Author: Momo Chan

You wake up in the middle of the night and discover your husband is not beside you. You walk out of the bedroom and search the house, but he’s nowhere to be found. As you approach the young housekeeper’s room, you hear your husband’s voice coming from inside. I woke up in the middle of the night and realized my husband wasn’t beside me. I walked out of the bedroom and searched the house, but he was nowhere to be found. As I approached the young housekeeper’s room, I heard my husband’s voice coming from inside. My name is Faye, and I’m 28 years old. My husband Charlie and I work at the same hospital. I’m the head nurse, and he’s an associate professor and chief physician. We’ve been married for over four years, and our relationship has always been good. Charlie is humble and polite, handsome, and very attentive to me. After we got married, no matter how busy work was, he would always send a bouquet of flowers to my nursing station every Valentine’s Day and anniversary. My colleagues would gather around, teasing me about how lucky I was to have married such a perfect husband. I basked in their envious gazes, feeling as if I were living in a honeypot. The only regret in our perfect marriage was that we hadn’t been able to have a child of our own. After I miscarried shortly after getting married, I hadn’t been able to get pregnant again. I knew Charlie really wanted a child too. When I was pregnant, he found all sorts of medications to prevent miscarriage and even hired a young housekeeper to take care of me. I’ve always felt very sorry about the miscarriage, but Charlie has always been by my side comforting me, saying it’s okay, while helping me find various medicines to regulate my body. However, after taking those medicines, my figure started to change, gradually swelling up like a balloon, and my body began to be covered with stretch marks. But I still completely trusted Charlie, believing that as long as we could have our child, I could endure all of this. … Five years ago, Charlie was still a master’s student under my father. My father was a professor and chief physician at the hospital, and it was during my last year of studying at the nursing school that my father arranged for me to intern at his hospital. The first time I saw Charlie, I was attracted to him. Not only was he good-looking, but his behavior and manners exuded the qualities of a gentleman. I learned from my father that Charlie’s family background wasn’t good, he came from a rural village, and he was the only college student in his entire village. This didn’t make me prejudiced against him; instead, it made me admire him even more. It made me even more impressed by his humble demeanor. In my eyes, he was like a noble plum blossom standing alone in the wind and snow. I’ve always been shy about actively asking for contact information from the opposite sex. Even though Charlie attracted me, I only dared to visit my dad’s department more often and steal a few more glances at him. But unexpectedly, Charlie later took the initiative to add me on SnapChat, and after that, he often invited me out to eat, shop, and watch movies. Our relationship grew closer with each date, and later, naturally, Charlie confessed to me. I accepted, touched, feeling like I was the happiest woman in the world. However, all of this has now come crashing down. What a load of crap about being a gentleman, it turns out it was all an act!

Charlie and I hadn’t been dating long when I got pregnant, and he naturally proposed to me. Although my father was somewhat averse to this premarital behavior, on one hand, because I was already pregnant, not getting married quickly would invite gossip once I started showing, and on the other hand, he thought Charlie was quite steady and worthy of entrusting me to, so he didn’t say much more. Our wedding, from planning to completion, took less than a month. I happily entered into marriage, ready to welcome the new life. However, during the first prenatal check-up after marriage, I was told that the fetus was unstable and there was a risk of miscarriage. I was very afraid of losing our first baby like this. At that time, I didn’t hesitate much and decided to stop working and stay at home to rest and nurture the pregnancy. Charlie was also very anxious at the time, busy finding all sorts of medications to prevent miscarriage for me to take. Feeling his desire for this life as strong as mine, my originally panicked heart gradually calmed down, and I peacefully took the medicine he found for me. Later, he even specially found a live-in housekeeper to take care of me 24 hours a day. The housekeeper’s name was Lily, a very young country girl who kept her head down shyly and didn’t dare to speak when she first came to our house. Whenever you called her name, she would raise her head bashfully, her watery eyes blinking as she looked at you, very endearing. Charlie said this young girl was from the neighboring village of his hometown, only 18 years old, had just come to the city to find work, and he saw her at the domestic service center and felt a connection, so he brought her back. I didn’t have any doubts about this, and seeing that this young girl was quite likable, I let her stay. However, even though we did so much, things still didn’t go as we wished, and I still lost the baby. After losing the child, both my emotions and physical condition deteriorated a lot, so I stayed at home to recuperate for a long time. During that time, Charlie was very busy with work and rarely at home. I spent most of my time every day with Lily. Although Lily was shy when speaking, she was very efficient in doing things and very skilled in taking care of people. Moreover, her cooking was very much to Charlie’s taste. Whenever Charlie had the chance, no matter how busy he was, he would rush home to eat. I became more and more satisfied with her, to the extent that when I later returned to work, I still chose to keep Lily. All in all, Lily has been working in my home for almost five years, and we have given her a raise every year. She has also changed from being shy and not daring to look at people when she first started, to gradually becoming cheerful and smiling now. As Lily worked longer in the city, she also became more and more adept at dressing herself up. She was no longer dressed in the simple style she had when she first came to the city. She learned to wear makeup, follow trends, go shopping, and keep up with fashion, becoming increasingly graceful and elegant. However, after my miscarriage, my body gradually changed shape. Looking at myself in the mirror, even I found myself unattractive. Every time I saw the increasingly pretty Lily, I always felt a bit uncomfortable. I don’t know if it’s because of overfamiliarity, but I’ve been feeling lately that Lily’s attitude towards me has become increasingly casual. When I talk to her, she sometimes acts as if she hasn’t heard and doesn’t respond. Moreover, whenever Charlie isn’t home for meals and it’s just me, the dishes on the table are always very plain and pitifully few. When she first came to the city, she didn’t have many clothes to wear, wearing the same one or two pieces of nearly worn-out clothes every day. At that time, after my miscarriage, my figure had changed, and I couldn’t fit into some of my previous brand-name clothes. Seeing her pitiful state, I picked out a couple of suitable pieces for her to wear. But after that, my closet would often show signs of being rummaged through, and some clothes would mysteriously disappear. What made me even more uncomfortable was that her attitude towards Charlie was completely different from her attitude towards me. Sometimes I would hint at her indirectly, telling her to have some boundaries, but she would just laugh it off as if she hadn’t understood. I had also talked to Charlie about wanting to fire Lily, saying that her thoughts had become a bit crooked, her hands weren’t clean, and she was becoming increasingly casual with me, and besides, we didn’t really need a housekeeper anymore. But Charlie said, “Aren’t you being too sensitive? I think she’s doing well in all aspects! You usually place your things carelessly, don’t wrongly accuse the poor girl when you can’t find something! Besides, if you suddenly fire her, where would a helpless young girl go in this city?” I didn’t want Charlie to think I was a petty, complaining wife, so after hearing his words, I didn’t dare to mention firing Lily in front of him again.

Recently, there has been another wave of COVID-19 outbreak in the neighboring state. The sudden outbreak caught the local government off guard, and a shortage of medical personnel and resources was inevitable. I was dispatched to provide support, while Charlie, due to having too many scheduled surgeries, couldn’t leave and stayed at the hospital. Although the work on the anti-epidemic front line was very arduous, every night when I received a FaceTime from Charlie asking about my return date and sweetly saying goodnight, I felt warmth in my heart. We’ve been married for so many years, and it seems like it’s always been Charlie preparing surprises for me. This time, I thought about telling him a later return date than planned, so I could come back early and give him a surprise. I specifically chose his day off to rush back. On my way home, my whole body was fluttering like a young girl in love. However, an hour later when I arrived home, I couldn’t help but laugh at my current foolish self. I pushed open the door, and the whole house was immersed in an eerie silence. Did Charlie suddenly have to work overtime today? Lily didn’t seem to be at home either. The curtains in the house were drawn tight, and although it was bright and sunny outside, not a ray of light penetrated inside. The air also seemed not to circulate well, permeated with a strange smell. I turned on the small light in the entrance hall and looked around. Everything seemed normal. I went upstairs to the second and third floors but didn’t find anyone. Back on the first floor, I went to open the curtains. The sudden direct sunlight made me squint uncomfortably for a moment, but I quickly adjusted. After opening the windows to let in some air, I sat down on the sofa to relieve some of the fatigue from the journey. However, as soon as I sat down, my left hand came into contact with an unknown liquid on the sofa. I frowned, and an ominous feeling quietly sprouted in my heart. Was it Lily or Charlie, or both of them? Once the seed of suspicion sprouted, it grew uncontrollably wild. I don’t know what kind of mindset I had when I cleaned this up. Then suddenly a wave of disgust surged up inside me. I rubbed my hands repeatedly, but this didn’t suppress the nausea in my heart, so I went to the bathroom and washed my body over and over again. After that, I sat on the single sofa in the living room, my gaze empty as I fell into deep thought. At this moment, for some reason, I was unprecedentedly calm. My mind kept flashing back to Lily’s casual attitude towards me, as if she had nothing to fear, and Charlie’s protection of her, which I had thought was just him simply feeling sorry for a country girl working away from home. These details, which had once made me think I was being petty, now took on a different flavor, everything connecting together at this moment seemed unusually reasonable. Sitting here for I don’t know how long, the sky outside gradually darkened, with only a dim entrance light remaining in the room. Finally, the sound of the smart door lock keypad rang out, as if to verify my guess, Charlie and Lily entered the house laughing and talking. “Lily, did you forget to turn off the entrance light when you went out?” As he said this, he turned on the big living room light, and the sudden brightness exposed all the ugliness. I looked at this pair, their smiles not yet faded, frozen stiffly on their faces when they suddenly discovered me. “Honey! Why did you suddenly come back? Didn’t you say you’d be a few days late?” Charlie reacted first, quickly composing himself. No wonder! Asking me every day on SnapChat about my return date, it was for this! I suppressed the disgust in my heart and replied to him with a forced smile. “I thought I’d come back early to give you a surprise. I just got back and you weren’t home, so I sat here to rest and wait for you!” Seeing my gaze floating back and forth between him and Lily, Charlie spoke up, seemingly casually. “I just had an emergency surgery at the hospital, went back to work overtime, and on the way back I happened to run into Lily who had finished buying groceries, so I brought her back.” In the past, I believed everything he said without question. But at this moment, I thought, wasn’t it that they went out shopping together, enjoying their time alone while I was away? But on the surface, I still maintained a normal expression and said. “Why are you explaining this to me? Oh, by the way, Lily, I just bought a roast chicken and put it in the kitchen, heat it up and prepare for dinner.” Charlie didn’t seem to intend to explain anything more, as if he was long accustomed to me being a stupid woman deeply in love and easy to fool.

Before bed, Charlie brought me the carefully prepared body-conditioning medicine as usual. I stared at the dark bowl of medicine in front of me. In the past, I would have obediently drunk it despite the bitterness. “Put it here, I’ll read for a while and drink it before going to bed.” Charlie didn’t suspect anything and said, “Okay, drink it while it’s hot. I know the medicine is bitter, but it’s all for our baby. I’ll go organize some documents first, I’ll be back later.” Saying this, he kissed my forehead. I restrained the urge to push him away and acted coy as I had in the past. In my heart, I cursed silently, to deceive a woman, a man can actually act so naturally and unaffectedly cherishing! After Charlie left the room, I got out of bed intending to put some of the medicine into a separate bottle to hide, and pour the rest into the toilet in the master bathroom and flush it away, then put the bowl back on the bedside table. After lying down, I closed my eyes pretending to be asleep. It wasn’t long before Charlie came back. As soon as he entered the room, he walked to my bedside and shook my shoulder, seemingly trying to confirm if I was asleep. I remained motionless. He then walked back to his side of the bed, turned off the small night light I habitually left on for him, covered himself with the blanket, and lay down beside me. I closed my eyes without a hint of sleepiness, instead becoming increasingly alert. Less than half an hour after the lights went out, Charlie couldn’t control himself anymore.

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My aunt showed up right after my mom’s funeral. She offered to be my mom’s replacement. My dad was so touched that he wanted to add her name to the property deed. I realized then that talking about feelings costs money, and my aunt had a clear goal. My aunt was only 38 years old, but she looked like she was in her late twenties. She was beautiful, with a radiant smile that could light up a room. She had been divorced four times, each time because she had cheated on her husband. My grandmother had worried about her for years and even consulted a fortune teller about her love life. The fortune teller said my aunt was born with a “flower fairy” fate, destined to attract romantic troubles. I never imagined that my aunt would bring her troubles into our family. Right after my mom’s funeral, she showed up at our door. She made a heartfelt confession to my dad, saying she was willing to be my mom’s replacement and take care of my dad and me. My dad agreed. This whole situation completely shattered my worldview. I had a huge fight with my dad about it. My dad sighed, suddenly looking much older. “Lily, I’m getting old. You’re away at college. I just want someone by my side.” Of course, I didn’t object to my dad finding a companion. But he was planning to marry my aunt, my mom’s sister! “Dad, after all these years, don’t you know what kind of person my aunt is?” I asked. Was he looking to get cheated on? My dad looked at me with a mix of embarrassment and pleading. “She promised she could change, Lily. She’s your aunt, after all. We’re already family.” At that moment, I knew that no matter what I said, my dad was determined to let my aunt move in. Sure enough, that evening, my aunt moved in, bringing along my cousin Emma, who had just started middle school this year. My aunt was a great cook, but I couldn’t eat a bite. At the dinner table, my aunt kept putting food on my plate. “Lily, what do you like to eat? Your aunt will cook it for you every day from now on.” I smiled coldly and stood up to go back to my room. “I’ll pack my things. I’m going back to school tomorrow.” Out of sight, out of mind! As I closed the door, I heard Emma ask, “Mom, why are we living at Lily’s house?” My aunt replied, “Emma, this is our home now. Emma, call him Dad.” Emma sweetly called my dad “Dad,” and he happily responded, calling her a good girl over and over. Look at that, they’ve already become a family of three. … After I went back to school, I only exchanged occasional messages with my dad. It seemed that he and my aunt were getting along well. During winter break, I found a part-time job and wasn’t planning to go home. But I hadn’t seen my dad for a whole semester and missed him, so I decided to go home for a couple of days first. When I got home and opened the door to my room, I saw Emma eating chips on my bed. She was surprised to see me come in. As she sat up, chips scattered all over the bed. I’m a neat freak. In the past, I never even allowed myself to eat in my bedroom. How could I possibly allow someone else to eat on my bed? I walked over and scolded her sternly, “Who let you in here? From now on, don’t come into my room without my permission.” Emma sat on the bed without moving. “Lily, this is my room.” It was then that I looked around and realized my room had been completely transformed. Huh, in just one semester, my room was gone.

