Author: Momo Chan

After my online relationship finally became real,I happened to see a post on our school’s anonymous confession wall. “If you could go back six months,what would you change?” Some people in the comments said they would retake the SAT. Some said they would break up with their ex sooner. Some said they would stop their parents from getting divorced. Only one comment was pushed all the way to the top. “I’d ask for her contact myself.” “Then my friend wouldn’t have given me the wrong account,and I wouldn’t have spent half a year talking to another girl.” “Now we’ve already met in person.I guess I can only keep going with the mistake.” I was about to scroll past. Then I realized the avatar,the ID,even the profile bio,were exactly the same as my boyfriend Ethan Hale’s. The boyfriend I had just met in person. Everything suddenly made sense. I finally understood why,after we met in person,he was still gentle with me but clearly distant,nowhere near as sweet as he had been online. And why,when he saw me in person for the first time,he had frozen so obviously for a second. Because,the affection he had given me had been meant for someone else all along. … The next afternoon,I met Ethan at the school cafe. He was sitting by the window,still wearing his deep-blue team jacket.Ethan Hale was one of the most popular boys at Westbridge Prep,the son of a board member,and the football captain. And I was just an ordinary scholarship student. If it had not been for that online relationship that began with a mistake,he and I probably never would have crossed paths at all. “You’re here?” When Ethan saw me,he pushed the hot chocolate in front of him toward me. “Less sugar,no whipped cream,extra cinnamon.You didn’t eat much dinner yesterday.Is your stomach still bothering you?” He had always been thoughtful. Even before we met in person,he had never missed a holiday gift or a birthday surprise. He knew I worked at the cafe after school and often forgot dinner,so he would order a sandwich ahead of time for me.Yesterday,when we had pasta together for the first time,he had naturally picked the mushrooms out for me. Mia had once said with envy that I must have been blessed by the goddess of love. But now I knew. None of that kindness had really been meant for me. Ethan waved a hand in front of my face and smiled. “What’s wrong?Now that we’ve met,you’re suddenly afraid to look at me?You’ll have plenty of time to stare later.Drink something first before your stomach starts hurting again.” Under the table,my hand clenched tight. In the end,I pushed my phone toward him. On the screen was that answer from the anonymous wall. The smile slowly faded from Ethan’s face. “Six months ago,did Noah give you the wrong account?” Ethan was silent for a while. People moved in and out of the cafe.Someone nearby was talking about a weekend party,and someone else was rushing through a college application essay.Only at our table was the atmosphere somber. After a long time,he finally said,”At first,I really did think you were Ava.” I had already guessed it. But hearing him say it out loud still made me feel humiliated. Ava Whitmore. Student council vice president,cheer captain,daughter of a board member,and the girl everyone at Westbridge Prep thought was the perfect match for Ethan. Six months ago,at the fall dance,she had been standing right beside me. She had been wearing a silver slip dress,beautiful in a cool,untouchable way. I had been wearing a white server’s shirt for my part-time shift,carrying a tray as I walked through them. That day,Noah said a friend of his wanted to know me. Later,Ethan followed me on Instagram. He said he remembered the way I had stood under the lights.He said I looked pretty when I smiled.He said the first time he saw me,he thought I was different from everyone else. So he had mistaken me for someone else from the very beginning. I put the note I had prepared in front of him.Ava’s Instagram was written on it. “This is her contact.You don’t have to keep settling for me just because your friend gave you the wrong account.” “If she’s the person you wanted to know,you can go know her now.” Ethan frowned. “Lily,I never said I was settling.” I looked at him. “I don’t want to be the idiot pretending she doesn’t know anything.” His expression turned a little ugly. “That answer was just something I wrote casually.I didn’t think you’d see it.” “So if I hadn’t seen it,were you planning to keep pretending nothing happened and keep dating me?” Ethan said nothing. His silence gave me my answer. For the past six months,I had really thought I had something good. During the six months we dated online,every planned video call fell apart because something always came up.That was why he didn’t realize I wasn’t the girl he wanted until we finally met in person. But he would order food for me before my late shifts,stay on the phone while I revised my college application essays,and remember which days I had exams and which nights I worked until closing. I had thought all of that was love. Now I realized maybe he had only kept going because he found out he had the wrong person and did not know how to end it. “Don’t worry.” I picked up my bag and stood. “I won’t tell anyone we talked for six months,and I won’t let Ava know you mistook me for her at first.” “When we see each other at school,we’ll just be regular classmates.” Ethan looked up at me,his expression complicated. “You really don’t have to do this.” “I do.” I cut him off. I did not want to be the mistake in anyone’s story. And I did not want this to be dug up later and twisted into me stealing Ava’s boyfriend. Ethan was silent for a long time before he said quietly,”As compensation,I can promise you one thing,as long as it’s something I can do.” He looked serious. As if he would not feel at ease unless I agreed. I did not want anything from him.But I did not want to keep arguing with him either,so I nodded. Only then did he seem to let out a breath. “Drink something first.This hot chocolate’s gone cold.I’ll buy you another one.” I glanced at the hot chocolate on the table. Then I picked up my bag and turned to leave. “No thanks.I have class this afternoon.”

When I got back to class that afternoon,Mia could tell something was wrong with one look. She dragged her chair closer and asked in a low voice,”Weren’t you meeting your online boyfriend?” “Why do you look like that?” For my meeting with Ethan yesterday,I had changed into a dress and even swapped my evening shift at the cafe with someone else. In the end,it had only been a wrong-person mess. I spread my textbook open and pretended to look for a pen. “It’s nothing.We met offline and realized it wasn’t a fit.” Mia frowned. “Was he ugly?” “No.” “Then his personality sucked?” I paused. “Something like that.” She was about to keep asking when someone in the front row suddenly shouted excitedly. “Check the anonymous wall!Ethan and Ava got photographed!” The classroom instantly came alive. I lowered my head,but I still could not stop myself from opening my phone. In the photo,Ethan stood by the parking lot with a cup of coffee in his hand,and Ava stood in front of him,smiling as she took it. The comments were full of people screaming over them. “Finally together?” “The perfect Westbridge couple.” “I knew they would end up together.No one else is good enough.” I stared at the last comment and suddenly found it funny.They were right.Someone like Ethan should have chosen Ava. Not me. Before school ended,Ava came over to my desk. She was wearing a white knit top today,her hair loosely tied back,looking pretty and harmless. “Lily,right?” I nodded. “Ethan said you helped us.”She put a gift bag on my desk.”Just a little thank-you.” I glanced at the logo on the bag.It was a brand I usually did not even dare to look at for too long when I passed by. “No,it’s okay.” “Take it.”Ava smiled.”If you hadn’t given him my account,we might never have had the chance to get to know each other.” She did not speak loudly,but everyone around us heard. Some people looked over with envy. Someone whispered that Ava was so generous,giving a gift just because I had passed along an account. I pushed the gift bag back.”Really,I don’t need it.” Ava’s smile faded a little. “Do you not like me?” As soon as she said that,the people nearby went quiet. I could only take the bag back. “Thank you.” Only then did Ava smile with satisfaction.”Good.By the way,are you close with Ethan?” My heart tightened. “No.I just know Noah.That day,he asked me for your account,so I helped pass it to Ethan.” Ava stared at me for a while,as if she was trying to decide whether I was telling the truth.At last,she smiled. “So that’s what happened.” As soon as she left,Mia leaned in. “Since when do you know Noah Brooks?” “The fall dance.I was working there.”I stuffed the gift bag into my backpack.”We only said a few words.We’re not close.” Mia clicked her tongue. “Your luck is insane.Your own online relationship failed,and you still somehow set up Ethan and Ava.” I pulled at the corner of my mouth. “If I were really lucky,my online relationship wouldn’t have failed.”

The next day after school,it suddenly started raining outside. I had not brought an umbrella,so I could only stand at the entrance of the academic building and wait for the rain to let up. That was when Ava came over,naturally linking her arm through mine. “It’s pouring.How are you getting home?Ethan’s coming to pick me up.We’ll drop you off.” I was just about to refuse when a black SUV stopped at the steps. The window rolled down,and Ethan looked at me.”Get in.This rain isn’t stopping anytime soon.” With both of them saying it,refusing again would only make me look deliberate. But when I was about to get in,Ethan suddenly opened the front passenger door for me. “Don’t you get carsick in the back?” My hand froze on the rear door handle,and Ava looked at me too. The truth was,I did not get carsick.I had once thrown up on the school bus because I had been exhausted from work and had not eaten breakfast. Later,when Ethan asked about it,I casually said I had felt sick in the car.I had not expected him to remember it for so long. I smiled.”You remembered wrong.I don’t get carsick.” Ethan paused,then quickly corrected himself. “I was asking Ava.” Ava’s expression eased a little. She got into the passenger seat,and I sat in the back,looking out the window the whole way. Rain slid down the glass,and Ava looked at me through the rearview mirror several times. “Lily,didn’t you have an online boyfriend before too?” My fingers tightened. Mia really could not keep anything to herself. “Yeah.” “You broke up?” “We met in person.It wasn’t right.” Ava gave a soft laugh.”That’s how online relationships are,I guess.Behind a screen,anyone can pretend to be devoted.” I did not answer,and Ethan did not say anything either. When the car stopped near my house,I almost immediately opened the door. “Thanks.I’ll go now.” That night,after I showered,a message from an unfamiliar number popped up on my phone. It was Ethan. “Stay away from Ava at school from now on.She’s smart.She’ll notice things she shouldn’t.” I stared at the line,and my chest suddenly felt blocked. Just a few days ago,he had still been my boyfriend.Now,after seeing me in person,he could only remind me not to make his girlfriend suspicious. I replied:”To keep her from misunderstanding,we shouldn’t contact each other anymore.” After sending it,I blocked that number too. When I went to school the next day,my eyes were a little swollen.Mia handed me a bottle of ice water. “You didn’t actually cry all night over that internet guy,did you?” “No.”I unscrewed the cap.”I just didn’t sleep well.” She was about to say something else when Ava happened to walk by.I did not know how much she heard.I only saw her steps pause for a second. After the last morning class,my advisor asked me to bring some documents to the reception room.She said a board member’s son was there to discuss sponsorship for the spring charity dance. I walked in with the files in my arms,and as soon as I opened the door,I saw Noah Brooks sitting inside. When he looked up and saw me,his eyes lit up. “Lily?We meet again.”

The last time I had seen Noah was at the fall dance. That day,he had worn a black suit and smiled like he owned the room,standing by the drink station as he asked for my contact. He said a friend of his wanted to know me,and I thought that friend was Ethan. Thinking about it now,everything had started with that sentence. Noah stood from his chair and held out his hand. “I told you we were meant to run into each other.” The teacher beside us looked at me,then at him. “You two know each other?” “We’ve met once.”I set the documents on the table.”We’re not close.” Noah looked wounded. “That’s cold.” I ignored him. Once the teacher stepped out to answer a call,Noah immediately leaned closer. “I heard about you and Ethan.” My heart sank. “What did you hear?” “He said I gave him the wrong account that day,so he mistook you for someone else.”Noah frowned.”But I never gave him the wrong account.” I froze. “What do you mean?” Noah looked at me. “At the fall dance,the person I wanted to know was you.” “I saved your account on my phone so I could add you later.Then I went to the bathroom for a few minutes,and he took my phone and added you himself.” For a moment,I could not speak. The more Noah talked,the angrier he got. “By the time I found out,the two of you were already together.I asked him what the hell happened,and he said he thought you were Ava.Like I’d believe that.” So Noah had not given him the wrong account.Ethan had been lying from the start. He had taken my account,then later pushed the entire mistake onto one sentence:his friend had given him the wrong account. I was about to speak when a voice suddenly came from the door. “Noah.” Ethan stood there,his face cold.”What are you doing here?” Noah leaned back in his chair,smiling in that obnoxious way of his. “Talking sponsorship.Catching up with Lily.Is that a problem?” Ethan looked at me,his voice clearly holding back anger. “Since when are you two so close?” Before I could answer,Noah cut in first. “Earlier than you think.Closer than you want.” Ethan’s face darkened. “Lily,stay away from him.” That sentence was directed at me. I suddenly almost wanted to laugh. “What right do you have to tell me what to do?” Ethan stopped. “I’m only warning you.Noah doesn’t take relationships seriously.” The smile on Noah’s face faded too. “And you do?You’re so serious you have a girlfriend and still run around telling another girl who she can talk to.” The air froze. Footsteps sounded outside the door,and Ava walked over with a folder in her arms,just in time to see the three of us standing together. Her gaze landed on Noah first,then shifted to me. “Lily,I didn’t realize you and Noah were this close.” I explained,”We’ve only met a few times.I’m just here to deliver documents today.” Noah grinned.”I’m still working on it.Maybe someday I’ll be her boyfriend.” Ethan shot him a cold look.”Nobody asked about later.” Ava’s smile became a little strained.She linked her arm through Ethan’s. “Let’s go.” Ethan made a sound of agreement.Before leaving,he looked at me again. There was something complicated in his eyes that made me uncomfortable. I lowered my head and sorted the documents,pretending not to see it.

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Because Selena Gray,the female student sponsored by Don Matteo Moretti,wanted to see a porcupine,Matteo had someone fire seven hundred crossbow bolts at our son,turning him into a living target. I was forced to stare at the surveillance feed,watching black fletching pierce Nico’s throat,watching every plea spill out of him with blood. I screamed in despair,”Even if you don’t love me.But Nico is your blood.He is the Moretti heir.How can you be this cruel?” Matteo sneered.”Who told him to score a perfect seven hundred on the heir assessment and show off in front of Selena?Selena wanted to see a porcupine.These seven hundred bolts are his lesson.” He slapped me across the face.”She cried all night.So I want you to feel pain too.” Looking at Nico,barely alive on the monitor,he loosened the ropes holding me down and told me the address of the training island. Before he left,he bent close and whispered viciously,”The speedboat’s out of fuel.Run fast.Maybe you’ll still get to see a living porcupine.” … When I found Nico,blood was seeping from his neck.A thick black bolt had gone through his left eye and pinned him deep into the dirt. His eighteen-year-old body was covered in seven hundred crossbow bolts.Blood kept flowing out of him. I dropped to my knees,but I did not even dare to lift him.”Nico!” “It’s all Mom’s fault…” His remaining right eye opened with great effort,just a slit,and he still tried to smile at me. “Mom,don’t cry…You’re here.Nico isn’t scared.” My shaking hand touched his face.”Don’t be scared.Mom is taking you to the hospital right now.” I gathered him up as carefully as I could and rushed toward the dock.But just as I was about to board,the guards stopped me. “Moretti private boat.No outsiders.” I hurried to explain. “I’m the Donna of the Moretti family.The one in my arms is Moretti family heir,Nico.I came here on this same boat today.You’ve seen me.” “You’ve got some nerve,pretending to be our Donna.I saw the Don and his Donna today,and they looked very much in love.Do you have any idea what happens to people who pull a stunt like this?” The guard scoffed.”And the heir passed his assessment.He went to Europe to celebrate.Why would he be in a place like this?” Looking at Nico’s weakening face,I hurriedly tore off my necklace and showed him the family photo inside the pendant. “I really am the Donna of the Moretti family.” When the guard saw the photo,his face filled with anger. “Where did this crazy woman come from?How dare you fake a photo with the Don and the heir?You want to die?” The crowd closed in around me at once. With trembling hands,I opened the pinned contact in my encrypted messenger and started a video call. The screen lit up.Matteo leaned bare-chested against the headboard,a fresh lipstick mark stamped on his collarbone,his face filled with pleasure. Beside him,Selena was completely naked,moving up and down on top of him.With a taunting smile,she said,”Mrs.Moretti,calling at a time like this?Did you want to join us and enjoy yourself too?” Matteo let out a mocking laugh and gave Selena’s breast a squeeze.”Her?During sex,she’s like a puppet.No matter how rough it gets,she never makes a sound.Letting her join would only make me sick.” At that,Selena kissed the corner of his mouth smugly.”Then I suppose I’ll have to comfort the Don properly.” “Matteo!” I clenched my teeth and forced down the nausea.”Nico is in critical condition.Let us on the boat now,or he’ll die.” Matteo frowned impatiently.”Are you done yet?Those bolts had their heads removed.They were only glued to him.Did you really have to pour blood all over Nico just to lie to me?” “I’m not lying!”I turned the camera toward Nico.”Look for yourself.The bolt heads went through his body.I’m begging you,all right?As long as Nico can be saved,I’ll sign the divorce papers.I’ll give up the Donna’s position.” Matteo froze for a moment,his gaze falling on Nico’s face. But just as he seemed to waver,Selena suddenly began to cry. “Don,you said this boat was only for me.If she gets on,I’ll feel uncomfortable.” “Besides,Nico is the Moretti family’s genius heir.Making a few fake bolts look like they went through him would be easy for him,wouldn’t it?” The moment she finished,Matteo’s expression changed.He glared at me in disgust. “You two make me sick.Nico Moretti,I’m warning you.If you keep acting with your mother,don’t blame me when I strike you off the succession list.” At those words,Nico’s breathing suddenly quickened,and tears fell hard from his eye. My heart ached,and I wanted to explain,but Matteo only let out a cold laugh. “Still pretending?Fine.I’ll see how far you take this.You want to board the boat,do you?Selena’s boat doesn’t allow other women on it.You know what to do.” He smiled contemptuously,and that smile stabbed through my heart like a needle. Once,he had loved me and Nico. But ever since this sponsored student gave him a taste of something new,he has changed. I stared at Matteo in disbelief.”Nico is your son!For that woman,you won’t even care about your own blood?” Matteo looked at me coldly.”If you don’t dare keep acting,kneel and apologize to Selena.Then stay on the island and accept family punishment.In three days,I’ll send someone to pick you up.” At that,I gave a bitter smile. The boat in front of me was the last one leaving the training island today. It was also Nico’s last chance to live. Looking at Nico’s deathly pale face and his faint breath,every last bit of self-esteem inside me was crushed. Then,under Matteo’s gaze,I yanked the folding knife from my keychain. The blade cut across my face without hesitation.The instant the pain hit,warm blood welled out. I stared hard at the screen.”Now,can I get on the boat?”

