Author: Momo Chan

My wife and I were getting married tomorrow. At her bachelorette party, she hugged her old flame. She said it was to leave her youth without regrets. I immediately called off the wedding. She didn’t understand and cried, asking: “We just had dinner, why are you overreacting like this?” I said: “Since you can’t let go of your youth, I wish you two a lifetime of happiness. Now, you’re free.” 01 The day before the wedding, I was triple-checking all the details. “Use only roses for the petals, absolutely no lilies or bellflowers – Olivia is allergic to those.” “Make sure there’s a spare pair of the custom insoles in the car. Olivia will be greeting guests for hours tomorrow, I’m worried her feet will hurt.” “Are the mini cupcakes ready? I heard brides barely get to eat on their wedding day, so I want her to have something while she’s getting her makeup done… They’re made with dairy cream, right? Vegetable cream is harder to digest.” … After getting affirmative responses to everything, I let out a heavy sigh of relief. I closed the door, lay down on the bed, and stared at the window with the big red “double happiness” character pasted on it, feeling both excited and nervous. I was getting married tomorrow. I wondered what Olivia was doing right now. I took out my phone and sent her a SnapChat message. She didn’t reply. While scrolling through my feed, I saw that her bridesmaid had posted a set of nine selfies. “Last night of freedom before the bestie gets hitched tomorrow! No regrets for our youth!” The first eight photos were just Olivia goofing around with her bridesmaids. I smiled, thinking she’d probably still be half asleep when I carried her out the door tomorrow morning. Then I swiped to the last photo and my world went black. It felt like someone had hit me over the head with a sledgehammer. I couldn’t breathe for a moment. It was an intimate photo of a man and woman. Olivia was leaning back, one hand propped on a table, her eyes hazy and lips parted. Less than an inch from her face was the profile of a man. He was staring at her intently, returning her passionate gaze. Their faces were so close they were practically breathing the same air, lips barely an inch apart. In the photo, the man’s hands were tightly gripping Olivia’s waist. Under the red lighting, it looked incredibly sultry. Just like a promo poster for some trashy romance drama. 02 I didn’t recognize the man, but I knew who he was. Ethan. Olivia’s first love that she had pined after for five years. From high school through college. We had shared our romantic histories before. Olivia had only vaguely mentioned having a crush on an older classmate, without going into details. So I hadn’t thought much of it, assuming it was just a fleeting infatuation from her school days. What did I care about her first love when I was the one by her side now? But this photo felt like a bullet through my chest. My heart clenched painfully. Olivia’s face slowly distorted before my eyes. My palm stung and I realized the metal edge of my phone case had cut into my skin at some point. I snapped out of my daze and looked back at the post, but it had already been deleted. I quickly called Olivia but there was no answer. I tried her bridesmaid instead. She picked up and I got straight to the point: “Where are you guys?” “We’re having dinner.” She hesitated, clearly uncomfortable. “Is something wrong?” “Give me the address.” I said. “That guy is still there, right?” Silence on the other end. Then I heard Olivia’s voice: “It’s your turn to drink! Who are you on the phone with?” “Just work stuff,” the bridesmaid said in a low voice. “I gotta go, my phone’s about to die.” “$1000,” I said. “What are you doing? What do you take me for?” “$3000, plus all the info on that guy.” “Well… you can’t say I told you.” I grunted in agreement. Soon, my phone was blowing up with notifications. 03 She had sent me Olivia’s secret Twitter account. I clicked through and saw she posted very frequently. Every meal, outing, and book she read warranted a post. And Ethan commented on every single one. Olivia: “It’s getting cold, time to knit a scarf for your loved one!” Ethan: “I got the scarf, but she’s at home so I can’t pick it up.” Olivia: “Hmph, forget it then.” It was a blue scarf – the birthday gift Olivia had given me last year. She claimed it took her two months to knit and I was so touched. I quickly dug out the scarf and sure enough, next to my name I saw some unraveled stitches. I could just make out the character for “Ethan”. And here I thought it was just due to her lack of skill. Turns out Ethan didn’t want it, so it got passed on to me. Olivia: “Made a wish at the temple today. Bless me!” Ethan: “What did you wish for? Tell me!” Olivia: “The thing you want to do most. (sticks out tongue)” Ethan: “See the stars in the Sahara Desert?” Olivia: “So smart, I’ll give you a kiss as a reward.” My mind flashed back to our third anniversary. We had gone to a temple to make wishes and hang prayer cards. I wrote that I would love the girl beside me with all my heart, asking all the gods to bear witness. She wrote: “I want to go see the stars in the Sahara Desert with the one I love.” I had invited her to go several times after that. But she always said she was too tired. Turns out it wasn’t that she didn’t want to go. I just wasn’t worthy. Is that right? 04 Valentine’s Day 202 I was stuck in a hotel due to COVID restrictions. Unable to spend the holiday with Olivia. She was mad at me for a long time. It took me a week to make it up to her. But I found her post from that day. A selfie of her and Ethan kissing in front of a mirror. The background was our bedroom. Caption: Love is always reckless. God damn it.

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My boyfriend Caleb Watson and I went on a graduation trip together, but we were kidnapped in the middle of nowhere. The kidnappers had ill intentions toward me, and to save Caleb, I actively negotiated with them. I successfully helped Caleb escape. He called the police and brought rescue personnel to save me. However, after my rescue, a video of me being assaulted surfaced online. Everyone pointed fingers at me. One man said, “Is this the woman who had relations with two men in the wilderness?” A woman said, “She was so proactive even after being kidnapped. Her private life is such a mess.” Another woman said, “How does someone like that still have the nerve to live? She has no shame!” I pressed Caleb about where the video came from, but he wouldn’t answer my questions and even wanted to break up with me. He said, “I’m about to start working at a major company. I can’t have a girlfriend with a ruined reputation. You’re too dirty.” In my despair, someone pushed me off a rooftop. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day we were kidnapped. ***** Caleb whispered, “Sienna, there’s no one else here, and the tent is already set up. It’s safe.” Sienna Grant is my name. He embraced me intimately from behind, his tone suggestive as he reached to undress me. My heart jolted as I turned to look into his eyes. The fear of death swirled in my mind, but that fear couldn’t compare to my hatred for the man before me. In my previous life, Caleb had seduced me the same way, saying no one would see us in the wilderness and nothing would happen. I had agreed, never expecting two criminals to pass by and kidnap us. Seeing my clothes half-open, they developed evil intentions and wanted to assault me. They held gleaming knives, and I had no choice but to pretend to comply with them. That’s when Caleb ran away. Taking advantage of the guards’ relaxed vigilance, he quietly escaped from the tent. To cover for Caleb, I had no choice but to actively cater to those criminals. By the time Caleb reported to the police and returned with officers, I had been tortured nearly to death. Someone had posted about this incident online. Soon, news of our kidnapping spread everywhere. Caleb became the clever, brave man who was deeply devoted to me. Everyone praised him, saying he risked danger to save me. But I was labeled as lacking self-respect, promiscuous, and unfaithful. Anyone who saw me would spit at me. Even stranger, what happened that night was somehow recorded on video. Netizens were extremely excited, and messages flooded out like a torrent. One part of these messages was true, nine parts were false. I became a tool for marketing accounts to make money. My social media accounts were exposed, and I received various comments and private messages daily. 【You shameless b*tch! Since you’re so desperate for men, go sell your body!】 【How much do you charge per night? Is it free? We’re in the same city, I can hook up with you.】 【Since you’re so wild, those kidnappers were probably attracted by you, weren’t they? Your boyfriend is so unlucky.】 I deleted my accounts and threw away my phone, but I still had nightmares every night. The kidnappers’ vicious faces and the online abuse alternated in my dreams, and I couldn’t find a way out. I went to find Caleb and asked him why what happened that day was recorded. I thought he might say he didn’t know, or suspect the kidnappers had recorded it. The one thing I never expected was for him to dodge my questions without answering, his eyes shifty and evasive. I demanded, “Do you know where that video came from?” Caleb didn’t answer. Instead, he said, “Sienna, let’s break up. I’m about to start working at a major company. I can’t have a girlfriend with a ruined reputation. You’re too dirty.” I wondered if I had heard wrong. I demanded again, “What did you say? I was humiliated trying to save you, and you’re calling me dirty?” Caleb remained silent, and as I desperately tried to continue questioning him, a pair of hands reached out. Those hands pushed me off the rooftop. In the last second, I saw Eliza Duncan standing at the edge of the roof, her hand still extended from pushing me, her face full of satisfaction. Caleb stood beside her, saying nothing. Eliza was the daughter of his company’s boss, who often came to hang out with us under the guise of friendship. In that instant, I suddenly understood that Caleb had long since latched onto someone wealthier and more powerful. Fortunately, God didn’t let me die with injustice, but gave me a chance to start over. This time, I will never again sacrifice myself for others!

Caleb tried to get closer to me, and I instinctively swung my hand and slapped him hard. I roared, “Don’t touch me!” The images from before my death were still vivid in my mind, and I used every ounce of strength to suppress the hatred burning inside me. Caleb was startled by my reaction and quickly came over to comfort me. He said, “Sienna, don’t be angry. If you don’t want to, we won’t do it.” Caleb gave up so easily, but I had no time to dwell on that. The most urgent thing now was to get out of here. Based on my calculations, those thugs would arrive in less than two hours. I turned around and started packing. After putting on my jacket, I grabbed my phone and headed for the tent exit. Caleb grabbed me, asking anxiously, “Where are you going?” I sensed something was off about him and deliberately said, “That’s none of your business. Don’t stop me.” But Caleb wouldn’t let go, saying, “It’s getting dark. Why do you want to go out? Didn’t you just say you wanted to sleep?” I stared at him for a long time. Just as he was about to speak, I said, “I’m just going to get some water.” There was leftover water from dinner outside the tent. I poured myself a cup and took a big gulp. Caleb actually followed me out and stood at the tent entrance, watching me. Why was he keeping such a close eye on me, as if he was afraid I’d run away? A terrible suspicion began forming in my mind, but I quickly pushed the thought away. I glanced at him calmly and quietly dropped a few sleeping pills into the water cup. I had trouble sleeping and always brought sleeping pills when traveling, but I never expected to use them here. The pills dissolved quickly. I walked over casually and handed the water to Caleb. I said, “I can’t finish this. You drink it.” Caleb didn’t suspect anything and drank it all. Then he said, “Sienna, let’s go to sleep.” I didn’t refuse and went into the tent. Caleb fell asleep within minutes. I took rope and tied his hands and feet tightly, then stripped off all his clothes. If those kidnappers ignored him, that would be his good luck. If those kidnappers really went after him, it would be his sacrifice for saving me! In this life, I was going to make Caleb experience all the suffering I had endured. After finishing this, I grabbed my backpack, took my power bank and phone, and prepared to leave. Seeing Caleb’s phone, something occurred to me. I picked it up and unlocked it with his fingerprint. But I never expected that before I could do anything, I’d see evidence proving his guilt. His phone screen was still on his chat with Eliza. Eliza: [Did you guys make it there?] Caleb: [We’re here. Baby, we’ve finished dinner and are getting ready to sleep. You’re sure those two guys won’t hurt me, right?] Eliza: [They won’t. They’re people I found. Don’t you trust me? Plus, I paid them a lot of money. As long as they film a video humiliating Sienna and post it online, her reputation will be completely ruined!] Caleb: [Okay. How much longer until they arrive?] Eliza: [It’ll take them at most two hours to get there now.] Eliza: [You’re not allowed to do anything with her. You promised me you’d break up with Sienna and be with me, which is why I’m helping you like this!] Looking at these chat records, I froze completely. No wonder the kidnappers had captured us but never mentioned ransom. No wonder Caleb had been able to escape so easily. No wonder there had been a video circulating later. No wonder he was so nervous tonight, afraid I’d leave. Even until my death, I never imagined that even those thugs were hired by them working together! Looking at Caleb’s figure, I really wanted to stab him to death.

