Author: Momo Chan

The day my wife became CEO of the corporation. Before I could even celebrate with her, thugs kidnapped me and tossed me into a pool. I begged and pleaded, gasping for air, a pathetic mess. She stared down at me with disgust. “If you hadn’t left him for dead, Liam wouldn’t have died. This is your karma.” It was then I realized she’d always hated me for not saving her idealized first love, Liam, all those years ago. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on that fateful day. “When I confess later, can you play the music for me?” I heard that familiar voice. I looked up, meeting Liam Miller’s familiar face. In that instant, I knew I’d been reborn! On this very day in my previous life, Liam had asked Rachel Dawson—who would later become my wife—out to confess his feelings. But as the three of us left the mall, just as we were about to reach the confession spot, a billboard suddenly came crashing down from above. I was the first to react. I shoved Rachel, who was closest to me, out of the way. Both of us dodged just in time, escaping with only superficial scrapes. But Liam was crushed by the billboard, paralyzing him from the waist down, ending his street dance dreams forever. Two years later, Liam died by suicide, consumed by depression. Rachel didn’t even attend his funeral. So I always thought she didn’t care much for him. It wasn’t until after we were married, after I helped her rise to CEO, that she immediately had someone throw me into the water. Only then did I understand she’d been waiting for an opportunity to get her revenge. “You left Liam for dead to get to me! If it weren’t for you, he and I would have had a perfect family!” “You made me lose the man I loved! Die!” Gasping for air, drowning, I struggled, but Rachel pulled a plastic bag over my head. Layer after layer, her eyes filled with cold malice. She didn’t stop until I was like a fish out of water, completely out of breath. Then, with a look of pure disdain, she tossed my body into the ocean. Now, seeing Rachel coming down the escalator after shopping, a look of excitement on her face, I simply responded without a ripple of emotion. This life. I chose to stand by and watch.

Rachel held two coffees. One she drank herself, the other she handed directly to Liam. “Julian, I know you don’t drink coffee, so I didn’t get you one. You don’t mind, do you?” I smiled calmly. In my last life, her favoritism was so obvious. But I was foolish enough to think she was just being direct. Two minutes later, Rachel, laughing hysterically at something Liam said, finally realized I hadn’t caught up. She saw me standing at a trendy cafe, buying fruit tea. She called out to me from about fifteen feet away. “Ugh, what’s taking you so long? Can you hurry up?” I held up the order slip for my tea and waved it at them. “There are still a dozen orders ahead of me. Why don’t you guys go ahead?” “Seriously? Do you *have* to get that tea? The taxi will be here soon, and we’re not waiting for you!” “It’s fine. I can just call my own ride.” Seeing me dryly licking my lips, Rachel looked annoyed. She grabbed Liam’s arm and started walking away, muttering as she went. “Honestly, such a spoiled rich kid. Can’t he just wait until he gets home to drink some water?” Watching them walk away, I calmly picked up my fruit tea from the counter and followed slowly. A few yards from the exit, I heard screams erupt from the street. “CRASH!” The sound of tearing metal. The next second, the billboard came down from the sky. Rachel heard the commotion and immediately shoved Liam away. But she was the one caught, hit by the fifteen-foot metal frame. She crumpled to the ground, blood splattering from her head. The crowd instinctively formed a circle, children’s cries rising in a chaotic chorus. Liam, who had only suffered minor scrapes, scrambled to his feet. Urged by the onlookers, he finally remembered to call an ambulance. Gulp, gulp. I took two long pulls from my fruit tea. I guess this is what Rachel wanted to see in her last life.

I just got back to my dorm when I saw dozens of missed calls. I called my mom back. Her voice, close to tears, came through the phone. “You brat, where are you?” I told her I just got back to the dorm and my phone had died. My mom finally breathed a sigh of relief. “I told you not to go out in this stormy weather, but you wouldn’t listen. Look how scary things got!” “Your dad heard Rachel was injured near the town square and thought you were with her, so he rushed over too.” “From now on, when the weather’s bad, just stay in your dorm and read, got it?!” I used to hate my mom’s nagging. Now, hearing it over the phone, my heart felt warm. In my last life, when my parents found out I was missing, they knelt in the rain outside the police station, begging them to open a case immediately. And after Rachel became CEO, she not only purged my father’s loyal employees but also forced my dad, the former CEO, to live in a basement apartment. Yet, even that wasn’t enough for Rachel. Knowing my parents couldn’t handle the shock, she showed them videos of my abuse, blaming them for raising such a cold-blooded son. Learning I had died so painfully, my parents couldn’t take it. They literally died of shock and grief. Thinking of this, my eyes welled up. Hearing my silence, my mom raised her voice. “You knucklehead, not talking again! You probably put your phone aside to slack off!” “No… Mom, I was wrong before.” My mom paused, hearing the emotion in my voice. She thought I was worried about Rachel. “It’s okay, Julian. Rachel is a lucky girl, and your dad will help her out.” After hanging up with my mom, I stood on my dorm balcony and sighed softly. Rachel and I met when we were ten. My dad had just started his business, and her parents were divorcing. Since we went to the same school and were in the same class, we often did homework together. Later, in high school, Rachel and I both got into the honors class. Both our parents thought we’d continue like that forever, until Liam Miller showed up in our senior year. Liam was an arts student, not only good-looking but also an amazing street dancer. Ever since Rachel saw his performance, she’d been dying to meet him. I didn’t pay much attention at first. After all, Rachel always admired strength, and Liam was a total slacker when it came to academics. Besides, I’d personally seen Liam kissing a troublemaker in an alley, and his phone had a dozen backup girls. But Rachel wouldn’t believe me. She said I was just jealous. Well, this time around. I’m going to watch and see if she and Liam really end up together!

Rachel didn’t regain consciousness all night. My homeroom teacher, Ms. Evans, found me and urged me to visit her at the hospital. Everyone knew how close we were, so to avoid drawing suspicion, I followed her without a word. At the hospital. Rachel had internal bleeding in her brain. She was still in a coma when I arrived. On the hospital bed, only her nose was visible, hooked up to an oxygen machine, her legs encased in plaster casts and propped high. The doctor said she’d suffered a spinal injury and might be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life. Rachel’s mom, Mrs. Dawson, sobbed uncontrollably, kneeling on the floor. “Doctor, please! My daughter is a senior this year; her life has just begun!” Ms. Evans also pleaded. “Doctor, this child is Ivy League material. She has a math competition next month. You can’t give up on her!” In my last life, after Rachel won that competition, she soared, earning a guaranteed spot at a top-tier university. Now, hearing Ms. Evans mention the competition again, I clenched my fists. Math was my strong suit, but to avoid competing with Rachel, I hadn’t even signed up. Though I later got into a decent state university, a top-tier one was always my dream. Reborn, I wanted to make up for the regrets of my last life. Just as Ms. Evans finished speaking, a woman burst into the room, charging in recklessly. She grabbed Mrs. Dawson’s hair and yanked hard. “It’s all your fault! If your daughter hadn’t asked my son out shopping, he wouldn’t have been hurt!” “Flirting around at such a young age, and still trying to get my son to date her, ugh! You owe me for the medical bills!” At the doorway, Liam stood to the side, watching the whole spectacle like a detached observer. It wasn’t until my dad, Mr. Reed, came in to break up the fight that Liam’s mom, Mrs. Miller, was finally chased out. As Liam brushed past me, he threatened in my ear. “Remember, Rachel was the one who asked me out last night!” “If you say anything stupid, you know the consequences!” With that, he didn’t even spare Rachel a glance, chasing after his mom like she was contagious. I followed too. But I wasn’t chasing him; I was catching up with Ms. Evans. After all, Rachel always found me bothersome, and now she got exactly what she wanted. Even if she spent the rest of her life partially paralyzed. She should be happy, thinking she was hurt for the person she loved, right?

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I was linked to a Sickness Transmigration System. It dumped me into the body of the true heiress, despised by everyone. Everyone adored the fake heiress, who’d been carefully cherished by the family for sixteen years. My three brothers feared I’d try to claim what belonged to the fake heiress, so they constantly mocked and taunted me. My biological parents were terrified my presence would upset the fake heiress, so they went all out to make it up to her. They never once considered my feelings. They saw my desperate yearning for love as a threat, as sheer jealousy. Later, I was dying. Even later, my second brother found the diary hidden under my pillow. They fell apart. 0I was linked to a Sickness Transmigration System. It dropped me into the body of Elara Richard, the true heiress, half a year after she’d been found by the wealthy Richard family. On my very first day here. Someone splashed a whole plate of food right onto me. Hot curry sauce ran down my face and neck, and fish balls rolled off my clothes onto the floor. The heat stung. I stared at the boy in front of me, my face blank. My gaze was blank, devoid of any emotion. Everyone else was startled by his actions too. Eleanor, my mother, gasped, “Liam, what are you doing!” Liam’s face flickered with a hint of regret, but the words that burst out were nothing but blame. “It’s just that she always has that deadpan face! Jessica talked to her, didn’t she hear?” Jessica looked guilty at his words. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t know it was because of me…” She looked at me apologetically. “My third brother didn’t mean it. Elara, can I apologize to you for him?” Liam instantly bristled. “Who is she, anyway? Why would you even apologize to her? Jessica, why do you even bother with her?!” I gave a faint, bitter smile. I wondered, too, what the original Elara meant to them. Jessica stood, surrounded by my three brothers, dressed in a pristine white dress, her hair perfectly styled. Meanwhile, my clothes were stained yellow with curry, and the smell of food clung to me, even without looking down. Jessica. The family’s precious darling. This name shouldn’t have been hers. I ignored Jessica. I picked up the last remaining fish ball that had landed on my lap, swallowing it along with the curry still clinging to my lips. It wasn’t the taste I remembered. I got up and left. “I’m full. I’ll head back to my room now, thank you.” As I turned, I met Mrs. Davis’s worried gaze. I managed a small smile for her. Silence fell over the dining table. Richard and Eleanor looked displeased. Marcus, my eldest brother, said in a low, stern voice, “Liam, you genuinely crossed a line this time. Elara didn’t do a thing.” 0

My original self in the previous world was already dead. Late-stage stomach cancer, died at eighteen. I had died a slow, agonizing death from the pain. There was no one by my side. Aside from that single fish ball just now, I hadn’t eaten anything solid for nearly three months. Perhaps the System, taking pity on my miserable existence, brought me to this world. This body also had stomach cancer. But it hadn’t progressed to a terminal stage yet. The System said the original girl had taken sleeping pills and committed suicide today. Frequent abdominal pain accompanied by coughing up blood had made her aware of her body’s problems. But she was afraid that speaking up would cause trouble for the Richards family. Making the family, who already disliked her, despise her even more. So she chose to simply leave this world. How foolish she was. The Richards family had vast resources; with proper treatment, she could have definitely gotten better. This family was truly ironic. They’d brought their biological daughter back half a year ago and still hadn’t noticed she was gravely ill. “Why am I here?” A girl who shared my unfortunate fate. Both orphans since childhood. Both afflicted with stomach cancer. Perhaps she was luckier than I. At sixteen, she was welcomed home by her biological parents. Perhaps she was unluckier than I. She never received a single shred of unconditional love before she left this world, becoming an angel. The System remained silent. “Has my arrival worsened this body’s symptoms?” I asked the System, feeling the metallic taste of blood in my throat. The System replied, “Yes. Just like your original self, you might… by eighteen.” “But if you cooperate with treatment…” I spoke calmly, “No treatment.” It didn’t matter. I was going to die anyway, so what did it matter? Besides, I didn’t want to live. 0

In the middle of the night, my stomach pain was unbearable, and I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. It felt like I was back in my previous life. Every night, I’d curl up, eyes wide open until dawn. My room was empty. My throat was parched. I fumbled my way downstairs in the dark, desperate for a drink of water. Instead, I ran into my second brother, Alex, in the living room. Alex was a professional gamer, so it wasn’t unusual for him to be up at two or three in the morning. He clearly noticed me too. He looked at me with a sour expression. Alex was the quietest member of the Richard family. The original Elara had never seen him in a good mood in the six months since she came home. I ignored him. I figured her very presence was enough to irritate him. I walked to the kitchen, hunched over. But I didn’t realize Alex was startled by my appearance. Under the dim nightlight in the living room. He clearly saw me sweating profusely from the pain, my lips pale. Aside from the angry red scald mark on my cheek, the rest of my skin was shockingly pale, almost translucent. I, however, was used to my sickly appearance, so I paid it no mind. I leaned against the sink, trying to rest, but the next second, a wave of nausea hit me, and I threw up blood. “Ugh.” I choked, tears welling up from the pain. A sound came from the kitchen doorway. Alex had followed me in. I quickly turned on the faucet to rinse the blood from the sink, then cupped my hands and drank a few gulps of tap water. Then I heard Alex’s deep voice. “If you’re going to drink water, drink warm water. Cold water can upset your stomach.” I softly hummed in response, lowering my head, trying to walk past him. The original Elara had barely exchanged words with Alex, and I certainly wasn’t eager to get tangled up with this family. But Alex grabbed my wrist. I turned my head to look at him, my voice hoarse. “Second brother, is something wrong?” Being so close, Alex saw the wound on my face more clearly. He frowned, silent for a moment, then asked, “Why haven’t you treated the scald on your face?” I looked at his seemingly impatient expression. I just assumed he thought it was some kind of attention-seeking stunt. I pulled my wrist free, nodded vaguely. “Yeah, I’m heading back now.” He was too close. Alex turned on the light, then walked closer to the sink, frowning. Though the blood had mostly washed away. He still keenly noticed the faint reddish stains lingering in the sink… 0

The next morning, as I went downstairs, I ran right into Liam near the staircase. My third brother had the most hostility towards the original Elara. He and Jessica were close in age, and their bond was the deepest. Perhaps Liam was simply too young. All he knew was that the sister he had pampered and protected his entire life had suddenly been replaced. This new girl, who had just been found, was going to steal everything from Jessica. He vented all his resentment on his biological sister. He resented her for shattering their perfect life. Little did he realize, the original Elara was the true innocent one. Liam looked at the obvious scald on my face, his eyes darting away. He deliberately didn’t speak to me, waiting for me to greet him. But I didn’t even glance at him, walking past him and away. Richard’s face was cold. “You’re a grown person, can’t you even treat a small scald yourself? What kind of impression will you make walking around like that?” Richard was a traditional patriarch, his eyes always on profits rather than family. He was probably just worried about me embarrassing him. Besides, the original Elara had only been home for half a year. She couldn’t play any instruments, paint, or excel in academics. Her grades were abysmal. She had no real value to him. Eleanor also looked disapproving. I scoffed internally. If it had been Jessica, she’d have probably been rushed to the emergency room the second it happened. Yet last night, not a single person had bothered to ask if I’d been scalded. Or if I was still hungry after eating so little. Their favoritism truly knew no bounds. “There’s no first-aid kit in my room.” Silence fell over the Richards family. Of course, the master bedrooms in the Richard family mansion were fully equipped. But when they brought the original Elara back, they made their biological daughter live in a guest room. And a guest room’s amenities were naturally sparse. The original Elara even used the public bathroom. Not one person offered to give the original Elara a different room. Eleanor looked at her daughter’s face, so similar to her own, flushed with the scald, and a flicker of panic crossed her heart. If it were Jessica, even a small injury would have the whole family doting on her. But when it came to me, there was no sound, no care. I was nothing like Jessica, not at all lovable. Liam retorted, “You didn’t say anything, how were we supposed to know it was that serious?” A dull ache started in my upper abdomen, and I couldn’t help but hunch over. The taste of blood welled up in my throat. I tugged at my backpack strap, my voice hoarse. “I’m going to school now.” Liam frowned. It felt like his imagination, but Elara’s posture seemed… off. 0

After the original Elara was found, she transferred to Liam and Jessica’s school. But Jessica didn’t want the original Elara to share the same car, afraid someone would discover she wasn’t the Richard family’s true child. So the original Elara always went to school alone. In those six months, due to Jessica’s subtle hints, she had suffered no small amount of bullying. But that foolish girl endured it all in silence. She probably knew that even if she spoke up, no one would care. And her family would never believe Jessica had instigated it. I had just pulled my textbooks from my desk when I saw the fake cockroach glued to the cover. The few kids waiting to see my reaction were already secretly covering their smirking mouths. The original Elara would have definitely just taken it. But for me, dealing with such problems was just another Tuesday. I just wanted to quietly wait to die here, but if they insisted on coming at me, I wasn’t some pushover they could walk all over. I snatched up the textbook with the fake roach still stuck to it and strode towards the girl who’d been openly enjoying the show. I slapped the book right onto her face. Before she could even shriek, I dumped all the books out of her desk and found an identical textbook. The original Elara had always been quiet and unassuming in class, never making a sound. Today, with my flushed face, I drew the silent attention of many classmates. Now, my once invisible self was causing such a commotion. The classroom instantly fell silent. The girl snapped back to reality and lunged at me like a maniac, trying to scratch me. I grabbed her hair and said coldly, “I’m letting bygones be bygones for what happened before. Don’t you dare mess with me again.” With that, I shoved her away and went back to my seat, slumping down. Not only was my stomach burning, but I also felt faintly nauseous, like I was about to vomit. The girl wouldn’t let it go, raising her hand to slap my face. Suddenly, her wrist was caught by Jax, who sat behind me. His rebellious face darkened. “Too loud.” The girl’s eyes widened when she saw it was Jax, and she instantly shut up. Jax was the undisputed king of the school, a total bad boy. His family had serious power and influence, so no one dared cross him. She went back to her seat and exchanged knowing glances with the others who’d been enjoying the show. A smirk played on their lips. 0

I was in so much pain I couldn’t straighten up, cold sweat beaded on my forehead, and I bit my lip hard to suppress the nausea. The frown etched on my face from the pain wouldn’t ease. This wasn’t right. It shouldn’t have progressed this quickly. This felt like late-stage. The next moment, I was suddenly lifted into the air. The jarring screech of a chair dragging across the floor made the whole class turn to look. I struggled, trying to get out of Jax’s arms, but I didn’t have enough strength and he held me even tighter. The tall, slender boy seemed to have endless energy. “Don’t move.” He seemed to see me like this for the first time: “I thought you were just a meek little mouse, always letting people walk all over you. Guess even the quiet ones snap sometimes.” As we walked, Jax sighed lightly: “How can you be so light?” Before we even reached the infirmary, Liam lunged forward, blocking our path, fuming. Liam’s anger surged, and he sneered coldly. “Elara, are you serious right now? Class is about to start, and you’re out here on a date with a guy!” “Clearly, you have no upbringing at all. You’re nothing like Jessica.” My heart suddenly twisted with a sharp pain. A wave of emotions, not entirely my own, surged through my chest, overwhelming me. It was always like this… No questions, just immediate blame. The pain intensified, and the taste of blood flooded my mouth. My eyes welled up with tears. I quickly ducked my head, refusing to acknowledge they were mine. Through his thin summer shirt. Jax seemed to feel the hot teardrops. His face was etched with confusion. He had a hot temper, and he said impatiently, “Who are you? Can’t you see she’s not feeling well? You just came up and started yelling? Go get some therapy if you’re sick, don’t throw a tantrum here!” He started to pull my face away, but then he looked down and saw the angry, bright red scald on my cheek. “Don’t scare me. We’ll be at the infirmary soon.” Even if only for a second, I saw Liam’s gaze sweep over me. He must have seen the blood at the corner of my mouth. His face instantly panicked. He wanted to follow, but Jessica, who had caught up, pulled him back. “Third brother, why didn’t you wait for me! You ran so fast?” Liam turned to look at her displeased expression, pushing down the unease in his heart, and stayed where he was. 0

Jax jostling me made me feel even more nauseous. I pushed at him, struggling to speak. “Want… to throw up…” Jax only heard a weak mumble. “What did you sa—?” Before he could even finish asking, I wretched, spewing everything out. I hadn’t eaten anything all morning, so what came out was just acidic water mixed with blood from my stomach. I tried my best to avoid it, but it still got on Jax’s clothes. I gripped his shirt, weakly apologizing. Jax’s face darkened, but he gently laid me on the infirmary bed, letting the school nurse take over. He silently went out to get a mop and rag to clean up my vomit. The school nurse applied medicine to my face and put me on an IV drip of glucose. “Young lady, why are you throwing up blood? Do you have any medical history?” The school nurse advised me to go to the hospital for a thorough check-up, just for peace of mind. I thanked him and explained that it was just because I hadn’t eaten breakfast. I didn’t need a check-up; I already knew this body’s condition. I silently asked the System why this was happening. The System’s mechanical voice quietly responded. “Because the original owner’s consciousness is fading faster.” Meaning she wanted to leave this world faster, right? The System remained silent. I gave a knowing, bitter smile. Elara. Her name, given by her grandma, held a hidden meaning: “to retain,” “to keep.” When Grandma Rose found the baby girl, still bundled in swaddling, she was stiff and purple, frozen in the bitter snow. Grandma Rose thought the original Elara had already frozen to death, but then her tiny finger moved. Grandma Rose took the original Elara home and named the little girl Elara. Grandma Rose was a woman of deep faith. She always said that saving Elara, retaining her, was fate’s decree, and her own heartfelt wish. At five years old, Grandma Rose passed away. The original Elara was sent to an orphanage by the neighbors. Later, the Richards family took her back and wanted to change Elara’s name. But she stubbornly refused; it was the only thing her grandma had left her. But now, Elara no longer wanted to follow fate’s decree. She just wanted to find the only person who had ever truly loved her: Grandma Rose… Perhaps it was the pain, or perhaps it was because of the girl. My eyes welled up, and I stared blankly at the ceiling. We were two souls adrift, bound by the same tragic fate. No need for introductions; we understood each other instantly. In that moment. I wanted to hold that girl deep within my soul, tightly. 0

I noticed Jax was still there and quickly wiped my eyes. I pursed my lips. “Thank you for bringing me here.” In my past life, I faced too much malice and always fought alone. Now, facing Jax, who had helped me, I felt a little lost. And I’d just thrown up on him… Jax raised an eyebrow. “Then, as repayment, how about you get me breakfast every day?” I hesitated. I didn’t want to get too involved with anyone. Jax saw my worn, faded canvas shoes and quickly added, “My meal card’s yours. What? Your thanks aren’t just empty words, are they?” I sighed, helpless, and could only nod in agreement. After school, I planned to go to the hospital. My body’s condition would only worsen. I needed to get some painkillers. The original Elara had a card; it was compensation given to her by Marcus, the Richard family heir, when she first returned. If ordinary painkillers worked, I wouldn’t even want to go to the hospital. Gastroenterology department. Dr. Miles was very young. Perhaps seeing that his patient was a young girl, he spoke softly, asking me where I felt unwell. For a moment, I actually felt like crying. Such concern was something I had never received in both my lives. I smiled at him. “Could you please prescribe me some morphine?” The doctor froze, unable to believe his ears. The young girl in front of him, barely old enough to be in school, was asking for morphine. I continued, “If not, then OxyContin, Fentanyl, just anything will do.” Dr. Miles choked, looking reproving. “What illness does this young lady have? Have you been checked? You can’t just take any medicine.” “I have stomach cancer, mid-stage,” I answered calmly and seriously. His expression instantly stiffened, and he even seemed agitated. “How is that possible? How old are you? Which hospital? Which quack diagnosed you?! Believe it or not, I’ll report them!” The doctor’s expression was a little amusing. I couldn’t help but chuckle. “I’ve already been checked. It’s just been hurting more and more recently. Could you please prescribe me some painkillers?” Dr. Miles looked at the girl’s genuine expression, and his heart sank. “Do your family know?” “You’re so young. Why aren’t you fighting for treatment?” I sighed. This was one reason I didn’t want to come to the hospital. I had to play the victim. “My family knows. It’s just… we don’t have the money at home, and I have several older brothers, so I won’t get treatment.” Dr. Miles looked like he wanted to say more but eventually said nothing. I left the hospital with my medication. Unaware that Jax had followed me the whole way. 0

ax hid behind the door, feeling a chill run through him. After school, Jax had watched the girl wobble out of the school gate, worried she might faint halfway. After all, they’d shared a bond from half a year of him copying her homework. He inexplicably followed her. Unconsciously, he’d followed her to the hospital. He had planned to leave, but a strong emotion held him back. And then he overheard that the girl had stomach cancer. No wonder… she was coughing up blood. Jax felt a knot in his stomach, even wanting to slap himself. He had bullied the girl for half a year. He was a terrible person! But beyond that, a dense wave of heartache washed over him… When I got home, I intended to pack a few changes of clothes, preparing to move into the school dorms. But then I found my things had been moved. Mrs. Davis said, “Elara, Mrs. Richard gave you a new room.” “It’s on the same floor as Jessica, the one on the far east side. She said it’s so you and Jessica can bond better.” Mrs. Davis looked at me with pity. The Richards family’s favoritism was truly boundless. Almost the entire third floor belonged to Jessica, yet they’d given me only one room on the far east side. Ha. I felt a pathetic amusement on behalf of the original girl. Were they arranging this to warn me that my status in this family would never compare to Jessica’s? But it didn’t matter anymore. I was moving into the dorms anyway, and in just another half a year or so, I wouldn’t be in this world anymore. The daily, agonizing pain told me so. The girl’s desire to break free from this family, and from this world, was incredibly strong.

At the dinner table. I informed Richard and Eleanor that I wanted to live at school. The family, who had been chatting and laughing, instantly fell silent. Eleanor frowned. “Why do you suddenly want to live at school? Don’t you like the room your mother arranged for you today?” She suddenly remembered Mrs. Davis’s words from this morning: “Elara and Jessica’s rooms are quite different, I’m afraid Elara might overthink it.” She then had a sudden realization, thinking Elara had complained to Mrs. Davis, and said impatiently, “Don’t be so jealous. Jessica’s room has been hers for sixteen years.” “You’ve only just moved in. Don’t compare everything to Jessica. If you really want it, we can get an interior designer to renovate your room in a while.” Richard’s face was even fouler. “Why aren’t you as sensible as Jessica? What will people think if they find out that I, a prominent Richard, let my daughter live at school? It’ll just be a joke.” Liam suddenly thought of the boy who had held me today and became annoyed, speaking without thinking. “Could it be for the convenience of flirting with some wild guy?”

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My name is Chloe, and I’m a senior year student at a dance academy. With a stunningly beautiful face, a tall, slender figure, and curves in all the right places, I didn’t just capture the hearts of every guy on campus. I also had my rich boyfriend, Blake, wrapped around my little finger. But lately, I’d been in a bit of a bind. I was pregnant. Three months along, to be exact. “Baby, you’re graduating soon anyway. I’ll take responsibility. You’ll be Mrs. Blake.” Blake held me face-to-face on his lap, mumbling his words. His reassurances comforted me slightly, but I still had my reservations. “But I have a really important international dance competition in eight months. I’m worried I won’t recover in time…” Blake, though, promised me again. “I’ll take you somewhere tomorrow. I guarantee you’ll have a smooth delivery and recover super fast!” The next day, Blake indeed took me to the place he claimed would help me recover smoothly. “Blake, isn’t this just a swimming club?” Blake led the way, holding my hand, and all along the path, men stared at me with undisguised awe. They flaunted their muscular chests, their swim trunks stretched tight. Being stared at so intensely by a group of towering men, I couldn’t help but feel my steps falter. And in the crowd, there were a few even more imposing Black men. If I got surrounded by *them*… The thought made me shiver. “Baby, relax. When have I ever lied to you?” Blake squeezed my hand, and I snapped back to reality, quickly lowering my head and hurrying to keep pace with him. I secretly chided myself. How could I have had those thoughts about other men? Ugh, it must be these pregnancy hormones surging, making those thoughts even more intense. I mentally chanted to clear my head, but to my surprise, Blake led me directly in front of one of the Black men. Compared to the group I’d seen earlier, this man’s physique was even more terrifying; his arms were as thick as my thighs. “Blake, long time no see.” The man flashed a wide, white smile at Blake, but his gaze landed on me. “Hello, I’m Mike.” Mike extended his hand to me. But for some reason, as he raised his fingers, they brushed directly across my chest. I yelped and recoiled. Just as I was about to get angry, I saw both Blake and Mike looking confused. Was I overthinking it? Thankfully, after that little incident, Mike didn’t make any more inappropriate moves, and my heart slowly calmed down. Soon, I finally understood why Blake had brought me to Mike. “Baby, this is Coach Mike, the one who’ll make sure you have an easy delivery and recover your body and figure incredibly fast afterward!” “Wh-what?” I couldn’t believe it. This male Black man was going to be *my* birthing coach? Before I could even react, Mike, as if to prove himself, reached out and effortlessly pulled me onto his lap. And his hands, with no regard for boundaries, immediately forced my legs open… 2 “What are you doing?! Let me go!” I shrieked again, trying desperately to break free from Mike’s grip. But his strength was immense; he easily held me still. I could only look to my boyfriend, Blake, for help. “Blake! Help me!” But Blake acted as if he hadn’t seen my distressed expression. Instead, he bent down and squatted in front of me, openly scrutinizing me. “Mike, what do you think of my girlfriend?” His words were incredibly strange, as if he were trying to sell me to Mike! Mike’s deep voice rumbled above my head. “She’s a dancer, so her physical condition is good. But precisely because she’s a dancer, she has many hidden injuries.” “These old injuries might hinder her postpartum recovery. It’s definitely necessary to intensify the training.” As he spoke, Mike’s hand gripped me hard, as if checking a product. His hand was large, his skin rough, completely unlike Blake’s pampered rich-kid hands. It felt strange on my skin. “No…” But the two of them ignored my struggles and protests, continuing their conversation. Finally, they released me. I practically scrambled away, my eyes filled with resentment as I looked at Blake. Blake finally seemed to realize something and quickly moved to comfort me, his tone softening. “Baby, Mike was just doing a basic assessment. His movements were a bit rough, that’s all.” “But don’t worry, the follow-up training will definitely be effective. Mike was introduced to me by my family!” I was quickly distracted. “Your family also knows Mike…?” The thought of what just happened made my cheeks flush even more. Blake nodded and even explained in detail, and my doubts were once again dispelled. Since Blake’s family recommended him, I decided to trust Mike this once! So when Blake decided to leave first, leaving me alone with Mike for training, I didn’t immediately refuse. Later, every time I thought of my naive self in that moment, I repeatedly felt the urge to slap myself hard. But that was for later. For now, Mike stood before me like a towering structure, his shadow completely enveloping me. “Chloe, go change into your training clothes. We’ll start soon.” Mike handed me a set of so-called training clothes. But the moment I put them on, I was stunned. What kind of training clothes were these? They were even more revealing than my dance outfits! The top was made of thin straps, barely covering anything. A small movement in front of the mirror, and I felt like I was about to expose myself. No! How could I appear before Mike in such clothes?! I bit my lip, but just as I thought about changing back, Mike’s massive figure appeared behind me without me even realizing it! His eyes gleamed, and he extended his long arm, trapping me directly in front of the mirror. 3 “Let me go! What do you want…?” An intense pressure surrounded me, and I stammered out the words! He finally released me, but that didn’t mean he was letting me off the hook. Instead, he started to push his luck. “Chloe, the second step of training is to fully understand the body’s structure. Do you want me to test each part, or will you tell me actively?” Mike’s voice was deep, as if it carried some strange, hypnotic power. I quickly swallowed, not daring to speak. But what I didn’t expect was for Mike to simply use his hands to verify. My neck, my lower back, my heels… His hands were rough, and the way he “verified” left me mortified. He was like a lion eyeing its prey, his gaze predatory! Is… is this really training? I bit my lip hard, using the pain to force myself to stay clear-headed. “I… I don’t want to train anymore. I want to go home…” But the next moment, Mike’s large hand directly covered my slightly swollen belly. “I feel a cute little one in here. You know, my training can help the baby grow better.” “A smooth birth also ensures a safe and healthy baby… Chloe, do you really not want what’s best for your child?” Mike’s persuasion seemed to touch the softest spot in my heart. Perhaps pregnant women naturally develop maternal instincts, but I was defeated by Mike’s few words yet again. “Alright, fine, let’s train…” Thinking this way, I felt that if I maintained this mindset during training, I wouldn’t have any other inappropriate thoughts about Mike. But I had completely underestimated Mike. He pushed open a door inside the room, revealing a private swimming pool behind it. Before leading me into the water, Mike looked at my slightly bulging belly with an incredibly pious expression. He even showed a strange, paternal affection! Something felt off… But before I could react, Mike picked me up and carried me into the water, beginning to touch me freely! “Mmph!” “Training step three: regular hot spring baths and massage to boost your hormones, ensuring faster postpartum recovery.” Mike said, his hands becoming bolder. My body began to tremble. But for the sake of my baby, and for my own postpartum recovery, I could only endure it for now. I constantly comforted myself, trying to calm my inner turmoil with maternal love… Even if I felt the colossal body of the tall man behind me, I had to pretend not to notice! But Mike’s next move made my entire body go numb. I couldn’t control myself anymore…

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Because I was diagnosed with a terminal illness, my wife urged me to give up treatment and leave all my assets to our son. Even my eight-year-old, Kevin, had absorbed it all, asking me more than once, “Dad, when are you going to kick the bucket? Mom says I can’t get my inheritance until you’re gone!” Later, when I went back to the hospital for a follow-up, a zombie outbreak hit. To save themselves, Brenda and Kevin tried to trick me into a horde of zombies. But when Brenda learned I carried a precious zombie serum, she righteously demanded my blood. “We’re family! It’s your duty to save me!” I slammed the door, trapping her in a room swarming with zombies. “Sorry, I don’t know you.” 1 All the way from the hotel to the hospital, Brenda and Kevin were fuming. Once we got there, they plopped down on the waiting room bench. They wouldn’t stop muttering. “Typical, burning through our money. I told you it’s a lost cause, but no, you just *had* to come to this fancy hospital. It’s a money pit!” “Mom, you promised that house would be put in my name. Dad won’t go back on his word, right?” My heart felt utterly cold. I dragged my body, still battling a low fever, into the long registration line. My nose felt warm, and then a nosebleed started again. I quickly cupped my hand over it, my eyes searching for the restroom. It was the weekend, and the first-floor lobby was packed, stretching as far as the eye could see. The anxious questions of patients and their families, the shouts of doctors and nurses clearing paths, the constant calling of numbers over the loudspeaker – it all blended into a chaotic mess that made my head pound. People were pressed so close, even breathing felt difficult. It was like I was inhaling everyone else’s exhaled carbon dioxide. Amidst the noise, a piercing scream caught everyone’s attention. But it lasted only a few seconds. After all, in a hospital, screams and cries were nothing out of the ordinary. People murmured and speculated, sighing at fate’s cruel twists. I thought of the stark, sharp words “LEUKEMIA” on my test results and let out a bitter laugh. My body had always been so healthy, and I’d kept up a regular exercise routine for years. Anyone who knew me, colleagues or friends, always praised how fit I was. How could I suddenly get leukemia? I don’t know how long I’d been waiting; my nosebleed had already stopped. Finally, it was my turn. Just as I was about to hand my ID through the window, a nurse suddenly ran in from the side, anxiously whispering something to the nurse at the counter. That nurse gave me a “one moment” gesture, stood up, and left. I muttered about my bad luck. Soon, impatient grumbling started behind me. People in line couldn’t wait; many moved to other lines to re-queue. I hated to give up on the progress I’d made, so I stayed put, waiting. But quickly, I realized something was off. This was the biggest hospital in the city, with ample medical staff and resources. So, what kind of emergency would pull even a registration nurse away? I waited ten minutes. She still hadn’t come back. After thinking it over, I decided to head to the restroom first to wash the blood off my face. I didn’t notice. The moment I stepped into the restroom, the lobby erupted in a chorus of roars and screams. 2 Before I even left the restroom, I caught a strong whiff of blood. Even for a hospital, this intense smell was completely abnormal. I pressed my ear closer to the restroom door, listening carefully. The noise outside seemed even louder than before. But mixed in with the chaos were some unnatural sounds. They were a bit like drunken retching, yet far more terrifying, almost inhuman. For some reason, a chill ran down my spine. If Brenda and Kevin knew, they’d probably mock me for being a coward, call me neurotic. But I trusted my gut feeling. I carefully pulled the door open a crack and peeked out. Outside the door, almost everyone was scrambling to escape. Some rushed towards the main entrance, others towards the stairs. Every face was contorted in terror, like they were running for their lives. But the door blocked my view of the entire lobby. I moved as quietly as possible, pushing the crack wider, then squeezing out sideways. When I finally saw what was happening in the lobby, I immediately raised my hand and bit down hard on the web of my thumb to keep from screaming. People scattered like headless chickens. The main entrance was already a dense pile of bodies, pushing relentlessly forward. The people at the very front were pressed tightly against the glass, no longer moving. Yet, more kept surging towards the exit. The information desk had been overrun. Dozens of people were huddled inside, cowering, and others kept clambering over the counter. Looking towards the direction people were fleeing, I saw a few figures in hospital gowns, covered in blood, limping slowly. Their limbs twitched uncontrollably, bending at angles no human body should. Those chilling growls were coming from their mouths. An elderly man, unsteady on his feet, was knocked to the ground by the stampeding crowd. I watched, horrified, as a man staggered over to the old man and bit into his neck. Blood erupted instantly. The others—or whatever those creatures were, no longer human—instantly became frenzied, moving with shocking agility to swarm the old man. Within ten seconds, the old man was torn beyond recognition, a bloody mess. Then, that gruesome, mangled pile of flesh on the ground twitched, stood up, and joined the horde of wandering creatures. Clearly, everyone had witnessed the tragedy. The crowd fell silent for two seconds. Then, someone, I don’t know who, was the first to snap out of it and screamed. “Z-Zombies! Run! There are really zombies!” I never thought scenes I’d only seen in novels and movies would actually happen in real life. Snapping back to reality, I frantically searched for a suitable hiding spot. The restroom and the main entrance were diagonally opposite. Plus, the main entrance was completely blocked by bodies. Escaping the hospital was impossible. The stairs were right next to the restroom. Now, going upstairs seemed like the best option to find a way to survive. I tiptoed, trying to make no sound, and took two steps at a time up the stairs. Soon, I realized I was wrong. The second floor seemed even worse. Blood, like it had been splattered everywhere, already formed a thin, sticky layer on the corridor floor. Several doctors in white coats were already victims, roaring incessantly in the hallway, searching for their next target. Despite my caution, a few zombies spotted me. They lurched towards me, blood-filled mouths gaping beyond recognition, quickly attracting the attention of other zombies in the corridor. The hospital corridor was a long loop, and zombies were closing in on me from both directions. Down on the stairs, first-floor zombies were also starting to search for living people upstairs. I shuffled my trembling legs, backing up continuously. Until my back hit the hard wall. There was nowhere left to go. The zombie on my left was just two steps away, reaching out with a hand missing two fingers. I let out a bitter laugh, closing my eyes in resignation. Suddenly, something hard jabbed my lower back. It felt like a doorknob. By sheer reflex, I pressed the handle, twisted, ducked inside the room, and locked the door. A zombie rushed past, its putrid stench brushing against my clothes. After the close call, I gasped for air. I quickly patted myself down. No wounds. I finally relaxed, sinking to the floor. Thank god, I was still alive. 3 I leaned against the wall and rested for a bit, slowly regaining my composure. Shaking, I immediately pulled out my phone and dialed 91

Before it could even connect, police sirens wailed from outside the window. My eyes lit up. I rushed to the window. Only one police car was parked downstairs. Three officers, fully geared up, quickly got out. But they weren’t here to rescue us. They swiftly pulled down the fire shutters over the main entrance and the perimeter fence. While cutting off the zombies’ escape route, they also cut off my chance to escape the hospital. The police car’s loudspeaker blared, repeating: “Survivors inside the hospital, please remain calm. Find enclosed spaces to protect yourselves and wait patiently for military rescue.” The loudspeaker’s sound agitated the first-floor zombies. They repeatedly slammed their bodies against the glass, creating terrifying thuds. After three repetitions, the police car sped away. My rekindled hope shattered again. I felt a wave of despair. I pulled out my phone, mechanically dialing 911 again and again. But it was always a busy signal. I don’t know how many times I dialed until my arm ached, and the phone slipped from my grasp. Without food or water, trapped in this small consultation room, no bigger than ten square meters, I wondered if I’d live to see rescue. My phone suddenly rang. I tensed up and quickly answered. But it wasn’t the police. It was Brenda’s voice. “Where are you? Are you okay? Kevin and I are so worried about you. He keeps asking for his dad.” She handed the phone to Kevin. “Dad, come find us! I’m scared!” For some reason, both their voices were muffled and low, like they were in a very small space. A flicker of suspicion sparked in my mind. When Brenda first learned I had leukemia, she’d repeatedly urged me to just give up treatment and not waste money. Even my eight-year-old, Kevin, had absorbed it all, asking me more than once, “Dad, when are you going to kick the bucket? Mom says I can’t get my inheritance until you’re gone!” After several such instances, my heart had grown cold. Before coming to the hospital, I had already made up my mind: no matter the follow-up results, I was divorcing her. I’d rather take my assets to the grave than let those ungrateful leeches get a single cent. How could two people who so eagerly wished for my death suddenly care about my safety? I kept my guard up, not answering directly, but instead asked: “Where are you guys? Are you okay? You haven’t been bitten, have you?” “No, no! Luckily, I hid fast. The moment I realized something was wrong, I ducked away. We’re in the first-floor restroom now. There’s a small window here. Come find us, we can climb out together!” I replied, feigning surprise: “Really? That’s great! I’m coming right now.” Two minutes later, I whispered impatiently: “I’m here. Where are you?” Brenda sounded excited: “You’re sure you’re here, right?” I snapped, annoyed: “Of course! What are you doing? Hurry up!” “Good, that’s great!” Before she could finish, a ridiculously loud, obnoxious tune blared from the bathroom. It was Kevin’s smartwatch. Brenda and I had even picked that ringtone together. The music echoed through the entire building, enraging the zombie horde. They roared and surged towards the first-floor corner. Amidst the roars, Brenda’s voice turned manic: “Alex, you’re going to die anyway. Just make yourself useful to us!” Maybe my heart was already numb. Hearing her words, I felt no ripple of emotion, only amusement at her stupidity. Thanks to her, the second-floor corridor was now empty. Stepping out, I looked down. Two figures, one large and one small, dashed from the janitor’s closet near the stairs towards the main entrance, only to be blocked by the heavy fire shutter. Seeing this, I couldn’t help but burst out laughing. The call hadn’t hung up yet. Brenda’s furious curses and screams came through the line. “Oops, I forgot to tell you guys, the main entrance is completely blocked. No way out now.”

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On our fifth wedding anniversary, my normally aloof professor husband, Alistair, actually cooked for me for the first time. He pulled me close, his eyes full of tenderness. “I’ve neglected you before, Sera. I promise to make it up to you, tenfold.” For the next week, he showered me with daily homemade desserts and candlelight dinners. I genuinely believed my efforts had finally paid off, that I’d melted this ice-cold heartthrob. Even if I was stuffed to the gills every day, I refused to waste a single gesture of his affection. Just as I was lost in this blissful fantasy, a mocking pop-up notification flashed before my eyes: “Professor Alistair Finch is secretly signing his wife up for a life-or-death gamble so he can be with his thirty-years-older ‘true love’!” “He’s even sneaking fattening agents into Sera Thorne’s food, just to be safe. What a devoted man!” That’s when it hit me. My husband was utterly obsessed with Anya, the campus facility manager, who was in her fifties! The “life-swap system” would steal my vitality and restore her youth if I weighed more than Anya in a month. Then, Alistair could finally be with her, just as he wished! I stared at my husband, who was now holding out another pitcher of milk tea to me. Without a second thought, I ordered five pounds of specialized livestock growth enhancer, ready to give him a taste of his own medicine. A month later, seeing Anya’s weight double, Alistair’s eyes blazed with fury. … “Darling, this is the first pitcher of milk tea I’ve made just for you this summer.” Alistair placed the huge pitcher of milk tea in front of me. “Drink it while it’s warm, quickly. It won’t taste as good when it’s cold.” Recalling the pop-up notification, a flicker of suspicion crossed my eyes. I tentatively raised a hand to stop him. “Honey, I don’t really want to drink it.” “I stepped on the scale today and found I’d gained thirty pounds! If I keep drinking like this, I’m afraid I’ll be a two-hundred-pound胖 blob in less than a month…” I hadn’t even finished speaking when Alistair blurted out, “That’s fantastic!” Seeing the genuine delight in his eyes, I finally knew the notification hadn’t lied. My husband was deliberately trying to fatten me up, all to make me lose the life-or-death gamble next month, to hand over my youth and vitality to Anya! I was furious at his heartless betrayal, and a wave of raw disgust surged through me. I’d met Anya. She was the campus facility manager at the university where Alistair taught. She was over fifty, and easily weighed over two hundred pounds! And she wasn’t just heavy; she was short, so her weight seemed to pile up horizontally. At first glance, she looked like a moving mountain of flesh! And *she* was the object of my husband’s obsession? To be with her, he was willing to sacrifice my life without a second thought! “Sera, I didn’t mean it’s good that you’re gaining weight.” Alistair realized his blunder and quickly tried to compensate, adopting a tender expression. “I meant, even if you gained two hundred pounds, you’d still be my precious wife. I’d never dislike you!” But as soon as he finished his sweet talk, he impatiently put a straw into the milk tea pitcher and held it to my lips. “So, let’s drink this, okay? Come on, darling, open wide…” He still hadn’t given up, but I absolutely refused to drink this deadly tea. So, I just raised my hand and knocked it over. Alistair was caught off guard, splashed with milk tea. His usually cold face contorted with anger. “Sera Thorne, what the hell is wrong with you?” “I went to all that trouble to cook for you, and this is how you treat my thoughtfulness?” Hearing his accusation, a storm of hurt churned inside me. My eyes immediately welled up. “Alistair Finch, so you *do* realize it was a ‘trouble’ to treat me well for once?” Alistair and I met in college. He was known as the ice-cold heartthrob, with his brilliant academic record and aloof demeanor. I came from a privileged family and was the beautiful campus queen, yet I willingly sacrificed all my pride, obsessively pursued him for four years, just to finally make him acknowledge my existence. Even after five years of marriage, he rarely touched me. Even our occasional moments of intimacy were brief and unsatisfying. I just assumed he was naturally cold and not into that sort of thing. I even convinced myself that as long as I was with him, enduring a life devoid of passion and excitement was fine. So, a week ago, on our wedding anniversary, when he personally cooked a candlelight dinner and remorsefully told me he’d love me forever, I was overjoyed. I thought he’d finally seen my devotion, that I’d melted this iceberg. I never imagined it was all just an act of deep affection, a scheme to take my life for another woman! I stared fixedly at Alistair, hoping to see guilt or remorse on his face. But there was nothing. Alistair looked as if I’d hit a raw nerve, and he threatened angrily, “If you don’t eat it, don’t even think about getting another one of my homemade lunches!” 2 Not only had he not abandoned his malicious plan to take my life, but he hadn’t hesitated for a second. My seven years of devotion had been all for nothing! My heart completely died for him. I swore I would never let his scheme succeed. To avoid tipping him off, I deliberately lowered my gaze, feigning disappointment. “Honey, I was wrong.” “You’re so busy, yet you worked so hard to cook for me and improve our meals. I shouldn’t have thrown a tantrum and spilled your sweet milk tea…” My feigned submission made Alistair sigh in relief. He, too, put on a loving facade, embracing me reassuringly. “It’s okay. It’s normal for girls to have weight anxiety. I don’t blame you.” “Oh, by the way, darling, haven’t you always loved soufflés? I’ll make you one tomorrow. This time, you *must* eat it all, don’t waste a single bite.” He sounded so patient. Who wouldn’t praise him as a perfect husband? However, the moment I pretended to go shower and left the living room, he immediately revealed his malicious true colors. “Alistair, she didn’t drink the milk tea. Do you think she figured out you were doing it on purpose…?” The person on his video call had a face so wide it practically filled the entire screen, and even a ten-level beauty filter couldn’t hide her age spots and wrinkles. Yet, my husband seemed utterly blind to them, his eyes filled with adoration as he called her “honey” over and over! “So what if she found out? Sera Thorne has been obsessively pursuing me for years. Do you really think she’d be willing to refuse anything good from me?” “Anya, I thought we were destined to be apart because of our thirty-year age difference, but then you suddenly got bound to a life-gambling system that can steal vitality and youth!” “This must be the heavens moved by our true love, granting us a chance to grow old together! I won’t let us miss this opportunity for anything!” Alistair Finch, a mathematics professor, was a staunch materialist, yet he was now devoutly thanking heaven just to be with Anya… Even though I saw his malicious true colors, my heart still ached. But Alistair seemed determined to hurt me more, to make sure I couldn’t soften. He twisted the knife deeper into my heart. He spoke my name with utter disdain: “If it weren’t for needing a good background and connections for my tenure review, and Sera Thorne coming from a prominent family with a CEO for a father, I would never have married her.” “I suppose I fulfilled Sera Thorne’s delusional fantasy, so it’s only right that her vitality should be transferred to you.” “Not to mention, I didn’t directly inject her with fattening agents. I even pretended to be deeply in love, cooked her one lavish meal after another, letting her presumptuously enjoy the kind of treatment that should rightfully belong only to you, Anya.” He comforted Anya. “So even if Sera Thorne finds out the truth, she should die without regrets. Don’t feel any pressure about it.” Alistair Finch’s shamelessness utterly shattered my worldview! Die without regrets? How thick could his skin be to say something like that with a clear conscience?! After enjoying my devotion during our marriage, then shamelessly demanding my father’s help to become the youngest university professor, not only did he show no gratitude, but he wanted to steal my life and drain my last bit of value! How could such a good thing exist in this world?! At that moment, Alistair’s instructions to Anya reached my ears: “However, to be safe, Anya, I’ll make you slimming salads during this period…” Originally, I’d planned to expose his attempt to drug me with fattening agents and cut ties with him then and there. But now, I changed my mind. Simply letting him suffer the consequences wasn’t enough. I needed to give him a taste of his own medicine! I wouldn’t be satisfied until his reputation was utterly ruined! 3 I called my dad’s company: “Didn’t you develop a specialized growth enhancer for livestock a while ago? How does its effect compare to the regular one?” Alistair only knew my family owned a big company but had no idea our main business was animal feed. Giving me fattening agents – he was practically begging for death! The R&D lead respectfully replied, “It’s night and day, Ms. Thorne!” “Just ten milliliters injected into livestock can make them gain ten pounds rapidly in a short amount of time!” Hearing that, I was instantly satisfied. “Prepare three large barrels and send them over.” Alistair loves to mess with food, does he? I’d love to see who fattens whom into a pig first! Early the next morning, I saw Alistair carrying cooked dishes out of the kitchen. “Sera, you’re awake! Perfect, wash up and let’s eat.” Usually, at this hour, he’d still be asleep. It seemed my refusal of the milk tea yesterday had given him a sense of urgency. To quickly get me to two hundred pounds and ensure his ‘true love’ would win, he wasn’t even sparing breakfast! How diligent of him! My counter-attack plan was already in motion. Since he was actively walking into it, I wouldn’t hold back. I feigned delight, grabbed my forks, and immediately sat down. “Honey, you’re so sweet! But why are there vegetables today? I remember you usually only make meat dishes.” Alistair smiled and explained, “A balance of meat and vegetables is healthier.” “Oh, I see. You’re so thoughtful, honey.” I pretended not to notice his faint guilt, complimented him, and then picked up a forkful and put it in my mouth. “Delicious.” Alistair watched me clean my entire bowl, then smiled with relief. He then casually prompted me to step on the scale to check my weight. “Huh? How did I gain another five pounds? I barely ate anything!” Hearing my exclamation, my husband quickly came forward to comfort me. “Maybe the scale is broken? How could you gain five pounds from one meal, right, Sera?” I nodded, playing along with his words. “Then, honey, remember to buy a new one!” “Of course.” I changed my clothes, ready to go out, and glanced into the kitchen. Alistair was busy again, but this time, he was making a vegetable salad. Noticing my gaze on the lunchbox, a flicker of guilt crossed Alistair’s eyes, and he over-explained, “Darling, I’m taking lunch to school.” But that very afternoon, I scrolled through my TikTok feed and saw an identical lunchbox and salad. The caption read: *He said this was just a small token of his affection, with an even bigger surprise waiting for me…* How incredibly lucky, to meet someone much younger who truly loves me. That lunchbox, that caption… could the person who posted this video be Anya? My interest was instantly piqued. I clicked on her profile and found that every post flaunted various expensive gifts. I was all too familiar with those designs. I’d seen them all in Alistair’s Amazon shopping cart. Since they were women’s styles, I naturally assumed they were for me. Every time I saw them, I’d get excited for ages, looking forward to receiving his surprise one day, only to be disappointed every time. It wasn’t that the timing wasn’t right; it was that the recipient was wrong. I clicked on Anya’s videos and noticed she never showed her face. Every caption boasted about the affectionate “toy boy” who gifted her these things. She’d amassed a large following of middle-aged women in their thirties and forties. Every time Anya posted, they’d flock to the comments, praising her luck for finding such a loving toy boy. Little did they know, this wasn’t their “sister” she was talking about—it was her daughter! I found it absolutely sickening. Just as I was about to close the comments, I sharply noticed a very familiar ID. *FinchV*: Something beautiful is about to happen. 4 In the blink of an eye, Anya replied below: *I can’t wait! ❤️* They weren’t even trying to hide it anymore! I gripped my phone, forcing myself to calm down. There was only one week left until the life-gambling game’s weigh-in. I wondered if Alistair would still be smiling then! But what I hadn’t expected was that, despite my efforts to keep a low profile, Alistair had other plans. That very evening, he actually brought Anya home with him. Alistair seemed oblivious to my tightly furrowed brows, enthusiastically introducing her to me: “Sera, this is a highly respected senior colleague from my university. She’s been a great help to me in my work, and I truly admire her.” A campus facility manager with “great prestige”? You’re just blind for falling for this ugly thing and trying to boost her status. I fought the urge to roll my eyes and gestured for Alistair to continue. “Well, she’s thinking of changing jobs, and I remember you once mentioned the company needed a VP. So, I thought she could take the position.” At that, I couldn’t hold back. “Alistair Finch, have you lost your mind?” “Otherwise, why would you even suggest something so ridiculous? Can any random person off the street become a company VP?” “Oh, wait, no. Given this ‘senior colleague’s’ size, she’s more like a pig!” Both their faces instantly changed. Alistair, especially, roared at me, “Sera Thorne, how can you insult a senior colleague like that! She takes such good care of me!” “How did your parents raise you? Where’s your upbringing! Apologize to her, now!” Taking care of him in bed, perhaps? I suppressed the urge to completely lose it and retorted angrily, “Saying no to idiots—that’s exactly what my parents taught me!” Alistair was about to speak again, but Anya pulled his hand, consoling him. “Alistair, you’re just trying to help me out of kindness. If it’s not possible, then let it be.” “You two shouldn’t argue because of me.” Her understanding demeanor moved Alistair deeply. His usual aloofness was forgotten. After shooting me a harsh glare, he doted on Anya, asking about her comfort as he saw her out. He didn’t return until the next day, but he was back to being his ‘good husband’ self, apologizing and sweet-talking me. However, the double-dosed meals the next day told me he wanted to tear me limb from limb. And wasn’t that exactly what I wanted to do to him? We continued our charade, sleeping in the same bed yet worlds apart, for several more days. Then, on the evening of the seventh day, as I feigned sleep, I heard a voice in my mind say, “Life-gambling game weigh-in, officially starting!” I opened my eyes again to find myself standing on a massive circular platform. A sinister voice came from behind me. “Sera Thorne, confused, aren’t you?” I turned at the sound and saw another platform not far away, with Anya standing on it, hands on her hips, laughing wildly. “This is the Scales of Fate! Whoever weighs more will surrender their life force to the other!” “You didn’t know, did you? All these days, Alistair Finch has been secretly giving you fattening agents, all to make you heavier than me, so he can swap your youth for mine!” The life-swap system, with its twisted sense of humor, split a screen to Alistair. He looked at me and said, “Sera Thorne, if you had just been obedient and given Anya that VP position, I would have considered giving you a dignified end!” “But you’re ungrateful and asked for trouble, so I won’t hold back!” “Anya, once you win, just suck her dry!” “Sera Thorne, you’re finished!” Seeing them so sure of their victory, I sneered, “Oh really? I don’t think so!” “Weigh-in complete! I announce that the winner of this competition is—” Anya strode forward, chest puffed out, ready to claim her prize, when the System’s voice echoed eerily, “Sera Thorne!”

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Caleb Thompson and I had been in love for ten years. Then, right before our wedding, he suddenly vanished without a trace. The next time I saw him, he was sweetly holding hands with another woman. He told me he was on an undercover mission, that the woman was just his target, and I was the only true love of his life. Later, when the mission ended, he blocked her everywhere and came home to marry me. For six years, our life together was blissful. I had long forgotten about the past, until I went to file some official paperwork. “Ms. Hayes, our records indicate you are still unmarried.” Those words sent a shockwave through me. “That’s impossible. My husband, Caleb Thompson, and I have been married for six years.” “The system shows Mr. Thompson is indeed married, but you are not.” “Then who is his wife?” “Alexa Monroe.” The very woman who was Caleb’s undercover target all those years ago. The clerk handed me all the processed documents. The name “Alexa Monroe” pierced my heart. A whirlwind of memories flashed before my eyes, all the moments of these past years. Six years ago, Caleb and I had a grand wedding ceremony. To make it up to me, he gave up his dream and quit his job, just to be by my side. He had a fortune in flowers flown in, simply because I’d once said I liked them. He even personally traveled to South Africa to pick out gemstones and crafted our wedding rings with his own hands. For six years, we were sweet and devoted. All our relatives and friends called us the perfect couple. It was all a lie. I walked like a zombie back to our doorstep. Before I even stepped inside, I heard Caleb talking on the phone. “Be a good boy, sweetheart. Daddy will come see you tonight, okay?” “Make sure you listen to Mommy. Daddy will bring you a gift.” Caleb was cooing softly, using that syrupy sweet voice a tough guy like him usually despised. “You’re doing great, babe. Just a little longer, and we’ll finally be a family…” That last sentence exploded in my mind like a bomb. My blood ran cold. He had a child already. When we first got married, he’d traveled frequently for a year. For the last four months of that period, he’d been completely incommunicado. Now, it seemed, that must have been when the baby was born. When he returned from those trips, he always smelled faintly of baby formula. I even teased him, saying he’d suddenly turned into a big softie, a total daddy, at his age. Now, it all made sense. “I love you both. You’re the ones I love most in this world.” I listened as Caleb kept pouring out his love to the person on the other end. He hadn’t said those words to me in six years. He always said old married couples didn’t need to say mushy things like that. Turns out, he was saving them for someone else. For six whole years, I had lived in a fake dream, completely oblivious that his heart had changed long ago. I tried to escape but tripped. Caleb heard the commotion and immediately hung up. Seeing me on the ground, he rushed over and scooped me into his arms. I fought back the surge of disgust, tearing myself away from his embrace. Seeing my reaction, he looked guilty, hesitant as he spoke: “Riley, what’s wrong?” I stared at him, trying to find a flicker of genuine concern in his eyes. “It’s nothing, just wasn’t watching where I was going and took a tumble.” He helped me to the sofa, got out the first-aid kit, and carefully cleaned my wound. That serious look always made me mistakenly believe he still loved me. Caleb nervously darted his eyes up. “Riley, I have to go out of town soon. There’s a crucial project that’s run into some trouble. I’ll be gone for a few days.” My heart sank into a frozen abyss. I forced a smile. “Okay. Have a safe trip.” After he left, I made a call. “I’m willing to accept the company’s assignment to work in France.”

“Excellent. Prepare your paperwork, and you can depart next week.” “Perfect, right after the design competition finishes, we’ll be ready to go.” Hanging up, I looked around. This place, which had held six years of our supposed happiness, now seemed utterly ridiculous. I packed my bags, tossing everything that represented ‘us’ into the trash: the photos we’d taken together, the matching custom mugs, the good luck charm he’d sought for me with such devotion… From high school sweethearts to my wedding day, from fifteen to twenty-five, all the love from those years went straight into the garbage. As soon as I finished packing, my phone rang. It was a colleague. “Riley, there’s a document here at the office that needs your signature at the client’s office.” I left for work immediately. As I exited the client’s building, I saw a familiar figure. “Daddy, take me to the amusement park!” Caleb scooped up the child, his voice soft with affection. “Alright, Daddy will take you.” Then he saw me. Caleb set the child down. Before I could even speak, he grabbed my arm and explained, “It was just so sad for the kid to not have a dad around… so I brought him out to play.” I no longer believed a word he said. This whole scene just felt pathetic. Suddenly, the child picked up a rock from the ground and threw it straight at my head. *Thud!* Blood streamed down my face. Alexa’s eyes immediately welled up with tears. She grabbed my hand and said, “Oh, dear, he’s just a child. Please don’t blame him!” “That’s right, he’s just a kid! Don’t do anything rash!” The couple played off each other, pretending to be terrified, like I was about to commit murder on the street. I glared at Caleb. “Didn’t you say you’d blocked all her contact information? How do you already have a child this old with her?” Caleb instantly panicked, his eyes darting nervously. “I… we just happened to run into each other on the street.” “Yes, and then I saw this child who looked so much like me…” It was a pathetic excuse, but I no longer cared. Caleb waited nervously for my reaction. Alexa stood beside him, her face filled with obvious jealousy and resentment. Suddenly, the child charged at me like a little cannonball. I was knocked to the ground, my stomach hitting the curb of the flower bed. “Leo, are you okay?” Caleb anxiously checked on his energetic son. The frantic look on his face made it seem as if the child was the true victim. Their happiness, as a family of three, burned my eyes. Beneath me, I felt a warm, wet sensation. “Blood? Why are you bleeding?” Before I lost consciousness, I vaguely saw Caleb’s worried face. When I woke up again, Caleb was sitting by the hospital bed. “Sign this!” He frowned slightly, handing me a document. “Some busybody passersby called the police earlier. This is a statement saying you won’t press charges.” “Get up and sign it quickly. I’ll explain everything about Alexa later.” I couldn’t be bothered to watch Caleb’s act. I turned to the nurse beside me. “Excuse me, what happened to me?” The nurse’s curious, almost nosy eyes darted between us. “You were pregnant, and you lost the baby. But you’re still young. Take good care of yourself, and you can have more children later.” Her voice held a hint of pity. She offered a few simple words of comfort before leaving. Caleb cleared his throat awkwardly. “You can have more children later, don’t worry about it. Just sign this.” I raised my hand and swatted the document away. Was my baby worth less than a piece of paper? Seeing this, Alexa, who had been eavesdropping outside the door, walked in. “Please, dear, just sign it. Leo is still so young, he didn’t mean it.” “If you have any anger, you can take it out on me. Hit me, curse me, anything.” Tears streamed down her face the moment she entered, as if someone had tormented her. “That’s right,” Caleb added, “and to get you to the hospital, Alexa got hurt too.” He gently blew on her barely-scraped skin, his face full of concern. Alexa raised an eyebrow at me, a blatant taunt in her eyes. I let out a self-mocking laugh. My baby dying was a minor detail, but her scraped knee was a huge deal. I stood up, ready to go home. Caleb tried to stop me, but then Alexa cried out from behind him: “Honey, my scratch hurts so much!” Hearing her, Caleb’s steps faltered. I scoffed, my resolve to break up with Caleb hardening even further. I had lost everything — my baby, my husband. All I had left was my career. I needed to focus on the design competition tomorrow. Before bed, I double-checked all the necessary materials, making sure everything was perfect. The next day, as soon as I entered the venue, security personnel approached me. “Ms. Hayes, your entry has been accused of plagiarism. You are disqualified from entering the venue. Please leave!” The loud voice echoed through every corner of the hall. Everyone looked over, curious. “No way, isn’t that Riley Hayes, the genius designer in our industry? She plagiarized?” “She won a national award at eighteen! Could all her past works be copied too?” This design was my life’s work for the past three years; there was no way it was plagiarism. Just as I was about to question the organizers, I saw two familiar figures in the crowd.

I stared hard at Caleb, trying to figure out what he was up to. “I announce that the first-place winner of this design competition is – Alexa Monroe!” Alexa Monroe’s design was identical to mine! My rage completely consumed me. I pushed through the crowd, intending to confront that conniving couple. I hadn’t walked two steps before Sarah Jenkins, a colleague I knew well, stopped me. She pulled me aside. “Riley, I just asked for you.” “The organizers said that when they received two identical design entries, they already questioned Alexa.” “But Alexa provided all her design sketches to prove her originality.” Her expression towards me was sympathetic. “And… Thompson Industries had pulled strings. They promised the organizers unconditional funding for the next ten years if they acknowledged Alexa as the original designer.” Every word was a dagger to my heart. My mind went blank. I couldn’t understand why Alexa would steal my work. Watching Alexa and Caleb mingle and work the room, I charged forward. Before I could even speak, Caleb clapped a hand over my mouth and dragged me outside the hall. “Why?” I demanded, my eyes red. His gaze flickered nervously, and he stammered, “Alexa has nothing. I just wanted to make her happy.” “And you think you have the right to use *my* hard work to make her happy?!” He frowned, looking agitated as he loosened his tie. “I’ll divorce her later and marry you. It’s just… it’s not easy for her, raising a child alone…” I felt a surge of nausea. I didn’t want to argue with him anymore. I quickly walked back into the hall, where my boss was standing on stage, making an announcement. “Alexa Monroe is our company’s newly appointed Design Director!” “And in the future, she will also serve as the General Manager of our French branch!” “How could this be?!” I cried out, my voice hoarse. Alexa walked towards me with a triumphant smirk, leaning close and whispering in my ear: “Now, both your husband and your job are mine.” “Oh, and by the way, while you were in the hospital yesterday, I had your parents’ ashes relocated. A little *rearrangement*, you know?” I trembled with fury, unable to stop myself from slapping her across the face. As I raised my hand for a second slap, Caleb shoved me hard to the ground. “Security!” he bellowed. At his command, several burly men immediately pinned me to the floor. A man’s large hand pressed painfully against my face. Alexa ran over, feigning distress, and said to everyone, “It’s all a misunderstanding! It’s my fault! Please, don’t hit her!” Caleb tenderly stroked her cheek. When he looked at me, his expression had shifted from gentle affection to pure disgust. “Look at Alexa, so sensible, so composed, unlike you! You’re always causing a scene!” “Get on your knees and beg her forgiveness, and we can put this whole thing behind us.” I scoffed, staring at them with intense hatred. The man I had loved for ten years… now I finally saw his true colors. I closed my eyes, unable to look at them anymore. Caleb grew angry. He gestured to his bodyguards. “Take her home. Starve her for a few days. Let’s see if she still dares to disobey!” My hands were bound, and the bodyguards forcibly dragged me into a car. Inside the car was an unexpected passenger – Caleb’s son. I was trapped in the car by the bodyguards, and the child was like a savage. “You hurt my mom! I’ll kill you!” A knife plunged into my abdomen. Blood stained the car seats. Outside the car, Caleb simply waved a hand, telling someone to send me to the hospital, while he rushed to comfort Alexa. When he had finally calmed Alexa down, he remembered me. He searched frantically throughout the hospital, but couldn’t find my room. “Hello, can you tell me which room Riley Hayes is in?” The nurse looked up, confused. “Riley Hayes? We don’t have a patient by that name here.” She spoke while flipping through records. “Who are you to her?” “I’m her husband.” “My condolences, sir. Ms. Hayes was brought in very late, and due to severe blood loss, she has already passed away.”

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My son, Arthur, was critically ill, desperately needing a liver transplant. My wife, Vivian Hayes, was the only perfect match. I pleaded with her for twenty days. Finally, she agreed to come back and donate. I waited outside the operating room all day, but she never showed. That same day, Vivian’s childhood best friend, Julian Thorne, posted photos on his Ins of their round-the-world trip. “Sending love from day 20 of our global adventure! Dr. Hayes gave up her fellowship to help my son realize his dream of traveling the world.” It was then I realized: the very first day I begged Vivian, she had already left for a trip with Julian and his son. That evening, Vivian called me: “Liam, Noah aced his finals, and his wish is for his mom and dad to travel the world with him.” “You know, he doesn’t have a mom…” “I couldn’t bear to see his wish go unfulfilled. We’ll be back in three days.” “And then, I’ll donate my liver to our son.” Three days later, when Vivian arrived at the hospital, all she saw was Arthur’s death certificate. … In the hospital morgue, I gazed at my son Arthur’s serene face, a crushing pain in my heart that stole my breath. Arthur had always been such a good kid, never giving me much to worry about. But I couldn’t even guarantee his health or his life. My son had suffered sudden liver failure, requiring an urgent transplant. The only person in our entire family who was a match was my wife, Vivian Hayes. But the day after the matching results came in, her company sent her abroad for a prestigious fellowship. On her first day away, I begged Vivian to come back and donate her liver to Arthur. She said the overseas fellowship was a rare opportunity, and she didn’t want to give it up. In the middle of her trip, I pleaded with her for another eighteen days. She still refused, cold and unfeeling. On her nineteenth day abroad, the doctor said Arthur’s condition had worsened, and he needed a transplant as soon as possible. I begged her again to come back, to save our son first. But she claimed if she left mid-program, her entire career would be ruined. She told me to transfer Arthur to a major medical center and find more people to match. The specialist hospital was completely full; they refused to admit us. Helpless, we had no choice but to return to the city hospital. Arthur was ravaged by his illness, his face ghostly pale. He looked at me with eyes full of hope: “Dad, why isn’t Mom back to see Arthur yet?” “Is Arthur being bad? Did I make Mom angry?” I didn’t know how to comfort him. I just thought maybe I hadn’t explained clearly enough, that Vivian might have misunderstood how serious Arthur’s condition was. So, I reached out to Vivian again, bringing Arthur’s lead doctor with me, begging her to rush back and save our son. With the doctor’s confirmation, Vivian finally relented. She agreed to take two days off to come back and donate her liver to Arthur. But on the day of the surgery, I sat outside the operating room, waiting all day. What I got was the news that my son couldn’t be saved and had passed away. Vivian still hadn’t shown up. I pulled out my phone, wanting to ask Vivian why she wasn’t there. Instead, I saw a photo Julian Thorne had sent me. In the picture, Vivian, holding Noah’s hand, was leaning into Julian’s embrace, smiling radiantly. My hand trembled as I opened Julian’s Ins feed, and the glaring content hit me. “Sending love from day 20 of our global adventure! Dr. Hayes gave up her fellowship to help my son realize his dream of traveling the world.” If Julian hadn’t posted that on Ins, I wouldn’t have known that the wife my son and I desperately waited for was actually traveling the world with another man’s child. I clutched my son’s already cold hand, my heart twisting into a knot, suffocating me. Just then, Vivian called: “Liam, Noah aced his finals, and his wish is for his mom and dad to travel the world with him.” “You know, he doesn’t have a mom…” “I couldn’t bear to see his wish go unfulfilled. We’ll be back in three days.” “In three days, I’ll donate my liver to our son.” My mind went blank. Just one day ago, I would have jumped for joy. But now, I couldn’t feel happy at all. My son’s life, in her eyes, wasn’t as important as a stranger’s wish. Vivian must have sensed something, because she asked anxiously, “Liam, why aren’t you saying anything?” I snapped back to reality and asked what was on my mind: “Vivian Hayes, do you know how sick our son was?” Vivian froze. It seemed only then she realized Arthur’s condition couldn’t be delayed any longer. “Liam, don’t worry, I’ll buy a ticket and come back right away.” From the other end of the phone, Noah’s innocent voice chimed in, “Mommy, for the last stop, Noah wants to go to romantic Paris. Will you take Noah?” Vivian paused for a moment, then spoke to me: “Liam, my friend at the major medical center said Arthur isn’t a critical case. Three days later for treatment is still fine. Just be the bigger person and wait for me to come back.” I should have known this would be the outcome. Ever since Julian Thorne got divorced and returned, Vivian’s entire world revolved around him and Noah. She promised to celebrate Arthur’s birthday with us, but she stood us up because Noah had a cold. She always said Noah didn’t have a mom and she had to take care of him, telling my son and I to be more understanding. She gave Arthur’s birthday gift to Noah, telling us to be more understanding. She canceled family gatherings to take Noah to the amusement park, telling us to be more understanding. She knew Arthur and I would forgive her, that we’d wait for her, right where we were. That’s why she acted with impunity, ignoring us, hurting us. But this time, I couldn’t be understanding. Because my son had no future. And my marriage with Vivian Hayes had reached its end. 2 Hanging up the phone, I prepared Arthur’s body for viewing. Before he went into surgery, Arthur had asked me, full of hope, “Dad, will I see Mom when I wake up?” I answered firmly, “Yes, Arthur. You’ll be all better after you sleep.” But I let Arthur down. Until his dying breath, Vivian never came back to see him. Perhaps she had a gut feeling, because Vivian kept sending me messages, asking about Arthur’s condition. I just watched her messages, neither replying nor blocking her. The next day, I arrived at the hospital early to handle Arthur’s funeral arrangements. To my surprise, I ran into Vivian. Julian Thorne rushed into the hospital, carrying Noah. Vivian was running beside him, shouting at the nurses, “Hurry! Save him!” People quickly moved out of her way. I couldn’t dodge in time and found myself blocking her path. She skidded to a halt: “Liam, Noah suddenly fainted. I need to get him checked first.” I nodded, stepping back two paces to clear her way. Vivian looked at me, bewildered. She couldn’t understand why I had become so understanding. Before, when she favored Noah, I would always try to stop her, I would complain. Now, I was silent, proactively moving aside for her. “Liam, don’t be mad. I’m going to donate my liver to Arthur right now.” Saying this, she let go of Noah’s hand and reached for mine. Julian caught up from behind, grabbing Vivian’s hand. “Vivian, please don’t go.” “Liam, I know you hate Noah for taking Vivian’s affection, but Noah is just a child. Please, let him go.” Under Julian’s emotional plea, Vivian chose to stay with him, leaving without a backward glance. A young nurse nearby comforted Julian: “Don’t worry, brother-in-law. Dr. Hayes is known for being fiercely devoted to her husband. If you ask, there’s nothing she can’t do.” “Unlike those shameless homewreckers who don’t know their place.” The people around us, like sharks smelling blood, began to whisper and gossip furiously. “So, he’s the other man? A grown man being a homewrecker, not even bothering to hide it in front of the actual spouse. How thick-skinned!” “Exactly! When his son was admitted earlier, he even claimed to be Dr. Hayes’ husband and wanted us to arrange a retired professor for his son’s surgery.” “What a shameless homewrecker. It’s karma that his illegitimate child died.” Vivian had always insisted on keeping her work and personal life separate, so she never brought Arthur or me to any hospital events. She didn’t want her colleagues to know about us. After Julian returned, she claimed he was new to the area, so she took him to hospital events, openly introducing him to her colleagues. When her colleagues chuckled and said her “brother-in-law” was handsome, Vivian just smiled and implicitly agreed. All her colleagues at the hospital believed Julian and Noah were her husband and son. On the contrary, Arthur and I were considered the shameless other man and illegitimate child. In the hallway, Vivian stopped me. She took a step forward, trying to kiss me, but I turned my head, avoiding her. “Vivian Hayes, this is your workplace.” Vivian’s hand froze in mid-air. She pouted, trying to be cute. “Liam, stop being mad, okay?” “I’ll go donate my liver to Arthur in a bit.” I lowered my head, hiding my emotions: “It’s not needed anymore.” Because Arthur was gone. And a mother who broke her promise had no right to see him again. If Arthur knew his longed-for mother had been traveling the world with someone else’s son, how heartbroken would he be? Vivian sensed my sadness. She pulled two boxes from her bag: “These are gifts for you and Arthur.” The box for Arthur contained a Transformers action figure. I stared at the toy, lost in thought for a moment. Last year, for Arthur’s birthday, Vivian was on a business trip abroad. Arthur wanted a genuine Transformers figure, and Vivian video-called him to let him pick one. But when she returned, that genuine Transformers toy was already clutched in Noah’s arms. Arthur cried, wanting the toy, but Vivian coldly criticized him for being petty and fighting with his “brother” over toys. Now she had bought the Transformers toy Arthur had always wanted, but it was too late. Arthur was gone. Seeing my lack of reaction, Vivian grew anxious. She grabbed my hand, just about to say something, when Julian walked in. “Vivian, the doctor said Noah has leukemia and needs a kidney transplant.” Vivian’s eyes were filled with urgency. “Don’t worry, I’ll go get tested for a match right away. I won’t let anything happen to Noah.” She dropped my hand and followed Julian away. I called out to her: “Vivian Hayes, aren’t you going to see Arthur?” 3 Vivian paused: “I…” Julian quickly interjected: “Liam, please don’t compete with me. Noah is waiting for Vivian to save his life.” Vivian let out a sigh of relief: “Liam, don’t be angry. I’m a doctor; my duty is to save lives and help those in need.” “Wait for me, I’ll be there in a moment.” With that, Vivian hurried away with Julian. I watched their retreating backs and murmured, “No need, Vivian Hayes.” I heard nurses discussing that Vivian had successfully matched for a kidney transplant and had already signed the donation agreement. She could have the transplant after a week of recovery. Even though I already knew the outcome, my heart still twisted with a sharp, piercing pain. After running around all day, I found an empty office to rest. As I entered, I walked in on Vivian and Julian, passionately kissing, completely lost in each other. Seeing me, Vivian quickly pulled away from Julian and rushed to explain: “Liam, Noah is sick, I was just comforting Julian.” I couldn’t help but sneer: “Comforting requires kissing each other?” Vivian tried to explain further, but Julian, eyes red, pulled her back. “Liam, don’t blame Vivian. I was the one who kissed her first.” I scoffed mercilessly: “You must be starving to eat anything put in front of you.” With that, I turned to leave. Vivian followed me out. “Liam, please let me explain. I only see Julian as a brother.” Julian’s hoarse voice came from behind: “Vivian, the doctor said Noah’s condition is very dangerous. He needs a transplant immediately.” Vivian hesitated for a moment, then explained to me: “I’ll donate my kidney to Noah first.” She still left without a backward glance. It was truly ironic. Her own son needed a liver transplant, and Vivian stayed far away. Her childhood friend’s son needed a kidney transplant, and Vivian immediately volunteered to donate her kidney. It was so clear then. Love and indifference, so starkly visible. If only I had realized sooner, if only I hadn’t placed all my hope in Vivian, Arthur might still be alive. In that moment, I completely gave up hope. I went home to pack my bags. All of Arthur’s and my belongings, I packed them all away. If this was the end, then it had to be a clean break. After packing everything and printing out the divorce papers, a faint glow appeared on the horizon. The sun was rising. A new day had begun. I walked into the first rays of morning light, leaving the home where Vivian and I had supposedly shared a decade of love. As I hailed a cab, I opened my phone. Vivian’s messages flooded in, one after another. “I’m donating my kidney to Noah tomorrow at 9 AM. Come early to take care of me.” “Noah can’t drink or eat after surgery. Prepare some cotton swabs to moisten his throat later.” “Don’t worry, once I recover, I’ll donate my liver to Arthur.” “Once Arthur is better, let’s go on that world trip together. We’ll go to Switzerland to see the Northern Lights, ski in the Alps, experience all the breathtaking scenery across the globe.” I closed the messages, letting out a bitter, self-deprecating laugh. Vivian Hayes, we have no future. At eight o’clock, I took Arthur’s body to the funeral home, but at the corner, I ran into Vivian. “Liam, is this…?” I looked at her coldly: “Vivian Hayes, Arthur passed away. His cremation is at noon. Do you want to come with me to say goodbye?” Vivian stumbled back two steps. “Impossible. How could that be?” Julian steadied Vivian: “Liam, why do you keep cursing Arthur? Arthur is perfectly fine.” Julian kept spouting nonsense, provoking me. I couldn’t help but slap him across the face. Julian licked the blood from the corner of his mouth, looking at me defiantly: “Exposed, huh? Is Liam getting upset and resorting to violence?” “Enough!” Vivian snapped, and the noisy environment suddenly fell silent. Vivian walked closer, step by step, staring at me fiercely: “Liam Walker, I just didn’t donate my liver to Arthur the way you demanded. Do you really need to lie to me?” She abruptly overturned the gurney transporting Arthur’s body. With a crash, Arthur’s small, frail body fell to the floor right in front of us.

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I was cycling to my high school reunion when a speeding Cullinan slammed into me, sending me flying. I picked myself up, wincing in pain, ready to confront the driver. But then, my girlfriend stepped out of the car, glaring at me. “Alex, I told you to stay home! Why are you here, making a scene with that old bike of yours?!” Liam Davies, leaning out of the driver’s seat, sneered. “Well, well, if it isn’t our old class president! My bad, I thought it was just some clueless delivery guy.” He casually pulled a wad of cash from his wallet and tossed it at my feet. “Here, that should buy you a new one. Oh, and keep the change. Go rent a decent car. “I know you can’t afford a Cullinan, but seriously, don’t show up to the reunion on that beat-up piece of junk.” I glanced at my bike, sprawled on the ground, and a cold smile slowly curved my lips. This wasn’t just any ordinary bike. Its name was the Trek Butterfly. … I sank to the ground, my palms stinging, a dull ache throbbing in my right knee. An hour earlier, my girlfriend, Chloe, had called me. “Alex, don’t bother coming to the reunion today. I’ll just catch a ride home later.” “Everyone else’s partner is either a senior executive or a rich kid. I don’t want them to know you’re still just a low-level employee who can’t even afford a car.” But I was worried about Chloe, so I rode my bike to follow her. I was approaching the hotel intersection when a black Cullinan ran a red light, speeding straight into me. The car door opened, revealing a familiar face: Liam Davies, my old high school classmate. What made my chest tighten even more was seeing Chloe, my girlfriend, clinging to him, a sweet smile on her face. “Well, well, if it isn’t Alex, our straight-A class president!” Liam’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “Haven’t seen you in years since graduation. How’d you end up like this? Showing up to the reunion on a bike?” Chloe frowned, her perfectly made-up eyebrows furrowed, her voice laced with impatience. “Alex, I specifically told you to stay home. Why are you aimlessly riding that old bike of yours around?” I swallowed my anger and reached out to Chloe. “Come here. You’re my girlfriend. Stay away from him!” To my surprise, Chloe instantly bristled like a cornered cat. “Alex, what’s that supposed to mean?! He and I are just friends! Are you just so twisted inside that you see everything as dirty?!” “Liam’s driving a Cullinan at such a young age, and he was my first love! You’re just jealous of him!” She pointed disdainfully at my bike lying on the ground. “If Liam hadn’t specifically driven his Cullinan to pick me up today, did you expect me to sit on the back of your pathetic bike and be laughed at by the entire class?” Liam chimed in, feigning concern, “Class president, I’m really sorry about your bike. Just name your price. Chloe was my first love, after all. I can’t stand to see her living a hard life with you.” “If we hadn’t broken up back then, Chloe, you wouldn’t have…” He trailed off, and Chloe bit her lip, her gaze at me filled with even more resentment. My thoughts drifted away. Chloe was our class beauty. In high school, Liam skipped class all the time and his grades were a mess, yet Chloe always seemed to gravitate towards him. Later, because of his abysmal grades, Liam’s family paid to send him abroad. The day they broke up, Chloe cried her eyes out. I stayed with her on the rooftop all night. She leaned on my shoulder, sobbing, “Alex, you’re the best to me. Will you stay with me forever?” For that sentence, I gave up better opportunities and went to the same university as her. We naturally became a couple. I thought everything would head in a good direction, but then Liam suddenly returned to the country, making a grand show of it. Chloe often showed me his Ins posts, where Liam flaunted his luxury cars and mansions. Her complaints about me grew more and more frequent. I slowly stood up, brushing the dust from my clothes, my voice calm. “Liam Davies, my bike? I don’t think you can afford to replace it.” The two of them looked like they’d heard the funniest joke in the world. Liam even exaggeratedly covered his mouth. “Class president, did you hit your head? My Cullinan cost five million on the lot. You think I can’t afford your junk bike?” “Alex, what are you talking about?!” Chloe shot me a fierce glare, then turned to Liam, flashing a fawning smile. “Don’t mind him. He’s just a low-level employee now, hasn’t seen much of the world. Not like you, Liam, doing incredibly well! I heard your dad is the CEO of Meridian Holdings, right?” I watched them in silence, feeling a bit speechless. Meridian Holdings? Wasn’t that one of my family’s companies? Looks like the CEO of Meridian Holdings might need a change. I looked at the bike on the ground. Though it looked ordinary, I’d bid an insane amount for it at an auction last month. It was the only one of its kind in the world. I’d planned to give it to Chloe when I proposed and reveal my true identity, but it seemed… “Alright, take this money and buy a new car.” Liam pulled a stack of hundred-dollar bills from his wallet and tossed them on the ground. “Consider the extra a gift.” Chloe looked at me like I was a piece of trash. “Alex, hurry up and take your junk and leave! Don’t embarrass me!” With that, she linked her arm through Liam’s and got into the Cullinan without a backward glance. I pulled out my phone and dialed my lawyer. “Mr. Thompson, cancel all gifts in Chloe’s name. Yes, including that villa and the company shares.” After hanging up, I gently picked up the bike and shook my head. This was the one and only Trek Butterfly in the world. It was worth a hundred Cullinans. If Chloe couldn’t appreciate it, then so be it. 2 There was no need for me to go to the reunion anymore. I turned to leave, but then I heard exaggerated calls from behind me. “Hey! Class president! Don’t go!” A black Audi pulled up beside me, and a few familiar faces stepped out. “Old friends, it’s been too long! Let’s hang out.” I politely declined, but Jake threw an arm around my shoulder, squeezing so hard it hurt. “How can a reunion be complete without our class president? Come on, get in our car!” “No need.” I coolly pulled his hand away. “Don’t be shy!” On the other side, Ben had already taken the liberty of lifting my bike, which was still on the ground. “Your bike’s broken. We’ll help you put it in the trunk.” I frowned, about to refuse, but then I noticed them exchange a knowing look, a malicious smile playing on their lips. It suddenly dawned on me that these guys used to be Liam’s flunkies in high school. Clearly, Liam had put them up to this. I scoffed inwardly and decided to play along. “Alright, then. I appreciate your help.” I was curious to see what game Liam was really playing. Inside the hotel’s VIP room, I pushed the door open just as I heard a burst of exaggerated laughter. “Chloe is our class beauty, and she and Liam are a match made in heaven!” Mia, the former literature club president, raised her wine glass. “If only some loser hadn’t swooped in back then…” “Exactly!” Ryan, the former sports captain, chimed in. “Liam’s the young master of Meridian Holdings now. Some people aren’t even fit to tie his shoelaces!” The room suddenly fell silent—everyone had seen me. Chloe’s face instantly soured. She instinctively tightened her grip on Liam’s arm. Liam, on the other hand, flashed a smug, triumphant smile and raised his glass in a toast to me. “Well, well, if it isn’t our class president? Welcome, welcome!” “Alex,” Chloe’s voice was icy. “Who let you in?” “Your lovely classmates, of course,” I swept my gaze around the room, letting my eyes linger on Jake and the others. “Hard to refuse such a warm invitation.” Before I could say another word, Jake suddenly spoke up loudly, “There’s no reason you can’t come to a reunion! Since you’re here, join us!” He pushed me into a seat. “Come on, sit down! Everyone was just talking about you and Chloe!” Then, a snide voice piped up, “I say, Class President, Chloe and Liam only broke up because you took advantage of the situation. Now that the real guy’s back, shouldn’t you be smart enough to step aside?” Laughter erupted through the room. Someone even whistled. Jake stifled a laugh and patted my shoulder. “It’s just a joke, Class President. Don’t take it seriously.” Everyone was staring at me with mocking expressions, waiting to see how I’d react. I simply smiled faintly and clapped. “You’re right. They truly are a perfect match.” I looked directly at Chloe. “I wish you both a fresh start and a happy future together.” Chloe abruptly stood up, her face flushed crimson with fury. “Alex! What do you mean by that?! You shamelessly chased after me just to say something disgusting like that?!” “Don’t be mad, Chloe.” Liam gently put his arm around her shoulder, then turned to me with a cold smirk. “If your own life’s a mess, don’t blame people for speaking their minds.” Another round of grating laughter. “So what if he got good grades? He still has to work for others.” “Liam could just drop a few dollars, and it’d be enough for Alex to live a lifetime.” I stared coldly at these former classmates. “Since I’m not welcome here, I’ll take my leave.” Liam gave a subtle nod, and Ben stepped forward to block my path. “Class president, don’t be in such a hurry. Wasn’t your bike accidentally damaged?” He deliberately emphasized “bike.” Jake also feigned concern, stepping closer. “Yeah, how will you get back so late? Or maybe…” He pulled out a fifty-dollar bill. “How about we all chip in for your taxi fare?” I looked at these pathetic clowns, suddenly feeling utterly bored. So, they called me here just to watch their pathetic performance again. “This kind of boring reunion,” I straightened my collar, “don’t bother inviting me anymore.” Just as I was about to leave, two burly security guards suddenly blocked the doorway. Liam’s voice came from behind me, carrying a dangerous undertone. “Alex, are you… disrespecting me?” 3 The room instantly fell silent. Everyone held their breath, waiting for the show to begin. I slowly turned around, seeing Liam’s malicious grin. “Alright, here’s the deal. What you just said hurt Chloe’s feelings. If you get on your knees and bark like a dog three times in front of Chloe, then crawl between my legs, I’ll let you go. How about it?” Chloe averted her gaze but said nothing to object. All eyes in the room were fixed on me, some mocking, some pitying, but most were filled with schadenfreude. The security guards grabbed my shoulders, their grip so tight it sent a fresh wave of searing pain through my injuries. I stared coldly at Liam. “We were classmates. Do you really need to humiliate me like this?” Liam slowly swirled his wine glass, a victorious smile on his face. “Alex, do you remember high school? You, flaunting your class president status, always meddling, even reporting me to the teacher for being a few minutes late.” “And in the end, you even dared to touch *my* woman!” He suddenly smashed his wine glass on the floor. Glass shards scattered, making the surrounding classmates flinch. “Now, *I* call the shots here!” He stood up, looking down at me. “I booked this entire hotel. My dad is the CEO of Meridian Holdings. Here, who dares to disrespect me?” I scoffed. “So? Are you going to illegally detain me?” “Illegally detain?” Liam exaggeratedly spread his hands. “Classmates, did any of you see me detaining him?” Jake and the others immediately chimed in, “No! He’s clearly just refusing to leave!” I pulled out my phone. “Fine, then I’ll call the police.” Liam’s eyes hardened, and he signaled the security guards. “Teach him a lesson!” A guard’s fist slammed into my freshly injured knee. The sharp pain made me grunt, and cold sweat instantly drenched my back. I looked up at Chloe. She stood beside Liam, her eyes flickering, but in the end, she closed her mouth and remained silent. “Chloe,” I questioned her, my voice hoarse, “Are you just going to stand there and watch?” She bit her lip, finally speaking in a cold tone. “Alex, you’re the one who acted like an idiot first. Don’t blame Liam for getting angry.” The surrounding classmates also started chiming in, urging me to back down. “Alex, just swallow your pride!” “You’re just an ordinary guy. Liam’s family has massive wealth. You can’t win against him!” “Yeah, riding a bike, why are you still putting on airs?” I looked at the faces of these people and suddenly found it utterly laughable. Slowly, I straightened my body. Though my knee trembled with pain, my eyes were chillingly cold. “Liam Davies, I’m warning you for the last time. I’m not someone you want to mess with!” The room erupted in laughter. “Hahahaha! Did you hear that?!” Liam laughed, doubling over. “Riding a beat-up bike, and still talking like that?!” He clapped his hands, and two waiters brought my bicycle in. It still had scratches on it. “You said my Cullinan couldn’t afford your bike, didn’t you?” Liam sneered, kicking the wheel. “My car could lose a speck of paint, and it’d be enough to buy ten of these pieces of junk!” I almost laughed out of sheer anger. This Trek Butterfly was the only one of its kind in the world. Its frame was studded with Swarovski diamonds, and the custom craftsmanship alone took two years. When I used to ride it, discerning rich folks would respectfully ask specialists to handle it, terrified of damaging even a single diamond. But now, these people were treating it like some bargain-bin item? I looked at Chloe, deciding to give her one last chance. “Chloe, if you come back to me now, I can pretend none of this happened today.” I pointed to the bicycle. “This bike, I originally intended it as your engagement gift.” Chloe froze for a moment, then looked at me like I was insane. “Alex, are you trying to humiliate me? In your eyes, I’m only worth a pathetic bicycle?!” She clutched Liam’s arm. “Alex, let me tell you, I’d rather cry in Liam’s Cullinan than laugh on your pathetic bike!” Liam smugly pulled her closer. “Hear that? Give up now, alright?” Just then, my phone rang. It was my parents. They’d already heard what happened from Mr. Thompson. “We always thought that girl was ill-intentioned, son. It’s good you cut your losses now! We heard you were hurt. Where are you now? Do you want us to send someone to pick you up?” I thought for a moment, then spoke. “Actually, I do need your help with something.” I looked up, directly into Liam Davies’ bewildered face, and said, word by word. “Dad, can you tell that David Davies to come to the Meridian Hotel now? Yes, the CEO of Meridian Holdings.”

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My wife had left a box of oddly shaped meat in the fridge, and for over half a year, she hadn’t touched it. Curious about this precious meat, I secretly took it for testing. The result? It was a two-month-old embryo. Back home, I tore through drawers and cabinets until I found it: an abortion record. On the record, my wife’s name was signed, alongside another man’s. My wife had secretly aborted someone else’s child, right under my nose. Five years of a perfect, inseparable marriage – it all became a cruel joke in that single moment. When Chloe returned, the box of meat in the fridge was gone. She rushed into my study, her voice laced with panic. “Adam, have you seen that box of meat I put in the fridge?” I looked up at her, my fists clenched so tight my knuckles turned white. I wanted to scream, to demand why she had betrayed me. But in the end, I just lowered the book in my hands, feigning a casual nonchalance. “Oh, that weird-looking stuff? I fried it with some chili for lunch. Surprisingly, it tasted pretty good.” “What?! You ate it?!” Chloe’s eyes widened in horror. “Adam, are you out of your mind?!” I sneered. “It’s just meat. Why are you making such a fuss?” Her eyes instantly welled up, her voice trembling as she accused me. “How could you eat it?! That was mine! You ate my stuff without permission! Have you become so disrespectful of me?!” “Eating a piece of meat is being disrespectful?” “It wasn’t just a piece of meat!” Chloe’s face flushed crimson, her chest heaving with rage. I just found it hilarious. “Then what was it?” She bit her lower lip hard, a flash of grief crossing her face. She looked like she wanted to say more but held back her tears. Finally, she choked out, “Nothing… I’m not feeling well tonight. I’ll sleep in the guest room.” With that, she turned and disappeared into the guest room. Five years of marriage, and this was the first time she had ever yelled at me. It was also the first time we’d slept apart. I found it utterly ironic. If she cared so much about that box of meat, why had she aborted it in the first place? For five years, Chloe had always been the perfect wife in my eyes. She was gentle and considerate, meticulously taking care of my every need, managing every household detail. I had stomach issues, and she’d meticulously research special recipes for me. When I had business dinners and drank too much, she’d always thoughtfully prepare a hangover cure. In public and private, she was the ideal partner. But how could such a wonderful woman get pregnant with another man’s child? I couldn’t believe it, couldn’t accept it. My heart felt like it had been viciously stung, the pain piercing me to the bone. I recognized the name on the abortion record: Liam Scott. He was a guy who’d pursued Chloe relentlessly back in college. Liam had chased Chloe for years. Even after Chloe and I got married, he still shamelessly clung to her for several more years. For her, he’d cried, begged, even jumped into a river and cut his wrists, trying every desperate stunt imaginable. But Chloe always claimed she found his advances repulsive. She’d constantly complain to me about how annoying Liam was, how his pursuit bothered her, how she didn’t like him at all and got irritated just seeing him. Later, I took a few of my buddies and went to find Liam. Under the cover of darkness, my friends and I ambushed Liam on his way home. We beat him senseless, leaving him with a bloody, swollen face. I warned him to stay away from my wife. After that night, Chloe never mentioned Liam again. I thought he’d finally heeded my warning and stopped bothering her. I never imagined that a year later, his name would appear in the “partner” column of her abortion record.

That night, Chloe and I parted ways on bad terms. The next day, she made plans to go shopping with her friends. I dropped everything I was doing and secretly followed her. I trailed them all the way to a bar. Through the crack in the door of a dimly lit private room, I caught a glimpse of Chloe intimately settling into a man’s lap. The man had his arm around her waist, leaning back on the sofa, a look of doting affection on his face. Even in the low light, I instantly recognized him: it was Liam Scott! If I had any doubts before, they were completely erased now. That aborted embryo had to be Liam’s! A surge of white-hot fury instantly shot through me. My fists clenched tight. Just as I was about to burst in, I heard Chloe’s friend, Maya, speak up. “Chloe, Liam chased you for years, and you never budged. What finally made you give in?” I froze. Chloe tilted her head, glancing at Liam, and chuckled shyly. “I wasn’t going to accept him, but then… that time, my husband had someone beat him up. He was left bloody and bruised, but he still came to my office, crying and saying he’d rather die than give up on me. I don’t know why, but in that moment, I suddenly softened.” After she finished speaking, they exchanged a knowing smile and kissed passionately right there in front of everyone. The private room erupted with cheers and jeers. And I stood outside the door, stunned, as if struck by lightning. So, all that time, I was furious, defending her honor, only to accidentally create the perfect opportunity for them to get together? A sharp, piercing pain spread across my chest, like a thousand needles, making it hard to breathe. As my heart ached, Chloe and Liam reluctantly pulled apart. Liam cupped Chloe’s face, declaring his love deeply. “Chloe, besides you, I’ll never love anyone else in this life. Only death can separate us.” Tears welled up in Chloe’s eyes, her face filled with emotion. “Liam, if I’d known being with you would be this wonderful, I would have accepted you sooner. Don’t worry, for the rest of my life, I’ll give you everything, except for my official status.” I stared blankly at the intensely affectionate scene before me, my heart aching to its very core. Suddenly, all the strength to confront them drained out of me. I turned around and walked away, feeling utterly lost. I felt like a wandering ghost, making my way to the bar, where I ordered several strong drinks and drank myself into a stupor. Five years of marriage. Eight years of dating. From college until now, Chloe and I had been together for a full eight years. Back then, to marry her, I gave up a chance to move abroad and even swallowed my pride, agreeing to live with her family and effectively put their needs before my own. After we married, I was always good to Chloe. I handed over my paycheck, always attentive to her every need. She didn’t want kids, so I even made up a story about my own fertility issues, just to keep both our families from pressuring us. But in the end, she got pregnant with another man’s child, all behind my back. Eight years of a relationship, undone by one shamelessly persistent man. How pathetic.

I stumbled out of the bar, completely drunk. Night was falling, heavy and dark. Suddenly, bright fireworks burst across the sky, dazzling and mesmerizing. As I passed by the riverbank, I saw Chloe and Liam again. This time, no friends, just the two of them, passionately embracing and kissing under the brilliant fireworks. They looked like a pair of star-crossed lovers. In that instant, I couldn’t hold it in anymore. A colossal rage erupted inside me. I swung my fist, charging hysterically towards Liam. “You bastard!” Liam was caught off guard by my punch, stumbling back a few steps before losing his balance and falling to the ground. The back of his head hit a rock, splitting open and bleeding. Chloe gasped in horror and immediately rushed to his side. “Liam, are you okay?!” Her eyes blazed with fury as she turned and snapped at me. “Adam, what are you doing?! Are you insane?!” Me? Insane? “Chloe, that’s what *I* should be asking *you*!” I pointed at Liam on the ground, my voice rising in a furious demand. “Tell me, what were you doing with him just now?!” Chloe showed no remorse, instead wrinkling her nose in disgust. “Are you drunk again? How many times have I told you to drink less! You always go crazy when you drink, acting like some barbaric brute!” I’m the brute? I let out a bitter laugh. Chloe ignored my rage, her face filled with tenderness as she wiped the blood from Liam’s head. Her eyes turned red, and her voice choked. “Liam, get up quickly. I’ll help you to the hospital.” This scene stabbed at my eyes once again. My wife, her eyes red with concern for another man. I furiously raised my fist, charging at Liam again. But Chloe stepped in front of Liam, and slapped me hard. “Adam, have you caused enough trouble?! Can you stop being such a drunken maniac?!” Her gaze was cold, like ice. Five years of marriage, and this was the first time she had looked at me with such eyes. I stared blankly at the woman before me, suddenly feeling like she was a complete stranger. A piercing, bone-deep pain flared in my chest again. Chloe tenderly helped Liam away, and as she did, she gave me a harsh shove. My foot slipped, and I stumbled precariously, falling into the frigid river beside us. *Splash!* A bone-chilling cold engulfed my entire body, making me shiver violently. Chloe didn’t bat an eye. Liam called out to her. “Chloe, your husband…” “Forget him!” Chloe was as indifferent as a stranger, not even glancing at me in the water. Her voice was utterly devoid of warmth. “He can swim. A little dip might help him sober up!” With that, she helped Liam and walked away without looking back. I tried to swim to shore, but my leg suddenly cramped, leaving me powerless. In the end, I could only despair as I sank into the river, letting the icy water flood my lungs. A fierce sense of suffocation, like a beast, brutally consumed me. My heart was dead. … When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a hospital bed. A kind passerby had rescued me. Chloe made no effort to check on me. It wasn’t until the next afternoon that she finally called. Her voice on the phone was tired, laced with a hint of complaint. “Adam, Liam’s out of danger, but you went way too far this time! You hit the back of his head, and he almost got a concussion! Luckily, Liam is generous and isn’t holding it against you. But from now on, you absolutely cannot be so reckless!” My heart felt utterly dead. Her only concern was Liam’s injury, completely unaware that her own husband had almost drowned in the river yesterday. After a brief silence, Chloe lowered her voice, trying to explain. “Adam, you misunderstood yesterday. Liam and I are just good friends; it’s not as complicated as you think.” “Friends?” I scoffed. “Do friends kiss?” Chloe’s voice instantly turned cold. “You were drunk last night; you must have imagined it! Liam and I didn’t kiss at all! It was Liam’s birthday yesterday, and I was just with him setting off fireworks by the river. Can you stop overthinking everything? I’ve given you so much over the years; am I not allowed to have other friends?” I hung up immediately. I was physically and mentally exhausted. I had no strength left to argue with her.

After being discharged from the hospital, I made an excuse about a business trip and didn’t go home for two weeks. Chloe seemed busy taking care of the injured Liam, and she didn’t press me much. It was my mother-in-law, Mrs. Davies, who suddenly called me. It was the same old, tired conversation. “Adam, when are you finally going to give me a grandchild?” In that moment, I found it incredibly ironic. She probably had no idea that she *could* have had a grandchild, but her own daughter had personally destroyed it. “I don’t plan on having children.” “Don’t want them?” Mrs. Davies shrieked, her voice sharp and loud. “If you’re not going to have kids, what good are you to our family? Your background is ordinary, your job isn’t great, and you can’t even produce a child. What’s the difference between you and a good-for-nothing? I never should have agreed to Chloe marrying you!” I knew. For five years of our marriage, my in-laws had always looked down on me. Before, for Chloe’s sake, I had always chosen to endure it. But now, I had no reason to swallow my anger. “Anyway, let’s not talk about that,” Mrs. Davies paused, then suddenly lowered her voice. “Next week is your father-in-law’s sixtieth birthday. You and Chloe both need to come home. Remember to prepare a big gift for your father-in-law. Don’t you dare embarrass my daughter!” I froze for a moment. Then, I chuckled. “Alright.” When the time comes, I’ll definitely give you all a *big* gift. … In the blink of an eye, it was my father-in-law’s sixtieth birthday banquet. When I arrived at the Davies’ family home, the grand hall was already packed with relatives and friends, drinks clinking, buzzing with lively chatter. To my surprise, Liam was there too. Chloe made no attempt to hide him, introducing him to every relative and friend one by one. I walked towards them, my face set in a dark scowl, and coldly demanded, “Chloe, it’s your dad’s birthday today. What are you doing bringing this pesky leech, Liam, here?” Before Chloe could reply, Mr. Davies rushed over. “Adam, what kind of talk is that? Liam is my godson. We met fishing. You have no right to be rude to him!” “Godson?” I was stunned. I had no idea that not only had Chloe’s heart wandered, but even my father-in-law was gradually falling under Liam’s spell. I, on the other hand, had become a complete outsider. Liam suddenly extended his wine glass towards me, a fake smile plastered across his face. “Brother-in-law, you’re just in time. I’d like to propose a toast! You actually misunderstood last time; Chloe was just celebrating my birthday. Nothing more. Even though you almost gave me a concussion last time, thanks to Chloe’s careful nursing, my injuries are almost healed.” “What?!” Mr. Davies stared at me in shock, his nostrils flaring in anger. “Adam, *you* caused Liam’s head injury last time? Liam has no grudge against you. Are you insane or something?!” “Godfather, please don’t be angry. My injuries are fine, and I’ve already forgiven brother-in-law.” Liam forcefully shoved the wine glass into my hand, feigning a polite smile. “Brother-in-law, drink this glass, and we’ll let bygones be bygones.” With that, he raised his own glass and drained it. I glared at him, clutching the wine glass in my hand. Then, I suddenly flipped it, splashing all the contents directly onto his face. “Liam, who the hell wants to let bygones be bygones with you?!”

“Adam, what are you doing?!” Mr. Davies’s eyes widened in outrage. “Liam was being kind enough to toast you! What is wrong with your attitude?!” Mrs. Davies’s face also darkened as she scolded me. “Adam, it’s your father-in-law’s birthday today! Are you deliberately trying to ruin the party?!” Liam wiped the wine from his face, his shoulders slumping slightly as he feigned a wronged expression. “Brother-in-law, do you have some misunderstanding about me? If I’ve done something wrong, please tell me. I’ll apologize, okay?” “Liam, you know exactly what you’ve done. Stop playing innocent!” As soon as the words left my mouth, Chloe stepped forward and slapped me hard. Her eyes were wide and blazing, her face terrifyingly dark. “Adam, don’t go too far! Liam was kind enough to toast you, and he even humbled himself to apologize! Why are you still targeting him?! What do you mean by this?!” “What do *I* mean?!” I laughed, enraged. “I’d like to ask *you* and *him* what you mean!” Liam quickly stepped in to mediate. “Sister Chloe, please don’t argue with brother-in-law. It’s Godfather’s birthday today; let’s not make him unhappy because of me!” With that, he pulled a gift box from his pocket and presented it to Mr. Davies like a treasure. “Godfather, this is the gift I prepared for you. Do you like it?” Mr. Davies’s anger instantly vanished when he saw the gift in Liam’s hands. “Top-grade red jade!” Mr. Davies beamed, unable to close his mouth. “Liam, you’re so thoughtful. You truly are my good son!” “This jade must be worth hundreds of thousands, right?” Mrs. Davies’s eyes lit up too. “Liam, I didn’t realize you were so wealthy!” Liam gave a bashful smile. “Just a small token of my appreciation. I hope Godfather likes it.” Then, he turned to me, a provocative smirk on his lips. “Brother-in-law, what grand gift did *you* prepare for Godfather? Why don’t you bring it out for everyone to see?” “Yeah, let’s see it!” The relatives chimed in. Watching Liam’s smug expression, I felt a mocking urge to laugh. I knew he wanted to publicly humiliate me. But I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction! “A grand gift? Of course!” In front of all our relatives and friends, I slowly pulled out a sealed, clear plastic box. My lips parted slightly. “This is the grand gift I’m giving my father-in-law!” Liam froze. Chloe’s pupils contracted sharply, staring intently at the box in my hand, her face instantly turning ghostly pale. Mr. Davies frowned, asking doubtfully, “What is that? A box of meat?” Mrs. Davies bristled with anger, scolding me. “Adam, Liam bought your father-in-law jade worth hundreds of thousands! And you? What kind of shameful thing have you prepared?!” The relatives and friends gathered around began to whisper, scoffing at my cheapness and calling me an embarrassment. Unfazed, I stared at Chloe and Liam, and spoke in a low, chilling voice: “Mother-in-law, Father-in-law, haven’t you always wanted a grandchild? What I’m holding in my hand… is the grandchild you’ve been eagerly awaiting!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296910”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

