Author: Momo Chan

“You married her?!” Lily couldn’t accept it. Ethan had always loved her, so why did he suddenly marry someone he’d known for less than six months?! In the past, she would’ve been thrilled for Ethan to marry someone else and cut ties with her completely. But now, watching her only lifeline, her eternal backup plan, disappear, she felt like her world was crumbling. “You’ve always loved me. Divorce her! It’s either me or her!” Ethan’s expression changed: “Lily, are you insane? I’m just your brother.” Originally, she might have succeeded, but unfortunately, I had entered the picture. Lily’s return home was sudden. She had previously smashed the family photo and cut ties, but barely a month later, here she was again, eyes downcast, looking as fragile as ever. When she saw me sitting next to Ethan, she froze for a good while, clearly not expecting to see another woman by her brother’s side. I looked at her, also shocked. In just one month, life had taken such a toll on Lily that she looked like a different person. The once pampered princess now had chilblains all over her hands, and she had lost a considerable amount of weight. Ethan abruptly stood up from the sofa, his eyes behind the glasses dark with suppressed emotion. “What happened to your hands?” Lily tried to hide her hands in her sleeves, mumbling, “I’ve been cycling to the hospital lately…” After cutting ties with the Harrison family, she had naturally returned the car. She used to have gloves, but unfortunately, they had been stolen by some patient at the hospital. In the past, Lily wouldn’t have even needed to mention it; someone would have automatically bought her a new pair. But when she casually mentioned it to Jake, he immediately frowned, his lips curling into a contemptuous smile: “Once a princess, always a princess. You just can’t handle the life of us poor folks, can you?” “It’s just a pair of gloves, and it’s already making you think of the Harrison family. If that’s the case, why don’t you just go back?” “My aunt gets up at five or six every morning to cycle to the market, and her hands haven’t fallen off, have they?” Lily immediately shut up, not daring to say another word. She looked at Jake’s tense face in the warm orange light, her heart melting: “I know you’re afraid I’ll get tied up with the Harrison family again. You just don’t want to let me go.” After her fallout with her family, her mother, Victoria, seemed to age several years overnight. Looking at the daughter she had doted on since childhood, she was the first to soften: “Lily, sweetie, if you’re willing to come back, we’ll give you back your car, your house, everything…” “Stop, Mom.” Lily’s face immediately changed. She clutched her bag, looking both defiant and vulnerable at Victoria: “I told you, unless you accept Jake, I’m not coming back.” “You’ve already torn us apart once. This time, I won’t let you control me. I can’t change you, but I can die for him!” She was prepared for Victoria’s anger. Her mother had always been like this, making decisions about her life under the guise of having her best interests at heart. If it weren’t for Jake, she didn’t know how long she would have suffered in that gilded cage! But instead of the expected scolding, Victoria’s eyes were filled with disappointment and pain: “You’re willing to cut ties with your own parents for a man?” Lily, lost in thought, blurted out: “Adoptive parents.” Those few words had an earth-shattering effect. The entire Harrison mansion seemed to tremble. That single word, “adoptive,” negated all the years of care and nurturing Victoria and George had given her. “Fine, fine.” Victoria nodded repeatedly, her face gradually hardening into an impenetrable mask, cold and emotionless: “From now on, you have no parents, and no brother.” Lily left in tears, throwing herself into Jake’s arms, while Ethan, who had rushed out, still held a tube of chilblain cream in his hand. “Lily—” “Shut up!” Jake roared angrily, “Lily’s already like this, can’t you just leave her alone? Are you trying to drive her to suicide?!” Lily was cowering behind Jake, her doe-like eyes full of rejection and fear, as if she was facing not the brother she had grown up with, but some mortal enemy. “Ethan Harrison, Lily treated you as family, but what did you treat her as? A pawn, something you could toss aside at will! She’s already in this state, do you want to push her off a ledge before you’re satisfied?” Jake’s brows were furrowed into a deep ‘V’ as he berated the dejected-looking man. Ethan’s hand holding the chilblain cream slowly dropped, disappearing into the shadows. I saw the veins on the back of Ethan’s hand standing out. When had such a dignified and aloof person ever been shouted at by some lowlife thug? “Excuse me, Mr. Jake,” I said, my eyes full of contempt. “This is the Harrison house. You’re the ones who should leave.” I took the chilblain cream from Ethan’s hand and tossed it at Lily’s feet. “Your brother just wanted to give you some medicine. There’s no need to act like you’re at death’s door.” “You two claim to be madly in love, yet he can’t even afford to buy you a pair of gloves. Is this really the life you want?” “What’s wrong with this life?” Lily retorted, her eyes red. Jake let out a cold laugh, his eyes filled with naked disgust and an inexplicable sense of superiority as he looked at me. “Our Lily isn’t as delicate as someone like you!” Someone like me? I looked down at my designer coat, the lambskin boots on my feet, each strand of my hair polished to perfection. Someone like me lives in a penthouse, not crammed into a tiny old apartment with five people, getting up at six every morning to fight for the bathroom. Someone like me has a dozen cars to choose from, not braving the bitter wind to cycle for over an hour, then squeezing onto the subway like a frozen dog. Someone like me has tasted all sorts of delicacies, not moved to tears over a bowl of plain porridge. “Lily, don’t regret it later,” I said. After Lily left with Jake, Ethan and I returned to the Harrison house. Victoria had already composed herself, back to her usual impeccable self. “Ethan, Olivia just got back from abroad and isn’t familiar with things here. Spend more time with her.” Victoria was very pleased with me as a match. My mother had barely been in the door for half an hour before Victoria took my hand and invited me to stay for dinner. “Alright, Mom,” Ethan nodded. When he turned to look at me, his eyes behind the glasses were filled with nothing but unfamiliar detachment. I suddenly reached out, gently brushing away a bit of fluff that had landed on his shoulder. “Mr. Harrison, could you pick me up at City Hospital at 5 PM tomorrow? There’s an art exhibition I’d like to attend with you.”

My mother is the president of the Capital Medical Association and has significant influence in the medical field. After returning from studying abroad, I invested my first pot of gold in a medical research project in the country. The person in charge of this project is Dr. Xu from Capital Hospital, so the next day, I made a special trip to the hospital. Dr. Xu brought me the list of team members. When I saw Lily’s name on it, I raised an eyebrow slightly. “This Lily has less than six months of work experience. Why was she selected?” Dr. Xu’s expression changed slightly as he said, “She… her abilities are outstanding. It was a special admission.” “Outstanding ability isn’t enough,” I put the list aside, my tone indifferent. “I’m looking for well-rounded talents who excel in all aspects. Call all the selected candidates over. I want to interview them personally.” Dr. Xu’s eye for talent wasn’t bad. The candidates he chose were all promising, except for the out-of-place Lily. Even while waiting outside, she stood ten meters away from her colleagues, as if standing with these people would sully her pristine wings. “During your job interview, you said that if a critically ill patient requested a transfer to your hospital for surgery, and you judged the success rate to be low, you wouldn’t accept the transfer to treat them because you didn’t want to ruin your career?” “Yes,” Lily raised her chin, looking at me frankly, not seeing any problem with her thinking. My tone was calm: “Those who heal others should first be human. Have you forgotten the oath you took when you started studying medicine?” “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with my view. I’m the best surgeon in this hospital. Even if you have issues with me, you can’t deny that. I deserve this spot in the research team!” Lily gave me that look again, as if she had suffered a great injustice but was stubbornly refusing to give in. I was speechless. I was simply conducting a routine assessment of the personnel, but in Lily’s eyes, it was a targeted attack on her? I just didn’t want my investment to go to waste. Whether Lily was on the list or not, this interview was a necessary procedure. “Are you really at peace with yourself?” I let out a cold laugh. “I’ve seen your medical records. You’ve been seeing a psychologist for ten years and purchased antidepressants two months ago. Dr. Harrison, you should know that people with depression aren’t allowed to work as surgeons, right?” Anger flashed across Lily’s face as she accused sharply: “How dare you pry into my privacy!” “I’m sorry, but you submitted your own medical history,” I said. Lily was momentarily speechless, but she quickly raised her voice: “I’m not taking medication anymore.” A sweet smile spread across her face: “Ever since Jake came back into my life…” “I don’t want to hear about your cliché street romance,” I cut her off irritably. “Clearly, according to your psychologist’s diagnosis, your depression hasn’t fully improved.” “What if you have an episode while performing surgery? What about the patient then?” Lily argued stubbornly: “I won’t!” “Why should I believe you?” “Because of this hand!” Lily held up her right hand, her gaze determined, her voice firm. I laughed, simply finding it amusing, then heavily crossed out her name on the research team list. After submitting the new list, the deputy director of the hospital quickly found me, subtly mentioning: “This Lily, she’s the young lady of the Harrison Group…” “Not anymore,” I cut him off lightly. “As far as I know, she cut ties with the Harrison family a month ago for a man. Mrs. Harrison has already started the process of terminating the adoption.” Soon, rumors of Lily being abandoned by the Harrison family spread throughout the hospital. “I knew she got in through connections. Now that she’s lost her backing, of course she’s been passed over.” “How embarrassing.” “That’s right, without the Harrison family, how could she have had the chance to work with us…” Lily slammed her laptop shut, saying coldly: “I got into the hospital based on my own ability.” “What ability do you have?” A colleague rolled her eyes. Now that Lily no longer had the Harrison family backing her, they were all much bolder in their speech. “During your job interview, when you said that to Dr. Xu, he rejected you on the spot. If it wasn’t for your mother, do you think you could have gotten in?” Lily’s face darkened. What did that have to do with her? She had already said she didn’t need the Harrison family meddling in her work! Now the Harrison family had caused everyone to look down on her, yet she was still expected to be grateful to them! She packed up her things to leave work, her movements heavy. Thinking of Jake, and the plain porridge waiting for her at home, her face softened again. At least she had Jake. Otherwise, this life of wealth and power would have driven her crazy. Her mind and eyes were full of that man with a face as if carved from stone. She hurried out, her footsteps quick, but when she saw the Cayenne parked at the hospital entrance, the smile on her lips immediately fell. Hadn’t she made it clear enough? Why did Ethan keep pestering her? Even if she died, she wouldn’t go back! Lily learned from Jake to furrow her brows, lowering her head and walking quickly, pretending not to have seen anything as she tried to leave. I caught a glimpse of Lily standing in front, and deliberately put on a bright smile as I walked up to Ethan. “Why did you come so early?” He opened the passenger door for me, his voice low: “The company wasn’t busy, so I came.” I discreetly blocked Ethan’s line of sight and nodded: “Then let’s go.” As the car slowly pulled away, the confrontation Lily had imagined with her brother never happened. She bit her lip

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“Ethan, you married her?!” Lily was stunned. Ethan had always loved her, so why would he suddenly marry a woman he’d known for less than six months? In the past, Lily would have been thrilled for Ethan to marry someone else and sever all ties with her. But now, watching her only lifeline, her eternal backup plan, slip away, Lily felt like her world was crumbling. “You’ve always loved me. Divorce her! Ethan, it’s either me or her!” Lily cried. Ethan’s expression shifted. “Lily, have you lost your mind? I’m just your brother.” He would have given in to her before, but unfortunately for Lily, I had entered the picture. Lily’s return home was sudden. She had smashed the family photo and cut ties barely a month ago, yet here she was again, eyes downcast, looking as fragile as ever. When Lily saw me sitting next to Ethan, she froze, clearly not expecting another woman by her brother’s side. I looked at Lily, equally shocked. In just one month, life had taken a heavy toll on her. The once pampered princess now had frostbite on her hands and had lost considerable weight. Ethan abruptly stood up from the couch, his eyes dark with suppressed emotion behind his glasses. “What happened to your hands?” Lily tried to hide her hands in her sleeves. “I’ve been biking to the hospital lately…” she mumbled. After cutting ties with the Harrisons, Lily naturally had to return the car. She used to have gloves, but unfortunately, some patient at the hospital had stolen them. Before, Lily wouldn’t have even needed to mention it – someone would have automatically bought her a new pair. But when she casually told Jake about it, he immediately frowned. “Once a spoiled princess, always a spoiled princess,” Jake sneered. “You just can’t handle living like us common folk, can you? It’s just a pair of gloves, and it’s already making you think of the Harrisons again. Why don’t you just go crawling back to them then?” “My aunt gets up at 5 AM every day to bike to the market and her hands haven’t fallen off!” he chided unsympathetically. Lily quickly shut up, not daring to say another word. She gazed at Jake’s tense face in the warm light, her heart melting. “I know you’re just afraid I’ll get entangled with the Harrisons again,” she thought. “You don’t want to let me go.” After the fall-out with her family, Lily’s adoptive mother Victoria seemed to age several years overnight. Seeing the daughter she had doted on since childhood in this state, Victoria was the first to soften. “Lily, honey, if you’re willing to come back, we’ll return everything to you – your car, your house…” Victoria offered gently. “Stop, Mom.” Lily’s face immediately hardened. She clutched her bag, looking at Victoria with defiant vulnerability. “I told you, unless you accept Jake, I’m not coming back. You’ve already torn us apart once. I won’t let you control me again. I can’t change you, but I’ll die for him!” Lily braced herself for Victoria’s anger. Her mother had always been like this, making life decisions for Lily under the guise of knowing what was best. If not for Jake, who knew how much longer Lily would have suffered in that gilded cage! But instead of the scolding Lily expected, Victoria’s eyes filled with disappointment and pain. “You’d sever ties with your own parents for a man?” Lost in thought, Lily blurted out: “Adoptive parents.” That one word shattered everything, making the entire Harrison mansion tremble. With that single utterance, Lily had negated all the years of love and care Victoria and George had given her. “Fine, fine.” Victoria nodded repeatedly, her face gradually freezing into an impenetrable mask devoid of emotion. “From now on, you have no parents and no brother.” Lily left in tears, throwing herself into Jake’s arms. Ethan, who had rushed out still holding a tube of ointment for her frostbite, called after her. “Lily-” “Shut up!” Jake roared angrily. “Look at the state Lily is in. Can’t you just leave her alone? Are you trying to drive her to suicide?!” Lily cowered behind Jake, her doe eyes full of rejection and fear as if facing a mortal enemy rather than the brother she grew up with. “Ethan Harrison, Lily treated you like family, but what did you ever treat her as? A pawn to toss aside at will! She’s already suffering so much, yet you want to push her over the edge?!” Jake berated Ethan harshly, his brows furrowed into a deep ‘V’. Ethan’s hand holding the ointment slowly fell to his side, disappearing into the shadows. I noticed the veins popping on the back of his hand. When had this dignified man ever been shouted at like this by some lowlife thug? “Excuse me, Mr. Jake,” I said, eyes full of contempt. “This is the Harrison residence. You’re the ones who should leave.” I took the ointment from Ethan and tossed it at Lily’s feet. “Your brother just wanted to give you some medicine. No need to act like you’re on death’s door.” “You two claim to be madly in love, yet he can’t even afford to buy you gloves. Is this really the life you want?” “What’s wrong with this life?” Lily retorted, eyes red. Jake let out a cold laugh, gazing at me with undisguised disgust and a perplexing sense of superiority. “Our Lily isn’t as delicate as the likes of you!” The likes of me? I glanced down at my designer coat and lambskin boots, every strand of my hair perfectly styled. The likes of me lived in penthouses, not crammed into tiny apartments, fighting over the bathroom at 6 AM. The likes of me had a dozen cars to choose from, not biking for hours in the frigid wind before squeezing into the subway like frozen mutts. The likes of me dined on delicacies from around the world, not moved to tears by a plain bowl of porridge. “Lily, don’t come to regret this,” I warned. After Lily left with Jake, Ethan and I returned inside. Victoria had already recomposed herself. “Ethan, Olivia just got back from abroad and isn’t familiar with things here. Spend more time with her,” Victoria instructed, clearly pleased with me as a match. My mother had barely crossed the threshold before Victoria took my hand and invited me to stay for dinner. “Of course, Mom.” Ethan nodded. When he turned to me, his eyes behind the glasses held only unfamiliar detachment. I suddenly reached out and gently brushed a piece of lint off his shoulder. “Mr. Harrison, could you pick me up at Capital Hospital at 5 PM tomorrow? There’s an art exhibition I’d like you to attend with me.”