Matteo leaned closer to the camera in shock.”Elena,are you insane?” The next second,Selena immediately hugged him,her voice trembling. “Don,is she threatening me?I’m so scared.” Matteo seemed to jerk the camera back as if burned.His eyes went cold,and he ordered the guards, “I want to see how long they can keep acting.Let them on.” Then he turned and comforted Selena in a low voice.”If the boat is dirty,we won’t keep it.I have someone order you a new one from Italy.” Pain stabbed through my heart,but I had no time to care.I carried Nico onto the boat. After we reached shore,the family ambulance I had called took Nico and me straight to the Moretti family hospital,and he was rushed into surgery that night. While I waited for Nico to come out,one of the nurses forced me to have my wound treated.I had just finished when the doctor came out of the operating room. I rushed forward.”Doctor,how is Nico?” “The heir has suffered severe blood loss,but the family blood bank still has reserves.Donna,you and the nurse need to get the Rh-null blood bags immediately.” I nodded and ran with the nurse. But just as we were about to get the blood,several bodyguards rushed in.Without a word,they pinned me to the floor and covered my mouth. Before I could react,a familiar figure walked over and took the blood bags in front of me. I struggled to lift my head and saw Matteo barking at the nurse. “Send all Rh-null blood to the VIP ward on the third floor right now.If anything happens to Selena,every one of you is out of the Moretti medical system.” Matteo did not notice me on the floor at all.He walked away quickly. The nurses’whispers cut into my ears.”It’s just a scrape on her leg.Does she really need all the life-saving blood?” I fought free of the bodyguards and caught up to Matteo on the third floor,grabbing his arm. “Matteo!Nico has lost too much blood.He needs Rh-null.” When he saw it was me,disgust creased his brow. “Elena,I just care a little more for the student I sponsor,and you get jealous.But now you’re lying that the heir is dying?What next,will you bring me a corpse and force me to admit I was wrong?” “And if you hadn’t faked that bloody scene just to get on the boat,Selena wouldn’t have been so upset that she fell down the stairs and hurt her leg.” “All the blood here is being kept for Selena.If you dare touch it,I will make you regret it.” He pried my hand off and turned to leave,but those blood bags were Nico’s hope of survival. I dropped to my knees and clung to Matteo’s leg.”Please.I only need two bags of Rh-null.” Just then,Selena appeared. “If the Donna wants blood…it’s not impossible.” She leaned against the ward door,smiling with amusement,looking nothing like a patient who needed a transfusion. Matteo kicked me aside and hurried to support her.”She just wants attention.You don’t need to pay her any mind.” Selena coyly tapped Matteo’s chest,then lifted an eyebrow. “I just want to see how far the Donna will go for this little performance.” After she said that,her gaze on me turned dark and unreadable. “Don,I want you inside me.” “But my leg is hurt,and I can’t move very well.Can the Donna stay and help?” “If she could do me a favour,perhaps I could do her one in return.” In an instant,I understood what she meant. I stood up and clenched my fists,ready to hit her,but Matteo stepped in front of me.”What,Elena?Done acting now?” “I’m not acting!” I cried hoarsely,”Matteo,Nico has already been taken into surgery.” “You are the Don of the Moretti family.One word from you,and you can find out exactly what happened to Nico.If you don’t believe me,I’ll take you to see him right now.” I grabbed his hand to lead him away,but Matteo shoved me off. Then he slapped me hard across the face.”Enough.” “If you can’t keep acting,kneel and apologize.Otherwise,do as Selena said.” He took Selena inside.Soon,low gasps and the dull thud of the bed frame hitting the wall came from the ward. Just then,the nurse rushed over anxiously.”The other blood banks won’t make it in time.Donna,please think of something.The heir won’t last much longer.” In that instant,all the anger drained out of me. I walked into the ward. Clenching my teeth,I went to the bedside.Under Selena’s smug gaze,I held her waist,pressed down her weakened legs,and helped her match Matteo’s movements. By the time they finally finished and came out,everyone was looking at me with pity. I ignored every strange look and took the blood bags to save Nico. The moment I reached the stairs,Matteo rushed out. It was as if my obedience had suddenly stung his pride.His eyes were full of embarrassed rage. “For the sake of acting,you can even do something like that?” Before the words had fully left his mouth,he kicked me down the stairs. I tumbled all the way down.Bones cracked again and again,and blood spilled across the floor. Matteo looked down at me coldly. “Useless thing.”

After saying that,he walked up to me and,while my vision was going black,snatched the blood bags from my hands. Then he tore off the seal and slammed the blood bag onto the floor. “For a performance,you’d even sell the Donna’s dignity.Elena,how was I ever blind enough to marry a woman like you?” “Get out.” Enduring the pain,I picked up the blood bags. Selena gave a soft laugh.”Don,look.Doesn’t she look like a dying dog?” I seemed not to hear their mockery.With my hand pressed tightly over the puncture in the bag,I tried to stand and leave,but my body had gone numb. In the end,I crawled out of the ward,leaving streaks of blood behind me,and pushed the remaining blood bags into the family doctor’s hands. “Please.You have to save Nico.” After a long time,the operating room light went out.The doctor looked exhausted,but relieved. “The heir has been brought back.He’s very weak.Tonight is critical.” “Don’t worry,Donna.We will do everything we can.” I caught sight of the medical waste bin inside the operating room.It was piled high with crossbow bolts,blood-soaked cotton swabs,and syringes.My heart felt as if it had been carved open. But at least he was alive. I wept with joy,thanked them again and again,and stayed beside Nico after he was transferred to the ward. His face was pale.His breathing was weak,but steady. The taut string inside me loosened slightly.I went with the doctor to have my injuries treated. When I wheeled myself back to the ward alone,I saw Selena standing by Nico’s bed with a group of people. I stared at Selena nervously,trying to get closer,but the bodyguards stopped me. “Selena?What are you doing?” Selena turned to look at me,an innocent smile on her face. “I got close to the Don for the Moretti family’s power.He even got me pregnant with Moretti blood,but because of this little bastard,he still hasn’t kicked you out of the Donna’s position.” “I wanted to put on a little show so the Don wouldn’t suspect me when this bastard died.But who knew he would actually be saved?” The news of Selena’s pregnancy did not stir anything in me.I begged hoarsely. “When Nico is discharged,I’ll divorce him immediately.I’ll take Nico and leave.We’ll never disturb you again.” Selena said nothing.She simply took out a glass bottle,opened the cap,and shook it lightly. A single drop fell onto the bed.With a hiss,acrid white smoke rose,and the bedding was instantly corroded. It was the industrial corrosive used in dockside warehouses to destroy evidence. My eyes nearly split with rage.I lunged forward,and the wheelchair was violently overturned. I crashed to the floor and crawled toward the bed with both hands and feet. “No!Selena!Let him go.He just survived.I’ll take him away right now.” Selena made a gesture,and the bodyguards’fists and feet rained down on me. Her gentle voice drifted over.”But it’s all right.Now…he’ll just rot into a lump no one can recognize.” Through the shifting shadows of legs,I watched with my own eyes as Selena tipped the bottle in her hand.The liquid poured over Nico’s cheek,neck,and chest. Nico let out one hoarse scream,then fell silent. In moments,only a ruined,rotting shell remained on the bed,so mangled it no longer looked human. Flesh had collapsed,and acrid smoke curled upward.

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I come back from a phone call, and my boyfriend is speaking French to my best friend again. I step up beside him. Try to catch a word. Before I can open my mouth, Landon raises a hand without turning around. “Don’t interrupt. Sienna and I are discussing something important.” “If you need something, just wait.” The fight drains out of me. Sienna is trilingual—French, English, German. She loves pulling people into “language practice” sessions. Landon is worse. English, French, German, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Italian—he’s fluent in all of them. When the two of them get going, they never run out of things to say. They just never say it in the one language I understand. I used to fight it. I used to say, “Hey, can you guys switch to English? I’m right here.” Two days in, nothing changed. Now I watch them walk ahead, so wrapped up in each other they don’t even notice I’ve stopped moving. Something in me just—goes quiet. I don’t follow them. Instead, I find an outdoor café outside the Disneyland park and sit down by myself. I don’t like coffee. Never have. The bitterness reminds me of everything I tried to leave behind—cold mornings, empty cupboards, a childhood where nothing came easy. But Landon and Sienna love it. They grew up rich—boarding schools, private jets, summers in Europe. The kind of people who debate single-origin beans like it matters. So when I’m with them, I sit and listen. I listen to them talk about the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the trip they took when they were eight. The Northern Lights in Iceland when they were ten. The family vacation in Santorini just last month. I dump sugar and cream into my cup until the coffee barely tastes like coffee anymore. Good thing they’re not here. They’d laugh at me again. So childish. So unsophisticated. So basic. My phone buzzes. Landon. [Where are you?] Before I can reply, a second text pops up. [Sienna and I have been to Disneyland literally hundreds of times. We’re way past over it.] [I gave up my day off to bring you here. Can you not wander off? I’m already annoyed and now I have to come find you.] I stare at the screen for a long time. He’s forgotten. This isn’t even our first time here together. Last time, he said the exact same thing—I’ve been a million times, I’m only here for you. And how did that turn out? I’d waited in line for over an hour to get a Lotso plush. Nothing fancy—just a classic Lotso. I was so excited I almost cried. But Sienna spotted a limited-edition Duffy bear, and Landon swapped mine out without even asking. “Sienna’s picky. She never likes anything—this is the first time she’s actually wanted something.” He didn’t even look at me. “We’ll come back for yours next time.” The only reason they agreed to come again was because of that “next time” he promised. I should be used to it by now. Sienna is his childhood best friend. She’s also my college roommate. My so-called closest girl friend. She’s the one who set us up. So—birthdays, Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, even a couples’ movie night—there’s always a seat saved for her. I’m not supposed to mind. Not even a little. Because if I do, it means I’m betraying our “golden trio.” I take a breath. Type back: Go ahead without me. Something came up. Heading home. I leave the coffee on the table. Two sips. That’s all I managed. No matter how much sugar and cream I add, it never quite tastes right.

I get home and collapse on the bed. Fall asleep without meaning to. I don’t know how long I’m out before the bedroom door opens. The mattress dips. Landon leans over me, wraps his arms around my waist, presses a kiss to my forehead. “So this is what you meant by ‘something came up’?” he murmurs. “You’re busy being asleep?” I open my eyes. Push him off. Sit up, stiff, staring at nothing. Silence. After a while, he sighs and pulls me back into his arms. “I’m sorry, baby.” “I know I got caught up talking to Sienna today. I ignored you. My tone was shit. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.” He tilts my chin up. “You haven’t eaten, right? Let me cook. I’ll make it up to you—the candlelight dinner I owe you. How about that?” The candlelight dinner he owes me. Right. Last time, he promised me a private dinner—just the two of us. I spent the whole afternoon cooking. Comfort food. Pot roast, cornbread, peach cobbler. Everything from scratch. Then Sienna showed up uninvited. And had an allergic reaction. Landon lost it on me. “Maren, you didn’t know Sienna’s allergic to fennel?” “What kind of friend are you?” I stood there, eyes burning, throat tight. “I didn’t know. Neither of you ever told me.” He scoffed. “Bullshit. Sienna and I literally talked about it on the Aspen trip. You were sitting right there. Don’t tell me you didn’t hear.” The words died in my throat. And then something between a laugh and a sob almost escaped. “Yeah,” I said. “I heard. But you were speaking French. And I don’t speak French.” Landon stared at me for a second. Then, without missing a beat: “So? You don’t understand—and that’s our fault?” Right. Whose fault is it? Mine, for growing up poor. For not learning languages. For not even recognizing the European cities they namedrop like grocery stores. While they were skiing in the Swiss Alps, I was hauling firewood up a hill and got bitten by a copperhead so bad my foot swelled to twice its size. While they were watching the Northern Lights in Iceland, I was up before dawn, walking a dirt road in the dark to catch the school bus—because if I missed it, there wasn’t another one. My world—they’ll never get it. Their world—I can’t even follow the conversation. When two worlds collide, one always has to shrink. And it was always mine. Landon leads me to the couch, sits me down, and heads for the kitchen. The doorbell rings. Sienna breezes in, arms full of grocery bags. “Landon, you ass! You said you were cooking dinner for me tonight!” “I bought everything!” She holds up the bags like trophies. “Lobster, abalone, and scallops—my favorite!” I look at the bags. Lobster. Abalone. Scallops. I almost laugh. So the dinner was for Sienna. And they both forgot—I’m allergic to shellfish. A table full of food. I don’t touch a single bite. Landon notices me sitting there, knife untouched, and his jaw tightens. “What’s your problem?” “Sienna went out of her way to buy all this. I’ve been in the kitchen for an hour. You’re not eating? Are you seriously throwing a tantrum right now?” Sienna claps a hand over her mouth. “Oh my God, Maren—I totally forgot. You’re allergic to shellfish. I’m so sorry.” Dead silence. For a long time, no one speaks. Then Landon clears his throat, stiff, and changes the subject. “My parents have some time next week. They want to meet with you.” “We should lock down the wedding plans.” Sienna’s eyes light up. She clasps her hands together. “Oh! The restaurant—Landon actually asked me to book it. I picked this amazing place, and there’s a movie theater right next door. After dinner with your parents, we could all go see a—” I take a breath. “No need.” I cut her off. “I’m busy next week. Work trip.” I raise my head. Two sets of startled eyes stare back at me. And for the first time in a long time, half the weight just lifts. “The wedding can wait.”

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Six years of long-distance. I finally waited for his job transfer. I was packing his things, my heart full of joy, ready to marry him the moment this long-distance nightmare ended. But then, I overheard his boss asking him, “Are you seriously changing your transfer location to Seattle? That’s over two thousand miles away from your fiancée, Luna.” “You’ve already kept her waiting for six years. Aren’t you afraid she’ll leave you if you make her wait longer?” Ethan’s face didn’t even flicker. “She waited for six years. Three more won’t hurt.” “Chloe is running her first independent project. I’m her mentor, and I don’t want her struggling alone. Going to Seattle is the perfect way to support her.” Chloe Bennett. The “clumsy intern” Ethan always talked about. It turned out he could uproot his entire life and relocate across the country just for an intern. Yet, during our six years apart, he told me every single year that getting a transfer was too difficult, begging me to just wait a little longer. I waited. From twenty-two to thirty. I wasted my prime years, becoming the “leftover woman” in everyone else’s mouths. And in the end, for another woman, Ethan was willing to fly thousands of miles to Seattle, dismissively telling me to wait another three years. I let out a self-deprecating laugh and texted my best friend, Sienna, on Snapchat: You won. I’m coming back to New York to get married. Ethan had no idea that before I came here, Sienna and I made a bet. She bet that Ethan would break his promise again. I bet that he would keep his word, end the long distance, and marry me. I lost. I accept my defeat. Ethan, I’m done waiting for you.

The lounge was loud and lively. Today was Ethan’s last day at the firm, and his colleagues were throwing him a massive farewell party. “Congrats on the promotion, Ethan! Finally reuniting with your gorgeous fiancée!” “Remember when Ethan said he’d marry Luna the second he got back to New York? Well, she’s standing right here. When is the proposal, man?” “I literally saw Ethan at Tiffany’s today. He definitely bought a ring!” The cheering and teasing grew louder. Ethan pulled a diamond ring box from his pocket and walked straight toward me. But he didn’t stop. He walked right past me and stopped in front of Chloe. “I ruined your necklace the other day. Here’s your replacement,” he said softly. The room fell dead silent. Chloe gasped, covering her mouth, her eyes shining with shock and tearful gratitude. “Ethan… this is way too expensive. I can’t accept this.” Ethan gently patted her head, his eyes filled with tenderness. “Take it. You deserve it.” Then, he turned to me, offering a casual, dismissive explanation. “Don’t overthink it. It’s just a replacement gift.” “As for the wedding, let’s wait a bit. I have to go to the Seattle branch for three years. I’ll marry you when I get back.” The music in the lounge seemed to freeze. The people who were just cheering shut their mouths instantly, casting awkward, cautious glances at me. Everyone expected me to throw a fit. Instead, I just curled my lips into a polite smile. “It’s fine. Career comes first.” Ethan froze, clearly not expecting this reaction from me. The silence was deafening. Someone quickly tried to break the ice. “Yeah, exactly! It’s all corporate’s decision. Ethan had no choice. Luna, don’t take it personally.” “If he had a choice, Ethan would be dying to stay in New York and marry you right now!” I wanted to laugh. It was pathetic. Did he really have no choice? Or did he just not want to choose me? A couple of female colleagues whispered in the corner: “But the HR memo said Ethan’s original transfer was to New York. He was the one who requested Seattle.” “Going to New York was a promotion. Seattle is practically a demotion. He gave up a promotion just to go to Seattle. This isn’t about work. It’s about a girl.” “If he really wanted to marry her, why make her wait six years? You’re telling me he didn’t have a single chance to transfer in six years?” A sharp, bitter ache swelled in my chest. Even random outsiders could see through his lies. Ethan’s promises were nothing but empty checks, and I was the fool who cashed them for six years. Chloe walked up to me, biting her lip innocently. “Luna, please don’t be mad at Ethan. He’s just really caring toward his team. The ring doesn’t mean anything. Please don’t overthink it.” Ethan. What a sweet, intimate nickname. Clearly, their relationship had progressed far beyond my knowledge. Before I could speak, Ethan stepped in, shielding Chloe behind his back. “It’s just a ring, Luna. Don’t bully her.” “If you want one, I’ll buy you another one later.” His tone was gentle, but his eyes held a cold, warning glare. I touched my bare ring finger, took a step back, and smiled. “No need. Someone already bought me one.”

