face deathly pale, trembling violently. “Awake?” The kidnapper stood nearby, a cigarette dangling from his lips, sneering. “Don’t worry, your men will be here soon.” No sooner had he spoken than the roar of an engine echoed from a distance. Several black SUVs sped towards them, braking sharply at the cliff edge. The car doors opened, and Liam Sterling strode out. He wore a black trench coat, his expression grim, his presence chillingly oppressive. “Here’s the money, release them,” his voice was low, carrying an undeniable command. The kidnapper grinned. “As expected of Mr. Sterling, straight to the point.” He took the box handed to him by a bodyguard. After confirming the amount, he waved his hand. “I’ve given you the people. Mr. Sterling, you can save them yourself.” With that, he and his crew left without another word. Aubrey hung suspended in mid-air. The rope was already starting to fray, and loose stones crumbled from the cliff edge, falling into the bottomless darkness. She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stay calm. “Liam! I’m so scared!” Clara Miller cried, tears streaming down her face. “Save me…” A bodyguard quickly assessed the ropes, his face grave. “Mr. Sterling, the ropes won’t hold much longer. We can only save one person right now.” Liam Sterling didn’t hesitate for a second, walking directly towards Clara Miller. At the same time, Mr. and Mrs. Albright’s car arrived. They scrambled out, seeing the scene at the cliff edge, and immediately cried out, “Clara!” “Save Clara first! Quick! She’s fragile, she can’t take this kind of ordeal!” Mrs. Albright’s voice was shrill, almost breaking. Mr. Albright rushed over to help. The three of them worked together, quickly pulling Clara Miller up. Meanwhile, on Aubrey’s side, the rope had begun to make a groaning, snapping sound. “Crack!” She suddenly plunged down a section, the loose stones at the cliff edge tumbled down, disappearing into the bottomless darkness! “Ma’am!” A bodyguard lunged forward, desperately gripping the rope. The rough hemp rope dug into his palm, blood dripping between his fingers, but he finally managed to drag her up.

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“Summer, your resignation has been approved by Kieran, but he didn’t seem to notice it was *you* leaving. Should I remind him?” Hearing the news over the phone, Summer slowly lowered her gaze. “No, it’s fine as it is.” “But you’ve been his secretary for four years. You’re the one he’s most satisfied with, the one he can’t do without. Are you really sure you don’t want to reconsider?” Ms. Albright pleaded earnestly, but Summer just smiled. “No one is indispensable in this world. My parents aren’t in good health, and I’m busy heading back home to settle down, maybe finally find someone. Since Kieran approved it, I’ll follow the procedure and hand over my work. I’ll be gone in a month. Thanks.” After hanging up, Summer continued to clear out her belongings. She had lived in this villa for three years. She didn’t have too many things, nor too few. Aside from the essentials, she was throwing everything else away. As she watched the room slowly empty, she felt a momentary lapse, and countless memories surged forth. Eight years ago, Summer, an ordinary small-town girl from a modest background, got into the University of Northwood. She quickly became best friends with Isla, the heiress of the powerful Thorne family, a prominent name in Newport City. Despite their vastly different backgrounds, the two girls instantly clicked. They were inseparable, attending classes, eating meals, and shopping together every day. Slowly, Summer was drawn into Isla’s circle. She met her family, and that’s when she fell for Isla’s older brother, Kieran. But she buried this secret deep in her heart, never telling anyone. After graduation, Isla went abroad to study. Summer stayed in Newport City, applying for jobs, and eventually became Kieran’s secretary, just so she could see him regularly. Until one unexpected incident, when Kieran was drugged. Summer was about to call for an ambulance, but he, unable to control himself, pushed her against the wall, his kisses raining down upon her. After a passionate night, she woke to find him by the window. His sharp, defined profile was partly obscured by the lingering cigarette smoke, making him seem both composed and utterly alone. Hearing her stir, he turned around, asking only one question. “Do you like me?” Summer instinctively wanted to deny it, but he spoke calmly. “Every time you see me, you blush. You remember every single preference and pet peeve I have. The moment you graduated, you came to work as my secretary…” “Don’t tell me all of that is a coincidence.” Every word he uttered made her face flush even deeper, whether from shame or guilt, she couldn’t tell. In the dead silence, he suddenly handed her a card. “Last night was an accident. I love someone else, I won’t reciprocate your feelings, and I can’t be responsible for you. Isla mentioned your family isn’t wealthy, so the money on this card should be enough for you to live comfortably for the rest of your life. Just forget everything that happened.” Summer was stunned. Only then did she remember that last night, in bed, he had been repeatedly calling out a name. Seraphina, Xu Qingyao. According to Isla, Seraphina was Kieran’s unforgettable first love. He loved her so deeply that even when she broke up with him and went abroad, even with a string of rumored boyfriends, he insisted on waiting for her to come back. Summer remembered Isla once complaining. “Our Thorne family is usually so cold and unfeeling, how did my brother turn out to be such a hopeless romantic? He’s waited all these years, saying that anyone else besides her would just be settling, and he refuses to settle.” She deeply resonated with those words. Remembering them now, she suddenly mustered her courage and called out to Kieran, who was about to leave. “I don’t want your money. I just want you to give me a chance. Kieran, please, try being with me. If she doesn’t come back, or even if… she does come back, but you still haven’t moved on from her, then on that day, I will leave on my own.” Facing her eyes, which were filled with love, Kieran paused for a few seconds. He simply said, “Suit yourself,” and left. From then on, Summer was his secretary by day and his private bed partner by night. Their countless scandalous moments were left in his office, his Maybach, and even against the villa’s floor-to-ceiling windows. Four years passed. No one knew about their hidden relationship, and she accepted it, content in her role. Until a few days before his birthday. Summer had prepared many surprises, wanting to celebrate with him. But by midnight, she didn’t see him. Instead, she saw an Ins post. “The best birthday gift is to find what was lost.” Kieran, who never posted on Ins, had shared a photo of himself kissing Seraphina under a sky full of fireworks. Seeing that picture, the color drained from Summer’s face, and her heart clenched. She clung to one last sliver of hope and called him. It was Seraphina who answered. After Summer said “hello” several times without a reply, Seraphina called out to Kieran. “Kieran, who’s this Summer calling you, not saying anything?” A moment later, his deep, soft voice came through the speaker to Summer. “No one important. Don’t worry about it, honey. Go back to sleep.” In that moment, Summer knew it was time for her to exit the stage. She packed her belongings, planning to leave, but ran into Kieran at the door. Since they used to sleep together every day, Summer stayed in his villa for convenience. But now, she couldn’t stay any longer. Seeing her holding her things, his gaze tightened slightly, but he didn’t try to stop her. “Found a place?” “Yeah, my old rental. I talked to the landlord, just for a month.” At that, Kieran’s brow furrowed slightly. “A month? Why?” Summer was about to explain, but he seemed uninterested, stating flatly, “I’ll drive you.” She wanted to refuse, but Kieran insisted. “The snow is too heavy, and it’s late. If anything happened to you, Isla would be upset.” Summer had no choice but to get in the car. They had been intimate countless times in this very car, but now, she almost didn’t recognize it. The car was filled with all sorts of cute stuffed animals. The seat covers had been changed to Hello Kitty, and snacks were everywhere… Summer could barely imagine that a man as decisive, stern, and self-controlled as him would decorate his car like this. Perhaps noticing her gaze, Kieran offered an explanation. “Seraphina likes these things.” Summer understood what he meant. After a long silence, she replied softly. “You finally got her back, Kieran. I’m truly happy for you.” Kieran hadn’t expected her to say that. His eyes darkened slightly, and he said nothing more. Midway, Seraphina called, saying she wanted to build a snowman with him. He pulled over, wanting to rush to her, but then hesitated, looking at Summer beside him. Summer knew what he was worried about and opened the car door herself. “Kieran, I’ll take a taxi home.” Kieran grunted, getting out to help her with her things. Her hand slipped, and the box fell to the ground. He bent down, and under the streetlight, his body stiffened for a moment as he saw the scattered items on the ground: love letters with his name on them that were never sent, candid photos of him taken at who knew when, and things he’d casually discarded that she’d secretly picked up and kept… Summer’s heart pounded, and she frantically gathered the items. “I’m so sorry.” Kieran said nothing, just got back in his car, and sped away. Summer waited alone in the snow for a long time, but no taxi came.

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0″Lucas, it’s your turn to choose,” my father said weakly from his hospital bed. I stood there, looking at his pale face, and replied softly, “Dad, I’m not choosing anyone.” My words, though quiet, sent ripples through the room like a stone thrown into still water. Ethan jumped up from his chair, his face a mask of disbelief. “Lucas, are you insane? Do you know what’s at stake here?” He strode over to me and hissed, “Dad’s company is going bankrupt. The Summers and the Song families are our only lifelines!” “I chose the Summers. You have to marry Sophia from the Song family. It’s your duty!” My duty? In my past life, I believed that too. I had married Sophia Song, the amnesiac heiress of the Song family, and cared for her for five long years. I treasured her, but when Ethan and I were kidnapped, she didn’t hesitate to push me towards the kidnappers’ knives. The pain of that cold blade piercing my heart still lingered in my body. Seeing that I remained unmoved, Ethan grew desperate. He turned to our father’s bedside, his voice rising with emotion. “Dad! Look at him! He’s deliberately trying to destroy our family!” “He’s always tried to take everything from me! Now he’s going to ruin us all!” My father’s face turned purple with anger. He pointed at me, struggling to speak. “You… you ungrateful child,” he wheezed. “Your brother has sacrificed so much for this family. Why can’t you just do your part!” I clenched my fists at my sides, my nails digging into my palms. Yes, my brother had sacrificed his freedom for the Summers family’s financial support, gaining fame and fortune. And I was supposed to sacrifice my entire life to fill that bottomless pit? I glanced out the window. Sophia was leaning against the wall in the hospital corridor, her head bowed like a lonely statue. Even through the glass, I could sense the aura of brokenness she was deliberately projecting. Seeing my silence, my father thought I had given in. His face showed a hint of relief. “Then it’s settled. After your brother gets engaged to the Summers girl, you’ll…” “I said, I’m not choosing anyone,” I interrupted coldly. My voice was like a slap across everyone’s face. I turned to leave without another glance at them. “Stop right there!” My father issued his final ultimatum. “If you walk out that door today, you’re no longer my son!” I paused at the threshold, not looking back. “Good riddance,” I said. As I came out, Sophia looked up. Those eyes, feigning confusion and innocence, seemed to show a hint of genuine concern and pain. In my past life, those eyes had fooled me into utter ruin. I walked past her without a sideways glance. But she grabbed my wrist. “Don’t go,” she pleaded. “If they don’t want you, I do.” I looked at her, then suddenly raised my hand and gently tapped her forehead with my index finger. “You know what?” I said in a voice only we could hear. “Your act of pretending to have amnesia is really pathetic.” Her pupils contracted sharply. I watched as her eyes instantly turned sharp and cold, and I smiled. “Miss Song, your undercover game is over.” With that, I walked out of the hospital, leaving her rigid form behind. 0

The sky outside the hospital was gloomy, the cold wind cutting like a knife against my face. I took a taxi home, intending to pack up my belongings. As soon as I opened the door, the phone rang. It was the hospital. “Mr. Lu, your father… he just passed away.” I held the phone, feeling utterly calm. All the tears I had to cry were shed in my past life. I hung up and continued packing my things. Soon after, my phone started ringing incessantly. Annoyed, I picked up. Sophia’s voice came through, barely containing her fury: “Where are you? Your father is dead, and Ethan is so distraught he’s threatening to jump from the hospital roof!” “He’s asking for you specifically. Get over here right now!” I almost laughed. Ethan valued his life too much to ever jump. “If he wants to jump, let him,” I said coldly. “What’s that got to do with me?” “Lucas!” Sophia’s angry voice came again. “If it weren’t for your tantrum, your father wouldn’t be dead! I don’t care what you’re doing, get to Central Hospital now! Or face the consequences!” I couldn’t be bothered to deal with her anymore and hung up. Half an hour later, the villa’s door was kicked open. Sophia stood in the doorway, backlit, with over a dozen menacing bodyguards behind her. She saw the suitcase at my feet, and her eyes instantly turned vicious. “You’re leaving?” she asked. “None of your business,” I replied. She walked towards me step by step, those eyes that once entranced me now filled with terrifying anger. She grabbed my wrist, yanking me towards her. “Come with me to the hospital,” she demanded. “I said, I’m not going,” I repeated. She narrowed her eyes, the chill in them intensifying. “Lucas, don’t push me,” she warned. She forcibly dragged me out and shoved me into the backseat of a car. On the hospital rooftop, the wind was strong, making it hard to keep my eyes open. Ethan stood at the edge in a white shirt, looking down emotionally. “It’s all your fault, Lucas!” he screamed when he saw me. “You killed Dad with your selfishness!” “Why don’t you just die!” he shrieked. He shuffled towards me as he yelled. Sophia nervously followed behind me. “Ethan, calm down. Watch your step,” she cautioned. Just as Ethan passed by me, a flash of malice crossed his eyes. He deliberately rammed his shoulder into me hard, while pretending to stumble. “Ah! Sophia, save me!” he cried out. It all happened so fast. Sophia, without thinking, reached out and pulled the seemingly faltering Ethan into her arms. The force of his “stumble” knocked me off balance. My body tilted backwards uncontrollably, over the roof’s railing. “No!” I heard Sophia’s horrified scream. The sensation of falling from the fourth floor felt exactly like the moment of death in my past life. I closed my eyes, but a mocking smile tugged at my lips. Sophia, you chose him. Again. When I woke up again, I was lying in a hospital bed. I looked at my right leg in a cast, feeling the excruciating pain inside. The door opened, and Sophia walked in, a hint of guilt on her face. “Ethan’s fine now, just a bit shaken up,” she said. “The doctor said your leg has a comminuted fracture. You’ll need to rest. I’ll take care of the medical bills and compensation.” I looked at her and suddenly laughed. “Sophia Song, do you think all the harm you cause can be fixed with money?” 0