I hadn’t told my dad I was coming home. I wanted to surprise him, but he ended up surprising me instead. Emma said he and my aunt had gone out to buy groceries. I sat on the couch waiting, and sure enough, they came back laughing and talking after a while. When he saw me, the smile on my dad’s face faltered for a moment. He frowned. “Lily, why are you back? Didn’t you say you had to work?” I suddenly felt a wave of disappointment, and the anger I had been holding back burst out. “What happened to my room?” I demanded. My aunt glanced at my dad without saying anything, clearly leaving it to him to deal with me. My dad’s face showed his discomfort as he tried to explain, “Lily, you don’t come home often anymore, so I let your sister have your room.” We had three bedrooms in our house: a master bedroom, a guest room, and a small attic bedroom upstairs. I pointed upstairs and looked at my aunt. “Move all of Emma’s things up there. From now on, don’t touch my room.” My aunt put on a tearful face. “Lily, Emma is your sister. How can you treat her like this?” I already didn’t like my aunt, and now she was putting on an act and playing innocent in front of me. Of course, I wasn’t going to give her any face. “How am I treating her? Did I kick her out? You’ve taken over my room, and now you’re trying to turn this around on me?” My aunt lowered her head and sobbed. My dad felt sorry for her and got angry. He yelled at me, “Lily, is that how you talk to your elders? Apologize to your aunt!” I was furious. I went straight into the room and started throwing Emma’s things out. My aunt and Emma were screaming outside. My dad came in and grabbed my wrist, pulling me out. This was the first time my dad had ever laid hands on me, and it was for these two outsiders. “Lily, this is my house. I can let whoever I want live here. Are you rebelling? Is this how I taught you?” I yanked my hand away from my dad. “This is your house and my house too. Half of it is yours, and half was Mom’s. Now that Mom’s gone, her half is mine. What right do you have to give my room to someone else?” Emma suddenly stepped forward. “Now the house belongs to my mom too!” My heart sank. I looked at my dad in disbelief. He looked away guiltily. “I’ve already added your aunt’s name to the property deed.” I turned to look at my aunt, and suddenly everything became clear. I had wondered what she saw in my dad. Now I knew. She was after our house. But so what? “That still means I own half of this house. You only have a quarter. Move your daughter’s things out!” My aunt hid behind my dad, not moving. I was completely furious now and stormed back into the room to continue throwing things out. Emma rushed in to stop me, but I pushed her away. My aunt was crying loudly outside. “What are you doing? How can you hit your sister?” Emma was a clever little thing. Hearing her mom say this, she sat on the floor and started crying. I barely touched her! My dad rushed in, grabbed me, and slapped me across the face. He actually hit me. My heart ached instantly. With tears in my eyes, I nodded. “Fine, I get it. From now on, you’re all one happy family.” With that, I went out, grabbed my suitcase, and left.

I took my suitcase to my grandparents’ house. I told my grandparents and my uncle everything that had happened, expecting them to scold my aunt. But my grandmother said, “Lily, your aunt is part of the family now with your dad. It’s normal for her to fight for her place. Besides, your aunt has had a hard life. She’s finally settled down. Don’t make trouble.” I was speechless at my grandmother’s words. My grandmother had always favored my aunt because she was her “little girl.” She was the one who spoiled my aunt into the person she is today. And now, she was still taking my aunt’s side. After saying this, my grandmother asked what I wanted to eat and offered to cook for me. I picked up my suitcase and left. With no other options, I went to my uncle’s house. After hearing about the mess at home, my uncle’s fiery temper flared up. “He’s such an idiot! I told him over and over to keep the property deed safe, and what does he do? He adds that bitch’s name to it!” My uncle was about to take me to confront my dad, but my cousin Lucas stopped him. He said, “The deed’s already got her name on it. What good will it do to make a fuss now?” Then Lucas turned to me and said, “You can stay here for now. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. The family’s still here for you.” I felt a lump in my throat and started crying. My aunt came out of the kitchen. “Alright, alright, let’s eat first. Lily, you just got off the train, right? You haven’t had a chance to rest. Come on, have some hot food.” I wiped my tears and went to eat. My uncle’s family treated me better than my own dad. After dinner, my aunt told me to go rest, but I was too angry to lie down. Seeing me like this, my uncle called me over. “Lily, do you know how much money your family has?” I nodded. “I know. Mom told me everything before she passed away. She knew Dad was easily swayed and couldn’t stand up for himself, so she didn’t trust him with it.” We lived in a small county town, but it was one of the top 100 counties in the country and was developing well. When my mom was alive, she had her own store right at the entrance of our residential complex. It was bought along with our house and was only in my mom’s name. Now she had transferred it to me. Then there was the house, and a small plot of land on the outskirts of town, waiting for development. My dad worked at the county hospital with a pretty good salary of over 10,000 yuan a month. With my mom running her own store, they had saved up quite a bit over the years. All the savings were in my mom’s name, totaling over 1.3 million yuan. I now had the bankbook. After my mom passed away, I rented out the store to someone who opened a nail salon. I could collect 20,000 yuan in rent each year. My uncle listened to all this and nodded. “That’s good. If it weren’t for your mom’s foresight, knowing your dad couldn’t handle it, your aunt would have snatched up all your family’s assets. Now, what do you think about that quarter of the house?”

Why should I give our family’s belongings to someone else? So the house must be taken back. “Now that her name is on the deed, can we still get it back?” I asked. My cousin Lucas sat down beside me and patted my shoulder. “If you want it back, I’ll find you a lawyer.” Seeing Lucas’s determined look, my own resolve strengthened. I looked it up online and found that in cases where one party hasn’t contributed financially, the house might still be split 50-50. There were a lot of complications, and some sources said adding a name before marriage was ineffective. So the key now was this point. I needed to ask my dad for clarification. The next morning, I called my dad and asked him to meet me at my uncle’s house. But after waiting all day, he didn’t show up. When I called again, I found out that my aunt was sick and my dad couldn’t leave. Huh, who knows if she was really sick. I packed up and went home. When I got back, they were just sitting down to dinner. It was hotpot, with a table full of dishes. I saw my dad stand up and put some cooked food into Emma’s bowl. My dad hesitated for a moment when he saw me, then smiled and walked over. “Lily, you’re back! Come, let’s have hotpot.” I looked at my dad coldly. “Dad, this is my home. Are you treating me like a guest?” The smile on my dad’s face froze. My aunt came over too. “Come and eat, Lily. After all, we’re all family. Fighting is one thing, but why are you talking like an outsider? Who’s treating you like a guest?” My dad went to get another set of bowls and chopsticks for me and put some cooked beef in my bowl. I could see he was trying to please me. I took a bite of the beef and looked at my aunt. “Aunt, Dad said you were sick. What was wrong?” She didn’t look sick at all, eating and drinking like this. My aunt smiled. “Just a headache, an old problem. I took some medicine and felt better. Lily, eat more, have some meat.” I didn’t say anything else. After dinner, I was about to ask my dad to talk outside when my aunt suddenly brought Emma in front of me. “Emma, apologize to your sister.” Emma even bowed to me. “I’m sorry, Lily. I shouldn’t have occupied your room. I was wrong. Please forgive me.” My aunt apologized to me too. “I’m sorry, Lily. It’s just that you said you weren’t coming back, so your dad cleared out the room for Emma. It’s tiring for her to climb up to the attic every day, and she’s young. I can’t easily check on her at night if she’s in the attic. Now that you’re back, we’ll give the room back to you.” My dad nodded beside her. “Yes, your aunt just apologized to me too. She said she didn’t think it through at the time and shouldn’t have argued with you. Lily, go get your luggage from your uncle’s place later.” I was surprised. How did they change their attitude so quickly, especially that mother and daughter? “If that’s the case, then move all your things out,” I said. While my aunt and Emma were packing their things downstairs, I went up to the attic to take a look. Sure enough, all my things were there, but they hadn’t been properly arranged. They were just thrown in there, all messy. Some of my figurines were even broken.

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Savannah and I had been married for three years, a time of harmony and love. Three years in, I was diagnosed with a terminal illness—and she found someone else. I tried to hold on, but she mocked me to her friends: “Luke? That boring guy? It’s about time I got rid of him.” Heartbroken, I decided to give up on treatment. In my final days, though, she was there, crying at my bedside like a lost child. I never thought coming home could feel so heavy. When I unlocked the door, any anticipation I had crumbled into dust. “Oh, you’re back already?” Savannah’s voice held no trace of joy, just irritation and shock. She quickly stepped away from him, straightening her disheveled clothes. There was no shame in her eyes, only anger. That man—Justin Thompson—was her new conquest. To her, Justin was everything I wasn’t: younger, wealthier, able to bring her that thrill she craved. Justin had the audacity to adjust his collar with a cocky smirk, strolling past me with the kind of arrogance I’d never had. He was muscular, with a physique that was way more Savannah’s “type.” “I came back early to check in on you,” I said, struggling to keep my voice steady. Anger made it tremble despite myself. Savannah laughed, a bitter edge in her tone. “Check on me? Why don’t you spend that energy making more money instead? Look at Justin—he’s got it all, and he’s just getting started. And you? You trudge along on that pathetic paycheck of yours. Got the nerve to lecture me, huh?” In that moment, my heart went ice-cold. I looked at her, and for the first time, I really saw her. All the warmth, the promises, they’d evaporated. What was left? Contempt. Betrayal. “So, this is how you really see me.” My voice was low, and I turned to head upstairs. Everything felt like it was plummeting into some frozen, empty abyss. At that moment, my phone chimed. It was a text from the doctor, reminding me of my follow-up appointment tomorrow. The word “terminal” jumped out from the screen. I let out a bitter laugh. Here I was, dying from this illness, and now I’d lost her too. Suddenly, life seemed utterly void of color.

Savannah and I had met on a spring afternoon. Sunlight streamed through fresh green leaves, casting patches of light along a winding path in Willow Brook Park. She was there at the park entrance, wearing a simple white sundress, with a touch of nervousness in her eyes. When I walked up, I saw she was searching for something. “Looking for something? Maybe I can help,” I offered. She turned to me, and in that moment, it felt like all the warmth of spring gathered in her smile. She told me she’d lost a necklace. So, I joined her, searching through flowerbeds and grassy patches until we found it tucked away in a quiet corner. That small encounter sparked something between us, a connection that grew with each conversation. I was captivated by her beauty, and my relentless pursuit won her over. Our meeting felt natural and beautiful, like flowers blossoming in spring. One evening, over a candlelit dinner, Savannah’s face glowed in the warm light. I took her hand, my voice trembling slightly but firm. “Savvy, I want to spend my life with you.” Savannah held my hand tightly and replied, “I want that too, Luke. You mean everything to me.” After we married, our life was sweet and harmonious. Every evening, we’d take walks together, and every weekend, we’d shop for groceries side-by-side. Those days, Savannah seemed so happy in the kitchen, bustling around, finding joy in the everyday. And I loved watching her sleep, calm and peaceful in the morning light. Life went on like that for a few good years, until the weight of reality and temptation slowly began to wear Savannah down.

