My wife was infuriated when our son accidentally kicked Rosalie’s dog, and she locked him in the cage meant for aggressive dogs.
I knelt in front of the iron cage, frantically pleading:
“I can go in and apologize on behalf of my son. He’s severely allergic to dog hair. If we don’t get him to the hospital, he could die!”
My wife stood by Rosalie, looking at me with disdain.
“It’s your indulgence that spoiled our son into such a brat! Today, as his mother, I’ll teach him a lesson!”
“Don’t worry, the therapy dog won’t harm him. It’s just one nightâconsider it a minor punishment for a serious lesson.”
All I could do was watch as my son’s injuries worsened, his struggles weakened, and eventually, he fell silent.
I collapsed in despair, begging my son to wake up and call me “Dad” one more time.
Three hours later, the cage was finally broken open.
Adeline posted on Facebook, sharing a picture of a pregnancy test.
“Finally welcoming my little darling.”
My heart felt lifeless. After signing the divorce papers, I took Liam to the funeral home, and I left a like and comment on her Facebook post.
“Wishing you happiness.”
When Adeline called, I was at the funeral home.
The mortician was stitching Liam’s body, covered in scars like centipedes.
“Nolan, how dare you comment on Facebook! Declan and I grew up together, pure and innocent. What’s wrong with having his child?”
“You hurt Coco and took Liam away, and I let it slide, but you have the nerve to provoke with comments! Do you know Declan’s depression flared up after seeing them?”
“This time, I won’t be lenient. When Liam returns, he must kneel in front of the dog cage for three days and nights!”
A stabbing pain shot through my heart, with the cries of Liam being bitten replaying in my mind.
I gripped the phone, taking a deep breath.
“Adeline, Liam can’t come back for you to torment. He’s dead!”
Adeline scoffed dismissively.
“Nolan, you’ll say anything to separate me and Declan, won’t you? It was just three hours in a cage, how could anything happen!”
“You think dragging Liam out as an excuse will make me believe your nonsense?”
I wanted to explain but felt a wave of helplessness.
Adeline had a new child now; why would she care about me and Liam?
My nails dug into my palms as I forced myself to stay calm.
“I’ve signed the divorce papers. Adeline, we’re divorcing. You and Declan are free from interference.”
Adeline was silent for a few seconds before hanging up directly.
“Has that rebellious daughter realized her mistake?”
My father-in-law hunched over, tapping the ground with his cane.
I shook my head.
“I’ve decided to divorce her.”
My father-in-law looked at me with pity, sighing deeply.
“Our family has wronged you.”
He touched Liam’s bruised hand, tears falling.
“What a sin! A good child tortured like this! How could there be dogs in the suburban area? It must be that vile woman bringing in wolfdogs!”
“Why is Adeline so foolish!”
Bitterness spread from my chest. Adeline wasn’t foolish; she just didn’t care. She once forbade a dog within miles so Liam could sleep undisturbed.
But everything changed when Declan returned.
Not only did she bring Declan’s dog into the villa, but she also opened a dog kennel at home, calling it “animal rescue.” The whole villa was constantly filled with barking.
I took the terrified, pale-faced Liam to Adeline multiple times, but she just sat lazily in Declan’s arms, saying,
“Think of it as desensitization training for Liam. Besides, these dogs are very tame; they won’t hurt him.”
But these dogs were clearly aggressive breeds!
Anyone entering their territory would be viciously attacked!
I could barely stand, Liam’s painful struggles before death replaying in my mind.
His body was bloodied by bites, one eye gouged by claws, helplessly calling “Daddy” through the cage. I futilely pounded the cage, watching Liam’s blood drip from the dog’s mouth, his struggling arm growing paler until it stopped moving.
Even as he sighed, he looked towards the house, hoping his mother would come save him…
My throat choked up, the grief almost knocking me off my feet, veins bulging on my forehead.
“Sir, the little master is ready.”
The mortician finished his work, looking at me with sympathy.
I nodded, picking up Liam to head to the crematorium, feeling the resistance on my sleeve.
My father-in-law spoke mournfully.
“Let Adeline see him one last time; she is his mother after all.”
2
I remembered Liam’s final look, hesitating as I called Adeline.
The phone rang a few times before she answered, and I spoke before she could.
“Liam is leaving. If you still consider him your child, come send him off one last time.”
Hearing my words, Adeline laughed.
“Nolan, how vicious you are, cursing your own son to chase away Declan!”
“I’m telling you, don’t use Liam to threaten me! Even if he’s dead, it has nothing to do with me. The child in my belly is my real child!… Declan, be careful with the baby…”
Adeline’s voice suddenly turned tender, panting softly.
I couldn’t bear the voice on the other end anymore and hung up.
My father-in-law turned pale with anger, clutching his chest in pain.
“Rebellious daughter! I’ve spoiled her, now she denies her own child!”
He grabbed my hand that supported him.
“Rest assured, I’ll teach her a lesson, make her apologize to you!”
I shook my head, my eyes showing the relief after despair.
“No need, if she doesn’t want us, I won’t hold on.”
“We’ll leave.”
The soft touch of Liam still lingered in my hands, but in a moment, it turned into a cold urn of ashes.
I hailed a cab, taking Liam home.
If possible, I didn’t want to return to this place of sorrow. But Liam’s belongings were here, and I didn’t want to leave them to be ruined by Adeline.
As I got out of the car, the laughter from inside hit me.
“Congratulations to our sister Adeline and brother Declan for reuniting as lovers!”
The divorce papers were thrown on the floor by Adeline as she sat in Declan’s lap, laughing.
“Nolan, a son-in-law, dares to talk divorce with me? Without me, he doesn’t even deserve to carry Declan’s shoes!”
“Exactly! He dared threaten sister Adeline with that illegitimate child. Better that the kid died, he looked like he wouldn’t live long, embarrassing for our sister Adeline!”
Such a joyful atmosphere froze the moment I walked in.
The entire house was decked out in red, filled with roses and balloons. Everyone’s faces were full of happiness, making me, dressed in white, feel out of place.
Adeline glanced at me casually, leaning against Declan, touching her belly.
“Don’t say that, I only have one child, the one in my belly. Right, Declan?”
Declan nodded smugly, one shoe pressing on a photo frame.
My pupils shrank at the sight.
It was a photo of Liam as a newborn, the only one with Adeline holding him.
Liam needed to touch this photo every night to fall asleep.
He said it felt like his mom was holding him to sleep.
And now, this photo was trampled under Declan’s feet, lying with dust and dirt.
I trembled with anger, my eyes bloodshot as I lunged at Declan.
“How dare you step on that photo! Give it back!”
Adeline slapped me, shielding Declan behind her.
“Nolan, what’s wrong with you! It’s just a photo. Declan has depression, can’t you give him a break!”
My nose bled from the hit, the hand holding Liam squeezed tightly with a creak.
“Adeline, Liam just passed away, and you’re celebrating at home with someone. You’re that eager!”
“Still acting! With a malicious dad like you, no wonder your kid was full of lies!”
Adeline looked at me with disgust, her gaze settling on the urn in my hand.
3
“Knowing I’m celebrating, you brought such a disgusting thing to disgust me!”
As she spoke, a bodyguard snatched Liam from me while I wasn’t paying attention.
“Liam!”
I tried to reach out, but the bodyguard pinned me down, kicking the back of my knee and forcing me to kneel before Declan.
Watching Adeline take the urn, my heart leapt to my throat, and I spoke harshly.
“Don’t touch him, you’ll regret it!”
Swallowing, I softened my voice.
“Give him back to me, I’ll leave immediately, never disturbing you and Declan again.”
Adeline’s eyes turned dark, smirking.
“I’ll give him to you, but you must kneel and apologize to Declan. You hurt Declan’s dog and disrupted his celebration, don’t think you’ll get away so easily!”
Hearing this, Declan’s hand slipped, a glass shattered on the floor, glass shards everywhere.
“Sorry, slipped.”
Declan straightened, mocking me.
“If you don’t kneel, I’ll flush this down the toilet!”
Adeline urged.
I clenched my hands, resolutely kneeling to Declan.
The glass shards embedded deep in my knees, blood splattering. Yet I seemed unaware of the pain, bowing to Declan again and again.
People around laughed, amused, but Declan shook his head.
“He hit Coco, he should bow to her too. Bring Coco here!”
“What are you waiting for, bow. Coco disciplined your disobedient son, shouldn’t you thank her?”
“Sorry, my hand slipped.”
Declan straightened up, looking at me with disdain.
“If you don’t kneel, I’ll flush this down the toilet!”
Adeline urged me on.
I clenched my fists and knelt before Declan. Glass shards pierced my knees, and blood splattered, but I seemed numb to the pain, bowing to Declan repeatedly.
People around us chuckled, but Declan shook his head.
“He hit Coco; just bowing to me isn’t enough. Bring Coco here!”
“Why are you just standing there? Bow. Coco helped discipline your unruly son, and you still haven’t thanked it properly?”
Anger boiled within me, and I dragged my bleeding legs to lunge at Declan. The bodyguards quickly restrained me, pinning me to the ground.
“You ungrateful fool, I should never have let you off!”
Adeline kicked me hard and lifted the urn, smashing it into the toilet. The urn shattered, the ashes scattered into the water, and with a flush, Liam’s ashes were gone.
“No, no, no!”
My eyes burned with rage as I glared at Adeline, my voice filled with anguish.
“Why! Why can’t you leave Liam in peace even after his death!”
Adeline, frightened by my gaze, forced herself to shout back.
“You’re insane! Get him to the mental health facility now!”
The bodyguards dragged me out, just as my father-in-law arrived.
“What is going on here?”
He walked in with a cane, his hair graying, looking as if he’d aged ten years overnight.
He looked angrily at the room’s decorations, his hand shaking as he pointed at Adeline.
“Liam just died, and you’re celebrating here. Do you have any conscience?”
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My two sons conspired to send me to a psychiatric hospital simply because I refused to have a third child with another man.
“Can’t you understand the policy for three children? Since your mindset is problematic, you should reflect on it here!”
My eldest son spoke while the younger one looked at me with disdain:
“Exactly, you old fool! Someone is willing to let you have a child and give you a sense of worth, and yet you don’t appreciate it!”
“If you can’t give birth to a son, we won’t take you out!”
I was trapped in this nightmare, enduring endless humiliation. I was forced to have a son with an orderly and had to endure the abuse from all the men in the hospital.
Two months later, my sons came with the whole family to pick me up, asking if I would behave. In front of everyone, I stripped and lifted my right leg like a dog:
“I’m about to get pregnant with a son! Please don’t do this in front of my old partner, okay?”
When my eldest son, Declan, found me, I was eating scraps in the hospital cafeteria. During the sweltering summer, flies swarmed over the pile of scraps, emitting a pungent stench.
But I didn’t care, grabbing the slimy stuff from the bucket and stuffing it into my mouth.
I hadn’t eaten in three days, and even though it smelled terrible, even though it had maggots, I devoured it.
Declan frowned, slapped my hand, and the scraps scattered all over the ground. He couldn’t bear it and spoke up:
“Enough, stop pretending. It’s only been two months, do you have to act so pitiful?”
He reached to pull me up. But when I saw his hand, I curled up on the ground, wetting myself in fear, screaming and closing my eyes.
“Don’t hit me, please, don’t hit me, I’ll do whatever you want!”
Everyone was stunned as I trembled, crawling up from the ground and stripping in front of them. Just as I was about to take off my pants, Declan held down my hands.
“Why are you so shameless?”
“In public, you’re an old woman, why are you acting crazy?”
“I pay this hospital ten thousand a month, have you been eating too well, so you’re playing these tricks on me?”
He paused and continued:
“Besides, if you hadn’t mistreated Dad, would I have scared you into having a baby with Uncle Heath and sent you here to learn your lesson?”
My younger son, Dylan, crossed his arms and scoffed.
“Bro, why bother talking to her?”
“Look at her, she still doesn’t think she’s wrong. Why not just leave her here and ignore her?”
He muttered:
“If it weren’t for her ability to have sons, I wouldn’t have introduced her to Uncle Heath! I wonder how Uncle Heath is getting along with this old hag?”
Declan was displeased by his brother’s words but kept quiet. Just then, Heath walked over with a smile, and seeing him, my fear only increased. I jumped into a dirty trash can in terror.
“No!”
“Please, spare my old partner!”
“Old partner, don’t kill him! I’ll do it, I’ll give my sons to you, okay…”
Hearing this, Declan looked displeased:
“Mom, it seems you haven’t learned your lesson. I’m doing this for your good, and you blame me and don’t want me?”
He approached, and I screamed in terror. At that moment, my daughter-in-law, Lily, pulled him back and walked over.
As she approached, I suddenly stood up, using my removed clothes to cover her face:
“Run!”
“You’re so young and beautiful, they won’t let you go!”
“Don’t let them catch you. They’ll force you to have a son. I’ll cover you, run!”
The stinking clothes made her cough, and Declan quickly pulled her behind him.
“Mom! What are you doing?!”
“Lily was kind enough to help you, how can you bully her like that?”
“If you keep this up, my brother and I will completely ignore you!”
After speaking, he turned to comfort his wife. But I didn’t listen to him, only shouted hoarsely to Lily.
“Run, they’ll bully you! They’re bad people…”
They’re bad people. Heath and the director are in cahoots! They electroshock my paralyzed old partner; they pin me down on him and violate me. They don’t allow him to close his eyes. They say I’m a hen that can’t lay eggs, cut open my belly… in the end, reduced me to a slave of the entire psychiatric hospital.
I frantically pushed Lily. Everyone was shocked by this scene, and Heath looked even more displeased, forcing a smile as he came over, warning me in a low voice.
“Don’t forget your old partner!”
I trembled, quickly undoing my pants:
“I’ll do it… I’m the best at having sons, I’ll give you one!”
As I spoke, I looked at Lily, silently mouthing for her to run. At this moment, Declan finally sensed something was wrong. Just as he was about to ask, Heath quickly took off his clothes and forcibly tied them on me.
“Don’t make trouble, sister-in-law. I know Declan is a vegetable now, and you’re lonely, but I can’t cheat on him!”
“I won’t do anything to betray Declan!”
Seeing this, Declan pushed me to the ground, his face filled with unbearable anger:
“You’re so disrespectful!”
“How could Dad marry such a disgusting woman like you!”
“Exactly!” Dylan immediately chimed in, looking at me helplessly.
“Mom, calm down. One minute you’re abusing Dad, the next you’re accusing the hospital of mistreating you, tarnishing its reputation.”
“Truly, the dirty-minded see everything as dirty.”
I knelt painfully on the ground, not daring to speak. Seeing this, Declan thought I was guilty, coldly snorting, “Seems you haven’t learned well!”
“At your age, letting you out would be a disaster! Uncle Heath not only takes care of you, but also Dad.”
“But you’re harming him, truly vicious. I’ll take Dad away, and you’ll stay here for life!”
“Who knows what a malicious old thing like you would do to him!”
He finished speaking and turned to ask the director and Heath.
“Where’s Dad?”
The director’s legs went soft, standing there, not knowing what to do. Declan sensed something was wrong, his face darkening:
“I’ve been away for years, but I send ten thousand a month to your hospital. Don’t tell me you don’t even know where my dad is!”
“If you’re really mistreating the elderly, believe me, I’ll call the media to investigate thoroughly!”
Hearing the word “media,” the director and Heath were dizzy, almost fainting! Dylan saw their pleading eyes and immediately stepped in to smooth things over.
“Bro, don’t scare them.”
“They’ve been honest all their lives; they get tongue-tied when nervous.”
“Dad’s an adult, he’s not going missing.”
“Besides, with Mom’s personality, if she didn’t want to, who could hide Dad under her nose? I bet only Mom knows.”
He finished speaking, turning to me with a pleading look.
“Please, Mom, bring Dad out. He’s too old for this.”
“Look at Uncle Heath and the director; they’ve been honest all their lives. Can you bear to ruin their reputation?”
No wonder they’re brothers; Declan immediately got Dylan’s point, storming over to me, gripping my shoulders tightly.
“Old woman, don’t you find yourself ridiculous?”
