Author: Momo Chan

After transmigrating into this novel, I was bound to a yandere system. My mission: to *dominate* the male lead, or I die. But even after giving him the full treatment, my life countdown timer still flickered. “System, what the hell are you playing at?” 【You genius, who told you the guy with a leg disability was the male lead?】 【You tied up the yandere villain!】 I instinctively ran my hand over the abs beneath me, my eyes wide with a dangerous sparkle. “Oh no, I’m a fake yandere! He’s the real deal!” When I *brought* Julian back—or rather, *nabbed* him—he was already burning up with fever, delirious. In the basement, walls lined with various ‘props’, Julian was forced into a specially designed chair, barely clinging to consciousness. His ears burned crimson, his eyes fluttering with a mix of fury and something else, as he watched my massager gun continue its downward journey on him. “Don’t you dare go too far!” “But you seem to be enjoying it, darling~” I gave an innocent smile, then cranked the massager gun up a notch. His jaw clenched even tighter. “Don’t push your luck! It’s not too late to let me go now…” It was meant to be a warning, but his voice was soft, utterly devoid of threat. “Sweetheart, what are you thinking?” I playfully slapped his scorching hot cheek. “You didn’t really think anyone was coming to save you, did you?” Watching the darkness in his eyes deepen, I scoffed. “It’s been two hours already. If anyone *really* wanted to find you, this place wouldn’t be much of a hideout.” Julian had originally been outside, punished by being left in the rain. His leg disability combined with the rain and high fever made him the perfect ‘catch’ for me. I removed the massager gun and replaced it with a thin rope, wrapping it around his chest and binding his pecs tight several times before I was satisfied. In the chair, Julian’s face was flushed even redder. He tried to struggle, but I restrained him again. “Tsk, I don’t know why you’re being so stubborn. Even *this* thing has more life in it than you.” Julian wasn’t provoked by the truth I’d just spoken, but rather by my blatant honesty. “When I get out of here, I’ll kill you!” He probably expected me to be scared, but little did he know, it only excited me more. “Oh? How are you going to kill me? Like this, or like this…” …… Ten minutes later, he looked even more like a drowned puppy. His wet eyes stared at me, so pitiful, it was enough to melt anyone’s heart. Good thing I have a heart of stone! I placed the back of my hand against Julian’s forehead. It wasn’t as burning hot anymore, but he was still feverish. Julian breathed weakly, his eyes shadowed. “Are you humiliating me for Liam?” Liam? Who’s Liam? Never heard of him. With a wicked grin, I leaned in closer, then unzipped his pants. “Looks like you still have some energy, then how about we…” The next second, the System’s mute period conveniently ended, interrupting me. 【Holy moly, what are you trying to do?!】 “Sleep with him! Can’t you tell?” As soon as the words left my mouth, I saw Julian’s… *greatness*, and my eyes widened. Whoa~ Even disabled, he’s this potent? As expected of the male lead! 【I knew what you were trying to do, that’s why I wanted to warn you…!】 “Shush, no talking during the show.” I found the System too noisy, so I muted it again for 24 hours before it could finish. As for whether I’d need longer, that depended on my performance later~ The rain outside made the air humid. The basement lights stayed on, casting flickering shadows. When I finally dragged myself up, my body felt like it had been run over by a truck. There wasn’t a single spot that wasn’t sore. Who would’ve thought that the initially frail, beautiful man would break free halfway through our ‘session’ and then reveal his fangs? I glanced at the scattered items on the floor, feeling like I’d broken five fingers. Then I looked at Julian, who was deeply asleep from exhaustion, his fever completely gone. I silently wondered: *My pathetic life should be safe now, right?* But the next second, I saw my life countdown timer in the nearby mirror: 48 hours remaining. I immediately unmuted the System to get an explanation. “System, what the hell are you playing at? Didn’t I already *force love* the male lead?” 【You genius, who told you the guy with a leg disability was the male lead?】

“No, no, no, he’s still a handsome, ‘strong’ tragic figure who’s leg-disabled and was thrown out to suffer in the rain!” 【Enough! You tied up the yandere villain!】 “!!!” I immediately felt Julian’s abs again, my eyes sparkling. “Oh no, I’m a fake yandere! He’s the real deal!” 【Why are you excited? The villain turns you into a delightful little collector’s item later on~】 My hand trembled. “But I transmigrated as the female lead! “In most novels, don’t the male lead and male second lead love the female lead to death?” The System scoffed. 【In this book, the original female lead, in her desperate attempt to win the male lead’s love, not only forcefully took what she wanted from him but also ruthlessly targeted the villain who threatened the male lead’s position. As a result, she was targeted by the villain, who straight-up slaughtered her as a sacrifice. 【It was only then that the male lead, who originally detested the female lead, finally realized his love for her. Filled with remorse, he ensured the villain received a life sentence.】 “Wow~” What a damn twisted plot. After hearing the System’s summary of the plot, the only person I felt sorry for for was myself. “So, who’s the *real* male lead?” The System sighed, looking utterly exasperated. 【The male lead is obviously the female lead’s fiancé!】 “But wasn’t Julian my fiancé?” When I transmigrated, it happened to be the day the original female lead returned from abroad. I only remembered standing at the front gate of the Thompson family mansion when the System told me that the house next door belonged to my fiancé. Then I pointed to the man sitting in a wheelchair, getting drenched in the rain, and asked who he was. The System said, “That’s Julian.” Come on, childhood friend *and* fiancé, *plus* he’s disabled? Talk about a male lead jackpot! So, without a second thought, to save my sorry ass, I immediately ‘rescued’ Julian, who was feverish from the rain. The System tried to stop me during the process, but I muted it before it could say anything. And that’s how everything before this happened. The System’s furious roar echoed in my head: 【You’re the death of me! Your fiancé is Julian’s uncle, his name is Liam!】 I hesitated. “Then am I…?” 【Yes, you defiled your future nephew.】 …… In the end, I sent Julian back exactly as I found him, threatening him to keep quiet about everything, or I’d post his ‘unflattering’ photos all over the internet. He first laughed, but it was a cold, enraged laugh, before he gritted his teeth and agreed. Pfft, a little yandere villain? That’s all? Piece of cake, I’ve got him wrapped around my finger. It was only later that I learned this, uh, rather *unique* basement, packed with ‘toys’ you wouldn’t want to explain, was actually prepared by the original female lead for Liam, out of unrequited love. But by a strange twist of fate, I… ended up using it on my future nephew… Just as I watched my life countdown hit 28 hours, the System informed me that Liam had just returned home from a business dinner, making it the perfect time to strike. So, armed with handcuffs, I stormed over to the neighboring Liam’s house. In Liam’s living room. Liam was sprawled on the sofa, seemingly asleep. I stood beside the couch, briefly debated, then decisively put the handcuffs on his wrist. *Click*. The cold touch finally made Liam realize something was wrong. A sharp, chilling glint flickered in his narrow eyes as they opened, then softened back to their usual gentle, somewhat hazy warmth. “Chloe? When did you come back?” “That’s not important. What’s important is…” I jingled the silver handcuffs, smiling sweetly. “Are you going to let me sleep with you or not?”

The warmth in Liam’s eyes cooled a few degrees, but his expression remained gentle. “Don’t be ridiculous.” I frowned. Honestly, I didn’t like the way he was looking at me right now. So, with my free hand, I grabbed his tie, then climbed onto the sofa, leaning in over him. “You don’t want to? That’s fine… “Just relax, honey. No need for you to do anything.” As I said this, my fingers traced the prominent vein down his neck— “Chloe Thompson, is this how you’ve been ‘studying’ abroad for the past year?!” Liam’s face darkened. He turned his head away, snatching my ‘naughty’ hand. His grip on my hand was surprisingly strong. I raised an eyebrow, thinking Julian was much more obedient. But then Liam said, “There’s a limit to your mischief, Chloe.” “We’re already engaged! What are you still shy about?” I should’ve just kidnapped him back to the basement. Then he wouldn’t have so much to say. But Liam’s brows furrowed even deeper, and I was already losing my patience. My hand deftly slipped free from his grip, and I immediately tore open his shirt. The next second, my hand immediately reached out, touching his bare chest— But suddenly, I heard a *click*, and then my eyes were momentarily blinded by a flash. Both Liam and I froze, then turned our heads in unison to the source. It was Julian, holding up his phone, taking our picture. “Tsk, future Auntie has so much energy at night, doesn’t she?” My hand, resting on Liam’s pecs, stiffened. I silently vowed that Julian had better not push me to post his pictures online. But while I was distracted, Liam abruptly shoved me aside. “Chloe, unlock these handcuffs.” Thanks to Julian’s little interruption, I failed to ‘pounce’ on the male lead. So, I had no choice but to leave, disappointed, with my handcuffs still on. But as I reached Liam’s front door, a sudden realization hit me. “Maybe I should bring a stun gun next time?” After I left, the uncle and nephew in the living room were locked in a silent standoff. Julian, still in his wheelchair, idly playing with his phone, propped his other hand under his chin, observing his uncle with a leisurely, almost smug air. By now, Liam had straightened his clothes. “Delete the photo.” “What’s wrong? Afraid I’ll secretly send it to *her*?” Liam’s fingers twitched, neither admitting nor denying anything, but the look in his eyes towards Julian was icy. The overhead light illuminated half of Julian’s face, revealing the slight deepening of the curve of his lips. “So fake, wanting to have your cake and eat it too.” Julian kept his eyes on Liam as he spoke. Seeing no change in Liam’s expression, he continued to mock, “Then again, without the Thompson family’s support, your precious *CEO* position wouldn’t be so secure.” At this, Julian suddenly smiled in an uncharacteristic way. His gaze dropped to Julian’s legs. “Talk when you can stand up.” …… With only 24 hours left on my life countdown, I returned to Liam’s house. But this time, I snuck in. In the pitch-black room, I walked towards the man on the bed, armed with a stun gun. But just as I was about to reach him, a large hand snatched my arm, pulling me into the covers. *Thump!* The stun gun in my hand fell to the floor. Then, the room was flooded with light. “What a coincidence, future Auntie~”

A man’s arm held me tightly in his embrace, his body heat radiating onto mine. I tried to kick him off, but I was instantly pinned down. When I realized what was happening, my pupils constricted. “Your legs…” Julian, however, showed no panic. He leaned close to my ear and slowly whispered, “Oh dear, you’ve discovered my little secret~” “…” “What should we do? Maybe I should just dispose of the evidence?” Julian said this, sucking on my earlobe. The arm clamping me was so strong it felt like he could twist me in half. I instinctively swallowed, the scene from the paid section of the basement flashing in my mind. “How about… you ‘sleep with me’ again?” But after I proposed this, the air went silent. Only the System’s voice: 【Ancestor! Please don’t add random plot lines!】 I ignored the System’s furious roar, waiting for Julian’s reply. But after a stretch of silence, I felt the vibration from Julian’s chest, and his low chuckle. “Didn’t realize before, but future Auntie is really quite cute~” I chuckled awkwardly, speechless for a moment, because… Damn it, this was getting even *more* thrilling! Suddenly, that stupid life countdown didn’t seem like such a big deal anymore. Under the covers, Julian’s fingers traced suggestive patterns on my sensitive waist. “How about you break off that engagement with my uncle? Give me a try instead?” What can I say? Damn it, his suggestion was actually pretty tempting. Too bad he wasn’t the male lead. So, the words I instinctively wanted to agree to changed into: “No.” As soon as I spoke, I saw Julian’s eyes change. I expected his expression to sour, but the smile on his face deepened instead. It felt… not normal. “Oh, so *that’s* what you’re into?” Julian said, biting my lip until it bled before letting go. Then he continued, “What a coincidence, me too.” “Heh.” “And a little secret, my uncle’s room is right next door.” “!!!” “So? Do you dare to play a *bigger* game?” System: 【Warning! Stop altering the plot! Please respect the original story!】 But I continued to ignore the System and replied, “Okay.” …… In the room next door, Liam hadn’t been asleep. He was still dealing with Thompson Group work. But as he worked, thumping sounds started coming from next door, like someone hitting a wall. At first, Liam didn’t pay much attention, thinking Julian was just deliberately causing trouble. But then, he realized something was off. He wondered if his ears were too good, or if he was hallucinating, because he heard *those* kinds of sounds! Liam finally closed his laptop, then stood up and removed his gold-rimmed glasses. When he reached Julian’s room door, the sounds from inside became significantly clearer. He knocked on the door. “Julian?” Julian’s movements inside the room paused, immediately sending shivers down my spine. I thought, *Damn this yandere, he’s totally my type!* Liam, getting no response from inside, assumed the occupants had settled down. So he decided to head back to his own room. But he hadn’t walked two steps before he heard the sounds again. Liam frowned, then turned back and knocked again. This time, the commotion got even louder… Liam’s face instantly darkened. If he couldn’t tell what was happening inside, he’d have lived thirty years for nothing. Besides, he’d felt Julian was off yesterday. Then, Liam heard a line from inside the room: “Auntie… why aren’t you calling out…?” *Whoosh.* Liam’s eyes instantly turned cold. “Julian, open the door!” The commotion in the room gradually subsided, then the sound of wheelchair wheels rubbing on the floor came from afar, drawing closer.

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The day Asher confessed to me, Serena, who had chased him for three years, jumped off the roof. Before she took her life, she cried, accusing me of campus bullying and having a messy personal life. It was only when I went into labor and Asher refused to take me to the hospital that I realized his confession had just been a ploy to get rid of Serena. And after Serena’s death, Asher became obsessed with her, falling madly in love. He blamed me entirely for her demise. When I was heavily pregnant, he imprisoned me at home, tormenting me until I drew my last breath. I never expected to open my eyes again and find myself back on the day Serena jumped. “Get together! Get together!” The chaotic shouts jolted me back to reality, the familiar scene merging with my memories. My gaze fell on Asher, standing before me with flowers in hand. Just like me, he looked around, a bewildered expression on his face. His eyes lit up, then he tossed the flowers aside and frantically ran towards the rooftop. Watching his retreating figure, I realized that both Asher and I had been reborn. We were back on the day Asher confessed to me. In my previous life, on this very day Asher confessed, Serena had stood on that rooftop. From the top of the building, her face filled with despair, she cried out to the entire school, accusing me of campus bullying. Everyone pressured me, demanding I kneel and beg for her forgiveness, for her to come down. Even though I had never bullied her, I was forced by the whole school to kneel and plead with her not to jump. But after I knelt, she screamed even louder, collapsing in tears: “You’re willing to kneel in public just to force my forgiveness? Does a bully apologizing mean the bullied has to forgive them?” “I’ll tell you this: I’ll never forgive you, never.” With that, she leaped from the rooftop. The incident went viral online, and without any real evidence, I became the infamous bully everyone demonized across the internet. Later, after a police investigation, a statement was released proving my innocence, that I hadn’t bullied anyone. But by then, no one believed me. The official police clarification video was filled with hateful comments about me: “Why would she kneel and apologize if she didn’t bully anyone?” “Do you think anyone would use their life to frame someone else?” “Who’s pulling strings for this bully? Why isn’t she in jail?” … The school couldn’t handle the online pressure either and advised me to withdraw. I gradually developed depression, and after multiple failed suicide attempts, Asher reappeared. He repeatedly told me he believed I was innocent, helping me slowly recover. He gradually became my only lifeline. Later, I moved to another city for college, choosing the same university as Asher, and we officially started dating. After graduation, we got married. Lulled by his sweet words, I pregnant and promptly quit my job to become a stay-at-home wife. Little did I know, that was the beginning of my nightmare. He imprisoned me at home, cutting me off from the outside world, tormenting me daily with photos of Serena. When I was heavily pregnant and nearing delivery, he forcibly locked me in a room, brutally abusing and tormenting me. It was then I realized that after Serena’s death, Asher had suddenly realized she was the one he truly loved, regretting that he hadn’t cherished her. He blamed me for Serena’s death, believing I had provoked her into taking her own life He channeled all his hatred onto me, exacting a furious revenge. His prolonged torment led to my water breaking and premature labor. He watched coldly as I struggled in the room, cruelly tormenting me until I drew my last breath. I never expected to open my eyes again and find myself back on the day Asher confessed to me, the day Serena jumped.