The morning sun brought no hope, only a cold, unforgiving clarity. Savannah had been out last night, and she hadn’t come back yet. Alone in the kitchen, I shakily peeled a hard-boiled egg, every movement a reminder that my life wasn’t what it used to be. Today’s schedule was blank: no meetings, no lunch dates, just my afternoon check-up at North Ridge Medical Center. What would the doctor say this time? That the illness had worsened? Or that my days were truly numbered? Suddenly, the lock clicked, and Savannah walked in. Her makeup was smudged, but she wore a look of satisfaction. She didn’t even look my way, just headed straight for the bedroom as if I were a piece of furniture. “Morning.” I tried to break the silence, but my voice came out barely a whisper. “Oh.” Her response was cold, indifferent, as she slammed the bedroom door shut. I felt a wave of dizziness, my hand instinctively gripping the table’s edge. This was happening, and it was all too real. That afternoon, I made my way to the hospital alone. The stark white corridors and antiseptic smell weighed on me with each step. The doctor’s face was solemn, his voice full of sympathy and resignation—the disease had indeed progressed. “Mr. Hartman, it’s time to tell your family. Take care of yourself.” His voice was gentle, but his eyes pierced right through me. Family? Savannah? She probably wouldn’t even care. On the way home, I kept thinking of how to tell Savannah, hoping that maybe she’d show a bit of emotion, maybe even return to me. But when I arrived, she was packing her bags. Her eyes held no tears, only resolution. “What are you doing?” I asked, my voice barely more than a whisper. “I need to live somewhere else for a while.” Her tone was calm, as if she were just going on a trip. “Is it because of him? Because of Justin?” My heart felt like it was being torn apart. She paused, looked at me with irritation, not a shred of guilt in her gaze. “Yes. I need space to think.” And in that moment, I knew I’d lost more than my health—I’d lost the woman I loved. Her words shattered my world. I watched silently as she finished packing, closed the door, and left, leaving the house in a deathly silence. 3 After Savannah left, the emptiness of the house felt unbearable. Every sound echoed off the walls, each one a cruel reminder that I’d been completely abandoned. I was desperate. I didn’t want to let Savannah go. I made excuses for her, thinking maybe she’d made a mistake, maybe I hadn’t done enough to keep her. To save our marriage, I tried everything. I sent her countless messages, saying that if she came back, I’d forgive her. Each one went unanswered. I even reached out to mutual friends, asking them to pass along my apologies. I went to therapy, hoping it would help ease the torment. I was barely holding myself together. Finally, one day, I followed her. I thought I’d casually “run into” her, but I ended up at The Blue Ivy Lounge, where Justin was too. Inside a private room, a group of people drank and laughed, with Savannah the only woman there. She was dressed provocatively, drawing stares from all the men around her. Justin was by her side, and they were downing drinks together, egged on by their audience. I froze at the door, feeling humiliation crawl up my spine. I was too scared to open it. Savannah cuddled close to Justin, taking a sip from her glass, smiling shyly in a way I’d once thought was only for me. Pain gripped my chest, making it hard to breathe. Then, I saw one man pull out a tiny vial, pouring something into her glass. My heart raced. Clenching my fists, I pushed open the door. Savannah looked at me, shock briefly crossing her face before it turned cold and scornful. She whispered something to Justin, and they both walked over to me. I stood there, feeling like I was the intruder. Justin stepped up, his smirk dripping with disdain. “Luke, fancy seeing you here. Came looking for Savannah?” I forced a smile, trying to stay calm. “Yeah, what a coincidence.” Savannah’s voice was as cold as ice. “Well, since you’re here, let’s lay it all out.” I tried to keep my voice steady. “Savannah, just come home. We can pretend none of this happened.” Justin’s eyes flashed with disdain. He grabbed my collar, shoving me against the wall. “You think you matter? Stalking us now, are you?” I struggled to break free, but his strength overpowered mine. He punched me, and I felt my lip split open. Onlookers sneered, their eyes gleaming with amusement. “Enough.” Savannah walked up, affectionately pulling Justin back. “Don’t dirty your hands.” Justin let go, sneering as he looked down at me. “Remember, Savannah’s mine now. Get lost.” They turned, and the door slammed in my face. I sat alone on the floor, surrounded by whispers and mocking stares, my dignity torn to shreds. After a while, I dragged myself up, opened the door, and shouted after her, “Savannah, don’t drink that. They’re trying to hurt you.” That angered them even more, and I was thrown out of the bar. When I got home, I sat alone in the dark, letting the shadows close in around me. The pain burned deep—part of it for her, but part for me, knowing she was heading down a path of no return. Then the phone rang, breaking the silence. It was Savannah. I picked up immediately. Our voices overlapped. “S-Savannah, you didn’t drink that, did you?” “Luke, today better be the last time you show up in my life.” Relief washed over me. She hadn’t drunk it. Her voice was sharp and cold. “I don’t want you in my life. Whether I drink or not, that’s none of your concern.” The resentment in my heart ignited. “How can you treat me like this, Savannah?” “I just don’t want you hovering around,” she said coldly. “We live in the same town. We’ll run into each other now and then.” I tried to keep my voice calm, but it trembled. “Then you could at least avoid places you know I’ll be.” Her tone was full of irritation. “Savannah, after all these years, can you really just walk away?” My voice rose, hurt and anger spilling over. She was silent for a moment. “Walk away? Luke, I don’t feel a thing for you anymore. Look after yourself.” “And that drink? It’s between me and Justin. I’m fine with it.” Her words played over in my head, mocking me, leaving me numb.

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My husband’s childhood crush was manipulated by a scoundrel who deceived her for money and love, leading her to attempt suicide multiple times. For her safety, my husband repeatedly left me to find her. On my birthday, he bought a cake. But it was Cressida “Cress” Hart snuggled up beside him, smiling sweetly: “Silas, this cake is so sweet! Thank you for being here with me.” When I fell ill with a high fever, my husband rushed to take care of the sprained Cress: “Getting sick is normal, but Cress spraining her ankle is serious!” Even on our third wedding anniversary, he had to rush back home to save Cress from jumping into the sea. And on the day I was giving birth, I had made him promise to wait for me outside the delivery room. Yet when I was in labor and needed a family member to sign off, I couldn’t find him anywhere. Oh. He was off attending to his little crush, who was threatening to take her life again. After three and a half hours of labor, exhausted, I vaguely heard the doctor say we might need to switch to a C-section. The nurse took the consent form out to find a family member to sign it. But she quickly returned, saying, “There’s no family member for the patient outside the delivery room.” A chill ran through me. Before entering the delivery room, I had clearly instructed my husband, Silas Kingsley. I told him, no matter what happened, he must not leave. Silas had promised. Yet here he was, nowhere to be found. I felt utterly weak and called for the doctor, trying to get help while dialing Silas’s number. The call rang and rang without an answer. I forced a bitter smile, ready to ask the nurse to hang up and sign myself. Just then, my phone buzzed, and the call connected. Before I could speak, Silas’s apologetic voice came through: “Zara, Cress just tried to commit suicide by cutting her wrist. I’m staying with her to keep her from doing anything else stupid.” “You’re in labor! I’ll get back to you as soon as I can!” Even though I had suspected the reason for Silas’s departure, hearing his words now left me gasping for breath. Suppressing the bitterness, I said, “Silas, do you remember what you promised me? I’m giving birth to your child right now!” Silas fell silent. Suddenly, I heard Cress’s desperate and pained voice on the other end. “Why does she get to have her baby?!” “I once had a child too! But I lost him!” “Silas, I’m in so much pain. Don’t stop me; just let me die!” Cress’s cries went on and on. Silas’s voice deepened with resolve as he said, “Zara, Cress is emotionally unstable right now. Don’t provoke her with the fact that you’re having a baby!” “Anyway, there’s nothing I can do to help you. Right now, Cress needs me more.” “Silas, the baby hasn’t been born yet. The doctor suggested switching to a C-section and needs your signature.” “Zara, don’t throw a tantrum. If you can call me, you can sign it yourself.” “Just wait. As soon as Cress is stable, I’ll be back.” Seemingly anxious to calm Cress, Silas abruptly hung up without waiting for my response. The doctors and nurses around me exchanged sympathetic glances. I could only weakly sign the consent form myself. Finally, as I lay in the delivery room, my vision blurred and everything felt chaotic. When I opened my eyes again, the doctor, frowning, delivered the news. —The baby didn’t make it. After being delivered, she was already purple and breathless. In that moment, I felt dizzy, as if the world was crumbling around me.

I stayed in the hospital alone for two days. I didn’t see Silas. Instead, his parents returned from their vacation. When they learned that the baby was gone, they were momentarily stunned. Then, suddenly, my mother-in-law began to blame me: “I told you not to get upset over every little thing! The baby is gone; it’s all your fault!” “Cress grew up with Silas. She was terribly hurt by that scoundrel, and you’re always making a fuss about it, not showing any grace!” “Silas was just checking in on her; it’s not like anything happened.” “Besides, even if something did happen, could you stop it? Women, just take it easy, and life will be better!” Exhausted, I stared blankly out the window. It seemed she was oblivious to my pain. “Silas called and told us Cress still needs some time.” I turned to her, my heart aching. I hadn’t tried to call Silas in the last couple of days. But every time I dialed, the call would get cut off almost immediately. Meanwhile, Silas would take calls from his mother but ignore mine. “He originally wanted us to help take care of you, but since the baby is gone, we won’t stay long,” she said, pulling my father-in-law to leave. Suddenly, I shouted after her— “Mom, I know you’ve never liked me.” They both halted in their tracks. My mother-in-law highly valued family. I was orphaned and married into a prestigious family like the Kingsleys, and she never regarded me as her equal. I forced a smile and said softly, “As you wish, I’ll divorce Silas.” However, she didn’t believe me. She turned back, her eyes filled with disdain, scoffing, “You cling to my son so much; who would believe you’d actually divorce him!”

Two weeks later, I was discharged from the hospital. The doctor recommended I rest for two months. But first, I went to the most beautiful beach in Maplewood Grove. After the loss of my baby, I had agreed to let the hospital handle the arrangements. I only requested to keep a portion of her ashes after cremation. Now, standing on the shore, I gently scattered her ashes into the wind and sea. My baby never had the chance to open her eyes and see this world. So now, may she ride the winds and cross the seas, exploring all corners of the Earth. … When I returned home, Silas was surprisingly there. He was slouched on the sofa, looking exhausted. Hearing the door, he turned and said lightly, “You’re back.” Then he asked, “Where’s the baby? Didn’t you bring her back with you?” Before I could respond, he continued, “Forget it, my parents love kids too; they can take care of her for a while.” I silently scoffed. A child? It seemed Silas’s parents hadn’t told him that our baby was gone. “She died,” I stated flatly. Silas stood up, furrowing his brow as he approached me. “Zara, don’t say such things! It’s bad luck!” “I know you’re still upset about me leaving the hospital that day.” “But you know Cress has been through so much with that scoundrel; she’s emotionally unstable!” “If I hadn’t gone to her in time that day, she might be dead by now.” Silas spoke with a heavy tone, still haunted by the thought. Inside, I couldn’t help but feel bitter and resentful. “Oh…” “So what’s going on with her now?” Hearing my concern for Cress, Silas’s tone softened. “Don’t worry; Cress is okay now.” “I’ve been comforting her, and she’s not planning on taking her life anymore.” “Ha…” I let out a cold laugh. Just as I suspected. A year ago, Cress had been deceived by a foreign man and lost a child. After returning from abroad, she had been extremely unstable and had attempted suicide multiple times. Silas worried she would harm herself; every time she reached out, he dropped everything for her. On my birthday, he had prepared a feast at home. But on his way to get the cake, he received a “I can’t go on” message from Cress. Silas immediately took the cake he bought for me and went to Cress’s house. That night, he called me on video. In the video, Cress was smiling, snuggled up beside him, holding a plate of sliced cake. Silas wished me a happy birthday. But how could I feel happy? I hung up the call immediately. Perhaps Silas felt guilty about it. The next day, he promptly ordered me a bigger cake to celebrate my birthday again. He held me affectionately, explaining, “Cress just got scammed; she hasn’t gotten over it yet.” “As her brother-in-law, we can’t just ignore her.” “What if something really happens? We’d regret it for the rest of our lives.” After hearing this, I felt a little soft-hearted. But I never expected. My kindness had only encouraged Cress to take advantage of me time and time again. When I fell ill with a high fever, she used the excuse of having a sprained ankle to cry about feeling worthless and wanting to end it all. Silas rushed off to care for her. Even on our wedding anniversary, we traveled abroad. Cress sent a video of herself walking toward the sea, and at the end, she said, “Silas, I can’t hold on any longer.” At that time, I was already six months pregnant. Silas instinctively booked a return flight, telling me to enjoy my time, and he would come back as soon as he saved Cress. I felt a surge of anger and absurdity. At that distance, if Cress truly wanted to take her life, Silas would likely just be coming back to collect her remains. In a fit of rage, I let slip a cruel remark. Silas looked at me in shock, his expression incredulous. “Zara, how could you say something so cruel?” I forced a smile. I had tolerated this behavior once, twice. But Cress’s frequent mentions of “suicide” were like a daily meal. And everyone always sided with her; any time I showed the slightest dissatisfaction, I was labeled petty and small-minded. Why was that fair? “Feeling sorry for her?” Silas frowned, pressing his lips together as if he wanted to say something more. But I interrupted him. “If you go back today, we’re getting a divorce.” At that moment, Silas heard me utter the word “divorce” again. Rather than panic, he smiled. “Zara, threatening me with divorce is getting really old.”

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My wife, Samantha “Sam” Wyatt, works as a sleep therapist, helping people with insomnia drift off through voice calls and video sessions. At first, I couldn’t take it seriously—I mean, what kind of job is that? Besides, I do well enough financially that she could live comfortably without lifting a finger. I tried talking her out of it, but she snapped, saying I was holding her back, keeping her from her “big dreams” and disrespecting her career ambitions. Her parents, both teachers, raised her as the model “untouchable beauty” back in high school, and I didn’t think she’d cross any lines. Maybe it was just her stubborn pride, I figured, and I stopped asking. Until I scrolled across a certain video… One evening, I was lounging on the couch, scrolling through my phone. I came across a video from a local group titled: “Hot Housewife.” Intrigued, I clicked on it. The video showed a man and a woman intimately entangled; the camera didn’t catch their faces, but it was far steamier than anything I’d usually see. My mind drifted, mostly wishing my wife was home instead of away on her “trip.” I even commented in the thread, joking about how “wild” the woman looked. The screen was a storm of pale skin and close-ups of the woman’s body. The footage shook wildly, filled with lust and raw energy, and a deep voice called out, hoarse, sultry—purring, “Yes, sir…” The sound was uncanny; it was Sam’s voice. Every note, every breath, hit me like a brick. The realization sank into me like a blade. I played the video over and over, desperate for any other explanation. No, there’s no way it could be her. She was supposed to be on vacation—on my dime. Besides, I thought, voices and bodies overlap, and the internet is full of fakes. Sam’s never been this “expressive” with me. She’s always reserved and quiet, especially in bed. But that voice—the same exact tone she used for her “clients”—dug into my mind with every replay, every moment wearing me down. For the next hour, I slowed the video down to analyze every detail, looking for any hint to disprove what my gut was telling me. With my heart hammering, I went frame by frame. The video blurred, the camera shook, and her face was never visible. But then, out of nowhere, something appeared—a detail sharp as a razor’s edge. Her wrist flashed, caught mid-motion, revealing a thin, simple silver bracelet. The bracelet was custom-made, our fifth-anniversary gift. I’d designed it just for her. It was her. My wife of five years, Samantha Wyatt, had betrayed me.