“Throwing tantrums over dissatisfaction, do you think my brother and I are still kids?!”
At this moment, the director’s eyes twitched, about to say something, when a patient on break wandered into the cafeteria. Seeing me, he laughed, revealing yellow teeth.
“Old woman, your old man seems done for, lying on the ground, not moving!”
Hearing this, I ignored Heath’s warning, breaking free and rushing to the electroshock room, screaming:
“Old partner, don’t you dare touch my old partner!”
The director and Heath were stunned, quickly reacting, dragging the patient back to the ward while calling security to stop me.
But I seemed to have a formidable will, dodging everyone, heading straight for the electroshock room.
Hearing me shout “old partner,” Declan finally smiled.
“So he’s here!”
He turned to scold the director:
“Your hospital is incompetent! I’ve been asking you forever, and you didn’t know! Clearly, you don’t care about the patients!”
“Forget the media; you’ll have to give me an explanation later!”
Finishing, he rushed off. When we reached the electroshock room, Declan was stunned. The person there wasn’t his dad, but a set of patient clothes stuffed with pillows!
I despairingly hugged the pillows, crying:
“No! Don’t!”
I lunged forward, desperately protecting the patient clothes while trying to undress.
“You promised me, if I didn’t resist, you’d treat the old man well!”
“Please, spare him, I can have children…”
Patients at the door ignored the shooing, staring at me, laughing mockingly.
The next moment, Declan slammed the door of the operating room, grabbing my hand, red-eyed, questioning me.
“What did you call him?”
I ignored him, one hand clutching the patient clothes, the other undressing, mumbling for my partner’s sake.
Declan couldn’t hold back anymore, prying my fingers from the patient clothes one by one, forcibly taking them from me.
“I think you’ve thrown all dignity away!”
“Hiding Dad and stripping in public! What does this mean? Are you humiliating Dad?”
“Don’t think playing the fool can threaten me!”
“Let this patient clothes husband wake up too!”
“You called him what?”
I didn’t respond, clutching my hospital gown with one hand while my other hand mimicked undressing, softly begging for my spouse.
Declan couldn’t hold back any longer. He pried each of my fingers off the gown and forcibly took it from me.
“You have no shame left!”
“Hiding my dad and undressing in public! What is this supposed to mean? Are you trying to disgrace my dad?”
“Don’t think you can intimidate me by pretending to be insane!”
“Let your so-called ‘hospital gown husband’ come to his senses too!”
With that, he slammed the gown onto the electroshock table.
“No!”
I screamed, devastated.
My spouse was thrown onto the table just as harshly.
At that time, he was forcibly injected with a sedative, his body limp and voice weakened from long-standing hunger.
His faint “help me” was lost among his labored breaths, and I watched helplessly as the light in his eyes faded into despair.
Eventually, it went completely dark.
Ignoring Declan’s words, I summoned all my strength and lunged towards the electroshock table.
Before anyone could react, I was on the table, clutching the gown tightly.
But I accidentally hit the power switch, and a powerful current surged through my body!
I convulsed violently, unable to even scream.
The unregulated voltage burned my skin, and the smell of scorched flesh brought back the image of my spouse.
He looked at me, pacing anxiously, and finally sighed.
My consciousness blurred, the last thing I heard was Declan’s anxious shout:
“Mom! Are you out of your mind?!”
I fell into chaos, enveloped by endless darkness.
I dreamed of the week before my spouse and I were sent to the psychiatric hospital.
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After the wedding, Jasper would bring home a different woman every night.
On our wedding anniversary, he celebrated with a woman from the club by his side.
“Help her get ready and let her wear the wedding dress your mom made. Add the Jasper Family daughter-in-law jewelry.”
“It’s her first night, guide her well.”
Everyone smirked behind my back, waiting for me to demand a divorce.
I did as they expected.
“Let’s get a divorce, Jasper.”
Jasper looked at me with disdain and mockery, splashing a glass of red wine in my face.
“Talk when you’re thinking clearly. How many times have you asked for a divorce? When have you ever stepped out of the car at City Hall?”
He didn’t know I was serious this time.
The people around us didn’t hold back their mocking laughter.
“I knew it would be like this. Remember last year, Mrs. Jasper said the same thing, and in the end… she didn’t divorce.”
“Of course, who would let go of such a perfect husband like Mr. Jasper?”
“It’s not even embarrassing anymore. This drama happens so often, I’m tired of watching it.”
…
I quietly wiped my face with a tissue, forcing myself to confront Jasper.
“I’ll have an attorney draft the divorce papers.”
With that, I ignored the insincere sympathy around me, went upstairs with Jasper’s companion, and personally opened the safe to take out the cherished wedding dress and jewelry.
The wedding dress was sewn by my mom, and the jewelry was an heirloom handed to me by Mrs. Jasper.
I gently stroked these treasures I once cherished and handed them to Jasper’s companion for the night, Daphne.
It’s better this way, a clean break.
Daphne took them with trembling hands, cautiously glanced at me, and softly thanked me.
After instructing the makeup team, I got up to go downstairs.
Daphne pulled me back, claiming she wouldn’t wear them unless I helped.
I looked her up and down. She wasn’t particularly pretty, but she had an innocent look, with big doe eyes. No wonder Jasper liked her.
I called a makeup artist to help her, but she still clung to me.
I tried to stay calm, saying she could talk to the makeup artist, but she was hesitant to speak up.
When I moved her hand to leave, she grabbed me again, looking up with great courage.
“Miss, I’m scared of pain.”
With that, she pulled open Jasper’s coat on her, showing bruised kiss marks.
I instinctively tightened my grip on her hand.
“Ahâ”
Daphne’s exclamation snapped me out of it, and I quickly let go of her hand in a panic.
“Sorry.”
I numbly pulled her clothes back up, comforting her like I did with Jasper’s other companions:
“Don’t be afraid, I’ll teach you tonight.”
Daphne looked smug and dismissive, deliberately showing the marks again.
“Thanks, Miss.”
“I didn’t want to, but Mr. Jasper insisted…”
I couldn’t hear the rest, muttered something, and left.
This time, Daphne didn’t stop me.
Turns out, no matter how many times I’ve been humiliated, it still hurts.
I turned and went downstairs, where Jasper was surrounded by more women.
Their laughter was vulgar and wild.
“Jasper, aren’t you afraid Miss Summer might finally mean it?”
Jasper laughed, sipping his drink.
“Her whole family still owes me. How could she seriously consider leaving?”
“Besides, her dying mom depends on me to survive. She can’t leave me. She’s just throwing a tantrum, not knowing her own worth.”
Yeah, my whole family owes the Jasper Family. Dad caused Mr. Jasper’s death, and I caused Phoebe’s death. I have to keep repaying the debt.
Plus, mom relies on Jasper’s monthly payments to stay alive. Where do I find the courage to divorce him?
But after ten years, I can’t take it anymore. I don’t know how to cover mom’s medical bills or repay what I owe Jasper.
Would my life be enough?
I slightly lifted my head, hiding the tears in my eyes.
The mockery continued.
“Right, Miss Summer is ungrateful. Her and her lousy father caused you to lose your dad and sister overnight, and you didn’t even hold them accountable. Now she dares to throw a fit.”
“Exactly, if my wife dared to do that, I’d kill her. Their whole family is sinful.”
…
Jasper and I were sort of childhood friends. My dad was the Jasper Family Driver, and my mom was the Jasper Family Maid.
In middle school, I was brought into the Jasper Family.
The atmosphere was relaxed, and Mr. and Mrs. Jasper treated us well.
Jasper and his twin sister, Phoebe, were four years older than me. Sister Phoebe treated me like family, and we were inseparable.
Jasper was always jealous, squeezing in beside me whenever Phoebe wasn’t around, giving me unwavering care.
Mrs. Jasper teased that he was always chasing after me, and people might think I was a child bride.
Jasper didn’t mind, looking smug.
“Raising my own wife, I’m proud.”
As we grew up, we naturally got together.
The day before my eighteenth birthday, Phoebe and I were ordering a cake when we encountered a thug. She fought back alone to let me escape, and ended up stabbed multiple times, raped, and died despite medical efforts.
On the same day, my dad, rushing back for my birthday, took Uncle Jasper on a changed route and both died in a car accident.
Jasper, who had returned from abroad to surprise me, hated me ever since.
He knelt at the grave all night, came back cold as ice, but refused to break off the engagement. Yet, he never married me legally or held a wedding, just tormented me day and night.
And my birthday became the day I dreaded most.
Every year, Jasper insisted on celebrating, and on that day, he tortured me the most.
Every year, he’d bring many people to witness my pain.
The more they humiliated me, the happier Jasper became, rewarding them generously.
“Hey, sister-in-law, you came down quick? Did you serve Jasper’s little sweetheart well?”
“Yes.”
I forced a calm answer.
Jasper leaned against a model, took a drink, and looked at me suggestively.
“You know what I like. Teach her well.”
I swallowed my bitterness, thinking this would be the last time.
“Okay.”
Jasper crushed the wine glass in his hand, shards piercing his palm, blood seeping out, but he seemed unfazed, staring at me coldly.
“Who’s that dead look for? Didn’t you like celebrating birthdays? I invited so many people for you. Can’t you even smile?”
I forced a stiff smile.
“So happy?”
Jasper played with a lighter, its flame flickering.
“Then make a wish!”
Jasper roughly dragged me to the cake, lighting the candles.
I stood frozen, not moving.
“Make a wish! Why aren’t you?”
Jasper taunted, forcing my hands together, making me wish.
“Come on, tell everyone your wish.”
The candlelight reflected in his eyes, cold and fractured, like a madman.
“Was it wishing for a divorce?”
His face full of ridicule.
I looked at Jasper, unsure what to say.
Actually, my wish was for time to rewind. I would never have entered the Jasper Family, avoided all this pain, and not be stuck in this humiliating situation without escape.
I initially asked for a divorce because he brought people home, and I was desperate. But when he drove me to City Hall, I regretted it.
I was pathetic enough to stay, letting him torment me, thinking I was atoning.
After that, I realized he was happy when I asked for a divorce then backed out, so I pathetically played along.
But eventually, I truly wanted a divorce.
After being tormented over and over, I couldn’t take it anymore.
I didn’t want to be entangled any longer. Could I repay them with my life?
After a long silence, I did as he wished.
“Yes, I wished to divorce you.”
This was the 99th time I said “divorce” to Jasper. I counted quietly in my mind.
“Sure, as long as you pay back what you owe.”
Jasper’s eyes were bloodshot, mocking me.
I dryly asked:
“How do you want me to pay it?”
Jasper asked slowly:
“Remember how Phoebe died?”
I closed my dry eyes.
Of course, I remembered, how could I forget? My beloved sister was raped in a pool of blood, declared dead shortly after reaching the hospital.
“I want you to feel Phoebe’s despair before death, to go to hell to atone for her, and to pay with your life for your father’s debt.”
“Can you alone repay our family’s two lives?”
Jasper’s voice wasn’t loud, but deafening.
“Okay.”
I said.
“Okay?”
Jasper repeated.
“Then let’s start.”
“Start with undressing or stabbing?”
Jasper’s words pierced my heart painfully.
He sneered.
“Is it that painful? Do you know how much Phoebe suffered? She treated you like a sister, how did you dare to run away?”
“I didn’t… I just ran to find help for her…”
My explanation was weak.
Jasper opened a bottle of red wine and poured it over my head.
“Does this wine look like the color of her blood?”
“For the sake of being a couple, how about I let you be raped and killed?”
Jasper finished, hinting to everyone:
“The South City project is up for grabs. It’s up to your own efforts.”
There was an uproar.
Jasper’s words pierced my heart, causing me unbearable pain. He let out a cold laugh.
“Is it really that painful? Do you know how much Phoebe suffered? She treated you like a sister, and you dared to run away secretly.”
“I didn’t… I just ran to find someone to save her…”
My explanation felt weak and powerless.
Jasper opened a bottle of red wine and poured it over my head.
“Doesn’t the color of this wine remind you of the blood on her body?”
“Considering we were once married, how about I let you be violated before being killed?”
After saying this, Jasper addressed everyone present:
“The project in the south of the city is up for grabs. Work for it as you see fit.”
The room erupted in whispers.
“Did I hear that right? What a deal, getting to be with Jasper’s wife and also getting a project.”
“Keep it down, Mrs. Jasper looks amazing, her skin is so soft and tender. I’ve always wanted to be with someone like that…”
“Have you secretly thought about it a lot? But is Jasper serious about this? What if…”
“What are you afraid of? Better to die for beauty than to live without passion, especially when Jasper himself said it.”
…
The insults came one after another, and I trembled in fear.
Jasper walked over, placing his hand lightly on my shoulder. I thought he would stop this farce.
“Why are you shaking? Didn’t you say you wanted to atone? Are you waiting for someone to undress you?”
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I encountered Rosalie Taylor in the hospital corridor.
The overbearing little princess strutted in high heels, her makeup heavy.
Beside her, the Taylor parents doted on her like a precious gem, and even Evan followed closely behind.
Seeing me, Rosalie Taylor laughed smugly: “I heard your child didn’t make it again, sister?”
She clicked her tongue, continuing to provoke me.
“Isn’t it strange? You and brother-in-law are perfectly healthy, so why do your children always die of terminal illnesses?”
Saying this, she stuffed a business card with a temple’s address into my hand, winking provocatively.
“I told you, those who do too many bad deeds should pray more.”
“So you won’t face retribution, ending up with no descendants!”
I raised my ghostly pale face to her.
When my first child was euthanized, Rosalie Taylor bought trending topics for over ten days, broadcasting live.
At home, even in the temporary hospital room I stayed in, she plastered it with pictures of the child, claiming it was to comfort me.
The day I lost my second child, I had a depressive episode and stood on the rooftop.
Rosalie Taylor pretended to be a kind, caring sister, secretly giving me a blood-stained swaddle after I was rescued.
And the third, the fourth…
This time, Rosalie Taylor pulled something from her bag, grinning as she showed it to me.
“Sister, I got bullied and expelled from school, but…”
“Thanks to your work, I got a chance to study abroad!”
00
With the Taylor and Davis Family backgrounds, how could Rosalie Taylor be bullied?
To help her graduate smoothly, the Taylor and Davis Family invested over a hundred million annually in her school.
Yet Rosalie Taylor reached this age without a diploma.
Recently, just because a girl at a school event accidentally wore the same outfit as her,
she hired people outside the school to beat the girl, stripping her and dumping her in a manure pit.
It took both the Taylor and Davis Family mobilizing connections to suppress the incident.
The school, fearing escalation, had no choice but to expel her again under pressure from both families.
In Rosalie Taylor’s version, she became the poor little victim of bullying and expulsion.
But seeing that design draft, my eyes widened in shock.
This was a gift for my child. The four gemstones on the necklace represented the four children I’d lost.
The two central gems surrounding a small gemstone symbolized Evan and I would always protect and love our fifth child.
The design draft was only with Evan, yet now…
It ended up in Rosalie Taylor’s hands.
Evan anxiously tried to appease: “Rosie finally got a chance to study abroad, don’t be so petty.”
Hearing this, the cracks in my heart tore open, bloody and raw.
When my fourth child was euthanized, I was a wreck, confined to my room for months.
A university mentor felt sorry for me, visited, and even arranged a study abroad opportunity.
The doctor advised shifting my focus to my passion, hoping it might alleviate my condition.
Evan held my hand, earnestly saying he wanted to try for another child.
He said if we didn’t have a child, he’d regret it for life.
For him, I turned down the only chance to escape my gloom, nearly sacrificing my life to conceive again.
Turns out, he’d long planned to trap me this way, using my efforts to send Rosalie Taylor abroad!
Indeed, what destroys a woman more than marriage and childbirth?
What drives a mother mad more than watching her children die one by one?
Seeing my prolonged silence, the Taylor parents assumed I was unwilling.
They immediately berated me: “What’s wrong? It’s just a design draft, and you’re reluctant?”
“Don’t forget, you ate at our house, lived in our house, everything you have is ours!”
“Whatever it is, even your wretched life, as long as Rosie wants it, you must give it!”
