Author: Momo Chan

An accident stole three years of my memory. When it finally rushed back, everything I knew was gone. He, who should have been a stranger, had become my husband. And I, who should have been his wife, had been relegated to a live-in maid, catering to ‘them’ for three years. I was a trophy wife, My sole purpose: to be his devoted doormat. But I, was no longer *me*. I stood on the bustling street, watching the endless stream of people pass by. For the first time, I felt utterly lost. Just ten minutes ago, an out-of-control motorcycle, clearly speeding, had swerved directly towards me. The moment it was about to hit, I was yanked away. In that instant, everything came flooding back. I had lost my memory, three years ago, after an accident. Following my parents’ advice, I’d married Ryan, my childhood friend. After the wedding, I obediently quit my high-powered career to focus on serving my mother-in-law, Barbara, becoming a full-time housewife. Thinking of those three years, I looked down at the groceries in my hand and my faded, worn-out clothes. The sheer absurdity of it all made my stomach churn. I had married a stranger, given up a lucrative six-figure job, and become a ‘dutiful wife and mother.’ I was even forced to buy the cheapest, off-brand feminine hygiene products. All because Barbara said we needed to save money for kids. Thankfully, Ryan had a low sperm count. Even though we never used protection these past three years, I hadn’t gotten pregnant. My eyes darkened at the thought. A year into our marriage, I still hadn’t conceived. Barbara constantly called me a barren hen, accusing me of being some cheap tramp who’d had too many abortions to get pregnant. But when I married Ryan, I was a naive girl who’d never even dated. On our wedding night, Barbara even burst into our room to place a white sheet on our bed, a blatant test of my virginity. Only after seeing a stain the next morning did she treat me with any decency. Later, she forced me to get checked at the hospital. The doctor said I was perfectly healthy and fertile, suggesting Ryan get tested. That’s how we discovered Ryan had a low sperm count.

Back home, the moment I stepped through the door, Barbara’s voice screeched. “Look what time it is! Where were you, on some man’s bed after buying groceries?” “Don’t just stand there, go cook! Are you trying to starve us all?” Barbara sat on the couch, glaring at me with disgust. “Mom, don’t get angry. She’s not worth your breath.” Ryan’s ‘sister’, Ashley, was nestled sweetly beside Barbara, playing the dutiful step-daughter. “Still standing there? Go cook, now! Are you waiting to die?” Seeing I hadn’t moved, Barbara made to strike me. I dropped the grocery bags, crossed my arms, and looked at the ‘loving’ mother and daughter with disdain. “Old hag, watch your mouth.” Barbara’s face turned scarlet. She lunged at me. I wasn’t backing down. I fought back, grabbing handfuls of hair, slapping them both with it. Ashley rushed to help, but I just yanked them both around, pulling Barbara’s hair down hard. They clearly hadn’t expected me to fight back. I tossed them both onto the floor like helpless little chicks. I dusted off my hands and walked away. Entering the room Ryan and I shared, I began searching for my ID, property deeds, marriage certificate – anything I might need later. I had to get my hands on them now, before they could use them against me. Thinking of Ryan, based on our three years together, the man was cold, selfish, insidious, and utterly disgusting.

When I came out, the old hag and Ashley were still wailing on the floor, waiting for their precious son to come home so they could tattle. I glanced at them with pure contempt. Disgusting. After leaving, I went to my small apartment. Thank god I’d somehow bought this place quietly before losing my memory and forgotten about it. It had saved me from using it to subsidize their household. Sitting on the floor of the apartment, I still couldn’t quite process the situation. I had been on the verge of a promotion, about to move abroad, finally escaping my toxic family. My bright future had been right there, in front of me. How had it all turned into this? I curled up, burying my face in my knees, and sobbed. My hands, once soft, were now calloused and rough from three years of endless chores. I’d been so stupid that I even scoured obscure websites for expired feminine hygiene products, just to save a few bucks. And I did everyone’s laundry every single day. Waking up at six AM to prepare breakfast and packed lunches for Ryan and Ashley, then mopping and cleaning, waiting until Barbara left the house before I even thought about myself. My phone rang, a grating sound. It was Ryan. I answered. “Where are you? I don’t care who you’re screwing around with, get back here right now, you hear me? *Now!*” Listening to his furious voice, all I felt was a bizarre sense of absurdity. This was my husband? I hung up. There was nothing to say to this stranger. I lay on the apartment couch all night, afraid to sleep. Afraid that I’d wake up the next day, forget everything again, and become their live-in maid once more.

I was going to get a divorce. But not before they paid for every ounce of pain I’d endured. I returned to the house. Ryan hadn’t gone to work; he was home, tending to Barbara and Ashley. The moment she saw me, Barbara started screaming again, telling me to drop dead. Ryan looked like he hadn’t slept all night, dark circles under his eyes. “Where were you yesterday?” he demanded. “None of your damn business.” I calmly sat on the couch, watching them all lose their minds. My gaze met Ryan’s. Looking at this man, whose eyes were as cold and predatory as a snake’s, I found it hard to believe I’d been so madly in love with him when I had lost my memory. Memories flooded my mind. I stood at the bedroom door, watching my new husband, Ryan, and Ashley cuddling intimately on our wedding bed. Ashley looked up at me. “Chloe, Ryan and I have always loved lying on the same bed since we were kids. You don’t mind, do you?” Ryan frowned, feigning calmness. “Ashley gets scared at night. I just let her come over to talk. Don’t be unreasonable.” At first, I actually believed their lies, and treated Ashley like my own sister. Whatever she wanted, whatever she wished to buy, I would fulfill it. “Chloe, book a restaurant for me. Tonight is Ryan and my 15th anniversary. We’re having a candlelight dinner.” “Chloe, write this proposal for me. It’s due tomorrow. If you don’t get it done, you’re dead.” “Chloe, you can’t even do laundry right. What *can* you do?” “Chloe, I’m sleeping with Ryan tonight. You can stay in the study.” … Later, they grew bolder, no longer bothering to hide their sordid affair. They even had sex right under my nose, then expected me to clean up their mess. “Chloe! Is this how you fulfill your duties as a wife? My mom just said one thing to you, and you have to hurt her like this?” Ryan pointed at Barbara, roaring. I looked at him calmly. “Ryan, let’s get a divorce.” Suddenly, the house fell silent. Barbara and Ashley stopped their dramatics. “What did you say?! I don’t agree! If you divorce, who’ll take care of my mom?” “And besides, we paid a bride price when we got married. Your family basically sold you to us!”

That day ended in a furious deadlock. Ryan’s family feared losing me, their ever-willing workhorse, and I never expected them to agree easily. I cleaned the apartment. Three years of neglect had left a thick layer of dust. I picked up an envelope addressed to ‘Chloe.’ I opened it. “Hello, I am Chloe.” “I am the Chloe who lost her memory. Strictly speaking, my codename is 036.” The first sentence left me stunned. A massive shock washed over me. “First, I want to apologize to you. I received a mission to enter this world, inhabiting your body. To complete my task, I did many incomprehensible things over the past three years.” “Ryan was my target. I had to be his doormat, selfless and utterly devoted, my persona only caring about his happiness.” “When I stumbled upon this small apartment, I hesitated, wondering if I should give it to Ryan as a gift to please him. But after I arrived, I saw your hopes, all the love you poured into this apartment, and I couldn’t bring myself to do it.” “By the time you read this letter, I will have left, but my mission is not yet complete.” “My original task was to complete the mission after four years of marriage, but I could only stay in this world for three years.” “So, I must ask you, can you endure this last year? In return, I’ve collected evidence of Ryan’s crimes.” “After one year, this evidence will automatically be submitted. By then, Ryan will face justice. And you will be free.” “At the very least, please, for the sake of me leaving you this apartment, don’t let my mission fail.” “Otherwise, my consciousness will be erased. Please.” Reading the letter carefully, a huge weight lifted from my heart. “So, I didn’t betray myself after all.” I squatted down, hugging my knees, and wept. Tears streamed down my face and into my mouth, but I didn’t notice. It was so long that the streetlights had already turned off. I lifted my head, fiercely wiping away the tears from my eyes. “One last year, huh? If I complete your mission, I can go back to a normal life.” It sounded like a kind offer.

“Failure to complete the mission means being erased?” I murmured, staring at the envelope. And she wants me to be grateful she left me *my own* apartment? “If you hadn’t suddenly taken over my body, how would I have ended up in this mess?!” This ‘strategist’ 036 only left me the apartment because she realized she still needed my help to complete the final step, a way to manipulate me. “Since you want to complete your mission so badly, why would I grant your wish?” Looking at the new scars on my body from these past few years, my hatred seethed. I would make Ryan’s family pay the price they deserved. And 036, your mission will never be completed. Ashley’s birthday was in two days. Every year, she threw a lavish party to show off how much she was ‘loved.’ I sneered. A story about being ‘loved’ by your brother, even in bed, would certainly grab attention. That day, Ryan called me. “I don’t care what you’re thinking right now, but it’s Ashley’s birthday, and you *must* be there.” His commanding voice came through the phone. Ryan was a highly sophisticated egoist. He wouldn’t tolerate any stains on his reputation. Highly educated, good-looking, polite and generous in public, doting on his wife, never adding female contacts on SnapChat. That was his public persona. “I’ll be there.” I’m going there to expose the true faces of you two despicable scumbags. When I arrived, the party had already started.

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The day my sight returned, I found a set of women’s lingerie in the bathroom that wasn’t mine. I kept it a secret, determined to figure out what was going on. In the middle of the day, Blake Caldwell came home again to cook for me. As usual, he played music while I ate. “Stella,” he said softly, “I know it hurts that you can’t see, and I hope the music brings you more joy.” But this time, through the deafening music, I saw a woman sitting on Blake Caldwell’s lap. His hands roughly tore at her strap, leaving angry red marks on her pale skin. His face, contorted with raw desire, was a horrifying mask – and it was pointed right at me. As I always did, I fumbled my way upstairs and dialed a number I hadn’t called in ages: “Julian Caldwell, I agree to be your white moonlight stand-in.” “But you owe me a favor.” On the other end of the line, the man’s deep voice answered without a hint of hesitation. “Alright.” I hung up and slowly made my way back downstairs. If I listened closely, I could make out the faint, frantic cries of a woman mingled with the chaotic music. Blake Caldwell had always told me it was just part of the music’s sound effects. So, when I reached the bottom of the stairs, I walked straight to the speaker and turned it off. Suddenly, the vast villa was filled only with the woman’s desperate pleas. I turned to face Blake Caldwell. My usually calm, expressionless eyes now reflected the panic blooming on his face. Blake Caldwell immediately clapped a hand over the woman’s mouth, shoved her aside, and then quietly got up, circling around behind me. He even stomped on the stairs a few times, pretending he had just come down. “Stella, are you full?” “Why did you turn off the music? Is it time for your nap?” His long arms wrapped around me from behind, his unbuttoned shirt exposing half of his chest, pressing tightly against my back. Warm and sickening.

I could even distinctly smell the scent of his arousal on him. “Yeah, I’m full. Feeling a little sleepy.” I lowered my gaze slightly, trying to keep my expression and voice natural. Because that woman was staring at me. Her eyes were filled with jealousy, and she rubbed her arm furiously where Blake Caldwell had pushed her. Among the scattered clothes on the floor, I noticed a doctor’s coat from St. Anne’s Hospital. A name tag was pinned to the collar, reading “Neurosurgeon Serena White.” I remembered that one of the doctors who examined my cranial hematoma back then had a surname similar to White. “Okay, then I’ll take my Stella to bed, alright?” Blake Caldwell gently wrapped an arm around my waist, guiding me slowly upstairs. As we ascended, he spoke softly, like he was coaxing a child: “Careful with the steps, one, two, three…” “Stella is so good. I’ll come home early tonight to make you something delicious as a reward.” I curved my lips into a silent, bitter smile. Three years ago, I’d taken a severe blow to the head from an assailant while saving Blake Caldwell. The cranial hematoma had pressed against my optic nerve, causing immediate blindness. During that time, Blake Caldwell, the CEO of a major corporation, had personally seen to my daily care. Three years had flown by, and he still maintained that habit. Gradually, everyone forgot I was Blake Caldwell’s savior. They only remembered how incredibly well he treated me. He was handsome, successful, and known as a devoted, loving, gentle man. Everyone envied me, and even I was deeply immersed in it, believing I was the happiest woman alive. If my sight hadn’t suddenly returned, I might still be lost in his sweet lies. He helped me to the bed, letting me recline against the headboard, while his other hand was busy texting on his phone. He didn’t know I could see again, so he didn’t bother hiding anything. I could clearly make out the conversation on the screen. The contact was saved with a pink heart emoji, and the profile picture was the face of the woman from downstairs.

【Blake, why aren’t you coming down yet?】 【I can’t take it anymore! If you don’t come down and help me out, I’m coming up to find you!】 Blake Caldwell’s fingers moved incredibly fast, his practiced motions showing no difficulty despite being semi-reclined on the bed with one hand pinned. 【Stella needs to sleep. You are not allowed to disturb her. Don’t test my limits. If you upset her, you’ll never step foot in this house again.】 The other side immediately fell silent, clearly understanding Blake Caldwell meant business. But Blake Caldwell, if you truly didn’t want her to disturb me, if I truly was your bottom line… Why did you bring her to our home? Why did you let her appear in our relationship? Which was real, which was fake? I couldn’t tell anymore. And I couldn’t trust anything either. Five minutes later, Blake Caldwell gently pinched my cheek. “Stella, it’s time for your nap. I’m going to the third-floor study to work.” I lowered my eyes and nodded. Pretending I hadn’t seen the latest message he’d sent Serena White on his phone. 【Go wait for me in the third-floor study. Be quiet.】 Blake Caldwell helped me lie down, placing his large hand over my head to prevent me from bumping the headboard. Before he left, he tucked me in and placed a light kiss on my forehead. “Good afternoon, Stella.” His movements were smooth and practiced, perfectly fitting his persona as a gentle, attentive boyfriend. I rolled over, turning my back to him. Once I heard the bedroom door click shut, tears finally streamed down my face, unstoppable. For the past three years, after helping me settle for my nap, he usually stayed in the third-floor study to work instead of going to the office. I once believed he did it to spend more time with me. But now, standing outside the third-floor study, all I heard were incredibly sultry gasps.

“Blake, can’t I carry our baby? Why does it have to be your and Stella’s fertilized embryo that goes into my womb?” His voice was laced with a ragged breath, yet his words cut through the air, chillingly firm. “My child can only be Stella’s. Don’t ask that question again.” “As long as you safely give birth to the baby, you’ll always be my woman. After all, I don’t want my child to be born by a blind woman.” A bitter laugh escaped my lips. I suddenly remembered that before I lost my sight, we’d decided to put off having kids for Blake’s career. I’d even gone to freeze my eggs. So now, the baby in Serena White’s belly was, in essence, my child from before I went blind. My gut immediately twisted into knots. I hadn’t eaten much earlier, and now, back in my room, I was hunched over the toilet, throwing up until I was dizzy. It felt as if only physical agony could ease the torment in my heart. Blake Caldwell, you’ve deceived me so cruelly. “Stella, Stella?” The bathroom door was kicked open. Standing outside was Blake Caldwell, who had come downstairs at some point. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?” His voice was filled with frantic concern. But I suddenly remembered him calling another woman’s name in a hazy voice outside the study. Unable to stomach it, I threw up again, this time on Blake Caldwell, who had knelt down to pick me up. The foul, bitter liquid from my stomach splattered all over Blake Caldwell’s pristine white shirt. But he acted as if he didn’t see it, still holding me and rubbing my back. Yet, through the reflection in the glass, I saw his other hand pull out his phone and snap a photo – a messy me and a perfectly composed him. After a quick rinse, he carried me back to bed, then meticulously sat beside me, blowing on the medicine he had just prepared to cool it for me. “Stella, the medicine’s cooled. Drink some.” Blake Caldwell brought the small spoon to my lips. I didn’t open my mouth immediately. I stared blankly in his direction, then let out a sudden laugh. “Blake, what if I told you… I can see again? Would you be happy?”

