Author: Momo Chan

The day of my wedding, I watched my husband’s sister jump from a high-rise building. From that moment on, he believed I was the killer. I was thrown into the basement, left for others to trample on. Only after I got pregnant and then miscarried, did he sneer, “This is just the beginning.” That blood-stained diary held the truth, carved deep into the soul— But my husband, after plunging the knife into my heart with his own hands, finally realized he’d hated the wrong person. Yet some scars, even the stark truth can’t heal. Julian dragged me back to the mansion and immediately tossed me into the basement. Faintly, I heard him tell the housekeeper to give me only one meal a day. Anyone who dared to sneak me extra food would be out on the street instantly. The dim, sickly yellow light of the basement felt like a chill seeping into my very bones. A wave of humiliation and injustice washed over me, but I didn’t even have time to cry. I knew screaming my lungs out wouldn’t do a damn thing down here. My only hope was the housekeeper. But it didn’t take long for me to lose all hope. Who would give up Julian’s generous salary for me? Slowly, I adapted to the dark, damp days. But then, my worst fear came true: I was pregnant. Before, I had dreamed of having a child with Julian. But now, this child was an unwanted one, without a name or place. Every day, I deliberately tripped, I jumped as hard as I could. But this baby, it seemed determined, clinging stubbornly inside me. When I felt the first flutter of life, I bit my lip and decided to keep him. For months, this unborn child was the only one who kept me company, giving me something to hold onto. Sometimes, I’d recall the kindness Julian once showed me, but with time, those memories blurred. Suddenly, as the due date approached, I saw Julian again. “Julian, why won’t you divorce me?” “Divorce? That would be too easy on you. I need you to taste what it’s like to lose a loved one.” I stared at his terrifying, bloodshot eyes, completely unable to guess what he was planning. The next second, he kicked me hard in the stomach. I felt that tiny life slowly draining from my body. I didn’t even get a chance to look again before my vision went black, and I passed out. When I woke up, seeing my belly deflated, my heart felt like it was being ripped to shreds.

I hadn’t seen sunlight in a long time. My body and mind were both incredibly weak. Lying in bed, I looked up and saw Julian sitting on the couch. There was no guilt on his face. Instead, he wore a playful, cold smile, completely different from the Julian I once knew. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll call the police?” I asked, gathering my courage. Julian stood up, walked over to me, and looked down with disdain. “Chloe’s death… you think that can just be forgotten?” I shook my head frantically, tears streaming down my face. “It really wasn’t me. I didn’t do anything like that.” “This child,” he said, his voice chilling, “consider it a small punishment for you. Even if it was some random kid, it was in your belly. As a mother, you failed to protect him. That’s your responsibility.” “Oh, I forgot to tell you. The one you lost was a boy.” My already weak body broke out in a cold sweat. My hands clutched the bedsheets tightly, fighting back tears. Julian’s parents passed away early; he practically raised his sister, Chloe, all by himself. That little girl was like a princess, adored by everyone she met. Three years ago, Julian and I met and fell in love. The first time I visited their family’s estate, a bright and beautiful girl embraced me. She welcomed me as her sister-in-law with such genuine warmth. I loved her no less than Julian did. Julian treated her like his own child. It was a unique kind of love, one no one else could ever hope to share. But even a girl as protected as Chloe would eventually grow up. In college, Chloe fell madly in love with a man. Even Julian’s disapproval couldn’t stop her from getting deeply involved. It wasn’t until she brought the man home that I froze. It was Blake, the guy who’d confessed his feelings to me back in college. Blake acted like he’d never seen me before, even joining Chloe in calling me ‘sister-in-law.’ My reaction didn’t go unnoticed by the perceptive Julian. “Do you two know each other?” I quickly shook my head, but I caught a flicker of displeasure in Blake’s eyes. I tried my best to avoid Blake, but he still found a way to get me alone. “Aubrey,” he said, a sneer on his face, “this is the man you rejected me for? What’s so great about him besides his money?” “Blake, let’s not bring up the past. I hope you treat Chloe well. She’s a good girl.” During that time, I felt like I was walking on eggshells whenever Blake was around. It wasn’t just because we knew each other. I had this bad feeling, afraid of causing Chloe to misunderstand. That sweet girl was crazy in love, but I couldn’t see any love for Chloe in Blake’s eyes. My premonition came true. After a few misunderstandings, Chloe still insisted on marrying Blake. I thought it would be a happy ending, but instead, it pushed me into an endless abyss.

This forced miscarriage meant I would never have the chance to be a mother again. I thought Julian’s revenge had reached its limit, but he said, it was just the beginning. He knew I was an orphan, that even if I died in his family’s home, no one would come looking for me. So he was determined to see me dead. Back at the mansion, Julian took me to Chloe’s room. Her memorial photo was prominently displayed, as if just yesterday she had been alive, calling me “Aubrey.” “Julian, Blake and I really had nothing going on. I never did anything to betray you or Chloe.” The words had barely left my mouth when Julian slapped me hard, knocking me to the ground. The metallic taste of blood stung my nostrils. “Do you think Chloe and I are blind? You were having an affair right under our noses, Aubrey! How could you be so vile! Killing you now wouldn’t even satisfy my hatred!” His face was contorted, his eyes burning with a rage that threatened to consume me. It was clear how deep his hatred ran. When Chloe died, I mourned for a long time too. Even though I hadn’t caused her death, it was true that so many things had happened because of me. Blake was a big deal back in college, charming countless girls on the basketball court. Any girl who went to watch the games would steal a few glances at him. He was a total heartthrob. But he wasn’t my type. I don’t know when it started, but I kept running into Blake in different places. Too many coincidences are never coincidences. Sure enough, he started openly pursuing me. When that news spread, I didn’t get many blessings, but I certainly gained a lot of jealous haters. I directly rejected Blake when he tried to serenade me with a guitar under my dorm window. From then on, Blake became the laughingstock of the school and stopped bothering me. Seeing him at Julian’s family home, I certainly felt awkward. But Chloe had told me many times how much she liked him. However, Blake was not as simple as I thought. In front of Julian and me, he spoiled Chloe like a child. Later, I found out he often went home with Chloe, but he always looked for opportunities to get close to me, to be alone with me. When Julian wasn’t around, he’d dismiss Chloe, and that poor naive girl just thought he was tired. The first time Chloe caught us, Blake’s hand was on my waist. I struggled to break free, but he pulled me back forcefully, and his lips brushed my head.

Chloe froze, watching us, and the cup in her hand dropped, shattering into pieces. I quickly pushed Blake away and ran after Chloe. She was crying so hard, she couldn’t hear me. I gripped Chloe’s shoulders and shook her. “Chloe, it’s not what you think! Don’t misunderstand!” Chloe’s lips were bitten raw and bleeding. I understood her love for Blake, and I understood her feelings right then. Blake casually walked out, stepping forward to put a hand on Chloe’s shoulder. “Don’t you even trust me? Your sister-in-law almost fell just now. I grabbed her, and the momentum made us bump into each other.” Teary-eyed, Chloe looked at Blake and choked out, “Is that true?” Blake shrugged. “What else could it be?” Chloe, thinking the misunderstanding was cleared, playfully punched Blake’s chest and told him to be more careful next time. Only I knew it wasn’t a misunderstanding at all. Blake actually used Chloe to threaten me. “You’ve seen how much your sister-in-law loves me. If you don’t want me to hurt her, you won’t make a fuss.” After saying that, his hand actually brushed my back. Luckily, Chloe walked in, otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable. Blake was like a bomb, planted in Julian’s family. Julian made me kneel in front of Chloe’s photo and wouldn’t let me get up. “The person who made Chloe kill herself wasn’t me, it was Blake. Why aren’t you going after him?” I asked, bewildered. Julian kicked me in the stomach again, and I doubled over in pain. “Because Chloe told me herself that Aubrey seduced Blake.” I was too much in pain to speak, but I truly believed Chloe wasn’t the kind of girl who would lie or twist facts. It was just that I couldn’t confront her now. “Julian, after years of our relationship, why won’t you believe me? I loved Chloe too. How could I not want her to be happy?” “Shut up! I must have been blind to choose you. You caused my sister’s death. If I had never met you, Chloe wouldn’t have died. How I wish you could bring her back.” Julian’s words pierced my heart like needles. I knelt on the floor, numb. He wouldn’t commit a crime by killing me, but he couldn’t bear to see me alive either. I thought, the day I finally gave up and took my own life, the whole thing would be complete.

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In the third year after Liam Hayes lost his memory, I finally agreed to a divorce. After his memory loss, he was forever trapped in the suffocating humidity of that particular spring when he was seventeen. Back then, his heart belonged to Chloe Miller, the good girl. And I? I was his sworn enemy, the one who always made him frown. Until the three-year survival period for my heart failure ran out. I stood before the ruins of that old house, damaged in the earthquake all those years ago, and it hit me. My Liam, the one I truly loved, might have died in that earthquake years ago. I had loved the wrong person. “Mr. Hayes, happy divorce!” “If you don’t agree to the amicable divorce, there’s nothing more to discuss. We’ll just have to meet in court!” His face remained stiff, as usual. He reached out, trying to snatch the divorce papers off the table. I smiled, doing something totally out of character, and pushed the papers back to him. “Already signed.” Liam froze. He looked at me with a disbelief that was almost comical. “What?” “I said, the divorce agreement is already signed. This is the property division statement. Take a look, any objections?” Liam took the divorce papers, half-believing, half-doubting. My delicate handwriting was indeed inked at the bottom. He flipped through the property division statement, then looked up at me. “You only want that old villa?” “That house was practically condemned after the big earthquake three years ago. It’s unlivable, doesn’t even have a property deed!” Maybe, in the past, if Liam had said that, I would have been furious, stomping my feet. I would have stubbornly argued with him. *That’s not condemned. That’s our wedding home, the one we bought together. You just don’t remember.* But now, I just smiled peacefully at him. “Is that so? Doesn’t matter. Just leave it to me.” “If you have no objections, sign it, and we can head to the County Clerk’s Office.” Liam across from me fell silent for a moment, then abruptly stood up and walked out. He moved fast, not even pausing to listen to me speak, as if he were running away. “I have an urgent matter. Let’s talk later.” I watched his retreating back, feeling a strange sense of detachment. I shook my head with a bitter smile. Still the same as always, couldn’t even tell a convincing lie. His phone screen didn’t even light up, and he couldn’t even look me in the eye before claiming he had something urgent. Outside, the sky was draped in endless dreary clouds. It looked like another typical downpour of the rainy season. Still, I wanted to go out. I had my driver take me to the mall. I needed to pick up my wedding dress. “Miss Blackwood, your wedding dress has been fully restored. Would you like to try it on?” I ran my hand over the soft fabric. The stitching was perfect. You couldn’t see a single trace of the damage it had sustained when the house collapsed. This was the dress Liam had picked out himself, right before the earthquake. *“I had it custom-made. Do you like it?”* *“I knew you’d love this style. You’ve always loved wearing spaghetti straps since college.”* *“That’s why back then, I hated it when you’d bug me to tutor you in advanced math. The humid spring was hot and stuffy, and you’d always be walking around in front of me in those little tank tops. Your skin was so fair it practically glowed, and it drove me crazy.”* … Suddenly, a tear splashed onto the back of my hand. Then, tears flowed like an unending rain. I choked back a sob. “I won’t be needing it.” “Please pack it up for me and mail it to this address.” As I was about to leave, I didn’t expect to run into Liam and Chloe. Chloe was trying on a wedding dress. Liam looked distracted, sitting on a nearby sofa, frowning at his phone screen. But whenever Chloe turned to speak, he would always respond gently with a word or two. I had no intention of disturbing their happiness. I lifted my foot, ready to leave. But Chloe suddenly called out to me. She clutched the wedding dress, looking a little nervous. “Riley!”

I had no choice but to stop and greet her. “Chloe? What a coincidence.” “You have good taste. That wedding dress really suits you.” Liam saw me and instinctively stood up. He started to explain to me. “I…” I shook my head, smiling, signaling that it was fine. “It’s okay, I understand.” “Picking out a wedding dress is a top priority, and as the groom, of course you should be here. Since you’re busy today, let’s do it tomorrow. We’ll go to the County Clerk’s Office and get things done. If we drag this out any longer, I might not have the time.” Chloe tilted her head, a hint of surprise in her voice. “Riley, you finally agreed?” Then, as if she suddenly realized her tone sounded a little too triumphant, she apologized to me. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it that way. I just…” I chuckled, walking over to straighten her veil. “You don’t need to apologize. I’ve just recently had a change of heart. If the twenty-eight-year-old Liam had shown up when he was seventeen, with all his memories, I definitely wouldn’t have given him up to you either.” “Because love is selfish.” By the time I got into the car, it was already raining. I sat in the back, then spoke suddenly. “To the old villa, please.” The driver instinctively started to turn his head to advise me against it. Because of my heart failure, my body had been particularly frail recently. Forget getting caught in the rain, I couldn’t even stand a slight breeze. It seemed even the smallest illness could become my death knell. But seeing the determined look on my face, he eventually said nothing. The security guard at the old earthquake site, Mr. Henderson, already knew me. The moment he saw my license plate, he promptly lifted the barrier. He was a widower who had lost his wife in the earthquake. He watched the rain, murmuring. “It’s raining. I’m afraid some of the old houses might collapse.” I stood in the rain, umbrella in hand, looking at what used to be our wedding home. Three years ago, I was abroad on a business trip when a major earthquake hit the city. When Liam was rushed to the hospital, covered in blood, I sat numbly outside the emergency room. The hospital walls heard more fervent prayers than any church. At that moment, I wished, I swore I would give up ten, twenty, even thirty years of my life, just for Liam to wake up. Later, I thought fate had finally favored me. Now, I just felt that everything was destiny, and I had no control over any of it. I felt like a wax figure, slowly burning away these past three years, leaving only half of myself. Yet my thoughts were still fixated on the time when Liam and I were most in love. As if to confirm the security guard’s prediction, just as I was leaving. Our wedding home collapsed. With a thunderous crash, the already precarious walls crumbled down. I turned back to look. What was once recognizable as our home was now just a pile of rubble. When Liam walked out of the mall, he received a phone call. On the other end was a German man, speaking broken English, sounding very excited. “Hey, Liam! I finally got a hold of you.” “I finished your ring a long time ago, just as you requested, but then you never came to pick it up. I heard something bad happened on your end. How are you doing now? I’ll ship it to you.” Liam’s mind was suddenly slammed by the words “ring.” It was like something was trying to break free from deep within his memory. A single tear fell, calmly, from his eye. He wiped it away, then replied quickly. “I’ll send you the address.” Liam had never felt such panic. His mind flickered with chaotic, unclear memories. Strange yet familiar, the last image was of my eyes, red from crying, by his hospital bed. He felt like he was on the verge of remembering. Perhaps right after he saw that ring. But suddenly, a text message popped up on his phone: “You have successfully booked your divorce registration application at the City County Clerk’s Office. Please arrive on time!”