00
I’d heard this same speech when I was kicked out of the Taylor Family five years ago.
I no longer had the strength to argue or refute.
I swallowed hard and nodded: “It’s fine, I can give it all.”
“After all… Iâve already sacrificed my own children, what else can’t I give?”
As soon as I said this, everyone became tense.
Evan’s expression froze momentarily, then he put on a gentle smile to soothe me: “Alright, don’t talk nonsense. The children… none of us wanted this, but fortunately, he was just born, he doesn’t know anything…”
My fingers clenched tightly again, biting my jaw, my eyes reddening as I faced him.
A newborn, feeling cold will cry, feeling hungry will fuss, that’s a little life, how could he not understand?
Like a zombie, I walked step by step towards him: “Evan, before our child died… did he cry?”
Evan didn’t dare meet my eyes, forcefully changing the topicâ
“The euthanasia is scheduled in three days, during this time… spend it with the child.”
That night, Evan returned very late.
He said he was busy with work, but I knew he was celebrating with Rosalie Taylor.
Only late at night did he drunkenly return.
I was in the bedroom caring for the baby, he approached, breathing heavily, gropingâ
“Cora, let’s have another child, shall we?”
To provide Rosalie Taylor with heart blood in time, Evan never allowed me time to recuperate.
Almost every time after a child was born, he couldn’t wait to start the next pregnancy, claiming it was out of love for me.
I gritted my teeth and pushed him away, saying softly: “The baby has a fever, I want to go to the hospital…”
Evan’s cold voice sounded in my ear: “Is it necessary?”
“Anyway, in a few days, he’ll be euthanized…”
Facing my deep, abyss-like eyes, his heart seemed to skip a beat: “I didn’t mean it that way…”
“Of course, I care for the child too, I just don’t want you to be too exhausted…”
I held the child tightly, avoiding him, suppressing the tears threatening to fall, and began my plan.
“In three days, the child will be euthanized.”
“I want to move to South Island, to quietly spend this last time with him…”
00
Evan and I met on South Island, and we held our grand wedding there.
Since all memories and grudges began there, they should end there too.
Fortunately, Evan didn’t have time for me and the child.
—
“I care deeply about the child, but I don’t want you to wear yourself out…”
I clung to the child, avoiding him, and swallowed my tears as I set my plan in motion.
“In three days, the child will undergo a procedure for a peaceful passing.”
“I want to move to the South Island, to spend our last days together quietly…”
005
Evan and I first met on the South Island, and we celebrated a grand wedding there. Since all our memories and grievances began there, it feels right for them to end there as well.
Fortunately, Evan had no time for me or the child. He still believed he could deceive me while endlessly indulging his favorite.
He went hiking with Rosalie Taylor, took her to romantic dinners at couple’s restaurants. In the messages Rosalie Taylor sent me, Evan wore a silly wig and sang at a party to amuse her.
Though he never liked being touched, he knelt publicly to massage Rosalie Taylor’s ankle just because she mentioned her foot hurt.
On my phone screen, Rosalie Taylor’s taunts and provocations flashed incessantlyâ
“You’ve figured it out, haven’t you?”
“This is the man you treasure! I beckon, and he comes running like a pet.”
“It hurts, doesn’t it? Don’t you dare die on me! I haven’t had enough fun yet!”
I stared at the screen as my vision blurred; my heart had long since grown numb.
When did Evan start favoring Rosalie Taylor? I once believed I was his whole world, never imagining that our childhood bond would become tedious to him.
A lively and bold girl suddenly entered his life, capturing all his attention in an instant.
I packed up all my belongings and sent a design draft to a school in France. Rosalie Taylor had plagiarized this very piece from me.
So, three days later, when Rosalie Taylor became infamous for plagiarism and lost her study abroad opportunity, I received an irate call from Evan: “Cora, why did you do that?”
“Don’t you realize you’ll ruin Rosalie’s life?”
My expression was wooden as I held a can of gasoline, pouring it throughout the villa, mutteringâ
“That was mine, a gift for the child…”
Evan retorted without hesitation: “Your things? Aren’t they all owed to Rosalie?”
Even though I was prepared, hearing him say this still hurt enough to make me laugh bitterly.
“Even if I owe her, I’m planning to pay it back completely…”
Evan was taken aback, incredulously asking, “What did you say?”
I suddenly laughed, exhaling in relief: “Evan, five years of marriage, six lives…”
“For you, for the Taylor Family, and that woman, isn’t that enough?”
00
By the time Evan reached the South Island villa, the entire building had burned to ruins.
He staggered towards the inferno, but firefighters stopped him several meters away from the wreckage.
Evan’s eyes were bloodshot, his gaze fixed on the building.
“Impossible, this can’t be happening…”
“Where were the security and the maid? Didn’t I tell you to watch over Cora?”
The bodyguards and maid I had sent away returned hurriedly, looking grim as they faced Evan’s hysterical rage.
“It’s the Mid-Autumn Festival today. Madam told us to reunite with our families…”
Only then did Evan suddenly remember it was the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Before, Evan never spent festivals with me; Rosalie Taylor always found excuses to take him away.
He claimed to be busy with work or entertaining clients, even when I caught him with Rosalie Taylor.
He would just sigh with feigned helplessnessâ
“Your sister, I’m just trying to keep her quiet.”
“What’s that saying? Love me, love my dog? Maybe because I like you so much, I’m willing to be kind to her.”
But his kindness to Rosalie Taylor had long surpassed me, becoming an unbalanced, hollow lie.
The so-called affection for me was just a pretense to hide where his true attention lay.
At this moment, the Taylor parents and Rosalie Taylor arrived.
Facing the villa engulfed in flames, Rosalie Taylor’s eyes gleamed with excitement.
Feigning concern, she took Evan’s arm, speaking in a peculiar toneâ
“Brother-in-law, don’t worry. Sister wouldn’t do anything foolish.”
Then she sarcastically sighed: “Sister is just upset because you didn’t spend Mid-Autumn Festival with her this year.”
“Always threatening to die with the child for sympathy and attention.”
“So many times, it’s not even annoying?”
When we lost our first child, Evan felt guilty and heartbroken seeing me devastated.
He stayed by my side, holding me, kissing me.
Afraid I might do something drastic if he wasn’t watching.
But later, the same things happened so often that he became used to it.
When I cut my wrist, he expressed concern but showed no true care in his eyes.
Even when I attempted to jump, he arrived half an hour late.
Afterwards, he claimed he was in a meeting, and his phone lost signal.
The Taylor parents chimed in: “Exactly! Don’t you know that troublemaker?”
“Always talking about dying, cutting wrists, jumping, when has she ever succeeded?”
“Just like when she was a child, pretending to be pitiful, making everyone revolve around her.”
Evan didn’t respond, just stared at the fire being extinguished.
The next moment, firefighters carried out charred bodies of a woman and a child.
00
“We found two bodies at the scene, including a child not yet a full month old.”
“Preliminary judgment suggests it’s the missing Mrs. Davis and that baby…”
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On our wedding day, my in-laws whispered something to my wife.
She was beaming with joy, but then her expression changed dramatically, and she ran to the hotel rooftop and jumped.
Everyone was curious about what the elderly couple had said.
But they remained silent, and on the day of my wife’s funeral, they brought over ten women for me to choose from.
It wasn’t until later that they whispered the same words to me.
At 3 a.m., I found myself sitting in the large bridal room, staring blankly at our wedding photo on the wall.
In the picture, my wife, Adeline, was glowing with happiness, clutching a bouquet as she leaned into my arms.
Her hand tenderly rested on her belly, already two months pregnant.
But now, she was just a cold body lying in the funeral home.
My eyes were red, teeth clenched, my body shivering from the shock.
Suddenly, the phone on the coffee table rang. I picked it up, and it was the policeâ
“Mr. Nash, we’ve thoroughly investigated Ms. Cao’s parents and found no suspicious activity.”
“Can you recall if Ms. Cao displayed any unusual behavior or tendencies before the incident?”
In the police report they sent, I saw Adeline’s pale face, her body covered in blood from the fall.
My heart ached, and I gripped the phone tightly, mumbling, “No.”
Why would Adeline take her own life?
It was supposed to be our long-awaited wedding day. Even the night before, we were holding hands, walking sweetly through the mall, dreaming about our unborn child in the baby store.
I couldn’t understand why she would jump with our unborn child on our wedding day.
With no clues from me, the police sighedâ
“There’s no evidence suggesting Ms. Cao’s death was her parents’ doing. We have to release them for now.”
“They might come to you, so please be cautious.”
The day after Adeline’s death, her parents came to see me.
Not to blame or extort, in fact…
Adeline’s mom sat across from me on the sofa, a nervous smile on her face, rubbing her hands on her pants.
They brought local delicacies from their hometown, along with handmade clothes, shoes, and snacks from Adeline’s mom.
She pushed a bankbook and some credit cards toward me, speaking kindlyâ
“Xuwei, this is our first meeting, and here’s a small token from us.”
“Adeline may be gone, but you’re still young, and your life must go on. We won’t make things difficult for you. If you need anything, just tell us, and we’ll do whatever we can to help.”
She forced the bankbook and credit cards into my hand, her eyes brimming with unspoken words.
I couldn’t understand. Their daughter had died; how could they be so indifferent?
I struggled, trying to pull my hand back, accidentally knocking the bankbook and cards to the floor.
The bankbook opened, revealing over a hundred thousand in savings!
I was stunned, staring at the numbers, then looked up at them with red eyes.
In a broken voice, I gasped, “Why? Tell me why?”
Adeline’s mom replied without hesitation, “Why what? You’re our son-in-law; isn’t it right to treat you well?”
Her casual attitude infuriated me instantly.
I slammed my hands on the table, shouting, “What about Adeline? She was your daughter!”
“What did you say to her that day? Why did she take her own life?”
I picked up the bankbook and cards from the floor, shoving them back into their hands.
I knelt before them, holding my head in agony, pleadingâ
“I don’t want money, I want nothing, just tell me what you said to Adeline that day.”
Adeline’s mom froze, glanced at her husband, then awkwardly sat down.
After a moment of silence, Adeline’s dad suddenly spoke, “Do you really want to know?”
“Promise us one thing, and we’ll tell you.”
Adeline’s dad’s condition was for me to remarry within a week!
I was furious: “What nonsense are you talking? Adeline’s not even buried, and you want me to marry someone else?”
He looked up, eerily calm, “It’s just a woman, gone is gone.”
Suddenly, he became agitated, veins bulging on his forehead, gripping my armâ
“Marrying and having children, continuing the family line is what matters!”
“Tomorrow, we’ll get the death certificate, so you can find a wife sooner.”
His words left me frozen, chills running down my spine. I shook off his grip, stumbling out the door.
Behind me, Adeline’s dad shouted hoarselyâ
“You must have a child soon, or it’ll be too late!”
When I returned home late at night, Adeline’s parents were still there.
They’d taken down our wedding photos.
Not only that, they’d cleared out everything of Adeline’s: clothes, shoes, even her drinking cup.
The house had no trace of Adeline left.
On the coffee table were business cards from a dating agency, next to sheets detailing many girls’ basic information.
That eerie feeling crept back into my heart.
All night, I lay anxiously in bed, a shadow of fear looming over me.
Around dawn, the bedroom door creaked open, and two figures sneaked in.
It was Adeline’s parents.
My scalp tingled, I held my breath, not daring to move.
In the silence, Adeline’s mom took my jacket from the bedside, inhaling deeply.
She sat by the bed, her cold hand stroking my hair, her voice trembling with suppressed excitement.
“Honey, do you think there’s still time?”
Adeline’s dad sighed, repeating the words: “That’s why he must marry and have a child quickly.”
“Whatever it takes, even forcing him, he must have a child within a year.”
“Otherwise, it’ll be too late!”
I didn’t understand what they meant by ‘too late.’
I didn’t understand why, as my father-in-law and mother-in-law, they were so desperate for me to remarry and have children right after Adeline’s death.
Adeline’s suicide on our wedding day made headlines online.
Their behavior following only shocked people more.
Adeline’s dad emptied their savings, using the tragic story of their late daughter to find me a bride.
Adeline’s mom seized the media attention, appearing on a TV dating show.
Their bizarre actions once again sparked online debateâ
“Whoa! Are they really in-laws? Pushing their son-in-law to remarry?”
“Their daughter just died, and they’re breaking the bank over his marriage. Not even for a son would they do this!”
“The whole family is nuts. I wouldn’t be surprised if the bride was possessed or mentally ill!”
But the medical examiner soon issued a death certificate.
Adeline wasn’t poisoned, nor did she have any mental issues or take hallucinogens.
The investigation stalled, and the police told me to take Adeline’s remains home for burial.
On the day of the funeral, Adelineâs parents came again.
They ignored the funeral hall, bringing in over ten young women, clutching my arms.
“Xuwei, these are the brides we’ve chosen for you.”
“Are you satisfied? If you like one, we’ll arrange the wedding quickly…”
On the day of their daughter’s funeral, they brought women to the funeral hall for a matchmaking event!
The guests erupted in shock, pointing and whispering.
I couldn’t take it anymore, shaking them off, demanding, “Do you know today is Adeline’s funeral?”
“Is this how parents act? You drove your daughter to her death, and now you disrupt her funeral?”
Adeline’s mom’s eyes were red, her hand over her mouth, tears welling, repeatingâ
“You must marry, have a child soon, or it’ll be too late!”
The memory of that night filled me with unease and confusion.
I blurted, “What do you mean by too late? What are you trying to do?”
“Did you know Adeline was two months pregnant before she died? If it weren’t for you, we’d be a happy family. You ruined everything, and now you’re pretending to arrange my life?”
The room fell silent, all guests watching us intently.
In the quiet, Adeline’s dad suddenly spokeâ
“Do you really want to know? Promise us one thing, and we’ll tell you.”
Adeline’s dad’s condition was the same: choose a wife from those women.
Adeline’s mom, in front of everyone, tearfully kneltâ
“Xuwei, I’m begging you, find another woman, marry her, have a child this year.”
“Or it’ll be too late!”
She clung to my hand, eyes full of tears, reflecting my image.
Then, a guest suddenly stood up, shaking their head at me: “Xuwei, let it go, don’t ask anymore.”
“If you really want to know, promise me one thing, and I’ll tell you.”
Adeline’s dad still insisted that I choose a wife from those women and get married.
Adeline’s mom, amidst everyone, tearfully knelt before meâ
“Nathan, I’m begging you, please find another woman to marry. You must have a child within this year.”
“Otherwise, it’ll be too late!”
She clutched my hand desperately, her tear-filled eyes pleading silently.
Suddenly, someone among the guests stood up and shook their head at me: “Nathan, let it go, don’t ask anymore.”
The woman in the crowd wore a long black dress, had short hair, and her expression was solemn and complex.
She glanced at Adeline’s parents briefly and sighedâ
“Just for Adeline’s sake, stop pursuing this. Otherwise, she won’t rest in peace.”
I knew this woman; she was Adeline’s best friend, Fiona.
They were as close as sisters, and after Adeline’s death, besides me, she was the most heartbroken.
That made it even harder for me to accept: “Fiona, what are you saying? Do you also want Adeline’s death to remain unexplained?”
I turned, my steps unsteady, towards Adeline’s memorial tablet.
In the photo, she still smiled gently, but it was now in black and white.
I clenched my fingers tightly, and from my chest surged a determinationâ
“Adeline was my wife. If her parents won’t honor her memory, then I, as her husband, will!”
“Moreover, she was carrying my child. Even if it takes everything I have, I must seek justice for her and our child!”
Fiona lowered her eyes and sighed: “Why are you doing this?”
At this moment, Adeline’s dad suddenly spoke again: “Do you really want to know what we said to Adeline that day?”
I looked at him, filled with expectation and hope, momentarily stunned and bewildered.
Adeline’s dad then calmly said, “I can tell you. Just hope that after knowing the truth, you’ll stop here.”
Adeline’s mom instantly panicked and instinctively pulled at him: “Honey, you can’t…”
But Adeline’s dad shook off her hand and slowly walked towards me.