Ethan looked at me, exasperated. “Alright, Luna. You’re not twenty anymore. Stop acting so childish.” He thought I was just throwing a tantrum. His colleagues quickly chimed in. “Come on, everyone knows Luna only has eyes for Ethan. She waited six years for him. How could she possibly accept a ring from anyone else?” Ethan clearly shared the same smug confidence. He threw me a cold glance. “It’s just three more years. I never said I wouldn’t marry you. Stop making a scene.” With that, he took Chloe’s hand and gathered everyone around for a game of Truth or Dare. Ethan drew a “Dare.” Chloe’s cheeks flushed pink. “Can I ask for anything?” Ethan’s smile was incredibly indulgent. “Whatever you want, Chloe.” Chloe gathered her courage. “Then… I want Ethan to grant me three wishes.” The crowd cheered, making wild guesses about what those wishes would be. Everyone’s attention was on Chloe. I sat alone in the dim corner of the lounge, feeling like an unwanted third wheel. I didn’t say a word. I stood up, slipped out the door, and walked into the cold night. Ethan didn’t know that I actually did have a massive ten-carat diamond ring sitting in my purse. Before today, I was hesitating on how to return it to the sender. Now, it seemed I didn’t need to hesitate anymore. When I got back to Ethan’s apartment, I realized I didn’t have the keys. During our six years of long distance, I visited him once a month. But Ethan never gave me a spare key. Every time, his excuse was: “You’re too forgetful. Giving you a key is useless.” But my memory was flawless. I had never lost a key in my life. On the contrary, it was Chloe—the girl he always described as “clumsy and scatterbrained”—who was constantly losing things. Standing in the hallway, I called Ethan three times. None went through. I waited until midnight. There was still no sign of him. I pulled out my phone and saw Chloe’s Instagram story had just updated. “Wish number one: stargazing with the best guy in the world. Checked! ” The photo showed her and Ethan, sitting side by side under a starry sky, their backs to the camera. I had been waiting outside his door for three hours, dialing his number repeatedly, while he was out making her wishes come true. I laughed at my own stupidity and turned to leave. Just as I reached the elevator, it opened. Ethan was holding Chloe’s hand. Seeing me, Ethan seemed to finally remember my existence. “Oh, sorry. I forgot to leave you the key.” Before he could finish, Chloe reached into her purse, pulled out a key, and unlocked the door with practiced ease. As the door opened, a pair of pink bunny slippers sat neatly by the entrance. Slippers I had never seen before. I looked inside. There was a pink silk bathrobe draped over the sofa. Female lingerie hung on the balcony to dry. A cute couple’s mug sat on the coffee table next to Ethan’s matching one. Noticing my gaze, Ethan cleared his throat. “Chloe just graduated and got scammed by a terrible landlord. She had nowhere to go, so I let her crash here temporarily.” Temporarily? Does “temporarily” mean three whole months? No wonder Ethan had been refusing my FaceTime calls for the past three months, using every excuse under the sun to keep me from visiting. He had a roommate. I remained calm, looking toward the master bedroom, which was now clearly occupied by Chloe’s belongings. I looked at Ethan. “Then where do I sleep?” Ethan seemed to just realize this dilemma. He fell silent. Chloe immediately bit her lip, tears welling up. “I’m so sorry, Ethan. I shouldn’t have stayed here. Now that Luna is back, I’ll pack my bags and leave right now. I don’t want to cause trouble.” She turned to pack her things. Outside, a heavy storm was raging. Ethan’s eyes filled with pity. “Luna, you’re only staying for a couple of days anyway. Let Chloe keep the room. You can sleep on the couch.” Looking at his blatant favoritism, a sudden wave of stubbornness washed over me. “What if I say no?” I stared at Ethan, hoping—just hoping—that some part of him still cared that I was his fiancée. This was his absolute last chance. But Ethan only frowned, his voice dripping with annoyance. “Are you really going to be this petty? It’s just a room. Fine, I’ll book you a hotel room outside.” I let out a quiet laugh. The very last shred of hope and attachment in my heart crumbled into dust. I took a step back and shook my head. “No need.” “Ethan, let’s break up.”

Ethan’s hand shook violently, but his eyes quickly turned icy. “Are you done throwing a fit?” “Just because my transfer got changed to Seattle, you’ve been giving me attitude since this afternoon. You skipped my farewell dinner, and now you’re pulling this stunt. Don’t you find this embarrassing?” My nails dug deep into my palms. “You think I’m just making a scene?” Ethan sneered. “Aren’t you? All this drama just to force me to marry you.” “I told you to wait three years. You can’t even do that? Are you seriously that desperate to get married?” So, that was how he saw me. I laughed bitterly. “Yes, I am desperate. If you won’t marry me, plenty of men will.” Ethan looked at me like I had lost my mind. “Luna, you’re thirty. Who else is going to marry you if you walk out that door?” “Do you still think you’re some twenty-year-old girl? Nobody is going to tolerate your toxic tantrums!” “If you don’t want to sleep on the couch, get the hell out!” The rain outside was torrential. Stepping out meant getting completely soaked. But I didn’t hesitate. I turned around and walked out. The heavy thud of the door slamming shut echoed behind me. I didn’t stop. I walked straight into the freezing rain. It was the middle of summer, but my heart felt like it was trapped in a block of ice. I dragged myself to a nearby boutique hotel, checked in, and stripped out of my wet clothes. The moment I did, all my strength vanished, and I collapsed onto the floor, burning up. Through a hazy fever dream, I felt a pair of warm arms lifting me onto the bed. A cool fever patch was pressed onto my forehead. I opened my eyes. Ethan was standing over me, taking my temperature. “102 degrees. If I had come any later, you could have died here and nobody would have known.” He handed me some pills and a glass of water. I swallowed them blindly, my throat raw and hoarse. “How did you find me?” “This is the only decent hotel in this block.” “Luna, running away and getting yourself sick… why do you always have to be so difficult?” His tone was soft, almost returning to how he used to treat me, as if nothing had happened. In the past, whenever we fought, he would always use this clumsy, practical way to offer an olive branch. But this time, I wasn’t going to take it. I looked at him. “Didn’t you tell me to get out?” Ethan choked on his words, then let out a deep sigh. “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have said those things.” “But you didn’t have to target Chloe. She’s just a kid.” I scoffed, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “A ‘kid’ who happily lives in a grown man’s apartment for three months?” Ethan’s face hardened instantly. The doorbell rang, cutting off the suffocating silence. Ethan went to the door and brought back a bag of takeout. “You have a fever. Eat something light. I got you some warm soup.” As he set the food down, his eyes fell on my wrist. “You’re still wearing that bracelet?” It was a vintage emerald bracelet. Ethan’s mother, Eleanor Vance, had given it to me the very first time I met his family. She told me it was a Vance family heirloom reserved for her future daughter-in-law. “Chloe saw you wearing it yesterday. She thought it was beautiful and wanted to try it on. Let her borrow it for a couple of days.” I thought Ethan came to this hotel because he cared about me freezing in the rain. It turned out he only came to strip the family heirloom off my wrist for Chloe. A bitter taste filled my mouth. Ethan continued, “I promised to grant her three wishes, remember? This is wish number two.” “It’s just a bracelet. Chloe has a vintage photoshoot tomorrow, and she needs a high-end accessory to complete the look. Just think of it as a loan.” Seeing my silence, Ethan’s patience wore thin. “My mother gave you that. I have every right to—” Before he could finish his threat, I unclasped the bracelet. “Here. Take it.” Ethan froze. My movement was so clean, so effortless, without a single shred of hesitation or care. “You’re… not angry?” he asked, bewildered. I looked up and smiled. “Why would I be angry?” After all, I didn’t plan on keeping anything from the Vance family anyway. A sudden, strange chill swept through Ethan’s chest. He opened his mouth to speak, but his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, and his face instantly paled with worry. He grabbed his coat, ready to rush out. I grabbed his sleeve. “Ethan… what medicine did you just give me?” Ethan frowned, annoyed by the delay. “Just standard antibiotics. Penicillin.” My face went completely bloodless. I have a severe penicillin allergy. On the very first day we started dating, I told him. I warned him that even a tiny dose of penicillin could put me in anaphylactic shock and kill me. My skin was already breaking out in angry, itchy red hives. My throat felt like an invisible hand was squeezing it shut, cutting off my air. I clawed at his coat, gasping for breath. “I’m… allergic. Hospital. Now.” But Ethan violently shook my hand off. “Luna, enough! Chloe is alone at home and had an emergency. Can you stop being so incredibly selfish for once?!” He turned and bolted out of the room. I collapsed onto the floor, watching his retreating back disappear through the door, before my world went entirely black…

I don’t know how much time had passed when I finally opened my eyes in a sterile hospital ward. The doctor standing over me looked furious. “You’re finally awake. Did you not know you have a life-threatening penicillin allergy? Your heart literally stopped when they brought you in! You almost died!” I stared at the ceiling, a hollow, bitter smile on my lips. I never thought Ethan would forget my allergy. When we first started dating, he didn’t know about my allergy and accidentally bought me something containing penicillin. When I had a reaction back then, he was terrified. He ran red lights, speeding like a maniac to get me to the ER. He stayed by my bedside all night, his eyes bloodshot with tears. Since that day, he threw out every single medication containing penicillin from his house. Every time he bought me medicine, he checked the label three times. His friends used to tease him, saying that even if I forgot my own name, Ethan would still remember my allergies. But in the end, love fades, and memory goes with it. After finishing my IV drips, I took a cab back to Ethan’s apartment. Since I had decided to walk away, I needed to pack my things. When I entered, I saw Ethan packing a large suitcase, looking ready for a trip. He looked up and explained, “The firm gave me a two-week vacation before my transfer. I’m taking Chloe on a trip. She’s always wanted to see the Southern coast.” Then, he quickly added, “This is Chloe’s third wish. It’s just a game, Luna. Don’t overthink it.” I nodded, my voice completely calm. “Sure. Have a great trip.” Ethan looked stunned by my easy response. His eyes drifted to the medical tape on the back of my hand. “What happened to your hand?” He still hadn’t remembered the allergy. My heart didn’t even hurt anymore. I slipped my hand behind my back. “Nothing. Just picking up some stuff.” Ethan finally noticed how cold I was being. He frowned. “What is wrong with you lately? Are you still throwing a tantrum over Chloe?” “I told you, it’s just a game. Can you stop being so incredibly petty?” I looked around the apartment. It was filled with Chloe’s things. Sometimes, an apartment is just like a relationship—there was no room left for me here, and there was no room left for me in Ethan’s heart. My things had been shoved into the dusty storage closet, just like I had been shoved into the dark corner of his life. “Ethan, let’s…” Before I could finish, Chloe pushed the door open. “Ethan, are you ready? Our Uber is downstairs!” Seeing me, Chloe looked flustered. “Oh, Luna… are you coming with us?” I opened my mouth to say no, but Ethan cut in smoothly. “She’s not coming.” He turned to me, his voice dismissive. “Grab your things and head back. Chloe and I have a flight to catch.” With that, he grabbed Chloe’s suitcase, took her hand, and walked out. I stood alone in the empty living room. The words let’s break up died in my throat. Whatever. He would find out soon enough. I started packing. The anniversary gifts I bought him, the scarf I knitted by hand, his favorite gaming console… every little piece of our eight-year history. I packed them all into cardboard boxes and sold them to a recycling truck downstairs for twenty bucks. Then, I threw every single one of my daily necessities straight into the trash chute. Finally, the most important thing: six years of long-distance. Hundreds of boarding passes and train tickets. I threw them into a metal trash can and lit a match, watching them burn to ashes. The only thing I took was a luxury vintage watch. My father had left it to me, intended for his future son-in-law. Since we were over, I was taking it back. Dragging my lightweight suitcase, I boarded a one-way flight back to New York, leaving this city behind forever. Seven days later. Ethan was on a sunny beach with Chloe when his phone buzzed. He frowned, automatically assuming it was another angry text from me. He unlocked his phone with a sigh of annoyance. But the message was from a college buddy: “Bro, the Mercer Group heir is getting married in three days. You got your invite?” An electronic invitation card was attached. Ethan tapped it open. The moment he saw the names on the card, his eyes widened in sheer shock…

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My wrist was still bleeding, and Ethan Mercer stood over me, his eyes full of disgust. “Are you done throwing your little tantrum? Slitting your wrist just to force me to marry you? Summer, you make me sick.” I lifted my head, wiped the blood and tears from my face, and suddenly laughed. “Fine. The wedding is off.” He froze for a second, then let out a cold, mocking laugh. “Quit playing hard to get. In less than three days, you’ll come crawling back to me like a dog.” I grabbed the door of the VIP lounge, looked back at him, and said, “Remember this, Ethan. From this second on, I am done with you.” Then, I dialed the one number I had never dared to call in my entire life. It rang three times before a deep, cold voice answered. “Who is this?” “Adrian Mercer,” I whispered, gripping my phone as my voice trembled. “I want you to marry me. Now.” Summer’s POV I woke up to the deafening, bone-rattling bass of heavy metal music. My eyes snapped open. I was in a dimly lit VIP booth at a club, and sitting right across from me was Ethan Mercer, casually swirling a glass of whiskey. “Are you done throwing your little tantrum?” Ethan raised his eyes, making no effort to hide his annoyance. “Slitting your wrist just to force me to marry you? Summer, you make me sick.” A sharp, stinging pain flared in my left wrist. I looked down. A messy bandage was wrapped around it, and fresh blood was slowly seeping through. I wasn’t dead. I had actually traveled five years back in time, to the exact day I tried to end my life just to force Ethan to get engaged to me. In my past life, I loved Ethan to the point of madness. For him, I turned my back on my own family, took a blade for him, and even handed over the tech company I built from scratch, all just for a scrap of his attention. And what did I get in return? Ethan took everything I worked for and handed it on a silver platter to his first love, Chloe Vance. When I was framed by Chloe, thrown into a freezing prison, and left to die of a terminal illness, Ethan was busy throwing her the wedding of the century. Before I took my last breath, Ethan had looked at me through the prison glass, his eyes as cold as stone. “Summer, you brought this on yourself. Chloe is sweet enough to make sure you get a proper burial.” That bone-deep, burning hatred was something I could never forget, even in death. “What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?” Seeing me stare blankly, Ethan sneered. He grabbed a glass of ice water and splashed it straight onto my face. “Clear-headed now? Let me tell you something. Even if you bleed out right here, I will never marry you. My only wife will be Chloe.” Ice-cold water dripped down my cheeks. The freezing sting snapped me completely into reality. I raised my hand, casually wiped the water from my face, and stared at him. My eyes were dead silent. No screaming. No hysterical crying. I stood up and looked down at him. “Fine.” Ethan froze, his brows furrowing. “What did you say?” “I said, fine.” I pulled my lips back into a cold, lifeless smirk. “The wedding is off, Ethan. From now on, you and I are completely done.” Without waiting for his response, I turned and walked away. Just as my hand touched the brass doorknob of the VIP lounge, the voices of Ethan’s rich, toxic friends drifted over from behind me. “Hey, Ethan, what kind of reverse-psychology game is Summer playing now?” Ethan let out a sharp, arrogant laugh. “She’s just bluffing. In less than three days, she’ll crawl back to me like a dog.” My fingers tightened on the handle for a split second. Then, I threw the door open and walked out without looking back. The moment I stepped out of the club, the cold night wind made me shiver. I pulled out my phone and dialed the number I had been too terrified to call in my past life. It rang three times before a deep, icy voice answered. “Who is this?” “Adrian Mercer,” I said, taking a sharp breath and calling him directly by his name. “It’s Summer Sterling. I need to see you. Now.” Adrian Mercer. Ethan’s uncle. The shadow billionaire who truly ruled New York’s underworld and high society. In my past life, I was terrified of him. It wasn’t until after I died that I learned this cold, ruthless man had broken ties with the entire Mercer family just to clear my name after I was jailed. He had died in a suspicious car crash because of me. There was a heavy silence on the other end of the line. “Thirty minutes. Penthouse suite, Grand Hyatt.”

Summer’s POV The penthouse suite of the Grand Hyatt. I pushed the door open, and the rich, heavy scent of expensive Cuban tobacco hit me instantly. Adrian Mercer was sitting on the leather sofa in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, casually holding a glowing cigar between his long fingers. He wore a tailored black dress shirt, the top buttons undone to reveal a sharp, rugged collarbone. His dark, piercing eyes locked onto me, heavy with an overwhelming, suffocating pressure. “Why are you here?” his voice was smooth, devoid of any emotion. I walked over and sat directly across from him, cutting straight to the chase. “I want to marry you.” Adrian’s hand paused. A dangerous, unreadable glint flashed in the depths of his dark eyes. He leaned forward, his towering, dominant presence instantly wrapping around me like a trap. “Summer, do you even know what you’re saying?” He pinched my chin, forcing me to look up into his dark gaze. “You’re using me just to get back at Ethan?” “Yes,” I admitted, staring right back into his eyes without flinching. “Ethan controls the lifeblood of my company, and I’m backed into a corner. In all of New York, you are the only one who can crush him. I need your power, and you…” I paused, my voice growing steady. “You need a shield to stop your family from forcing you into an arranged marriage. We both get what we want.” Adrian stared at me for what felt like an eternity. Then, a low, dark chuckle escaped his lips. The sound was deep, but it carried a chill that made my spine tingle. “Mutual benefit?” He let go of my chin and leaned back into the sofa. “Summer, you think too highly of yourself. Why should I ruin my own nephew for you?” “Because I can help you land the South Side waterfront property,” I threw down my ultimate card. In my past life, that land was Adrian’s biggest obsession. He had planned for three years to get it, only for Ethan to steal it at the last minute through dirty tricks. Adrian’s gaze turned instantly sharp. “Deal.” He crushed his cigar in the ashtray and stood up. “Tomorrow morning at ten. Bring your papers. Meet me at City Hall.” When I walked out of the hotel, my legs were shaking. Negotiating with Adrian Mercer was like playing with fire. But I had no other choice. The next morning, the moment I stepped out of my apartment building, a swarm of paparazzi surrounded me. “Miss Sterling! Is it true you tried to end your life to force Ethan Mercer into marriage last night?” “Miss Sterling, Ethan Mercer has officially declared his love for Chloe Vance. Do you have any comments?” “Miss Sterling, isn’t this desperate chase getting a bit pathetic?” Flashing lights blinded me, cameras shoving into my face. Just past the crowd, a black Maybach sat parked. The window rolled down, revealing Ethan sitting inside. He watched the media tear me apart with a smug, mocking smirk. He wanted to ruin my reputation. He wanted me to realize that without him, Summer Sterling was absolutely nothing. I glared at the reporters, ready to snap, when a sleek, custom Rolls-Royce roared up, parking directly in front of the Maybach and cutting off the crowd. The door swung open, and Adrian Mercer stepped out, looking deadly handsome in a bespoke black suit. The entire street went dead silent. Adrian walked straight over to me, took off his suit jacket, and wrapped it gently around my shoulders, pulling me against his chest. His icy gaze swept over the stunned reporters. His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried the weight of a death threat. “Who gave you permission to lay a finger on Adrian Mercer’s fiancée?”