The spoon trembled, spilling medicine onto the pink bedspread. Blake Caldwell’s face flickered with panic for a split second, but he quickly composed himself, feigning delight. “Really? Stella?” “Fake.” I dropped the single word, still staring at him, my eyes utterly vacant. Three years of blindness had taught me how to perfectly feign it. Blake Caldwell nervously scrutinized my eyes, as if trying to confirm something. After a long moment, he finally seemed to let out a sigh of relief, speaking softly: “Don’t worry, Stella. I’ll find the best doctors to cure you.” He was about to continue feeding me the medicine when his phone vibrated continuously with incoming messages. Blake Caldwell still didn’t try to hide it from me. One was from his assistant. 【Mr. Caldwell, your youngest uncle from the main Caldwell family suddenly announced his wedding tonight.】 The other few were from Serena White. 【Blake, you won’t take Stella to the wedding, will you? She’s blind, what if she embarrasses you at the Caldwell family event?】 【How about you take me? The baby and I promise not to embarrass you.】 Blake Caldwell’s hand hovered in the air for three seconds before he finally placed the cup on the bedside table. “Stella, something came up at the office. I might not be back tonight.” “When I return, I’ll bring you a gift. I’ll have Mrs. Davis come over to take care of you, don’t worry.” His phone was still vibrating, and Blake Caldwell’s movements quickened. He even forgot to wait for my response before leaving the room completely. As soon as he left, I pulled out the phone I’d hidden under the blanket. A new message had just popped up. 【The wedding is set for tonight. I’m coming to pick you up now.】 Julian Caldwell arrived quickly. So quickly, in fact, that as I sat in the passenger seat, we passed Blake Caldwell driving in the opposite direction. He had a smile on his face and wasn’t looking our way. In his passenger seat sat Serena White, holding a large bouquet of roses.

She was smiling brightly, radiant and sunny, just like I used to be. But now, my eyes were vacant, lifeless. A strong hand suddenly gently gripped my chin, forcing my gaze to turn in another direction. Julian Caldwell’s expression was grim, but his thin lips uttered something flippant: “Don’t look at him. Look at me.” I just glared at him, yanking my chin free. Silence returned to the car as it sped towards a private custom bridal shop. It wasn’t until I put on the wedding dress and appeared before Julian Caldwell that the man, usually so composed, felt his pupils tremble slightly, uncontrollably. He looked down at me, his eyes filled with an unreadable, tender emotion. “Beautiful. This is the one.” I nodded, acting like a mere prop, following the instructions. After all, in my eyes, this was just a transaction. I would be Julian Caldwell’s white moonlight stand-in. He would help me deal with Blake Caldwell. After all, I couldn’t pretend to be blind forever. Blake Caldwell would find out I’d recovered eventually. Even if he now had another woman by his side, he would never let me go easily. I was crucial to his image, just like he would ignore my vomit and post a heartfelt photo of us online, only to make himself look good. He reveled in everyone’s praise, but I refused to be his stepping stone any longer. Just before the wedding began, I looked down from the private transparent box on the second floor of the banquet hall. The main Caldwell family’s influence was immense. Even with short notice, many guests had rushed to attend. Even though Blake Caldwell carried the Caldwell name, he was merely a distant cousin, far removed from the main branch. His small business couldn’t compare to most of the people present, so he and Serena White sat at a table in the corner. He pulled out his phone and called me. “Stella, I’m in a big meeting with various investors. I’m secretly calling to check in.”

He deliberately held the phone up and turned it around, as if to let me hear the noisy background. “Listen, isn’t it crowded?” “Alright, I have to get back to work. Stella, take care of yourself.” Blake Caldwell was clever. He knew exactly what I wanted. He gave me tenderness, companionship, and a sense of security. But he forgot to give me sincerity. I opened my mouth to call his name, stopping him from hanging up immediately. I watched his side profile, which naturally curved into a smile as he spoke to me, and asked, as if possessed: “Blake Caldwell, are you truly in a meeting?” He blurted out “Yes,” then hesitantly asked: “What’s wrong, Stella?” I didn’t answer him, only said to myself: “Blake Caldwell, I’m getting married.” He didn’t seem to understand what I meant, only thinking I was pressuring him to propose. The day of the attack, we had been trying on wedding dresses, preparing for our engagement. Later, when I was hospitalized, he said we’d get engaged once I was discharged. When I was discharged, he said we’d get engaged once his company was more stable. Every time this topic came up, he always found a flawless excuse to put it off. It was the same now. “Blake Caldwell, let’s break up.” I hung up the phone directly and turned to walk towards Julian Caldwell, who had been waiting for me at the door. The lights in the entire hall suddenly dimmed, obscuring Blake Caldwell, who was momentarily stunned by my words. I linked my arm with Julian Caldwell’s and slowly descended the stairs. The host’s voice echoed through the banquet hall: “Welcome everyone to the wedding of Mr. Julian Caldwell and Ms. Stella Caldwell.” A spotlight abruptly fell, illuminating Julian Caldwell and me standing on the spiral staircase. My peripheral vision also caught Blake Caldwell’s shocked face in the corner. I looked at him, my eyes curving into a smile. He seemed flustered, rising to walk towards me. “Stella, you can see?” “How are you my uncle’s bride?” Julian Caldwell didn’t give Blake Caldwell a chance to approach me. A few men, dressed as waiters but exceptionally burly, appeared and firmly blocked Blake Caldwell from our path.

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Three years ago, as my boyfriend was about to be hit by a car, I instinctively pushed him out of the way. When I woke up, I was blind. He promised to take care of me for the rest of my life. Three years flew by, and then, a high fever unexpectedly brought my vision back. Excited, I rushed home. But through the crack in the door, I saw my boyfriend and another woman in the living room, engaged in a very private, very physical ‘workout’. In that moment, my world crumbled. The moment Brandon’s eyes met mine, he instantly panicked, shoving the woman off him, his face a mask of tension. “Ser… Serena, you’re back.” He seemed to suddenly remember I was blind, couldn’t possibly see. A soft sigh escaped him. “Just my own nerves playing tricks,” he murmured to himself. The woman sat up casually, her bare arms snaking around his naked chest once more, her voice a seductive whisper. “Brandon, let’s pick up where we left off.” Brandon, his arm already around her waist, leaned in and kissed her back. “Just a second.” I stood at the doorway, my nails digging deep into my palms, yet I felt no pain, only numbness. All I could think was, *Why? Why would he betray me?* Didn’t he promise to take care of me for the rest of my life? “Serena, weren’t you resting at the hospital? Why are you back so suddenly? And alone!” Brandon, his upper body covered in faint marks, wearing only tight boxers, walked over, his brows furrowed in concern. “You can’t see, and you’re just wandering around? What if something happened? What would I do?” His tone oozed worry. If I were still the blind girl from before, hearing those words of concern, I would have been overjoyed. But now, having seen him detach himself from another woman, repeating those same caring words he used to say to me, I felt a chilling shiver run down my spine. My face pale, I stared at this seemingly concerned Brandon, a torrent of questions bubbling inside me, but the words wouldn’t come out. Brandon reached out to steady me, guiding me further into the house. “Bran…” The woman tried to speak boldly, but one look from Brandon immediately silenced her. I noticed her eyes, when she looked at me, filled with a deep, bottomless blend of mockery, provocation, and contempt. I stood frozen, staring at the scene, utterly lost for a moment. Brandon’s movements were swift and practiced. He led me straight to the bedroom and onto the bed. “Serena, I have some things to handle. You rest in here for now. I’ll come back to you once I’m done.” No sooner had he finished speaking than he pressed a light kiss to my forehead and hurried out. After Brandon left, lying on the bed, my nose stung. My eyes instantly welled up, and tears silently, involuntarily streamed down my face. Like a glutton for punishment, I crept out, needing to confirm if Brandon really was going back to his illicit ‘session’ with that woman after rushing me back to the room. As I reached the stairwell, I heard the sounds of heavy breathing and conversations too explicit to repeat. “Brandon~~” “Veronica, you’re driving me absolutely wild~” “Who feels better? Her or me?” I gritted my teeth, a sharp pang of pain echoing in my chest. Brandon breathed heavily. “That’s obvious, isn’t it? You, of course! Why else would I be with you?” “Serena? She’s the type you marry for a quiet home life, a devoted wife and mother. But honestly, with her eyes… she’s not even fit for *that* anymore.” No wonder his parents had pushed for our marriage countless times, but he’d always remained completely indifferent. He despised me for being blind. My heart withered and died on the spot, accompanied by Veronica’s mocking laughter. Collapsing, I clapped my hands over my ears and fled the scene.

Just days ago, we were the couple everyone envied. That day, I’d stayed out a bit too long playing in the snow and came down with a high fever that night. Brandon rushed me to the hospital. Seeing my fever wouldn’t break, he dragged every doctor in the hospital to examine me. To ensure I could rest peacefully, he even booked an entire floor, guaranteeing a quiet environment. The female doctors and nurses in the hospital all envied me for having such a thoughtful boyfriend. But today, having witnessed him in bed with another woman, I felt like a fool, my love a cruel joke. The most painful part was that he had always despised me for being blind. But had he forgotten? I became blind because I saved him. I cried until my eyes were swollen, eventually losing consciousness in my tears. When I woke again, I felt someone holding me tightly. Brandon, mistaking my distress for a nightmare, gently patted my back, soothing me softly, “Don’t be scared, Serena, I’m here.” I couldn’t help but ask him, my voice thick with tears, “Brandon, will you ever betray me?” Brandon stroked my cheek, his eyes resolute as he promised: “Serena, anyone else might betray you in this life, but I never will.” “Have you forgotten? You saved my life.” Hearing this, tears welled up in my eyes again, spilling down my face. *Brandon, if that’s true, then why did you betray me…?* He watched my tear-streaked face and ragged breathing, a flicker of impatience crossing his features. “Serena, what’s wrong with you?” My tears blurred his face, but I still clutched his shirt collar, managing to choke out a few words: “Why… why…” Brandon looked confused, letting out a deep sigh. Suddenly, he pressed his forehead against mine. “Serena, I swear to you, if I ever betray you, may I be struck down by lightning and die a horrible death.” I lifted my tear-filled eyes, looking directly into his. “I… I don’t want that.” Brandon frowned. “Then what do you want me to do?” “I don’t want anything. If that day truly comes, I’ll choose to leave you forever.” Brandon paused, then laughed. “You’d leave me? Are you sure you could?” “Don’t forget, you can’t see. How will you live on your own without me?” I clenched my hands. “Brandon, I’m serious.” Brandon seemed to find it incredibly amusing, laughing uncontrollably. “Alright, alright, whatever you say.” Suddenly, he stopped laughing, reaching out to wave a hand in front of my eyes. Seeing no reaction from me, he subtly let out a sigh of relief. “Alright, it’s getting late. Can you go to sleep now, like a good girl?” I nodded, slowly closing my eyes. About fifteen minutes later, there was a soft knock on the bedroom door. I felt a gaze on me. Brandon, thinking I was asleep, cautiously opened the door, keeping his voice low. “Veronica, what are you doing here?” Veronica’s voice held a whining, seductive tone. “Brandon, I want you to stay with me tonight~” I slightly opened my eyes, peering through the gap to see Veronica in a sheer nightdress, her arm linked with Brandon’s, her body almost pressed against his. She said in a tempting voice, “Come on~~ Don’t you like this? Don’t you want me?” Brandon’s Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily. “You really are a tormenting little devil. I just finished with you this evening, and you’re already craving more!” Veronica feigned resistance but then actively enticed him, taking a few steps away before throwing him a provocative glance. “Are you coming or not~?” Brandon was instantly drawn in, following her. He even forgot to close the bedroom door.

Five minutes later, I quietly slipped out and took photos and videos of Brandon’s infidelity. Just as I was about to leave, I noticed Veronica’s gaze suddenly land on me. First, a flicker of surprise, then her eyes quickly filled with defiance and smug satisfaction. I intended to turn and walk away immediately, but then I heard her say, “Brandon, my birthday is the day after tomorrow. Could you give me a wedding?” Brandon, though still busy with her, seemed to maintain a certain degree of self-control. “No.” Veronica tightly wrapped her arms around his neck, pleading, “Even if it’s just a nominal wedding, we don’t need to get a marriage license…” Brandon refused without hesitation. Veronica seemed very displeased. She violently pushed him away from her, refusing his closeness. Seeing Brandon, still consumed by desire, he immediately softened and began to coax Veronica. I turned and left, no longer needing to hear more. I woke up early the next morning to see Brandon dressed in a crisp suit, adjusting himself in front of the mirror. He noticed I was awake, walked over to me with his tie, and held it out. “Serena, can you tie my tie?” I froze. Before I could react, he mumbled to himself, “Oh, how foolish of me. I forgot you can’t see.” He stood before me, tied his tie in a flash, then ruffled my hair. “Serena, I have to work overtime at the company later, so I won’t be able to stay with you today.” With that, he leaned down, intending to kiss my lips. But the images of him and Veronica flashed in my mind, and I involuntarily turned my head away. Brandon frowned slightly, calling my name with a hint of suspicion. “Serena?” I calmly responded, “Hmm? What is it?” Brandon gave me a questioning look, then glanced down at his watch. “Nothing, I’m off.” I replied blandly, “Okay.” After he left, I washed up and went downstairs, only to find Veronica still there. She walked straight towards me, waving her hand in front of my face. I maintained my act of blindness, my gaze vacant. Veronica chuckled softly: “Serena, Brandon’s not here, so why are you still pretending?” “I saw you peeking at our door last night.” “Since you already know about Brandon and me, you should leave him sooner rather than later.” “You don’t know yet, do you? I’m already pregnant with his child.” “You heard it last night. He’s going to give me a wedding. He’s going to marry me.” I had intended to continue my act of blindness, to see what Brandon would do when he thought I couldn’t see. But now, being provoked by Brandon’s mistress like this, I had no patience left to keep up the charade. I was about to retort when I heard Brandon’s voice from the entryway. “Serena, did you fall coming downstairs?” I slowly turned around and gently shook my head. “No, thankfully Ms. Veronica helped me down.” “But, when did Ms. Veronica arrive at our house?” Brandon glared at Veronica, then quickly walked over to help me, explaining, “She… she’s the nanny I hired to look after you.” I put on a facade of realization. “Oh, so she’s the nanny.” Veronica immediately bristled, about to retort, “Who’s the…” Brandon swiftly let go of me, clapped a hand over her mouth, and whispered close to her ear, “Shut up.” I tilted my head, feigning confusion. “Brandon, is something wrong?” Brandon mumbled vaguely, “Nothing…” I raised my hands, preparing to take a few steps forward. Brandon hastily pushed Veronica away, anxiously gripping my hand. “Serena, be careful.” I smiled. “Brandon, didn’t you say you were going to the company to work overtime? Why are you back?” Brandon casually lied, “I just came back to grab a few things.” But I noticed him subtly signal Veronica to leave first. He then helped me to the sofa. “You sit for a bit. I’ll be right back.” Next, he pulled Veronica aside and quietly told her, “You leave first.” Veronica shot me a contemptuous glance, then stood on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around Brandon’s neck, and fiercely kissed his lips. After a steamy ten seconds, the two slowly separated. Veronica gave me a cunning smile, then turned to leave. As she walked out, I heard her tell Brandon, “I’ll wait for you outside.” My tightly clenched hand relaxed, and I slowly stood up, my gaze falling on Brandon. I called him softly, “Brandon.” Brandon was clearly startled, his brow furrowing slightly. “What is it?” “Nothing, just wanted to know if you were still here.” Brandon walked over to me and gently ruffled my hair. “Of course I’m here. I’ve already got my things. You be careful by yourself at home.” I feigned a hint of confusion in my voice. “Hmm? By myself? Didn’t you hire a nanny to look after me?” I deliberately raised my voice. “Ms. Veronica? Ms. Veronica?” Brandon froze, a flicker of exasperation crossing his face. “Oh, Ms. Veronica just told me she had something to do and took the day off.” Such a flimsy excuse. Did he really think I couldn’t tell? However, I had no intention of exposing him. I feigned ignorance, saying with a hint of regret, “Well, that’s truly a shame.”