Under the silent gaze of all the guests, he leaned close to my ear and finally said those words.
6
The moment I heard those words, it felt as if I had been struck by lightning, leaving me frozen in disbelief.
Adeline’s dad quickly stepped back, putting some distance between us.
I looked at them with a mix of shock and confusion and murmured, “How is that possible?”
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On his way home from collecting recyclables after school, my son was bitten by a rabid dog. To save money, he painfully came home and asked me to staple the wound shut.
With tears in my eyes, I took him to a small clinic for basic treatment.
Tommy blamed himself, “Mom, I’m sorry. Ten dollars is our food budget for the day.”
But as we turned to leave, we stumbled upon my husband at the high-end pet store next door, swiping his card to buy a premium grooming package for his ex-girlfriend’s dog.
“James is so good to Sophia, coming every week to get little Bella the deluxe treatment!”
“Yeah, it costs six figures each time. James really spares no expense.”
Tommy and I stood there in shock, staring at James in disbelief.
He didn’t notice us as he left with the dog and Sophia, getting into their car.
Tommy tugged at my sleeve, “Didn’t Dad say he lost everything in a bad investment and owed hundreds of thousands? Why is he spending so much on a dog?”
I forced myself to calm down and went to the pet store to confirm, not wanting to believe it.
But the staff’s words sent another chill through us.
“You’re asking about James? He’s one of our black card members. Six figures is nothing for him.”
“Even that dog Sophia was holding is worth over a million on the market.”
I left with Tommy, laughing bitterly and silent the whole way home.
Once we arrived, I finally broke down in tears looking at his crudely bandaged wound.
Tommy realized James had been lying and asked in confusion, “Mom, if Dad is so rich, why did he lie to us?”
“Does he not want us anymore?”
James had never revealed his true financial situation to me, even after marriage he only said he was doing some investments.
Shortly after we wed, he claimed his investments had failed, leaving him millions in debt.
For our ordinary family, it was an astronomical sum.
But not only did I not abandon him, I took on three jobs to support us.
Tommy has been sensible since he was young, helping me collect recyclables after school every day.
Even when his classmates mocked and ostracized him, he never regretted it.
“As long as we save up quickly, we can help Dad pay off his debts!”
But now I’m told James has been pretending to be poor all along.
Our mother and son live worse than his ex-girlfriend’s dog!
Coming back to my senses, I choked out to Tommy, “If that’s the case, would you rather stay with Mom or Dad in the future?”
His eyes dimmed, his voice trembling with hurt.
“Mom, please don’t abandon us. I promise I’ll be good. I don’t want to be separated from you two.”
“Mom, can we give Dad one more week? I’ll convince him!”
Afraid of hurting Tommy further, I reluctantly agreed.
Just then, James walked in the door.
Seeing us both standing in the living room, he frowned slightly, “What’s wrong? You both look upset.”
Tommy spoke up first, “Dad, I got bitten by a dog today. It hurts…”
He held up his small hand, but James’ first reaction to the gruesome wound was disgust.
“How could you be so careless? Spent a lot of money again, right? Your mom and I don’t earn easily, can’t you stop causing trouble?”
“No dinner for you tonight, learn your lesson.”
I clenched my fists, “Our son is hurt. If you don’t care, fine, but you’re punishing him with no food? Do you even care about this family at all?!”
James had never seen me so angry before. After realizing, he started arguing back.
We went back and forth, with Tommy quickly coming to pull me away.
“Mom, it’s okay. I’m not that hungry anyway.”
“Dad’s right, I did cause trouble. I’ll go do my homework now.”
Perhaps Tommy’s disappointment was too obvious, as James’ expression softened a bit.
“Alright Tommy, how could Dad really punish you?”
“I had a business dinner today and brought back some leftovers. Take them to your room to eat.”
He pulled out a bag of cold leftovers from his briefcase.
It was fish – Tommy’s least favorite.
Watching Tommy’s face fall further,
I snatched the leftovers and threw them in the trash.
“That’s enough, James. We can cook our own food. We don’t need your charity.”
James’ brow furrowed deeply at this, “Olivia, what’s gotten into you today? What did I do wrong?”
“This was specially brought back for you. Even one fish costs hundreds!”
“So you’re saying I misjudged you?” I laughed coldly, “Then do you remember Tommy is allergic to seafood?!”
“For seven whole years, you haven’t contributed a cent to this family. Every time I ask, it’s always about business dinners. Which one has ever been successful?”
Tommy’s lip quivered, tears falling like broken pearls.
But James didn’t even glance at him.
He turned to leave, his tone disdainful,
“I knew you were this kind of gold-digger. Using Tommy’s seafood allergy as an excuse! Eat it or not, I don’t care!”
Even at this point, he still thought I was complaining about him not giving us money.
I was so angry my chest hurt sharply. I had to sit on the couch for a long while to recover.
Tommy wiped away my tears, “Mom, don’t be sad. Dad’s just upset right now.”
Even though he hadn’t calmed down himself, he was still trying to defend James for the sake of our family.
Such a sensible child, I really couldn’t bear to let him suffer in silence anymore.
So I ruffled his hair, forcing a smile, “Mom understands. I’ll go make something tasty for Tommy now, okay?”
Tommy sighed in relief, nodding vigorously.
After dinner was ready, he took my phone to send James a voice message.
“Dad, Mom made noodles with meat sauce. Do you want to come back to eat?”
After sending it, Tommy nervously clutched the phone waiting for James to reply.
But by the time we finished eating, James had only coldly responded that he was busy.
I sighed, telling Tommy to go back to his room.
Just as I was about to talk to James, I received a friend request.
It was from Sophia.
After accepting, she immediately sent over several videos.
So James was busy feeding her dog, that’s why he couldn’t reply to our son.
The James in the video was gentle and patient, a stark contrast to how he treated us earlier.
“Olivia, even if you snatched James back then, so what? His heart still only belongs to me now.”
“You’ll never be able to compete with me, nor are you worthy to.”
Yes, after James and Sophia broke up years ago, he fell into severe depression.
He even tried to jump into a river to end his life at one point.
I had secretly loved him for a long time, and happened to pass by and save him without hesitation.
When he woke up, James confessed to me, saying he wanted to marry me.
At the time, I wasn’t sure if he still had feelings for someone else, so I initially refused.
“Don’t worry, after this brush with death I understand now. I just want to choose someone who loves me.”
It was James who promised over and over, which is why I agreed to be with him.
Later we got married and have been together for seven whole years.
I don’t know when he reconnected with Sophia.
I didn’t reply to Sophia, but silently called my lawyer friend.
“Help me draft a divorce agreement.”
“You’ve finally come to your senses?”
“Sure you don’t want to keep being your husband’s doormat?”
My lawyer friend fired off questions, her tone exasperated.
“Leave it to me, I’ll make that man pay for hurting you.”
Hearing this, I couldn’t hold back my tears anymore.
For a man who didn’t care about me, I had repeatedly turned down invitations from my girlfriends, just to clean up his messes.
I even became estranged from my friends because of it.
But when I needed help, these girlfriends were still the only ones there for me.
Before I finished the call, I received another friend request.
Her profile picture was of my husband.
My husband gazing lovingly at his first love Sophia, smiling radiantly.
So he did know how to smile, just not at me.
As if possessed, I accepted her friend request.
Immediately after, she sent me a video.
In the video, my husband was wearing only pants, kneeling on the ground washing Sophia’s feet!
Her feet kept trampling all over my husband’s body, splashing dirty water all over his face.
But he seemed to enjoy it.
I remembered how when I once asked him to grab my bath towel, he flew into a rage and cursed at me.
“Can’t you use your own hands?”
“And do you know how filthy your towel is?”
I felt so guilty for troubling him back then, I even took on another part-time job to make it up to him.
Faintly, I heard Tommy’s pained groans.
Thinking of how our son was injured today, yet his father as lingering with another woman,
Anger burned in my chest.
I couldn’t help but snap back at Sophia.
“If he loves you so much, why hasn’t he divorced me to let you be more than just the other woman?”
“Or do you enjoy being a homewrecker?”
The “typing” indicator flashed several times on her end, but she didn’t send anything.
Just as I breathed a sigh of relief, a voice message from her came through.
“James, who has the better body – me or your wife?”
And my husband, panting heavily, replied:
“Of course it’s you. That old hag can’t even compare to you.”
I collapsed onto the sofa, my heart shattered beyond repair.
At 3 AM, there was finally some commotion outside the door.
James had come home drunk.
As soon as I opened the door, he leaned heavily against me.
Fumbling with the buttons of my pajamas, he sweetly called me “honey”.
For a moment I thought everything today had just been a nightmare.
He pulled me towards the bedroom.
“Sophia, hold me…”
A sickly sweet perfume wafted over – I knew it was Sophia’s scent.
My stomach churned with nausea.
Taking advantage of the open door, I quickly dragged James back outside.
Then I swiftly closed and locked the door in one smooth motion.
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In my previous life, after adopting a seemingly innocent black cat, my Daughter’s behavior changed drastically, becoming excessively obedient.
But soon after, our family business collapsed, and my Husband died in an accident.
As I tried to uncover the truth, I was pushed off the twentieth floor.
On my deathbed, my Daughter, who was always so well-behaved, pulled out my oxygen tube and laughed maniacally,
“This body is mine now!”
I died there, only to discover that my Daughter’s life had been exchanged with the cat’s.
When I opened my eyes again, I was faced with those familiar, greedy black cat eyes.
“Mom, it’s so pitiful. Can we keep it?” my Daughter asked. I shook my head firmly and pushed it away, “This treacherous cat is not welcome in our home.”
“You can’t be serious! This cat is blind and injured, and you still kicked it?” My neighbor rolled her eyes at me and called to the black cat, “Mimi, come here, I’ve got a treat for you.” But the cat ignored her, meowing pitifully at my Daughter.
My Daughter paused and looked back at me, confused. She couldn’t understand why her usually supportive mother was saying “no” today.
The black cat stared at me with its piercing eyes, tugging at my Daughter’s skirt.
I could almost see the longing and jealousy in its eyes. “This cat is so smart, it’s like it can understand human speech,” someone passing by commented.
My Daughter Phoebe heard this and became even more attached to the Little Black Cat. She crouched down to shake hands with it. “Wow, it really seems to understand human speech! I said shake, and it shook. I said sit, and it sat.”
“Mom, it only listens to me. This must mean we’re meant to be together! Please let me adopt it,” she pleaded. “Anyway, one more cat in the shelter won’t make a difference…”
But I remembered the last life, that grotesque mix of viscera and bones. Rage boiled up inside me. Being cooked aliveâhow painful must that have been? I didn’t dare to imagine.
With red-rimmed eyes, I pushed the cat away and held my Daughter tightly. “Sweetheart, in our home, you’re the only little darling we cherish.” “Those cats, you can only care for them in your spare time…” But never at the cost of your life! My Daughter took my serious tone seriously. She tilted her head, pondering. I shooed away the onlookers.
The black cat cried woefully outside the door, refusing to be taken by anyone else. My Daughter felt sympathy, “But it’s so small; what if it starves outside?”
Phoebe, sharing my last name, was always more empathetic than other kids. Even with that gambling ex-husband of mine, despite the domestic violence, she thought he might have his reasons.
She had the potential to be a saint. Thankfully, there was one thing she couldn’t figure out on her own, but she listened to me enough.
“Mom can’t fully explain yet why we can’t keep that Little Black Cat.”
“But look at it, with just a few meows, it charmed everyone else, making it seem like only we two are the heartless villains!” “And since it can meow so coyly, surely someone will adopt it. You don’t need to worry unnecessarily.”
My Daughter was temporarily convinced. After dinner, she sneaked out to check, and seeing no cat, she breathed a sigh of relief and slipped back inside.
I pretended not to notice. But I thought to myself, it seems I still need to teach her about the darker sides of human and cat nature.
Two days later, my Daughter couldn’t bear it anymore and begged for understanding. “Mom, where do all these bad people and bad cats come from?
And Little Black is so amazing, it even caught fish for me to eat!” She blurted out excitedly, and when she saw my face darken, she belatedly covered her mouth. “Oops, Phoebe accidentally let it slip…” I was filled with anxiety when suddenly, I heard persistent meowing outside the door. So, I hadn’t been imagining things at night.
Despite all my precautions, it still got close to my Daughter. What would it do next? Was it going to swap my Daughter’s life again?!
I quickly called the Stray Cat Rescue Center and sent it out of the province. Half a month later, while taking out the trash, I stumbled upon something.
“Oh dear, poor thing. Even if you don’t want to keep it, don’t abuse it! Look at all its wounds, it’s still bleeding,” a neighbor returning with groceries saw the scene and immediately scolded.
My Daughter was doing her homework inside, but upon hearing this, she immediately dropped her pen and rushed out.
Seeing the red on the tip of my shoe, she couldn’t believe it. “Mom, didn’t you always say you hate violence the most? How could you be so harsh on a small animal?”
Her disappointment pierced my heart. Even the meowing behind me seemed to mock my helplessness against it. How can one argue with a cat?
Especially when everyone around sides with the “weak Kitty.” I couldn’t defend myself, even if I checked the surveillance; it was just one intentional or unintentional kick.
In the end, I had to pay for its care and repeatedly warned the vet at the clinic, “It has a rage disorder. All its injuries are from family members of the people it’s harmed.
Make sure to lock it up tightly to prevent it from escaping and hurting others again!” “Or find it a mate; maybe if it gets pregnant, it’ll become gentle.”
My Daughter looked at me with a strange expression, “Mom, you…” I covered her mouth. “Sweetheart, I’ll explain everything once we’re home.” It seemed impossible not to talk it out.
She didn’t understand the seriousness of the situation! Amidst the cat’s miserable cries, my Daughter kept looking back. I felt like the evil Queen Mother tearing apart the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, judged by everyone’s eyes along the way.
At the Cat Shelter’s entrance, even the neighbor across the street eyed me suspiciously. “Stop lying. I’ve checked the surveillance. You deliberately pretended not to see, aggravating the poor little cat’s injuries…”
“Maybe you’re the Heartless Widow who’s been abusing the neighborhood’s cats and dogs!” “I’ll keep watching you, never letting you harm them again!”
Neighbors surrounded me, pointing fingers. My Daughter felt utterly ashamed.
She stomped her foot and ran inside. “That’s not true!” In the end, she still believed in me, her birth mother. I felt somewhat comforted and went to the community security to get a copy of the surveillance footage to clear my name.
After all, they couldn’t just say black was white, right? My Daughter still had to attend elementary school in the community.
“Ms. Harper, the surveillance backup has encountered some issues and has been overwritten. Maybe you could ask the neighbors if they happened to have recorded anything?”
I didn’t expect things to become so difficult.
Normally, most people would ignore a stray cat. Handling it should be simple. Yet now, I’ve got fur all over me, and my reputation’s tarnished. Right, after all, that’s an unknown evil thing…
At my doorstep, a volunteer from the Animal Protection Society reached out to stop me. “Hello, we’ve received a report that you are suspected of privately abusing stray cats, Ms.
Harper. Please cooperate with our investigation.
” I laughed out of anger, pointing at the yard full of well-kept, glossy cats. “Fine, investigate! If there’s one injury, I’ll accept the penalty!” The final investigation concluded with no issues.
But the Mommy Neighbor couldn’t stand my composure, showing an edited surveillance video as evidence.
A piercing “meow” sealed my fate. My Daughter watched as her Kitty friends were taken away, her heart breaking. “Waa… Mom, I hate you!”
She ran away in a panic. I searched all night, not daring to close my eyes, fearing nightmares about my Daughter’s countless tragic deaths.
The next day, a nightmare came true. My Daughter brought the cat back, refusing to speak to me out of spite. “Sweetheart, can we not keep cats for now?”
I tried to negotiate, noticing a bit of Snowy tucked inside her jacket, feeling slightly relieved.
But my Daughter held the Kitty tighter, “No, right now, I only have Little Black… Little White, and I can’t lose it again! Otherwise, everyone will think I made up having cat friends…” She rarely had her own opinion, but she was stubborn about the Kitty.