I watched his retreating figure with cold indifference. Facing the curious gazes of the bystanders, I picked up a broom and swept the flowers into the trash can. My eyes scanned Asher’s friends, the ones who had been loudest in their cheering, and I spoke flatly: “What’s with all the fuss? College entrance exams are coming up soon. Don’t you want to focus on your studies, or do you plan to repeat this year?” Under my cold stare, they exchanged glances, then quickly returned to their seats. Once the classroom was quiet again, I pulled out my textbook and buried myself in studying. Thinking of everything I’d suffered in my previous life because of that toxic pair, an irritable rage simmered within me. This time, I had to stay far away from those two. Asher didn’t reappear at school after leaving until evening dismissal. I glanced at their empty seats, packed my things, and practically sprinted home. Seeing my parents, looking years younger, in the living room, my eyes welled up. I let out a choked sob and threw myself into my mom’s arms. Seeing me like this, she panicked, holding me close and gently patting my back. “Honey, what’s wrong? Did someone bully you at school? Tell Mom, I’ll make sure you get justice.” After a long while, I calmed myself, sniffling. “No, I just… suddenly missed you both so, so much. And I’m so sorry.” Hearing me, Mom sighed in relief, playfully patting my head. “Did you mess up a test this time?” My dad chimed in from behind, “Don’t be too stressed, it’s just the college entrance exam. Even if you mess up, Dad will support you for life.” Watching the harmonious atmosphere at home, my heart gradually settled. My parents were so good to me, yet in my previous life, Asher’s manipulation had led me to give up my career after pregnancy and become a stay-at-home wife, handing over full control of the company to him. Because my parents disagreed, I had a huge fight with them and cut off all contact. This also allowed Asher to use my pregnancy as an excuse to trick me into moving away, imprisoning me in a secluded basement he’d prepared just for me. No one found me for a long time after I died. Meanwhile, he used his position to embezzle company funds, draining the accounts and leaving the company bankrupt. My parents, reeling from the twin shocks of my death and the company’s bankruptcy, became distraught and were tragically killed in a car accident. I clenched my fists. This time, I would protect them, no matter what. In the middle of the night, I dreamed of my previous life again. In a dimly lit room, my hands were cuffed to the bed frame. Suddenly, a beam of light, and a pair of polished leather shoes appeared before me. I recoiled in terror, shrinking into the corner, but the owner of the shoes wouldn’t let me go. He stomped on my calf, grinding his heel back and forth: “Does that hurt? Imagine how desperate Serena must have been when you bullied her until she jumped. You should go to hell to atone for your sins.” I croaked, struggling to explain, “Asher, I never bullied her.” “Still trying to deny it!” He lifted his foot and slammed it without hesitation into my stomach. “No!” As I struggled, the handcuffs snapped. Seizing the opportunity, I threw a straight punch directly at his most sensitive spot. I didn’t waste a second, getting up and hitting Asher with a left hook, then a right hook, until he was on his knees, begging for mercy.

I woke up feeling incredibly refreshed and headed to school. Asher and Serena entered the classroom one after another after the second period ended. Serena, walking in behind Asher, had swollen, glistening lips and flushed cheeks. Faint hickeys peeked from her neck. It was obvious to anyone what had happened last night. Asher’s friends exchanged knowing glances and started chanting: “Asher, what happened? Weren’t you going to confess to our class president, Avery? How did you end up with Serena overnight?” As they spoke, their eyes darted between Serena and me. They were all curious how Asher, who had rejected Serena so many times, had suddenly gotten together with her overnight. Asher shot me a dismissive glance, then pulled Serena into a tight embrace. “Serena and I had some misunderstandings before, but now they’re cleared up. Say hi to your new sister-in-law!” At his words, Serena’s face flushed deep red, and she quickly buried her face in Asher’s chest. At the same time, she cast a guilty glance my way. I gave them a bland look and returned to my worksheets. Serena and I used to be best friends. We were neighbors back then, and we practically lived at each other’s houses, always sharing meals and sleeping over. I remember being smaller than other kids my age, and often getting picked on by classmates. Afterwards, she would always take me to confront the bullies. We promised to be best friends for life. But later, in middle school, her dad got into gambling, and the sounds of him yelling and hitting people often came from her house. My parents told me not to go to Serena’s house anymore. But I felt sorry for her, so I kept playing with her. Until eighth grade, I suddenly had a growth spurt, and my features became more defined. The boys who used to bully me started sending me love letters and told me the real reason they had picked on me in elementary school: it was Serena who had used the snacks I gave her to bribe them into bullying me. When I found out, I confronted her. She sneered, “Why? There’s no why. I just didn’t like you.” I was heartbroken. Around that time, my parents’ company also started making a profit, and they decided to give me a better environment for school. We quickly moved out of our old neighborhood. I never expected we’d meet again in high school. I thought we’d be casual strangers. Until one day after school, I saw her being beaten by a group of people in an alley. When I went to help her, I found out she was the other woman, and the people beating her were the man’s wife and her friends. I promised to keep her secret. The very next day, she stood on the rooftop, crying and accusing me of campus bullying. There was less than a hundred days left until the college entrance exams. This time, I was determined to study hard, aiming for a top-tier university in finance and management, to take over the company and expand it significantly. Because Asher had been reborn and was already an adult mentally, he wasn’t afraid of the teachers’ authority. He openly dated Serena at school, not even trying to hide it. He even dramatically recorded their love story on his phone and posted it online. This was the era when the internet was booming. I knew he wanted to get into the influencer game. In just a few days, Asher and Serena’s accounts were gaining significant traction. Ever since I was subjected to that online mob in my previous life, I realized the immense harm that biased, one-sided reports from sensationalist online accounts could cause. Later, I started learning how to run an account myself, to expand my influence and speak up for more people who faced injustice. Gradually, I understood how to crack the algorithm for going viral and successfully built a following. In my spare time, I even started a daily couple’s account with Asher in my previous life, explaining the techniques to him and guiding him to become an internet influencer. I scrolled through his current account’s cringey, low-quality videos titled “High School Love Daily.” I clicked one open. They were hugging and deeply kissing, the captions vulgar and overly dramatic. Serena in the video smiled sweetly, swaying her hips in a way that left little to the imagination. I closed my phone, the comments below full of disgusting remarks. The account he was running now was the exact case study of the simplest, most successful launch by a popular influencer that I had analyzed and explained to him years ago in my previous life. It involved starting with controversial content to gain traction, then leveraging a major incident to ‘cleanse’ their image and go mainstream. I had told him that while this method was simple, promoting problematic values could easily get you banned, and successful transformation was incredibly difficult. Clearly, he had only heard the “simple” part. This time, he was using this strategy directly. I wondered how he planned to pivot later. I didn’t pay them any more attention. With my experience from the previous life, I also registered an account, studying and running my own content page simultaneously. I absolutely had to seize this internet opportunity. Their public displays of affection didn’t last long. Soon, their indulgent, anti-study behavior was reprimanded by the school, and their parents were notified. Reportedly, the principal’s office was utter chaos that day. Asher’s family was very conservative. Knowing that Asher’s grades had plummeted and he faced expulsion, his mother immediately grabbed Serena’s hair in the office and slapped her repeatedly, left and right. The teachers present couldn’t even stop her. She only stopped when Serena’s dad showed up and saw the scene. Asher’s mom then started yelling obscenities at Serena’s father. Serena’s father, a notorious lowlife, wasn’t angry after learning Serena and Asher were dating and had slept together. Instead, he started demanding a hefty payout from Asher’s family. Initially, Asher’s parents refused, but since Serena was underage, taking it to the police would mean Asher could be charged with sexual assault. And so, with the teachers as witnesses in the office, they negotiated the payout and got engaged. The principal had originally wanted to expel both of them, but Asher’s mother threw such a dramatic, shameless tantrum on the floor that he reluctantly compromised, agreeing to expel only one. Asher’s parents, who hated Serena, forced her to drop out so their precious son could continue school. They believed their brilliant son had Ivy League potential, but was now obsessed with the internet, talking crazy about making money online. Serena’s father, after getting the money, didn’t care about her at all. Serena dropping out for love caused a huge stir, spreading throughout the school. The campus social media was filled with praises for their love story. I seized the opportunity to report on this incident. Soon, the story went viral online, and they gained even more popularity. Asher was overjoyed, immediately telling Serena to start live streaming from home to make money. Just as I expected, their follower count skyrocketed. Their account name changed from “Serena’s High School Love Daily” to “Serena, High School Dropout, Caring for Boyfriend Daily.” I created a new burner account to follow them. After school, I saw them engaging in sleazy live challenges and casually sent them a few thousand dollars in donations. Watching their beaming faces, a slight smirk played on my lips. Enjoy this happy time while it lasts. In the days of peak popularity, Asher took a leave of absence from school to live stream with Serena at home. He returned to school three weeks later. Asher caused a stir, strutting in his latest Air Force Ones and a PRADA outfit.

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He Chose Her Dog Over Our Son. Julian’s childhood friend was taken. It was all because of her reckless compassion. To save a tiny dog, she tricked someone’s kid into opening the door, and he was bitten to death by zombies. To save her, Julian planned to throw our four-year-old son into the zombie horde, just to appease them. I ran to the edge of the zombie pit, kneeling and begging. “They just want to vent their rage! You can send me down there instead! They can hit me, curse me, tear me to shreds by the zombies—I’ll take it all, just please, I beg you, let the child go!” Julian yanked me onto the ground, his face twisted in utter disgust. “You go? If you die, who protects the Pei family? Don’t forget, you were bound to the Pei family by Grandpa Arthur, meant to serve until your dying breath.” “Besides, I’m just filming a video. I’m not actually going to kill him.” He rushed off to retrieve his childhood friend, leaving our son dangling in the air, transforming into a zombie right before my eyes. That night, I hardened my heart and ended my son’s life myself. Meanwhile, Julian spent the entire night comforting his friend, bringing her three fluffy puppies. I knelt before Grandpa Arthur, clutching Leo’s body, half of it already a chilling purple-black. “You laid my entire family to rest back then, and I saved your son’s life, even bore him a child. Now, my debt is fully repaid. There’s no reason for me to stay in the Pei family any longer.”

Leo’s eyes, wide and pale, were fixed on me. My heart grew heavier and heavier. All I could do was numbly raise the pistol. To end his suffering quickly. Only when Grandpa Arthur arrived could I cross the electric fence and reach my son. The rope binding Leo had two distinct marks. I gripped it tightly, replaying the footage on the camera. Originally, he was still far from the zombie horde. But hearing the sobs from the other end of the phone, Julian immediately loosened the rope, letting it drop significantly, afraid that Serena would think his apology wasn’t sincere. My heart churned with unbearable turmoil. He would hurt his own son for a woman who caused a death! Grandpa Arthur coughed, sputtering with rage. He had someone call Julian while he continued to curse. “He’s an animal!” As Grandpa Arthur ranted on, Julian’s bodyguard delivered a box of tranquilizers. The expiration date was a year old. That lit a fuse in him. “This scoundrel! Is the Pei family short on medicine or money, that he’d use expired tranquilizers?!” “Is that little tramp so important that she’s made him abandon his wife and son completely?!” He coughed, choking on his anger, and seeing the pistol in my hand, he nearly exploded with rage. “You’re just as foolish and cold-blooded! A good child, and you just had to kill him? Was there absolutely no way to save him?” “You’re a mother!” His own son didn’t want his wife and child, yet he called me cold-blooded? I stared at Grandpa Arthur, a chilling emptiness in my eyes. If there was a bullet left, I would have put it through my own head, just to be with Leo. Julian suddenly called, his voice furious the moment I answered. “Ava, can you stop exaggerating everything? I just wanted Leo to film a video, and you act like you’re suffering? Grandpa Arthur is so old, why are you making him worry? You have no shame!” “It was just for a video. You act like I was trying to kill our son. Besides, aren’t you some elite combatant? If Leo was in danger, you should have saved him! A few zombies are nothing for you, right?” “Oh, I forgot. You’re a liar, a manipulative bitch who only steals others’ credit and plays the victim.” “And didn’t I send the tranquilizers over? If Leo’s scared, give him a shot. Serena is too shaken up to be left alone. If you bother Grandpa Arthur again, I swear, I’ll make your life hell!” The call was on speaker. Hearing his son’s utter lack of remorse, his insufferable arrogance, Grandpa Arthur slammed the tranquilizer box onto the ground. The coffee powder spilled everywhere, mixed with some unidentifiable yellowish-green specks. Grandpa Arthur was too furious to speak. The moment I smelled the coffee powder, my skin began to itch. He sent a fake product, but beyond that, as a husband and a father, he didn’t even know I was allergic to coffee, and Leo couldn’t even be near the scent. I laughed, tears streaming down my face. My son was pulled up, wrapped in a suit jacket. Grandpa Arthur saw the abnormal purple-black on his body and his swollen arm. He was speechless for a long time. After a long silence, he knelt on the ground, slapping himself repeatedly. “I was so foolish! How could I raise such a scoundrel who disowns his own wife and son?!” “Now, all I can do is use this old face of mine to beg you. Just give Julian a chance to atone, and I, this old man, will give you my life!” I threw the suit jacket to the ground and held the cold Leo tightly. Ten years ago, he had knelt like this, just as pitifully, begging me to save Julian. During the harshest times of the apocalypse, Grandpa Arthur had laid my entire family to rest, giving them a final resting place. To repay that kindness, I had agreed. How pitiful that I, disregarding my own life, expanded the Pei family’s territory, helping them gain a foothold in this apocalypse, only to receive this outcome. He was old; I couldn’t bear his plea. I knelt down with Leo, showing no mercy. “Back then, the resting place for my family was given by you, Grandpa Arthur. But for ten years, what I’ve done for the Pei family is far more than just marrying and bearing a child.” “Grandpa Arthur, my debt is repaid. The Pei family cannot stop me.”

The next morning, Grandpa Arthur was waiting for me. He saw me, covered in mud and bloodstains, and his eyes glazed over slightly, still holding onto a flicker of hope. “The funeral… won’t it be held at the Pei family estate?” I had spent the entire night killing one thousand two hundred and sixty zombies. That was how many days Leo had lived in this world. “I’ve chosen a good place for Leo. He will leave with me.” Grandpa Arthur reluctantly handed me the urn. He tried to make me stay, but I refused. That place had mountains and water, where one could see the sun and moon exchange places. It was better than this cutthroat, unforgiving place called the Pei family estate. I didn’t want Julian and Leo to have any more connection. But I knew Grandpa Arthur truly loved his grandson, so I left Leo’s favorite rattle with him. Heading home to pack my tools, I stumbled upon Julian and Serena lying naked in bed. Serena wriggled her hips, scratching his face with a lecherous grin. Her voice was sickly sweet as she traced circles on his chest. “Oh, Julian, they’re just so mean. I just wanted to save that poor little dog, and that child just had to come over. Now he’s dead, and they blame me.” Julian listened, his heart aching for her. He hugged her tighter, his hand sliding stickily along her waist. “I know you’re kind, honey. Look, I specially brought you three puppies. Do you like them?” Serena playfully pushed him. “Oh, you’re so naughty, Julian…” “Naughty? Here?” Their flirting only brought back the image of Leo’s face, contorted in agony, right before he died. I kicked the door open. They were even more brazen now. Julian scoffed, seeing my weapons neatly packed in my hand. “What, going off to some place to stay for a couple of days to put on a show for Grandpa Arthur again?” “Can’t you be more genuine, woman? You’re neither hot nor cold, full of lies, utterly detestable! Your knack for fooling Grandpa Arthur won’t work on me.” “If you’re leaving, just leave for good and don’t come back. It’ll be perfect; I can just let Serena be Leo’s mom.” His arrogant, unreasonable face ignited a raging fire within me. Leo’s dying agony kept replaying in my mind. Even though his face was convulsing with pain, his consciousness fading, he had still managed a weak smile and asked me: “Mommy, is Daddy hanging me here to train me? Look how strong I am, I’m not crying at all.” “Daddy, Leo is useful, Leo is brave. Daddy, don’t be angry, don’t hate Mommy.” A four-year-old child, whose only thought was how to make his father happy. But thinking of everything Julian had done to him, my heart ached until I felt utterly drained. Seeing my lack of reaction, Julian told Serena to take the puppies out. He grabbed me, pinning me tightly against the bed, and cursed: “You lying woman, do you even deserve to be called a mother? Let me tell you, my wife, the future mistress of the Pei family, can only be Serena!” “If you hadn’t played your tricks and ruined Serena’s chances of having children, why would I have ever married you? Leo should have been Serena’s son! You, you fraud, you stole him!” I stared at him, my face blank and cold, which only seemed to excite him more. “You’ve got guts, daring to get angry with me?” He pressed me into the bedding, tearing open my collar, letting out a guttural roar. “Didn’t realize you liked kids so much, huh? I’ll just give you another one then!” “Ava, Leo is what you owe Serena. You’d better bring him to Serena today, return him to her. Maybe if I’m in a good mood, I’ll even let you see him again.” The bedding reeked of their recent pleasure, making me gag. Julian’s shamelessness completely severed the last thread of affection I had for him. I slapped him hard, yelling, my voice raw: “Leo is dead!” “If you want to find him, if you want Serena to be his mother, then go to hell!”