In that split second, rage ripped through me, obliterating every shred of rational thought. My ears roared, and every fiber of my being seethed with humiliation—I’d been played. I scoured the video, hoping to spot the man’s face. I couldn’t, but there was no longer any doubt. There was no other way to explain that reckless, eager expression, the raw intensity of her moves. I had to know who the guy was, and my best bet was to go after the person who’d uploaded the video. I set up a fake account, friend-requested the uploader, and waited. Soon enough, he accepted. I played the role of a sleazy “fan,” messaging him: “Dude, where’d you get this video? I can’t get enough!” He hesitated a bit, clearly wary. “Why do you care?” he asked. I upped my game, dropping a fat payment in his account. “Man, this chick has me on fire—can’t you help a guy out?” The money worked. After a moment, he got chatty, responding with, “Whoa, didn’t know you were that serious! Can’t leave you hanging, man.” He dropped a few more videos in the chat. Each one was more explicit than the last. Faces were still blurred, but it didn’t matter. The body, the movements, the sounds—it was unmistakably Sam. My mind blanked as waves of humiliation washed over me, taunting me. I felt like a pathetic joke. All these years, she’d never once been this way with me. She was always reserved, avoiding intimacy and rarely taking initiative. I figured she was either modest or just not that into it. But now I knew the truth. It wasn’t shyness or indifference. She just didn’t want that part of herself with me. Yet with someone else, she was willing to go this far, become this whole other person. Shaken, I lit a cigarette, hoping to calm down. I couldn’t let myself be crushed by this. Not yet. First, I had to find out who this guy was.

He never showed his face, but one detail stood out: every video had the same man, a guy with a prominent tattoo down his forearm. I tried getting more out of the uploader. “So, where’d you get these clips?” “Let’s just say I’ve got my channels, alright? Just enjoy the show,” he replied, his tone guarded. I backed off, promising him I’d pay for more “good stuff” if he got any new clips. Then I logged off, utterly spent. I threw my wedding ring in the trash. Divorce was the only answer. But I couldn’t walk away without settling the score. For years, I’d gone above and beyond for Sam and her family. Her parents were teachers, and she’d had a reputation as the “untouchable beauty” back in high school. I’d assumed they were a decent, respectable family. But on my first visit to her house, her mother asked me for a forty-thousand-dollar wedding gift, her eyes gleaming as if I were buying a product instead of marrying her daughter. When I hesitated, her mother’s face darkened, and she practically threw me out, muttering about how their beautiful, well-educated daughter had men lined up around the block. I was a catch, with a house, a car, and a solid inheritance. But they wanted the cash. Still, Sam surprised me by showing up at my place in tears, confessing that her mother had overstepped. She said her dad had hit someone with his car and they were being sued for forty thousand dollars. If I didn’t help, she’d be forced to marry a forty-something guy her mom had lined up. I couldn’t stand to see her cry, so I paid. But that was just the beginning. After the wedding, her mom and her good-for-nothing brother, Ethan, kept finding ways to borrow money that I’d never see again. Ethan, lazy and deep in debt, became my problem to fix. I finally gave up and hired him as a low-level assistant at my company, figuring I could keep an eye on him. I was exhausted with all this, but Sam’s tearful requests kept softening me up. I put up with it because, at the end of the day, I cared for her. But now, it was time to end things. I’d make sure she paid for every bit of damage. I reached out to a lawyer to draft the divorce papers, and as I finished, I heard the key turn in the front door. She was back.

As soon as Sam walked in, I caught a whiff of unfamiliar cologne clinging to her, faint but undeniably there, as if marking her for someone else. Feigning calm, I asked, “How was your trip?” I searched her face for any hint of guilt or remorse, but she avoided my gaze, mumbling a few vague comments. I recalled what she’d said before she left, “Don’t worry about me—I’m just going to relax and unwind.” What a loaded statement that had been. While she showered, I dug through her bag. Sure enough, I found an open box of condoms. It was almost too much, even though I’d already braced myself. My hands shook as I pulled out her phone, combing through her contacts and messages. Nothing incriminating. Then, on a hunch, I checked her alternate profile, the one she used for her “sleep therapy work.” At the top of her friend list was someone she’d marked as “Hubby.” I scrolled through their messages, each word driving a fresh knife into me. “Be gentle tonight; you were too rough last time, almost got me caught.” “Thank God I pretended to be drunk—almost blew our cover.” “Next time, call me with your husband in the room. Let’s make it more exciting.” My blood surged. I felt my pulse pounding in my head, barely able to keep myself from storming into the bathroom and confronting her right then and there. Suddenly, I remembered the night she’d stumbled home late, hair disheveled, cheeks flushed, no bra. She’d collapsed against me, smelling of alcohol, mumbling about feeling sick. I’d made her some ginger tea, only for her to fall asleep on the couch. I’d thought it was sweet of her to let loose. I was a fool. Now, Sam wasn’t just “putting people to sleep”—she was clearly doing much more. I dug further in her bag and found a small bottle of lubricant. That was it. I emptied the bottle and replaced it with industrial-strength adhesive. Let’s see how they handle this little “bond.” I quickly noted the “hubby” account but found it locked, blocking any friend requests. This clue was slipping away, but then I had a flash of inspiration. The video uploader—he was the key. No upstanding person makes money off footage like that, so there was a good chance he knew who this guy was. Rather than offering him cash, I decided to approach him using a woman I knew, knowing men like that tend to lower their guard with women. When the meeting day arrived, I watched from a safe distance, tense with anticipation. But when my target arrived, I was floored—it was Ethan Wyatt, my good-for-nothing brother-in-law. He was selling his sister’s affair for profit.

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In my past life, my half-sister Rose gave birth to a Great Serpent child, a feat that helped her husband, Silas King, secure his place as the King Family Heir. But as for me, I fought with every ounce of my strength, using the difficult Family Secret of the Goodwin line, only to give Silas a single snake child, Samuel. The eldest Prince, Silas, looked down on Samuel, calling him simple-minded and embarrassing. When Sammy failed to transform in a thousand years, Silas vented his anger by beheading him, and the heartbreak drove me to my death. When I opened my eyes again, it was back on the day of the royal selection for a bride for the King Family heirs. I watched Silas eagerly select Rose, my half-sister. And then I knew: he, too, had been reborn. He thinks picking Rose again will guarantee him a Young Serpent to secure the King Family’s future throne. But what he doesn’t know is that he lacks the Ancestral Power needed to father a child at all. The Goodwin Family line is renowned for its exceptional fertility, and this is the quality that binds us—our daughters chosen to bear heirs as if we were mere goods. Ordinary Goodwin daughters go to ordinary families in the Mountain Folk, but the Goodwin heirs, we are sought after by the most powerful families. This year, my sister and I turned 18, and we were taken to King’s Manor to be selected. Pain stabbed through my chest as I remembered that in my last life, Silas had chosen me, claiming that only a daughter from a proper bloodline would suit him. My sister, Rose, went to his younger brother, and she bore a Young Serpent—a clever, gifted child who quickly won the King Family’s favor. But for Silas, I had only Sammy, my small snake child. Still, Elder King Frederick favored Silas, granting him a thousand years to see if Sammy could Rise to Heir. But Sammy couldn’t manage, and Silas lost his chance at the throne. When I pleaded with Silas to grant Sammy more time, his answer was to sever Sammy’s head, which left me shattered and dying of grief. Returning to this day, my heart was still broken. I watched as Silas reached for Rose’s hand and felt a strange relief that somehow deepened my pain. My poor Sammy had trained so hard, was so sweet and eager to win his father’s favor, but Silas had cared only for his own ambitions. He hated my child. What Silas never realized is that he could not father children. Sammy was born only because I used the Goodwin Family Secret, an ancient magic that rarely works; I had failed a hundred times before Sammy finally came into my life. I clenched my fists, pressing down the well of rage. I would never forget how Silas, my husband, struck off my son’s head in a flash of heartless anger. Yet here we were, in the vast throne room of King’s Manor, on the day the four royal sons chose their wives. The Elder King, Frederick, sat above us, smiling as he addressed his sons. “It’s not easy for our King’s Bloodline to survive, but the Goodwin line has been blessed with abundant fertility. So, I’ve brought these four Goodwin daughters for you to choose from as wives, and we’ll do it in order.” Frederick was old, and he had used powerful means just to bring these sons into the world. The promise of an heir was so important to him that he’d declared whoever bore him a grandchild would be his successor. At his signal, Silas stepped forward. His eyes passed over each of us sisters with a cold, calculating look, but as he lingered on me, a flash of disgust showed. Finally, he moved toward Rose with determination. He didn’t notice my hand trembling at my side or the pallor of my face. “Father, I choose Rose as my wife.” Silas took Rose’s hand without hesitation, and she looked up, shy and surprised, with a blush that seemed to please him. But I knew his look well: it was the look of a man with ambitions in his eyes. He was reborn, too. Rose cast a fleeting glance at me, a look of smug satisfaction. My mother had been the first wife of the Goodwin heir and, as his only legitimate daughter, I’d inherited that position. Rose’s mother had tried long to become the primary wife, but my father refused. Silas, however, was the son of a primary wife, so Rose felt superior by being chosen by him. “You chose Rose?” Elder King Frederick asked, a bit surprised. To him, Silas’s position required him to marry a primary daughter. But Silas, remembering his past life, gave a hard smile and answered, “Father, my heart chose Rose the moment I saw her. It’s her I want.” Last time, Silas had married me, and the outcome was that our child was only a snake, an embarrassment that haunted him for a thousand years. He’d lost the throne and was laughed at for it. Reborn, he wasn’t about to risk the disappointment of having “a snake-breeder like Lily” as his wife. “Very well. Take your chosen bride and return to your estate.” The King respected Silas’s choice and allowed him to leave. I was unsurprised, but just as I thought I’d slip into the shadows, a soft voice behind me spoke, “Father, I choose her.” Startled, I looked up to see Evan, the second son, smiling down at me. In my last life, Evan had chosen no wife, so I was surprised. Yet my fate wasn’t mine to control. “Alright,” Elder King Frederick said, “then let Lily be yours, Evan. She’s the heir of the Goodwin line—a wise choice.” Evan extended his hand with a kind smile, and though uncertain, I took it. I knew our role in the family was lowly, born only to bear children and with no other talent. According to my father, it was “a blessing from our Goodwin ancestor” that we’d even been noticed by the King’s Bloodline. Evan took my hand, and we stepped away together. Annoyed, Silas looked at his brother. “Are you sure? She looks weak and worn. She might not even be able to bear a healthy child.” Silas, having been reborn, thought he knew everything about me. Evan, though, had been the only one in our past life who hadn’t ridiculed him, something Silas likely remembered. “Thank you for your advice, brother,” Evan replied evenly. “I’m no stranger to weakness myself. I care more for what feels right.” Silas’s frown deepened. He thought his advice was gracious, whether Evan appreciated it or not. This time, Silas was determined to be king. Soon after, the third brother and youngest brother also made their choices. Rose was now Silas’s bride, while I, unexpectedly, was Evan’s. We all left the hall as Elder King Frederick waved us on, his hopes set on each of us to secure an heir. In silence, Evan led me to Willow Manor. His hands were cold, and I could tell he wasn’t well. In my past life, I had taken on the brunt of the burden, even practicing the Family Secret to ensure Silas’s health. But this time, I wouldn’t sacrifice myself to heal another. When Silas carried Rose out of the hall, she blushed, hiding her face in his shoulder, while Silas left with an arrogant laugh. His brothers chuckled, but only I knew he didn’t truly love Rose. He only wanted the heir she might bear him. It was his ticket to the throne. As Evan and I reached the estate, I tried to look at him, and he returned my gaze with warmth. But in his eyes, I could see his own desire for an heir. It was natural, wasn’t it? After all, Evan was also an heir of the Mountain Folk. Evan left for the next three months, and I found myself alone in Willow Manor. Slowly, I settled in and started a small garden, raising vegetables and fruit. In the evenings, I would hear the palace gossip. People admired how Silas showered Rose with extravagant gifts, how he would bring in healers to check on her, and how he treated her as if she were the only woman in his world. It was strange, because I knew he wasn’t capable of such devotion. When Silas heard a rumor about his beloved Rose or felt she was unwell, he’d be at her side in a moment, doting and fretting. Their love story was now the talk of the town, a model of the perfect marriage. I simply laughed, remembering that in our past lives, Rose hadn’t conceived until a year into their marriage. As for me, I’d waited ten years to conceive Sammy. As I cut a small cucumber into the shape of a bird, a gentle voice behind me asked, “What are you doing, Lily?” Startled, I turned to find Evan smiling, though he seemed to have caught me murmuring to myself. I forced a smile. “Praying for peace,” I said, knowing he couldn’t hear the truth—that my ritual honored the memory of Sammy, my lost snake child, for whom I could do nothing in this life. Evan took my hand as we walked back, his voice soft and apologetic. He promised to care for me gently, even if he was often away. And as time passed, I saw that he was kind, patient, and good, unlike the harshness Silas had shown me in the past. After I conceived Sammy, Silas never touched me again. Just thinking about it fills me with dread, deep down. But with Evan, I couldn’t refuse him. “Lily, I’m sorry I’ve been neglecting you; the duties have been endless lately. Please don’t be upset,” he said softly. I shook my head. “I’m not upset.” But even if I were, I wouldn’t dare show it. As a Goodwin, I didn’t have the right to anger. Evan led me to the bed, though he didn’t do anything, as if sensing my reluctance. Each day after that, we continued to share the same bed. He helped me tend to the vegetable garden, sometimes even taking me to the market to buy more seeds. Little by little, I began to feel at ease with him. By now, Rose and the youngest sisters, Amy and Clara, were all expecting. Elder King Frederick was thrilled and subtly pressed Evan and me to “catch up.” I felt embarrassed but promised the Elder King I’d try. Still, Evan and I hadn’t consummated our marriage even after nine months together. Elder King’s insistence didn’t change our quiet rhythm; we simply continued on in peace. Rumors had even begun to swirl around us. “If you want a steady, gentle marriage, choose a prince like Evan,” people would say, contrasting Silas’s fiery nature with Evan’s calm demeanor. But I found such talk dull. To me, Evan’s gentleness was the real prize. Perhaps sensing my reluctance, he hadn’t once pushed me into anything. Then, one day while we were out buying melon seeds, we crossed paths with Silas. He suggested we all have a meal together. Rose was positively radiant, draped in jewels and glowing with pride. Sitting beside Silas, she had the softness of a girl in love and the maturity of a woman used to admiration. As we ate, she and Silas constantly showed their affection, while Evan and I quietly focused on our food. Evan only occasionally answered when Silas spoke to him. After the meal, Rose turned to Silas with a girlish smile. “Silas, I’d like to chat with my sister for a bit. Could you wait for me?” Silas shot me a cold glance and nodded. “Of course, Rose, go ahead and speak with her,” he replied coolly. “It’s only natural you’d want to say hello.” As Silas and Evan stepped aside, Rose’s smug expression reappeared. “Sister, did you see how wonderful my life is now? Father’s even considering making my mother the primary wife.” I kept my expression calm. “Oh. Congratulations, then.” After all, having the title of Goodwin Family’s primary wife wasn’t so remarkable. Rose pouted but continued, “And the Prince has promised me that if I bear an heir, he’ll share the Ancestral Power with me. I’ll become something new, reborn.” My tone remained steady. “Then good luck with that.” Let’s see if she still smiles once she realizes Silas can’t father a child. Rose’s expression twisted slightly. “Silas really can’t stand you, you know.” I rolled my eyes. “I’m not his wife. His opinion of me is irrelevant.” She huffed, frustrated. “Amy and Clara are both expecting. Meanwhile, there’s no sign of anything from you—are you sure you’re not barren? Even our family’s fertility isn’t a guarantee.” Seeing her annoyance, I countered, “And what about you? Trying every possible trick and still no news—is it possible that it’s Silas who’s…barren?” Rose’s face turned pale. She scowled and snapped, “What are you talking about? How dare you curse him!” She looked ready to strike, her frustration hitting a nerve. But even she wondered if Silas might be the problem.

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I’m an emergency room doctor. In the ER, you encounter all sorts of strange situations. Like kids with toys stuck in their mouths that can’t be removed… But one night, the patient rushed to the ER was my wife, and the reason was too embarrassing to mention! In the quiet of the late-night emergency room, I was yawning, my eyes almost closed from fatigue. “Dr. Carter, we have a patient!” The night shift nurse rushed into the ER. I immediately snapped awake, rubbing my face as I stood up. “What’s the patient’s condition?” I asked urgently. “The patient… she…” The young nurse seemed to have trouble speaking. Seeing her hesitation, I didn’t press further. Working night shifts in the ER, I thought I’d seen it all. But when the nurse wheeled the patient into the emergency room, I was completely stunned. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I’d see my wife in the ER! “Olivia!” My face paled as I rushed over. I saw Olivia’s face was ashen, and she had already passed out. “Dr. Carter, you know her?” The young nurse looked at me in surprise. “This is my wife!” I said without looking back, immediately starting to check Olivia’s condition. There were no visible injuries on her face or body, but she was unconscious. Internal injury? I grew increasingly anxious. Internal injuries were often more troublesome than external ones! But when I went to examine her legs, my pupils dilated in shock, and I froze. I knew exactly what this was at first glance. My vision went dark, and my breathing became rapid. I nearly collapsed right there in the ER. Olivia and I had been married for two years, and our relationship had always been normal. We’d never experimented with anything unusual. I’d never used these kinds of toys on her. But Olivia’s current state was clearly due to anal fissures causing her to faint! In an instant, I felt a wave of jealousy and betrayal wash over me. This definitely wasn’t something Olivia would have done to herself! I stared at Olivia in shock, my eyes wide and unblinking. “Dr. Carter, what should we do now?” The young nurse looked at me with an odd expression, asking a question. I could feel nothing but mockery and sarcasm in her gaze! Taking a deep breath, I said with a dark expression, “Anesthesia. Prepare for surgery!” The young nurse quickly busied herself in the ER, soon bringing me the anesthetic. I administered the anesthesia to Olivia and carefully removed the object. Suppressing my anger, I sutured Olivia’s wound. “Take her to the inpatient department,” I said, storming out of the ER with a black expression. Once outside, I stood alone smoking cigarette after cigarette. My mind was filled with images of Olivia’s condition. The more I thought about it, the angrier I became, feeling like a complete fool! “Damn it!” I threw my cigarette on the ground, crushing it viciously. The young nurse who had assisted me earlier immediately changed her expression and shut her mouth. With my face dark with anger, the overwhelming sense of humiliation made me feel like I couldn’t stay there any longer. “Get back to work! Don’t you all have anything better to do?” I shouted, and they quickly scattered. I went back into the ER to check, and Olivia had already been taken to the inpatient department. I wanted to rush there immediately and demand answers, but the ER couldn’t be left unattended. If a patient came in while I was gone and treatment was delayed, it would be a serious problem. My last shred of rationality kept me in the ER. As soon as my shift ended, I rushed to the inpatient department and found Olivia’s room. The anesthesia hadn’t worn off yet, so she was still unconscious. I stood by her bed, looking at this woman I thought I knew better than anyone else. At that moment, she felt like a complete stranger. After what seemed like an eternity, Olivia’s eyelashes fluttered, and she woke up. “Jack?” Olivia looked at me in confusion, then asked, “Why am I here?” My eyes were blazing with anger, wide open and staring at her. Panic flashed across Olivia’s face. She quickly said, “Jack, listen to me, this is a misunderstanding!” Olivia reached out to grab my hand, but I swatted it away. “A misunderstanding? We’ve been married for two years, and you’ve never even let me touch you there, let alone anything else!” “And now look at you! Playing so freely with other men!” “Olivia! All these years, I’ve been blind to misjudge you like this!” I shouted at Olivia. Tears immediately began to fall from Olivia’s eyes as she cried, “Jack, please let me explain. It’s not what you think… it’s not like that…” “Enough!” I roared, cutting off Olivia’s tearful pleas. I gave her one last hateful look before turning and leaving the room. “Jack!” Olivia cried out behind me, sobbing uncontrollably, but my heart didn’t soften one bit. She cheated on me, ended up in the hospital for everyone to see, humiliating me completely, and she still has the nerve to cry? Back home, looking at our wedding photo hanging on the wall, I felt nothing but bitter irony. Just then, my phone rang. It was Olivia. I hung up immediately. She called again, and I hung up once more. After that, I simply turned off my phone, out of sight, out of mind. I took a case of beer from the fridge and started drinking one after another. Before long, I had finished the entire case. I went to get another case and had barely drunk a few bottles when I felt a churning in my stomach. I ran to the bathroom and hugged the toilet, vomiting violently. Later, I lost consciousness and passed out on the bathroom floor. “Jack! Jack! Wake up!” A loud shout brought me back to consciousness. I opened my heavy eyelids to see a blurry figure in front of me. “Jack, why the hell did you drink so much?” The figure slapped my face, dragging me up from the floor. It was only then that I could see clearly – the figure was my best friend, Ryan. “You… why are you here? Hic…” I hiccupped, my tongue still feeling heavy. Ryan frowned, pinching his nose. “Damn, how much did you drink? You reek!” “Olivia called me. She said she couldn’t reach you and asked me to check on you.” As soon as I heard Olivia’s name, I became agitated and cursed loudly, “She still has the nerve to ask you to find me? Get out! Tell her to get lost!” Ryan looked at me in surprise. He nudged my arm and asked, “Jack, what’s going on between you and Olivia? Weren’t you two always so good together?” My face, which was already red from drinking, turned dark at that moment. “She cheated on me.” “What? You’re saying Olivia cheated?” Ryan exclaimed in disbelief. I gave a bitter laugh. “You don’t believe it, right? I didn’t fucking believe it either!” “But she was brought to my ER, and I had no choice but to believe it!” I clutched my head in pain, my eyes bloodshot. “What exactly happened? Tell me the details.” Gritting my teeth, I told Ryan what had transpired. After hearing it all, Ryan opened and closed his mouth a few times before finally sighing and patting my shoulder. “So what are you going to do now? Divorce?” I hung my head, my voice filled with resentment: “If not divorce, what else? Wait for the new year?” Ryan hesitated for a moment before saying, “Do you think there might be some misunderstanding? I’ve known Olivia for years too, and she doesn’t seem like that kind of person.” “What misunderstanding could there be?! She had anal fissures! What kind of misunderstanding could explain that?!” I shouted hoarsely. Seeing my state, Ryan didn’t try to persuade me anymore. “Alright, if you’ve made up your mind, then that’s that.” Ryan suddenly changed the subject: “Do you want me to help you find a lawyer for the divorce proceedings? In the current situation, since you didn’t catch Olivia in the act, there’s a high chance that the property will be split equally. If I remember correctly, you paid for this house, right?” My face tightened. “Are you saying that if I divorce now, I’ll have to give her half the house?” Ryan nodded. “Why should I?!” I shouted angrily. Ryan shrugged. “Don’t yell at me. That’s just how it is, unless you can find evidence of Olivia’s infidelity.” My face went through a series of changes before I gritted my teeth and said, “Fine! I’ll hold on a bit longer. I’ll definitely find evidence and make sure she leaves with nothing!” Two days later, Olivia was discharged from the hospital. During those two days, going to work was torture for me. The looks from my colleagues made me want to disappear into the ground. The more this happened, the deeper my resentment towards Olivia grew. If it weren’t for wanting to ensure she left with nothing, I would have divorced her already. When Olivia was discharged, I was still working the night shift in the ER. She came to the emergency room. “Jack.” Olivia stood at the entrance of the ER, wringing her hands, looking pitiful. I gave Olivia a cold look without responding. Seeing this, Olivia stepped forward. “Jack, please listen to my explanation. Things really aren’t what you think…” “Get out!” I interrupted Olivia, looking at her with disgust. Tears immediately welled up in Olivia’s eyes. She took out her phone and held it out to me. “Jack, after you watch this video, you’ll understand. I know I shouldn’t have done this, but things really aren’t what you think.” Looking at the phone Olivia was holding out, my eye twitched violently. Damn it! They even recorded a video?! Fine, fine! I want to see just how impressive you two are! With trembling hands, I snatched Olivia’s phone. I opened the video, my eyes glued to the screen. “Ah!” Olivia cried out in pain. “Olivia, don’t be scared. It’s always like this at first. Look at me, I’m used to it now,” a female voice came from the video. My eyes immediately widened. What’s going on? Why is it a woman? I stared at the phone in confusion, not daring to blink for fear of missing something. A moment later, a familiar figure walked into the frame, and my eyes narrowed. It was Emma! Olivia’s best friend!