I sighed, using my advantage as an adult to snatch up the white cat with the scent of disinfectant. I pulled her into the master bedroom.
“Phoebe, I can’t hide it from you any longer.” Worried, I looked into my Daughter’s innocent eyes and chose my words carefully. “Actually, that Little Black Cat from yesterday, I’ve seen it somewhere else before…”
I claimed I saw a cat with the same injuries and sweet meowing on a business trip.
“…Later, the family that adopted it all died horribly, not a single one left!” “Mom, is this a story?” My Daughter blinked, glancing outside, “But it’s not night yet. And I’m grown up now, I’m not afraid of ghost stories.”
I held back my fear, torn between telling her everything from my past life and fearing it would scare her young mind. Seeing her hand on the door handle, clearly thinking about the pure white cat in the living room, I panicked.
I squatted down, hugging her tightly, whispering, “Anyway, what Mom said is all true. I’m really scared that you’ll be harmed by the cat…”
“Sweetheart, please listen to Mom, don’t think about that Little Black Cat anymore. Let it leave with someone who can care for it better, okay?”
Phoebe, with her back to me, tangled her little fingers in confusion. I only heard a muffled nod. “Okay…”
I wanted to share everything about my past life with her, but I feared it might overwhelm her young heart.
I watched as my Daughter reached for the doorknob, obviously thinking about the pure white cat in the living room. I became anxious.
I knelt down and hugged her tightly, whispering softly.
“Everything Mommy tells you is true. I’m genuinely afraid the cat might harm you…”
“Sweetheart, please listen to Mommy. Let’s not think about that Little Black Cat anymore. Let it go to someone who can take better care of it, okay?”
Phoebe had her back to me, and I couldn’t see her fidgeting fingers. I only heard her quietly nod.
“Mm…”
She blinked repeatedly, her gaze wandering aimlessly.
I prepared breakfast for my Daughter and only felt relieved after watching her enter kindergarten.
“Huh?”
I thought I saw a black-and-white tail retract near the zipper of her backpack. It confused me.
Upon closer inspection, it was just a new fluffy accessory she had. I rubbed my eyes, realizing maybe I was just tired from not sleeping all night.
I turned and headed to work.
At noon, I called the Vet Clinic I’d been in touch with earlier, sending a client with a signed certificate over.
“That cat is dark with green eyes. Just keep it locked inside your house.”
“If it can’t catch mice, I’ll send you another one!”
Thinking of their family’s excellent skills, I figured there wouldn’t be any major issues. After all, even creatures respect strength.
But at 5 PM, I checked messages on my Phone.
“This Little Black Cat seems clueless, not as clever as you described…”
The client who went on this errand wasn’t satisfied, as mentioned in Instant Messaging.
I opened the photo she sent.
The eyes of the black cat in the picture looked completely unfamiliar. It was a feeling I couldn’t describe.
My heart raced with anxiety.
In the parent group of my Daughter’s class, other parents and the Homeroom Teacher were repeatedly tagging me.
“Ms. Harper, are you being responsible?”
“Why did you let your daughter bring a stray cat to school? It’s scratched my Daughter. What are you going to do about it?”
I rushed to the Community Elementary School.
I grabbed the Homeroom Teacher, asking, “What’s happening? Where is my Daughter now?!”
The Homeroom Teacher was also at a loss.
“Well… I saw her in the first two classes, but after free activities, um, don’t worry, I’ll check the surveillance and ask the security at the front and back gates.”
I was anxious, surrounded by a group of parents demanding an explanation.
I was on the verge of breaking down and suddenly shouted.
“Enough, stop it! If anyone needs to go to the hospital, just go. We’ll discuss any issues later. I don’t have time for this right now!!”
Maybe it’s because I’ve managed the Taylor Group alone for the past few years, making me more assertive. Or maybe I did have a pointâthe priority, after all, is the children.
The parents with kids scratched by the cat quickly left to get vaccines.
Others still wanted to argue with me.
I redirected them all to my nearly all-capable Assistant.
I questioned the kids one by one.
I asked if they noticed anything unusual about my Daughter this afternoon.
They couldn’t say for sure, only mentioning that the cat had a strong, pungent smell.
“Yeah, like the smell Mommy sometimes brings back from the salon!”
“And the little cat had a bandage on its hind legs.”
“By the way, the Little Black and White Cat’s scratches really hurt. It’s fierce, not gentle like it sounds.”
“But it can count, super impressive!”
I spotted a cat hair on one child’s clothes.
Seeing the black and white pattern, and hearing familiar praises for the Kitty, I suddenly broke down.
“Damn it, could it really be it?!”
“Why?! Why won’t it leave our family alone?!”
The Phone slipped from my hand as my Assistant continued to report.
“It turns out… last night the young lady went to the Dry Cleaner. The bleaching agent on the coat matches the one on your sofa. Also, the Little Black Cat was switched…”
The Homeroom Teacher rushed over with her Phone, looking relieved.
“Don’t worry, someone saw your Daughter with Snowy, and she called a man Daddy.”
“It’s only been an hour, she should be safe.”
But I felt even more hopeless, collapsing to the ground in despair.
“But he killed my Mom and Dad seven years ago!”
With my Daughter now with two murderers, can she really come back safe and sound?!
5
In the hospital, everyone was struck silent.
Anyone with even a basic understanding of criminal psychology knows that a murdererâs second crime is often more brutal than the first.
Many have heard of that Gambler Arson Case from back then.
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Every time my sugar daddy husband spent the night at his female assistant’s place, he would gift me a building.
In the two years since our marriage, I had acquired 96 commercial properties scattered throughout the city.
It also meant that the man had hurt me 96 times.
When the 97th property deed was handed to me, his assistant immediately sent me a gloating video.
“So what if Nathan gives you money? I’ve got his heart and body. You may be a supermodel, but you can’t even get your own husband to sleep with you, can you?”
I didn’t argue with her. Instead, I graciously sent her a set of new Victoria’s Secret lingerie from my latest runway show.
When my husband found out about my generous gift, he rewarded me by allowing me to accompany him to a high-society party.
During a party game, his assistant lost three times in a row and was dared to lick whipped cream off a playboy’s thigh.
She smashed a bottle and held it to her neck, swearing, “Nathan, I’d rather die than let anyone humiliate me like this!”
My usually cold-hearted husband suddenly panicked and begged me to take the punishment in his assistant’s place.
“It’s just licking some cream. I promise I’ll spend time with you properly after this.”
Everyone was waiting to see me make a fool of myself, but I calmly agreed without making a fuss.
He didn’t know that this was the 97th time he had hurt me.
And I no longer wanted to be his caged bird. I was just waiting to repay the life debt for saving me, and then we would have no more connection.
“Well, well, looks like the supermodel agreed to lick it after all? Nathan sure knows how to handle women!”
“What if she doesn’t lick the cream? Are they really going to make Lauren do it? She’s Nathan’s true love!”
The mocking laughter around me was deafening, and I felt utterly humiliated standing there.
Amidst this nauseating display of arrogance, Nathan crouched in front of Lauren, carefully placing a band-aid on her neck. Then he turned to me with cold eyes:
“Sophia, don’t try anything clever. Lauren’s waiting for you to finish so we can continue the game.”
Lauren, Lauren… He only cared about Lauren, never once asking if I was willing.
He had completely forgotten that I was his wife.
He had also forgotten that just a few days ago, I had miscarried because of her, and I was barely able to stand here today.
Seeing me hesitate, someone suddenly pushed me:
“What are you standing there for? Go lick it! Don’t tell me you’re backing out now?”
I stumbled but managed to steady myself. When I looked at Nathan again, his eyes were completely focused on Lauren.
“96 times. This is the ninety-sixth time,” I counted silently in my head as I stiffly walked towards the man with whipped cream on his leg, a notorious playboy in our circle.
Just as I bent down to kneel, the playboy suddenly grabbed my chin.
He looked at Lauren and said, “Miss Lauren, this isn’t right. She lost to me three times. Licking once isn’t enough.”
“How about we play ‘stuff the egg’? If you can persuade her to do it, I’ll forget about the punishment.”
Stuff the egg? What’s that?!
An unnamed fear suddenly surged through me, and I quickly looked towards Nathan.
But in the next second, Lauren was already pleading with Nathan, clinging to his arm and pouting:
“Nathan, it’s just a dare. Can’t you let your sister-in-law agree just this once?”
Seeing Lauren’s small body trembling, Nathan was left with nothing but pity. He looked at me intently:
“Sophia, you were willing to lick the cream. So you wouldn’t mind taking on another dare for Lauren, right?”
“Yay! Thank you, Nathan!” Lauren jumped up happily, her face full of smugness.
Watching Nathan gently pat Lauren’s head with a doting expression, I couldn’t help but laugh at that moment. My dignity had been trampled on, and I had become nothing more than a toy for them to torment and play with.
Nathan, how could you be so heartless? How could you still want me to participate in some kind of performance art and be humiliated for her sake?
Oh, right, I almost forgot. Lauren was his unattainable moon.
He had pursued her for years without success, and then they were separated by their families. Lauren had left the country overnight.
Now that he finally had her, of course he would pamper and indulge her every whim.
How could I possibly compete?
Suppressing the bitterness in my heart, I spoke stiffly:
“Can that count as one forgiveness voucher?”
Forgiveness voucher? The crowd laughed at my strange request, but Nathan put down the hand that had been pampering Lauren and suddenly looked at me.
He knew what I was talking about.
After a moment, he nodded:
“It counts!”
I smiled bitterly:
“Alright, I agree.”
Eight years ago, when I had just entered the modeling world, I was targeted by a big boss and confined on an island.
Along with other girls, I became a tool for men to use at their business gatherings.
I was lucky. Nathan was the first man I encountered, and he fell in love with me at first sight.
For my sake, he took over those men’s businesses, sent them to prison, and saved my life.
Later, I found out that it was because my features strongly resembled Lauren’s.
On the night I was rescued, I asked him how I could repay this debt of gratitude.
His eyes were sincere: “Then marry me.”
I pinched him: “I’m serious.”
His breathing became ragged as he entangled with me and said:
“Then… give me 99 forgiveness vouchers.”
“Forgiveness vouchers?” I curiously clung to his body, not understanding.
At that moment, he smiled:
“Silly girl, if – and I’m just saying if – if one day I hurt you 99 times, I’ll use these vouchers to make you forgive me 99 times. Once the vouchers are used up, this debt will be settled.”
For the next five years, he poured resources into making me a supermodel and loved me like a precious jewel.
Until two months ago, when Lauren returned to the country. Everything changed.
Now it was the 97th time. Just two more times, and my debt would be repaid. We would have no more connection.
Seeing Nathan agree, the playboy took me into his private room, a dimly lit chamber covered in silk.
The table was full of hard-boiled eggs, and on the floor lay two or three women with disheveled clothes, a rotten smell emanating from beneath them.
A chill ran down my spine as I realized with horror what Lauren meant by “stuffing eggs” – they were going to insert them into my private parts.
Nathan, who had followed us in, suddenly narrowed his eyes and turned to ask Lauren:
“Wasn’t this supposed to be about eating eggs? What’s going on here?”
But Lauren ignored him and pushed me forward.
“Mr. Seven, Miss Sophia used to be a dancer. I’m sure her flexibility will satisfy you.”
“Don’t you want to try it yourself? Push your limits?”
As Lauren finished speaking, I was already trembling in terror. I immediately looked to Nathan for help.
At least I was still his wife. He had loved me once. Although he had tormented me a lot for Lauren’s sake, he surely wouldn’t hand me over to a pervert to be tortured, right?
But to my surprise, Nathan walked to the bar, poured a glass of wine, and shoved it into my hand.
“Why don’t you toast Mr. Seven first to liven things up?”
Liven things up? Did he want me to entertain them?
He… actually agreed?
In a daze, I saw Lauren give me a sinister smile.
“Sister! Didn’t you hear what Nathan said?”
Just as I was looking at Lauren, not knowing what to do, she suddenly kicked me in the knee.
In an instant, I lost my balance, and the wine in my hand spilled on the playboy’s face.
Then I fell onto the shattered glass, immediately cutting several bloody gashes on my arm.
My eyes met the distorted, pale face of the woman on the floor.
Lauren’s shrill accusations rang in my ears:
“Sister, if you didn’t want to toast, you could have just said so. There’s no need to pretend to be crazy to anger Mr. Seven. Is this how you act as Nathan’s wife? Are you trying to embarrass Nathan?”
The playboy’s expression froze for a moment, then he suddenly realized something and stared at me with wide eyes:
“You… you’re Nathan’s legendary wife?”
I said nothing, just sat on the ground, my body and heart aching almost to the point of suffocation.
The playboy reached out to grab my arm, but Nathan immediately seized his wrist.
Nathan glanced at my blood-covered face, his eyes suddenly turning gloomy. He gritted his teeth as he looked at the playboy:
“Get out!”
The playboy was intimidated and had to leave, grumbling under his breath.
“Nathan! Are you crazy? If I had known she was your psycho wife, I wouldn’t have touched her!”
As the playboy disappeared, I got up to leave, but my arm was once again gripped by a large hand.
“Sophia, aren’t you happy now that you don’t have to be punished? Did those two years on the island not teach you how to behave? You only had to toast a drink, and this would have been over. Why did you have to act crazy? You knew that when I asked you to toast, I was trying to end this, didn’t you? Are you that clueless?”
Looking at the angry Nathan, I responded with bloodshot eyes.
This time, I finally didn’t hold back and retorted:
“Nathan! I’m your wife. If you had just made my identity clear, this would have been over just the same.”
My words were clear. It was him, he was the one who wanted to play with my vanity to protect Lauren’s face, which is why he never said anything.
Caught off guard by my revelation, Nathan felt a bit guilty.
Lauren, seeing this, wanted to defend him.
But Nathan frowned and spoke up to stop her:
“Enough! Shut up and wait for me in the car.”
After her footsteps faded away, he sighed:
“I’m sorry, but I still need to explain. I really didn’t know what ‘stuffing eggs’ meant. If I had known, I wouldn’t have agreed from the start.”
“As for Lauren, I hope you can understand. After all, she just came back to the country and saw that I was marr-”
Nathan stopped abruptly, but I could still guess what he was going to say.
He wanted to say that Lauren was in a bad mood because she found out he was married, so she deliberately gave me a hard time, and he wanted me to forgive her.
Our eyes met, and Nathan seemed to understand the mockery in mine. He sighed again.
“Alright, I see you’re hurt. I’ll have the driver take you to the hospital. Lauren’s not in a good state, so I need to check on her. We’ll talk about this when I get back.”
Without waiting for my response, he added: “Although you didn’t complete the task, I’ll allow you to count this as one forgiveness voucher.”
With that, he turned and left. Watching his retreating figure, I touched my still-bleeding forehead and burst into laughter.
But I didn’t care anymore.
Just two more times, and once I’ve repaid my debt, I’ll leave.
From now on, I won’t suffer his mistreatment anymore.
It was late at night when the driver sent me home. Nathan hadn’t returned, and I didn’t bother to ask.
The next day, his assistant brought his gift: two commercial property deeds.
He specifically emphasized that one was compensation for forcing me to lick the cream, and the other was an apology for the egg incident.
Expressionless, I labeled the deeds with numbers 96 and 97, then carelessly stuffed them into the safe.
The maid beside me smiled fondly:
“Mr. Nathan really dotes on you, ma’am. He’s been giving gifts more and more frequently.”
I smiled without saying a word.
She didn’t know that these were just Nathan’s compensations after hurting me each time.
Looking at the safe full of property deeds, I knew I would be able to leave soon.
But before I left, I just wanted to take one camera with me. It contained things I had to destroy.
Nathan was very exploratory when it came to intimate matters, and in the heat of the moment, he would sometimes impulsively record our encounters with a camera.
In the past, those videos were just marital intimacy.
But now, I didn’t want them to remain. After all, if the videos were leaked, I would be ruined.
However, after searching every corner of the room, I couldn’t find that camera.
Just as I was about to search again, my agent called, yelling angrily:
“Sophia, are you crazy? Look at the internet! Your private photos are everywhere! How dare you accompany other sugar daddies behind Nathan’s back? If you want to die, don’t drag our whole company down with you!”