This wasn’t some spur-of-the-moment crime by thugs—it was premeditated. If I hadn’t seen those chat records, even if I had escaped, they would have hunted me down. What should I do? I immediately grabbed Caleb’s phone and sent a message to Eliza. 【Have you seen those two men? What do they look like?】 Eliza replied instantly: 【I’ve never seen them. Why would I meet them? That would get me in trouble. I only told them to deal with that woman around you.】 Perfect. This meant those two thugs couldn’t tell me and Eliza apart. Caleb: 【Where are you? I miss you.】 Eliza: 【I’m nearby. After this is over, you still need to keep me company.】 Caleb: 【How about right now? Come over quickly. I tied Sienna up while she was sleeping. I’m coming out to find you now.】 Eliza: 【Okay, I’m coming over right now!】 I sneered at the phone screen. Since you all want to harm me, then face the consequences yourselves. I found the recording equipment Caleb had hidden in the corner and connected it to his phone. This essentially created remote surveillance. Caleb was still sleeping soundly under the influence of the sleeping pills, his expression peaceful. He used to be very popular at school. Many people envied me for being his girlfriend. Who could have imagined his heart had turned so rotten? Just to break up with me and ruin my reputation, he was willing to conspire with others in this charade, watching me get violated. I kicked him hard, and a red mark immediately appeared on his skin. The two thugs Eliza found both had criminal records and had been in prison multiple times. Even if they came in and didn’t see Eliza, seeing Caleb in this state—wouldn’t they be tempted? There was less than an hour left. I immediately ran outside. I had never run so fast in my life, my heart pounding wildly in my chest. I kept running until the tent became a tiny dot in my vision, then I stopped, gasping for air. I hid behind a large rock, then took out my phone to check the surveillance inside the tent. After a while, two hoarse male voices came through the phone. I knew those two thugs had arrived. Sure enough, the closer they got to the tent, the clearer their conversation became. It was definitely those two men’s voices. One of them said: “It’s pitch black inside. Are they all asleep already? Should we go in, grab the person, then throw the guy out?” The other said viciously: “Why would we do that? The employer said we need to have our way with that woman right in front of the man.” “These rich people sure are ruthless when they want revenge.” “Cut the chatter. Let’s go straight in, finish the job, and get out of here.” I didn’t have time to think more. The next moment, a man pulled open the tent flap and walked in. He had a long scar on his face, extending from his nose all the way to his jaw. I recognized him immediately. He was one of the men who had violated me in my previous life—George Martin. As soon as George entered the tent, he pounced on the blanket, then realized the numbers were wrong. He cursed under his breath: “Damn it! Why is there only one person here?” Then he turned on the flashlight he was carrying. Caleb was lying on the blanket completely naked, wearing nothing at all. Even though he hadn’t found me, George was startled by this scene. Caleb was awakened by the commotion. The sleeping pills’ effects were gradually wearing off. The moment he opened his eyes and saw a burly man on top of him, he nearly screamed in terror. George reacted quickly, immediately covering his mouth. Then George randomly grabbed a sock and stuffed it into Caleb’s mouth, threatening: “Don’t make a sound!” The other thug, who had been guarding the entrance, heard the commotion and walked in too. He asked: “What’s wrong?” Seeing Caleb in this state, he was momentarily speechless, unable to look away. He said: “Damn! Why is this guy so slutty? He’s actually sleeping naked. George, how about we rape him too?” George still remembered their mission, so he shoved the man away. Then he said: “I don’t know where that woman went. You guard the entrance and grab her if you see her.” As he spoke, he began touching Caleb. Caleb struggled desperately, and George slapped his butt. He said: “Stay still! You stripped yourself this clean—weren’t you waiting for me to fuck you? What are you pretending for?” Just then, Caleb’s phone received a message. Eliza: 【Where are you? I’m near your tent. Why can’t I find you?】 I took a deep breath and typed back. 【I’m in the tent. Those two men haven’t arrived yet. Come over first.】 I smiled, thinking: “Go ahead. They’re waiting for you. This is the show you carefully orchestrated. Now the tent is missing a female actress. You’ll have to take the stage yourself!” I believed there should be absolutely no mercy for people like this. Eliza didn’t suspect anything. In fact, when she saw the tent flap was open, she thought Caleb was specifically waiting for her. But George heard her footsteps first and turned off the flashlight. The two men quietly waited in the tent, listening as Eliza approached. Eliza hadn’t taken more than a few steps before complaining loudly: “Caleb, why didn’t you come out to meet me? I’m exhausted.”

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Returning to the 1980s, watching my sister Emily Ortiz constantly complaining about hardships yet insisting on marrying the beggar at our door, I knew she had been reborn too. In my previous life, Walker Clark, son of General Nolan Clark who admired me, came to propose marriage. Emily, jealous of my engagement, secretly drugged Walker, forcing him into a relationship with her and making him marry her instead. I endured the heartbreak and attended Emily’s wedding, only to encounter Adrian Allen at the restaurant entrance, nearly starving to death. Emily covered her nose and told him to leave quickly, not to bring bad luck to her wedding day. But I pitied him as a human life, not only housing him in the village’s unused barn to recover his health, but also saving my own food to feed him daily. After Adrian regained his strength, he proposed going south to find his relatives. When Emily heard I had given him all my savings for travel expenses, she laughed at my foolishness. However, none of us expected that within just half a month, Adrian would return as the son of the wealthiest man, bringing an enormous dowry to marry me. Meanwhile, Emily was separated from Walker, who was stationed at the frontier on duty. Over three years, unable to bear the loneliness, she frequented dance halls and became pregnant with another man’s child. When Walker’s parents, Nolan and Alice Clark, discovered this, they sent her back home. My parents, Hudson Ortiz and Freya Ortiz, fearing others would mock Emily, sent her south to find me. Forgetting past grievances, I kindly arranged work for her. But seeing my manor villa, she demanded an outrageous $30 million in support money. I firmly refused, but Emily flew into a rage and strangled me with a rope she had prepared. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day the engagement was arranged. ***** Freya said regretfully, “I never imagined Nolan’s son would choose Hannah.” Hannah Ortiz is my name. She slapped her thigh in disappointment, feeling sorry that the Clark family didn’t favor her beloved eldest daughter Emily. Emily, however, leisurely picked up the southern fruits the Clark family had brought and took a big bite. She said, “I don’t care about the Clark family. Soldiers are everywhere. What’s so special about Walker?” Hudson and Freya were stunned, and Freya asked, “Emily, do you have someone better in mind?” Emily raised her eyebrows and smiled, “Dad, Mom, just wait and see. When we have so much money we can’t even count it all, don’t complain about being tired.” I was dumbfounded, thinking, “What does this mean? Is she not planning to compete with me anymore?” Previously, to steal my captain fiancé, Emily had even resorted to drugging. On the night Walker and I got engaged, Emily convinced Hudson and Freya to call the entire village to our family’s barn. The neighbors, seeing the unconscious Walker and Emily with her shoulder exposed, all assumed they were truly in love. I was devastated but had no choice but to give up the engagement, allowing Emily to become part of the Clark family. But this time, Emily never mentioned Walker. On my wedding day, she dressed up carefully, wearing a fashionable outfit I’d never seen before. I feared Emily would cause trouble again, until I saw her flirting with the beggar at the restaurant entrance, and only then did I relax. So she had been reborn too, and had set her sights on the beggar husband I had taken in during my previous life. Emily bent down, her chest half-exposed, and said coquettishly to the beggar, “Are you hungry? Come home with me. I have lots of delicious food at home.” Who could have imagined that their beloved daughter would seduce a beggar? Freya trembled with rage and shouted on the spot, “Emily, what are you doing?” Not only did Emily feel no shame, but she said confidently, “I’m looking for a boyfriend, of course. I’m definitely going to marry this beggar.” Hearing this, Hudson’s eyes turned red with anger, and he reached out to pull her away while scolding her. But Emily hugged the filthy beggar tightly, pressing her chest against the beggar’s face so hard that his features became somewhat distorted. I stood aside in my wedding dress, watching coldly. The beggar, however, seemed enraged and said, “Get lost!” For a moment, Hudson, Freya, and Emily were all stunned. Looking at his familiar expression, I straightened up.