The day we were scheduled to file for divorce was a rare sunny day during the rainy season. Last night, my heart palpitations were severe, and I hadn’t slept well. I had to put on extra makeup to cover my exhausted face. Liam was uncharacteristically late. Just as I checked my phone for the third time to confirm the time, he finally arrived. I breathed a sigh of relief and spoke to him. “Let’s go in. Good thing we haven’t missed our number.” “There are quite a few people getting divorced, so we might have to wait a bit.” Liam looked at my face, then suddenly leaned in close. “Blackwood Industries has been doing really well lately, and your… convenient brother will be back in the country soon. You shouldn’t have to work so hard at the company. Why do you look so pale recently?” “Actually, if you don’t want a divorce, maybe we could just…” I held up a finger, pushing him away. “No, let’s do it today. If we drag this out any longer, I truly won’t have the time.” My eagerness seemed to annoy Liam, and he started to make wild guesses. “It’s just a divorce. Why won’t you have time?” “Did you fall in love with someone else?” His words made me a little angry too. “No divorce? So you want Chloe to wear a wedding dress and follow you around like a mistress? Whether I love someone else or not, haven’t you had any idea these past three years? And besides, haven’t you always wanted a divorce? Now that I agree, why are you getting mad at me?” “I love you. I’m letting you go. What else are you not satisfied with?” I don’t know which sentence pierced Liam. His emotions flared up even more violently. He grabbed my wrist, accusing me. “You’re lying!” “You don’t love me at all!” I froze, looking at him. His eyes were red, his voice filled with grievance. “Riley Blackwood, you love the twenty-eight-year-old Liam. Not *me*!” “From the day I woke up, my heart recognized you before my memory did. But why, why do you always look at me like that? As if you’re always looking *through* me, at someone else! I’m not him!” “Riley Blackwood, when will you finally realize! I’m not the *him* from your memories!” Tears streamed down Liam’s face. His expression was fragile, something I’d never seen before. “I didn’t experience five years with you! I didn’t tutor you in advanced math, I didn’t take you to see the sunrise on a snowy mountain, I didn’t order a ring for you.” “You don’t love me; you’re just using me as his substitute.” I stared at him blankly, able only to offer a weak explanation. “But you are the same person.” He slowly released my hand, his gaze complex. “Riley Blackwood, I always thought I hated you. Hated you for binding me to you, hated you for forcing your past onto me, hated you for being stuck in memories you couldn’t escape. But only now do I understand.” “I don’t hate you; I just loved you so painfully.” “In the end, I just hated that you didn’t love *me* enough.” Liam said nothing more. He didn’t agree to the divorce. He turned and left. I sat in the back of the car, staring blankly, remembering the wedding home that had collapsed yesterday. Stubbornly, I wanted to go see it again, but this time the barrier wasn’t raised in advance. The security guard I saw was a completely unfamiliar face. I asked about Mr. Henderson. The man took a drag from his cigarette and sighed. “You mean Old Man Dave? He’s gone.” “He said his wife was afraid of thunderstorms. She went to visit a grave during the rain last night, fell, and passed away on the spot.” He looked at me, advising. “Little lady, you should come to this place less often from now on.” “You can come back, but there’s no one left here.” The security guard’s words hit me like a heavy punch to the heart. It dawned on me, belatedly: my three years of tangled love, hate, and longing for Liam, and this return to our old haunts, were nothing but a futile attempt to cling to a ghost. The person I loved had died in that earthquake three years ago. Liam was rescued, but what truly died was my love. I didn’t get out of the car. I had the driver turn around. “Let’s go back. I won’t be coming here again.” *Boom!* Thunder rumbled in the distance. It was during the third year of this muggy spring season that I finally accepted Liam’s amnesia. That very night, I was rushed into the emergency room due to heart failure. 5 Marcus’s sudden trip abroad was also because of my illness. Cardiac internal medicine started late in our country, and research in this area was still lacking. So Marcus chose to go abroad to help me contact doctors, but there hadn’t been any success.

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I’d been in love with Liam Hayes for seven years. Three years after our wedding, the one I’d wished for more than anything, I wanted a divorce. On our anniversary, Liam ditched me to be with his first love. My heart utterly crushed, I prepared the divorce papers the very next day and handed them to him. He didn’t even hesitate before signing. But when it truly came down to it, Liam’s eyes turned red, and he begged me not to leave. It was the third year of my marriage to Liam Hayes, and I wanted out. “Mrs. Hayes, this is the third-anniversary gift Mr. Hayes prepared for you.” Three years married, and Liam barely came home. Even on our third wedding anniversary, he just had his assistant send a gift. I barely glanced at the exquisite jewelry box sitting in front of me, not bothering to pick it up. “Where is he?” “Mr. Hayes is away on a business trip.” I pursed my lips, a bitter ache twisting in my chest. Looking back, I’d seen Liam’s assistant more times than I’d seen Liam himself over these past three years. I casually took the jewelry, just about to call my besties to blow off some steam, when suddenly, rows of pop-up comments flashed before my eyes. 【Chloe, you’re so clueless! Your husband’s never home, but you have unlimited spending money every month, and you still want a divorce?!】 【OMG, girl, the male lead loves you SO much! He just doesn’t know how to say it. He’s too shy!】 【Exactly! He just loves you too much, that’s why he’s scared to see you!】 【Baby girl, Liam really is busy! If it weren’t for the branch office crisis, he would’ve been back already! You know, the male lead started preparing for your third anniversary a month ago!】 【The male lead became an orphan when he was young, he used all sorts of schemes to get his company back. It’s natural for him to feel insecure facing a girl he loves so much. If only the female lead could be more understanding!】 I was skeptical. Liam loved me? That’s a joke! Liam and I were in a strategic alliance between our families. But what Liam didn’t know was that, even before we got married, I had silently loved him for seven years. The first time I saw Liam was at the freshman orientation for high school. Liam was giving a speech as an outstanding senior student representative. While all the other guys around him were pimply and loud, Liam’s cool, detached demeanor was like a splash of cool green on a scorching summer day. What’s more, Liam’s looks were top-tier, perfectly fitting my aesthetic. Liam was a big deal at school, not just for his incredible looks, but also for his off-the-charts intelligence. He was the academic powerhouse everyone talked about. Falling for Liam was almost inevitable. It’s just that the distance between us felt too vast, something I couldn’t bridge no matter how fast I ran. So, when I heard Liam was to be my husband in a business marriage, I was practically ecstatic. In the early days of our marriage, I was full of passion, eager to make things work with Liam. I’d never lifted a finger in the kitchen before, but after we got married, I worked tirelessly honing my cooking skills. After cutting three fingers and enduring countless oil burns, I finally cooked my first dish. Full of excitement, I rushed to Liam’s office, hoping he could have my special homemade lunch early. But the moment I arrived, his secretary blocked me. “I’m sorry, Ms. Chen, Mr. Hayes is busy. You can’t go in without an appointment.” I called Liam again and again, but he didn’t pick up. I waited for over an hour in the busy lobby, standing there as people bustled around. I could even hear the whispers of those nearby. Eventually, Liam’s assistant came downstairs to deliver some documents, saw me, and finally led me to Liam’s office. But the moment I saw Liam, all my sadness vanished. I joyfully arranged the dishes I’d cooked in front of him. “Taste it! I made it especially for you!” Compared to my excitement, Liam was merely indifferent. He took one bite, frowned, and didn’t touch his forks again. “From now on, the housekeeper can handle these things.” “My assistant also prepares lunch for me. You don’t have to bother bringing it.”

My eager enthusiasm was instantly doused with ice water. Later, I tried various ways to get closer to Liam. But… The thoughtful gifts I painstakingly chose always ended up gathering dust in a cabinet. My messages to him went unanswered, like stones dropped into the ocean. At company galas, Liam preferred to bring his secretary instead of me. Even in bed, Liam seemed uninterested. He’d often finish in a rushed two or three minutes, even if he clearly wasn’t satisfied. Everyone outside knew that I, Mrs. Hayes, was nothing more than a title without substance, someone anyone could step on. … After a while, even an idiot would have known that Liam didn’t love me. Yet now, the pop-up comments were telling me that Liam loved me, even loved me to his core. I scoffed. As if I’d believe those comments. I immediately called Zoe and went to a bar. My best friend, Zoe, raised an eyebrow, looking quite surprised when she saw me. “Well, well, look who it is! Isn’t today your third wedding anniversary with Liam? How do you have time to come out drinking?” I gave a bitter smile, trying to hide the disappointment in my eyes. “He’s on a business trip.” “Zoe, I’m planning to divorce him.” Zoe’s eyes widened in disbelief. She knew how much I loved Liam, so hearing about the divorce, she looked stunned. She even tugged at my cheek, suspecting I’d been possessed. I slapped her hand away and smiled. “Liam, he just doesn’t love me.” “I used to think that even if he didn’t love me, as long as I was Mrs. Hayes, I could be tied to him forever.” “Even just being by his side, I felt content.” “But Zoe, people are greedy. The longer I stayed by his side, the more I wanted. But he can’t give me what I want. It just makes me more miserable.” “Instead of making us both suffer like this, it’s better to part ways amicably.” Zoe sighed, pulling me into a comforting hug. “Chloe, I’ll support you no matter what you do!” “Out with the old, in with the new! We’ll find someone way better next time!” More comments floated across my vision. 【My poor girl, Chloe! If only she could give the male lead more time!】 【If the male lead doesn’t speak up soon, he’s going to lose his wife!】 【Nooo, baby girl! No one loves you more than the male lead!】 【Don’t panic, comments! The male lead rushed over as soon as he heard his wife was at the bar! He’s quietly protecting her from behind right now!】 Liam came? I froze, instinctively turning to search for him. He was there, at a booth not far away, raising his glass and chatting happily with the woman next to him. He was definitely *not* quietly watching me, as the comments claimed. “Liam? Why is he here? Wasn’t he on a business trip?” Zoe clearly saw Liam too. Fuming, she grabbed my arm and dragged me towards him. As we got closer, I finally got a good look at the woman beside Liam. She wore a striking red dress, her features bright and captivating. At that moment, she was clinging to Liam’s arm, playfully begging him to drink for her. Their posture was intimate. I could even see her hair draped over Liam’s arm, creating an undeniable, suggestive aura that spoke volumes of their closeness. It was a closeness Liam and I had never shared.

Perhaps he didn’t notice me, or perhaps he simply didn’t care, but Liam looked at the woman, a gentle smile on his face, and took the glass from her hand, downing it in one go. 【Oh no, oh no, the female lead is definitely going to misunderstand! Male lead, hurry and look at Chloe!】 【Baby girl, Chloe, this is just a classmate of the male lead’s. His heart is only for you.】 Watching the words on the screen, I pursed my lips. The way Liam looked at her was so tender it was practically dripping with affection. Only an idiot would believe there was nothing between them. He had never looked at me that way. If I had to rely on pop-up comments to know if Liam loved me, to find evidence, then I was truly pathetic. Besides, I was more than good enough. I didn’t *need* Liam. “Liam Hayes, is this what you call a ‘business trip’?” Seeing me, a flicker of discomfort crossed Liam’s face. He cleared his throat, about to speak, when the woman beside him stood up and generously extended her hand to me. “You must be Chloe Chen, Liam’s business marriage partner! Hello, I’m Victoria, Liam’s ex-girlfriend.” Victoria stared at me intently, her eyes filled with a mix of triumph and mockery. I knew who Victoria was. She was Liam’s high school classmate, the only one who could rival him in their academic achievements. She was his “first love,” the one everyone called the perfect couple. Their passionate high school romance was always a talked-about topic until she went overseas. Liam was reportedly in a slump for a long time because of it. Rumor had it, he even underperformed on his college entrance exams and missed out on his dream university. From the looks of it now, Victoria must have reconnected with Liam the moment she returned to the country. I didn’t shake Victoria’s hand. I just stared at Liam, unblinking. Victoria, however, pouted, then turned to Liam with a look of feigned hurt. “Liam, I told you not to come so late just to see me. Look, your wife is upset.” “Chloe, don’t be mad. I just got back to the country, and I haven’t reconnected with any of my old friends except Liam… I’m sorry, but Liam and I truly have nothing going on. Please don’t be upset…” I smelled the sickly sweet act in the air and scoffed. My eyes still on Liam, my voice was devoid of any warmth. “Liam Hayes, do you have nothing to say to me?” Liam frowned, his face unreadable. “Go home early.” My nose suddenly stung, and tears threatened to spill. At that moment, the comments section exploded. 【Ahhh, baby girl, Chloe, don’t misunderstand! It’s clearly the rival female lead who’s throwing herself at him!】 【Baby girl, you HAVE to believe the male lead! He was tricked into coming here by her! And he’s fuming right now because he saw you here and worried other guys might hit on you! Go comfort him!】 【Baby girl, Chloe, just sweet-talk the male lead, call him ‘honey,’ and he’ll give you his life!】 【Can the rival female lead just get lost already?! Spreading rumors about her intense love affair with the male lead in high school wasn’t enough, now she has to interfere in the male and female lead’s relationship!】 Upset? I scoffed again. Liam told me he was on a business trip for our anniversary, but he was here with his high school first love, and *he* was upset? What about me? Was I supposed to just accept it? Perhaps before, I still felt a tiny bit reluctant about this marriage, but at this moment, my decision to divorce was rock solid. “Liam Hayes, come back tomorrow.”

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Seven years into my marriage, my husband brought home a kept woman. He didn’t even try to hide it. “I’m only playing around for ten years, Scarlett. After that, I promise I’ll come back to you, settle down, and be a good husband.” He was so sure I wouldn’t dare refuse. My father had given all the family assets to my half-sister, Chloe, and we’d always been at each other’s throats. I’d been a stay-at-home wife for seven years; I couldn’t imagine surviving without him. I managed a desolate smile. “Whatever makes you happy.” He looked pleased, then leaned down and kissed my forehead. “Wife, I knew you’d understand me.” The moment he left, I ripped off my wedding ring, packed my bags, and walked out. My childhood friend, Liam, couldn’t wait to swoop in. “Hey, heiress. I’m handsome, loyal, and loaded. Care to give me a chance?” Before I left, I looked around the house I’d lived in for seven years, a wave of bitterness washing over me. Julian and I were college sweethearts. I stood by him through thick and thin, from nothing to having everything. He’d once sworn eternal love, promising to put the house in my name. He said if he ever changed his heart, he’d be homeless. Now, his heart had changed. But he had countless homes. As I reached the front door, my phone rang. Habitually, I answered it. “Bianca’s having cramps, Scarlett. Make some red date and bird’s nest soup and bring it over.” I was about to refuse, then remembered I still needed his signature on the divorce papers. Stepping into the lavish villa, I found Bianca Stone draped in a sheer, almost see-through nightgown, nestled in Julian’s arms. She pouted, her voice soft and sweet. “I hope Scarlett won’t be mad, will she?” “She’s the legitimate Mrs. Hayes. I’m just a nameless, status-less golden canary. How could I possibly deserve…” Julian lowered his head and kissed her lips, effectively shutting her up. After a long moment, his thumb gently traced the corner of her tear-filled eye. He looked utterly content. “Without me, she’d have starved long ago.” “Besides the title of Mrs. Hayes, what else does she have? Just looking at her makes me sick.” My nails dug into my palms. Three years of dating, seven years of marriage, and he called me disgusting? I gritted my teeth and walked up to them. Julian’s face instantly darkened. “Where’s the soup?” Bianca deliberately tugged at her flimsy nightgown, revealing a landscape of kiss marks and damp patches beneath her. Her fair hand quickly covered his mouth. “How could I possibly trouble Mrs. Hayes? I should be serving her.” My gaze flickered to the photos in the living room, and a sharp pain pierced my heart. Julian never let me meet his friends, nor would he meet mine. But here he was, taking Bianca on picnics with his friends. He’d always said he hated flowers, calling them wasteful and impractical. Yet, everywhere I looked, there were vibrant roses of every color, even rare, priceless Juliet roses. He said he was too busy to go on a honeymoon. But the photo wall in the living room was covered with pictures of him and Bianca traveling the world. I suddenly wanted to laugh—to laugh at how blind I’d been. Seeing my smile, Julian’s rage intensified. He grabbed an apple and threw it at me. “Funny? You’re really starting to disrespect me, aren’t you? Your allowance for next month is gone.” Bianca suddenly began to dab at her eyes, looking utterly pitiful. “Mr. Hayes, no, please.” “I’ve already stolen your love, I’m so sorry to Scarlett. Don’t be angry with her because of me. I don’t deserve it.” Julian’s voice was cold as he commanded me. “Come here and explain it clearly to Bianca. Tell her you approve of us, and that you’ll willingly take care of her.” Meeting his urgent gaze, I let out a cold laugh. “Julian Hayes, what century are you living in? Still dreaming of having a harem?” “I’ll never, ever share my man with a shameless mistress.” I turned my gaze to Bianca. “Stop faking it. You’re a mistress hiding in the shadows, yet you want a good reputation? You’re truly delusional.” She immediately shrank into Julian’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably, as if she’d suffered the greatest injustice. “Mr. Hayes, I… I just admire you. If Scarlett can’t tolerate me, then I’ll leave right away! I’ll never bother you two again.” She made a move to leave, but Julian held her tight. “If anyone’s leaving, it’s her.” “Scarlett Sterling, you’re getting more and more out of control. You need to be taught a lesson!” He motioned for his bodyguards to pin me to the ground and ordered them to slap me. Rough, powerful slaps soon swelled my cheeks, and blood streamed from the corner of my mouth. It hurt, but my heart hurt more. “When you realize your mistake, when you’re willing to bow down to Bianca, then they’ll stop.” “Mr. Hayes, it’s a good thing you care about me so much~” Julian’s restless hand roamed over her body, eliciting a soft moan from her. “Naughty~ Mrs. Hayes is still here…” His voice grew even more triumphant: “Good. She can learn how to seduce me from you.” The decadent, sickening sounds brutally assaulted my ears, leaving me almost deaf. I refused to bow down or apologize. Julian ordered me locked in the basement to reflect. He didn’t let anyone treat my wounds, leaving my face to fester and rot. That night, my fever soared, and I began to ramble. He got scared I’d die and had me sent to the hospital. In a haze, I heard him say, “You still think you’re some high-and-mighty heiress, do you? The Sterling family has nothing to do with you anymore. You’re completely dependent on me now, why can’t you change your temper?” “If you were even half as obedient and sensible as Bianca, I’d be satisfied.” Opening my eyes, I found my face heavily bandaged. My lower abdomen throbbed with intense pain. A nurse walked over, her voice soft. “Don’t move. You just had a miscarriage, so you need to be very careful.” I was pregnant, but the medication for my wounds posed a risk of fetal deformity, so they had arranged an abortion. Julian’s face was resentful, filled with impatience. “Would it kill you to just admit you were wrong?” “We’ve been married seven years and finally had a child, and you just threw it away!” I couldn’t hold back any longer. Hot tears welled in my eyes. It was naturally difficult for me to conceive. For seven years, I’d seen countless doctors and taken countless medications. Finally, I had a child, and it was gone just like that. Most likely, I could never be a mother again. Seeing me cry, he suddenly panicked, his tone softening considerably. “You can have another child later, or when Bianca has one, you can raise it.” Looking at the man I’d loved for ten years, he suddenly felt like a complete stranger. Years ago, my father had chosen Liam, my childhood friend, as my arranged marriage partner. But I stubbornly fell in love with Julian, who had nothing. I poured most of my fortune into supporting his startup, begging and pulling strings everywhere to land him projects. His eyes red, he held my hand, his face full of devotion. “Scarlett, I promise I’ll make sure you continue to live like a pampered princess.” Now, he’d completely forgotten those vows. I recoiled from his touch, my voice as cold as a stranger’s. “Julian Hayes, let’s get a divorce.” He panicked, then laughed with anger. “Scarlett Sterling, I hate being threatened.” I added, “I’m serious.” He smiled, gritting his teeth, then sighed, seeing me as utterly delusional. “You won’t get much of the Hayes’ assets. The Sterling family won’t take you back, and you haven’t worked in seven years. Just feeding yourself will be a problem.” “If we divorce, you’ll barely survive.” I said calmly, “You don’t need to worry about that.” His finely-boned hand rested on my lower abdomen, but I felt a chill run down my spine.

His words were cold and dangerous. “You deliberately provoked me, got yourself hurt, and conveniently got rid of the child. You wanted me to feel guilty so you could divorce me.” “You wanted everyone to think I rose by relying on the Sterling family, then abandoned you, so they’d condemn me.” “It’s all carefully planned.” I suddenly understood why my father had so vehemently opposed my marriage to him back then. He was clearly the butcher, yet he was packaging himself as the victim. “You really should learn from Bianca’s gentleness. She doesn’t have your malicious thoughts; she only tries every way possible to please me.” “Out of consideration for our marriage, I won’t pursue this. But if there’s a next time, don’t blame me for being ruthless!” I gently shook my head and slowly spoke. “Julian Hayes, I will never learn the shamelessness of a mistress, nor the lack of shame of someone who cheats.” “Either we get a divorce by agreement, or I’ll sue you for it.” Julian was completely enraged. He pointed at me and roared in public. “Don’t use divorce to threaten me! Bianca is a thousand times better than you. I would never leave her, so you might as well give up!” “For a man of my status and position, having three or five mistresses is perfectly normal. I’ve already been very discreet. You’re just too ungrateful.” I wanted to laugh. How blind must I have been to fall for him? He would never realize that I couldn’t tolerate him, not just Bianca. With that, he walked away without a backward glance. I felt no reluctance; instead, the air seemed to clear. Yet, there was still an empty ache in my heart, as if a piece was missing. For the next half-month, he never appeared before me again. He and Bianca were kissing under the Northern Lights, exploring rainforests, vacationing on islands, and splurging on jewelry at auctions. I didn’t want to pay attention to them, but their exploits frequently topped the news trends, making it impossible to ignore. I looked down at the wedding ring on my hand. It was bought three years into our marriage. On our wedding day, I wore a rented dress and cheap, online-bought jewelry, willingly marrying him. He’d wept and promised that once he was rich, he’d make it up to me with a grand,世纪婚礼 (century wedding – a grand, once-in-a-lifetime wedding). Later, when he had money, he said jewelry was expensive and useless, so why waste money? I nagged him for a long time before he finally bought this less-than-one-carat diamond ring. He never wore his own. Whether to get back at me or to make Bianca happy, I don’t know. He really did prepare a lavish, grand wedding. Sadly, I wasn’t the bride. He hired a professional photography team to document every step: choosing wedding rings, trying on wedding dresses, and so on. Their wedding ring was made from a pigeon-egg-sized diamond auctioned off in a Southern country, the diamond alone worth $300 million. Bianca’s wedding dress was encrusted with tiny diamonds, shimmering under the lights like a fairy descending from the Milky Way. It sparkled even more brilliantly in the sunlight. Chloe, my sister, threw an invitation in front of me, angrily demanding, “Is this the man you were so determined to marry? You’re truly an embarrassment to the Sterling family.” My stepmother, Eleanor, nearly fainted from anger. I begged them to attend the wedding. If the Sterlings didn’t go, those high-society families definitely wouldn’t. The day before the wedding, Julian was unusually pleasant to me. “Bianca wants a wedding of her own. Don’t cause any trouble.” I nodded. On the wedding day, I announced my divorce in front of all the guests. “My husband, Mr. Julian Hayes, is holding a grand wedding with his mistress today. I choose to grant them their wish.” “We’re getting a divorce.” He quietly warned me, but I wasn’t fazed. “Either we divorce, or I’ll sue you for bigamy.” His face flushed from green to red. He had no choice but to sign the divorce agreement in front of everyone. That day, Julian Hayes dominated the trending topics. 【Hayes Group CEO Holds Century Wedding for Mistress!】 【At the Wedding, the Original Wife Announces Divorce!】 【Relied on Wife for Wealth, Now Flaunts Affair with Mistress!】 His high-profile photos and videos with Bianca, showing off their affection, became the damning evidence that nailed him to the pillar of shame. I went home to get my luggage, but I heard Bianca’s heart-wrenching screams. Rushing in, I saw her being assaulted by two men, blood flowing freely from beneath her. I was frozen in shock, standing there, unsure what to do. Julian rushed in, frantic. The two men, startled, quickly scaled the wall and fled. Bianca lay in a pool of blood, sobbing almost to the point of collapse. “Our baby… it’s gone…” “Ms. Sterling, you can hate me, hit me, curse me, even kill me if you want.” “But why would you hurt my baby? If you’d just said the word, I would’ve taken the baby and left the country, never to return.” “Why…” Julian held Bianca, crying like a fountain. When my baby was gone, he hadn’t shed a single tear. He stayed by her side in the hospital, sleepless for three days and three nights. Every day, while she slept, he’d personally go home and cook soup for her. Seven years of marriage, and I never knew he could cook. On the fourth day, Bianca’s emotions finally stabilized. He ordered his bodyguards to tie me up and take me to an abandoned factory on the outskirts, where they threw me onto the ground like trash. The rough gravel dug into my body, hurting everywhere. I stared at him, incredulous. “Julian Hayes, how could you do this to me?” He raised his foot and cruelly stomped on my lips until they were a bloody mess. “It’s all because I was too soft on you, which emboldened you to harm my child.” I shook my head frantically, the back of my head bleeding from being scraped by the gravel. “I didn’t! It wasn’t me!” “Still trying to deny it?!” He gathered all his strength and delivered a savage kick to my lower abdomen. My face turned pale from the pain, and sweat poured down me. But he felt it wasn’t nearly enough. Punches, kicks, and sticks rained down on my abdomen. Soon, it was a bloody, mangled mess, and the blood beneath me stained the ground. Gradually, I stopped feeling the pain. All I felt was cold. My consciousness faded, and the footsteps seemed to grow distant. They didn’t take me with them. I was going to die. When I woke up again, everything was white. Perhaps this was heaven. Liam Anderson, my childhood friend, was watching over me, his eyes red. Seeing me awake, he couldn’t help but cry again. “Scarlett, you’re finally awake! You scared me to death!” I didn’t speak, tears streaming down my face and soaking the pillow. He carefully held me, and a wave of warmth passed through my hospital gown. “I’m sorry, I came too late.” After he heard about my divorce, he caught the next flight home, only to learn I’d gone missing. The Sterling family and the Anderson family had moved mountains to find me, barely rescuing me when I was on the brink. After my surgery, Chloe and Eleanor arranged for two nurses to care for me, and they made time to visit me every day. Liam stayed by my bedside, refusing to leave for anything.

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Seeing my billionaire CEO husband in bed with another woman, I finally filed for divorce. Alex scoffed, “Cut the drama. Didn’t you always say I was your world?” But all I did was throw a signed divorce agreement at him. For three whole years, a transmigrator had been living in my body, absolutely obsessed with him, practically worshiping the ground he walked on. Now, she was finally gone. From this moment on, I was taking back control of my life! I don’t know when it started, but one day, I suddenly realized I couldn’t control my own body anymore. My consciousness felt trapped in a void. I could see, hear, and speak, but I couldn’t move. Then, I heard a voice. That’s when I learned it was a transmigrator who had taken over my body. After she accidentally discovered my existence, she said she couldn’t help it; a system was forcing her. She told me this was actually a novel world. Just because some “Main God” didn’t like the original ending, they sent a system to grab someone to do tasks and change it. She said my billionaire CEO husband, Alex, was the male lead of this world. She also said the Main God loved seeing the sweet, naive type and the CEO get their HE (happy ending), but loved seeing rich and powerful women like me, who were on equal footing with the CEO, get a BE (bad ending). She commented that the Main God must have the brain of a rusty doorknob. The system’s task for her was to make Alex fall in love with Lily—the sweet, naive type who was useless except for being kind. Apparently, the ending only counted if the two of them ended up in bed together. Hearing this, I couldn’t help but secretly agree with her assessment of that Main God. It seemed that Main God wasn’t just a total simp for romance, but also constantly dreaming up filthy fanfiction scenarios. In the kitchen. Chloe, the transmigrator, was sweetly but frustratingly trying to make a difficult latte art coffee as required, all while complaining to me, “Look at your taste! How could you marry such a high-maintenance jerk?” “If he likes handmade latte art so much, why doesn’t he just hire someone to make it at home? He’s not broke!” “But speaking of which… how much money does he actually have?” At her words, I couldn’t help but fall into thought. Even if I didn’t know his exact net worth, a typical billionaire CEO in a web novel world would definitely be loaded enough to rival a small country. Otherwise, how could he be the male lead? Just because of that… chiseled, almost unreal face of his? After much frustrated fiddling, Chloe grumbled, poured the coffee down the drain, and started over. But this time, while making it, she started complaining about *me*: “You actually make him a latte art coffee every single day, and with different designs!” “How in the world do you keep that up?!” “Seriously, do all you rich socialites have your heads in the clouds or something?!” I immediately countered that maybe he just… got used to it. I started making him a latte art coffee every day ever since we moved in next door to each other, over a year before our actual marriage, as a trial. But I wasn’t desperate to impress him. Because every day, he’d also bring me a different, exquisite, and expensive collector’s item. To me, it was a fair trade. I just didn’t know why, after Chloe arrived, Alex stopped sending me figurines. Though, maybe it was because… Chloe had never made a single decent latte art coffee? The sound of the door opening meant Alex was back. Chloe wanted to keep complaining, but she had to constantly maintain her “devoted, virtuous wife” persona. So, she twisted her smile into a welcoming one and sweetly, gently called out, “Alex.” However, Alex, dressed in his perfectly tailored suit, actually flinched. He turned to look at her with a horrified expression, as if she were some kind of monster. Seeing her make a move to pounce, he even took a few wary steps back. “Stay right there!”

As a transmigrator, Chloe was absolutely enraged. She cursed at me repeatedly, “I’ve been kissing up to him for a whole damn year, and he still won’t let me near him?!” “What, is he gay or something?!” “How am I supposed to do tasks like ‘getting owned by the female lead’ and ‘successfully playing the jealous harpy’ later?!” “Ugh, this is too hard. Just let me die, I want to go home!” “…” I wanted to speak, but in the end, amid Chloe’s furious ranting, I silently slipped into my memories. I had to admit, Alex’s reaction was a bit unexpected. Because, in my memory, he wasn’t actually averse to my closeness. Like on the day I lost control of my body—which was also our wedding night. The guests had tactfully left after the celebration, and he stumbled toward me, bending down, his face flushed slightly. He closed his eyes and leaned in as if to kiss me. A faint scent of wine and crisp cologne enveloped me, but I didn’t dare move. Yet, his breathing had quickened, and the veins on his hands were bulging. So I couldn’t help but wonder, for a moment, if he was… nervous too? But just as he was about to touch me, there was a *boom* in my head, and I lost consciousness. When I became aware of Chloe’s presence, it was already the third day. Chloe said that when she woke up in my body, she was in a hospital. At the time, Alex’s face was terrifyingly grim, watching the doctor meticulously give her a full body check-up. She was so scared she didn’t dare say anything, so she just continued to feign sleep. But ever since then, Alex’s attitude toward “me” had been consistently distant. Though, he’d always been a bit distant with me. He was just that type of person, always keeping a certain distance. I had no idea how he would be conquered by a clumsy, sweet-but-useless type like Lily. Perhaps, that’s what they call a “contrast effect.” Is this… the charm of CEO novels? Seeing Alex retreat to the door with a wary, almost panicked look, as if terrified Chloe would take advantage of him in the slightest… I found it both amusing and, strangely, a little sour in my heart. Did he really not want to be close to me? I shook my head, trying to get my thoughts back on track. This was about Chloe’s mission and my future, after all! So, I wondered again, could it be that my unexpected fainting that night had scared him, leaving him with a psychological shadow? I don’t know what the system said, but Chloe took a deep breath, then feigned sadness. “You, you… what’s wrong with you?” Alex frowned, a look of distaste on his face. “What did you do to yourself?” Chloe: “…?” Alex impatiently rubbed his temples. “Go clean yourself up.” Chloe followed his gaze down and finally saw the coffee stains all over her clothes. …Right. Alex, like me, was a bit of a germaphobe. Sure enough, he said coldly, “If you can’t make coffee, don’t force it. If you break the coffee machine, remember to pay for it yourself.” After saying that, he picked up his briefcase and went to the guest bedroom. Looking utterly heartless, as if out of sight, out of mind.

Yep, he and “I” had always slept in separate beds. Of course, Chloe didn’t actually want to sleep with him either. Because Chloe had someone she liked in her own world. She could fake it for the show, but she couldn’t let it become real. Chloe glared at his retreating back, growing even more irritable. “Ugh, this CEO is so cheap! What the hell?” “It’s just a coffee machine! Is it that big of a deal?!” “…” If you asked me, yes, it was a very big deal. After all, that coffee machine was worth tens of thousands of dollars. CEOs in novels might throw money around without a second thought. But a real CEO? They wouldn’t waste anything casually. They could abandon or exchange things, but they would never waste. Because they knew that only by developing cautious habits could they make relatively precise and decisive choices. At least, that’s what my successful businessman father taught me. And as the rich socialite Chloe called me, I was the same. Whatever I decided to learn, I would learn it seriously, giving it my all. For example, making latte art was something I excelled at because I had a strong foundation in art from a young age. So, I could directly free-pour latte art onto finished coffee, doing it in one smooth motion. But Chloe clearly had no artistic talent or interest, nor did she put any effort into it, so she naturally only produced failed “impressionist” works. Chloe glumly chugged the coffee, then washed herself clean, and finally holed up in the room, sighing dramatically to me, eventually tossing and turning all night. The next day, she forced herself to perk up and rushed to Alex’s company. Because today was the day Lily, the sweet, naive female lead, was supposed to officially catch the CEO’s eye. Lily, a freshly graduated intern, would naturally fall head over heels for the successful, tall, and handsome CEO Alex at first sight. Her character was clumsy, kind to stray animals, yet also brave enough to love. Even knowing that CEO Alex was already married, she didn’t hide her feelings. So what if he was married? Who could control their heart? Besides… they were just in a marriage of convenience anyway! Lily not only didn’t proactively distance herself from Alex, but she also wouldn’t do something decisive like immediately quitting her job. As she put it, she was just young and fearless, not wanting to regret it when she got old, so she chose to follow her heart. Chloe, following the script provided by the system, called Alex’s driver and secretary and learned of this “affair.” In a fit of rage, she dressed herself in an undeniably opulent manner, then stormed into Alex’s office, clutching the homemade lunch our housekeeper had lovingly prepared. Lily, in a fresh and bright white dress, had a hint of pure, unadulterated naivety lingering in her eyes. She was holding a stack of files, leaning to look at Alex’s computer. However, as Alex patiently explained something, he suddenly looked up at her, and she flinched. Naturally, the files tilted. In a panic, she quickly tried to grab them, but accidentally… stumbled and landed right on his lap. Lily’s face flushed crimson, but for some reason, she couldn’t seem to stand up. From an outsider’s perspective, she was squirming around on him, making the whole scene look incredibly… suggestive. Alex’s forehead veins pulsed, and he gripped her shoulders tightly, his gaze fixed on “me” with a strangely… panicked look? Was he not trying to hold her, but rather push her away, because he was afraid “I” would misunderstand? No, no, how could that be? This was his destined female lead; how could he possibly push her away? I thought with a bitter smile.

Looking at Lily, she was awkwardly flailing, her limbs soft, moving around on him, all while constantly apologizing with a red face, “Mr. Alexander, I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry.” Seeing this, Chloe excitedly roared, “What are you two doing?!” Only then did Lily seem to suddenly regain her courage, springing upright. She nervously tucked her hair behind her ear, feigning composure. “You, who are you?” “Who am I?” Chloe scoffed, pointing at Alex imperiously. “I’m his wife!” Lily looked down incredulously, her face full of disappointment. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know.” Chloe was utterly stunned, she couldn’t help but rant to me, “Oh my god, she can’t even hold files properly, and all she does is apologize?! She’s a… a total waste! And *she* gets to be the female lead?!” “Seriously, where’s the justice in that?!” I was speechless, feeling just as annoyed. Yes, where was the justice? And why did this system even exist? Lily bit her lower lip, her eyes reddening, looking utterly pitiful. Chloe had told me that she *hated* women like this the most. Because she herself had been in a car accident, left hanging by a thread, and then forced by this damn system to do these tasks, all thanks to a woman like that. So she just sneered and launched into a series of rapid-fire questions: “You didn’t know?” “Who in this company doesn’t know what the boss’s wife looks like?” “At the very least, our wedding photos are all over the internet…” “What, is this your first day online, or your first day in this company? Don’t try to play innocent with me!” Alex adjusted his suit, walked around his desk, and looked at Chloe with displeasure. “Why aren’t you managing your charity foundation? What are you doing here?” I froze for a moment. He actually knew about my charity foundation? No, it had to be just an excuse. I couldn’t believe that in such a short time, he had reverted to his cold CEO persona, so composed as he protected the woman he supposedly loved. Love truly makes one’s potential limitless, I thought, a hint of bitterness. “I came to catch… to bring you a loving lunch! But who knew…” Chloe snorted, reading her lines with feigned anguish. “I love you so much, I’m so good to you! And this is how you treat me?!” “That was just an accident, don’t overthink it. We were just discussing work.” Alex’s voice was dangerous, yet strangely pleasant to listen to. Chloe was furious. She pointed at Lily and spat, “You two were discussing work by hugging and cuddling? Why don’t you just kiss already?!” Lily’s face turned red. “Mrs. Alexander, you’ve misunderstood. How can you slander someone so unfairly?” “I’m slandering you? Your intentions are practically written all over your face! You…” “Enough.” Alex reached out and stopped the increasingly agitated Chloe, saying with displeasure, “Go back home. Don’t let your imagination run wild.” However, Chloe continued to unleash a torrent of curses at both of them until she felt satisfied, then turned and walked away with her head held high.

Once in the car, she immediately changed her expression, beaming. “After I reamed him out, the female lead will definitely cry to him for comfort. That way, their relationship will warm up faster, and I can go home sooner!” Not wanting to spoil her mood, I agreed repeatedly, though I wasn’t entirely convinced. After all, a CEO’s every second at work was precious; on average, millions of dollars could pass through their hands each second. A competent CEO shouldn’t be too distracted during work hours. But… I couldn’t help but feel a little sad. This was a novel world, after all. Maybe he *would* abandon a million-dollar deal for a smile from his beloved? In the evening, Alex called to say he had a work dinner and wouldn’t be home for dinner. Chloe was secretly thrilled, but she pretended to be angry, taking the opportunity to sarcastically remark about him before agreeing. “Do you think he’ll get tipsy tonight and end up getting intimate with Lily?” She chattered on, making continuous guesses. It was clear she was desperate to speed up the plot and go home. But I never liked to jump to conclusions about uncertain things, so I mostly remained silent. Chloe suddenly stopped, then carefully asked: “Vivian, I’ve known you for a while now. Why don’t you talk much?” “You don’t… actually love Alex, do you?” I was stunned. To be honest, that question… I hadn’t really thought about it. Chloe thought she’d hit the nail on the head and sighed wistfully: “Then you must be really sad every time you see them together.”

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The day I was critically injured in a car crash and begged the system to change my assigned targets, they barged into the operating room, ignoring all warnings, to force me to donate my heart. Just because the son of our long-time family assistant was suffering from a critical illness, his wife demanded they drain every drop of blood from my body. “Julian! If you stop this surgery now, I’ll die! Please! Don’t!” Hearing my desperate plea, the woman who once claimed to adore me, the one who had orchestrated the downfall of my entire family because of my abused childhood, her eyes blazed red. Yet, she still brutally cut open my chest and ripped out my heart. My heart had turned to ash as I lay on the operating table, waiting to die. When the system was about to erase me, my three former assigned targets, with bloodshot eyes, cradled my bloodied body and buried my remains. Their affection levels, which had been at zero, suddenly skyrocketed to a hundred. After avenging me, they ended their own lives, following me into death. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day I changed my targets. This time, I wouldn’t give them up. But in the first year after my rebirth, the three targets who had once loved me fiercely suddenly changed. They forced me to donate a kidney, then my heart, turning me into Liam’s personal blood bank. With red-rimmed eyes, I asked them why they no longer cared about me. All three women scoffed in unison, “Julian, not everyone has to revolve around you forever.”

“System, I’m abandoning the mission.” “If the host chooses to abandon the mission, you will be erased by the system. Do you confirm?” A bitter laugh escaped my lips as I listened to the system’s cold, mechanical voice. “I confirm.” Just as I came to my senses, the hospital room door burst open with a kick. Eleanor walked in, leaning on Liam, her voice like shards of ice. “Liam is still sick, and you’re making him cook you porridge! You really think you’re something, don’t you?!” I couldn’t even bothered to lift an eyelid, scoffing, “Liam is someone my family pays to work for us. If he doesn’t cook, do you expect me to trouble your highness, Miss Eleanor, to do it herself?” Then, I looked at Vivian and Chloe, who stood a little further from my bed. “Or… do you two sisters want to step in?” My subtly mocking words instantly made their faces fall. Vivian got angry, pointing at me as she harshly rebuked, “Julian! All we’re asking for is one of your kidneys!” “You won’t die without one kidney, and this one is to save Liam’s life!” I was so furious, I laughed. To get a kidney for Liam, they had knocked me out and dragged me to the hospital. If I hadn’t woken up on the operating table in time, my kidney would probably be inside Liam right now. I scanned the three of them, a slow smile forming on my lips as I articulated each word. “Please get this straight, all three of you. First, you are my arranged marriage partners, not Liam’s.” “Second, I am the primary heir of the Hayes family. Liam is just a staff member. How dare he take my kidney? Are you out of your minds?” Liam carefully brought a thermos to my bedside, his eyes red as he said, “Master, I know my place. How would I ever dare to take yours…” I impatiently waved him off. “Get that away from me. I wouldn’t dare drink anything from you!” The next second, Liam unexpectedly stumbled and fell to the floor, the scalding hot porridge spilling all over him. He shrieked sharply, “It’s burning! Ah!” Eleanor reacted first, rushing over to embrace Liam with a heartbroken expression. Vivian and Chloe also anxiously crowded around him. Watching this scene, I froze. I hadn’t even touched Liam. How could he have fallen? But in that brief moment of stunned confusion, Eleanor immediately rose. She furiously grabbed my neck, her voice razor-sharp, “Julian! Why did you hurt Liam?!” I choked, struggling to pry Eleanor’s fingers off. “Let… go. I didn’t touch him! He himself…” Just as the words left my mouth, Liam surprisingly knelt in front of the spilled porridge, his hands trembling as he scooped it up and fed it to himself. “Master, I just cooked this porridge this morning. I truly didn’t do anything to it…” “Please, don’t kick me out, okay? This is the only job I have to support myself!” Liam’s actions completely ignited Eleanor’s rage. Her eyes practically wanted to gouge me out. “Julian! Today, you’re drinking this porridge whether you like it or not! Otherwise…” “I will break off the engagement with the Hayes family!” Vivian and Chloe echoed her with harsh voices, “If Eleanor doesn’t want you, then we won’t marry you either!” A searing pain suddenly shot through my chest. I swallowed back the tears threatening to spill, gritting my teeth as I said, “Do you really think you three are the only ones I can marry?” Before I could finish, my arms were pinned down by Vivian and Chloe, one on each side. Eleanor went back, scooped the porridge from under Liam into a bowl, and once again seized my jaw. My body instinctively recoiled from the bowl of porridge. My pupils constricted, and I yelled, “Eleanor! Stop! Don’t you know I’m allergic to yams?!” Eleanor’s hand visibly paused, a flicker of doubt in her eyes. But Vivian and Chloe didn’t believe me, scoffing with disdain. “Stop lying! We’ve never heard of you being allergic to yams!” An expression of disbelief slowly spread across my face. How was that possible? In the first year after my rebirth, I had clearly told them all three about my yam allergy. They were so worried the staff might make a mistake that they had even written it down themselves on a sticky note on the fridge. How could they not know? Unless…

Unless they had all been reborn too? But why would their attitude towards me be so different from my previous life? Liam was still whimpering softly, as if he had suffered the greatest injustice. Eleanor’s hand suddenly moved. She forcefully shoved the bowl of porridge down my throat. “So what if you’re allergic? It’s not like it’ll kill you!” Hearing Eleanor mention the word ‘death,’ I could no longer suppress my emotions. My eyes red, I roared at her, “Eleanor! I’m really dying!” The moment the words left my mouth, the muscles in my throat convulsed and swelled. A suffocating sensation washed over me. Even as I desperately gasped for air, I still couldn’t breathe. Seeing me in such distress, Vivian and Chloe instinctively let go of my arms. Eleanor frowned, her hand by her side clenching into a fist, knuckles white from the pressure. I struggled to force out a few words, my survival instinct making me grab Eleanor’s wrist. “Call… call the doctor. Quick.” At the same time, all three of them reached to press the call button by the bed. In that moment, I actually saw a strong flicker of… concern in their eyes? Liam pulled on Vivian’s sleeve, whimpering, “Is Master still mad at me, so he’s pretending to be allergic? Does he want to kick me out, that’s why he’s doing this?” They instantly believed Liam, and that flicker of concern felt like a mere hallucination. Eleanor looked at me with disgust. “Julian! You truly are as cunning as ever!” My lungs felt swollen with anger, making it almost impossible to speak. My face, my neck, even every patch of skin on my body broke out in red rashes. Eleanor seemed to realize I wasn’t faking it. Just as she was about to check on me again, the hospital room door was kicked open. Several doctors rushed in, their voices anxious. “Miss Anya sent us. How’s the patient?” Eleanor’s demeanor grew even colder at those words. I was rushed to emergency. When I came out, the doctor spoke to Eleanor. “The patient is experiencing an allergic reaction, and… and his body’s various functions are deteriorating, but we can’t find the specific cause.” “Our recommendation is to seek treatment abroad. There might still be a glimmer of hope.” But the three of them seemed indifferent. After the doctor left, Eleanor scoffed at me, “Julian, you already arranged for someone to conspire with the doctors, didn’t you? Next, are you going to use death to beg us to marry you?” I instinctively wanted to deny it. But suddenly, Liam knelt before me, banging his head on the floor repeatedly. “Master, I’m so sorry! I didn’t know you were allergic to yams!” In no time, Liam’s forehead was already bruised and bleeding. I looked at Liam coldly. “You didn’t know? All my preferences are posted on the fridge! You’re a Hayes family employee, how could you not know?!” “A severe allergy can kill someone, do you even know that?!” Eleanor tenderly helped Liam off the floor, a vein pulsed angrily on her forehead. “Enough! Julian, you’ve had more than enough since birth. Do you really need to constantly remind us of the difference between you and Liam?!” As if I’d heard something hilarious, a few low laughs escaped my throat. “Eleanor! He’s *my* family’s employee. Since when do *I* need *your* permission to discipline my own staff?!” Vivian and Chloe trembled with rage. “You’re *you*, and your father’s *him*! Liam just didn’t know your preferences. Can’t you be a little more lenient with him?!” “It seems we’ve clearly spoiled you rotten!” Liam, who was on the floor, scrambled up and cried out, “Master! I’ll just pay you back with my life!” He shouted as he lunged towards the fruit knife on my bedside table, gripping the handle tightly and pressing it against his arm. Eleanor’s face changed first. All three women’s gazes were fixed on Liam. Eleanor was quick, snatching the knife from Liam’s hand. I couldn’t help but sneer. “If you really wanted to pay me back with my life, you should be aiming for your neck!” A heavy slap landed across my face, the force so great that half my face went numb. After a jolt of sharp pain, blood slowly seeped from the corner of my mouth, and my ears rang incessantly. Eleanor glared, her voice cold. “Shut up! Are you trying to drive Liam to suicide?!” Even Chloe, usually the most mild-tempered, had her chest heaving violently. “Julian! Eleanor has already agreed to the engagement with you, why do you keep targeting Liam?!” The system in my mind blared a warning. A metallic taste filled my throat, and a mouthful of blood forcefully erupted from my mouth. In the last moment before losing consciousness, I heard three panicked voices. “Julian!”