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When I was finalizing my divorce papers, a pregnancy test with two lines accidentally fell out of my bag. Just like that, everyone knew I was pregnant. My husband, Asher Hawthorne, looked at the pregnancy test, his eyes darkening with anger as he gritted out a single word, “You.” I hurriedly tried to explain: “Listen to me! This baby isn’t yours!” “Skylar Reese!” That day, Asher directly confiscated my marriage certificate and took me home without a word. I thought I had really pissed him off this time. I wasn’t sure if I could handle his anger. Actually, this baby was something I had schemed to get. I didn’t consider it Asher’s child; I believed it was mine and mine alone! Asher and I had a marriage arranged for business purposes. We had signed a divorce agreement before getting married. Last month, when our contract expired, his first love Brielle Sinclair returned from abroad, so naturally, it was time for us to divorce. But why should I? The man I had loved for over a decade, whom I had finally tricked into marrying me, and now I was supposed to hand him back to that bitch intact? No way! “Asher, I’m fine with the divorce, but if my next husband finds out I’m still a virgin, he might think I lack charm and that’s why I was abandoned!” I took two steps forward, hooked my index finger on his tie and gently pulled, inching closer to him. His cold, handsome face magnified before my eyes. Our breaths intertwined intimately. I had practiced this angle in front of the mirror many times and even ate strawberry-flavored breath mints! “Please, Mr. Hawthorne, help me lose my virginity. I promise I’ll go through with the divorce right after.” My heart was pounding. His pitch-black eyes stared directly at me, and I felt a sense of being seen through. I can’t back down! This is my only chance! Push him down! Eat him up! As I was hesitating whether to be more proactive, desperately trying to recall the adult videos I had studied earlier, he moved. He effortlessly picked me up bridal style. Through the thin fabric of his shirt, his hot, rippling muscles pressed tightly against me! In our two years of marriage, this was the first time I entered his room. It was simple and orderly, just like him, as I had imagined. He tossed me onto the pure black bed and started unbuttoning his shirt right in front of me. Powerful pecs peeked out from the collar. Below the pecs were six-pack abs, and below the abs… I felt my face heating up. I think if I were a kettle, I’d be screaming from the heat right now! Such a cold and elegant person, yet so rough when undressed! I regretted it. If I had known it would hurt so much, I would have… wait, maybe I don’t regret it… Ah, I regret it again! I lay in bed for a whole day before I recovered. It’s pathetic, really. We had just consummated our marriage, and immediately after, the divorce application was submitted. However, we still had to wait for a month. So, isn’t this child just mine? Now I just want to run away with the baby, putting a period to my long, bitter unrequited love. After we got back, Asher seemed to be making some important decision. He just stood silently by the floor-to-ceiling window, like a statue. After a long while, he turned around and pulled me up from the chair. “Come with me to the hospital.” I panicked and broke free. Hospital? Could he be wanting to get rid of my baby? “No! I’d rather die!” He continued to pull me, and I desperately retreated, every hair on my body screaming rejection! But he still dragged me away, in an extremely humiliating manner… He held me in his arms like a child, sharing his body heat with me, his steps quick and steady. If the destination wasn’t the hospital, I’d want him to hold me like this forever. At the entrance of the private hospital, after another round of extreme tugging, I was pinned down in the obstetrics department. It was all because of that “Be good, listen to me” he whispered in my ear. His voice was so alluring and seductive, the tingling sensation ran from my ear to my heart, and the side of my body next to him felt like it was electrified. I couldn’t help but let go of the door I was gripping tightly. Ugh… I was led astray by his good looks. The name of the doctor Asher found for me seemed familiar. Brielle Sinclair. Asher’s first love! Her beauty was different from mine. She had more of an aura about her, gentle and graceful, poised and elegant. Her clothes were always clean and tidy, her face always wore a gentle smile, and her whole being radiated a dazzling, soft glow like the early morning sun. “Skylar Reese, 3 weeks pregnant…” Her hand holding my ultrasound report trembled slightly, but she still smiled. This must be the type Asher likes, while I can only be sharp-tongued, using the coldest and most vicious tone to protect my pitiful self-esteem. My mom was the mistress who became the wife, snatching the position of Mrs. Jackson from Brielle’s mother. I was the shameless sister who stole Brielle’s engagement to the Evans family. I’m grateful that I took after my mother, born with the looks of a natural seductress, allowing me to steal two brief years with Asher in the endless dark times. Asher’s brows furrowed slightly. I knew this was a sign of his annoyance. Even though I was mentally prepared, I still felt a chill. Was he so angry that I was pregnant? He stood up and walked past me towards Brielle. Is he so eager? Going to comfort another woman right in front of me? We’re not even divorced yet! He raised his hand and carefully pulled the ultrasound report from Brielle’s hand, smoothing it out meticulously, his tone slightly cold. “You wrinkled it.” He pressed it hard a few times, but there were still two handprints on the ultrasound report. So he turned to Brielle seriously and said, “Print a new one.” Me: ??? This plot twist doesn’t seem right. Even if your OCD is acting up, it shouldn’t be at this moment, right? Brielle’s ever-present smile finally cracked a bit. “Brother Asher, I didn’t mean to.” Asher shifted his gaze to her face. “Don’t call me brother. My mom only gave birth to me.” After thinking for a moment, he added, his tone sincere without a hint of sarcasm, “Or are you my father’s illegitimate daughter?” Tears stubbornly welled up in Brielle’s eyes. “You’re going too far. I’m going to tell Uncle Evans!” Asher nodded, “Go ahead.” Brielle was stunned. She didn’t expect Asher, who was always aloof and only showed a bit of special treatment to her, would speak to her so harshly. Pfft. Sorry, I really couldn’t help but laugh. It’s rare to see this white lotus bitch Brielle get put in her place. I’m so happy! If I didn’t know that Asher really hates being called “brother”, I would have doubted whether Brielle was really his first love. In the past, I used to chase after Asher calling him “Brother Asher”, and he warned me in a very fierce tone, “Don’t call me brother. I will never be your brother!” Since then, I’ve hidden my humble crush even deeper and more discreetly… Even on the way home, I still felt dizzy and unreal, as if I was walking on clouds. Asher not only didn’t force me to abort the baby, but he even carried me like a princess all the way back. He knelt in front of me, those hands that could move mountains and seas gently removed my high heels and replaced them with soft, comfortable slippers. Even the most skilled craftsmen in the world couldn’t carve out such perfect hands. They seemed to possess a heart-stirring magic, repeatedly attracting one’s gaze. Has the world… gone crazy?! In our two years of marriage, we hadn’t even held hands, and now on the day we’re supposed to divorce, these hands have held me twice and even personally changed my shoes! “Don’t wear high heels for now. It’s easy to get hurt.” He looked up at me slightly as I sat on the shoe-changing bench. Asher has a pair of eyes that are both elegant and alluring. Usually, he looks refined and cold, but when he looks at you, you feel especially cherished. I nodded hurriedly. Now, forget about not letting me wear high heels, even if he told me to eat the high heels, I’d do it without any sauce, one bite at a time! He carefully framed the ultrasound report and placed it in the most prominent position in the living room. Then he had someone send over a big package of books: “Pregnancy Guide”, “Prenatal Education Stories”, “Child Psychology”… I got it. This must be a case of loving the house for its inhabitants. I’m being loved by the big boss Asher because of the unborn baby. I tentatively opened my mouth, “So about the divorce…” Asher, who had been arranging the books, suddenly looked up when he heard my voice. My goodness, what did I see? I actually saw hesitation in the big boss Asher’s eyes! He stared at me, his throat bobbing. His expression was as if I had hurt him. For someone like him, a heaven’s favorite, to show such a vulnerable expression, though brief, made me inexplicably sad. My voice softened involuntarily, “Let’s wait until after the baby is born to talk about it.” “Okay.” He agreed very quickly. It’s all for the child. I don’t know why, but I felt even sadder… But it’s okay. The law stipulates that the custody of children under 2 years old belongs to the mother. Even after divorce, if he wants to see the baby, he’ll have to meet with me. This way, he’ll have to maintain some connection with me for the rest of his life. Thinking about it this way, it seems even more beneficial than running away with the baby! When one is too happy, it’s easy for joy to turn into sorrow. Perhaps due to my constitution, my pregnancy reactions were particularly severe. Even at 5 months pregnant, I was basically throwing up everything I ate. My appetite dropped dramatically, and I lost a full 7 pounds compared to before pregnancy. I was barely hanging on with medication. After throwing up my favorite steamed barramundi again, I started crying while vomiting. My face was a mess of snot and tears, but Asher not only didn’t mind, he focused on wiping me clean with a warm towel, as if handling a fragile piece of art. I said with a sob, “Asher, if I keep throwing up like this, the baby in my belly won’t be able to take it. I really, really want this baby.” “I know.” He let me lean against his chest, gently rubbing my back, feeding me water in small sips. The bitter taste in my mouth gradually dissipated, and my mood slowly calmed down. Only then did I realize how intimate our current position was. I just needed to tilt my head slightly to hear his heartbeat. Before I could move, he called the housekeeper to take me back to my room to rest. Tch, he can say a whole paragraph to Brielle, but when talking to me, it becomes “Mm”, “Okay”, “I know”… Am I that bad? Besides, you’re so fierce, can Brielle’s flat body handle it? While I was still lost in thought, suddenly a SnapChat message came through. It was from Brielle! She didn’t say anything, just sent a picture. It was a hospital diagnosis report. I couldn’t understand the dense medical jargon, but I understood the doctor’s final diagnosis. “Difficulty conceiving, IVF recommended.” I suddenly felt dizzy. This diagnosis report was Brielle’s. Which means, Brielle has difficulty getting pregnant, and Asher must know this too. So… so is the baby in my belly prepared by him for his first love Brielle?! I struggled to get up and find Asher. For my convenience, he had moved his bedroom from across the hall to next door. The door wasn’t closed. He was holding the “Pregnancy Guide” book, making detailed notes. Seeing him like this used to make me feel sweet, but now it just feels ironic. “Asher, you’re quite the actor! It’s a waste of your talents to be a CEO. With such good acting skills, why didn’t you go into the entertainment industry?” He nervously closed the book, a blush coloring his handsome face. His gaze fell on me, his expression tightening. “Why aren’t you wearing slippers?” He started walking out, but I stopped him. “Is it true that Brielle can’t have children?” In the struggle, the book he had hastily closed earlier fell open on the floor. He quickly covered my eyes, “Don’t look…” Why are they hiding something more outrageous from me? If you don’t want me to see, I insist on looking! And then… My face also started burning uncontrollably. A line of ten small characters was circled in red pen, ‘Sexual intercourse is possible after three months of pregnancy.’ Next to it were various notes, citing references and expert opinions… He took the book away and locked it in a drawer. My mind was still full of his flowing handwriting, those memories that make one blush and heart race resurfacing before my eyes. Taut, solid muscles, beads of honey-colored sweat, and sexy panting… But all of this was just a dream he bestowed upon me for the sake of another woman. “Skylar, you’re bleeding.” Bleeding? I touched my nose, but there was no blood. “Don’t be afraid, I’ll take you to the hospital right away!” Drip… Something warm seemed to be flowing down my leg onto the floor… My lower abdomen gradually became stiff, with a vague sinking pain. I trembled as I covered my belly with my hand, “The baby…” “Take deep breaths, try to relax your body.” Asher’s voice had a calming power. I followed his rhythm, breathing in and out, slowly calming down. Thump thump thump. Whose heartbeat is that? I looked up, only able to see his firm chin, tightly pressed lips, and the tense lines of his jaw muscles… “Don’t be afraid.” “I won’t let anything happen to you.” Through the hazy mist, I looked at him. “Asher, did you really want this baby because Brielle can’t have children?” “This is our child, what does that woman have to do with it!” I burst into tears. My anxious heart seemed to suddenly fall into a pool of warm water, neither hot nor cold, just right. At the hospital, there was a flurry of activity. In my hazy state, I could only see the white lights and blue-green figures… Then the world faded into darkness. I had a very long dream. In the dream, I went back to two years ago, when Brielle went abroad. Before I could even be happy about it, I received another shocking news – Asher was going abroad too! The Evans family is in the biotechnology industry, but he wanted to follow Brielle to France, a country known for wine, steak, and luxury goods! If this isn’t true love, what is? The me from two years ago, full of vigor and never admitting defeat, of course, wouldn’t sit idly by. I secretly followed Asher, booked the same flight as him, and to avoid being discovered, I had to squeeze into economy class very uncomfortably. It wasn’t until I got off the plane that I realized what a stupid decision I had made. As a poor student, I hadn’t even mastered French. And I had lost track of Asher. What should I do? I’ve heard that foreign countries can be dangerous. What if I get kidnapped by human traffickers? I’m so beautiful, what if I’m sold as a bar girl, or worse, have my organs harvested… I was about to cry. “What are you doing here?” A clear, low voice sounded behind me, if I listened carefully, I could hear a slight tremor in it. “Asher!” I turned around excitedly and hugged him, “Wah… I was so scared, I thought I’d never see you again…” His body stiffened, “Let go.” I felt like I had been doused with a bucket of cold water, the joy of seeing him just now was washed away completely.