In an instant, my mind exploded, only hearing my agent’s words:
“You’d better give me an explanation for the videos online right now! And for Nathan’s fury, or we’ll haunt you even as ghosts!”
The call was hung up, and I quickly opened my phone.
I saw that the top trending topic was my private video.
With bold, explosive text: [Supermodel Sophia Sleeps Her Way to the Top]
In it, Nathan’s face was blurred, while mine was clearly visible in the center, flushed with desire.
Millions of netizens were online hurling abuse, calling me a slut who slept with multiple sugar daddies for resources, a woman who would sleep with anyone.
My legs gave way, and I collapsed to the ground.
But in the last moment before I lost strength, I was suddenly caught in Nathan’s strong embrace.
“Don’t look at those things. It’s okay, I’ll handle it. Trust me!”
The comforting words had barely left his ears when he turned, his face cold, and roared at the room full of people.
“Who did this! Tell me! Who did this!”
Seeing his unprecedented fury, my eyes suddenly stung with tears.
But at the same time, Lauren’s casual voice came from nearby:
“Nathan, you mean the videos? I uploaded them!”
The arm around my waist suddenly tightened. Nathan and I both looked at Lauren.
“Don’t look at me like that! I just happened to see them and thought sister’s body was too amazing to be seen by only you, Nathan. So I took the initiative to share them!”
“After all, beautiful things should be enjoyed by everyone, right?”
In an instant, blood rushed to my head. I got up to slap Lauren, but Nathan steadily caught my hand.
“Sophia! Enough!”
I was furious and grief-stricken, shouting: “But she-”
Before I could finish, Nathan glanced at the smug Lauren, then turned back to me with a frown:
“I’ll help you take down the trending topics. Let’s end this here. Don’t cause trouble for Lauren, okay? You know, after all, she’s also…”
“No! Nathan, why should I let it go? She’s ruined my reputation! Why should I let it go?”
“I want to sue her for defamation! She must pay the price!”
I stared at Nathan with bloodshot eyes, refusing to back down even a little.
“Sophia! You-”
Nathan took a deep breath, about to persuade me again.
But Lauren tugged at Nathan’s sleeve, pretending to sob with reddened eyes:
“Nathan! Don’t say anymore. I know I was wrong. Let sister sue me. I shouldn’t have been jealous, jealous that she married you. It was my fault. If only I had persisted back then!”
As she spoke, Lauren’s eyes turned red, and she began to cry.
“Sister, I really know I was wrong. I’ll kneel and apologize to you. Please don’t make things difficult for Nathan.”
“If it makes you happy, I’ll turn myself in right now and help clear your name! At worst, let me be ruined too, but please don’t let this ruin your relationship.”
Seeing Lauren about to kneel before me, Nathan’s eyes turned cold again. He said to me in a deep voice:
“Sophia! Lauren already knows she was wrong. Let it go.”
“Your reputation is already ruined anyway, so why not just quit the industry and enjoy being a rich housewife at home? Isn’t that good?”
I was shocked by his blindness, unable to believe he would still indulge her to this extent.
I was about to speak again, but in the next second, I received a hard slap across the face, leaving it stinging.
His knuckles were red, his breathing rapid, his eyes filled with unprecedented violence.
He threw a disclaimer at me:
“Be good and sign this. Once the storm blows over, I’ll help you make a comeback.”
“But if you dare to report this to the police, don’t even think about stepping out of this door again!”
“I won’t sign!”
I gritted my teeth, staring at him.
But no matter how much I struggled and refused to sign, Nathan forcibly pressed my handprint onto the disclaimer.
As I collapsed to the ground, exhausted,
A feeling of helplessness and pain that I had never experienced before swept over my entire body, like thousands of needles piercing my heart.
They left, but their casual conversation was like poisonous insects crawling into my ears:
“Nathan, is sister okay…”
“She’s fine. As long as she still wants to make a comeback, she’ll listen to me. At worst…”
“I’ll count it as one forgiveness voucher. She still has dozens left, she’ll behave.”
No, there aren’t any left. There’s only one more time.
Nathan, I won’t be your puppet anymore.
After sitting stunned on the ground for a long time, I finally went back to my room and took out my diary.
Although everyone says the modeling world isn’t much cleaner than the entertainment industry, I really loved this career.
Standing on the runway, bathed in spotlights – that confidence was where I found my value.
But now, it had been utterly destroyed. Perhaps even heaven was telling me it was time to go, to not linger anymore.
Tears flowing, I wrote down today’s events in the book, ending with the number 98.
Every time he hurt me, I would record it in my diary to remind myself not to soften.
But Nathan’s voice suddenly came from behind:
“What does 98 mean?”
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I was employed by a wealthy family as a scapegoat, under the pretense of a life-saving favor, to marry into the family.
My wife, however, despises me for disrupting her plans to marry Phoebe. Despite her immense wealth, she gives me only five dollars a day for living expenses.
I’m so hungry I’ve become gaunt, while she changes boyfriends frequently.
Once, to amuse her young boyfriend, she drove drunk, crashing into the hospital’s power supply, causing my mother’s tragic death.
Afterward, she casually handed me a Black Card:
“You actually left your mom in that rundown hospital? Well, someone as greedy as you would do anything.”
“Use this card to move Auntie to a VIP Ward, but don’t think about siphoning off any money. I’ll be checking your bills.”
I silently discarded the Black Card and arranged my mother’s funeral.
She doesn’t know that it was Phoebe who left her at the altar, and I was just hired by her family to console her. Now that my mother is gone, my debt is repaid. It’s time to leave.
—
“Lydia, the ceremony has started. Where are you?” At my mother’s funeral, Lydia’s mother, Vera, used my phone to call my wife, Lydia. But a man’s voice answered:
“Auntie, Lydia went to bed late yesterday and hasn’t woken up yet. I’ll let her know when she does.”
“How can she miss her mother-in-law’s funeral?” Vera yelled angrily and hung up the phone.
“Jude, I’m sorry. I spoiled her.”
She hates me deeply, and I never expected her to come, nor was I heartbroken over it. I handed the scapegoat contract I signed years ago to Vera and said calmly:
“Mrs. Song, the seven-year term is up, and the marriage certificate with Lydia is fake. I want to…”
Vera anticipated what I was going to say and interrupted, wiping away tears:
“When Lydia found a Heart Match for your mom, I thought she would finally recover.”
“I never expected that your mom wouldn’t make it…”
“Jude, Lydia made mistakes, but the coroner determined that your mom’s death wasn’t due to a power outage. It was suicide.”
“Can’t you give her another chance for finding a match for your mom?”
Suicide? My mother wouldn’t leave without seeing me start a family. I knew it was just an excuse to absolve Lydia, and I didn’t bother to argue:
“Thank you for your help back then, but now, Lydia doesn’t need me anymore. Can I leave?”
Vera sighed and slipped a gold-embossed card into my hand:
“Since you’ve made up your mind, I won’t stop you.”
“But it’s just seven days short of the original agreement. Give her some time to adjust.”
Having endured seven years, seven days doesn’t matter. I pushed the card back:
“You’ve given me enough. I can’t take this money.”
Vera forced the card into my pocket, patting my hand earnestly:
“If it weren’t for you taking the fall, Lydia and I would have been estranged long ago. This billion is just a token of my gratitude.”
“Jude, Auntie asks you to keep our secret.”
This was hush money. Knowing she’d be uneasy if I didn’t take it, I reluctantly accepted with a bitter smile.
Back then, Lydia defied her family, threatening to die if she couldn’t marry Phoebe. But just before the wedding, Phoebe eloped with a wealthy woman overseas.
Afraid of the blow Lydia would suffer, Vera hired me to play a role. She tampered with Lydia’s car, allowing me to marry in under the guise of a life-saving favor.
At first, Lydia didn’t blame me. She even wrote a farewell letter to Phoebe and married me. When she learned I injured my hand saving her and could no longer hold a scalpel, she searched everywhere for renowned doctors and remedies. When all efforts failed, she cried in my arms, promising to give me children and a family.
Those were happy days for a while. Until Phoebe’s cousin, Asher, appeared with evidence accusing me of orchestrating the car accident years ago. Lydia slammed the abortion papers in my face, speaking harsh words for the first time:
“Jude, someone as unscrupulous as you doesn’t deserve to be my child’s father or have a family!”
I clutched the papers, my heart aching as tears streamed down my face.
That day, Lydia ended our child’s life with her own hands, and any bond between us was severed.
All of this was orchestrated by Vera, but with my mother’s life in her hands, I couldn’t say a word.
“Stop pretending! If you love acting, keep it up!” She was unmoved by my tears and knocked over the gourmet food on the table:
“From now on, your food allowance is reduced to five dollars a day.”
“Jude, you love money and aspire to rise above others, but I won’t let you have your way.”
She walked away without looking back, hand in hand with Asher, who resembled Phoebe. Around her were people who only flattered her and belittled me.
Once Lydia spoke, they disrupted all my work outside. Even when a beggar took pity on me and bought me a bun, they trampled it mercilessly.
“This meat bun costs two dollars and fifty cents, half your daily allowance. You’re really extravagant.”
They kicked a dog bowl towards me:
“Here, leftovers from our dog. It’s cheap for you.”
I once thought that life would just drift by until the agreement was lifted. But not long ago, Lydia told me they found a heart donor matching my mom:
“I can give your mom the heart, but Asher said his cousin is plagued with bad luck and needs a sincere person to kneel three thousand steps for blessings.”
Heart matches are extremely hard to find. She must have worked hard to get one. I thought the three thousand steps were just punishment for lying, that she still cared for me. But after I finished, she glared at me:
“Jude, your heart isn’t sincere. He didn’t get good luck and instead got heart disease.”
“This heart is his now. Kneel again and pray properly!”
She only wanted to mock and retaliate against me. How ridiculous. I actually thought she had a bit of love for me.
I stumbled to my feet, ready to kneel again. But a passerby couldn’t bear it and stopped me:
“Your legs are so injured. If you kneel again, you’ll die!”
Only then did Lydia see my knees, raw and bloody. She turned away, snorting coldly:
“Forget it. Insincere hearts only have bad effects. Just eat vegetarian for a month and pray for him properly.”
Vegetarian meals were much better than dog food.
I even gained some weight after the punishment ended. As soon as I got down the mountain, I rushed to the hospital, intending to ask about the heart transplant, only to find out my mother had been moved to a small hospital. Before I could ask her why, I learned she had passed away.
I wiped my mother’s photo over and over, my eyes empty, tears long dried. Lydia was right; I didn’t deserve a family, and now I truly had none.
After I finished my work, Lydia’s call finally came, albeit late.
“This child, only calling after it’s over.”
“But at least she knows to apologize.”
Vera mumbled, answered the call, and put it on speaker. Lydia’s cold voice followed:
“It’s Asher’s mom’s birthday soon. Handle it.”
Embarrassed by this slap in the face, Vera flew into a rage:
“Lydia, he’s your husband, not your servant!”
“His mom just passed. How can you make him handle someone else’s birthday party?”
Lydia was confused:
“Isn’t Auntie seriously ill? Where did she go?”
I didn’t want any trouble with only a few days left before I could leave.
“She went back home.”
I vaguely changed the subject and took on the birthday party task. She didn’t ask further, satisfied with my compliance:
“Smart choice.”
“Once Auntie’s health improves, I’ll throw her a birthday party, let her have her moment.”
She didn’t know my mom was already dead. In seven days, I’d be gone, and there would be no future between us.
2
When I was about to go home, Lydia gave me an address and told me to go there.
I thought she wanted to discuss the birthday party. But when I opened the door to the private room, all I got was a cold drink from Lydia:
“I wondered why you agreed so quickly to handle the birthday. Turns out you took my mom’s money.”
“Jude, seven years, and I thought you’d learned, but you’re still a dog that can’t change its ways!”
Asher handed me a tissue, pretending to be a mediator.
“Sorry, Jude, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have spoken about it earlier, causing you and Lydia to fight.”
Then he tugged Lydia’s sleeve, pretending to slap himself a few times, eyes red:
“Lydia, don’t scold Jude. It’s my fault. Blame me if you must.”
But Lydia held his hand, rubbing his unhurt face with concern:
“Don’t hit yourself. I care about you.”
“Besides, you did nothing wrong. If not for you, I wouldn’t have known Jude dared to ask my mom for money.”
“Tell me, baby, what reward do you want?”
Asher propped his chin, deep in thought:
“You’ve already bought me a Lamborghini, given me a lakeside villa.”
“Regular gourmet food, endless gifts. Last time, I just mentioned wanting lobster, and you bought it and even peeled it for me.”
“And the time before, at that auction, I liked a watch worth thirty million. You bought it without blinking and released all the sky lanterns just for me. You’ve spoiled me rotten; my material desires are incredibly low…”
“Tell me, darling, what reward do you want?”
Asher rested his chin in his hand, thinking deeply:
“You’ve already bought me a Lamborghini and gifted me a Lakeside Villa.”
“We enjoy gourmet food regularly, and the gifts never seem to stop. Last time, I casually mentioned wanting lobster, and you immediately bought it and even peeled it for me.”
“And the time before that, at an auction, I took a liking to a watch worth thirty million. You purchased it without a second thought and even lit sky lanterns for me. You’ve indulged me so much that my material desires have become almost nonexistent…”
Asher recounted Lydia’s generosity over the years, and the more he spoke, the colder my heart grew.
While I spent decades eating unappetizing meals and living in a dark, damp servantâs room with cockroaches and rats, Asher lived a life of luxury and comfort.
Driving luxury cars, residing in mansions, enjoying gourmet food daily, being served shrimp peeled by Lydia, and receiving various gifts from her.
And yet, as Lydia’s husband, the most indulgent meal I’ve had in these seven years was vegetarian, and the best place I’ve stayed was a temple.
Indeed, without comparison, there is no disappointment…
Just then, my thoughts were interrupted by Asherâs words:
“Sister Lydia, I know what reward I want! I want to eat an egg yolk pastry from that place we often visit in the east of the city!”
He emphasized “often visit,” frequently glancing at me with a provocative and boastful look.
I pretended not to notice.
Over the years, Iâve grown accustomed to Asherâs provocations.
While I was lost in thought, Asher sighed and spoke to himself:
“It’s such a shame it’s so far, 30 kilometers away. Maybe I should just forget it…”
Asher’s deliberately forlorn act made Lydia feel quite sorry for him.
In the private room, one of Lydiaâs girlfriends suddenly suggested:
“Let Jude go get it!”
“Yeah, heâs got nothing else to do anyway! Plus, itâs his fault in the first place; this could be a way to punish him for deliberately asking Auntie for money!”
Lydia paused for a moment, then nodded slightly in agreement:
“Thatâs actually a good idea.”
She turned her head, glanced at me indifferently, her voice ice-cold.
“What are you standing there for? Didnât you hear that Asher is craving egg yolk pastry? Go buy it!”
Asher immediately put on a facade of goodwill, came to me and said insincerely:
“Brother Jude, 30 kilometers is quite a way. You donât have a car, right? I can lend you one.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a bunch of car keysâCayenne, Maybach, even a Rolls-Royce Phantom.
All kinds of luxury car keys, you name it.
Asher dangled the car keys in front of me, eyes gleaming with pride:
“Brother Jude, pick whichever one you want to drive.”
I knew he was deliberately flaunting, taking the opportunity to provoke me.
However, before I could respond, Lydia snatched the keys away, her voice cold:
“Do you think you’re worthy of driving?”
“Just walk there step by step, itâs only 30 kilometers. Consider it exercise. Are you afraid of a little walk?”
I didnât react as I used to, shouting and resisting. I just nodded silently, accepting it all with calmness and composure.
In the beginning, when Lydia deliberately tormented me, I resisted. But it only brought more severe torment.
Since the outcome is already decided, why waste my breath and effort?
Lydiaâs words made her girlfriendsâ eyes widen, and they laughed uproariously:
“Lydia, youâre really clever.”
“Donât worry, weâll keep an eye on him for you.”