Summer’s POV “Fiancée?!” A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. The reporters stared at each other, completely frozen, forgetting to even click their shutters. Inside the Maybach, Ethan kicked his door open and marched over, his face twisted in rage. “Adrian! What kind of nonsense is this? Who does Summer think she is to be your fiancée?” Adrian gave him a cold, dismissive glance. “Watch your mouth, Ethan. From now on, you will address her with respect.” Ethan looked like he had been struck by lightning. He glared at me, his teeth clenched so hard I could hear them grinding. “Summer! Just to get back at me, you slept your way to my uncle? You really are a shameless bitch!” SLAP! I swung my hand and slapped Ethan across the face with everything I had. The sharp crack echoed loudly in the quiet morning air. “Ethan, watch your dirty mouth,” I said, my voice empty of any warmth. “Who I marry is none of your business. From now on, stay the hell away from me.” Without waiting, I opened the door of the Rolls-Royce and slid into the leather seat. Adrian shot Ethan one last look, a look filled with deadly warning and absolute contempt. Then, he got in beside me. The Rolls-Royce glided away, leaving Ethan standing on the curb, clutching his burning cheek, his eyes dark with fury. Inside the car, the air pressure was suffocatingly low. I handed the suit jacket back to Adrian. “Thank you.” Adrian didn’t take it. He kept his eyes on the road. “Since you are my fiancée now, start acting like my wife. Next time someone disrespects you like that, hit them harder. I’ll handle the fallout.” I blinked, momentarily stunned. In my past life, Ethan would always say: “Summer, can’t you be more mature? Chloe is fragile. Why do you always have to make things hard for her?” But Adrian told me to hit them harder. “What? Touched?” Adrian turned his head, a faint, mocking smile playing on his lips. “No,” I replied, looking out the window. “I just think your customer service is quite impressive, Mr. Mercer.” At City Hall. The clerk handed us our marriage certificate. Looking at our names printed together, a wave of disbelief washed over me. I was officially married to Adrian Mercer. “Mrs. Mercer, pleasure doing business with you,” Adrian said, holding out his hand. I shook it. “Likewise.” The moment we walked out of City Hall, my phone vibrated violently. It was my vice president. His voice was frantic. “Summer, we’re in deep trouble! Our core AI project data has been leaked! The investors are pulling out, and our bank accounts have just been frozen!” My heart sank. That project was Sterling Tech’s entire future. If it failed, the company would go under. “I got it. I’m on my way.” I hung up, my expression turning to ice. I didn’t even need to think about who did this. It was Ethan. He wanted to break me until I crawled back to him. “What’s wrong?” Adrian noticed my shift. “Just a minor setback. I can handle it.” I didn’t want to start our marriage by begging him for favors. Adrian didn’t press. He just looked at the driver. “Drive to Sterling Tech.” When we arrived, I got out of the car and walked into the lobby, only to find Chloe Vance standing there, surrounded by my senior executives. She wore a delicate white dress, looking like an innocent angel, but the smug triumph in her eyes was unmistakable. “Summer,” Chloe called out, walking toward me with a pitying smile. “Ethan said that if you just apologize, admit your mistakes, and merge Sterling Tech into the Mercer Group, he might consider letting you off the hook.”

Summer’s POV Looking at Chloe’s fake, innocent face made my stomach churn. In my past life, it was this exact fragile act that fooled everyone and pushed me off the edge of a building. “Admit my mistakes?” I sneered, taking a step forward and backing her into a pillar. “And what exactly did I do wrong? Was it being blind enough to love a piece of trash like Ethan, or was it not tearing down a fake snake like you sooner?” Chloe’s face turned pale. She took a step back, her eyes instantly filling with tears. “Summer, how can you say that? I only came here to help you…” “Help me?” I cut her off ruthlessly. “By bringing Ethan’s pity to rub in my face? Chloe, drop the act. This is Sterling Tech, not your personal stage. Get the hell out.” “Summer, don’t you dare push your luck!” A furious roar echoed from the entrance. Ethan stormed into the lobby, pulling Chloe behind him. He glared at me. “Chloe came here out of the goodness of her heart, and you’re acting like a psycho! I’m telling you, you will sign this buyout contract today, or you can get ready for bankruptcy and prison!” Ethan slammed a hostile takeover agreement right in front of my face. I didn’t even look at it. I grabbed the papers, ripped them into shreds, and threw them into the air. The white pieces drifted down like snow. “Ethan, do you really think you’ve won?” I asked, my eyes cold and fearless. “Oh, I know I have,” Ethan laughed. “I have your core data. Your investors are gone. What do you have to fight me with? Summer, kneel down, beg me, and apologize to Chloe. Maybe then I’ll leave you with some dignity.” “Kneel to her?” I laughed as if he had lost his mind. “Ethan, did you hit your head this morning?” “You!” Ethan’s face flushed with rage. He raised his hand, aiming to slap me. But before his hand could descend, a powerful grip caught his wrist mid-air. Adrian had appeared behind me. His eyes were like deadly daggers, his entire aura radiating a terrifying, suffocating anger. “Ethan, who gave you the right to touch what’s mine?” Adrian shoved him back. Ethan stumbled, nearly crashing to the polished floor. “Adrian…” Ethan’s voice shook, his face turning pale as he stared at his uncle. “You’re going against me for this woman?” “She is my legal wife,” Adrian said, his voice deadly quiet. “Who are you to yell at her in her own building?” Ethan clenched his fists, staring at me with a mix of shock, anger, and a strange, bitter jealousy. In all the years I had known him, I had never seen that expression on his face. He looked like someone had stolen his most prized possession, leaving him utterly humiliated. “Fine! Great!” Ethan laughed bitterly. “Adrian, if you want to protect her so badly, don’t blame me for what comes next. Let’s see how you save a bankrupt, empty shell of a company!” With that, Ethan grabbed Chloe and stormed out. The lobby fell into a tense silence. I turned to Adrian. “You just…” “I told you, I’ll handle the fallout,” Adrian interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument. “I’ll have my finance team transfer enough funds to cover Sterling Tech’s deficit. As for the mole who leaked your data, I’ll have them hunted down.” Looking at him, a complex wave of emotion hit my chest. “Adrian, why are you doing all this for me?” Adrian looked at me, a deep, unreadable emotion swirling in his dark eyes. “Because,” he murmured, his voice low and commanding, “you are Mrs. Mercer now. And my woman only stomps on others. She doesn’t get stomped on.”

Summer’s POV The air inside Sterling Tech’s executive boardroom was so thick it was hard to breathe. BANG! I slammed a thick stack of bank statements onto the glass table, glaring coldly at the trembling man sitting across from me. It was Ryan Carter, my head of R&D, who had been with me for three years. “Fifty thousand dollars,” my voice was like ice. “That’s all it took for Ethan to buy your dirty soul and throw away three years of our team’s hard work. You really are pathetic, Ryan.” Ryan collapsed onto his knees, tears streaming down his face. “Summer, please! My mother needed a kidney transplant, and Ethan threatened me… I had no choice!” “You had no choice, so you decided to bury my entire company with you?” I showed absolutely no mercy. “Security, call the cops. You can tell your sob story to a judge.” After Ryan was dragged out, the room fell silent again. The mole was caught, but the crisis was far from over. My VP rushed in, dripping with sweat. “Summer, we have a bigger problem. Ethan put out a warning in the tech sector. Anyone who funds our project is an enemy of the Mercer Group. All the venture capitalists who agreed to talk to us just blocked our numbers.” “And our server host just terminated our contract. They are shutting down our servers at midnight tonight.” I clenched my teeth so hard my jaw ached, my nails digging into my palms. Ethan was trying to suffocate my company. No data, no funding, and now, no servers. If the servers went dark, we would face massive breach-of-contract lawsuits. It would be the end. “We have six hours until midnight,” I stood up, my head spinning from exhaustion. I had to grip the table to keep from falling. “Contact overseas server providers. I don’t care how much it costs, migrate our data now!” “It’s useless.” A deep, cold voice drifted from the doorway. Adrian Mercer stood there, looking sharp in his custom black suit, followed by two elite assistants carrying briefcases. He walked over to me, looking down at my pale, exhausted face. “Ethan has blocked every exit. Overseas server migration takes at least three days to clear security audits. You don’t have that kind of time.” I lifted my chin, my eyes bloodshot. “I’m not going down without a fight.” “I can give you access to Mercer Group’s private servers. My tech team can migrate your data in two hours,” Adrian said casually, as if talking about the weather. I stared at him warily. “What’s the catch?” I wasn’t stupid. Adrian was a ruthless businessman. He never did anything for free. Adrian leaned in close, his long fingers pinching my chin, forcing me to look directly into his dark, dangerous eyes. His presence was heavy, intoxicating, and completely dominant. “Move into my estate,” he said, his voice low and commanding. “Tonight is the Mercer family dinner. My father wants to meet you. As my wife, you need to play your part. If you ruin this, Sterling Tech disappears by tomorrow morning.” My chest tightened. Was this another trap? Looking into his cold, handsome face, a wave of bitterness washed over me. I had escaped Ethan’s cage, only to step right into Adrian’s web. To this man, I was just a convenient chess piece he could manipulate at will. “Fine,” I forced a hollow smile. “I agree.” Adrian let go of my chin and tossed a black titanium card onto the table. “Buy yourself a proper dress. I’ll pick you up at seven. Don’t embarrass me.” With that, he turned and walked out. I stared at the black card, my eyes burning with unshed tears. But I forced them back. Right now, I didn’t even have the luxury to cry.

Summer’s POV Seven PM. The Mercer Estate. The century-old mansion was blazing with lights, the driveway packed with multi-million-dollar supercars. Wearing a dark emerald silk gown, I held Adrian’s arm as we stepped into the grand ballroom. The lively chatter in the room died down instantly the moment we walked in. Every gaze turned toward me like sharp knives, filled with judgment, disgust, and whispered malice. “Is that Summer Sterling? The girl who slit her wrist for Ethan? How did she end up with Adrian?” “What a gold digger. Her family is practically broke, and she thinks she can climb into the Mercer family?” “She must have used some cheap tricks to play both Ethan and his uncle.” The nasty whispers drifted into my ears. I kept my spine perfectly straight, but my hand on Adrian’s arm tightened involuntarily. Adrian noticed my tension. He didn’t say anything comforting, but his icy glare swept over the crowd. The moment people met his eyes, they quickly looked down in fear. “Father,” Adrian said, stopping in front of the head of the room. Old Charles Mercer sat in a large velvet chair, holding a delicate cup of English bone china. He didn’t even look at me. He just let out a cold snort. “So you finally decided to show up? I thought some gold digger had completely blinded you to who you are.” “Father, this is Summer. My wife,” Adrian’s voice was calm, but it held a terrifying strength. Smash! Charles slammed his teacup down right at my feet. The hot tea and sharp ceramic shards exploded across the floor, splashing onto my bare legs. A sharp sting flared up where the hot liquid hit my skin. I gasped from the pain, but I bit my lip and didn’t make a sound. “Wife? Since when does the Mercer family let a trashy, scandalous girl be the mistress of this house?” Charles roared, slamming his fist on the table, rattling the silverware. “Adrian, divorce her immediately! Or you can say goodbye to your inheritance!” “Adrian, Grandfather is right.” Ethan walked out from the crowd, holding Chloe’s hand, a smug, vindictive smirk plastered on his face. “I know exactly what kind of trash Summer is. She’s a psycho who will do anything for money. Don’t let her fool you. Her company is failing, and she’s just using you as a lifeline.” Chloe chimed in with a sweet, fake voice. “Yes, Adrian. Summer was ready to die for Ethan just days ago. Now she suddenly marries you? She definitely has an agenda. Please don’t fall for her trap.” Looking at the two of them, I wanted to throw up. I turned my head to look at Adrian. I wanted to see what my new “husband” would do. Adrian’s expression didn’t change. He slowly pulled a silk handkerchief from his pocket, knelt down on one knee, and gently wiped the tea from my legs. The entire ballroom went dead silent. The ruthless head of the Mercer Group was kneeling in public to clean a woman’s legs? Adrian stood up, tossed the dirty handkerchief right into Ethan’s face, his eyes colder than ice. “Ethan, who the hell gave you permission to speak about my wife? Who I marry is my business, and no one tells me what to do.” He turned to his father, his voice dripping with deadly venom. “Father, I don’t care about the inheritance. But Summer is mine to protect. Anyone who touches a single hair on her head is dealing with me.” With that, he wrapped his arm tightly around my waist and led me out of the mansion, leaving the stunned crowd behind us. The night air was chilly. Sitting in the passenger seat, I looked at the man driving beside me, my heart beating fast. “About earlier… thank you.” “Don’t mention it,” Adrian said, staring straight ahead, his voice cold. “I was only protecting my own reputation. Even if I have to discipline her, it is no one else’s business.” My heart dropped. To him, I wasn’t even a human being.

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On our third wedding anniversary, Liam cooked steak for me himself. Under the flickering candlelight, his phone suddenly lit up. The name “Aurora” flashed on the screen. He froze mid-cut, set his fork and knife down, and elegantly wiped his hands with a napkin. “I’m sorry, Jennifer.” He looked at me, his eyes as gentle as a warm spring breeze. “Aurora ran into some trouble over there. I need to go help her.” I sat on the opposite side of the long table, my face unable to form any expression to make him stay. He walked over, gently ruffled my hair out of habit, and spoke in a pampering tone, as if soothing a child. “Be good, don’t be mad. I’ll bring you your favorite chestnut cake tomorrow, okay?” He forgot that I am severely allergic to chestnuts. One bite, and I would go into anaphylactic shock. “Jennifer, since when did you learn to play such childish games?” Liam stood in the foyer, holding the thin piece of paper. He had just put on his custom leather shoes, his dark gray suit jacket draped over his arm. The overhead light in the entryway hit his face, highlighting his sharp brow bone and straight nose. His tone wasn’t harsh. In fact, he had a trace of a helpless smile on his face. Like he was looking at a throwing-a-tantrum child. I stood three steps away from him, my hands hanging loosely at my sides. “It’s not a game.” I looked into his eyes, my voice flat, without a single ripple of emotion. “I’ve already signed it.” Liam looked down at the paper. The bolded words DIVORCE AGREEMENT stared back at him, incredibly sharp against the white paper. He flicked the edge of the paper with his long fingers, making a sharp snap. “All of this just because of Aurora’s call?” He sighed, took a step forward, and reached out to touch my cheek. I tilted my head slightly, dodging his touch. His hand froze in mid-air, then he naturally pulled it back and slipped it into his trouser pocket. “Jennifer, we’ve been married for three years. You’ve always been a smart, sensible girl.” Liam’s voice was deep, carrying his usual calm composure. “Aurora just moved back to the country. She doesn’t know anyone here.” “Her car broke down, and she was scared to death being alone on the highway.” “You usually cry over a stray cat, yet now you’re throwing a fit over a friend in need?” He stared at my face. I suffer from facial neuropathy. My facial nerves are damaged. Whether I am happy or dying of heartbreak, my face remains a stiff, expressionless mask. Liam once said he loved my cold, low-maintenance look. He liked that I didn’t overreact like other women, and that I never cried or threw tantrums over minor things. “I’m not throwing a fit,” I stated calmly. “I just want a divorce.” Liam’s brows finally knitted together. He casually threw the agreement onto the shoe cabinet nearby. “Jennifer, there is a limit to throwing tantrums.” His tone grew colder. “I had a lot of work at the office today, but I still made time to celebrate our anniversary.” “Now Aurora has an emergency. I’m going to handle it, and I’ll be back in two hours at most.” “You pulling out this paper—are you trying to make me feel guilty, or are you trying to prove how important you are to me?” He looked down at me, his eyes filled with absolute certainty. He was certain I could never leave him. He was certain that beneath my expressionless face lay a deep, pathetic obsession with him. “Liam,” I called his name. My vocal cords felt dry because I hadn’t spoken much in a while. “I made the division of assets very clear. I’m walking away with nothing.” “This house, and the car you bought me before—I’m leaving them all to you.” “If you don’t have any objections, sign the bottom right corner. See you at City Hall tomorrow morning at nine.” Liam stared at me for ten long seconds. He seemed to be searching for a crack in my face, a trace of faked grievance, or a hint of playing hard to get. But he found nothing. I was like a pool of stagnant water. Not a single ripple. Suddenly, he let out a laugh. It was a mix of mockery and indulgence. “Fine, Jennifer. Since you want to play this game so badly, I’ll play along.” He pulled his Montblanc pen from his inner suit pocket. He unscrewed the cap in one smooth motion. He signed his name on the bottom right corner of the agreement in a wild, cursive flourish. The pen tip scratched loudly against the paper. “I’ve signed it.” He capped the pen and pushed the paper toward me. “I’ll have John drive you to City Hall tomorrow at nine.” “I hope you sleep well tonight. Just don’t cry and beg me to tear this paper up tomorrow morning.” He adjusted his tie. That tie was bought with half of my monthly salary last month. The dark red stripes matched his suit perfectly today. “I’m leaving. Eat dinner by yourself.” He pulled the door open. The night wind rushed in, blowing the hem of my dress. “Remember to take your meds,” he left his final words without turning around. The door clicked shut, and the foyer fell back into a dead silence. I walked over and picked up the signed agreement. Liam’s handwriting was beautiful and sharp. I stared at the name for a moment, then folded the paper neatly and put it into my canvas tote bag.