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I drowned alongside my sister. Our parents chose to save her, leaving me to die. When I woke up again, I had been reborn into the body of Jane Johnson, another girl who had nearly drowned. I thought our paths would never cross again, but on the first day of college, I saw my sister once more. She bragged about how her parents loved her so much they abandoned her sister. Her sister’s existence was merely to make her look better in comparison. She knew how to swim all along, and her parents were aware of it too. Since that’s how it is, I have nothing left to hold onto from my past life. So this is what drowning feels like. The water gradually rises over your mouth and nose, flooding your nasal cavity. Your right to breathe is taken away, yet your consciousness remains painfully clear. Survival instinct makes you struggle desperately. But the lack of oxygen renders all your movements futile. My consciousness slowly faded in this extreme agony. In the final moment before death, I felt an odd sense of relief. It was finally over. The suffering would end at last. The water blurred my last remnants of vision. On the nearby shore, my parents and sister were hugging each other, crying and laughing with joy at having survived the ordeal. … I died. And then I lived again. When consciousness returned from the darkness, I saw the excited faces of unfamiliar people around me. “Jane, you’re finally awake! Don’t scare Mommy like that again, okay?” “Are you feeling alright anywhere? Don’t do this again in the future. Mom will be here to help you through anything.” The woman rushed over to hug me, sobbing these words over and over in my ear. I was dazed, allowing the woman to embrace me stiffly, unsure what was happening. Who was Jane? Where was I? Hadn’t I died? My gaze swept across the hospital room, landing on the man standing to the side, restraining his emotions. I was certain I didn’t know these two people. They claimed to be my parents, but my real parents would never shed tears of joy over my rescue. An absurd thought began to form in my mind. The woman calling herself my mother finally released me. She looked rather haggard, though her demeanor and attire suggested she was normally an elegant and refined person. At the moment, her appearance was a bit disheveled. I looked at her silently, keeping my mouth shut. Fortunately, the couple assumed my silence was due to my physical condition, and didn’t press me to respond. Adhering to the principle of saying less to avoid mistakes, I only gave brief “okay” responses or smiled throughout the day. I took advantage of a bathroom break to quickly look in the mirror. Sure enough, I had been reborn. But not into my own body – I was in the body of a complete stranger. I raised my hand to touch this unfamiliar face, my heart pounding with a mix of anxiety and excitement. That night as I lay in bed, I stayed awake thinking about my current situation. The next day when I met the Johnsons again, I decisively said with a smile: “Um… I seem to have lost my memory.” The Johnsons were quite surprised when they heard I had amnesia. They seemed unwilling to believe it, asking me several questions to which I responded with a blank expression. They called in a doctor, who after examination could only say it was an aftereffect that might improve with time. I cooperated obediently throughout the process. I answered everything I knew and admitted what I didn’t know. After all, I truly didn’t know anything, so even if they were suspicious, they couldn’t imagine that the core inside this body had been replaced. After various tests and probing, they finally believed I had truly “lost my memory”. This couple seemed to harbor deep guilt towards their daughter. Although I didn’t know exactly what had happened between them, I could clearly sense their kindness and desire to make amends in how they treated me. And so, under the guise of amnesia, I gradually came to understand this family anew. The Johnsons were quite wealthy, running a multinational trading company and holding high status in their social circles. Fortunately, my previous family hadn’t been too badly off either, otherwise I might have taken years to fully adapt to this sudden change in social class. After being discharged from the hospital, I went straight home with the Johnsons. They gradually introduced me to things over this period, and I came to understand the environment I would be living in from now on. The girl I had replaced was named Jane Johnson, still a high school student of the same age as me. It wasn’t until after I left the hospital that I realized there wasn’t much time left before college applications were due. After discussing it with the Johnsons, we decided I wouldn’t return to school, but would study at home instead. Not taking a gap year was my insistence. In my original body, if I hadn’t drowned, I would have also been at the age to start college. Under the Johnsons’ arrangements, I picked up my textbooks again. That unchanging knowledge finally gave me the feeling of truly living in this world again. I threw all my energy into studying. This time, with no one to hinder me, I could finally do what I wanted. After the interviews, I successfully received an offer from my ideal university for my desired major. Just when I thought everything was starting to get better and I would truly begin a brand new life, I encountered the person I never wanted to see again in this lifetime at university. My sister, Penny Parker. As luck would have it, Penny and I were assigned to the same dorm room. At my insistence, I didn’t let my parents bring a maid to help set up the dorm. I did all the bed-making and organizing myself. My parents watched me arrange everything neatly, their faces full of pride and relief. The other two girls in our quad also did everything themselves. They seemed quite friendly, and we quickly got acquainted, chatting and laughing as we made plans to get our student IDs together and explore campus later. That’s when Penny arrived. She entered with a mountain of luggage that clogged up the hallway. Since she came late, the only bed left was the one by the door. “You, give me your bed,” she demanded, pointing at me. I had already sent my parents home and was still organizing things on my bed when Penny singled me out. Seeing her bossy attitude, just like in the past, I gave a slight smirk. Did she think I was still Amy? “No,” I replied coolly, glancing at her briefly. I didn’t miss the slight frowns that crossed my roommates’ faces. No one would be happy to see a troublemaker join the dorm. “You won’t give it to me?” Penny looked taken aback. Of course, she had never been refused when bullying me before. But the Amy she used to bully had died in the water. Now, I was Jane. Penny didn’t argue with me. She turned and threw herself into her parents’ arms, starting to cry softly. “Dad, Mom, I just wanted that bed…” “It’s okay, sweetie. Daddy and Mommy will take care of it for you.” The Parkers hadn’t changed a bit – as soon as Penny cried, they rushed to back her up. It was the same now. After comforting Penny, Mr. Parker turned to me with a stern face. “Young lady, my daughter likes that bed. Hurry up and give it to her.” “Am I your daughter’s mother? Why should I give in to her?” Anger that had long been suppressed in my heart rose uncontrollably at Mr. Parker’s entitled attitude. “I like your daughter’s eyeballs – should she gouge them out and give them to me?” “How dare you speak that way!” Mrs. Parker scolded me fiercely. “My daughter has taken a liking to your bed. That’s your good fortune. Hurry up and give it to her!” “I’m sorry, but I don’t want that kind of good fortune.” I glanced coldly at the Parkers, not even interested in saying another word to them. If I had known Penny would be attending this university, I would have switched schools without hesitation to avoid the Parkers. They had already made me sick enough in my previous life. I didn’t want them anywhere near me in this one. “What an unreasonable little brat!” Mrs. Parker was like an amplified version of Penny’s personality. Instead of reflecting on the Parkers’ bullying, she turned it around and insulted me. One of my roommates frowned and said, “First come, first served. How can you bully someone like this?” “What business is it of yours?” Mrs. Parker snapped back at her, making my roommate laugh in disbelief. Mrs. Parker then turned back to me with her nose in the air. “You just want money, don’t you? How much will it take for you to switch?” “Well, in that case, I won’t give it up for anything less than $10,000.” I cut in before Mrs. Parker could start scolding again. “It’s your choice whether you want to pay up for this unsolicited deal.” “Mom, forget it,” Penny finally spoke up in a pitiful tone. “It’s just a bed after all. I won’t switch. It’s not worth that much money.” Mrs. Parker looked utterly heartbroken, hugging Penny while glaring daggers at me. “My daughter is so understanding,” Mr. Parker said, his face full of pride. I glanced at my two roommates’ expressions – they looked like they had swallowed flies and were about to be sick. I couldn’t be bothered to deal with that bizarre family anymore. As long as they stayed away from me, I’d be fine. Penny settled into the bed by the door. The maids did all the bed-making and unpacking for her, while she said a tearful goodbye to her parents. I watched the warm, harmonious family scene with cold eyes, unable to keep a hint of bitterness from showing. Though the Parkers had given birth to me, they had never been so gentle towards me. What I heard most often in the Parker household was that no matter right or wrong, I always had to give in to my younger sister Penny. Sometimes I even wondered if I was really their biological daughter. Since they chose to give birth to me, and I had never been unfilial to them, why did they treat me so harshly? Just because I was the older sister? The maids took care of everything perfectly before the Parkers finally left. My two roommates hesitated before calling out to Penny, “We’re all going for a walk around campus. Do you want to come?” “No,” Penny rolled her eyes, all traces of the sweet obedient daughter gone. The two roommates didn’t press further. They called me to join them and we set off together. The main topic of discussion along the way was our new roommate Penny. I listened quietly without commenting. After living with Penny for 18 years, I knew her two-faced nature all too well. But I didn’t expect that when we returned to the dorm after our walk, my bed would look like it had been ransacked by thieves. Everything I had neatly organized was strewn about messily. Meanwhile, my roommates’ beds were untouched, with no signs of disturbance. Such obvious targeting made me laugh in anger. I yanked open Penny’s bed curtain. She was lying there playing on her phone. Our eyes met and she suddenly sat up. “What are you doing?!” “I should be asking you that. Why did you mess with my things?” I dug my nails into my palms, afraid I wouldn’t be able to resist slapping her if I didn’t. “Penny, don’t go too far!” “Do you have proof?” She stared at me challengingly for a few seconds before suddenly putting on a hurt expression. “Jane, I really didn’t do anything. We just met, why are you being so mean to me…” “You were the only one in the room,” I said coldly, watching her act. “If a thief came in, everyone’s stuff would be messed up. You wouldn’t be spared either. Do I need to spell it out for you?” “But I really don’t know anything about it.” She started to sniffle as she spoke. “Jane, why are you bullying me?” “Jane, stop,” my roommates said softly, giving me meaningful looks. I knew what they wanted to say. There were no cameras in the dorm, so no matter what I said, Penny could deny it. But it was crystal clear who had done this. I gritted my teeth and turned away, starting to clean up my things. In my mind, I was already thinking about installing cameras in the room. But Penny kept crying persistently. “Jane, how can you falsely accuse me like this?” “I didn’t do anything, but you came over yelling at me. We’re roommates, how can you bully me like this?” “How can you bully people with a clear conscience?!” “Waaah, I’m going to report this to the RA!” She cried harder and harder. My temples throbbed in irritation and I couldn’t help but turn back and shout, “Oh shut up already!” It was exactly like her old behavior – so annoying! But she cried even harder, slapping another label on me. “Jane, this is campus bullying. I can report you for this!” “Then go ahead and report me!” I was beyond frustrated, slamming things down loudly. Perhaps I should consider changing rooms? At this rate, I wouldn’t be able to focus on studying at all – fighting with Penny would consume all my energy and enthusiasm. “Both of you, calm down,” my roommates quickly tried to mediate, helping me clean up. I glanced at Penny in annoyance and saw that despite her teary eyes, she was smirking at me challengingly. I narrowed my eyes. So she was holding a grudge over the bed incident, huh? Setting aside the Penny situation, I was quite looking forward to college life. My new classmates seemed friendly too. However, the campus rumor mill was incredibly efficient. Soon, details about everyone’s family background and looks in our business school were circulating on the university forums. As it happened, the Parker family wasn’t as well-known as the Johnsons, and Penny’s looks paled in comparison to Jane’s. I became the beauty queen of the business school, leaving Penny in the dust. Within days of starting classes, I had a group of followers, even though I kept a cold expression. They just couldn’t be driven away. But privately, I got along well with my two roommates. They enjoyed hanging out with me. The three of us went everywhere together. With the crowd that always surrounded me, we were a lively group wherever we went. In contrast, Penny’s circle was much quieter. Every time she looked at me, her eyes flashed with jealousy. But I couldn’t be bothered to pay her any attention. Why should I care about a clown who was inferior to me in every way? “Just a peacock, that’s all she is.” We were all eating dinner in the dorm and chatting when Penny suddenly threw out this comment. She glanced at me sideways after speaking, her meaning clear. I nodded towards the new security camera in the corner. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” With such a troublemaker around, I had asked my roommates’ opinions about installing a camera. They had enthusiastically agreed, with no objections. If we couldn’t handle her, we’d find a way to protect ourselves. “Hmph, I’m going to report you all for invading my privacy by not getting my consent,” she stabbed angrily at her food, glaring at me maliciously. I ignored her and said to my roommates, “Weren’t you just talking about your sisters? Let’s continue that conversation.” “My sister can be pretty fierce. When I was little, if I didn’t do my homework properly, she’d yell at me.” “Mine too. I got smacked by my sister plenty of times.” Though my roommates were complaining, their faces were full of smiles. The deep familial affection was clear as day. I was stunned for a moment. Was my bad relationship with Penny because I had never hit her? But if I had dared to be harsh with her, I would have been beaten half to death by our biased parents before Penny could do anything. “Don’t your parents tell your sisters to let you have your way?” I asked curiously. My roommates exchanged a glance and laughed. “No way. Whoever is wrong gets punished. And even though my sister hits me, she always saves the best food and toys for me first. I love my sister the most.” “Same here.” My roommates were smiling sweetly, but my heart was filled with bitterness. All the good food and toys went to Penny first. Why would she need me to care for her? In the end, it was favoritism that created the Amy who swallowed her pride, and the domineering yet fake-sweet Penny. I guess I just never had that familial bond with the Parkers. “Jane, are you an only child?” my roommates asked curiously. I glanced at Penny’s resentful face and nodded. “Yes, I don’t have any siblings.” I used to, but they disappeared along with Amy’s death. “Then we’ll be your sisters from now on.” My roommates smiled kindly, giving me their favorite dishes from their plates. I was touched, but before I could respond, Penny snorted coldly. “As if they’re worthy of being your sisters. You think Jane would want nobodies like you?” My roommates’ smiles froze, looking embarrassed. They were both from ordinary families who had worked hard to get into this good university. They didn’t have impressive family backgrounds to boast about. But I didn’t care about any of that. I put some food on their plates and said sincerely, “I do want you as my sisters.” They smiled at me gratefully. Penny scoffed from the side. “Oh please, Jane. Stop being such a hypocrite. You just want them to run errands for you.” “I don’t have any sisters. I like having sisters – it’s lively,” I replied blandly. But Penny laughed so hard tears came to her eyes. “You think I don’t have an older sister? Let me tell you, older sisters are just there to be ordered around!” “You-!” My roommates were furious. I nodded. “Then your sister must be truly miserable.” In Penny’s heart, what was Amy worth? Nothing at all. “Exactly! With a sister like you, your poor sister must have the worst luck in the world!” my usually mild-mannered roommates couldn’t help but lash out. “Sisters are supposed to support each other, share joys and sorrows. Only you would think of the relationship in such a despicable way!” “Your sister is so pitiful. You should just cut ties with her already.” “Hurry up and stop tormenting her!” As they ranted indignantly, I dug my nails into my palms, listening silently. After all these years, someone was finally standing up for me. The feeling of being truly cared for was wonderful indeed. “Oh, her? She’s already dead.” But Penny just giggled coquettishly, looking quite pleased with herself. “We both fell into the water at the same time, but my parents love me so much they chose to save me and let her drown.” Me: “…” I wanted to ask – could I curse this beast to death? My two roommates were shocked, staring at Penny dumbfounded. “Are you even human?” “Hmph, she was never likable anyway. It’s good that she’s dead,” Penny stabbed at her food distastefully. The shiny fork was like a knife, seemingly stabbing into my soul with each jab, causing unbearable pain. How could she speak so casually about my death? Was she even human?! “Wash my bowl for me. I’m going to order takeout,” Penny commanded one of my roommates matter-of-factly. But my roommate, who had previously been somewhat wary of her, directly refused with a cold face. No one paid her any attention anymore. However, Penny directed her resentment towards me. My things started going missing again, or would end up with strange smells on them. And whenever I lost something, the security camera would mysteriously go black. Everyone knew who was behind it, but there was no concrete evidence. My two roommates privately urged me to change dorms, worried I would end up like Penny’s sister. Little did they know, I was that abandoned sister. But I didn’t want to back down again. Penny’s grades were as terrible as ever. We’d been in classes for a while, but her textbooks still looked brand new. However, between the three of us roommates combined, we didn’t have as wide a social circle as she did. Every day she would dress up glamorously, either going to meet “big brothers” or hang out with “little brothers”. And ever since that day we discussed sisters, rumors about me suddenly started spreading around the department. They said I had loose morals, secretly hooking up with guys by using my looks. They said I had a haughty temper and liked to bully others. They even said my background was fake, that my family was actually dirt poor with my parents working odd jobs, while I bought luxury goods every day. Suddenly, my classmates started looking at me strangely. My roommates tried to explain on my behalf, but ended up being labeled as my lapdogs, getting pointed at and whispered about wherever they went. They were furious, but I remained quite calm. I didn’t interact much with people in our department, and the only person I had any grudge against was Penny. If she wanted to use these petty tricks to slander me, I wasn’t going to take it seriously at all. What kind of person I was couldn’t be destroyed by a few words from her. But photos started appearing on the campus forums. Some anonymous account had somehow taken pictures of me chatting with the campus heartthrob under a tree and posted them online. I thought the guy would clarify things, so I didn’t bother with it. But he ended up writing a long post under the photos condemning the original poster, without actually clarifying our relationship. Penny’s looks towards me became increasingly strange. Many girls started probing me, asking if I was dating the campus heartthrob. Heaven knows, I barely even knew the guy. However, every chance encounter between us would be magnified and discussed on the school forums, causing hordes of girls to attack me online. I was dumbfounded. What was even more outrageous was that while I was mired in these rumors, Penny suddenly released so-called evidence of me bullying her. In the photos, her eyes were red from crying, looking pitiful. The post also included an audio clip of me yelling at her in anger after discovering my things had been messed with on move-in day. I had been furious at the time, and my words “Go ahead and report me then!” became a heavily criticized point. The sound of me slamming things was interpreted as me violently beating Penny. My roommates had already been labeled as accomplices and couldn’t show their faces. Every day, girls would curiously peek into our dorm to watch the drama unfold. Some would comfort Penny, saying I would get my comeuppance. Penny played the innocent victim, finding new ways to torment me and my roommates every day. And then I saw the campus heartthrob hugging Penny.