In my previous life, I kindly took in Adrian when he was begging on the streets. My family was very poor with little food, but seeing his pitiful state, I gave him the food I saved even though I starved myself to the point of developing stomach problems. Adrian was homeless, so I secretly hid him in an abandoned barn in the village to help him recover. In the end, I softened and gave him all the savings I had earned from sewing clothes for others as travel money. Half a month later, Adrian came back with a generous dowry and married me. I thought he was repaying my kindness. Until one day when he got drunk and let something slip: “Hannah, do you know why I married you? Because I’ve never played around with a village woman like you before.” My whole body gradually turned cold as I discovered that Adrian had a messy private life, just well-hidden. He always had mistresses around him. When I confronted him with evidence wanting a divorce, he said: “What are you pretending for? I’m already being good to you by not making you raise my mistresses’ children.” But later, he still brought his illegitimate children home. When I refused to raise them, he held a knife to my throat and forced me. The manor villa housed Adrian’s three illegitimate children. Emily came to me asking for money. Forget about 30 million dollars – Adrian would question me even if I spent a single cent. I was just a nanny raising his children, not the lady of the house. I thought: “Emily, since you want this kind of life so badly, you can have it.” Seeing Adrian’s arrogant attitude, Hudson rolled up his sleeves ready to hit him, but Adrian fainted from physical exhaustion. Emily pulled Hudson and Freya aside, taking out a missing person notice from her handbag. She whispered: “Dad, Mom, he’s the son of Christian, the richest man in Florida. His family has great influence. Though he’s down and out now, once he returns to his family in half a month, he’ll be very powerful.” The three of them got extremely excited, preparing to carry Adrian home. I reminded Hudson and Freya that my wedding was about to start and they needed to hurry inside. Emily snorted coldly: “What’s so great about marrying some broke captain? I’m going to marry the richest man’s son. You better get lost and stop interfering with my good fortune.” It didn’t matter that Emily wouldn’t attend my wedding. But Freya also chimed in: “How could your business be more important than Emily’s? Just attend your own wedding. Don’t waste our time.” With that, they abandoned me and left without looking back. Tears streamed down my face as I thought: “Are they really this biased?” The more I thought about it, the sadder I became. Suddenly, a warm, large hand wrapped around my waist. I spun around to see Walker pulling me into his arms like a protective puppy guarding his food. His strong chest muscles stirred feelings of affection in my heart. Looking into his deep eyes, my heart skipped a beat. No wonder everyone said Walker was the most handsome man in the military district. There was really no arguing with that. I turned to see Alice approaching as well. She patted my back and said angrily: “I’ve long seen how biased your parents are. From now on, you’ll be my daughter. I’ll cherish you.” The wedding was grand. With Walker’s parents and Walker backing me up, no one dared mock me. Instead, when I returned home that day, I heard Emily’s scandal spreading throughout the village as soon as I entered. The villagers were all saying that Emily had picked up a beggar from the street. Not only did she bring him home, but she also slept with him that very night. Moreover, Emily kept telling everyone that the beggar was her man and that no one was allowed to compete with her for him. Looking at my family’s front gate, I noticed that despite it being daytime, it was tightly shut. This was definitely because Hudson and Freya were too ashamed to face the villagers’ criticism. However, the scene inside the house made me want to gouge out my eyes. To marry the richest man’s son, Emily was truly shameless.

Emily was wearing a camisole, getting intimate with Adrian in the courtyard. Only after seeing Walker and me did she casually throw on a light jacket. Emily sneered, “You just brought back two bottles of cheap wine? I thought the General’s family could come up with something better.” Though this wine couldn’t compare to the treasures in the richest family’s wine cellar, it was still military-exclusive stock that outsiders couldn’t even buy. Hearing Emily’s words, Walker frowned, clearly displeased. Adrian had his shirt collar unbuttoned, staring at me lecherously. Emily unhappily blocked his view, afraid I might steal her beggar husband: “Why are you dressed so nicely? Who are you trying to seduce? Go inside and take those clothes off for me. What makes you think you deserve to wear such expensive clothes?” Walker frowned: “I gave those to her…” I quickly covered his mouth: “I’ll take them off right now. If you like them, I’ll give them to you.” With that, I pulled Walker into the inner room. He shook off my hand in frustration, clearly dissatisfied with my compliance. I chuckled softly. This was nothing—Emily had taken so many good things from me since childhood. Besides, she wouldn’t be smug for much longer. Freya came into the room and pulled me aside, whispering her complaints: “Don’t just buy wine next time—just give money directly.” Then she yanked the gold necklace from my neck and handed it to Emily. She whispered, “Emily, is the travel money enough now? When is this beggar going to Florida to find his relatives?” Emily said impatiently, “Isn’t it great that he likes being with me? The better we treat him, the deeper his feelings for me will be. Then we can ask for more bride price when the time comes. Don’t you get it?” That’s when I noticed the old yellow cow from our barn was gone. Emily’s dresses, which she always loved, had also disappeared from her wardrobe. Hudson and Freya had obviously lost weight, looking like they hadn’t had many full meals, staring at the cake I’d casually bought and swallowing constantly. Instead, Adrian was covered in designer brands, completely different from how he looked at the restaurant entrance a few days ago. His cheeks were no longer sunken, and he’d filled out considerably. Looking at the empty kitchen, I was stunned. To scrape together his travel money, they’d sold everything valuable in the house? Moreover, all those bride gifts the Clark family had given me were gone too. Hudson and Freya were usually stingy, but to get Emily married to the richest man’s son, they were willing to sacrifice everything. Freya had everyone sit down for dinner, and Emily had Adrian sit in the head seat of the house. That spot had always been Hudson’s. He coughed in dissatisfaction but got elbowed by Freya. She said, “Think long-term—imagine that three-story mansion.” Walker and I had nowhere to sit, so we could only stand beside the dining table. Adrian cleared his throat, and Hudson and Freya both straightened up. Then Adrian said, “Hudson, I’ve been in the village for quite a few days now. It’s time I head south to look for my birth parents.” Hearing this, Hudson and Freya were thrilled, almost moved to tears with excitement. Freya said, “Good, Adrian. When you find your birth parents, don’t forget about us.” Emily looked reluctant as she acted coquettish: “Adrian, I’m your lifesaver. You have to remember to come back and marry me.” A flash of disgust crossed Adrian’s expression. Soon, Adrian nodded: “Alright.” Then he eagerly grabbed his bundle. Hearing his answer, Emily became incredibly smug. She looked as if Adrian would return with a hefty bride price to marry her the very next second. Emily arrogantly waved at me: “Didn’t Walker drive here? You two can take us to the station—Adrian needs to ride in a luxury car.” Today’s events had made Walker furious: “No way. You bully my wife, and I’m supposed to help you escort your lover? What do you take me for?” Emily blurted out, “We still have use for you now, so you should be happy. You think you can stay in the city much longer? Once you get deployed to the frontier, you won’t be able to act so arrogant.” Walker was stunned. I glanced at Emily and dragged the still-dazed Walker to the car: “We’re not taking you.” Emily pounded on the car door, saying angrily, “Hannah, you’ve gone too far. Well, let’s see what happens—in half a month, you won’t be able to act so high and mighty.” That sentence kept echoing in my mind until half a month later, when our home phone rang. I picked up and heard Freya’s voice through the receiver: “Hannah, come back quickly. That beggar…”

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I’ve returned to Christmas 1975. I went to the black market and sold off all the jewelry and new clothes my fiancé Edward Gray had given me at bargain prices. I deliberately made myself look dirty and disheveled, like a beggar. In my previous life, my family had finally managed to secure me a spot to return to the city. I was overjoyed and, following Edward’s instructions, put on the clothes he had sent me. But I never expected that Olivia Murray, a poor female student who had been sent to the countryside with me, would steal my identity and board the city-bound vehicle ahead of me. When I chased after her to confront her, she pointed at my new clothes and accused me of improper conduct, claiming there was no way I could be the daughter of the upright Dean Albert Murray. They threw me off the vehicle, forcing me to continue working in the countryside. Three years later, I finally made it back to the city. I witnessed Edward walking past me with his arm around Olivia. That’s when I realized they had been together all along. My inability to return home had been part of their scheme. Not only that, but they also told my father Albert and mother Emilia Murray that I had been with other men in the countryside and didn’t want to come back. Albert, as the dean, was so enraged that he suffered a stroke and died. Emilia cried every day and also passed away the following year. Olivia smugly flaunted in front of me: “Matilda, thank you for having them take such good care of me before. The property your two foolish parents left behind all went to Edward and me.” I was so furious I coughed up blood. Edward, who had been promoted to associate dean, sent me to the hospital and injected me with an overdose of medication, killing me. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day I was preparing to go home. ***** When I emerged from my room wearing tattered clothes, everyone around me was stunned. A man asked: “Matilda, didn’t your fiancé send you lots of things? Why are you dressed like this?” Matilda Murray is my name. A woman said: “Yeah, even if he truly cares about you and has been waiting for you to return for two years, you should still pay attention to your appearance.” Their faces were full of confusion. After all, we were going home – why was I wearing these drab work clothes and mud-stained rubber boots? Who would dress like this to meet their beloved? I smiled without saying anything, my eyes filled with complex emotions. In my previous life, I had also believed Edward truly cared about me. Albert and Emilia had finally secured me a spot to return to the city. When I received the things Edward had sent and learned he was coming to pick me up, I happily put on the new clothes and even wore the most fashionable hair accessories of the time. I had thought I could let my beloved see me at my most beautiful, but when I hurried to catch the city-bound vehicle, I discovered Olivia sitting in my seat. Olivia insisted she was Albert’s daughter and spoke about my family’s affairs in great detail. She also pointed at my new clothes and angrily said: “You all know my father is very frugal. How could his daughter possibly dress so glamorously? “This kind of extravagant style would only anger my father if he saw it.” The others believed her words. No matter how I tried to explain, it was useless. I was thrown off the vehicle and forced to return to the countryside. The letters I sent home and to Edward mysteriously went unanswered. It wasn’t until three years later that things changed. I returned to the city with others. As soon as I got off the vehicle, I saw Olivia in a dress with her arm linked through Edward’s. They were very intimate. It turned out they had been together all along. I was shocked and rushed forward to grab Edward’s sleeve, but he shook me off forcefully. Edward said: “Matilda, I really didn’t expect you’d actually make it back.” Before I could understand what he meant, Olivia cleared up my confusion. She smiled and said: “Matilda, Edward and I fell for each other years ago. I really have to thank you for your spot – it let me come back early and marry Edward. “Oh, by the way, you don’t know yet, do you? Albert thought you were with some old man in the countryside and died of a stroke from rage. Your mother also died last year. All that property went to Edward and me. “You have nothing left now. How pitiful.” I was so angry I coughed up blood, while Edward looked at me coldly and forcibly took me to the hospital under the pretense of medical treatment. He said: “Matilda, don’t blame me. “You could have stayed quietly in the countryside and married some rural man. But you came back. “For the sake of my bright future, you need to die.” Edward used his position without hesitation to inject me with an overdose of medication, leaving me to die in despair on that hospital bed. But in this lifetime, none of that has happened yet. This time, I absolutely won’t let them succeed.