Sophia seemed hurt by my laughter. Her brows furrowed. “Lucas, I know you’re angry, but Ethan didn’t mean to…” “Enough!” I cut her off. “I don’t want to hear anything about him. Please leave.” Just then, her phone rang. She answered, and her face instantly changed. “What did you say? Ethan’s been kidnapped?!” I laughed coldly to myself. What was bound to happen had finally come. In my past life, the international crime syndicate kidnapped Ethan to get revenge on Sophia for her undercover work. And to save her true love, she had used me as a scapegoat. Sophia hung up the phone and looked at me, struggling to speak: “Lucas, I’m sorry, but he can’t be harmed. He’s the only reason for my existence.” She suddenly seemed to make a decision, a look of determination flashing in her eyes. “Lucas, help me one last time,” she pleaded. “The kidnappers want Ethan, but they don’t know what he looks like. Go in his place.” I stared at her in silence, as if hearing the biggest joke of my life. She grew uncomfortable under my gaze and avoided my eyes. “I’ll give you a large sum of money, enough to live comfortably for the rest of your life…” “I’ll arrange everything, ensure your safety…” “And if I refuse?” I asked coldly. The last bit of warmth vanished from her eyes. “Then you don’t have a choice,” she said. She made a gesture, and two burly bodyguards entered, roughly lifting me from the bed and forcing me into a wheelchair. “Sophia!” I struggled, the pain in my broken leg making me see stars. “You’ll regret this!” I warned. She didn’t look at me, just stood with her back to me, her voice hard as iron. “I never regret anything.” The exchange point was an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city. I sat in the wheelchair, pushed by Sophia herself. She told the kidnappers, “This is the Ethan you’re looking for. He’s the one I love.” Ethan was tied to a pillar. When he saw us, he immediately started crying dramatically. But I caught the flash of glee in his eyes. The lead kidnapper walked over with a sinister grin. “Well, Miss Song keeps her word. You’ve brought your precious sweetheart, so you can take this man back.” Sophia pushed me forward without hesitation. The kidnapper, true to his word, started untying Ethan. As the kidnapper grabbed my wheelchair and released Ethan, Sophia rushed over, pulling him into her arms and shielding him behind her. Seeing Sophia’s triumphant smile, the kidnapper instantly realized he’d been tricked. He yanked me out of the wheelchair, pressing a knife to my throat. “You dare play me?” he snarled. “Want to see him die right now?!” However, Sophia looked utterly unconcerned. “Do what you want. I don’t love him anyway.” The kidnapper’s eyes bulged with rage. The sharp blade pressed against my skin, drawing a line of bright red blood. Just then, the warehouse doors were smashed open from the outside. Dozens of blinding flashlight beams shot in, momentarily blinding everyone. In the split second the kidnapper was stunned, a bullet whizzed by, precisely hitting his knife-wielding hand. Blood splattered as the kidnapper screamed in pain, the knife clattering to the ground. Immediately after, a figure dashed over, kicking the kidnapper away with one swift move. A clear, urgent voice rang out beside me: “Lucas! Don’t be afraid! I’m here!” 0

I turned towards the voice, meeting a gentle gaze. It was Olivia. She knelt before me, carefully cradling my hand, her voice trembling. “Lucas, I’m so sorry I’m late.” Looking at this face, both familiar and strange, my tears finally broke free. She was my best childhood playmate. Years ago, when Olivia’s family fell on hard times and had to move abroad, she had woven a ring from a blade of grass and put it on my finger, solemnly vowing, “Lucas, I’ll come back to marry you when I grow up.” After my rebirth, the first thing I did upon leaving the hospital was to send that ring overseas. I was betting that she still remembered that promise. It seems I won that bet. Olivia slipped that grass ring back onto my finger, then lifted me into her arms. Her sharp gaze swept across the room, finally landing on Sophia. “You’re Sophia Song, right?” Olivia’s voice was cold as ice. “What did you do to my man?” She took my hand, leading me forward. As we passed by Sophia, the dried grass ring on my finger, now clearly visible, flashed before Sophia’s eyes. Her pupils contracted sharply! She suddenly remembered, years ago, a little boy with a dirty face but the brightest eyes she had ever seen. He wore an identical grass ring on his finger. She had teased him then, “Who gave you this? It’s so ugly!” “When I grow up, I’ll give you one covered in diamonds!” she had promised. But the little boy had hidden his hand behind his back protectively, saying in his childish voice: “Big sister Olivia made this for me. It’s not ugly at all!” Later, Sophia had gone to great lengths to investigate, and all clues had pointed to the younger son of the Lu family. From that moment on, she had mistaken Ethan for that boy from her memories, her childhood’s only pure love. But now… That grass ring had appeared on Lucas’s finger, and his “Big sister Olivia” turned out to be Olivia herself! She had been wrong about everything from the very beginning! “No…” A desperate cry escaped Sophia’s throat. “Lucas!” She let go of Ethan and walked towards me. I looked back at her one last time and smiled gently. “Sophia Song, it’s too late for you to realize now!”

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I was William’s childhood friend who couldn’t speak. He got into trouble, and I took the fall for him, spending over a decade in prison. Before I went in, he cried and said, “Lily, I’ve wronged you. I’ll wait for you to come out and treat you right.” During those years, William only visited me for the first three. He had no idea what kind of life a mute country girl led in prison. The tough inmates came and went, but I remained, enduring it all. When times got tough, I’d think of him. I’d remember the candy he bought me from town, how he said I was his girl even though I couldn’t speak. On the day of my release, William showed up in a crisp suit, driving a fancy car. Next to him was a girl, dressed elegantly like a fairy tale princess. That’s when I learned she was his business partner’s daughter. She liked him, and he couldn’t turn her down. So today, he said he was here to pick up his orphaned cousin from the countryside. I remembered then – my parents had died saving him from a flood. I was indeed an orphan. I just nodded, neither crying nor making a fuss. I played along with his act of us being cousins. The truth was, I had cancer. My dying wish was to see William one last time. I was afraid he wouldn’t be able to let me go. Now I wasn’t afraid anymore. Later, he would lose everything trying to save me, saying he wanted nothing but his Lily back. I shook my head, clumsily using my last bit of strength to sign: William, I’m leaving. Take care.

“Try to stay out of trouble when you get out,” the guard advised as the iron gate clanged shut behind me, cutting off the sky that had confined me for fifteen years. The sunlight stung my eyes, making me squint as I greedily breathed in the air of freedom. It didn’t smell of the familiar earth I remembered, just the cold scent of car exhaust. I waited for a long time, until the sun began to set, until I thought he wasn’t coming. But I didn’t know where else to go. This world of bustling traffic was so foreign; I’d long forgotten the way home. So I could only sit by the roadside and keep waiting. I seemed to be good at waiting. I’d waited for fifteen years. At first, I waited for William to visit me again. Then I waited for my bullies to be released. Now I was waiting for William to pick me up. When they contacted my family, he said he’d come for me. He promised, so I believed him. Until a glossy black sedan silently pulled up in front of me. The window slowly lowered, revealing a face etched in my memory, yet somewhat unfamiliar. It was William. He had lost some weight, his features sharper now. The boyish charm was gone from his brow, replaced by a depth and distance I couldn’t quite read. He wore an impeccable suit I’d never seen before, and on his wrist, a silver watch gleamed aristocratically in the sun. “Lily,” he said, his voice hoarse. I tried to smile at him, just like I had fifteen years ago. But my muscles, long unused to such expressions, probably twisted into something uglier than crying. I walked towards him, my steps unsteady as if I were treading on cotton. The car door opened, but he didn’t get out. The passenger door opened first, and a girl in a champagne-colored dress stepped out. Her hair was slightly curled, her makeup flawless, like she’d stepped out of a painting. She naturally walked around to the driver’s side, opening the door and affectionately linking her arm with William’s. “Will, is this the country cousin you mentioned?” her voice was as sweet as a oriole’s song, her gaze holding a barely concealed curiosity and assessment.

The girl’s voice was as melodious as a songbird, her gaze holding a barely concealed curiosity and assessment as she looked at me. My feet suddenly froze in place. Cousin? William’s body stiffened slightly. He extracted his arm from the girl’s grasp and quickly walked over to me, his eyes complex as he looked at me. His tone carried guilt and a hint of pleading. “Lily, this is Olivia, my… ” he paused, seeming to choose his words carefully, “my business partner’s daughter.” He turned to Olivia and introduced me: “Olivia, this is my cousin, Lily. She grew up in the countryside and hasn’t been out much.” That’s when I remembered. Yes, that flood years ago. My parents had died trying to save William from being swept away. I became an orphan, taken in by his family. So wasn’t I indeed just a lonely orphan with no relatives? So, I was just his cousin now. I looked at them, one in a tailored suit, the other in flowing silk, a perfect couple. And me, wearing the faded old clothes issued by the prison, my hair dull and my face pale, like a ghost crawled up from underground. I lowered my head, looking at my own dry, rough hands. These hands had been soaked in icy water through countless winter days in the prison laundry, burned by hot oil countless times in the kitchen. They had also been clenched into fists, nails digging into flesh, enduring the blows that fell on my body when I was bullied. But I had never thought these hands were ugly before, because William had once held them, saying he would give me a good life. Now, I felt they were too ugly to even belong in the same air as him. I didn’t cry or make a scene. I just nodded to him, showing I understood. William let out a sigh of relief. He was probably afraid I’d cause a scene and embarrass him. Sitting in the car, the soft leather seats made me uncomfortable. The car was filled with a pleasant scent, coming from Olivia. She sat in the front with William, chatting easily about stocks, wine, and dinner parties – things I couldn’t understand. “Will, are you really not going to Mr. Wang’s party tonight? He organized it especially for you,” Olivia said. “Not tonight. I just picked up Lily, I need to get her settled,” William glanced at me in the rearview mirror, his eyes evasive. “Oh come on, it’s just a cousin. Mrs. Johnson can take care of her. Your business is important,” Olivia pouted, her voice sickeningly sweet. I shrank into the corner of the back seat, trying to make myself invisible. The cancer in my stomach started to ache again. I quietly pressed my hand against my abdomen, taking deep breaths. The car pulled into a place I couldn’t have imagined even in my dreams. A huge wrought iron gate, a garden with fountains and neatly trimmed lawns, and a mansion that looked like a castle stood before us. A middle-aged woman wearing an apron came out to greet us. William called her Mrs. Johnson. Mrs. Johnson took the small bag from William’s hand – all my worldly possessions. She weighed it, a fleeting look of contempt crossing her face, then her gaze fell on me. I was familiar with that look. Many people in prison had looked at me that way. After all, I was just a mute country girl. “Sir, is this…” “My cousin, Lily,” William interrupted her. “Mrs. Johnson, take her to the guest room on the first floor and help her get settled.” “The first floor?” Mrs. Johnson hesitated. “But sir, that room is for the staff…” “That room,” William’s tone left no room for argument. He didn’t want to dwell on the topic. I followed Mrs. Johnson, walking across the mirror-like marble floor, past the enormous crystal chandelier, and finally to a small, dark room at the corner of the stairs. It had only a single bed and a small wardrobe, with a window facing the back wall of the yard. But it was clean, and just for me. It was much better than prison. This was my new home.