The candles in the dining room were still flickering, but the steak on the table had gone completely cold. I walked back, pulled out my chair, and sat down. Picking up my fork and knife, I cut a piece of the rare beef and put it in my mouth. Cold beef was hard to chew and tasted slightly metallic. I didn’t spit it out. I chewed it slowly, bit by bit, and swallowed it. After finishing the last bite, I poured myself a glass of red wine and drank it in one gulp. My stomach cramped slightly. I stood up and began cleaning the table. I put the plates and silverware into the dishwasher and pressed start. The machine hummed softly. I walked into the bedroom and pulled a black suitcase out from under the bed. I had brought this suitcase with me when I moved in three years ago. For three years, it had sat quietly in the corner, gathering a thin layer of dust. I grabbed a damp cloth and wiped the dust off. Unzipping it, the faint scent of old mothballs drifted out. I opened the closet. It was huge, taking up an entire wall. It was stuffed with high-end seasonal designer clothes, mostly in white. White silk dresses, white cashmere coats, white lace shirts. Liam always said I had fair skin and looked best in white. But that wasn’t the truth. On Aurora’s Instagram, she was always wearing white dresses, smiling like an innocent angel. I didn’t touch any of those expensive clothes. Instead, I opened the bottom drawer and pulled out a few old clothes from my college days. A faded gray hoodie. Two pairs of jeans with worn-out knees, and a few plain cotton t-shirts. I folded them neatly and placed them in the suitcase. While packing my toiletries, I looked at the matching electric toothbrushes on the vanity. Liam’s was navy blue; mine was light pink. I pulled the pink brush head off and threw it into the trash can. Then, I grabbed a cheap, unopened manual toothbrush from the cabinet and slipped it into my travel bag. My phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out. It was a Snapchat message from Liam. `[Wire Transfer: $100,000]` Right after, a voice message popped up. I tapped it, and Liam’s deep voice echoed in the empty bedroom. “Jennifer, I’ve handled things for Aurora. She was pretty shaken up, so I’m dropping her off at her hotel.” “That bakery was closed, so I’ll have my assistant get you cake from another place tomorrow.” “I sent you some pocket money. Go buy a bag you like. Don’t be mad anymore.” His tone was still so gentle, so entitled. As if our conversation about divorce in the foyer had just been a harmless joke. As if he truly believed that a hundred thousand dollars could buy off a wife’s pain of being abandoned on her anniversary. I stared at the screen, my finger hovering in the air for two seconds. Then, I tapped “Decline.” The screen popped up a notification: `[$100,000 has been returned to sender.]` I didn’t reply to his voice message and locked the screen. The screen went black, reflecting my expressionless face. I went back to packing. On the desk was a picture frame containing the only photo from our wedding. In the photo, Liam wore a black tuxedo with a polite smile. I wore a white wedding gown, staring blankly at the camera. The photographer had kept begging me to smile, but I couldn’t. Liam had told him, “It’s fine, she’s just like this. Just take it.” I picked up the frame and took the photo out. On the back, there was a line written in pencil in my handwriting: Liam, today I became your wife. I found a pair of scissors and slowly cut down the middle, right between the two of us. With a sharp snip, the photo was split in half. I threw the half with Liam into the trash can. The half with me, I slipped inside an old book.

The next morning at 8:30 AM. Carrying my canvas bag, I walked out of the apartment building right on time. A black Maybach was parked by the curb. The window rolled down, revealing Liam’s handsome face. He had changed into a dark blue suit today. His hair was perfectly styled, and he looked sharp. “Get in,” he said calmly. I opened the passenger door and sat inside. A faint scent of perfume drifted through the car. It was the sweet, sickly jasmine scent Aurora always wore. I didn’t say a word. I silently pulled the seatbelt over and buckled up. Liam started the engine. “Did you eat breakfast?” he asked casually, his long fingers resting on the steering wheel. “Yes,” I replied, watching the city streets slip past the window. “Did Martha make you a sandwich?” “No, I made pasta.” Liam let out a soft laugh. “With your cooking skills, is that pasta even edible?” There was a trace of familiarity in his tone that he didn’t even notice. As if we were just a regular couple heading to work, not heading to City Hall to file for divorce. The car moved slowly through the morning rush hour traffic. “Jennifer,” Liam suddenly spoke, his voice losing its casual tone. “I thought about it last night.” “Aurora just got back, and she needs my help with a lot of things. I might be busy for a while.” “If you’re bored at home by yourself, sign up for a flower arrangement class, or go have brunch with your friends.” “Let me know if you need more money.” He turned to glance at me. “I’ll pretend I never saw that agreement from yesterday. I’ll have John take you back at the next intersection.” He still thought I was just acting out. He thought I was using the extreme threat of divorce just to get his attention. “Liam,” I turned my head to meet his gaze. “I brought the agreement, and all my documents are in my bag.” “Take a left at the next intersection. That’s City Hall.” Liam’s face finally darkened. He slammed on the brakes. The car screeched to a halt at a red light, the tires protesting against the asphalt. He turned his body fully toward me, glaring at me. “Are you serious?” his voice was dangerously low. “Yes,” I replied without flinching. The air in the car seemed to freeze. The scent of jasmine became incredibly suffocating. The light turned green, and the cars behind us started honking. Liam snapped his gaze back to the road and slammed on the gas. The Maybach shot forward like an arrow. At exactly 9:00 AM, we walked into the City Hall clerk’s office. It wasn’t crowded today. We sat down in front of the counter. The clerk looked at our agreement, then at Liam, and finally at me. “Are you sure about the division of assets? The wife is leaving with absolutely nothing?” the clerk double-checked. “Yes,” I replied flatly. Liam sat beside me, his face grim. His hands rested on his knees, the veins on the back of his hands bulging slightly. “Sir, do you confirm?” the clerk asked him. Liam turned to look at me. A storm of complex emotions flashed through his eyes—anger, confusion, and a hint of panic he refused to admit. But in the end, he sneered, “I confirm.” “Alright. This is your 30-day cooling-off notice,” the clerk handed us two copies. “In thirty days, if neither of you files a motion to dismiss, come back with this notice to collect your final divorce decree.” I took the paper, folded it carefully, and put it in my bag. Liam didn’t even look at his copy. He stood up immediately and walked out. I followed him out of the building. The sunlight was a bit blinding. “Jennifer,” Liam stopped on the steps, turning to look down at me. “Thirty days. I’m giving you thirty days to calm down.” “If you still want to play this game in thirty days, I’ll give you what you want.” He looked down at me, as if granting me his ultimate mercy. I didn’t say anything. I looked down at an ant on the steps, struggling to drag a breadcrumb three times its size.

Three days after visiting City Hall. I began packing the last of my personal belongings. The living room was quiet, save for the harsh sound of packing tape being ripped. The door lock clicked, and Liam walked in. Following right behind him was Aurora, wearing a white summer dress. She looked fragile and pale, like a delicate greenhouse flower that needed constant protection. “Liam, is it okay for me to drop by like this? Will I bother Jennifer?” Aurora’s voice was soft, laced with a timid, testing tone. “No,” Liam said flatly as he changed his shoes. “She’s usually just idling around the house anyway.” He looked up and saw the two cardboard boxes sitting in the living room. His brows twitched slightly. “What are you doing?” he asked. “Packing,” I said, holding a roll of tape, looking at him calmly. Liam let out a cold laugh. “Jennifer, cut the act. It’s getting old.” He turned to Aurora. “Aurora, go sit on the couch. I’m going to the study to grab those stock transfer papers.” Aurora nodded obediently. She walked over to the couch and sat down, her eyes scanning the room. Finally, her gaze landed on the bottom shelf of the bookcase. A few of my old books were stacked there. Peeking out from between them was a dark red leather cover. It was my diary. It held three years of thoughts I could never say out loud. Aurora stood up and walked over slowly. “Jennifer, do you read these kinds of books too?” She smiled at me, her hand already reaching for the diary. I dropped the tape and stepped in front of her. “Don’t touch it.” My voice was flat, but my eyes grew cold. Aurora’s hand froze in mid-air. As if she had been deeply insulted, her eyes instantly welled up with tears. “I’m sorry, Jennifer… I was just curious…” The study door opened, and Liam walked out with a folder in his hand. Seeing the scene, his face immediately darkened. “Jennifer, what are you doing?” He walked over quickly, pulling Aurora behind him. “Aurora was just looking at a book. Do you really have to be so hostile?” He looked at me with clear blame in his eyes. “That’s not a book,” I said, my voice as calm as still water. “It’s my personal property.” “What personal property could possibly be that precious?” Liam sneered. His gaze swept across the shelf and landed on a small pot of mint. I had grown that mint for three years. From a tiny seed, I had nurtured it until it became lush and green. Liam reached out and picked up the pot. “Aurora hasn’t been sleeping well lately. Mint helps with sleep.” He turned to look at me. “I’m taking this pot. Consider it an apology for your rudeness to Aurora just now.” He didn’t even ask what that mint meant to me. He took what was mine as a matter of course to please another woman. I looked at the vibrant green mint. A drop of water from my morning watering was still clinging to a leaf. “Okay,” I said. Liam didn’t seem to expect me to agree so easily. He froze for a second, then a look of satisfaction flashed in his eyes. “At least you’re being sensible.” Holding the mint in one hand, he wrapped his other arm around Aurora’s shoulder and walked toward the door. At the entryway, he stopped and looked back at me. A patronizing smile curled on his lips. “I have a business dinner tonight. When I get back, I’ll take you to that sushi place you like.” I watched them walk out side by side. I watched the door slowly close. I walked to the bookshelf, pulled out the diary that was sticking out, and shoved it deep into the darkest corner of the shelf—a dead angle that no one would ever notice. Along with my pathetic self from the last three years, and Liam, I buried it all.

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Three years ago, my husband, Julian Rodriguez, allegedly died in a car crash to save me. My own mother, Betty, immediately sued me on behalf of his family. Wishing for death, I didn’t even hire a lawyer. I signed the plea deal and walked straight into prison. For three long years, I tried to end my life more times than I could count in that cold cell. But today, the day of my release, I stood on the street and saw a giant billboard broadcasting Julian’s “wedding of the century” to my younger sister, Hailey. My life was completely ruined, and as I would soon find out, my daughter had been diagnosed with an incurable illness. I rushed to the wedding venue, only to be dragged out like a crazy person. My mother, Betty, hurried out behind me, glaring at me. She warned me not to ruin Hailey’s big day. “To be honest with you, Sophia, Julian didn’t die.” “We faked the car crash. Hailey was already pregnant with his baby back then.” “We had no choice. We couldn’t let Hailey be labeled a homewrecker and have people gossip about her.” “Now that you’re out, just forget the past and move on.” “Move on?” I stared at Betty. I couldn’t reconcile this cold woman with the mother who had held me three years ago, sobbing and claiming she wished she could go to prison in my place. “My life is ruined. Everything I had is gone. And you’re telling me to just forget it?” I pulled up my sleeves, revealing the countless ugly scars on my wrists from my suicide attempts in prison. I wanted to scream, to ask them why they did this to me. But Betty just slapped me across the face. “Have you not thrown enough tantrums? Did three years in prison not beat that stubbornness out of you?” “Why can’t you just let Hailey have this?” “You’re already miserable. Do you have to ruin Hailey’s happiness too?”

I had nothing to say to Betty. My chest throbbed with a suffocating, piercing pain. I wiped my tears and struggled to get past her. The wedding was magnificent—far grander than the one Julian had given me. The guests were dressed in glamorous gowns and tuxedos. Hailey’s wedding dress shimmered brilliantly under the spotlight. Standing right beside them was a little boy, about three years old. Guided by the officiant, he was carrying the wedding rings. “And now, would the groom and bride please exchange rings, the symbol of their eternal love.” Thunderous applause erupted in the hall. “Stop!” I screamed. The entire room went dead silent. All eyes turned to me. Before I could take another step, security guards rushed in and dragged me away. Betty smiled warmly, turning to the crowd. “I am so sorry, everyone. This is just a homeless woman from the street.” “The security team made a mistake and let her slip in. I’ll have her removed immediately.” Disgusted whispers broke out. “Ugh, a homeless person? No wonder it smells so bad in here.” “Today is Julian and Hailey’s wedding of the century. Some people really have no shame, trying to crash an event like this.” “Exactly. I bet she just wanted free food.” With sneers and mocking glares raining down on me, I was carried out. Julian’s eyes brushed over me for a fraction of a second before he looked away, completely indifferent. Inside, they slid the rings of eternal love onto each other’s fingers. Outside, I was thrown onto the cold, hard pavement. My mother’s emerald-green heels appeared in my field of vision. She frowned deeply. “Sophia, how many times do I have to tell you? Today is Hailey’s wedding. Did you really have to come here to ruin it?” “What about you guys? You lied to me for three years! You let me rot in prison for a lie! Doesn’t your conscience hurt?!” I screamed, my voice raw. Betty’s frown tightened. “We had no choice, Sophia. Why can’t you understand that?” “Go home right now. If you don’t, you will never see Lily again.” Lily… Lily was the baby girl I gave birth to three years ago, right before I went to prison. My parents had promised they would take good care of her. “Where is Lily? What did you do to her?” At my question, a flicker of guilt crossed my mother’s face. She looked away, refusing to answer. Panic seized my chest. I didn’t care about anything else anymore. I scrambled up and ran toward our family home. The passcode to the front door hadn’t changed. I pushed it open. A maid was cleaning the living room. When she saw me, she gasped in horror. “Miss Sophia? How… why are you here? Weren’t you…” “Where is Lily?!” I rushed forward and grabbed her shoulders. Terrified, the maid stammered, but her eyes kept darting toward the basement door. I sprinted down and kicked the door open. In the darkest corner of the damp basement, a tiny figure was curled into a ball. Hearing the door slam, her little body shook violently. “Don’t hit me! I’ll be good, Aunt Hailey! Please don’t hit me!” “Lily, it’s me… it’s Mommy.” Tears flooded my eyes. I rushed over and pulled her into my arms. She was so thin, her bones sticking out painfully. I wasn’t here for three years. How on earth did they treat my baby girl?! “M-Mommy?” The little girl peeked out from under her arms, her eyes wide and timid. Once she realized it was really me, she threw herself into my chest, sobbing. “Mommy, you’re back! I have a mommy now!”

“Who told you to open this door? Today is Mr. Rodriguez and Miss Miller’s wedding!” “What if Lily runs out and ruins Miss Hailey’s mood?!” Before I could even hold my daughter tighter, a sharp, angry voice echoed from the stairs. “Mrs. Brown, I didn’t open it. It was…” “Then who did?!” Lily instinctively shrank back into my arms, trembling. I held her close and walked out of the basement, coming face-to-face with the nanny. She gasped, stepping back. “Sophia? What are you doing here?” “Julian and I aren’t divorced yet. By law, you should still call me Mrs. Rodriguez.” “And who gave you permission to lock my daughter in a dark basement?!” The nanny stammered, “It… it wasn’t me! It was Miss Hailey’s orders!” I looked down at Lily. Her skeletal little hand was gripping my shirt tightly. She was wearing filthy, ragged clothes that looked like they hadn’t been washed in weeks. “I’m taking Lily to get a bath. Where is her room?” I carried Lily and tried to walk upstairs. But the nanny blocked my way. “Mrs. Rodriguez, there is no room for Lily here.” “No room for Lily?” “Yes. Miss Hailey said Lily is disobedient, so she has to live in the basement.” “What?!” I couldn’t believe my ears. Lily had been living in that dark, cold basement for years. Looking at her tiny, frail body, I gently pulled up her shirt. My heart shattered. Her skin was covered in bruises, old scars, and fresh welts. “Does it hurt, sweetie?” The moment my fingers lightly touched her skin, Lily winced and tears rolled down her cheeks. My own tears fell freely. Before I could say anything, the front door opened. Julian and Hailey were back. Seeing me, they both froze. “Sophia? You’re out of prison?” Hailey put on a fake, sweet smile and tried to step forward. I pushed her away and stared straight at Julian. “Didn’t you die in that car crash?” “Why are you standing here, perfectly fine? Don’t you owe me an explanation?” “Julian.” I tried to keep my voice steady, but I couldn’t stop shaking. At the sight of Hailey, Lily hid behind my back, trembling in terror. “Sophia, let me explain. I had no choice back then…” “No choice?” I looked at the little boy standing next to him, and then at Hailey. What a beautiful excuse. My three years in prison, and my daughter’s three years of torture, just so their little family of three could live happily ever after. “Ew, you smell like trash! Get out of my house!” “You’re not allowed here! And take this little beggar girl with you!” Suddenly, Hailey’s son, Henry, rushed forward and shoved me hard. Caught off guard, I fell to the floor. “Mommy!” Lily cried, trying to help me up. “Henry, stop that!” Hailey scolded the boy half-heartedly, but she didn’t actually do anything to stop him. The boy whined, “These two beggars are making our floor dirty! Kick them out, Mommy!” He threw himself onto the floor, throwing a tantrum. Julian looked at me with an uncomfortable expression. “Sophia, why don’t you take Lily and leave for now? I’ll explain everything to you later.” “Daddy…” Lily timidly reached out her tiny hand, trying to grab the edge of his pants. The next second, Henry rushed over and shoved her away. “Go away, you little beggar! Don’t touch my daddy!” Lily fell backward, her head striking the sharp corner of the cabinet. Blood instantly began to pour from her forehead. “It hurts… Daddy, my head hurts…” Lily cried, reaching out to Julian again, but he coldly stepped back, letting her hand fall. “Mrs. Brown, kick them out.” Six years of marriage, and my daughter and I meant absolutely nothing to him. How pathetic. “This way, please,” Mrs. Brown said, rolling her eyes. I picked up Lily and walked out of the house, step by step. Behind me, their disgusted voices followed. “What a parasite. She smells so bad.” “Exactly. She spent three years in prison. Did she really think Mr. Rodriguez would still want her?”