After he left, I booked a flight abroad for myself. It was set for tomorrow. Next, I called a home cleaning service to thoroughly clean the entire house. Meanwhile, I began to sort through all my belongings in this house, each item holding a memory. Suppressing the pain in my heart, I discarded what needed to be discarded and donated what could be donated, as if severing ties with pieces of my past self. Finally, my gaze slowly fell on the ring on my middle finger—our old promise, now a cruel mockery. Three years ago, I woke up after the car accident to find myself blind. In that moment, my world crumbled. The fear and despair washed over me like a tide, making it almost impossible to breathe. At that time, I was heartbroken and didn’t want to see anyone. But Brandon, despite everything, came to the hospital day after day, waiting for me. His worry and care were like a ray of winter sunshine, warming my frozen heart again. However, because of my blindness, I felt I no longer deserved him and consistently refused to see him. Until Brandon, holding a ring, knelt before my wheelchair, his voice choked with emotion, saying: “Serena, I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault you became like this. From now on, let me protect you, be your eyes, okay?” They say a man’s tears are a rare sight. That day, his tears fell for me. Brandon truly used to be good. When someone mocked me for being blind, he always stepped forward without hesitation to protect me. When someone called me a burden, he would tightly hold my hand and firmly tell those people that I was his lucky star, and without me, he wouldn’t be where he was today. He didn’t care about the gossip, always holding my hand and promising to take care of me for the rest of his life. Yet now, he seemed to have forgotten those initial vows. My nose still stung a little, but I told myself, *It’s over.* I lost my sight for three years saving him. And he, too, took diligent care of me for three years. Now that my eyes were healed, we were even. The next day. Brandon hadn’t returned home all night. I learned from a message Veronica sent me that they were celebrating their impending child. It turned out Brandon wasn’t working overtime at the company yesterday. He was accompanying Veronica for a hospital check-up. Veronica’s ultrasound photos, clearly saved in my phone’s gallery, served as a stark reminder of the truth. Just as I was picking up my luggage, preparing to leave, Brandon’s call came in. “Serena, I’ve sent someone to pick you up. Can you come to a certain place?” Veronica’s message from last night immediately flashed in my mind: [Serena, Brandon and I are getting married tomorrow. After tomorrow, Brandon will completely abandon you.] I looked back at the place I had lived for three years. It was time to say a proper goodbye to Brandon. “Okay, send the address.” For some reason, Brandon felt a strange unease. But Veronica was urging him, so he suppressed the odd feeling welling up in his chest. “I’ve already sent someone to pick you up. They should be arriving soon.” I couldn’t help but sneer. *He’s already sent someone, and he’s still asking for my opinion.* “Fine.” Upon arriving at the hotel, Brandon, dressed in a sharp groom’s suit, was waiting at the entrance for me. As soon as he saw me, he anxiously said, “Serena, this is a friend’s wedding. Just sit quietly for a bit, and I’ll come find you.” I continued to feign blindness, nodding and letting him lead me into what I knew was his and Veronica’s wedding venue. The red carpet was covered in rose petals, and both sides were adorned with photos of their ‘loving’ moments. Many people who knew me were there, and they all cast sympathetic glances my way. The wedding proceeded smoothly. Brandon on the stage kept sneaking glances my way, while Veronica occasionally shot me triumphant yet jealous looks. I calmly ate the delicious food at the wedding banquet. Honestly, even if there were only a few tables, the food was excellent. Suddenly, Veronica, perhaps unable to bear my calm demeanor any longer, grabbed the microphone and announced loudly: “Serena, why are you still pretending to be blind?! You can clearly see! Aren’t you furious to see Brandon marrying me?!” Brandon’s heart lurched. He stared at Veronica in disbelief. “What did you say? Serena can see?” Brandon nervously grabbed Veronica’s shoulders, demanding an answer. Veronica flashed a seductive smile:

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298474”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

I’d loved Victoria Hayes for five years, and she became my fiancée. But when my Grandpa was on his deathbed, Victoria didn’t lift a finger to help. All because Julian Sterling, the adopted son of the Sterling family, suggested to her that this was an opportunity to break me down, hoping it would make me stronger. Grandpa died helpless. And just as she wanted, I lost my rough edges, became tougher, and stopped clinging to her. Of course, I stopped loving her too. When I limped back into the city, I was the laughingstock of the elite circles. They all said the Sterling family’s long-lost heir, who’d been living away from the family since he was a kid, wasn’t capable but had a massive temper. He dared to openly argue with Julian, who was already working at the company, even threatened his parents, and ended up running away from home completely broke, needing to borrow even a few thousand dollars. Those entitled jerks who’d humiliated me before somehow got wind of my location. They swaggered into the city with a whole posse, openly pulling out their phones to snap pictures of me. I didn’t even bother raising my hand to shield my face or protect my dignity. After all, every last shred of my dignity had been chipped away by those loan sharks, little by little. Ever since they forced me to my knees and made me slap myself, my heart no longer stirred for such a thing as “face.” The old Leo Sterling, prickly and quick to anger, who used his sharp edges to hide his deep insecurity, was gone. The Sterling family and Victoria Hayes, they had suffocated him with their own hands. Suddenly, a few black luxury SUVs drove up, completely ignoring everyone else. When the spoiled rich kids saw the license plates, they immediately scattered. The lead car was understated and sleek, but I knew exactly who was inside. Victoria Hayes, the head of the Hayes family, and my fiancée. I watched the car, instinctively stopping. I was about to turn and find another route. The car door opened, and a woman in a suit stepped out. She walked up to me, and when she saw my face and my pitiful state, a flicker of surprise crossed her features. I knew I looked a mess. I was still wearing the crumpled white shirt from Grandpa’s funeral, with several distinct shoe prints on it. My face was swollen and red from being slapped the day before, my fingernails were packed with black dirt, and my fingers still trembled slightly. One foot wore a shoe I’d found in a trash can; the other was bare, frozen a raw red. Victoria’s secretary lowered her gaze, hiding the astonishment in her eyes. She made a polite gesture. “Mr. Sterling, Ms. Hayes would like to see you.” I lowered my head and stepped back, my voice hoarse and raw. Every word made my throat ache. “No, thanks. I need to get back to the Sterling residence.” With that, I tried to walk around her and leave. The secretary looked stunned. Victoria had been my salvation, my reason for everything. I’d followed her around for five years, and even when she always gave me the cold shoulder, I’d rack my brain for excuses to get closer to her. But now, I saw her as something terrifying, like a monster. My sudden avoidance clearly surprised the secretary, who was used to my relentless pursuit. “Leo Sterling!” Her cool, clear voice made me instinctively stop. The secretary saw my tightly pressed lips, hesitated for a moment, then repeated her inviting gesture. I tried to straighten my back, ignoring the discomfort in my left leg and the secretary’s hesitant glance, and slowly got into the car. Victoria was sitting inside. She looked up from her documents, saw my disheveled state, and instead of showing any concern, her brows furrowed tightly. Her tone was deeply displeased. “Are you cosplaying a beggar? You’re a mess. Aren’t you embarrassed?” My heart didn’t sting at her harsh words, not like it used to. Nor did I feel disappointed that she didn’t notice my injuries. I just lowered my head and mumbled a reply. “My apologies.” But I didn’t want any of this. I didn’t want to be tricked into taking out high-interest loans because I couldn’t afford a funeral. I didn’t want to be thrown to the ground and beaten by those loan sharks. I didn’t want to be forced to slap myself. I didn’t want to be chained to a wall like a dog, or forced to lick food off the floor. But most of all, I didn’t want Grandpa’s coffin to be dug up from his grave, robbing him of peace even in death. Her hand paused mid-action. She glanced at me, and her voice actually held a hint of approval. “Julian was right. A bit of hardship, a little suffering, and you’ve finally changed your ways. You’ve learned to be strong.” Before I was brought back to the Sterling family, Julian had been living there in my place. And I, the Sterling family’s true son, had been living with Julian’s biological grandfather. My mind was sluggish; I didn’t think about why Victoria mentioned Julian. Perhaps Victoria thought I had met her expectations. As a reward, she condescendingly waved me closer. “Sit closer.” I was sitting in the farthest seat from Victoria, staring at the floor mat ever since I got in. I hadn’t looked at her once. Hearing that contemptuous tone, like she was barking orders at a pet, my eyes were filled with resistance. I didn’t move.

Victoria saw my hesitation and raised her voice. “I told you to come over here.” I didn’t respond, my spine stiff and straight, as if trying to salvage what little fragile dignity I had left. Even though my dignity had vanished the moment I was beaten by the loan sharks until I begged for mercy. Without my reply, the car fell silent. Perhaps Victoria wasn’t used to this atmosphere, or maybe she was just impatient. She reached out toward me. As her hand neared my arm, my back tensed. But I was pressed against the car window, nowhere to escape. The moment she touched me, I caught a faint scent of perfume. It was her usual perfume, the one Julian had given her. It was that very bottle of perfume that had triggered a conflict between me and Julian, making me feel provoked. After my parents cut off my bank cards, I took the little cash I had and went back to my old home. Grandpa’s kidneys had already failed then. We couldn’t afford a hospital, so he hadn’t gone. I took Grandpa to the hospital, but I didn’t have money for the surgery. I tried calling my parents, but no one answered. Later, those spoiled rich kids I always clashed with showed up in T City, grinning at me. “Heard Mr. Sterling is really short on cash, huh?” “How about this, bro? We’re not unreasonable. Just crawl under our legs, and we’ll give you the money. What do you say?” Without hesitation, I knelt down, bowed my back, and on my knees, step by step, I crawled under each of them. Grandpa had raised me since childhood. If there was even the slightest chance to save him, I wouldn’t miss it. The private room was silent, so quiet I could hear my clothes rubbing against the floor. They held up their phones, filming my humiliation, then threw three red bills on the ground with a laugh and walked out, arms slung over each other’s shoulders. “Leo Sterling, look at yourself, you pathetic dog. You think you’re good enough for Ms. Hayes?” “Your true feelings for Victoria were only worth this much.” That’s why, desperate and cornered, I was tricked by those people into taking out high-interest loans. But Grandpa died because his treatment was delayed. After I finished Grandpa’s funeral and it was time to repay the debt, I called Victoria to borrow money. She impatiently told me to go back and apologize, then hung up. These memories made my breath catch. The arm Victoria touched broke out in goosebumps, thick and numerous, as if a snake was coiling around it. A wave of coldness washed over me. My head swam. Nausea swelled, and I felt like throwing up. I yanked Victoria’s hand away, hunched over, grabbing the front seat with one hand and covering my mouth with the other, dry-heaving violently in the car. I hadn’t eaten much these past few days, so nothing came up. A faint sour smell filled the car. Victoria covered her nose with a tissue and called my name, her voice full of disgust. “Leo Sterling!” I couldn’t hear anything in my ears, just kept dry-heaving until the urge to vomit passed. Victoria didn’t speak, just stared at me coldly. I knew her well; she was on the verge of exploding. I didn’t play dumb or try to brush it off like I used to. Because I knew I had no leverage to cause a scene. My body was shaky from weakness. My head hung low, and the hand gripping the front seat’s backrest tightened. “My apologies… I’ll help you wash the car when we get to the Sterling residence.” “I can get out and walk. I’m really sorry for messing up your car seats.” Victoria paused, giving me a suspicious look. After a moment of stalemate, she suddenly reached out, intending to feel my forehead. Watching her hand get closer, my entire body tensed. I knew I shouldn’t flinch. After all, what I used to crave most was Victoria reciprocating my love. But she was always so dominant and looked down on me. If I ever made her uncomfortable, she’d tear me down completely, leaving me humiliated and heartbroken. I remained stiff in my seat, constantly telling myself not to dodge, not to anger her. But the moment her cool fingers brushed my skin, that sickening feeling of being coiled by a snake returned. I couldn’t help but turn my head, avoiding her touch. Victoria’s hand hung in mid-air, unmoving. When her eyes met mine, I felt her anger and impatience. The dizzy spell returned to my head. I shook my head, and Victoria’s face vanished from my sight, replaced by Grandpa lying in his hospital bed. Because of them, I’d lost the only person who was ever truly good to me. I blinked, and a single tear rolled down my cheek.