Eight years ago, I dropped out of college and worked tirelessly to pay for Valerie’s tuition. She clung to me, tears streaming, swearing she’d never betray me, not ever. Years later, she built her own empire, becoming a multi-millionaire CEO. But the night I was diagnosed with terminal cancer, I saw her, under a streetlamp, kissing someone else. That same night, she broke up with me. My heart turned to ash. “Valerie, what about our eight years?” She looked at me, her voice icy. “Eight years? That’s not long at all. Not to me.” “Your eight years might have been all about me, but my eight years? They were about so much more than just you.” Yet, when she learned of my death, she completely lost her mind. “I’m sorry, Mr. Alex. The diagnosis is in. It’s late-stage stomach cancer.” The doctor handed me the report, his eyes filled with pity. I felt like I’d been struck by a lightning bolt. It was just a stomach ache, how could it be a terminal illness? A million questions flooded my mind, but a lump formed in my throat, and I couldn’t make a sound. I opened my mouth, and after a long moment, finally managed to ask, “How much longer… do I have?” The doctor adjusted his glasses. “Three months, at most.” I let out a bitter laugh, took the diagnosis, and stood up to leave. It wasn’t until I was outside, sitting in my car, that I covered my eyes and broke down, sobbing. My cries were muffled, a raw, hoarse sound tearing from deep in my throat. Only three months left to live. What about Valerie? How would she survive, alone, after I was gone? The night breeze carried a chilling bite as I stood on the balcony, waiting for Valerie to return. I’d shredded the diagnosis, tearing it into tiny pieces, then watched them swirl down the drain. I waited from day until night. In those dozen or so hours, I finally understood. I couldn’t tell Valerie. Everyone says it’s better to cut ties cleanly, better a quick, sharp pain than a lingering one. But I… I didn’t want her to hurt at all. A familiar silhouette gradually appeared under the streetlamp. I was just wondering why Valerie hadn’t driven home today when, the next second, I saw her pulled into someone else’s embrace and kissed. In an instant, the blood in my veins seemed to freeze. The two figures under the streetlamp looked exactly like a pair of lovers. Valerie didn’t pull away. She let him kiss her on the side of her lips, then watched him leave. The villa’s front door opened, let in by the housekeeper. I waited on the second floor, my mind a blank slate. Soon after, she walked into the room and gently hugged me from behind. “Alex, I’m so tired today.” My body stiffened. I subtly pulled away from her embrace. Valerie looked at me, a hint of complaint in her voice. “What’s wrong?” I reached up and plucked a rose petal from her hair. It was from when she and that other person stood under the roses, kissing. My fingers trembled slightly. I looked up at her, my voice low as I demanded, “Who was that person?” Valerie’s face instantly changed. “You saw?” I waited silently for her explanation, but she just calmly told me, “Alex, there’s nothing between us. You know I only love you.” “You’re the only one I’m truly sincere about.” My heart was practically numb with pain. I let out a self-deprecating laugh. “Oh, really? Valerie, then your ‘sincerity’ comes cheap.” Perhaps stung by my words, Valerie’s expression gradually darkened. “I don’t want to argue with you.” I repeated her words. “I don’t want to argue either. I want an explanation.” “Tell me, who was he?” Valerie’s expression grew impatient. “You can’t stand it, can you?” She coldly tossed out, “Then let’s break up.” I barely reacted, just stared at her, stunned. “You… what did you say?” Valerie’s eyes darted away, but she still told me, word for word, “I said, if you can’t stand it, then let’s break up.” Suddenly, my nose stung. My voice choked in my throat. “Break up?” My lips trembled slightly as I asked her, “Valerie, what about our eight years?” She looked at me, her gaze icy. “Eight years? That’s not long at all. Not to me.” “Your eight years might have been all about me, but my eight years? They were about so much more than just you.” A sudden, violent pain erupted in my stomach, spreading to my heart. I could barely stand. Valerie ran a frustrated hand through her hair. “I’ll meet many more people. Alex, if you don’t trust me, then what’s the point of dragging this on?” I forced myself to maintain a calm facade, my nails digging into my palms. A coppery taste filled my mouth. I gritted my teeth and said, “Valerie, say ‘break up’ one more time, and I’ll never appear before you again.” She opened her mouth, but in the end, she just slammed the door shut. “I’m staying at the apartment tonight.” It wasn’t until her voice completely faded that I collapsed weakly to the ground. Blood seeped from the corner of my mouth. I covered my mouth with my hand, but the next second, I violently vomited a large mouthful of fresh blood.

My consciousness gradually blurred, my vision hazy, and I collapsed to the floor. The second before I blacked out, I suddenly remembered the year Valerie and I first met. She was only eighteen. “Stop pretending! You think you can hide?!” A group of girls had cornered someone. The leader viciously slapped the girl, her face contorted with hatred. She grabbed the girl’s hair, cursing and venting, “You slut, trying to seduce men!” I didn’t hear a single sound of resistance. The girl silently endured the violence, so quiet it was as if she felt no pain. “Enough.” I pressed my cigarette against the wall to extinguish it, then turned and walked to the alley entrance, watching them coldly. The girls turned to look at me, their expressions dismissive. “I suggest you mind your own business.” Through a gap, the girl’s eyes fixed on me, her gaze vacant. I picked up a wooden stick leaning against the wall and slammed it against the corner. It snapped with a crack. I threw the remaining half in front of them. “I said, *enough*.” The girls exchanged glances. After a few seconds of silence, they reluctantly walked away from me. Only the girl remained, a clear handprint still on her cheek. I watched for a few seconds, then looked away, turning to leave. Footsteps followed behind me, not too close, almost matching mine. After the second street corner, I finally stopped. The footsteps ceased as well. I turned around. The girl was indeed about a yard behind me. “Why are you following me?” She looked at me in a panic, and tears suddenly streamed down her face, tracing a path over the handprint, making it seem even more stark. I was suddenly lost in thought, realizing, *she hurts too*. “Come on.” Perhaps she thought I was chasing her away. She clutched the corner of her shirt, flustered, but refused to move a single step. I paused for a few seconds, then finished my sentence. “I’ll take you home.” She trusted me without a second thought, and actually led me to her home. In the long, dark alley, she spoke for the first time. “My name is Valerie.” I curved my lips into a slight smile, though it was hidden in the darkness. “Alex.” Valerie lived in the slums, her house surrounded by piles of scavenged junk. She pushed open the yard gate, and a partially-blind old woman emerged from the small doorway. “Valerie, you’re back.” Valerie smiled and called out, “Grandma.” She introduced me to the old woman. “This is Alex. He’s my… good friend.” I paused, slightly stunned. Perhaps afraid I’d contradict her, Valerie quickly ducked into the kitchen. The old woman warmly pulled me into the house, then took out some treasured candies and offered them to me. “Good boy. Valerie has never brought a friend home before.” “You’re the first one.” I gave a bitter smile as I peeled the wrapper, putting the milky candy in my mouth. This elderly, partially-sighted woman would never know what her granddaughter suffered at school, let alone that she had no friends. She held my hand and talked for a long time. When emotions ran deep, she wiped tears from the corners of her eyes. “My Valerie has had a very hard life. She was abandoned by her parents by the river when she was just born, and I, a poor, old, almost-blind woman, found her and brought her home.” The old woman took out her sewing kit, dug out a few crumpled bills from the bottom, then tremblingly pressed the largest bill into my hand. “It’s a blessing she met a friend like you. Please, help me look after my Valerie from now on.” My nose stung, my lips parted, but no sound came out. Finally, I just mumbled, “Okay.” From that day on, I started watching over Valerie, becoming almost her constant shadow. “Alex, where’s your family?” The sunset settled on the lake, quickly sinking and taking the last light with it. Valerie asked me this for the first time. I paused for a few seconds, then told her, short and direct, “My mom died. My dad’s in prison. He killed my mom.” The air suddenly grew quiet. Valerie must have realized she’d spoken out of turn, so she immediately fell silent. After a long silence, she took my right hand. In the darkness, I heard her choked voice. “Alex, from now on… I’ll be your family.” She made that promise to me, and I believed her.

My face suddenly felt wet. I slowly opened my eyes. The white furball in front of me was licking my cheek. Seeing me awake, Buddy snuggled into my arms. I reached out and stroked his head, then staggered to the bathroom, turning on the shower to wash away the blood. The person who drove Valerie home that night was quickly identified—Brandon, Valerie’s secretary. He was young, a prestigious university graduate, and strikingly handsome. I wasn’t surprised that someone like him could attract Valerie. Valerie didn’t come home for several nights. I waited in the villa, calm as if insane. Late at night, my stomach pain grew severe. I tremblingly took out my painkillers, poured out a few pills, and dry-swallowed them. In the darkness, I curled up, letting the cold sweat soak the sheets. Just as the pain began to subside, the sound of the door lock clicked. Someone walked into the room, then quietly lay down beside me. She reached out and hugged me from behind, not saying a word. The smell of alcohol drifted into my nostrils, pungent and stinging. I pulled away from her, turning on the bedside lamp. “Have you been drinking?” Valerie’s eyes were red, but she didn’t answer. After a long moment, she finally cried, “Alex, you can’t leave me.” “You’re all I have. If even you leave me, what will I do?” I looked at her, smiling faintly, and gently wiped her tears with my fingertips. A sudden, intense bitterness welled up inside me. “Valerie, it’s not me leaving you…” I trembled as I closed my eyes. “It’s you leaving me.” Valerie gripped my hand, apologizing over and over. “I was wrong. Please forgive me.” “You know I can’t live without you.” Her tears dripped onto the back of my hand, and all my defenses crumbled instantly. “Valerie, tell me, between him and me… who do you choose?” She wrapped her arms around my neck, tilted her head back, and kissed my lips, her voice choked with tears, speaking the most devastating love words. “I choose you, Alex. Only you.” Valerie kissed my Adam’s apple, her passion evident. I cupped the back of her neck, deepening the kiss. My body gradually grew hot. The moment I took off Valerie’s shirt, I suddenly saw the dense scars on her arm. The string in my mind suddenly snapped. *That’s right*, how could Valerie possibly leave me? Everyone only saw Valerie’s dazzling success, but no one knew that she had once suffered from severe depression. The first time I found her, the bathtub water was already stained crimson. She lay there, unconscious, her fate uncertain. But even after being rescued, Valerie didn’t give up on suicide. When I broke into the locked room, her left arm was covered in countless cuts. Valerie sat on the floor, her face blank. I skillfully took out gauze to bandage her. Valerie didn’t pull away, she just looked at me and smiled. “Alex, please don’t save me.” She expressed her pain so calmly. I looked at her vacant stare and remained silent for a long time. “Does it hurt?” Valerie’s right hand still gripped a fruit knife. I took her hand, used its force, and slashed deeply across my own arm. It took her a few seconds to react. Then she screamed and threw the knife away. “Alex! Alex…” Valerie finally burst into tears. She frantically tried to cover my wound, but the blood soaked her palm, seeping through her fingers. “Valerie, it hurts so much.” I pulled her into my embrace, begging her over and over. “Please, don’t die.” “Valerie, let me be your medicine.”

The memories gradually faded, and my gaze refocused on the present. A voice reached my ears. “Sir, Ms. Valerie said you don’t need to wait for her tonight.” Mr. Davies, the butler, spoke and then quietly withdrew. The dinner on the table had grown cold. I quietly listened to the clock strike midnight. This was the third day. The third day I hadn’t seen Valerie. Just as I was lost in thought, the white furball suddenly darted into my arms. It knocked the bowls and chopsticks off the table, making a sharp clattering sound. “Buddy, cut it out.” Buddy’s tongue lolled out, like a grin. I helplessly stroked his head, then bent down to pick up the broken pieces from the floor. A sharp shard of porcelain cut my fingertip, and blood quickly seeped out. I knelt on the floor, looking at the scattered fragments around me. For a moment, I felt a strange sense of unreality. A bitter smile touched my lips. Go back to how things were… as if that were even possible. The room at night carried a chill. Ever since I fell ill, I’d become sensitive to the cold. The heat from the AC gradually filled the room, but even curled up under the blankets, I still shivered violently. Valerie appeared at some point. She gently wrapped her arms around me. “Alex, I’m home.” I strained to press closer to her, desperate for a bit of warmth, but I still shivered uncontrollably. “Valerie, I’m cold.” She gently stroked my back, then hummed a familiar lullaby to lull me to sleep. “Don’t be scared.” I called her name. “Valerie?” She said, “I’m here.” I called her name again and again, and she answered every time. Suddenly, I wanted to cry so badly. Tears welled up in my eyes. My voice choked with sobs as I told her, “Valerie, I’m dying.” Her movements suddenly stilled. “Oh? Well, that’s…” I couldn’t quite hear her voice, so I looked up at her. Valerie’s expression suddenly twisted, her eyes filled with extreme, deranged madness, her smile grotesque. “Well, that’s wonderful.” My heart jolted. I reached out a disbelieving hand toward her. “Valerie—!” When I opened my eyes again, the sky outside was bright. My back was soaked with cold sweat. I sat up, still shaken, unable to fully recover my senses. It had just been… a dream. I closed my eyes, calmed myself, then got up and walked out of the room. A housekeeper walked by in the hallway. I looked at the shirt she was holding and said, “Did Ms. Valerie come back last night?” The housekeeper respectfully nodded. “Yes, Ms. Valerie returned very late last night. She was afraid of disturbing you, so she slept in the guest room.” I took the shirt, glanced at it, then handed it back. “You can go now.” It wasn’t until I was alone that I lifted my fingers to my nose and inhaled. A familiar woody fragrance. I almost wanted to laugh. It was the birthday gift Valerie gave me when she turned twenty. The same scent. On whose body had she picked it up this time? My stomach began to cramp again. I took two painkillers, just barely managing to suppress the pain. A wave of dizziness washed over me. I lifted my hand, trying to grab onto something, but ultimately collapsed weakly onto the bed and passed out again. When I next woke, the window was pitch black. A knock sounded at the door. I reached out, gripping the edge of the table to steady myself. “Come in.” Mr. Davies slowly walked up to me. “Sir, Ms. Valerie sent someone to pick you up.” I paused, slightly confused, then nodded. It wasn’t until I was in the car that I belatedly asked, “Where are we going?” The driver’s voice held a hint of a smile. “You’ll find out when you get there.” A flicker of emotion stirred in my heart. Unease, or perhaps, expectation.

The entire floor of the riverside rooftop restaurant was empty. A waiter pushed open the glass door for me. A cascade of roses bloomed profusely, and amidst them, stood Valerie, dressed in a white gown. She walked toward me, a dazzling smile on her face. “Happy Birthday, Alex.” I was slightly stunned. It was my birthday today? I’d even forgotten myself… She explained that she had deliberately been distant these past few days to prepare this surprise for me. Valerie took a necklace from a box in her hand and fastened it around my neck. As our skin brushed, I felt her breath near my ear. “Alex, this is our ninth year.” She wrapped her arms around my waist, leaning gently against me. “And we’ll have many, many more nine years together.” I almost froze, unable to move for a long time. A sudden, intense bitterness welled up inside me. *But Valerie… we don’t have a future anymore.* She took my hand and led me to the table. A waiter poured our wine. Valerie raised her glass to me. “Alex…” She suddenly smiled shyly. For a moment, I saw the ghost of her eighteen-year-old self. “Have I ever told you?” I frowned, asking, “What?” Valerie’s expression grew serious. “I love you.” My heart lurched, then pounded in my chest with endless echoes. Valerie’s affection had always been quiet, almost shy. Never had she expressed it with such passionate, direct honesty. This was the first time. Her cheeks flushed. She took a sip of her wine, using it to hide her nervousness. I hesitated for a moment, then drained my glass. My stomach cramped painfully. I forced a smile, enduring the discomfort. “I’m very happy.” She was about to say something else when a heated argument suddenly erupted nearby. “Sir! You can’t go in!” By the time I looked up, the man had already walked in front of us. He looked utterly distraught, but his handsome face was still undeniable. His clothes were impeccably neat, yet he reeked of alcohol. “Why did you fire me?” The man’s voice was cold, yet broken, with a hint of a sob. He was fragile, like a wet, abandoned puppy, easily eliciting a protective instinct from others. I instantly knew who he was—Valerie’s secretary, Brandon. Brandon continued to demand, over and over, “What exactly did I do wrong? Was my presence a problem for you?” “But you didn’t reject me then. I thought you felt something for me…” He acted as if I wasn’t even there, passionately pouring out his heart. Valerie’s expression gradually darkened. “Shut up.” Only then did Brandon turn his gaze to me. He stared for a long moment, then gave a bitter laugh. “I see.” He turned and walked away, a look of grim determination on his face. Valerie instinctively rose to stop him. I looked up at her. “Valerie.” My eyes suddenly stung. I asked, almost pleading, “Are you leaving?” She faltered. I gripped her fingertips, forcing a difficult smile as tears traced paths down my cheeks. “Please, don’t go.” Valerie’s eyes flickered with struggle. After a few seconds, it turned to apology. “I’m sorry.” She chased after him. In that vast restaurant, I was the only one left, the only ‘star’ of her show. I stood there for a long time, then covered my eyes with my hand, letting the tears soak my palm, before a low, bitter laugh escaped me. If you’d known this was the last birthday you’d spend with me, would you regret it? Valerie, I almost fell for it. Almost.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296909”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic