Author: Momo Chan

Three years after we broke up, my ex sued me. He demanded I return every penny he’d spent during our relationship. It wasn’t because he was short on cash; it was because his current wife couldn’t stand me. He knew I was battling depression after my parents died in a car crash. He knew I was in the hospital, fighting for my life. Yet, he still went through with it. The court’s final verdict ordered me to repay **$28,523**. Twenty-three bucks was for the macarons I’d wanted from a fancy Manhattan pastry shop. I thought they were too expensive. He just smiled and bought them for me. Five years of love, now all those memories twisted into knives, stabbing me. He had no idea. The $28,523 I repaid him was my entire life savings, the unpaid fee for my next round of cancer chemotherapy. Right after the court’s decision came down, I ran into Dean Thorne in the hallway. It had been years, and he’d changed so much. The broke college kid, hustling to launch his startup from a tiny, shared apartment, was now a titan in the renewable energy sector. He stood there in a crisp, tailored suit, his gaze landing on me with a distant chill. I instinctively froze, wanting to pretend I hadn’t seen him, to just walk past. But then, he spoke, his voice slow and deliberate: “Do you… regret it now?” I blinked, caught off guard. “Regret what?” Dean offered a sneering smile. “Leaving me for money back then. You must be regretting it badly now, right?” The late autumn wind was cold, biting into my thin clothes, making me shiver even as I dug my nails into my palms. I just couldn’t shake the chill. After a moment, I took a deep breath, flashing him my most perfect smile. “Dean, the money’s been returned. We’re over. Aren’t you afraid your wife will get the wrong idea, talking like this?” I turned my head and saw Seraphina Thorne standing there, her face contorted with fury. She quickly plastered on a smile, masking that last flicker of pure venom. Seraphina clicked forward in her high heels, hooking her arm possessively through Dean’s. “Honey, what should I spend this twenty-eight thousand on? New clothes? Shoes? Or that designer bag I spotted last week?” She shot me a pointed look, then sighed dramatically. “Seems like it’s not quite enough, does it? Really, Dean, why weren’t you more generous with your ex? This little bit wouldn’t even buy me a hair clip.” Dean and I had dated for five years. During that time, he was studying in the States, and I’d fly to Los Angeles every month to see him. Most of that **$28,523** I repaid was for those plane tickets, the money he’d earned working grueling odd jobs day and night to cover my travel. But now, he and Seraphina were using those old transfer records, with a lawyer’s help, to demand every cent back. And they acted like it was completely justified. The hair clip Seraphina was wearing was last week’s latest Chanel, costing **$22,000**. My payment certainly wasn’t enough for that. The next second, Dean lovingly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Sweetheart, keep it for your pocket money. If it’s not enough, I’ll add more.” Seraphina beamed, planting a kiss on Dean’s cheek. “Oh, honey, you’re the best!” Then, she turned to me, a smirk playing on her lips, and offered a saccharine apology. “Elara, I’m so sorry. We honestly don’t need the money, but Dean and I made a bet, and he just wanted to make me happy, so… ” “You know, ever since we got married, Dean worries I’m working too hard, so he won’t let me get a job. All I do every day is skincare, beauty treatments, and travel. I need *somebody* to entertain myself with, don’t I?” She stepped closer, taking my hand, her eyes gleaming with triumph and pride— “Thanks for making me so happy, and for showing me just how much my husband truly loves me.” My brow furrowed, my heart pricked by a thousand tiny needles. For the wealthy, I was merely a prop, a tool used to showcase Dean’s devotion to his wife.

I forced my trembling hands still, again summoning a perfect smile. “Debts must be paid. It’s only right.” Seraphina smirked. “I hope you always feel that way.” “My husband is a little naive, easily fooled by vain, opportunistic people. I just wanted to help him save face. Hope you don’t mind.” The next moment, she yanked my hand with sudden force, digging her nails into my wrist. I wasn’t ready. With a gasp, I tumbled down the stairs, my knee slamming against the marble steps, instantly drawing blood. I winced, trembling with pain, and looked up at the figures on the landing. Seraphina covered her mouth, feigning surprise. “Elara, what happened? It’s just twenty-eight thousand. You’re not so weak you can’t even stand on stairs, are you? You look really hurt. Should we give you a ride home?” She then flashed a triumphant smile. “Dean just bought me a new sports car.” Seraphina’s sports car was Dean’s wedding anniversary gift to her. The body was encrusted with pink diamonds, perfectly matching her aesthetic. She often drove it out, causing a sensation in the media and envy among countless onlookers. My gaze drifted to Dean. His eyes were cold, deep, looking down at me from above, filled with an icy detachment. Like a defeated stray, I scrambled clumsily to my feet, then smiled at them again. “No thanks, I’ll get back on my own.” Seraphina giggled, delighted. “Alright, we’ll get going then!” Then, she turned to Dean. “Honey, I know what I should buy now.” “Lily’s dog bowl broke. I want to get her a smart one.” Dean stared at me, complex emotions swirling in his eyes. After a moment, he exhaled slowly. “Whatever.” Seraphina linked her arm with Dean’s, skipping off happily. It wasn’t until their dazzling sports car roared past me, until a taxi pulled up to the curb, that I suddenly remembered I didn’t even have money for a ride anymore. Dean would never know. The money he was spending on a dog bowl was actually my lifeline.

I dragged my battered body back home. My cramped, leaky attic apartment in a rundown building always seemed to rattle with the sharp clang of metal whenever the wind blew or it rained. It kept me awake all night. In the summer, it was a sweatbox. I didn’t have AC and couldn’t afford the electricity bill, so I’d suffered heatstroke several times. I’d thought Dean would never find me here. I never imagined our next meeting would be in court. I took one last look at the news clippings taped to the wall, cut from magazines and newspapers, then tore them down one by one. Each clipping featured Dean’s photo. His first interview as a rising star in the renewable energy sector, his awards ceremony for NYC’s Top 10 Outstanding Young Entrepreneurs, and… His proposal to Seraphina on one knee, and their lavish public wedding ceremony, witnessed by media and countless onlookers. I took a deep breath, tearing the news pages, tucking them all into a cardboard box hidden under my bed. My gaze fell upon a photo at the bottom of the box. A wave of bitterness washed over me as I looked at Dean in the picture, his arm around me, his smile shy, gentle, and full of joy. Thinking of his cold, distant face in the courthouse hallway, he seemed like a complete stranger now, like someone from another lifetime. He was now the CEO of a publicly traded company, a powerful business phenom in New York, a renowned philanthropist. He was the perfect husband, doting on Seraphina, holding her in the palm of his hand. Only… he wasn’t my boyfriend anymore. I finally managed a bitter smile, sealing those news clippings and photos away, burying them with my past. Then, I looked in the mirror, started putting on makeup, and slipped into a tight dress. “Manager, starting tonight, I want to work the night shift.” Night shifts at the bar meant running into more creepy, handsy guys, but it also meant making money faster. I had no choice. To survive, to pay for my treatment, I had to earn. But I never expected to see Dean there. Gazing at his figure, surrounded by a crowd, my fingers instinctively clenched, and the exposed skin on my arms seemed to burn. He saw me too, of course. After a flicker of shock and disbelief, a look of sarcastic disdain crossed his face— “So, this is where you work, huh.” My palms were sweating, but I forced myself to stay calm. “Sir, your drink.” Dean’s expression was mocking, as if he were looking at a rat scrambling in a sewer. “Right. Any man in here, you could latch onto one, and they’d set you up for life. Pretty typical of you, isn’t it?” I took another deep breath. “Dean, your drink.” But he just raised an eyebrow. “How long have you been here? Don’t you know how to serve people?” He pulled out a check from his jacket, casually scribbled a number, and imperiously tossed it at my feet. “Keep these guys happy for me, and this money is yours.” The check fluttered to the floor. I slowly bent down to pick it up, a sharp pain shooting through my injured knee. When I saw the number on the check, my pupils constricted. My heart felt a violent squeeze, leaving me breathless. **$28,523**. The exact amount I had repaid him in court. He was using that number to humiliate me. I stood there, meeting his gaze. After a long silence, I finally spoke— “This is your payment to me, Dean. I suppose… I won’t have to return it, right?”

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My husband loves animals. He often brings stray cats and dogs home. I’ve always supported him. Until one night, he brought a young woman home. “This is Sera Hayes, a college student I’ve taken in. She’s an orphan, homeless. She’ll be living with us from now on.” I strongly objected. Dempsey actually said: “Have you no empathy?! Sera is so helpless, can’t you just treat her like a lost kitten you took in?” I work in a highly confidential field. Just three days after our wedding, I had to separate from my husband for three months. When my assignment was over, I excitedly returned home, only to find a beautiful young woman there. She was wearing an apron, cooking soup in the kitchen. Hearing the door open, she fluttered over like a butterfly. But when she saw me, the smile vanished from her face, replaced by immediate hostility. “Who are you, and how do you have keys to *my* house?” Her question left me stunned. This was *my* house, no mistake. “I’m the lady of this house. Who are *you*, and why are you in my home?” The girl’s face instantly changed. “Dempsey said you wouldn’t be back for three months. Why are you two days early?” She clearly wasn’t happy to see me. “So who exactly are you?” “I’m the lady of this house too!” Her words made me laugh in disbelief. Did Dempsey have two wives now? Just as I was about to call Dempsey to demand an explanation, he walked in. “Eleanor, darling, you’re back early?” “You didn’t tell me you were coming back sooner. I would have sent a car to pick you up.” “No need. I have my own car.” “That custom-built vehicle of yours is way overdue for an upgrade. As my wife, how can you drive something so… unremarkable?” “That car isn’t something you can buy with just money, and anyway, this isn’t about the car right now.” I glanced at the girl beside him. “Start explaining.” Dempsey chuckled. “Oh, you mean Sera. I forgot to introduce you. This is Sera Hayes; she’s now part of our family.” My mind went blank. “So, may I ask, in what capacity is she becoming ‘part of our family’?” “Sera is a student I’ve taken in. Her parents both passed away, and she’s homeless. I felt sorry for her, so I brought her home.” “Dempsey, I have no problem with you rescuing stray cats and dogs. But this is a grown woman, and she’s an adult. What right do you have to just ‘take her in’?” “The right of being a billionaire. I have the money to support her, and I’m willing to do it.” His words completely shattered my understanding of decency. “So, what you’re saying is, she’ll be living with us, as a couple, from now on? Is that it?” “Yes.” Dempsey grabbed my arm. “Eleanor, Sera is gentle, kind, and she cooks well. She can take care of us.” “It’s just one more young woman in the house, no different from having an extra cat or dog. Just think of her as another pet, and treat her like one.”

His words made me laugh, a bitter laugh. “You can have cats, dogs, birds, fish, even snakes, spiders, lizards—I wouldn’t care!” “But you bring a young woman in her early twenties into our home, and you expect me to be a fool?” “Dempsey, we’re newlyweds. You took advantage of my absence for work to openly bring your mistress into our house, calling her a ‘little girl’!” “I come from an educated, respectable family, and I have a higher education myself. Do you honestly think I’ll believe your nonsense?” Sera put on her most pitiful act, tugging at Dempsey’s sleeve with a heartbroken expression. “I knew Eleanor wouldn’t tolerate me. Maybe I should just go. Even though the university doesn’t allow dorm living anymore, it’s fine. I can just tough it out at the bus station.” Dempsey gently patted Sera’s hand. “Don’t worry, you stay right here. No one can make you leave.” “Oh, and Eleanor, I’ve moved your things to the west guest room. Sera will be staying in the master bedroom.” I froze, doubting my own ears. “Sera is taking the master bedroom, and I’m in the west guest room? What about you?” “If I want to sleep with you, I’ll come find you.” I found it utterly ridiculous. “Dempsey, you really think you’re a king? Am I your servant, assigned to some side room, waiting for you to decide you want me?!” “Who do you think you are? Even if you were a king, I’m your queen! Why should I tolerate this insult?” Sera tugged at Dempsey’s sleeve again, timidly saying, “Perhaps the master bedroom should still be for Eleanor. I’d be happy with just any place to sleep.” Dempsey pulled Sera into his arms. “I make the rules in this house, and I promised I’d give you the best.” Then he looked at me. “Since things have come to this, let’s just be direct.” “I love Sera, and I intend to keep her by my side! In name, you are my wife, but in reality, Sera and you are equals.” “In public, I’ll make sure you maintain your status. You’ll still be my wife, the future matriarch of Thorne Industries. But in this house, Sera is my true love. I expect you to know your place.” I felt a wave of dizziness from anger. Just then, Dempsey’s mother arrived. Full of grievances, I turned to her. “Mom, do you know what Dempsey has done?! He…” Before I could finish, Vivian raised a hand, signaling me to stop. “Eleanor, you should understand. Given our family’s standing, it’s impossible for Dempsey to have only one woman. Besides, your work is so demanding, you’re often away for months. It’s a good thing to have another woman in the house to help care for Dempsey.” “So, Mom, you knew about this all along, and you approve?” “Yes.” Vivian took my hand. “Eleanor, darling, we’re the wealthiest family in the city. It’s completely normal for Dempsey to have several women. The fact that he’s only brought one home is already showing you a great deal of respect.” I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. “Mom, if I had known your family was like this, I never would have agreed to date Dempsey. Why didn’t you make this clear *before* we got married?!” “Now that I’m married into this family, you say these things? That’s incredibly disrespectful! And by what right do you assume I would accept such a twisted arrangement?!”

The next second, Dempsey shoved me hard. “What are you yelling about?! You’re lucky to even be married into the Thorne family! I don’t know what my father saw in you, forcing me to marry you.” “Ignoring all the heiresses from powerful corporations, he chose *you*, some girl from a modest background. What help could you possibly be to me?” So, Dempsey despised me from the bottom of his heart. “I know the Thorne family is wealthy, but my dignity, Eleanor Vance’s dignity, is not something you can trample on!” “Whoever wants to be your wife can be, because I can’t. We’re getting a divorce!” “Divorce is not an option. We’ve only been married three months; a divorce would ruin Thorne Industries’ reputation.” Sera ran to the kitchen, poured a bowl of soup, and brought it to me. “Eleanor, please don’t be angry. Try the soup I made, it’s delicious.” “I don’t want it.” I merely pushed it gently, and Sera shrieked, letting the soup bowl fly from her hands. She stumbled back several steps and plopped onto the floor. “Eleanor, I was just trying to be nice. Why did you push me?” Before I could react, a stinging slap landed squarely on my face. “Eleanor Vance! You’re pushing your luck!” Dempsey helped Sera up. “Apologize to Sera, right now!” “I barely touched her; she faked it! Why should I apologize to her?!” Dempsey’s gaze was icy. He nudged Sera forward. “Hit her back.” Sera flinched. “Is that really appropriate? Even though Eleanor pushed me, she is still your legal wife. Besides, I… even if she were to hit me, I should just take it.” “In public, she’s my wife. But in this house, you are my beloved. Don’t demean yourself. If I didn’t need someone with an unblemished background to be my wife in name, she wouldn’t even be allowed through my door.” He wrapped an arm around Sera’s waist and kissed her directly. “From now on, you make the rules in this house.” He slowly shifted his gaze back to me. “Hit her back!” Sera straightened her posture, walking proudly towards me, her eyes filled with the smugness and arrogance of someone with powerful backing. My anger flared. “Assaulting a federal researcher comes with serious consequences!” “I don’t care what you are!” She raised her hand and viciously slapped me twice. “You deserved that, for being so defiant!” As I was being hit, Dempsey’s mother sat on the sofa watching TV as if nothing was happening. I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth, then suddenly smiled. “If you treat me like this, does your father know?” “If your father hadn’t come to my family’s door with gifts three times, practically begging my dad for our marriage and repeatedly promising he’d treat me well, you wouldn’t even have been allowed to meet me!” Dempsey’s eyes widened. “So what? You’re married into my family now, and you’ll abide by our rules!” “Here, I’m the one in charge!”

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I hit the $8.8 million jackpot, but the lottery center refused to pay out. “Fake!” I was completely floored. “No way! I just bought it yesterday. How can it be fake?” The clerk looked annoyed. “Still putting on a show? Don’t you know it’s fake yourself? Trying to scam money from the lottery center, you must be crazy for cash.” A bad feeling started to creep in, and my heart hammered faster. “If you can’t pay out, then give it back to me.” The clerk scoffed. “Give it back to you so you can go scam another place? Dream on. We’re confiscating this fake ticket. Cause any more trouble and I’ll call the police!” With that, she signaled a security guard to escort me out. I was furious, but also strangely thrilled! She didn’t know I had severe paranoid personality disorder. This exact scenario? I’d rehearsed it in my head at least three hundred times. Before the security guard’s hand even touched my shoulder, I gracefully collapsed to the floor. The floor was cold, a welcome chill against my burning forehead. My name is Caleb Stone. Naturally cautious, with a severe case of paranoid personality disorder. Before leaving home, I check the gas valve three times. Crossing the street, even on a green light, I scan left and right four times for any out-of-control vehicles. The moment I found out I won the jackpot last night, I locked myself in the bathroom and created a new file on my laptop: “Risk Assessment and Response Plan for an $8.8 Million Jackpot Win.” Branch One: Relatives asking for money and not paying it back. Branch Two: Car accident on the way to collect the prize. Branch Three: Lottery center refusing to pay out. Branch Four: Kidnapped and held for ransom. … Branch Eighteen: Lottery ticket confiscated on the spot. Right now, the plot was precisely at Branch Eighteen. “Ow! Help! The lottery center security guard is assaulting me!” I lay on the floor, my cries agonizingly shrill. There were quite a few people around, waiting to buy tickets or collect small winnings. At the sound of the commotion, even those who didn’t want to get involved craned their necks instinctively. The uniformed security guard was a big guy, his hand still suspended in mid-air, looking completely baffled. He hadn’t even used any force; I’d just gone limp and collapsed. “You’re lying! I didn’t even touch you!” the guard protested, flustered. Cora, the female clerk behind the counter, stood up and pointed at me, shouting: “Don’t believe him, everyone! This guy brought a fake lottery ticket to scam money, and when I exposed him, he started throwing a tantrum! Scammers these days will do anything for money, they have no shame!” I clutched my chest, gasping for air. “I’m not scamming anyone… that ticket… I bought it yesterday at the store on Construction Road… I have the receipt… I have the transaction record…” Gasping, I fumbled for my phone in my pocket, my hands trembling like someone with Parkinson’s. “If you’re not going to pay out… just give me back the ticket… it’s my ticket…” The crowd began to murmur. “Even if it’s fake, they shouldn’t push someone down, should they?” “Yeah, just give the ticket back. What’s with confiscating it?” “This young man looks honest, not like a scammer.” “Are lottery centers really this shady now?” Cora hadn’t expected me to pull this stunt, and her face darkened. She probably thought I’d be like a greenhorn, arguing loudly or getting scared off by the security guard. She underestimated the execution power of a paranoid individual. To avoid being easily removed, I had deliberately worn a faded old T-shirt and worn-out sneakers, cultivating the image of an honest, downtrodden person. “You… you stop playing dead!” Cora started to panic. “A fake ticket is a fake ticket! According to regulations, we have the right to confiscate it!” “Which regulation?” I suddenly stopped gasping and looked up, asking the question softly, but clearly. Cora froze. “Which law states that a merchant can unilaterally deem a customer’s item fake and confiscate it? Do you have judicial appraisal qualifications? Are you a law enforcement agency?” My words came out in a rapid-fire torrent; I’d memorized this script all night. A few elderly individuals in the crowd, who seemed to know a bit about law, immediately chimed in: “Exactly, even fake money has to be handled by the bank. What right do you have to confiscate his lottery ticket?” The tables had turned. Cora bit her lip, glaring fiercely at me. She knew that the security guard alone wouldn’t be enough to get rid of me now. “Fine, you won’t leave, will you?” She grabbed the desk phone receiver. “I’m calling the manager right now. He’ll deal with you! You won’t believe it until it’s staring you in the face!”

The manager arrived quickly. Less than five minutes later, a middle-aged man in a suit with slicked-back hair emerged from the inner office. His name was Robert Davies. I’d researched this lottery station’s information last night. While he wasn’t the legal representative or the actual controlling owner, he’d been the manager here for five years and supposedly had connections. “What’s going on? What’s all this shouting about? This is unacceptable!” Robert first reprimanded Cora, then smiled, reaching out to help me up. “Sir, the floor is cold. Let’s stand up and talk. We are a legitimate establishment; we would never bully anyone.” A master move. This was a true pro. Calming the public’s anger, establishing an image of reasonableness. I took the opportunity to stand up, dusting off my pants. “You’re the manager?” “I am.” Robert nodded, still smiling. “I heard you brought a lottery ticket to claim a prize, but my colleague said it was fake?” “It’s not fake, it’s real.” I stared into his eyes. “$8.8 million, the grand prize.” When I mentioned “$8.8 million,” I noticed a subtle twitch in Robert’s eye. Very faint. “Whether it’s real or fake isn’t just about what you say.” Robert sighed, putting on a professional air. “The ticket? Let me see it.” Cora handed the lottery ticket to Robert. Robert took it, held it up to the light, then felt the texture of the paper. “Sir.” Robert placed the ticket on the counter, tapping the surface lightly with his finger. “This ticket, it really does have issues.” “What issues?” “The paper quality is wrong.” Robert looked at me with a regretful expression. “This thermal paper isn’t from the same batch we use at the center. And this anti-counterfeit code, while it looks similar, a professional can spot the flaw instantly. And… ” He paused, raising his voice slightly. “And, the serial number on this ticket doesn’t show up in our system at all. That means this ticket has no record of being issued.” A collective gasp went through the crowd. “No record? Is it a private lottery?” “Oh, that young man looked so honest, turns out he really was trying to pull a fast one.” “Almost got tricked by him, these people are the worst!” The elderly folks who had just been on my side instantly turned against me. That’s how easily people are swayed; they believe whoever sounds loudest or looks most authoritative. Robert was clearly pleased with the effect. His eyes held a hint of disdain, as if to say: *Kid, trying to mess with me? You’re still too green.* “Since it’s a fake ticket, we’ll have to deal with it according to regulations.” Robert said, casually tucking the ticket, supposedly worth $8.8 million, into his pocket. “Hold on.” I spoke up. “You said it’s not in the system?” I pulled out my phone and opened a video. “This is a video I took when I bought the ticket yesterday. From me paying, to the machine printing it out, to me holding the ticket in my hand—it’s an uncut, single-shot video. It even shows the time on the ticket machine and your store’s identification number.” I held the phone screen up to Robert. The video clearly showed the lottery ticket being dispensed from their machine. Robert’s smile froze. He hadn’t expected me to record it. Who records buying a lottery ticket? But he was an old hand; he only paused for a second before regaining his composure. “Videos can be doctored, or shot with tricky angles.” Robert sneered. “Current AI face-swapping technology can do anything. Making a fake video is nothing. Besides, how do you prove that the ticket in this video is the same one you brought here now?” Shameless. Utterly shameless. This was exactly why I suffered from paranoid personality disorder. In this world, bad people don’t need logic to do evil; they only need power, or a thick skin. “So, what do you want?” I asked. “Nothing much.” Robert shrugged. “To prevent you from scamming other places, we must destroy this fake ticket.” “You wouldn’t dare!” I roared, taking a step forward. The security guard immediately blocked me, pushing me back. “What are you doing? Are you trying to rob us?” Cora shrieked. The scene instantly spiraled out of control.

“Call the police! I want to call the police!” I yelled, my voice hoarse, as the security guard pushed me stumbling backward. “No need for you to call, I already did!” Robert was quicker than me, waving his phone. “This kind of fraud needs to be handled by the police!” He wanted to strike first, using the authority of the police to definitively label this incident. If the police determined it was a dispute or fraud and took me away, then that $8.8 million really would have nothing to do with me. The people around me looked at me like I was an idiot. In their eyes, a manager who dared to call the police must have nothing to hide, while my shouting and yelling was a sign of a guilty conscience. While waiting for the police, the entire lobby became eerily quiet. I leaned against a wall, taking big gulps of water. My hands were still trembling, but I forced myself to count the patterns on the floor tiles to calm my breathing. Ten minutes later, two police officers walked in. “Who called the police?” “I did!” Robert greeted them, putting on his best innocent act. “Officer, we have someone here attempting fraud with a forged lottery ticket, a huge amount—$8.8 million! When we exposed him, he started causing trouble.” The lead officer, about forty years old, had a strong, no-nonsense jawline and seemed very composed. He looked at Robert, then at me, huddled in the corner. “Is that you?” The officer asked me. I straightened up and handed over the documents I’d prepared. “I’m here to claim my prize. This is my ID, this is the video of me buying the lottery ticket, this is the transaction record, this is the recording of my conversation with the clerk…” Like an announcer, I presented each piece of evidence one by one. The officer took my phone, watched the video, and his brow furrowed. The video was very clear; it was indeed from this store’s machine. “Sir, how do you explain this video?” The officer turned the phone to show Robert. Robert didn’t even glance at it, just waved his hand. “Officer, this video is edited! You know how advanced technology is these days. And even if he bought a lottery ticket here, it doesn’t mean the one he brought in is the real ticket! He could easily buy a real one, then go home and have a master forger create a high-quality replica to claim the prize, keeping the real one hidden to collect two payouts!” That logical loop was perfect. As long as he insisted the “ticket was swapped” or “it’s a high-quality replica,” I would be speechless. Because the lottery ticket itself was the sole physical proof. The officer also looked a bit troubled. This kind of economic dispute, especially one involving technical authentication, was difficult to judge on the spot. “How about this, let’s get the ticket and we’ll take it back for appraisal,” the officer said. “Sure, no problem. Cooperating with law enforcement is what we should do,” Robert said, pulling the lottery ticket from his pocket. Just as he pulled it out, his wrist suddenly flicked. *Rip!* The $8.8 million lottery ticket snapped into two pieces in his hand. The entire hall fell silent. Even the police officer was stunned. “Oops!” Robert exclaimed dramatically, his hand loosening, and the two halves of the ticket fell to the floor. “My apologies, my apologies, my hand slipped, this paper is so brittle! Officer, you see, this fake ticket quality is just terrible, it rips so easily.” He said, pretending to pick it up, his foot “accidentally” stepping on one of the halves, grinding it hard. It was over. Completely over. Even if it could be pieced together, this level of damage would absolutely prevent it from being cashed. “What are you doing!” The officer reacted, pushing Robert away, but he had already succeeded. That ticket was now a pile of waste paper. Robert looked innocently at the officer: “Officer, I truly didn’t mean it. Besides, it’s just a fake ticket, tearing it up is fine. It just saves it from circulating and harming others.” A murmur of regret and satisfaction went through the crowd. I was completely dumbfounded. Angry? No. The feeling I had now… was relief. It was like the long-awaited shoe had finally dropped. They really did it. Just like in my mental rehearsal, Scenario Eighteen, Branch C – “Violent Destruction of Evidence.” A strange thrill coursed through my entire body.

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The Robertson family finally brought me home. My parents got straight to business: marrying me off to a rich, mentally disabled man. My mother, Judy, looked me over with undisguised condescension. “Darren Blackwood is…special. But the Blackwood fortune is immense. You’ll want for nothing.” I looked at Darren, who was giggling to himself, drooling slightly, and flat-out refused. “Isn’t he Tiffany’s fiancé? Rumor has it, he ended up like this after falling off a cliff trying to save her. So why isn’t Tiffany fulfilling her duty?” Tiffany, the stand-in daughter hovering nearby, went pale. Tears sprang to her eyes, tracing perfect, practiced tracks down her cheeks. Judy bristled. “Tiffany is delicate. How could she possibly marry someone like that?” My father, Robert, cut in, his voice like ice. “Julian, the most powerful CEO in the city, has already expressed interest in Tiffany. A man like Darren is beneath her station.” So that was it. They hadn’t wanted a daughter. They’d wanted a sacrificial lamb. I smirked and dialed Julian. “Darling, I heard you’re getting married? How come you didn’t tell me?”

“The city’s most powerful CEO? Julian Hayes?” Judy’s eyes narrowed with instant suspicion. “You will watch your tone when speaking that name. And don’t you dare get any delusions.” “A man like Julian is so far out of your orbit, it’s laughable. Only a young woman of refined upbringing, like our Tiffany, could ever stand beside him.” “As for you, consider a blessing. If not for his condition, a girl with your background wouldn’t even be considered. Know your place.” These people didn’t bring me back for a family reunion at all. They just wanted me to be a substitute bride. Funny enough, I’d prepared for this. For the lack of love, the cold calculations. So when the words finally came, they didn’t hurt. “Let me get this straight,”I said, my voice cold. “You won’t let Tiffany, the daughter you raised, marry a disabled man. So your solution is to drag in your biological daughter as a replacement?” “Even by your standards, that’s exceptionally cold.” “If Tiffany doesn’t want him, she can break the engagement. Pay them off. Make it go away. Why force me to marry a man who can’t even wipe his own drool?” “We have a contract!”Robert blurted out, his face flushing. “The gifts are exchanged. We can’t just back out.”He caught himself, his jaw tightening. “Matters of reputation among our kind aren’t for you to question. You will marry him. It’s a matter of honor.” Now I saw the full picture. They’d taken the Blackwoods’ money and promises, but balked at giving up their prized Tiffany. So, they’d fetched a spare part. Me. Clever. Pity their plan was about to fall apart. A wry smile played on my lips. “I get it. What a shame, though…I can’t marry Darren either. Because I-” …already have a husband. The words never made it out. Judy’s hand cracked across my face. “I knew you were trouble! Don’t tell me you’re delusional enough to think Julian would look at you!” “He’s the city’s most powerful CEO! A country girl like you isn’t even fit to be his assistant, so don’t even think about it.” Clutching my stinging cheek, I stared at her in disbelief. “What I was trying to say, is that Julian cannot, and will not, marry Tiffany.”

“Oh, so Chloe wants to marry Julian? In that case, I’ll marry Darren. Mom, please don’t make things difficult for Chloe.” Tiffany immediately acted as if I’d stolen her beloved, throwing herself into Judy’s arms, tears streaming down her face. It left me speechless. I wanted to ask, if you’re so deeply devoted to Julian, does he even know who you are? I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. What I mean is-” “Enough!” Judy held Tiffany tightly, cutting me off coldly. “Chloe, how can you be so shameless? You just got back and you’re already trying to snatch your sister’s sweetheart.” “What do you mean? If Julian isn’t interested in your sister, why would he be interested in a useless outsider like you?” “Let me tell you, our family has already received an invitation to Julian’s gala! Do you understand what that means?” I feigned ignorance, shaking my head. “No, I don’t.” Robert snorted, a smug look on his face. “Julian invited our family to his exclusive event as soon as he returned! It can only mean he’s interested in our Tiffany, and wants to get closer to her!” “Tiffany is our meticulously cultivated socialite, the most beautiful debutante in the city! Julian must have heard of her beauty, which is why he’s so eager to approach her under such a pretense.” Robert glanced at me with disdain. “You wouldn’t understand the complexities of these elite families.” “Don’t think that just because you’re the Robertson family’s biological daughter, you can rise to prominence. Tiffany is the socialite we invested heavily in from a young age. You can’t compare.” I shook my head. Not a single person in this family was normal. They didn’t even consider why a family like Julian’s would send them an invitation. Just because their publicly traded company was on the brink of collapse? No, it was because of me, Julian’s wife. They were invited out of respect for me, and they actually thought it was because of Tiffany’s beauty? No wonder their company was failing. I couldn’t help but scoff. “So, you meticulously groomed her from childhood to sell her for a good price when she grew up?” “Besides, Julian isn’t even into your type anyway.” Julian hated those helpless damsel types. In his eyes, they were just weak and clueless. Tiffany’s face turned white. Judy, furious, pointed at me and yelled. “Just as I thought, raised in the countryside, absolutely no manners! How can you say such crude things?” “And how do you know what Julian likes? I bet you’re just jealous!” “A beautiful girl like Tiffany? I’m telling you, no man could resist her!” Robert also looked at me dismissively. “Even if you’re jealous, it’s no use. Tiffany will marry Julian eventually.” “And with your vulgar behavior, don’t even dream of catching Julian’s eye.” “From now on, as long as you behave and marry into the Blackwood family, we won’t treat you badly. But if you harbor any inappropriate thoughts, don’t blame us for being merciless.” That was a threat. Too bad they threatened the wrong person. I really wanted to see their faces when they found out the truth. So, I decided not to reveal anything just yet. I flashed a knowing smirk. “What if Julian actually likes my type?” “How about a bet? If Julian doesn’t like my type, I’ll agree to marry that disabled man. But if he does like my type, then you-” Before I could finish, Judy’s mocking laughter cut me off. “You, dreaming of Julian’s affection? How utterly ridiculous!” “You don’t need to say anything else. We agree to whatever you propose.” Tiffany shot me a triumphant look. “Chloe, then I’ll thank you in advance for agreeing to marry into the Blackwood family.” I raised an eyebrow, looking at the messages popping up on my phone. The show was about to begin. “I hope you get what you wish for.”

The Robertsons arranged a storage room for me. It was dark, damp, and reeked of mildew. As soon as I entered the room, I checked my phone. Julian’s messages were practically exploding. “Hey, babe, how was it? Were they excited to see you? Did they shower you with affection?” “Did they love you fiercely, crying tears of joy as they hugged you?” “I said I’d come with you, but you refused. I really wanted to see my babe reunite with her family. It must have been so emotional and touching.” “Is it too late for me to come now? I miss you the moment we’re apart. Do you miss me?” I looked at the messages and shook my head. No one would ever imagine that the usually cool, decisive, and ruthless Julian had such a clingy side. But unfortunately, he was wrong about my family. I told him what happened. He immediately called, his voice laced with fury. “Babe, how could they treat you like that? They have no idea who they’re messing with!” “I’m coming to pick you up right now! I’ll make them realize just how terribly they’ve messed up!” I flat-out refused. “No need. I have a better idea.” “Let them be happy for now.” I explained my plan, and Julian nodded. “Okay, anything you say, babe. But I don’t want you to suffer. How can you stay in a storage room?” “It’s fine. Only for three days.” “But could you look into something for me? I suspect I’m not actually their daughter.” Who treats their biological daughter so outrageously? I suspected this was all a scam. “Consider it done.” Julian readily agreed. After hanging up, I sniffed the mildewy air in the room. It really was hard to bear. I’d been a bit too confident earlier; three days really would be tough. But then, the next second, Judy knocked on the door. “Julian’s gala has been moved up to tonight. Don’t forget your promise to marry into the Blackwood family.” I was stunned. Julian actually moved the gala up? Seeing my silence, she thought I was going to back out and quickly said, “You promised yourself! You can’t go back on your word!” I met her gaze, a cold smirk on my lips. “Don’t leave my words unfinished. I said if Julian isn’t interested, then I’ll marry into the Blackwood family.” She snorted. “There is no ‘if’. A man like him would have to be out of his mind to look twice at a country mouse like you.” “Remember, tonight’s guests are all important people. You are not to embarrass the Robertsons, or I’ll make you regret it.” I nodded indifferently. As I turned to leave, Robert frowned at me. “You intend to attend the gala in that? Not even a proper gown? Is this your idea of sabotage?” “Well, you didn’t give me…” Tiffany immediately batted her red eyes and spoke dramatically, “Dad, don’t blame Chloe. She’s always lived in the countryside, so she doesn’t know you’re supposed to wear an evening gown to a gala.” “Chloe, I have a few gowns in my room. You can wear one of mine, but the gala is about to start, and this…” Judy waved her hand dismissively. “With her, no gown will make her look like a lady of high society. Let’s just go.” A triumphant smile flickered on Tiffany’s lips. But just as I was about to open the car door, Tiffany blocked me. “Chloe, there’s no room in this car. Why don’t you call for a ride?” The car sped away, leaving me behind. This was an exclusive residential area. Where was I supposed to get a taxi? Then I simply made a phone call. “Your wife has been dumped on the side of the road. Send a car. Now.”

Forty minutes later, I arrived at the ballroom in a custom-made evening gown. Julian had insisted on accompanying me, but I’d declined. I didn’t want to reveal the truth so soon. When people saw me, they all started to size me up, their eyes filled with admiration. “Who is that? Her poise…it’s breathtaking. I’ve never seen her before!” “An absolute vision. I must know her name.” The murmur reached the Robertsons’ circle. Tiffany’s face contorted, the pleasant mask slipping into something ugly and raw with envy. Then, on cue, the performance began. Her eyes welled with theatrical tears. “Chloe, how could you steal an evening gown? It’s a one-of-a-kind piece from the Paris ateliers. I remember Julian buying it. How dare you steal it?” Judy immediately chimed in, “How dare you steal even Julian’s things? This is a gift Julian was planning to give our Tiffany! Take it off right now!” “Stealing things at home was bad enough, but now you’ve dared to steal from Julian? You have a death wish!” I actually laughed, infuriated. This family’s lies just flowed out so easily. Upon hearing their words, the admiration in the crowd’s eyes turned to disdain. “So she’s from the countryside, and she dared to steal Julian’s gown? She really is asking for trouble!” “From what they just said, this gown was meant for Ms. Tiffany. I heard Julian bought a lot of jewelry abroad for his sweetheart. It must be true!” Hearing this, everyone started flocking to Tiffany, trying to curry favor. “Ms. Tiffany is a vision! A true goddess. She and Mr. Hayes are a perfect match.” “Once that marriage is official, the Robertsons will be untouchable! Our heartfelt congratulations!” “Absolutely! Don’t forget to invite us to the wedding banquet!” Tiffany played her part to perfection, her cheeks flushing with a practiced, demure pink. “The details are still being finalized. But of course, all of you will be on the guest list.” I couldn’t help but burst out laughing. “Tiffany, does Julian even know he’s supposed to marry you?” Tiffany’s face turned pale. “Chloe, what do you mean by that? Do you think just because you’re wearing the gown he intended for me, you can pretend to be me?” I rolled my eyes. What kind of upbringing produces this level of fantasy? Julian had stated that he’d never met Tiffany. Yet she’d woven an entire marriage fantasy from one invitation. She truly was delusional. I pointed to the gown I was wearing. “It was a gift from my husband. I didn’t steal it from you.” Everyone burst into laughter. “Your husband gave it to you? Don’t tell me your husband is the Julian Hayes?” I sneered. “What do you think?” “But Julian doesn’t need to marry me, because-” “How utterly pathetic!” Tiffany cut me off. “You actually want to throw yourself at Julian to be his mistress? Just because you grew up in the countryside doesn’t mean you can drag the Robertson name through the mud! You’re a walking scandal!” Judy’s face was a mask of icy disapproval. “Chloe, that’s enough! Are you determined to turn us into the city’s laughingstock? Go home. Your only duty is to prepare for the Blackwood marriage. Stop this disgraceful display at once!” All I’d wanted to say was that Julian didn’t need to marry me because he already had. Three years ago, in a private ceremony overseas. Seeing the farce had reached its peak, I was done playing their game. I pulled out my phone and dialed. “Julian, I heard you’re getting married. Did you forget to tell me?”

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A full year after catching Brandon cheating, I walked down the aisle and married him. . He never stopped. A rotating cast of lovers, while I perfected the role of the ‘understanding’ wife. He developed a taste for a nightclub dancer? I’d have her sent to his suite before last call. He eyed the new intern? She was reassigned as his ‘personal assistant’ by noon. He’d beam at me. “See, Skylar? Isn’t this so much more…efficient?” But when photos of me passionately entangled with another man, along with my pregnancy test results, landed in front of him, he absolutely lost it. “You’re just jealous! This is your way of getting back at me, isn’t it? Break it off with him. Now.” I laughed. He actually thought this was about him? I wouldn’t be ending anything. Besides, the man I loved was already gone. In my silent laughter, he finally realized something was quietly slipping away. A tidal wave of emotion churned in his eyes, but he gritted his teeth, desperately trying to rein it in. “Okay, I was wrong, I don’t blame you.” “Please, just get rid of this baby. We can pretend none of this ever happened.” I pushed him away, disdainfully flicking at the sleeve he’d grabbed. “Brandon, there’s no going back.” “And there’s absolutely no way I’m getting rid of this child.” He slumped back against the office desk, the sound of a shattering glass eerily clear in the dim room. Blood dripped from his palm onto the carpet. Suddenly, he lunged across the desk, his large hand clamping the back of my head, showering my lips with brutal, desperate kisses. “Let go! I don’t want this!” My struggles only made him rougher. A sudden coldness below made my heart leap into my throat. As his hand moved to touch me again, I kicked him hard in the groin. He cried out in pain, releasing me, then questioned me, his voice dangerously low. “Then who do you want? That loser who vanished into thin air?” “Skylar, he didn’t love you. He never did.” “If he loved you, why would he disappear? Why would he let you marry me?” “In this world, only you and I are meant to be. Only I truly love you.” That word struck a raw nerve. My hand flew up, slapping him across the face. “Don’t you dare talk about him like that! Get out!” He looked stunned. “You hit me for that scum?” He wiped a smear of blood from his lip with his thumb, then pulled me into his arms, biting down hard on my lip. I remained motionless, letting him bite. He must have sensed the change in me because he finally released me. “Skylar, what do you even want from me?” He slumped beside me like a deflated balloon. “This bastard, there’s no way he’s staying.” He turned his head to look at me, a smile on his face, but I felt not a flicker of warmth. I snatched a fruit knife from the table and lunged at him. He didn’t flinch, instead, he leaned into the blade. I heard the sickening sound of flesh tearing. He grunted, then shuffled closer to me. He was forcing me to choose: either he died, or I’d give in. As his knee moved towards me again, I loosened my grip on the knife. He grabbed my trembling hand, his smile bitter and triumphant. “Skylar, I knew you still loved me.” I tore free from his grasp and called Mr. Davies. Soon, Brandon was being helped into an ambulance. The entire villa returned to its usual silence. I curled up on the bed and opened SnapChat. A message from Mr. Davies popped up. “Madam, Mr. Adams has already sent Alexa to Monaco.” “He said to rest well and wait for him to come home.” I suddenly found it all so amusing. He actually thought sending Alexa away would somehow appease me. Sadly, he and I, we’d been beyond repair for over a year. It was the night before our engagement. Alexa had updated her SnapChat story late that night. The red mole on the man’s back instantly stung my eyes. That very night, I trashed his hotel room. I cried, accusing Brandon. “Why tonight of all nights? Why her of all people?” But he said nothing, just gave me a piercing look. He blamed me for interrupting them. I was dragged out by bodyguards right in front of him and Alexa, stripped of all dignity. To get back at him, I projected photos of him and Alexa intimately entwined on the big screen at the engagement party, publicly calling off the wedding. But I lost again. Watching me leave, he simply stated, without a hint of pain. “Don’t bother, she’ll be back.” The moment Brandon uttered those words, the guests’ whispers grew louder. “If you ask me, Ms. Thorne and Brandon are a match made in heaven.” “That small-town girl just doesn’t know her place. Brandon didn’t even call off the engagement after cheating, who was she to do it?” “For Brandon to even look her way was more than she deserved, and she still had the nerve to pick on him.” Not a single person blamed Brandon. He was the one who cheated, but somehow, I was the one in the wrong.

The next morning, the moment I opened my eyes, Brandon’s haggard face was right there. I instinctively looked at his chest. A faint smile touched his lips. “Don’t worry, the doctor said it’s nothing serious.” He propped his hand beside my pillow, smiling softly. “I knew you still cared about me.” He was still the same as a year ago, always believing he had complete control over me, both emotionally and financially. Having always gotten everything he wanted since childhood, he wouldn’t understand that some people shine on their own, not just because they’re by his side. I didn’t want to talk to him, so I got up and went to the bathroom. When I came out, Brandon was lounging on the sofa, watching me. He offered me a glass of milk. “Here, drink this. Your health is the most important thing, Skylar.” I took the milk and drank it down, not to appease him, but because I was going to anyway. He, however, misinterpreted it as acceptance, and his eyes lit up instantly. “Skylar, I’ve already sent Alexa away, Mr. Davies told you, right?” “From now on, I’ll only be with you. Whenever you want to see me, no matter where I am, I’ll come to you immediately.” “I’ll never do anything you don’t like.” “We can go back to how we were before. You can call me Brandon, and I’ll call you Skylar, okay?” I looked at him, a mocking smile slowly spreading across my face. I deliberately loosened my grip, and the glass crashed to the floor, shattering everywhere. “Brandon, there’s no going back.” “Just like this glass. Once it’s broken, it’s broken. Even if you melt it down and reshape it, it’s not the same glass anymore.” His body stiffened, then he immediately knelt down. “Skylar, we can go back. Trust me, as long as we’re still here, everything can be like it was before.” The glass shards cut his hand, blood mixing with milk into a pinkish red, yet he stubbornly picked up the fragments as if he felt no pain. I couldn’t help but scoff. Let him pick them up if he wanted to. Perhaps it was the pregnancy, but I was constantly drowsy. The moment I sat down, my head felt heavy and uncomfortable. When I woke up again, the overhead lights dazzled my eyes. The pungent smell of disinfectant filled the air, and a few white figures moved around me. “Now this is the kind of drama one pays a fortune to witness. Tell me, doesn’t old man Adams worry she’ll make a spectacular scene when the anesthesia wears off?” “Oh, I doubt it. These arrangements are purely transactional. Women in that position tend to be more pragmatic than you or I could ever be.” “But Brandon is still legally married. To have a child with his mistress? How could he bear such scandal?” “Besides, who in this circle doesn’t know that his secretary is the one he truly cares about?” “The women around him come and go, but the only one who stays is Ms. Thorne.” “A child no one truly wants, it’s a curse to be born. Better to get rid of it early.” An alarm blared in my mind. This was a hospital. Brandon had drugged the milk. This was my child. How dare he make decisions for me? I tried to get up, but met the chief surgeon’s eyes. “You’re awake.” She tried to comfort me. “Just lie still. It’ll only take an hour, it’ll be over quickly.” I struggled free from her grasp, frantically grabbing a scalpel and holding it to my throat. “Where’s Brandon? I want to see him!” The nurse, seeing this, hastily opened the operating room door. Brandon rushed in. “Skylar, put it down.” “Don’t come any closer!” His raised foot hung in the air, then slowly retreated. “Okay, I won’t come closer. Just don’t do anything reckless.” Grief and helplessness welled up, choking me until every breath hurt. I couldn’t stop crying. “Brandon, I just want to keep my child! Why won’t you just let me?” He let out a laugh as if he’d heard a joke, then snapped, “Skylar, this is a bastard child anyway, what’s wrong with getting rid of it?” “Brandon, my child’s life is tied to mine.” The knife in my hand pressed closer, blood trickling down my neck. He instantly panicked. “Stop!” His voice softened. “Skylar, does it have to be this way?” “We’ll have our own children. Do you really need him to stand between us?” I chuckled, tightening my grip on the knife. He finally couldn’t hold back, cursing. “Goddamn it, what do I owe you?” “You’ll regret this.”

This was the first time Brandon had compromised. From the moment he agreed to marry me, I knew he would always prioritize my life. But I could never reconcile the two: the man who claimed to love me, and the one who couldn’t stay out of other women’s beds. Alexa’s Snapchat story updated again. There was Brandon, grinning in Monaco. Her caption read: “Love is when he crosses an ocean just to see you smile.” Just like the night of our engagement a year ago, it was another photo of her and Brandon, still not one that was appropriate for public viewing. The difference this time was that Brandon’s face was visible. His lips were on her neck – truly a perfect pair of scoundrels. Most striking was the HW ring on Alexa’s ring finger. That was the wedding diamond ring Brandon had personally designed. After the wedding, I’d casually left it on my bedside table. I casually liked the post, and immediately a message from Alexa popped up. “Ms. Thorne, I don’t need to introduce this ring, do I?” “Brandon doesn’t love you at all. Besides, you’re pregnant with a bastard.” “I advise you to leave with nothing now, at least that way your bastard child might live.” I typed out a response. “A mistress should know her place. I hope you use every trick in the book to keep him by your side.” Almost the instant the message sent, Brandon’s call came in. “Skylar, are you that happy to see your own husband sleeping in the same bed as another woman?” I scoffed. “Wasn’t CEO Adams enjoying himself when he was ‘at it’?” “Isn’t that just CEO Brandon’s everyday life?” Even over the phone, I could feel his exasperation. “Skylar, you’ve got guts.” “You better not come begging for me to come back.” With a loud crash, the call abruptly ended. If it were me a year ago, I probably would have begged him to come back. But now I no longer loved him. Who he loved, who he was intimately involved with, I no longer cared. He knew all the torment and humiliation I endured throughout high school and even college, she was behind it. Yet, he still slept with Alexa. The engagement photos were leaked online by paparazzi, and a torrent of insults poured in. “Thank God the Ice Queen didn’t marry him, I don’t know what part of her deserved our CEO.” “What? She looks so prim and proper, I thought she was a neighborhood mom, and you’re telling me she’s CEO Adams’ fiancée?” “Look at herself! How dare she compete with our Alexa?” “I bet she used some underhanded tricks to force Brandon to marry her.” “Maybe she’s ugly, but she’s wild in bed.” Alexa was a legal genius on a hit legal reality show, while I was just an insignificant elementary school teacher. She was vibrant and charming, while I was like still water, unchanging. When people want to tear you down, they’ll find fault with anything, even your breathing. I knew this truth, yet in the dead of night, I would question myself over and over. The memory of being dragged out of the hotel by bodyguards, right in front of Alexa, tormented me endlessly. I kept thinking, was I truly so ugly, so disgusting, that it drove Brandon to cheat? Those strange thoughts tortured me day and night. At my worst, buying groceries, I’d imagine the vendor screaming insults at me. If someone’s gaze lingered on me, I’d assume they were disgusted by me. I became paranoid, eventually too afraid to even leave the house. But the worst wasn’t the self-doubt; it was my love for Brandon.

Brandon was my savior when I was young. Without him, I felt like I truly couldn’t live. His scandalous news was on the trending list every day, yet he never once came looking for me. I gradually began to doubt if I was truly in the wrong, if my expectations for a partner were simply insane. Hate and love intertwined, I was practically losing my mind. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. I couldn’t forget Brandon, but I also couldn’t bring myself to seek him out. Unable to solve the problem, I thought of a good solution: solving myself. But in the murky river water, he pulled me back. In just six months, he took me to see desert sunsets in Arizona, climbed the challenging trails of the Rockies, and we galloped across the sprawling plains of Wyoming… We had even promised to declare our vows to the universe by the serene waters of Lake Tahoe, to walk hand in hand through this life. But because of Brandon, he died. Searching for traces of love in my memories was a cruel thing. I must have unknowingly drifted off to sleep. “Where’s Skylar?” Brandon’s voice faintly reached me. I thought it was a hallucination and pulled the covers over my head, trying to sleep again. Until the bedroom door burst open, and a man scooped me up, blocking the words in my throat. Brandon’s face loomed larger in front of me. I struggled fiercely, biting through his tongue. The metallic taste of blood spread in my mouth. But he seemed to feel no pain, relentlessly invading my space. He only let go when I was almost breathless. I gasped, scoffing, “What? Alexa not satisfying you enough?” His face was terribly grim. “Skylar, you’re a cruel woman.” He gripped my shoulders tight. “Since there’s no going back, let’s just be tangled like this.” “I’ve thought it through. As long as the end result is you, the process doesn’t matter.” “You want this child? Then have him. As long as I agree, he’ll be a legitimate Adams heir.” A self-deprecating smile touched his lips. “Without him, I’m not sure if you can live. But without you, he certainly can’t.” He squeezed my jaw. “Skylar, you’ve just handed me another leverage point to keep you shackled.” He propped himself up from the bed, and the door quickly closed. He was right. With this child, I would never leave again. In the following days, he took Alexa to various galas, gave her access to his network, and allowed their scandalous news to fly everywhere. Yet, he would unfailingly be home before ten every night. I still ate and rested well, attending my regular prenatal check-ups. I thought I had Brandon all figured out, but I overlooked the fact that he was the heir to the Adams empire, and ruthlessness was his core. I was blindfolded and gagged in the hospital hallway and abducted. When I woke up again, I was on an abandoned dock. Alexa ripped off my blindfold, a knife pressing against my slightly swollen belly. “The old Brandon probably never imagined that a woman would dare to make him a cuckold.” She slapped me across the face. A stinging pain immediately flared on my cheek. I struggled fiercely, my mind racing. “Alexa, if you dare touch me, Brandon will never let you go!” She laughed, bending over, then handed her phone to my ear. Brandon’s voice came through the receiver. “She belongs to me in life, and in death. How could I ever let her give birth to a bastard child?” My heart plummeted instantly. “You’re lying! Brandon clearly said he could accept it!” “Cute how stupid you are. What man would accept his woman giving birth to another man’s child?” “If it wasn’t Brandon’s idea, do you think I’d have the guts to kidnap you?” She gestured behind her, and two bodyguards stepped forward, pinning me to the ground. With a sickening crack, my jaw was dislocated in an instant. Alexa grabbed a bottle of pills and force-fed me the contents. Once released, I kept trying to force myself to vomit, but the pills wouldn’t come up. The gate slammed. Silence. The heavy, dragging pain in my lower abdomen grew more pronounced, and the warm gush between my legs became clearer. I dragged myself to the door, leaving a long trail of blood. The door absorbed my pounding. No answer. I never knew pain could be this total. It hurt so much, I started seeing things-the man I used to ride horses with, clear as day. But even then, I hated myself. Because the only voice left in my head was Brandon’s. A warm tear hit my cheek. He gathered me up, his whole body trembling. “Skylar. Don’t you die. I forbid it. If you dare…” But the blood kept flowing, a steady final rhythm beneath us. This time, there was no stopping it. I was dying. And for the first time, Brandon’s words had no power here.

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The first thing I heard at my own wedding was blame. They accused me of ruining the day, urged me to apologize, and even defended the mistress dressed like a bride. Liam raised his voice, ordering me to “behave.” I answered by walking straight to the projector and broadcasting the video of their bubble-bath affair. While setting up the wedding bed, I found an unfamiliar stain on the sheets. Someone else had been staying in my townhouse! I couldn’t think straight and immediately video-called my fiancé. Unusually, he picked up right away. “The new bed is soft. I tested it for you.” The person on the video wasn’t Liam Prescott but his assistant, Sienna Vaughn. She smiled at me, sultry and smug. “Where’s Liam? Get him on the phone.” TSienna Vaughn answered the video call. I froze for a moment but quickly regained my composure. Sienna glanced around, pretending to examine the room I was in. Then she smirked. “Oh, Miss Reese, you’re at the townhouse?” She leaned closer to the camera, her voice dripping with mockery. “The bed’s so soft. I tested it for you.” I felt the ground drop out from under me, my mind buzzing loudly. I glared at the woman on the screen, unable to speak for a moment. Sienna’s gaze shifted to the stained sheets, her tone oozing triumphantly. “The groom’s not bad either. I tested him, too.” I finally noticed her surroundings—a room at The Franklin Hotel. Suppressing my burning anger, I steadied my voice. “Where is Liam?” Sienna made a show of glancing off-camera, feigning hesitation. “Oh, Mr. Prescott? He’s working late and very busy.” Then I heard his voice—his all-too-familiar voice. “Sienna, come help me scrub my back.” I froze, my mouth opening and closing with no sound. “You just want me in there with you. You’re such a tease!” Sienna giggled as she tossed me a victorious look and hung up the call. All my strength drained from me, and I sank to the floor, overwhelmed by a mix of fury and heartbreak. I don’t know how long I sat there before I laughed bitterly, tossing the stained sheet into the dumpster. Tomorrow was supposed to be my wedding day. I was busy decorating the townhouse while Liam shared a bubble bath with his assistant. Sienna had aimed to ruin my wedding—and she succeeded. I texted Liam: “We’re done. The wedding is off.” A soiled bed I can replace. A filthy man? Never. I stared at the wedding-themed figurines of a couple kissing, dressed in bright red gowns and tuxedos, and threw them in the dumpster. Then, I smashed the framed wedding photo on the wall. One by one, I destroyed the decorations I’d lovingly prepared for the townhouse. Finally, I sent a mass message to all the guests canceling the wedding, powered down my phone, and returned to my parents’ home. That night, I drowned the memories of the past years in cheap whiskey and passed out in a haze. The following day, loud, frantic knocking woke me up. Standing at the door were Liam and his groomsmen, dressed to the nines in tailored suits, looking all smug and polished. Liam clutched a bouquet of roses, now crushed and falling apart. His expression was furious as he took in my unkempt, half-asleep state. “Delia! Are you out of your mind?” His twisted, contorted face was so grotesque it almost made me laugh. That laugh pushed him over the edge. He threw the mangled bouquet to the ground, yelling, “Do you even realize what day it is? It’s our wedding day!”

Rubbing my temples, still groggy from my hangover, I snapped. “I told you I’m not marrying you. We’re done! Didn’t you understand the text?!” Liam’s bloodshot eyes flared with suppressed rage. Finally, he shut his eyes tightly, gritting his teeth. “Change your clothes and come with me. I’ll forget this ever happened, and I’ll forgive you. Just this once.” Forgive me? Did this man think I was desperate for him? That I couldn’t live without him? I glanced past him at the groomsmen, whose faces ranged from uncomfortable to entertained. “Liam Prescott! You’re the one who messed up. Are you here to talk about your relationship with Sienna Vaughn?” “Leave! We’re over. Understand?!” Liam froze for a second before his expression crumbled. The arrogance evaporated, replaced with a nervous, almost pleading tone. “You’ve got it wrong. This is my fault. I didn’t explain it to you properly.” “Do whatever you want to punish me later—yell, scream, whatever. But today’s our wedding. It’s the most important day of our lives. The guests are waiting for us. Let’s just go, please?” His fake sincerity was laughable. The way he suddenly switched tones—one second arrogant, the next groveling—was almost impressive. One of his friends, clearly feeling sorry for him, stepped forward. “Sis, today’s not the time for this. Get through the wedding, and then you can settle everything however you want.” Oh, Liam was trying to force my hand now? Fine. Let’s see who ends up regretting it. I nodded. “Alright. Wait here.” I washed up, wore a simple dress, and left the house. I waved him off when Liam asked about my hair, makeup, and gown. His frustration was visible, but he couldn’t stop me. Only William’s family and guests were present at the hotel. My friends and relatives had already received the cancellation message. The guests’ expressions turned from confusion to amusement when they saw me in casual attire. A few older women couldn’t resist commenting: “A wedding isn’t a time for tantrums, sweetie. Only Liam would tolerate this—anyone else would’ve called it off ages ago!” “That’s right. With so many guests here, why didn’t she call it off sooner if she didn’t want to marry him?” “Alright, alright, she’s here now. Let’s not make a scene.” Mrs. Prescott pulled me to the main table, her demeanor warm and welcoming. “We were so worried when we couldn’t reach you, Delia. Did Liam upset you? Tell us, and we’ll sort him out.” Mr. Prescott chimed in, his voice kind and steady. “Yes, we’re all on your side here.” Liam’s parents were genuinely wonderful people. Marrying into their family would’ve been a dream—if only their son hadn’t been a cheating coward. I stayed silent, unsure of how to break it to them. Mrs. Prescott mistook my hesitation for a lingering grudge. She patted my hand gently. “Delia, listen to me. Get dressed and made up first. I’ll make sure Liam apologizes properly later.” “Yes, let’s not ruin such a joyous day,” Mr. Prescott nodded. I sighed heavily, ready to explain the truth, when the heels clacking interrupted me. Sienna Vaughn strutted in, wearing a striking red gown that hugged her figure. Her makeup was flawless, a stark contrast to my bare face. “Am I late?” she asked sweetly, eyes locking onto mine with a pointed, provocative gleam. “Congratulations, Miss Reese. Happy wedding day.”

I smiled back, though it didn’t reach my eyes. Sienna Vaughn looked stunning in that red dress, almost like the bride. She waltzed over to the main table and casually sat in the seat meant for Liam Prescott. As she leaned down, a glint around her neck caught my eye. My chest tightened, and I stared. It was a diamond ring. Not just any ring—my ring. The one I had designed myself. It’s the only one like it in the world. Now, it hung around Sienna, the mistress’s neck. I couldn’t imagine what ring Liam would’ve handed me if my wedding had gone ahead. A cheap stand-in? Or had he planned to pluck this one right off her neck? Either way, the thought turned my stomach. Despite my efforts to stay composed, my nails dug into my palms as I fought the anger boiling inside. At that moment, Liam entered the room with the officiant. “Where’s the bride? Not wearing her gown? A red dress would work too—very pretty,” the officiant remarked approvingly, clearly mistaking Sienna for the bride. Sienna glanced at me, feigning surprise, and quickly waved her hands. “Oh, no, no! I’m not the bride! Miss Reese, don’t be upset.” Liam stormed over, his expression thunderous. “Why aren’t you dressed yet? Do you even care about our wedding?” He reached out to grab my arm, but Mrs. Prescott intervened, pulling him back. “Liam, speak to her properly! Don’t be so harsh.” Sienna jumped in, her voice syrupy sweet. “Miss Reese is just a little emotional. Liam, you should calm her down. We can’t let this ruin the wedding.” But Liam’s frustration only deepened. He turned to me and barked in front of the whole room, “Delia, enough of this! Get changed now! Stop embarrassing yourself!” Sienna placed a soothing hand on his arm, murmuring, “Don’t worry, I’ll help you apologize to the guests. Everything will be fine.” I let out a bitter laugh. “Why don’t you just finish the wedding with him while you’re at it?” I was done pretending, and the time for quiet dignity had passed. Raising my voice so everyone could hear, I announced, “Sorry to make this such a spectacle, everyone. Please enjoy the food and drinks. But as of today, Liam Prescott and I are officially over. Consider yourselves witnesses.” Liam’s eyes burned with fury. “When are you going to stop this nonsense?” Sienna’s face contorted in mock alarm, her high heels clicking as she stomped in frustration. “Miss Reese, you’ve misunderstood! I was just trying to help manage the guests!” Her act was as transparent as a windowpane, and I crossed my arms, watching her smugly. “You weren’t just managing guests, were you? Didn’t you also manage the wedding bed?” Her smug grin faltered for a split second before she quickly recovered, tears welling in her eyes. “Miss Reese, I think you’re mistaken—” Slap! The little snake was a master of putting on an act, but I had no interest in arguing with her.

“Delia, have you lost your mind?” Liam panicked, pulling Sienna into his arms as if to shield her. Sienna hadn’t expected me to slap her and froze, her large, teary eyes trembling like she’d just suffered the greatest injustice. Slowly, she leaned into Liam’s chest, her tears soaking his shirt. Liam glared at me as if he wanted to tear me apart. “Delia, you’re nothing but a crazy shrew! What about you even compares to—” “Shut up, Liam!” Mr. Prescott yanked him back, cutting him off mid-sentence. Beside him, Mrs. Prescott stepped forward to pull Sienna away from Liam’s arms. “Miss Vaughn, this is a family matter. I’m afraid we’ll have to ask you to leave.” Sienna hesitated, glanced at Liam, and then turned to me with a slight, triumphant smirk before strolling out of the room in her heels. Liam wasn’t finished. “Are you happy now? You’ve turned our wedding into a circus! No man in his right mind would ever marry someone like you!” “Liam Prescott, shut your mouth!” Mrs. Prescott tried to intervene, grabbing his arm, but he shoved her away. “Mom, stay out of this! If this wedding is ruined, I’ll ensure she regrets it for the rest of her life!” Well, wasn’t that convenient? Because I was planning to teach him a lesson. I slammed my hand on the table, standing up. “You’re right. There won’t be a wedding. But the lesson? That’s coming from me.” Ignoring everyone’s shocked expressions, I strode toward the officiant standing awkwardly near the screen at the front of the room. “Miss Reese, uh… what do you need?” he stammered, inching aside as I walked past him to the computer. I plugged in my phone and transferred a video to the big screen. It played immediately. Sienna’s face filled the screen, smiling wickedly. Her voice echoed through the silent hall. “The groom’s not bad either. I tested him, too.” “Where’s Liam?” “Mr. Prescott? Oh, he’s working late. So busy.” “Sienna, come help me scrub my back.” “You just want me in there with you. You’re such a tease!” The video ended, leaving the room so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Slap! “Bastard!” Mr. Prescott’s hand came down hard on Liam’s face. He slumped back, his shoulders caving under the weight of disappointment. My chest ached as I watched. I had truly respected his parents, and ending things with Liam meant cutting ties with them, too. I faced the stunned crowd, my voice steady despite the storm in my chest. “Liam Prescott, who betrayed this wedding, wasn’t me. It was you—the man who defiled our wedding bed with his mistress.” “And that… mess you left behind? Do I need to spell out what it was? You’re disgusting.” I couldn’t hold back anymore. My voice cracked as the floodgates opened. As I shouted, my vision blurred. These years of love weren’t fake. How could I not feel pain as everything unraveled? When had the man standing before me turned into a stranger? He had once been so genuine, so passionate. I remembered how he’d woken up early during winter to buy me a fresh, handmade raspberry Danish from my favorite bakery, tucking it inside his jacket to keep it warm. His chest was bright red from the heat when he handed it to me, and his grin was as wide as the sky. Or that year when a fire broke out in the dorms. Everyone ran out, but Liam rushed toward the girls’ building without hesitation. Who knows what might have happened if I hadn’t returned just in time to pull him away? There were so many little moments like that, tiny memories that convinced me he truly loved me. But now, it was clear: he only used to love me. I wiped my tears away with my hand. Liam opened his mouth to say something, but the words didn’t come. Ignoring him, I turned to his parents and the assembled guests. “Mr. and Mrs. Prescott, dear friends and family, I’m truly sorry for the mess today. Liam and I are officially breaking up, and I ask for your understanding regarding my behavior.” With that, I turned and left without another glance. As I stepped out the door, I saw Sienna Vaughn leaning casually against the wall. She looked surprised to see me but quickly recovered with a smug smile. “Not getting married today, Miss Reese? So, where are you off to?” I crossed my arms and stared at her calmly without responding. She chuckled, tilting her head. “Delia, no matter how much a sparrow flaps its wings, it’ll never be a phoenix. You should stick to finding a regular guy and settling down. Liam Prescott was way out of your league.” I raised my eyebrows in surprise, stifling a laugh. “Out of my league?” “You don’t think you’re overreaching, Miss Reese? A person should know their place,” Sienna Vaughn sneered, pointing a crimson-painted nail at me with a derisive snort. So, this was it. She had been destroying my wedding out of some delusional belief that snagging Liam Prescott would elevate her.

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She rushed toward me before I even entered the courtroom, grabbing my wrist and sobbing that she couldn’t live without me, that she only wanted peace between us. Cameras circled, recording every desperate word she uttered as she pressed herself against me. I let her hold on for a few seconds, then pulled my hand free and told her, without raising my voice, “Save it. You can die if you want to.” My Wife Dragged Me to the Court of Selfishness If found guilty, I would lose everything, face ten years in prison, and be forbidden from interfering with her pure friendship with her first love. My wife would get all my property and could legally live with her first love. If found not guilty, my wife would be cursed with misfortune and become the ugliest woman in the world. Her first love would be chemically castrated and have to pay me a million dollars in emotional damages. I would receive ten million dollars as a reward and have the right to divorce her. Before I even stepped into the Court of Justice, videos of me abusing my wife, being selfish and petty, were already circulating online. Those so-called justice warriors on the internet doxxed me, sent me funeral wreaths, and harassed my workplace with phone calls cursing me, saying I should die, questioning why I got married, and claiming I was wasting oxygen by being alive. Even my colleagues were affected. Some were attacked by angry mobs after work, with a few ending up in the hospital. Under the pressure of public opinion, my boss had no choice but to fire me. This job was something I had worked hard to get after years of studying. The effort I put in was known only to those closest to me. All of this was orchestrated by my wife of three years, Elena. Because in this world, married couples cannot divorce. I arrived at the Court of Justice as scheduled. At the entrance, I ran into Elena, who was visibly startled to see me. Elena probably didn’t expect me to show up. After three years of marriage and two years of dating, it’s enough time to know a person. Elena was certain I wouldn’t appear. She knew I loved her and was afraid of pain, so she thought I wouldn’t come to court. At least, in my previous life, even under intense cyberbullying and immense life pressure, I never appeared in court. Yes, I’ve been reborn. In my previous life, I caught Elena cheating with Adrian. Adrian, without hesitation, knocked me unconscious with a hammer. As I lay in a pool of blood, weakly reaching out to Elena for help, she turned away, grabbed an axe, and chopped me into pieces, stuffing me into a suitcase. They then created the illusion that I had fled the country due to public pressure. Elena and Adrian, the adulterous couple, moved in together, stealing everything I had. Even when my parents searched for me endlessly, they ended up dying in a car crash on a rainy night. Only after death did I realize that Adrian, Elena’s so-called male best friend, was actually her first love. They had been secretly involved for a long time, plotting how to get rid of me. The public opinion was just the beginning. They killed me so early only because I caught them in the act, and they couldn’t hide it anymore. My discovery had disrupted every step of their carefully laid plan. After all, in this world, the punishment for adultery is even more severe than for murder. In this new life, I won’t be foolish enough to trust Elena again.

“Honey, please forgive me. Don’t torment me like this anymore. Adrian is my best friend, my only family. If you promise not to hit me again and not to cut off my contact with Adrian, I’ll withdraw the lawsuit. I don’t want you to be punished,” Elena’s voice pulled me back from the painful memories of my previous death, my back covered in cold sweat. Seeing me appear, Elena reacted quickly. Before anyone else could respond, she knelt down, playing the role of a long-term victim of domestic violence who still loved her petty and selfish husband. In this world, a trial at the Court of Justice was the highest form of punishment, and nobody dared to come lightly. In others’ eyes, if Elena had experienced pain worse than death, she definitely wouldn’t have come to court. My case was the first example in fifty years, naturally causing quite a stir globally. Some media outlets, eager for exclusive coverage, had been waiting outside the court with their cameras. When they saw Elena kneel, they quickly turned on their cameras and rushed over. “Honey, even though I love you, separating me from my best friend is worse than killing me. Please stop this. Let’s go home. As long as you promise, we can go back and live a good life,” Elena continued, seeing that the fire wasn’t hot enough yet. What a declaration of love. If this had happened in my previous life, seeing Elena cry to the point of losing her composure would have softened my heart. But I’ve crawled out of hell, and I won’t be softened again, especially not by the person who pushed me into that hell with her own hands. I just stared coldly at Elena and said word by word, “If that’s the case, then you should just die!” The crowd around us wasn’t just media; there were also many people who had cyberbullied me. They all pointed at me and whispered. “My God, are there really men like this in the world? Don’t married women deserve their own social circles?” “I heard Elena and her male best friend have known each other since childhood. If there was really something between them, why would Evan even be in the picture? I think he’s just jealous because Adrian is handsome. He’s insecure.” “Who would date such a selfish man? He even cursed his own wife to die. Elena must have been blind to fall for such a beast. It seems we need to be more careful when choosing a partner in the future.” Various insults echoed in my ears, deafening, but I still had no intention of backing down. I walked straight into the Court of Justice.

I sat in the Court of Justice, with Elena in the plaintiff’s seat. Her eyes were red, and she looked weak and fragile. Faced with others’ comfort, she spoke with a pained expression. “We can’t blame Evan entirely. Maybe he just can’t understand the concept of pure friendship between men and women.” “He was wrong to hit me, but that’s just how he is. He can’t control his emotions. I feel sorry for him too.” Hearing these words, I almost laughed. On the surface, Elena seemed to be speaking on my behalf, but in reality, she had already confirmed my guilt. The uninformed audience pointed at me and cursed. “Evan, are you even human? Elena has always been so good to you, a model of a virtuous wife. How could you lay a hand on her? Have you no conscience?” “Could it be that Evan has another woman outside? Is that why he’s trying so hard to force Elena to leave?” This comment caused an uproar among the audience and those watching the live stream. Adultery was no small matter; if caught, one could be directly eliminated. Elena’s lips curled into an almost imperceptible smile of triumph, but she still pretended to defend me. “How could that be? Evan isn’t that kind of person. Don’t say such things. He still loves me. There’s even a lipstick in the car that he bought for me, although it’s been used. He was probably tricked by the sales assistant.” This bombshell revelation directly confirmed the suspicion of my infidelity. The comments flooded in: [Silly sister, it’s not the sales assistant who tricked him, you’re the one being tricked!] [What a good wife, still defending that scumbag even now. Evan should just die, he doesn’t deserve to be human!] Seeing the dense text, I let out a cold laugh, but I didn’t bother to respond. I didn’t need to prove anything to these fools who jumped to conclusions without knowing the whole story. “Your Honor, we can begin,” I said, looking at the stern judge. Someone mocked me, “He’s even eager to start. These days, it seems the more brazen you are, the more you can get away with.” The judge tapped his gavel to silence the court and began the trial. “The plaintiff needs to submit evidence to prove the defendant’s crimes. Once the trial begins, no one can withdraw. Anyone who withdraws will be immediately eliminated.” I saw a flash of panic cross Elena’s face, but she still stood up to start presenting evidence. The first piece was accusing me of domestic violence. The big screen lit up. I glanced at the viewer count, which had reached 80 million. Obviously, this number made me a bit nervous. After all, if public opinion was overwhelmingly against me, it wouldn’t be good for my case.

The big screen showed a scene from our home. Elena had just come out of the shower, and I was sitting on the bed with a dark expression. Elena approached me gently, as usual. “Honey, the water temperature is just right now, and the bathroom isn’t cold. Why don’t you go take a shower?” But I didn’t respond to Elena at all. Instead, I threw my phone on the ground with a loud crash, causing Elena to scream. She was only wrapped in a towel and crouched on the ground, covering her head with her hands. “Bitch! Haven’t I been good to you? Why would you do this?” I shouted as I approached her, punching the wall next to her ear. Instantly, blood seeped from my knuckles. Elena didn’t say anything, just kept crying. My emotions spiraled out of control, and I slapped Elena across the face. “A woman like you doesn’t deserve to be by my side. Get out!” Elena looked at me with a hurt expression, her eyes brimming with tears. After my outburst, she ran out the door without even changing her clothes. The video ended with Elena shivering in the cold wind, crouching on the ground helplessly, mumbling, “Why don’t you believe me? I’m so scared. Honey, can you please take me home?” The screen froze on this image, and the comments exploded. [How can there be such men in this world? Do married women not deserve to have their own social circles?] [Even if Elena did something wrong, you can’t hit a woman, can you? Evan is truly a disgrace to men.] [Didn’t you notice that Elena showered first so that it wouldn’t be cold when Evan went in? How could Evan bear to let such a considerate and gentle wife go out in just a towel in the middle of winter? Forget about safety, it’s freezing out there, she could literally die in those temperatures.] [Although Evan was wrong to hit her, what if Elena really did something terrible that made Evan lose control?] The comments were overwhelmingly against me, with only occasional rational voices trying to defend me, which were quickly drowned out by the vitriol. The judge tapped his gavel. “For the first charge of domestic violence, the defendant Evan is found not guilty.” The moment the verdict was announced, there was a brief silence in the comments, followed by a flood of text. [Domestic violence was clearly proven, how can he be found not guilty? There must be some behind-the-scenes manipulation!]

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My father had just been buried when the woman who abandoned us returned, insisting her new children should inherit everything he left behind. She tore my mourning clothes, grabbed my hair, and ordered me to hand over the house my father built with his life. But when she tried to force me to call her “Mom,” I pulled out my knife. That was the last time she laid a hand on me. The day after my dad died, my mother—gone for more than twenty years—walked in with the children she’d had with another man, ready to fight over his estate. “They’re my kids too. Whatever you have, they should have it as well.” Still in mourning, my eyes swollen from crying, I couldn’t stop a hollow laugh from slipping out. “He’s dead! What good is crying? Get up and count how much money that dead old man left behind!” I was collapsed on the funeral hall floor, my grief twisting into dizziness. My father was gone, and I had no one left in this world. And yet Vivian Gates—the woman who vanished when I was three—was yanking at my mourning clothes, trying to drag me upright. “No manners at all! It’s your first time meeting your brother and sister, and this is how you act? Crying like some useless thing!” I kept my head down, forcing down the fury burning through my chest. My father worked himself to death to raise me. I wouldn’t let anyone disturb his peace now. When I didn’t answer, Vivian grew even more irritated. She grabbed a fistful of my hair, hauled me to my feet, and shoved me toward a man and a woman. “This is Brandon Cooper and Kendra Cooper—your brother and sister.” “Your dad’s dead now. We need a man around here. Brandon needs to get familiar with the place. From today on, this will be his home.” “And stop pretending to cry. Let’s get to dividing the estate. Legally, I get half, and the other half gets split among the four of you.” “I can see this house was just renovated. I’ll decide—this house goes to Brandon. Don’t worry, he won’t throw you out. You can keep a room and visit during holidays.” Her voice grew more triumphant with every word. I lifted my head and looked at the pair before me—eyes roaming greedily over the house like wolves staring at fresh meat. Their gaze alone made me nauseous. “Let go,” I said—the first words I’d said to Vivian in more than twenty years. She froze, then smacked me on the back. “Who do you think you’re talking to?” I looked up at her and smiled. Pleased, she lifted her chin smugly. “That’s better. You’ve always needed a good beating to act right—” Before she finished, I pulled out my pocket knife and slashed her hand. “AHHHHH!” Vivian screamed, releasing my hair as blood splattered across the courtyard floor. Dad, look. No one will bully me again.

The night I should have spent keeping vigil over my father turned into a scene at the police station. I leaned back in my chair, watching Vivian like she was the biggest joke I’d ever seen. Maybe seeing the officers in uniform boosted her confidence. Her face, pale the whole way here, suddenly regained color. She thrust her poorly bandaged hand toward them and wailed: “What did I do in my past life to deserve this? My own daughter stabbed me!” The officer tapped the table, frowning at me. “What happened?” I hadn’t even spoken before Brandon Cooper rolled up his sleeves and barked, “Pay up! We’re not letting this go unless she compensates us!” Vivian’s injury was minor. As long as she agreed to drop the charges, we could settle this. I didn’t want to waste time—I just wanted to get back to my father’s vigil. So when the three of them huddled together and finally demanded $2,000, I didn’t hesitate. Right in front of the officers, I took out my phone and transferred the money. Once the payment went through, Vivian happily signed the waiver. Watching her grin, I asked, “Don’t you feel even a little sad?” She blinked. “Sad about what?” I didn’t bother replying. I turned and walked out. As I passed them, their whispers drifted toward me. “Mom, she’s using the newest iPhone. It’s over a thousand bucks. You just got money—buy me one.” “Mom, two thousand dollars! She agreed right away. Who knows how much her old man left her? We need to think of something.” I was almost out the door when I heard Vivian loudly ask the officer: “Do you handle inheritance disputes too?”

The day after we buried my dad according to custom, I thanked the relatives and neighbors of Maplewood Village who had come to help. When the last person left, the mansion went quiet. The silence crushed me so hard I almost wished I had gone with him. Vivian—my mother—had run off with an out-of-town butcher when I was two or three, abandoning my dad because he was “too poor.” From then on, my dad became both mother and father, working himself to the bone to raise me. When I entered elementary school and didn’t need constant care, he finally had time to start a small business. I never knew how large it had grown, only that life kept getting better. He built this mansion. He spoiled me with everything I pointed at. At school, I became the girl everyone envied—the rich kid with the perfect life. But no one saw the part of me that was hollow. The part that should’ve been my mother. She was never there for any milestone, any nightmare, any moment I needed her. Eventually, I learned how to be the kid without a mom. I sorted through my dad’s belongings day after day, crying until I collapsed, waking up, and crying again. Time blurred until I finally finished organizing everything he left behind—and discovered he had been far wealthier than I ever imagined. Around that time, I picked up a habit: sitting in the courtyard, staring at the security camera on the wall, letting my thoughts drift. One evening, while the sky blazed with a beautiful dusk, I sipped the osmanthus wine my dad had brewed. The weather was perfect. I hadn’t even locked the front door. That was when Vivian walked in with Brandon and Kendra, standing at the entrance like they owned the place. “It’s been days. You should’ve gone through your old man’s things by now,” she said. “I brought Brandon and Kendra. We need to divide your dad’s estate.”

I smiled and gestured for them to sit. Then I went inside for paper and pens. “What are your ideas? Write them down. Let’s discuss.” Vivian looked thrilled by how cooperative I was. “I thought I’d have to talk sense into you before you handed over the money,” she said. “How much did your dad leave? Show me the inventory.” I passed her the list. Their eyes lit up the second they saw the numbers. Vivian straightened, suddenly acting like the head of the household. “Alright. I’ll decide how to split everything.” She clearly had been planning this for years. She scribbled out a division plan with messy handwriting but undeniable excitement. When she finished, she handed it to me with a dramatic flick of her wrist. “Avery, we’ll follow this plan. Tomorrow, we’ll do the transfers and change the ownership of the house.” I looked at her evenly. “My name is Avery Gates. Not ‘Avery.’” She forced a smile. “We always called you Avery when you were little.” I returned the smile. “Funny. When I was little, I also had a mom.” Kendra, impatient, snatched the paper from my hand. Her expression twisted. She slammed the sheet on the table. “Mom, you preach fairness, but Brandon gets the mansion and a few million, and I only get a hundred grand?” I nodded helpfully. “Right? I get two hundred thousand, but you’re the beloved daughter. How’s a hundred thousand fair to you?” Kendra lost it. She threw herself on the ground, kicking and screaming. Brandon, afraid Vivian might redistribute his share, yanked her up by the hair and slapped her. “Shut up! Mom’s money, mom’s rules!” Kendra froze, stunned he’d hit her—then shrieked and attacked him. They rolled on the ground like street fighters, while Vivian frantically tried to separate them. I quietly scooted my chair back, pulled out a bag of sunflower seeds, and settled in to watch. Their screams echoed around the courtyard like it was free entertainment. Vivian ended up catching a few hits herself. Furious, she slapped both of them across the face. Her bandaged hand—still healing from where I’d cut her earlier—began bleeding again. Brandon’s eye was swelling; Kendra’s lip was split. I grinned. “What’s going on? You’re family. Why fight over a little money?” Vivian glared at them, then forced a smile at me. “Avery, you and Kendra are both my daughters. I can’t favor one too much. How about we take fifty thousand from your share and give it to her? Then you’ll both get one-fifty. Fair?” I turned to Kendra. “That okay with you?” She shot Brandon a murderous look but stayed silent. Still smiling, I said, “If everyone agrees, then sign.” I watched all three of them sign the agreement. Satisfied, I folded it neatly and slid it into my pocket. “Great. See you here tomorrow at ten. We’ll finish the paperwork then.” The next day, when Vivian, Brandon, and Kendra arrived, they stopped short at the sight before them. The courtyard was packed—neighbors, relatives, and practically everyone from Maplewood Village. People were chatting, cracki

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My Fiancée Summer wanted to fire me and hand my Vice President position to Brandon, the male assistant whose corruption I’d exposed to her. Facing my furious questions, Summer looked utterly annoyed. “You slandered a colleague and still expect a promotion? Get out!” Brandon, of course, piled on. “Are you just retaliating because I’m close to Summer? She reminds me so much of my late sister, I just feel a connection with her! What did I do wrong?!” I walked out of the office, glancing down at a text from my mom. “After you left, Rosamund didn’t break off the engagement. She’s been waiting for you. Come back.” I replied with a single word: “Okay.” “Julian, what happened?” My mom paused for a moment in the chat box, then suddenly asked, surprised. “You always loved that woman, didn’t you? You defied the family for her, even hid your identity… why the sudden change of heart?” Mentioning the past, a sharp pang shot through my heart, and my eyes stung. Summer had no idea that my family was also one of the most prominent and influential dynasties. After high school, my family suddenly arranged a marriage for me. An arranged marriage, I’d always expected it, and I was perfectly fine with the idea. But no one could have predicted that the woman my father picked for me was the most notorious woman in our circle: Rosamund Hayes, the eldest daughter of the powerful Hayes family. I was eighteen, she was twenty-eight. To me, she was far too old. Rumor had it, her previous fiancé hadn’t just died in an accident—she’d murdered him for his fortune! Hearing that, I was naturally dead set against the marriage. I fought with my father repeatedly, but it was no use. So, I left home decisively and ended up on the streets. I dared not use my credit cards and had no cash. Used to a life of luxury, I had zero street smarts and was practically starving on the streets. That’s when Summer appeared, timidly offering me a sandwich. She rented a place for me, taught me how an ordinary person survives in this world. We fell in love, inevitably. During countless intimate nights, her eyes hazy with desire, she’d confess to me. “Julian, I truly want to marry you right now.” But ever since Brandon joined the company we founded… Ever since that day in the elevator when he helped her pick up scattered documents and, without thinking, called her “sister.” Summer changed. The tender moments we used to share at home, no matter how busy or exhausting work was, simply vanished. She’d claim heavy workload, needing to work late, often returning home deep in the night. But what she didn’t know was this. Many times, I stood beneath the office building. Peering through the dim, hazy light, watching two figures desperately entwined in her office. My fists clenched white, my face twisted in a silent snarl. But every time I confronted her, I was met with increasingly impatient excuses and annoyance. “He’s just a friend. Julian, I never realized how paranoid you are. Don’t you trust me? Do you really think I’d betray you? He looks so much like my late brother, you know that’s a wound for me, why can’t you understand?” “But what you’re doing has crossed a boundary!” I yelled, punching the wall. “Don’t say anymore… I feel like Brandon understands me better than you ever will.” Each time, she’d run out, crying, avoiding the argument. Only to return later, seeking reconciliation. And I, always soft-hearted, always forgave her. Not long ago, I discovered Brandon was taking kickbacks from the company’s suppliers, severely hindering our growth. After much effort, I finally gathered concrete evidence, enough to prove everything he’d done. But my report only led to me being stripped of my position and publicly torn apart. Brandon was promoted to Vice President, taking my place! When my mother learned everything, she simply said one thing. “Rosamund said she’s coming to pick you up.”

Inside the conference room. Brandon gripped Summer’s hand tightly, but his eyes kept darting to me. “Ms. Summer, I’ve only been with the company for six months. How can I possibly be promoted to Vice President?” “Mr. Crawford’s eyes clearly say I don’t deserve it. I think I should just give him back the position.” My fiancée’s face was expressionless, her voice cold. “Integrity is more important than ability!” “Ability can be cultivated, but integrity cannot!” The surrounding colleagues chimed in with accusations. “Mr. Crawford really is out of line. Assistant Brandon was wrongly accused, and he proved his innocence. I heard he even used significant influence, contacting the Crawfords of the West Coast to help the company cover its losses. Otherwise, Mr. Crawford would be in jail.” “Exactly! And he hasn’t even said a word of thanks. So ungrateful.” The company’s deficit, caused by Brandon, was actually fixed because I contacted my mother for help. Brandon had merely claimed he knew someone who could “pull strings” with my family, the Crawfords, to resolve the issue. Summer chose to believe him. And with that, even the subordinates I’d once managed had turned against me. My gaze swept over their indignant faces. I’d always looked out for them, but facing this blatant distortion of truth, not a single person spoke up for me. It was as if they’d forgotten that many times, when their performance fell short, it was my connections that helped them. My eyes finally settled on my fiancée, and I asked calmly. “You’re accusing me of taking kickbacks, calling me a criminal, and stripping me of my position.” “You condemned me without even giving me a chance to explain, deciding I was guilty.” “But Summer, honestly, for seven years, have I, Julian Crawford, ever been that kind of person?” “Have I ever done anything remotely similar?!” Summer stiffened, opening her mouth as if to speak. “I…” But in the end, no words came out. Her gaze involuntarily flickered away from my sharp stare. Those subordinates who had just been accusing me now looked down. I surveyed the room, then suddenly let out a laugh. Turning, I walked towards the door, my steps steady, without a trace of hesitation. Summer panicked, quickly standing to follow me. “Julian…” I turned back to look at her, a glimmer of hope in my eyes. Seven years of emotions, I couldn’t just let them go. If she was willing to be open, willing to face the problem, willing to trust me. We could still fix everything… Just then, Brandon suddenly cried out. “Don’t let Julian fool you! Over a hundred suppliers personally said Julian took kickbacks, and I even investigated and gathered evidence. Summer, are you… are you doubting me…?” Summer stiffened, her face instantly hardening. When she looked at me again, only icy fury remained. “Julian, apologize to Brandon properly!” “Otherwise, don’t bother coming back to the company.” I let out a disappointed laugh, a wrenching pain twisting inside me, a bitter ache swelling and bursting in my chest. Seven years of being lovers! In the end, she didn’t trust me. These suppliers were all secretly helped by my family, the Crawfords. Brandon, using my name, took kickbacks and engaged in shady dealings. They all thought it was my instruction, furious but dared not speak. And when I left home, I had alienated Rosamund, that “vicious” woman. I feared that revealing my connection to the Crawford family would invite her retaliation. So, I’d always kept it a secret. Even so, I never imagined Summer would one day lose faith in me. My mind involuntarily flashed back. To our date at the mall, after we’d become official. We’d already paid for clothes at a boutique. But the store owner chased us out, insisting I’d stolen the clothes and demanded ten times the price in compensation. Summer was furious, indignantly calling for the mall manager. She made him personally check the surveillance cameras, proving my innocence. Afterward, she puffed out her chest, playfully and proudly patting it as she swore. “No matter what, I’ll never let anyone wrongly accuse or hurt you!” But now, she herself had wrongly accused me. “Ms. Summer, I quit.” “From now on, whatever happens to this company, don’t come looking for Julian Crawford!”

Everyone present froze, their faces filled with disbelief. Summer’s face was utterly pale. They all knew this company was my life’s work, my greatest priority. Only because Summer had told me that the day the company went public would be the day we registered our marriage. Countless days and nights, I worked tirelessly, drinking myself sick for a single deal. All for that promise. And now, I was actively choosing to resign. Summer’s face was dark with anger. She yelled at me, as if trying to hide the fear in her heart. “Julian, what exactly are you doing?!” “This is clearly your fault; you almost caused a huge problem for the company.” “I’m stripping you of your position, making you reflect – am I wrong to do that?” I pushed away her outstretched hand, determined to leave. “Ms. Summer, everything you did was perfectly right.” Her face grew even more anxious. “Then what do you mean by leaving?” I stopped, glanced at Summer, then at Brandon, who was secretly smirking to the side. Brandon immediately stopped smiling, pretending to be utterly terrified. “Mr. Crawford, is it because of me?” “If you’re upset, you can just say it. You’re more important to the company, there’s no need to use this to threaten Summer.” “I won’t make Summer sad. I’ll leave.” With that, he made a show of walking out, looking incredibly wronged. Summer immediately pushed me away and rushed to pull Brandon back. “Brandon, what have you done wrong? You’re not the one who should leave!” Summer’s face turned completely cold, her teeth clenched as she glared at me. Even though I was merely walking out, in her eyes, I seemed to have committed an unforgivable sin. “Is this your objective? Relying on your abilities to cause trouble in the company and force my hand?” Whenever something like this happened, whenever Brandon acted up. Summer’s attitude towards me would completely change. My eyes filled with desolation, and I turned to leave. Summer shouted after me. “Julian, if you take one more step out of this conference room, you’re fired!” I paused, my heart breaking as I looked at her. Then, I walked out the door. Summer grabbed something from the table and hurled it, roaring. “No one stop him! Let him go!” “Does he really think the company can’t function without him?!” When I reached my office, witnessing the sight before me, I let out a pathetic laugh. Everything that had belonged to me in the office had been replaced. My personal belongings were gone, replaced by Brandon’s items. I tragically realized that even if I hadn’t been slandered. Summer had already planned to remove me as VP and promote Brandon. But when I looked down and saw an item on the floor. My eyes nearly burst from their sockets, my ears rang, and my blood boiled! My grandmother’s jade necklace, which she had repeatedly instructed me to safeguard before she passed away! It was my grandmother’s last relic, and the symbol of my identity as the Young Master of the Crawford family. Normally, I kept it locked in my office safe, never allowing anyone to touch it! But now, it lay shattered into a thousand pieces. Suddenly, Brandon’s voice, filled with feigned terror and a hint of a sob, came from behind me. “Mr. Crawford… I’m so sorry. I broke it by accident.” “Ms. Summer told me to move into this office yesterday. I thought it looked a bit dirty, so I wanted to clean it up.” “Who knew that jade necklace was so fragile? I accidentally dropped and broke it. How much does it cost? I’ll pay you, okay?” Turning around, there was Brandon, a look of pure triumph on his face. There was no hint of guilt in his expression, only a faint, knowing smile, and an undeniable sneer in his eyes. My office was cleaned by professional janitors every day; he had no business meddling! I clenched my fists and demanded. “My jade necklace was always locked in the safe. Does the safe need to be cleaned too?”

Brandon pretended to be slow on the uptake, speaking with feigned innocence. “I don’t know, Mr. Crawford. Maybe you just left it out…” I stared at the obvious pry marks on the safe, fury blazing in my heart. I grabbed him by the collar, dragged him to the safe, and forced him to look closely. “You didn’t do this?!” Brandon’s smile clearly indicated he’d done it deliberately. Yet, his face was contorted into a mask of terror, even begging through fake tears. “Mr. Crawford, please don’t hit me. I really didn’t mean it.” “Just tell me how much it costs. I’ll pay you, won’t that be enough?” But at that very moment, hurried footsteps sounded from behind. Before I could react, a powerful force shoved me, sending my head crashing against the corner of the desk, the pain excruciating. “Brandon, Brandon, are you okay?!” Summer had appeared, her eyes filled with extreme concern for Brandon. The sound of my head hitting the desk corner had been loud. I refused to believe she hadn’t heard it. And I hadn’t even touched Brandon; he was perfectly unharmed. Yet, Summer’s eyes only saw him. But once, Summer was the kind of person who’d rush me to the hospital if I just cut my finger while cooking! Slap! Summer, seething with anger, turned and, without a word, slapped me! The stinging pain on my face was nothing compared to the agony in my heart. “Julian, haven’t you caused enough trouble?” “Are you still trying to hit people in public?!” I let out a bitter laugh, my eyes fixed on the shattered jade necklace on the floor. Summer followed my gaze, her pupils constricting! I had told her countless times how important this jade necklace was to me, a symbol of our family’s legacy. I’d even planned to give it to her, my future wife, as a wedding gift. But now, it lay in pieces. Summer frowned, speaking again, her tone considerably softer. “Julian, I know that jade necklace is very important to you!” “But Brandon didn’t do it on purpose. He’s already apologized to you, what more do you want?” “Didn’t you say this jade necklace would eventually be mine?” “So, it’s just my item that broke. I choose to forgive Brandon, you don’t need to be angry anymore. Apologize to him.” I laughed in exasperation, filled with bitter indignation. To defend Brandon, Summer would stoop to such shameless words. I forced myself to stand, meeting Summer’s eyes directly. “I forgot to tell you, this jade necklace isn’t yours today, and it never will be.” Summer frowned, clear impatience in her eyes. “What do you mean, Julian?” “How much further are you going to take this tantrum?” I smiled with a sense of liberation. “Summer, we’re breaking up!” Summer stiffened, and another slap landed. “Julian! Just because you’re jealous and petty, you’re breaking up with me?!” “Do you know how much Brandon has helped this company? What right do you, a criminal, have to be upset?!” “He helped solve the mess you made and even got the Crawfords to partner with our company!” “The Crawfords of the West Coast! Julian, that’s the Crawford family, one of the top hundred in the world!” I stepped back, dodging her, and calmly spoke the truth. “Summer, Brandon has been lying to you this entire time.” “I am actually the young master of the Crawford family. All these years, I’ve been the one instructing the Crawfords to secretly support the company.” “Brandon was merely riding on my family’s coattails, pretending to have influence.” But my honest words were met with Summer’s deeply disappointed gaze. Brandon, meanwhile, laughed openly. “Hahaha, Mr. Crawford, just because your last name is Crawford doesn’t mean you’re part of the Crawford family.” “By that logic, if my last name is Brandon, can I just find a rich family named Brandon and declare myself their heir?!” Summer’s face completely hardened. “I never thought you could be so childish, even coming up with such an obvious lie.” “Oh, and I forgot to tell you, the Crawfords have just sent someone to inspect the company; they’ll be here any minute!” “You said you’re one of the Crawfords? Go ahead, prove it to me!” The very next second after Summer’s furious outburst. A panicked shout from an employee echoed from outside the door. “Ms. Summer! The Crawfords are here!” “The person leading them… she specifically asked to see Mr. Crawford.” Summer frowned deeply, glancing at me, puzzled. “Did she say why?” The employee stammered in reply. “She did… She said she’s here to pick up her husband and take him home.”

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My appendix burst. I woke up from surgery at the hospital, only to find the baby in my belly was gone. Chloe, Liam’s childhood friend, was giggling gleefully nearby. “I took care of the little bastard in your womb for you. No need to thank me.” I called the police right then and there. The next second, Liam rushed over from work, shielding Chloe in his arms. “Alright, so the wild seed in your belly is gone, it’s gone. If you make such a scene, what about Chloe’s future?” My report was immediately shut down. Three days later, I was back in the hospital with an infection. It turned out they found a used condom inside me during the examination. Chloe pouted, explaining: “Maybe I just forgot to take it out after the surgery a few days ago. You’re still alive, aren’t you?” Liam warned me coldly, “Chloe is still a rookie doctor, don’t make such a big deal out of it.” I stared at Chloe, who was behind Liam, her face etched with provocation. It felt like a giant hand was squeezing my heart, suffocating me. “How did a condom end up in the operating room? She did this on purpose! Liam, don’t you know, that baby—” I hadn’t even finished when Liam impatiently cut me off. His brows were tightly furrowed, his expression unconsciously betraying his disgust and disdain for me. “She’s always been a troublemaker since she was little, can’t you just let her off this once?” “As for the baby in your belly, Chloe was just afraid I’d be mocked, so she decided to help you get rid of it. Don’t pursue this any further, Cassidy. My patience has limits.” Liam’s gaze held a warning. Just one look sent a chill through me. Three months ago, Chloe and I were kidnapped by his business rival. Liam came alone, but he only rescued Chloe. I was left in the abandoned factory and only rescued by the police three days later. Liam had hugged me, full of guilt. “I’m sorry, Cassidy. Chloe was kidnapped as a child, I couldn’t let her go through that trauma again, or she’d go insane.” Later, I was diagnosed with pregnancy, but Liam always thought it was the kidnapper’s child. I slapped the paternity test results on his face. He didn’t even look at it, rubbing his temples with an expression that said he couldn’t do anything about me. “No matter whose child it is, I’ll treat it as my own, Cassidy. You don’t need to bribe doctors to fake this and lie to me. Chloe told me everything… how you seduced those men in there to survive. I don’t blame you… Can we just drop this, please?” I had argued and yelled, confronted Chloe face-to-face, saying she was lying. But Liam didn’t believe me. He even thought I was trying to humiliate Chloe. A bitter, unnameable taste welled up in my throat. I looked deeply at Liam. “That baby was yours, Liam. I wouldn’t joke about something like this.” Liam hesitated, then tentatively began to speak. “The baby…” But Chloe suddenly dropped to her knees in front of me, begging and kowtowing like a madwoman. “Cassidy, if you say I’m lying, then I’m lying. Just as long as you and Liam are okay.” “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have taken your baby without permission.” Her eyes, wide and pathetic, sought Liam’s. “Liam, I lied to you. Cassidy didn’t seduce anyone in there, and those men didn’t touch her. It was all my fault. Please, you two, don’t argue…” “I’ll resign myself. I’ll turn myself in. I’ll go to jail…” She cried for a long time, but not a single tear fell. Yet, Liam completely panicked. He scooped Chloe up in his arms, carefully comforting her. “This has nothing to do with you. You’re tired after several hours of surgery. I’ll take you to rest.” “Don’t worry, I’m here. Nothing will happen to you.” Then, his eyes turned icy as he looked at me. “Enough. You’re trying to pin this baby on me, aren’t you? Just to amplify Chloe’s guilt and pressure me?” “Even if it was my child, it’s gone now, so what? Besides, it’s not mine.” “Cassidy, if you cause any more trouble, don’t blame me for using my own methods to make you understand.” He walked away with Chloe, without a backward glance. I stood there, the cold seeping into my body, shivering uncontrollably. Seven years we’d been together, and Liam had always spoiled me, giving me whatever I wanted. But ever since Chloe came back, she had virtually replaced me. I, a woman who had just undergone surgery and was left standing here as punishment, wasn’t even worth one of Chloe’s feigned tears. This was the eighteenth time he had abandoned me for Chloe. I didn’t want to humble myself anymore. As soon as the anesthesia wore off, I collapsed onto the floor. I gritted my teeth and dialed my dad’s number. “Dad, send me some people.” “Tonight. And yes, two more doctors.” Since he wouldn’t deal with Chloe, I would deal with them my way.

That night, using my dad’s influence, I uploaded all the evidence against Chloe online. Liam might have pressured local authorities, but he couldn’t control the power of public opinion. I was lying in my hospital bed when the door to my room was kicked open. Chloe stormed in, full of fury. “Cassidy, you bitch! What kind of nonsense are you spreading online?!” With Liam gone, she didn’t even bother to keep up her act. I winked at the people behind me. Good thing my dad’s people were quick and sharp. Just one look, and they knew what to do. A few of them grabbed Chloe and tied her up. There wasn’t a hint of panic in Chloe’s eyes. Instead, she looked at me with smug confidence, a provocative smirk on her lips. “Cassidy, what are you trying to pull? Do you dare touch me?” “If you touch me today, tomorrow I’ll make Liam divorce you!” “If it weren’t for his grandfather stubbornly refusing to let us be together back then, do you think you would have married into the Sterling family? You’re just a pawn Liam used to declare war on his grandfather. Do you really think he loves you?” My face went pale, my heart skipped a few beats, then a tearing pain shot through me. It was true that when Liam and I first got together, his grandfather had threatened him. Liam, who had always been so dutiful, openly brought me to various events, which was practically a declaration of war against his grandfather. I had even asked Liam if he regretted it. His eyes held a complex mix of emotions I couldn’t decipher, as if he was looking through me at someone else. He sighed and ruffled my hair. ” Cassidy, I just… I don’t want to regret it again, so this time I’ll definitely hold onto you.” At the time, completely lost in love, I hadn’t noticed the oddness of the word “again.” Turns out, he was using me to compensate for the regret of missing out on Chloe all those years ago. A wave of intense nausea surged in my stomach, threatening to erupt from my throat. Seeing my face gradually turn ashen, Chloe’s face was filled with delight. “If you’re smart, just get lost. I’ve seen plenty of greedy, vain women like you. Don’t you understand why Liam tacitly allowed me to get rid of your baby? A slut like you doesn’t deserve to carry his child.” “Oh, and you should thank me. When you were kidnapped, Liam originally planned to let you die in there. If I hadn’t been afraid of a fatality and told Liam to call the police to save you, you’d still be locked up and tortured right now.” Her last sentence burned away all my reason. An endless hatred, like a wildfire, consumed me. I dug my nails into my palms, the pain bringing me a moment of clarity. “I will grant your wishes.” “But that baby was innocent, Chloe. You messed with the wrong person.” I stood up, slowly walked closer, and gripped her chin. “Since that mouth talks so much, let’s stitch it up.” Chloe finally panicked. She struggled violently. “You wouldn’t dare?! You’re just an orphan! Liam won’t let you get away with this!” I laughed. “Yes, I’m an orphan. So I should just let you bully me?” After my dad cheated, I believed my only family was my mom. When my mom passed away, I became an orphan. My dad was a terrible husband, but at least he showed a glimmer of being a father. When Liam and I were together, he secretly called me, saying I could use his influence so Liam’s grandfather wouldn’t oppose us. I refused. Unexpectedly, in the end, I still had to rely on his power. Not wanting to say more to her, the two doctors my dad had sent picked up needles and thread and began stitching Chloe’s mouth. Blood stained her white dress. Her ear-splitting screams eventually turned into weak whimpers. I had them lock her in the operating room. “You spent four hours on my surgery. I’m giving you double back.” “Crank up the AC. She’s not coming out for eight hours.”

Early the next morning, I returned to Liam’s mansion. My phone chimed with a text from one of my dad’s people. [Mission accomplished, Miss. We’re out.] The door opened. Liam rushed over to embrace me. “I told you I’d pick you up. Why did you discharge yourself?” He guided me to the dining table. “I made your favorite sea cucumber soup. Hurry and have some.” “Chloe went too far this time, I’ve already lectured her. She said she knows she was wrong, so please don’t hold it against her anymore.” I listened to his lies with a blank face. Chloe was locked in an operating room last night. How would she have had time to contact him or be lectured? I glanced at the gift box on the coffee table. “What’s that?” Liam’s face stiffened, his expression a bit unnatural. “Nothing, just a small gift from a client.” Suddenly, my phone vibrated twice. Someone had spoken in Liam’s old friends’ group chat. [Liam, what do you think of this Flame Pearl set from the Caribbean? My intel’s right, isn’t it? Chloe likes it, right?] [Bullshit. Liam flew to the auction house in the Caribbean overnight to buy it to cheer Chloe up. Of course she likes it! I think Liam still can’t forget Chloe, sigh.] [OMG, you sent that to the wrong chat!] The next second, the three messages above were withdrawn. Seeing he couldn’t hide it, Liam reluctantly pulled a necklace from his pocket. “Actually, I flew there to buy you a gift. They just like to stir things up, don’t listen to them.” I glanced at the quality of the necklace, a bitter taste filling my mouth. This necklace looked more like a freebie for the Flame Pearl set, not even a tenth of its price. Liam pushed the necklace towards me like he was presenting a treasure. I vaguely saw the twenty-year-old Liam. Back then, after challenging his grandfather and being cut off financially, he worked tirelessly day and night at clubs and convenience stores, just to buy me a pair of earrings that cost two hundred and thirty dollars. His eyes had been overflowing with love, red-rimmed, afraid he was short-changing me. “Someday, I’ll buy you even more expensive and luxurious jewelry, Cassidy. I promise.” But now, his eyes held nothing but the clear, numb look of someone going through the motions. Just then, the door to Liam’s mansion burst open, and Chloe stumbled in, looking disheveled. The dried blood at the corners of her mouth was visible, the stitches already removed, but needle marks could still be seen on her upper and lower lips. “Liam, save me!” Liam’s pupils contracted almost imperceptibly. He even lost a slipper as he rushed forward to support Chloe. Chloe’s eyes burned with intense hatred, her gaze venomous as she looked at me. “She had my mouth stitched up! And she locked me in a freezing room all night!” “Liam, divorce her, please? She’s going to kill me, my mouth hurts so much…” “She even made a presentation about it and posted it online! Now the director wants me out of the hospital, my life is ruined, I don’t want to live…” Without a second thought, Liam turned and slapped me across the face. His eyes gathered a storm, as if he wanted to tear me apart. “Cassidy, are you insane?” “Didn’t I warn you not to touch her?”

Years ago, when he faced his grandfather, he had also protected me with his entire being, standing in front of me. A surge of unbearable bitterness rose in my chest, and my eyes involuntarily reddened. My voice choked, and I looked at Liam with a hollow laugh. “She took my baby, depriving me of my right to be a mother. The doctors said I might never have another child. Stitching her mouth was the lightest punishment I could give her.” “Liam, why do you believe everything she says? Who exactly is your wife?” I stared at him stubbornly, trying to find a trace of tenderness or guilt on his face. But there was none. His voice was thick with suppressed fury. “Cassidy, you’re still overreacting.” “Chloe spent so many years studying medicine, and you casually ruined her future. You are truly malicious. Chloe was right; I’ve spoiled you too much these past years.” He waved his hand, summoning the bodyguards from the yard. The bodyguards gripped my hands tightly, pressing me to the ground. Liam averted his gaze, as if even looking at me was too disgusting. He gently embraced Chloe, as if holding a lost and rediscovered treasure, every movement conveying profound care. “Chloe, tell me, how should we get even?” Chloe’s eyes gleamed with triumph as she swept over my pale face. “Bring that wild seed here. We’ll offer it as a sacrifice in front of her.” My eyes widened in disbelief, brimming with fury. “Liam, are you crazy?! That’s our baby!” Liam’s voice was cold. “As long as Chloe is happy. Cassidy, this is the price for hurting her.” Amidst my hysterical screams, Chloe had someone send the corpse of my already-formed baby from the hospital. She threw him into a brazier right in front of me. Flames, like venomous snakes, instantly devoured him. “No!” The pungent smell of burning flesh assaulted my senses. I felt as though I was being torn apart, my soul seemingly dislocated. Chloe still felt unsatisfied. “Strip off her clothes and draw a bitch on her back!” Liam frowned, a hint of displeasure in his tone. “Chloe.” Chloe, however, didn’t hold back. She shook his arm. “Liam, my mouth hurts! I won’t be able to eat anything hot for weeks!” Liam could only look at her with helpless indulgence. “Just this once, don’t take it too far.” I closed my eyes in resignation, my heart filled with desolation. No matter how I begged, how I screamed like a madwoman, the needle still pricked my back with cruel precision. Blood droplets oozed out relentlessly. Chloe’s eyes held triumph, and her hand movements grew harsher. I lay pathetically on the ground, naked, enduring the lewd and mocking gazes of the surrounding bodyguards. Eventually, I passed out from the pain. From the corner of my eye, I caught a fleeting glimpse of pain in Liam’s eyes, but it vanished quickly. When I woke up, I was still on the cold floor, the words “MOTHER DOG” crudely carved into my back. I gritted my teeth and once again dialed my dad’s number. “Dad, I want a divorce from Liam.” Three hours later, I left the signed divorce agreement and a pregnancy test report, then drove away from Liam’s mansion in my dad’s car.

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