My mother was the president of the Capital Medical Association and wielded significant influence. After returning from studying abroad, I invested my first pot of gold into a medical research project. The person in charge was Dr. Xu from Capital Hospital. The next day, I made a special trip there. Dr. Xu brought me the list of team members. When I saw Lily’s name, I raised an eyebrow slightly. “This Lily has less than six months of experience. Why was she selected?” I inquired. Dr. Xu’s expression shifted subtly. “She…her abilities are outstanding. It was a special admission.” “Outstanding ability isn’t enough,” I said, setting the list aside. “I’m looking for well-rounded talents who excel in all aspects. Have all the selected candidates come here. I want to interview them personally.” Dr. Xu’s eye for talent wasn’t bad. The candidates he chose all showed promise – except for Lily, who stuck out like a sore thumb. Even while waiting, she stood far away from her colleagues as if mingling with them would sully her pristine wings. “During your job interview, you said that if a critically ill patient requested a transfer for surgery and you judged the success rate to be low, you wouldn’t accept the case because you didn’t want to risk your career?” “Yes,” Lily replied frankly, seeing no issue with her reasoning. I kept my tone level. “Those who heal must first be human. Have you forgotten the oath you took when you began studying medicine?” “I stand by my views. I’m the best surgeon at this hospital. Even if you take issue with me, you can’t deny that. I deserve my spot on this research team!” Lily gave me that look again, as if she had suffered a great injustice but refused to yield. I was speechless. I had merely been conducting a routine personnel assessment, yet Lily acted as if I was staging a personal attack against her. I simply didn’t want my investment to go to waste. Whether Lily made the cut or not, these interviews were a necessary procedure. “Can you truly be at peace with yourself?” I asked with a cold laugh. “I’ve seen your medical records. You’ve been seeing a psychologist for ten years and purchased antidepressants two months ago. Dr. Harrison, surely you know that surgeons can’t have depression.” Anger flashed across Lily’s face. “How dare you pry into my privacy!” “Apologies, but you submitted your own medical history,” I replied calmly. Lily was momentarily at a loss for words before raising her voice. “I’m not taking medication anymore. Ever since Jake came back into my life…” “I don’t care to hear about your cliché street romance,” I cut her off irritably. “Your psychologist’s diagnosis clearly shows your depression hasn’t fully improved.” “What if you have an episode during surgery? What about the patient then?” Lily argued stubbornly, “I won’t!” “Why should I believe you?” “Because of this hand!” She held up her right hand, gaze determined. I simply laughed, finding it absurd. Then I heavily crossed out her name on the team list. After I submitted the updated list, the hospital’s deputy director quickly found me. “This Lily is the young miss of the Harrison Group…” he mentioned subtly. “Not anymore,” I replied lightly. “As far as I know, she cut ties with the Harrisons a month ago for a man. Mrs. Harrison has already begun the process of terminating the adoption.” News of Lily being abandoned by the Harrisons soon spread throughout the hospital. “I knew she got in through connections. Now that she’s lost her backing, of course she got passed over.” “How embarrassing.” “Exactly. Without the Harrisons, how could she have had the chance to work with us…” Lily slammed her laptop shut. “I earned my spot through my own abilities,” she said coldly. “What abilities do you have?” A colleague rolled her eyes. With Lily’s powerful backing gone, they had all grown much bolder. “During your interview, when you said that to Dr. Xu, he rejected you on the spot. If not for your mother, do you think you could have gotten in?” Lily’s face darkened. What did that have to do with her? She had already said she didn’t need the Harrisons meddling in her work! Now they had caused everyone to look down on her, yet she was still expected to be grateful! Lily packed up heavily to leave, but her steps quickened at the thought of Jake and the plain porridge waiting for her at home. At least she had Jake. Otherwise, this life constrained by wealth and power would have driven her mad. Her mind and eyes were filled with that man whose face seemed carved from stone. But when Lily saw the Porsche parked at the hospital entrance, the smile immediately fell from her lips. Hadn’t she made herself clear enough? Why did Ethan keep pestering her? Even if she died, she wouldn’t go back! Lily had learned from Jake to furrow her brow. She lowered her head and walked quickly, pretending not to have seen anything as she tried to leave. I caught a glimpse of Lily and deliberately put on a bright smile as I approached Ethan. “Why did you come so early?” He opened the passenger door for me, his voice low. “Work wasn’t busy, so I came.” I discreetly blocked Ethan’s line of sight and nodded. “Then let’s go.” As the car pulled away, the confrontation Lily had imagined with her brother never materialized. She bit her lip,

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My boyfriend is the heir to a corporate empire, but he’s pretending to be an amnesiac poor college student freeloading at my place. After my best friend tried to convince me to dump this pretty boy for the 101st time, I still refused. There’s no way I’m breaking up with this pretty boy. Until one night I overheard his secretary’s conversation: “Now that these fish have taken the bait, it’s time for me to reel them in.” “And what about Miss Williams? How do you plan to deal with her?” “She’s just a gold digger. A check will be enough to get rid of her.” Hearing this, I almost laughed out loud. I was finally going to strike it rich. Recently, Ethan has been sneaking out behind my back a lot. Every time before he goes out, he always cooks a delicious meal for me, sweet-talking me with pet names. After I fall asleep at night, he quietly puts on his clothes and sneaks out. What he doesn’t know is that I’m not actually asleep at all. Because day and night, I’ve been waiting for him to betray me. Tonight, after thoroughly wearing me out, he put on his clothes and left. This is the tenth time this month. Even the most patient person would start to feel restless. Taking advantage of Ethan’s absence, I threw on some clothes and secretly followed him out. I hid in the stairwell, pressing my ear against the door. Ethan’s voice came from the other side: “Those old fogies at the company seem to be getting impatient. It’s time for me to reel them in.” Another man responded respectfully: “Then young master, how do you plan to deal with Miss Williams?” Hearing this question, my heart tensed up a bit. After freeloading off me for so long, using my money and sleeping with me, he better not be planning to just up and leave. Ethan said in a low voice: “She’s just a gold digger. A check will be enough to get rid of her.” The man seemed surprised by Ethan’s answer and quickly added: “Miss Williams has taken care of you for so long. Isn’t it a bit cold-hearted to just give her a check?” Ethan seemed annoyed: “What else then? Should I bring her back as your young mistress? Her? A third-rate student from a third-rate school who got a third-rate job at a third-rate company? Is she worthy of entering the doors of the Blackwood family?” The man asked again: “Then how much should we write the check for?” Ethan just threw out four words: “Whatever she wants.” Hearing this, I tiptoed back to the room. I could barely contain my excitement as I kicked the air a few times. “Whatever she wants” This was truly the sweetest thing I’d heard in two lifetimes.

That’s right, two lifetimes. Because I’ve been reborn. In my previous life, I also met Ethan pretending to have amnesia at the hospital. Seduced by his good looks, I brought him home. I fed him, clothed him, slept with him. To be honest, we did spend a very happy time together. And because we were so happy, I thought love was everything back then. Ethan pretended to have amnesia due to a car accident from company infighting, using this chance to hide in the shadows and completely overhaul the Blackwood Group. The day the Blackwood family sent people to pick Ethan up, over a dozen Rolls-Royces drove into my soon-to-be-demolished neighborhood. Such a grand spectacle drew all the neighbors to gather outside my door to watch. I saw Ethan change into a tailored suit and put on a Rolex watch. He lowered his head and signed a $5 million check for me, saying it was to thank me for taking care of him all this time. Back then, I was so focused on Ethan that love was more important than anything else. I refused that check, only wanting to be with Ethan forever. I still remember the look in Ethan’s eyes. It was like looking at a stray dog on the street. Contempt, confusion, ridicule. Later, Ethan broke up with me unilaterally. I couldn’t accept it and went to the media to expose the details of our relationship during the time Ethan pretended to have amnesia. This gave Ethan a reputation for being cold and unfaithful. As the controversy grew, it caused new turmoil in the Blackwood Group that had just settled down from internal strife. In the end, under my pressure, Ethan proposed to me in public and married me into the family. On the second day of our marriage, I saw the headline news of Ethan entering a hotel with a famous model the night before. In the days that followed, Ethan tortured me daily, saying outright that seeing me made him sick. He even acquired the media company I had leaked the story to and revealed to the public that I was the original whistleblower. In an instant, I went from being seen as a kind-hearted wife who stood by her husband through hardship to a scheming social climber. Ethan’s cold violence and the online abuse finally drove me to depression. In the end, I committed suicide at home.

When I woke up again, I found myself lying in the same hospital where I first met Ethan, having fainted from low blood sugar. Seeing Ethan sweetly calling me “sis” this and “sis” that, I rolled my eyes so hard they nearly fell out of my head. This life, I’m going to get back that $5 million that’s rightfully mine! Others who are reborn seek revenge, but not me. I just want the money. Sure enough, in this life Ethan did the same as before, claiming to have amnesia and falling in love with me at first sight. Looking at his chiseled, devastatingly handsome face, I could practically see the words “$5 million” written on it. I rubbed my hands together gleefully and brought him home. Luckily, everything in this life proceeded smoothly along the same path as before. We naturally got together, and I was even more attentive to him than in my previous life. Baby’s tired? I’ll give him a shoulder massage. Baby’s hungry? I’ll cook him some noodles. Baby’s out of money? I’ll transfer him some. Baby wants to sleep with me? No problem, come on then! Even my best friend of many years said I was a fair-weather friend who’d throw her under the bus for a man. Seeing how I took care of Ethan, my neighbor went home to complain to his wife that he wasn’t getting enough love and care. Under my daily affection, my relationship with Ethan gradually heated up. Unlike my past life, Ethan also started learning to cook, learning to take care of me, and often bringing me lunch at work, making all my coworkers envious of my attentive puppy boyfriend. Heh, attentive my ass. The dog part is true though. Ever since taking in Ethan and deciding to get that money, my career had been on the rise, getting promoted three times. But I didn’t care about this small change. I wanted that $5 million. My phone suddenly lit up with a WeChat message from my best friend, Rachel. This was the 101st time she demanded I break up with Ethan. “Sophie! You have to break up with that pretty boy, or we’re not friends anymore! Look at yourself now, obsessed with love. Do you remember our dream of getting rich?” In my past life, Rachel had sent me a similar message. I refused her then because I loved Ethan. This life, I still refused Rachel, but it was for the sake of getting rich! “Rachel, I love Ethan, trust me. But that doesn’t stop us from getting rich. Hurry up and pack your bags, get your passport and visa ready. Your girl’s about to take you flying.” After sending the message, I heard a noise outside the door. Ethan was back. I quickly put down my phone and pretended to be sound asleep. I felt the familiar scent from the side of the bed as he quietly lay down, wrapping his arm around my waist before falling asleep. He may sleep soundly, but I was too excited to sleep because of those four words – “whatever she wants.” The day has finally come! My days of being a slave are over! I’m going to flip the script and sing the song of the common folk!

I had been waiting for this day, watching the stars and counting the months, and another month passed. In my previous life, Ethan had already gone back by this time. Why hasn’t he made a move in this life? When I got home from work and opened the door, I was stunned for a moment. Flowers, balloons, candlelight, food, and music. Um… what’s this? “Sophie, today is the one-year anniversary of our meeting,” Ethan said. I looked at Ethan, all dressed up, not understanding what he was doing. Seeing that I hadn’t reacted, Ethan waved his hand in front of my face. “Sophie, Sophie, what are you thinking about?” I coughed lightly, “I’m thinking about you, of course. Thinking about how much effort my baby put into preparing this surprise for me. I’m so touched I could cry.” I pretended to be deeply moved, nestling into Ethan’s arms and planting a kiss on his chin. Ethan held me tight, rubbing his chin on the top of my head. “For you, this is all I should do.” I pinched my palm hard, the pain bringing tears to my eyes. I looked up at Ethan with misty eyes, “Will you ever not want me? After all, I’m just a third-rate graduate from a third-rate university, working a third-rate job at a third-rate company.” “How could that be possible!” Ethan said firmly. Looking at Ethan’s determined expression, I found it laughable inside. These were the very words you once said. Now you’re putting on this act of undying love, who are you trying to fool? It’s disgusting, truly disgusting to the core. “Really? You really won’t look down on me? Will you marry me? Will we get married?” I pressed on. Hearing my words, Ethan froze for a moment. Heh, man, caught you off guard, didn’t I? “Of course we will,” Ethan replied. I didn’t expect Ethan to agree. If he found me so repulsive, why keep up this charade? He should have gone into acting instead. I lowered my head, pretending to be happy, and buried my face in Ethan’s chest. Ethan pushed me away gently, picking up an exquisite velvet box from the table. Seeing the box, my eyes suddenly lit up. At least the kid knows what he’s doing. It wasn’t all for nothing that I played along with him for a year. Judging by the box, the contents must be quite valuable. “This is for you,” he said. I accepted it with great joy, but when I opened it, I saw a plain red string bracelet. What the hell? Where’s my knife? Is this what the heir to a corporate empire does? Is this how the successor to the Blackwood Group treats me? Are you kidding me? If it weren’t for the habit I’d developed of wearing a fake smile in front of Ethan, I really might have slapped him. “What’s this?” I asked, looking confused as I carefully picked up the red string, examining it closely. Well… it really was just a red string. Not even a gold bead, let alone a silver one. “This is a safety knot I got for you from the temple today. Wear it, and it will keep you safe and sound,” Ethan said. Go to hell! I was cursing Ethan’s eighteen generations of ancestors in my mind, but my face still maintained a touched expression. “Really? I love it so much. You’re so good to me,” I said, hooking my arms around Ethan’s neck and planting a kiss on his lips. Ethan took the opportunity to capture my lips, slowly savoring them like jelly. Another sleepless night followed. In the last moment before I lost consciousness, I was still thinking, this man is so stingy, will he even give me that check?

The next day, I was woken up by a buzz of discussion. I sat up in bed, but Ethan was already gone. I got up, nursing my sore waist, and walked to the window. A whole row of Rolls-Royces downstairs dazzled my eyes. Finally! Finally! The day has come at last. Suddenly, my waist didn’t hurt anymore, my legs weren’t sore anymore, I felt like I could climb five floors in one go. I didn’t even have time to put on my shoes before I flew downstairs. I saw that Ethan had already changed into a well-fitted black suit. His black-rimmed glasses had been replaced with gold-rimmed ones, and on his wrist was a diamond-encrusted Rolex. A crowd of people had gathered in circles around the entrance to the apartment building. Several men dressed as bodyguards approached Ethan, bowing respectfully. Finally, they’re here. You’re finally here. I was so excited I could almost cry, but I still controlled myself, pretending to be scared: “Who are you? Where are you taking my boyfriend?” A man dressed as a secretary pulled my arm away from Ethan. “Miss Williams, please show some self-respect. This is the young master of the Blackwood family, the heir to the Blackwood Group. As a token of appreciation for your care of Mr. Blackwood over the past year, here is a check. You may fill in any amount you wish. Consider it a small gesture from the Blackwood Group.” This voice was the same one I had heard during Ethan’s late-night secret conversation. My lips trembled slightly, tears streaming down uncontrollably. I looked every bit the image of a wife abandoned by her husband. I put my hand back on Ethan’s arm. “Ethan, are you… are you leaving me?”