I took Lily straight to the hospital to get her head bandaged. As we were about to leave, the doctor stopped me. He said Lily looked extremely pale and weak, and recommended a full check-up. Biting my lip, I spent almost all the money I had left on the tests. The results came back quickly. “It’s leukemia.” “What?” The burger I had just bought for Lily slipped from my hand and hit the floor. I couldn’t believe it. The doctor told me to stay strong. With aggressive treatment, she might have six months to a year. My tears flowed uncontrollably. “Mommy, what’s wrong?” Looking into Lily’s innocent eyes, I couldn’t bring myself to tell her the truth. Her tiny face was completely pale. Because of the constant abuse, her body was covered in layers of scars. Every time I looked at her, my heart broke. “Don’t cry, Mommy. I don’t hurt.” Lily held my hand, trying to comfort me. “Okay, Mommy won’t cry.” I took a deep breath, stuffing a piece of food into my mouth to choke back my sobs. Leaving the hospital, I took Lily back to Julian’s house. “Sophia, I can explain what happened back then.” “Hailey was pregnant with my child, and I had no other choice, so…” “Julian, Lily has leukemia.” I threw the diagnosis sheet onto the table. He frowned immediately. “Sophia, I know I wronged you in the past.” “But you don’t have to make up a terminal illness just to get back at me.” “I’m not…” “Hailey takes her and Henry for a check-up every three months. How could she suddenly be sick?” Every three months? I let out a bitter laugh. I pulled Lily forward. “Look at her! She’s skin and bones! Do you honestly think this is what a healthy child looks like?” “I don’t care about the past anymore. I need money to treat Lily. You…” Before I could finish, his face darkened. “So all of this—using our daughter’s health as an excuse—was just to beg for money?” “Sophia, we haven’t seen each other in three years. How did you become so shameless?” Anger and frustration suffocated me. I couldn’t believe he actually thought of me this way. Before I could speak, Hailey chimed in. “Sophia, I know you hate me, but you shouldn’t use a child’s health to play mind games.” “All these years, I’ve treated Lily like my own daughter.” “I’ve even been nicer to her than to Henry. If you don’t believe me, ask her yourself.” Hailey pulled Lily over. “Lily, tell the truth. Your mommy is lying, right? Haven’t I been good to you all these years?” Lily looked at me, then at Hailey’s threatening eyes, and finally nodded. “Yes…” “Sophia, you’re using our child to extort money. What else do you have to say?” “I…” I stared at Lily, completely shocked. Suddenly, a shrill scream echoed from the doorway. “You just got out of prison, and you’re already here extorting Hailey and Julian?! I’ll teach you a lesson!” Betty rushed in and slapped me hard across the face. The force of the blow knocked me to the floor. Betty grabbed my ear and dragged me toward the door. “Get back home and reflect on what you’ve done!” I looked back at Lily. She was shrinking behind Hailey, too terrified to speak. She didn’t move an inch until I was thrown into the car. Betty pinched my ear hard. “How many times do I have to tell you? Leave Hailey and Julian alone!” “Your marriage ended the moment you went to prison three years ago! Can’t you get that through your thick skull?!” I tried to tell Betty that Lily was abused and had leukemia. But Betty wouldn’t listen to a single word. “Sophia, you’re just jealous of Hailey.” “She has always been smarter and prettier than you. She did better in school, and now she’s married to Julian.” “Are you trying to ruin her life on purpose?” “Let me warn you, you better behave. Don’t forget, Julian still has legal custody of Lily.” Tears blurred my vision. Memories of my childhood flashed before my eyes. Hailey and I were only a year apart. Ever since we were kids, Betty always told me I had to let Hailey have whatever she wanted. I didn’t understand it back then. Until the first grade, when I got a perfect score on an exam, leaving Hailey far behind. Hailey cried, and Betty slapped me for the first time. She said, “Sophia, you have to let Hailey win. Let her have first place.” After that, I never dared to do too well on exams. Even when a boy I liked didn’t like Hailey, Hailey would go home and cry, and I would get punished. Eventually, I lost not just the right to excel, but even the right to dress up nicely. And in Betty’s eyes, all of this meant I had always been inferior to Hailey.

For the next few days, Betty kept me under house arrest. Finally, she and Hailey went out shopping, giving me a chance to slip away and find Lily. When I snuck into the house, I saw my tiny daughter kneeling on the floor, scrubbing it with a rag. I rushed over and pulled her up. “What are you doing?!” “Hailey said I made the floor dirty. She said if I don’t clean it, I can’t leave.” “Mommy, you should go.” Unlike her excitement from a few days ago, Lily was cold and pushed me away. I froze, then pulled her small body into a tight hug. “Did Hailey threaten you? Don’t be scared, baby. Tell Mommy, I’ll protect you.” Finally, Lily broke down in my arms, sobbing uncontrollably. She cried and told me that whenever Julian wasn’t home, Hailey and Henry would abuse her together. Even the maids called her the daughter of a criminal bitch. She had to beg and please Hailey just to get scraps of food and be allowed to sleep in a real bed. Otherwise, Hailey would lock her in the dark basement. She was so young, yet so helpless and broken. My heart bled for her. I wanted to take Lily right then, but the maids blocked the door. Helpless, I had to leave alone first. The moment I got out, I uploaded the evidence of Julian and Hailey’s child abuse to YouTube. In less than a day, the video went viral. They were dragged to the top of the trending charts. Hashtags like #Child Abuse#, #Unfit Parents#, and #Monsters# became overnight sensations. Although the posts were quickly taken down by Julian’s PR team, the damage was done. Reporters swarmed them. Unable to handle the public backlash, they held a live press conference. At the press conference, tiny Lily sat in the middle, flanked by Julian and Hailey. “Please don’t believe the rumors,” Julian said into the microphone. “Sophia fabricated everything to steal custody of our daughter.” “Lily is my own flesh and blood. I would never abuse her.” Hailey wiped a fake tear. “Yes, Lily is my sister Sophia’s daughter, which makes her my daughter too.” “Sophia was sent to prison three years ago. As soon as she got out, she demanded money from us. When we refused, she used Lily to smear our names.” Lily sat between them, silent and trembling. Instantly, the public turned on me. “And here I thought the parents were monsters. Turns out the real demon is the biological mother!” “Some people will say anything for money.” “Mr. Rodriguez and Miss Miller have always had a great reputation.” “But this Sophia woman was just released from prison. She clearly has issues.” “What a piece of trash, exploiting her own kid!” Hailey looked at me through the cameras, throwing me a victorious smirk. She spoke into the microphone with fake pity. “Please don’t blame Sophia. She went through a lot in prison, so it’s natural she has some resentment. I hope everyone can show her some grace.” With that, she grabbed Lily’s hand to leave. I watched Lily walk away, trapped in a crowd of angry reporters, unable to reach her. Just as I was about to sink into despair, Lily suddenly snatched her hand away from Hailey and ran back toward the microphones. “My mommy didn’t lie! Hailey is the liar!” she screamed, pointing at Hailey. The entire room gasped.

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Three of us were having dinner. Hudson took the menu and looked at Fiona first. “Your stomach has been sensitive lately. Should we order something light?” Fiona pouted, whining that she wanted something spicy. He chuckled. “Fine, but only mild spicy.” I sat across from them, remaining silent. I had been battling a severe stomach ulcer for three months. Last week, I sent him my follow-up report. He only replied with a single word: [Okay.] The waitress turned to me. “And for you, sweetie?” “Anything is fine,” I said. Soon, the table was filled with spicy dishes. Hudson picked up his fork and knife, carefully flaking off a piece of grilled fish, and placed it into Fiona’s plate. “Careful, it’s hot.” I held my glass of lukewarm water, staring at his profile. Three years ago, he used to treat me with the exact same tenderness. I used to think those sweet habits belonged to me. I didn’t know habits could pack up and move to someone else. He looked up and glanced at me. “Why aren’t you eating?” “Not hungry.” He frowned. “Your attitude has been getting weirder and weirder lately.” I didn’t reply. It wasn’t a weird attitude. It was just that I had stopped telling him what I wanted to eat a long time ago. Speaking up was pointless anyway, so I eventually chose silence.

“Ouch! That hurts!” Fiona suddenly covered her mouth, her brows furrowed in pain. Hudson stood up so fast his chair screeched back half a foot. “How could you be so careless?” “The bones in this fish are too tiny. I didn’t see them,” Fiona said, her eyes welling up with tears. “Open your mouth. Let me see where it’s stuck.” Hudson leaned over the table. “It’s on your tongue. Not too deep. I can get it out for you.” They were so close. Hudson turned on his phone flashlight to inspect her mouth. Sitting across from them, the pungent smell of chili from the dishes invaded my nose. My stomach acid churned violently. I pressed my hand firmly against my abdomen. No one spared me a single glance. I unlocked my phone. Our chat from last week was still sitting there quietly. [The test results are out. The doctor said it doesn’t look good. Please take a look when you have a minute.] [Okay.] Below that, there was nothing else. “Better now? The bone is out,” Hudson said, sitting back down. “Want to swallow some bread? Or drink some lemon juice? I’ll be more careful cleaning the fish for you next time.” “I don’t want any more fish. I’m scared,” Fiona complained softly. “Then eat something else. This fried chicken has no bones.” He picked up his fork and put a chicken drumstick into her plate. “Thank you, Hudson. You’re the best.” Fiona smiled sweetly. She then turned to me, a hint of triumph in her eyes. “Angie, are you really not going to eat anything?” “Not hungry.” I took a small sip of my warm water. “Is the food here not to your liking?” “If I had known, I would have insisted we go to that Mexican place you like.” “It’s fine.” Hudson suddenly slammed his fork down, his face darkening. “Angie, who are you pulling that face for?” I looked up at him. “I’m not pulling a face.” “Fiona is just trying to be nice. What’s with the attitude?” “My stomach hurts.” “If it hurts, go buy some meds. Don’t ruin the mood for everyone else here.” I looked at him, finding it almost funny. Three years. He completely forgot that I got this chronic stomach ulcer from staying up late with him for months to help him finish his startup project. “I need to use the restroom,” I said, standing up. “Make it quick. I’m ready to pay the bill,” Hudson said without looking up. I walked into the restroom, gripped the sink, and dry-heaved twice. Nothing came up but burning stomach acid. I splashed cold water on my face and stared at my pale reflection in the mirror. My phone buzzed. It was a message from my doctor. [Miss Angie, your new biopsy report is ready. I strongly suggest you come to the clinic as soon as possible.] I dried my hands and walked back to the dining area. Hudson had already paid. He was gently draping a camel coat over Fiona’s shoulders. “It’s chilly tonight. Don’t catch a cold.” Fiona snuggled into the coat. “Hudson’s coat is so warm.” Hudson turned and saw me, his brow furrowing slightly. “Let’s go. What are you standing there for?” Outside the restaurant, the freezing winter wind hit my face. I shivered. While Hudson went to the parking lot to get the car, Fiona stood next to me. “Angie, don’t be mad at Hudson.” “He just has a short temper, but he’s a really good guy.” “Before my dad passed away, he made Hudson promise to look after me. Hudson keeps his word. He’s a man of honor.” “Moving from my hometown to LA three years ago hasn’t been easy. I don’t know what I would’ve done without him.” She stared at the direction Hudson went. “I’m not mad,” I replied. “Good. I was worried you’d misunderstand our relationship.” “I won’t.” The car pulled up. Hudson rolled down the window. “Get in.” Fiona opened the passenger door and slid inside naturally. I opened the back door and sat in the shadows of the backseat. The car was playing the soft indie music Fiona liked. “I’ll drop Fiona off first,” Hudson said as he started the engine. “Thanks, Hudson. Sorry to trouble you.” “No trouble. It’s on the way.” It wasn’t on the way. Fiona lived on the east side of the city. I lived on the west. But I said nothing. When we arrived at Fiona’s apartment building, Hudson parked the car. “I’ll walk you up.” “No need! I can walk myself.” “It’s late. It’s not safe.” They both got out of the car. I sat in the dark vehicle, watching them walk side-by-side into the building entrance. It took ten minutes for Hudson to return. “Why didn’t you turn up the heater?” He glanced at me through the rearview mirror. “I’m not cold.” He didn’t push further and started driving. “Tomorrow is the weekend. Any plans?” he asked casually. “No.” “Perfect. Come help me move Fiona’s stuff tomorrow.” “She’s a girl, she has too many boxes to carry by herself.” I stared out the window. “Okay.” I gripped my phone, opened my chat with Hudson, and typed: [The doctor wants me to go to the hospital. My biopsy results are out.] My thumb hovered over the send button for a long time. After a moment, I deleted the message, letter by letter. Forget it. He would only reply with an “Okay.”

“It’s intestinal metaplasia. It’s a precancerous lesion,” Dr. Evans said, looking at me with a serious expression. “It doesn’t mean it will definitely turn into cancer, but we must treat it seriously.” “No spicy or irritating food. Eat regular meals. Regular check-ups. Surgery might be needed if things worsen.” “What if I leave it untreated?” I asked. “You’re still young, Angie. Don’t gamble with your life.” Dr. Evans handed me the report. I took it. Stepping out of the clinic, the afternoon sun felt blindingly hot. I dialed Hudson’s number. It rang eight times before he finally picked up. “What’s up?” Hudson’s voice sounded clearly annoyed. In the background, Fiona was giggling. “Hudson, should we put this cabinet here?” “I went to the hospital today…” I started. “Are you okay? Oh, right.” Hudson cut me off. “I told you yesterday, Fiona needs help moving today. Since you’re free, come over and help her pack.” I fell silent. “Hello? Lost your tongue again?” “Okay.” “Great. Ten tomorrow morning. I’ll text you the address.” The line went dead. I looked at the call duration: twenty-four seconds. He didn’t ask why I went to the hospital. He didn’t even ask if I was okay. The next day, I went to Fiona’s new apartment. Hudson was using a screwdriver to assemble a wardrobe for Fiona. Fiona, wearing an apron, poked her head out of the kitchen. “Angie! You’re here!” “Could you help me wash those new plates and bowls? I just bought them.” I walked over and rolled up my sleeves. The tap water was ice-cold, stinging my skin. “Hudson, you have to cook the very first meal in my new home, okay?” Fiona leaned against the kitchen doorframe. “Sure. What do you want?” Hudson asked without looking up. “Spicy roast chicken!” Hudson put down his screwdriver and turned to look at me. “Angie, be a sweetheart and run to the grocery store to grab some ingredients.” The plate in my hand slipped, clattering against the edge of the sink with a dull thud. Cooking a housewarming dinner for another woman, and sending me to do the grocery run. “Okay,” I said. During our three years together, I had become too accustomed to saying “okay.” As I walked out of the apartment, a dull pain began to bloom in my stomach. On my way back from the grocery store, the pain intensified. I had to squat down by a flowerbed on the street, cold sweat drenching my back. I waited there for ten minutes before I could barely stand up again. An hour later, Hudson served the steaming, aromatic roast chicken. The spicy scent filled the air, triggering a sharp sting in my stomach. He carved a large piece of chicken and placed it in Fiona’s bowl. “Try this. I made sure to put less chili for you.” He remembered to put less spice for Fiona. But at our dinners, he had never once remembered my condition. I stood up and grabbed my purse. “I’m going home. My stomach feels a bit off.” Hudson looked up at me briefly, then went back to serving Fiona. “Drink some warm water when you get back.” “Angie, are you sure you don’t want to stay? It tastes amazing!” Fiona asked with a fake pout. “No, thank you.” That night, the stomach pain was so bad I couldn’t even lie flat. I curled up on the sofa. My phone screen lit up. Hudson had posted on his Instagram. In the photo, he and Fiona were holding wine glasses, smiling brightly. The caption read: [New home, new beginnings. ] The comment section was bustling. [Is she your girlfriend?] [She’s gorgeous!] Hudson didn’t reply to any of them, nor did he deny it. I searched through all my drawers but couldn’t find my stomach meds. I opened my chat with Hudson. [My stomach hurts really badly.] I stared at the screen for ten seconds, then deleted it. The next morning, I received an official email from my company. The headquarters in Finland was looking for an exchange financial analyst for a joint research project. The contract was for three years. In the attachment, the contact person’s name was Albert Davis. I stared at that email for a long time. Three years. Far enough, long enough. My phone vibrated. It was Hudson. “What is wrong with you?” “I told you, I wasn’t feeling well.” “You always complain about that minor stomach issue. Aren’t you tired of it?” “Fiona thought she made you feel unwelcome. She felt guilty all night.” “She felt guilty? For what?” “Why are you always so cold-blooded, Angie?” “Me? Cold-blooded?” I asked back. “Whatever. I don’t have time to argue with you,” Hudson said, his voice dripping with frustration. “I won’t be coming home tonight. Fiona still has some things that need setting up.” “Up to you.” I hung up. A voice message from Albert popped up on my WhatsApp. “Angie, have you thought about the offer?” I opened the email reply box and typed: [I accept the offer.]