Lydia didnât expect me to agree so readily. The words she had prepared to counter me got stuck in her throat.
She stared at me for a while, feeling that I seemed different these past couple of days.
In the past, every time she punished me, I would argue forcefully, accusing her of being unreasonable.
But today, I seemed soulless, unusually quiet.
But soon she convinced herself that I was using reverse psychology, trying to get her attention.
She raised an eyebrow, quickly covering the surprise in her eyes with a cold demeanor, and snorted:
“Seven years and you still havenât learned. You guys must have been too lenient.”
“This time, Iâll watch him myself.”
Under the scorching sun, I limped along, with Lydiaâs car following behind.
The fierce sun beat down on the earth, my back soaked with sweat, and large drops of sweat fell like broken strings of beads.
Occasionally, a few drops fell into my eyes, stinging painfully.
Every time I wanted to stop and wipe my sweat, the car behind would honk sharply, accompanied by the cold ridicule of Lydiaâs girlfriends.
“Jude, didnât you eat? Walk faster!”
“Yeah, youâre so slow; are you trying to starve Asher?”
And Lydia watched coldly the entire time, never intending to speak up for me.
I could only endure the pain, dragging my heavy steps forward…
We passed through bustling streets and entered a small alley.
Suddenly, the car behind stopped.
Lydia looked at me, drenched in sweat, and said coldly:
“Stay there and wait. Asher wants to eat street skewers. Weâll leave after weâre done.”
I didnât know what else Lydia had in mind, but I obediently stood aside, took out a tissue, and wiped my sweat.
Lydia and her friends laughed and joked, walking together toward the street vendors.
As I watched their joyous departure, I couldnât help but lower my gaze, lost in thought.
I vaguely remembered when Lydia and I werenât on bad terms, I also wanted to eat street barbecue.
But she pulled me away, frowning in disdain:
“Jude, the son-in-law of the Song family eating street food? Itâs too embarrassing if it gets out. Donât tarnish the Song family!”
So I had to compromise and give up on eating street barbecue.
After that, to be a good son-in-law for the Song family and not embarrass them, I had to attend classes every day to learn Western dining etiquette.
But when it came to Asher, he didnât know how to use a knife and fork for steak.
Lydia not only got him chopsticks but also complained to the restaurant, demanding that they provide chopsticks at every table.
Now, dressed in tens of thousands of dollars worth of high-end custom clothes, she stood in a place swarming with flies, eating junk food fed by Asher, smiling tenderly and indulgently.
Turns out, she could be so down-to-earth.
Turns out, she could eat street food, just not with me.
The sun was blazing overhead, and my knees had long gone numb from the pain. I felt dizzy, and then everything went black as I lost consciousness.
3
When I woke up again, I was lying in a hospital, surrounded by the pungent smell of disinfectant.
My pant legs were rolled up, my knee had been treated and bandaged.
Lydia sat by the bed, scooped a spoonful of birdâs nest soup, blew on it to cool it, and brought it to my mouth, complaining:
“The doctor said you fainted from malnutrition. Youâre so stubborn. I punished you by making you eat vegetarian; couldnât you secretly eat something good? Your health is this poor.”
“As for the card issue, mom told me it was for your momâs medical expenses. I checked your account; you havenât spent anything.”
“Donât you have a mouth? Why didnât you explain it to me?”
“And about your knee injury, why is it getting worse…”
I raised an eyebrow at her, finding it ironic.
Wasnât it her who told Asher to make me kneel for an hour every day?
Now she asks why the injury is worsening?
This woman is really fickle.
As for explaining…
Havenât I explained enough over the years?
Back when Lydia wanted to torment me, she reduced my living expenses to 150 a month, only allowing me to spend five a day. Vera couldnât stand it and often secretly gave me money for extra meals.
But when Lydia found out, she was furious.
She said I was deliberately angering her because I was eating so well despite her rules.
I tried to explain to Lydia, but she never gave me the chance, locking me in the storage room despite my claustrophobia, cutting off my food and water for a week, forcing me to write self-reflections and think over my actions.
There were several past conflicts with Asher, where Lydia blatantly sided with him.
Asher claimed I deliberately caused a car accident to drive away Wenyan, and Lydia believed it. To punish me, she aborted our child despite my protests, saying a malicious schemer like me didnât deserve to have a child, didnât deserve a family.
And when Asher tried to drive me away by faking a drowning incident in front of Lydia, he later framed me for pushing him.
I repeatedly explained to Lydia, swore it wasnât me, but she accused me of trying to justify myself, ordering people to dunk me in the cold sea for three hours, saying all the pain Asher suffered had to be inflicted on me until I passed out…
All these years, Lydia never believed me, not once.
She trusted Asher enough to share the safeâs password but always assumed the worst about me, her husband.
Seeing me silent, Lydia thought I was still worried about my momâs illness. She sighed:
“Jude, donât worry too much about your momâs illness. Iâm still looking for a heart match. Iâll make sure Auntie recovers.”
I lowered my gaze, clenching my fist, feeling a pang of bitterness.
But…
My momâs gone. She doesnât need a heart anymore.
I was about to speak about my mom.
Lydia looked up at me and tentatively said:
“By the way, the traffic police issued a notice. Asherâs drunk driving might lead to his license being revoked.”
Seeing my silence, Lydia assumed I was still concerned about my mother’s illness. She sighed:
“Jude, you shouldn’t worry too much about your mother’s condition. I’m still searching for a heart; I promise to help Auntie get better.”
I lowered my gaze, clenching my fists as a wave of bitterness washed over me.
But…
My mom is gone, and she no longer needs a heart.
I was about to mention my mom when Lydia glanced at me again and cautiously spoke:
“By the way, the traffic police have issued a notice. It seems Asher might have his driver’s license revoked for drunk driving.”
“Jude, you know Asher worked hard for three years to get that driver’s license. He can’t afford to have it revoked.”
“Anyway, you have a driver’s license but no car. Why don’t you take the blame for him? If you agree, I can give you 300,000 as compensation.”
300,000?
I found it incredibly amusing, and a chill ran through me.
One of Asher’s ties costs 3 million.
After seven years of marriage, am I worth less than one of Asher’s ties?
I must have lived too poorly.
Besides, it was because of this car accident that my mom died.
And Lydia wants me to take the fall for Asher, the main culprit?
My gaze turned cold as I pushed away the porridge Lydia offered:
“I refuse. I won’t help with this, so give up.”
After I rejected her, a cold glint flashed in Lydia’s eyes.
“Jude, why won’t you help? Are you deliberately targeting Asher?”
“Besides, it’s just taking the blame, and I’m even offering you money. Is it really that big of a deal?”
“Or… do you think 300,000 isn’t enough?”
Listening to Lydia’s absurd reasoning left me speechless.
But my silence seemed to Lydia like an agreement.
Her gaze grew even colder, with a hint of disdain, as if she had seen through my intentions.
“Jude, I thought you had learned your lesson, but you still can’t change your greedy nature!”
“In the end, it’s all about money. I guess you’re just obsessed with it!”
After scolding me, Lydia raised her chin, acting like she was doing me a favor.
“Tell me, how much do you want to agree to take the blame?”
So, this is how Lydia thinks of me?
After seven years of marriage, no matter how sincerely I treated her, even if I was willing to eat dog food for her, even if I acted as a scapegoat to help her move on from a breakup, even if I tolerated her tantrums and unreasonable behavior.
No matter how much I did, I couldn’t warm her heart.
When facing me, her heart remained as cold and hard as ice. In her eyes, I was just a greedy, malicious, calculating person.
She thought I was only with her for the money.
But she didn’t consider that if I were truly after money, I would have left as soon as she moved on from her shadow.
Instead of staying with her year after year…
Suddenly, it felt like a heavy stone pressed on my chest, and I felt exhausted.
Perhaps two incompatible people shouldn’t be together. Maybe our marriage was a mistake from the start.
I exhaled deeply, looked at Lydia, and spoke calmly:
“Lydia, let’s break up.”
4
Lydia was waiting to negotiate a price with me. Hearing my words, she was suddenly stunned:
“Break up? What do you mean by that?”
I replied to her indifferently:
“You said I was after your money, right?”
“Anyway, you’ve been tired of me for a long time. We might as well separate, so I won’t be in your way.”
Lydia thought I was being petty, mocking:
“Back then, you insisted on marrying into my family, and now you’re using a breakup to make me compromise?”
“If you’re so bold, why don’t you dare to propose a divorce?”
She slammed the bowl on the table heavily, and the spilled bird’s nest soup instantly scalded my hand, causing me to gasp in pain.
Hearing my pained cry, Lydia paused for a moment.
But soon, she thought I was just trying to gain sympathy and left angrily.
Watching her resolute back, I couldn’t help but let out a bitter smile.
Lydia didn’t know that I wasn’t asking for a divorce, not because I didn’t dare, but because our marriage was a sham from the start.
But since I’m leaving soon, there’s nothing left to explain.
I drifted into a heavy sleep.
When I woke up again, Asher came with gifts to see me, speaking coldly:
“I heard Lydia offered 3 million for you to take the blame for me? She really loves me, huh.”
I closed my eyes, not bothering to respond.
He chuckled:
“But I didn’t expect someone as greedy as you to refuse?”
“The bond between you and your mom is enviably strong.”
Seeing me silent, Asher leaned closer, speaking with a sinister tone:
“Jude, you still don’t know, do you? Your mom transferred hospitals because of you.”
Hearing him mention my mom, I looked at him sharply.
“What do you mean?”
Asher shrugged nonchalantly:
“I just said a few words to your mom, and she immediately agreed to transfer hospitals.”
I was even more confused, a bad feeling rising in my heart:
“My mom wouldn’t listen to you. What did you do?”
Asher, as if nothing happened, continued smiling:
“Nothing much, I just showed her the video of you being punished and eating from a dog bowl.”
“I told her you were living so miserably because of her. If she truly cared for you, she should end her life immediately and stop burdening you.”
“Your mom immediately agreed to the transfer and even planned to end her life when the power went out as a signal.”
“Jude, to give you freedom, she suffocated herself with her own hands. Your mom went to such lengths for you, yet you’re still clinging to Lydia like a leech?”
A surge of anger rushed through me, and I couldn’t hold back any longer. I pulled out the needle and got out of bed, slapping him across the face:
“So it was you who drove my mom to her death! You murderer!”
Asher bit his cheek without a care, pulling out his phone to play a video, smirking:
“Jude, don’t accuse me of murder. Your mom did commit suicide.”
“To avoid being implicated, I set up a camera at the hospital to record everything. This video is the best evidence.”
The video showed the entire process of my mom’s suicide.
Tears streaming down her face, she suffocated herself.
Before her last breath, instinct made her struggle painfully. But for my freedom, she wouldn’t let go, pressing on her nose and mouth until her pupils dilated, and she stopped breathing entirely.
By the end of the video, I was already in tears, my heart aching to the point of suffocation.
Asher didn’t miss a chance to provoke me:
“I just said it casually, but your mom actually took it seriously!”
“What a great mother’s love. I’m moved to tears!”
“Asher, you beast, I’ll kill you!”
In a fit of rage, I rushed forward, grabbing his collar, ready to land another punch.
Just then, a clear, cold female voice called out from behind.
“Stop!”
5
Before I could react, Lydia came over with a lunch box, quickly stepping between us.
She pushed me away, shielding Asher as if afraid he might get hurt.
“Jude, who allowed you to bully Asher!”
“Asher came to see you out of kindness, but you hit him. Do you think that’s acceptable? Let me tell you, if anything happens to Asher, I won’t let you off!”
I, exhausted, crashed into the edge of the bed and fell to the ground.
Lydia, however, was busy caring for Asher, not even sparing me a glance, convinced I was faking it.
“Had the strength to hit someone earlier, and now you can’t stand up? Who would believe that!”
“Jude, your acting is too poor. Next time, have a plan before you lie.”
Asher clung to Lydia’s clothes, covering his face and sobbing:
“Sister Lydia, don’t blame Brother Jude, it’s all my fault.”
“It’s because I look too much like my cousin. Brother Jude has always been jealous of your past relationship, so he hates me because I look so much like him.”
“If that’s the case, I’ll avoid Brother Jude from now on…”
I struggled to my feet, trying to explain:
“Lydia, do you know my mom was killed by him…”
Before I could finish, Asher sniffled, deliberately showing the red handprint on his face to Lydia.
Seeing the fresh slap mark on Asher’s face, Lydia’s eyes reddened with heartache, and she slapped me, cutting off my words:
“Jude! You drove Asher away back then, and now you’re so jealous you can’t even tolerate his cousin!”
“Not only that, but you also dared to use your sick mother as an excuse?”
Furious, she grabbed my hand, forcing me to slap my own face:
“You like slapping people, don’t you?”
“Then kneel here and don’t leave until you’ve slapped yourself a thousand times!”
She left with Asher, shouting for a doctor as if Asher had some terrible illness.
But she didn’t let me off easy, leaving behind two rows of strong men to watch me. If I didn’t slap myself or hit softly, they would do it, slapping my face hard.
The crisp slapping sounds echoed continuously in the ward…
When my cheeks were swollen and raw, Vera finally arrived, a trace of pity in her eyes.
“Stop, don’t hit him anymore!”
But the leader raised a hand to stop her:
“Ma’am, these are Miss’s orders, please don’t make it difficult for us.”
“Lydia! Are you crazy?”
Vera anxiously called Lydia, but the line was busy.
But she didn’t go easy on me either. She left two rows of strong men to watch over me. If I didn’t hit myself hard enough, they would step in, swinging their arms and slapping my face with harsh brutality.
The sharp sound of slaps echoed continuously in the Ward…
When both sides of my face were swollen and bleeding, Vera finally arrived, a hint of reluctance in her eyes.
âStop, that’s enough!â
But the leader raised his hand to stop her:
âMadam, these are Miss’s orders. Please don’t make it difficult for us.â
âLydia! Have you lost your mind?â
Vera anxiously called Lydia, but the line was busy.
Not until my cheeks were a bloody mess and a thousand slaps were done did the Bodyguards leave.
In a detached manner, I raised my hand. Just as it was about to strike my face, Vera caught my hand, her voice choked with emotion:
âDonât wait the seven days, child. Leave today.â
âThe Helicopter is waiting on the Hospital rooftop. Pack your things and take your mom away. Never come back.â
She carefully handed me my mother’s Urn and photograph.
Looking at my mother’s kind face.
My heart ached unbearably, as if encased in wet cotton.
When she was alive, my mother would mend my clothes when they tore, patiently listen to my complaints, and make me my favorite Pickled Cabbage Pie when I lost my appetite.
Just one bite of Pickled Cabbage Pie could chase away a whole day’s fatigue, providing comfort and warmth, filling me with energy and determination.
In front of her, I was always a child and could forever remain one.
But now, my mother is gone. My last family member in the world is gone too.
From now on, no one will patiently listen to my troubles and complaints, tolerate me unconditionally, or endure my little tantrums.
The saddest part is, my mother sought death just to trade for my freedom.
But mother, you were never a burden. You were my reason to live, my hope in life.
Without you, my life is only darkness, with no light at all…
Thinking of this, I couldn’t hold back anymore and cried out loud, holding my mother’s Urn.
After being discharged, I took my mother’s Urn home, going straight to the small servant’s room in the corner.
Opening the door, I started to pack.
Vera, who came along, was shocked to see the moldy walls, the blackened, rotten Bed, and the rats and cockroaches running around.
âChild, you… lived here?â
I nodded, managing a weak, bitter smile.
âMom, no, I should call you Auntie now.â
âAuntie, having a place to stay that’s sheltered from the wind and rain is already good. Many times, Lydia punished me by making me kneel outside overnight.â
âUsually, I’d kneel the whole night. The Bodyguards watched. If I tried to get up, they’d press me down…â
I won’t forget how sharp stones pierced my knees with excruciating pain, leaving permanent damage, making me limp at times, with my knees aching after too much walking.
Hearing this, Vera’s eyes turned red.
She looked at me with sympathy and heartache, wanting to say something but finally staying silent.
She knew, without her, I wouldn’t suffer so much. My misery was tied to her.