Julian knelt over me, adjusting his clothes. He laughed loudly, as if trying to see through me, and gripped my chin tightly. “I truly underestimated you. To be the young mistress of the Pei family, you’d even curse your own son. You don’t love him as much as Grandpa Arthur said, do you?” “How could heaven let such a vain woman be a mother? Leo had terrible luck with you as his mother!” With that, he disgustedly flung my chin away. He looked at me as if I were something filthy, then stood up and left. I slowly sat up, a cold smile on my face. “Julian, in your eyes, I’m just a worthless, vain woman?” “If it weren’t for you, who used tricks to deceive Grandpa Arthur, adding Serena’s credit to your own, and harming her so she couldn’t have children in this life, you would never have touched the threshold of the Pei family!” “Serena is genuine and kind, while you are full of vanity, without a single truthful word! Your schemes won’t work on me. Everything that belongs to her, I will help her take back, one by one.” Julian slammed the door as he left. I recalled the third year of the apocalypse. The Pei family was gradually declining. Julian was infected by the smog and fell into a coma. Grandpa Arthur said there was the largest hospital in the southwest, the only one with intact equipment, that could save Julian. To repay my debt, I ignored my teammates’ warnings. Alone, with a gun and a hammer, I fought my way through floor by floor to occupy the hospital, ensuring Julian received timely treatment. We then used it as the Pei family’s territory, expanding outwards. When he finally woke up, I collapsed, covered in injuries and exhaustion. Julian held me, slipping a wedding ring onto my finger. He said he would only acknowledge me in this life. Drifting through the apocalypse for so long, it was the first time I felt loved, and I dared to fantasize about happiness. It wasn’t until I was pregnant, close to giving birth, that Julian brought back a woman covered in blood. From then on, his resentment and hatred towards me grew deeper and deeper. After I gave birth to Leo, Serena stood in the doorway, looking at Leo with envy. I didn’t know then that it was the beginning of my happiness slipping away. Julian frantically sought my affections, but then, upon learning of my pregnancy, forced me to take medication to abort. The first time, he was still willing to explain. The second, the third time, he grew increasingly annoyed, revealing his true colors. “Ava, this is your retribution for what you did to Serena.” “All the pain she suffered because of you, I will make you endure, little by little!” I hugged Leo’s urn and my packed weapons, then opened the door to leave. But bodyguards were already waiting outside, striking me with electrified riot batons. “Apologies, Ms. Ava, but Ms. Serena has caught a cold. Young Master Julian wants you to take care of her puppies.” “The Young Master said the puppies are fragile, and their feeding and care must be quick. If Ms. Ava is even a little slow, you’ll be punished and warned.” Before I could even question it, another baton struck my back. The searing pain of the electric shock always reminded me of Leo’s death, when I was held back by the electric fence, crying out powerlessly. By the time I reached Serena’s room, my body was numb from the beating, every step trembling. Julian, however, thought I was faking it, his face impatient as he urged me. “Hurry up and feed the puppies! If they get hungry and make Serena upset, you won’t eat tonight.” I gritted my teeth, enduring the pain, and picked up the bottle to feed them. But the puppy in my arms kept whimpering uncomfortably. Serena heard it and walked over, letting out a sharp cry. “Sister Ava, it’s still so small, why would you kill it?” Tears welled in her eyes. She reached out to grab me, then weakly collapsed to the ground, only looking at me and demanding: “Sister, I can’t have children anymore. I just wanted to raise a few dogs with Julian. Is even that not allowed?” Julian’s heart ached. He slapped me hard across the face. My already numb body couldn’t support me. I hit the corner of a table, dazed and unable to open my eyes. But he cursed me for faking it, picked up Serena, and frantically called a doctor. I lay on the ground, regaining my senses only after a long while. Picking up the dead puppy from the floor, I saw blood at its mouth. It had been poisoned. I rummaged through my belongings, put the puppy in a small metal basin Leo used to play with, and added two toys so he wouldn’t be alone. Before leaving, I lit a match and took the basin outside to set it ablaze. Having taken care of everything, I felt a sense of peace and left. Just as the city gates registered my face for exit, a bullet pierced my knee, the pain making me pass out. When I woke again, Julian was dragging me, throwing me at the entrance of Serena’s room. Three half-burned puppies, charred all over, lay there. He furiously kicked me in the chest, cursing. “You bitch, how dare you hurt Serena’s puppies?! What right do you have to get revenge on her?!” He dragged me out, pulling me before a sobbing, breathless Serena, forcing me to my knees. Serena gasped through her tears.

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As the true daughter, I was asked to donate a kidney to the adopted daughter. I pulled out my cancer diagnosis: “I’m sick, I can’t donate.” My eldest brother, Alex, flung the diagnosis in my face. “Liar! Do you know falsifying hospital documents is illegal?” My second brother, Ryan, his eyes red, clamped onto my wrist. “I know you’re jealous of Serena. Are you really going to let her die just to win favor?” My mother, Eleanor, cried, cursing me for being cold-blooded. “Serena’s dying! What’s wrong with giving her a kidney?!” My father, Robert, shattered my last shred of hope with a slap. “Your life’s only value is to save Serena. Don’t be ungrateful.” After being thrown out of the house, I swallowed a massive dose of sleeping pills, lying in bed, calmly waiting for death. But the Cancer Research Institute called me: “Miss Davies, why did you suddenly request to stop the drug clinical trial?” I sighed, defeated. “I’m sorry, I’m a little busy right now.” “Can we talk tomorrow?”

The project leader on the other end, Julian, fell silent for a moment. He asked in a meticulous tone: “Miss Davies, when you signed the consent form, you promised me you’d see it through to the end.” “You’ve been so proactive with every treatment. Why the sudden change of heart?” I sighed, a headache throbbing, not because of him, but because the expected sleep never came. It was probably the resistance from relying on sleeping pills for my usual insomnia. Good thing I had a backup plan. I lay in the simple folding bathtub and slowly brought the razor to my wrist. “Sorry, I’m a little busy right now.” “Can we talk tomorrow?” Julian was stubbornly insistent. “What are you busy with?” I watched the blood bloom in the water, hesitating. Should I tell him I was busy dying? While I was still conscious, I quickly mass-texted my family. Attached was a selfie, the screen awash in crimson. “You wanted my kidney, right? Come collect the body!” “If you’re late, I’ll bleed out, and the kidney won’t be fresh.” My eldest brother, Alex: “You must have spent a fortune Photoshopping that.” “According to the tech I developed, if that blood loss were real, you’d be unconscious already.” “Charlotte Davies, stop acting. If you really want to die, jump off a building.” My fingers trembled, fumbling for the keys. “Your software sucks. You need to send it back to the drawing board.” In the SnapChat chat, a red exclamation mark popped up. System notification: Message sent, but rejected by the recipient. My second brother, Ryan, rapidly sent several messages: “You’re such a drama queen; Hollywood really missed out without you.” “If you truly wanted to donate, why didn’t you just come home? Stop pretending!” “I saw right through you after Serena’s engagement party, you phony!” I was getting dizzy from the rapid blood loss.

That day, it was Serena’s engagement party, but I was the one who went viral, trending everywhere. “Wardrobe Malfunction Steals the Show! The Real Heiress’s Raw Beauty Outshines the Socialite’s ‘Perfect’ Image.” Serena wept, accusing me of humiliating her. Alex said I used despicable tactics to steal Serena’s spotlight on her most important day. Ryan had my dress ripped off me. “You don’t deserve to wear something I made with my own hands!” Dad’s single phrase, “family discipline,” had me confined in the attic for seven whole days. Nothing but water. No food. I developed insomnia, terrified of the dark. From then on, I became withdrawn and quiet. Dad seemed quite proud, believing my newfound obedience was a result of his ‘effective’ parenting. “You came back and turned this house upside down. I truly wish you’d never come back.” His words pierced me, my eyes stinging. I opened Mom’s voice message, clinging to a final sliver of hope. “Charlotte, are you threatening your mother?” Her voice was tearful: “Serena is as much a daughter of the Davies family as you are.” “She’s sick, and as her older sister, you should help her!” “You can’t hate her because of what happened to you when you were little!” I stared up at the ceiling. A true daughter, stolen and sold in childhood, then found again, was nothing but vulgar in their eyes, not worth a single strand of the adopted daughter’s hair. But I, foolishly oblivious, had tried so desperately to win their approval. The moment they invited me to a family dinner, I rushed home, eager. Seeing the birthday cake, I couldn’t contain my excitement and surprise. After so many years, they finally remembered my birthday, finally ready to accept me! Just as I reached for the gift box, Alex smacked my hand away. “That’s Serena’s birthday gift. Who told you to touch it?” I felt a pang of confusion, watching Serena, surrounded and adored, blow out the candles amidst joyous laughter. “So, why did you call me home?”… I listened several times before I understood what they meant. “You want me to donate a kidney to Serena?” I pulled out my cancer diagnosis. “I’m sick, I can’t donate.” “Can’t donate, or don’t want to donate?” Alex scolded my hypocrisy, and Ryan raged that I’d disregard someone’s life just to compete for attention. Mom’s tearful curses and Dad’s slap utterly shattered the last bit of hope I had for the Davies family. I gave a bitter laugh. “Should the true daughter’s blood just drain dry for the sake of the adopted one?” I clutched my phone, feeling like I was squeezing my own heart, my face numb with pain. “Are you going to save your beloved Serena or not?” “If you are, come collect the body.” Mom’s tone was reproaching, as if speaking to an unruly child. “Charlotte, stop acting up. I can’t leave.” “Serena needs me.” Dad’s messages, as always, vanished without a trace. I stared at the silent chat list, muttering to myself, “Didn’t you want my kidney?” “Now that I’m willing to give it, why don’t you want it anymore?”… “Miss Davies, are you still there?” I slowly came back to myself, dropping my hand weakly. “I’m so sorry, I really can’t help you.” “However, I’d be very happy to donate my body to your research.”

I slept restlessly, plagued by nightmares. Sporadic noises drifted into my ears, like someone speaking. When I woke again, Julian’s voice rang above my head. He was pressing hard on my wrist wound, his tone edged with a furious grit. “Miss Davies, did you take pills too?” I smiled, dazed, a flicker of pride in my voice. “Yup! Sleeping pills!” “I saved them up for two months!” Julian rushed me into the emergency room, but a man swiftly cut in front of him. “Doctor, my sister was scratched by a stray cat; she needs a vaccine!” Hearing the familiar voice, I sharply looked up, staring intently at the backs of the two people ahead. What a coincidence. It was my second brother, Ryan, and Serena. “Why did you have to go feed that stray cat? It’s none of your business if it starves to death.” Serena whimpered, looking aggrieved. “Ryan, that’s the cat Charlotte often feeds.” “I saw she wasn’t around, so I wanted to help.” Ryan looked at the three bloodied scratches on her hand, his doting expression twisting into irritation and anger. “This is all Charlotte Davies’s fault, getting you hurt.” I struggled to make sense of it. Mimi? She’s so timid, she hides so well. How did Serena find her? Julian, seeing them cut in line, scowled and moved to argue. I stopped him, weakly saying, “Let’s go to another hospital.” Julian glared. “Change? Change what? You need your stomach pumped, we can’t wait!” The doctor’s ears perked up, and she instantly looked at me, her eyes wide. “Charlotte Davies, is that you?” I recognized her as my clinic doctor and gave her a helpless smile. Hearing my name, Serena immediately looked over. Catching sight of my wound, she turned pale with fright, backing away repeatedly until she stumbled into Ryan’s arms. Ryan frowned, as if suppressing disgust as he glanced at my wound. A few seconds later, a mocking smile twisted his lips. “How much ketchup did you waste on that outfit?” “The wound’s quite realistic though. Are you really trying to fool people even at a hospital?” The doctor pushed him aside. “Sir, this lady’s condition is more serious. I need to see her first.” As Julian carried me past, Ryan shielded Serena. His eyes were wary, as if I were the most dangerous virus on earth, capable of harming his beloved sister. The doctor bandaged my wound and arranged for my stomach to be pumped. She looked hesitant. “Even with late-stage cancer, don’t give up hope.” I deliberately laughed exaggeratedly, pretending nothing was wrong. “You misunderstood.” “Every time I come here, you all say there’s nothing you can do.” “So I just learned from the ancients and tried bloodletting myself.” Ryan’s eyes were filled with disdain and contempt. “Charlotte Davies, aren’t you getting a little too deep into character?!” “A tiny scratch, a few pills, and you’re making a scene at the hospital saying you’re suicidal.” “Now you’re upgrading the drama, playing a cancer patient. Do you really need to go this far just to compete with Serena for attention?” The doctor was annoyed. “She’s my patient, I know her condition!” Ryan eyed me and the doctor back and forth, as if so enraged he found it funny. “Bravo, Charlotte Davies.” “You’re even colluding with doctors just to avoid donating a kidney to Serena.” I shrugged, a faint smile playing on my lips. “If you’d come earlier, my kidney would’ve been yours.” “Now it’s too late. I promised to donate my body to the institute.” Julian suddenly stepped forward, grabbing Ryan’s collar. “She’s this sick, and you still want her to donate a kidney? Are you even human?” Ryan violently shook him off, both angry and amused. “What’s it to you?” “It’s only right for her to save her own family!” My throat choked up, and I gave a bitter laugh. “How do I deserve to be family with Miss Serena Davies?” “Did you ever treat me as family?” Ryan’s face stiffened, then he clenched his jaw, suppressing his anger. “You’re a Davies daughter, living in luxury, you want for nothing. What else do you want?” “Just wait till you get home; Dad will teach you a lesson!” My ears buzzed, and my cheeks faintly stung, as if a burning slap had just landed on my face again. My fingers dug into the edge of the table, my whole body trembling uncontrollably, my voice squeezed through clenched teeth. “Do I even have a home?” “Don’t forget, you threw me out.” Ryan’s face darkened, veins throbbing on his forehead. “It was clearly your spoiled tantrum that made you run away.” He mumbled softly, “We just said a few things to you.”