“Let’s go watch a movie this weekend,” Hudson said as he changed his shoes at the door. “I don’t feel like it.” I didn’t look up from my laptop, continuing to organize my transition files. “Fiona gave me two tickets. She said it’s a great movie.” “You two go.” “She has her own ticket. The three of us are going together.” Hudson walked over and closed my laptop shut. “Stop locking yourself in the house all day. No wonder you have such a bad attitude lately.” I stared at him. “Okay.” It wasn’t until we reached the theater that I realized it was a horror movie. Fiona held a tub of popcorn, looking completely innocent. “Angie, aren’t you scared? I have the worst courage.” “No.” The lights dimmed. Within the first ten minutes, Fiona let out a sharp shriek. She threw herself toward Hudson, grabbing his arm tightly and burying her face in his shoulder. Hudson didn’t push her away. Instead, he gently patted her back. “It’s okay. It’s just CGI,” his voice was incredibly gentle. I sat on his other side, separated by the armrest where his jacket lay. When the movie ended, Fiona turned to me. “Angie, were you really not scared at all?” “No.” Hudson cut in. “She’s tough. She never needs anyone to worry about her.” Right. Because even if I did, it wouldn’t be his turn to worry. The cold wind outside the theater made my stomach cramp again. “Let’s grab a late-night snack,” Hudson suggested. As we passed a Mexican restaurant, I stopped. I had asked Hudson to take me here three times. Every time, he said “next time.” I didn’t say anything and kept walking. “That one!” Fiona pointed at a seafood bistro ahead. “I’ve been dying to try that place!” Without hesitation, Hudson steered us inside. Once we were seated, the table was loaded with spicy seafood. In front of me sat a glass of warm water. Fiona bit into a spicy crab leg and suddenly spoke up. “Angie, are you on a diet?” “I noticed you barely touched your food during our last few dinners.” Before I could answer, she giggled. “But I guess it’s good. Girls look better in clothes when they’re skinny.” Hudson didn’t object. He actually agreed. “She’s always been like this. Eats like a bird.” It wasn’t because I ate like a bird. It was because I couldn’t eat a single dish you ordered. The strong scent of spices hit my nose, worsening the spasms in my stomach. I clenched my hands on my lap. I suddenly realized something with painful clarity. He hadn’t forgotten that I couldn’t eat spicy food. He simply didn’t care enough to know. When we got home, I rushed to the bathroom and threw up. There were traces of blood in the toilet bowl. My phone rang. “Home?” Hudson’s voice came through. “Yes.” “Get some sleep.” The call ended. Call duration: eight seconds. The next day, we had a Zoom meeting. Albert briefly introduced the project on the screen. At the end, he added, “Angie, if you have any concerns about moving to Finland, let me know anytime.” “No concerns at all.” After closing the Zoom call, several voice messages popped up on my WhatsApp. They were from Fiona. “Angie, I want to tell you something, but please don’t get mad at me.” “When Hudson drove me home yesterday, he said you’ve been so cold lately.” “He felt really hurt.” “Maybe you should show him a little more affection?” I looked at the screen and suddenly laughed. He felt hurt. Okay. I opened my work email and clicked [Confirm Transfer]. That evening, Hudson came home. I was packing my documents in the study. “Next weekend, I’m taking you and Fiona to a hot spring resort upstate to relax,” he said, leaning against the doorframe. “I’m not going.” “What is it this time?” He frowned. I took the medical reports, doctors’ instructions, and biopsy results from the drawer, stacked them neatly, and placed them on the corner of the desk. “If you have time, read these.” He glanced at them but didn’t pick them up. “Yeah, I’ll look at them later. First, about next weekend…” “I’m tired, Hudson.” I stood up, walked into the bedroom, and locked the door behind me. “Are you throwing another tantrum?!” His angry, muffled voice came from the hallway. I ignored him.

“Table for two, this way please,” the waitress smiled warmly. “Three,” Hudson corrected. The waitress looked behind them, her eyes finally landing on me. She apologized awkwardly. It was Fiona’s birthday dinner, and Hudson had booked a high-end Japanese restaurant. Fiona held Hudson’s arm as they walked in. I walked behind them with my head down, looking like an unwanted shadow. After sitting down, Hudson handed the menu to Fiona. “Order whatever you like.” Fiona pointed at the menu. “The premium sashimi platter, Wagyu sukiyaki, and eel rice.” Hudson finally looked at me. “What do you want?” “A bowl of simple green tea rice.” Hudson frowned. “That’s it?” “Yes.” I didn’t elaborate. Halfway through the dinner, Hudson put down his utensils and pulled a velvet box from his pocket. “Happy birthday, Fiona.” Fiona gasped, covering her mouth. “Oh my god! It’s beautiful!” It was a diamond necklace. I watched the scene quietly. A month ago, it was my birthday. Hudson forgot. I didn’t remind him. He only remembered three days later. He Venmoed me some money with the note [Belated birthday gift]. I didn’t accept the money, and he never asked about it again. Fiona touched the necklace, smiling at me. “Angie, you’re so lucky. Hudson is always so thoughtful. I’m so touched.” I raised my teacup. “Happy birthday.” My phone buzzed. It was an email from Albert. [Your visa has been approved. Departure in three weeks.] I read the email and locked my screen. Looking up, I saw Hudson gently wiping a smudge of sauce from the corner of Fiona’s mouth with a napkin. In this relationship, I was like a piece of luggage forgotten in a corner. The owner walked past it every day, never looking at it, but always assuming it would be there forever. I set down my cup. My voice was calm. “Hudson.” He looked at me. I met his eyes. He used to look at me with the exact same eyes three years ago, filled with warmth. But now, that warmth had moved out. “Let’s break up.” The air froze for two seconds. Fiona’s fork clattered loudly onto her plate. Hudson’s expression shifted from confusion to offended rage. “What did you say?” “Let’s break up,” I repeated. He let out a cold laugh. “Are you seriously picking today of all days to start a fight?” “I’m not fighting.” I stood up and grabbed my coat. “I’m moving to Finland next month. It’s a three-year transfer.” “We are done.” Hudson stood up abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. “Angie, have you lost your mind? Throwing away three years of our relationship just like that?” “Three years?” I looked back at him, my voice barely a whisper. “In these three years, count how many times you’ve replied to me with just ‘Okay’. Go check our chat history.” I turned toward the door. Hudson’s voice roared behind me. “Angie, stop right there!” “Angie!” Fiona grabbed Hudson’s arm, her eyes red. “Hudson, don’t yell at her. Maybe she’s just emotional right now…” I pushed open the restaurant door, and the winter wind rushed over me. My phone buzzed. A text from Hudson: [Come back. We need to talk.] I didn’t reply. I hailed a cab and gave the driver the hospital’s address. “Going to the ER, kiddo?” the driver asked. “Yeah.” My stomach was screaming in pain again. But my heart felt absolutely nothing.

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With my face pale as death from terminal cancer, I lay in bed and dialed my husband’s number. “Miles, what’s up with those wedding photos of you and Lauren on Instagram?” His voice over the line was nothing but cold impatience. “It’s just for work. Besides, the doctor said you only have three months left. Stop letting your mind wander.” Before I could reply, a sweet, clingy female voice came from his end. “Miles, who is that? Come quick and help me choose our wedding dress for the engagement party!” The call was abruptly disconnected. My grip tightened on my phone. Then, I smiled. I threw off the blanket, sat up, and wiped the pale, sickly foundation off my face. Everyone thought I was desperately in love with Miles. They thought I’d give up my life for him. They were all waiting to watch me die a tragic, desperate death. Only I knew that this so-called terminal diagnosis was a meticulously planned escape. As for our marital assets? Too bad. While Miles was busy fooling around, I had already quietly drained and transferred every single penny. …

I refreshed Instagram. Lauren Scott had deleted all her wedding dress posts, replacing them with a single, highly dramatic caption: “It was just a dinner hosted by the brand to thank us for the endorsement. We were playing truth or dare, and I lost. The brand challenged me to take a photo with any man present. Mr. Whitfield only agreed to help to save me from embarrassment. I apologize for the misunderstanding.” The attached photo was a selfie of her pouting with a victimized expression. Miles was quick to comment: “Ignore them, Lauren. I’ve got your back. No one dares bully you.” A flood of comments instantly appeared below: “We all get it, it was obviously a joke. Those reporters love chasing shadows.” “Some people? Are they talking about Mr. Whitfield’s dying wife? Mr. Whitfield is so miserable, married to a woman like that. She’s dying anyway, that’s just her bad luck. Yet she stays at home making trouble, blaming Mr. Whitfield and Lauren for making her sick.” “The way Mr. Whitfield protects you is so hot!” I stared coldly at the screen, took note of every single account that liked those comments, and put them all on our company’s blacklist. I had founded this entertainment agency solely to secure Miles’s position as a gold-star producer. I had poured all my money and connections into him. Now, he was indeed the crown jewel of our company, with everyone kissing his feet. Even his favorite rising star, Lauren, had ridden his coattails straight to the top. And I, the majority shareholder of the company, had become the annoying, dying wife in their mouths. They probably thought I loved Miles to the bone. They thought the company would go bankrupt without him. They forgot that it was my empire that made him who he was today. Without him, I could build a dozen gold-star producers. Lauren replied to every comment with a blushing emoji. Her reply to Miles was a blowing kiss. The doorbell rang. It was FedEx. The courier handed me the divorce papers signed by Miles, along with a gift box. I asked him what it was. He scratched his head. “A lady asked me to hand this to you. She said you’re a miserable, dying soul, but she’s generous enough not to hold a grudge.” “These are white lilies. She wishes you a peaceful recovery.” I calmly told him to throw Lauren’s mocking funeral flowers straight into the trash and shut the door. I pulled out the divorce papers and signed my name, stroke by stroke. My phone buzzed. It was a WhatsApp message from Carter, the company’s vice president. “Ms. Marlowe, are you sure about this? You can’t just freeze Mr. Whitfield and Lauren’s joint projects.” “I know your health is failing and you’re having a lover’s spat with Mr. Whitfield, but please don’t joke with the company’s future. You’re not just ruining our two pillars, you’re throwing our investors’ money down the drain.” I replied coldly: “You’re right. I forgot to deal with you. You’re fired. I’ll have the board take over your duties immediately.” After hitting send, I immediately called the Board Secretariat, instructing them to take full control of project approvals and finances. “Suspend and audit anyone who pleads for Miles and Lauren. If they don’t like it, tell them to pack their bags.” I looked at the executives who were leaving nice comments on Lauren’s Instagram. I had hired them with top-tier salaries, headhunting them from across the country. I gave them their platform. I sent them to Harvard for executive training. Yet, now, they only recognized Miles. They completely forgot who gave them everything they had. They were loyal dogs trained by Miles, possessing the exact same ungrateful nature. Ungrateful people don’t deserve to be executives. They should sleep on the streets to learn what the real world feels like. As soon as I hung up, I realized Miles had sent me over a dozen messages. In the end, probably driven mad by the silence, he called me from a new number. I picked up. The second the call connected, his furious roar boomed through the speaker. “Are you insane! I’m about to launch a new project, and Lauren is scheduled to shoot! How dare you freeze all our resources!”

“Sienna, I know you’re dying and you’re bitter about it, but that is your fate!” “Your body was born defective. Even God can’t save you! It’s your own destiny to die young, it is not my fault, and it certainly isn’t Lauren’s!” “How many times do I have to tell you? Why do you keep targeting Lauren? I kept you away from the entertainment news because I didn’t want you overthinking! I never expected you to start throwing dirt on her, let alone abuse your power to blacklist her!” His usually arrogant, detached voice was shaking with rage. I simply asked, “Did you really fly to Paris for work? Was that wedding dress photo really just a stunt forced by the brand?” “Or did you rush to Paris just to accompany her to Fashion Week?” On the other end of the line, his breath hitched. Silence stretched for two seconds. “What nonsense are you talking about? That never happened… You’re getting more paranoid by the day…” Then, Lauren’s voice piped up. “Miles, the show is about to start. You came out here to relax, and I don’t want you to be unhappy because of me. When we go back, I’ll personally apologize to Sienna. I’ll even get down on my knees if that’s what it takes.” The call was abruptly cut off. They probably didn’t want to miss the show. I held my new passport, and my tears finally fell uncontrollably. “Mom, I won’t let them get away with this,” I whispered to the empty room. It was a promise to my late mother. I didn’t know how long I cried. My chest felt so tight I could barely breathe. The next morning, I woke up with swollen eyes. I put on sunglasses and walked downstairs, only to see a busy figure in the kitchen. Miles walked out, freezing for a second when he saw me, but he quickly put on his usual nonchalant face. “You’re awake? I made breakfast. Come eat.” “I knew you’d overthink things yesterday, so I flew back overnight without even resting.” I opened my mouth to tell him to get lost, but then a slender figure wearing my silk bathrobe walked out of the bathroom. She rushed straight into Miles’s arms, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness. “Miles, you’re so sweet. I love a man who knows how to take care of people.” Miles quickly peeled her off him, a trace of panic in his voice. “How old are you, acting like a child?” He turned to explain to me. “When we landed, there was a sudden downpour. We got soaked. I told Lauren to come over and change first. She insisted on coming to apologize to you, so I let her borrow your clothes.” Lauren stuck her tongue out and looked at me. “Sienna, I’m here to apologize. Yesterday was really just a joke! If you don’t believe me, I’ll join the social season this weekend and marry myself off. I promise I won’t get in your way.” “Lauren! Stop messing around!” Miles snapped. Sensing the mock on my lips, he quickly tried to smooth things over. “I mean, Sienna has always been generous and kind. She’s already forgiven you. There’s no need for you to go marry some old man.” “Right, Sienna? Let’s just forget about yesterday, okay?” I was practically on my “deathbed,” yet he was playing house with his mistress at Paris Fashion Week. And now he wanted me to just let it go? Of course. I let out a cold smile. “Sure. I don’t mind.” After all, you two will be broke soon anyway. What your relationship is, where you slept last night, and what you did—I couldn’t care less. Hearing this, Miles looked relieved. He adjusted his glasses. “I’m glad you understand. I’ve put my current projects on hold to spend time with you. Once you’re feeling better, we’ll finalize the divorce, and I’ll go back to work.” I nodded calmly. He was my husband. He was supposed to accompany me through my “final days.” But a flash of malice crossed Lauren’s eyes. She spun around, took the cup Miles was holding, and walked toward me. “Sienna, you have to try this cappuccino Miles made. Last time we went out, I said the coffee there was amazing, and Miles promised he’d learn how to make it for me. I just tasted it, and it tastes exactly the same.” Miles looked at me nervously. He used to say his hands were meant for signing multi-million dollar contracts, not for cooking. When I first handed him my “cancer” diagnosis, he had stared at it in shock, then grabbed my hand with red eyes. “Don’t be afraid, Sienna. I’m here.” Since then, he would dive into the kitchen after work, researching recipes. I thought he had finally found his conscience. I thought he remembered our past warmth. It turned out he wasn’t practicing for me. He was practicing for another woman. Lauren held the coffee out to me, her smile dripping with triumph. “Try it, Sienna. It’s Miles’s hard work.” I looked at her and smiled. The next second, I swung my hand hard. “Smash!” The beautifully crafted cup shattered on the floor, hot coffee splashing all over Lauren. “Ah!” she screamed, jumping back in pain. Miles’s face fell. He lunged forward and shoved me away. “Sienna! Are you insane!” I stumbled, my waist slamming hard against the sofa armrest. A sharp pain shot through my back. He didn’t even look at me. He was too busy checking Lauren’s arm. “Are you hurt? Is it bad? Let me see!” Lauren sobbed, burying herself in his chest. “Miles, it hurts… Does Sienna hate me that much?” Miles held her close, glaring at me like I was a madwoman. “She’s just spoiled! She’s lost her mind from the sickness!” I held my aching waist and looked coldly at the two of them. “Get out.” My voice wasn’t loud, but it was freezing. “Get the hell out of my house.” Miles frowned. “Sienna, stop being unreasonable. Lauren was only trying to be nice…” “Nice?” I cut him off, pointing at the door. “Wearing my bathrobe, standing in my house, bragging about the coffee you made for her—that’s her being nice?” “I said, get out!” I grabbed another glass from the table and shattered it at their feet. Lauren shrieked, flinching. Miles finally snapped, pulling Lauren behind him. “Enough, Sienna! Look at yourself! You look like a psycho!” “I stayed to accompany you, not to let you step all over me! I signed the divorce papers, and I even let you have the majority of the assets! What more do you want!” He thought he was making a sacrifice. He didn’t know that the assets under his name were already hollowed out. Every single equity transfer sheet he had signed was a trap. “I don’t want anything,” I said calmly. “I just want some peace before I die. The two of you are hurting my eyes.” Miles’s chest heaved with anger. Ultimately, he dragged Lauren away. Before leaving, he cast a complicated look at me. “Sienna, watch yourself.” The front door slammed shut. Finally, the world was quiet. I bent down and picked up the shattered porcelain piece by piece. The sharp edges sliced into my finger, and a bead of blood welled up. I didn’t care. This little pain was nothing.

The next day, Miles’s mother, Sarah, showed up. She was a woman who always wore heavy makeup and looked down on everyone. The moment Sarah walked in, she swept a disgusted glance around the living room, as if she had stepped into a slum. “Sienna, I heard you kicked Miles out?” She sat across from me, her posture arrogant. I didn’t say a word, continuing to trim the roses in my vase. I had bought these roses for myself. Seeing me ignore her, Sarah’s face turned sour. “I’m warning you, don’t think you can manipulate Miles just because you’re dying! Miles is soft-hearted enough to spend your remaining days with you. That is your blessing!” “Don’t be ungrateful! Call Miles back right now and apologize!” I snipped a stem with a sharp “click”. I finally looked up at her and smiled. “Sarah, did you forget? This house is mine. I bought it with my pre-marital funds. I can kick out whoever I want.” Sarah’s face instantly turned red. “You! You little…” She was speechless with rage. I laid down the shears and wiped my hands with a cloth. “And as for the ‘blessing’ you mentioned, I’ll pass. After all, my life was drained by the ‘blessings’ of the Whitfield family.” “Your son is accompanying a dying woman while flying to Paris to watch fashion shows and try on wedding dresses with a little starlet. Whoever wants that blessing can have it.” Sarah stood up abruptly, pointing her finger at my nose. “Lies! Miles did that for work! Lauren is a good girl, unlike you—bitter, toxic, and full of disease!” “Our family was cursed the day we let you in!” My smile widened. I tapped the screen of my phone, which was recording under the table. Perfect. Keep going. The nastier, the better. “Sienna, let me tell you, the moment Miles divorces you, he’s marrying Lauren! She’s young, beautiful, and healthy. Not like you, who can’t even bear a child!” “You better behave. Otherwise, even after you die, we won’t let you or your short-lived mother rest in peace!” She yelled until her throat was dry, then reached for my coffee cup on the table. I firmly pressed my hand down on the rim of the cup. “Sarah, I wouldn’t drink that if I were you.” She froze. “What do you mean?” I let out a cold laugh. “I’m afraid my disease might be contagious.” Sarah’s face turned pale instantly. She yanked her hand back. She pointed at me, her finger trembling. “You… you psycho!” With that, she grabbed her Hermès bag and fled. I stopped the recording, named the file “The Whitfield Family’s True Colors,” and sent it to my lawyer. My lawyer replied instantly: “Got it, Ms. Marlowe. Another solid piece of evidence.” My death was near. But so was my rebirth.