Vera stood there, heartbroken and helpless, watching me.
I kept packing.
I didn’t have much, just some washed-out clothes, a few documents, and my mom’s Urn, barely filling a small suitcase, even less than what I brought when I married in.
After marriage, Lydia and I once had sweet, happy times.
At our most loving, Lydia bought me new clothes and many imported trinkets to make me happy.
Knowing I liked Lily of the Valley, she set aside garden space for me to plant them.
But everything changed when Asher appeared.
Lydia believed Asher’s accusations, thinking I drove Phoebe away.
She was so angry that she took back her love overnight, reclaiming clothes, shoes, and trinkets for Asher, even replacing the garden flowers with Asher’s favorite Violets.
Whether to spite me or because Asher’s resemblance to Phoebe moved her, Lydia favored Asher more and more, even spoiling him endlessly.
Our sweet photos were burned to ashes as my heart died for her.
After packing, I said goodbye to Vera, then deleted Lydia’s contact information from my Phone.
After doing all this, I got on the Helicopter Vera provided, leaving without looking back.
Lydia, you find me annoying, and don’t want to see me anymore. Well, neither do I.
I’ve been with you for seven years. I owe you nothing now. For the rest of our lives, may we never meet again.
…
Lydia partied and drank for three days before she realized that the husband who used to endlessly text her âgood morningâ and âgood night,â call her to come home, and regularly send food hadnât contacted her in a while.
She went to the Hospital, asking the Nurse, only to find out her husband had been discharged three days ago.
Lydia frowned in displeasure, muttering:
âJude, why didnât you tell me when you were discharged?â
She drove home but found it empty again.
Frustrated, Lydia messaged Jude.
[Jude, where are you now?]
This was the first time in their marriage she had messaged him.
She expected Jude to reply instantly as always.
But instead of a quick reply, she got a red exclamation mark.
Lydia was stunned, shock all over her face.
She never thought Jude would delete her!
She assumed Jude was still sulking and muttered in annoyance:
âAlright, Jude, you dare delete me? Wait till I find you, Iâll make you pay!â
Just as she was about to turn off her Phone, Lydia remembered the 99 missed calls from her mother.
She thought Jude had complained to her mother and angrily drove to the Old Mansion.
âAlright, hiding at the Old Mansion, are you? Just wait!â
She drove to the Old Mansion, ready to knock, but heard Asher’s mocking voice at the door:
âAuntie, it was my cousin who abandoned Lydia and ran, why be so hostile to me?â
âNow, Judeâs mom is dead too. He wonât be back after leaving. Iâm your future son-in-law, we should get along.â
âAfter all, I kindly kept your secret about orchestrating the Car Accident to force Jude into marriage from Lydia!â
About to knock, Lydia froze, her face turning pale as she heard these words. Her Phone dropped to the ground.
7
“Asher, are you threatening me?”
Vera’s voice was filled with anger.
“How would I dare? I’m just speaking the truth. Can you deny that what I said isn’t true?”
Vera fell silent.
Song Zhaoning, standing at the door, felt a chill run through her body.
At first, she thought there might be some misunderstanding.
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I was with Asher for five years, yet I wasn’t even officially his girlfriend.
That night, once again, he was with me until I lost consciousness.
Half-awake, I found an engagement ring in the drawer and thought our relationship finally had a future.
I vaguely heard him on the phone with his friend Declan, “How’s the proposal setup coming along?” I was thrilled.
But in the next moment, Asher sneered, “Her? She’s worn out. If I weren’t worried about hurting Adeline on our wedding night, she wouldn’t even be in my bed.”
That’s when I realized I was just a stepping stone for my sister.
My mind went blank, yet I kept recalling the times with Asher.
Because he liked excitement, I had to be with him in the park, in the car, even in the cinema.
Initially, I refused, but Asher always said that after this, he’d come to my house to propose.
Until tonight, when I was drugged and accidentally discovered his true intentions.
He did plan to propose, just not to me.
I held my breath and continued eavesdropping on the call, though it was unclear.
All I heard was Asher’s mocking voice, “A nanny’s child can only ever serve. If Adeline wants, let her take care of us. It’s not a bad deal.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at myself. Five years, and in the end, I’m only fit to be Asher’s caregiver.
My mother was originally a nanny for the Williams Family. My father mistook her for someone else when he was drunk, and that’s how I came to be.
My mother left in a hurry, but when she discovered she was pregnant, she couldn’t bring herself to abort me.
After giving birth, she sent me back to the Williams Family. If my grandmother hadn’t taken me in, I might have died with my mother.
Later, when my grandmother passed away, the lady of the house always gave me a hard time.
That’s when Asher appeared; he’d sneak food from home for me, “Cora, eat slowly, no one’s going to take it from you.”
He’d also promise firmly, “I’ll protect you in the future.”
The call ended, and I pretended to sleep while Asher tucked me in.
I started to wonder, did he ever have any real feelings for me?
The next morning, I returned home.
That afternoon, I saw Asher dressed formally at the Williams Family’s place.
He rarely dressed so formally; the suit made him look even more handsome.
Asher took out the gemstone necklace I had always wanted. Sunlight made it sparkle.
I had begged him for a long time, but he never bought it for me.
I hid behind the wall, like a mouse afraid of the light.
Asher performed a courteous bow, “Miss Williams, would you honor me as my dance partner at tomorrow night’s gala?”
Adeline gave a shy smile and accepted the necklace, “Mr. Johnson, you must know, I never partner with anyone unless he’s my future husband.”
Nanny Taylor chimed in, “Yes, our Miss Williams is very self-respecting, unlike the second Miss who is out carousing every day.”
With that, Nanny Taylor’s eyes locked on me, watching from afar.
But Asher didn’t spare me a glance. His voice trembled, “Adeline, if you’re willing, I’ll propose to you at the gala tomorrow.”
I had never seen Asher this nervous.
Adeline, face full of shyness, said, “Mr. Johnson is now the heir of Johnson Corp. How could I refuse? But this isn’t my decision alone. If Mr. Johnson is sincere, he should ask my father first.”
I didn’t understand. Before, when Adeline talked about Asher, she said, “That Asher, though young, has a stubborn streak. I prefer his uncle, who’s only a few years older, with a magnetic voice and gentle nature.”
But now that Asher is the heir, she’s changed her tune.
Adeline looked back at me, eyes full of arrogance and pride.
I could only stand there, letting my nails dig into my palms.
When Asher left, my phone vibrated slightly. It was a message from him.
“Tonight, the usual place.”
Asher wanted me to go to him again tonight.
He just said he’d propose to my sister, yet wanted to sneak around with me.
Fine, it’s time to end this.
As soon as I entered, I saw Asher’s robe half-open, approaching me.
“Cora, you’re back.”
I stepped back, looking up coldly at him.
Asher still pinned me against the wall, nails teasing my chin, “Angry?”
I turned away, “Don’t touch me.”
“Tomorrow’s gala is important. Cora, your status isn’t suitable to attend. What’s wrong with inviting your sister as my dance partner?”
“Besides being a dance partner, what about the proposal? Did you think I didn’t hear? Asher, what do you think of me?”
I pushed Asher with all my might, causing him to stagger.
Seeing my resistance only excited him more. He lifted my hands, pinning them to the wall.
“Cora, after all these years, you really don’t know what you mean to me?”
His other hand roamed my body.
I frowned, tears falling from my eyes.
For five years, I was just Asher’s tool to satisfy his desires.
Seeing me cry, Asher didn’t force me further.
He released my hands, speaking gently to console me.
“Cora, I’m now the heir. Marrying your sister is more appropriate. You can still stay here; Adeline won’t trouble you.”
“If you find it lonely, I can give you a child.”
I laughed.
He knew I was illegitimate, yet he wanted my child to be his too.
I looked at Asher with disappointment, “All these years, was it all for nothing? Have you ever loved me?”
Asher wiped my tears with his hand but said nothing.
He didn’t give me an answer.
Feeling deflated, I said, “Let me go.”
Asher blocked the door with his body, “Cora, recognize your status. You know how I’ve treated you. This is the best solution I can think of.”
I pushed him away, “Recognize my status? Don’t forget, you came to me first. You said you’d protect me, take care of me. Why didn’t you tell me to recognize my status then?”
My words angered Asher. Usually, I would appease him, but today, he was already being patient with me.
His eyes turned cold, “Cora, I advise you to stay by my side.”
But I opened the door, “Asher, let’s end this.”
Asher sneered, “Cora, who else would want you after I’ve worn you out?”
“You’re just a nanny’s child, daring to think you can be my wife? You’re not even comparable to Adeline!”
I didn’t reply, just walked out and slammed the door behind me.
Asher was furious, he opened the door and shouted, “Cora, if you have guts, don’t come back!”
I returned to the home that didn’t welcome me, heartbroken.
I locked myself in my room, crying softly through the night.
The next morning, there was a light knock at the door.
“Miss Cora, Mr. Williams said you should attend tonight’s gala too.” It was Nanny Taylor.
I didn’t need to think to know it was Adeline’s idea to embarrass me.
I found a dress in the closet, a gift from grandmother before she passed.
She said she wouldn’t see me grow up, so this dress would witness it for her.
Now, I finally had the chance to wear it, to witness my former love’s proposal.
The dress was a gentle green, making me appear more refined.
The hall was brightly lit, filled with guests.
Asher and Adeline stood in the center, a perfect couple.
Suddenly, Asher took out the engagement ring, kneeling on one knee.
“Adeline, will you marry me?”
Adeline covered her mouth, tears of joy streaming down, “Asher, I will!”
Guests applauded, congratulating them, while I stood in the shadows, expressionless.
They laughed brightly, as if I never existed.
But some busybody noticed me.
“Tsk, isn’t that the second Miss Williams? I heard Mr. Williams doesn’t like her. After all, she’s just an illegitimate child.”
“Exactly, it’s Miss Williams’ day. Why is she here?”
Just then, a gentle voice came.
“Come, have a drink with me.”
I looked up to see Gideon, the gentle uncle Adeline mentioned, standing not far away.
He wore a well-tailored gray suit, holding a glass of red wine, looking at me with dark eyes.
Gideon smiled slightly, taking a few steps closer, “What, don’t even have the courage for a drink?”
I took the champagne he offered, lightly clinking glasses.
I tilted my head back, downing the drink, feeling the burn in my throat.
Gideon’s eyes flashed with admiration, “Interesting.”
Adeline noticed the commotion, taking Asher’s arm and walking over.
She wore a shy yet proud smile, but her eyes were full of deliberate disdain.
She looked me over, smirking, “Sister, your dress is unique. But isn’t that the old dress grandmother left you? How pitiful, not even having a proper gown.”
Asher stood by her side, expression cold.
Adeline clung to his arm, playfully shaking it, “Asher, don’t you think so?”
Asher’s eyes darkened, gently holding Adeline’s hand, looking at her with warmth and affection, “Yes, Adeline is right. She doesn’t belong here.”
She wore a shy yet self-satisfied smile, but her eyes betrayed an unmistakable disdain.
She looked me up and down with a smirk, “Sister, your dress is quite unique. But isn’t it the old dress grandmother left you before she passed away? How unfortunate that you can’t even afford a proper gown.”
Asher stood beside her, his expression indifferent.
Adeline clung to his arm and shook it affectionately, “Asher, don’t you think so?”
Asher’s eyes darkened a little as he gently took Adeline’s hand, his gaze tender and deep. “Yes, Adeline is right. She doesn’t belong here.”
I gripped my champagne glass tightly, my fingers trembling slightly.
Adeline continued, “Today is a wonderful day. It’s dull to be alone. Why not have Asher find someone to keep you company?”
As soon as she finished speaking, someone nearby chimed in, “I’ll pay a hundred thousand for a night with Miss Cora!”
Adeline pretended to restrain them, “What are you doing? She’s my sister!”
“I’ll pay two hundred thousand!”
“Three hundred thousand!”
The bids grew louder, yet there wasn’t a flicker of emotion in Asher’s eyes.
Gideon stood at a distance, holding a champagne glass, watching the spectacle.
It wasn’t until an elderly man with a white beard shouted a million that my father stepped in to stop the charade.
“If you’re interested in my daughter, why don’t we arrange an engagement between our families?”
My eyes filled with tears as I glanced at Asher.
He still stood by Adeline, gently arranging her hair, as if none of this concerned him.
“Dad!” I stepped forward, my voice so hoarse it was barely audible. “I’m not an object to be auctioned off!”
My father snorted coldly, his eyes filled with disdain. “You still have the nerve to speak? Your mother climbed into bed for money! Now you’re just a cheap thing. If someone bids, shouldn’t you hurry over to serve them?”
The hall erupted in laughter, and my face turned pale, almost unable to stand.
My father set my wedding date for three days later.
Suddenly, I became the laughingstock of the party.
I took advantage of the distraction to hide in the tree outside the mansion.
As a child, to avoid being beaten, I would climb the tree, ignoring Mrs. Williams’ shouts from below.
“You brat! Get down here and take your beating!”
I also met Asher from next door while in that tree.
He told me to jump into his yard, promising to catch me so I wouldn’t get hurt.
But now I heard a familiar voice.
It was Adeline and a waiter from the party.
The waiter scratched his head. “Miss Williams, you agreed to Mr. Gideon’s proposal today. Should we still use Uncle Gideon’s drug?”
Adeline replied smugly, “Of course. Gideon’s overseas business is much more lucrative than the Johnson Corp’s. Who wouldn’t want to marry someone wealthier?”
Hearing this, an idea suddenly struck me.
If I went with Gideon, I wouldn’t have to be with that white-bearded old man, right?
Recalling Gideon’s face, his sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, high nose bridge, and defined jawline, perhaps the alcohol was taking effect, and I felt my cheeks warm.
I had to admit, the Johnson family produces handsome men. Gideon seemed even more attractive than Asher.
I heard Gideon was involved in the gray market business overseas, so he might have influence domestically too.
Surely he could protect me.
I didn’t want to become the plaything of that old man.
Without delay, I changed into a waiter’s outfit and slipped back into the party.
I saw Gideon swaying slightly, with Adeline quietly trailing behind.
Asher suddenly blocked Adeline. “Adeline, you accepted my proposal today. Isn’t it time for us to share a dance?”
Adeline glanced in Gideon’s direction but still agreed to dance with Asher.
Asher held Adeline’s waist, and they started dancing to the song I used to dance with him most often.
No one looked my way, so I followed Gideon into a room.
As the door clicked shut, Gideon seemed to regain some clarity.
The room was dark. He stared at me. “Who are you? Dare to follow me? Do you have a death wish?”
Standing by the door, my palms were sweaty.
When I didnât respond, he abruptly turned on a lamp.
Seeing my face, he smiled slightly. “It’s you.”
He smirked, mockery in his eyes. “So eager to get into my bed?”
I bit my lower lip, forcing myself to stay calm. “Gideon, I need your help.”
His fingers slowly traced my collarbone, his voice low and tempting. “Tell me, why should I help you?”
I lowered my gaze, struggling to suppress my humiliation, clenching my fists tightly. “If you agree to help me, I’m willing to be your woman.”
Gideon leaned closer to my ear. “I’ve been waiting for you, but there’s no need to rush.”
Perhaps it was the effect of the drug; he kissed me passionately.
Suddenly, there was the sound of a door opening. He looked towards the entrance, raising his gaze. “Get out!”
My back was to the door, but I guessed it was Adeline.
After a moment of intimacy, Gideon held me in his arms. “So, tell me, how do I compare to Asher?”
My face flushed red. “Uncle, you’re still as strong as ever.”
Gideon chuckled softly at this. “Uncle? Do you think I’m old?”
I closed my eyes, unable to meet his gaze. “Then what should I call you?”
“Call me Gideon.”
I took a deep breath and met his gaze. “Gideon.”
Gideon traced my earlobe with his thumb, whispering, “You’re finally mine. I’ve waited so long for this day.”
I was stunned. What did he mean by that?
5
Gideon let out a soft laugh, “Remember when you climbed that tree? I asked Asher to call you down because I had something urgent that day and needed him to look after you.”
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