Victoria’s words, poised to scold me, suddenly caught in her throat. She looked at my tear-streaked face and, in the end, said nothing. She just coldly urged the driver to speed up. I roughly wiped my tears with my sleeve, shrinking quietly into my corner, trying to make myself invisible. The scenery outside was a blur. I stared blankly at the changing landscape, suddenly wondering. If Victoria had extended a helping hand back then, would Grandpa have been saved? And I wouldn’t have borrowed from loan sharks, nor would any of this have happened. But in life, there are no ‘ifs.’ When the car stopped, due to inertia, my forehead bumped against the seatback. Victoria, surprisingly, asked me a question. “Are you okay?” I covered my forehead, shook my head, and didn’t speak. She didn’t press, got straight out of the car, ignored me, and walked into the Sterling residence. Once upstairs, I quickly took a shower. I pulled off my dirty suit pants, revealing my injured left leg. There were several gaping wounds on my left knee, the blood coagulated and black, looking horrifying. They had done this. They ignored my pain, driving nails into my knee. As they watched me writhe on the ground in agony, they laughed hysterically. Then, they demanded I pull out those nails myself before they’d give me a few scraps of food. It was a nightmare! After changing into clean clothes and cleaning my wounds, I finally went downstairs. It was dinnertime. Mom spotted me right away. She seemed a little disbelieving, waved me over, and her voice held a hint of complaint. “You finally decided to come back, huh? You’ve been gone so long, couldn’t even make a phone call.” Suddenly, I felt a surge of injustice, wanting to vent. But just as I opened my mouth to utter a sound, I was interrupted. “Mom, Mrs. Chen from the Chen family made a tea reservation with you this afternoon. Don’t be late again.” Julian Sterling, dressed in a crisp suit, walked in from the entrance, his tone casual. Mom’s attention was drawn to him, and her gaze shifted away from me. “Oh, right, I almost forgot. Good thing Julian reminded me.” Julian sat on the sofa and smirked at me. “Leo, what made you finally decide to come back? Stop being mad at Mom and Dad. You should learn to be mature and independent.” Everyone’s attention followed his words and landed on me. My heart pounded fiercely as I met Julian’s mocking eyes, but I didn’t lose my temper like I used to. Mom didn’t refute Julian. She just gave him a quick glance, then immediately said with concern. “Julian, have you not been eating well these past few days? Look at you, you’ve lost so much weight.” “No matter what, your health is more important than work. Besides, your Dad is still at the company.” Hearing her words, I quietly put my exposed hands behind my back. I was so close to Mom, yet she didn’t notice my bruised hands or my awkward limp. But when it came to Julian, she meticulously noticed whether he’d eaten well. Julian smiled. “Leo already gives Mom and Dad enough to worry about. I need to be more sensible.” Mom looked at me, caught between words, and sighed. At the dinner table, Mom kept actively putting food on my plate. I changed my previous behavior, politely lowering my gaze and thanking her. Instead of being relieved, she sighed worriedly. She didn’t lecture me again, but instead placed the bank card she had taken from me into my hand. “Leo, you running away really worried Mom and Dad.” “From now on, we won’t restrict you. This card is yours again, and your dad put some more money in it.” I tightened my grip on the card, then loosened it. Too late. This card came too late. Julian’s knuckles, holding his forks, turned white. He kept watching me until I met his gaze. Only then did he put his smile back on and say to Victoria, who was sitting beside him. “Victoria, you’re getting more amazing every day. I couldn’t even compete with you at the auction.” Victoria took out a gift box, her tone softening. “This is for your birthday. I was at a conference abroad a few days ago and didn’t have time.” Julian teased her. “I thought you, the busy Ms. Hayes, had forgotten about me.” He opened the gift box. Inside, a dark green watch lay quietly. My hand, holding my fork, paused. I had seen that watch in the auction catalog. I’d fallen for it at first sight, but I didn’t have an invitation to the auction. Victoria had noticed my gaze lingering on it and had coolly said that as long as I didn’t cause trouble, she’d buy it for my birthday. But now, she was giving it to Julian. Victoria didn’t offer any explanation, but I knew it was meant as punishment for me. After I finished eating, I excused myself and left. On the second-floor landing, I ran into Victoria. She stood there in high heels, looking dominant yet alluring. If it were the old me, I would have rushed over immediately. But now, I no longer felt that familiar flutter in my heart. She didn’t notice my change. “Leo, you’ve changed.” Victoria took a step forward, her high heels clicking loudly. I lowered my gaze, not looking at her. I only heard her speak, her tone almost like a condescending offering. “I know you really liked that watch, but you caused too much trouble these past two weeks.” “So, as punishment, you won’t get a birthday gift.” “However, you were very well-behaved today, and I’m pleased. I can grant you one wish, as long as it’s not too much.”

I looked up at her face, trying to find a trace of the memories I held of her. The first time I met Victoria was at a banquet. The spoiled rich kids there had been lectured by their families to be nice to me, the awkward, unpolished me. Because of my clothes, they ridiculed me at the banquet. Back then, I was incredibly insecure and didn’t know how to argue back. I couldn’t even speak loudly. It was Victoria who came to my rescue. She slapped one of them across the face and, looking down at them imperiously, cursed them for being useless. Those kids slunk away. She had frowned at me then and said, “You’re the Sterling family’s heir. You don’t need to be timid. They’re the ones who should be trying to please you. Show some backbone.” “I… I’m afraid they’ll dislike me.” “Dislike? Remember this: As long as your last name is Sterling, even if you slap them across the face, they can only praise you for doing it well. Understand?” I remembered that advice for over five years. But later, it was Victoria who publicly scolded me, calling me crazy, saying I’d explode at the slightest provocation. But they were the ones who provoked me first. Victoria’s face no longer held the protectiveness she once showed me. She urged me impatiently. “Have you thought about it? Don’t be greedy.” “I’m in a hurry.” I leaned against the wall, a dull ache in my left leg keeping my mind sharp. Because of her, I endured such abuse. When I begged for mercy, I had given my name and Victoria’s phone number, a string of digits I knew by heart. What a blow that was to me. She grew increasingly impatient. “What kind of trick are you pulling now?” “You spend all your time with those trust-fund brats. I don’t see any ambition in you.” “The Sterling family doesn’t need a good-for-nothing like you.” Her scolding brought back memories. Before, she had scolded those loan sharks too, enraging them. They took out their anger on me, forcing me to slap myself until my cheeks were so swollen my gums ached. Only then did they stop. Because my face was swollen, eating was difficult. The steamed buns were too hard for me to chew, so they’d use their feet to stomp them into a dirty, black pulp and shove them into my mouth. Thinking of this, my stomach began to churn with nausea again. I fought back the urge to vomit. “Sorry, I don’t want anything.” Victoria frowned, eyeing me suspiciously, her face full of warning. “I gave you a chance. You didn’t take it. Don’t come crying to me later.” “I don’t have that kind of patience.” I softly “hmm-ed,” just wanting her to leave quickly. “I won’t.” Victoria didn’t force me to ask for anything. Perhaps she never really wanted to give me a gift anyway. “That’s good to hear.” After a few steps, she stopped, her back to me. “Don’t bother Julian anymore. There’s nothing going on between him and me.” Before I could reply, she left.

I waited until midnight for Dad to finally come home from the office. I dragged my suitcase to find him. The suitcase held only a few rough, outdated clothes—the ones Grandpa had packed for me the day before the Sterling family found me. I wiped my tears, zipped it up, and left the suitcase by the door before going to Dad’s study. After getting Dad’s permission, I twisted the doorknob and entered. “Dad.” I stood meekly to the side. Dad looked me up and down for a moment. Seeing the scars covering my exposed skin, his lips trembled. “Leo, Dad knows everything.” “It’s Mom and Dad’s fault. If only we hadn’t taken your card back then, you wouldn’t have…” I didn’t want to hear about those nightmarish experiences again. For the first time, I interrupted Dad, losing my composure. “Dad, I want to move out.” Dad slumped back in his chair, defeated. “Leo, you’re still mad at us.” “But you have every right to be. It’s all our fault for not protecting you.” “It’s just that your Mom will miss you terribly.” I lowered my eyes, my voice filled with self-mockery. “Julian’s still here at home.” “What about Victoria, then? Don’t you like her the most? Can you really bear to leave her?” I fell silent for a moment. It was true, everyone knew about my feelings for Victoria. After she rescued me that one time, I couldn’t help but follow in her footsteps. Everyone in our circles joked that I was Victoria’s devoted simp, her loyal follower. But they wouldn’t know that when I stubbornly tried to emulate Julian, only to accidentally lose the company tens of millions, Victoria was the only one who stood firmly and gently by my side, telling me that in business, you win some and lose some. When someone mocked me, and I lashed out, Victoria was the only one by my side, contentedly saying I did well. We would go out to eat together. She would accept the flowers I gave her. She would remember my birthday. But ever since Julian came back from abroad, she changed. It was she who told me that a rose’s thorns were for self-protection. She said that people needed to be sharp to avoid being bullied, and as the Sterling family’s heir, I had the right to be sharp. Later, however, she was also the one who found my thorns too sharp and wanted to pluck them all out, to tame me. “My engagement to Victoria Hayes ends here.” I looked up at Dad, telling him, and telling myself. “I won’t bother Ms. Hayes anymore.” Dad sighed deeply, understanding my meaning. He slipped a bank card into my hand. “Come back and see us often.” I unconsciously gripped the card, bowing to him. “Thank you.” “Dad will transfer money to you regularly from now on. If you don’t want to live at home, then so be it.” “You’ll always be Mom and Dad’s child. Come back whenever you want.” I didn’t respond to his belated concern, turning resolutely. “Want me to drive you?” I shook my head. I knew clearly that as long as I stayed in the Sterling household, as long as I was near Victoria, my psychological wounds would never heal. I needed to forget the past to start anew. And Dad knew that after this incident, a rift had formed between me and them. To prevent me from hating them, he could only let me go. As for Victoria’s reaction, that was no longer something I cared about. I rented a house in the suburbs, far from the city’s hustle and bustle, allowing me to find peace and clear my head. I ordered takeout and asked the delivery person to leave it at the door. Listening to their footsteps fade away, I let out a long breath and stepped out to retrieve my food.

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The night Chloe didn’t come home, I vanished. She went to see Aiden, her first love, the one who got away, and she ignored all my calls. I desperately texted her: **”Don’t do anything reckless, or I swear I’ll die!”** She just logged into all my gaming accounts and deleted them, then threatened me: **”Still sulking? If you don’t come back now, I’m throwing out your precious husky too.”** I was frantic, but utterly helpless. Because the Soulmate Quest failed, the System had already wiped me out completely, leaving absolutely nothing behind. 0 My wife’s first love had returned to the country, and I tried my best to keep her from seeing the news. But she still found out and went to see him behind my back, leaving me a message to reassure me: **”He and I are just friends now, don’t get the wrong idea.”** I paced back and forth in the living room, a knot of anxiety twisting in my gut. A dull ache settled in my chest, heavy and suffocating. “One life, one love, one fated pair”—that was the mission the System had given me. If Chloe betrayed our marriage, I would be completely erased. For now, I chose to trust her… After all, I had so much faith in our relationship. Midway, I couldn’t resist calling her. She sounded soft and sweet, even a little bit flirty with the alcohol: “Honey…” “No need to pick me up, I know my way home. Don’t worry, I’ll be good. See you in a bit.” I didn’t know where they were having dinner, so I got in my car and started driving around, searching for her. I called countless times, but she kept rejecting them, until eventually, her phone went straight to voicemail. At that moment, my mind was a chaotic mess. Okay, I was panicking. I kept sending her desperate texts: **”If you truly can’t let him go, we can get a divorce.”** **”Please, don’t do anything that would betray me. I’ll die, I really will die!”** … The city lights blazed bright, a kaleidoscope of colors. My car pulled into a deserted alley. That’s when the System’s cold, robotic voice echoed in my head: **[Host, it is with regret that we inform you, your Soulmate Quest in this world has failed.]** My mind went blank. I clenched my fists, slamming them against the steering wheel again and again. The last thread of hope in my chest snapped. But I was so incredibly unwilling. The System’s voice remained mechanical, but this time, it seemed to stutter: **[Your wife has already… with him…** **[Based on the penalty mechanism, you will be annihilated before dawn.]** ### Cut-off point But I never expected her to return in the dead of night. What truly shocked me was that her first love had brought her back. 0

The door creaked open. Aiden King had his arm wrapped around Chloe Bennett’s waist, his voice dripping with intimacy: “You must be tired, Chloe. Get inside and get some sleep.” My heart violently twisted, rage threatening to consume me. I shot up from the sofa, flicked on the living room lights, and cut straight to the chase: “Chloe Bennett. “Haven’t you had enough sleep already? What more sleep do you need?” She froze, straightened up, her face chilling: “Liam Harris, what are you yelling about? I drank too much tonight, that’s why I asked Aiden to bring me home.” He drove you? Even if he drove around the entire city, it wouldn’t take three hours. Besides, arguing with her was pointless now. She noticed the strange look on my face and, instead, got angry, demanding: “When did you become so possessive, to even suspect your own wife?” Aiden leaned lazily against the doorframe, his eyes narrowed, enjoying our argument. I grabbed the vase from the table and hurled it towards her: “He abandoned you first and went abroad back then, don’t you remember? You’ve been married to me for so many years, have you forgotten that too?” But I couldn’t bring myself to hurt her. The vase flew wide, shattering on the floor near her. The exploding glass shards seemed to clear her eyes. She stammered out: “I really did drink too much tonight, and Aiden came back specifically to say goodbye to me. He’s staying abroad for good now. “Besides, he and I have both moved on. If you were so bothered by our past, why did you marry me in the first place?! What are you raging about?” I listened, then let out a soft, mocking laugh. I pulled a cigarette to my lips, self-deprecatingly: “Stop pretending. Own up to what you did.” The smoke drifted across Chloe’s face. She frowned: “Own up to what? Aiden suffered so much drifting alone overseas, what did he do wrong? Can you please stop bothering him now? I’m begging you!” I shrugged: “I won’t. You won’t be seeing me around anyway.” Aiden snickered, a sneer twisting his lips. “You two chat. I’m out.” The door clicked shut. Chloe’s expression softened. She took a step closer, wrapped her arms around my neck, and stood on tiptoes to touch my nose with hers: “Honey, still jealous? “Don’t worry, you’re the only one I love.” I swept her soft body into my arms. Her warm breath tickled my neck, igniting a familiar heat within me. But then I thought of what she’d done with her first love just hours ago, and I abruptly let go. She landed on the floor with a painful thud. I disgustedly wiped the spot on my face where she’d touched me: “You’re disgusting.” I even spat on the floor. She froze, too stunned by the pain to cry. After a long moment, she slowly got up, then stormed out, slamming the door behind her: “Liam Harris, you dare humiliate me like this today, you’d better not regret it! “If it weren’t for you paying Aiden to leave the country and stay away, I would have married him years ago! I never would have chosen you!” 0

Back then, my wife, Chloe Bennett, was the dream goddess of every guy on campus. Her exquisite, stunning face needed no makeup whatsoever. Any elective Chloe chose, the classes would be packed, with people even spilling out into the hallways. I was one of them. And everyone knew that besides Aiden King, she wouldn’t say a single extra word to any other man. “You like her too?” Aiden had approached me back then, handing me a card. “Give me enough money to study abroad, and I’ll hand her over to you.” My rival, yet he offered her up. Without a second thought, I transferred the money, sending off my biggest competitor. The System quest notification appeared the moment I fell in love with Chloe at first sight. Initially, the mission was just to marry her. I felt no pressure at all, I was even excited. Because I truly loved her. After Aiden left, I finally won her over with my persistent efforts. When Chloe agreed to marry me, she said: “When there’s a rainbow in the sky, I want to capture it for you. When I hear a beautiful song, I want to sing it to you. When I’m sad, I want you to understand me. I want to share every beautiful thing with you, and if you’re slow to reply, I’ll worry you don’t care about me anymore. I hate unstable relationships, so Liam, let’s get married.” I’ll never forget the rapid beat of my heart that day. And, of course, the sweet chime that signaled the completion of the quest. But I never expected there to be a second quest: **[One Life, One Love, One Fated Pair.]** **[If your partner betrays you, you will be annihilated by the System.]** At first, I thought the System was just testing me. After all, there were so many temptations in the world. Until I saw Aiden King’s chat pinned to the top of my wife’s SnapChat friend list. I panicked. She always calmed me down with her actions. Dark clouds rolled outside, thunder rumbling. Her eyes were hazy in my arms, and the air around us crackled with a charged intimacy. I told her seriously and sincerely: “If you ever stop loving me and want a divorce, I’ll agree. “But please, never betray me. Otherwise, I’ll die.” She laughed, confidently: “Honey, I’m not that kind of person.” Now, it all seemed like a cruel joke. Did I regret it? Yes, I should have divorced her the day I found out she still had feelings for Aiden! I should’ve married anyone, even someone I didn’t love, and I’d still be alive! My carefully built company, all those savings in the bank. My buddies I gamed with. Even the limited edition action figures, signed basketballs, and rare sneakers I’d spent millions collecting. The moment dawn broke, they would all be gone forever! My phone rang. It was an unknown number. “Liam Harris, it’s Aiden. “Heh, she came looking for me again. You’re really pathetic, can’t even hold onto what was given to you.” 0