Only one day left until my “death.” The company was in complete chaos. I had frozen all of Miles and Lauren’s projects, which effectively cut off the company’s main revenue stream for the next six months. Dozens of executives and board members were spamming my phone. I didn’t answer a single call. I simply instructed my secretary to send out a company-wide email. The content was simple: “Effective immediately, all operations of the company are suspended for an internal audit. No employee shall provide any support to Miles Whitfield or Lauren Scott in the name of the company. Violators will be terminated immediately and face legal prosecution.” This email was the final straw. Miles could no longer sit still. He called me again from yet another new number. “Sienna! What the hell do you want? You’re going to destroy the company! You’re destroying me!” His voice carried a hint of hysterical panic. I leaned back on the lounge chair on my balcony, basking in the sun. “Miles, don’t get worked up. The company is mine. If I want to destroy it, that’s my right.” “You!” He choked on his words. “You can’t do this! This company is the result of my hard work for years! Even if you hate me, you can’t play with the company’s survival!” “Your hard work?” I laughed. “Miles, did you forget? This company was built dollar by dollar using the inheritance my father left me. I poured hundreds of millions into it.” “Your so-called hard work is just a stage I built for you. Now, I’m tearing down the stage. Is there a problem?” There was a dead silence on the other end. After a long time, his voice came through again, this time with a trace of begging. “Sienna, I’m begging you. Just resume the projects, okay? We can settle our personal issues privately. Don’t drag the company into this.” “We can divorce. I’ll walk away with nothing, I’ll give everything to you, okay?”

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I spent three years waiting for official status, but all I got from the man I loved was, “Take the blame for this first.” The moment I hit send on my resignation email, I thought what I’d lost was love. It wasn’t until I stood in the mountain wind of Los Angeles and heard someone say my name, clear as day, that I finally understood—what I truly needed to take back was never Ethan Hayes’s heart. It was the version of myself they had trampled into the mud. I left New York behind for Los Angeles. Once a project manager forced to take others’ heat, I’d grown into a respected lead planner. I’d let go of my quiet unrequited love, the undeserved mercy I’d handed out, and the mask I’d worn—the girl who could take anything. When the old lights came back on, when my name was no longer erased, I finally dared to say: some roads don’t require waiting for someone to walk with you. Walk them alone, and the sky still won’t fall. Lydia Lane pov I had just clicked send on my resignation email when Ethan Hayes called me backstage at the press conference and tried to force me to admit I was a thief. Just beyond a curtain, the room was packed with media. On the big screen, the key visual for the Titanic Ruins Restoration played on a loop. Every detail was the result of half a month of my sleepless effort. But at the very top of the list of lead creators, three words were written in bold: Nora Wells. Wrapped in a shawl, Nora Wells’s eyes were red in just the right way. “Ethan, I really didn’t know she’d written a similar proposal too. She’s been with you for so many years. I can understand her wanting to use my work to prove herself. But there are so many reporters out there. I can’t afford to be humiliated like this.” I looked at that hypocritical face, my fingers slowly clenching tight. I had once been the inconspicuous foil beside Nora Wells. After Nora went abroad, I became the woman Ethan Hayes kept hidden from the light. For three years, I drank in his place, worked overtime with him, and even let him take whatever he wanted in bed. I thought I might eventually earn official status, but on the very first day Nora returned, my hard work became an offering for her. Ethan looked at me, his tone an unquestionable order. “Lydia, take responsibility for this first.” “That proposal is mine.” My voice went cold. “I know.” Ethan frowned and said as if it were only natural, “That’s all I’m asking—just take the blame temporarily. Nora’s only just gotten back; she can’t have a plagiarism stain on her name.” “She can’t, but I can?” Nora bit her lower lip and kept arguing. “Lydia, I know you blame me. You like Ethan. You finally waited until I left, so of course you’re unwilling to accept this. But feelings aren’t something you can steal by sleeping with someone.” My face went pale. But Ethan did not refute Nora’s humiliation. He only warned me with a dark expression. “What happened between you and me was an accident to begin with. Now that she’s back, everything should go back to where it belongs.” Nora shoved an apology statement into my hand. “Lydia, just help me one last time. Aren’t you the best at enduring things?” On the paper was written: Due to my eagerness to prove myself, I referenced Ms. Nora Wells’s old draft. I stared at that line and suddenly laughed. That was right. I was far too good at enduring. So good that Ethan thought I had no backbone. So good that Nora thought I had been born to be a stepping stone. I casually threw the apology statement into the trash can beside me. “I won’t admit it.” Ethan’s eyes darkened. “Lydia Lane, stop making a scene!” “Mr. Hayes, I’m not making a scene.” I pulled the work badge from around my neck and slapped it onto the table. “My resignation email has already been sent to HR. In thirty days, I will leave Hayes Group.” Ethan’s brow twitched sharply. Nora was the first to laugh. “Resigning? Can you bear to?” I didn’t even spare her a glance. I stared into Ethan’s eyes. “Whether the press conference goes on is your business. Whether my name gets erased is also your business. But from today onward, I will not take the blame for any of you ever again.” I turned to leave, but Ethan’s hand clamped tightly around my wrist. He was like a beast whose tail had been stepped on. “You think sending one email means you can cut ties with me?” I pulled my hand back inch by inch with all my strength. My voice was dead in a way it had never been before. “I’m not cutting ties. This ends here.”

Lydia Lane pov In the end, the press conference still went on. But because of my protest, Ethan Hayes had no choice but to temporarily remove the media Q&A and only let Nora Wells go onstage to show off her “thoughts on returning to the country.” I sat in the last row and watched Nora enjoy the applause onstage, my face expressionless as I closed my laptop. If I hadn’t fought to the end tonight, I was afraid I would be the one standing onstage right now, facing everyone’s accusations. I took a deep breath. If you back down for too long, other people will only start treating your blood, sweat, and tears as something they’re entitled to. But from now on, I would never let anyone step on me to climb higher again. The moment the press conference ended, an assistant ran over, drenched in cold sweat. “Manager Lane, Mr. Hayes wants you in the lounge immediately.” When I pushed the door open, Nora was leaning against the sofa, wiping away tears. Ethan stood by the window, his face as dark as water. The moment she saw me, Nora immediately played the victim first. “Lydia, you almost ruined my press conference just now!” Ethan stubbed out his cigarette and gave an order in a charitable tone. “Organize a copy of the draft materials and send it to Nora tonight. Externally, we’ll keep the story consistent: you handled execution, and she was the lead creator. Bonuses, a promotion—any compensation you’re after, just say the word.” Compensation again. Every time he wronged me, he threw money at me, as if dismissing a beggar. “I only want my credit.” My voice was firm. Nora looked as if she’d heard a joke. “You insist on fighting me over this?” “I’m taking back what belongs to me!” Ethan’s expression sank completely to freezing point. “Lydia Lane, don’t take this too far. Nora is upset. If you lower your head, the project can continue.” “If the project can only continue by making me lower my head, then let it die.” The lounge fell into dead silence. Ethan stared at me as if he were looking at a lunatic. “For the sake of one empty title, you’re willing to abandon a project worth tens of millions for Hayes Group?” “Mr. Hayes, I’ve resigned.” I looked at him. “Hayes Group’s tens of millions are not my responsibility.” Those words were like a poisoned thorn, stabbing into Ethan’s chest and making it contract abruptly. He yanked open a drawer, threw out a check, and pushed it over. “Three million! Give the draft materials to Nora, and I’ll pretend your resignation never happened!” Beside him, Nora sneered. “Lydia, stop pretending. The only reason you stayed by Ethan’s side was for money, wasn’t it?” I walked forward and picked up that check. Ethan’s tense jaw had only just started to relax when, in the next second— Rip. In front of both of them, I tore the check in half and threw it back onto the table. “I used to like you. It’s true. I liked you in a way that had no dignity.” I looked at Ethan’s livid face, every word clear. “But that doesn’t mean I’ll have no self-respect forever.” After I finished speaking, I turned and left, my steps not faltering once. Nora cried and threw herself into Ethan’s arms, but this time, Ethan did not lower his head to comfort her. He stared fixedly at the closed door, then at the shredded check on the floor. Suddenly, his heart filled with an uncontrollable panic.

Lydia Lane pov The internal group chat was full of people mocking me. “No matter how hard a foil struggles, she’s still just a foil. The moment the first love comes back, all she can do is get lost.” I didn’t leave the group, and I didn’t explain. I was at my desk, organizing the last few handover checklists. That afternoon was the Titanic Ruins Restoration Project progress meeting. Nora sat in the main seat, with the proposal I had stayed up writing placed in front of her. She read it haltingly, stumbling whenever she reached professional terms. A partner frowned and interrupted her. “Ms. Wells, I’d like to ask, why does the entrance exhibition hall deliberately avoid the north entrance?” Nora flipped through the proposal in her hands until her face went white. Then she looked to me as if asking for help. Of course the polished public version didn’t mention it. Because beneath the north entrance was the old drainage ditch that could collapse at any moment. That was something I had discovered only after going to the muddy site three times myself. The entire conference room was waiting. With a dark expression, Ethan looked toward me in the corner and ordered, “You answer.” I snapped my notebook shut and didn’t even lift my eyes. “Sorry, Mr. Hayes. Under the current credit split, I’ve got no standing to weigh in here.” The conference room instantly became so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Nora’s tears fell all at once. “Lydia, do you have to publicly embarrass me like this?” Ethan shot to his feet, suppressing towering rage. “Meeting adjourned!” Once everyone had left, Ethan locked the conference room door behind them. His voice was as cold as if it had been dipped in ice. “You enjoyed publicly embarrassing Nora today, didn’t you?” “I simply didn’t step onstage for her again.” “She just came back. There are many things she’s not familiar with yet!” “If she’s not familiar with them, then she shouldn’t be shamelessly occupying the lead creator’s name!” I refused to back down. Ethan stared at me, his teeth clenched. “You didn’t used to be this petty.” “That’s right.” I only found it absurd. “In the past, I was at your beck and call. Even after you drained me dry, I still had to smile and say it was fine. Of course you thought I was useful.” “But Ethan Hayes, the past is the past, and now is now.” “Now, I will not yield another inch! Anything that belongs to me, I won’t give away a single piece of it!” Nora suddenly pushed the door open and came in, crying tearfully fragile. “Ethan, I quit! Since she looks down on me anyway, staying here would only be humiliating!” She made as if to leave, but Ethan pulled her into his arms at once, then turned and stared hard at me. “Apologize to her! Lydia Lane, don’t make me say it a second time!” I didn’t move. Ethan roared, “Apologize!” I picked up the documents on the table and threw them directly in front of Ethan. “This is the safety hazard explanation for the north entrance. There’s no apology. I’ve given you the risk warning. You’d better take care of yourself.” I pulled open the door and strode out. Behind me came the deafening crash of Ethan smashing a teacup, followed by the sound of shattering glass. But I didn’t look back even once.

Lydia Lane pov On Friday night, Ethan Hayes brought Nora Wells to the Ruins Restoration Association’s private dinner. To keep Nora from making a fool of herself, he used an ordering tone to summon me over too, even though I had been about to get off work and pack my things. I went—not for him, but to give my own hard work one final proper ending. At North City Club, the courtyard was filled with birch trees. The moment Nora entered, she couldn’t wait to belittle me in front of the various people in charge. “This is Ethan’s assistant. She’s best at cleaning up messes. Wherever things get chaotic, just call her over, and she’ll tidy it up immediately.” A knowing chuckle broke out around the table. I lowered my eyes and remained unmoved. After a few rounds of drinks, Nora, in an effort to show off, actually described the ancient Greek artifact restoration overseen by one chairman as a commercial street renovation. The chairman’s face darkened on the spot. “Mr. Hayes, is your ruins restoration project about culture, or is it about putting on a show?” Nora panicked and looked to Ethan for help. Just as the atmosphere dropped to freezing point, I set down my teacup. I didn’t use any flowery language. In only three minutes, I clearly explained the origins of ancient Greek artifacts, the taboos involved in artifact preservation, and the spiritual core of the project. Not only did I smooth things over, I also brought out the full depth of the cultural foundation. The chairman’s expression turned from cloudy to clear, and he nodded in approval. “Now that is someone who has truly done her homework.” Nora’s face instantly flushed bright red, and she was so jealous she looked like she might go insane. Ethan had just opened his mouth to save face when two crisp claps suddenly came from the corner. It was a man in a dark gray shirt, with a refined, clean presence and the calm ease of someone in a position of power. The person in charge of Shanhai Company, Nathan Grant. His gaze passed over the crowd and landed directly on me. “The cultural substance Ms. Lane mentioned just now is something I reviewed a few days ago as well. Your judgment is very accurate. If the project followed your original proposal, it could be saved. If it follows the version currently made public—” He gave a soft laugh, not even glancing at Nora. “I’m afraid all that’s left is a pile of flashy but useless garbage.” The entire room fell dead silent. Nora’s tears spilled from her eyes. “Mr. Grant, are you saying I don’t understand anything?” “I’m talking about the proposal,” Nathan said in an extremely calm tone. “This project isn’t some trinket you can wave to cheer up your lover. Whoever poured their heart into writing it should be the one standing in the spotlight.” Those words were like a loud slap, striking Ethan and Nora hard across the face. When the private dinner ended, Nathan stopped me and handed me a business card. “After you leave Hayes Group, you can come to Shanhai Company. The pay isn’t much, but your name will be written cleanly on every piece of work you do.” For some reason, my eyes heated. I accepted the card with both hands. That scene fell into Ethan’s eyes. His gaze abruptly turned dark and hostile as he strode forward. “Since when are you two this close? You want to go to Los Angeles?” He laughed coldly. “Some lousy company is worth giving up Hayes Group for?” I carefully put the business card into my bag, then lifted my head and looked at Ethan’s stunned face. My voice was soft, but resolute. “At least there, they won’t put the name of the woman you love on work I poured my heart into.” With that, I turned and stepped into the night. Ethan froze where he stood, his expression ugly to the extreme. He suddenly realized that this time, I was truly walking forever toward the light that belonged to me.

Lydia Lane pov On the twenty-third day of my resignation countdown, Nora Wells cried at Hayes Group. The cause was an old lamp. That lamp had been donated by a descendant of a Titanic victim. Its metal frame was charred black, marked with scars left by the shipwreck. I had originally planned to place it in the starting display case of the Titanic Ruins Restoration, so visitors would know that our project was not a scene built out of thin air. It was a place where people had lived, longed, and waited. Nora disliked how old it was. She said it didn’t look good in photos and told someone to replace it with a glass lighthouse. When the workers moved it, they lost their grip. The old lamp fell to the ground, and two parts of the frame snapped. The donor, George Shaw, rushed over. Looking at that lamp, his hands trembled. “This was left to me by my grandfather.” Nora cried on the spot. “I only wanted the lamp to look prettier. I didn’t know it was this serious.” When Ethan arrived, the first person he looked at was Nora. “Were you hurt?” Nora shook her head, her tears falling even harder. “Ethan, did Lydia Lane deliberately not tell me this lamp couldn’t be moved? She knew I had just taken over and didn’t understand anything.” I stood off to the side, still holding the call records with the restoration specialist. I said, “I wrote it three times on the handover form. The old lamp is for display only. Do not move it.” Nora bit her lip. “There are so many documents. How could I possibly read every single word? You waited for me to make a mistake on purpose.” George looked at them arguing, his face blue with anger. “If Hayes Group doesn’t respect these objects, then don’t do the project at all!” Ethan frowned and turned to me. “Go explain it to George Shaw.” “Explain what?” “Say it was an oversight in your handover.” I looked at him and suddenly lost the strength to speak. I thought I could no longer hurt, but every time, Ethan could use the lightest tone to press me down even lower. “I won’t go,” I said. Ethan’s patience ran out. “Lydia Lane, when something goes wrong with a project, the person in charge should take responsibility.” “The person in charge now is Nora Wells.” Nora cried and took a step back. “Then I’ll just leave. I’m not worthy of being in charge.” Ethan immediately grabbed her, his voice softening. “No one is asking you to leave.” Then he looked at me. “You’re suspended for three days. Write an explanation for the descendants of the Titanic survivors. Once they calm down, come back and continue the handover.” I didn’t argue. I returned to my desk, printed out the suspension notice, and placed it together with my resignation email. The two documents lay side by side, like a joke. Before I got off work, HR came to ask me, “Manager Lane, your resignation is still proceeding according to the thirty-day notice, right? Mr. Hayes hasn’t rejected it, so we’ll process it according to the resignation date.” I nodded. “Thank you.” HR sighed and lowered their voice. “Have you really thought this through?” “I have.” When I carried my cardboard box out of the company, it was raining. There was no car at the entrance, and no one waiting for me. My phone rang once. It was a message from Ethan Hayes. He said, Nora was frightened today. Don’t upset her again. I looked at it for a long time, then replied with the last private message I would send him during this period. I said, Ethan Hayes, I hurt too. After the message went out, there was no reply for a long time. I put my phone back into my bag and walked into the rain. The rain struck the ribs of my umbrella in a dense patter. I didn’t take a Hayes Group car. Instead, I walked to the bus stop and squeezed in with ordinary people heading home from overtime. Beside me, an older woman carried groceries. A young man lowered his head to watch short videos. No one knew I had just been suspended, and no one cared that I had loved the wrong person. Suddenly, I felt that this kind of “not being seen” was very nice. At least here, I didn’t have to wait for Ethan Hayes to condemn me with a single word at any moment, and I didn’t have to step aside for Nora Wells’s tears. After I got back to the apartment, I dragged my suitcase out from under the bed. The first things I put inside weren’t clothes, but my diploma and a few old project notebooks. There wasn’t much I could take with me, but with those few things pressed against the bottom of the suitcase, my heart felt steady. I stopped packing the things Ethan Hayes had given me. Every single one of them felt like a reminder that when I was wronged, I could only take the money and keep my mouth shut. I didn’t want to bring any of that to Los Angeles.

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