I boarded the vehicle with my packed belongings, and the bespectacled man sitting by the door frowned at me. He said, “All seats are taken. Who are you? Go back where you came from.” I feigned ignorance, covering my mouth in surprise as I said, “All seats taken? How is that possible? I have a reserved spot. Who’s taken my place?” The man’s expression darkened. He turned to scan the area, as if trying to determine whether my words held any truth. I pointed at Olivia, who sat there looking somewhat nervous, and confronted her: “Olivia, why are you sitting in my seat?” She immediately shot back, “Your seat? This seat is mine.” The man chimed in, “That’s right. Do you know who she is? This is the daughter of hospital director Mr. Albert Murray and General Carter Simpson. Don’t you dare falsely accuse her.” “The daughter of Mr. Albert Murray and Ms. Simpson? You mean her?” I asked, my gaze cutting toward Olivia like a blade. Olivia’s body stiffened for a moment, a flash of guilt crossing her eyes, but she still straightened her spine. She said, “Yes, that’s me. I am Mr. Albert Murray’s daughter. This opportunity to return home is mine.” Olivia was about to use my attire to suggest I was improper, but after looking me up and down, she froze completely. I wasn’t wearing a single decent piece of clothing or jewelry. Where had all those things Edward gave me gone? I could see Olivia’s confusion, so I flashed her a meaningful smile. Olivia was stunned. She knew very well that if she couldn’t get me off this vehicle, both she and Edward would be finished. Olivia’s gaze fell on my shabby appearance, her eyes flickering several times. She said, “Edward has already prepared a welcome banquet for me in the city. You’re dressed like a beggar—how could you possibly attend a welcome banquet? “Matilda, I know you desperately want to return to the city, but you can’t just try to steal someone else’s spot. You should focus your energy on legitimate pursuits.” Olivia’s words were filled with righteousness. Compared to the timid demeanor she had when she first arrived at our house, her boldness had certainly grown considerably. My gaze fell on the dress Olivia was wearing—the one Albert and Emilia had sent together—and my eyes grew profound. Olivia was the daughter of our family’s housekeeper, Ella Murray. Her biological father was a gambler who had already been arrested by the police, with no connection whatsoever to Albert. She simply happened to share the same surname as us. Initially, seeing that she was about the same age as me at Christmas and had such a pitiful background, Albert and Emilia agreed to let Ella keep her close, allowing her to grow up alongside me as a companion. I was delighted to have another sister in the house, so I shared almost everything good with her, treating her like my own sister. Olivia also appeared very well-behaved and sensible. When the family was deeply worried about my being assigned to work and live in the countryside, she even volunteered to accompany me. I was so moved that I immediately begged Albert and Emilia to adopt her as their goddaughter. However, in my previous life, just before I died, Edward mercifully revealed the truth to me. He said, “Accompany you to work and live in the countryside? Olivia’s name was on the list too. She simply had no choice but to go to the countryside.” Olivia was nothing but an ungrateful, thankless person. Just as I was about to publicly expose Olivia’s true identity, the man suddenly spoke again: “Exactly, stop making things up here. If she’s not Mr. Albert Murray’s daughter, then are you supposed to be? She has the Murray family heirloom and a personal letter from her fiancé Dr. Gray as proof. “Mr. Albert Murray is away, but he specifically wrote to ask Dr. Gray to host a welcome banquet for her.” A family heirloom? A handwritten letter? I was furious beyond words, wanting nothing more than to strangle Olivia and Edward. The Murray family heirloom was a ruby pendant. When Edward and I got engaged, Albert had given it to Edward as a special gesture to show how much he valued him. But I never expected it to be in Olivia’s hands now. Not to mention Edward’s handwritten letter. No wonder in my past life, even when I explained that I was Albert’s daughter, no one believed me. Olivia had lost her initial panic and now wore a smug expression, looking at me provocatively. She said, “It’s okay. She’s probably just homesick and didn’t get a spot, so she resorted to this. Since it’s still early, you should get off and head back. Don’t waste everyone’s time.” Olivia’s words sounded magnanimous and considerate. The people on the bus from other places didn’t know the truth and began treating her as Albert’s daughter, gathering around to curry favor with her. A man said, “Miss Olivia, you’re so generous. If some lowlife tried to steal my spot, I’d definitely call the police and have her arrested.” A woman chimed in, “Exactly. I’ve long heard that Mr. Albert is upright and famously professional throughout the medical field. Miss Olivia is truly forgiving to pardon even someone like this.” I watched all this coldly and said, “Olivia, you’d better not regret this.” My warning was clear enough, but Olivia was basking in the feeling of being adored by everyone. Hearing my words, she just gave me a disdainful glance and didn’t take it to heart at all. Before the man with glasses could kick me off like he did in my previous life, I grabbed my bundle and stepped off the bus myself. The man sneered, “At least you have some self-awareness. You’ve crossed Mr. Albert’s daughter—aren’t you afraid of what’ll happen when someone in your family gets sick?” He scoffed and slammed the door shut. The bus drove away right in front of me, kicking up dust all over me. My already dirty work clothes now looked even worse. I took a deep breath and used the money from selling my belongings to rent a car. So what if that bus wouldn’t take me? As long as I had money, couldn’t I still get there? I was determined to see exactly what kind of welcome banquet Edward had prepared.

The car bumped along the entire way. By the time I made it back to the city, it was already evening. My two-story house was brightly lit, with many people moving around inside, looking quite lively. I immediately understood—this was the “welcome party” they had mentioned. Without hesitation, I walked straight in. Everyone was busy chatting, and hardly anyone noticed me. I was about to head upstairs when someone suddenly grabbed me. A woman in a floral shirt pushed me away with disgust, her eyes full of contempt. She said, “What kind of beggar are you? Is this a place you should be? Planning to steal something? I’m telling you, get out of here before I call the police.” I figured she had mistaken me for some thief trying to steal. Just as I was about to explain, a familiar voice rang out: “Mrs. Jones, what’s happening here?” Freya Jones, who had just treated me so rudely, immediately put on a respectful expression. She said, “Mrs. Emilia Murray, some beggar broke in. I don’t know if she’s here to steal. I was worried it might disrupt Ms. Olivia Murray’s welcome party, so I wanted to throw her out.” “Mrs. Emilia Murray” sighed after hearing this. Then she said, “This poor soul. If she wasn’t truly desperate, who would swallow their pride and beg from others? Let her come in and have something to eat. Just keep an eye on her and don’t let her wander around.” Freya said flatteringly, “You’re so kind. You and your husband Mr. Albert Murray are truly a perfect match.” “Mrs. Emilia Murray” looked quite pleased with the praise, nodding slightly, really looking like a wealthy person. However, when she caught sight of my face from the corner of her eye, her expression instantly froze. She asked, “Ms. Murray… Matilda, how did you get back?” This “Mrs. Emilia Murray” that Freya was flattering was actually Ella, Olivia’s nanny mother. I remembered she used to always keep her head down and seemed very honest, so our whole family trusted her completely. When I went to work in the countryside and Albert went away for research, only Emilia was left at home. Since Emilia didn’t like socializing and rarely appeared in public, we specifically asked Ella to take good care of Emilia. But I never expected she would have the audacity to assume Emilia’s identity. My gaze swept over Ella several times. The jewelry around her neck and on her hands all originally belonged to Emilia. In my previous life, I hadn’t been able to return at this time. When I came back three years later, both Albert and Emilia had already passed away. I had no idea how much Emilia had suffered at home. Perhaps all that talk about Emilia crying every day and dying of depression was just lies. Suppressing my rage, I walked toward Ella step by step, asking coldly, “What? Ella, am I not allowed to come back?” Ella trembled with fear and said, “That’s not what I meant.” Her tone was clearly frightened. Freya, standing nearby, looked surprised after hearing this. Freya asked, “Mrs. Emilia Murray, who is this beggar? Why are you being so polite to her?” Ella didn’t know how to respond. I lost my patience, worried that Emilia was being framed by them, and headed straight upstairs, only to run into Olivia and Edward coming down hand in hand. The moment Edward saw me, a flash of panic crossed his eyes, and he instinctively let go of Olivia’s hand. Edward asked, “Matilda, how did you get back?”

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On the day of my wedding, my parents suddenly show up at my house with my fiancé, Yoseph Caldwell. They say they’ve decided the bride is going to change. “Your sister’s terminally ill, and her only wish is to marry Yoseph. You’re her younger sister, so be generous and help her out.” Yoseph chimes in calmly, “Don’t worry. It’s just a ceremony. Once she passes, you and I can still get the marriage certificate.” When I refuse, my parents tie me up. “We’ll let you out once the wedding’s over.” But not long after they leave, an intruder breaks in and brutally murders me. By the time they finally remember me, all that’s left is my rotting corpse.

At 19, Liam promised me forever. At 26, he held Scarlett’s hand and slapped me across the face in front of everyone. I was forced to drink until I was wasted for him, used and abused by his business partners. But he just watched, cold and indifferent, even believing a twisted, life-for-a-life prophecy from a mystic. He let our son die, all so Scarlett could give birth to a child. I clutched my son’s lifeless body, gripping the confirmation of my pregnancy, and wept until I had no tears left. Later, I ended the pregnancy and fled far away. But Liam’s eyes burned with accusation. “You don’t want *our* child?” The laughter from behind the screen was like poisoned needles, pricking my eardrums. “Mr. Liam, what great fortune you have! Isabelle’s still in the hospital, right? And now you’ve got double the good news! Scarlett, you’re going to give Liam a big, healthy boy!” “Isabelle? That vain and opportunistic woman? She saw Liam losing his influence and immediately slept with one of his partners.” A man chuckled softly, his voice so lazy it sounded like he was discussing the weather, utterly trivial. “Isabelle? She probably died ages ago, didn’t she?” His laughter pierced my heart like a blade. My fingertips turned white as I dug them into my palms. Three days ago, when Liam’s business partners dragged me into an alley and brutalized me, he had laughed like that too. Those animals tore my clothes, beating me mercilessly. He just stood at the alley entrance, embracing a pregnant Scarlett, watching with cold eyes. My son, Leo, was kicked to the ground by Liam, screaming and sobbing, “Dad, why are you doing this to Mom?!” Leo’s convulsing body, my own humiliation—it suddenly shattered the last sliver of my composure. I shoved the screen aside with a jolt, my voice echoing, silencing the room. “Liam, what exactly did I do wrong? Why are you treating me like this?” A bitter taste filled my mouth. I didn’t understand how this man, who I’d loved for seven years, had become this monster. Liam’s hand rested on Scarlett’s prominently swollen belly. His eyes narrowed when he saw me, then he sneered. “Still alive, huh? Had enough fun with your little fling?” My lips trembled, a dense, aching pain spreading through my chest. “Let’s get a divorce. Leo stays with me. You’re the one at fault, so we split everything 50/50.” “At fault?” His face twisted, his eyes inexplicably reddening as he stared at me with an unreadable expression. Suddenly, a powerful slap landed on my face, making my head spin. As the world reeled, I saw his lips move, spitting out cruel words. “I was merciful enough not to kill that bastard Leo. And you have the nerve to talk about divorce.” A thunderclap exploded in front of my eyes. I stared at the man I loved, utterly incredulous. Seeing my shock, Scarlett feigned timidity, shrinking into his embrace and handing him a piece of paper. “Sister, this is the paternity test. Leo really isn’t Liam’s…” The paper fluttered to the ground. Large red letters declared: “NO BLOOD RELATIONSHIP CONFIRMED.” It pierced my heart.