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My boyfriend’s the heir to a corporate empire. He’s pretending to be a poor college student with amnesia, freeloading at my place. My best friend’s told me a hundred times to dump this pretty boy. I always say no. No way I’m breaking up with him. Then one night, I overhear his secretary: “Now that these fish have taken the bait, it’s time to reel them in.” “What about Miss Williams? How will you handle her?” “She’s just a gold digger. A check will be enough to get rid of her.” I almost laugh out loud. I’m finally going to strike it rich. Ethan’s been sneaking out a lot lately. Before he goes, he always cooks me something delicious. Calls me pet names. After I fall asleep, he quietly gets dressed and slips out. What he doesn’t know is I’m not really asleep. Day and night, I’ve been waiting for him to betray me. Tonight, after wearing me out, he puts on his clothes and leaves. It’s the tenth time this month. Even I’m getting impatient. While Ethan’s gone, I throw on some clothes and follow him out. I hide in the stairwell, pressing my ear to the door. Ethan’s voice comes through: “Those old fogies at the company are getting antsy. Time to reel them in.” Another man responds respectfully: “Then young master, how do you plan to deal with Miss Williams?” My heart skips a beat when I hear this. After freeloading off me for so long, using my money and sleeping with me, he better not be planning to just up and leave. Ethan says in a low voice: “She’s just a gold digger. A check will be enough to get rid of her.” The man seems surprised by Ethan’s answer: “Miss Williams has taken care of you for so long. Isn’t it a bit cold to just give her a check?” Ethan sounds annoyed: “What else then? Should I bring her back as your young mistress? Her? A nobody from a no-name school who got a dead-end job at a worthless company? Is she worthy of the Blackwood family?” The man asks again: “Then how much should we write the check for?” Ethan just throws out four words: “Whatever she wants.” Hearing this, I tiptoe back to the room. I can barely contain my excitement as I kick the air a few times. “Whatever she wants” This is truly the sweetest thing I’ve heard in two lifetimes.

That’s right, two lifetimes. Because I’ve been reborn. In my previous life, I also met Ethan pretending to have amnesia at the hospital. Seduced by his good looks, I brought him home. I fed him, clothed him, slept with him. We did spend some happy times together. I thought love was everything back then. Ethan pretended to have amnesia from a car accident due to company infighting. He used this chance to hide and overhaul the Blackwood Group. The day the Blackwood family sent people to pick Ethan up, over a dozen Rolls-Royces drove into my run-down neighborhood. It was quite a spectacle. All the neighbors gathered to watch. I saw Ethan change into a tailored suit and put on a Rolex. He handed me a $5 million check, saying it was to thank me for taking care of him. Back then, I was so focused on Ethan that love was more important than anything. I refused that check. I only wanted to be with Ethan forever. I still remember the look in his eyes. Like he was looking at a stray dog. Contempt. Confusion. Ridicule. Later, Ethan broke up with me. I couldn’t accept it and went to the media to expose our relationship. This gave Ethan a reputation for being cold and unfaithful. As the controversy grew, it caused new turmoil in the Blackwood Group. In the end, under pressure, Ethan proposed to me in public and married me. On the second day of our marriage, I saw headline news of Ethan entering a hotel with a famous model the night before. In the days that followed, Ethan tortured me daily. He said outright that seeing me made him sick. He even bought the media company I’d leaked the story to. He revealed to the public that I was the original whistleblower. In an instant, I went from being seen as a kind-hearted wife to a scheming social climber. Ethan’s cruelty and the online abuse drove me to depression. In the end, I killed myself at home.

When I woke up again, I found myself lying in the same hospital where I first met Ethan. I’d fainted from low blood sugar. Seeing Ethan sweetly calling me “sis”, I rolled my eyes so hard they nearly fell out of my head. This life, I’m going to get that $5 million that’s rightfully mine! Others who are reborn seek revenge. Not me. I just want the money. Sure enough, Ethan did the same as before. He claimed to have amnesia and fell in love with me at first sight. Looking at his chiseled, devastatingly handsome face, I could practically see the words “$5 million” written on it. I rubbed my hands together gleefully and brought him home. Luckily, everything proceeded smoothly along the same path as before. We naturally got together. I was even more attentive to him than in my previous life. Baby’s tired? I’ll give him a shoulder massage. Baby’s hungry? I’ll cook him some food. Baby’s out of money? I’ll transfer him some. Baby wants to sleep with me? No problem, come on then! Even my best friend said I was throwing her under the bus for a man. Seeing how I took care of Ethan, my neighbor went home to complain to his wife that he wasn’t getting enough love. Under my daily affection, my relationship with Ethan heated up. Unlike my past life, Ethan also started learning to cook and take care of me. He often brought me lunch at work, making all my coworkers envious of my attentive puppy boyfriend. Heh, attentive my ass. The dog part is true though. Ever since taking in Ethan and deciding to get that money, my career had been on the rise. I got promoted three times. But I didn’t care about this small change. I wanted that $5 million. My phone suddenly lit up with a message from my best friend, Rachel. This was the 101st time she demanded I break up with Ethan. “Sophie! You have to dump that pretty boy, or we’re not friends anymore! Look at yourself now, obsessed with love. Do you remember our dream of getting rich?” In my past life, Rachel had sent me a similar message. I refused her then because I loved Ethan. This life, I still refused Rachel, but it was for the sake of getting rich! “Rachel, I love Ethan, trust me. But that doesn’t stop us from getting rich. Hurry up and pack your bags, get your passport ready. Your girl’s about to take you flying.” After sending the message, I heard a noise outside the door. Ethan was back. I quickly put down my phone and pretended to be sound asleep. I felt the familiar scent from the side of the bed as he quietly lay down, wrapping his arm around my waist before falling asleep. He may sleep soundly, but I was too excited to sleep because of those four words – “whatever she wants.” The day has finally come! My days of being a slave are over! I’m going to flip the script and sing the song of the common folk!

I had been waiting for this day, watching the stars and counting the months, and another month passed. In my previous life, Ethan had already gone back by this time. Why hasn’t he made a move in this life? When I got home from work and opened the door, I was stunned for a moment. Flowers, balloons, candlelight, food, and music. Um… what’s this? “Sophie, today is the one-year anniversary of our meeting,” Ethan said. I looked at Ethan, all dressed up, not understanding what he was doing. Seeing that I hadn’t reacted, Ethan waved his hand in front of my face. “Sophie, Sophie, what are you thinking about?” I coughed lightly, “I’m thinking about you, of course. Thinking about how much effort my baby put into preparing this surprise for me. I’m so touched I could cry.” I pretended to be deeply moved, nestling into Ethan’s arms and planting a kiss on his chin. Ethan held me tight, rubbing his chin on the top of my head. “For you, this is all I should do.” I pinched my palm hard, the pain bringing tears to my eyes. I looked up at Ethan with misty eyes, “Will you ever not want me? After all, I’m just a nobody from a no-name school, working a dead-end job at a worthless company.” “How could that be possible!” Ethan said firmly. Looking at Ethan’s determined expression, I found it laughable inside. These were the very words you once said. Now you’re putting on this act of undying love, who are you trying to fool? It’s disgusting, truly disgusting to the core. “Really? You really won’t look down on me? Will you marry me? Will we get married?” I pressed on. Hearing my words, Ethan froze for a moment. Heh, man, caught you off guard, didn’t I? “Of course we will,” Ethan replied. I didn’t expect Ethan to agree. If he found me so repulsive, why keep up this charade? He should have gone into acting instead. I lowered my head, pretending to be happy, and buried my face in Ethan’s chest. Ethan pushed me away gently, picking up an exquisite velvet box from the table. Seeing the box, my eyes suddenly lit up. At least the kid knows what he’s doing. It wasn’t all for nothing that I played along with him for a year. Judging by the box, the contents must be quite valuable. “This is for you,” he said. I accepted it with great joy, but when I opened it, I saw a plain red string bracelet. What the hell? Where’s my knife? Is this what the heir to a corporate empire does? Is this how the successor to the Blackwood Group treats me? Are you kidding me? If it weren’t for the habit I’d developed of wearing a fake smile in front of Ethan, I really might have slapped him. “What’s this?” I asked, looking confused as I carefully picked up the red string, examining it closely. Well… it really was just a red string. Not even a gold bead, let alone a silver one. “This is a safety knot I got for you from the temple today. Wear it, and it will keep you safe and sound,” Ethan said. Go to hell! I was cursing Ethan’s eighteen generations of ancestors in my mind, but my face still maintained a touched expression. “Really? I love it so much. You’re so good to me,” I said, hooking my arms around Ethan’s neck and planting a kiss on his lips. Ethan took the opportunity to capture my lips, slowly savoring them like jelly. Another sleepless night followed. In the last moment before I lost consciousness, I was still thinking, this man is so stingy, will he even give me that check?

The next day, I was woken up by a buzz of discussion. I sat up in bed, but Ethan was already gone. I got up, nursing my sore waist, and walked to the window. A whole row of Rolls-Royces downstairs dazzled my eyes. Finally! Finally! The day has come at last. Suddenly, my waist didn’t hurt anymore, my legs weren’t sore anymore, I felt like I could climb five floors in one go. I didn’t even have time to put on my shoes before I flew downstairs. I saw that Ethan had already changed into a well-fitted black suit. His black-rimmed glasses had been replaced with gold-rimmed ones, and on his wrist was a diamond-encrusted Rolex. A crowd of people had gathered in circles around the entrance to the apartment building. Several men dressed as bodyguards approached Ethan, bowing respectfully. Finally, they’re here. You’re finally here. I was so excited I could almost cry, but I still controlled myself, pretending to be scared: “Who are you? Where are you taking my boyfriend?” A man dressed as a secretary pulled my arm away from Ethan. “Miss Williams, please show some self-respect. This is the young master of the Blackwood family, the heir to the Blackwood Group. As a token of appreciation for your care of Mr. Blackwood over the past year, here is a check. You may fill in any amount you wish. Consider it a small gesture from the Blackwood Group.” This voice was the same one I had heard during Ethan’s late-night secret conversation. My lips trembled slightly, tears streaming down uncontrollably. I looked every bit the image of a wife abandoned by her husband. I put my hand back on Ethan’s arm. “Ethan, are you… are you leaving me?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “294518”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #重生Reborn #校园School #浪漫Romance #魔幻Magic

I was the beautiful teacher, the unattainable dream for countless students. But the boy I’d bent over backwards to help drugged me. As I hazily mumbled “honey,” his hand slithered under my blouse. Afterward, he couldn’t stop bragging, spreading our intimate videos like wildfire. “Dream girl? Please. I’ve had her. Nothing special.” I plummeted from a pedestal to rock bottom. Soon after, my husband divorced me, my parents became social pariahs, and the school kicked me to the curb. Crushed by the online witch hunt, I took a swan dive off the school’s roof. Then I woke up. I’d gone back in time to the day that boy first transferred to our class. There I was again, standing before my senior class, donning that familiar bohemian dress and white sandals, the epitome of grace. Still the young, drop-dead gorgeous literature teacher. We had a new kid joining us, a charity case. Today was his first day. The moment he shuffled in, all eyes locked onto him, hushed whispers erupting. “Jesus, he looks like he crawled out of a horror movie. What a disappointment.” “I’m not trying to be mean, but I might be sick. Seriously, no offense.” He hobbled in with a noticeable limp. His sallow face was a maze of acne scars, topped off with a nose like a bulbous potato and a mole the size of a quarter underneath. “H-hey everyone. I’m the new guy. Hope we can get along.” As he stammered out his greeting, his eyes never left me. My breath caught in my throat. Ethan Springs. A name that would haunt me for a thousand lifetimes, each syllable dripping with venom. In my past life, I’d pitied this poor, crippled kid. I’d torn into anyone who dared bully him, bought him new clothes, taught him how to carry himself, told him to keep his chin up. But on one stormy night, Ethan Springs stalked me home. Like an idiot, I let him in out of the rain. He repaid me by slipping something in my drink. As I lay on the couch in a daze, calling out for my husband, his shaky hands fumbled with my buttons. Then everything went black. I was helpless as a newborn kitten. I woke up the next day, my body a canvas of bruises. Panicked, I ran to the cops, but the little snake had vanished into thin air. For days, I was a nervous wreck, jumping at shadows. Then I saw it. The high-def video making the rounds in every group chat, captioned: “Some dream girl. I’ve had her. Nothing to write home about.” The woman in the video was me, whimpering, sobbing, begging. In an instant, the internet exploded. See, I’d gone viral before when someone snapped a candid of me. The internet had dubbed me “The Girl Next Door” and “The Unattainable Dream.” #DreamTeacherSeducesStudent #DisgraceToTheProfession He never stepped up to take responsibility. Instead, he skulked in the shadows, giggling like a creep, sending me anonymous texts: “Miss Sophie, now we’re both in the gutter. Be with me. I’ll treat you right.” In the end, I couldn’t take the cyber lynch mob. I climbed to the school’s roof and took the plunge. I was three months pregnant at the time. From everyone’s dream girl to public enemy number one, I’d hit rock bottom. But now, as I stood at that familiar podium again, eyeing the boy in the back row, I felt the gears of fate starting to turn. This was my shot at redemption. He looked up at me, his accent thick as molasses: “‘The bubbling spring is voiceless in its flow; In shadow of the trees, a fountain plays.’ Miss, I’m… I’m Ethan. Ethan Springs.” The class erupted in jeers. “Dude, are you for real? You know our teacher’s name is Miss Sophie Summers, right?” He froze for a second, then flashed me a shy smile.

Our eyes met, and a chill ran down my spine. I forced myself to stay cool. After all, in this life, he was clueless. I could still nip this in the bud. “We’ve got a new face. Anyone want to be his desk buddy?” He’d started school late, already twenty and built like a linebacker. Not to mention his face looked like it’d been through a meat grinder. The class went dead silent. Nobody was jumping at the chance. Then Megan, our class rep, raised her hand. “Miss Summers, as class rep, I should set an example. I’ll sit with the new kid.” Looking at Megan’s kind, honest face, I saw a mirror of my past self. I coldly replied: “I hear your grades were pretty shabby before you transferred. Wouldn’t want to hold Megan back. Why don’t you grab that empty seat in the back?” There were plenty of open spots, but I’d chosen the most blatantly unfair option. He looked bewildered, like he couldn’t believe I was not only giving him the cold shoulder but actively throwing him under the bus. Ethan’s lips twitched, and he mumbled under his breath. “How… Miss Summers looks so gentle. How could she discriminate against me too?” Every word out of his mouth sent shivers down my spine. After class, I practically sprinted back to the staff room. My back was drenched in cold sweat, but I didn’t even notice as I gulped down scalding tea. My mind was racing. Should I quit now? Run away? I’d fought tooth and nail for this teaching position. How many sleepless nights had I spent studying to land this gig? They never let teachers switch classes in the final year, not with college entrance exams looming. Why should I give up everything because of him? I sat there in a daze until it was time to clock out. Jack came to pick me up, waiting in his car outside the school gates for half an hour. When he saw me coming down the steps, he rushed to open the door, pulling me into his arms. “Babe, you look awful. What’s wrong?” As I breathed in his familiar, warm scent, I finally broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. Jack and I had always been rock solid. In my past life, our “divorce” was just a front to shield me from the online hate mob. He whisked me away to a new city where we could start fresh. Later, when he saw how broken I was, he even went after Ethan with a knife. But Ethan used his grandma as a human shield. Jack got played. He ended up bleeding out on the pavement. Now, looking at Jack’s handsome face, still untouched by tragedy, I wiped away my tears and forced a smile. “It’s nothing. Just feeling a bit under the weather. Let’s go home.” Jack was having none of it. He grabbed my hand and made a beeline for the hospital. I couldn’t talk him out of it. An hour later, the rush blood test results came back. I was pregnant. Turns out, I was already carrying Jack’s baby at this point in time. When he found out I was pregnant, Jack swept me up in his arms, spinning me around. “Babe, this is amazing! We’re going to have a little one of our own!” “I hope it’s a girl. I’d love to raise a mini-Sophie, she’d be as beautiful and sweet as you.” I smiled through my tears, making a silent vow. This time, I’d protect our hard-earned happiness at all costs. The next day, I went to class as usual. My voice was hoarse from yesterday, so I brought a clip-on mic. The amplified sound drowned out all the messy emotions. I didn’t even glance at that corner, just taught my lesson like nothing was wrong. Things stayed quiet for a few days. Then, on Thursday afternoon, right after my last class, as I was heading back to the staff room. A group of girls were helping Ethan along, blocking my path. He’d clearly been roughed up. He reeked of toilet water, covered in bruises, his limp more pronounced than ever. But I knew better. This pitiful act was just a mask for the monster underneath. He was actually pretty strong, but he never fought back. He’d let the bullies have their way, never making a peep. His fingernails were long and grimy. His left hand was a mess, skin peeled off his index finger, the wound looking nasty. “Miss Summers, Ethan got beat up! The skin on his finger’s hanging off. What should we do?” The girls in our class were always ready to play hero, standing up for the underdog. Ethan gazed at me with puppy dog eyes, his nose scrunched up in pain, the sheen of oil on it making me want to gag. “Help me, Miss… please.” I was about to brush them off, tell them to take him to the nurse’s office, when our class monitor, Jenny, called out to me. “Miss Summers, don’t you have a first aid kit in your office? The nurse’s office is so far. Maybe we could patch him up real quick?” I paused, looking at his pleading eyes and his bleeding finger. Just then, the bell rang for the next class. I nodded. “Alright, come with me. The rest of you, get to class.” Ethan’s lips curled into a barely noticeable smirk. He followed me to the office. It was class time, so the place was deserted. I casually opened the first aid kit, pulling out alcohol, tweezers, and gauze. “Sit down. I’ll bandage you up.” The wind rustled the curtains, making the seashell wind chimes by the window tinkle softly. I gently cleaned his wound. He suddenly blushed. I asked, “What’s wrong?” “Miss Summers, you’re… you’re really pretty.” Ethan’s face turned beet red as he stammered out the compliment. Then his eyes glazed over, and I realized he was staring at my collarbone. While he was distracted, I smiled and plunged his entire finger into the bottle of alcohol. The skinned finger, raw and bloody, was now submerged in the nearly full bottle of medical-grade alcohol. “We need to disinfect it properly, okay?” He was horrified, trying to pull away, his face contorted in extreme pain. “It hurts! Miss, it really hurts!” But I kept smiling, gripping his wrist tightly, refusing to let go. The bottle’s narrow opening had practically swallowed his finger. I held it there until the blood turned the entire bottle of alcohol red. He’d bitten his lip bloody, eyes bulging, staring at me in utter shock. For the first time, I saw real hatred in his eyes.