“Take me to a hotel, please.” Aiden deliberately didn’t hang up the phone. Chloe had gotten into his car. “Chloe, why the long face? Didn’t you say you definitely wanted to go home earlier?” “He’s like a rabid dog. I don’t want to talk about him. I’m tired, and I don’t want to see him for a while.” Aiden chuckled: “But you were so determined when you emailed me saying you were marrying him. “Now that you regret it, maybe you could consider someone new? “After all, I’m your first love. After all these years, didn’t you miss me?” Chloe’s voice softened: “Alright, Aiden, stop it…” The call ended. My head slumped. The ashtray was overflowing with cigarette butts. I’d be gone soon. I pulled out my phone and called my closest friend, Caleb. He picked up, his voice heavy with sleep: “What time is it? Waking up this early makes me feel like my soul’s being ripped from my body!” He’d been my best friend since childhood. Our bond was stronger than gold. I intended to tell him my last wishes, but hearing his voice somehow steadied my emotions. “Chloe cheated on me. I’m going to die.” He didn’t understand, even raising his voice: “She cheated? No way, she would never cheat! She wouldn’t even look at another man besides you!” “Aiden’s back.” “Good, divorce her! Divorce her immediately! You have money, you have looks, there’s no woman you can’t get! As long as you don’t love her, she’s absolutely nothing!” I fell silent, not replying, and began reciting my bank card passwords to him… Before we got married, Chloe, to prove she wasn’t marrying me for money, had signed a prenuptial agreement. That worked out. Now that I was gone, I’d rather donate the money than let her get a cent. Caleb seemed scared, his voice frantic: “Liam Harris, are you out of your mind? “Don’t be like this. I’m coming over right now to drink with you, drink till we drop! There’s no hurdle in life you can’t get over! “It’s just a woman, right? Divorce her, torment her, make her regret it! Isn’t ‘the ex-lover’s desperate chase’ the hot trend now?! “Hang in there, man. I’m telling you, I rode my bike all day today, my crotch was chafed, I can’t even take a shower. Isn’t that hilarious? “Think about your bank account! You can go to the Maldives and stare at the sea, feed pigeons in London Square, go diving in Australia, travel the world to heal. How happy is that? If I got dumped, all I could say is, ‘Ugh, I’m tired, guess I’ll just screw it and live.’ You’re living in paradise and don’t even know it!” As he spoke, he started crying. Because he knew I would never joke about something like this. But only Chloe didn’t know. Even though I’d told her again and again. I gambled and lost. I deserved it. I printed out the divorce papers, signed them, and prepared to give them to Chloe. My last wish was to divorce her. She wasn’t asleep yet and quickly replied: **”Liam Harris, are you serious about this?”** The sunlight streamed through the window, so faint. My body began to turn transparent, light, floating upward… So this is what death felt like. Chloe. If I hadn’t been erased by the System, I would never have let you off easy.

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It was the seventh year of my marriage to Chloe when her rich first love came back home. He had a face that looked strikingly similar to mine, almost as if he were my shadow. At the class reunion, he cornered me in the restroom, his voice dripping with condescension: “Tell me, every night when she sleeps next to you, is she thinking of you or me?” I couldn’t hold back. My fist flew. But Chloe, of all people, screamed at me, her voice laced with fury, “Why don’t you just drop dead?!” She had no idea. I was, indeed, dying. At the class reunion, Chloe’s first love, Liam, made his grand return. He was now a wildly successful man. Amidst a chorus of fawning compliments, he stepped past our old classmates and went straight to Chloe, greeting her with a simple, “Long time no see.” Just those four words, and Chloe’s eyes instantly welled up, turning blazing red. Our classmates chuckled, starting to stir the pot, “All these years, and Liam still only has eyes for Chloe!” “If Chloe had married Liam back then, she’d be Mrs. Thorne by now. She wouldn’t have to run that small company.” “Honestly, Chloe, it’s not too late to get a divorce now!” “…” The room buzzed with gossip, all centered around Liam and Chloe. Meanwhile, I, Chloe’s husband, sat off to the side, feeling like nothing more than a part of the background. I studied Liam. He had a face that looked surprisingly similar to mine, almost like a mirror image. Deep down, I’d always known. I was just a replacement Chloe had found. I used to swear to myself that I would spend the rest of my life making Chloe truly fall in love with me. But now – Now, I was dying.

My chest felt heavy, suffocating, so I decided to step out for some fresh air. But I ran into Liam right by the restroom door. His smile was mocking, contemptuous. “Thanks for looking after Chloe for me all these years.” “Now I’m back. She doesn’t need you anymore.” A knot of anger tightened in my chest, twisting my insides with a sharp, wrenching pain. I looked at him coldly. “It’s Chloe’s choice. At least for now, I’m still her legal husband.” Liam’s sneering laugh echoed back. “What makes you so confident? Is it just this face that looks a bit like mine?” “Tell me, every night when she sleeps next to you, is she thinking of you or me?” Every single word was a cruel, stinging jab. I couldn’t take it anymore. My fist connected hard with his face. But then, a gasp rang out from behind me: “Liam!” I spun around. Chloe was already rushing to his side. She helped him up, her eyes blazing red as she glared at me. In seven years of marriage, I had never seen her this furious. “Alex, have you lost your mind?!” “What gives you the right to hit someone?” Their classmates also crowded around, helping Liam, their gazes turning hostile as they looked at me. “Chloe, your husband is unbelievable. No matter how jealous he is, he can’t just hit people!” “Seriously, he’s got no self-awareness. If it were me, I’d pack my bags and make way the moment the real deal came back.” Amidst their whispers, Chloe looked at me with cold disappointment. “You’ve truly let me down.” The pain in my chest seemed to intensify. Suddenly, a sweet metallic taste filled my throat. I swallowed hard, barely managing to hold it back. I turned and walked away. On the steps outside the hotel, I slowly pulled a crumpled medical report from my pocket. Alex Reid, Male, Stage IV Stomach Cancer. The sunlight caught the thin paper, making it shimmer, almost blinding. I couldn’t hold it back any longer. A mouthful of blood gushed out.

Seven years ago, Chloe found me. She claimed she wanted to avoid her family’s pressure to marry, so she proposed we live together as partners. At the time, it was my third year of secretly crushing on Chloe. So, I agreed without hesitation. For seven years, we lived like polite roommates, eventually developing a kind of affection. I had spent seven years trying to melt her icy heart, watching the fortress she had built around herself slowly crumble, piece by piece. I even started to believe she had truly fallen in love with me. Now, it seemed. I was just fooling myself. Unbeknownst to me, I dozed off on the sofa. I woke up to the sound of a door closing. The wall clock pointed exactly to three in the morning as Chloe walked in. Seeing me awake, she paused, then took off her jacket and hung it in the closet. That jacket looked familiar. Earlier that afternoon, Liam had been wearing it. Chloe walked to the sofa, knelt down, and took my hand. “Are you still mad?” I didn’t speak. I just pulled my hand away and pushed the drafted divorce papers toward her. “Here’s the divorce agreement. Take a look.”

Chloe froze for two seconds. Then, her face contorted with anger, like a secret exposed. “Alex, what is the meaning of this?” “Nothing happened between him and me. We just met as old classmates today.” “Can you please stop acting like a dramatic woman?” She fired off three questions in a row, growing more agitated with each one. The anger I had suppressed all day finally erupted. “What about you, then?” “Chloe, in these seven years of marriage, have I been your husband or just a replacement?” “When you kissed me, were you thinking of me or Liam?” I hadn’t meant to argue with her. But the excruciating pain in my stomach was like knives twisting inside me, and I couldn’t hold back the question. Chloe fell silent instantly. After a moment, she got up and walked toward the door. “Alex, are you going to be this childish until the day you die?” With that, she stormed out, slamming the door behind her. I, however, just stared blankly. She was right. I was on my deathbed, and I was still acting so childish.

Chloe hadn’t come home for two days. I called her three times, trying to get her to finalize the divorce. The first two calls were hung up, and the last time, she just turned off her phone. I remembered a few years ago, she had added me to her class SnapChat group. I opened my laptop and logged into the account I hadn’t touched in ages. It was still there, as expected. Someone in the group had posted some photos from a private classmates’ gathering. I saw Chloe in the pictures, and Liam too. She seemed to have been drinking, passed out in his arms. I looked at every single photo. Then, calmly, I tagged Chloe in the group. “Come home. Let’s sign the divorce papers.” She responded quickly enough. “What crazy stunt are you pulling now?” A moment later, I received a notification: “You have been removed from the group chat.” Chloe’s phone was still unreachable. But then, the doorbell rang. I pressed a hand to my subtly aching abdomen and went to open the door. “Mom? What are you doing here?” Outside, my mother-in-law stood, laden with bags, her face beaming despite the journey. “Didn’t you say your stomach hadn’t been feeling well recently? I got some herbal remedies from a top specialist. Make sure you drink them.” “I heard he’s amazing with stomach issues.” Several large bags were placed on the floor, filled with the remedies and our favorite dishes. My nose suddenly stung with emotion. This elderly woman, who had traveled dozens of miles with all these packages, had no idea— No matter how skilled a doctor, they probably couldn’t cure my body now.

After some hesitation, I brought up the divorce to her. “Mom, I’ve thought about it for a long time. I’m planning to divorce Chloe.” With a dull thud, the teacup in her hand dropped to the floor. It shattered. Hot water splashed everywhere. I rushed to help, but she grabbed me instead. “Alex, did you two have a fight?” “If she did anything wrong, just tell me, Mom will…” “No,” I interrupted her, “it’s my fault. Our relationship has some issues.” I had no intention of exposing her daughter’s unacceptable behavior in front of my mother-in-law. For seven years of marriage, my in-laws had treated me like their own son. Whatever Chloe did wrong, it had nothing to do with them. Suddenly, the sound of a key turning in the lock echoed from the door. Chloe was back. “Alex, isn’t causing trouble at home enough? Do you have to take it outside?” Chloe’s voice abruptly cut off the moment she saw her mother. But my mother-in-law had already seen Liam, who was following behind her. Liam, however, showed no panic. Instead, he stepped forward confidently. “Auntie, I don’t know if you still remember me, I’m Liam Thorne.” “I even had dinner with you before I went abroad.” My mother-in-law’s face was cold, silent. The atmosphere grew awkward. Chloe stepped forward to smooth things over, but her mother grabbed her. “Chloe, tell me, are you divorcing Alex for him?” Chloe’s expression shifted, flustered. “Mom, just stay out of it.” “Whether we divorce or not is between Alex and me, we…” “Slam—” A sharp slap cut Chloe off. “Foolish!” My mother-in-law pointed at Liam, her hand trembling with rage. “Do you think he truly loves you? If he loved you, he wouldn’t have abandoned you to go abroad in the first place!” That slap ignited Chloe’s temper too. The mother and daughter argued fiercely. Until I noticed my mother-in-law’s face looked off. “Stop arguing!” I stepped forward to support her. “Mom, are you okay?” “Mom…”

My mother-in-law was hospitalized with a heart attack, but thankfully, there was no serious danger. In the hospital room. Chloe and I sat by the bed. My mother-in-law clutched my hand tightly, tears streaming down her face. “Alex, Chloe is so foolish. She’s always been stubborn since she was little. Just give her a bit more time; she’ll come to her senses.” I didn’t say anything. Her voice choked, and she patted the back of my hand gently, “All these years, your dad and I have treated you like our own son. We only recognize you as our son-in-law.” “My body won’t last another two years. If you two get divorced, Mom will…” “Mom won’t be able to close her eyes when she goes.” My nose stung with sadness. Unable to bear an elderly woman crying and pleading, I took a deep breath and said yes. Only then did my mother-in-law visibly relax. … In the hallway. I clutched my agonizing stomach, looking at Chloe. “Let’s pick a day and finalize the divorce.” Chloe froze. “Didn’t you just say…” “I was lying to her.” The more my stomach hurt, the calmer my expression became. “Our business, I don’t want to bother the elderly with it.” “I’ll send you the drafted divorce agreement.” “I don’t agree!”

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I had a strange condition: my memory only lasted a day. Every morning, my boyfriend would tell me I was his love. Until I saw him wrapped around another woman, his eyes lowered, a wicked smile playing on his lips. “What are you afraid of? She won’t remember a thing.” But what he didn’t know was, I was already recovering. Waking up in the early morning, a strange man held me in his arms. Before I could struggle, he spoke as if he knew what was coming. “Lily, it’s Caleb.” I stiffened, looking up at him. He opened his eyes and met my gaze, the sleep still heavy in them. “You’re my love, Lily.” “You forgot me again, didn’t you?” His tone was natural, lazy. I slowly let my guard down. “Should I remember you?” Caleb sighed, burying his face for a few seconds before sitting up. His hair was messy, but it didn’t detract from his good looks. He reached for his phone, then casually used my thumbprint to unlock it. The screen showed a picture of us, close together. In the photo, I was leaning on Caleb’s shoulder, smiling brightly. “Lily + Caleb. Always.” I was surprised. I had no memory of that moment, or of Caleb. Caleb turned off the screen and tossed the phone aside, pulling me back into his arms. His voice was muffled. “Shh, go back to sleep, babe.”

I couldn’t sleep in Caleb’s arms. Once his breathing evened out, I carefully slipped out of bed. A small sticky note was taped to the bedside table. “Don’t forget Caleb.” I looked back. Caleb was still asleep, his brows slightly furrowed, restless. It wasn’t just the bedside. These little notes were stuck everywhere in the room. I leaned against the bathroom sink, lost in thought. I don’t know how long passed before a pair of hands suddenly wrapped around my waist. I looked up. In the mirror, Caleb rested his chin on my shoulder, his voice hoarse with sleep. “Lily, don’t rush.” “I’ll always be here for you.”

Caleb said I went through this same routine every day. Waking up, feeling confused, then slowly accepting him. Caleb would also tell me, day after day, that he loved me. When Caleb called me for breakfast, I stood awkwardly at the table. “I’m sorry, I don’t remember you.” Caleb paused, a helpless smile touching his lips. He leaned against the table, slowly bending down to meet my eyes. His eyes and brows were incredibly handsome, deep and focused when he looked at someone. He was definitely my type. “It’s okay if I remember you, Lily,” Caleb said softly. “You’ll get better.” He tried to comfort me, but I clearly saw the sadness in his eyes as he turned away. “Are you… sad?” Caleb held his mug of coffee, tilting his head as he thought for a moment. “How do I put it?” “I’m almost used to it.” He turned back to me, sighing. “I just hope that one day, when you wake up, you’ll remember me.” “Even just my name.”

Caleb took me to the supermarket, and that night, he took me to a concert. He said these were things on my old wish list. He’d been repeating them quite often lately. He ruffled my hair. “Lily, you have to get better soon.” Under the streetlights, Caleb’s expression was fond and hopeful. My heart pounded fiercely in my chest. “Caleb.” “Did I used to… really like you?” Even with my memory loss, I could feel an intense affection for the man in front of me. Caleb stopped walking. He lowered his eyes to me, a smirk playing on his lips. Caleb usually looked like the good-boy type, but when he moved, a hint of something mischievous, even bad, would unexpectedly surface. He thought for a moment, then slowly said, “You? You chased me for six whole months.” “That’s when I finally said yes.” “Sometimes I even wonder if you’re deliberately getting back at me now.” “I’ll try my best to get better,” I took his hand. “Caleb, please wait for me a little longer.”