I suddenly laughed, but tears streamed down my face. “Liam, I ended up in the hospital because I was trying to save you.” “Nothing happened with those clients. Don’t you even believe me?” Liam scoffed, then furiously smashed a glass against my forehead, grabbing my throat and pinning me to the floor. Amidst the shattering glass, he leaned close to my ear and whispered: “You’d say anything to protect Leo’s real father. You’re disgusting, Isabelle.” Warm liquid flowed down my cheek, and I thought of Liam when he was 19. He had cut the chains an old widower used to imprison me, carrying me through mountain paths ravaged by mudslides. We huddled in a rented room with our meager savings, the scent of cheap shampoo mingling with our breaths. He said: *Isabelle, I’ll love you my whole life. We’ll work hard, live in a big house, and have a bunch of healthy babies.* From then on, I did everything—waitressing, reception, hospitality, logistics. I took any job I could find. When he landed his first big deal and earned his first million, we smiled at each other, joking that we were each other’s good luck charms. A year ago, on a rainy night, he was set up and embroiled in a financial scandal. Risking prison, I gritted my teeth and navigated business dealings with a group of older men, playing along with their charades. A man’s fleshy, greasy hand caressed my thigh, and I subtly pushed it away. They laughed loudly, toasting me glass after glass. “There are three more bottles of hard liquor here. If you finish them, our deal is done.” Without a word, I picked up the bottles and drank them one by one. The liquor burned like fire in my stomach, but I didn’t even flinch. In the end, the deal was done, Liam escaped the lawsuit, and I ended up in the emergency room. I never expected that when I woke up, I wouldn’t be greeted by Liam’s warm embrace, but by his furious accusations. “Why didn’t that old widower just kill you? Getting yourself hospitalized from being used like that.” He grabbed Brooke’s hand and left without a backward glance, as if even another glance at me disgusted him. Amidst the wreckage scattered on the floor, I lay there like a crushed stray dog, letting my tears stream freely. Suddenly, a phone call shattered the silence. My child’s voice, choked with sobs, was heartbreaking. “Mommy, I’m scared. Daddy brought a woman home, and he told me to get out…”

I endured the dizziness, hurrying home in a panic. The moment I pushed the door open, Leo flung himself into my arms, his soft, rosy face covered in purple bruises. Tears streamed down his small cheeks, scalding my heart. I hugged Leo tightly, looking at the man and woman before me, grief and fury surging within me. “Liam, how could you do this to your own son! You’re a monster!” Liam scoffed, looking at me as if I were the unforgivable villain. “Get out, you and that bastard! I won’t give you two a single cent!” Scarlett smirked triumphantly, her eyes darting around slyly as her seemingly delicate hand caressed Liam’s shoulder. “Liam, honey, I heard a mystic say there’s a way to trade a life for a life. If one boy is gone, another can be born.” “Leo isn’t even your child anyway, and I’m ready to have a baby now. Should we try it?” At her words, my entire body trembled. I stood up, raising my hand to slap Scarlett. But Liam’s grip clamped down on my hand. He kicked Leo, sending him sprawling to the floor, where he curled up in pain. My eyes turned bloodshot, and even my fingertips trembled. “Liam, you can’t do this! Leo is your biological son!” But he only sneered, then summoned his bodyguards to throw Leo and me out like stray dogs. The biting autumn wind was bone-chilling. Leo, dressed in thin clothes, shivered from the cold. His small face was red, filled with sorrow. “Mommy, did Leo do something wrong? Is that why Daddy doesn’t like me and Mommy anymore…?” My nose stung. I knelt down and hugged his small body. “Leo, Mommy and Daddy are getting divorced. Will you stay with Mommy?” Sadness clouded his face, but to comfort me, he forced a smile and nodded. “Okay, Leo likes being with Mommy.” Listening to my five-year-old son’s words, too mature for his age, my fingertips turned white. A wave of crushing disappointment washed over me. *Liam, you said you’d love and protect me my whole life.* I held his small hand, walking slowly along the road, unsure where we were going. Suddenly, turning a corner, we saw a group of menacing men, staring straight at Leo. My heart seized with fear. I scooped Leo into my arms and ran for my life. The next second, the men grabbed my arm.

They ignored my screams, dragging Leo and me into an alley. Leo was slammed onto the ground, letting out a sharp, desperate cry. “Please, I beg you, don’t touch Leo! Do whatever you want to me!” I cried, begging and struggling to stop them. But they snickered, roughly shoving me away, and then punched Leo again. I watched helplessly as Leo’s small body twisted at unnatural angles, blood oozing from his soft lips. “Leo… Leo…” Tears blurred my vision, my heart tearing with agony. He was just laughing a moment ago, saying he loved Mommy… and now he was bleeding… Warm, sticky blood flowed from between my legs. Sweat beaded on my forehead, and a foul odor assaulted my senses. “Alright, alright, he’s probably gone.” “Wonder if the life-for-a-life ritual works. Hope Miss Scarlett gives birth to a healthy boy and marries into a rich family!” A mouthful of blood sprayed everywhere, yet I felt nothing. As I lost consciousness, I kept thinking, over and over: *Leo’s birthday is in a few days. I need to buy him a big cake, and that toy car he wanted…* The pungent smell of disinfectant stung my nostrils. I struggled, waking from the nightmare. Looking at the unfamiliar ceiling, I shifted, and sharp pain shot through my lower body. “Miss Isabelle, please don’t move. You’ve just suffered a violent assault. Thankfully, you have a strong constitution, and the baby inside you is fine. You need to rest properly…” “My Leo?” I managed to ask, the only thing that mattered to me. The doctor’s expression shifted to one of sorrow and pity. That was all I needed to understand everything—it wasn’t a nightmare, it was real! “He’s in the morgue. Our efforts were in vain. Please accept our deepest condolences.” Dragging my weak body, I ran and crawled to the morgue. Among the white sheets, I found a small body. I pressed a hand hard against my chest, bending over, gasping for air. I opened my mouth but couldn’t speak. Large, heavy tears streamed down my face. When Liam entered, he saw me kneeling on the floor, consumed by grief. For a moment, his face contorted with a complex mix of emotions. He reached out to help me up, but I pushed his hand away. “Liam, my Leo is dead. I wish you would die too.”

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My husband used our son for drug sensitivity tests, all to cure his rare heart condition. I played along, feigning ignorance. Our son’s fragile body deteriorated with each passing day, and I was utterly, agonizingly helpless. Finally, the trials bore fruit. He’d found his cure. I naively believed our son’s torment would finally cease. But then, in a cruel twist of fate, my best friend’s son was suddenly struck with kidney failure. Hearing this, my husband brutally dragged our son right in front of my ‘best friend,’ demanding he donate a kidney. My ‘best friend’ then dared to push her luck, looking at me expectantly, asking for *my* opinion. I simply smiled, a chilling, hollow sound escaping my lips, and whispered, “Okay.” Julian Blackwood and I had been married for six years, and our son, Leo, was five. To outsiders, we were the picture of an enviable family. My husband, Julian, was a PhD in Cardiology and a Chief Physician, loaded with accolades. But what no one knew was that Julian had a rare heart condition, and it was unclear how many years he had left. And our son’s health was far from ideal. He’d been frail and sickly since birth, always in and out of the ER. Julian was exceptionally attentive to Leo, claiming it was his duty as a doctor and a father. He personally took care of Leo, meticulously, as if putting on a show. He even called Leo “special” and said he needed extra attention. But that day, I accidentally caught him feeding Leo some medicine. The label on the bottle—I’d never seen it before. The packaging was crude, with no official approval. I felt a pang of suspicion and secretly looked it up. Those pills were unapproved laboratory drugs, never clinically tested. Their safety hadn’t even been verified! I knew there was no experiment more direct, more effective, than human trials. But this violated medical ethics, and it certainly violated the law. Especially when it was his own flesh and blood… But I said nothing. I was just a stay-at-home wife; every decision in our home was his. I comforted our son, “It’s okay, Leo. You’ll get stronger when you grow up.” He nodded, his gaze blank and dull. My best friend, Skylar Hayes, also conceived around the same time I was pregnant, using a sperm bank, becoming a proud single mother. Her son was named Caleb. Skylar often brought Caleb over to our house. The kids were innocent and playful, and I adored them. It was just that Julian was *too* good to Caleb. “Caleb is so well-behaved and smart, unlike this worthless trash Leo. He’s as dumb as a brick.” “Leo, come here!” Julian’s voice suddenly turned harsh. “Look at Caleb. So well-behaved, so obedient, so healthy.” Then he slapped Leo across the head. “You piece of garbage, always sick with something.” “Hey, Julian, don’t hit him like that!” Skylar said, but a smile played on her lips. “You’ll make him truly stupid. Our Serena would be heartbroken.” She gave me a meaningful look. “I’m sorry, Dad. I was wrong.” Leo sank to his knees. This was routine for him. And the interactions between Skylar and Julian were more than just a little excessive. Even in front of me, they made no effort to hide it. Skylar would naturally link arms with Julian, giggling as she asked him medical questions. Julian always looked annoyed, but he never actually pulled away. He’d frown at me, then gently answer Skylar.

Skylar visited our house again. “Serena, I truly envy you. Your husband, Julian, is so skilled in medicine, so caring and devoted to his family. He’s the perfect man,” she gushed. Julian smiled modestly, frowned at me again, then seemingly casually asked Skylar, “Is it hard raising a child alone?” They played off each other perfectly, an unspoken understanding between them. And I, I felt like an outsider, completely out of place. I subtly asked Julian if he and Skylar were getting too close. He looked utterly transparent, his eyes clear. “I’m just being responsible as a doctor, caring for Skylar and her son.” “Besides, it’s not easy for Skylar to raise a child by herself. As a friend, I should help out more,” Julian said. I stayed silent. I knew what he was really thinking. That day, the way Skylar looked at Julian was full of admiration. And the way Julian looked at Skylar had a tenderness he rarely showed me. Julian ruffled Caleb’s hair. “Caleb, next time, Uncle Julian will buy you a remote-control car!” “Yay! Thank you, Uncle Julian! I love you the most!” Caleb exclaimed. After they left, our son Leo asked, “Dad, can I have a remote-control car too?” “Don’t you know how busy I am at work? A remote-control car? Aren’t you annoying?!” my husband snapped. “But you just promised Caleb…” Leo’s voice was filled with hurt. “He’s a guest! Is that the same thing?!” My husband’s voice rose sharply. Leo silently teared up, then began to cry. “Are you going to cry again?!” My husband grabbed Leo, slapping him. Leo instantly stopped crying. “You pathetic scum! A remote-control car is for kids with brains! You brainless bastard, do you deserve one?” With that, he started punching and kicking Leo. Leo scrambled to my side, hugging me. “Go to your mom, what good is your mom?! You little brat, always demanding this and that!” My husband followed, slapping Leo again, knocking him to the floor. Leo hit his head, bleeding. “You disgusting punk! Wasting my medical bills again! I’ll beat you to death!” My husband didn’t stop, continuing the vicious assault. I still said nothing.