But what he didn’t know was that in this life, I was a psycho who was all sunshine and rainbows to everyone else, but pure evil to him. His injury was bad enough that the school nurse sent him to the hospital. For the next few days, Ethan came to school with his hand all wrapped up. He tried hard in my class, always raising his hand to answer questions. I ignored him completely. Even when he won first prize in the school’s computer competition, bringing glory to our class, I didn’t say a word. The look in his eyes went from eager to dark. He once came to ask me directly: “Miss Summers, why don’t you ever acknowledge my efforts, no matter how hard I try?” I swiveled slightly in my office chair, not even looking at him. If compassion and kindness only bred betrayal, then in this life, I didn’t mind being the villain. As long as I could protect myself. “Because you don’t deserve it. Some things can’t be changed by effort alone, like your disgusting inner self, which is even uglier than your face.” Even now, I had good reason to say this. Just a few days ago, on my way home from work, I’d caught him torturing a stray cat. By the time I found them, the little white cat was already lifeless, scalded by boiling water. He’d smiled and said, “This haughty little cat scratched me. How could a cat be nobler than a human?” Now, Ethan glared at me with hatred, his hands clenching under his sleeves. I didn’t care. I kept giving him the cold shoulder. Even the head teacher noticed, frowning as he reminded me: “Sophie, teachers should treat all students equally. We shouldn’t be harsh on special cases, we should give them extra care.” But I didn’t mince words, saying right in front of Ethan: “What’s so special about him? He has hands and feet, he’s mentally sound. If we give him special treatment, is that fair to the other students?” He started to hate me, spreading rumors about me having a wild private life, seducing the principal, that sort of thing. But on the surface, he’d still flash me a grin and say hi when he saw me. As autumn turned to winter, Ethan started wearing shabby coats and ripped jeans, sticking out like a sore thumb. I’d heard he was orphaned young, raised by his grandma who spoiled him rotten. On my 25th birthday, I won the city’s Outstanding Teacher award. Double celebration. I had a great rapport with my students. This was the job I’d always dreamed of. Several students chipped in to buy me a huge, gorgeous bouquet. I accepted with a big smile. “Megan, Jenny, you both made the top ten in the recent mock exam. Didn’t you two want to be desk buddies before? I was worried you’d chat too much and fall behind, but now, go for it.” “Travis, your literature score’s looking up. Try to shift some focus from science and math to memorizing more poetry. Easy points, right?” As I was chatting with the students, I spotted an uninvited guest in the crowd. Ethan had brought me flowers too. Whether by accident or design, it was a single white rose, its petals crushed and oozing sap. Hideous. “Miss Summers, I saved up my allowance for a week to buy this for you. You have to like it, okay?” He held it out to me, hope shining in his eyes. My smile vanished. In front of all the teachers and students in the office, I picked it up with a tissue and dropped it on the floor. I wrinkled my nose in disgust. “Filthy.” Ethan’s lips quivered, but he bent down to pick up the flower without a word and walked away. The dark look in his eyes sent chills down my spine. But I didn’t look back. I wasn’t afraid of his hatred. He always preyed on those weaker than him, cowering before the strong.

Jack had earned a black belt in Taekwondo in his spare time. I’d picked up some self-defense moves from him, just in case. When I got home, my husband was waiting with a massive bouquet of roses, his voice soft and loving. “Happy birthday to my award-winning teacher, my beautiful Sophie!” Despite my excitement, I put on a sour face, feigning disappointment. Sure enough, over our candlelit dinner, Jack brought up his upcoming research trip abroad. “This research opportunity is crucial for my career advancement. Babe, I’m afraid I won’t be able to take care of you for these two months.” He sighed. My adamant refusal took him by surprise. I knew he wouldn’t believe in time travel or reincarnation. So instead, I said: “Jack, I had this awful dream the other day. After you left, someone broke into our home and… and tortured me. When you came back to avenge me, knife in hand, they killed you instead.” “Our family of three was destroyed, but the culprit got away scot-free.” “That’s impossible. We live in a society governed by law. Are you feeling okay? You seem a bit unstable lately.” He clasped my hand, concern etched on his face. In the end, after my relentless pleading, Jack decided to stay, giving up his research opportunity out of worry for me. I felt guilty about hindering his career, but it was getting close. That stormy night when Ethan would break into my home and ruin everything. Even though my attitude towards him was completely different this time, I couldn’t risk fate playing a cruel joke on me. I remembered clearly it was on a Friday. Ethan had followed me after school, begging me to let him in to escape the rain. But tonight, Jack was stuck in traffic and couldn’t make it home after work. After several unanswered calls, I started to get anxious. Soon, Jack sent me a text. “Honey, there are accidents all over due to the heavy rain. The highway’s jammed, I can’t get back. They’re not letting us use phones. Don’t wait up, okay?” By 10:30 PM, there was still no knock at the door. The rain was coming down harder, drowning out my chaotic thoughts. My taut nerves finally relaxed a bit. I was finally feeling sleepy, my body covered in cold sweat. I decided to take a shower and go to bed. The hot water felt good on my skin. In the bathroom mirror, I saw my reflection – delicate features, a straight nose, big doe eyes with long lashes, hinting at sensuality. I caressed my still-flat belly. Jack always said I was beautiful, and he wasn’t bad looking himself. Our baby would surely be a little angel. Lost in thought, I grabbed a towel to dry off. Just then, in the steamy mirror, a dark, grinning face appeared behind me, limping closer. It was Ethan! Sheer terror washed over me. This wasn’t a hallucination. He’d cracked my home security system. In my past life, when I’d let him in to escape the rain, he’d seen my door code. This time, to avoid bad luck, I’d changed the locks and even installed a reinforced security door. Only my fingerprint and Jack’s could open it. Had all my precautions been for nothing? Was I doomed to relive this nightmare? A cold, mud-caked hand reached in. I screamed, but my waist was suddenly gripped tight, another hand sliding upwards. “Miss Summers, it’s raining outside. I’m so cold. Can you… can you hold me?”

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My mom came from another world. She was a “player” sent here on a mission. After Mom successfully won Dad’s heart, she chose to stay in this world forever. Our family lived happily. But then Dad fell for his secretary. Mom told Dad, “If you see her again, I’m leaving.” Dad replied, “You don’t even have a family to go back to. Where could you possibly go?” But when Mom really left,Dad lost his mind. I pushed open the bedroom door. Mom was lying quietly on the bed. She seemed to be asleep. I walked over and called out softly, “Mom.” But she didn’t open her eyes and pull me into her arms like she usually did. I gently placed my hand under her nose, but there was no breath. I knew then that my mom was gone.

Mom had told me before that she was a “player” from another world. Because she successfully completed her mission, she chose to stay in this world forever. Her eyes twinkled when she said this. I didn’t understand what a “player” was at the time, but I still asked, “Mom, what was your mission?” Mom held my little hand and said, “To win your dad’s heart, make him fall in love with me, and then have you!” “So, Lily, you’re Mom’s greatest gift.” She gently kissed my cheek and said she would never regret it. But later, Mom never smiled like that again. Because Dad later fell for a secretary. People said that since Dad had someone else, he would soon abandon Mom and me. I angrily chased them away and hugged Mom. At the time, I thought: Even if Dad didn’t want Mom anymore, it didn’t matter. At least Mom still wanted Lily. Because she was my mom, she would surely stay with me forever.

Usually, it was Mom who took off my pajamas, put on my clothes, and then took me to brush my teeth. Mom said I was already ten years old, and it was embarrassing that she still had to watch over me doing these things. What if my classmates found out and laughed at me? I would pout and say, “They’d only be jealous that my mom loves me so much.” But now that Mom was gone, I had to dress myself. At the dining table, Aunt May had already prepared breakfast. Aunt May asked me, “Why isn’t the madam up yet?” I said, “Mom’s sleeping.” Aunt May was the nanny Mom had hired for me, paying ten years’ salary in advance to take care of my daily needs. Before, we didn’t have a nanny at home. Because Mom did everything in the house. My mom was Superwoman. Every day, after finishing the housework, putting me to bed, and spending time with Dad, she would still go to the study and teach herself law for an hour. Because she was preparing for the bar exam. Dad didn’t understand and said, “You’re so busy and tired every day, why bother?” “I provide for you, isn’t it good enough to just relax and enjoy life?” But Mom would just shake her head gently yet firmly, and say, “Jake, this is my dream.” When she said this, Mom’s eyes would sparkle. I thought Mom looked so beautiful, so beautiful at that moment. I think Dad must have thought the same. He reached out and instinctively pulled Mom into his arms, then buried his face in her neck, nuzzling her like a puppy. Mom blushed and pushed Dad away. “Lily’s still here.” I knew that Dad and Mom were about to play their game again, the one they never let me join. I wanted to beg Mom to include me this time. But Dad’s eyes fell on me, and he said, “Lily, out.” I suddenly didn’t dare anymore. I could only obediently leave. Most of the time, Dad was very good to me. But I was most afraid when he looked at me with those eyes, making me unconsciously agree to things. In the time that followed, the house became very harmonious. Dad encouraged Mom to take the bar exam and would even keep her company late into the night. But on the day before the bar exam, Dad took away all of Mom’s documents and locked her in the room. He only brought me back from the company after the exam time had passed. Mom looked at Dad, her eyes blazing with fire. “Jake, do you know I’ve been preparing for this for a year!” “Do you know how important this is to me?” Dad walked up to her, holding her tight in his arms despite her struggles. He said softly, “Olivia, I’m sorry, but I’m doing this for our family.” “I just want you to stay at home, where I can hold you whenever I reach out.” “Besides, Lily feels the same way, don’t you?” As he said the last sentence, Dad’s eyes turned to me. But I remembered what Dad had told me earlier that day. “If Mom becomes a lawyer, she’ll be traveling all the time, dealing with clients, and she’ll forget about you.” “And if Mom goes out to meet people every day, what if she falls for someone else? She’ll abandon me, abandon you, and abandon this family.” I thought what Dad said was so scary. I didn’t want Mom to abandon me. So I walked up, tugged at Mom’s hand, and said, “Mom, don’t be mad at Dad. I don’t want you to go either.” Mom looked at me, her body seeming to lose all strength, gradually softening in Dad’s arms. Mom’s dry voice came after a long while. “This is the last time.” Dad smiled with satisfaction. Even though things had developed as I wanted them to, Looking at Mom’s eyes, a little dimmer than before, I felt uneasy, like I had done something wrong.

After finishing my meal, I went back to my bedroom, closed the door, and quietly looked at my mom. At ten years old, I could already understand life and death. But I wasn’t afraid. Mom said she was eighteen when she crossed over to this world. In her original world, her body was still lying in a hospital bed, hooked up to machines. She said that when she successfully completed her mission, the system gave her two choices. Return to her original world, or stay here. She wanted to go home to see her mom, but she couldn’t bear to leave Dad, and especially couldn’t leave me, still a baby in the cradle, so she stayed. I asked Mom, “Mom, can you stay with Lily forever?” Mom said, “Of course.” I remembered those two words for a long time. Now I just gently tapped Mom’s nose. Softly, I said, “Mom, you liar.” Suddenly, the doorbell rang. I knew it couldn’t be Dad; he hadn’t been home in a long time. Aunt Rachel’s voice called from outside, “Lily, come open the door for Auntie. Auntie will take you home.” “Auntie will be your mom.” I shouted loudly, “Go away! You’re not my mom. You’re a homewrecker, destroying my family!” After Mom gave up on the bar exam, she devoted herself entirely to taking care of Dad and me. We were very happy. I thought we would always be happy. But then Aunt Rachel appeared. She was Dad’s newly hired secretary, always clumsy and fumbling. During that time, Dad complained about Aunt Rachel more and more often. I was puzzled. If Dad disliked her so much, why didn’t he just fire her? Moreover, because of her, Dad came home later and later, sometimes not coming home at all. Aunt Rachel’s figure also started appearing in Dad’s social media posts. When Mom took me shopping at the mall, we would also see Dad accompanying Aunt Rachel. When Mom saw them, she accidentally dropped a vase. Dad heard the sound and looked over. The expression on his face changed to panic for a moment. Then he let go of Aunt Rachel’s wrist, wanting to chase after Mom. But Mom picked me up, covered her mouth, and ran out. That night, Dad and Mom had a big fight. I crouched behind the door, listening to Dad explain to Mom. Dad said he was just helping Aunt Rachel because she looked so pitiful alone. He said there was nothing between them, that he just treated her like a little sister. I thought Dad’s words sounded so fake. In my class, Tommy was always calling girls his “little sister,” and people said he was playing with multiple girls at once. I saw Mom give a cold laugh, refuting Dad’s half-hearted excuses, and then she said to Dad: “If you see her again, I’m leaving.” Dad, who had been explaining, got angry when he heard this. Dad shouted, “Olivia, you’re going to divorce me over something so trivial?” “Is that necessary? I won’t do anything with Rachel. I still love you. Can’t you be a bit more understanding?” Mom said, “This isn’t trivial to me.” “You broke your vows, betrayed our love. How can I be understanding?” Dad panicked a bit, but he angrily said, “Where would you go if you left?” “Who do you know here besides me and Lily?” Dad knew. He knew Mom was a player from another world, who gave up the chance to return to her original world for him. He knew Mom could only stay here forever, with nowhere else to go. I remember once when Dad made Mom angry. Mom was so upset she grabbed her bag and ran out. I was so anxious, patting Dad’s leg, telling him to go find Mom. But Dad just crossed his legs, looked at his newspaper, and said, “Where else could she go?” In the evening, Mom came back with her bag, her eyes red. She held up the bag in her hand and said, “Jake, I bought food for you guys.” She opened the takeout boxes. Ah. It was my favorite crab roe dumplings and Dad’s favorite chive dumplings. I happily ate the dumplings, but when I saw Mom quietly eating yesterday’s steamed bun with her head down, I suddenly couldn’t eat anymore. I thought, if Mom had a family to go back to, no matter how far, by train or plane, she would go back. But her family was in another world, so she had nowhere to go. Dad took advantage of this point to make Mom obey.

Outside, Aunt Rachel knocked on the door for a while, and soon the sound stopped. I thought she had left. But an hour later, I heard the sound of someone tampering with the lock. On the security camera, I saw an unfamiliar man. I got a bit scared. Mom always said that if a child is home alone and there are strangers outside, they must find an adult. I couldn’t find Mom, so I could only run to the kitchen to find Aunt May. “Auntie, there’s someone outside. I don’t know them.” Aunt May grabbed a knife, swallowed hard, and led me to wait by the door. Until the lock was opened. Aunt Rachel stood smiling at the door, then handed the locksmith twenty dollars. “Thank you, sir.” Aunt May said, “Miss Rachel, how could you do this?” Aunt Rachel said, “Lily, your dad asked me to take you away.” “You wouldn’t see me, so I had to do this.” She stepped forward to grab me. I bit her hand viciously. I shouted, “I won’t go with you.” “Give up on that idea.” Aunt Rachel let out a scream. I tasted blood in my throat. Only then did I let go. Aunt Rachel angrily pushed me to the ground. Then she stormed off furiously. My hand was scratched by a splinter on the floor, bleeding a bit. Aunt May quickly brought the first aid kit. Even though it was Aunt May bandaging me, I couldn’t help but say, “Mom, it hurts.” But my mom, she couldn’t hear me anymore. Before, Mom was with Dad and me every day. But now that she’s gone, I realized, So this is what it feels like to miss Mom. I remember when I was six, during Chinese New Year, Dad took Mom and me back to the ancestral home for a family gathering. The gathering was full of Dad’s relatives. There were uncles, aunts, grandpa, grandma… So many people, bustling with noise and excitement. But only Mom was there alone with me. That day, Mom was busy back and forth, cooking an entire table of dishes by herself. We were all eating while she was still busy in the kitchen. The uncles all said to Dad: “Little brother, you really married a capable and virtuous woman.” Dad smiled proudly. Mom tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear, wiped the flour from her forehead, and lowered her head with a smile. By the time she could finally sit at the table, most of the food had been eaten. Because I said I was full and a bit sleepy after eating, She only ate a few bites hastily, then took me upstairs. But when we reached the stairs, Mom suddenly stopped, turning to look down. I was a bit curious, so I looked too. Grandpa and Grandma were giving red envelopes to the younger generation, uncles were discussing work with Dad, and many aunts were gathered to play cards. They were all one family. Mom looked for a long time. I tugged at Mom’s hand and asked, “Mom, what’s wrong?” Mom came back to her senses and looked at me. Behind her was the bustling noise and the lights of countless homes, but her eyes looked incredibly sad and lonely. “Lily, what do you think your grandmother is doing right now?” So my mom misses her mom too!

After Aunt May finished bandaging me, she looked at Mom’s room with a frown and said, “It’s almost dark, why hasn’t the madam woken up yet?” I said, “Mom’s so tired, let her sleep a bit longer.” Aunt May said again, “Sigh, it’s been several days, and the master hasn’t come back to check on her.” My dad hasn’t been home for a long time. He once said he was on a business trip, but he actually went on vacation with Aunt Rachel. Aunt Rachel proudly showed those photos to Mom, telling her to quickly divorce Dad and make room for her. I saw Mom’s eyes turn red in an instant. Because that place was somewhere Mom had wanted to go for a long time. Mom wanted Dad to take her there, but Dad was always too busy. Unexpectedly, Dad took Aunt Rachel there first. Mom showed the photos to Dad. When Dad saw them, his face changed immediately. Dad said those photos were photoshopped, fake, and didn’t count. At that moment, Mom’s eyes were filled with sadness. Mom said: “Jake, what did you promise me when we got married? To love only me, to be good only to me.” “Otherwise, why would I stay here!” Dad said, “Haven’t I been good to you? A house worth millions, a ring worth hundreds of thousands, clothes worth tens of thousands, I’ve given you everything you wanted.” “Isn’t that good enough?” Mom shook her head, muttering, “There’s just no way to communicate with you.” She threw all of Dad’s clothes and shoes out. Dad felt very embarrassed, so he said he wouldn’t come back. So from that day on, Dad really moved out. Soon after, Aunt Rachel’s house caught fire. So Aunt Rachel moved in with Dad. When we heard this news, Mom didn’t cry. She just hugged me gently. Mom said she now understood that people’s hearts can change easily, love can change, and vows only count when they’re made. It’s just that she understood too late. Now it was too late for regrets. 8 In the evening, I squeezed my own toothpaste, brushed my teeth, and wiped my small body with a towel. Then I climbed next to Mom, hugging her. Even though my mom’s body had already stiffened and her skin had turned cold, as long as she was still lying here, I felt so happy. I once asked Mom. “Mom, what kind of person was your mom?” My mom didn’t seem to have a dad; her mom was her only relative before. Mom said her mom was very strict with her, always hitting her, scolding her, and lecturing her when she didn’t do her homework. I frowned. I didn’t understand. Why, if she was like that, would Mom still miss her mom? Sometimes when Mom had nightmares, she would call out not Dad’s name, but “Mom.” Mom’s tone suddenly changed. “But when I was diagnosed with leukemia at sixteen, my mom never got angry with me again.” “She quit her job, sold our house, and stayed by my bedside every day to take care of me.” “My mom, she loved me very much too.” As she spoke, Mom’s tone was a bit proud, and a bit sad. I knew that my mom had never forgotten her mom. Because when she crossed over to this world at eighteen, she was still just a little girl. The day she discovered Dad was vacationing with Aunt Rachel, Mom sat by the window and cried alone. Mom said she shouldn’t have been blinded by love, giving up everything, including her own mother, whom she could never see again. 9 Mom had actually proposed divorce to Dad before. A month after Dad moved out, Mom sent him a message asking him to come home. Dad wore a black suit, his hair styled with gel, looking even more handsome than before. That day Mom had prepared a table full of dishes. Dad said somewhat smugly: “Thought it through?” I also happily sat at the table, looking at Dad and Mom, hoping they could reconcile. But Mom put down her chopsticks and said: “Jake, let’s get a divorce.” I was old enough to know what divorce meant. Divorce meant Dad and Mom would be separated forever, and we would rarely be together. When Dad heard this, his expression changed instantly. “Olivia, you want a divorce over something so trivial?” “Is it necessary? I won’t do anything with Rachel. I still love you. Can’t you be more understanding?” Mom said: “This isn’t trivial to me.” “You broke your vows, betrayed our love. How can I be understanding?” Dad panicked a bit, but he angrily said: “Where would you go if we divorced?” “Who do you know here besides me and Lily?” Mom choked up and said: “If I don’t know anyone, I’ll go out and meet people. If I have no money, I’ll wash dishes and mop floors for others. I can always manage to survive with Lily on my own.” Dad laughed coldly, throwing down a sentence: “You’re welcome to try.” He turned and walked away hurriedly. Over the next few days, Mom sent out many job applications, but they were all rejected. Mom didn’t give up, sending the same resume hundreds and thousands of times. Until a kind-hearted person told her: “Mrs. Zhou, Mr. Jiang has already spread the word, so no one dares to hire you.” Soon after, a lawyer came to the door with a document for Mom. Mom asked: “What’s this?” The lawyer said: “This is a comparison of your and Mr. Jiang’s assets.” “If there’s a custody battle for your daughter in the future—” He pushed up his glasses. “Unfortunately, you have no chance of winning.” Mom’s face turned pale. I clutched Mom’s clothes tightly, but didn’t dare to say anything. Soon, all of Dad’s relatives came. They surrounded Mom, their tone like an interrogation. “Little Jiang has such good conditions, and you still want to divorce him? You won’t find another opportunity like this.” “Really ungrateful, don’t know what Little Jiang saw in her?” Mom said coldly: “Stop trying to persuade me. I just want to divorce him.” Someone softened their tone, appealing to emotions. “Olivia, look, the child is so big now. If she knows her parents are divorcing, how sad would she be?” Mom’s expression softened a bit. The group immediately said: “Yes, children always need a healthy childhood.” “It’s all for the child, what can’t you endure?” “…” Someone pushed me in front of Mom, then smiled and asked me: “Lily, do you want your parents to divorce?” “If they divorce, you’ll be a child without a mother.” My tears fell instantly. I hugged Mom, saying fearfully: “Mom, please, don’t leave Dad.” “Lily can’t bear to be without you.” Mom looked at me blankly, her eyes seeming to have tears too. “Forget it.” A soft voice. Like a sigh. Mom gave up. I thought this way, I could keep Mom forever. But I didn’t know that some birds can’t be caged, every feather shines with the light of freedom.

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Mom came from another world. She was a “player” sent here on a mission. After winning Dad’s heart, she chose to stay here forever. We were happy, for a while. Then Dad fell for his secretary. “If you see her again, I’m leaving,” Mom warned. Dad scoffed. “Where would you go? You have no family here.” He thought he had her trapped. But when she really left, Dad lost it. I pushed open the bedroom door. Mom lay still on the bed. She looked asleep. “Mom?” I called softly. No response. No hug. Nothing. I touched her nose. No breath. My mom was gone.

Mom once told me she was a “player” from another world. She completed her mission and chose to stay. Her eyes sparkled when she said it. I didn’t get it then. “What was your mission, Mom?” I asked. She squeezed my hand. “To make your dad fall for me and have you, Lily. You’re my greatest gift.” She kissed my cheek. Said she’d never regret it. But Mom stopped smiling like that after Dad’s affair. Everyone said he’d dump us soon. I hugged Mom tight. I thought: Even if Dad doesn’t want her, it’s okay. Mom still wants me. She’ll stay forever.

Usually, Mom helped me dress and brush my teeth. “Lily, you’re ten now. Aren’t you embarrassed? What if your friends knew?” I’d pout. “They’d just be jealous that my mom loves me so much.” But now Mom was gone. I had to do it all myself. At breakfast, Mrs. Davis, our housekeeper, asked, “Why isn’t the missus up yet?” “Mom’s sleeping,” I said. Mrs. Davis was the nanny Mom hired. Paid ten years upfront to care for me. We never had help before. Mom did everything. My mom was Superwoman. After chores, tucking me in, and time with Dad, she’d study law for an hour each night. Prepping for the bar exam. Dad didn’t get it. “Why bother? You’re busy enough. I support you. Just relax.” Mom shook her head. “James, this is my dream.” Her eyes shone. She looked so beautiful. I think Dad thought so too. He’d pull her close, nuzzling her neck. Mom would blush and push him away. “Lily’s still here.” I knew they were about to play their “game” – one they never let me join. I wanted to beg to play just once. But Dad’s eyes fell on me. “Lily, out.” I lost my nerve and left. Dad was usually good to me, but I hated that look. It made me agree to things without thinking. Things were good for a while after that. Dad encouraged Mom’s bar prep. Stayed up late with her. But the day before the exam, he took her IDs and locked her in. Only brought me home after it was over. Mom’s eyes blazed. “James, I’ve been preparing for a year! Do you know how important this is?” Dad held her tight. “Emily, I’m sorry. It’s for our family. I want you home where I can reach you. Lily feels the same, right?” His eyes turned to me. I remembered what he’d said earlier. “If Mom becomes a lawyer, she’ll always be traveling. Meeting clients. She might forget you. What if she falls for someone else? She could leave us all behind.” It terrified me. I didn’t want Mom to leave. I tugged her hand. “Mom, don’t be mad. I don’t want you to go either.” Mom looked at me. All fight drained from her. She went limp in Dad’s arms. After a long silence, she said, “This is the last time.” Dad smiled, satisfied. Things went how I wanted. But seeing Mom’s dim eyes, I felt uneasy. Had I done something wrong?

After dinner, I watched Mom quietly. At ten, I understood death. But I wasn’t scared. Mom said she came here at eighteen. In her world, she was on life support. When she finished her mission, the “system” gave her two choices: go home or stay. She wanted to see her mom but couldn’t leave Dad or baby me. So she stayed. I once asked, “Mom, will you stay with Lily forever?” “Of course,” she said. I held those words close. Now, I just tapped her nose. “Mom, you liar,” I whispered. The doorbell rang. Not Dad; he hadn’t been home in ages. I heard Ms. Wilson outside. “Lily, open up. I’m here to take you home. I’ll be your new mom.” I yelled back, “Go away! You’re not my mom. You’re a homewrecker!” After quitting the bar, Mom devoted herself to us. We were happy. I thought we always would be. Then Ms. Wilson showed up. Dad’s new secretary. Always fumbling things. Dad complained about her constantly. I was confused – if he hated her, why not fire her? But he came home later and later. Sometimes not at all. Ms. Wilson appeared in Dad’s social media. Once, shopping with Mom, we spotted them at the mall. Mom dropped a vase. Dad looked over, panicked. He let go of Ms. Wilson and tried to chase us. But Mom scooped me up and ran. That night, they fought. I hid, listening to Dad’s excuses. He claimed he was just helping Ms. Wilson. Said she was like a sister. It sounded so fake. In my class, Billy called girls his “sisters.” Everyone said he was playing around. Mom laughed coldly. She told Dad, “If you see her again, I’m leaving.” Dad got angry. “Where would you go? Who do you know here besides us?” Dad knew Mom was from another world. She gave up going home for him. She had nowhere else. I remember another time Dad made Mom mad. She stormed out with her bag. I begged Dad to find her. He just read his paper. “Where else could she go?” That night, Mom came back, eyes red. She held up a bag. “James, I bought dinner.” My favorite dumplings. Dad’s too. I ate happily. Then I saw Mom quietly eating old bread. I lost my appetite. I thought, if Mom had family here, she’d go to them. But her family was in another world. She had nowhere to go. Dad used this to control her.

Ms. Wilson knocked for a while, then stopped. I thought she left. An hour later, I heard someone picking the lock. The camera showed a strange man. I got scared. Mom said to find an adult if strangers came when I was alone. I ran to Mrs. Davis in the kitchen. “Someone’s outside. I don’t know them.” She grabbed a knife. We waited by the door. The lock opened. Ms. Wilson stood there smiling. She paid the locksmith. Mrs. Davis said, “Ms. Wilson, how could you do this?” She replied, “Lily, your dad asked me to get you. You wouldn’t see me, so I had to do this.” She reached for me. I bit her hand hard. “I won’t go with you,” I shouted. “Give up!” She screamed. I tasted blood. I let go. She pushed me down and stormed off. My hand got cut. Mrs. Davis brought the first aid kit. Even though she bandaged me, I said, “Mom, it hurts.” But my mom couldn’t hear me anymore. Before, Mom was always with us. Now she was gone. I realized what missing her felt like. I remembered Chinese New Year when I was six. Dad took us to the family dinner. It was full of relatives. Uncles, aunts, grandparents. So lively. But only Mom was there with me. She cooked everything herself that day. We ate while she was still in the kitchen. The uncles told Dad, “You married a great woman.” Dad smiled proudly. Mom brushed her hair back, wiped flour off her face, and smiled shyly. When she finally sat down, most food was gone. I said I was full and sleepy. She ate a few bites and took me upstairs. At the stairs, Mom stopped and looked back. I looked too. Grandparents giving out money, uncles talking work with Dad, aunts playing cards. They were all family. Mom stared for a long time. I asked, “Mom, what’s wrong?” She looked at me. Behind her was noise and light, but her eyes were so sad. “Lily, what do you think Grandma is doing now?” So my mom missed her mom too!

Mrs. Davis finished bandaging me. She frowned at Mom’s room. “It’s almost dark. Why hasn’t she woken up?” I said, “Mom’s tired. Let her sleep.” She sighed. “It’s been days. The master hasn’t checked on her.” Dad hadn’t been home in ages. He said he was on a trip, but he took Ms. Wilson on vacation. Ms. Wilson showed Mom the photos. Told her to divorce Dad. Mom’s eyes went red. She’d wanted to go there for so long. She always asked Dad, but he was too busy. Now he took Ms. Wilson instead. Mom showed Dad the photos. His face changed. He said they were fake. Photoshopped. Mom’s eyes filled with sadness. “James, what did you promise when we married? To love only me, be good only to me.” “Why else would I stay here?” Dad said, “Haven’t I been good? A million-dollar house, expensive jewelry, designer clothes. I’ve given you everything.” “Isn’t that enough?” Mom shook her head. “You just don’t get it.” She threw out all his stuff. Dad felt embarrassed. Said he wouldn’t come back. From that day, he really moved out. Soon after, Ms. Wilson’s place caught fire. She moved in with Dad. When we heard, Mom didn’t cry. She just hugged me. She said she now understood. People change. Love changes. Vows only count when made. She realized too late. No use regretting now. 8 That night, I did everything myself. Brushed my teeth. Washed up. Then I climbed next to Mom and hugged her. Even though she was stiff and cold, having her there made me happy. I once asked Mom about her mother. Mom said her mom was strict. Always scolding and hitting her for not doing homework. I frowned. Didn’t understand why Mom would miss someone like that. Sometimes Mom had nightmares. She’d call for her mom, not Dad. Her tone changed. “But when I got leukemia at sixteen, she never yelled again.” “She quit her job, sold our house, stayed with me in the hospital every day.” “My mom loved me very much too.” She sounded proud and sad. I knew Mom never forgot her mother. She was just a girl when she came here at eighteen. The day she found out about Dad’s vacation, Mom cried alone by the window. She said she shouldn’t have been blinded by love. Giving up everything, even her mom. Now she could never see her again. 9 Mom actually asked Dad for a divorce once. A month after he moved out, she called him home. Dad came in a black suit. Hair gelled. Looking extra handsome. Mom made a big dinner. Dad said smugly, “Thought it through?” I sat happily, hoping they’d make up. But Mom put down her chopsticks. “James, let’s divorce.” I knew what divorce meant. Mom and Dad apart forever. Us rarely together. Dad’s face changed instantly. “Olivia, divorce over this? Is it necessary? I won’t do anything with Rachel. I still love you. Can’t you understand?” Mom said, “This isn’t small to me. You broke your vows. Betrayed our love. How can I understand?” Dad panicked but got angry. “Where would you go if we divorced? Who do you know besides us?” Mom choked up. “I’ll meet people. I’ll wash dishes or mop floors. I’ll survive with Lily somehow.” Dad laughed coldly. “Go ahead and try.” He turned and left. Mom sent out job applications. All rejected. She kept trying. Hundreds, thousands of times. Until someone told her, “Mrs. Jiang, your husband spread the word. No one dares hire you.” A lawyer came with papers. “This shows your assets versus Mr. Jiang’s,” he said. “In a custody battle—” He pushed up his glasses. “You have no chance.” Mom went pale. I clutched her clothes, scared to speak. Soon, all Dad’s relatives came. They surrounded Mom. Interrogating her. “James is such a catch. You still want to divorce? You won’t find better.” “So ungrateful. What did he see in her?” Mom said coldly, “Stop. I want the divorce.” Someone softened their tone. “Olivia, think of the child. How sad she’d be if you divorced.” Mom’s face softened. They pounced. “Children need a healthy home.” “It’s all for the child. What can’t you endure?” Someone pushed me to Mom. “Lily, do you want your parents to divorce?” “You’ll be motherless if they do.” I burst into tears. Hugged Mom tight. “Mom, please don’t leave Dad. I can’t lose you.” Mom looked at me blankly. Her eyes watered. “Forget it,” she whispered. Like a sigh. Mom gave up. I thought this would keep her forever. I didn’t know some birds can’t be caged. Their feathers shine with freedom.

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I was the hot teacher. Every student’s dream girl. But the guy I helped? He doped me up. As I mumbled “honey” in a daze, his hands went where they shouldn’t. Later, he bragged. Spread our videos everywhere. “Dream girl? Ha! I’ve had her. Nothing special.” Just like that, I fell from grace. My husband left. My parents became outcasts. The school fired me. The cyberbullying crushed me. I jumped from the school roof. Then I woke up. Back to the day that guy first came to our class. There I was. Standing in front of my senior class again. Same old boho dress. White sandals. Looking good as ever. Still the young, gorgeous lit teacher. We got a new kid. Charity case. His first day. He shuffled in. Everyone stared. Whispers broke out. “Jesus. He looks like a horror movie extra. Talk about a letdown.” “Not to be mean, but I might puke. For real. Sorry.” He limped in. Face full of acne scars. Huge nose. Mole the size of a quarter underneath. “H-hi everyone. I’m new. Hope we can get along.” His eyes never left me as he stammered. I couldn’t breathe. Ethan Rivers. A name I’d never forget. Not in a thousand lifetimes. Last time, I pitied him. Stood up for him against bullies. Bought him clothes. Taught him confidence. Then one stormy night, he followed me home. Stupid me let him in. He spiked my drink. I lay on the couch. Called for my husband. His shaky hands unbuttoned my shirt. Then I blacked out. Helpless. Next day, I woke up bruised. Ran to the cops. But he’d vanished. For days, I was a wreck. Jumping at shadows. Then I saw it. High-def video. Every group chat. Caption read: “Dream girl? Please. Had her. Nothing special.” It was me in the video. Whimpering. Sobbing. Begging. The internet exploded. See, I’d gone viral before. Some candid shot. They called me “The Girl Next Door”. “The Unattainable Dream”. #DreamTeacherSeducesStudent #DisgraceToTheProfession He never owned up. Just hid in the shadows. Giggling like a creep. Sending anonymous texts: “Ms. Summers, we’re both in the gutter now. Be with me. I’ll treat you right.” I couldn’t take it. The online lynch mob. So I climbed to the school roof. And jumped. Three months pregnant. From everyone’s dream to public enemy number one. Rock bottom. But now? Standing at that podium again? Watching him in the back row? I felt fate shifting. My chance for payback. He looked up. Thick accent: “‘The bubbling spring is voiceless in its flow; In shadow of the trees, a fountain plays.’ Ms. Summers, I’m… I’m Ethan. Ethan Rivers.” The class lost it. “Dude, seriously? You know our teacher’s Ms. Olivia Summers, right?” He froze. Then flashed a shy smile.

Our eyes met. Chills down my spine. I played it cool. This time, he knew nothing. I could stop it all. “New kid. Anyone want to sit with him?” He’d started late. Already twenty. Built big. Face like it went through a meat grinder. Dead silence. No volunteers. Then Megan, class rep, raised her hand. “Ms. Summers, I’m class rep. I should set an example. I’ll sit with him.” Megan’s face? Kind. Honest. Just like I used to be. I shot her down cold: “Heard your grades sucked before transferring. Don’t want to hold Megan back. Take that empty seat in the back.” Plenty of spots open. I’d picked the worst option. He looked shocked. Like he couldn’t believe I was throwing him under the bus. Ethan’s lips twitched. He mumbled: “How… Ms. Summers looks so nice. Why’s she picking on me too?” Every word made my skin crawl. After class, I bolted to the staff room. Back soaked in sweat. Didn’t even notice as I chugged scalding tea. Mind racing. Quit now? Run? I’d fought hard for this job. Sleepless nights studying. They never switch teachers in senior year. Not with finals coming. Why give it all up because of him? I sat there. Dazed. Until home time. Michael picked me up. Waited half an hour in his car. Saw me coming. Rushed to open the door. Pulled me close. “Babe, you look terrible. What’s wrong?” His familiar warmth. I lost it. Sobbed like crazy. We’ve always been solid. Last time, we fake-divorced. To protect me from the hate. Moved to a new city. Fresh start. Later, when he saw how broken I was? He went after Ethan. Knife in hand. But Ethan used his grandma as a shield. Michael got played. Bled out on the street. Now? Looking at his handsome face? No tragedy yet? I wiped my tears. Forced a smile. “It’s nothing. Just feeling off. Let’s go home.” Michael wasn’t buying it. Dragged me straight to the hospital. Couldn’t talk him out of it. An hour later, rush blood test results. I was pregnant. Turns out, I was already carrying Michael’s baby. When he found out? Michael swept me up. Spun me around. “Babe, this is amazing! We’re having a baby!” “Hope it’s a girl. A mini-Olivia. Beautiful and sweet like you.” I smiled through tears. Made a silent promise. This time? I’d protect our happiness. No matter what. Next day, I went to class as usual. Voice still hoarse. Brought a clip-on mic. Loud voice drowned out my messy feelings. Didn’t even look his way. Just taught like normal. Few quiet days passed. Then Thursday afternoon. Just finished my last class. Heading to the staff room. Group of girls blocking my path. Helping Ethan along. He’d been roughed up. Reeked of toilet water. Bruises everywhere. Limping worse than ever. But I knew better. This poor-me act? Just a mask. Hiding the monster underneath. He was strong. Never fought back. Let the bullies have their way. Never made a sound. Long, dirty nails. Left hand a mess. Skin peeled off his index finger. Nasty wound. “Ms. Summers! Ethan got beat up! His finger’s skin is falling off! What do we do?” Girls in our class. Always playing hero. Standing up for the underdog. Ethan gave me puppy dog eyes. Nose scrunched in pain. Oily sheen made me want to gag. “Help me, Ms. Summers… please.” I was about to brush them off. Send him to the nurse. Then Jenny, our class monitor, spoke up: “Ms. Summers, don’t you have a first aid kit in your office? Nurse’s office is so far. Maybe we could patch him up real quick?” I paused. Looked at his pleading eyes. His bleeding finger. Bell rang for next class. I nodded. “Alright, come with me. Rest of you, get to class.” Ethan’s lips curled. Barely noticeable smirk. He followed me to the office. Class time. Place was empty. Casual as can be, I opened the first aid kit. Took out tweezers and gauze. “Sit down. I’ll bandage you up.” Wind rustled the curtains. Seashell wind chimes tinkled softly. I gently cleaned his wound. He suddenly blushed. I asked, “What’s wrong?” “Ms. Summers, you’re… you’re really pretty.” Ethan’s face turned red as a tomato. Stammering out the compliment. Then his eyes glazed over. Staring at my collarbone. While he was distracted, I smiled. Plunged his whole finger into the bottle. Raw, bloody finger. Now submerged in nearly full bottle of medical-grade ethanol CH3CH2OH. “Gotta disinfect properly, right?” He was horrified. Trying to pull away. Face twisted in pain. “It hurts! Ms. Summers, it really hurts!” But I kept smiling. Grip tight on his wrist. Wouldn’t let go. Bottle’s narrow opening practically swallowed his finger. Held it there. Until blood turned the whole bottle red. He’d bitten his lip bloody. Eyes bulging. Staring at me in shock. For the first time, I saw real hate in his eyes.

But he didn’t know. This time around? I was a psycho. All sunshine and rainbows to everyone else. Pure evil to him. His injury was bad. School nurse sent him to the hospital. Next few days, Ethan came to school. Hand all wrapped up. Tried hard in my class. Always raising his hand. Answering questions. I ignored him completely. Even when he won first prize. School computer competition. Brought glory to our class. I didn’t say a word. His eyes changed. From eager to dark. Once came to ask me directly: “Ms. Summers, why don’t you ever notice my efforts? No matter how hard I try?” I swiveled in my chair. Didn’t even look at him. If kindness only bred betrayal? This time, I didn’t mind being the villain. As long as I could protect myself. “Because you don’t deserve it. Some things can’t be changed by trying. Like your disgusting inner self. Even uglier than your face.” Even now, I had good reason to say this. Few days ago. On my way home from work. Caught him torturing a stray cat. By the time I found them? Little white cat was already dead. Scalded by boiling water. He’d smiled and said, “This stuck-up cat scratched me. How could a cat be better than a human?” Now, Ethan glared at me. Hate in his eyes. Hands clenched under his sleeves. I didn’t care. Kept giving him the cold shoulder. Even the head teacher noticed. Frowned as he reminded me: “Olivia, teachers should treat all students the same. We shouldn’t be harsh on special cases. Should give them extra care.” But I didn’t hold back. Said right in front of Ethan: “What’s so special about him? He has hands and feet. He’s mentally sound. If we give him special treatment, is that fair to the other students?” He started to hate me. Spread rumors. Said I had a wild private life. That I was seducing the principal. That sort of thing. But on the surface? He’d still flash me a grin. Say hi when he saw me. As autumn turned to winter, Ethan started wearing shabby coats. Ripped jeans. Stuck out like a sore thumb. I’d heard he was orphaned young. Raised by his grandma. Spoiled rotten. On my 25th birthday, I won the city’s Outstanding Teacher award. Double celebration. I had a great rapport with my students. This was the job I’d always dreamed of. Several students chipped in. Bought me a huge, gorgeous bouquet. I accepted with a big smile. “Megan, Jenny, you both made top ten in the recent mock exam. Didn’t you two want to be desk buddies before? I was worried you’d chat too much and fall behind. Now, go for it.” “Travis, your literature score’s looking up. Try to shift some focus from science and math to memorizing more poetry. Easy points, right?” As I was chatting with the students, I spotted an uninvited guest in the crowd. Ethan had brought me flowers too. Whether by accident or design, it was a single white rose. Petals crushed and oozing sap. Hideous. “Ms. Summers, I saved up my allowance for a week to buy this for you. You have to like it, okay?” He held it out to me. Hope shining in his eyes. My smile vanished. In front of all the teachers and students in the office, I picked it up with a tissue. Dropped it on the floor. Wrinkled my nose in disgust. “Filthy.” Ethan’s lips quivered. But he bent down. Picked up the flower without a word. Walked away. The dark look in his eyes sent chills down my spine. But I didn’t look back. I wasn’t afraid of his hatred. He always preyed on those weaker than him. Cowered before the strong.

Michael had earned a black belt in Taekwondo. In his spare time. I’d picked up some self-defense moves from him. Just in case. When I got home, my husband was waiting. Massive bouquet of roses. Voice soft and loving. “Happy birthday to my award-winning teacher, my beautiful Olivia!” Despite my excitement, I put on a sour face. Feigning disappointment. Sure enough, over our candlelit dinner, Michael brought it up. His upcoming research trip abroad. “This research opportunity is crucial for my career. Babe, I’m afraid I won’t be able to take care of you for these two months.” He sighed. My adamant refusal took him by surprise. I knew he wouldn’t believe in time travel or reincarnation. So instead, I said: “Michael, I had this awful dream the other day. After you left, someone broke into our home. And… and tortured me. When you came back to avenge me, knife in hand, they killed you instead.” “Our family of three was destroyed. But the culprit got away scot-free.” “That’s impossible. We live in a society governed by law. Are you feeling okay? You seem a bit unstable lately.” He clasped my hand. Concern etched on his face. In the end, after my relentless pleading, Michael decided to stay. Gave up his research opportunity. Out of worry for me. I felt guilty about hindering his career. But it was getting close. That stormy night when Ethan would break into my home and ruin everything. Even though my attitude towards him was completely different this time, I couldn’t risk fate playing a cruel joke on me. I remembered clearly it was on a Friday. Ethan had followed me after school. Begged me to let him in to escape the rain. But tonight, Michael was stuck in traffic. Couldn’t make it home after work. After several unanswered calls, I started to get anxious. Soon, Michael sent me a text. “Honey, accidents everywhere due to heavy rain. Highway’s jammed. Can’t get back. They’re not letting us use phones. Don’t wait up, okay?” By 10:30 PM, still no knock at the door. Rain coming down harder. Drowning out my chaotic thoughts. My taut nerves finally relaxed a bit. Finally feeling sleepy. Body covered in cold sweat. Decided to take a shower and go to bed. Hot water felt good on my skin. In the bathroom mirror, I saw my reflection. Delicate features. Straight nose. Big doe eyes with long lashes. Hint of sensuality. I caressed my still-flat belly. Michael always said I was beautiful. He wasn’t bad looking himself. Our baby would surely be a little angel. Lost in thought, I grabbed a towel to dry off. Just then, in the steamy mirror, a dark, grinning face appeared behind me. Limping closer. It was Ethan! Sheer terror washed over me. This wasn’t a hallucination. He’d cracked my home security system. In my past life, when I’d let him in to escape the rain, he’d seen my door code. This time, to avoid bad luck, I’d changed the locks. Even installed a reinforced security door. Only my fingerprint and Michael’s could open it. Had all my precautions been for nothing? Was I doomed to relive this nightmare? A cold, mud-caked hand reached in. I screamed, but my waist was suddenly gripped tight. Another hand sliding upwards. “Ms. Summers, it’s raining outside. I’m so cold. Can you… can you hold me?”

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Ten years ago, I saved a drowning boy. I conducted a rapid rescue on him. After waking up, he told me, “I have decided to marry you when I grow up!” Thinking that he was joking, I didn’t take his words seriously. Ten years later, the boy grew up, becoming a crazy and domineering CEO, whose name was Brian Hawk. At my wedding with my fiancé, he led a group of people and beat up my fiancé, forcibly taking me away. “I told you I would marry you. Your husband can only be me.” He threatened me with my whole family’s lives and forced me to marry him. He imprisoned me in a private villa, allowing no man to be in touch with me. To win me over, he tried every means, but I remained unmoved. He became furious and found someone who was 90% like me to replace me. Relying on his affection and favoritism, the substitute, Ariel Berg, did whatever she wanted and broke into the villa where I lived. “Where did this cheap woman come from? How dare she pretend to be me and seduce my man? I will tear you apart today!” She stripped me naked, cut off my tongue, and ordered the bodyguards to ravage and humiliate me. Only after I was tortured to death did Brian arrive late. Ariel dragged my body to the front of Brian, who was overbearing. She proudly said, “Darling, this woman, who had done plastic surgery, wanted to hide here and seduce you. I killed her for you!” Brian Hawk was infatuated and crazy. According to him, right from the moment I saved him, he decided to marry no one else but me! To win me over, he imprisoned me for three years and tried every means to please me every day. But I, who didn’t love him at all, couldn’t accept him! Recently, he got a substitute who looked like me. The two of them had been getting along affectionately for several months. To provoke me, Brian often forwarded me videos showing how ambiguous they were on WhatsApp. As I was sitting in the courtyard and enjoying their videos, there was a sudden burst of noise outside. “Brian comes here every few days. Today, I want to see what kind of treasures are hidden in this villa!” “But didn’t Mr. Hawk say that this villa was his private restricted area, and no one was allowed to come here?” “Yes, Ariel, I heard that someone took a glance inside the villa before. Mr. Hawk broke his hands and dug out his eyes. Isn’t it inappropriate for us to sneak in without his permission?” “What are you afraid of? Brian dotes on me to the bone. He won’t blame me.” Listening to the noisy sound outside the courtyard, I frowned slightly and felt uneasy. I knew better than anyone about how crazy Brian was. He had strong possessiveness, treating me as his private possession and imprisoning me in this villa. Someone once had sneaked into my villa out of curiosity and taken a glance at me. Brian disabled his hands and feet, digging out his eyes. The next day, the man vanished into the void. At first, he was only jealous of other men. Later, he realized that I, who had never been gentle to him, treated the housemaid gently. He dismissed all the housemaids in a fit of anger. He would rather personally deliver daily meals to me than let anyone else do it. Except him, no one else could look at me in my eyes for a moment. “If those people outside the courtyard come in, they may be in big trouble.” I quickly got up and intended to remind them to leave here as soon as possible. As soon as the door opened, someone who looked almost the same as me came into my view. Before I could say something, she slapped me hard across my face. “Where did this cheap woman come from? How dare she disguise herself as me and hide in Brian’s villa. Do you want to compete with me for a man?”   She hit me with a sudden slap, making my face burn with pain. “You cheap woman who did plastic surgery. Do you know where you are? How dare you barge in here without the owner’s permission?” “You deliberately made yourself look like Ariel to seduce Mr. Hawk. You let go of your dignity to climb up the ladder, right?” At this moment, I finally realized that the person who had suddenly come in and attacked me was Ariel Berg, the substitute who Brian had found. Because of Brian’s pathological desire for control, I had always been indifferent towards him. Even though I was forced to marry him, I treated him indifferently. I never let him touch me. Perhaps out of resentment, or to make up for his regrets, he searched everywhere for someone who resembled me. Ariel Berg was the substitute he had found, who resembled me the most. At this moment, Ariel, looking furious, looked at me with overwhelming resentment. “You slut. You know that Brian is hopelessly in love with me, so you try every means to make yourself look like me. You want to replace me as my double, don’t you?” Ariel was arrogant and flamboyant. “Since she doesn’t know the truth, I don’t intend to argue with her about why she slapped me.” Instead, I kindly advised her. “You shouldn’t be here. Before Brian arrives, leave here quickly. Otherwise, no one can help you.” However, Ariel didn’t appreciate my kindness at all. Instead, she grabbed my hair angrily and said, “Brian is my man. I can wander around everywhere in his territory. You’re planning to drive me away. After all, You’re afraid that I, the rightful owner, will ruin your scheme and leave you with no chance to be a mistress, right?” “Today, I will make you know the consequences of stealing my man!” After saying that, Ariel kicked me to the ground. I stumbled onto the rocks. My forehead instantly cracked open. I touched the blood on my forehead and looked at the imposing Ariel. I said indifferently, “Aren’t you afraid that Brian will find out about your reckless behavior?” Ariel sneered disdainfully. “I am the destined love that Brian has been searching for for a long time. Even if I have a little scratch on my face, he will be so worried about me and make himself restless for a few days. Even if he knows about what I did, so what? Will he blame me because of you, an insignificant person?” Several of Ariel’s friends sneered and echoed. “Exactly. Everyone knows that Mr. Hawk fell in love with Ariel at first sight. How can you, her imitator, who did plastic surgery, compare to her?” “Ariel, with Mr. Hawk’s distinguished identity, there must be many seductive women like this bitch trying to seduce him. Today, we happen to make her an example and scare them off. Then we can cut off the crooked thoughts of those seductive bitches!” “Yes, we will let those despicable women, who want to climb the social ladder, know who the real Mrs. Hawk is!” All of them each spoke sharp words and looked fierce. They were eager to tear me apart.

I looked serious and indifferently said, “You’d better ask Brian to find out who I am.” Ariel raised her chin and looked disdainful. “Do you, a plastic surgery woman, who sneaked into the villa, deserve me to inquire about your identity?” “I am Brian’s favorite. The Berg family is the biggest partner of the Hawk family. Who the hell are you? Are you qualified to show off your status against mine?” As she said, she looked fierce and ordered several of her best friends behind her. “Strip this bitch naked. I want to see if she can make her body look exactly like mine.” Hearing this, her best friends immediately rushed over and violently tore off my clothes. While I was desperately preventing them from stripping my clothes, I shouted, “Stop it. I am Brian’s wife!” …   Hearing what I said, they immediately stopped what they were doing. Ariel stood aside, squinting at me. “You said you were Brian’s wife?” I said seriously, “Yes, you are a substitute he found. If he knows that you hurt me like this, he will not let you go.” I thought that Ariel would thus retreat after I revealed the truth. Unexpectedly, they burst into laughter almost at the same time. “This bitch! Is she that eager to take my place?” “Relying on the fact that she looks somewhat similar to Ariel, she dares to say that Ariel is her substitute?” “Everyone knows that Mr. Hawk always takes Ariel with him wherever he goes. You, a sneaky plastic surgery woman, dare to call yourself Mr. Hawk’s wife?” On the other hand, Ariel smiled viciously. “I thought you would be something. After all, you disguise yourself as me to seduce Brian. I didn’t expect you to be a brainless idiot.” “I’ve been with Brian for so long. I didn’t even know he had a wife. Are you that bold? How dare you tell such an outrageous lie?” “If you were the real Mrs. Hawk, how could you live alone in this desolate villa without anyone knowing it?” After saying that, Ariel snorted and ordered her several girlfriends. “Continue to strip her clothes. Leave nothing behind!” Upon hearing this, her best friends did not hesitate as they violently tore off my clothes. None of them knew the reason why no one was around this villa. “Brian bought all this large piece of land. No one can come here without his permission.” “Originally, bodyguards and maids were living here. Because of Brian’s jealousy, he dismissed everyone.” “He doesn’t announce my identity to the public so that others won’t take an extra glance at me.” “Even if they are discussing things related to me, he will feel it’s blasphemy against me.” I never expected that all Brian had done to me would become the reason why they had doubts about my identity. Seeing my clothes being torn to pieces, I panicked and shouted. “I am Brian’s wife. If you don’t believe me, call him!” After hearing what I said, they became even more fierce. They didn’t stop what they were doing. While tearing off my clothes frantically, they slapped me in the face. “You damn bitch. Do you dare to lie? Let’s see how we will wake you up today!” Soon, my face turned red and swollen. I was disheveled. With my clothes barely covering me, a lot of skin on my body was exposed. Seeing this, Ariel narrowed her eyes and said gently, “This bitch’s hair is too annoying. It’s hindering her from showing off her body.” … As she said that, she revealed an evil smile and took out a lighter. She set my hair on fire. The fire quickly spread on my head. An intense burning sensation engulfed me. For a moment, my cheeks, ears, and entire scalp felt a burst of strong burning pain. The pain was unbearable. I instinctively tried to pat out the fire with my hands, but they firmly held me down. In the blink of an eye, my hair was all burned. My scalp was covered in burn marks. At my look, Ariel laughed with satisfaction. “It’s funny. With your bald and ugly face, how are you going to seduce men in the future?” Her several close friends laughed and applauded. I stared at them, trembling all over. Then I shouted, “You will regret this!” Brian threatened me with the lives of my entire family. I had been imprisoned for many years. I stayed at the empty villa in a daze day after day. It made me even more frustrated. Now, I had to endure Ariel’s torment. The anger in my heart instantly turned into intense hatred. Ariel walked up to me and stepped heavily on my face with her foot. “How dare you challenge me? Since what you say will always displease me, you shouldn’t speak anymore.” “Cut off this bitch’s tongue!”

With her command, one of Ariel’s bodyguards behind her walked towards me with a dagger in his hands. Seeing this, one of Ariel’s best friends, who was timid, said fumblingly, “Ariel, this is Mr. Hawk’s territory after all. Is it appropriate for us to make such a big scene?” … Ariel said without hesitation, “What’s wrong? Brian is my man. His house is my house. I’m just educating a shameless bitch in my home. Who dares to say anything to me?” … “Besides, Brian loves me so much. Even if I kill this bitch, he won’t frown at me.” Her other girlfriends echoed. “That’s right. Ariel is Mr. Hawk’s most beloved woman. There’s nothing she can’t do.” “When the time comes, Mr. Hawk will only feel sorry for Ariel for exhausting herself from dealing with the bitch.” Hearing their words, the timid girl no longer had any concerns. She watched the show with peace of mind. I lay on the ground, watching the dagger in the bodyguard’s hands. He was getting closer and closer to me. I was extremely frightened, shouting in panic, “I am indeed Brian’s wife! If you do this, Brian will never let you go!” … However, my threats had no effect. The bodyguard came to me and extended a dagger towards me. I wanted to escape, but several of Ariel’s best friends firmly held me down. I wanted to hide, but the dagger, shining with cold light, had deeply cut into my mouth. The bodyguard lifted his hand and stabbed at me with the dagger. In a daze, I saw a large amount of blood and my severed tongue falling from my mouth. … The pain was extreme. I felt like all the nerves in my body were severed. I was about to faint. I was like a pile of mud, lying in a pool of blood. I couldn’t move, and my breath was weak. Ariel stood with her arms crossed, looking down at me. She said, “Even though you had plastic surgery to make yourself look like me, with your appearance, Brian would never take you seriously. He loves me as a person. Got it?” “Not everyone can live such a good life as me. Brian won’t fall in love with any woman.” “Since you, a bitch, are so desperate for a man, I’ll reward you with a few men.” After saying that, she looked at the several bodyguards behind her. She said indifferently, “I’ll give this bitch to you to play with. Whoever works the hardest on her, I’ll reward them with 2 million dollars!” At Ariel’s words, the bodyguards’ eyes instantly lit up. They rubbed their hands eagerly and fiercely, planning to pounce on me. I collapsed on the ground without any strength to resist. I wanted to shout, but I had no tongue. My mouth was full of blood. I couldn’t make a sound. I could only let them ravage me. Brian imprisoned me here obsessively. But he had never hurt me or touched me. Even if I didn’t want to get close to him, he never forced himself on me. He said he would wait for the day when I was willing to give myself to him. He said I was destined to be his in this lifetime. But now, I was overwhelmed by a group of bodyguards. I was helpless. Helplessness and despair engulfed me. I couldn’t speak, crying uncontrollably. “Brian, is this the result you want?” A few of Ariel’s best friends watched the show and praised Ariel. They said, “Ariel is destined to be Mrs. Hawk. She is good at teaching others a lesson.” “Yes. See? This despicable woman was stubborn at first, but now she is made to cry. It’s funny. She probably won’t dare to seduce men anymore in the future.” “Congratulations to Ariel for successfully getting rid of a despicable bitch. Let’s see who dares to compete with you for the position of Mrs. Hawk in the future!” Ariel smiled victoriously and proudly as they praised her. The excited bodyguards suddenly looked strange. The next moment, a bodyguard stood up and pointed at me. He reported, saying, “Miss Berg, this woman is dead!” Hearing this, Ariel frowned and looked disgusted. “How unlucky! Bury her somewhere quickly in case she will stink Brian’s eyes!” As soon as she finished speaking, Brian walked into the courtyard. “What are you doing?”

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After years of helping the company prepare for its IPO, my girlfriend—finally ready to go public about our relationship—was about to make the announcement. But before she could, her ever-smug assistant, who’s never liked me, beat her to it. Stepping onto the stage, he wrapped his arm around her waist, a triumphant smirk on his face. “Didn’t you say we’d wait a few more years? Couldn’t hold out even for that long, huh?” he said, his tone thick with mockery. My girlfriend didn’t bother explaining. Instead, she handed him a document—the transfer of shares agreement—and announced to the room that he was the company’s newest shareholder. The crowd erupted in shock, with murmurs and whispers spreading like wildfire. The assistant, clearly basking in the attention, turned his smugness toward me, throwing out thinly veiled jabs. And my girlfriend? She didn’t stop him. In fact, her tone was cold as ice when she added: “You’ve done a lot for the company, but his talent is what we need to ensure a brighter future.” I didn’t flinch. I didn’t argue. Instead, I smiled, nodded, and graciously handed over my remaining shares to the assistant as well. “Let’s see,” I thought to myself, “how far they can take this company without its biggest investor.” And with that, I walked away. ***** When Emily announced on stage that Ryan had become the company’s newest shareholder, the room erupted in thunderous applause. I stood there frozen, my mind foggy from too many late nights of overtime. For a moment, I thought I had misheard her. “Look at Jake’s face—it’s priceless!””He’s been with the CEO for years and only got 2% of the shares. Ryan’s barely been here and snagged 20% just like that.””Jake’s always nitpicking Ryan’s work, but now? He looks like a total clown.” The crowd wasn’t even trying to be subtle with their laughter, making sure I could hear every word. They weren’t mocking me for fun—they were trying to curry favor with Ryan. And Emily? She didn’t even bother stopping them. Ryan shot me a smug grin, his voice dripping with fake innocence as he said, “Jake, no applause from you? Don’t tell me you’re upset about me getting shares.” He paused, a theatrical pout forming on his lips. “I mean, if we’re talking seniority, I guess you should’ve gotten them instead.” With that, he lazily extended the contract toward me, like he was handing me a consolation prize. But before I could react, Emily snatched the papers away and pushed them back into his hands with a playful yet firm gesture. “Ryan, you’re too kind,” she said with a soft laugh. “But the company values talent, not tenure.” Then, her gaze turned cold as it landed on me. “And you, Jake, don’t you dare make a scene. Let’s not forget the massive mistake you made last quarter, costing the company millions. The fact that I didn’t fire you outright was already generous. What right do you have to expect shares?” The two of them were perfectly in sync, like actors in a well-rehearsed play. I couldn’t help but find it amusing. That “mistake” she mentioned? It was Ryan’s fault. He panicked when things went south and pinned the blame on me. I’d tried to present evidence and explain the truth to Emily, but she didn’t believe me. She never did. I’d grown used to it by now. Over the years, Ryan had shown little talent but had poured all his energy into undermining me. Fresh out of college, he knew how to charm people with his words. He’d won over most of our colleagues, and even Emily thought he was harmless and honest. So, every time Ryan and I clashed, Emily always assumed I was at fault. And because of that, my coworkers had grown increasingly disrespectful toward me. Ryan’s voice interrupted my thoughts, still dripping with mock humility. “But I’m just worried Jake might feel bad.” As he spoke, he leaned closer to Emily, his head almost resting on her shoulder in an uncomfortably intimate gesture. Emily didn’t push him away. Instead, she shot me a sharp look. “Jake, wipe that sour look off your face!” she snapped. “I thought long and hard about this decision. Stop sulking and ruining everyone’s mood. If you can’t handle it, maybe you should just leave!” The room erupted in agreement, voices chiming in to back her up. I knew Emily was just venting her frustration, but I couldn’t help but laugh. The investors? I had brought them in after countless sleepless nights. The proposals? I had rewritten them over and over again. The IPO? It had only succeeded because of my efforts. And now, with the company finally going public, they wanted to cut me out entirely? They thought a few harsh words could erase all my hard work? I grabbed my bag and strode toward the stage. Ryan, clearly nervous, shrank behind Emily, his eyes wide with fear. Emily immediately stepped in front of him, shielding him like a mother bear protecting her cub. “Jake, what do you think you’re doing?” she demanded, her voice sharp with warning. I pulled a document from my bag and held it out to her. “I just think,” I said calmly, “that Ryan’s worked so hard, the shares you’ve given him aren’t enough.” I smiled faintly. “Take mine too. Let’s hope he can keep up the momentum.” Ryan’s eyes lit up as he stared at the document, practically salivating at the thought of owning more shares. Emily, however, looked at me with suspicion, her expression unreadable. The room fell silent as everyone tried to process what I had just done. They all knew how much I had sacrificed for the company. I’d been there since day one, building it from the ground up. I’d handled everything—from securing investments to juggling the smallest of tasks. Now that the IPO was a success, my shares were worth millions. Everyone had assumed I’d use this opportunity to negotiate for more. No one could have imagined I’d simply give them away. What they didn’t know was that Emily wasn’t just my boss—she was my fiancée. For years, she had insisted we keep our relationship a secret to avoid workplace gossip. But when Ryan showed up, I started to worry. I begged her to acknowledge our relationship, and after much pleading, she finally agreed to announce it on the day of the IPO. Last night, I was so excited I couldn’t even sleep. But when the moment came, Ryan stepped onto the stage first, wrapping his arm around her waist. And Emily… she didn’t stop him. She didn’t even seem uncomfortable. Everyone assumed they were a couple, and Emily didn’t bother correcting them. It wasn’t that she didn’t want our relationship to go public. She just didn’t want this relationship to go public. She remained silent, and I didn’t say another word. I turned and walked away. I had barely made it a few steps when I felt a warm hand grab my wrist. I turned, surprised to see that it was Emily. She had never stopped me before. She always let me leave, knowing I’d inevitably come back to apologize. But this time was different. She pressed her lips together and said, “Jake, you’re too impulsive. Ryan is calm and collected—everything you’re not.” “I didn’t want to cut you out, but after today, I don’t have a choice. These shares need to go to someone who can handle them responsibly.” I couldn’t help but laugh. This wasn’t about my “impulsiveness.” She was just trying to justify giving my shares to Ryan. In the past, I might’ve argued with her. But now, I just felt… nothing. “Okay,” I said simply. Emily blinked, clearly expecting me to put up more of a fight. Before she could say anything else, one of our coworkers called for a champagne toast. Emily shot me one last glance before turning away, the contract in her hand. I watched her walk toward Ryan, then turned and left the banquet hall. Outside, I pulled out my phone and made a call. “Dad,” I said, my voice steady. “You were right. I’m ready to come back and take over the family business.”

My dad owns over a hundred companies and regularly ranks in the top twenty on Forbes. I’m the textbook definition of a trust fund kid. But when I first met Emily, I vividly remember her telling me about how, as a child, her father had been killed in a hit-and-run by some spoiled rich kid. The driver, protected by his family’s wealth and influence, avoided any real punishment and was out of jail within days. Ever since then, Emily has harbored a deep hatred for the wealthy. So, to be with her, I hid my background. I turned down every opportunity my family offered me, moved to a small city with her, and poured my entire savings into helping her start her business. Until yesterday, I naively believed that Emily and I had finally made it, that all our sacrifices had been worth it. But now, I realize just how badly I’ve lost. After hanging up the phone, I returned to the small apartment Emily and I shared. The room was decorated beautifully—warm and romantic. Heart-shaped candles lined the floor, and in the center was a bouquet of vibrant blue roses. Nestled within the roses was an elegant diamond ring. Beside it, there was the deed to a luxury house—the one I’d planned to surprise Emily with. I had imagined her reaction so many times, picturing the joy and love in her eyes. But now, none of that mattered. Emily would never even see it. I grabbed everything—the ring, the flowers, the deed—and tossed it all into the trash. Then, I booked a flight for the next evening. I needed one day to wrap up my work and hand everything over. “Ding.” My phone buzzed with a notification. It was a video from Ryan. In the clip, Ryan was carrying Emily bridal-style, her face flushed as she clung tightly to his neck, burying her face in his chest. They looked every bit the perfect couple. Around them, coworkers cheered and clapped, shouting for them to kiss. The video disappeared seconds later, deleted. Then, a message popped up. “Oops, sorry, sent that by mistake.” Of course, I didn’t believe him. Ryan had always been deliberate with his moves. This was just another one of his games. Over the past few years, he’d pulled stunts like this countless times. Normally, I’d lose my temper, confront Emily, and end up being scolded by her. “Can you stop being so sensitive? Maybe focus more on work instead of this nonsense?” At first, I thought I was overthinking it. But one time, when Emily was sick and half-delirious, she called out Ryan’s name. That’s when I realized her heart was no longer with me. This time, I didn’t feel anything. I simply blocked Ryan without hesitation and deleted his contact. Not long after, my phone rang. It was Emily. “Jake, did you block Ryan?” she demanded the moment I picked up, her tone icy and accusatory. She didn’t care what Ryan had done—only that I had blocked him. “I did,” I replied flatly. “What’s wrong with you? He’s your coworker! How is he supposed to do his job now? He thinks he must have done something wrong and has been blaming himself, crying nonstop. Add him back and apologize!” I couldn’t help but laugh. “Do you even know what he sent me?” There was silence on the other end, probably as she checked with Ryan. A few seconds later, she replied dismissively, “So what if he sent the wrong picture? It’s not a big deal.” Of course. When it came to Ryan, nothing was ever a big deal. I let out a cold laugh. “You’re right, it’s no big deal. Just like when he ‘accidentally’ sent the wrong pricing sheet to a client, and we lost millions because of it.” That incident had been catastrophic. Ryan had sent our bottom-line pricing to a partner, leading to multiple contract cancellations and negotiations. A week’s worth of hard work—and over a million dollars—went up in flames. Emily hadn’t cared then, either. The line went quiet for a moment. Clearly, she remembered the incident. Then I heard Ryan’s voice in the background, soft and hoarse. “Emily, Jake’s probably just upset about the shares you gave me today. I should apologize to him.” Emily’s tone immediately softened. “No need, Ryan. It wasn’t your fault. Let him cool off on his own.” And with that, she hung up. It was always like this. Whenever we argued, Emily would use the excuse that I needed to “calm down” to spend more time with Ryan instead. But this time, I didn’t feel angry. I calmly drafted my resignation letter and sent it to HR. 3The moment I hit send on the resignation email, I felt a wave of relief wash over me, as if a heavy weight had been lifted. Around 2 a.m., I was deep asleep when my phone buzzed with another call from Emily. “Pick me up. I’m still at the hotel from earlier,” she said. I could hear the lively background noise on her end—probably another one of her work events. Normally, I’d have jumped out of bed, thrown on some clothes, and rushed over to get her. But this time, I simply yawned, my voice calm and lazy. “Call a rideshare,” I said. “There are plenty around that area.” Emily paused, her tone shifting to suspicion. “Are you asleep?” “Yeah,” I replied, nonchalant. In the past, whenever Emily went out for work or networking, I’d stay up worrying about her safety, unable to sleep until she was home. But tonight, I slept like a baby. Even her call felt like an unwelcome disruption to my rest. She didn’t argue further. About half an hour later, she came home. I had just stepped out of the bathroom when we locked eyes in the hallway. “You’re up,” she said softly. “Make me some noodles. I’m starving.” Her tone was gentle, almost coaxing. I knew this was her way of extending an olive branch, trying to smooth things over. Whenever we fought, she’d lean into her vulnerability to reopen communication and bridge the gap. But that only worked because I loved her. Now that love was gone, ground down to nothing, and all I felt was irritation. “Cook for yourself,” I said flatly. “Or order something if you don’t know how.” I turned and headed toward the bedroom, but Emily stepped in front of me, blocking the door. That’s when I caught the faint scent of Ryan’s cologne lingering on her. “Jake, are you seriously still upset?” she asked, her tone a mix of exasperation and disbelief. “I’ve already explained this to you—everything I’m doing is for the company. Just because we’ve gone public doesn’t mean we can relax. If anything, now’s the time to focus even harder.” “Ryan may not be the most capable,” she continued, “but he’s got connections, he’s great at networking, and his family owns businesses we might collaborate with in the future. Giving him shares wasn’t about favoritism—it was about what’s best for the company.” I hadn’t expected her to justify herself like this. But it didn’t matter. Whether she believed her own excuses or not, I didn’t. “Mm-hmm,” I replied dismissively and walked into the bedroom, shutting the door behind me. Emily must’ve been stunned because she stood outside for a moment before angrily kicking the door. “Fine! Act like this all you want, Jake! But don’t come crying to me later when you regret it!”

  The next morning, I came out of the bedroom to find Emily sitting on the couch, meticulously ironing a brand-new suit. When she saw me, she immediately jumped up, holding the suit out toward me. “Here, try this on,” she said cheerfully, practically shoving it into my hands. I recognized it instantly—it was a limited-edition Chanel suit. Not only was it outrageously expensive, but it was also notoriously hard to get. Social media was full of posts about how it was the perfect gift for a boyfriend. I’d even hinted to Emily once that I thought it looked amazing. After changing into the suit, I stepped out of the bedroom, feeling an unexpected tightness in my throat. I was about to say something, but Emily spoke first, her tone light and teasing. “You and Ryan are about the same size. It fits you perfectly, so it should look just as good on him.” She smiled as she reached out to carefully take the jacket off me. “Be careful not to wrinkle it,” she added. “I spent so much time getting it just right.” Then, she folded the suit back into its gift box, looking pleased with herself, and headed out the door with it. I knew she was doing this on purpose, punishing me for yesterday. But instead of feeling angry, all I felt was a sense of detachment. It was childish, after all. Later that morning, I got a call and made my way to the office to finalize my resignation. The moment I stepped into the building, I spotted Ryan sitting on my desk, surrounded by coworkers fawning over him like he was the star of the show. One of them walked up to me with a smug grin. “Jake, go grab some coffee for everyone.” “Why?” I asked, checking my watch. I wasn’t late. The coworker grinned wider. “Emily said whoever gets to the office last has to buy everyone coffee. And guess what? You’re the last one here.” “Don’t worry about it,” Ryan cut in, standing up and adjusting the suit jacket he was wearing—the same one Emily had taken that morning. “I wouldn’t want Jake running errands for everyone,” he said, his voice loud enough for the whole room to hear. “I’ll go instead.” Of course, he made no move to leave. Right on cue, Emily walked out of her office. Her eyes flicked to Ryan’s suit, and for a split second, her expression faltered before she quickly recovered. She stepped forward, straightening his collar with a smile. “I knew it would look great on you,” she said warmly. The others erupted into cheers and laughter. Emily’s face flushed slightly as she glanced at me, clearly checking to see if I’d react with jealousy or anger. But I didn’t. My heart was like a still lake—calm, empty, and unaffected. Emily didn’t seem satisfied with my lack of response. Her tone turned cold as she said, “I already told everyone—whoever got here last needs to buy coffee. If you’re not going to cooperate, why are you even here?” A coworker pointed at me. “Jake was the last one in.” Emily smirked. “Go on, then. And if you don’t, I’ll fire you.” Apparently, she hadn’t seen my resignation email yet. I didn’t bother hiding it anymore. “I’m not here to work,” I said calmly. “I’m here to resign.”   The room fell silent. Some of my coworkers, the ones who still got along with me, couldn’t help but lean in and whisper. “Jake, are you sure about this? The boss just announced raises for everyone. Quitting now would be a terrible move.” “Yeah, didn’t you hear her tone? She was just joking earlier.” I stayed calm, my voice steady. “I’m not joking. I already submitted my resignation to HR yesterday.” Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a flicker of excitement in Ryan’s expression. He opened his mouth, ready to say something, but when he saw Emily’s unreadable gaze, he swallowed his words and stayed quiet. Emily frowned, her eyes narrowing as she looked at me. “Do you even realize what you’re doing? Do you understand how much you’re giving up by walking away from this company right now?” Of course, I knew. I was giving up stress, manipulation, and the invisible chains that had kept me tied here for far too long. Ryan, ever the opportunist, put on his usual wounded act. “Jake, I get it. You’re still upset with me, right?” He sighed dramatically. “Maybe I should just leave instead. After all, you and Emily have worked together for so many years. It’d be a shame for you to go now.” As he spoke, he started heading for the door, glancing at Emily out of the corner of his eye, clearly waiting for her to stop him. I almost laughed out loud at how obvious he was. Sure enough, Emily fell for it—or pretended to. She grabbed his arm, her voice soft and affectionate. “This has nothing to do with you, Ryan. No one’s asking you to leave.” Ryan’s face lit up with smug satisfaction. Still, he wasn’t done with his performance. He sighed again, shaking his head as though he were making a huge sacrifice. “But Jake’s been with the company for so long. I’ll try to talk some sense into him.” He walked up to me, putting on a show for the audience. “Jake, come on,” he said, his voice dripping with fake sincerity. “Think it over. We’d all hate to see you go. Honestly, we’ve always thought of you as a good friend.” As he spoke, he patted my shoulder—harder than necessary. And then, when no one else was watching, he pinched me. Hard. The sharp pain shot through my shoulder. Without thinking, I kicked him square in the chest. Ryan fell to the ground, clutching his chest and gasping for air. Emily rushed over, kneeling beside him, her face full of concern and panic. I couldn’t help but think back to the time I’d worked so hard to close a deal that I drank myself into the hospital with stomach bleeding. She hadn’t cared half as much then. Emily shot to her feet, her face twisted with anger. She slapped me across the face. “Are you insane, Jake?” she yelled. “Ryan was just trying to help you, and you attacked him? What kind of person bullies their coworker like this?” At that moment, HR walked into the room, clearly on their way to discuss my resignation. Before they could even speak, Emily snapped, “Process his paperwork and get him out of here. Now.” She signed off on my resignation without hesitation, but she wasn’t done. As if to rub salt in the wound, she added, “This company is making hundreds of thousands in profits every day. Only an idiot would leave now.” Then she turned to Ryan, her tone softening again. “Don’t worry, Ryan. In a few months, you’ll have everything you’ve ever wanted—houses, cars, anything. I’ll make sure of it.” The other coworkers chimed in, their excitement palpable. “Emily’s the best!” “Next month, whoever hits the top sales goals, I’ll buy them a house,” Emily declared confidently. Ryan’s eyes sparkled with greed, and the others cheered louder. Emily’s arrogance grew as she basked in their praise. “And as for certain people,” she said, casting a cold glance my way, “who think they can bully their coworkers and refuse to follow orders—I’ll make sure no company ever hires them again.” The room erupted into laughter and insults aimed at me, their voices growing more frenzied by the second. For a moment, I hesitated. Should I say something? Should I tell them what I knew? That morning, my dad had called to let me know something interesting. Turns out, the biggest investor in Emily’s company for the past two years was… him. When he heard I was planning to quit and return home to take over the family business, he decided to run a full background check on her company. The results weren’t good. He’d already decided to pull the investment, citing breach of contract. Not only that, but he was planning to sue for triple damages. I knew exactly how much weight my dad’s company carried in her investment portfolio. Once he pulled out, forget about buying houses and cars—keeping the company afloat for another month would be a miracle. I opened my mouth to say something but stopped. Emily mistook my silence for regret. She rolled her eyes and sneered. “Well? If you apologize to Ryan now, there’s still time to fix this.” “Otherwise—” Before she could finish, someone burst into the room. It was the head of finance, their face pale and anxious. “Emily, we’ve got a problem,” they said quickly. “Our biggest investor just sent a notice. They found serious discrepancies in our financial records and suspect fraud. Not only are they pulling out, but they’re also suing us for triple damages!”

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