When I regained consciousness, I found myself not in the hospital. But in… Anya’s house, where she and I lived in my previous life? I immediately struggled to get up and leave. Anya saw I was awake, her face filled with relief. She quickly pulled me back, her voice earnest. “Julian, please don’t go back, okay? I won’t hurt you like I did in our previous life. Can you please stay?” Seeing my photos covering the bedroom walls, a chill ran down my spine. “Anya, I refuse.” After my rebirth, I hadn’t changed my assigned targets, so I should have had no more dealings with Anya. But she showed up at my door in the second year of my rebirth, offering the Hayes Group as a betrothal gift to marry me. At that moment, I knew Anya, like me, had also been reborn. Anya desperately grabbed my arm. “I know you don’t trust me now, and you’ve refused me many times, but it’s okay, I’ll slowly prove myself to you!” Mid-struggle, her bedroom door suddenly crashed open. Eleanor was stunned when she saw me. “Julian, why are you here?” Before I could even process how they found Anya’s house, Vivian angrily yelled at Anya, “Anya! Where did you take Liam?!” My blood froze instantly. How did *they* know Anya? That absurd thought, like a lightning bolt, struck my mind again. Had they all been reborn too? Just as I wanted to press for answers, Liam burst into the bedroom, covered in blood. “Eleanor! Master tried to kill me! He wants me to pay him back with my life!” I watched Liam’s hysterical cries, utterly at a loss for words. “I have no idea why he’s here. I…” Eleanor didn’t listen to my explanation. Her eyes blazed with furious anger. Anya tried to protect me but was pinned to the ground and brutally beaten by Vivian and Chloe. Eleanor dragged me home like a sack of potatoes, going straight to the top floor of the villa. My body scraped against the ground the entire way, the pain making me almost pass out. Eleanor’s voice was devoid of warmth. “Julian! You will pay the price for what you’ve done!” She personally tied the rope around my wrists. I cried out, “No! Eleanor! Don’t do this to me!” “Let go!” With that command, my back, pressed against the cold marble exterior wall, dropped sharply. The rope rubbed my wrists raw and bloody. A biting wind whipped past my ears. The extreme fear made it impossible to keep my balance, and my body swayed even more violently. Eleanor put her arm around Liam, looking down at me from above. “Do you know you’re wrong now?” Vivian and Chloe’s cold gazes were like they were looking at a complete stranger. I screamed, tears pouring uncontrollably. Humiliated, I bit down on my lower lip. Crimson blood seeped from my bitten mouth, and my heart throbbed with a dull ache. Why, why were Eleanor and the others doing this to me? Even if they no longer loved me, no longer cared about me, they shouldn’t be so cruel! After what felt like an eternity, Eleanor finally untied me and dropped me to the ground. I crawled back to my room, curled up on the floor, and cried silently. After a long silence, I finally made up my mind. I dialed Alexandra, the wild card heiress from the city’s most powerful circles. “Marry me. The Hayes Group will be yours. And, I want to see the Hayes and Green families completely ruined!” Just as I hung up, Eleanor kicked open my door, raging. “What did Liam ever do to you? Why do you want to kick him out?” Vivian and Chloe chimed in from the side. “Do you have any idea how much effort Liam put into this job?!” “You already have so much, why can’t you stand to see Liam doing well?!” Their condemning tone was like a harsh slap across my face. The system’s warning of rapidly dropping life points echoed in my brain, and I violently coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood. The warm blood splattered on Eleanor, Vivian, and Chloe’s faces. All three of them instantly blanched. Enduring the searing pain in my chest, I suddenly wanted to know the question that had always puzzled me. “Did you three also get reborn? But why, after being reborn, do you no longer care about me?” Their pupils constricted slightly, and their breathing grew heavy. Eleanor, in particular, avoided my gaze, her voice hoarse. “What rebirth? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

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I was the only one in the world with the power to defy death, an innate conduit to life itself. Before a man’s body could fully stiffen, I could conceive his child. And as that precious life faded within me, the man would be brought back from the grave. In my last life, I used this very power to save my fiancé, Tristan Thorne, after a car accident left his organs failing. He awoke, overwhelmed with gratitude, vowing to marry no one but me. But on the very day I was about to give birth, he personally tied me to an operating table. Our child was forcibly cut from my womb. He branded our baby a “demonic spawn” and threw them into a shark tank, where they were ripped apart and devoured. I screamed, demanding to know why he betrayed me. His expression was chilling: “Now that Brooke is carrying my child, what use are you and this… *thing*?” “If you hadn’t faked being an innate conduit and meddled in our lives back then, Brooke and I would have been married ages ago!” He had someone yank out my oxygen tube, letting me suffocate to death. My family, too, was thrown into prison by him, where they died consumed by hatred. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day Tristan was on death’s door, the day his mother begged me to save him. I heard Mrs. Thorne weeping, asking if the Life-Exchange Ritual truly could bring Tristan back. I bowed slightly, declining: “There’s no such thing as an innate conduit in this world, Mrs. Thorne. That’s just an old folk tale.”

I lowered my gaze, avoiding Mrs. Thorne’s desperate stare. “Mrs. Thorne, the idea of bringing someone back from the dead is far too fantastical. I truly can’t help you.” Disappointment clouded Mrs. Thorne’s face, but she clung to my hand desperately. “Skylar, our families have been close for generations. Please, have pity on me. Just save Tristan’s life!” The Thorne family wielded immense power. If I refused, they would find a way to make me bend. I was still trying to devise an escape when the room door burst open. “Mom, why are you wasting time talking to a con artist?!” Tristan, pale, leaned against the doorframe, his eyes sharp. “Don’t play coy! You’re just trying to play hard to get, to raise your own value!” The moment he spoke, I knew it for certain: Tristan had also been reborn. But Mrs. Thorne was still persistent: “Tristan, the doctors have given up all hope! Skylar is your last chance!” He sneered, his face etched with calculation. “I’ll find my own way.” “Besides, Brooke is the *real* innate conduit. With her by my side, I can overcome any challenge!” When he spoke of Brooke, his voice was filled with an undisguised fondness. In my last life, Tristan always said that if it weren’t for saving him, I wouldn’t have lost our child, and he would have cherished and loved me forever. He spoke of love, yet in his heart, Brooke was the only one. Now, he’d returned with his memories, and I was no longer useful to him. Naturally, he wouldn’t give me another chance to entangle myself with him. This time, I just wanted to protect my family and sever all ties with the Thornes. “The Life-Exchange Ritual, it defies the natural order. There’s always a price, a bitter backlash. Mr. Thorne, your wisdom is a blessing.” I spoke calmly, then bid Mrs. Thorne farewell. As I reached the elevator, Tristan’s voice cut through the air behind me. “Stop right there!” I didn’t pause, instead pressing the down arrow. The next second, he lunged, grabbing my wrist and pinning me against the wall. My heart pounded as I looked up at him, terrified. “Mr. Thorne, what are you doing?! I’ve already refused your mother. Just let me go!” He stared at me, a cruel curve on his lips. “Stop acting, Skylar. You instinctively touched your stomach just now.” “That movement was exactly like it was in your last life, right before you gave birth.” “You came back too, didn’t you?” Since I was exposed, I dropped all pretense, looking at him coldly. “So what? What do you want?” Tristan scoffed: “Everything you owed me in the last life, I’ll collect from you in this one.” “I’m warning you, stay away from Brooke, or I’ll make sure your parents spend the rest of their lives in jail!”

My heart sank. So he was afraid I’d disrupt his relationship with Brooke. In my last life, I was utterly devoted to him, and he still turned on me without a second thought. Why should their happiness be paved with my parents’ lives? Looking at his smug, self-satisfied face, I felt nothing but disgust. I forced down the tidal wave of hatred, just wanting to escape first. “Mr. Thorne, rest assured, I will never interfere with your and Ms. Brooke’s happiness. I only ask that you let me go!” The more compliant I was, the deeper the suspicion in his eyes grew, and the tighter he squeezed my wrist, as if trying to crush my bones. “Last life, you loved me so much you were willing to die for me, even sacrificing your child.” “Now you want to cut ties with a few words? Skylar, do you take me for a fool?” I sneered inwardly. Last life, I mistook a wolf in sheep’s clothing for a true gentleman, and that’s why I met such a terrible end. This life, I just wanted to be as far away from him as possible. I struggled with all my might. “Tristan, I told you I wouldn’t bother you again! What exactly do you want?!” He immediately called his bodyguards, who forcibly dragged me onto a cargo ship. “Last life, if you hadn’t rushed to get pregnant with my child, Brooke wouldn’t have been so angry she refused to contact me for half a year!” “This life, I will never let anyone have a chance to hurt her!” “You’ll stay on this ship. Once Brooke and I are married, I’ll have someone send you back.” I was thrown into a dark, cramped room, the door locked from the outside. “Tristan, you lunatic! There’s nothing in here! Locking me up, you just want me dead, don’t you?!” He responded coldly from behind the iron door. “You won’t die. Last life, you locked yourself in your room and starved for three days just to see me, didn’t you?” My body tensed. I remembered that time, I’d just had a high fever and missed our date. He’d decided I was throwing a tantrum and gave me the silent treatment for an entire week. And I, foolishly, had actually knelt on the floor begging for his forgiveness, starving myself for three days. I was utterly, hopelessly stupid. Tristan’s footsteps faded into the distance. I slumped to the ground, and in my despair, I shakily pulled out my phone from my jacket pocket. The signal was incredibly weak. Just as I was about to give up, a speedboat approached the cargo ship. The cabin door was forced open, and a tall man’s figure stood silhouetted against the light. “Ms. Skylar, don’t be afraid. I’m Leo Harrison.” Leo Harrison… The Harrison Group was the Thorne Group’s biggest rival. In my previous life, the Harrison Group was the first to be swallowed by the Thornes. And Leo, soon after that, mysteriously disappeared. Leo’s people rescued me. This time, for my family, and for Leo. The life I was meant to save, was his.

Before I even set foot on shore, Tristan’s call came through. “Skylar, are you really trying to go against me? Do you truly think I wouldn’t dare touch you?” I couldn’t fathom how he had the nerve to say such a thing. To avoid further trouble, I patiently replied. “I don’t want to go against you. I just want to live my own life.” But he didn’t believe a word, his tone harsh. “Too late! The moment you escaped, you should have known the consequences!” The Thorne family’s influence was indeed vast. Overnight, my dad’s old legal dispute was dug up. All the major media outlets and social networks were plastered with headlines: “Daughter of Notorious Con Artist from the City’s Elite Circles, Venomous Schemer Trying to Manipulate Her Way into the Thorne Empire.” I became the daughter of a fraudster. “Like father, like daughter, a whole family of con artists!” “This kind of person wants to marry into the Thorne family? Mr. Thorne would be crazy to even look at her!” “I heard Mr. Thorne and Ms. Brooke are getting married soon. Now *that’s* a match!” Our home address and my photos were leaked. A group claiming to be victims’ families from my dad’s past surrounded our house, smashing our windows with rocks. They weren’t satisfied. In the middle of the night, they dumped trash and sewage at our doorstep, even cutting off our water and electricity. I was trapped once again. Tristan’s call came again. “Skylar, this was just a small warning. If you dare pull any more stunts, I’ll send your parents back to jail for good!” I trembled with rage. How dare he! Just then, a commotion erupted downstairs. Several police cars and black sedans pulled up. Leo, accompanied by lawyers and police officers, swiftly brought everyone blockading our house under control. The man leading them was cool, dignified, and exceptionally poised. “Skylar, I’m here to take you home.” I followed him to the Harrison family estate. It was there I learned that Leo’s sister, Celeste, had once been my dad’s most capable business partner. When my dad’s company ran into trouble, Celeste was implicated and eventually died of depression. Leo had been secretly investigating the truth behind those events. I offered to use my ability to help him, but Mr. Harrison shook his head. “My dear, we Harrisons don’t believe in such things. But the truth of what happened back then, we *will* uncover.” “You’re a good child, I can see that. The Harrison family is weathering a storm right now. Would you be willing to get engaged to Leo, to become allies? Our two families, together, against the Thornes?” I stared blankly at Leo. He looked a little shy. In my previous life, my soul hadn’t dissipated after my death. I witnessed Leo, in his efforts to clear my name and my family’s, squander his entire fortune. He ultimately blew up the Thorne Group’s building, dying with Tristan. He traded his life for Tristan’s. It turned out, the person I was truly meant to save had always been him. This time, I wouldn’t choose wrong again. “I will!” Hearing my answer, the tension in his body visibly relaxed. I took the jade pendant I always wore close to my skin and placed it in his palm. “This is my pledge. From now on, I will save you.”

Tristan was utterly enraged when he learned of my engagement to Leo. The next day, I received a text message from Leo’s number, asking me to meet him at a suburban sanatorium. But when I arrived, it was Tristan I found. “What, couldn’t marry me, so you immediately found a replacement? Skylar, you con artist, are you that desperate, rushing to get a man to sleep with you?” “Who I marry, and when, is my freedom, Mr. Thorne. It has nothing to do with you, does it?” I glared at him with disgust. I turned to leave, but two bodyguards blocked my way. “Don’t be in such a hurry to leave, Skylar. Don’t you want to see what your fiancé has become?” Just as he spoke, a muffled thud echoed from within the sanatorium. My heart pounded with anxiety. I yelled at him: “What did you do to Leo?!” The smile on his lips deepened. He clapped his hands. Brooke pushed out a wheelchair. Leo was tied to the wheelchair, his chest bound with several bombs, their timers counting down. “You claim to be an innate conduit, capable of bringing people back from the dead, don’t you?” Tristan held up his phone, the screen facing us, and started a live stream. “I’ll let everyone see if you can truly save Leo’s life.” I bit down on my teeth in fury. Leo and I hadn’t consummated anything. How could I perform the Life-Exchange Ritual?! After a long pause, Tristan finally relented, looking at me as if bestowing a favor. “However, Skylar, considering our years of history, as long as you kneel before Brooke and apologize, admitting you were jealous and stole her place, I’ll let Leo go.” Looking at Leo’s pale face and the stark red countdown on his chest, I had no choice. My knees buckled, and I sank heavily to the ground. “Please, Ms. Brooke, I beg you, let us go.” Brooke’s face lit up with a triumphant smile. “Sister Skylar, you don’t have to do this. I’ll immediately plead with Tristan to let you both go!” But the very next second, Leo’s face turned ashen. Blood gushed from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. He clutched his face in terror, but he couldn’t stop it. I slowly stood up, a cold sneer forming in my heart. Before coming here, I had already sensed something was wrong and had called the police. The live stream’s comments exploded instantly. “Brooke, what are you waiting for?! Didn’t you say you could save Mr. Thorne?” “Quick, save him! You must be able to perform the Life-Exchange Ritual too!” Brooke was pushed into a corner. She could only pretend to pat him a few times, muttering something under her breath. A moment later, Tristan’s bleeding actually stopped. I rushed forward to untie Leo. Brooke was a fake innate conduit; her actions were nothing more than pathetic charades. I didn’t have time to bother with her. I looked at Tristan mockingly, a cold smile on my face. “Tristan, are you feeling a churning in your gut right now?” Tristan froze, then felt a sharp, twisting pain in his chest. Brooke patted his back, feigning innocence. “Sister Skylar, I know you’re jealous of me. But now the truth is out, you’re just a fraud! Why are you still trying to slander me?” Tristan clutched her hand, glaring at me. “Skylar, you’re incorrigible! Guards, tie her and Leo up!” The moment he spoke, there was a *gurgle*. A large mouthful of blood sprayed from his mouth, splattering onto Brooke’s designer dress. Everyone cried out in panic. “Mr. Thorne, what’s wrong?!” The live stream’s comments section exploded again. “What’s going on? Didn’t Brooke just save him?”

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“Sister, don’t you hate it?” The night before my arranged marriage to Caleb Thorne, the heir of the powerful Thorne family, my stepsister suddenly knocked on my bedroom door. Seeing I didn’t answer, she continued, talking to herself. “Three years ago, your mom died in a car crash. A month later, Dad married my mom.” “Even the dynastic marriage your mother had arranged for you, my father just handed it over to me.” “Sister, you don’t actually believe your mom’s death was just an ordinary accident, do you?” Of course, I knew my mom’s death had everything to do with my stepmother. So, for everything you owed my mother and me, you wouldn’t get away with a single penny. Jasmine Vance, dressed in a million-dollar wedding gown, looked like a princess straight out of a fairytale. “Sister, I don’t understand what you mean.” I knelt to adjust the hem of her dress. “Heh, I hope you never understand, Sister.” Jasmine giggled, covering her mouth. But the next second, her laughter died. The dagger I’d hidden in my sleeve plunged deep into her abdomen. Blood quickly soaked through the pristine white gown. It was like a crimson rose blooming on fresh snow, stark and terrifyingly beautiful. Jasmine collapsed to the ground in pain, staring at me in disbelief. “You…” “Jasmine Vance, was it fun stealing my life? But anything that belongs to Cassidy Sterling, I’d rather destroy it than hand it over to someone else!” “Whether your little mistress mother and you were involved in my mom’s car crash or not, I’m putting it all on you.” “Don’t worry, you’re just bleeding a little, it’s not fatal. It just means tomorrow, I’ll be the one marrying into the Thorne family.” My smile in the dimly lit room was chilling. But then, everything went black, and I fell into an empty void. When my consciousness returned, I woke up in my own room. Wasn’t this supposed to be Jasmine’s bridal room, the one she’d stolen from me? The mansion showed no signs of an upcoming wedding. I grabbed my phone and saw the date: three years ago. Was that vivid experience just a dream? A grin spread across my face. “Mom, Mom!” “Mom, where are you?” I rushed downstairs, just as I saw Mom getting into her car, preparing to leave. A cold sweat broke out all over me. I screamed, “Mom, get out! Don’t take the car!” I darted to the car, clutching the door handle tightly, refusing to let the driver start. My mom frowned, looking at me. “It’s the weekend, why aren’t you sleeping in? What are you doing?” “Just get out of the car. I just want to be with you today.” Big tears streamed down my face. The scenes from my dream replayed vividly in my mind. My mother’s memorial service had been eerily silent, only me kneeling before her coffin, quietly burning paper offerings. After Mom left, Dad revealed his true colors, immediately bringing his mistress and illegitimate daughter back home. Even the memorial service, I had to arrange a place for it alone. While their family of three ate a happy family dinner, I had lost the closest person to me. My mom didn’t understand what was happening to me, but she got out of the car and comforted me anyway. If the dream had truly become reality, then I must have been reborn. So I wept tears of joy, because I had a chance to change the ending! That day passed peacefully.

But the next day, Dad still brought Jasmine home. Just like in my previous life, she looked shy, constantly darting glances at me. Seeing my mom’s cool, calm demeanor, I realized she had known about Dad’s affair for a long time. A stepsister two years younger than me. But unlike my previous life, Jasmine showing up now only solidified her title as an illegitimate daughter. “Cassidy, Jasmine will be your sister from now on. Please take good care of her.” Sister? The one who orchestrated my mom’s death, drove a wedge between me and my dad, and eventually replaced me to marry into an elite family? She wasn’t worthy. “Doesn’t Dad know I have a bad temper? It’s best to keep her away from me, or I might just lose control and hit her.” My dad glared at me, then unleashed his anger on my mom. “Look at the daughter you raised! So grown up, yet so thoughtless!” My mom had always been soft-spoken, usually deferring to my dad at home, never daring to contradict him. So, when I was about to speak, I was surprised by my mom’s response. “Did I give birth to her alone? Did you not raise her?” “Always look at your own issues first.” My mom rolled her eyes at him, then pulled me towards the dining room for dinner. I happily ate two bowls of rice. This was my mom, the one who always protected and stood up for me. My dad’s voice, comforting Jasmine, drifted from the living room. As long as she and her mother were here, I couldn’t rest easy. Jasmine stayed in the room diagonally opposite mine, about half the size of mine. That night, there was a knock on my door. Jasmine stood before me, holding a glass of milk, her voice still stammering. “Sister…drinking milk at night helps…helps you sleep.” “You didn’t put some slow-acting poison in it, did you? How could I drink something without an analysis report?” I folded my arms across my chest, leaning against the door as I watched her. Jasmine trembled with fright. “I just took it from the fridge. I didn’t bring anything when I came here.” I feigned sudden realization, nodding my head. “Didn’t bring anything? So you plan to take everything here for yourself?” “Sister, I’m innocent too. I couldn’t choose where I was born. You both have a father; I didn’t have one growing up. Why can’t you pity me?” Jasmine’s eyes welled up with tears. Was she trying to play on my emotions?

In my previous life, after Mom died in the car accident, I was so insecure, so afraid Dad would give everything to Jasmine. I tried so hard to be kind and forgiving, to tolerate everything. But in the end, I still lost everything, didn’t I? So, I, Cassidy Sterling, was born to be a villainess. I couldn could never be the tragic heroine. Feelings are the cheapest thing in this world; they change in an instant. Only what you hold firmly in your hands is truly yours. “My mom’s marriage was sabotaged, and I ended up with a half-sister. And *I*’m not pitiful?” I quickly shut the door, not wanting to see Jasmine’s pathetic face. My dad decided to host a banquet for Jasmine. He was going to acknowledge Jasmine’s identity to everyone. Was it just out of guilt? Or did he want to use Jasmine to secure another high-status marriage to consolidate his business? I thought the latter was more plausible. My dad was naturally cold-hearted; he only loved himself, that was clear. On the day of the banquet, many prominent families and their daughters arrived. I knew most of them, but Jasmine didn’t know anyone. Even dressed in a lavish gown, she stood in the center, unnoticed. She had a rather… off-putting vibe, honestly. “Cassidy, who is she?” Seeing Jasmine approach, my friend immediately asked. Of course, she knew who Jasmine was; she was just doing it on purpose. So, the several girls standing next to us immediately burst into laughter. Jasmine’s head was almost touching the floor, and she kept tugging at the hem of her dress. She seemed to gather courage and said, “Hello, my name is Jasmine Vance.” “Your name doesn’t matter, little sister. Go play somewhere else. Don’t bother us.” I smirked dismissively, waving my hand. “Sister, this is the banquet Dad is holding for me. How can you treat me like this?” Jasmine’s voice trembled; she sounded deeply wronged. But in my previous life, when she took everything from me with that innocent smile, there wasn’t a hint of sadness on her face, was there? “If you can’t handle it, call the cops. See if they care.” I let others mock her, even leading the taunts myself. Someone interrupted it all. “You’re Cassidy Sterling?” “I didn’t expect you to be so harsh to your own sister, completely devoid of sympathy.” Striding forward was Caleb Thorne, the Thorne family heir. He was just as he had been in my past life, drawn to weak, fragile women. Or rather, drawn to Jasmine. “Who could be as chivalrous as Sir Thorne?” I feigned politeness. Because… I couldn’t afford to offend him. “Miss Sterling, you should go back and read some more. You have no sense of honor or propriety.” Caleb Thorne dropped that line, then left with Jasmine. “Cassidy, your stepsister is something else. She just met him, and she’s already got Caleb Thorne’s attention?” “Don’t let her snatch your fiancé in the end.” My friend’s warning made me a little distracted. The Sterling and Thorne families had a childhood betrothal, arranged by our elders. My grandfather and Caleb Thorne’s grandfather were war buddies, who had endured hardships together. So, after they both retired from service and successfully started their own businesses, they set up this arrangement. However, Caleb Thorne’s father had caught a lucky break in his youth, and since then, his net worth had skyrocketed. He was now the wealthiest man in the city. Here, Caleb Thorne could pretty much do whatever he wanted; no one dared cross him. Marrying Caleb Thorne was the fantasy of many women. I had never liked him since I was a child; I found him hypocritical and falsely righteous.

But I knew I would marry him, because compared to men, status and wealth were eternal. This life was no exception. Jasmine couldn’t steal what was mine. I hired a few thugs to rough up Jasmine. If she came home covered in bruises the next day, everyone would know her reputation was ruined. But as I went to the underground parking garage to get my car, I saw a few guys loitering around it. “Boss, aren’t we supposed to kidnap the second Miss Sterling?” “What do you know? Didn’t you see the second Miss Sterling get into Sir Thorne’s car?” “Yeah, go ahead and get yourself killed if you want.” “So, what are we doing now?” “Of course, we’re kidnapping the first Miss Sterling! We’ll get a bigger reward from Sir Thorne, won’t we?” Hearing their discussion, I was terrified and ran back frantically. My heels clacked loudly on the ground. The thugs immediately spotted me and chased after me quickly. “Sir, please help me!” I bumped into someone and immediately cried for help. I didn’t expect it to be Julian Reid, the new rich guy in town. His ruthless business tactics were infamous, as was his reputation for being completely aloof with women. I’d just pulled a dramatic move by bumping into him. Was he going to think I was trying to stage some kind of dramatic scene to get his attention? In my previous life, Julian Reid’s beloved was Jasmine. How they met, I had no idea. Could it be… this kidnapping? “Please!” I clutched Julian Reid’s arm, my eyes almost pleading. But he simply pried my fingers off without a word, then walked towards his car. After the car remote unlocked, the thugs closed in on me. I was distraught, my mind a mess. Why could Jasmine capture his attention, but I couldn’t? Was I, a bad person, destined for bad things? But the good I did in my previous life didn’t yield any results either! The thugs’ reeking hands made my mental state tense. “Get away! All of you, get away!” I ripped off my heels, using their thin, sharp heels to strike at them frantically. Each blow opened a bloody gash. No one could save me; I had to save myself. If I couldn’t escape their grasp, I’d make sure it was a mutual destruction. A luxury car suddenly sped over, directly hitting and sending two of the men flying. The window rolled down, revealing Julian Reid’s cold profile. Before he could say anything, I hopped into the car. Only after the car drove away did my heart finally calm down. “You… do you think I deliberately tried to get your attention?” I broke the silence. To my surprise, Julian Reid slammed on the brakes. Not wearing a seatbelt, my forehead hit the dashboard. I winced, about to complain. “Get out.” “You’re safe now.” I looked around at the silent, dark streets, my eyes wide. But I still chose to get out. “Julian Reid, I’ll remember you.” What answered me was the car’s exhaust, speeding away into the night. He really didn’t hold back. No wonder people said he was heartless. My heels, stained with blood, had been thrown away before I got into the car. Now, I was barefoot, hailing a taxi home, which worried my mom terribly. “Cassidy, where are your shoes? Does your foot hurt?!” “Didn’t like them, threw them away.” I replied nonchalantly, and my mom finally relaxed. After showering, I immediately went to Jasmine’s room. She was leisurely applying a face mask. She jumped when she saw me. “Sister?” “Why are you back?” “Why shouldn’t I be back? I’m just curious, how did you get Caleb Thorne to drive you home after your first meeting?” I ripped the mask off her face, rubbing it off on her clothes with a hint of disgust.

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When Freddie Anderson was promoted to Washington, he submitted a list of accompanying family members to the government. Two names were written on that list. One was our son Bobby Anderson, and the other was Rosie Scott, who had worked with him in the countryside. Life in the countryside was harsh, and he couldn’t possibly leave Bobby here to suffer. As for Rosie, he had long promised to bring her back to Washington with him. As for me, his wife, I should be generous enough to let go and give the opportunity to someone else. Freddie said, “You’re just a country woman. You’d be useless in Washington. Rosie is educated and cultured—she’s more suitable than you. When there’s a chance later, Bobby and I will come back for you.” Hearing his dismissive words, my heart felt like it had been shattered by a heavy hammer. But there was one thing he didn’t know. Although I had lived in the countryside longer than him, I wasn’t the ignorant country woman he claimed I was. I was the talent Washington wanted most. The promotion opportunity he received was one I had voluntarily given up. ***** I returned home dejectedly, hearing cheerful laughter coming from inside the house. When he saw me come back, Freddie immediately wiped the smile off his face and glanced at me coldly. He said, “Since you’re back, hurry up and cook dinner. We’re all waiting for you.” Freddie didn’t ask why I had come home so late today. He also didn’t mention the list of accompanying personnel that had already been submitted. When Freddie first came to work in the countryside, he fell in love with me at first sight and would stutter every time he spoke to me. Back then, I hadn’t planned on romance, but Freddie would always follow behind me with a red face. Over time, I gradually opened my heart and agreed to be with him. When we first got married, Freddie said he would return to Washington someday and promised to show me around the city where he was born. But I don’t know when it started—I fell deeper and deeper into this relationship while Freddie became less affectionate toward me than before. Rosie walked out of Freddie’s room wearing the formal dress I had always treasured. She smiled happily, her eyes full of youthful vitality. The white dress made her face look even more delicate. Meanwhile, after years of hard work, fine wrinkles had already appeared at the corners of my eyes. When Rosie saw me, she covered her mouth with her fingertips and let out a soft gasp of surprise. She said, “Isabella, you’re back. My clothes got wet by accident, so Freddie found me an outfit to change into. Isabella, you don’t mind, do you?” Isabella Mackay is my name. Rosie spoke apologetically, but her eyes were full of smugness. I suppressed my anger and said stiffly, “You changed just because he told you to? Can’t you see this is the dress I wore at my wedding? Changing clothes in another woman’s husband’s house—don’t you understand what’s proper? What’s shameful?” Rosie was stunned by my words, and tears slowly welled up in her eyes. She said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” Freddie suddenly slammed the table and shouted at me, “Enough! “I’m the one who gave Rosie the clothes. If you have a problem with it, take it up with me. Why are you taking it out on her? “Rosie’s clothes were wet. Did you want her to keep wearing wet clothes? Can’t you stop being so selfish?” I bit my lip tightly, unable to believe that Freddie would actually yell at me. Bobby put down his book and frowned as he scolded me, “Mom, it’s just a piece of clothing. You scared Miss Scott. You’re being too petty.” Every word they said made my heart feel like it had fallen into an icy abyss. They were blaming me as if I had done something wrong. Freddie gently wiped away Rosie’s tears. Then he turned to me and said coldly, “Stop being unreasonable and go cook dinner. Rosie is eating here today. “Remember not to add chili peppers. Rosie is on her period and spicy food will make her uncomfortable.” Before I could even react, he turned around and walked away without looking back.

That evening, I deliberately didn’t cook dinner as a form of protest. Seeing this, Freddie didn’t try to coax me. Instead, he took Rosie and Bobby straight to a restaurant for dinner. That night, Freddie and Bobby didn’t come home at all. My plan to confront Freddie about the travel list was derailed just like that. By the next day, the whole village was buzzing about Freddie’s promotion to Washington, saying Bobby and I would be going with him. I hadn’t even fully woken up when a loud slam of the door startled me awake. The moment I opened my eyes, Freddie yanked me out of bed. He roared, “Isabella, what’s the point of pressuring me like this?” I was stunned, having no idea what was happening. Freddie continued, “I don’t know who told you about my Washington assignment, but let me tell you—your name isn’t on the list at all. Stop daydreaming!” Hearing this, I let out a cold laugh. “So what? What exactly are you trying to say?” Freddie sneered, “What are you pretending for? You spread this news around just to force me to replace someone’s name with yours on the list, didn’t you? “You’re just a country woman. What makes you think you’re qualified to go to Washington with me?” At that moment, Freddie finally showed his true colors. Just then, Rosie rushed in after him, her voice choked with tears. “Freddie, I’m the one taking Isabella’s spot. If Isabella’s upset, I can give the position to her. Please don’t fight because of me.” But Bobby, acting like an adult, comforted Rosie instead. “Ms. Scott, don’t cry. That position was meant to be yours anyway. My mom doesn’t understand anything—taking her to Washington would be a waste of an opportunity. You’re the only one suited to come with us.” My husband and son were both gathered around another woman, while I lay disheveled on the floor in my nightclothes. I stared at Freddie in disappointment. I said, “I did know you were going to Washington, and I knew my name wasn’t on the list. But I have no idea how others found out about this. “Shouldn’t you explain why Rosie’s name is the only one on the list of people going with you?” Knowing he was in the wrong, Freddie turned away, unable to meet my eyes. He said, “You’re just a country woman—going to Washington wouldn’t do you any good. Rosie is educated; she’s more suitable than you. When there’s a chance later, Bobby and I will visit you often.” Even Freddie probably didn’t believe such lies himself. I couldn’t help but scoff. “It’s over six hundred miles from here to Washington. How exactly do you plan to visit me often?” Freddie was stumped by my question. He said, “Don’t be so selfish. The opportunity to go to Washington is rare. If we miss this chance, Rosie might never get another opportunity to go back. I know you’ve always been hostile toward Rosie, but there’s nothing dirty between us like you think. We’re completely innocent—stop throwing tantrums.” Bobby crossed his arms, already showing traces of Freddie’s influence, lecturing me like an adult. He said, “Mom, you’re being too selfish. You were born in the countryside anyway, so why not give the chance to return to the city to Ms. Scott? Dad’s right! Only educated people like Ms. Scott deserve to go to Washington with us.” I let out a cold laugh. Bobby seemed to have forgotten that he too was one of those people born in the countryside he spoke of, and that he came from the belly of this very country woman he was dismissing. Whether I went back to Washington or not didn’t matter to me at all. What hurt me was Freddie and Bobby’s attitude. For the sake of an outsider, they came to accuse me without even bothering to understand the situation. Freddie left with his arm around Rosie. Before leaving, he said coldly, “Stay home and reflect on your behavior. Don’t do such childish things again.”

Freddie and Bobby started giving me the cold shoulder. In the past, I would have definitely thought I’d done something wrong and swallowed my pride to please them. But things were different now. I wouldn’t coddle them anymore because I wasn’t the one who’d done anything wrong. They were just trying to use indifference to force me to bow down to them. Bobby finally couldn’t stand it and came to me, acting unnaturally. He said, “Mom, I’ve learned the Pythagorean theorem.” Seeing Bobby’s expectant expression, I suddenly felt bored. Before, even when I thought Bobby was being slow, I would pretend not to understand and let him explain it to me, then praise him lavishly. Bobby would always put on a helpless expression. After explaining, he’d say, “This is all knowledge. Even if I tell you about it, you wouldn’t understand.” But I never expected that after coddling him so much, he’d actually start believing he was a genius. The Pythagorean theorem was such simple knowledge that I’d already figured it out when I was two or three years old. He was almost eight now and had just learned it, yet he had the nerve to come looking for praise. I didn’t have time to coddle him, so I said flatly, “Good, keep working hard.” Bobby didn’t get the response he wanted and got angry. He glared at me fiercely and left. Soon, the government learned that Freddie had gone to Washington without bringing his wife, so they sent someone to our house to inquire about the situation. Freddie put on a serious act and said, “Rosie is an educated person. Taking her to Washington would benefit both her personal development and the country’s. When it comes to national interests, my small family doesn’t matter. My wife is very supportive of my decision.” The government was moved by this kind of behavior that put the greater good first and approved a subsidy for our family. But when the subsidy came through, I didn’t see a single cent of it. When I found Freddie, he was shopping in the county town with Bobby and Rosie. He was already carrying several bags, most of which contained women’s clothing. He asked, “What are you doing here? Instead of staying home to clean house and cook, what are you doing out here?” Freddie put on an arrogant attitude, lifting his chin to look at me, waiting for me to bow down and apologize to him. But I wasn’t there to apologize. “Freddie, where’s the money the government gave me?” Freddie said coldly, “What money of yours? This money is nominally for you, but it’s actually because I got promoted to Washington that the leadership gave it. How did it become yours? I can spend it on whoever I want—you have no right to interfere. “Besides, you don’t need this money at all living in the village. The cost of living in Washington is very high. Rosie and I, taking Bobby there to live—this money isn’t nearly enough.” Looking at Freddie acting so self-righteous, I was completely disappointed in them. I said coldly, “You better give me back that money right now, or I’ll sue you. This is called misappropriating someone else’s property, and then you won’t be able to go back to Washington.” Freddie’s eyes widened with anger: “Crazy woman! You’re being completely unreasonable!” Rosie was more afraid than anyone of not being able to go to Washington, so she immediately started crying and grabbed Freddie’s sleeve. She said, “Freddie, Isabella is already angry. Please give the money back to Isabella. I don’t need these things.” Freddie shielded Rosie behind him and stamped his feet anxiously: “You jealous woman just don’t like Rosie. If you insist on having this money today, then let’s get divorced.” Bobby also joined Freddie in calling me vicious and said he’d never talk to me again. But I wasn’t affected by them at all. A crowd gradually gathered around us, whispering and discussing. I hadn’t done anything wrong, so naturally I wasn’t afraid of their gossip. But Freddie and Rosie couldn’t stand it, and in the end, they gave me back the money.

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All of Hugo Taylor’s friends knew that Phoebe Hamilton was just a player from another world. When the time came, she would leave. Even so, Hugo had fallen deeply in love with her. The first Christmas, Hugo risked his life climbing Mount Everest just to express his love to Phoebe at the top of the world. The second Christmas, Hugo voluntarily donated his kidney to Phoebe’s friend just to stop her tears. The third Christmas, Hugo endured fifteen lashes from his family just so Phoebe could openly become a member of the Taylor family. The fourth Christmas, Hugo spent lavishly at an auction just to prepare an expensive wedding gift for Phoebe. The fifth Christmas, Hugo broadcast live globally, offering all his wealth in front of everyone just to make Phoebe marry him. Everyone called him a fool, but he said: “Love has never been a game for the clever. Everyone else wants to win this game, but I only want Phoebe.” Finally, Hugo touched Phoebe’s heart, making her willing to abandon everything and stay in this world. Only seven days remained until their wedding. Phoebe was about to go shopping but realized she’d forgotten her purse, so she turned back to get it. She saw Hugo leaving the villa, sneaking toward the warehouse. Phoebe remembered that place only stored some discarded items. She wondered: “What’s Hugo doing there?” By the time Phoebe realized it, she was already following Hugo. The warehouse door opened, dust flying everywhere. Hugo was a germaphobe, yet now he didn’t care at all. He walked to the edge of the warehouse, feeling around for something. After a while, the wall on the right side of the warehouse slowly opened from the middle. There was actually a secret room here. Phoebe covered her mouth, making no sound. She carefully followed Hugo into the secret room. Soon, a crystal coffin appeared before Phoebe. The woman in the coffin had pale skin and colorless lips, clearly dead for a long time. Yet her body showed no signs of decay whatsoever. Hugo said tenderly: “Emilia, I’ve come to see you. In seven more days, you’ll be able to return to my side.” Hugo knelt beside the coffin, holding the woman’s hand. He looked so devoted, yet filled with profound sadness. Phoebe froze. This familiar name reminded her of someone—Emilia Ferguson. Emilia was Hugo’s first love, who had died the Christmas before Phoebe appeared. Phoebe knew Hugo had loved her deeply before. But how could Emilia, who had been dead for so many Christmases, appear here? Soon, Hugo’s next words answered Phoebe’s confusion. He said: “Emilia, how could you bear to leave me alone? But fortunately, with the heart of someone from another world, I can bring you back to life. If it weren’t for the fact that only through successful conquest, making someone from another world willingly stay, can her soul and body merge as one, I wouldn’t have waited five long Christmases. Emilia, we’ll be together again soon.” Hugo pressed his face into Emilia’s palm. Though it was such a tender scene, it filled Phoebe with chills. Her body trembled uncontrollably, even her soul was terrified. Just then, Hugo’s phone rang. The moment he turned around, Phoebe immediately hid behind the wall. Tears blurred her vision, but her hearing became more acute. The person on the phone said: “Hugo, everything’s ready.” Hugo said: “Good. We’ll act on the wedding day.” The person on the phone asked: “Hugo, Phoebe has been with you for five Christmases after all. Isn’t this going too far?” Hugo snorted coldly and said: “She’s the one who’s foolish. Who can she blame? Besides, she can’t go back now. Nothing can be changed.” Phoebe didn’t even know how she walked out of that secret room. Her legs went weak, and she collapsed to the ground after walking less than three hundred feet. The physical pain brought Phoebe back to her senses. She removed the ring from her pinky finger and swallowed the pain in her heart. Then she said in her mind: “System, I regret this.” “Regret index detected rising. System resuming service for you.” The electronic voice that had been absent for so long reappeared in Phoebe’s mind. She slowly exhaled, tears glimmering in her eyes. Phoebe said: “System, I want to go home.” No one knew that after a host chose to stay in this world, the system would monitor them for three months. Within those three months, as long as the host had regrets, they could return to their original world. Today was the last day. The system said: “Understood. As punishment for your indulgence in romance, at the wedding seven days from now, when you personally kill the target, you can go home.” Hugo returned home in the evening. He immediately noticed Phoebe sitting on the sofa in a daze, and his cheerful expression instantly faded. “What’s wrong, Phoebe? Why are you sitting here all alone looking so lost?” Hugo approached with a smile, his voice as gentle as always. The next second, he saw Phoebe’s bleeding knee, and his expression immediately turned frantic. “What happened to your knee? Did you fall? “Why didn’t you treat the wound? What if it gets infected? “You really can’t take care of yourself without me.” Though Hugo was complaining, he immediately fetched the medical kit to treat Phoebe’s wound. He knelt in front of Phoebe, his movements gentle. Phoebe asked, “Hugo, do you love me?” The sudden question made Hugo’s hands pause for a moment. Without looking up, Hugo smiled and said, “Why are you suddenly asking this? Of course I love you. “Phoebe, can’t you see how much I love you?” Of course Phoebe could see it. It was precisely because she had seen so much of his love that when the harsh reality was exposed, she felt so helpless and confused. After Hugo finished applying medicine to Phoebe’s wound, he stood up and sat beside her. “What’s wrong? Did someone say something to you? “Phoebe, don’t listen to their attempts to drive a wedge between us.” Hugo took Phoebe’s hand in his. The rings on their fingers complemented each other, so dazzling. Phoebe remembered that four Christmases ago, someone had also told her that Hugo didn’t truly love her. Later, when Hugo found out about this, she never saw that person again. In the past, Phoebe thought it was because Hugo loved her so much that he wouldn’t allow any flaws in their relationship. Now, thinking back, it might have been because he was worried his plan would be exposed, which made him angry. Phoebe looked down at their intertwined hands. Then she said softly, “In that case, Hugo, we’re getting married soon. “I’ve already organized the things in your study for you.” Hugo, who had been looking gentle just moments before, immediately changed his expression. “What did you say?” Hugo tightened his grip, making Phoebe wince in pain. “I said, I organized the things in your study… Ah!” Before Phoebe could finish speaking, Hugo threw her aside. She fell to the ground, and her barely healed wound began bleeding again. “Who gave you permission to touch the things in my study? Phoebe, what do you think you are?” Hugo’s tall frame was imposing and oppressive, making it hard for Phoebe to breathe. Phoebe wasn’t allowed to enter Hugo’s study, but she knew that most of the things there belonged to Emilia. She endured the pain and stood up from the ground. Then she said, “Hugo, the past is in the past. What matters is the present and the future, isn’t it? “I’ll always be with you. I…” Hugo roared, “Get out!” He looked at Phoebe as if she were a complete stranger. Only at this moment did Phoebe finally understand the difference between herself and Emilia. After all, the dead don’t compete with the living for affection. After saying this, Hugo strode toward the door. Phoebe watched his retreating figure, and the last glimmer of hope in her heart finally died. She closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks. Phoebe said in her heart, “System, I agree. I will kill Hugo.”

Late at night, Phoebe was awakened by thunder. Hugo hadn’t returned yet, but his friends had already called several times. Phoebe finally answered the eighth call. The man on the other end said urgently, “Phoebe, you need to come to the bar right away. Hugo’s had too much to drink and keeps calling your name. We don’t know what to do. Did you two have a fight? You’re getting married soon.” His tone was rushed. But Phoebe recognized him as the person who had called Hugo earlier that day. She didn’t know how many people were involved in this hunt, or how many knew about it. Phoebe sat up in bed, hesitated for a moment, then said, “Alright, I understand.” To ensure she could successfully return home on her wedding day, Phoebe didn’t want any accidents to occur. She also didn’t want them to notice anything unusual. It was pouring rain outside. By the time Phoebe reached the bar, her pants were soaked through at the ankles. Hugo lay alone on the couch, surrounded by his standing friends. When they saw Phoebe arrive, they hurried to persuade her. One man said, “Phoebe, you’re finally here. Hugo treats you so well—why do you insist on fighting with him?” Another man added, “Yeah, Phoebe, don’t forget who you depend on for your current lifestyle. Besides, other than staying by Hugo’s side, where else could you go now?” Phoebe’s gaze swept across their faces. They spoke words of concern, but their eyes showed little genuine worry. She said nothing, crouching beside the couch to pat Hugo’s face. Then she said, “Hugo, are you still awake?” Hugo opened his eyes slightly. Seeing Phoebe, he reached out and wrapped his arms around her waist. He said, “Phoebe, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. I know I was wrong, Phoebe. I just needed time to adjust. You know I’m someone who clings to the past. Phoebe, I was wrong. I’ll never do this again. Don’t leave me.” Hugo’s voice was slurred, as if he really had been drinking heavily. But Phoebe knew this wasn’t how Hugo acted when he was truly drunk. She had taken care of a drunk Hugo many times—how could she mistake his behavior? Hugo was simply using the pretense of being drunk to smooth over their relationship. Phoebe said, “Okay, I understand. I’ll take you home.” With help from the others, Phoebe lifted Hugo from the couch. His steps were unsteady, but each one was planted firmly. That night, caring for the “drunk” Hugo, Phoebe barely slept at all. The next day, when she woke up, Hugo had already left for the office. A note was left beside the bed in Hugo’s handwriting: [Phoebe, thank you for last night. I was wrong. I’ll bring you a gift when I come home tonight.] Every time he made Phoebe angry, Hugo would apologize this way. But the past tenderness now seemed laughable to Phoebe. Phoebe calmly crumpled the note into a ball and tossed it into the trash. Since arriving in this world, she had continued her profession as a fashion designer. With Hugo’s help, her career had flourished. Even her wedding dress was Phoebe’s own design. For this wedding dress, Phoebe had invested tremendous energy, staying up several nights to finally create a satisfactory sketch. She had even made the wedding dress herself, never letting anyone else help. But however satisfied she had been with this wedding dress before, she now found it equally repulsive. Phoebe picked up scissors, wanting to destroy it, but since she had made it with her own hands, she couldn’t bear to do it. In the end, she could only cover the wedding dress with fabric and set it aside. That day, Phoebe worked late into the night to complete orders as quickly as possible. She hadn’t replied to Hugo’s messages all day. Only one lamp illuminated the late-night studio. Phoebe worked with intense focus, not daring to slack off for a moment. This concentration meant that when she noticed the sparks beginning to ignite, it was already too late. The thick carbon dioxide made it hard for Phoebe to breathe. She bent over, covering her nose and mouth, trying to escape outside. However, flames blocked Phoebe’s escape route. The studio was packed with fabric, and the fire spread incredibly fast. Phoebe tried several times but couldn’t get out. She could only watch helplessly as all her hard work was consumed by the flames. Ash blurred her vision, and sharp pain shot through her lungs—each breath felt like torture. Finally, Phoebe collapsed from exhaustion. In the last moment before losing consciousness, she saw firefighters rushing toward her. After what felt like an eternity, Phoebe’s consciousness gradually returned. But her body wouldn’t obey her, as if she were trapped inside a puppet. Then she heard a man’s low voice nearby—a voice that sounded familiar. “Is everything cleaned up? Are you sure there’s no trace left?” “I know those things were important to Phoebe. But she lost Emilia’s belongings, so she had to pay the price.” “Now we’re even.” It was Hugo’s voice. Phoebe’s hands instinctively gripped the bedsheets. She kept her eyes closed as tears slid down from the corners. When Phoebe fully regained consciousness, it was already noon on the third day. The moment she opened her eyes, she saw her assistant Ruby Simpson keeping watch by her bedside. “Ms. Hamilton, you’re finally awake. You nearly scared me to death,” Ruby said. Her eyes were red and swollen, her voice choked with emotion. With Ruby’s help, Phoebe sat up and tried to speak, only to find she couldn’t make a sound. “Ms. Hamilton, don’t worry. The doctor said you inhaled too much smoke and dust—it’s normal not to be able to speak right after waking up,” Ruby comforted her. “You’ll be fine in a little while.” Only then did Phoebe feel relieved. She typed on her phone: [What happened to the clothes in the studio?] “By the time the firefighters arrived, all the clothes and design sketches had burned up. They only managed to save a few computers, but those were badly damaged too,” Ruby said. “Ms. Hamilton, I’m afraid we won’t be able to complete this order.” Ruby looked dejected, her eyes filled with frustration. Phoebe slumped back against the hospital bed, staring blankly at her fingers. The ring that symbolized her love with Hugo still sparkled brightly. But Hugo’s words that she’d heard in her semi-conscious state kept echoing in her mind. Hugo knew she was still working overtime, yet he hadn’t hesitated to set that fire. Did it not matter what harm came to her as long as she didn’t die? Phoebe slowly closed her eyes, suppressing the bitterness in her heart. She continued typing on her phone: [There’s something wrong with this fire. Go investigate it.] Ruby’s expression changed. Just as she was about to speak, the hospital room door was pushed open. Phoebe immediately turned off her phone screen. Hugo strode forward, pushing Ruby aside and grabbing Phoebe’s hand. “Phoebe, you’re finally awake. I was so worried about you,” he said. The Hugo before her looked deeply affectionate, and Phoebe couldn’t detect any flaws in his act. However, Phoebe’s heart remained completely unmoved. Hugo continued, “I know you really wanted to wear a wedding dress you designed yourself, but… it’s okay, Phoebe. I already prepared a backup plan. What do you think of this wedding dress?” Hugo pulled out his phone and showed her a photo of the wedding dress. Phoebe had to admit that from a designer’s perspective, this wedding dress was flawless. But the person who had once worn this dress was none other than Emilia.

Phoebe’s hand suddenly gripped Hugo’s arm. Hugo explained, “Emilia used to work as a bridal model for a while. This photo was just taken by chance. Phoebe, don’t overthink it. But I know you’re the most understanding person, so you definitely won’t get upset over something so trivial.” Hugo pulled his hand away and gently stroked Phoebe’s head. He was too confident, certain that Phoebe would never leave him. So his five years of pretended devotion finally showed its cracks in this moment. Phoebe suppressed the anger in her heart and smiled at Hugo. That day, Phoebe was discharged from the hospital and went home with Hugo. In just three days, Phoebe discovered that many things in the house had changed. Her favorite lilies had been replaced, and the entire hall was now filled with vibrant roses. Medieval oil paintings hung on the walls, and the carpet had been changed to a Bohemian style that Phoebe disliked. Even all the dinnerware had been replaced with new sets. Hugo stood behind Phoebe and said softly, “We’re getting married soon, so it’s better to replace everything in the house with new things. It’s also a nice symbol.” Phoebe had her back to him, so he couldn’t see the coldness on her face. The roses, oil paintings, carpet, and dinnerware were all things Emilia liked. With three days left until their wedding, was Hugo already this impatient? Phoebe said nothing and pretended not to notice anything. But Hugo became increasingly brazen, even replacing all of Phoebe’s clothes with styles that Emilia preferred. He called it “trying a different style.” On this day, with two days left until their wedding, Hugo took Phoebe directly to a banquet hosted by the Ferguson family. The moment they stepped into the banquet hall, everyone’s eyes fell on them. Years ago, everyone knew about Hugo and Emilia’s romance. They were about to get engaged when Emilia died from illness. Later, Hugo maintained contact with the Ferguson family. Until five years ago, when Phoebe appeared. “Hugo, is this your fiancée?” A woman who bore a five-point resemblance to Emilia walked up to them. She wore a gentle smile on her face, but her gaze toward Phoebe was particularly cold. Hugo smiled and said, “Long time no see, Freya. Phoebe, this is Emilia’s sister, Freya Ferguson.” Freya smiled and linked arms with Phoebe. She said softly, “Phoebe, I really envy you for being able to marry such a wonderful man like Hugo. Unfortunately, my sister Emilia didn’t have that kind of luck.” Phoebe wanted to say, “Want me to give you this luck?” But she maintained her smile on the surface. Freya smiled and said, “Hugo, go ahead and mingle. Just leave Phoebe with me.” Hugo said, “Thank you for that.” He reached out and patted Freya’s head, then turned and walked away. Freya was quite popular, and many people greeted her along the way. Phoebe couldn’t figure out her intentions, so she could only follow cautiously beside her. It wasn’t until they reached a quiet corner with fewer people that Freya finally revealed her true purpose. She said coldly, “Phoebe, what right do you have to marry Hugo?” Freya’s smile disappeared, replaced by resentment and jealousy. Phoebe took a step back and asked warily, “What are you trying to do?” Freya said coldly, “You women are like flies—you can never kill them all. I originally thought that after Emilia died, it would be my turn to marry Hugo. But what happened? Hugo did notice me, but every time he looked at me, he was seeing Emilia through me. Phoebe, you’re the least qualified of all. You’re the one who should disappear.” Just when Phoebe thought Freya was about to do something to her, Freya suddenly fell backward. Her body crashed heavily into the table. Immediately, all the knives and forks on the table fell down, and one happened to land on Freya’s face. That face, which bore a five-point resemblance to Emilia, immediately showed a bloody gash. Freya cried out, “My face!” Freya covered her face, letting out an agonizing scream. Blood seeped through her fingers, dripping onto her light-colored haute couture gown—a horrifying sight. Though Phoebe had anticipated Freya would frame her, the scene before her left her frozen in shock. The commotion quickly drew everyone’s attention. Hugo and Freya’s parents, Blake Ferguson and Maisie Ferguson, hurried over. Blake frowned, asking sternly, “What’s all this arguing about? What happened? Freya, what’s wrong with your face?” Upon seeing Freya’s condition, his expression changed instantly. Panic-stricken, he stepped forward to support Freya’s shoulders. “Freya!” Maisie shrieked, completely losing her usual composure. The couple’s faces turned ashen as they instinctively shot hateful glares at Phoebe. “Dad, Mom, what about my face? What am I going to do now?” Freya’s voice trembled. Tears mixed with blood made her look both pitiful and terrifying. Maisie comforted her, “Don’t be afraid, Freya. We’ll definitely get you healed.” She helped Freya up and immediately led her away from the scene. Despite having seen through Hugo’s true nature, Phoebe instinctively sought comfort from him in that moment. She clutched tightly at Hugo’s sleeve, looking at him anxiously. Phoebe explained, “I didn’t do this, I really didn’t. You have to believe me, Hugo.” However, Hugo merely glanced at her indifferently without saying a word. Blake said angrily, “Mr. Taylor, I graciously invited you to attend this banquet. And what happened? What did your fiancée do to my daughter?” Blake looked both heartbroken and furious. Hugo lowered his head, saying quietly, “I’m sorry. This is my responsibility. But I believe Phoebe didn’t mean it.” Blake cut off Hugo’s words: “So what if she didn’t mean it? It’s already happened. What I want to see is your attitude and the price she’ll pay.” With just a few words, they had condemned Phoebe. Phoebe finally snapped back to reality. The moment Hugo reached for her hand, she yanked it away forcefully. She said, “It wasn’t me. I didn’t push her, she did it herself…” Blake said coldly, “Are you saying my daughter destroyed her own face just to frame you?” Looking at Blake’s cold expression, Phoebe stood there stunned, thinking: “Yes. But why? If it was just to frame me, would she really need to go this far? But if it wasn’t to frame me, then what was it for?” Hugo said flatly, “Enough, Phoebe. Since you did something wrong, you need to pay the price. I know you don’t like Emilia, and you don’t like Freya either. But this time, you’ve gone too far.” His tone was calm, but his eyes held deep sadness as he looked at Phoebe. Then Hugo reached out, gently caressing Phoebe’s face. He said, “Phoebe, trust me. Even if you lose this face, I’ll still love you.” Hugo’s voice was gentle, but Phoebe felt utterly terrified. She looked at Hugo in disbelief. This man who had once donated his kidney for her without hesitation was now ready to destroy her face just as readily. Tears of terror slid down Phoebe’s cheeks. She shook her head, backing away step by step. Phoebe cried, “No, Hugo, you can’t do this to me. I didn’t do anything. Why are you all treating me like this?” Phoebe turned to flee, but heard Hugo’s demonic whisper behind her. He said, “Grab her.” Almost as soon as he finished speaking, two men rushed out from the crowd and seized Phoebe’s arms. Phoebe struggled desperately, but it was useless. She could only watch helplessly as Hugo approached her slowly, knife in hand. Phoebe roared, “Let me go! Let me go! Hugo, you can’t do this! You can’t treat me like this! Let me go! Please, Hugo. I’m begging you. I shouldn’t have thrown away Emilia’s things. I was wrong. I know I was wrong.” Phoebe’s pleas didn’t soften Hugo’s heart. His hand didn’t tremble in the slightest. The next second, the knife’s edge touched Phoebe’s face. “Ah!” Phoebe screamed. Phoebe passed out from the pain. When she woke up again, she was lying in her bed at home. It wasn’t until the bandages were changed that evening that she truly saw her face. Looking at the mirror, Phoebe stared at her reflection—a face covered in knife wounds, fierce and terrifying—and could hardly believe it was her own. Hugo had clearly been ruthless that day; some of the wounds had edges where the flesh had curled back. The day before the wedding, Phoebe spotted Freya sneaking into the house from her bedroom window. Curious, Phoebe quietly slipped downstairs, avoiding the servants. She saw Hugo receiving Freya in the courtyard. Hiding behind a large tree, Phoebe eavesdropped on their conversation. Freya said, “Hugo, didn’t you promise that if I framed her and let her ruin my face, you would marry me? Why are you still going through with marrying her? Why?” No wonder Freya had been so desperate to destroy her own face—it was Hugo who had instigated it. Phoebe felt terrified. Compared to Freya’s urgency, Hugo appeared completely composed. He reached out to embrace Freya, gently caressing her face before saying, “Of course I’ll keep my promise. On the wedding day, make sure you dress nicely.” Freya’s face flushed with color, clearly misunderstanding Hugo’s words. She flirted with Hugo for a while longer before reluctantly leaving at his urging. Phoebe peered out, watching Hugo’s retreating figure. After Freya left, Hugo quickly stripped off his jacket and threw it on the ground in disgust. He said, “Disgusting. She actually wants to be with her sister’s boyfriend—what a slut! If it weren’t for her face bearing some resemblance to Emilia’s, I wouldn’t bother with her. Now Emilia’s face is truly one of a kind in this world. After tomorrow’s wedding is over, Emilia and I can finally be together forever.” Hugo’s expression looked somewhat crazed. Phoebe shuddered and turned off her phone’s recording function. On the wedding day, there were particularly many guests. To maintain his image as a good man, Hugo threw a lavish wedding. He not only spent a fortune on the wedding venue but even arranged for a global live broadcast. Phoebe’s facial wounds hadn’t healed yet, so she could only temporarily hide them with her veil. Looking at herself in the mirror, Phoebe wore a mocking expression. Without makeup and wearing someone else’s wedding dress, she was probably the first person to experience such a wedding. Phoebe left the dressing room, and the wedding ceremony officially began. The two walked to the minister’s side and held hands under his guidance. Hugo looked deeply moved, even with tears in his eyes. He said, “Phoebe, from the moment I first met you five years ago, I knew I had to marry you in this lifetime. These five years have flown by because of your companionship. Today, we’ve finally reached our wedding day. Phoebe, will you marry me?” Hugo’s tone held no hesitation, certain that Phoebe would agree. Phoebe smiled, but her words were ice-cold: “Of course I won’t. I won’t marry a murderer who wants to kill me.” As soon as Phoebe finished speaking, the guests below fell into immediate silence. Then came an even louder buzz of discussion than before. Hugo’s face darkened, but he still forced a smile and said, “Phoebe, what are you talking about? What murderer? Did someone tell you something? How could I bear to hurt you?” Phoebe looked toward Ruby in the audience, and Ruby, under Hugo’s murderous glare, quickly stepped forward and handed Phoebe her phone. Immediately, Phoebe opened the phone and played a surveillance video. She said, “This surveillance footage is from outside my studio at Spaghetti, recorded on the day my studio caught fire. Hugo, you should recognize this man in the video, shouldn’t you?” Hugo’s face changed, and he said through gritted teeth, “That person is indeed my driver, but I had absolutely no knowledge of this. It was entirely his own doing. Phoebe, everyone knows how well I’ve treated you these past five Christmases. How can you doubt my feelings for you based on one video?” Hugo frowned and lowered his voice, putting on a wounded and aggrieved expression. But Phoebe remained unfazed and pulled out a voice recorder, saying, “Regarding what just happened, you claim he acted alone, but surely you can’t deny this, can you?” The next second, Hugo’s voice echoed throughout the entire venue: “Once tomorrow’s wedding is over, Emilia and I can finally be together forever.” His face instantly turned pale. Below the stage, Freya’s eyes widened as she roared in fury, “You lied! You deceived me! Hugo, you clearly promised me that as long as Phoebe’s face was ruined, you would marry me. Hugo, how dare you lie to me!” Upon hearing this, Freya completely lost her mind and loudly accused him. If not for the bodyguards restraining her, she would have already rushed onto the stage. Looking at the silent Hugo, Phoebe sneered, “You want to use my heart to revive your lover? Hugo, that’s absolutely impossible.” Phoebe lifted her wedding dress and pulled out the dagger strapped to her calf. Hugo shouted in shock, “What are you doing? Phoebe, don’t do anything foolish! Stop her! Don’t let her—” Before Hugo could finish his words, Phoebe had already plunged the blade deep into his heart. He thought Phoebe was going to commit suicide, never expecting she intended to kill him. Blood gushed out as Hugo collapsed heavily to the ground. Even now, he couldn’t comprehend what had just happened—why would Phoebe, who once loved him enough to risk her life, become the one to kill him? The scene erupted into chaos. The moment Hugo closed his eyes, Phoebe’s soul was extracted from her body, and a pleasant electronic voice rang in her ears: “Host, congratulations on completing your mission. You may prepare to go home now.”

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