Julian gently squeezed the IV tube, cool liquid with his body warmth slowly entering my veins. When I woke, I couldn’t help but marvel, “You’re truly dedicated to your patients.” Julian’s face looked a bit unnatural. “You’re not just my patient; you’re also my friend.” I was startled by the answer, taking a moment to process it. Julian’s lowered lashes fluttered. “Of course, maybe it’s just me unilaterally thinking you’re my friend.” “No, no, no, I’d be honored to be your friend!” “I thought geniuses like you only liked making friends with other geniuses.” I paused. “I’m just surprised you’d even consider me.” Julian frowned and pursed his lips, lost in thought. After a moment, he slowly raised his eyes, his earlobes flushing, his expression incredibly serious. “Charlotte Davies, you are the kindest, most understanding person I’ve ever met.” “When I start talking about my research, I can’t stop, and everyone else gets annoyed, but you listen patiently and ask questions.” “When you look seriously into my eyes and smile at me, it makes me really happy.” “In my heart, you’re amazing.” My eyes grew warm, and I turned my head, feigning nonchalance. “As a friend, do I get any special privileges?” Julian lowered his head to check his phone, then said earnestly, “I just asked my AI.” “As a friend, I have an obligation to be there for you when you need me.” “So, is there anything you want to do?” Julian drove me back to the apartment complex, and I softly called out, “Mimi.” A rustling sound came from the bushes. A tabby cat peeked out, looking around warily, then emerged when it saw me. It circled my legs, rubbing against me and meowing affectionately. After making sure Mimi was okay, I got up to leave. Julian spoke up. “I thought you’d take her home.” “You really like her, and she likes you too.” I fell silent for a moment, my chest heavy. I had thought about adopting her too. But when Mom found out, she said stray cats carry all sorts of germs, bad for people. I mustered my courage and said, “I’ll take her to get her shots!” The dinner table went quiet for a moment, Mom looking a little awkward. Alex scoffed. “Charlotte Davies, Mom’s giving you an out, can’t you tell?” “Let me tell you, no cats allowed in this house, because Serena doesn’t like them!” “Whatever Serena dislikes, anything you say is useless.” I murmured, “I don’t have a home, so how can I give her one?” That was just where I was staying, dependent on others. I composed myself and asked Julian, “Do you know anywhere with a really, really tall building?” Seeing his confusion, I quickly explained, “The ancients used to say you could reach out and pluck stars from the sky, and I want to try that too.” He nodded. “I know a place where the stars are beautiful.” “I’ll make a call to set it up.” A shadow fell over me. I exhaled slowly, looking up. “Where are we going next?” It wasn’t Julian. I stared blankly at Mom and Alex.

Alex eyed me up and down. I instinctively hid my injured hand behind my back. His brows furrowed into a deep V. “A few days out on your own and you’ve made a mess of yourself. I’m embarrassed to even say you’re a Davies.” Here we go again. Next would be— “You’re both Davies daughters, but how can you be so different from Serena?” “Did you feed everything you learned in etiquette class to the dogs?” Mom’s eyes welled with tears. “Charlotte, just come home.” “You and Serena are sisters, you should help each other.” Help? I swayed for a moment, understanding her meaning, a sharp pain shooting through my wrist wound. Alex crossed his arms, a flicker of irritation in his eyes. “Mom, don’t spoil her.” “Is the Davies home a hotel? You can just leave and come back whenever you want?” “You can come home, but first, you apologize properly to Serena.” “I’ll arrange the kidney donation. That way, Serena will surely forgive your past mistakes.” My body stiffened, my face expressionless. “What did I do wrong? Why should I apologize?” Alex rubbed the bridge of his nose hard, a look of impatience and exhaustion on his face, as if he’d reached his limit of tolerance. “You leaked company secrets and tried to climb into Daniel Chen’s bed, Serena’s fiancé. Do you have no shame?” I opened my mouth, my throat dry. “I didn’t do that.” Alex laughed, enraged. “Enough! Caught red-handed, you think we’re all blind?” “If Daniel hadn’t recognized you in time and prevented a major disaster, Serena’s lifelong happiness would have been utterly ruined by you.” “How could the Davies family have given birth to such a manipulative daughter like you?” “I’m truly grateful Mom and Dad brought Serena home that year, not you!” Alex’s eyes held no warmth, looking at me the same way he’d look at trash on the street. My mind went blank, and I helplessly looked at Mom. Mom’s expression had flattened. “Charlotte, Serena was generous back then, she pleaded for you, otherwise, if this had blown up, you would have gone to jail.” “Listen to your mother. Give Serena a kidney.” “Whatever happened before, right or wrong, will be completely wiped clean.” My nails dug deep into my palms, a cold chill running through my body, my voice coming out raspy and despairing. “Mom… I didn’t do any of that. Why don’t you believe me?” Suddenly, someone pulled me behind them. Julian glared at them, angry and anxious, then looked solemnly at me. “Charlotte Davies, your body is your own.” “Not even your own mother has the right to force you to do anything!” He finished speaking and pulled me, intending to leave. Mom shouted, stopping me. “Charlotte, where are you going?” Alex’s arm muscles tensed, a hint of ruthlessness in his eyes. “Charlotte Davies, Mom and I have said all the nice things we can.” “If you leave today, the Davies family will consider you no longer their daughter!” My steps faltered, my lips trembling slightly, all the blood in my body rushing backward. My gaze finally landed on the brightly lit room in the distance. I once thought that was my forever home. I fiercely squeezed my eyes shut, forcing back the tears brimming in my eyes, and finally, gave a liberated smile. “Fine. I don’t care about being a Davies daughter anyway!” Julian took me to an observatory by the sea. I gazed blankly at the sky dotted with stars, feeling as if I were immersed in a galaxy. “It’s beautiful.” Julian’s face showed a rare, boyish, proud smile. “I knew you’d like it.”

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Just before my final exams for college, my roommate suddenly gifted me a ridiculously expensive necklace. She said it was an early celebration, wishing me luck getting into a top-tier Ivy League university. But then, I got a message from Willow, our dorm’s resident mystic. [Chloe, don’t wear that necklace. If you do, you’ll turn into a total blank slate before the exams.] The moment the dorm lights flickered on, my roommate Tiffany held out a shimmering silver necklace. “Chloe, this is a special gift I had made for you when I traveled to Japan. Consider it an early celebration for getting into your dream university.” Tiffany was a true heiress; she spent every break traveling. I was genuinely surprised she remembered my birthday. I quickly took the necklace, thanking her profusely. Right after, my roommate Willow handed me her gift – a bracelet inscribed with ancient, mystical symbols. You could tell she’d made it herself. Willow was always obsessed with spiritual and occult studies. But whether it was expensive or cheap, the thought counts, and that’s priceless. I accepted both. Still, being a girl, I couldn’t help but feel Tiffany’s gift was clearly superior. “Come on, let me put it on for you myself.” Oddly enough, the necklace felt icy cold against my skin, making me shiver. Seeing this, Willow wasn’t to be outdone. She urged me to put on her bracelet too. But Tiffany quickly stopped her. “Maybe not. Our first major mock exam is tomorrow, and that bracelet is covered in symbols. What if the proctor gets suspicious?” Tiffany had a point. I could only apologize to Willow, promising to wear her bracelet as soon as the exam was over. Normally, Willow would insist on having her way. But this time, she just frowned, saying nothing more. Just as I thought my birthday celebration had ended perfectly, right after my shower, Willow grabbed my arm. Her eyes burned into my neck as she said, her voice serious: “Chloe, you can’t wear that necklace. If you do, you’ll turn into a total blank slate before the exams.” Hearing her, I thought she was still upset about the earlier incident. I quickly tried to reassure her. “Willow, don’t be mad. I’ll wear your bracelet right after the exam tomorrow.” “No, I’m not mad. The necklace Tiffany gave you… its previous owner was a complete academic failure. She made a pact with it, and it feeds on *your* essence to give *her* power!” What was she talking about? This was getting ridiculous. “Just listen to me, okay? Take it off, now.” Without a word, Willow spun me around, trying to unfasten the necklace. But Tiffany walked right in on us, having just returned to the dorm. She thought Willow was forcing me to wear her bracelet and instantly lost her temper. “Are you serious? You’re allowed to give gifts, but mine’s no good? Or are you just targeting me?” Seeing the tension fill the air in our dorm, I quickly intervened to smooth things over. “I just have some pimples on my neck, and Willow was helping me put on some cream. Tiffany, don’t misunderstand.” Willow saw my signal and didn’t argue. Instead, she discreetly sprinkled some fine powder near my bed. Before I fell asleep, she kept signaling me with her eyes, urging me to take off the necklace. Lying in bed that night, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Willow’s words kept replaying in my mind. It wasn’t until the latter half of the night that I finally started to feel drowsy. Then, a rustling sound woke me up. It sounded like someone was dragging ill-fitting jeans across the floor. But that didn’t make sense, did it? Willow preferred simple, natural fabrics like cotton and linen. Tiffany came from money and favored designer clothes; she’d never wear anything ill-fitting. My heart pounded in my chest. I secretly pulled back the curtain a crack. Through the faint moonlight from the window, I saw a distorted, shadowy figure of a “person” dragging its limp limbs, twisting eerily across the dorm floor, inching closer to my bed… I woke up, scared senseless. It was just a nightmare, I realized. Still shaken, I lay back down, pulling the covers over my head, and vaguely managed to stay like that until morning.

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My mercenary husband, Caleb, was on a mission when he found himself acting as a ‘cure’ for Sera, a new operative on his team. They explored every intimacy imaginable within that cave. He didn’t return for three full days and nights. He knelt before me, his voice filled with despair and pleading. “Aubrey, it was all for the mission, a matter of life and death. As captain, I couldn’t just stand by.” “But you’re the only one I truly love.” To show his commitment, he removed Sera from the team. He also promised to leave the mercenary life in three years and return as the heir to the Davies family fortune. I cradled the tiny two-month-old life inside me and forgave him. Three years later, having just suffered yet another miscarriage, I saw Caleb Davies at the hospital, when he was supposed to be on a mission. He was holding Sera, who was covered in blood, screaming at the top of his lungs for a doctor. It turned out Sera had taken a bullet for Caleb, the slug missing her heart by mere inches. And her child was already three years old. It was Caleb’s. Caleb knelt before me, his face pale as death. “That time, three years ago, she got pregnant and raised the child alone. I just came to see them, mother and son, because I felt sorry for her, and then… this happened.” “Aubrey, there’s nothing between us. Even if you can’t carry a child, you’ll always be my wife.” Sera, still recovering from her injuries, looked at me, her eyes filled with tears. “Mrs. Davies, please, I beg you, save my child! He has leukemia and needs umbilical cord blood from a full sibling…” Caleb looked at her, his expression filled with tenderness, then turned to me. “Aubrey, you’re the kindest person I know. I can’t just let him die. Don’t worry, we’ll just do IVF.” I stared at him, thinking of the investigation report I’d received. I spoke calmly, “Then while we’re at it, let’s get a divorce. We wouldn’t want the child to be born out of wedlock, that would be too sad…” “Aubrey, I knew you’d understand me perfectly!” Caleb’s face visibly brightened with joy. “Don’t worry, once the baby is born and registered, we’ll remarry.” I ignored him and walked straight out. I pulled out a golden card and made a call. “Your offer, I accept.”

Caleb’s relief was almost palpable when he heard me suggest divorce. He quickly helped Sera to her feet, adjusted her hospital gown, and gently scolded her. “You just healed, and you’re already worrying me. My Aubrey is so kind, stop kneeling all the time.” Sera, her face pale, shook her head. “You don’t understand, only a woman truly understands another woman.” “You see Aubrey acting all calm and composed, but she’s really hurting inside. Promise me, you’ll spend some real time with her.” Every word she spoke sounded perfectly reasonable and compassionate to Caleb. But I knew, she was rubbing it in my face, flaunting the undeniable intimacy she shared with Caleb. Caleb glanced at me, then seemed to realize something. “Aubrey, why are you at the hospital?” I felt the cold ache radiating from my lower abdomen. I hid my trembling hands. I thought of the phone call I hadn’t made, not wanting to distract Caleb from his mission. A self-mocking smile touched my lips. “Just visiting a friend,” I said softly. But Caleb reached for my hand, finding it icy cold. I pulled away as if I’d been shocked. Sera gasped dramatically at just the right moment, diverting his attention. He pulled out a tissue and, with practiced ease, wiped her forehead. “I told you to stay in bed. Everything’s resolved now, let me help you back to rest.” Then he turned back to me. “Aubrey, you can go back by yourself. Sera was injured for me, after all. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I didn’t stay with her for a couple of days.” I walked out in silence. Caleb called out to me. “Oh, Aubrey, I’ve already prepared the divorce papers. Remember to sign them.” I hung my head low, stubbornly refusing to let my tears fall. As I walked out of the hospital, I saw Caleb’s parents. Of course, I only knew who they were after doing my own research. Caleb had never introduced me to his family. They were holding onto each other, their voices full of satisfaction and relief. “Last grandchild, you gave fifty million. This time, it needs to be double!” “Right, right! And we need to arrange the wedding quickly. Our grandson’s mother is Miss Kingston, she absolutely can’t be an illegitimate child!” “What illegitimate child? Our Caleb isn’t even married yet.” My hands clenched tightly. So Caleb had never told his family about my existence at all. And he and Sera already had another child on the way. Tears finally, unwillingly, streamed down my face. I raised a hand to wipe them away. The jade bangle on my wrist slipped from my sleeve. Mrs. Davies, sharp-eyed, immediately stepped forward, grabbing my hand, her voice sharp. “Who are you? How dare you steal my daughter-in-law’s bangle!” I was about to protest. But the Davies’ bodyguards stepped forward and restrained me. Mrs. Davies tried to yank the bangle from my wrist, instructing the bodyguards to call the police. Hearing the commotion, Caleb rushed over, panicked. “Mom, Dad, you’ve misunderstood. This is… one of our family’s bodyguards. She’s just helping Sera take her things back.” I stared at him, seeing that familiar plea in his eyes. It was the same look he had when he begged for my forgiveness after sleeping with Sera three years ago. Suddenly, I felt utterly disgusted. I deliberately slipped the bangle off my wrist and placed it in Caleb’s hand. “Mr. Davies, returning what’s rightfully yours.” Caleb’s face went ashen. He lowered his voice, his tone tense. “Aubrey, wait, I’ll explain everything later…” I curved my lips into a cold smile. “No need. Wouldn’t want your family to misunderstand.” Then, without looking back, I left. Once on the street, I pulled out my phone and dialed. “Your offer, I accept.” The voice on the other end was low. “Good. Don’t worry. In three days, you will ‘die’ taking a bullet for Caleb. After that, you will only ever be Mrs. Kingston.” I hung up. A cold laugh echoed in my mind. Caleb Davies, since you choose Sera every single time. This time, I’ll make sure you lose me forever because of her.

Back home. My phone buzzed with a SnapChat friend request. My heart fluttered. I knew instinctively who it was. Sure enough, after accepting, I saw Sera’s profile picture. More precisely, it was a photo of her and Caleb from behind. Her feed was filled with screenshots from the Davies family SnapChat group. Three years ago, after she gave birth, everyone in the Davies family had sent their congratulations. It turned out that after Caleb sent her away back then, she immediately contacted Mr. and Mrs. Davies. She’d used their son to completely charm the elder Davies. Caleb had compromised for his child, again and again. When he lied to me about going on missions, he was actually spending time with them, mother and son. Because of that, he missed both of my miscarriages. He missed every one of my birthdays. Her most recent post was a video. The filming location was the hospital. Caleb was nervously watching Sera as she got her check-up. When the doctor said the fetus was perfectly fine, he let out a sigh of relief. He took the bangle he’d snatched from my wrist and placed it on hers. Sera let him put it on, but protested with her words. “This is Mrs. Davies’s, how can I wear it?” Caleb leaned down and kissed her forehead. “You’re always so considerate. Don’t worry, if I give it to you, you wear it. After all, in Mom and Dad’s social circle, you’ve already been Mrs. Davies for a while.” Sera shook her head. “I know you only love Aubrey. In your heart, only Aubrey is Mrs. Davies.” Caleb looked into her eyes, his voice, warm and melting like the spring snow. “Everything else besides love, I can give to you.” Then he eagerly kissed her lips. At the end of the video, Sera provocatively glanced at the camera, then unbuttoned Caleb’s shirt. I pressed a hand to my chest, but I couldn’t stop the cold wind that seemed to blow right into my bones. I stumbled to my study. With a firm hand, I signed the divorce papers. Our divorce process didn’t require a cooling-off period. I told myself, *only three more days.* In three days, I would never cry for Caleb Davies again. The next day, Caleb called. His voice was deliberately low. “Aubrey, I’m sorry about Mom and Dad yesterday. You know how elders are, they just want grandchildren.” “Since you can’t have children, let Sera and the baby stay with them in the future. It’ll save them from bothering you.” I scoffed. “Mr. Davies, you don’t need to explain. We’re already divorced.” Caleb’s breathing hitched. His voice turned anxious. “Aubrey, are you mad? I told you, once the baby is born, we’ll remarry…” “Wait for me, I’m coming home now.” I didn’t bother listening, hanging up directly. I started clearing out my old belongings. My gaze fell on a blood-stained shirt, and I drifted into thought. Caleb and I met five years ago. I had been dragged into a dark alley by some thugs when a man saved me, even taking a knife for me. In the darkness, I hadn’t seen his face clearly. But when I woke up in the hospital, what I saw was that blood-stained shirt and Caleb sitting by my bedside. My gratitude turned to affection. We spent five years together. Because of his special identity, our marriage was kept secret. He said it was to protect me. I once cherished that secretive affection. Now, it was nothing but a joke. I snapped back to reality and threw the shirt, along with all my other old belongings, into the trash. Who knew, Caleb actually came back.