On the way back, a woman suddenly stumbled out from a corner. She was swaying, barely able to walk straight. Luckily, Caleb reached out quickly and steadied her before she fell. She had a sweet, innocent face and tilted her head, smiling at Caleb. “Thanks.” Caleb lowered his eyes to her. They looked at each other for a few seconds before Caleb said in a low voice, “You’re drunk.” “Good thing I’m drunk!” the woman laughed loudly. “No one cares anyway.” “It’s better to be drunk. It hurts less.” For some reason, I felt a strange tension between her and Caleb. Caleb held her arm tightly, not letting go. After a moment, he said, “It’s not safe to drink late at night.” “Go home early.” The girl didn’t answer him. Instead, she looked at me. “You’re so lucky.” “My boyfriend doesn’t want me anymore.” I was still confused, but I said honestly, “If he doesn’t want you, then you don’t need him either.” “There are plenty of guys out there. No need to make yourself suffer.” “Yeah,” her tone suddenly turned sharp. “Easy for you to say. You’re enjoying all the sweetness. How could you know what bitterness feels like?” Caleb suddenly looked annoyed. He let go of her hand. “Lily, let’s go home.”

Back home, Caleb’s face was still sullen. He leaned back on the couch, the game controller in his hand making sounds. The TV screen went black, and he ‘tsk’ed, tossing the controller aside before lying back. “What’s wrong?” Sensing his mood shift, I walked over. Caleb composed himself, pulling me into his arms. “Lily, please don’t leave me.” “I really like you.” I pulled myself out of his embrace to look at him, curious. “Caleb, that girl.” “Do you know her?” Caleb’s expression was calm, unchanging. “No, I don’t.” “Just a drunk person.” Before I could speak, Caleb’s lips found mine. He mumbled, “Lily.” “Don’t leave me.”

I woke up the next morning, my head still foggy. Caleb was up early today. Hearing me stir, he walked over and leaned against the doorway, watching me. “Lily, good morning.” “I’m Caleb.” I sat blankly on the bed, watching Caleb walk over and meet my gaze. He gently said, “You forgot me again, didn’t you?” He showed me the video as usual, a video of Caleb and me. I looked up at him, saying nothing. I watched him lead me to the table and hand me a warm glass of milk. A note was still taped to the table’s edge: “Lily, remember to eat on time and love Caleb.” Caleb seemed afraid to scare me, so he spoke softly. “Don’t be scared, just eat breakfast first.” “I’ll explain everything later.” I sat at the table, holding the milk, slowly taking sips. My mind was a mess.

Before I could finish the milk, just as I was about to speak, there was a knock at the door. The knocking was rhythmic, two knocks at a time. Caleb held his milk, his gaze fixed on the door. The knocking continued. Caleb stood in silence for a moment, not moving to open the door, but not ignoring it either. He seemed to be deep in thought. He pulled his gaze back, turning to meet my eyes. “I’ll get it.” “Lily.” As I started to get up, Caleb pressed me back down. “I’ll handle it. You eat first.” His tone was natural. He walked towards the door. The door was pulled open a tiny crack. I shifted my position and watched. Behind the door, I saw a familiar face. It was the woman from last night. My hand, holding the milk, trembled uncontrollably. I couldn’t hear what they were saying. Caleb abruptly slammed the door shut. “Who was that?” “No one I know,” Caleb explained calmly. “Wrong door.” I looked at Caleb’s composed face, and my heart gave a sudden, hard thump. An indescribable feeling swirled in my chest. Actually, just now, I hadn’t had a chance to tell Caleb. I could remember yesterday.

I lowered my head, saying nothing, feeling the milk in my hands gradually lose its warmth. She hadn’t even changed her clothes and had come looking for Caleb. Caleb stiffened for only a moment, quickly returning to his usual self. He smiled at me, his actions and expression showing no flaws. As if he were truly facing a stranger. I looked up at the door, an unconscious emotion brewing inside me. After breakfast, Caleb said he’d cut some fruit for me. Opening the fridge, he found there was no fruit. He slipped on his jacket and left. On an impulse, I walked to the window and looked down. Caleb’s figure quickly appeared below. A few seconds later, a figure suddenly darted out from the side. Her target was clearly Caleb. My hand gripping the window sill tightened unconsciously. Caleb obviously noticed her too, but he stood still. The moment the girl got close, he suddenly turned his body sideways. She missed him, stumbling to the side. Just as she was about to fall, her body froze in mid-air. A pair of hands gripped her arm firmly. Caleb ultimately didn’t let her fall to the ground. It was too far away for me to hear their conversation. But for some reason, I had a strange feeling that the woman’s face was smiling.

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At the party, my asthma flared up. I fumbled for my emergency inhaler. But the canister was empty. My boyfriend, Derek, explained, “Chloe said her throat was dry, so I gave her your inhaler. You can just have some throat lozenges, that should help.” But my breathing was already getting harder and harder. “If her throat was dry, couldn’t she just drink some water? You guys are trying to kill me!” He frowned, annoyed. “Can you stop being so dramatic? Always acting like you’re made of glass, like you’re some delicate little princess.” “Chloe’s right, you’re just being overly dramatic.” I didn’t argue anymore. I sent a SnapChat message to my mom: “My asthma’s flared up, but Derek gave my inhaler to Chloe.” Derek saw the message and brushed it off. “Are you doing this again? Always running to your mom, are you in elementary school?” He snatched my phone, held it high, and looked down at me. I tried to get my phone back. The moment I stood up, my vision went black, and I fell back down. “My asthma’s acting up, please help me,” I quickly explained. Just then, Chloe walked over, making sure to show off the inhaler in her hand. “Oh my, Aria, little princess, are you *really* that uncomfortable? You’re not just trying to get attention, are you?” “Ugh, I told you guys, we shouldn’t have women at our hangouts. They’re always so whiny, just looking for drama.” I gasped for air, staring intently at Chloe. She was Derek’s childhood friend. She always got along great with guys, often acting like ‘one of the guys.’ Derek had mentioned Chloe to me more than once. He said she was a real tomboy. At first, I actually had a good impression of Chloe, the no-nonsense friend Derek talked about. After our relationship stabilized, Derek introduced me to his friend group. Chloe always made a point of acting like a big supporter of women. “Wow, Derek, you’ve got great taste! Where did you find this goddess?” “Swoon! Girl power, let’s ditch these smelly guys.” But I could always subtly feel Chloe’s eyes on me, filled with a hint of malice. Her methods were clever. She talked a big game about girl power, but her actions clearly showed she was trying to cut me out. For instance, she’d always bring up their childhood memories at parties. I couldn’t join in the conversation and just sat quietly on the side. Then, she’d casually joke with me. “What’s wrong, little princess? Are you upset because I’m talking to Derek?” I had mentioned my discomfort to Derek. But Derek would just say I was petty. He’d say Chloe was just trying to liven things up, and I was too sensitive. But now, Chloe wasn’t even bothering to hide her malice. “Our little princess is just being a princess, isn’t she? Are you upset because we’re not all focused on you, so you’re faking this?” The guys around us burst into mocking laughter. “I’m really not feeling well, give me the inhaler!” I raised my voice. Seeing me like this, the room went silent for a moment. Then, even louder mockery erupted. Chloe put her hand on Derek’s shoulder. She watched me gasp for breath, laughing so hard she almost fell over. “Oh wow, she’s really good at faking it, Derek, aren’t you going to feel bad for her?” The others started egging Derek on too. “Yeah, Derek, you’re not gonna be whipped after you get married, are you?” “Don’t you dare embarrass us! A man’s the head of the house; if your woman acts up, you gotta teach her a lesson.” Derek couldn’t take that kind of jab. He puffed out his chest, avoiding my gaze. “Who’s worried about her? She needs to be put in her place, always making a big deal out of nothing.” I couldn’t breathe. I desperately tugged at Derek’s sleeve, guttural “gasping” sounds escaping my throat. “Help… me…” Seeing me like that, Derek hesitated. But Chloe spoke up again. “Alright, alright, Aria, we’re all just regular guys here. Nobody’s falling for your damsel-in-distress act.” Knowing it was useless to talk to him, I tried to leave the room. But just as I managed to get myself up, Chloe pushed me back down. “The party’s not over yet, how can you leave? That’s rude!” Her grip was surprisingly strong. Before I knew it, the back of my head hit the wall. *Thump!* My head spun even more. I didn’t even have time to react. Chloe screamed first.

She covered her mouth, speaking in an exaggerated tone. “Oh? You’re so manipulative!” “I barely touched you, and you went and hit your head on the wall just to frame me!” Hearing that, Derek’s gaze turned even more impatient. “Aria, you’re going too far.” I bit my lip, trying to stay lucid. “I have severe asthma. If you don’t want someone to die, then stop this right now.” My throat burned, every breath felt like inhaling broken glass. Chloe, however, ostentatiously dangled the inhaler in front of my eyes, then took a big, exaggerated puff from it. “Can’t give it to you, my throat’s dry.” “And I gotta say, you get what you pay for. This thing feels amazing.” I struggled to lift my hand to grab it. She laughed, raising her hand high to avoid me. “Nope, not giving it to you, nope.” I was so furious, my vision swam black again. Derek watched from the side, arms crossed. “Look at you, acting like you’re begging. Chloe’s just using it for a bit, don’t be so petty.” “Chloe even saw your medical report; you don’t have asthma, you just get a little short of breath sometimes.” I forced myself to calm down. “Derek, haven’t you seen me have an attack before? What reason would I have to lie to you?” Before Derek could answer, Chloe cut in. “Of course, it’s for attention. These days, there’s always some attention-seeker faking an illness.” “Hehe, Aria, are you like those ‘little princesses’ online who also claim to have depression?” Hearing that, Derek’s bros around us roared with even louder laughter. Some of them whistled. “Derek, your girlfriend is so petty, not even half as cool as Chloe.” “Yeah, you’ll have your hands full after you get married.” I gasped for air, using my last ounce of strength to reach for the inhaler in Chloe’s hand. But just as my fingertips were about to touch it, she deftly dodged backward. I lost my balance and fell forward onto the carpet. “Oh my, she’s really good at acting, isn’t she?” Chloe exclaimed dramatically. Then she crouched down and whispered, her voice audible only to me. “Hehe, just die already. If you die, it’ll clear the way for Derek and me.” She stood up, deliberately raising her voice. “Aria, stop messing around, get up! Everyone’s waiting for you and Derek to share a drink!” Derek looked a little uneasy. He stepped forward and helped me up. “What’s wrong with you? Are you really not feeling well?” “Help me…” I managed to croak out a few words. My hand gripped Derek’s wrist tightly, only broken gasps escaping. “In… inhaler…” Derek’s brows furrowed, and a flicker of panic and struggle finally appeared in his eyes. He looked at Chloe. “Chloe, maybe just give it to her.” But Chloe’s face immediately fell. She stubbornly hid the inhaler behind her back, stomping her foot in frustration. “Derek, are you blind? She’s clearly faking it! Have you forgotten how she used to throw her little tantrums?” Then, she suddenly looked at the others and yelled, “Look, these drama queens always put on an act! Derek totally fell for it, didn’t he?” The guys immediately backed her up. “Derek, Chloe grew up with all of us. She wouldn’t try to hurt you, would she?” “Girls like her, they just like to make trouble. You can’t spoil her.” Derek’s expression changed. His hand, which was holding me, loosened a little. I could feel his hesitation. On one side was my agonizing attack, on the other, Chloe and their provocations. “But… her face really does look pale…”

Derek seemed worried, his gaze falling on my bloodless lips. Chloe suddenly slapped her own head with an “oops!” “Oh, I saw her go to the restroom earlier with a pad. She’s probably just having period cramps.” She then adopted a sympathetic tone, as if genuinely concerned for me. “Aria, if you’re having period cramps, just say so! Why lie to us and say it’s an asthma attack? You’re just needlessly worrying Derek!” Hearing her, Derek visibly relaxed. His gaze toward me was now filled with reproach. “You can’t joke around like that again. You almost scared me to death.” I didn’t have much strength left. Luckily, I had taken a preventative pill before leaving home. Otherwise, with them stalling like this, I would have been dead already. Chloe, hiding behind Derek, smirked at me provocatively. Then she pulled out a small bottle from her bag. “Here, have some throat lozenges. Aria, isn’t your throat bothering you? Pop one in!” She shoved a lozenge into my mouth without asking. The strong mint flavor rushed into my nasal passages, making the burning sensation in my throat even more intense. I tried to spit it out. But she clamped my jaw shut. “Swallow it! What’s wrong with you? You really are just faking it for sympathy!” Only when I was dry heaving uncontrollably did she let go, turning to Derek. “See? She won’t even eat it. What else could this be but an act?” Derek looked at me, then at the lozenge I had just spit onto the floor. The panic in his eyes vanished, replaced by pure annoyance. He just thought I was making a mountain out of a molehill, being dramatic for no reason. He sighed heavily and roughly pushed me onto the sofa. My back slammed into the armrest, and I gasped in pain. “Alright, let’s just drop this. You can’t do this again in the future.” “No, I…” I wanted to argue, but only ragged gasps escaped my throat. Chloe patted Derek’s shoulder. “Come on, forget her. Let’s go drink. If no one pays attention to her, she’ll be fine in a bit.” Derek nodded. As he walked away, he gave me one last look. His eyes were full of impatience and irritation, but no concern. Chloe pulled him towards the crowd, and before he left, he didn’t forget to throw out a last remark. “Behave yourself, don’t embarrass me anymore.” The rest of the group dispersed too, heading off to drink. I huddled in the corner, watching Derek and Chloe being cheered on to share a drink in the crowd. “Come on, share a drink!” “Don’t be a party pooper, drink up!” “It’s just a game, your girlfriend won’t be that petty, right?” Through my blurry vision, I saw Derek glance at me from afar, then wrap an arm around Chloe and kiss her… I felt the air slowly being sucked out of my lungs. I really couldn’t breathe anymore. My phone lay where Derek had thrown it on the floor. But I didn’t even have the strength to crawl to it. In despair, I suddenly remembered that last month I’d put an asthma pill in my bag. I used my last shred of strength to grope around. My heart leaped when my fingertips brushed against my bag’s strap. I desperately clawed at the strap, pulling it out, the leather rustling against the sofa. The bag was still open. I flipped it. A pill rolled out and landed on the carpet. That was it! It was just an emergency extended-release pill. It wasn’t as fast-acting as the inhaler, but it could buy me more time. I was almost in tears. But as I reached out, my fingertips about to touch the pill—a high heel stomped down.