That evening, William didn’t stay for dinner. Olivia laughed coyly, saying she wanted to take him to a new French restaurant, claiming their foie gras was exquisite. I sat alone in the vast dining room. Mrs. Johnson had made me a bowl of noodles. Plain boiled noodles with two pieces of green vegetables floating on top, not even a drop of oil. I ate silently, the pain in my stomach growing more intense. I remembered the times in prison when life got unbearably tough, I would think of William. I remembered how he had saved his allowance for half a month to buy me a pack of fruit candies from town. He had handed them to me like a treasure, smiling and saying, “Lily, when I make big money, I’ll let you eat candy every day.” I remembered when the village kids made fun of me for not being able to speak, it was William who beat them up one by one, then turned to me with red eyes saying, “Don’t be afraid, Lily. Even if you can’t speak, you’re still my girl.” For fifteen years, these memories had kept me alive. Night fell, and I was curled up on the bed, my stomach pain so severe that cold sweat soaked through my thin clothes. I couldn’t bear it anymore. I stumbled out of the mansion in the dark, relying on my faint memory to find a 24-hour convenience store. I searched the shelves for a long time before finding the cheapest fruit hard candies, colorful and exactly like the ones in my memory. I clutched that pack of candy like a lifeline. The next day, I saw William coming downstairs. He was dressed casually but still looked elegant. I gathered my courage, walked up to him, and opened my palm. In it lay a translucent orange candy. I looked at him expectantly, perhaps with a light in my eyes that I wasn’t even aware of. I wanted to tell him, “William, look, I found our candy.” He froze. Before he could say anything, Olivia came downstairs in her slippers. Seeing the candy in my hand, she laughed dramatically: “Oh my god, Will, you still eat this stuff? It’s all artificial colors and sugar, so unhealthy.” William’s face instantly turned red. He seemed to have been reminded of some embarrassing past, and suddenly swatted my hand away. The candy rolled from my palm, scattering across the floor with a series of tiny clinks. I stood there, frozen, looking at those colorful candies on the expensive floor, feeling how cheap and ridiculous they looked. I silently crouched down, reaching out with my rough hands to pick them up one by one. But my hands were shaking so badly, I couldn’t grasp them. I heard Olivia cooing nearby, “Will, don’t be angry. Your cousin meant well. Mrs. Johnson, please clean up this mess, it’s an eyesore.” I finally managed to pick up one candy, clutching it in my palm. The cheap sweetness seeped through my skin, but it felt bitter in my heart. Days passed. William was busy with his business and with Olivia. He would occasionally ask me if I was “settling in okay,” but wouldn’t wait for my nod before being called away by another phone call. I was like a weed forgotten in a corner, silent and unnoticed. Later, Olivia’s friends came to the mansion for a party. They decided to play hide and seek. I had played this as a child. They invited me to join. But someone, as a prank, pushed me into the second-floor storage room and locked the door. The small, enclosed, dusty space instantly pulled me back into the nightmare of those fifteen years. In prison, because I refused to “pay respect” to a new top dog, she and her gang had locked me in solitary confinement. No windows, no light, just endless silence and the scratching sounds of rats gnawing on things. That time, I was locked up for three days and three nights. When I came out, I was half dead. I opened my mouth silently, immense fear gripping my throat. But I could only tremble, curled up in the corner, my arms tightly wrapped around my head. My stomach churned, and I started to dry heave uncontrollably. I don’t know how long it was before I heard Olivia’s impatient voice outside the door: “Who locked this? The game’s over!” The door opened, and blinding light poured in. William and Olivia stood in the doorway, both stunned to see me curled up on the floor, my face streaked with tears. “What’s wrong with her? It was just a game, why is she crying?” Olivia complained, her tone full of disgust. “Such a mood killer.” William’s brows furrowed tightly. He walked over and roughly pulled me up, his grip so tight it hurt my wrist. “Lily, what the hell are you doing? Can’t you stop causing trouble for everyone?” “I’m already stressed enough with my business. I don’t have time to coddle you like a child every day!”

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My sister’s restaurant. I was just about to leave when the manager called out, “Sir, you haven’t paid your bill yet.” I looked at the unfamiliar face, thinking he must be new and didn’t recognize me. So, I politely explained, “Just put it on your boss’s tab. She knows about it.” The male manager gave me a dismissive glance. “Sir, this is a three-Michelin-star restaurant. We never allow tabs.” He finished speaking, then handed me a printed bill. I glanced down at it. A single meal, half a million dollars. Glow-up cutlery maintenance fee: $30,000. Exclusive air purification fee: $50,000. VIP emotional appeasement service fee: $100,000. And a bunch of other ridiculous charges. I had no idea my sister ran such a rip-off joint. I let out a sarcastic laugh. “I’m Adrian Hayes, Ms. Hayes’s brother. If there’s an issue, she can come home and talk to me.” But he wouldn’t back down. “If you can’t afford it, just say so. Don’t try to piggyback on Ms. Hayes’s name. I’ve seen plenty of pretty boys trying to sponge off women.” I texted my assistant: *Tell my sister: either fire this guy, or I’m pulling all my investments.*

“Sir, stop wasting everyone’s time. Just pay.” His tone was smug and cutting, as if he’d already labeled me a scoundrel trying to climb the ladder on a woman’s coattails. Several curious glances were already turning my way. I frowned, not wanting to waste time on such a ridiculous matter. I pulled out my phone and dialed my sister’s number directly. But all I got was a cold busy signal. I tried again, same result. It’s a weekday, what’s that girl up to? I put down my phone and looked straight at the aggressive man, repeating each word clearly: “I’ll say it again. My name is Adrian Hayes, and I am the biological brother of your boss, Serena Hayes.” “Her phone isn’t answering right now. You can check her card; my photo and information are linked to it.” I thought this was the most direct and effective way to solve the problem. But when the male manager heard my name, instead of verifying it, he burst into a loud, exaggerated, and grating laugh. He laughed so hard he almost doubled over, drawing even more attention. Then, he suddenly leaned in close, lowering his voice to a whisper only we could hear: “Still pretending? I’ve seen your face in Serena’s photo album a thousand times!” “You’re that persistent creep who always tries to interfere with our lives!” “And now you have the nerve to show up at her restaurant and put your tab on her? Who do you think you are?” I froze for a second, then glanced at his name tag – Brendon Miller. An overwhelming sense of exasperation washed over me. Serena’s boyfriend, the one she’d been so secretive about, the one she wouldn’t even let me see a single photo of… it turned out to be this foolish, venomous man right in front of me. How could her taste be this bad? It dawned on me then: today’s half-million-dollar “exorbitant bill” wasn’t a misunderstanding at all. It was a premeditated humiliation. Before I could even speak, he’d completely lost his patience. “If this gentleman insists on dining and dashing, we’ll have to restrain him until the police arrive!” He waved his hand, and two burly security guards, who had been standing nearby, immediately stepped forward. They were two well-trained strongmen. Two fists against four hands, my resistance was quickly subdued, and my arms were twisted tightly behind my back. I struggled violently but couldn’t break free from their professional hold. They ignored my furious gaze and the frightened looks of the other guests, roughly dragging me towards the back kitchen. Then, I was violently shoved into the storeroom in the back, reeking of disinfectant and stale, greasy slop. The door slammed shut, cutting off all light and sound from outside.

In the dark, the male manager said nothing. He simply raised his leather-clad foot and kicked me hard in the stomach. The excruciating pain made me grunt instantly, my stomach churning. “That’s for spending my woman’s money!” “That’s for meddling in her business!” He yelled, his voice twisted by jealousy and rage. He looked down at me, then ordered the two burly men: “Beat him! Teach him a lesson!” The two security guards were clearly his cronies; they didn’t hesitate, a relentless flurry of punches and kicks raining down on me. I gritted my teeth, swallowing every cry of pain. My bones felt like they were being crushed inch by inch, my internal organs dislodged. His taunts continued: “Who do you think you are, huh? Just a good-for-nothing leeching off his sister!” “I told you I’m her brother! If you don’t believe me, ask Serena! Call her now, I’ll talk to her!” I struggled to explain, but the man in front of me just ignored it. It wasn’t until I started feeling dizzy that he raised a hand, signaling them to stop. He nudged my shoulder with the tip of his leather shoe, looking at me triumphantly: “You’d better settle the bill today and cough up another half-million.” “That’s the consequence of you interfering in my relationship with Serena and spending her money.” “I’m not afraid of trouble. Serena will handle any fallout for me.” I was curled in a ball of pain, weakly trying to argue, “That’s *my* own money! I told you, if you don’t believe me, go ask her.” His face changed. He kicked me, and the two security guards immediately understood, their punches and kicks raining down on me again. I knew he wouldn’t listen to anything I said. If this continued, I could be seriously hurt. After I coughed up a mouthful of blood, I used my last ounce of strength to grope for my phone on the floor. “Stop… I’ll… I’ll pay.” He seemed satisfied with my submission, signaling the two security guards to stop. He squatted down and patted my swollen cheek. “See? Wouldn’t it have been easier to just do that from the start? You chose the hard way.” “Two million. Not a cent less.” I lay sprawled on the cold floor, gasping for breath, my lungs burning. I ignored him and dialed my friend Leo Rodriguez’s number. The phone was answered quickly. “Leo, bring two million to my sister’s restaurant. I need it now.” Leo on the other end paused, then sensed something was wrong. “Adrian? What’s wrong, man? Your voice sounds…” “Don’t ask. Just hurry.” I cut him off and hung up. Brendon’s eyes instantly lit up at the mention of “two million.” A greedy glint flashed in them. He probably thought I was beaten into submission, offering more money to beg for mercy. The triumph on his face was now impossible to hide. “Smart move.”

Leo’s speed was astonishing. Soon, the storeroom door was violently shoved open from the outside. Leo, accompanied by two bodyguards, strode in quickly. He was shocked to see the blood on my mouth, my disheveled clothes, and my pathetic posture, propped up on the floor. He rushed over to help me up. I shook my head, subtly signaling him to stay silent, then took the bank card he handed me (with the PIN attached) and tossed it to the man. The man took the card and didn’t bother me further, waving his hand. “If that’s a fake card, I have countless ways to find you. Get lost.” Enduring the excruciating pain throughout my body, I limped out of that sickening place, leaning on Leo’s arm. When we reached the entrance, I thanked Leo: “Thanks, buddy. I’ll get this sorted and pay you back quickly.” He looked at me worriedly. “Don’t worry about the money, it’s nothing. But what happened to you?” I sneered. “My sister found herself a fine boyfriend. I guess I have a score to settle with her.” I pulled out my phone and found the number for the restaurant’s Assistant General Manager, Mr. Peterson. Mr. Peterson was the restaurant’s actual manager, someone I had personally recruited, and he was quite loyal to me. The call connected. I wasted no words, my voice devoid of emotion. “You have ten minutes to fire a manager named Brendon Miller.” “Otherwise, Hayes Enterprises will withdraw all investment from the restaurant, every last cent.” Mr. Peterson on the other end was scared shitless the moment he heard my voice. He must have heard the weakness and the unusual edge in my voice, as he agreed in quick, terrified succession, not even daring to ask why. I hung up the phone and, without a moment’s pause, told Leo to take me straight to the police station. With the clearest, calmest logic, I recounted everything that had just happened to the officer who assisted me. After giving a detailed statement at the police station, I went to the hospital for an injury assessment. I held that thin report in my hand, and the fury of betrayal, as if fueled by hot oil, burned hotter and fiercer within me. I needed an explanation. I needed Serena Hayes, to give me an explanation herself. My assistant found out Serena was at her villa. My driver and bodyguards arrived, and we headed straight for Serena’s place. That villa was also a gift from me. However, when I arrived, I was greeted by blaring heavy metal music. And the raucous sounds of men and women echoing through the doors and windows. She was throwing a party. No wonder she hadn’t answered my calls. The villa’s main door was ajar, and on a strange impulse, I didn’t push it open immediately. Soon, I heard a familiar male voice. It was Brendon Miller. He was pouring out his story to everyone, painting himself as a poor, helpless victim, bullied by an arrogant third party – me – who then had the audacity to turn the tables and accuse him. “…I just asked him to pay the bill, and he threw two million dollars in my face, then found people to get me fired…” “Serena, he’s gone too far. He doesn’t respect you at all!” “He just wants to humiliate me, he just wants us to break up!” Inside, Serena’s circle of ‘friends’ — mostly hangers-on and troublemakers — echoed his outrage. Serena, in turn, was loudly comforting Brendon in her arms, her voice full of tenderness and indulgence. “Brendon, don’t worry, I won’t let you suffer this injustice!” Then, as if to prove her resolve, she promised everyone confidently: “When I get my hands on my brother, I’ll make him beg for your forgiveness on his knees!” Inside, those spoiled brats were still backing Brendon, shouting about how they would make me pay. “Serena, just say the word, and we’ll go drag that bastard out right now!” “Yeah! Let him know who truly owns this place!” I couldn’t listen anymore. I raised a hand, and my bodyguard kicked open the villa’s front door. The booming music screeched to a halt, the noisy laughter instantly vanishing. Dozens of stunned eyes, all at once, turned towards the doorway. “No need to drag me out. I’m right here. Who wants to teach me a lesson?”