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The two-faced girl buried her face in her boyfriend’s chest at her mother’s funeral. Watching the lovey-dovey couple and Claire’s hyperactive seven-year-old nephew, I chose to stay quiet as a mouse. Until the little nephew threw firecrackers near the urn at the funeral, and with a bang, gray-white dust scattered all over the ground. I leaned close to the dumbfounded Claire and whispered softly. “Your mom just went boom~” “Summer, those things are in the past. Why do you keep dwelling on them?” Lucas, my boyfriend of seven years, looked at me with disappointment. “If you go today, we’re breaking up.” Looking at Lucas’s still handsome face, I felt an unfamiliar sense of estrangement. “No matter how much bad blood there is between you two, Claire’s mother has passed away. Can’t you just let it go? When did you become so terrible?” Me? Terrible? Good grief, I almost laughed out of anger. Lucas was going to attend the funeral of his subordinate Claire’s mother, but his dear subordinate was the very person who had bullied me for three whole years during our school days. I couldn’t forget Claire’s pretentious face, nor could I forget how her mother had slapped me in front of the entire school. Lucas knew all about my past, but now, this man who had sworn to love and protect me was calling me terrible because I wouldn’t let him attend his subordinate’s funeral. “You’d still go even if it means breaking up?” I thought I would be hysterical. After all, before Claire appeared, we rarely had any arguments. Even when we were in a long-distance relationship for three years due to work, the word “breakup” was still taboo between us. Lucas didn’t respond, but his action of changing shoes at the entrance made his choice clear. As the door slammed shut, I felt utterly exhausted. The black screen of the TV reflected my dejected figure, as if I had returned to those days and nights from over a decade ago. I curled up in the corner of the dorm, fists and palms constantly falling on my body and face. Back then, I was also like this, hunched over, hugging my knees, like a drowned dog. The only difference was that back then, I couldn’t fight back and could only endure their bullying. But now, even if that scumbag and bitch want to be together, I’ll make them pay the price.

After contemplating my strategy, I applied decent makeup, changed into a black velvet long dress, and called a ride to Claire’s mother’s funeral. I knew Lucas too well. He cared a lot about his image and had repeatedly asked me to cooperate with him in public to maintain his good guy facade. So even if we broke up, he would push all the blame onto me to justify being with Claire. How could I let them have their way? I should have known when we first argued about Claire that Lucas was no longer the person who had pulled me out of the mire. At the funeral, Lucas was surprised to see me but still happily came to greet me. Before his hand could touch me, a petite figure like a broken-winged butterfly darted from behind me and threw herself into Lucas’s arms. Lucas’s face froze for a moment but quickly returned to normal, comforting the girl in his arms stroke by stroke. Muffled sobs could be heard, and I didn’t miss the flash of tenderness in his eyes. I watched the two calmly. This scene was within my expectations. After all, one of Claire’s favorite hobbies was using her pitiful face to seduce other people’s boyfriends and then cruelly humiliate the abandoned girls. Claire raised her head after crying enough, seemingly just noticing my presence. She shrank back like a frightened rabbit and timidly spoke. “When did you arrive, sis? I’m sorry, I was too emotional just now and couldn’t control myself.” As she finished speaking, her eyes reddened again. To an uninformed observer, it would seem like I had done something to her. “Couldn’t control yourself so you had to cry in my boyfriend’s arms?” Perhaps not expecting me to speak so bluntly, Claire choked for a moment and stepped out of Lucas’s embrace. “I overstepped. I’m sorry.” As she spoke, large teardrops fell one after another. I could almost hear the murmurs of the people around us, as it looked like I was bullying her. “Summer, you’ve gone too far,” Lucas frowned, his large hand reaching out to pull the crying woman back into his arms, softly comforting her. This was exactly the effect I wanted. I stopped paying attention to the two and casually found a seat where I could still see their interactions. They made quite a handsome couple. “Monster, take my punch!” A pain shot through my waist. I turned to see a snotty-nosed kid hitting me with an action figure. “Scared now, big monster? Pew pew pew!” The boy, seeing that I didn’t react, became more enthusiastic and even started kicking my shin. Not far away, a woman who seemed to be the boy’s mother saw that I wasn’t reacting and rolled her eyes before continuing to chat with the person beside her. “Little one, this isn’t right, you know.” I patiently tried to reason with him, but the boy not only didn’t stop but even tried to spit at me. Seeing his mischievous nature, I suddenly had an idea. “Hey kiddo, can you shoot lasers like the action figure?” The child was drawn in by the topic and sniffled, imitating the action figure’s laser-shooting pose. “No, no, when the action figure shoots lasers, there’s light. Look, just like that,” I pointed to a group of people preparing to light firecrackers not far away. They were a group of Asian Americans who had the custom of lighting firecrackers to ward off evil spirits in their country. As soon as I finished speaking, the firecrackers started crackling, with sparks of light reflecting in the child’s eyes. “See? That’s much more fun.” Seeing his excited look, I pretended nothing had happened and quietly moved away from him. After all, a child’s mind is unpredictable, and no matter what, I didn’t want to be implicated. Sure enough, after the firecrackers finished, it wasn’t long before there was a loud bang. The urn at the center of the memorial hall crashed heavily to the ground, gray-white dust scattering everywhere. The entire place fell silent. Even Claire couldn’t have imagined this scene, standing there dumbfounded. Only the child’s giggles could be heard. Perfect. I slowly walked up to Claire and leaned close to her ear, whispering softly. “Your mom just went boom~”

A good funeral turned into a farce. After I said those words, I tactfully left the scene, naturally missing out on a big drama. This scene was even posted online and quickly became the top trending topic. The comment section was full of discussions about how to discipline unruly children and sympathy for Claire in the video. Through this, Claire unexpectedly gained some fame, which was an unexpected benefit. I directly contacted a gossip account with a burner account and sent over the video I had recorded that day with the sound removed. Claire was quite popular recently, and this video hit the sweet spot for the gossip account. The content of the video showed Claire throwing herself into Lucas’s arms, followed by Lucas softly comforting her. Although there was no sound, just looking at the video, the two seemed like a loving couple. Besides this, there were other scenes of the two interacting, and in each frame, Lucas’s gaze was firmly fixed on Claire. The gossip account was very professional and didn’t ask who I was after receiving the video. After all, my burner account was newly registered, obviously not wanting my identity known. After doing all this, I packed a simple travel bag and left for a trip. The real show was yet to come.

My trip wasn’t long, just two weeks. During this time, I blocked Lucas on all contact methods, and he truly didn’t try to find me again. But it didn’t matter. The beautiful scenery made me forget the various unpleasantnesses of life and also allowed me to see myself clearly. I didn’t need to rely on anyone. Even if it was just me alone, I could feel love. But I hadn’t forgotten to keep an eye on Claire’s news. As soon as the video was released, it received a lot of attention from netizens. Originally, everyone was commenting on the most beautiful love, but some nosy netizens dug up my existence, and the tide of opinion immediately turned. Words like “homewrecker” and “two-faced girl” filled the comment section. This was exactly what I wanted, but it was far from enough. This was just the beginning. Claire seized the opportunity to start a livestream. After all, negative publicity is still publicity, and even if she was being scolded, such a large amount of traffic was enough for her to make a big profit. I was also present during the livestream. The first thing that appeared on the screen was Claire’s pitiful face, tearfully telling her story with Lucas. She talked about uncontrollable emotions, about restraint and self-control, about vulnerability and helplessness, portraying herself as someone who loved but couldn’t be with him, silently guarding him until she finally couldn’t help but throw herself into her beloved’s arms at her mother’s funeral. Throughout the entire time, she didn’t mention me once. I have to say, Claire played this move well. With her beautiful face and pretend strength, she aroused sympathy in the barrage of comments. Some even said it was because I was too ugly, not as pretty as Claire, so it was understandable that Lucas would pity and care for Claire. This really made me laugh. What kind of values are these? Just because someone is beautiful, they can shamelessly interfere in other people’s relationships? Just because they can cry, they can be forgiven for anything? Should ugly people just die? Should children who don’t cry starve to death? Some people even started fan pages for Lucas and Claire, shipping this couple under the name ‘Echoing Clouds’.

When I returned to the house Lucas and I shared, it was Claire who opened the door. She was wearing the couple’s fluffy slippers we had bought together, and on her body was my favorite silk camisole nightgown. Lucas heard the commotion and came out from the kitchen, still holding a spoon. He was very surprised to see me. “…Summer, why are you back?” I laughed coldly, “If I hadn’t come back, I wouldn’t have seen such an exciting scene.” “It rained heavily yesterday, Claire just came to shelter from the rain. It was too late so she stayed over, don’t overthink it,” Lucas frowned, his tone stiff. I knew this was his expression when he felt guilty. “If I had come back a little later, would you two have slept together?” “You really misunderstood, Lucas and I… we really don’t have anything…” Claire jumped in before Lucas could speak, her hand seemingly unconsciously tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. I naturally noticed the red mark on her neck. It was just a provocation tactic. Did she think I would hysterically argue like her previous opponents, letting her reap the benefits? I directly pushed past the two standing at the door, locked them out, and started packing my belongings, ignoring their constant knocking. This house was bought with a down payment I managed to scrape together when I got lucky with stocks right after graduation. To save on expenses, Lucas and I moved in as soon as it was renovated, thinking it would be our marital home. Now it’s just convenient to kick him out. When I first bought the house, I had thought about adding Lucas’s name, but at that time he had just graduated and wasn’t well off. Later when Lucas asked to add his name, it was always delayed for various reasons. Now it seems even the heavens didn’t think he was worthy. After the knocking continued for a while, my phone rang. It was Lucas’s good friend, Mark. I didn’t have a deep impression of him, we had only eaten together a few times. Unlike Lucas’s subtle thoughts, his intentions were written all over his face. The first time we met, that blatant appraising look made me very uncomfortable. I knew with my foot that this call was to speak for Lucas. I had been traveling for two weeks and Lucas couldn’t contact me, but now he was just locked outside, and this call came so quickly. “Hey? Summer, I can vouch for Lucas, he and Claire really don’t have anything going on. No matter how angry you are, you can’t lock people out in the cold, what will the neighbors think?” Mark’s frivolous voice came from the other end of the phone. “They know what they did. If they dare to do it, are they afraid of others knowing? Tell Lucas we’re done. I’ll put all his things at the door tomorrow, not missing a single item.” With that, I hung up the phone. The journey had left me quite tired, so I went straight to sleep.

The next day, I called a few cleaning ladies to tidy up the house. I had thought our little home we lived in together would be full of items with memories of us, but after a thorough cleaning, Lucas’s things only filled one storage box, most of which were things I had bought. A photo in the corner caught my attention, one I had never seen before. I cleaned off the dust on the surface and looked at it. It showed a man and a woman kissing. The man was, of course, Lucas, but the girl in the photo, with a ponytail, wearing an oversized school uniform that made her look extremely thin, had a face I would never forget. It was Claire, Claire from high school, or even earlier. In her first year of high school, she loved to tie a ribbon to her ponytail’s hair tie, hanging down with her black hair, just like in the photo. My heart felt like it had plunged into an ice cave. Lucas had never mentioned that he originally knew Claire, let alone that they had such an intimate past. Those unbearable scenes flooded back into my mind, and certain details I had deliberately ignored suddenly became clear. I had thought Claire’s bullying was just because I was different from them. When everyone was eager to be a bad kid, the only good kid stood out. I, who buried my head in studies, became the object of their ridicule.

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