When Leo was ten, my husband again took him out behind my back. When they returned, Leo’s arms were covered in needle marks, and he was completely out of it. “Julian, what happened to our son?” “Just a cold. Too many anti-inflammatories, an allergic reaction. He’ll be fine in a bit.” Julian said it nonchalantly, completely unconcerned about Leo’s state. I asked him, “Are you sure he’s okay?” “I said he’s fine, so he’s fine! Do *you* know more than me? Asking, asking, always asking!” “Instead of asking, why don’t you cook me two dishes and pour me a beer? Can’t you see I’m half-dead from exhaustion today?” My husband was utterly impatient. Seeing his expression, I knew. This drug sensitivity trial had failed again. I’d lost count of how many failures there had been. Every time he went to the lab for a trial, Leo would come back sick for a long time afterward. He still believed it was his own fault. That day was Caleb’s birthday. Skylar came again with Caleb. Caleb was healthy and vibrant, while Leo lay in bed, looking like a ghost. “Skylar’s here! Darling, go cook a feast for our guest. Don’t you dare be rude,” Julian ordered. “Okay,” I said. “Thank you, Serena! Julian, why are you so good to me today?” Skylar playfully responded. “When am I *not* good to you?” My husband lowered his head, not looking at her. I went into the kitchen to cook but kept an ear on their conversation. “Julian, how’s it going today? Is there any hope?” It was Skylar’s voice, deliberately lowered. “No. Time is running out. We have to push forward,” Julian said. “It’s okay, then let’s just cherish what we have now.” Skylar’s voice suddenly became soft and seductive. “Skylar, don’t. Serena’s still home,” Julian said. “So what if she’s home? She and her useless son will be out of here soon enough. This will be *my* home.” I walked into the living room, only to see Skylar holding my husband’s face, kissing him passionately. My husband’s expression was grim, but he didn’t resist. “Serena, what’s wrong? Can’t you handle seeing this? We do this all the time.” Skylar said it bluntly, without a hint of shame. “Serena, don’t be so petty. Look how hard I’ve worked, raising a child alone all these years.” “We’re best friends. Isn’t sharing a husband perfectly normal?” Skylar said. Caleb emerged from Leo’s room. Julian quickly pulled away from Skylar, grabbing a gift for Caleb. It was a pair of expensive, exquisite running shoes. “Caleb, you need to exercise well and grow up strong,” Julian said, his voice full of doting affection. “Thank you, Uncle Julian!” “Oh, Julian, you’re so good to our Caleb, just like a real father.” Skylar giggled. I glanced at Leo’s shoes by the door. They were so worn out, the soles were torn, and his toes poked through. They were Caleb’s old, worn-out shoes from two years ago. I wanted to buy Leo a new pair. But all the money in the house was in my husband’s hands. My husband had said, “Leo is worthless trash, a bastard. He doesn’t deserve new shoes.” Then he looked at me, his eyes complex. I didn’t understand what he meant.

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Oh, hey. So, yeah, I’m literally in my kitchen right now, and I just rescued a merman cub. Things are super complicated: The original me treated the male lead like a personal cash cow, hanging him upside down and forcing him to cry pearls. My own daughter is a total nightmare. And that egg, the one that was about to be boiled alive? Yeah, that’s his sister. So, question: Is it too late for a redemption arc? Seriously, asking for a friend. Help! I burst through the kitchen door. The first thing I saw was a battered blue fishtail, hanging suspended in mid-air. A flood of memories, or rather, *information*, slammed into my brain. I’d transmigrated into a novel, becoming Chloe, the male lead Leo’s wicked aunt. The original Chloe, greedy for her sister Rainey’s estate, had ostensibly adopted Leo, a merman hybrid, and his unhatched sister, Anya. But in reality, she’d turned the boy, who could shed pearls when he cried, into her personal money-making machine. Along with her biological daughter, Hazel, the original Chloe had cruelly abused the little merman. And twenty years later, the adult Leo had brutally sliced her up. Literally, like *sashimi*. The child hanging from the kitchen beam in front of me couldn’t have been more than six or seven years old. His small body was tightly bound from head to tail. Most of his beautiful scales had been pried off, revealing raw, pink flesh underneath. Directly below him, a small wooden bucket held a handful of rice-sized pearls. *This* was Leo? The future male lead? “Mom, what’s up? Is the egg almost ready to cook?” A little girl with bouncy pigtails trotted up behind me, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she peered at the stove. Only then did I notice the large pot full of water on the stove. Inside, a pale blue egg glowed faintly. My heart hammered in my chest. I quickly turned off the burner. The water was already close to boiling. I carefully wrapped the egg in my apron and lifted it out. “Mom, what are you doing? Didn’t you say we were having boiled egg today?” Hazel pouted, clearly annoyed by my actions. “This isn’t an eating egg.” I carefully placed the pale blue egg in the sink and turned on the faucet, trying to cool it down. Then I turned back to the boy still hanging. He’d been struggling frantically since I walked in, his blue eyes continuously shedding tiny pearls. Muffled whimpers escaped his bound mouth. “Don’t be scared, your sister is fine.” I moved towards Leo, but realized I couldn’t reach the rope tied to his fishtail. I grabbed a chair and stood on it. As I worked on the knots, I said to Hazel, “Hazel, sweetie, can you go grab two towels for Mom? The softest ones you can find.” The moment the rope loosened, his skinny body plummeted. I frantically caught him. He was terrifyingly light in my arms, his ribs starkly visible. A faint scent of blood and seawater clung to him. “Mom, are you crazy? If you let him down, where will we get pearls? What about Dad’s medical bills?” Hazel had just brought the towels when she saw me putting Leo down. She tossed the towels at me, yelling. “Hazel! This is your cousin!” I snapped at my daughter, then wrapped Leo in a towel and removed the gag from his mouth. “Sis…” The first thing he did, free from his restraints, was reach for the egg in the sink. I quickly wrapped the other towel around the egg and tucked it into his arms. Only then did Leo truly calm down, clutching the egg tightly. His blue eyes, filled with distrust and fear, stared straight at me. “I won’t ever treat you two like this again.” I murmured softly, my fingers gently brushing over Leo’s wounds, my heart aching with sympathy. But Leo clearly didn’t trust me. He flinched, curling back, his gaze fixed on my hands.

“Mom! See? He doesn’t even appreciate it. He’s such a little monster, no emotions at all.” Hazel pulled at my hand, looking at Leo with disdain. I quickly led her out of the kitchen, ready to give her a serious lecture. To my surprise, Leo, clutching the egg, stumbled out behind us. Before I could react, he pushed open the front door and darted outside. Hazel’s eyes widened in shock. “Mom, the little monster ran away.” “Hazel, that’s not a little monster. That’s your cousin, Leo. He’s your Aunt Rainey’s child, he’s family, okay?” But my little terror just stared blankly, clearly not getting it. “Mom, he ran away. Do I still get the dress you promised to buy with the pearls?” This kid. Spoiled rotten by the original me, she was a true little terror. I sighed and grabbed my jacket, intending to go find Leo. It was so late, and even if he was the protagonist, he was still just a six or seven-year-old kid. “Mom, it’s so dark outside. Why don’t you look for the little monster tomorrow?” Hazel tugged at my sleeve, trying to stop me from leaving. “Hazel, it’s late and cold out there. Wouldn’t you be scared if you were alone outside?” Hazel thought for a moment, then nodded. “Well, Leo is only a year older than you. He’ll be scared too, all alone. I need to go find him.” Finally, Hazel stopped pulling on my sleeve. “Mom, be careful, and please come back safe.” I ruffled her hair, then turned and left.

I scoured the neighborhood with my flashlight, checking every alley, every shadowy corner, even peering into storm drains. But there was no sign of Leo. The night wind bit at me, chilling me to the bone. Then something clicked. I bolted, running towards the nearest beach. Under the moonlight, the sand glowed a cold white. The waves breathed, ebbing and flowing, a steady rhythm. Right at the ocean’s edge, a small blue figure knelt in the water. “Leo!” My shout startled the little merman. He whipped his head around, and when he saw it was me, he clutched the egg and tried to dive into the sea. “Wait, stop! Your tail will get infected!” The seawater was already up to his waist. I rushed into the waves, grabbed his collar, and dragged him back to shore. “There are hardly any good scales left on your tail. Why are you running into the ocean?” His scales were gone because the original Chloe had ripped them off to prevent him from escaping. The saltwater would burn like hell on his raw skin. “Sister…” He clutched the egg tightly, afraid I would try to harm her. “The eggshell turned gray. It needs saltwater.” Only then did I notice the egg’s strange appearance. From the moment I’d pulled it out of the boiling pot, it had looked a sickly, dull grey-blue. “But you can’t soak yourself in the ocean, either. There’s a tide pool area over there; we can go there.” Noticing that the child under my hand was shivering violently, I quickly took off my coat and wrapped it around him.

The tide pools near the shore formed natural basins. I carefully placed the egg in the seawater, and after a moment, its shell regained its vibrant color. I noticed Leo wasn’t doing well. His tail was in saltwater, and his whole body was ice cold. “Leo, how long does it need to soak? Can we just do it for a bit tonight and come back tomorrow? Your wounds need to be treated, too.” “I promise I’ll be able to cry tomorrow. Please, don’t boil my sister.” He tugged at my sleeve, his large blue eyes pleading. My heart ached, a sharp pang of empathy. I pulled the wounded child into a tight embrace, holding him close – this boy, covered in cuts and bruises, yet still clutching his sister’s egg. It felt like I was holding a younger version of myself, the scared, lonely kid from the orphanage. “You won’t have to shed little pearls anymore. I’ll be good to you and your sister.” The little merman curled into a ball in my arms, his damp hair sticking to my arm like seaweed. A while later, once the egg had completely returned to its original color, I held the egg in my arms and carried Leo on my back as we walked back. As we reached the seawall, he suddenly asked, “Why did you… suddenly change?” The world seemed to go quiet, the sound of the ocean fading away. How was I supposed to tell him? That I transmigrated here? That they were just characters in a book? “I had this really long dream… I dreamt about your mom, Rainey. She was furious, pointing her finger right at me, screaming that if I ever treated you two like that again, she’d come back from the grave and string *me* up.” Suddenly, I felt something hard pressed against my back. As I took a step forward, I saw it was a tiny pearl. The child on my back mumbled, “Mom…” When we got home, only a small night light glowed in the living room. Hazel was curled up on the couch, fast asleep. At the sound of the door opening, she immediately sat up and rushed to the entrance to greet us. “Mom! You’re back!” “Yep, we’re back. Hazel, you did great looking after the house by yourself.” I carried Leo towards the bathroom. The steamy air quickly fogged up the mirror. “Hazel, can you help Mom grab the medical kit? It’s the blue box under Mom’s bed.” She quickly ran back with the medical kit. “Little monster, where did you run off to? Why are you carrying that egg? Wasn’t it for us to eat?”

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Serena deliberately crashed her car into mine. I miscarried my second child, bleeding heavily. Yet, my own daughter eagerly offered Serena her blood, completely ignoring me. Julian, my husband, used his authority to drop the case, instead running back and forth to Serena’s bedside, doting on her. I barely survived, escaping death by a hair’s breadth, only to be met with accusations from both my husband and daughter. “You wouldn’t have died if you just avoided it! Why are you so selfish? If you hadn’t moved and let Auntie Serena hit you, she wouldn’t have crashed into that pole and gotten hurt!” “I told you to stay home, raise the kids, and do housework. Why do you have to be like Serena? Look at how stupid you are, can you even drive?!” My daughter pointed at me, her face contorted with rage: “You’re not missing an arm or a leg. What’s the big deal if you’re old and your looks are gone, and your face is disfigured? Do you really think Dad will look at you twice?” She kicked my hospital bed fiercely, yelling at me, “If you hadn’t shamelessly forced your way in, Dad and Auntie Serena would have been together ages ago. Auntie Serena might even be my real mom!” “I’m telling you, if you dare to sue Auntie Serena, I’ll disown you and cut all ties with you as your mother!” Julian stood by, watching coldly, not bothering to intervene. He said impatiently, “The doctor said you’re too old, and with the heavy bleeding, I’ve already agreed to a hysterectomy. You’ll never have another child.” “If you don’t behave, when you get old, I’ll just have Scarlett send you to a nursing home. No one will bother with you then.” The anesthesia hadn’t fully worn off. I lay on the hospital bed, unable to move. Tears stung the wounds on my face. I had multiple fractures, and a gash from the car door sliced from under my right eye straight down to the corner of my lip, tearing my flesh raw. To be treated this way by the two people closest to me… I felt like knives were slowly slicing my heart into pieces. In the end, I compromised with them. I wouldn’t pursue charges against Serena. My husband and daughter both went next door to take care of Serena, completely abandoning me. My mouth was parched, and I hadn’t eaten all day. Julian was too stingy to hire a nurse for me, claiming it was a waste of money. My face flushed red, desperate to use the restroom, but I couldn’t move without pain. Finally, humiliatingly, I wet the bed. The nurse, exasperated, went to the next room to find someone. Julian was there, wiping down a naked Serena. He looked utterly disgusted, his face turning ashen. “She just broke her leg, she’s not helpless! If she can’t take care of herself, she can wear diapers. Who has time to change her?!”

Once I could barely get out of bed, I leaned on a crutch, enduring the pain, and went to the restroom to change my clothes. When I returned, I saw Julian anxiously questioning my attending doctor. His voice was filled with concern: “Doctor, Serena has a black mole on her butt. I heard that such moles can easily turn cancerous if they rub too much. Does it need to be removed?” “And she has two more black spots on her inner thigh. I’m really worried, could you please take a look?” A wave of numbness washed over me. I didn’t want to face him, so I turned and headed back into my room. Julian and Serena had always had a tangled past, their lives secretly intertwined. I knew that. I gave a bitter laugh, thinking how much of a failure I was. Suddenly, a strong pull yanked me backward. My crutch slipped from my grasp, and I lost my balance, crashing to the floor. My head slammed hard against the wall, and everything went black from the pain. Scarlett stood over me, looking down with a furious glare. “Did you post that video online? You’re just jealous of Auntie Serena, can’t stand to see her happy, so you’re trying to ruin her reputation!” “Auntie Serena has a concussion, she can’t get upset. She just cried herself unconscious. Are you only satisfied if you drive her to her death?”

The video of Serena deliberately crashing into me had somehow been uploaded online. Netizens immediately recognized that she had intentionally hit me. “I didn’t upload the video. I had no idea about it.” I endured the pain and patiently tried to explain, reaching out to grab her hand. “Don’t touch me!” Scarlett pulled her hand away in disgust. She wasn’t listening to my explanations, convinced that I was the one who posted it. Julian walked over, not bothering to help me up. He simply bent down and snatched my phone from my pocket. Using my account, he posted a clarification message. It was only when other patients’ family members nearby couldn’t stand it anymore that they came over and helped me back to my bed. I tremblingly opened my phone. I saw the video my daughter had just uploaded. She was dressed in a style strikingly similar to Serena’s, mimicking her soft tone of voice: “I’m Eleanor Miller’s biological daughter, and I’m speaking up to set the record straight. As her daughter, I can no longer stand her shameless and despicable behavior.” “My Auntie Serena and Dad grew up together, childhood sweethearts. But my mother used disgraceful means to get pregnant with me, forcing my dad to marry her.” “The video is fake. My mom deliberately provoked and insulted Auntie Serena, trying to frame her and get her arrested. I’m her daughter, how could I lie…?” My hand trembled as I scrolled through the comments. Below, comments slandering me and sympathizing with Serena covered the screen.

I wanted to confront Scarlett, but they found me first. Julian gently placed Serena on a chair. Her voice was soft: “Eleanor, you’re disfigured now. How can you be the lead dancer? Why don’t you let me have the position?” “You’d look embarrassing dancing like that, and you might scare the audience.” My face changed. I instinctively tried to sit up, pulling at my wounds: “No! I’ve been preparing for this performance for three years! I poured so much effort into it; I can’t give it up.” “It’s just a lead dance. Why are you so petty? If it weren’t for you, Serena wouldn’t be injured.” Julian completely disregarded my refusal. He forcefully grabbed my hand and pressed my fingerprint onto a voluntary withdrawal form. Scarlett, beaming proudly, handed the form to Serena, swinging her arm and acting spoiled. “Auntie Serena, now you can relax, right? Without her as a stumbling block, the lead dancer position is yours for sure!” “And you can wear the gown Dad bought you, Auntie Serena. You’ll be so beautiful. Dad and I will both be there to cheer you on!” Serena’s face broke into a smile. She gently stroked Scarlett’s head, then looked up at Julian with a sweet expression and kissed him. “Julian, thank you. It’s so good to have you both as family.” The three of them looked so intimate, as if they were the true family. A bitter wave of despair washed over me, twisting my heart. I closed my eyes, unable to watch their joyous family scene. Julian suddenly stepped forward, grabbing my wrist and sliding off the ice-blue jade bracelet I wore. He said with disdain, “This bracelet looks perfect on Serena. Your skin is so sallow; it’s wasted on you. And all those designer skincare products you have at home? Give them to Serena too.” “You’re not allowed to be discharged with us. Your face is too ugly. You stay here in the hospital and get plastic surgery. Don’t come out until you’re done.”

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My entire life spiraled because I asked Damian’s childhood friend, Briar, for a simple apology after she brutally slapped me twelve times. That very night, my intimate photos were leaked online and spread everywhere for just a few credits. My face was swollen and throbbing, but I still wanted to visit my fiancé, who was supposedly sick. As I approached his hospital room, I saw them. Damian and his friends were projecting my private video onto the wall with his phone. “Mine’s way better! Every intimate detail is crystal clear!” “Damn, Damian, you’re something else! To share a body this hot? We all owe you, man!” “But hey, Damian, Kira’s a rising star. If she finds out you’re behind this private stream, won’t she dump you?” Damian just smirked, unfazed, and tossed a playing card with one of my leaked pictures onto the table. “What right does she have to talk about our engagement? She’s just a cheap slut, seen by everyone. Who else would want her after me?” His friends exchanged glances, then fawned over him. “Damian’s right! How could such a dirty woman become Mrs. Sinclair? If we get the chance, let’s all have a taste of her. But seriously, Damian, what did Kira do to make you go so hard on her?” Damian’s casual expression twisted into disgust. “Who told her to pull rank and deliberately make things difficult for Briar? So what if she slapped her twelve times? Briar’s just a newcomer to the industry. I only promoted Kira to be a stepping stone for Briar. Does she even *deserve* to make Briar apologize?” He slammed his cards down, and my private photos flashed across the screen in front of those men. Staring at my unaware face, my vision went black.

“Damian, this move of yours is genius, though. Ten minutes of Kira’s high-definition, uncensored live stream for a single credit? It’s practically a giveaway! And a whole night for a dollar? Cheaper than dirt!” Damian sneered, his expression icy. “A single credit is giving her too much credit. Does she really think she’s some big star? She dared to treat Briar like that, so I’m going to make sure she knows exactly what she is!” He slowly opened his phone and sent a voice message to the group chat. “Tonight, we continue. One credit gets you a new pose. First-person view, do whatever you want. Anyone who wants in, sign up.” Then, he even packaged last night’s video and sent it out again. My body trembled, my teeth nearly biting through my lip. No wonder he’d blindfolded me last night, tormenting me in every way possible. The men in the room had their phones on speaker, broadcasting the video, their lewd comments filling the air. And I, too, was drowning in despair. The sharp pain on my lip kept me clinging to the last shred of my sanity. I couldn’t understand why Damian, who had pursued me for three years—the man who publicly doted on me, who couldn’t bear to see me suffer even the slightest harm—would treat me like this. I knew he was extremely possessive. Every time, he’d leave all sorts of marks on my body. He’d also frequently take me to various places to seek thrills, even demanding that I say embarrassing things, which always seemed to excite him. The old me had gone along with it, thinking it was just our little kinky fun as a couple. I never imagined it was all just a prelude to his humiliation of me for the sake of his childhood sweetheart. The comments from the hospital room grew more and more explicit. I hugged myself tightly, trembling all over. As a popular actress, I’d just started making a name for myself with my acting skills when Damian begged me to mentor a newcomer. Before that, I’d only heard about Damian’s childhood friend, Briar. “Damian values Briar so much! She’s been his little shadow since they were kids. She’s so cute and thoughtful!” The first time we met, Briar actively called me “Sister” and greeted me, but I later found out she was actually a year older than me. Still, for Damian’s sake, I was willing to guide her a little. But I never expected that on the very first day of shooting, she’d ask to add a slapping scene. The director reminded her she could fake the hit, but she slapped me twelve times in a row, then pushed all the blame onto me. My face was swollen beyond recognition. Not only did she not apologize, but she burst into tears, acting like *she* was the one who’d suffered a great injustice. Seeing the shooting schedule delayed, the director, with a dark expression, insisted she had to fake the hit, and only then did the scene finally wrap. Everyone looked at the red, swollen finger marks on my face with pity. I was heartbroken, but all I wanted was an apology. Briar cried hysterically, but under Damian’s watchful eye—he was visiting the set—she finally apologized. “I’m sorry, I made a mistake.” But she acted like she’d been immensely wronged, retreating into her private car. At the time, Damian just told me she was spoiled, and he looked at the injuries on my face with concern. I never imagined that very night I’d become the star of a private stream, all because he thought I wasn’t even fit to be compared to his childhood sweetheart. Yet, that very morning, he’d held my face in his hands. “Briar is my childhood friend. She’s seen it. Even my parents have seen it. I hope we can have everyone’s blessing.” He was the one who said he’d love me forever, but then he betrayed me without hesitation. Our three years together, it turned out, meant nothing compared to a single tear from his childhood friend. If that’s the case, why did he ever bother with me?

Suddenly, a comment from one of his friends echoed from the hospital room. “If Briar wasn’t so fragile, Damian wouldn’t have to go find other women to satisfy his needs.” It was then I understood. He wasn’t incapable of respect; he just never placed *me* at the center of his world. My vision flickered, and a searing pain ripped through my chest. I can’t remember how I left the hospital, only the naked, blatant stares from every direction, as if I’d been stripped bare and thrown into public. I cowered from everyone’s gaze, terrified that someone would rush up and brand me a slut with my own private video. Trembling, I dialed my sister, Mia’s, number. After our parents passed away, my sister and I relied on each other. A while ago, there was an incident with our company, and Mia had to go abroad for six months to handle it, working in isolation. For my safety, she deliberately hid our relationship, and today happened to be the day she was free. Mia picked up instantly, and my suppressed sobs immediately threw her into a panic. She kept trying to comfort me over the phone. “Mia, I’ve made up my mind. I’ll go abroad with you and help you develop the business. You’ve protected me all these years; it’s time I did something for you.” Our family had many businesses, but most of them were focused overseas. Originally, after I graduated, I was supposed to go abroad with Mia to develop our ventures, but because Damian said he couldn’t bear for me to leave, I pushed all the responsibility onto my sister. I thought that if I could make a name for myself in the entertainment industry, Mia would agree to my marriage with Damian, and we could be together forever. But the truth was, he just saw me as a toy, a plaything. If he cared about me even a little, he wouldn’t have let me fall into this hopeless situation where I could never recover. Thankfully, I could still turn back, even if it meant abandoning everything from my past. I drove to what used to be our love nest. Most of the time, I lived here alone. Damian came every day, but he only entered to blow off steam. I lay on the cold floor, letting the chill slowly seep into my limbs. All my strength seemed to drain away, and even my vision was blurry. Soon, my phone rang. I looked at the familiar number and tiredly answered. “What are you doing?” Hearing Damian’s voice, I curled into a ball. “Nothing.” “Briar said she feels bad about what happened the other day and wants to apologize to you in person. Get dressed up, I’ll take you.” The call ended instantly. I didn’t even have time to say no. Ten minutes later, he walked in. Seeing me sitting disheveled on the sofa, his brow furrowed slightly. “Your agent already called me. Those videos must have been secretly filmed. Don’t worry, I’ll handle everything.” He pushed me into the bedroom, whispering in my ear. “Everyone will be there tonight. Get yourself ready.” With that, he pulled open the closet and started picking out clothes for me. I looked at him through the mirror. “How will you handle it?” I remembered what they said in the hospital room. “Damian, Kira will definitely find out these videos were secretly filmed. How will you handle it then?” Damian hadn’t had time to answer, but Briar, who was still in the group call, gave the answer. “Who told her not to be careful and get herself filmed? Anyway, she’s just a minor celebrity. It’s normal for her to be seen naked. Everyone will just say it’s because she was too attention-seeking that she got targeted. And besides, Damian has always been by her side, never abandoning her. She’ll be so touched she’ll probably happily become Damian’s kept woman, saving her from blocking my way. Damian, isn’t that right?” Damian praised her without hesitation. “Yes, my Briar is the smartest.” Just then, someone posted a screenshot of my stream. In an instant, the news that watching me only cost a single credit spread, and I became the “slut” everyone knew. I looked at Damian, utterly disappointed. “This is how you ‘handled’ it?” I buried myself under the covers, trying to find a bit of warmth. “I don’t want to see anyone. Just go.” But Damian forcefully pulled off the covers, his voice filled with disappointment. “Kira, what are you still putting on a show for?”

“Briar is kind-hearted. She was afraid you’d do something foolish after finding out about the online stuff, so she deliberately set this up. She even wants to formally apologize to you for that incident.” His gaze fell on my still-swollen face. “She’s already made such a concession; you can’t be so willful.” No matter how I refused, he dragged me to the car. At the club, I cowered in the car seat, terrified of everyone’s stares, but he forcibly pulled me out. He seemed to hug me tenderly. “You’re not the one who did anything wrong, why are you hiding? You need to bravely face the rumors, understand?” He wouldn’t let me lower my head. He gripped my arm and pulled me into a private room in the club. I could feel the gazes of the people inside the club. Those greasy stares, like snakes, slithered over my body, tightening their coils around me. “Actresses really do have great bodies, but it’s a shame she’s dressed so conservatively. She looks way hotter in the video!” “Her entire body has already been seen by everyone, hahaha! Last night, I specifically bought a few extra credits just to see all her private details clearly!” I shivered, cold sweat instantly soaking my back. Damian pushed me into the private room they had booked. Before I could even sigh in relief, I was met with even more direct and disdainful stares. “I’m going home! Let me go!” But Damian firmly blocked the door, and a pair of cold arms instantly wrapped around my neck, pulling me into an unfamiliar embrace. I tried to break free but was held down tightly. “Little sister-in-law, you’re still so good at rubbing up against people. You’re making my heart itch. I really want to have you right here, right now.” I recognized that voice. It was one of Damian’s friends, the one who was most active in the group and loved commenting on the videos the most. I struggled to break free from his grip, my back pressed hard against the wall, confronting those pairs of malicious eyes with terror. Briar stood among the crowd, an expression of enjoyment plastered on her face. “How can you joke like that with our big star? That’s too much.” She walked over, grabbed my hand, and flung me towards the crowd. I was instantly surrounded by a group of strange men, my rationality slowly consumed by fear. I wanted to run, but there was no escape. And Damian merely stood at the door, perfectly at ease. I saw only indifference on his face. He didn’t care about my panic or my fear. He even took out his phone with a curious expression and snapped a photo. I couldn’t imagine that a man who was holding me and saying he loved me last night could turn on me so mercilessly. Briar also walked into the crowd, completely cutting off my last chance of escape. “Sister Kira, I’m just a newcomer. My acting naturally isn’t as good as yours. I know I haven’t done well enough, so I specifically brought my friends here to apologize to you. What do you think?” “But before that, we also have a question we’d like to ask you!” She fiddled with a remote control in her hand. The next moment, the large screen in the private room displayed various uncensored screenshots of me. Her eyes held a smile, but her voice carried a cruel innocence. “You really are careless. How could you let someone post this kind of thing? Or perhaps, you did it voluntarily? But you should at least consider Damian’s feelings, right?” She feigned understanding, glancing at Damian. “Luckily, I’ve said a lot of good things about you to Damian! I don’t ask for your thanks, but how about you stay tonight, and we get along really well?” Her poised and generous demeanor earned praise from everyone. They surrounded me like hungry wolves. Just as I couldn’t dodge them anymore, Damian finally spoke. He looked at Briar, his eyes full of resignation. “Briar, don’t play too hard. You need to rest well tonight. You have more filming tomorrow.” Briar curved her lips into a smile and casually picked up a bottle of red wine nearby. “Alright then. For Damian’s sake, as long as Sister Kira drinks this bottle of wine, we’ll stop.” Instantly, everyone looked at me with an expression of anticipation. And the moment I said no, Damian had someone open the wine. “It’s just one bottle of wine. You’re a veteran in the entertainment industry; you’re used to it. Just drink it.” I stared at him, stunned. Since entering the industry, I’d never touched alcohol. Because he was by my side, I’d always maintained a pristine image. But it turned out he never cared about any of my efforts. He just saw me as a plaything, which was why he looked down on me, wantonly demeaning me. His kindness to me was only to make me more obedient. I forced a bitter smile and picked up the bottle of wine. “If I finish this bottle, will it all be over?” Damian looked at my pale face, but urged by Briar, he hesitated and said, “Yes.” The entire bottle of wine was poured down my throat. I forcibly suppressed the urge to vomit, covered my mouth, and walked towards the door of the private room. But I didn’t expect the dizziness to worsen. Finally, I stumbled and fell to the floor. Outside, the door was just a few feet away. The next moment, someone chuckled and grabbed my ankle, dragging me back into the crowd. This time, my vision was clouded as if by a thick fog. The people surrounding me transformed into shadows of devils, enveloping me layer by layer. A scorching flame ignited within my body. I fought to maintain the last sliver of consciousness, watching Damian, who was whispering to Briar, in utter shock. “You knew there was something in the wine?” The man who had held me earlier now pulled out his phone, shoving it in my face and snapping photos. “I can’t believe how good this drug is! Hahaha, this stuff is hard to get. Even the most virtuous woman will cling to you after drinking it. Damian really went all out for his girl, Briar!” “And you! Thinking you’re so special just because you’ve got a bit of fame, daring to give Briar attitude. How could Damian indulge you? A few slaps won’t hurt you. But now, I’m really looking forward to seeing you beg me!” Their mocking laughter turned into whips, lashing at me until I was raw and exposed. “Let’s see how long you can hold out, you little bitch. Take all your clothes off, now!” I desperately clung to my last bit of sanity, crawling towards Damian. “No, don’t do this to me. Please, let me go…” 4

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