Right in front of me, the heel repeatedly ground the pill. It was Chloe. She smirked, watching me, her foot still grinding. “Oh, almost got to your medicine, didn’t you?” All the blood rushed to my head. “Get lost! I’ll kill you! My mom won’t let you get away with this!” Suffocation surged. After yelling that, I collapsed back onto the sofa, like a dying animal trapped in a cage. “Hehe, I’m so happy watching you rage like this, so helpless.” Chloe crouched down and poked my face with her long nail. “You deserve this, always trying to steal what’s mine. Derek is mine, even if I don’t want him, he’s certainly not for you.” Then, she grabbed my hair forcefully. “Alright, you can die now.” My scalp burned with pain. I wanted to struggle. But I didn’t even have the strength to lift my hand. “I’m… Sterling—” Through my blurry vision, Chloe’s face was a distorted, grotesque mask. She cut me off. “Derek’s over there drinking,” She leaned close to my ear, her voice sickly sweet. “He’s hardly paying attention to you, is he? Do you think he’d be sad if you died right now?” I tried to bite her hand, but she easily dodged away. She stood up, patted my face, then called out to Derek in the distance. “Derek, come see! Aria looks really angry!” Derek came over when she called. He looked at me, slumped on the sofa, his brow furrowing deeper. “What’s wrong with you now? It’s just period cramps, don’t act like you’re dying. What woman doesn’t have cramps?” “I… I really have…” My voice was barely a whisper. “Have asthma…” Derek’s gaze swept over my pale face, then he looked at Chloe. Chloe helplessly threw up her hands, indicating she could do nothing. Derek fixed his gaze on me, his eyes full of disappointment. “Aria, I’m really fed up with you. If you keep this up, we’re breaking up.” With that, he turned and left, annoyed. Chloe scampered happily behind him, not forgetting to turn back and give me a ‘V’ sign with her fingers. I felt like my lungs were a deflated bellows, every breath tearing at me. The blurry specks in my vision grew denser. Chloe’s face in the distance, bathed in hazy light, flickered closer and farther, like a demon from hell. My eyelids were heavy. Over there, a crowd of people cheered around Chloe. In my peripheral vision, Derek and his bros raised their glasses. Chloe, feigning drunkenness, leaned into Derek’s arms. He didn’t push her away, but instead wrapped his arm tighter around her waist. “Derek…” I used every ounce of strength to call him. My voice was as faint as a mosquito’s buzz. He, as if by some strange impulse, looked back. Chloe immediately stood on tiptoes and whispered something in his ear. He frowned, shaking his head impatiently. At that moment, the last bit of warmth in my heart turned to ice. I slowly closed my eyes. I had so many regrets. Why did I ever get involved with Derek? Derek was just a poor student from an ordinary family. My mother, on the other hand, was a billionaire entrepreneur. I was afraid Derek would feel inferior, so I never told him any of this. He always thought I was just from a slightly better family than his. Chloe came back. She crouched in front of me. “I heard you grew up in a single-parent home. If you die, your mom will be heartbroken, right?” “But it’s okay, Derek can handle your funeral as the quasi-son-in-law. Maybe your mom will soften up and give him all the family fortune…” Chloe was really dreaming. But before she could finish, the private room door suddenly burst open. “Aria!” It was Mom’s voice.

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At the party, I suddenly had an asthma attack. I frantically fumbled through my bag for my emergency inhaler. But the bag was empty. My girlfriend, Chloe, explained: “Noah’s throat was a bit rough, so I let him use your inhaler. Just rest, you’ll feel better.” But I was already struggling to breathe. “He could just drink water for a dry throat! I’m going to have a serious problem without my inhaler!” She frowned, clearly annoyed. “Can you stop acting so delicate? Like you’re some pampered rich kid?” “Noah’s right, you’re just being dramatic.” But I really was the sole heir to a powerful corporation. I texted my mom: “You were right. I’m letting her go.” Chloe Green saw me like that and just scoffed. “Are you seriously tattling? Are you a first grader?” She snatched my phone before I could react, holding it behind her back. I pushed myself up, trying to get it back. But the moment I stood, my vision went black, and I stumbled back down. “I’m having an asthma attack, quick, give me the inhaler!” I gasped, trying to explain. Just then, Noah Miller walked over. He even made sure to wave the inhaler he held. “Oh, Liam, my handsome man, are you really feeling bad? Or are you just faking it?” “Ugh, I told you, guys shouldn’t be at a girls’ night. Men are so calculative, always trying to one-up each other.” I gulped for air, my eyes fixed on Noah. He was Chloe’s male best friend. He usually hung out with girls, calling them his “sisters.” Chloe always talked about Noah. She said he was the ultimate ladies’ man. At first, I didn’t think much of Noah. I just thought he had some unique preferences. After our relationship became stable, Chloe brought me to meet her friends. That’s when I met Noah. He seemed very enthusiastic when he faced me. “Oh my god, Chloe, you have such great taste! Where did you find this handsome man?” “Liam, with your looks, you must have women falling all over you. Why did you pick our Chloe?” His words felt off to me. But everyone else seemed used to it. I, however, always vaguely felt Noah’s gaze on me, carrying an undeniable malice. Noah’s methods were clever. He acted like he welcomed me, but his actions deliberately ignored me. For example, he loved to bring up their old inside jokes during parties. I couldn’t get a word in, just sat there, forcing a smile. Then, he’d crack a joke with me. “What’s wrong, handsome? Are you upset because I’m talking to Chloe?” When we got back, I told Chloe that their behavior made me uncomfortable. But Chloe said I was overthinking, that I was too sensitive. “Noah just wants to liven things up. You’re too petty.” My memories snapped back to the present. Noah’s malice was no longer hidden. “Mr. Handsome is just different, huh? Upset we’re not all revolving around him, so he’s faking sick?” A few women around us snickered at his words. “I’m really having an asthma attack! Give me the inhaler!” I yelled, my voice hoarse. I was fuming. I lunged, aiming a punch at Noah’s face. But I was too weak. My fist was like cotton, easily dodged by him. Seeing me like this, the room went quiet for a second. Then, even louder taunts erupted. Noah wrapped an arm around Chloe’s shoulder, laughing so hard he doubled over. “Not bad, you’re really committed to the act. Chloe, you’re not going to feel sorry for him, are you?” The other women joined in, egging Chloe on. “Yeah, Chloe, you can’t embarrass us, your girls!” “You need to keep your boyfriend in line, or he’ll walk all over you.” Chloe couldn’t stand being challenged like that. She immediately puffed out her neck and retorted. “What are you guys talking about? Why would I go soft? If he doesn’t listen to me, he deserves a lesson.” I couldn’t breathe. I didn’t want to die! I desperately tried to call for help, but only a rasping “h-h-h” sound came from my throat. “Help me…” Seeing my torment, Chloe hesitated. But Noah spoke up again. “Alright, alright, Liam. Everyone here is too straightforward; nobody’s falling for your manipulative act.” Knowing it was useless to talk to them, I pushed myself up, wanting to leave the room. But just as I got up, Noah shoved me back down. “The party just started, and you’re leaving? That’s just disrespecting me!” Noah’s grip was strong. With his forceful pull, the back of my head hit the wall. *Thud!* My head spun even more. I just hissed in pain. Noah, however, dramatically cried out.

He pursed his lips and spoke in disbelief. “Wow? You’re so good at competing for attention! I barely touched you, and you went and hit your head on the wall just to frame me?” Hearing that, Chloe looked at me with even more impatience. “Liam, you’re going too far.” I dug my nails into my palms, trying to stay conscious. “I… I have severe asthma. If you don’t want to cause a fatality, stop this now.” My throat burned. Every breath felt like broken glass scraping against it. Noah suddenly laughed. He dangled the inhaler in front of me, flaunting it. Then, he took an exaggerated, deep puff from it. “You know what? Expensive stuff really is good. This works wonders! My throat isn’t dry anymore.” I lifted my hand, trying to snatch it. He laughed and neatly evaded me. “Can’t give it to you, I’m not done using it yet.” I was so enraged my condition worsened, and I nearly blacked out. Chloe stood there, hands on her hips, watching. “See how petty you are? Noah’s just using it for a bit. Why are you so particular?” “Noah saw your medical report; you don’t have asthma, you’re just a little weak.” I forced myself to calm down. “Chloe, what reason would I have to lie to you?” Chloe had clearly seen me having an asthma attack before. Noah seized the moment to interject. “Tsk, tsk, in this day and age, there are always some idiots who fake illnesses for attention.” “Liam, are you like those idiots online who claim they have depression too?” At his words, the room erupted in laughter. They were all making snide remarks. “Chloe, your boyfriend is hilarious, but he’s got nothing on Noah.” “Yeah, if you ever marry him, you’ll be in for it.” My face was turning purple from lack of air, but I strained with all my might to reach for the inhaler in Noah’s hand. Just as my fingers brushed it, he dodged backward. I lost my balance and fell forward. “Oh, wow, so dedicated to the fake illness act!” Noah exclaimed. Then he crouched down, lowering his voice to whisper in my ear: “Go die. If you die, Chloe and I can be together openly.” Then, Noah stood up, putting an arm around Chloe. “Alright, get up, we’re still waiting for you and Chloe to do a couple’s toast.” Chloe seemed to sense something was wrong. She stepped forward and helped me up. “What’s going on? Do you really have asthma?” “Help me…” I managed to force out two words, a broken gasp escaping my throat. “Give me… the in-inhaler…” Chloe’s brows were tightly knitted, and her eyes showed a flicker of panic and struggle. She tentatively spoke. “Maybe we should give him the inhaler.” Noah’s face instantly dropped. “Chloe, don’t let him fool you! He’s clearly faking it; you can’t let him manipulate you!” “See? These manipulative guys always pretend, and Chloe almost fell for it.” The others immediately chimed in. “Yeah, Noah’s been our friend for so long, he wouldn’t hurt you, would he?” “These manipulative guys, they just love to stir up trouble. You can’t indulge him.” Sure enough, Chloe’s expression changed. Her hand, which had been supporting me, loosened slightly. She was hesitating. “But… his face really does look a bit…”

Chloe’s gaze fell on my pale face. Noah suddenly clapped his hand to his head, looking troubled. “Oh, I remember! His medical report said he had low blood sugar.” He then put on a show of caring about me. “If you have low blood sugar, just say so! Why pretend it’s an asthma attack? You’re just needlessly worrying Chloe!” Hearing that explanation, Chloe visibly relaxed. Her gaze held even more blame as she looked at me. “Don’t ever joke like that again. You scared me to death just now.” I didn’t even have the strength to argue anymore. Noah, when no one was looking, gave me a provocative smirk. Then he pulled a mint candy from his pocket. “Here, have some candy! You’re not feeling well, right? Pop one in!” He shoved the mint candy into my mouth without a word. The mint flavor assaulted my nasal passages, making the stinging in my throat even more intense. I desperately tried to spit it out. Noah clamped down hard on my jaw. “Swallow it! What are you doing? This is for your own good! You really are just faking sick for sympathy.” Only when I gagged uncontrollably did Noah release me. He turned to Chloe: “See? He refuses to eat it. He’s clearly just faking illness.” Chloe looked at me, then at the mint candy I’d just vomited onto the floor. Her eyes were full of irritation. “Alright, that’s enough. Don’t do this again.” “I…” I wanted to object, but only raspy “h-h-h” sounds came from my throat. Noah put his arm around Chloe’s shoulder. “Come on, let’s go drink. Drama queens like him get over it when no one pays attention.” Chloe nodded. As she left, she glanced at me. Her eyes held only disappointment and impatience, not a hint of worry. “Behave yourself. Don’t cause trouble again.” The group around them dispersed, heading off to drink. I collapsed onto the sofa, watching the crowd cheer for Chloe and Noah. “Couple’s toast! Couple’s toast!” “Don’t be a spoilsport, hurry up and do the couple’s toast!” “It’s just a game, your girlfriend wouldn’t be that petty, right?” Through my blurring vision, I saw Chloe look back once, then stand on tiptoe and kiss Noah… My consciousness grew increasingly hazy. In my periphery, I saw my phone carelessly tossed onto the floor. But I couldn’t even crawl to it. In despair, I suddenly remembered I might have an asthma pill in my jacket pocket. I’d taken off my jacket earlier. Using my last ounce of strength, I fumbled backward, reaching. My heart leaped when my fingertips brushed the jacket. I desperately pulled it towards me. The pocket zipper was open. I flipped it. A pill rolled out and dropped onto the carpet. This was it—the emergency extended-release pill. I was practically crying. Though not as fast-acting as the inhaler, the pill could give me some relief. But as I stretched out my hand, just as my fingers were about to touch the pill—a leather shoe stomped on it.

My eyes were bloodshot. My life-saving medication was being crushed under a leather shoe, repeatedly. It was Noah. He curled his lips into a malicious smile. His foot kept grinding the pill. “Want to eat it, huh? In your dreams.” All the blood rushed to my head. “I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!” Despair surged through me. After shouting that, I slumped back onto the sofa, like a dying trapped animal. Noah, however, laughed even more hysterically. “Seeing you so angry makes me so happy.” “Don’t act innocent either; you were the one trying to steal what’s mine. Remember, Chloe is mine. Even if I don’t want her, she’ll never be yours.” With that, he violently grabbed my hair and slammed my head against the ground. “You can just die.” My head hit the floor, and the pain felt numb. I wanted to fight back. But I didn’t even have the strength to lift my arm. “I am… the Hayes heir—” Through my blurred vision, Noah’s face was distorted and menacing. He cut me off. “Tell me, if you died, would Chloe be sad?” I wanted to bite a chunk out of him, but he easily dodged. He stood up, pulled me to my feet, and threw me onto the sofa. Then he yelled towards Chloe, “Chloe, come quick! Your little boyfriend is throwing a fit again!” Chloe walked over, called by his voice. She looked at me, lying helplessly on the sofa, her brows furrowed even tighter. “What are you doing now? It’s just low blood sugar, I gave you candy, what are you still making a fuss about?” “I… I really have…” my voice was faint, “have asthma…” Noah shrugged, feigning helplessness. Chloe fixed her gaze on me, her eyes full of disappointment. “Liam, I’m really fed up with you. If you keep causing trouble, let’s just break up.” With that, she turned and stormed away. Noah subtly gave me a ‘V’ sign with his fingers, then turned and followed Chloe. I felt like my lungs were a leaky, broken bellows, each breath tearing at me. My eyelids grew heavier and heavier. Over there, a group of people were cheering excitedly around Chloe and Noah. In my periphery, Noah, pretending to be drunk, was embracing Chloe intimately. Chloe didn’t push him away; instead, she wrapped her arms tighter around his waist. “Chloe…” my voice was very, very faint. Chloe, as if by some strange impulse, looked back at me. Noah leaned in and whispered something into her ear at that moment. I don’t know what he said, but Chloe laughed happily. In that instant, my last flicker of hope died. I weakly closed my eyes. I had so many regrets. Chloe came from an ordinary family. And I was the sole heir of the Hayes Group. To bridge the gap between us and prevent Chloe from feeling inferior, I had never told her any of this. Yet, I never imagined my consideration would become the very reason she looked down on me. Noah somehow walked back. He gritted his teeth, his voice barely a whisper. “I heard your dad died a long time ago, and your mom raised you. Tsk, tsk, if you died, your mom would cry herself to death, wouldn’t she?” “But it’s okay, Chloe will be there to take care of your mom as your future daughter-in-law, and your family’s fortune will belong to Chloe and me…” Noah was truly dreaming. But just then, the private room door suddenly burst open. “Liam!” It was my mom’s voice.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298468”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic

So, you accidentally swapped lives with an ancient emperor. How do you survive 30 days without getting yourself killed? It’s actually pretty simple. Just three steps: Step one: Facing the dreaded ‘bedding’ ceremony? Bluff your way through using high-minded, statesman-like rhetoric to deflect the crisis. Step two: Confronted by scheming ministers in court? Dismantle their old-world schemes with modern project management strategies. Step three: Forced into a royal wedding with another woman? Don’t panic. Just… improvise. And guess what? I survived, came back in one piece, and even brought a ‘Beginner’s Guide to Imperial Revolution’ with me. You’re welcome. **Chapter 1: Trapped as a Tyrant – Waiting to Die** The world glitched. A crazy new game called “Life Swap” popped up, letting you trade lives with anyone. It went viral, totally blew up overnight. All you had to do was scan your face and upload your ID, then boom – you’d switch identities with someone for a set amount of time. I jumped right in, couldn’t wait. **[Match Found. Identity Swap Successful.]** The game’s notification barely faded. And then, I was soaking in a steaming hot bath. The white marble tub was carved with intricate patterns, rose petals floated on the surface, and the air hung heavy with a decadent, exotic incense. Around me, a circle of maids knelt, trembling, only daring to peek at me from the corners of their eyes. Is this some kind of VIP millionaire experience pass? A thrill shot through me. Just then, a flood of chaotic memories slammed into my mind like a tidal wave. The ancient Empire of Veritas, the third year of Emperor Julian’s reign. Julian, a notorious tyrant, known for his unpredictable rage and a body count higher than the palace walls. The identity I’d swapped into? The infamous young tyrant, renowned for wiping out entire families on a whim! “Your Majesty…” From outside the chamber, a sycophantic yet subtly mocking voice spoke up. It was Master Bellamy, the chief steward. “Lady Seraphina, your most favored consort, is ready. Shall we bring her in to assist you with your bath?” My mind exploded. I instinctively shot up from the water. Warm water streamed off my body, and I looked down, instantly frozen with shock. It was still *my* body! Fair skin, delicate curves—all the undeniable features of a woman, made even clearer by the steamy air! Damn this game! It only swapped identities and locations, not bodies! “Your Majesty?” Master Bellamy’s voice held a hint of confusion. I was terrified out of my wits. If he walked in and saw the Emperor’s sacred body had turned into a woman’s, I’d probably be tortured to death on the spot. “Get out!” Thinking fast, I forced my voice low, imitating the tyrant’s muffled roar from the memories. “I’m feeling under the weather today, and I have no desire for bloodshed. Get out!” Master Bellamy outside clearly froze for a second, then actually seemed to relax, chuckling obsequiously. “Your Majesty is truly merciful! This servant was foolish. So… by imperial decree, shall Lady Seraphina be beaten to death and cast out of the palace?” What?! My scalp prickled instantly. A human life, dismissed so casually by him. I couldn’t let him follow the tyrant’s logic any further. “Silence!” I slammed my hand onto the water, sending a huge splash flying. My voice trembled with fear and anger, but to them, it sounded like the prelude to a terrifying rage. “I’ve changed my mind! From this day forward, I will not harm women! Dare to question my will again, and I’ll have your tongue cut out!” This statement, completely out of character for the tyrant, clearly stunned everyone outside the door. After a long, chilling silence, Master Bellamy’s tearful kowtows echoed. “Your Majesty, please forgive this lowly servant! I deserve death! I will never dare again!” Listening to their scrambling footsteps retreating. My legs went weak. I collapsed back into the bath, letting the warm water cover my shoulders. Staring at this female body hidden beneath the Emperor’s robes, I sank into unprecedented despair. This damned tyrant experience pass? It started on hell mode! **Chapter 2: Imperial Court – A Battle of Wits** The next morning, I was practically dug out of the imperial bed by the palace staff. Layers of heavy, intricate robes felt like a suffocating cage. Worst of all, to conceal my female figure, I had to bind my chest tightly with long strips of cloth. Every breath felt painful and constricted. Pale-faced and wobbly-legged, I was finally carried to the morning court. In the Imperial Throne Room, hundreds of officials knelt, chanting, “Long Live the Emperor!” I sat on the high throne, my legs trembling. “Any petitions? Otherwise, court is adjourned—” The steward’s announcement had just finished. When a middle-aged man in sumptuous royal robes, exuding an air of authority, stepped forward. He was Duke Silas Thorne, the all-powerful Regent, and by blood, the Emperor’s uncle. “Your Majesty,” his voice was booming, filled with immense pressure. “The northern barbarians are restless, and our border defense funds are critically low. I believe the most pressing matter is to increase taxes by thirty percent to replenish the national treasury and assert our nation’s might!” The entire court fell silent. I immediately sifted through the original Emperor’s memories. The treasury wasn’t empty at all. This old fox was trying to seize an opportunity to line his pockets and, incidentally, test me – the puppet Emperor who had changed so drastically last night. Isn’t this just a corporate stress test? A cold smirk touched my lips. I suppressed my nervousness and spoke. “Uncle, your words are flawed. A forced tax increase would be like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs, only inciting rebellion among the people. The matter of the national treasury should prioritize increasing revenue and cutting expenses.” “Increasing revenue? Cutting expenses?” The Regent’s eyes flashed with disdain. “Tell us, Your Majesty, how do you propose to increase revenue, and how do you propose to cut expenses?” Here we go! That’s what I was waiting for. I cleared my throat, ready to unleash my modern-thinking combo. “Increase revenue?” I leaned slightly forward, my voice not loud, but clear, echoing through the grand hall. “Firstly, thoroughly investigate all illicit salt and iron mines across the land, bringing all their profits under state control. Secondly, transform the royal hunting grounds into a major trade hub, levying transit taxes on all passing merchant caravans. My hunting grounds won’t lie fallow for free.” At these words, many officials’ faces subtly shifted, clearly agitated that their interests were being touched. I ignored them, pressing on, “As for cutting expenses, it’s even simpler!” My gaze swept across the room, my voice low, laced with my carefully mimicked tyrannical edge. “Firstly, downsize the Imperial Harem. Three hundred consorts out of three thousand are quite enough. The rest shall be given severance pay; those who wish to return home may do so, and those who wish to remain in the palace may serve as maids. All their allowances shall be halved!” “Secondly,” I shifted my focus, my eyes locking onto the Regent. “Reduce the stipends of the Royal Clan! Uncle, as the head of the Royal Clan, you should lead by example for our Empire of Veritas. Your stipend, for instance, shall be cut by half, as a clear demonstration, won’t it?” This was a direct hit, a dimensional reduction attack that struck directly at Duke Silas’s most vulnerable point. He never dreamed that this puppet nephew, whom he’d always manipulated, would dare to turn the knife on him. “Your Majesty! Absolutely not! This goes against ancestral law!” The Regent’s face turned ashen, finally cracking under pressure. “Ancestral law?” I slammed my hand onto the armrest of the throne. “Is ancestral law meant to keep the common folk well-fed, or to let you bloated, corrupt parasites gorge yourselves?! I say, what needs changing most are these very ancestral laws that enable your corruption!” My words left the Regent speechless, his face flushing a deep purple. Meanwhile, a few old ministers in the ranks, long suppressed by him, now had eyes that blazed with an astonishing light. Their gazes, initially contemptuous and numb, had transformed into disbelieving awe and respect. I tasted the sweet nectar of power for the first time, but I also clearly felt it. When the Regent lowered his head, the look he shot me was filled with undisguised murderous intent. **Chapter 3: The Empress Dowager’s Feast – A Perilous Trap** My unusual behavior quickly reached the Imperial Harem. The Regent’s elder sister, the current Empress Dowager Beatrice, couldn’t sit still. Under the guise of caring for my health, she arranged a perilous trap disguised as a feast in the warm pavilion of the Royal Gardens. Inside the pavilion, incense swirled, and soft music played. The Empress Dowager sat regally at the head of the table, surrounded by a group of alluring consorts. “The Emperor has been toiling for the nation lately, he’s grown quite thin.” The Empress Dowager smiled warmly at me, but her eyes held a malicious glint. “Come, my consorts, let us toast His Majesty properly, to ease his fatigue.” No sooner had she spoken than a svelte consort, holding a wine cup, melted against me, her breath like exotic perfume. “Your Majesty, I toast you…” The heavy scent of her perfume and her warm body sent shivers down my spine. I stiffly pulled away, terrified that the tightly bound cloth across my chest would burst open. “I… I don’t care for heavy perfumes.” I mumbled a clumsy excuse, then grabbed a cup and downed its contents in one gulp. Another bolder consort directly picked up a pastry and tried to feed it to me. “Your Majesty, try this…” I practically scrambled away from her. My repeated rejections made the atmosphere in the pavilion grow increasingly strange. The Empress Dowager’s smile slowly faded. Finally, she revealed her true intentions. “Oh dear,” the Empress Dowager sighed softly, her face full of concern. “The Emperor keeps refusing. Is His Majesty perhaps unwell? I hear there’s a Physician Alistair Finch who recently arrived in the palace, whose legendary technique of pulse diagnosis is truly remarkable. Regardless of gender—” “Oh, no, regardless of condition, he can discern it instantly. I specially invited him to examine Your Majesty.” As her words fell, an old man with a goatee emerged from behind the screen, his eyes sharp. “This humble servant, Physician Finch, requests to take Your Majesty’s pulse.” My heart instantly plummeted. Pulse diagnosis by thread? Isn’t that like an ancient x-ray or ultrasound! Once he got a reading, my faint female pulse and the constricted breathing from my bound chest would definitely give me away! Treason, punishable by the harshest death! Even though I was technically the Emperor, the premise was that I had to be the *real* Emperor. Cold sweat instantly soaked my inner robes. My hands and feet felt icy, my mind a blank. What do I do? What do I do?! Just then, my gaze swept across the room and suddenly landed on a young palace attendant, Leo, kneeling in a corner, holding a fruit platter. A consort accidentally bumped him as she turned, and the platter crashed to the ground, sending fruit scattering everywhere. The chief steward next to him immediately stomped on his hand, cursing loudly. “Clumsy fool!” Leo’s face contorted in pain, but he bit down hard, not letting out a single sound. While everyone else was gloating, watching me, the Emperor, make a fool of myself. Only he, even with the agonizing pain of his crushed hand, looked up quickly at me. In his eyes, there was no fear, only the bitter resentment of being bullied, and a desperate plea for help. My heart suddenly leaped. A crazy, desperate plan instantly formed in my mind. **Chapter 4: The Vault Burns** Just as Doctor Finch, twirling his thread, was about to touch my wrist – that split second of ultimate suspense. “Insolence!” I slammed my hand onto the table, the throne rattling with a loud bang. I pointed at Leo, the young attendant who had dropped the platter, and roared with all my might. “How dare you! To be so disrespectful in front of the Empress Dowager and my beloved consorts, and to disturb my royal presence! Take him away, execute him at once!” This furious shout was filled with the unpredictable, unhinged fury of the original Emperor. Everyone was startled by this sudden resurgence of my tyrannical nature. The Empress Dowager even revealed a satisfied smile. What she wanted was this incompetent Emperor, ravaged by wine and women, utterly devoid of initiative. Not the wise ruler who dared to challenge her brother in court. Leo was dragged away by two guards. When he looked back at me, his eyes were full of despair and confusion. I forced back my inner apology, then stood, bowed to the Empress Dowager, and said impatiently. “This clumsy servant has ruined my mood! I need to change my clothes!” With that, I brushed past everyone and strode out of the warm pavilion. But I didn’t return to my private quarters. Instead, I shook off the pursuing stewards at a corner, took a shortcut, and ran desperately towards the Royal Penitentiary, the department in charge of punishments. When I arrived, breathless, the executioner’s blade was already raised high. “Stop!” The blade halted less than an inch from Leo’s neck. In the dark, damp woodshed of the Royal Penitentiary, I personally untied the ropes binding Leo. He knelt on the ground, still shaking from the shock. “Do you want to live?” I stared into his eyes, cutting straight to the point. “If you want to live and become my confidant, do something for me.” Leo snapped his head up, his eyes blazing with intense light. I leaned in close, whispering so only he could hear. “Go set a fire. Burn down Duke Silas Thorne’s private chambers, the Obsidian Vault, where he stores his official documents. Make sure it’s as big a scene as possible, but don’t harm a single person!” The despair in Leo’s eyes instantly transformed into surprise, then a fierce resolve. Anything to stay alive. He kowtowed deeply, then vanished into the night without a word. I quickly tidied my appearance and returned to the banquet, pretending nothing had happened, continuing to play my part with the Empress Dowager. Less than fifteen minutes later. “Fire! The Obsidian Vault is on fire—!” In the distance, flames blazed, painting half the night sky crimson. Alarm bells rang throughout the Imperial Palace. I erupted in fury, pushing away Doctor Finch, who was still trying to take my pulse, and pointed at the commotion outside. “There’s chaos in the capital, assassins must be at work! What are you useless quacks doing here, trying to take credit! Guards! Protect the Emperor!” I seized the opportunity to wrest temporary command of the Imperial Guard from Duke Silas’s loyalists. At the same time, under the pretext of searching for assassins and imposing a city-wide lockdown, I confined all of the Empress Dowager’s and Duke Silas’s informants within the palace, successfully deflecting the medical crisis. I had just caught my breath in my chambers when Leo, smelling of smoke, stumbled in. Behind him, a breathless messenger, just arrived from the border, rushed in! The messenger dropped to his knees, his voice hoarse: “Report—! The northern barbarians have torn up the peace treaty! Thirty thousand troops are amassed outside Serpent’s Pass!” “The barbarian princess has issued an ultimatum: she demands to marry the Empire of Veritas’s War God, our Emperor, on the battlefield in two days! Otherwise, she will raze the city!” I shuddered, turning sharply to look outside. The unsettling smirk that had played on Duke Silas’s lips just before his confinement flashed in my mind. I instantly understood. This was no mere diplomatic marriage. This was a death trap he had set, one I could absolutely not escape! How could I, a woman, marry a warrior princess known for her strength, in front of thirty thousand soldiers from two nations?! At the same time, on my phone—the interface only I could see—the cold notification rang again: **[WARNING: High-Risk Quest Triggered. Time Remaining: 72 Hours.]** **Chapter 5: Battlefield Negotiation** I had no choice. Two days later, on the battlements of Serpent’s Pass, the north wind cut like a blade. I wore heavy golden armor, and underneath, still that suffocating chest binder. Amidst the mournful wails of my officials, lamenting their Emperor’s sacrifice for the nation, I walked alone to the highest battlements of the fortress. Below, the barbarian army stretched as far as the eye could see, a dark, ominous mass, their murderous aura reaching the sky. At the front of their lines, a magnificent warhorse carried a woman in crimson battle armor. Her posture was as straight as a pine, her face cold and stunning, and her phoenix-like eyes were sharp. Even from a hundred paces, I could feel the hardened, battle-forged aura emanating from her. She was Princess Anya Volkov, the legendary warrior princess of the northern barbarians. “I heard the Emperor of Veritas is just a sickly man who hides in his palace, playing with women,” she began, her voice clear and carrying across the entire battlefield. “Is he truly worthy of marrying me, Anya Volkov, on the battlefield? Worthy of being called a War God?” Her words were laced with undisguised contempt. I didn’t get angry. Instead, I took a deep breath, employing every negotiation trick I’d learned in my previous life, and spoke loudly. “Princess, you claim this is a marriage alliance, but in truth, you seek to gauge our strength. If I were truly a sickly man, marrying me would mean you’d be a widow in all but name, and the world would mock you.” “If I am not a sickly man, then you would be subservient, living in my shadow. No matter how you look at it, Princess, this deal offers you nothing but losses, doesn’t it?” My words clearly startled Anya. She hadn’t expected me to so directly expose her intentions. I pressed my advantage, adding more. “The real beneficiary of our marriage would be my Regent, who schemes to see me disgraced.” “And if we go to war, the beneficiaries would be the neighboring nations, who eagerly await our mutual destruction. Princess, we are both pawns in a larger game. Perhaps, we should discuss a third move on this chessboard?” “A third move?” A flicker of interest appeared in her eyes. “Please, Princess, enter the fortress for a discussion!” I called out, “I, the Emperor of Veritas, guarantee that not a single hair on your head will be harmed!” “Alright!” She was surprisingly bold, tossing her weapon to her deputy and riding alone towards the fortress. In the secret chamber of the fortress, only the two of us remained. Under Anya’s scrutinizing gaze, I said nothing, laboriously removing my heavy armor. Then, right in front of her, I slowly, layer by layer, pulled off the binding cloth that had made it so hard for me to breathe. When my female features were fully revealed to her. The battle-hardened warrior princess, for the first time, showed a look of sheer astonishment. “Now, we can talk about a real partnership.” I looked into her shocked eyes and said, word for word, “I am a woman. Princess, to have established yourself among the northern barbarians, you must understand the difficulties women face in positions of power.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298467”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic