Author: Momo Chan

Returning to work after maternity leave, I couldn’t wait to see my baby girl. I gave my manager a quick heads-up and left early to head home. As I approached our front door, voices drifted out from inside. “Don’t worry. She won’t be back for at least another two hours.” That voice belonged to my husband, Jack Hale. “Right. Says the guy who ignored me for half an hour last night to rock his little princess to sleep,” a woman’s voice teased. My mind went blank as I heard Jack soothingly reply, “Once she’s gone, Emily will be your daughter, too. She’s a baby; she won’t know the difference. After all, if you’ve got milk, you’re the mom.” Then, I heard sounds that left no room for doubt. Frozen in place, the devastating truth settled over me. Jack was cheating on me. We’d known each other since high school, growing together from prom to wedding vows. After three years of marriage, our lives had settled into a routine. Jack quit his big tech job earlier this year to open Jack’s Hardware, aiming to help with Emmy after she was born and spare me from solo parenting. I’d cried at his thoughtfulness, and the shop had done well enough that he hired a part-time employee. He’d been a doting partner through my entire recovery. Just last night, we’d been planning our move to the new house we’d remodeled, where the paint fumes had finally aired out. But now, under the searing late-afternoon August sun, reality struck me harder than anything before. Standing outside, I waited until I saw a tall woman with wavy hair strut out of the building. I ducked behind a car, catching my reflection in its window, noting how pregnancy had altered my once-trim figure. I’d always taken pride in my looks. Jack had always said that whether we had a boy or a girl, he just wanted a child of his own. I’d endured countless shots to keep our baby healthy, ultimately blessed with Emmy. At nearly six, I entered our apartment with groceries in hand. Hearing the door, Jack padded out in his slippers. “Hey, hon! I made some iced green bean soup—it’s in the fridge if you want a bowl.” “Sure, I’ll take one.” As I switched my shoes, his words from earlier echoed in my mind: Once she’s gone. Jack wanted me dead. And not only had he cheated, but he was planning to kill me. Somehow, though, my shock turned to an eerie calmness. Over dinner, Jack mentioned his mom wanting to come help with Emmy since I was back at work, and he was juggling the store and caring for her. I thought for a moment, then replied, “There’s only one bed here. When your mom comes, there won’t be space. How about we just move into the new house now?” But Jack hesitated, “I’ll take the couch. It’s summer; I’ll be fine there. You two can use the bed.” I nodded, “Sure, it’ll be nice to have her help.” I’d always found it odd how Jack had been so reluctant to move into the new house, even though it was ready ages ago. Turns out, he’d been planning to get rid of me and move in with her. After Emmy was asleep, Jack handed me an insurance form to sign. He’d mentioned getting life insurance back when I was pregnant, saying we needed to think about Emmy’s future and that this would protect her in case anything happened. So, we both got policies listing Emily as the sole beneficiary. “All right, so if I die in an accident, it’s a million?” I tightened my fingers around the paper. Right then, Carol Wilson, our neighbor, popped by with a few peaches. “A friend of ours brought over a whole box. Too much for us, so we thought of you!” She glanced at the insurance paperwork on the coffee table. “What are you two up to?” “Oh, I’m just talking with Megan about getting a policy,” Jack said smoothly. “Aunt Carol, does it really pay out a million?” I said, feigning innocence. “Jack’s looked at a bunch of policies and keeps bugging me to sign it before prices go up.” Carol’s interest piqued. “Honey, insurance is a pain to pay, but it sure comes in handy when you need it. Just last year, my husband’s cancer was covered under his policy, and we got thirty grand from it.” Jack shot me a look that said, See? “I don’t know much about insurance, but Jack says it’ll give us peace of mind,” I shrugged. “But maybe I’ll study up on it first.” Carol nodded approvingly, “You’re right to think it through. Accident insurance isn’t like health insurance. You’re far more likely to get sick in your life than to get in an accident.” She didn’t notice Jack’s face freeze for a moment as she said it. “Insurance is just a safety net. You never know what might happen tomorrow,” Jack joked, glancing at me. “If I die, at least I’d leave you and Emmy a little something.” I punched his shoulder, “Quit saying stuff like that.” “Don’t tempt fate, Jack!” Carol said, waving us off with a chuckle as she left. That night, I headed to the bathroom. There was a faint humming noise coming from the water heater. Our building was old, built in the early 2000s, and all the units used electric water heaters. Ours was secondhand, bought from the last tenants, and I’d wanted to replace it last year, but we’d planned to move, so we let it be. Holding my toothbrush, I stared thoughtfully at the worn appliance. Back in bed, Jack was scrolling on his phone. When I walked over, he quickly set it face down. On the nightstand, a baby monitor showed Emmy’s crib. “Jack, you really want that insurance?” I asked, raising my voice a bit. Jack rolled over, “It’s a solid policy. I’m telling you…” He launched into a long list of benefits. I yawned, agreeing casually, “All right, sure. Too late now, though. Tomorrow, then.” “Great!” In the dim light, I caught the gleam of excitement in his eyes. The next morning, I headed downstairs for work. Jack hurried out, waving the insurance form, and caught me as I was about to leave. Right then, Carol and some other neighbors walked by, bags of groceries in hand. “What’s the rush, Jack?” Carol asked, eyeing the form in his hand. “Oh, it’s that insurance from last night. He just wants me to sign it,” I said, signing my name with a smile. “Can’t help it; he calls the shots around here. Gotta run—almost late!” Riding away on my e-bike, I caught sight of Jack in my mirror, holding the paper with a grin, even giving it a celebratory kiss. At work, I texted him: Jack, the water heater at home seems off. Can you check it? Ten minutes later, he replied: Sure, babe. Got it. His careless response was exactly as expected. He was probably daydreaming about his life after a million-dollar payout with his new woman, far too busy to worry about an eight-year-old water heater. What causes a water heater to explode? I typed into the search bar, read through the results, and then cleared my history.

At 5:30, Julie, the new intern, noticed I hadn’t budged. “Megan, aren’t you in a rush to get home and see Emmy?” “Oh, Jack’s with her,” I replied, showing the baby monitor app on my phone, where Jack was entertaining Emmy. “I figured I’d stay late and finish up my report.” Julie gave me a wistful smile. “Must be nice! One day, I’m finding a guy who’ll pull his weight with the baby, too!” I just smiled back. Starting today, I wanted everyone to know that Jack and I were the picture of domestic bliss. After wrapping up, I was about to leave when Greg Summers from IT walked over. “Hey, just a heads up—don’t use company computers for personal stuff right now.” “What’s going on?” I asked. “With last quarter’s slump, leadership’s monitoring web use more than usual, like to see if people are shopping or browsing news sites…” Greg trailed off, then asked, “By the way, what’s up with your water heater? Saw you searching about it.” My pulse raced, but I kept calm. Why should I be anxious? It was completely reasonable to check out potential safety issues with an old appliance. “Oh, I saw this video about a heater exploding, and it freaked me out a bit,” I replied casually. Greg nodded. “I think they say to replace them every eight years or so.” His phone buzzed, and he walked away. My fingers shook as I gathered my things to leave. By the time I got home, it was almost eight. Jack was taking photos of Emmy on the couch. When he noticed me, he quickly looked away, seeming almost flustered. “Is that new?” I pointed at the outfit Emmy was wearing. “Yeah, it arrived today,” he set the camera down. “Hungry? Let’s go grab some noodles from that place downstairs.” “When’d you get a new camera? You didn’t mention it.” I reached over to pick it up, flipping through the photos. The quality was so professional; Jack had clearly gotten good at composition. Jack hesitated, “Well, I didn’t want you to think I was wasting money… I wanted to capture Emmy’s moments, you know?” “You could’ve asked me instead of hiding it,” I said, continuing to look through the photos. Jack snatched the camera from my hands. “Hon, you’ve been working all day; don’t get worked up over a small thing. Let me make it up to you. Here, strike a pose for me!” Then, Emmy started fussing. I quickly scooped her up. “Could you take out the trash? And grab us two noodle bowls on your way back?” “Sure.” Jack reached for his phone. “Leave it charging,” I said, pulling out some cash. “Here, just use this.” He shrugged, took the money, and grabbed the trash. The moment he was out of sight, I unlocked his phone—password, Emmy’s birth date, worked on the first try. I’d never felt the need to check his phone before, but now, there was no hesitation. He’d been so sure I’d never intrude on his privacy. One contact caught my eye: “AAA Style Master Linda Cross.” Her latest message read: Hiking’s the easiest way to create a happy little ‘accident.’ There’s no… The rest was hidden, and since Jack hadn’t opened it, I couldn’t read further. But I didn’t need to; the picture was clear enough. With the policy signed, they’d locked and loaded. I placed his phone back and resumed scrolling through the camera, finding photos of Emmy bundled in thick baby blankets. The focus wasn’t even on her, but rather the details of the clothing. Given the summer heat, Emmy’s hair was damp with sweat. When Jack returned, I confronted him, “Why wrap her up like this? It’s over 90 degrees out—she’ll overheat!” He froze, trying to recover, “They’re sending us another one for free if I post a picture with this one.” “So you’d risk her comfort for a cheap promo?” Jack’s anger flared, “She’s my daughter! You think I’d hurt her?” “Relax. I didn’t say that.” I pressed, raising my voice. Jack knocked the camera to the ground, slamming the door behind him. When he finally returned around midnight, he hugged me from behind, whispering, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have lost my temper.” I said nothing. He softened, adding, “How about a weekend hiking trip, just the two of us? Mom can watch Emmy. It’s been forever since we had time alone.” There it was: that sickening sweetness, like when we first started dating. Even after years of building a life together, you can never fully know the person lying beside you. “Camping? But I thought you hated hiking?” I asked. “That was back then,” he chuckled, “But now we’re our own bosses with flexible schedules. Hiking’s a good way to stay fit.” “Which trail?” I tested. “Stonehill Ridge,” he said. “I read it’s less crowded, got beautiful old scenery, and is far from the city. They say the air there is amazing.” I nodded, “You really did your homework.” “Of course. I have to make it up to you.” He pulled me close. “We could get a tent and camp under the stars, just like college.” I pushed him back, “Fine. But if we go, it’ll be once your mom’s settled with Emmy.” He brightened, “Done!” The stronger he pressed, the firmer my resolve became. Around 2 a.m., I finished feeding Emmy and went to the bathroom. Turning on the shower, the water heater emitted its usual hum, old and worn. If its temperature controls, overheating protection, and pressure release valves were all damaged, well… anything could happen. I placed a hand under the hot stream, deep in thought.

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My Wife Got Pregnant, So I Cheated With Her Best Friend. Then My Life Turned Into A Nightmare I Can Never Wake Up From. My name is Knox. I just turned 30 this year and consider myself a winner at life. I have a house, a car, a decent job, stable income, and a beautiful wife. Life is pretty great. Oh, and my house and car are both very high-end. But recently, I’ve been troubled by something. My wife Quincy is pregnant, three months along now. Pregnancy is certainly a good thing. I’m not opposed to having kids – I’ve dreamed of having my own child. I eagerly look forward to the arrival of our new life. It’s just that now that Quincy is pregnant, we can’t be intimate anymore. I’m a normal man in my prime, with certain needs in that department. I can’t exactly take care of things myself every night. I hold myself to high standards and always follow the rules. I would absolutely never hire a prostitute or anything like that. So, I turned to Quincy’s best friend Kaia. Yes, exactly the kind of “turned to” that you’re thinking. Quincy and I graduated from the same university. Later we got hired at the same company after interviewing there. A year later, Kaia joined the company too. She didn’t go to school with us, but she and Quincy often hung out during college and really hit it off. They became best friends. Kaia comes over to our place all the time, to the point where we’re practically family. Kaia works in my department as my subordinate, so we have a lot of chances to interact. One time we were working late until 8pm. It was winter, so I offered to drive Kaia home. When we got to her building, she asked if I wanted to come up for a bit. Of course I knew this was a setup. Since it was a setup, I figured I might as well take the bait. We went upstairs. She said she was going to change clothes, and came out in a sheer negligee. She even brought me a glass of wine. I drank the wine while staring at her intently. Soon enough, our little get-together naturally progressed into sex. When I got home, Quincy was still waiting up for me. I felt a bit guilty. But very quickly, my mind filled with images of Kaia’s amazing body. I even had a dream that night, reliving the delicious experience with her. I finally understood why some people like to cheat. It’s so damn exciting. Where there’s a first time, there’s bound to be a second and third time. Sometimes at her place, sometimes at hotels. At first I still felt guilty, but after a few times I made peace with it. I told myself, I’m a man, I’m just fulfilling a physical need. At most it’s just a physical affair. I love my wife 100% and love our family. I have absolutely no intention of divorcing Quincy to marry some mistress. As for Kaia, she’s pretty agreeable. Whenever I ask her out, she comes. She’s very obedient and knows all kinds of positions. She even chats with me on Snapchat all the time, saying all kinds of explicit things. I can’t believe my wife has a friend like this. Who knows what kind of bad karma she must have accumulated in her past life. Before I knew it, the year was coming to an end. Quincy’s belly was getting bigger and bigger, so I took even more meticulous care of her. Plus with all the year-end work piling up at the company, I was busy from dawn to dusk. This meant I didn’t have time for Kaia anymore. After all, work and family are the real priorities. Having a mistress and hooking up can only be a hobby. Kaia sent me a few messages and photos – very sexy ones, with some even completely nude. But I only gave cold replies, saying I was busy and we’d talk later. She even came to my office, batting her eyelashes and sending flirtatious signals. I pretended not to notice. There are a lot of people at the company. As long as I didn’t respond, she couldn’t very well say anything in front of everyone. A few days later, I heard she had found a new boyfriend, some rich handsome guy. Later on she quit her job, saying she was moving down south with her boyfriend. I thought that would be the end of things between us. As long as we both kept our mouths shut, who would ever know I had slept with her? Let’s just pretend it was all a spring dream. A month later, it was almost New Year’s. Quincy and I were lying in bed. She was chatting with someone on her phone. Worried she might get too tired, I suggested we should sleep. She made a sound of agreement, then suddenly said to me: “Honey, I want to discuss something with you. My friend wants to stay at our place for a while.” “Which friend?” “Kaia.”

“Who?” “Kaia, the one who used to be in your department. My best friend, you know, the really pretty one.” Quincy blinked at me, her expression a bit strange. She thought I had forgotten who Kaia was. I quickly collected myself and said: “Of course I remember. What’s up with her?” Quincy snorted coldly: “She ran into a scumbag. Honey, can you believe how despicable some men are? They have a wife at home but still go looking for other women. Then they ghost after sleeping with them. Now she’s in a really bad situation.” “Ah, yeah, despicable.” What else could I say? I could hardly tell my wife “You’re right, your husband is exactly that kind of man.” Quincy continued: “The guy scammed her out of all her money. Now she can’t even pay rent. Honey, please let her stay with us for now. I’m pregnant, so she can help take care of me too.” Of course I disagreed. I may enjoy seeking thrills, but having my mistress and wife living under the same roof isn’t thrilling – it’s suicidal. “I don’t think that’s very convenient. If she has nowhere to stay, I can find her a place. Like a hotel, or a studio apartment.” Quincy immediately shook her head: “That won’t work. She’s emotionally unstable right now. When we met yesterday, she just kept crying. I’m worried she might do something rash. Honey, please let her stay. She won’t be any trouble at all, she’ll take good care of me. We are best friends after all.” At this point, what else could I say? I had to agree. Quincy handles HR at our company and always gets her way. If she hadn’t gotten married and pregnant, her position would probably be higher than mine by now. Plus her dad knows our company’s boss. I don’t dare contradict her easily. I felt increasingly guilty towards Quincy. She’s sacrificed so much for our family, yet here I am fooling around with her best friend on the side. I silently vowed to treat her well from now on. Otherwise, may heaven strike me down and curse me to a miserable death. As it turns out, “Men’s words are lies” is absolutely true. Men don’t just lie to women – they even lie to themselves. The next day, Kaia arrived. Compared to before, she looked quite haggard. You could tell that scumbag guy had really done a number on her. As soon as she saw Quincy, the two of them clasped hands and started chattering away, completely ignoring me. I found a chance to ask Quincy: “Kaia seems to be in great spirits. It doesn’t look as bad as you said.” Quincy pulled me aside and whispered: “Don’t let her appearance fool you. She’s actually very fragile inside. Don’t say anything more. Oh, and you’re sleeping on the couch tonight.” I wanted to say something else, but Kaia was already calling Quincy over. Quincy gave me a little push and went over to her. Then she tossed my blanket and pillow onto the sofa. Quincy is too kind-hearted. At dinner, Kaia’s foot kicked me under the table. I ignored her. She took off her high heels and rubbed my foot with her stockinged toes. I simply stood up and said I was done eating. Quincy asked what was wrong. I just said I was full. After dinner, Quincy even scolded me in private for my bad attitude, saying I was giving Kaia the cold shoulder because I didn’t want her staying here. I didn’t want to argue, I just wanted to go to sleep quickly. The two women had a lot to chat about. The voices from the bedroom didn’t quiet down until after 10pm. I had a busy day with all kinds of things stressing me out. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I fell asleep. Around 1 or 2am, I suddenly felt someone rubbing against me. I opened my eyes to find it was Kaia. She was wearing a sheer white negligee, seemingly the same one from that first night at her place. “Knox, you haven’t forgotten about me, have you?” With that, she expertly pounced on me. I broke out in a cold sweat. This is my home! And my wife is sleeping right next door!

I remember that time at Kaia’s place, we were on the sofa too. My mind wanted to resist, but my body couldn’t. We only stopped when we heard a sound from the bedroom. Kaia got off the sofa, tossed her hair, and said: “Quincy’s awake. I need to go back. Next time, we’ll continue.” She smiled at me, her eyes full of seduction. I turned my head away, not looking at her, but my mind was filled with thoughts of her. In front of me was a small night light. In its glow, I seemed to see my own pathetic figure sprawled on the sofa. As I said before, where there’s a first time, there’s bound to be a second. And where there’s a second, there will be countless more. And so, unsurprisingly, Kaia and I rekindled our old flame. Having an affair with your mistress right under your wife’s nose – even though I knew it was suicidal, I just couldn’t resist. A few times we almost got caught by Quincy. In those split-second moments, it was always Kaia who covered for me, allowing me to slip away undetected. I even pulled some strings to get Kaia back into the company. This way, we could meet at work too. And where we could meet, we could naturally do what we wanted to do. Kaia told me that Quincy had asked her to keep an eye on me, worried I might have an affair. She giggled as she said this. In her eyes, my wife – her good friend – was the biggest fool in the world. A couple days later, Kaia said her spirits had recovered and she was moving out. Quincy didn’t try to stop her, and even asked me to help Kaia move. Kaia even told Quincy she was going to find a boyfriend who treated her really well. Quincy asked how well. Kaia glanced at me and said, oh, as good as your husband. Quincy laughed, thinking Kaia was joking. There were just a few days left until New Year’s. My parents came to stay with us. They were here to help out, since we had a pregnant woman in the house and everything was inconvenient. Of course, this was mainly my mom’s job. My dad wanted to help but couldn’t do much, so he just did some chores and went grocery shopping. Dad is in great health. He was in the military when he was young. Even in his 60s he looks very energetic, with more black hair than grey. He likes to take walks morning and evening. It was precisely because of this habit that he happened to catch Kaia and me in the act that day. It was actually quite simple. That evening, Quincy asked Kaia and me to come over for dinner. She even asked Kaia if she had any dates lined up, if she’d found a boyfriend yet. Kaia said not yet, but she had someone in mind. Quincy pressed her on who it was, if she knew him. Kaia said it was a secret and changed the subject. I was driving with Kaia in the car when we got to the entrance of our neighborhood. Kaia told me to stop, and I didn’t know what she was planning but I pulled over anyway. She threw herself into my arms, saying she wanted to fool around a bit before going up. Without waiting for my agreement, she started taking action. I’m the type of man who just can’t resist women, especially clingy little vixens like Kaia. I guess I’m one of those guys who thinks with his lower half. After we finished and fixed our clothes, just as I was about to drive into the complex, I suddenly noticed someone standing at the entrance – it was my dad. I broke out in a cold sweat. Dad has always been strict. If he found out…that would be disastrous. That night, Kaia had dinner with us. At the table she had my mom laughing with delight. Dad was smiling too. But whenever our eyes met, the cold glint in his gaze made my heart tremble. After dinner, Quincy asked me to drive Kaia home. At the entrance to her building, she asked me: “Do you want a boy or a girl? A boy, right? After all, you’re an only child, so you have to consider carrying on the family line.” I didn’t say anything. Kaia continued: “Quincy is having a girl, trust me.” “I’d be happy with a girl too. Besides, even if I wanted a son, we could always have another.” “Oh really? Quincy says she won’t have any more kids. She’s a career-oriented woman. It’s already pretty good that she’s having one child for you.” She leaned in close and whispered in my ear: “I’ll have kids for you. As many as you want.” I looked at her coldly and pointed at the car door: “Get out.” By the time I got home, it was very late. I was yawning as I pushed open the door. My parents were both in the living room. Before I could say anything, my dad slapped me across the face, nearly swelling it up. “Dad, what are you–” “You know very well what!” Of course I knew. So I fell to my knees in front of him. “Dad, I was wrong. I just made a mistake. I…I’ve really ended things with her.” Mom tugged at Dad’s clothes, signaling him not to be so agitated. Dad sighed and said quietly: “Remember what you said. End things with that woman. If you keep messing around like this, our whole family will suffer.” I nodded vigorously, telling myself I really had to break it off with Kaia.

The next day, I called Kaia to my office. She came in and casually closed the door behind her, then pulled down the neckline of her top a bit. Seeing I didn’t react, she walked around my desk and sat right on my lap. “Don’t do this.” I told her, trying to push her away, but it was no use. She wouldn’t budge. As a man, if I really wanted to shove her off it would be easy as pie. But for some reason my hands stopped, while my eyes stared fixedly at her chest. From my position, with how she had pulled her top earlier, I had a perfect view down into the valleys of her breasts. She wrapped her arms around my neck and whispered in my ear: “Seen enough? Want to go to a hotel tonight?” “Don’t do this.” “If you don’t want this, just push me away.” She was right. If I just pushed her away, it would all be over. I should push her away, but my hands and my body just wouldn’t listen. Willpower is a great thing, but I clearly didn’t have any. If I had any willpower, how could I still be entangled with her? She shifted slightly in my lap, stoking my desire. “You need to leave right now. I want to break up with you. I don’t want to see you again.” I blurted out urgently. She giggled: “What, you’re going to deny everything now that you’ve got what you wanted? Or did your dad see us yesterday and tell you to break it off?” “You…” I didn’t know what to say. She always seemed to lead me by the nose. Kaia shifted in my lap again, as if pressing our bodies even closer together. She said: “Just admit it. You like me. You like me more than your wife. I give you new excitement that she absolutely can’t give you. What breakup? You don’t even have the thought of pushing me away. You…” Her mouth moved closer and closer to mine. I could smell that special scent on her body. She was right, there was something about her that attracted me. I was completely infatuated. But no matter what, I had to make a clean break. Otherwise, my life would be ruined. Just then, the office door opened. A subordinate walked in. “Mr. Lin, about this afternoon’s meeting…Mr. Lin…um…” The newcomer was a young woman who had just joined recently. Seeing Kaia and me tangled together, her face immediately turned red. Kaia finally stood up on her own, smoothing her clothes and hair. She turned to the young woman and said: The young woman lowered her head and said: “I’m sorry, I came at a bad time. I’ll leave you two alone.” She was about to back out when Kaia grabbed her arm and pointed at me: “Go ahead and give your work report. I’m leaving.” Then she whispered in the young woman’s ear: “Mr. Lin and I don’t like closing doors. Want to try it with your boyfriend sometime? It’s super thrilling.” I knew it – she had deliberately left the door unlocked. It seems she has no intention of breaking up with me peacefully. She’s pushing things further, trying to force me to divorce Quincy so she can take her place. That’s impossible. Quincy and I have such a deep bond. How could I just end things? Quincy was with me when I had nothing. We’ve been through thick and thin together for so many years. How could I betray her? It’s true that Kaia is better at sweet talk, knows how to set the mood, and is more exciting in private. She… Suddenly I froze, rushing to the bathroom to stick my head under the faucet and douse myself with cold water. I looked up and stared at myself in the mirror, slapping my own face hard twice. Knox, you fucking bastard, what are you thinking? How could you compare your wife to that Kaia bitch?! How could you?! You shouldn’t even have such thoughts. You deserve to be slapped. Quincy is your wife. She’s been through thick and thin with you to build this family. Now she’s pregnant with your child! How could you think that way? You have no conscience! I have to break up with her. I have to cut off all contact. While there’s still time. My phone buzzed. A message from Kaia. “If you want to break up with me, come to the hotel tonight.” She didn’t say which hotel, but she didn’t need to. It was the same hotel where we had met in secret many times. There was even a room I kept reserved long-term. At 8pm that night, I told Quincy I had to work late. Quincy didn’t suspect a thing. In her mind, I was still that honest guy. She had no idea how much I had changed. I went up to that familiar room and knocked on the door. The door opened and Kaia appeared before me. She looked like she had just gotten out of the shower, with only a towel wrapped hastily around her body. The towel was small, exposing quite a bit on top and bottom. Looking closer, her skin was milky white, as if she wasn’t wearing anything at all. Her hair was damp, falling over her shoulders. Combined with that coquettish, seductive expression, the effect was irresistible.

“You’re here. Come in.” She backed up halfway, gesturing for me to enter. I didn’t move. I knew this was a trap. Kaia’s tricks were always the same. I knew them all too well. “I’m here to break up with you.” I paused, then added, “I can give you some financial compensation.” Kaia laughed. “What do you mean? You think you’ve had your fun, gotten bored, so now you can just pay me off and move on to someone new? You think I’m for sale? ” As she spoke, she walked out of the room and wrapped her arms around my neck. I hurriedly tried to push her away, but just like before, even though I’m stronger, once those snakelike arms were around me I couldn’t break free. “Let go. If you keep this up I’m leaving.” “You’re not going anywhere. Come inside with me.” “No.” I flatly refused. She put her hand on the towel, slowly pulling at one corner: “If you don’t come in, I’ll drop this towel right now. After all, you don’t want me anymore, so it doesn’t matter what I do, right?” She actually started to do it, slowly tugging the towel loose. I had no choice. I quickly picked her up and carried her into the room, kicking the door shut behind us. She giggled in my arms, playfully punching my chest. “I knew you wouldn’t let me embarrass myself. Don’t worry, I’m all yours. Only you get to see my body. I…ouch…” I tossed her onto the bed and dusted off my hands: “Didn’t you have some rich boyfriend before?” “Are you jealous?” I didn’t say anything. She came over and wrapped herself around me like a snake again. “Let me tell you, that boyfriend didn’t count at all. I missed you so much then, I just wanted him as a substitute for you. I even left town with him to try to forget you. But in the end, I still couldn’t get you out of my mind.” I glanced at her, not believing a word. She made a sound of agreement and nodded: “If I’m lying, may I drop dead.” I actually started to believe her a little. But so what? I came here to break up with her – to cut things off completely and never see each other again. I said to her: “Let’s talk terms. What will it take for you to leave me alone? Quincy is pregnant now and can’t handle any stress. Just tell me how much money. As long as I can afford it, I’ll definitely…” Before I could finish, she pounced on me, sealing my lips with a kiss. “I don’t want money. I want you.” “But I’m married, don’t you understand? I have a wife!” “Then get divorced. Leave her and marry me.” “I can’t do that.” I shook my head immediately as I said this. Kaia laughed coldly: “You can give Quincy more money to make her leave. After all, she is my good friend.” How dare this woman still use the words “good friend”. At least I know I’m a scumbag. But Kaia doesn’t seem to think she’s done anything wrong at all. She moved in front of me, lying across my legs and staring at me seductively. “Look at me, Knox. Really look at me. I’m better than her, aren’t I?” I didn’t dare look or speak, but I also didn’t leave. “How about this, Knox. I agree to break up with you.” She stood up and said to me. I felt a bit happy, with a hint of disappointment. I asked her: “Really? Then…what are your conditions?” She slowly pulled open her towel, letting it slide to the floor. Her skin was as smooth as satin: “The condition is that you spend tonight with me. Let’s have one last wonderful night together, to give me a memory to hold onto.” She came over and pushed me down onto the sofa. I embraced her. For the sake of breaking up, let’s do this tonight. Consider it a farewell fling.

“Honey, the baby and I are heading out,” I called, standing at the door with the stroller. I took one last look at my husband, sprawled on the couch watching a football game. Silently, I bid him farewell in my heart: Oh, darling, may you rest in peace. Chapter 1 “Honey, Xixi and I are heading out,” I called, pushing the stroller towards the door. I took one last look at Yannick sprawled on the couch watching the game. Silently, I bid him farewell in my heart: Goodbye, dear husband. Have a nice trip to hell. Back at work after maternity leave, I was missing my baby girl terribly. Unable to wait until the end of the day, I made an excuse to my manager and headed home early. As I approached our apartment door, I heard voices inside. “Don’t worry, she won’t be back for at least another two hours,” a man said. It was my husband, Yannick. “Hmph, who was it that spent half an hour putting your precious daughter to sleep last night, neglecting me?” a woman replied coyly. My mind went blank. I heard Yannick patiently coaxing her: “Once she’s dead, my daughter will be your daughter too. The baby’s too young to know any better – whoever feeds her is her mom.” Soon, unmistakable sounds of intimacy reached my ears. I stood frozen, realizing with horror that my husband was cheating on me. Yannick and I were high school sweethearts. We went from school uniforms to wedding gowns. After three years of marriage, life had settled into a quiet routine. Earlier this year, he quit his programming job to open a small shop, saying he wanted to help care for our daughter after she was born. He didn’t want me to be a “widow with a child” – raising our baby alone while he worked long hours. I was moved to tears at the time. Business at the shop was decent, and Yannick hired an assistant. During my pregnancy, he doted on me endlessly. Just last night, we were planning to move out of this apartment building next month. We had already finished renovating our new house and the formaldehyde smell had dissipated. I was full of hope for our future together. I never imagined reality would hit me like a ton of bricks. It was a scorching August afternoon, the sun merciless at 3pm. I don’t know how long I stood there before I saw a tall woman with wavy hair walk out of the building. I hid behind a car, catching my reflection in the window – my postpartum body looked swollen and out of shape. There was a time when I too was slim and took pride in my appearance. Yannick had weak sperm. He said he didn’t care if we had a boy or girl, as long as we had a child of our own. Otherwise his life would be meaningless. For that, I endured hundreds of hormone injections before we finally conceived our daughter. It was nearly 6pm when I returned home with groceries. Hearing me, Yannick shuffled out in his slippers. “You’re back, honey. I made some mung bean soup – it’s in the fridge. Want some?” “Sure, pour me a bowl,” I replied casually as I changed my shoes. But my mind was reeling from what I’d overheard earlier: “Once she’s dead.” Yannick wanted to kill me. Not only was he cheating, he wanted me dead. Perhaps the shock had numbed me, but I felt eerily calm. At dinner, Yannick mentioned his mom wanted to come help with the baby, since I was back at work and he was busy with the shop. I thought for a moment and asked, “But we only have one bed. Where would your mom sleep? Why don’t we just move to the new house in the next couple days?” To my surprise, Yannick fell silent. “I can sleep on the couch. It’s fine for summer. You two can take the bed.” I nodded. “Alright, it’ll be nice to have your mom’s help.” I’d found it strange before – our new house had been ready for a while, but Yannick kept putting off moving in. Now I understood. He was planning to move in with his mistress after getting rid of me. After cleaning up, I put Xixi to sleep. Yannick pulled out an insurance policy for me to sign. He’d first brought up insurance when I got pregnant, saying we needed to plan ahead now that we were parents. An accidental death policy would provide security for our child. So his policy and mine both listed our daughter as the sole beneficiary. It sounded perfectly reasonable. “The accidental death benefit is $100,000?” I asked, looking at the payout amount on the policy while secretly clenching my fist.

Just then, our neighbor Mrs. Wilson dropped off some peaches. She said a friend had given her a whole crate and she couldn’t eat them all. “What are you two up to?” Mrs. Wilson adjusted her reading glasses, her gaze falling on the insurance papers on the coffee table. Yannick explained, “Oh, Chloe and I are thinking of getting some accident insurance.” “Look, it says here it pays out $100,000. Is that for real?” I asked in a deliberately naive tone. “Yannick compared several insurance companies and says we should buy now before the prices go up. He’s been pestering me to sign.” Mrs. Wilson’s interest was piqued. “Oh my, insurance is painful to pay for but really comes through when you need it. My husband was diagnosed with lung cancer recently and the critical illness policy our son bought paid out $30,000!” Yannick gave me a “see, I told you so” look. “I don’t know much about insurance. He says it’ll give us peace of mind,” I shrugged. “Maybe we should think about it some more.” Mrs. Wilson agreed with me: “Accident insurance isn’t the same as health insurance. In life, you’re much more likely to get sick than have an accident.” Mrs. Wilson didn’t notice, but Yannick’s expression froze for a few seconds when she said that. “Insurance is all about protection. You never know if tomorrow or an accident will come first,” Yannick joked. “If I die, at least I can leave some money for you and Xixi.” I punched his arm. “Don’t say things like that.” “Tsk tsk, you shouldn’t joke about such things,” Mrs. Wilson waved her hand. She chatted with us a bit more before leaving. Before bed, I went to the bathroom to wash up. “Bzzt bzzt” – A faint noise came from the water heater. This water heater was quite old. We’d bought it used from the previous tenants when we moved in. Last year we’d talked about replacing it with a new one, but since we were planning to move to the new house soon, we’d been making do with it. I stood there holding my toothbrush cup, staring at the old water heater lost in thought. Back in bed, Yannick was still on his phone. When he saw me come in, he quickly flipped the screen face down on the sheets. There was a baby monitor on the bedside table so I could check on Xixi while at work. “Honey, do you really want to buy that accident insurance?” I asked, raising my voice slightly. Hearing me say that, Yannick suddenly rolled over. “That insurance is really good, let me tell you…” He launched into a long analysis of the benefits. I yawned. “Alright, it’s too late now. Let’s sign tomorrow.” “Okay!” In the dim light, I saw Yannick’s eyes gleaming with excitement. The next morning, I went downstairs and was about to ride my electric scooter to work when Yannick rushed out holding the insurance papers, urging me to sign. Just then, Mrs. Wilson and some other neighbors were returning from the morning market. Seeing us, they asked, “What’s Yannick holding there? He looks in such a hurry.” “It’s that insurance from last night. He wants me to sign it,” I said as I wrote my name ‘Chloe Sharp’. I smiled at the neighbors, “What can I do? He makes the big decisions in our family. Gotta run, I’m going to be late for work!” I rode off on my scooter. In the rearview mirror, I saw Yannick holding up the signed paper and kissing it, his whole demeanor radiating joy. At work, I sent Yannick a text: Honey, the water heater at home seems broken. Can you take a look? Ten minutes later Yannick replied: OK, got it. The perfunctory response was expected. He was probably daydreaming about moving into a big house with his new wife after getting the huge insurance payout. How could he be bothered about a water heater we’d used for 7-8 years? I typed into the search bar: “What causes a water heater to explode?” After browsing the results, I deleted all my search history.

At 5:30pm, the new intern Yonng noticed I hadn’t moved and asked with a smile, “Chloe, aren’t you in a hurry to get home to your little sweetheart today?” “My husband’s looking after her,” I said, waving my phone which showed the bedroom camera feed. Yannick was bent over the crib, playing with Xixi. “I’m going to stay late and finish the monthly report.” “Ugh, you’re making us single people jealous again!” Yonng said enviously. “I need to find a husband who’s willing to look after kids too!” I smiled without responding. From now on, I wanted everyone around me to think Yannick and I were blissfully in love. After finishing the report, I was about to leave when Sam from IT walked over and whispered, “Just a heads up – don’t use the company computers for personal stuff these days.” “Why not?” I asked. “Well, with the company’s performance down last quarter, management’s cracking down on discipline. They’ve got us monitoring the backend to see if anyone’s browsing shopping sites or celebrity gossip during work hours…” Sam shook his head helplessly. Then he seemed to remember something and asked, “By the way, what’s wrong with your water heater? I saw you searched about it quite a bit.” I froze, my whole body tensing up. Then I realized – why should I be nervous? I hadn’t done anything wrong. I was just concerned about potential safety hazards with our home appliances, that’s all. “Oh, I came across some videos of water heaters exploding. It was pretty scary. And our water heater at home is pretty old too,” I said casually. “Water heaters should be replaced after about 8 years, right?” Sam said. His phone rang and he turned away to answer it. I clenched my slightly trembling fingers and left with my bag. It was almost 8pm by the time I got home. Yannick was humming a tune and taking photos of Xixi curled up on the sofa with a camera. When he saw me come in, a flash of unease crossed his face. “Did you buy that?” I asked, pointing at the new outfit Xixi was wearing. “Yeah, just got it delivered today,” he said, putting down the camera. “Are you hungry? Want to go eat at the restaurant downstairs?” “When did you buy a camera? You never mentioned it,” I walked over to the sofa and picked up the camera, flipping through the photos. I noticed Yannick’s composition was really professional, even better than the professional photographer we hired for Xixi’s one-month photos. Yannick’s expression turned hesitant. “I… I was afraid you’d say I was wasting money… But babies change so much every day, I wanted to document her growth.” “You could have discussed it with me. Just don’t keep secrets,” I said, still scrolling through the photos. Suddenly Yannick snatched the camera away. He had me sit on the sofa and started massaging my shoulders. “Honey, you’ve had a long day at work. Don’t get upset over little things like this. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about the camera, okay?” I looked at the man in front of me. “I never knew you were so good at photography.” “I just learned recently. It’s not that hard,” Yannick said, picking up the camera again. “Honey, strike a pose. Let me take a few shots of you.” Just then, Xixi suddenly started crying. I quickly went to pick her up. “Go take out the trash,” I told Yannick. “And pick up two takeout meals on the way back.” “Okay,” Yannick was about to grab his phone. “Leave it charging,” I said, pulling some cash out of my pocket. “Here’s some money. Might as well use it up.” Yannick took the money without hesitation and left with the trash bag. I watched from the window until he exited the complex, then immediately grabbed Yannick’s phone and unlocked it. The password was Xixi’s birthday. Out of trust, I had never checked Yannick’s phone before. This was the first time. He was so confident leaving his phone at home, certain that I would never invade his privacy. I opened WeChat and saw several new messages from a contact named “AAA Alina – Bloom Kidswear”.

The latest one said: “Hiking is the easiest way to create an accident. There’s no one in the mountains…” I couldn’t see the rest of the message since Yannick hadn’t opened it yet. I couldn’t click in to view the full chat history, but I could guess what it was about. The insurance policy was just signed, and they were already itching to put their plan into action. I put the phone back and picked up the camera to continue looking through the photos I’d been viewing earlier. I noticed several shots of Xixi wearing a thick baby sleeping bag. From the camera angle, it seemed the focus wasn’t on Xixi, but on the clothes themselves. Babies actually have a higher body temperature than adults. In several photos, Xixi’s hair was damp with sweat. Anger boiled inside me. Just then, Yannick returned. “Why did you take these? It’s 30-40 degrees out – what if she overheats?” I demanded, holding up the camera. Yannick froze for several seconds before walking over to explain: “The seller said they’d send another sleeping bag for free if I posted photos. Don’t worry honey, I had the AC on when I took the pictures.” I stared straight into his eyes. “You made our daughter sweat buckets just for a free piece of clothing?” Yannick’s anger flared. “What the hell, Chloe? What are you implying? She’s my own daughter – you think I’d abuse her?” “Why are you getting so defensive? Did I say you were abusing her?” I shoved the camera in his face, raising my voice. Yannick knocked the camera out of my hand and stormed out. SLAM! The door slammed shut. I closed my eyes and comforted Xixi, who was startled by the noise. Yannick didn’t return until almost midnight. He came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. “I’m sorry honey. I shouldn’t have lost my temper at you.” I didn’t respond. Soon, he spoke again: “Let’s go hiking in a few days. Once my mom gets here, she can watch Xixi. It’s been so long since we’ve had time to ourselves.” Yannick’s tone was almost pleading, reminiscent of when we first started dating. Indeed, you can never truly know what’s in a person’s heart. Even with years of shared history, it’s impossible to see through someone’s facade to their true nature. When a man falls out of love, he can turn into a demon, wearing a mask of false kindness as he plots to take your life. “Hiking?” I feigned confusion. “I thought you didn’t like hiking.” “That was before. What programmer likes hiking? We’re exhausted enough as it is,” Yannick said wistfully. “But now that I run my own little business, I can manage my own time. It’s good to get out and exercise.” Yannick continued, “I looked it up – there’s a mountain nearby that doesn’t get many tourists. The scenery hasn’t been modernized, and it’s far from the city center. People online say the air there is amazing!” I listened silently. “You’ve really done your research.” “Of course! I upset my dear wife, so I have to make it up to her,” Yannick hugged me tight. “We can buy a tent and go camping outdoors, just like in college. We’ll stargaze and watch the sunrise. It’ll be wonderful. What do you say, honey?” “Get off, it’s too hot,” I pushed him away. “Let’s decide after your mom gets here. I’m worried she won’t be able to handle Xixi on her own.” Yannick said confidently, “As long as you want to go, my mom won’t be a problem!” I stared silently at the ceiling, inwardly scoffing. He sure was eager to get rid of me. At 2am, after feeding Xixi, I got out of bed and went to the bathroom. I turned on the shower. The water rushed loudly, and the old water heater emitted a low hum. Water heater explosions are probabilistic – there’s no way to guarantee an accident will happen at a specific time. Although our unit had reached its maximum lifespan, that didn’t mean it would definitely explode. But if the thermostat, overheat protection, and pressure relief valve were all damaged, who knows what could happen. I tested the water temperature with my fingertips, lost in thought.

Yannick’s mother arrived a few days later, laden with bags and a basket of farm-fresh eggs. “Look at you, just standing there,” she said to me with a smirk, then jokingly scolded Yannick: “She’s a mother now but still doesn’t know how to be helpful around the house.” I took the woven bag from her hands. “Mom, you must be tired from traveling all day. Don’t get upset over little things – it’s bad for your health.” My mother-in-law sat on the sofa with a smile. “My health is just fine. Don’t jinx me!” I was at a loss for words. My mother-in-law always had a smile on her face when she spoke, but her tone was cutting. She always left me feeling stung, not knowing how to respond. She had never approved of me, thinking her son who worked at a prestigious tech company could find a woman with better prospects. Yannick brought his mother a glass of water. “Mom, Chloe and I are planning to go hiking this weekend. Can you look after Xixi for a couple days?” “Fine, fine,” she muttered. “It’s so hot out. You two must be bored out of your minds.” That evening after dinner, Yannick insisted on taking me shopping for camping gear. He seemed unusually excited. “We’re leaving in three days! We haven’t been on a trip together since you got pregnant. I can’t wait! Are you excited too, honey?” “Me? Well…” Last night I had adjusted the water heater temperature to 50°C, but when I used it today the actual water temperature was much higher. As I suspected, the thermostat was broken. No wonder the water had been so scalding hot lately. The overheat protection had clearly failed too, causing it to keep heating continuously. Looking into Yannick’s eyes, I smiled and nodded. “I’m looking forward to it too.” When we got home, Yannick’s mom and Xixi were already asleep. The next day Yannick went to mind the shop. I dressed Xixi and started eating breakfast. “Let’s put this in the living room. I can’t sleep well with it watching me,” my mother-in-law said, moving the baby monitor that was originally on the bedroom nightstand to a shelf behind the TV. She muttered, “What a waste of money, buying useless gadgets.” “Mm, okay,” I had barely finished speaking when there was a knock at the door. It was Mr. Lee, the repairman I’d called to check our appliances. “You must be Mr. Lee,” I said, stepping aside to let him in. I led him to the cramped bathroom. “Our water heater’s been making strange noises lately and the temperature is unstable. Can you take a look and see what’s wrong?” Mr. Lee looked up at the wall-mounted unit. “How long have you had it?” “Almost 8 years,” I said.

On my 22nd birthday, my uncle discovered my diary. After learning about my secret crush on him, he sent me abroad and spent millions on a lavish wedding to marry his true love. At the airport, he coldly warned me: “Never have inappropriate thoughts again.” Years later, I returned with a child in my arms. He was shocked: “Is this yours?” I nodded with a smile: “Yes. I just finished my postpartum recovery.” Sitting on the plane, I still felt dazed. I never thought that after five years abroad, I would have the chance to come back. After all, Orion had said that in this lifetime, I’d better never appear in front of him again. But it was also he who personally bought me a ticket back home, inviting me to attend his and Melissa’s wedding anniversary celebration. After two layovers, I finally landed. Uma had been sleeping peacefully on the plane, but once we got off, she started crying. “Mommy, my feet hurt,” she whimpered softly. Hearing Uma’s quiet sobs, I quickly picked her up and walked towards the exit. At the arrival gate, I turned on my phone, ready to call a cab. Just then, my phone rang. Seeing the familiar number on the screen, I fell silent, unsure whether to answer or not. In the end, I didn’t pick up. But a second call came through almost immediately. I sighed and finally answered. Orion’s voice quickly came through. After years without talking, his voice hadn’t changed. “Are you out of the airport? I sent an assistant to pick you up,” Orion said in a businesslike manner, as if we were strangers. I laughed bitterly, “I can get a cab myself.” There was silence for a second; Orion probably didn’t expect me to say that. After all, back then, I had been well taken care of by him. During my years by his side, all my needs were met – I never had to worry about transportation. After a moment of silence, Orion spoke casually, “Let the assistant come anyway. I bought a gift for Melissa on your behalf, it’s in the trunk. You can bring it directly when you come for dinner.” Orion was still so thoughtful, considering even the gift situation perfectly. Of course, when he spent millions on the venue and commissioned a limited edition diamond to create a unique wedding ring for Melissa, it was clear how much he loved her. “Alright,” I said, rubbing my forehead and responding softly. Orion didn’t say anything more, but he didn’t hang up either. After a while, Orion finally spoke: “Yara, after five years abroad, I hope you’ve really reflected on things. If you do anything to Melissa, I won’t let you off easy.” Hearing this, I was stunned. The noise around me seemed to fade away. Orion said he wouldn’t let me off easy. Before I could respond, Orion had already hung up. Actually, Orion could rest assured. I wouldn’t do anything to them. I just wanted to take good care of Uma and find a job. As I left the airport, I lowered my head. The proud 22-year-old me probably couldn’t have imagined that my life would end up in such a miserable state. I was sent abroad by Orion on my 22nd birthday. That day, Orion discovered my diary. When I was young, my parents died in a cruise ship accident and never returned. Orion naturally took over my care. My relationship with him had always been harmonious. Until I became an adult, I realized I didn’t just see Orion as an uncle. I liked him. But I also knew very clearly that there was no future between Orion and me. So I wrote all my feelings in my diary. If Orion hadn’t seen my diary, I probably could have pretended that my feelings for him were just those of a niece for her uncle. But Orion saw it. He tore up my diary and asked me how I could have such disgusting thoughts. “Don’t you know I’m your uncle! Even without a blood relation, we can only be family!” The usually gentlemanly and refined Orion was no longer gentle, shouting at me with disgust in his eyes. At that time, I wanted to explain, but couldn’t explain anything. In the end, I could only keep bowing and apologizing, saying I was wrong, that I shouldn’t have fallen for him. But Orion didn’t calm down. The next day, he resigned from the job I had lined up, and under the guise of studying abroad, sent me to a remote university overseas. To prevent me from contacting the outside world, Orion even hired bodyguards to watch me. At first, I didn’t understand why Orion treated me this way. Until the first month after I went abroad, news of Orion’s marriage went viral. Only then did I realize that all these years, he had always had someone in his heart. I watched Orion’s wedding video over and over again. In the video, when looking at Melissa, Orion’s gaze was gentle and loving. He had never looked at me that way. From that moment on, I knew that Orion keeping me by his side for so many years was just out of sympathy and responsibility. His only love was Melissa. “Miss John, please get in the car,” the assistant’s voice brought me back to reality. I nodded and got into the car with the sleeping Uma. When he saw Uma, the assistant’s face showed a hint of surprise: “Miss John, this is…?” I made a shushing gesture, afraid our conversation would disturb Uma’s sleep. After sitting in the back seat, I answered softly: “This is my daughter.” The assistant nodded and fell silent. When he drove to our destination, I was stunned. This hotel was where Orion and Melissa got married. Five years of marriage, he held a wedding anniversary celebration every year, and personally selected gifts for Melissa. I thought, Orion really cherished Melissa. In previous years, he didn’t allow me to enter their world. Inviting me back this year was probably just to let me witness their happiness. I numbly got out of the car and saw Melissa smiling as she walked towards me. Unlike my haggard appearance and simple clothes, Melissa wore expensive jewelry and perfume, looking well-cared for by Orion. Melissa’s smile suddenly froze. I knew she had seen Uma in my arms. Sure enough, when she came to my side, Melissa’s expression was very surprised: “Yara, how did you secretly have a child abroad without telling me? I’ve been married to your uncle for so long, you still treat me like an outsider.” Before I could speak, Melissa took Uma from my arms without asking. Uma woke up and immediately started crying, struggling not to let Melissa hold her. I took Uma back from Melissa and comforted her for a while. Actually, Melissa knew about my past crush on Orion. Returning this time, I didn’t want to get too involved with Melissa. But Melissa still stubbornly wanted to hold Uma. When Melissa and I arrived at the hotel’s private room, Uma was still crying and wanting me to hold her. Melissa forced a smile and handed Uma back to me: “Your uncle knows having children isn’t easy. We haven’t thought about having kids these past few years. Seeing you’ve had a daughter, I got too excited.” There were already several people sitting in the room. I wasn’t used to socializing, so I chose a corner seat, and Melissa sat down next to me. She enthusiastically linked arms with me, introducing me and Uma to the others. The looks others gave me were visibly teasing and probing. I couldn’t stand the strange atmosphere here and said I wanted to go to the restroom. When I came back after washing my face, I heard Melissa’s voice. Someone asked Melissa why she brought in an unlucky thing like me. “What unlucky thing, Yara is Orion’s sister. Although she went down the wrong path and tried to seduce Orion before, now that she’s had a child, she definitely won’t make mistakes again.” Hearing Melissa say this, I just quietly stood at the door of the private room. Yes, in others’ eyes, I was just a madwoman who tried to seduce her uncle, a shameless slut. Uma tugged at my clothes uneasily, and I comforted her before entering the room. Some things have to be faced eventually. I don’t know how long passed, but suddenly everyone in the room stood up. “Mr. John is here!” “Hello, Mr. John!” A group of people crowded around him, while I didn’t move, just sitting in my seat. After a long time, I finally raised my head and looked at Orion. He seemed to have lost some weight. Orion wore a suit, with Melissa leaning on him. When they looked at each other, their eyes were full of smiles. Orion was surrounded by people and didn’t notice me in the corner. All these years, he who should have been the center of attention still was, while the only one not doing well was me. Suddenly, Melissa seemed to remember something and pushed Orion with a smile: “Orion, Yara is here too. You uncle and niece haven’t seen each other for so many years, catch up a bit. Yara even brought back a surprise!” Hearing the word “surprise”, Orion remained unmoved, first helping Melissa sit down and ordering her a glass of milk before raising his eyes to look in my direction. Uma shrank into a ball, looking very wary. Orion obviously saw Uma too, his eyes widening suddenly. “Yara, what is this?” He was asking about Uma. I hadn’t told them about Uma, so when they saw me with her, their expressions were all the same – either surprised or looking like they were watching a show. Melissa spoke for me: “Orion, this is Yara’s daughter. Isn’t she cute? She looks just like Yara and seems to be a few years old already.” Orion’s gaze fell on Uma, then on me, examining me for a while. Just when I thought Orion wouldn’t pay attention to me anymore, he asked hoarsely, pointing at Uma: “During these years abroad… you got married and had a child?” I raised my head, looking directly at Orion, and nodded. “I got married a while ago. Sorry I didn’t tell you.”

I was diagnosed with cancer, and my son’s gold-digging girlfriend immediately took all our family’s money. She even declared that it was all her money, and I couldn’t spend a penny of it even if I died on the street. This ultimately caused me to miss the best treatment opportunity, and my condition worsened, leaving me with little time left. Filled with grief and anger, I pulled her down with me as I jumped off a building to our deaths. When I opened my eyes again, I had traveled back in time to when I first met the gold-digging girlfriend. Surprisingly, I could even hear her thoughts. It was then that I discovered the gold-digger wasn’t her at all. “Jack said his mom wouldn’t even look at a bracelet under 5.000, but the one I bought was only 800.Still, it took me an entire semester of part-time work to save up for it. I gave it to her a few days ago, but I haven’t seen his mom wearing it. I guess she really doesn’t like what I got her.” Emma’s voice drifted into my ears, broken and intermittent. I opened my eyes to see the familiar scene of my home, realizing I had traveled back in time. I had returned to the moment when my son Jack first introduced his girlfriend Emma to me. In my previous life, this gold-digging princess had taken control of Jack’s salary before they even got married. She also used the excuse that it was customary in her hometown to give a $200,000 wedding gift, forcing us to sell our house to raise the money for her. As a result, when I was diagnosed with cancer, there was no money left for treatment. I wanted to negotiate with her to return some of the money for my treatment, promising to repay her later. But she flatly refused and even had Jack tell me, “All the money in your family is my money. Your mother’s life isn’t worth saving. Even if she dies on the street, she can’t spend a penny of my money.” Because of her insistence on not giving me any money, I missed the best treatment opportunity, and my early-stage cancer progressed to late-stage. Looking at my limited time left, I was overcome with grief and anger. When she came to visit me, I pulled her down with me as I jumped off the building. But I never expected to travel back in time. In a daze, I heard her speaking. What bracelet? What did she mean? I looked up, staring at the slightly nervous Emma in front of me, and that voice sounded again: “Auntie is looking at me so seriously, is she dissatisfied with me? I shouldn’t have listened to Jack when he said it would be embarrassing to give it to her in person and insisted on giving it in advance. If I had known, I would have asked my parents for some money to buy a bigger one. Now Auntie must think I don’t take her seriously.” Emma didn’t open her mouth, but that voice kept coming. Could it be her thoughts? But when did she ever give me a bracelet? In my previous life, she had been putting me down since a month before we met. She said she wouldn’t eat fruit that cost less than $5 a pound, wouldn’t eat at restaurants below five-star level, and even the slippers for entering the house had to be celebrity-endorsed limited editions. And when she left, I had to give her gifts. As for her? She never spent a penny, and even the gifts she gave me were supermarket freebies. Just as I was puzzled, Emma looked at Jack and suddenly stood up, saying she needed to use the bathroom. After she entered the bathroom, Jack anxiously pulled me aside: “Mom, why are you just sitting there when we first meet? Why haven’t you given her the welcome gift? Emma is already unhappy.” “And these fruits and dishes, they’re not what Emma asked for, right? Aren’t you obviously putting her down?” I was stunned. Jack had said the same thing to me in my previous life, and I immediately felt that Emma was too materialistic and not a good girl. This led to my strong prejudice against her later. But according to Emma’s thoughts just now, she doesn’t seem to have this intention at all?

I looked at Jack suspiciously, also doubting him. In my previous life, it was this soft-hearted boy who only cared about his girlfriend. When I wanted to sue them for the money and was repeatedly stopped by him, he said not to make things too tense, that they still had to live together in the future, and he would solve it if I left it to him. But when I was waiting on my sickbed for my condition to worsen, I never saw his solution. In this life, I can’t trust this white-eyed wolf 100% either. I frowned and said irritably, “What do you mean by putting her down? Am I putting her down by not treating her like a princess? I prepared gifts and money, and she gave me a toothbrush from the supermarket. It looks like she doesn’t think much of our family either.” “Even if you marry her in the future, I won’t acknowledge her.” Jack was startled by my sudden outburst. He quickly pulled me aside and lowered his voice: “Mom, I’ve told you before, Emma’s family isn’t well off, and she’s had a tough life. Now we should let her enjoy life more, so please be more accommodating to her. Don’t say these things again, what if she hears them?” As soon as he finished speaking, Emma came back. She looked at the slightly heavy atmosphere between me and Jack, startled, and that voice sounded again: “Didn’t I give Jack a hint to comfort his mom? How come it seems like the more he comforted, the angrier she got?” Seeing her sit down nervously, my suspicion grew stronger. I cleared my throat and said, “Emma, you’re still a student, and I don’t need you to buy any gifts. I’m just happy if you can come visit often.” Emma looked confused, and her thoughts sounded again: “What does she mean by not buying gifts? Didn’t I give that bracelet to Jack to give to her? Even if she doesn’t like it, she shouldn’t say I didn’t buy anything, right?” I discreetly glanced at Jack, then pulled out a few toothbrushes from under the coffee table and threw them on the table: “Jack said you were always thinking of me and specially got these freebies from the supermarket for me.” Emma was startled and quickly turned to look at Jack: “When did I give Auntie toothbrushes? What about the bracelet? Didn’t you give it to her?”

Jack’s face stiffened for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. He casually took out a bracelet from his bag and smiled: “I forgot to give it. It’s good that you’re giving it to my mom in person now, it’s more formal.” Emma sighed in relief and busied herself putting the bracelet on me, while her thoughts sounded again: “Jack is really careless, how could he forget something like this? Thankfully, Auntie asked, otherwise what kind of person would I have become?” I frowned, Emma doesn’t match up with my previous life either? Could it be that in my previous life, she had also prepared a bracelet, but because Jack forgot and I didn’t feel comfortable asking for a gift when meeting someone for the first time, it led to a misunderstanding? Then why didn’t Jack give me the bracelet later? There must be something else going on here. And later she still held onto our family’s money and wouldn’t let go, leading to my tragic death. I definitely need to investigate this thoroughly. After putting on the bracelet, Emma held my hand and smiled brightly: “Auntie, this really suits you, it goes well with your temperament.” I looked down at the bracelet, feeling a strange emotion well up in my heart. In my previous life, because Emma and I had such a bad impression of each other from our first meeting, we had very little contact afterwards. I didn’t know she could say such nice things. Emma turned and reproached Jack a bit: “When will you ever take my matters seriously? Last time when I bought skincare products, I got a set for Auntie and asked you to deliver it to her. You forgot right away and even used it yourself. Now you can even forget something this important?” I remember the skincare product incident very clearly. A month ago, when Emma was video chatting with Jack, I accidentally appeared on screen while I was applying face cream. Emma saw the brand of face cream in my hand and chatted with me about it for a while. As soon as Jack hung up the phone, he said Emma was angry. Because the brand of face cream I was using was actually more expensive than hers. Jack said: “Emma thinks that at your age, there’s no need to use such a good brand. You should save the money for your future grandson. You should just use some cheap creams.” At that time, I was so angry I felt like my lungs were going to explode, and I immediately told Jack this girlfriend wouldn’t do. Now it seems that many things were not as I understood them back then. Jack looked at me guiltily, then hugged Emma and continued to smile cheekily: “I know I was wrong, baby. Next time I’ll definitely put you and mom’s matters at the top of my heart.” My heart sank deeper and deeper. Those things I thought Emma had done to wrong me, it turns out she knew nothing about them. What about taking all the money from our family? Could it have nothing to do with her either? With a head full of questions, I finished this meal. Jack went to send Emma back to school, and I immediately made an appointment for a full body check-up at the hospital. The doctor pointed at the examination report and told me that a small lesion was found in my stomach. After a pathological examination, it was determined to be gastric cancer. However, fortunately, I had the examination in time. It was still in a very early stage, and the cure rate was very high. All I needed to do was to remove the diseased gastric tissue, and he scheduled a surgery time for me. I breathed a sigh of relief. Luckily I caught it in time this life. On the way home, I couldn’t help but feel lighter in my steps. When I got home, I found Jack had returned and was sitting on the sofa with his head down, looking dejected. As soon as he saw me, he cried out: “Mom, Emma said she wants $200,000, what should we do?”

Jack wiped away a tear: “Emma said that in their hometown, families must give hundreds of thousands as a wedding gift. 200, 000 is already the minimum. If I can’t come up with 200,000, she’ll break up with me directly.” He grabbed my hand and pleaded earnestly: “Mom, I just love her and want to marry her. Please help me think of a way. In the future, when I earn big money, I’ll be filial to you. Forget $200,000, I’ll give you however much money you want!” I silently looked at him: “First explain to me what’s going on with the skincare products Emma mentioned.” Jack’s eyes darted around for a few seconds: “I saw that you hadn’t finished your own skincare products yet, so you probably wouldn’t be able to use Emma’s for a while. And in the past, didn’t you always give me the extras? So this time I took the liberty of using them myself.” “I just forgot to tell you about it.” Jack looked at me displeased: “Why are you so particular with your own son?” “Then why did you tell me she thought I only deserved to use cheap creams?” Jack started to throw a tantrum: “That was just me misunderstanding her meaning. I’ll be more careful in the future. Please let me off this time.” “What’s important now is that Emma wants $200,000. Mom, you only have one son. You have to help me think of a way.” I wasn’t satisfied with Jack’s explanation. He had always been clever since he was young. How could he misunderstand something so simple? Could he be up to something behind my back? Does Emma know? So I went along with what he said: “Invite Emma over for dinner another day. I want to assess her character. If she passes, I’ll raise 300, 000 for you, let alone 200,000.” Jack’s eyes lit up, but he also worriedly reminded me over and over: “When Emma comes, you absolutely must not mention the $200,000. She’s already dissatisfied. I’m afraid she’ll get even angrier and the marriage will fall through.” I gave him a cold look. I’m afraid it’s not that he doesn’t want Emma to worry, but that he’s afraid I’ll question Emma. Jack moved quickly, bringing Emma back the very next day. But her expression didn’t look very good, and she seemed somewhat indifferent to my hospitality. Just as I was puzzled, Emma’s thoughts sounded: “Jack had said before that his mom was snobbish, but I didn’t expect her to open her mouth asking for 200,000 from my family, and even saying that anything less than 200,000 couldn’t enter their door.” “Where am I supposed to get so much money? Is this a marriage or a transaction?” “Every time I met Auntie, I felt she was quite nice. I didn’t expect her to do such despicable things behind my back.” My heart suddenly sank. I had never mentioned anything about $200,000. Obviously, this was Jack’s own idea. Taking 200,000 from me, and another 200,000 from Emma. What exactly is Jack trying to do? Thinking of those mismatched words between Jack and Emma. There was a boom in my mind. Could it be that in my previous life, the one holding onto the $200,000 and not letting go wasn’t Emma at all, but my own son? No wonder he was so afraid of me questioning Emma. But I raised him from childhood to adulthood, what exactly made him do this? Not even willing to save me? I struggled to contain my discomfort, invited Emma to sit down, and then sent Jack away, asking him to go to the kitchen to serve the meal. Seeing him enter the kitchen, I took out my phone and transferred $10,000 to Jack in front of Emma. I also sent him a voice message: “Son, take this money to buy clothes for Emma. Young girls nowadays all love to dress up, especially a beautiful girl like Emma. Tell her not to be stingy.” Emma watched my actions, her eyes flashing with mockery, as if she thought I was just putting on an act. Without time to explain, I quickly left, pretending to go to the bathroom. When I came back, I saw that Emma’s expression had changed. She stared intently at Jack, her thoughts sounding again: “Why did Jack say that Auntie complained about my clothes being shabby and told me to change into better clothes next time we meet? Auntie clearly didn’t mean that at all.” “And Auntie even gave $10,000. Why doesn’t he mention it at all? What exactly does he mean?” I interrupted her thoughts: “Emma, the reason I invited you here today is to talk about money.” Emma suddenly raised her head and looked me in the eye.

I saw shock, doubt, and disbelief in Emma’s eyes. She must have just doubted Jack. But the foundation of a two-year relationship made her unsure if her judgment was correct. We both looked at Jack at the same time, and he immediately became nervous. He hurriedly came over to stop me: “Mom, this is only Emma’s second visit. How inappropriate to talk about this now? Let’s have dinner first. Whatever it is, we can discuss it after eating.” As he spoke, he pulled me towards the kitchen, while gritting his teeth and questioning me in a low voice: “Mom, didn’t you promise me you wouldn’t mention this? How can you go back on your word? Emma is already unhappy. What if you drive her away?” I pretended not to understand, looking confused: “Son, I promised you I wouldn’t mention the 200,000, but now I’ masking about how much her family is giving as agift, which isn’t 200,000, right? Her family is asking for $200,000, so I want to know how much they can give?” Jack was so scared his face turned purple, desperately pushing me into the kitchen: “Oh my god, Mom, please say less. We haven’t discussed that yet. I have my own plans, so please don’t interfere.” I laughed coldly in my heart. Did he think he could shut me up with any random excuse? I may be old, but my mouth hasn’t been sewn shut. I broke free from Jack’s hands, walked out of the kitchen, smiled at Emma and said: “Emma, Jack said you haven’t reached the stage of discussing marriage yet. But Auntie has a few things to say in advance.” “Auntie knows we’re all ordinary families. You said there’s a custom in your hometown of giving a wedding gift before marriage, so let’s follow your hometown’s custom. It doesn’t matter how much, Auntie doesn’t care. After all, it will all be brought to your new home anyway.” Emma frowned, her strange gaze constantly scanning between me and Jack, as if judging who was telling the truth. Jack’s face at this time was uglier than if he had eaten shit. He squeezed out a smile with difficulty: “That’s right, I actually meant the same thing. We’re all family, why bother calculating so much? Oh, let’s not just talk here, let’s eat first.” “Emma, come downstairs with me to buy a drink. Mom, you set the table and serve the dishes first.” Seeing that he couldn’t shut me up, Jack wanted to take Emma away. Emma coldly stepped back, pushing Jack’s hand away: “Why not say it now? Who can eat if we don’t talk about it now?”

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After Naomi Parker, my eldest daughter, became successful, she cut ties with the family. My wife, Rachel, urged me to calculate how much money we spent on her so that she could repay us, including interest. While searching for paper and a pen to make the calculations, I stumbled upon Naomi’s diary. It was filled with her grievances against the family. As I started reading, I found myself blaming her for being unreasonable and immature. But as I continued, I couldn’t stop my eyes from welling up with tears. I have two daughters. Naomi, my eldest, was born to my ex-wife, Evelyn Harper, while Ella, my younger daughter, is the child of my current wife, Rachel. Ella was born premature and has always been frail and sickly. Because of Ella’s delicate health, I often asked Naomi to take care of her younger sister. Most of Naomi’s complaints in her diary are about how I favored Ella. It started with small things, like buying Ella a Barbie Doll but not buying anything for Naomi, or only picking Ella up from school while leaving Naomi to walk home alone. One entry, from when Naomi was twelve, stuck with me. It was her birthday. She understood that our financial situation was tight and knew that toys and dresses, if we ever bought them, would go to her younger sister, Ella, who was sick more often and still a child. Naomi had her eye on a dress that wasn’t expensive, but she knew we wouldn’t buy it for her. So, she spent a whole year collecting bottles to save up enough money to buy that dress as a birthday gift for herself. On her birthday, Naomi was thrilled to wear that beautiful dress, and Ella immediately became envious. “That dress is so pretty, Naomi! Can I wear it too?” Ella asked. Naomi’s reaction was fierce. She hugged the dress protectively and snapped, “No! Dad and Rachel buy you all those toys and dresses, and this is the only one I have! Why do you always have to take what’s mine?” Naomi’s lips trembled as she spoke, tears welling up in her eyes. Seeing this, I felt a pang of sympathy for Ella, so I told Naomi, “Ella is your little sister. What’s wrong with letting her wear the dress for a few days?” But Naomi stood her ground. “She’s never shared her toys or dresses with me. Why should I share mine?” Her defiance made me furious, and my expression darkened. Ella tugged at my sleeve and said, “Dad, it’s okay. Don’t make Naomi upset. It’s my fault.” Ella was always so considerate, and I gently patted her head. “Ella, you’re such a good girl.” But Naomi’s anger only grew. She glared at Ella. “It’s because of you I lost Dad’s love! You take all the toys and pretty dresses! I hate you!” Ella’s eyes welled with tears, and she started trembling, gasping for breath. “I’m sorry, Naomi! I didn’t mean to make you mad.” As she cried, her breathing became more labored, and her face paled until, suddenly, she fainted. Her head hit the corner of the coffee table, and blood gushed from the wound. Rachel immediately called an ambulance. Furious, I kicked Naomi in the chest. “You know your sister is weak and can’t handle stress. It’s just a dress! How could you make her pass out over something so trivial?” Naomi fell to the floor, clutching her chest in pain, her face contorted. Tears welled in her eyes as she sobbed, “Dad, Ella is your daughter, but aren’t I your daughter too?” “Is it so wrong to want to keep my own dress?” I was too angry to hear reason. I raised my hand again, shouting, “After what you did to your sister, you dare talk back to me?” Naomi, terrified, started trembling, biting her lip as her eyes filled with tears. Rachel grabbed my arm. “Don’t! She didn’t mean to, Donovan.” At that moment, Ella regained consciousness and, weakly, tried to explain, “Dad, don’t blame Naomi. It was my fault for fainting.” I rushed to Ella’s side, cradling her gently. “You’re hurt so badly, Ella, and still you defend her? Naomi doesn’t care about you at all.” From the corner of the room, Naomi sat curled up, watching us with tear-filled eyes. After that incident, my relationship with Naomi visibly deteriorated. She never initiated conversations with me again, and her smiles became rare. Whenever she looked at me, her eyes were filled with fear and mistrust. That was the first time I hit her, and afterward, I regretted it. It was just children being children. How could I, as an adult, lose control like that? But as a parent, I couldn’t bring myself to apologize. From that point in her diary onward, Naomi’s entries became more frequent, almost daily. It seemed that every time she saw me, she was reminded of that day, and every little thing would make her sad again.

I continued reading, and the entries soon reached Naomi’s eighteenth year. Ella had started dating a street thug and was considering dropping out of school. When I found out that Naomi had introduced Ella to this boy, I was furious. I stormed into the school and slapped Naomi in front of the teachers and students. “Naomi Parker, what are you thinking? How could you introduce such a scumbag to your sister? She’s your flesh and blood! If you’re angry at us, fine, but why ruin her life?” Naomi held her cheek, looking at me in disbelief. “Dad, who told you I introduced Derek to Ella?” I turned to Rachel, who looked away guiltily. “Ella told me. She said Derek was your friend and that you had vouched for him, so I didn’t worry.” Naomi’s face went cold, and she pulled out her phone to show me their messages. Derek had pursued Naomi first, but she had rejected him several times. He eventually turned his attention to Ella, and Naomi had even warned Ella multiple times, telling her Derek hadn’t gone to college and didn’t have a proper job. She begged Ella not to be fooled by his sweet words. Only then did I realize I had wrongly accused Naomi. But with the teachers and students still watching, I couldn’t swallow my pride. So, I stammered, “Even if that’s true, you’re still her sister! You go to the same school. Why didn’t you tell me about this earlier? You should’ve helped her out sooner!” The moment the words left my mouth, I felt my face flush with shame. The judgmental stares from those around us only intensified. Naomi didn’t cry this time. She just clenched her fists in silence. I pulled her aside and quietly apologized. “Naomi, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have blamed you. But please, she’s your sister. Can you help convince her to leave him?” After much persuasion, Naomi finally agreed to talk to Ella. By that time, Ella had already realized who Derek really was and wanted to break up with him, but Derek refused to let her go. In a desperate move, he and his gang kidnapped Ella, and when Naomi tried to intervene, she was taken too. Derek and his gang demanded a ransom of one million dollars for each girl. At the time, I had just started my business, and I only had one million dollars available. I would have to choose between my two daughters. When the time came for the exchange, Naomi and Ella were both tied up. Ella, with tears streaming down her face, pleaded, “Dad, please save me. I don’t want to die.” Naomi, however, remained calm, staring at me without a word. I knew that Naomi had been dragged into this situation and that I was more responsible for what had happened than she was. That million should’ve been used to save her. Derek pushed me to make a decision. “Who’s it going to be?” I looked at Naomi, ready to say her name, but Ella fainted from the stress. Seeing her pale face and fragile body, my heart wavered. I couldn’t bear to lose her. My resolve crumbled, and I painfully uttered the words, “Save Ella.” For the first time, a flicker of emotion crossed Naomi’s calm eyes. After a long pause, she spoke in a dry, raspy voice, her laughter hollow and bitter. “So, you never loved me. I’m just a stranger to you.” Tears welled in her eyes as she whispered, her voice breaking. I couldn’t bear to look her in the eye. I turned away and said, “Naomi, I’m sorry. But Ella is weak, and she passed out. I have to save her first. Don’t worry, I’ll find another million to save you.” And with that, I left with Ella.

After getting Ella to the hospital, I had planned to start raising the money to save Naomi. But Ella’s condition was critical, and the doctors said she might need surgery. Then, Rachel fainted from the stress, so I stayed to sign the paperwork. It wasn’t until five days later that I was finally free to focus on getting Naomi back. But by then, Naomi had already returned. She was found unconscious on our doorstep, her clothes torn and her body covered in bruises. The men who were arrested later confessed to beating Naomi with steel rods, burning her with cigarettes, and feeding her scraps of leftover food. They had been planning something far worse, but she managed to escape under the cover of night, walking three days and nights through wilderness. Her feet were bloodied from the journey, and she survived by eating leaves and drinking muddy water. By the time she reached civilization, she resorted to rummaging through trash for food. After those horrific five days, Naomi was never the same. She was plagued by nightmares, waking up in terror. Even the slightest touch made her flinch, and she would drop to her knees, begging us not to hurt her. Then, she fell gravely ill with a fever that lasted for three days and three nights. When she finally recovered, she had lost all her memories of what had happened. From that moment on, she became a different person. She was quiet and obedient. Anytime there was only one of something, Naomi would give it to Ella without hesitation, even before Rachel or I could say a word. The more she did this, the more guilt I felt. The truth was, the person Naomi had become was entirely my fault. Just as I reached this realization, Rachel interrupted my thoughts with a pat on my shoulder. “Donovan, have you finished the calculations?” “She’s rich and successful now, all thanks to us raising her. We should add up every penny and make her pay us back, with interest.” Before I found the diary, I might have agreed with Rachel. But now, having read Naomi’s diary, I couldn’t help but question whether we had ever truly “raised” her in the way a parent should. And after everything, how could we demand that she pay us back? Just then, Lucas Foster, Ella’s husband, walked in and told us that Ella had been diagnosed with kidney failure and urgently needed a transplant. Without hesitation, Rachel and I rushed to the hospital to get tested, but neither of us was a match. Crushed by the news, Rachel slumped in her chair. But suddenly, her face lit up with an idea. “Naomi. Naomi is Ella’s sister. She must be a match.” My heart sank. Naomi had cut ties with us. She wanted nothing to do with our family anymore. Even if her kidney was a match, I doubted she would agree to help. Rachel grabbed my arm, desperation in her voice. “Donovan, we can’t lose Ella. We have to convince Naomi to get tested.” Lying in her hospital bed, Ella looked frail and tearful. “Dad, I don’t want to die. Please, please save me.” “Naomi is kind. If her kidney is a match, I know she’ll save me. Please, go find her.” Both of them were my daughters, and I didn’t want to lose either of them. After much deliberation, I finally decided to go to Naomi. I just prayed she would help, for the sake of sisterly love. As we drove to her apartment, with Lucas at the wheel, I couldn’t help but feel a deep, gnawing guilt. In fact, Lucas was originally the boyfriend of his eldest daughter, Naomi, and was already talking about marriage at that time.

Lucas Foster was a promising young executive at a large company, and Naomi had graduated from a prestigious school, making them a perfect match. I wholeheartedly supported their relationship. Who would have thought that Ella would come between them? To make matters worse, Ella became pregnant with Lucas’s child. Her explanation was that they got drunk at a party and things just happened. Both Ella and my wife, Rachel, knelt in front of me, pleading for me to let Ella be with Lucas. Ella was sobbing, her face streaked with tears. “Dad, I really love Lucas. Even if you won’t think of me, at least think about the baby. Your grandchild can’t grow up without a father.” “Naomi listens to you the most. I’m sure if you talk to her, she’ll agree to let Lucas go.” Rachel chimed in, “I know our Ella did Naomi wrong, but what’s done is done. We can’t ask Ella to get rid of the baby, can we?” “Naomi has always been so mature and understanding. She wouldn’t want to see her sister in this situation. Besides, Naomi is so accomplished—she’ll have no problem finding another man.” Their pitiful expressions made me soften, even though I knew I was betraying my eldest daughter once again. That evening, Rachel prepared all of Naomi’s favorite dishes and invited her over for dinner. After we had eaten, Rachel gave me a subtle nod, signaling it was time. Swallowing my pride, I explained the situation to Naomi. “Naomi, sweetheart, you’ve always been so good to us, never causing any trouble. You’ve worked hard and deserve the best. But your sister… Ella, she’s fragile, and it’s harder for her to find a match.” “Now, because of a misunderstanding, she’s pregnant with Lucas’s child. Could you possibly let Lucas go for her sake?” Even as I spoke, I felt too ashamed to meet Naomi’s eyes. I expected her to explode in anger, to curse us out and storm off. But to my surprise, she remained calm. After a brief pause, she quietly agreed. And just like that, Ella, pregnant with Lucas’s child, became his wife. Out of guilt, I bought Naomi a car to use for her commute to work. But two weeks later, Ella got into a car accident while driving Naomi’s car, and she lost the baby. I immediately assumed Naomi had lent Ella the car, leading to this tragedy. Outside the hospital, I lashed out at Naomi. “You knew Ella was pregnant, yet you still lent her your car. What were you thinking? You caused this accident! This is all your fault!” My anger was uncontrollable as I glared at her. Rachel tried to calm me down, biting her lip as she spoke, “It wasn’t Naomi who lent Ella the car.” “How could that be?” I snapped. “I bought that car for Naomi. If she didn’t lend it to Ella, how did she get her hands on it?” Rachel lowered her gaze, speaking hesitantly. “Ella and Lucas were getting married soon, and they had everything but a car. I mentioned it to Naomi, and she agreed to let them use it.” Shocked, I turned to Naomi. “I gave that car to you. Why would you give it to them?” Naomi looked down, her voice quiet but firm. “Dad, how many things that you’ve given me have I actually been able to keep? They’re always taken away eventually. It’s just a matter of time.” At that moment, I realized how poorly I had treated Naomi as a father. I had always tried to balance things equally, but somehow, the scales always tipped in Ella’s favor. Over time, I got used to expecting Naomi to sacrifice for her sister. But the truth is, both girls were my daughters, and Naomi never had an obligation to give up what was hers for Ella.

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My roommate‘s brother is recruiting for a factory. ＂You can earn 10,000 in a month doing part-time work.＂ I think it’s a scam. At the same time, my family’s small factory is recruiting part-time worker,and I took them to my family. In order to take care of my classmates, my mother gave us four thousand a month, provide food and housing But my roommate heard that the long-term worker can get seven thousand per month, they said that my family are devil. Not only did they report my parents to the to the Labour Bureau, but also went on a live broadcast saying that our products were defective. My family went bankrupt. My parents committed suicide. I was so traumatized that I fell overboard. When I woke up, I was back at the day they discussed going to work part-time. …… ＂My brother said the work is easy and pays well.＂ The fan was whirring in the cramped dormitory. Abby said these words to us from her bed. The other two said, “Wow.” Connie asked, ＂Can we have such good conditions?＂ ＂Sure.＂ Abby patted his chest and said, ＂My brother is the HR in the factory. He told me that as long as you go you can get your salary. The factory is also near the sea, we can also go to the beach on days off.＂ Abby described the part-time life very good, it seems they would like to take the train right now. Suddenly Abby changed the topic to me: “Barbara, do you want to go with us?” Looking at her face, I tried to control my anger. I could never have imagined that such a pure exterior hid a heart like a demon. I smiled gently at her. ＂I can’t go. I have to go back to help my mother.＂ ＂You come with us. Why stay at home when you can make $20,000 in two months over the summer?＂ I got up with my book. ＂Sorry, my mom said no, I have to go to the library to study now.＂ ＂You’re so grown up!＂ They laughed. I left the dorm and went to the library. The cold air made me realize what was real. I wasn’t angry at those three people. I was thankful. I was reborn. In my last life, Abby also suggested a the idea of taking a part-time job in the summer vacation. The factory was in my hometown. I knew that the average factory would only offer 8,000 for the long-term workers. It would be impossible to be so generous to the summer job. I told Abby it was a scam and to look for another job. My family was recruiting, so I told them I wanted to work at home as a summer job. My parents opened a garment factory. They needed help with simple tasks or work in the air-conditioned house. I didn’t worry about recruiting people for this position at home. My mother offers a high salary. And for my classmates, my mother takes care of them like children, so she decided to pay them a monthly salary of 4000, without mandatory workload, and also provides food and accommodation. My housemates agreed when I told them.

We got along well at the start of the first half-month. We’ve been roommates since our first year at college. Abby is the head of the dorm, beautiful and talkative. She’s also a good mediator between us. They work hard. My mother likes them and gives me money to take them to a local restaurant. Abby heard the others who works together talking about how much they were making and got really angry. She asked my mother if she was using them as cheap labour. But the truth was Abby and the other girls had one-third the workload of the others. ＂We are college students, so we cost more than hiring those rural women. You are paying for knowledge.＂Abby said. My mom was confused. She didn’t know what knowledge was needed for packing. But Abby was my classmate, so she asked, ＂How should we settle it?＂ They wanted my mother to pay them half a month’s salary so they could leave. My mom wanted to put the whole thing to rest, so she paid her with what she Abby asked for. I didn’t think this would cause a problem. When Abby left, she told the workers what she had done. How can the salary of temporary workers be better than those of old employees. So they want my mom to give them a raise. Just as the workers’ commotion subsided, Abby began to turn into a demon again. She put this on the Internet, saying that my parents was devil who forced them to work. This news spread widely online and she became very famous. People online proposed ideas, and she followed them. She called the labor department, tax bureau, and fire department every three days. My family was a small business, although it is not illegal, we still cannot tolerate people coming to inspect every day. My mother asked if she could pay her a settlement to stop it.. At this point, the discussion about this matter on the internet was no longer as hot, until she sent a text message online, asking for my mother’s forgiveness. She also revealed my home, saying that the quality of my clothes is very poor. My family was a supplier to big brands. This incident led to high liquidated damages. My parents’ hair turned white overnight. Under the pressure of public opinion and liquidated damages, they took medicine to commit suicide. I lost my family because I brought my roommates home. After my parents died, I had a mental breakdown. I lived a muddled life, unable to distinguish between dream and reality. I saw my parents on the beach and walked towards them. I fell into the sea when the sea water got into my nose. It was too late. I don’t think I learned much in the library. By the time I had thought about it, the library had started to kick people out. Back in the dorm, the girls still wanted to work part-time. I went to shower and didn’t want to be a part of this. If I didn’t care about them, they still wanted to care about me. After I showered and dried my hair, Abby came over. She said her brother needed four people and had already signed me up. She asked me to pay the sign-up fee. She had a kind face and looked like she wanted me to thank her. I looked straight at her and said, ＂Who asked you to sign me up?＂

Abby froze and frowned, ＂What’s your attitude? I’m being kind.＂ I looked at her. ＂I said I’m not going. Why are you reporting this to me?＂ Abby’s face showed panic, but she quickly calmed down. She scolded me, ＂If you’re not going, don’t slander people.＂ The argument attracted Connie and the girls. Connie was naturally on Abby’s side. She rolled her eyes at me, ＂Barbara, you’re too much. Abby said we work part-time together with you is to avoid isolating you. You just don’t know how to appreciate good people.” Zoe also backed Abby, saying, ＂That;s right. Liu Barbara, you’re so unsociable.＂ ＂Good intentions?＂ I sneered, ＂Who knows what she did with my information? Maybe she sold it to a pyramid scheme.＂ People from other dorms came to see what was going on. More and more people gathered at our door. ＂Barbara, you’ve gone too far!＂ Abby ran out after yelling. Zoe chased me out. ＂Are you satisfied?＂ I said loudly, ＂What? She leaked my information. She also did something wrong.＂ My voice echoed through the dormitory. Other students thoght I have no problems with this move. They were wondering if Abby was connected with those pyramid selling organizations. That night, Abby cried all night in the dormitory. The next day, the teacher discovered it. When the teacher brought us over, Abby thought I was outnumbered and that the teacher would say something favorable to her. She was very rude to the teacher, saying that I had wronged her. After listened to my words, the teacher asked Abby to apologize to me. “If you take someone’s ID card without their consent, then you are wrong. If Barbara is serious, you may enter the police station.” The teacher frowned at the seriousness of the matter. Abby apologized to me. I feel happy to see her looking nauseous. The teacher asked me to leave first, leaving the three of them to discuss summer job scams. After this, I have completely broken off relations with Abby and the others. In the dormitory, they isolated me and spoke ill of me loudly. I recorded their words and told the mentor. I wanted to change dormitories. But it was difficult to change dormitories at the end of the semester, but she can pay me to stay in a hotel and change dormitories next semester. I know the mentor was also well intentioned, changing dormitories at the end of the semester is not easy. I agreed. The three of them also had to review for the final exam. We didn’t speak for the last week but didn’t have any big arguments. The final exams were over. I bought a ticket to go home. When I got on the train, I realized Abby and the three of them had bought tickets on the same train. She was sitting opposite me.

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I tried to be considerate of Nora’s postpartum challenges, so I brought her rural parents in to help. But she couldn’t stand them, saying they mistreated her and wanted them gone immediately. After sending them back, Nora went back to work, earning just enough to barely offset a babysitter’s costs. Despite that, she constantly suspected me of fooling around with the babysitter. Finally, I’d had enough and filed for divorce. But it wasn’t until I ended up in her shoes that I realized just how wrong I’d been. A baby’s wail filled my ears, and I felt like I was trapped in a furnace. Groggily, I opened my eyes and instinctively called out, “Nora, what’s going on? Could you come take care of the baby?” The sound of my own voice shocked me. Why did I sound exactly like my wife—no, my ex-wife? Just yesterday, we’d had a massive argument and finalized the divorce. We’d met in college and married not long after graduation. For a while, everything was great. But things changed after Nora gave birth; she grew more and more extreme in her reactions. Wanting to help, I’d brought her parents up from Littleton to lend a hand, but she found fault with them every day. She told me they were abusive, constantly demanding that I send them away. Eventually, I did just that. Then she returned to work, only to earn what was barely enough to pay for the babysitter’s fees. And yet she still constantly accused me of getting involved with the sitter. Thinking about how I’d no longer have to deal with her angry face, I happily reserved a private room at Blue Ridge Grill & Tavern and called my friends over to celebrate the “newly liberated me.” Now, though, as I looked down at my arms, my breath hitched in shock. Smooth, pale skin stared back at me—Nora’s skin. Then I looked over at the tiny baby beside me, smaller than my forearm. A strange thought took hold: somehow, I hadn’t just ended up in Nora’s body—I’d traveled back to when Chloe was just born. And if I’m in her body, could Nora be in mine? With a jolt, I found Nora’s phone, unlocked it, and dialed my own number. In seconds, it picked up. “Nora?” I asked tentatively. “Alex?” came her equally cautious reply. Yep. We’d switched bodies. While I was freaking out, Nora seemed unfazed—even a bit excited. “Who knows how long we’ll be stuck like this? Besides, I’m still on maternity leave, so this is a great time for you to stay home and bond with Chloe. Don’t worry about work; I’ve got you covered. You and Chloe will be in good hands,” she said brightly. The casual “Honey” stopped me cold. She hadn’t called me that, sweetly or otherwise, since Chloe was a year old. Yesterday, she’d left claw marks on my face. “How long’s it been since you worked, anyway? Are you sure you’ll manage?” She scoffed. “Please. It’s been a year. If I hadn’t stepped out to take care of Chloe, I’d probably be your boss by now.” And with that, she hung up with characteristic flair. Good thing she didn’t remember the future; I’d hate to see what kind of revenge she’d come up with. With a resigned sigh, I wiped the sticky sweat off my face, picked up my crying daughter, and headed to the bathroom to bathe her. I found Dad on the couch, munching on watermelon and watching the game, the fan blasting away while he looked as comfortable as could be. “Hey, Dad, could you check the AC in my room? It isn’t coming on.” He glanced at me casually. “Your mom unplugged it; said you keep it running all day, and the electric bill’s sky-high.” Great. My mom may have come from the country, but she wasn’t stingy with family, even if she did pinch pennies with herself. Annoyed, I didn’t press it. Chloe was sweaty and uncomfortable, so I rushed her to the bathroom for a quick rinse. Nora, being the health-conscious type, had stayed slim through her pregnancy. Compared to other women who gained baby weight, she’d barely changed. For a moment, I was happy about that. But as I tried to feed Chloe, who cried endlessly, that joy quickly soured. Was she so focused on her looks that she couldn’t wait until Chloe was weaned to diet? Pulling on my shorts, I stepped out of the bathroom with Chloe in my arms, still fuming. I glanced toward Dad, only to feel a chill as I realized I’d forgotten to dress properly. Embarrassed, I ran back to the bathroom and awkwardly slipped into one of Nora’s nightgowns. I felt completely ridiculous. My own dad had just seen more of Nora than he ever should have. Just as I tried to walk past as casually as possible, he spoke up. “Don’t worry, Nora,” he said with a sly grin. “Didn’t see a thing.” If he’d really meant it, he could’ve just kept quiet. And why was he smiling like that? Was it the sleep deprivation, or was there something unsettling about that grin? I shrugged it off, chalking it up to Nora’s exhaustion and my strained nerves. I fumbled through feeding Chloe, mixing formula, changing diapers, until she finally settled down. Then I let out a breath of relief. Mom would be back soon from shopping, and then I could hand Chloe over and get a break.

“Nora! Are you planning to waltz out here anytime soon, or are you really expecting us to cater to you like some kind of queen?” Mom’s shrill voice jolted me awake. My eyes flew open as relief washed over me. “Mom, just in time! Chloe—” I hadn’t even finished before she let me have it. “Oh, so it’s fine for you to hide out in the AC all morning, huh? Do you think Alex’s paycheck grows on trees, just so you can waste it? It’s about time he divorced you!” I was too stunned to respond. Nora used to tell me that my mom was only polite to her face and criticized her behind closed doors, but I thought she was exaggerating to drive Mom away. Now, hearing it firsthand, my chest tightened. “Mom, how could you say that? Chloe’s a baby; she can’t be sitting in a room that’s so hot!” Mom snapped off the AC and glared at me. “Hot? Please. She’s just a little girl, not some precious gem.” I wiped the spit from my face, feeling shaken. Mom had always played the doting grandmother in front of me, spoiling Chloe, calling her “my little angel.” I had no idea it was all for show. Reluctantly, I followed her to the dining table. Chicken soup steamed from a big bowl. Normally, the aroma would make me hungry, but now it churned my stomach. Trying to keep up my strength for breastfeeding, I held back the nausea and reached for a bowl, only for Mom to smack my hand away. “Show some respect, will you? Alex works himself to the bone, and you’re trying to snatch his meal? You should be grateful he keeps a roof over your head!” Apparently, the big bowl of soup was for “Alex,” while Nora’s dainty portion was in a smaller bowl. It almost made sense, but I still felt the sting. Holding back frustration, I searched for a piece of chicken in the pot, only to find the tail, neck, and head staring back at me. Finally, I couldn’t take it and pushed my bowl away. “Forget it. I’m done.” She couldn’t understand that I was the one she was actually hurting. Angry, I stormed off to my room and ordered a big takeout meal from Frankie’s Pizza as an act of defiance. When it arrived, I texted Nora, half-laughing to myself. “Did you get a taste of my mom’s famous chicken soup?” “Yeah, not bad. You should eat too; can’t have Chloe going hungry.” “It’s too fishy; I couldn’t eat it.” “Doesn’t matter. American formula’s full of who-knows-what, and imported stuff is too expensive. Besides, breast milk’s free and healthier.” I had no words. It sounded just like something I would’ve told her in the past when she’d complain. I thought she was being fussy. After all, don’t all mothers get through this stuff? And Mom treated her like a daughter—at least, that’s what I believed. This role reversal made me realize what Nora had endured. A heavy, suffocating weight settled in my chest. When the pizza arrived, I was eating at the table when suddenly, Mom yanked my hair back, spilling hot soup onto my lap, and slapped me hard across the face. “What’s gotten into you, wasting money on delivery when I’ve made a perfectly good meal? How ungrateful can you get?” My scalp, legs, and cheek were stinging with pain, and my mind was spinning. This was the same “loving” mother who’d always backed me up. Fighting back tears, I choked out, “Mom, it’s me, Alex. Your son.” She scoffed and muttered something about me being delusional as she stormed out, leaving the mess behind.

Hours passed in misery until Nora finally got home. Mom may have refused to help with Chloe, but surely Nora wouldn’t. Eager to pass her over, I held Chloe out to Nora, only for Mom to intercept. “I’ll take the baby. Alex has worked hard all day, while you’ve done nothing. Why don’t you give him a massage instead?” Rubbing my temples, I muttered, “Caring for Chloe’s a lot harder than you think. I’d appreciate a back rub too.” Mom’s face crumpled into a tearful expression. “I cook, I clean, I do it all, and now you’re complaining?” For a second, I wavered. Mom had cried like this in front of me before, and I’d always thought it was Nora being ungrateful. What had I let happen here? Seeing Nora’s look of amusement as she flopped onto the couch, I heard her say, “Nora, what’s with the attitude toward Mom? She came all this way to help. Go apologize.” Her words struck me like a hammer. She’d remembered every time I’d said that to her. I sighed and gave in, massaging Mom’s shoulders obediently. That night, as the family settled in, Nora worked on her laptop in the living room. Trying to be helpful, I leaned over. “Long day? Need help with anything?” Her gaze shifted from the screen to me, her eyes sparkling with newfound determination. “It was tough this morning, but I hit my stride by afternoon. I didn’t take time off for pregnancy, so I’m still on top of my game.” Watching her confidence, I felt a bit ashamed. Nora had always been ambitious; I’d been lucky to marry her. But seeing her work so hard made me wonder—had I been supporting her at all? “I’ll be back to work once I’m fully recovered. Then we can hire someone to help with Chloe.” Nora raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Isn’t your mom her grandmother? She should be happy to care for her.” I chuckled wryly. “I know, honey. I know better now.” If it weren’t for this bizarre experience, I’d still be in denial, convinced Mom was a saint. Chloe woke up crying every couple of hours, and each time, I forced myself awake to feed her. Exhausted, I stumbled into the living room where Nora was sleeping, holding Chloe with dark circles under my eyes. “I’m going nuts, Nora. I can’t handle this. Please take her, and I’ll go to work.” No sooner had I made the request than Mom burst out, grasping Nora’s hand with a tearful expression. “My poor son! Working so hard and all he gets is a thankless wife,” she said, her voice filled with dramatic pity. I used to believe Mom’s words with misty eyes, thinking she was my wise, empathetic mother. Now, I wanted nothing more than to tell her to stop. But she was my mother. I kept my silence. Nora pulled her hand free, gave me a sympathetic look, and, with all the wisdom of her newfound experience, said, “Honey, remember: being a mom makes you strong.” Only now did I fully grasp just how strong she’d been all along.

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The night air bit into my skin as I looked up. “Alice.” Alpha Mike’s tone was clipped, cold, a blade meant to wound. “You’re weak. I cannot have weakness beside me. I, Alpha Mike, reject you.” My heart dropped. “You’re rejecting me? Just… just because I haven’t—” “Because you’re no wolf.” His eyes held no mercy. “You’re a liability.” Around us, whispers bega “Did she really think the Alpha would keep her?” “She’s a disgrace.” My father stood in the crowd, face blank, but I could see it—disappointment, etched like stone. I took a shaky breath, reaching out to her. “Mom… please—” He looked away, lips pressed tight. “Alice,” “you’ve made your bed. Now lie in it.” Tears pricked my eyes. He turned her back, his voice low. “Your new mate will be arranged by morning. Don’t make this harder.” “Moon Goddess, why? Why did you curse me like this?” I’m willing to go back and get married,” I murmured, almost too quietly to hear. “You—” My father began, half-hearted words of persuasion on his lips. “You… agreed?” “Yes, I agreed.” “That’s wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!” “I’ve been saying it all along—you should have agreed sooner! Alpha Nicola is a good match; he doesn’t mind that you haven’t shifted, and he respects you! And not to mention, his pack is only growing stronger…” I closed my eyes halfway, cutting him off with a weary sigh. “Dad, I’m tired.” I wasn’t sure how long I’d been lying there when footsteps sounded outside my door. The birthday girl, Ella, burst in, grinning ear to ear and balancing a slice of cake in her hand. She wore a sparkling gold crown, glinting like something out of a fairytale, giving her the air of a little princess. “Alice, come downstairs and join us!” she said, her voice dripping with cheer. I forced a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “I’m not feeling great. You all go ahead—enjoy yourselves.” Ella’s eyes filling with tears. “Alice… do you… not like me? Is that why… why you never come and celebrate with us?” Here we go again. Playing the innocent, fragile girl who’s somehow always a victim. And of course, all the guys just eat it up. “Drop the act, Ella,” “I’m not coming. Isn’t this what you wanted?” She strolled to the door, but instead of leaving, she turned back with a smug look. “Alice, Alpha Mike ’s going to announce me as his Luna. I guess a weak, wolf-less girl like you should be happy with her place… rotting in the shadows.” She lifted the slice of cake in her hand and hurled it toward me. Instinctively, I raised my arm to block it, but to my shock, she stumbled back, falling with a loud thud. “Ella, what are you trying to pull?” I hissed, my voice low and filled with disbelief. Though I managed to block it in time, the cake still splattered across me, leaving me standing there, humiliated and disheveled. My sister, Ella, lay sprawled on the floor, a faint smile playing on her lips. Then, as if on cue, her eyes welled up with tears, spilling down her cheeks, painting her face with the perfect picture of innocence and betrayal. And just like that, an enraged howl tore through the hallway. “Alice!”

Two men charged up the stairs, their footsteps echoing down the hall. One rushed to Ella’s side, helping her up as she lay on the floor, while the other placed himself between us, his gaze fixed on me with barely contained rage. “Alice, what were you thinking? How could you be so cruel?” Alpha Mike’s voice was low and seething as he pulled Ella into his arms, gently massaging her back. “Are you hurt, Ella? Tell me you’re okay.” Ella looked up at him, her face pale and trembling, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m fine, Alpha Mike. Don’t be mad at Alice… I’m sure she didn’t mean it.” She sniffled, tears shimmering in her eyes, her voice filled with feigned innocence. I scoffed, a cold smile tugging at my lips. “I didn’t do anything,”Mathew, who had been standing in front of them. “Alice, this is too far.” “I told you, it wasn’t me,” I said sharply, turning to leave. The sticky mess of cake smeared across me was as disgusting as the whole scene itself. But before I could step past them, Mathew blocked my path. “Apologize, Alice. Apologize to Ella,” “Apologize?” I asked, incredulous. “For what? I told you, it wasn’t me!” Ella’s soft voice cut in from behind him. “Please, Alpha Mike… don’t be angry with Alice. I’m sure she didn’t mean to… to push me.” She cast a quick, sidelong glance at me, a hint of triumph flickering behind her teary eyes. “Do you see this, Alice? Look at her—she’s willing to forgive you, even after what you did. She’s still defending you!” “Are you done?” I turned and walked back into my room, shutting the door firmly behind me. Outside, I heard Alpha Mike’s frustrated growl, followed by a hard thud as he punched the wall in anger. “Who does she think she is?” he spat. But when he looked down at Ella, the anger melting into something sickeningly tender. “Ella, don’t let this spoil your night. Let’s get you cleaned up, and I’ll take you somewhere special. It’s your birthday, after all. No tears, okay?” Ella nuzzled into his embrace, wiping her tears on his shirt as she flashed me one last victorious glance through the crack in the door. “I won’t cry anymore, Alpha Mike. Not if you’re with me.” Behind the locked door, I sank against the wall. Once, I was the one they took care of—the one they trusted unconditionally, the one they vowed to protect. Growing up in Flowerland, I was fragile, a child plagued by severe allergies and a weakened immune system. The fields of wildflowers that blanketed my home city were beautiful to most, but to me, they were a storm of allergens that would leave me breathless and feverish if I dared step outside without medicine. When I was six, a severe allergic reaction nearly took my life, and my parents, heartbroken but resolute, sent me to live in the colder, flowerless Rivermoon pack with my grandparents. The change in climate gave me a break from the constant risk, and it was there that I met two boys in the small, tight-knit pack that shared our neighborhood: Alpha Mike and Mathew. The three of us were inseparable. They would swear time and time again to be my protectors, promising to make me their “princess,” saying they’d care for me for the rest of my life. When my grandparents passed away a few years later, Mike and Mathew took turns bringing me meals, memorizing every single allergen that could hurt me. In time, they knew my weaknesses even better than I did. As I grew older, my mother began urging me to return to the main pack, convinced I was strong enough to handle it. But I stayed, lingering in the warmth and care of my two closest. I’d begun to feel the stirrings of something deeper between Mike and me, a pull stronger than any friendship—a mate bond. But when did everything begin to unravel?

Everything changed the moment Ella arrived. I was sixteen when my father’s betrayal was exposed, and I had no choice but to move with him to the Riverland Pack, where he’d begun his new life. My half-sister Ella arrived not long after with her mother, my new stepmother. Ella knew just when to lean in, tilt her head, and soften her voice, using her helplessness like a weapon to draw men toward her. Where I was proud and unyielding, Ella made weakness an art form, the kind that could make every male around her feel like they were her knight in shining armor. When she arrived, Alpha Mike and Mathew, the two people I’d thought would stand by me no matter what, looked out for her at first only out of obligation. She was, after all, my sister. But once Ella had gained a foothold, she turned everything into a game I never realized I was losing until it was too late. One evening, I discovered she’d added both of them on WhatsApp, claiming it was to help her manage my needs more easily. But what had been a thread connecting us quickly became a chain tying them to her. Soon, it was no longer our bond of three—but hers. It wasn’t long before I began noticing the whispers, the glances. My connection with Mike grew strained as Ella found ways to insert herself deeper into his world. She didn’t shift yet, but it didn’t matter—her human form was enough to pull him under her spell, leaving me out in the cold. And Mathew, who had once promised to protect me, was swept up in her orbit, too, laughing at her jokes, defending her. Mike had always been impulsive, drawn to extreme sports like a moth to a flame. I’d warned him countless times, but he’d just chuckle and say, “Oh come on, life is too short! Just let me do what I love!” Yet now, for Ella’s sake, he hadn’t touched any extreme sports in six months, all because of a single word from her. On the other hand, Mathew, usually calm and reserved, had taken a surprising turn as well. He never liked crowds and preferred quiet evenings alone. But now, he was the one who insisted on hosting a big birthday party for Ella at our family villa. Mike’s pov I’ve known since I turned sixteen that Alice is my mate, but it feels wrong. She doesn’t even have a wolf. “How can someone so weak become a Luna?” I thought bitterly. “Alice is beautiful, you know,” Mathew said, leaning against the wall with a smirk. “Yeah, beautiful enough to drive me crazy,” I snapped, running a hand through my hair. “All the guys in the pack want her—not as a mate, just for fun.” “It infuriates you, huh?” Mathew chuckled. “But she doesn’t even have a wolf.” “Exactly! When we turn twelve, we hear our wolves, but she’s never heard hers. They say she’s cursed,” I replied, frustration bubbling. “No one wants a cursed mate.” “So why not just go for Ella?” Mathew suggested, raising an eyebrow. “She’s easier to be with.” “Ella? Please. She’s not half as captivating as Alice,” I shot back. “But yeah, I’m with Ella. It’s simpler.” “Right, but you’re still pining after Alice,” Mathew pointed out. “You want her as your mistress, not your Luna.” “I can’t help it!” Alice’s pov My father’s choice for an arranged marriage must have been carefully selected, and honestly, that was fine by me. My phone buzzed. “Alice, why haven’t you liked my latest post?” Ella’s message popped up. She was in a lavish princess dress, flanked by Mathew and Alpha Mike. “Look at me, the perfect princess,” I muttered under my breath. I knew she posted it to annoy me. Normally, I might feel upset, but not today. I quickly tapped the like button. “There, happy now?” As for what the three of them thought? That was no longer my concern.

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“Mom, I’ve thought about it. I’m going abroad with you.” A pause, then joy filled her voice. “Lola, that’s wonderful! I’ll arrange your visa right away. Spend time with your friends while you can. You won’t see them much after you leave.” I nodded, glancing at a photo of two smiling kids in a fiery sunset. “And don’t forget your uncle,” Mom added. “He’s been there for you all these years. Make sure to thank him.” “I will, Mom,” I said softly, still looking at that sunset memory. “I know, Mom. I’ll thank him properly.” After hanging up, I stared at the photo—a sunset with two kids smiling. The older one was my uncle, Henry. When I was six, my dad died in an accident, and my mom disappeared. It was Henry, only fourteen then, who took me in and raised me, despite all objections. He walked me to school every day, balancing his life around me. How could I not fall for someone so caring, so steady? I kept my feelings buried, knowing that voicing them might change everything. Life felt stable—until that day. I had just turned 18, and Henry cleared his schedule to celebrate with me. He was in high spirits, and by the time the guests left, he’d had a bit too much to drink. As I helped him to his room, I glanced at his relaxed face, his cheeks flushed, lips parted slightly. Without thinking, I leaned down and kissed him. Henry’s eyes flew open, and he pushed me back. “Lola! Are you crazy? What are you doing?” I steadied myself, heart pounding. This was it. No more hiding. “Henry,” I said, meeting his shocked gaze. “I like you.” “You’re insane, Lola! I’m your uncle! How could you?” Henry looked at me, disbelief etched across his face. “But we’re not related by blood,” I replied calmly. “Henry,. We aren’t family by blood.” His face darkened. “Lola, I’m eight years older than you. You’re only eighteen. You can’t tell the difference between family affection and love.” “Henry, I know the difference,” I said firmly. “I’ve liked you for a long time. I’m an adult, and I know what I’m feeling.” I’d never defied Henry before, and he looked at me, his face growing serious. “Lola, your feelings aren’t love. You’re just confused. You’re still too young to—” I cut him off. “Henry, do you think I’m joking because of my age? Just wait. I’ll prove it.” His eyes searched mine, almost helpless. “You’re crazy. Absolutely crazy…” I don’t remember how that argument ended; I only know that every birthday since, I wished to be with Henry. Eighteen, nineteen, twenty, twenty-one—it was always the same wish. He always said I was stubborn, like a mule. And he was right. But now, with my 22nd birthday a month away, my wish has changed. This year, I decided to leave. I decided to leave Henry Jones.

After confessing my love to Henry when I was eighteen, I’d done it again and again, despite his rejections. “It’s okay,” I’d tell myself. “I have time. I’ll succeed eventually.” But then everything changed. Half a year ago, I got a call from across the ocean. “It’s Mom,” I said, barely able to believe it. She explained, “After the accident, someone rescued me. I was in ICU for a month. I lost my memory, married that person, and had a child.” “Mom, I—” “Recently, I got my memory back and I found you.” She wanted me to move abroad with her, but I refused. Henry was too important to me. I hoped he’d accept my feelings one day—until three months ago. That day, I waited for Henry to come home for dinner, but he walked in with a girl. “Henry, who is she?” I managed to ask. He looked at me calmly. “This is my girlfriend. You should call her aunt, based on seniority.” The girl hit him playfully. “Aunt? That makes me sound old!” She turned to me, smiling. “You must be Lola! Henry talks about you. Don’t call me aunt; just call me Mary. I’m the same age as you.” My heart dropped. “Same age?” I whispered, my heart sinking. Was I just too young? While Mary changed, I couldn’t hold back. “Henry, did you get a girlfriend to make me give up? To provoke me?” He looked at me coldly. “Lola, why are you being so sentimental? I made it clear before: I’m your uncle. We can’t be together.” That night, Mary stayed over at the house. I sat in the garden for half the night, staring at Henry’s room. Behind the curtains, I saw two figures entwined, kissing. When the light finally turned off, tears streamed down my face. In that moment, I decided to give up on Henry. The next morning, I packed my things and waited until he usually got up. I walked to his door and knocked. After a moment, he opened the door, frowning. “What are you doing?”

I felt a bitter sting in my eyes. Ever since I confessed my love at eighteen, Henry had grown distant. He spoke coldly, stopped trying to make me happy, and no longer brought me my favorite cake. He even used work as an excuse to stay out late. I knew he was avoiding me, hoping I’d back down. But how could I give up? I clung to him, acted sweetly, tried to show kindness, even as he became more indifferent. “It’s time,” I told myself. “I need to let go.” But even with that decision, my heart ached. “Why does this hurt so much?” “Uncle.” My voice was dry and hoarse from the sleepless night. Henry frowned at me. I hadn’t called him “uncle” since I confessed my love, thinking it would close the gap between us. But now, ready to give up, I returned to the beginning. “What do you want?” he snapped. “Didn’t I tell you not to bother me?” “I want to change rooms,” I replied. Henry chose my room himself. It had great lighting, beautiful decor, and was right next to his. Too close for comfort. When Henry was fourteen, he said, “Lola lives closest to me, so it’s convenient for me to take care of her.” Now, he had someone else to care for, and I had to step back. It was better to give up my position than be kicked out later. I knew the future mistress of the Jones family was more important than the adopted daughter. “If you want to change, just change,” he said impatiently, slamming the door in my face. I moved to a corner room downstairs, next to an abandoned study filled with junk. During the move, Henry didn’t show up; he was likely too busy with his girlfriend. After settling in, I called my mom. “Mom, I’ve thought about it. I’m going abroad with you.” Now that I decided to go abroad, I had to complete the necessary paperwork. After submitting the application, I waited for the certificate. During that time, Henry and I hardly spoke, only sharing awkward silence at the dinner table. “It’s like we’re strangers,” I finally said one evening. “Worse than strangers,” he replied, not looking up. “At least strangers acknowledge each other.” I nodded, feeling the distance between us grow. We couldn’t even manage a simple conversation anymore. Mary Angel moved into my old room, and I watched her come and go, a bitter smile on my face. Why bother with separate rooms when they could just live together? It was rare to see Mary Angel in the mornings, but today, there she was at the dinner table. I finished my meal quickly and stood up. “I’m done,” I said, nodding to both of them. As I walked out, I could feel Henry’s gaze on me, his discomfort palpable. “Lola, what’s with the coldness?” he asked. I didn’t turn back. “Just being sensible.” “Where are you going? Let me take you. It’s raining outside,” Henry Jones said, surprising me after three years of avoidance since my confession. I felt a flutter in my chest but quickly masked it. “No need. It’s Valentine’s Day. You two should enjoy your date. I’m just going to school to fill out some forms and will be back soon.” Henry looked taken aback. “Valentine’s Day?” I forced a smile. “Didn’t you get a big gift for Mary? Have a great holiday.” “What are you talking about?” He frowned. I shrugged, keeping my tone light. “I saw the news. The next head of the Jones won a jade bracelet worth millions at auction.” God knows how heartbroken I felt seeing that news. I recalled when I was seventeen. Henry asked, “Lola, you’ll be eighteen next year. What birthday gift do you want?” I joked, “A bracelet, the kind in novels. A glass one will do.” I smiled, knowing no gift could compare to him. Henry laughed and scratched my nose. “A glass bracelet? You’re quite greedy, little girl.” … He remembered. But it wasn’t for me. “That’s a gift from me…” he started. “Henry!” Mary interrupted, cutting him off. “Henry Jones, you prepared a gift for me! What is it?” Mary asked, rising from the table and wrapping her arms around his. Henry didn’t respond to my earlier question. “Then be careful,” he said, pulling Mary close before heading upstairs. I felt the sting of reality: I was now an outsider. Once my visa is approved, I’ll leave quickly and stop being a nuisance. “Okay, uncle,” I replied quietly.

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