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I went to prison for my girlfriend, taking the fall for her for three years. I even handed over my multi-billion dollar company for her to manage. She promised we’d get married the day I got out. I was a model inmate, and on the day I got out early, I grabbed the first bike I saw and pedaled like crazy, eager to surprise her at home. But the facial recognition system at the mansion didn’t recognize me. The property management hadn’t even had a chance to contact the owner yet. Then a man, wearing *my* pajamas, walked to the door, a three-year-old girl in his arms. He took one look at me, rolled his eyes in disgust, pulled out a crumpled bill, and flicked it at my face. “Go beg somewhere else!” “And don’t you dare try to stick around here!” I looked at the hundred-dollar bill on the ground and just started laughing. When did my mansion get a new owner? … Mr. Davies picked up the fallen bill and practically shoved it into my hand. “You’re a lucky man today, running into someone as kind as Mr. Caleb.” “Considering you just got out, I won’t call security. Just go.” As he spoke, the stranger clutched the child tighter and stumbled back several steps, his face a clear mask of disgust. “I’m looking for Serena. She’s my girlfriend.” At that, the stranger’s face instantly twisted, as if he was about to snap something back. Mr. Davies shot him a look, then turned to me. “Ms. Serena? Your girlfriend? Don’t be ridiculous. Not in broad daylight.” He was about to throw me out without another word. I struggled, ready to defend myself. “Sir, you’re back.” I looked up. It was Martha, our housekeeper, just coming out to take the trash. Martha vouched for me to Mr. Davies, and he started apologizing profusely. I gave a bitter laugh. “If Martha hadn’t shown up, I’d probably be sleeping on the streets tonight.” Martha quickly smoothed things over and ushered me inside. Inside, the stranger remained silent. Martha hurried ahead, practically sprinting, as if afraid I’d ask her something. As the door opened, Serena’s familiar voice drifted out. “Caleb, the formula’s ready. It’s time to feed…” But then she saw me. She froze, stammering, “Blake? Why are you out early? You didn’t tell me!” No enthusiastic hug, just a strange chill settling in my chest. I looked around, and everything had changed. The sofa was now my least favorite orange, piled high with baby supplies. And all my old things? Gone. Serena quickly grabbed my arm, explaining, “This is my new assistant, Caleb Stone. His wife… she passed away during childbirth. As his boss, I’m just helping him out by looking after his daughter for a bit, out of sympathy.” The next second, Caleb was practically plastered to me, fawning. “So *you’re* the brother-in-law! My apologies, I didn’t recognize greatness when I saw it.” He was a completely different person from the arrogant man who’d just been here. I ignored him, turning coldly to Serena. “Where are my things?” She said, her voice overly sweet, “I was afraid Daisy might break them, so I packed them up and put them in the study. I’ll get them for you.” I walked straight to the study and opened the door. Inside, it was filled with photos of that child: her hundred-day celebration, her first birthday, second birthday… Serena had thoughtfully written dates and loving messages on them. Meanwhile, my belongings were shoved in a dusty corner, forgotten. I turned to her. “Anyone would think you were her real mother.” Serena’s face darkened. “What’s that supposed to mean? I’m just trying to keep talented people at the company!” The air grew thick with silence, then shattered by the baby’s cries. Serena rushed over, cooing to the child and offering a bottle. Caleb murmured, “There’s no other way. Daisy’s always been fed by Serena since she was tiny.” I watched her, saying nothing. Once the crying stopped, Serena immediately handed Daisy back to Caleb, as if desperately trying to prove something to me. But Caleb turned, walking towards me. “Brother-in-law, want to hold her? She’s really cute.” I was about to refuse, but he just placed her directly into my arms. Suddenly, her little face turned bright red, and she began to wail uncontrollably. Serena instantly shoved me away, scooped up the child, and soothed her gently in her arms. Caleb, meanwhile, gave me a knowing smirk. Serena shot me a reproachful look. “Daisy is shy with strangers. For her sake, why don’t you stay in a hotel for now? I’ll have Mr. Jenkins drive you.” She paused for a few seconds. “I’ll come find you later.” Seeing the child still whimpering, clinging to Serena’s shoulder, I kept my temper. I turned and walked towards Mr. Jenkins, who was waiting. As I looked up, I froze for a moment. The car was still the business sedan I’d bought before, but it had been repainted red. “But you hate red, don’t you?” I shot back. Serena shrugged dismissively. “I lent it to Caleb ages ago. It’s easier for him to pick up and drop off Daisy.” Then, without another glance, she went back inside, already humming a lullaby to put the baby to sleep. Watching her disappear, a hot, bitter wave washed over me. That sedan was the gift I’d given her for our two-year anniversary. We’d promised each other we’d take a road trip every year, see every corner of the world. She’d completely forgotten. The car was crammed with stuffed animals, only one small corner free enough for someone to sit. I told Mr. Jenkins, “Mr. Jenkins, I need to go to the nursing home first, if you don’t mind dropping me off there.” My father passed away young, and my mother was my only living relative. I didn’t want her to worry, so I never told her about my imprisonment. Three years without seeing her. I missed her terribly. “If we go to the nursing home and then the hotel, there won’t be enough time. Ms. Serena wants me to pick them up for the amusement park later.” A doubt gnawed at me: What could a three-year-old possibly do at an amusement park? I didn’t press Mr. Jenkins. I just told him to drop me at the nursing home. He then handed me a hotel key card. I looked at it. It was for a run-down motel outside the city limits, barely even a hotel. The smallest stuffed animal in that car was probably worth more than the entire place. I gave a self-deprecating laugh and walked towards the nursing home entrance. I looked up and saw an old woman with white hair, sitting helplessly by the side of the road. Around her lay a scattered roll of bedding. It was covered in large patches of mold, dirty and torn. Bystanders nearby murmured, “Either she has no kids, or the ones she has are absolute animals.” I walked closer, focusing my gaze. It was my mother, Eleanor! The bystanders’ words echoed in my mind, filling me with a fresh wave of shame. I rushed to help her up. “Mom, why aren’t you in the nursing home?” My mother’s eyes welled up with tears when she saw me. “They kicked me out, son. You’re finally back.” I led my mother into Ms. Thorne’s office, demanding, “Don’t you know who she is? Why did you kick her out?” Ms. Thorne adjusted her glasses. “Eleanor Harrison hasn’t paid her fees in over a month. We notified her family repeatedly to come and pick her up, but no one ever showed. We had no choice but to evict her, according to policy.” I stood there, stunned, unable to speak. Before I went to prison, I had voluntarily given Serena my CEO position and all my assets. She promised she’d take good care of my mother in the nursing home. At first, she’d send me videos of Mom during every visit, which put my mind at ease. I never imagined my mother would end up in such a state. Swallowing my anger, I called Serena. She whined, “I’m so busy running the company all by myself! I’ll have accounting transfer three hundred thousand dollars over right away.” Then, I heard her whisper, “Leo, don’t tell Caleb about this money. Otherwise, he’ll say I’m making decisions behind his back again.” The line went dead, but I felt as if a giant boulder had landed on my chest, making it hard to even breathe. The nursing home quickly confirmed receiving the money. I hurried with my mother back to her old room, helping her pack her belongings. Just as I finished packing and was about to take Mom to dinner, three or five security guards burst in, demanding we leave. Without a word, the guards started throwing Mom’s clothes onto the floor. Ms. Thorne sneered, “Well, I’ve heard about folks from rough places, but you’re a special kind of trouble, aren’t you?” “We just paid the fees! Why are you kicking us out?” I demanded, furious. “The money came in, and right after that, we got a threat to send it back or face a lawsuit. Not calling the police directly was me being merciful.” As Ms. Thorne spoke, she played a recording. Caleb’s voice boomed from her phone. “On behalf of Ascend Group, I demand you return that payment immediately. Otherwise, our legal team will sue you.” “Ms. Serena is beautiful and kind-hearted; she doesn’t care about these small amounts. But *I* have to protect her interests and ensure no one tries to take advantage of her.” My hands shaking, I pulled out my phone to call Serena, but I couldn’t get through. My mother, however, collapsed onto the sofa, clutching her chest, exhausted by the ordeal. Seeing her condition, I had no choice but to plead with Ms. Thorne. “Director, I’m Blake Harrison, the former CEO of Ascend Group. The Ms. Serena he mentioned is my fiancée. Can you please make an exception and let my mother stay here for now?” “As soon as I reach her, I’ll bring the money.” Ms. Thorne gave me a dismissive look, waving her hand. “You don’t look like you’re in charge, no matter how I look at you. The person on the phone sounds a lot more authoritative than you.” “If you can’t afford to stay, then leave. This isn’t a charity, and I’m no saint.” With that, she was about to order the guards to throw us out. I slowly helped my mother to her feet and we left. The scorching sun beat down, and fine beads of sweat constantly broke out on my mother’s forehead. I looked around, desperate to find somewhere to get her out of the heat. With a soft thud, my mother’s legs gave out, and she collapsed. I immediately called 911 and rushed her to the hospital. At the hospital, we were left in the corridor, ignored. But I overheard nurses whispering, “Apparently, some big shot came in, and her assistant just has a common cold, but she’s got all the doctors tied up in a consultation for him.” Watching my mother struggle to breathe with the oxygen mask, I ran straight to the consultation room. I burst through the doors. Serena was sitting amidst a group of doctors. She looked at me, startled. Ignoring my anger, I said frantically, “My mom collapsed! She’s downstairs right now! Can someone please get a doctor to see her?” Serena hesitated for a second, then Caleb, lying nearby, suddenly started coughing non-stop. She quickly changed her tone. “What? That’s impossible! Isn’t your mother perfectly fine at the nursing home?” Then she practically dragged me towards the door. “Blake, don’t get the wrong idea. Caleb has a very serious illness, and we’re in the middle of discussing his condition.” I scoffed. “A common cold isn’t going to kill anyone, Serena.” She looked at me, utterly incredulous. “What if she catches it? Daisy wouldn’t be able to handle it!” “So my mother’s life means nothing?” I yelled, furious. She just decided I was being unreasonable, shoving a wad of cash into my hand. “Stop being dramatic, go home. Once Caleb is better, I’ll go with you to see your mother.” Then she pushed me out, locking the door from the inside. No matter how hard I knocked, she wouldn’t open it. Disheartened, I returned to the corridor. My mother had opened her eyes. A nurse nearby explained, “She’s just malnourished and has heatstroke. A good recovery at home should do the trick.” Leaving the hospital, I found a better hotel and settled my mother in. Seeing her pale, frail face, I clenched my fists, a fierce determination hardening inside me. The next day, I arrived at the company early, only to find that my former office was now Caleb’s. The door even had a keypad lock. Through the glass, I saw the office had been transformed into a gaming room, littered with action figures and gaming gear. It looked nothing like a workspace. I looked up and saw Caleb sauntering into the office, wearing flip-flops and carrying a bag of breakfast. He sat down, pushed aside the stack of documents on his desk, and casually started gaming with his subordinate, talking into his headset. “Caleb Stone, who gave you the authority to stop my mother’s nursing home payments? And where’s Serena?” I demanded, my patience snapped. He looked up at me, giving me a sneering, provocative smile. “Serena’s on a business trip. I’m just looking out for her, making sure no one can accuse her of embezzling company funds or abusing her power.” The next second, his subordinate, Troy, hurled his half-eaten breakfast at me. “Who the hell are you? You think you’re fit to lecture our CEO Caleb?” I dodged, refusing to stoop to his level. I pulled out my phone and dialed. “Mr. Harrison, I’m at the office. Can you come down here, please?” He readily agreed. After I hung up, Caleb sneered, “Brother-in-law, if you want to leave, I’ll have the driver take you.” I said coldly, “Mr. Harrison? You don’t know him? He’ll be here soon to remind you exactly who I am.” They exchanged a look, then both laughed. Troy instantly chimed in, sucking up, “Oh, if you know Mr. Harrison, then I know Mr. Harrison’s dad!” I was about to retort when I noticed a certificate — the one from when I led my team to win an international award — being used to prop up a table leg. Months of late nights and hard work, all for that honor, now treated with such utter contempt. I kicked the gaming desk aside, grabbed the certificate, and demanded, “Do you even know what this is?!” “Just some trash for the junk heap, I guess.” Caleb said, his face utterly indifferent. My patience snapped. I reached out and grabbed his collar, tightening my grip. The next second, Troy kicked me hard in the lower back. I cried out in pain and let go. I scrambled to my feet, ready to fight back, but Caleb and Troy ganged up on me, pinning me down. Caleb put his foot on my head and spat at me. “You useless leech, living off women! Today, I’m going to teach you a lesson!”