And he brought Sera with him. Caleb carefully helped her out of the car. Sera saw me and lifted her neck, covered in faint marks. “Sister Aubrey, would you be my bridesmaid tomorrow for our wedding?” I looked at her, utterly bewildered. Caleb’s face looked unnatural as he explained, “Aubrey, Mom and Dad insisted that Sera and I have a wedding. It’s all for the child…” I scoffed. “It hardly seems appropriate for an ex-wife to be at your wedding.” Sera’s eyes reddened at the corners. “Sister Aubrey, you know Caleb only loves you. Please don’t be sarcastic and upset him…” Caleb stepped forward, gently comforting her. “There, there, you have a baby in your belly, you can’t keep crying.” Then he looked up at me, his eyes full of helplessness. “Aubrey, the wedding is just a formality. No matter what outsiders think, you’re the only one in my heart.” I stared coldly at Caleb. Just like that, he was shamelessly standing here. Yesterday, he was begging me to agree to their IVF. Today, he brought pregnant Sera home. He swore up and down he loved me, yet he was marrying another woman and having children with her. Was I truly naive, or was he just deluding himself? Seeing me turn to leave, Caleb’s temper flared. He frowned deeply. “Aubrey, Sera is already being so understanding. Why are you still not satisfied?” “What exactly do you want us to do to make everyone happy?” I closed my eyes briefly. “Fine. I’ll go tomorrow.” *And then leave you forever.* That night, after I showered, Caleb appeared before me. His eyes held that familiar warmth. He reached out to hug me from behind, but I stepped away. He didn’t give up, chuckling softly, his warm breath fanning my neck. He mysteriously pulled a small box from his pocket. Inside was a pink diamond ring. His voice husky, he said, “Aubrey, after the baby is born and we remarry, we’ll go on a honeymoon trip.” “Sera and the baby are just for Mom and Dad.” “She’ll never interfere with us.” He leaned in for a kiss. A knock on the door came at the perfect moment, saving him from the slap I was about to deliver. It was Sera. Her face was pale. “Caleb, my morning sickness is really bad this time. Can you make me the sour plum soup you made when I was pregnant before?” She glanced at me, then covered her mouth, as if she’d said something she shouldn’t have. Caleb peered at my expression. “What are you talking about? I don’t know how to make that!” He slammed the door shut. Blocking Sera’s tear-streaked face from view. I lay still, and soon *fell asleep*. Caleb, who had been restless, finally quietly opened the door and left. Sera’s SnapChat feed updated immediately. The picture showed a steaming bowl of sour plum soup. [Someone scolded me for running around with morning sickness, so he punished me by making me drink two bowls.] [Hmph, he messed up, so he’s punished by having to rub my back.] Then she sent a direct message on SnapChat. [Sister Aubrey, I heard you were the principal dancer in your dance troupe. But why did he say my waist was softer than yours?] I screenshot the message and turned off my screen. I remembered. Three years ago, I heard Caleb had fallen into an icy lake during a mission. I forgot I was pregnant and jumped in after him. After three hours of searching, when I was pulled out, I’d lost the baby. The next day, Caleb returned and held me, crying as if his heart would break, his eyes full of tenderness and guilt. “Aubrey, it’s okay if we never have children.” Only a few days ago, through my investigation, did I discover that he hadn’t participated in that mission at all. He had been taking care of Sera, who was suffering from severe morning sickness. He didn’t care if I could have children. Because he already had one. I laughed at myself bitterly in my mind. *Fool.* Even more foolish for crying over such a liar. As I drifted into a hazy sleep, I felt someone wiping away my tears. When I woke again, Caleb was by the bed, putting on his wedding suit.

“Aubrey, can you help me with my tie?” His voice was intimate and lazy. It gave me a fleeting illusion that we were back to the beginning. But seeing the hair tie on his wrist, which wasn’t mine, immediately brought me back to reality. Just as I was about to refuse, his phone rang. Sera’s voice, sickly sweet, came through the speaker. “Caleb, can you come help me zip up my dress?” Caleb hesitated for a moment, then nodded gently. “Wait for me.” Then he grabbed the silk tie and left without a backward glance. I changed into the dress I wore the day Caleb and I first met. I placed the lucky charm we’d gotten together inside the chest of my dress. I numbly watched Caleb lift Sera into the wedding car. Her long wedding dress didn’t even touch the ground. He turned and saw me. He hurried over. The scent of freesias from Sera’s dress clung to him. He tried to put the ring box into my hand. “Aubrey, when it’s time to exchange rings, bring them up to us.” I looked at him steadily, not taking it. He shoved it into my arms, his face full of impatience. “Aubrey, not now. Don’t make a scene.” I dodged his hand as he tried to pat my head. He awkwardly lowered it. “I’ll come back to you tonight.” I didn’t answer. I glanced around. I wondered where *that person* would appear. Soon, we arrived at the wedding venue. It was an outdoor setting, flowers everywhere. Guests gathered in small groups. Caleb’s family sat on a long bench. The child was held by Mrs. Davies. The family looked happy and harmonious. Only I had foolishly waited for his promise to leave the mercenaries in three years. When it was time to exchange rings, Caleb and Sera’s eyes locked, practically melting together. He didn’t spare a single glance for me, standing right beside them. As the wedding atmosphere reached its climax, the child in Mrs. Davies’s arms suddenly started crying. In the confusion, Caleb rushed off the stage to check on the child. Bang— A gunshot rang out. The crowd erupted in chaos. Sera clutched her stomach, crying out in pain. Caleb rushed back, scooped up Sera, and began to leave. He looked up at me, his eyes darting away. “Aubrey, Sera’s pregnant, hide yourself. I…” Before he could finish, a whistling bullet pierced my chest. Mrs. Davies had pushed me, making me shield Caleb. “Let this bodyguard take the bullet! Son, grab your daughter-in-law and run!” Caleb stared at me in a panic, his voice trembling. “Aubrey, wait for me, I’ll call an ambulance.” I collapsed to the ground, blood gushing from my chest. Though the blood was fake, watching him walk away with Sera without hesitation, The heart that had beaten for him for five years finally died. Caleb Davies, we are over. A few days later, it would be the grand wedding of Miss Kingston and the heir to the Kingston family. ———-此处为截断点———- Caleb placed Sera in the ambulance and was about to grab a nurse to rush back. “Quick, hurry back with me to save Aubrey!”

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My fiancé was dirt poor. So poor I had to fashion my wedding dress from a mosquito net, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. During our rare vacation, when we’d finally saved enough for a trip, Blake left me in the car while I was sleeping and walked away. Men stuck on the highway took turns, one after another, in the car, but I was completely unaware. When we finally got to the Airbnb, he, usually so reserved and controlled, started playing increasingly twisted games. It wasn’t until he was showering that I saw him sharing photos and videos of me in the car, and in the public restroom near the rest area, in a group chat. Disbelief choked me. I wanted to confront him, but another message popped up in the chat. “Just ten thousand for Young Master Blake’s fiancée? I’ll pay thirty thousand upfront!” “Young Master Blake really knows how to play! Pretending to be poor for all these years, just to get revenge for Scarlett Zhao. Finally, he’s playing for high stakes!” Before I could even process why my fiancé was being called “Young Master Blake,” the man in the shower instantly replied: “Scarlett Zhao only went into the woods with those guys back then to save me. I just want to get revenge for her.” Tears streamed down my face, hitting the screen. It hit me like a lightning bolt. I was the one who went into the woods with those ten men to save him back then…

The chat continued to buzz. “Ten thousand a pop, tsk tsk. Young Master Blake must have made hundreds of thousands these past few days, right?” “You really think Young Master Blake needs money? Did you see Scarlett Zhao’s Ins post? Young Master Blake just gifted her a three-hundred-million villa yesterday!” I vaguely heard a cheerful chuckle from the bathroom. “I was supposed to take Scarlett to France for the May Day holiday, but couldn’t make it, so I just got her a small gift as compensation. It’s fine. At least this island trip let me get revenge for what happened to her back then.” The group members showered him with praise, but one person, seemingly unable to stomach it, asked: “But Young Master Blake, you’ve been pretending to be poor for so many years, and only Harper Su stuck by you. Last time it was your birthday, she even sold blood to buy you a gift. Aren’t you going a bit too far treating her like this…?” It felt like someone had violently squeezed my heart, and my breath hitched. A moment later, Blake replied with an eye-roll emoji and a few sentences: “If it weren’t for her, Scarlett wouldn’t have gone through that, having to leave the country to escape the backlash.” “If it weren’t for her, Scarlett and I would have been together ages ago. Everything Harper’s going through is her own damn fault.” “Harper needs to experience a hundred times the pain Scarlett did. Tonight’s guests won’t be charged. Come on in, everyone who wants a piece of her.” Amidst the cheers of dozens of people in the group, Blake sent the Airbnb’s location and our room number. “Once she drinks the milk, she’ll be out cold. Just take it easy on her.” I wanted to rush in, snatch his phone, and stop him, but my body trembled uncontrollably, my limbs completely unresponsive. Hearing Blake about to walk out of the bathroom, I mustered my last bit of strength, marked all the tablet messages as unread, and then collapsed onto the bed, wracked with pain. “Baby, what’s wrong?” Blake rushed over. Seeing my eyes red-rimmed and tears streaming down, he looked surprised. “Why are you suddenly having an episode?” He knew I had bipolar disorder. Sometimes I’d be tormented by intense depression, wanting to leave this world. Other times, I’d become abnormally manic, practically wanting to grab a knife and kill everyone. When an episode hit, my observations became even sharper. For the first time, I saw it: under Blake’s mask of concern, a flicker of well-hidden disgust in his eyes. Blake’s gaze fell on the tablet, and he probed thoughtfully, “Did you see something?” My throat felt like it was choked with rocks and sand. I couldn’t utter a single word, only shaking my head silently. Blake checked the tablet, confirming the messages were unread before he turned and hugged me with feigned tenderness. “I’m sorry. Have we been doing too much these past few days? Is it too much for you?” “It’s all my fault for being useless, for not being able to take you to a doctor… The medication for bipolar disorder is too expensive. I’m sorry, baby…” A man who could give a three-hundred-million villa as a “small gift” was now telling me he couldn’t afford even a few dozen dollars for medication. My stomach churned. His embrace made me sick. I struggled to break free from his arms. He hesitated for a moment, a hint of struggle on his face. I almost卑微地 thought, if only Blake, you still cared about me, even just a little, if only you’d abandon your plan… In the end. I watched him get up and pour a glass of milk. “Drink some milk and get some sleep. You’ll feel better tomorrow.” Since the May Day holiday, Blake had prepared a glass of milk for me every day. It wasn’t until I saw the messages in the group chat that I understood why I’d slept soundly for four or five hours on the highway, why I slept so deeply every night at the Airbnb, only to wake up with shameful marks all over my body the next morning. I thought Blake had finally opened up, developed a taste for me, but I never expected… The thought of those hundreds of photos with all sorts of different men made me sink deeper into despair. Even with me in this state, having an episode, he still intended to let those men come and take their revenge on me? My hands trembled as I slapped the glass of milk, sending it flying. Blake’s face instantly flashed with a flicker of annoyance. But when he saw me, pale as a ghost and slumped on the floor, wildly hitting my head with my hands, he said nothing, just let out an almost imperceptible sigh and turned to leave. I stared blankly, letting the waves of depression and self-loathing wash over me. I don’t know how much time passed, but suddenly, there was a faint click of the doorknob from outside. Were Blake’s “friends” finally here? One, two, or… how many?

The doorknob gently turned, and a man stealthily crept in. I stared at him in the darkness, my eyes bloodshot. He was clearly startled. “Oh, crap, you’re still awake…” Before he could finish, Blake’s urgent, sharp voice cut him off. “You’re drunk! Wrong room!” Blake forcibly dragged the man out, speaking in hushed tones outside the door. I caught fragmented pieces of their conversation: “She’s having an episode… Go back… there will be other chances…” The man’s voice rose. “I even prepared the little pills! How can I…” I don’t know what Blake said in the end, but the surroundings fell silent. Throughout the rest of the night, similar situations happened twice more. I stayed awake, sitting motionless on the floor. Blake didn’t come in to check on me. I thought blankly, was it worth it for Blake to pretend for ten years, all for this day? I had met Blake even earlier than he thought. I was in the middle of the road, bipolar disorder suddenly striking, rendering me unable to move. Just as the traffic was about to rush towards me, a young man suddenly appeared and saved me. Later, I inquired about him everywhere and found out he was known as the poorest student in school. A gambling father, a sick mother, and him – kind and silent. From then on, my entire youth revolved around Blake. From high school to college, I pursued him for seven long years until we finally got together. When he had no money for food, I would eat cheap buns every day, giving him all my living expenses so he could have proper meals with meat and vegetables. He envied other boys who had the latest sneakers. I endured harassment working at a busy diner for two months, buying him three pairs that made every guy in school incredibly jealous. He was even beaten by ten thugs and almost lost his life. It was me who swallowed my pride and agreed to go into the woods with them so he could escape unharmed. Last year, his mother’s illness worsened, requiring hundreds of thousands. I begged everyone, even kowtowed to my stepfather who used to bully me when I was little, just to raise the money. I thought sharing hardships would lead to undying love, but it turned out to be a cruel prank by a rich man. But why? WHY?! Blake had forgotten to take his tablet, and new messages kept popping up: “Young Master Blake is being so unfair. He said we could come, and now he won’t let us.” “Don’t even get me started, I really want to know what it’s like with a woman having an episode… I heard some get super excited!” “I really want to experience Young Master Blake’s life. He pretended to be poor in high school, had Harper working like a dog, sacrificing everything for him, and also had a beauty like Scarlett Zhao who, to save him, willingly went into the woods with other men. Tsk, tsk, tsk.” “Oh, come on, you playboy, you don’t even have a tenth of Young Master Blake’s devotion. Scarlett Zhao just returned to the country, and Young Master Blake not only bought her a car and designer bags but also purchased an entire piece of land in Grandview Estates, planning to build a mansion there someday. He doesn’t even care if Harper finds out and jumps off a building.” These words were like sharp knives, tearing repeatedly at my already tattered heart. Blake and I, broke and with nothing, crammed into a tiny studio in a sketchy part of town. He once held my hand and said that if we worked hard together, one day we’d be able to afford a subsidized apartment near Grandview Estates. I always thought a bright, clean apartment with one bedroom and one living room was our unreachable dream. It turned out everything was so absurd. I frantically picked up the fruit knife beside me. Just as I was positioning it against my wrist, a sickeningly intimate moan suddenly came from the room next door: “Blake~ Mmm…”

The Airbnb had terrible soundproofing. The woman’s voice was almost a taunt in my ear: “I missed you so much too… Just thinking about you and Harper on your honeymoon here, my depression acts up…” “I’m so sad, boo hoo hoo. I keep dreaming about going into the woods with those men…” I recognized it instantly. It was Scarlett Zhao’s voice. I never thought Blake valued her so much that he’d even bring her to our “honeymoon” and arrange for her to stay in the room next door. Blake’s voice was husky, filled with endless tenderness and heartache: “Scarlett, I’m so sorry for what I put you through.” “Don’t be afraid. The top psychology team from abroad is already on their way. Just get some good sleep, and by tomorrow, the doctors will be here, okay?” After I got together with Blake, I’d had several episodes. Each time, he claimed he couldn’t afford the expensive treatment. I was sensible too, daring not to spend an extra dime. I’d just lock myself in the room, refusing to eat or drink, enduring it until it passed. One time, I almost died. At the last moment, a surge of survival instinct made me dial for emergency help. The doctor said if I’d been a few minutes slower, I would have been gone. Afterward, Blake even blamed me for spending the rent money. I just listened in silence, went and sold blood once, and paid the rent. It turned out that when he loved someone, he could spend a fortune to fly in foreign experts overnight, instead of scolding her for wasting money by going to the hospital. Scarlett Zhao’s voice stretched out, whining, “Blake, seeing Harper have an episode, aren’t you feeling bad for her?” In the long, yet fleeting darkness, I heard Blake softly scoff, “How could I? In this whole world, the only person I truly care for is you.” Scarlett Zhao, with a hint of petulance, giggled and asked him, “You’ve been sleeping here with me every night, listening to other men play with Harper. Don’t tell me you have some kind of kink, you like other people using your wife? If that’s the case, I won’t have anything to do with you.” He said in a low voice, “Scarlett, you know I’m doing all of this to get revenge for you. As for Harper… I won’t marry her. After being used by so many men, she’s not worthy of being the Blake family’s young mistress.” Soon, unspeakable sounds came from next door. My phone lit up with two notifications. One was “3rd Anniversary with Blake,” and the other was “Happy 25th Birthday to me.” The man I had given my entire youth and everything to, the man I loved, was spending my 25th birthday, on our three-year anniversary, while I was suffering terribly from a bipolar episode, indulging in a night of debauchery with another woman in the room next door. My heart shattered completely. I sent a text to my step-brother, Sawyer Hayes: “Sawyer Hayes, can you come pick me up? I don’t want to be with Blake anymore.” He replied instantly: “Okay, wait for me.” A tidal wave of exhaustion washed over me. Amidst overwhelming self-loathing, I slowly drifted to sleep. But I forgot to ask Sawyer how he knew where I was.

The next morning, I was woken again by the sounds from next door. I lay with my eyes closed, letting tears stream down. An hour later, the frolicking next door stopped, and the sound of running water from the shower began. Another hour passed before Blake walked in as usual, though his ears were still unusually flushed. Blake acted as if nothing had happened and took me downstairs for breakfast. Malicious gazes, a mix of curiosity and malice, landed on me. “Is that her? She looks like…” “I remember two days ago when she checked in, she was wearing that mosquito net wedding dress…” “She looks so innocent, but behind closed doors, she’s really…” My body stiffened. The whispers in my ears magnified, growing louder and louder… Did they all know? Had they all seen? Seen me in that ridiculous mosquito net wedding dress, in the back of the car, in the public restroom by the highway rest area, in the Airbnb… like a broken rag doll, used and discarded? My hands trembled violently. My fork clattered to the floor. All eyes instantly and shamelessly focused on me. Cold sweat drenched my back. I squeezed a sentence through gritted teeth: “What… what are they saying…?” Blake shot a warning glare at the people around us, then patted my hand reassuringly. “They’re not talking about you. Don’t overthink it.” How could that be?! They definitely saw it! How much did Blake hate me?! After letting countless men humiliate me, he even uploaded the videos online?! My pupils constricted, and a scream tore from my throat before I even realized what I was doing. Blake looked at me, bewildered, a hint of guilt and unease flickering across his face. My hands instinctively covered my eyes. Overwhelming panic suffocated me, making it impossible to breathe. Through my fingers, I saw Sawyer Hayes striding towards me. Just as I thought I was about to be rescued. Blake looked at him and snapped, his voice sharp and urgent. His words made me plummet into hell instantly: “I told you to come tonight! What are you doing here now!” Sawyer Hayes was my step-brother, only three years older than me. When I was little, my stepfather, right in front of my mom, reached into my shirt. It was Sawyer who grabbed a beer bottle, injured him, and dragged me out of that hellhole.

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I was a world-renowned professional angler. After marrying Grant Sterling, the eldest son of the Sterling family, I helped him close dozens of deals by using our shared passion for fishing to build connections, doubling the company’s profits. The day after I found out I was pregnant, I suffered an accidental miscarriage in the middle of the vast ocean. His childhood friend, Summer Hayes, hooked the bit of tissue that had slipped from my body, then gave me a sly, taunting wink: “Quick, cast a line while it’s fresh! I bet the fish out here have never tasted bait like *this* before! You’re not angry, are you, Harper?” I looked at Grant Sterling, pleading for help, but he just chastised me: “You’re just on your period, right? You can single-handedly lift those heavy water coolers, why are you acting so delicate? Next time, remember to bring tampons! You’ve made a mess of my boat!” I begged him to turn back, but a fish bit his line, and he told me to wait. Only after he reeled in the fish did Grant have time for me. “Didn’t you say you had something to tell me today?” The air was silent. “Nonsense. Say it or don’t.” Grant said impatiently. I closed my eyes. Suddenly, I felt like *I* was the one who was wrong.

It was a marlin, its head bristling with long, sharp spikes, weighing about a hundred pounds. Grant and Summer had fought it for almost an hour. Summer excitedly posed with the fish from different angles for photos: “Fishing is so much fun! I’ve decided I’m going to enter the sea angling competition Grant is sponsoring! Grant, you can fish with me, and since Harper isn’t feeling well, she can just drive the boat for us.” “Sounds good. She’s the most familiar with all the trivial stuff like picking out tackle and preparing bait anyway.” I shoved her away like a maniac, desperate to pry open the marlin’s mouth. Summer let out a delicate gasp, her legs buckled, and she almost tumbled into the sea. My two-month-old baby hadn’t even fully formed. That bloody tissue was already torn apart, its shape unrecognizable. “Slap!” A stinging slap landed on my face. Grant held the startled Summer in his arms: “What kind of animalistic behavior is that? Is this how you act as Mrs. Sterling? If you’re done with being my wife, just say so!” I grew up by the sea, the daughter of a fisherman. After marrying Grant, I spent every waking moment learning proper etiquette and bearing, never daring to relax. But thank goodness I wasn’t some fragile, helpless rich girl, otherwise, how could I have endured such pain? Beneath my dark athletic shorts, a horrifying gush of blood streamed down my thighs. By the time the boat docked, it had already dried. Many of the fishing enthusiasts showered Grant and Summer with compliments: “This beautiful lady caught Mr. Sterling’s exclusive lucky fish on her first try! It seems you two really are meant to be!” “If it were just a little bigger, it could break the record of the one in the center of the Sterling Group’s lobby, right?” Summer’s face was flushed crimson from the sun, looking utterly adorable. She tilted her head towards Grant: “How big does it need to be to break the record?” Grant stroked her head. The corners of his lips, usually stern and aloof, curled into a rare, doting smile: “You don’t need to break any records. As long as you want it, we’ll turn *your* fish into a specimen and hang it in the Group’s lobby. How about that?” “Then I’ll really have to try my best!” The marlin specimen displayed in the Sterling Group’s lobby? Grant caught that one under my guidance. It was 3.4 meters long, weighing a massive 450 pounds – three times the size of today’s catch – and it broke the national record for marlin sea fishing. No one has beaten it since. That fish that made him renowned throughout the entire fishing community. That fish that made him see me as his lucky charm. That fish that symbolized the Sterling Group’s unyielding spirit. Somewhere along the way, it had become utterly worthless. Grant went into the boat cabin to pack his fishing gear, his gaze on me filled with disgust: “Wait until Summer and I are far away before you leave. Don’t let anyone see you looking so disgraceful.” “Grant Sterling, let’s get a divorce.” My voice was hoarse. I cupped a handful of seawater, poured it into my insulated bottle, and hugged it tight. Grant froze for a moment, seeing the utter despair in my eyes. Then, he reluctantly softened his tone: “The Sterling Group and the Hayes Corporation have many collaborations ahead. I’m just playing nice with Summer to keep old Mr. Hayes happy, understand? You’re on your period, so just go home and rest. I’m letting today’s incident slide. But tomorrow, when Summer goes fishing, you still need to be there. You’re strong; half a day’s rest is plenty.” “I’m not going back. Tonight, I’m sleeping with the ocean.” He paused for a moment, seemingly unable to comprehend why I had suddenly become so sullen and rebellious. But he still forgave me magnanimously: “Alright, alright, fine. Consider this your sincere devotion to the sea tonight. Just make sure tomorrow you help Summer catch a fish even rarer than that golden moonfish she posted on her Ins, so she can post about it and be happy, okay?” I frowned, but then burst out laughing. My heart didn’t ache as it usually did. That child, as it left my body, took with it the last shred of my illusions about him.

The next day at noon, I bought my own fishing yacht. Before that, I went to the hospital and picked up a pile of vitamins and medication to help with the miscarriage, scattering them loosely on the boat deck. Next to the pills was a registration notice for the sea angling competition. The competition was set to start the day after tomorrow. I had pulled some strings in the fishing community to get a spot. I was sick of being Grant Sterling’s business tool. I needed to return to my own world. Grant and Summer walked up together. Summer innocently asked: “Is this our fishing yacht for today? Harper chose it herself, so it must be good!” Grant glanced at the items on the yacht and chuckled: “I’ve already spoken with the organizers about Summer joining the competition as a sponsor… But since you helped her register, that was thoughtful of you. Let’s go to a nearby shop and pick out some fishing gear for her. You’re the professional; you know best.” I just stared at him, speechless. I pulled out a signed divorce paper from my bag and handed it to him. Grant didn’t take it. Instead, he pulled me aside, and for once, he tried to softly coax me: “You actually like Summer too, don’t you? She’s such a spirited, free-spirited girl. When I look at her, it’s like seeing a younger you. If we had a child, they’d probably be just like her.” My heart ached for a second. Treat her like a child? He must be treating me like an utter fool. Summer was only three years younger than me. I pulled away from him: “We’re getting a divorce. There won’t be any children.” Grant’s face hardened: “Harper, don’t be so ungrateful!” I scoffed and walked directly toward the tackle shop. I needed to buy a new set of gear for my competition the day after tomorrow. Grant wrapped an arm around Summer’s waist, leaving me behind. The tackle shop was run by a local fishing association, with a wall covered in medals and trophies from its members. I had a wall like that in my own room, but it was all mine. Grant and Summer whispered to each other, pointing at the trophies. They exchanged knowing glances and shared a quiet laugh, just like a couple of young lovers. Suddenly, Summer walked over, frowning as she looked at the fishing gear I had carefully selected: “This rod isn’t good. I don’t like blue. And this lure is so ugly! I need to take pictures for my Ins that day!” Grant coldly ordered me: “Get a lighter set. It’s too heavy for Summer to hold. But not too light either, or the fish will pull it away. No colors other than black. Hurry up; we need to go to dinner soon.” I was baffled. “I’m buying fishing gear for myself. What does that have to do with you two?” “Are you out of your damn mind?” Grant thought I was just throwing a tantrum and laughed, annoyed. My fishing gear was already very complete; buying a whole new set now was indeed unnecessary. But Summer had used my most comfortable set that day, and I found it disgusting. I left the fishing gear with the shop owner. As I stepped out, I received a message from Grant: [We’re already at the restaurant. Here’s the address. Hurry up, don’t delay Summer’s fishing trip this afternoon.]

I still went to that restaurant because I learned that his assistant, Chris, would be there to deliver some documents to Grant. “Mrs. Sterling, is everything alright?” Chris’s hand trembled as he took the divorce papers from me. “I don’t have time to chase him to sign this. You can hold onto it for me,” I said curtly. Suddenly, a pink figure descended from upstairs. It was Summer. She sweetly called out to me: “Harper, you’re finally here? Come quick, that bluefin tuna is waiting for you!” I frowned, then heard a few servers, who had been standing by the door for a long time, whispering: “Didn’t Ms. Hayes say she invited the sea angling champion to our restaurant? Who’s this?” “Ugh, I even prepared my camera for a photo op…” My brow twitched. I had been a sea angling champion five years ago, so of course, no one remembered me. But a bad feeling still rose in my gut. The next second, several chefs walked out, carrying a fresh bluefin tuna. “Harper, I’m worried the restaurant won’t prepare this fish well. Only a professional like you can slice it properly.” I scoffed. This kind of high-end seafood restaurant—if someone catches a rare fish offshore, they’ll buy it for a high price immediately. Their chefs can handle any fish. Summer walked up to me, all pretense of innocence gone from her face. It was replaced by intense mockery and arrogance. She whispered in my ear: “If Grant hadn’t married you, you’d probably be just like the guy who caught this fish – bowing and scraping, just to get it onto someone else’s table after a quick photo, wouldn’t you? I’m giving you a chance to slice it for me. You should really appreciate it.” The servers watched as the fish was taken to the private room, and they started whispering again: “Ugh, what champion? She’s just a fish butcher.” “Probably some champion from a bush-league competition. Ms. Hayes is just being nice by saying that.” I looked at Grant, who stood not far away, watching me with a smirk, as if enjoying a show. I knew he was telling me that without him, I was nothing. My phone vibrated. It was a photo from the movers I’d hired. They cautiously asked me: “Should the things in the trophies… be packed too?” The photo showed a trophy accidentally knocked over, spilling out a sticky, damp mess of used condoms. Every single trophy contained them. My temples throbbed. Grant would never have allowed that when he was with me. It could only be Summer and him. Recalling their snickering at the tackle shop, I sneered. I casually pulled out the small knife I always carried and, with one swift, clean cut, gutted the fish. Its internal organs spilled out onto the floor. Summer screamed, covering her eyes. Grant put his arm around Summer and snapped, “Harper Vance, aren’t you disgusted with yourself?!” He’d once praised the exact same action, calling me free-spirited and charming. Now, his eyes were full of nothing but disgust. “Not as disgusted as you two make me!” Grant froze, seemingly shocked that I dared to talk back. I turned to leave, and my phone immediately buzzed. It was a voice message from Grant. He was truly enraged: [Harper Vance, I didn’t want to tell you, but I only liked you at first because of the suspension bridge effect. You got off easy being Mrs. Sterling for five years; it’s gone to your head!] The suspension bridge effect: It means when you’re in a high-stakes, exciting situation, you mistake your racing heart for actual feelings for the other person. That night, we had fought that marlin for almost seven hours. The fishing yacht had nearly capsized several times. It was certainly stimulating enough. So that’s what he considered our love. But I no longer cared. Seeing that I didn’t reply, he assumed I was intimidated and added: [You scared Summer. I’m ordering you to drive the boat for her during her competition tomorrow, to apologize with your actions! Otherwise, don’t blame me if I actually sign the divorce papers!] I scoffed and replied: [My pleasure.]

The next day, it was the sea angling competition. I arrived at the beach early with my gear, looking for my boat. From a distance, I saw a scattering of white and yellow medicine boxes floating in the water around my fishing yacht. It suddenly dawned on me that I hadn’t taken a single one of the pills I got from the hospital. I let out a bitter laugh, then noticed the entire fishing yacht was shaking unnaturally. As I got closer, the sickening sounds of their tryst from inside the cabin drifted into my ears, carried by the waves. I took a deep breath, stepped onto the boat to pick up the remaining medicine boxes, and through the cabin window, I met Grant’s gaze. Grant squinted at me, a taunting smirk on his face, and then deliberately intensified his movements. The fishing yacht rocked even more violently. Fighting back nausea, I left, returned to the tackle shop, and rented a new fishing yacht. Just then, I received another message from him: [This is your punishment. Every time you’re stubborn, I’ll punish you again.] I scoffed, amused, but I had no time for him. The competition was still two hours away, and I had something important to do. I arrived at a small, weathered chapel by the sea. Growing up, before my father went fishing, we always visited a similar shrine to offer prayers. I carried that insulated bottle, knelt, and bowed my head three times, praying that this child’s soul would find peace. The chapel was quiet. A kind-faced attendant wearing simple robes approached me. “Hello, ma’am, would you like to buy a blessed charm?” “Do you have any that bless children?” I asked hesitantly. Just then, Summer’s laughter drifted in from the doorway. She had red marks on her neck and twisted her body, looking innocent, as she walked up to me: “Harper, you really are here! I told Grant you fisher-folk loved to come pray at this chapel, but he didn’t believe me! What are you looking at, Harper? What are these?” The attendant was interrupted and seemed to momentarily forget what I had just asked. He instinctively pulled out two charms: “This one’s for a harmonious marriage, and this one for fertility and a blessed child. Which would you prefer?” I fell silent. Grant’s expression turned playful. He pulled Summer’s hand and walked into the chapel: “If you don’t appreciate your own blessings, no charm in the world will help you.” My brow twitched. I suddenly remembered my insulated bottle was still beside the prayer mat. Sure enough, the next second I heard Grant’s voice: “Harper Vance, are you ditching your crappy insulated bottle?” Then came a jarring clatter. He kicked the bottle aside with his foot. But I’d unscrewed the cap, hoping to receive the chapel’s blessing for the seawater inside. With that kick, the seawater spilled onto the ground, not a single drop remaining. It was like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over my head. I had planned to go out to sea today and pour the blessed water from the bottle back into the ocean, hoping it would allow the child’s soul to rest. But I hadn’t expected that even this private wish would be denied.

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My husband had a daughter with his first love, Seraphina. I always knew. I thought if I just stayed by his side. If I used our daughter to hold him, he would eventually come back to me. That we could build a happy family. To get his attention, I pushed our daughter, Aria, to study hard, controlling her every move, molding her into a proper, elegant lady. I never imagined Aria couldn’t take the pressure and took her own life. My husband then sent me to a mental hospital. With me out of the way, he successfully brought Seraphina into our lives. But I woke up, filled with burning hatred. I was reborn. Aria jumped from a high-rise building, and I couldn’t bear the shock. I passed out. When I woke up, I was told my husband had already taken her body for cremation. I hadn’t even gotten to say goodbye to my own daughter. I found my husband, demanding to know why he wouldn’t let me see her one last time. But he was embracing Seraphina, surrounded by a group of people. He told them to take me to a mental hospital. It hit me then, a sickening clarity. He was an absolute scumbag. Aria’s body wasn’t even cold, and he was already planning to send me away, seize my family’s assets, and install Seraphina as his wife. I wouldn’t accept it. I truly wouldn’t. I lunged forward, confronting him, demanding to know why he was doing this to me. He slapped me, hard. “You killed Aria. If you hadn’t pushed her so hard, controlled her every move, why else would she have taken her own life?” My husband also claimed he only married me because of my father. He only married me because I had a powerful dad. How pathetic and laughable I was. I’d always known his intentions were impure. But I believed my true heart could win his. I knew he couldn’t forget Seraphina, that he even had a daughter with her. I once thought that if I stayed by his side, if I raised Aria into a perfect lady. He would finally look at me. It turns out, I was just deluding myself. My husband was discussing with the medical staff how to deal with me, when Seraphina suddenly walked over, crouching down to whisper in my ear. At that moment, she wasn’t gentle or frail at all. All that remained was pure malice. She hissed, “You look pathetic. What good did getting his body do? You’ll never have his heart. And now, even his body belongs to me too.” Aria’s death had already shattered me, and I couldn’t control my emotions any longer. I yanked her hair, forcing her forehead to the ground, making her grovel as if begging for my daughter’s forgiveness. Seraphina shrieked in terror, drawing Damian’s attention. He rushed toward us, and I felt a sedative injected into my neck by the medical staff. The last thing I saw was my husband gently comforting Seraphina, then casting a look of utter disgust my way. Hatred coiled around my heart, a venomous snake. If I got another chance, I would never let that cheating couple get away with it.

When I opened my eyes again, hatred still surged through me. I thought I had been sent to the mental hospital. But I looked around and realized, wasn’t this our piano room? Suddenly, I heard a quiet sob. Aria knelt before me, her eyes brimming with tears, her palms red and swollen from being hit. I stood there, arms crossed, a ruler still clutched in my hand. Seeing my daughter alive and well, I couldn’t help but burst into tears of joy. I quickly tossed the ruler aside and hugged her tightly. Aria seemed startled by my strange behavior. Her body involuntarily flinched. She cautiously whispered, “Mom?” “Yes, sweetheart?” Aria saw me crying. She looked disbelieving, but also asked with concern what was wrong. I wiped away my tears. “Mommy’s just so happy.” I didn’t know how, but I had returned to the time when Aria had just started her junior year of high school. No matter what, this time, I wouldn’t let the previous tragedy happen again. All those rules about being a lady, all those strict manners, I’d throw them to the wind. This time, all I wanted was for my daughter to grow up healthy and happy. As for that despicable couple, I wouldn’t let them off easy either. Especially that scumbag husband. I would make sure he lost everything and everyone. I stroked Aria’s head, telling her she didn’t have to learn piano if she didn’t want to. She looked at me, disbelief in her eyes, then cautiously said, “Mom, didn’t you always say a proper lady had to learn piano?” I sighed. What was I thinking back then? Why did I keep pushing my daughter, making her so miserable, making her speak to her own mother so timidly? I looked at her seriously. “From now on, do what you want to do. Mom used to think those things were for your own good, but I never considered if you actually needed them.” “From now on, Mom just wants you to be happy.” A flash of surprise crossed Aria’s eyes, but her gaze was still filled with doubt. My heart ached a little. It seemed I truly had been awful before. Even my own daughter didn’t believe I could truly change. But years of ingrained behavior don’t change overnight, and I understood that. I would prove it with my actions. I would earn her trust.

At dinner, Aria was still very reserved. I remembered how she used to come home from school, excited to share her day’s stories during dinner. But I would sharply hit her arm with my fork. Back then, I’d glare at her and say, “What did Mom teach you? No talking at the dinner table. Silence while eating, silence while sleeping.” After that, she remembered it well. Now, thinking about it, we were a family. Why did we need so many rules? I served Aria her favorite braised pork ribs, telling her to eat more. “From now on, you can tell Mom anything.” Aria looked surprised but obediently said, “Okay.” After dinner, Aria dutifully went back to her room to study. I sat in the living room, sipping tea, thinking about how to deal with that despicable couple. Suddenly, Mrs. Davis, our housekeeper, walked over. “Madam, this package is for you.” I opened it. It was a photo, dated for today. In the picture, my husband was hugging Seraphina, celebrating their daughter’s birthday. In the past, seeing this would have sent me into a furious rage. Now, I just felt a quiet sense of irony. Well, isn’t that convenient? I needed to save this. Wasn’t this clear evidence of Damian’s infidelity? The photo, without a doubt, was sent by Seraphina to provoke me. It wasn’t the first time I’d received something like this, but before, my mind wasn’t clear, and I’d just endured it. This time, I planned to remain calm, not to swallow my anger. It was just that I couldn’t divorce him yet. I needed to regain control of the company first. Even though the company shares were still in my name. Damian had been managing the business for so many years that he had successfully sidelined me from the company’s management. Once I had control again, I’d kick that scumbag out, leaving him with absolutely nothing. Then, I’d like to see if his love with Seraphina was truly as solid as gold.

My in-laws, Eleanor and Richard, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time, suddenly showed up at the house. Damian was away on a business trip. Aria, ready for school, dutifully went forward to greet her grandparents. But Eleanor just stared at her, then sighed. “Why is she just a girl?” My eyes turned cold. I spoke up, “A girl is wonderful. I’m very happy with her.” This old-fashioned preference for boys was unacceptable. For years, Eleanor had looked down on me and my daughter for not having a grandson. Before, out of respect, I had endured it. So much so that when I read Aria’s suicide note, she wrote that she felt like an unwanted child. Eleanor, however, ignored me and continued, “What good is a girl? She can’t take care of you in your old age or bury you. And the family fortune will go to someone else eventually.” She even wanted me to have another child. Hah, I scoffed. But Aria looked a little hurt. I took her hand and comforted her. “Don’t worry, Mom will only ever have one daughter, you.” I told her to go to school first and ignore Eleanor’s unreasonable demands. Eleanor sat on the sofa and said, “Your brother-in-law, Jasper, is getting married. Give him one of your properties for his wedding home.” So that was her real purpose for coming. But what was with that condescending attitude? Was that any way to ask for a favor? I refused. I told her I was leaving all my properties to my daughter. Eleanor shamelessly claimed, “If you give your property to Jasper, and his wife has a son, then his son can take care of you in your old age.” The nerve! I said coldly, “I don’t need anyone to take care of me. I can go to a retirement home.” Eleanor was furious, cursing me as a “cursed woman.” “What’s wrong with giving Jasper a property? It’s not like you’re losing an arm or a leg!” “I’ll say it again. All my assets will go to my daughter. No one else will touch a single penny.” Why didn’t this old hag ask her own son to buy him a place? She just wanted to take advantage of me. In my past life, I had given my all for their family. Yet they showed no gratitude. They still wanted to scheme for my assets. Hmph. Eleanor’s face twisted in rage, and she lunged at me, intending to hit me. But Richard held her back. He tried to smooth things over, saying Eleanor was confused. He pulled Eleanor into a room, and I could still hear them whispering. “Damian hasn’t gotten the shares yet. Don’t ruin things with her.”

Truly, there’s no limit to shamelessness. It seems I need to accelerate my return to the company. But before I could even start making plans. That evening, Aria’s homeroom teacher called me, saying Aria had gotten into a fight at school. I rushed over, only to find my husband, Damian, who was supposed to be on a business trip, already there. In the office, besides him, was Seraphina, his mistress. She was crying hysterically, holding her daughter, Celeste, and accusing Aria of bullying her. My daughter stood helplessly to the side. Damian showed no inclination to defend Aria. He even wanted her to apologize to Seraphina’s daughter, Celeste. Aria stubbornly said, “I didn’t do anything wrong, why should I apologize?” Seeing this, Damian raised his hand, intending to slap Aria across the face. I pushed open the door and walked in, radiating power. “Try to hit my daughter, I dare you.” His hand froze in mid-air, unable to strike. Damian glared at me with disgust. “Look at the daughter you’ve raised! Bullying others!” I scoffed. “My daughter would never bully anyone. And you, you want her to apologize without even knowing the reason?” “Are you even her real father? Anyone would think you’re someone else’s dad!” His expression flickered with panic for a second. I ignored him. I asked Aria what happened. She said Celeste was bullying Chloe, and she stepped in to defend Chloe. It was then I noticed a small girl in the corner of the office, likely Chloe, the girl Aria mentioned. I patted Aria’s shoulder, reassuring her. To my surprise, my husband actually interjected. “Why are you so reckless, sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong? And you scratched Celeste’s face like that!” It was just like in my previous life. Damian had always sided with his illegitimate daughter, blaming Aria for being reckless and for stepping in. Back then, I also thought Aria was undignified, not behaving like a proper young lady. I completely ignored Aria’s intentions and just kept scolding her. This time, I absolutely wouldn’t do that again. I glared at him. “Shut up.” I turned to Aria’s homeroom teacher, who hadn’t spoken yet. “I believe the teacher has already clarified the situation.” “My daughter was acting heroically. I don’t believe she did anything wrong.” The one who was wrong was the bully, Damian’s illegitimate daughter. The girl Aria had protected, Chloe, looked timid. But she also confirmed that Aria had stepped in for her. As a homeroom teacher, she naturally knew the character of the students in her class. The teacher asked Celeste to apologize to Chloe and Aria, but Celeste looked defiant. Seraphina also wouldn’t let her daughter apologize, insisting that her daughter would never bully anyone, that she was a good girl. She then cast a pitiful look at Damian, daring to flirt and provoke me right in front of me. I scoffed. Damian looked conflicted. He shamelessly spoke up, “How about we just let it go? It’s not like Aria was hurt.” I scoffed again. “Whether we ‘let it go’ or not is not up to you.”

Chloe was an orphan. In my previous life, once I found out, I forbade Aria from playing with her. Aria had a huge fight with me then, and later, I heard Chloe had been bullied until she took her own life. I couldn’t imagine if Aria had also been bullied. I only knew that this time, I had to help Chloe. I would even sponsor her education, because she was a friend my daughter accepted. In the end, Celeste reluctantly apologized. Seraphina looked as if she had suffered the greatest injustice. After settling the matter, I took Aria home. Damian followed us. On the way, I couldn’t help but taunt him. “Weren’t you on a business trip? How did you get here so fast?” Damian pompously declared that no matter what, nothing was more important than his daughter. Which daughter was he talking about? Who knows. Aria nestled close to me. She had finally completely believed that I wasn’t the controlling mother I used to be. I felt immensely relieved. That night, I slept with Aria. The next day, I went to see Uncle Liam, a highly respected elder and my father’s most trusted friend. He also held shares in the Sterling Group. I stated my intentions, and he pondered for a while. He said Damian had been diligently managing the company for so many years; kicking him out wouldn’t be easy. He could bypass Damian and arrange for me to start at a lower level, prove myself, and then be transferred back to headquarters. Otherwise, the old directors on the board might not approve of me. I assured him I would achieve great results. I used to focus solely on family, but thankfully, I hadn’t forgotten everything I’d learned before. Uncle Liam acted quickly. I was soon assigned to a struggling subsidiary of the Sterling Group. This company had been losing money for a long time, and morale was low. The first thing I needed to do was stabilize their confidence.

I parachuted in to take over this company that was on the verge of being shut down. On my first day, the existing executive director tried to put me in my place. Whatever materials I requested, she claimed weren’t available. Employee morale was also very low. The company was a mess, and that executive director even arrogantly said, “This is how we usually operate.” I flew into a rage, deciding to make an example out of her. I fired her on the spot. I told her to go to accounting to settle her severance. She was furious, claiming I had no right to fire her. I ignored her shouting and simply encouraged the others, “I’ve taken over this company, and I will lead you to success. Work hard with me, and I won’t let you down.” No matter how nice the words sounded, without actual results, there was no convincing power. What I needed most was a big deal, one that could revive this company. That evening, I arranged a meeting with some potential partners and, accompanied by a young assistant, went to negotiate a contract. To my surprise, I met a bald Mr. Henderson. He brazenly eyed me up and down, then coarsely insisted I drink with him. I thought, “I’ll endure this if I can.” For the sake of the deal, I drank. But then he reached out, trying to grope me. My assistant was a man, waiting outside the private room. I wanted to twist his arm off, but then someone walked into the room. The moment Mr. Henderson saw him, his eyes lit up as if he’d struck gold. He ran over like a bootlicker. “Well, Mr. Caleb! It’s rare to see you here. Come, come, let me toast you.” I looked up. It was Caleb Sullivan, my old university classmate. I never imagined he’d be doing so well now. Caleb exchanged pleasantries with Mr. Henderson, then sat down. He said, “I hear you’re discussing a contract with Ms. Sterling, Mr. Henderson. I wonder if I could get a piece of that action?” Mr. Henderson smiled obsequiously, “Of course, Mr. Caleb! With your involvement, it would be twice as easy. Everyone knows following Mr. Caleb means good profits!” Just like that, a major deal was sealed. I looked at Caleb with gratitude. It was all thanks to him that things went so smoothly. I took the opportunity to add Caleb’s contact information.

After that deal was secured, I distinctly felt the company’s morale rise significantly. I instructed the finance department to issue a bonus to every employee as encouragement for their hard work. This would better maintain employee loyalty. I also specifically promoted the young assistant who had accompanied me to the negotiation, putting him in charge of liaising with Mr. Henderson. And I specifically invited Caleb to dinner at an elegant, traditional restaurant. Caleb and I chatted about our university days. I couldn’t help but remark, “You were quite the campus celebrity back then, you know. So many girls had crushes on you.” Caleb just smiled, not saying anything. “And now you’re doing so well! What lucky woman gets to marry you?” Caleb paused for a moment, then said, “I’ve been divorced for a long time.” I felt a little awkward. It seemed I had said the wrong thing. Caleb smiled, reassuring me, “It’s been a long time. I’ve moved on.” With him saying that, I didn’t know what else to say, so I just chuckled and changed the subject. I asked Caleb why he suddenly appeared that day to help me. He then told me a story. He said that once, a young man, poor and about to drop out of school, met an old man fishing in the park. Seeing how distraught he looked, the old man kindly asked what was wrong. At that time, the young man told him he was going to quit school. The old man disagreed and urged him to continue his studies, assuring him not to worry about tuition. The old man asked for his ID and school details. He thought that day he had met a con artist, but it turned out he had met a savior. Because soon after, a sum of money appeared in his bank account, enough to see him through to university graduation. Caleb looked intently into my eyes. “That man was your father.” “After I started university, I met you. But back then, you already had a boyfriend.” “I told myself that if you ever faced any difficulties, I would help you with all my might.” “That day, I appeared on purpose.” So, it was my deeply loving father, helping me all along. My eyes welled up with tears. What goes around comes around. I would carry on my father’s generosity. Once I fully took over the group, I would establish a foundation. To help those in need.

fter dinner, I declined Caleb’s offer to drive me home. I decided to browse a mall and buy a gift for Aria. I walked into a jewelry store, and a sales associate warmly greeted me. I said I was looking for a piece of jewelry suitable for a young girl. The sales associate recommended a very beautiful protective pendant, with a braided cord chain that was durable and looked understated. I decided to buy it on the spot. As I finished paying and was about to leave, I saw Seraphina. She was intimately holding a man’s arm, picking out jewelry. After they exchanged some words, she even happily kissed the man in front of the sales associate. I internally exclaimed, “Well, isn’t that something!” Damian is about to get cuckolded. I quickly took out my phone and snapped a few pictures, then quietly slipped away. I wouldn’t tell Damian yet. It wasn’t the right time. I wanted them to tear each other apart when the time was right. Back home, I placed Aria’s gift in her room, planning to surprise her. But when I went downstairs, I saw Damian sitting on the sofa. I raised an eyebrow. The moment he saw me, he started questioning me. “When did you go back to work at the company?” “Whenever I felt like it. What’s it to you?” Damian had the nerve to say, “I hope you put your focus on the family. Aria still needs your guidance.” “Leave the hard work of earning money to me.” Was he starting to panic already? I decided to mimic his hypocritical act. “How could I let you suffer alone? I’m willing to share the burden.” My husband’s face cracked. He pompously stated, “I was just trying to care for you. Don’t be so sarcastic.” I rolled my eyes. “Don’t bother. If you’re so concerned, maybe care about your own daughter.”

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Julian Thorne’s ex, Seraphina, was back from overseas, divorced, and pregnant. The moment she returned, my husband of five years, Julian, just told me to take care of her every need. I didn’t argue or make a fuss; I simply accepted. After all, everyone in the family knew I was just a stand-in for Seraphina. All these years, he’d ignored my dedication to this family. One casual comment from his ex about wanting a ‘servant’ and I’d be running myself ragged for her. If she so much as sighed, Julian would practically hand her his soul. When Seraphina saw me, she immediately flung herself into Julian’s arms. “Brother Julian always had good taste, marrying a free housekeeper.” “I just wonder if asking Amelia to take care of me will make her angry…” Angry? There was no need. Julian had already signed the divorce papers three days ago. From now on, we were going our separate ways, no strings attached. “My mother’s still in the hospital. Seraphina and I have plans tonight, so you go take care of her.” Julian said, pulling on the clothes I painstakingly ironed and laid out for him every day. He didn’t offer a single word of comfort, just grabbed Seraphina and walked straight out the door. He left the breakfast table a total disaster, and even though he knew I hadn’t eaten, he dumped the extra portion straight into the trash. The house was terrifyingly quiet, leaving me alone in a mess. “Oh, you poor thing, Amelia. You really slave away for us day in and day out.” “Now there’s just Seraphina, too, but I’m sure you can handle it. My brother trusts you, that’s why he gave you the task of looking after the whole family.” Julian’s sister, Chloe, muttered a sarcastic remark as she passed me. I knew she’d always disliked me. I mean, who asked me to ‘steal’ her dear Seraphina’s husband, right? Even though I was Julian’s legal wife, Julian and the entire Thorne family’s favoritism toward Seraphina was plain for all to see. I was already exhausted from work every day, yet he ordered me to spend ten hours at the hospital taking care of his mother, who was paralyzed from the waist down. Julian and I had a huge fight about it. Everyone in the Thorne family saw my distress. Even when I yelled and screamed like a banshee, not one of them would say a word in my defense. Even though I’d tirelessly played the part of the perfect daughter-in-law and wife for five long years. This was my last argument. I was exhausted from constantly fighting to stay afloat in this toxic family dynamic. I listed out all the care instructions for Mrs. Thorne in a neat table and sent it to Seraphina. Isn’t she so eager to climb the ladder? Might as well give her a head start on what it means to be a Thorne daughter-in-law. She stomped her foot in anger. “What’s this supposed to mean, Amelia? You’re complaining about taking care of Aunt Thorne?” “Besides, Brother Julian, you know I’m frail and sickly…” So Julian had the absolute audacity to tell me to quit my job and become Seraphina’s full-time caretaker. I stood before them, watching them flirt and intertwine. They both seemed to be waiting for me to get angry, to rage. But none of that happened. I simply said, flatly, “Okay.” And so, today’s scene unfolded. He seemed determined to humiliate me, all just to win a smile from his ex. Julian believed that leaving me utterly devastated was proof of his love for Seraphina. I should have recognized the truth long ago: Julian never loved me. Julian and Seraphina’s love story was the kind people dreamed of, a real fairytale, the kind you read about: childhood sweethearts, perfectly innocent and inseparable. But when the Thornes went to propose, they were utterly shut down. Apparently, the Cross family looked down on the Thornes’ social standing, thinking Julian was just a toad trying to snatch a swan, and married Seraphina off to a wealthy foreign businessman instead. Julian wanted to elope with Seraphina, but she refused, tears in her eyes. She claimed it was for her family’s benefit, but in truth, she had just snagged someone richer than Julian. And so, they parted ways. Seraphina went to live overseas with her husband, and Julian vowed never to marry. But Julian’s parents wouldn’t have it. That’s when they found me. Julian and I met on a rainy day, a scene straight out of a romance movie. I was being harassed by some thugs, and he stood up for me. Then I held my umbrella over him as he stood drenched in the rain. From that moment, love took root in my heart. It had been ten years since then. At first, he strongly resisted, but then, after meeting me, he compromised. It was only then that I realized the truth: it was because my face was an uncanny eight-tenths match for Seraphina’s. Now Seraphina was back, and it was time for me to go.

It was past midnight when I finally finished taking care of Mrs. Thorne. Mrs. Thorne was famously difficult: petty, cruel, and demanding. Even though I tried my absolute best, she was always finding something to complain about, even if it meant splitting hairs. If anything was even slightly not to her liking, she’d start throwing things around the hospital room and cursing me with all sorts of foul language. As a daughter-in-law, my conscience was clear. Tonight was no different. I was only a minute late bringing her food, and she made me kneel by her hospital bed until she fell asleep before I could leave. In the dead of night, taxis were scarce, so I had no choice but to hobble home, my knees swollen and red from kneeling. I couldn’t afford to waste time; I had a major project to follow up on at the company first thing in the morning. Then a notification popped up on my phone. I squinted, and it was from Julian Thorne. He had never actively messaged me before, and for a second, a flicker of surprise, even hope, stirred in my heart. But as I opened the message, my heart died completely. It was a photo of him kissing Seraphina. Behind them, fireworks exploded, and drones lit up the night sky, spelling out a message: “Seraphina, Julian Thorne loves only you, this life and forever!” All the grand gestures were custom-made for Seraphina. Julian’s next message was ice-cold. “Sent it to the wrong person. It was meant for Seraphina.” “Whatever. You saw it, you saw it. Doesn’t matter.” In five years, I had only ever made one request of him: to receive a single bouquet of roses from him. But he had refused. “Roses? Can’t eat ’em, so what’s the point!” Hearing that, I had only felt a quiet sadness, assuming he was just a pragmatist, not into grand gestures. Turns out, Julian wasn’t clueless about romance; he just wasn’t willing to put in the effort for me. The joyful, blissful expression on Julian’s face in the photo was something I had never seen before. I opened my social media feed, and it was completely dominated by Seraphina’s posts. The comment sections were filled exclusively with messages from relatives and friends. “I knew Seraphina and Julian were always the perfect match.” “When is Julian finally going to divorce that old hag, Amelia Vance?” “Wishing them eternity.” Those comments were like daggers plunging into my chest, leaving me breathless. My finger slipped, and I accidentally liked one of Seraphina’s posts. Her message popped up instantly. “Today is the 10,000th day since Brother Julian and I met. He insisted on giving me a surprise, and I forgot to block you, Amelia, which might have upset you.” “But Amelia, you’re such a generous person, I’m sure you won’t mind, right? Oh, and I forgot to tell you, the photo Brother Julian just sent you? I accidentally sent that too.” “Accidentally”? I almost choked laughing at her ‘accident.’ How she managed to ‘accidentally’ pick me out from hundreds of contacts and send that photo, she knew damn well. Seraphina just wanted to see me furious and raging, didn’t she? Well, I was truly going to disappoint her. What once felt like the end of the world now just felt… trivial. At that moment, I calmly downloaded the photo Julian had sent me and the photos from Seraphina’s social media feed, zipped them into a file, and sent them to my lawyer. Everything I was owed, I would get every single penny. I had already wasted too many of my prime years on Julian Thorne. From now on, I would live for myself. I dialed my family’s number. “Big brother, I’ve made up my mind. It’s much more comfortable inheriting the family fortune back home. Will you still welcome me?” My brother was practically weeping with joy. “My little princess is finally willing to come home! There’s always a place for you here, sis.”

Julian didn’t come home, so I immediately called my private investigator. Sure enough, an hour later, I had the video of them ‘doing their thing’ at a hotel. I was determined to get my share of the Thorne family’s assets. After we got married, Julian always wanted to start his own company. So, I handed over the millions of dollars my family gave me as a wedding gift, letting him go all in. He just happened to catch a massive trend, and the company took off, making the Thornes richer and richer. But Julian, with his pea-sized brain, couldn’t even manage to pass his classes back in the day – how did he think he could run a company? He actually believed he was some kind of business genius! If I hadn’t called in financial executives from Vance Group to advise him, he’d have lost his shirt by now, along with everything else. But instead of gratitude, Julian only became more arrogant, and that whole pack of ungrateful wolves in the Thorne family looked down on me even more. How they saw me no longer mattered. Sooner or later, they would reap what they sowed. I just considered all the money and time I’d invested over the years as wasted, thrown to the dogs. First thing the next morning, as I was packing my bags to leave, Julian called and told me to attend the Thorne family dinner. “Don’t forget the family dinner at noon. Just dress casually, nothing too fancy. You know my parents don’t like you dressing too extravagantly, and it wouldn’t look good for the relatives and friends to see you overly made up. Even if the Thornes are rich, we can’t have you being too wasteful.” Before I could refuse, he’d already hung up. Maybe he was afraid I’d argue with him again, or perhaps he was afraid I’d beg him to forgive me over the phone, considering I was always the one meekly going to him to make up after every argument. Whatever he was afraid of, it didn’t matter anymore. I was about to be completely free. My family’s fortune was waiting for me to inherit. No need to work hard, no need to endure being belittled. How great would it be to just ‘lie flat’ and still get paid? The divorce papers were already effective, and I had collected all the evidence of his infidelity. Attending one last family dinner wouldn’t hurt. But when I arrived at the banquet hall, I was stunned. Everyone was dressed to the nines, while my outfit could only be described as pathetic in comparison. No wonder he told me to dress simply. He was setting me up! The most dazzling person in the crowd was undoubtedly Seraphina, wearing a haute couture gown, its skirt shimmering with diamonds, making her look absolutely radiant. Julian had clearly gone all out to make me look bad and let Seraphina shine, putting in a truly pathetic effort. But when I looked closely at the design of the dress, I froze. Wasn’t this the gown design I had personally created? I stood at the entrance of the banquet hall, watching Julian put his arm around Seraphina’s waist and dance elegantly. People around me started whispering. “Is that Julian’s ex-wife? Why is she dressed so shabbily? How embarrassing!” “She clearly knows she can’t compare to Seraphina, yet she still showed up? Talk about overconfident!” “Tsk, tsk, tsk, she looks way too much like Seraphina. Did she get plastic surgery to look like that?” A wave of laughter swept through the room. Seraphina spoke up, feigning concern for me. “What’s so funny? Amelia spends all day slaving away in the kitchen at home. It’s perfectly normal she doesn’t know how to dress herself up.” Anyone who didn’t know better would think Seraphina was being noble, but in reality, she just wanted to embarrass me, pure and simple.

Too tired to deal with them, I turned to leave, but Seraphina grabbed my arm. “Amelia, you just got here! Why leave so soon? Stay and enjoy the party!” “Didn’t Brother Julian prepare a gown for you? I thought he’d arrange something for you too!” I raised my eyes and stared at Julian, but he nervously avoided my gaze. Seraphina continued to chatter. “Oh, that’s right. Amelia, you’re such a rough person, I guess you wouldn’t know how to wear a gown anyway. No need to waste Brother Julian’s money.” I cursed silently in my heart. Sweetie, when I was wearing gowns, you were probably still crawling around in diapers. But I maintained a polite expression. “Oh, you’re absolutely right. I’m just a crude country bumpkin. But Seraphina, you’re so generous, I’m sure you’d be happy to take off your gown and let your ‘older sister’ wear it, wouldn’t you?” Julian spoke up. “Amelia Vance, do you really have to be so difficult with Seraphina? It’s just a dress. I’ll buy you one, okay?” I smiled, looking at Julian. “Oh, yes, just one dress. But everyone at this party is dressed elegantly, and you specifically told me to dress simply. What was your intention, then? To make me a mere backdrop for your first love?” Julian looked a little flustered. “Do you have to be like this, Amelia? I already told you, Mom and Dad don’t like their daughter-in-law dressing too flashy.” I swirled the red wine in my glass, watching Julian perform his little act. “Is it really your parents who don’t like it, or is it your beloved first love?” Seraphina quickly interrupted. “Amelia, if you think it’s me, then it’s me! As long as you don’t fight with Brother Julian, I’m willing to take the blame.” “I’ll toast to you, hoping you’ll calm down.” She raised her glass, trying to clink it with mine. I scoffed. “I have a severe phobia of trash, so no, I won’t be clinking glasses with a b*tch.” Julian roared, “Enough! If you can’t behave, then get lost! Don’t be an eyesore.” I turned to leave, but Seraphina suddenly rushed forward and knelt in front of me, grabbing my hand and trying to pull it towards her face. “It’s all my fault, Amelia, please don’t be angry.” In Seraphina’s violent tug, I lost my balance and spilled the red wine from my glass onto her gown. She shrieked in terror. “Amelia, how could you do this? You can hit me, curse me, but how could you take it out on this gown? This is a haute couture gown worth millions, the only one in the world!” “If you can’t afford to pay for it, Amelia, you’ll be facing jail time. And I truly wouldn’t want to see that happen to you.” I just laughed. A chilling, slow smile that spread across my face. Seraphina looked confused. “Amelia, you’re about to go to jail. Why are you still laughing?”

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