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At the wedding, Finn Carter, the struggling student my fiancée Seraphina had sponsored, burst in, screaming. “Seraphina! A hornet stung me… *down there*! What if I can never… be a man again?” Seraphina didn’t hesitate. She abandoned me and all our guests, ready to leave with Finn. I grabbed her arm, suggesting we finish the ceremony first, then find a doctor for him. She shoved me hard, sending me sprawling to the ground, her eyes blazing with furious rage. “Liam Miller! If you truly loved me, you wouldn’t be standing in my way right now!” With that, she dragged the injured Finn to a private room at the venue. When I finally got there, I saw Seraphina straddling Finn. Seraphina, who had once promised to save her precious virginity for our wedding day, glared at me. “Finn’s situation is so serious, how could I just stand by and do nothing?” “It’s just my first time, isn’t it? If you want it, I’ll just get it ‘fixed’ and give it to you later, okay?” 1 The mic on Seraphina’s wedding dress was still on. Groans, loud and unmistakable, pulsed from the wedding venue’s speakers. The guests’ eyes, a cruel mix of mockery and pity, burned into my face. I gripped my glass so tightly my knuckles turned white. I swallowed the bitter humiliation and the bitter drink in one gulp, my throat tightening. An hour later, Seraphina finally emerged from the room. Her face was flushed an unnatural red, and her million-dollar wedding dress was stained with flecks of blood. The crowd began to cheer, “Congratulations, Ms. Thorne, on your big moment!” someone jeered. “How was it? Finn a good lay, huh?” The words had barely left their lips when my married sister, Aubrey Sterling, walked into the venue, supporting her heavily pregnant belly. She scanned the room, a cold smirk on her face. “You’re certainly generous with your compliments! Why don’t you all be just as generous and offer up your own wives for everyone to sleep with?” She shot a venomous glare at Seraphina, then turned to me, trying to coax me away. “Liam, our family, the Millers, is old money, established. We don’t take wives who aren’t… untouched. Never have.” “Since Ms. Thorne is no longer pure, we can’t break our ancestors’ rules. The engagement is null and void. We’re going home!” As we walked out, whispers followed us every step of the way. “So what if Liam Miller is the richest man? He’s still being wrapped around a woman’s finger, completely played.” “Seraphina Thorne has some nerve, daring to slap Mr. Miller’s face in front of so many! This alliance between the Miller and Thorne families is probably toast…” I lost myself in thought for a moment. Years ago, my grandfather made a pact with Seraphina’s grandfather to repay a life-saving debt, sealing our families in an engagement. After my grandfather passed, my father tried several times to break it off, wanting me to marry a more suitable heiress from a prominent family. But I was dead set on marrying Seraphina, even going so far as to threaten drastic measures if I couldn’t. The Thorne family, leveraging the Millers’ influence, skyrocketed to success. Seraphina had cried, promising to save herself, her most precious gift, for our wedding night. But she had forgotten every single word she ever said, all for Finn Carter, the struggling student she’d sponsored for three years! “Liam Miller!” I snapped back to reality, my foot already halfway into the car. Seraphina rubbed her temples, her expression utterly impatient. “So what if my first time is gone? I promise you, after we’re married, I’ll make it up to you for the rest of your life!” The rest of my life? What once felt like a beautiful vow now just sounded absurd. Seeing my silence, Seraphina gave me a triumphant glance, then lifted her chin, commanding, “Liam, go buy me some condoms. After Finn takes his medicine, I need to test if he’s actually better.” I felt a chill run through my entire body. I couldn’t believe those words came out of Seraphina’s mouth. The next second, Finn, disheveled, stumbled out of the private room. He clutched Seraphina’s hand, whimpering pitifully, “Seraphina, sis, I feel so bad…” Instantly, Seraphina’s patience with me evaporated. She frowned in annoyance. “Liam Miller! If you don’t go buy them, then this wedding is truly off!” But I couldn’t even bring myself to spare Seraphina another glance. As soon as I got in the car, Aubrey slammed her phone down, gritting her teeth. The news about Seraphina and me had already spread like wildfire, headlines everywhere: 【Even the richest man can’t buy love: Shocking wedding day…】 【Top wedding in Northwood! Bride forgets to remove mic, intimate conversation with lover goes public…】 My heart sank deeper and deeper as I scrolled through the news. When Seraphina and I were dating, I never refused any of her requests. I thought, since she wanted to save her most precious ‘first’ for our wedding night, why should I object? But I never imagined that my repeated indulgence and concessions would lead to her and Finn sleeping together on our wedding day. She didn’t care at all what kind of media firestorm I would be thrown into. 2 The wedding scandal hit the trending topics that very day. The Miller family immediately moved to quash the stories, blacklisting major media outlets. Seeing the Millers’ wrath, the Thorne family frantically came knocking. “Liam, please calm down, she’s already apologized to us!” “Don’t worry, she definitely knows she was wrong. How about… we pick another good day and have the wedding?” Mr. Thorne’s words made me laugh, a bitter, humorless sound. “Pick another good day for what? For Seraphina and Finn?” The sarcasm was unmistakable. Mr. Thorne’s face fell, then he plastered on a fawning smile. “Liam, once you and Seraphina are married, I’ll put the Thorne family in your hands.” I looked down at him, a cold smirk on my face, and tossed a stack of acquisition contracts onto the table in front of him. “The Thorne family? What *are* they, truly?” Mr. Thorne was used to being buttered up, accustomed to flattery. He had never been so humiliated. Seeing he was about to speak again, Aubrey’s face hardened. She stepped forward. “Mr. Thorne, a woman who cheats before marriage will never enter our Miller family home. I suggest you think carefully before you speak!” Mr. and Mrs. Thorne’s faces instantly cycled through shades of green and white—panic, embarrassment, and fury all at once. I didn’t want to prolong the argument. I cut straight to the chase. “Out of respect for the long-standing friendship between our grandfathers, have Seraphina meet me at the courthouse tomorrow to finalize our divorce.” With that, I had my staff escort my former in-laws, who were still trying to plead their case, out of the house, and tossed all their gifts with them. The next day, I canceled all my appointments and waited at the courthouse from morning till night. Watching the endless stream of newlyweds coming and going, I found it hard to describe my feelings. I remembered the night before Seraphina and I got our marriage license; she was so excited she couldn’t sleep. We ended up waiting at the courthouse in the middle of the night, becoming the first couple to register their marriage that day. Seraphina couldn’t wait to show off to the entire world. Even now, I can still see the radiant smile on her face. But the image of Seraphina protecting Finn forcibly invaded my mind, making me feel like nothing but a clown. The shrill ring of my phone jolted me back. The moment I hit the video call button, I saw Finn straddling Seraphina, thrusting relentlessly. Finn’s voice was thick with lust. “Seraphina, sis, what we’re doing is wronging Liam. If you two really divorce because of me…” Seraphina cut him off with a soft gasp. “Don’t worry, Liam is just trying to scare me. He loves me so much, how could he ever divorce me?!” The obscene scene instantly drained all strength from my body, and my stomach churned. Finn even deliberately showed off the decor of our bridal suite, his eyes full of blatant provocation. My knuckles, gripping the phone, turned white. I had personally arranged every corner of that room, intending to give Seraphina the best possible experience for her ‘first time.’ I never imagined it would be dressed up for *them*! Suppressing the swirling emotions, I sneered, “Seraphina, you seem quite busy. Do you have time to invite me to observe?” But hearing my voice, Seraphina instantly panicked. She hastily pushed Finn off her, snatched the phone, and glared at me. “Liam Miller! Are you sick? Why are you calling me for no reason?!” I laughed, a bitter sound. “Seraphina, I have no interest in watching a live sex show. Didn’t your wonderful little brother call *me*?” 3 A flicker of doubt crossed Seraphina’s eyes as she looked at Finn. Seeing Finn lower his head in a show of false grievance, Seraphina couldn’t stand it. She turned to me and yelled, “Enough, Liam Miller! Who told you to threaten my parents with divorce? Finn was just trying to help me get back at you!” “Besides, before marriage, my body is my own! I can give my first time to *anyone* I choose!” I calmly cut her off. “You’re right. You have sovereignty over your body. You can give your first time to anyone you want. I can’t, and shouldn’t, have any complaints.” “And I have sovereignty over my mind. I can divorce anyone I want, and you can’t have any complaints either.” Seraphina froze, her face turning instantly, utterly pale. But quickly, she rolled her eyes and sneered, “Liam Miller, our engagement was decided by our grandfathers!” “Don’t you forget, you only secured your position as the heir to the wealthiest family because of our alliance!” Seeing my silence, she softened her tone, coaxing me. “As long as you don’t make things difficult for Finn, I’ll overlook what you said to my parents.” I watched Seraphina, her words twisting everything. Not only did she claim my current position was all thanks to her, but now she even wanted a future with Finn. My past affection and indulgence had become her leverage against me. One of them brazenly called to gloat, the other shamelessly threatened me with our past relationship. They really were a match made in hell! Aubrey, who had been listening for a while, finally couldn’t help but scoff, “Seraphina, as a woman, I’m truly ashamed of you!” “Liam is the sole male heir to the Miller family. He doesn’t *need* you to inherit! Do you honestly think I’d compete with my own brother for that?” Seraphina’s face reddened. I looked at her calmly, my expression composed. “Seraphina, we are completely over.” Hanging up the phone, I felt a strange sense of unreality. Years ago, the Thorne Corporation faced a financial crisis. Seraphina had cried until she fainted in front of me, begging me to save her family. I knelt before my parents for three days and three nights, eventually helping the Thorne family through their crisis. But I fell gravely ill afterward, and Seraphina nursed me back to health, practically living by my bedside for three months straight. I never thought she could change so drastically… I thought I had been very clear with Seraphina. Considering the long-standing ties between our families, I just wanted her to come and divorce me quietly; I didn’t want to make a scene. But when Aubrey and I arrived at the family estate, we found it swarming with people. Seraphina was holding Finn’s hand, giving interviews to the media. “Finn and I are truly in love. So what if Liam Miller is rich beyond measure, the wealthiest man? That can’t buy my love.” “If it weren’t for my grandfather saving his grandfather, there wouldn’t even be a Miller family today…” Seraphina continued her endless accusations. In her narrative, I had become the homewrecker, using money and status to interfere with her and Finn’s love. She even claimed that our Miller family had built its fortune by “sucking the blood” of their Thorne Corporation. And then, she said… “I just wanted to give my first time to the man I truly love. How can virginity be treated as an item for transaction? Isn’t a woman’s body her own?” Her words hit me like a hammer, a throbbing pain in my nerves. It was laughable, but more than that, it was deeply chilling. She claimed Finn was the man she loved most, Yet the person she officially married, with a license, was *me*. Hearing Seraphina pontificating to the reporters, Aubrey couldn’t take it. She immediately got out of the car and, cradling her belly, charged forward. Seeing us, the reporters erupted, swarming around us. Scandal and secrets often plague the wealthy. They were all scrambling, digging for every juicy detail. “Mr. Miller, are you truly the third party, as Ms. Thorne claims, interfering in their relationship?” Before I could speak, Aubrey, furious, burst out, “Did you all sleep through elementary school? You’re just taking Seraphina’s word for it? She’s clearly the one who cheated…” Aubrey’s words were cut short. *Smack!* Seraphina landed a vicious slap across Aubrey’s face. Aubrey, heavily pregnant, stumbled backward and fell to the ground, crying out in pain. But Seraphina, still enraged, continued to curse at her. “I’m your sister-in-law! And the future sole mistress of the Miller family!” “Why do you insist on stirring up trouble between your brother and me? And even fabricating videos to upload online!” Seraphina’s two consecutive accusations exploded like thunderclaps among the reporters. Their eyes widened. They immediately surged forward, pressing us with questions. “Mr. Miller, is what Ms. Thorne said true? Did your sister really upload that video?” “Is this about a family inheritance dispute? Ms. Thorne claims there would be no Miller family without her grandfather, and your sister uploaded a video to sabotage the family alliance. Does she also have designs on the inheritance? Mr. Miller, what’s your take?” Aubrey was pushed and jostled, collapsing onto the ground, blood quickly appearing between her legs. But Seraphina still lunged at Aubrey, and I roared, my eyes spitting fire. “Seraphina! Touch my sister one more time, and I will wipe the Thorne family off the face of the earth!” I glared fiercely at all the reporters, my emotions running high. “I don’t care what baseless rumors you intend to report, but the consequences of slandering and harming the Miller family, even the Thorne family cannot bear!” “If anything happens to my sister because you’re blocking our way, the Thorne family will pay dearly!” At my words, the reporters gasped, scrambling to clear a path. But Seraphina still stood directly in front of me. “Get out of the way!” I shoved her aside. Seeing Aubrey trembling in pain, I quickly pulled out my phone to dial 91But Seraphina slapped the phone right out of my hand, her tone still arrogant. “Liam Miller! You can’t leave! You and your sister *must* apologize to Finn today!” My eyes blazed with a sudden, overwhelming fury. “Get *out*!” “Liam Miller! Seraphina, sis, has already given you a way out; don’t be ungrateful!” Finn, emboldened by Seraphina’s presence, chimed in, mocking me. But before he could finish speaking, I had already summoned my bodyguards. Then I pointed at Finn, my gaze ice-cold. “Beat him to a pulp! For every injury my sister suffered, I’ll make him pay a hundredfold!”

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Blake Sterling, in front of everyone, presented the core “Digital Transformation” plan I had personally crafted for Reed Media, to Chloe Hayes. “Chloe isn’t just the love of my life; she’s the future hope of Reed Media. From today forward, she will take over from Alex Reed as the Group’s new CEO.” Silence blanketed the room. I stared at the perfect couple on stage: he, handsome and commanding; she, delicate and vulnerable. Behind them, on the massive screen, was the business plan I’d painstakingly written over three sleepless months, totaling over a million words. Chloe nestled into Blake’s embrace, her gaze landing precisely on me. “Alex, I’m so sorry. Blake and I truly love each other. We’ve been together for three years. My baby, they can’t grow up without a father.” Three years ago. That was exactly when I earned my Oxford PhD, brimming with ambition, returning home ready to conquer the world. Turns out, my life had been a joke since then. Blake Sterling’s eyes were like ice. “Alex Reed, your family is bankrupt. Reed Media is now *mine*. I need a wife who can help my career, not someone who’s all theoretical nonsense and no practical value.” “Look at yourself now – paranoid, suspicious, completely unstable. Chloe is kind, pure. She’s the one who truly belongs by my side.” “Mentally unstable.” *Huh.* What a convenient label to slap on me. Before I could even speak, Chloe suddenly gasped, her body dramatically slumping towards me. Blake lunged forward, catching her securely in his arms. Then he glared at me like I was a madwoman, roaring, “Alex Reed! Are you out of your mind? Chloe is pregnant, and you’d lay a hand on her!” I stood rooted to the spot, not moving an inch. But everyone around me had already condemned me, nailing me to the pillar of shame as the “evil ex-fiancée who pushed a pregnant woman.” Flashbulbs popped like crazy, reporters, like sharks scenting blood, shoved microphones into my face. “Ms. Reed, did you truly push her out of jealousy?” “We heard your mental state has deteriorated since your family’s bankruptcy, is that true?” “How do you feel about Mr. Sterling and Ms. Hayes’ relationship?” Blake held Chloe tightly, letting the vicious accusations and cold cameras crucify me. In that moment, I didn’t cry. All my tears flowed back inward, hardening into the coldest ice. I watched the phony horror and concern on that repulsive pair’s faces, and the contemptuous, gloating looks from the crowd. The docile, kind Alex Reed of the past twenty-seven years, the one who believed in love and friendship, was utterly destroyed by them in that moment. From her ashes rose a brand new me. Only one thought burned in my mind. I wanted them to pay, in blood.

I was “escorted” out of the ballroom. Two security guards “supported” me, one on each side, their posture polite, their grip unyielding. Blake was afraid I, the “madwoman,” would stay and ruin his little show. I was dumped outside the hotel entrance. The evening breeze hit me, sobering me up considerably. My phone vibrated wildly in my pocket. I didn’t even need to look to know what the notifications would say. #EliteScandal: Heiress Alex Reed Suffers Breakdown, Causes Scene at Gala, Pushes Pregnant Friend# #BlakeSterlingChloeHayes: Fairytale Love, True Feelings Revealed in Adversity# #PerfectHeiressAlexReedPersonaCrumbles# *Huh*, what a brilliant “public execution” strategy. They understood the power of the media perfectly. First, they branded me “mentally unstable,” so anything I said or did afterward would be dismissed as a madwoman’s ramblings. Ruthless, professional. Fitting, considering they stole my plan and then applied it so cleverly. I didn’t go home. That so-called home had already been stolen from me. I hailed a taxi on the street and gave the address of a quiet, older apartment complex. It was a small apartment I’d bought with my first scholarship check during college, registered solely in my name. Thankfully, I’d left myself one last fallback. The driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror, his eyes a mix of sympathy and gossip. “Miss, you’re… Ms. Reed from the news, aren’t you?” I said nothing. He sighed to himself. “Ah, these rich family dramas, they’re truly messy. That guy isn’t much better, looks decent on the outside.” I gave a faint smile, not responding. Messy? It was about to get a whole lot messier. Back at the apartment, I stripped off the six-figure gown, tossed it into the trash, and took a long, hot shower. The warm water rinsed my body, and the confusion from my mind. I had no time to collapse, no time to cry. Tears were the ultimate sign of weakness. From the moment they pushed me off that cliff, this war had begun. My only weapon wasn’t the Reed family name, nor the pitiful balance in my bank account. It was the knowledge in my brain, the very “theoretical nonsense” Blake had mocked. Oxford University, PhD in Media and Communications. I had spent seven years learning how to shape public opinion, create trends, twist narratives, and redefine perceptions. Before, I treated these as academic concepts. Now, they were my weapons of war. I dried my hair and dragged out a dusty box from under my bed. Inside was an old laptop and several encrypted satellite phones. I’d prepared this gear during my studies for sensitive fieldwork in certain regions. The laptop booted up, the screen flickering to life. I expertly logged into several global social platforms and deep web forums, activating seven or eight anonymous accounts I’d registered long ago. These accounts didn’t have huge followings, but each one represented a contact I’d built over the years across the globe, through my professional expertise and personal charisma. There were renowned investigative journalists, top-tier hackers, and classmates who were now executives at multinational PR firms. In the past, we discussed theories and case studies. Now, I was going to talk to them about business. I didn’t immediately expose Blake and Chloe’s dirty laundry. That would be foolish. Given that they’d already painted me as a “crazy woman,” any leak from me would be dismissed as “a madwoman’s revenge.” To trap your prey, first, you need to make them drop their guard. Then, you weave a net they can’t escape. I needed leverage, a legal anchor to pry open the entire situation. My gaze fell on an old news article on my laptop screen. *Industry Conscience or Business Idiot? Star Lawyer Julian Thorne Expelled from Top Law Firm ‘Revelation Legal’ for Refusing to Participate in Hostile Takeover of Reed Media.* The date was just a week before my “bankruptcy.” *Interesting.* Turns out, I wasn’t the only one who’d been betrayed. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. I picked up a satellite phone and dialed a number. The call connected. A clear, cautious male voice answered. “Who is this?” “Mr. Thorne,” I began, my voice as calm as if discussing the weather. “This is Alex Reed. I think we have a common enemy, and perhaps we could discuss how to send him straight to hell.”

Julian Thorne arranged to meet me at an unassuming coffee shop. He was leaner than in his photos, his features sharp, his eyes behind his glasses like scalpels. A sugar-free Americano sat untouched before him, his entire demeanor radiating an unapproachable bitterness. “Ms. Reed, are you looking for me to overturn a verdict?” He cut straight to the chase, no pleasantries. I shook my head, taking a sip of my lemon water. “No, overturning it is too slow. I’m here to propose a partnership. Together, we’ll start a new company.” Julian’s eyebrow twitched; he clearly hadn’t expected that. “A new company?” “Yes,” I leaned forward, meeting his gaze directly. “A firm specializing in crisis PR and legal warfare. I handle media strategy, you handle legal support. Our first client will be myself. Our first job will be to bury Blake Sterling and Chloe Hayes, along with all the capital investors behind them.” My knuckles tapped lightly on the table, a subconscious habit when I was thinking. *Tap, tap, tap…* Steady and unhurried. Julian watched me, his gaze analytical, assessing. “Ms. Reed, what makes you think you can win? You’re disgraced, you have nothing. Blake Sterling, on the other hand, has the entire Sterling family behind him, plus all the capital giants who profited from this hostile takeover.” “Because I understand the rules of the game better than they do.” I smiled, though no warmth reached my eyes. “They thought by ruining my reputation, I’d lose. On the contrary, when someone’s been dragged through the mud and has nothing left to lose, that’s when they become truly terrifying.” “Mr. Thorne, you were kicked out of Revelation Legal and blacklisted from the industry because of your professional integrity. Are you willing to accept that?” I looked into his eyes, asking each word deliberately. His hand, under the table, subtly clenched. I knew I’d hit a nerve. “Blake Sterling’s hostile takeover of Reed Media, using illegal means, isn’t without legal loopholes. It’s just that neither of us had the evidence at the time.” I upped the ante. “But public opinion can be the knife that cuts through that veil. If we can channel public outrage and force regulatory bodies to intervene, you’ll have a chance to reclaim everything that’s yours in court.” Julian was silent for a long time, so long that his coffee grew cold. Finally, he looked up, his eyes no longer skeptical but alight with a certain kind of fire. “I need to see your plan.” “The plan has already begun.” I pushed my phone across the table to him. On the screen was a post I’d made with one of my anonymous burner accounts on a popular women’s forum overseas. The title: *I Was Jointly Betrayed by My Husband and Best Friend, Went from Billionaire Heiress to Being Kicked Out. What Should I Do?* In the post, I didn’t name names. I used a fictional identity to tearfully recount the story of a “vilified victim.” The protagonist was portrayed as kind, naive, giving her all for love, only to be betrayed by those she trusted most, her family’s fortune stolen, and then smeared as “crazy.” I cleverly wove in every single thing Blake and Chloe had done to me, subtly disguised in this fictional narrative. But I made sure to mention nothing of commercial competition, only emotional betrayal. Because I knew the public’s interest in complex business disputes paled in comparison to their hunger for moral judgment of “cheaters and home-wreckers.” This post, in just a few hours, was translated into multiple languages and spread virally across major social platforms. Sympathy, outrage, condemnation… Countless comments poured in, netizens globally demanding justice for this fictional “me.” “This is the first step,” I said to Julian, retrieving my phone. “Before the official war begins, I need to seize the moral high ground and firmly label myself as the ‘victim.’” “I want the whole world to believe that a pitiful woman is suffering a grave injustice. Once that emotional foundation is laid, when I finally drop Blake Sterling and Chloe Hayes’ names, the explosion of public opinion will be truly devastating.” Julian looked at me, his expression transformed. If before it was scrutiny, now it was shock, even a hint of awe. He probably hadn’t imagined a woman, after such a colossal blow, could remain so calm, rational, and even possess a nearly cruel precision in orchestrating her revenge. “I’m in,” he finally said, his voice hoarse but resolute. “What do you need me to do?” “It’s simple,” I pushed a pre-prepared list across to him. “Help me uncover three things.” “First, an irrefutable chain of evidence proving Chloe Hayes stole my plan, including the earliest time she accessed it and email records of her leaking it to Blake Sterling.” “Second, all financial records of Blake Sterling misusing company funds to buy her homes, cars, and luxury items during their affair.” “Third, and most crucially, the names of all the capital groups involved in that hostile takeover, besides the Sterling family. I want a complete list of every single one of them.” I paused, adding a final sentence. “I want Blake Sterling to know who he truly offended for the sake of one woman.”

Over the next month, I lived like a ghost. By day, I holed myself up in my small apartment, weaving my web across the digital world like a precise machine. I operated over a dozen anonymous social media accounts, each with a different identity and nationality, posting carefully designed content daily. Some accounts were radical feminists, railing against injustice in emotional betrayals; some were rational financial bloggers, analyzing the collapse of business ethics; others were gentle emotional support channels, continuing the serialized story of the “poor woman” and garnering immense sympathy. These accounts seemed unconnected, yet they were like countless tiny streams, converging into a single powerful emotion across the internet – rage against “cheaters and home-wreckers.” I didn’t mention Blake Sterling or Chloe Hayes by name, but through this fabricated story, their public image became increasingly clear, increasingly detestable in the public consciousness. This was a classic application of “agenda-setting” theory. Before igniting a topic, first establish its framework and tone in public discourse. And Blake and Chloe were completely oblivious. They were basking in the glow of their victory. Chloe, sporting a growing baby bump, frequently gave interviews to major financial media outlets, presenting herself as an “inspirational goddess.” In these interviews, she glorified my “Digital Transformation” plan, portraying herself as a brilliant, fate-defying business prodigy. She even, in one interview, feigned “fond remembrance” of me. “Alex was actually very talented, but unfortunately, she was too extreme in her personality, too stubborn… Sigh, I truly feel for her.” The more she performed, the calmer I became. I downloaded all her interview videos, analyzing them frame by frame, comparing every word she said about the plan to my original document on my computer, annotating everything. These would all become exhibits in court. Meanwhile, Blake was busy with a massive purge within Reed Media, installing his own people in all key positions as the new owner. He was thriving in business, and even more so in his personal life. He hosted a lavish engagement party for Chloe, sending invitations across the entire upper crust of society. Photos of the party, all over Ins, showed Chloe’s pigeon-egg-sized pink diamond blinding everyone. I looked at those photos, feeling absolutely nothing. *Dance, dance your hearts out.* The higher you jump, the harder you’ll fall. Julian Thorne’s efficiency was remarkable. Using his past connections at Revelation Legal and some less-than-above-board channels, he quickly sent me everything I needed, one by one, to my encrypted email. Chloe and Blake’s email exchanges were irrefutable proof. She first saw my plan one afternoon three years ago, in my home study. She’d made an excuse to wait for me, and then copied all the files onto a miniature USB drive. Blake’s evidence of embezzling company funds was even more shocking. The luxury mansion he bought for Chloe in a prime downtown location, the three sports cars registered in her name, even the pink diamond on her finger – every single penny came from Reed Media’s accounts. Most critically, the list of capital groups involved in the hostile takeover. I stared at the long list of familiar names: old Sterling family associates, former rivals of the Reed family, and even a few “uncles” and “aunts” my father had once implicitly trusted. *Good, very good.* One clean sweep, made things easier. Everything was ready, just waiting for the opportune moment. A moment that would allow this public opinion storm to unleash its maximum impact. Soon, that moment arrived. Reed Media announced that it would hold its annual shareholder meeting at the end of the month, simultaneously hosting a grand press conference to officially launch its new “Digital Transformation Strategy” to the global market. The star, naturally, would be the new CEO, Chloe Hayes. I looked at the announcement and smiled. They were eager to declare their stolen fruits to the world, to firmly cement their false accomplishments. *Perfect.* The judgment, of course, had to take place on the grandest stage to be truly impactful. I sent Julian a message. “The time is now. Prepare to reel them in.” A week before the shareholder meeting, I fired the first shot. The target was Chloe Hayes’ most prized “talented woman” persona. I sent a carefully compiled anonymous tip to *Business Deep Throat*, the nation’s top industry media known for its in-depth investigative reporting. Attached to the email were two documents.

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Julian Sterling, the A-list darling of our city’s elite, and my fiancé – at least on paper – was planning a big surprise for me tonight at the charity gala. In my last life, that surprise was him publicly dumping me and then proudly parading my stepsister, Chloe Hayes, as his new love. I cried, I threw tantrums, and in the end, they teamed up to frame me. They slapped me with labels like “fake socialite” and “business fraud,” tearing me down from my peak as a top streamer. I crashed and burned, utterly shattered and ruined. They called me greedy and vain, said I was jealous of my sister. Even my own parents stepped forward, pointing fingers and screaming, “You ungrateful snake! We should have disowned you ages ago!” Then, right there in public, they announced they were cutting all ties with me. Finally, I jumped from the city’s tallest abandoned skyscraper. When I opened my eyes again, I was back. Back to the moments just before the gala began. A chill ran down my wrist, and a surge of information flooded my mind. [Truth Recall System Activated.] [Ability: Recall real action records of any designated target within the last seven days.]

Instinctively, I stared at my reflection in the mirror and silently commanded, “Activate.” My vision blurred for a split second. I saw “myself” being thrown into a viral scandal three days ago, drowned in a torrent of online hate, all orchestrated by Chloe Hayes and Julian Sterling. I watched Julian laugh as he told Chloe, “Cassie is too naive. Millions of followers and she doesn’t know how to monetize them – what a waste. Once I’ve squeezed every last drop of her influence and connections, I’ll kick her to the curb.” I saw my own parents, bowing and scraping as they accepted a million-dollar check from Julian, assuring him, “Don’t worry, Mr. Sterling. We know what to do. That rebellious daughter? We’ve wanted to disown her for ages!” So that was it. Every betrayal, every calculated move, all had a price tag. I trembled with rage, then a smile slowly spread across my face. Good. It saved me from holding onto any more unrealistic fantasies about “blood ties.” I lowered my gaze, meticulously wiping my phone screen with my thumb until it gleamed like new. This was my bread and butter. And my weapon of revenge. Julian Sterling, Chloe Hayes, and my dearest “family.” The “surprise” you gave me in my last life? This time, I’m giving you an “extra special gift,” doubled. Clutching my custom handbag, my ten-centimeter heels clicking rhythmically, I walked back into the glittering, bustling ballroom. Bright lights, clinking glasses, and lively chatter filled the air. The moment I stepped inside, every eye in the room fixated on me. “Cassie Hayes is here! No wonder she’s a top streamer with millions of followers, that aura…” “Why is she alone? Where’s Mr. Sterling?” “Shhh, I heard there’s big news tonight.” Ignoring the whispers, I walked straight to the main table. Julian Sterling stood there, a champagne flute in his hand, surrounded by a cluster of privileged young men from influential families. He saw me, and a flicker of almost imperceptible distaste crossed his eyes, but his face still wore that signature, smooth and charming smile. “Cassie, you’re here.” Beside him, Chloe Hayes, dressed in a white chiffon gown from the same designer as my haute couture dress but with a more “innocent” cut, glanced at me timidly. Then, like a startled fawn, she shrank back behind Julian. Oh, a delicate little “pure” act. I wasn’t in the mood for their drama. I cut straight to the chase: “Julian, didn’t you say we were announcing our wedding date tonight? Why haven’t we started yet?” Instantly, all eyes in the room zeroed in on us. The Sterling family elders, seated at the head table, exchanged a subtle frown. Julian’s father, Mr. Sterling, the chairman of the Sterling Group, furrowed his brows. “Julian, what’s going on? Aren’t you and Cassie supposed to announce your engagement tonight?” Julian put down his glass, gave Chloe a reassuring look, then cleared his throat and picked up a microphone. Here it came. The nightmare of my last life, about to replay. “Distinguished guests, dear friends, thank you for coming tonight.” He paused, then gazed adoringly at Chloe, who stood behind him. “Taking this opportunity, I want to announce something. The woman I, Julian Sterling, truly love, is Chloe Hayes.” “My engagement to Cassie Hayes is officially called off, effective today!” BOOM—the entire room erupted. “Holy sh*t? Engagement called off?” “What the hell? A public breakup? How utterly humiliating for Cassie Hayes!” “Mr. Sterling is in love with his stepsister? Ugh, such drama in high society.” The spotlight *whooshed* off Julian and landed squarely on my face. Countless gazes, laced with pity, schadenfreude, and disdain, stabbed into me like daggers. My parents sprang out of their seats immediately, not to defend me, but to rush to the Sterling family, faces plastered with smiles. “Mr. Sterling, Mrs. Sterling, what…what exactly is going on?” my mother asked frantically. My father, on the other hand, wore a face contorted with rage, but his glare wasn’t for Julian; it was for me. “Cassie Hayes! Have you done something to offend Julian again? Apologize to him right now!” Hah. My wonderful father. Julian raised a hand, signaling for silence. “This isn’t Cassie’s fault, it’s just that we’re not compatible.” His words sounded pretty, but he pulled Chloe to his side, protectively wrapping his arm around her. “Chloe is pure and kind, unlike some people who treat their live streams like a performance and their fans like cash cows, reeking of nothing but money. I cannot marry such a hypocritical woman and tarnish the Sterling family name.” With those words, he immediately labeled me. Hypocritical. Reeking of money. In his arms, Chloe perfectly revealed half her tear-streaked face. “Sister, please don’t blame Julian, it’s all my fault…I shouldn’t have fallen for him, but we truly love each other, please, just let us be together…” Act. She was a damn good actress. I looked at the two-timing bastards and smiled. I picked up a glass of red wine from the table and slowly walked toward them. Under the horrified gazes of everyone present, I didn’t splash either of them. Instead, I raised the glass, looking out at the entire room, and at the media cameras lurking in the shadows, with a faint smile. “Are you done talking?” “Because if you are, it’s my turn.” I pulled out my phone, unlocked it, and opened my live-streaming app. “Since Mr. Sterling and Ms. Hayes like to air their dirty laundry for the whole internet to see, then as a ‘top streamer’ with millions of followers, it would be terribly unprofessional of me not to live stream, wouldn’t it?” The moment the live stream went online, the viewer count exploded exponentially. “Holy sh*t! Front row! What’s happening? Goddess Cassie live-streaming at the gala?” “Title: Century Breakup Live Stream? So much tea!” “Who are those two-timing bastards opposite her? Julian Sterling and Chloe Hayes? I just came from the trending scandal, is the queen herself getting involved?” Julian’s face finally changed.

“Cassie Hayes, are you insane? Turn off that phone!” Julian’s voice carried a hint of suppressed fury. I wiggled my phone, and the rapidly scrolling comments on the screen made his pupils constrict. “Insane?” I smirked. “I’m perfectly lucid. Mr. CEO, aren’t you the expert on monetizing traffic? With such massive drama, how else will you hit your KPIs without a live stream?” My father’s face turned purple with rage. He pointed at me and roared, “You, you rebellious girl! Turn that off right now! You’re disgracing our family!” “Disgrace?” I smiled even wider. “Dad, when you just accepted that million-dollar check from Julian, why didn’t you think about our family’s ‘honor’ then?” With one sentence, my father’s face went from purple to white. My mother panicked too, rushing forward to snatch my phone. “Cassie, what nonsense are you spewing! What check? Are you out of your mind from shock?” I lightly sidestepped her, dodging her grab. “Easy, Mom. The real show is just beginning.” Chloe, seeing the situation going south, immediately buried herself in Julian’s arms, tears streaming down her face. “Julian…it’s all my fault. Sister must be acting this way because of me…she didn’t mean it, please don’t be angry with her.” Julian lovingly embraced her, then turned to me, his gaze as cold as ice. “Cassie Hayes, you’re clearly ungrateful. All your so-called personas have been stripped bare! Who are you trying to fool with your ‘socialite’ act? You’re nothing but a gold-digger who built a fake image to con fans out of money!” “Let me tell you this right now, a woman like you isn’t fit to tie my shoes!” “Oh?” I calmly and deliberately wiped my phone screen, facing the live camera, a cool and unbothered smile on my face. “Since Mr. Sterling put it that way, then let’s talk about who’s the gold-digger, and who’s truly ‘dirty’.” I activated [Truth Recall]. Target: Chloe Hayes. Instantly, a series of images flashed through my mind. The smile on my lips grew wider. “Chloe Hayes, my dear sister. You told your followers that all your design works are brimming with creativity, a reflection of your pure heart, right?” Chloe froze, not knowing what trick I was pulling, and could only nod tearfully. “Sister, I…I just love design. I never meant to compete with you for anything.” “Don’t be silly,” I interrupted her. “As your older sister, I simply *must* promote you.” I faced the live camera and slowly began to speak. “Three days ago, at 2:15 PM, you met an independent designer named Marcus Green at ‘Whispering Winds’ Café. You paid him fifty thousand dollars to buy out a set of jewelry designs called ‘Starlight Dream,’ then immediately turned around and posted on your Ins, claiming you stayed up three nights designing it as a ‘surprise’ for Julian.” “Am I right?” Chloe’s face went paper-white in an instant. She stared at me in horror, her lips trembling. “You…you’re lying! I don’t even know anyone named Marcus Green!” “Don’t know him?” I laughed. “Well, Marcus Green has a burn scar on his left wrist, from when you accidentally spilled coffee on him. He even smiled and said it was fine, that it was an honor to be scalded by the ‘Miss Hayes.’ He was so loyal to you, you really shouldn’t disown him now.” The live stream comments went wild. “Holy sh*t! Plagiarism? Seriously?” “She’s got all the details! Time, place, person, even a scar! If this is made up, I’ll eat my own shoe standing on my head!” “@WhisperingWindsCafe, we need the surveillance! @DesignerMarcusGreen, get out here and confront her!” Julian’s face also completely darkened. He wasn’t a fool; he knew that for me to be so specific, it couldn’t be a baseless rumor. He looked at Chloe, a hint of scrutiny entering his eyes. Chloe was on the verge of tears, clutching his arm desperately. “Julian, don’t listen to her! She’s jealous of me, she’s trying to frame me!” Just then, my mother, my dearest mother, rushed forward again. This time, she didn’t try to snatch my phone. Instead, with a heartbroken and furious tone, she screamed at everyone, and at my live camera: “Enough! Cassie Hayes! How much longer are you going to cause a scene?!” “We didn’t want you to marry Julian, not because we favor Chloe, but because you…you’re simply not pure!” “At such a young age, you messed around with those questionable influencers and shady businessmen. You’ve contracted an incurable disease! We were afraid you’d harm Julian, that’s why we were forced to resort to this drastic measure!” That blow was even more vicious than the public breakup. More toxic than accusing me of being hypocritical and materialistic. This was meant to utterly obliterate my social standing. The entire room fell into a dead silence. The live stream comments also paused for a second. Then, they exploded with even greater fury.

The way people around me looked at me changed instantly. It was as if I were a carrier of disease, and everyone recoiled, creating distance. My mother’s move, pulling the rug out from under me, was truly brilliant. She thought this would force me to turn off the live stream and back down. Too bad. I curved my lips into a smile, pulled a portable charger from my handbag, and calmly and deliberately connected it to my phone. “Mom, are you talking about *these* men?” I tapped open my phone gallery, displaying the high-definition footage I had just captured using the system’s recall function. I held my phone screen up to the live camera, swiping through the pictures one by one. Even though they were just screenshots from a mental recall, the clarity blew any paparazzi shot out of the water. “Chloe Hayes, I’ll ask you one more time. Do you recognize these men?” The photos showed Chloe intimately embracing different men. There were investors in tailored suits, muscular gym trainers, and even a lead singer of an underground band with bright green hair. The locations varied from luxury hotel suites to the backseats of cars, to dimly lit bar booths. The poses…were varied and too explicit to watch. These were all photos that had only been leaked by paparazzi in my previous life, *after* I died. At the time, Chloe had already been championed by Julian as the epitome of pure innocence. When these photos came out, the entire internet was stunned. Julian, to protect her reputation, spent a fortune buying back all the photos, then blamed the scandal on a rival actress. Didn’t expect this, Julian. Your paid-for black history? Here it is, free and in high-definition replay, courtesy of me. “No! This isn’t me!” Chloe went wild, rushing forward to snatch my phone. “These photos are fake! They’re doctored! Cassie Hayes, you’re so malicious, you used your own face to Photoshop onto mine just to ruin me!” Hah, blame-shifting. I calmly pulled my phone back, then took a small USB drive from my bag. “Inside this, I have the original video footage I ‘accidentally’ recorded during the recall… oh, sorry, during my ‘accidental’ filming.” “Since you claim they’re photoshopped, why don’t we connect it to the ballroom’s big screen right now? We can invite the media and technical experts present to verify it together, and see who’s really lying?” Of course, I had no original video footage. The USB drive was empty. But that didn’t matter. What mattered was Chloe’s guilty conscience. Her face instantly turned paper-white. She clutched Julian’s arm desperately, trembling all over. “Julian…she’s doing this on purpose, she just wants to humiliate me…Even if they’re fake, I don’t want those dirty things to be seen by everyone…” Julian protectively pulled her into his embrace, then looked at me, his gaze chillingly cold. “Cassie Hayes, do you really think I’ll be afraid of you if you use such despicable tactics to ruin Chloe’s reputation? Give it up!” “My mother said it! You’re the one with the messy private life! Don’t make a scene here!” I sneered. “Alright, since you all insist it’s me, then let’s go to the hospital for a check-up right now. Do you dare?” Chloe’s breath hitched. Her nails dug so hard into Julian’s arm, they almost broke his skin. “I…” She stammered, unable to form words. Julian made the decision for her. “We’ll go! I’ll make sure you lose so completely that you can’t say a word!” He called over their family doctor, a professional-looking middle-aged woman. I shrugged nonchalantly, following the female doctor into a private room. Ten minutes later, the doctor emerged, shaking her head at Julian. “Mr. Sterling, Ms. Hayes is perfectly healthy, no issues whatsoever.” I looked at Chloe, calmly composed. “Sister, your turn.” Chloe’s face flushed crimson. Her eyes darted away, and she slowly backed away, step by step. Just as everyone was waiting to see her embarrassed, she suddenly clutched her lower abdomen and dropped a bombshell. “I can’t be examined! Because…because I’m already pregnant with Julian’s baby!” The words hung in the air, and the entire room froze. I feigned a gasp, covering my mouth, but the amusement in my eyes was practically overflowing.

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For ten years, I was Cassandra’s secret partner, her hidden companion through thick and thin. From the time she had nothing to commanding a multi-billion dollar empire. In the end, she died in my arms, a victim of late-stage stomach cancer. At the funeral, everyone praised me as a loyal and honorable man, silently by her side even after her rise to fame. But only I knew that, in her final moments, gripping my hand, her lips whispered the name of Liam, the true love of her life. She left me with just one sentence: “Dean, in your next life, please don’t find me again. I could never give you the name you deserved.” “If there’s an afterlife, I truly wish… I could marry Liam.” I mourned for a full week, my heart turned to ash, and consumed by sorrow, I wasted away. When I opened my eyes again, I was back ten years ago, at our university graduation party. She stood there, publicly confessing her unrequited love to Liam, the campus golden boy, only to be rejected. Then, with tear-rimmed eyes, she approached me in the corner, asking, “Dean, didn’t you say you liked me? Let’s be together.” I looked at the fresh tear stains beneath her eyes and smiled. Then, right in front of her, I deleted all her contacts. “Cassandra, I don’t like you anymore.” Liam’s discards? Not interested, not anymore.

The air seemed to freeze. Cassandra stared, her face twisting in shock and humiliation. She had never imagined that I, Dean, who had always been at her beck and call, would ever refuse her. “What did you say?” Her voice was hoarse, as if she couldn’t believe her own ears. The murmuring of our classmates died down. All eyes were on us, filled with a thirst for drama. After all, my affection for Cassandra was an open secret across the entire campus. For four long years, I had loved her like a fool, a walking punchline. Meeting her gaze, I repeated my words, slowly and clearly: “I said, I don’t like you anymore.” Then I held up my phone. On the screen, her deleted SnapChat contact screamed at her, a brutal slap to the face. The red exclamation mark was particularly glaring. “Did you get it, Cassandra?” The blood vessels in her eyes instantly burst, and she snatched my wrist, her grip alarmingly strong, her nails almost digging into my skin. “Dean, have you played enough of your little game of playing hard to get?!” “Don’t think I’ll even glance at you if you use such pathetic tricks!” A sharp pain shot through my wrist, strikingly similar to the way she had clutched me in her dying moments in my past life. Then, she had used her last ounce of strength to beg for my forgiveness for her inability to love. Now, she was using all her strength to accuse me of not loving her. The irony was crushing. I didn’t struggle. A sarcastic smirk curved my lips. “Cassandra, have you forgotten? Just a minute ago, you were begging Liam to be with you.” “And now, you’re coming to me, your backup plan?” “What makes you think I, Dean, should wait around for you?” “Wait for you to be rejected by someone else, just so I can pick up your unwanted leftovers?” Cassandra’s face instantly paled, and the strength in her grip loosened. I seized the opportunity to pull my hand free, rubbing my reddened wrist. Without another look at her, I turned and walked away. Behind me, her low roar, thick with suppressed fury, followed. “Dean, you’ll regret this! You’ll come back begging for me!” My steps didn’t falter. Regret? In my past life, I sacrificed ten years of my youth for her, accompanying her from nothing to a multi-billion dollar fortune, only to receive, in the end, a wish to marry Liam. I had already tasted all the regret this life and the next could offer. This time, the one who should regret, Cassandra, is you. Walking out of the noisy auditorium, the evening breeze brushed my face, carrying a hint of coolness. I took a deep breath. The crushing weight that had pressed on my chest for a decade finally seemed to crack. My eyes inexplicably stung, and a single tear silently traced a path down my cheek. Not for her, but for my pathetic, foolish past self. Back in the dorm, it was a complete mess. After the graduation frenzy, all that remained was the hollow quiet of empty rooms. Silently, I began to pack my things, unearthing one by one the objects connected to Cassandra. The inexpensive cufflinks she had carelessly given me, which I had cherished for ten years. The first draft of her business plan, which I had burned the midnight oil for three nights, helping her refine and perfect. And the first, and only, gift she ever gave me: a copy of *One Hundred Years of Solitude*. On the flyleaf, she had written: “For a soul as solitary as yours.” I thought it was a romantic gesture, a sign we were kindred spirits. Later, I learned she had given Liam a copy of *Love in the Time of Cholera*. That was the true love of her life. I was just a convenient distraction for her loneliness.

I found a cardboard box and carefully placed all these items, remnants of my decade of quiet, self-sacrificing devotion, inside. Finally, I struck a match and dropped it in. The flames instantly leaped up, engulfing the yellowed papers and faded objects. The firelight danced on my face as I watched, impassively, as ten years of our tangled history burned to ash. My phone rang abruptly. It was an unknown number. I casually answered. A commanding yet familiar voice came from the other end. “Dean, you’ve graduated. It’s time to come home.” It was my mother. In my past life, to protect Cassandra’s pride, I had lied, telling her I was from a regular, middle-class family, just like her, needing to work hard to make my own way. I rejected everything my mother had arranged, choosing instead to squeeze into a tiny, cramped apartment with Cassandra, eating the cheapest ramen, dreaming of our future. But after she achieved success, she found me wasn’t sophisticated enough to match her new world, unable to further her burgeoning empire like someone from a wealthy background like Liam. I clenched my phone, my throat thick with emotion. “Mom, I’m sorry.” Silence stretched for a moment on the other end, followed by a sigh. “Silly boy, what do you have to apologize for to family? Pack your bags. I’ll send the driver to pick you up.” After hanging up, I looked out the window. Dawn was breaking. Meanwhile, Cassandra, in a corner of the graduation party, was deeply intoxicated. The alcohol numbed her senses, yet my resolute face became clearer and clearer in her mind. She couldn’t believe it. She couldn’t believe that Dean, who loved her to the bone, would truly leave. He must be throwing a tantrum, waiting for her to coax him back. She fumbled for her phone, her blurry, alcohol-hazed eyes finding my familiar profile picture. She typed a message: “Dean, I was wrong. Let’s talk.” The next second, the red exclamation mark screamed at her, a brutal slap to the face. Cassandra instantly sobered, a wave of unprecedented panic surging through her chest. He… he really didn’t want her anymore? A week later, I stood beneath the towering skyscraper of Victoria Corp., taking a deep breath. This was a top-tier investment firm, a place I wouldn’t have dared to dream of in my past life. Because Cassandra had said she didn’t like driven, career-focused men; she preferred gentle, home-loving men. So, I had given up the chance to enter a top investment firm and instead took an admin assistant job at a small company, just to have more time to cater to her every need. Looking back now, it was utterly ridiculous. The interview went smoothly. My professional capabilities and excellent academic record from university impressed the interviewers, who nodded frequently. The final round was with the CEO herself. As I pushed open the office door, I paused slightly at the sight of the woman seated behind the desk. She wore a perfectly tailored black suit, exuding an air of cool sophistication and noble grace. With piercing, deep-set eyes and striking red lips, she was captivating. She was looking down at my resume, her long, elegant fingers tapping lightly on the desk. It was her, Victoria. In my past life, I had met her once. At Cassandra’s company IPO celebration, she had attended as the most important investor. At that time, as Cassandra’s assistant, I could only stand in the most inconspicuous corner. When Victoria came over to toast, Cassandra hadn’t even bothered to introduce me. It was Victoria who had subtly raised her glass to me, saying in a calm voice, “Mr. Dean, you’ve worked hard.” Just one sentence, but it was the only respect I received in that entire extravagant feast, which belonged solely to Cassandra. I never thought that in this life, we would meet again in such a way. Victoria lifted her eyes, her calm gaze resting on me, as if she didn’t recognize me at all.

“Dean?” Victoria spoke, her voice clear and pleasant. “Why Victoria Corp.?” I steadied myself and answered her questions with composure. The interview concluded. She closed my resume and said indifferently, “Come in tomorrow to complete your onboarding.” A wave of joy swelled in my heart. Just as I was about to thank her, the office door was roughly shoved open from the outside. “Dean!” Cassandra stormed in, looking much more haggard, her eyes bloodshot. She grabbed me, her eyes red, and demanded, “Why are you avoiding me? Not answering calls, not replying to messages, what exactly do you want?” She had found me here. I frowned, trying to shake off her hand. “Cassandra, we have nothing to do with each other anymore. Please let go.” “Nothing to do with each other?” She laughed, a self-deprecating sound, as if she’d heard the biggest joke. “Dean, you were with me for four years. Now you’re saying we have nothing to do with each other?” “Did you find someone else? Is that why you were so eager to dump me?” Her words grew increasingly nasty, and my face hardened. Just then, a cool voice came from beside us. “Miss, please release my employee.” Victoria had risen at some point. She walked to my side, her gaze calmly fixed on Cassandra. Her tone was level, but carried an undeniable authority. Cassandra froze, subconsciously releasing her grip. Victoria naturally shielded me protectively behind her. “If I recall correctly, at the graduation party, you were the one who was rejected.” “And now you’re back, relentlessly harassing him? This persistent harassment isn’t exactly classy, is it?” Victoria’s words were like a bucket of cold water, dousing Cassandra’s raging anger. She stood there, looking utterly disheveled, watching Victoria shield me, a flicker of jealousy and resentment in her eyes. “Just you wait!” She threw out that empty threat, then turned and fled in a panic. Silence returned to the office. I looked at Victoria, feeling a bit awkward, wondering how she knew about the graduation party incident. But I still bowed respectfully and apologized. “Victoria, I’m sorry. I caused you trouble.” “It’s nothing.” She returned to her desk, her gaze falling on my wrist, which Cassandra had gripped red. Her brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. “After you start, I don’t want to see similar incidents happen again.” “Understood.” I nodded. She was warning me to keep my personal life separate from my professional responsibilities. That was fine. In this life, I only wanted to focus on my career. I wanted nothing more to do with emotions. After joining the company, I immersed myself fully in my work. Leveraging my experience from my past life and a sharp business acumen far beyond my peers, I quickly rose to prominence within the department. And Cassandra, just like in my past life, embarked on her entrepreneurial journey. She believed that if she succeeded again, I would return to her side, just as I had before. Occasionally, she would send messages from new numbers, mostly empty promises like, “Dean, once I succeed, I’ll marry you in style.” I never replied. She seemed to be holding her breath, not coming to find me again. Until a month later, when I received an unknown call. It was Cassandra’s business partner. He anxiously asked, “Dean, you need to come and see! Cassandra drank so much to secure an investment, she’s in the hospital with a bleeding ulcer!”

A bleeding ulcer? I froze. In my past life, she had done the same, gambling with her health for her career. In the end, she won a multi-billion dollar fortune but lost her life. My heart still felt an undeniable pang of pain. But it was only for a moment. I calmly told the person on the other end, “I’m not your Dean. You have the wrong number.” Then I hung up. I thought that would be the end of it. But the next day, Cassandra directly blocked my path downstairs from the company building. Her face was pale, her lips bloodless. She clearly looked very ill. She grabbed me, her voice tinged with a plea and a hint of accusation. “Dean, I was hospitalized. Why didn’t you come to see me?” “I called you so many times. Why didn’t you answer?” Listening to her words, I suddenly felt a profound sense of weariness. “Cassandra, we have nothing to do with each other anymore. Besides, your health is your own responsibility. It has nothing to do with me.” Cassandra seemed enraged by my coldness and abruptly pinned me against the wall. “Dean, how can you be so heartless? I risked everything for you, and you say it has nothing to do with you?” “Are you just waiting for me to die?” Trapped in her embrace, I caught the faint scent of antiseptic on her, exactly the same as the smell from her in my past life when she died in my arms. A familiar suffocating sensation seized my chest. Just as I was about to gasp for air, a black Bentley glided silently to a stop in front of us. The car window lowered, revealing Victoria’s elegant, impassive face. Her gaze swept over me, finally landing on Cassandra. “Let him go.” Cassandra met her gaze, refusing to back down. Victoria, however, suddenly smiled—a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, laced with a hint of disdain. “Miss Cassandra, don’t you think the process of securing funding for your first project was a little *too* smooth?” Cassandra froze. Victoria slowly uttered her next words. “It was Dean. He gave up a full scholarship to Stanford University to secure that opportunity for you.” “He laid out the path for you, and here you are, questioning why he wouldn’t walk it with you?” “Cassandra, you don’t even deserve him.” Cassandra was thunderstruck, her entire body stiffening. She looked at me, utterly disbelieving. “Stanford… a full scholarship?” I had never told her about that.

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