Author: Momo Chan

After the car crash, I lost my memory. Four powerful, elite men, each claiming to be the love of my life, were practically tearing each other apart, throwing fortunes at me. Julian Sterling, the billionaire CEO, emptied luxury boutiques. Liam Knight, my boy-next-door childhood friend, bought my favorite art gallery. Caleb Thorne, the A-list celebrity, booked Times Square for my birthday. And Dr. Elias Thorne, my attending physician, became my most comforting, unwavering support. They spoiled me rotten, like a princess everyone envied. Julian Sterling, his eyes blazing with possessiveness, clutched me close, his voice husky: “Anya, forget them. You can only be mine.” They didn’t know. The car crash was my design. The amnesia was an act. I just wanted to see how these four culprits, who had shattered my family and destroyed my life in the past, would tear each other apart and drown in the carefully constructed pond I’d built for them. The sterile, suffocating scent of disinfectant clung to everything, inescapable, in the pure white hospital room. I opened my eyes. Four handsome faces, each harboring their own secrets, swam into view. “Anya, you’re awake?” Dr. Elias Thorne, my attending physician, was the first to speak. He wore a crisp white coat, his eyes, framed by delicate gold-rimmed glasses, held a perfectly calibrated concern – just enough to appear caring, but not too much. He reached out to check my forehead, but another large, well-defined hand intercepted him mid-air. “Dr. Thorne, please mind your boundaries.” Julian Sterling’s voice was like ice. He exuded an almost palpable sense of intimidation, an aura that screamed ‘stay away,’ yet his gaze toward me held a burning, possessive intensity. “Anya, do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?” Before I could answer, a clear, boyish voice cut in. “Mr. Sterling, Anya just woke up. Don’t scare her.” Liam Knight held a thermos, his eyes gentle. He was my boy-next-door, my childhood friend. “Anya, I made you your favorite homemade broth.” “Everyone, move!” A man, practically swallowed by a baseball cap and dark sunglasses, pushed his way in, tearing off his disguise to reveal a face so stunning it felt unreal. It was Caleb Thorne, the superstar. He cupped my face, his charming eyes full of heartache: “My little queen, you’re finally awake. You scared me to death.” Four men, four different poses, yet all looked at me with the same possessive gaze, as if I were their property. I blinked blankly, perfectly portraying vulnerability and helplessness, my voice light and soft: “Who… are you all? And… who am I?” “Amnesia?” Four voices spoke in unison, their shock barely concealed. Dr. Elias Thorne was the first to react. He immediately regained his professional composure as a doctor and began to examine me. Julian Sterling’s face was a thundercloud, dark enough to drip. He swatted Caleb Thorne away as he leaned in, staring intently at me: “Anya Sterling, don’t play games.” I flinched, a whimper escaping my lips as tears immediately welled up. “Julian Sterling!” Liam Knight instantly stepped in front of me, glaring at him. “Can’t you see Anya’s scared? How can you still push her when she’s like this?” Caleb Thorne exploded too: “Hey, Sterling! Try yelling at her one more time? I’ll have my fans crash your company’s website so hard, it’ll never recover!” The air in the room crackled with tension. I hid behind Liam, peeking through the gap in his shoulder, my eyes cold as I watched the farce unfold. How pathetic. In my previous life, it was these four men. Julian Sterling launched a hostile takeover, bankrupting my family’s company. My father’s hair turned stark white overnight from the stress. Liam Knight, for his family’s gain, stole our company’s most vital trade secrets, delivering a fatal blow to my father. Caleb Thorne used his public influence, fabricating baseless scandals that dragged my mother’s reputation through the mud. She eventually succumbed to depression and passed away. And Dr. Elias Thorne, my father’s most trusted physician, forged a health report, concealing the heart problems my father developed from prolonged overwork, ultimately leading to his sudden collapse and death in his office. My family was shattered, utterly destroyed. I went from being a golden girl, destined for greatness, to nothing more than dust on the street, eventually run over by a runaway truck. Given a second chance at life, how could I ever forget? I remember everything, every single detail. This crash, this amnesia – they were just the first act, the grand opening of the revenge I’d orchestrated just for them. Dr. Elias Thorne’s final diagnosis was that I had suffered hippocampal damage due to severe head trauma, resulting in memory confusion and loss. “Simply put, she doesn’t remember anyone,” he said calmly, pushing up his glasses. Julian Sterling’s brow furrowed deeply, forming a sharp ‘V’ shape, clearly not believing it. Liam Knight breathed a sigh of relief, his eyes overflowing with tenderness. Caleb Thorne, however, rushed to my bedside, grabbing my hand: “It’s okay if you don’t remember! Baby, from today, I’ll chase you all over again!” Like a startled deer, I nervously pulled my hand away, whispering, “I… I want to be alone for a bit.” It was my subtle way of telling them to leave. Caleb Thorne tried to say more, but Liam pulled him away. Julian Sterling remained rooted to the spot, his deep dark eyes fixed on me, as if I were a valuable, yet enigmatic, artifact. After a long moment, he simply said, “Get some rest,” and turned to leave. Finally, the hospital room fell silent. The vulnerability and confusion instantly drained from my face, replaced by a chilling, dead silence. I pulled back the covers and walked to the window. Below, beside four luxury cars, the four men were locked in a standoff. I couldn’t make out their expressions, but I could easily imagine their ugly faces, battling each other over me. Oh, how truly perfect. In the last life, you all ganged up to push me into the abyss. In this life, you’ll tear each other apart, for me. My hospital room became a silent battlefield during my stay. One day, Julian Sterling would send every single haute couture piece from the current season. The next, Caleb Thorne would hire out an entire Michelin-starred chef team, just to make me a special, comforting meal. Liam Knight took the sentimental approach, bringing old childhood photos and trinkets every day, trying to jog my memory. Dr. Elias Thorne, meanwhile, used his position, claiming “the patient needs quiet rest” as an excuse to block the other three from my room, monopolizing his time with me. “Anya, they’re too loud. It’ll affect your recovery,” he said, skillfully peeling an apple, his voice sickeningly sweet, almost too gentle to be real. “With me here, no one can hurt you.” I took the apple, giving him a sweet, dependent smile: “Dr. Thorne, thank you. I only feel safe when I’m with you.” The smile in his eyes deepened. Safe? How could I forget? In my last life, my father, too, trustingly put his health in your hands, only for you to personally bring about his death. Dr. Thorne, don’t rush. Your comeuppance will be delivered, little by little, by my own hands. Just then, the hospital room door burst open with a bang. Julian Sterling stormed in, radiating a frosty aura. Behind him, two bodyguards directly restrained Dr. Elias Thorne, who had tried to block them. “Since when did my woman become your responsibility?” Julian Sterling walked up to me and scooped me up without a word. I gasped, instinctively wrapping my arms around his neck. “Julian Sterling! Put her down!” Dr. Elias Thorne, Liam Knight, and Caleb Thorne, who had rushed over, roared in unison. Julian Sterling sneered, holding me like a conquering king, surveying his vanquished rivals with disdain. “From today on, Anya Sterling will be staying at my private hospital.” Julian Sterling’s private hospital felt more like a luxurious cage. A top medical team was on call 24 hours a day, nurses were always available, and everything in the room was decorated in my favorite style. He placed me on the soft, luxurious bed, looking down at me, his voice brooking no argument: “From now on, you’ll live here. You’re not allowed to see anyone without my permission.” He wanted to isolate me completely, to claim me as his own. I bit my lip, my eyes reddening, looking on the verge of tears: “Who… who are you? Why are you holding me captive?” “I’m your man.” He pinched my chin, forcing me to look at him. “Anya Sterling, you’d better remember quickly. My patience has limits.” His gaze was too aggressive. I fearfully turned my face away. He, however, thought I was scared of him. A flicker of annoyance crossed his eyes, and he softened his tone: “I just… care about you too much.” A cold sneer formed in my heart. Care? In my last life, he also used this same unyielding posture to swallow my family’s company. He had said, “The Davies Corporation, I’ll take it. And you, I’ll take you too.” So domineering, so cruel. I lowered my eyes, my long lashes concealing the hatred within. When I looked up again, my eyes were glistening with unshed tears. “My head hurts…” I clutched my head, weakly collapsing into his arms. Julian Sterling panicked, as expected, and immediately called for a doctor. Seizing the moment he turned, I swiftly sent a message to Liam Knight using the tiny phone hidden in my nail. Just one word. “Save me.” Liam Knight arrived faster than I expected. He wasn’t alone. He brought my “parents” with him. Of course, they were actors I’d hired. When the hospital room door was pushed open, Julian Sterling was spoon-feeding me soup. “Mr. Sterling, we appreciate you looking after our Anya, but now, we’re taking her home,” my “father” said sternly, his tone neither obsequious nor arrogant. My “mother” directly rushed to my bedside, taking my hand and crying as if her heart would break: “My precious darling, you’ve suffered so much!” Julian Sterling’s face immediately darkened. I seized the opportunity to show affection and dependence on my “parents,” hiding in my “mother’s” embrace, looking timidly at Julian Sterling, as if he were a kidnapper. “Mr. Sterling, Anya’s current condition requires the company of her family.” Liam Knight stood behind my “parents,” smiling gently, yet with a hint of challenge. It was a checkmate move. No matter how domineering Julian Sterling was, he couldn’t forcibly keep me in front of my “elders.” He stared intently at me, like a provoked lion. I met his gaze, my eyes pure and innocent, but inside, my heart was roaring with triumphant laughter. Julian Sterling, do you think you can win by locking me up? In this game, I set the rules. I was “successfully” taken back home. A villa I had rented under a fake identity. After sending Liam and my “parents” away, I immediately opened the surveillance monitors in the room. On the screen, Caleb Thorne was throwing a tantrum in his apartment, smashing an expensive vase. “Useless! All of you, useless! You couldn’t even keep track of one person!” His agent trembled beside him. On another screen, Dr. Elias Thorne sat in his office, repeatedly reviewing my medical records, his eyes dark and unreadable. As for Julian Sterling, he didn’t return to his company. Instead, he drove to a cemetery in the suburbs. My parents’ graves. He stood before their headstones for a very long time, rain soaking his hair and shoulders, yet he remained motionless. I turned off the monitors, the smile on my lips growing colder. Only now you come to play the hypocrite? Isn’t it a bit too late? Julian Sterling, everything you inflicted upon my parents, I will make you pay back tenfold. My phone vibrated. It was a message from Liam Knight. “Anya, are you asleep? Don’t be afraid. I’m here for you now.” I replied with “Good night,” then blocked him. The fish were on the hook. Next, I’d let them tear each other apart. The next day, an entertainment headline exploded across the internet. #A-Lister Caleb Thorne Suspected New Relationship, Female Identity Unknown# The accompanying picture showed a “cozy” photo of Caleb and me in the hospital corridor. The angle was tricky, making it look like he was passionately embracing me. I had deliberately leaked this photo to a rival media outlet through a private detective. Caleb Thorne’s fans immediately went wild, unleashing a torrent of curses and insults directed at the blurry female figure in the photo. “Who’s this bitch? How dare she seduce my bias!” “Oppa, clarify this now! You would never fall for someone like this!” Caleb Thorne’s call came through immediately, his voice anxious: “Anya, don’t look at the news, it’s all fake. I’ll have my PR team handle it right away!” I said, my voice choked with tears: “Caleb, I’m so scared… they’re all cursing at me…” “Don’t worry, baby, I’ll figure something out.” After hanging up, the curve of my lips grew wider and wider. Caleb Thorne, you care most about your career and your fans. Now, I’ll make you destroy it yourself. Caleb Thorne’s so-called solution was to hold a live stream. In the live stream, he looked haggard, his eyes bloodshot. He admitted the person in the photo was me, but claimed we were just “friends.” “She just went through a car crash and is very weak. Please don’t bother her anymore.” He bowed ninety degrees to the camera. His fans were heartbroken and expressed their understanding, then began attacking the media outlet that leaked the photo and the “mastermind” behind it. The blame was cleverly directed towards Julian Sterling. Because the photo’s background was Julian Sterling’s private hospital. “It must be that Sterling guy’s doing! He wants to drive our bias away!” “Sterling Corp is blacklisted for life! Boycott all Sterling products!” Julian Sterling’s PR team was in a frenzy, and his company’s stock price plummeted. When he called me, his voice was laced with suppressed fury: “That photo… was it your doing?” I burst into tears, feigning distress: “I don’t know… I don’t know anything… Mr. Sterling, please let me go, okay? I just want a peaceful life…” The more heartbroken I cried, the more agitated he became. “Alright, stop crying,” he said stiffly, trying to soothe me, then hung up. I knew he was already suspecting Caleb Thorne. Excellent. The first seed of distrust had been sown. The situation escalated even more intensely than I had anticipated. Caleb Thorne’s fans were incredibly aggressive. They not only cyberbullied Julian Sterling but also doxxed Liam Knight and Dr. Elias Thorne, labeling them as “entangled male sidekicks.” A story of love and hate among four people was spun into countless versions online. I, the “amnesiac protagonist,” became an object of universal sympathy. Liam Knight was the first to lose his composure. He directly issued a statement on his family’s corporate social media, clarifying his relationship with me and warning netizens to stop spreading rumors, or face legal action. This statement, undoubtedly, only added fuel to the fire. “Oh, the main character is finally making an appearance? Is he declaring war on Mr. Sterling and Caleb Thorne?” “Knight Industries? Never heard of such a small company. Daring to chase clout?” Liam Knight’s mask of gentle composure cracked for the first time. He found me, his eyes bloodshot: “Anya, come with me. I’ll take you away from here, to a place where no one knows us.” I looked at him and gently shook my head: “Liam, I’m not going anywhere.” I paused, then asked with an innocent tone: “Do you… also think I’m a lot of trouble?” He immediately panicked: “No! That’s not what I meant! Anya, I just…” “I just want to protect you,” he finally said. I smiled. Protect me? In my last life, you used those very words to deceive my father’s trust, then stabbed our family in the back with the cruellest blow. Liam Knight, your devotion is the most disgusting thing I’ve ever witnessed. At the center of this fiasco, Dr. Elias Thorne was, ironically, the one who held his composure best. He didn’t issue any statements, nor did he come looking for me. He simply sent a message promptly every day, reminding me to take my medication and rest, as if the turmoil outside had nothing to do with him. But I knew he cared more than anyone. I deliberately didn’t reply to his messages. On the third day, he finally couldn’t resist and appeared at my doorstep. He looked a bit haggard, and his white coat was slightly disheveled. “Anya, why didn’t you reply to my messages?” He grabbed my wrist, his grip a little too tight. I winced in pain: “Dr. Thorne? You’re hurting me.” He seemed to snap out of it, as if jolted awake, quickly letting go. A flicker of panic crossed his eyes: “I’m sorry, I… I was just so worried about you.” “Are you okay? Don’t believe what they’re saying online.” He explained anxiously, “Liam and I… we’re innocent.” I looked at him and suddenly smiled, a radiant, innocent smile: “Dr. Thorne, I believe you.” I tiptoed, leaning close to his ear, and whispered in a voice only we could hear: “I believe you, just like my dad believed you.” His body instantly stiffened. Dr. Elias Thorne’s face went deathly pale in an instant. He stared at me, his eyes filled with shock, fear, and a hint of disbelieving scrutiny. I maintained my innocent smile, as if what I’d just said was merely an accidental remark. “Dr. Thorne, what’s wrong? You look so pale,” I asked with concern. He opened his mouth, but not a single word came out. He stumbled away, looking utterly broken and defeated. I closed the door, the smile on my face freezing inch by inch. Dr. Elias Thorne, are you scared now? Don’t rush, this is just the beginning. I will make you crumble, little by little, in endless suspicion and fear. That night, Julian Sterling invited me to dinner. The venue was a private club with excellent discretion. He pulled out my chair, personally served me food, and adopted a very humble posture. “Anya, I was out of line before. I was too eager,” he said, pouring me a glass of juice, his tone softer than ever before. “I’ll clean up the mess online. They won’t bother you anymore.” I lowered my head, stirring the juice in my glass, saying nothing. “I know you don’t remember,” he paused, his voice a little hoarse. “But we used to be… good.” I looked up, meeting his deep eyes, and asked softly, “What was our relationship… before?” He was silent for a long time before he finally said, “I was your… greatest love.” I almost burst out laughing. Greatest love? Julian Sterling, your audacity knows no bounds, it’s truly astounding. “Is that so?” I tilted my head, feigning curiosity. “Then what about Liam? And Caleb? And Dr. Thorne… they all said they were the love of my life.” Julian Sterling’s face darkened: “They’re all lying to you.” “And you?” I pressed, “Are you telling the truth?” He was stumped, a hint of awkwardness flashing across his handsome face. I pressed my advantage, using an innocent cruelty to tear open his feigned devotion. “Mr. Sterling, you all say you love me, but your ‘love’ makes me so uncomfortable.” “Caleb’s fans curse at me, Liam tries to force me to leave, you lock me up, and Dr. Thorne is acting weird.” I put down my glass, stood up, and looked at him earnestly. “If this is love, then I’d rather not have it.” With that, I turned and walked away, without a hint of hesitation. Leaving Julian Sterling sitting alone at the empty dinner table, his face impossibly grim. I knew my words, like a sharp thorn, had dug deep into his heart. He would start to reflect, to scrutinize the other three. And once the gears of suspicion started grinding, there was no turning back. When I got home, Liam Knight was waiting at the door. He saw me step out of Julian Sterling’s car, and the tenderness in his eyes instantly faded, leaving only disappointment and hurt. “Anya, you still went to see him,” he said softly, his voice trembling slightly. I didn’t explain, just said tiredly, “Liam, I’m exhausted.” He stopped me, asking stubbornly, “Why? You know what kind of person he is!” “What kind of person is he?” I countered. “And what kind of person are you?” Liam Knight froze. I looked at him, saying each word clearly: “You all say you love me, but everything you do hurts me.” “I can’t tell who’s good and who’s bad.” “Liam, tell me, who should I trust?” I tossed the ball back to him. He looked at my clear, bewildered eyes, and all color drained from his face. Yes, what right did he have to criticize Julian Sterling? At the vultures’ feast, carving up the Davies family’s legacy, Liam Knight had also been a guest at the table. He opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing, turning away dejectedly. Watching his forlorn back, I felt no joy, only an icy coldness that permeated my bones. It wasn’t enough. Far from enough. The next few days passed quietly. The four men seemed to have reached some unspoken agreement; none of them came to bother me again. But I knew that beneath the calm surface, strong undercurrents surged. Julian Sterling began secretly investigating Knight Industries’ financial situation. Caleb Thorne used his connections to gather evidence of Julian Sterling’s tax evasion.

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I transmigrated into the villainess of a dark romance novel, only to find myself giving birth to the ruthless CEO’s triplet daughters. To win a smile from Veronica, the woman he adored, he packed me and our three wailing baby girls into an underground fighting arena. On the live stream, he wrapped an arm around Veronica, his voice chilling: “You and these worthless liabilities – whoever survives till the end, I’ll allow them to come back.” Veronica giggled, her laughter sickeningly sweet: “Oh, Dominic, you’re so naughty! Hurry, let everyone see the thrill of a mother and daughters tearing each other apart!” I closed my eyes in despair, clutching my three starving daughters. *Ding! Congratulations, Host! The ‘Husband’s Hellfire Redemption’ System has activated.* I curled my lips, revealing a chilling, white smile to the camera. “Dominic, darling, are you ready to lose everything and crawl on your knees to beg me?” *Ding! Newbie Gift Pack issued: Pain Empathy (100%). All physical and psychological pain you endure will be transmitted to the ‘target’ — the male lead of this dark romance — with zero delay and zero loss.* Our clothes were ripped off, leaving me and my three daughters wrapped only in a greasy, tattered tarp, then we were thrown into the arena like trash. My three daughters were burning with fever, their small bodies terrifyingly hot, whimpering like kittens in my arms. Barefoot, I stepped onto the slick, greasy ground. A bone-chilling cold shot straight up my spine. Almost at the exact same moment. “Ah!” Dominic Hayes’ caviar dropped to the floor. He clutched his mouth, a powerful wave of nausea surging up his throat, as if he’d just swallowed a mouthful of rotten swill. “Dominic, darling, what’s wrong?” Veronica Lane leaned into him, wiping the corner of his mouth with a concerned handkerchief. “Nothing.” Dominic frowned. “Maybe the seafood wasn’t fresh. There’s suddenly a taste of rust and sour slop in my mouth.” He picked up a glass of ’82 Lafite from a nearby table, elegantly rinsed his mouth, then spat onto the expensive Persian rug beside him. “Baby, don’t mind me. Try this – air-freighted bluefin tuna.” He spoke in the gentlest tone, with the most caring words. I watched coldly from the giant screen on the ceiling. “System, the game has begun.” Dominic was about to feed Veronica a piece of tuna when his heart violently spasmed, as if an invisible hand had brutally squeezed it. It was an extreme, gut-wrenching sense of abandonment. He didn’t know it was precisely how I felt at that moment. *Clang!* At the other end of the iron cage, a small door opened, and a guard threw in a metal bucket. Inside were foul, maggot-ridden scraps, emitting a nauseatingly sour stench. “Eat it, bitch. Mr. Hayes said if you want to live, you have to eat like a dog.” The guard’s mockery echoed through the arena via the live broadcast. My eldest daughter, Lily, was delirious with fever, her lips cracked, unconsciously whimpering: “Mommy… water…” I stared at the bucket of maggots, my stomach churning. But I knelt anyway, using my hands to carefully push aside the squirming maggots in that slimy filth, trying to find a drop of clean water underneath. The moment my fingertips touched the cold, slimy maggots— “Ugh!” Dominic could no longer hold it in. Right in front of Veronica, he vomited the top-tier meal he’d just eaten all over the floor. The head-spinning, nauseating sensation that came from my fingertips was 100% synchronized to his nerve endings. Veronica recoiled in disgust, pinching her nose. “Dominic, you’re so disgusting! What’s wrong with you?” “I… I’m fine…” Dominic hadn’t finished speaking when a rustling sound came from the shadows of the iron cage. The first “appetizer” arrived—a pack of starving, rotting rats. Their eyes gleamed red in the dim light, and they charged at us without hesitation. I instinctively clutched my three daughters tightly, forming a wall of flesh with my back and legs. “Ah—!” A rat sank its teeth viciously into my calf. Sharp teeth pierced through flesh, sending excruciating pain through me! “Argh!!!” At the same instant, Dominic clutched his calf, letting out a horrific scream in front of everyone, rolling off the sofa. The wealthy socialites present were stunned. Veronica was startled too, but mostly she felt mortified. “Dominic! What’s wrong with you? It’s just a leg cramp, isn’t it? Everyone’s watching!” “It’s not a cramp! It’s… it’s like a dog bite! It hurts! It hurts so much!” He couldn’t comprehend why his perfectly intact skin, beneath his thousand-dollar custom suit pants, was experiencing the agonizing sensation of being torn open alive. I endured the pain, listening to his screams from the big screen, and I smiled. Dominic, this is just the appetizer. The large cage door opened again, and a hungry, drooling wolf stalked in. The wolf’s target was clear: my wailing daughters in my arms. It lunged suddenly! I didn’t have time to think, instinctively blocking it with my left arm. *Splatt!* The wolf’s fangs sank deep into my arm, tearing a gash so deep the bone was visible. Blood instantly stained the dirty tarp. “Aaahhhhhh—!!!” A bomb seemed to detonate in Dominic’s mind. The agonizing pain of his arm being brutally ripped open made him instantly crush the wine glass in his hand. Glass shards dug deep into his palm, bleeding profusely. But he found that the pain in his hand was less than a thousandth of the excruciating pain originating from me in his mind.

Amidst the agonizing struggle with the wolf, the cold system prompt sounded again. *Ding! Host’s will to survive is strong, unlocking new skill: Memory Whiplash. You can select one of your most painful memories and 100% synchronize it to the empathy target, causing a mental shock.* I spoke without hesitation: “Select the memory of the triplet’s difficult birth!” Memories surged like a tide, overwhelming Dominic’s mind through the system. *Memory Scene One: The Delivery Room* I was drenched in sweat from the pain, gripping the bedsheets, pleading with the doctor: “Please, a C-section! I can’t take it anymore!” The doctor’s face was expressionless: “We need a family member’s signature.” The call went to Dominic. In the background, Veronica’s娇滴滴 voice: “Dominic, the doctor says my ankle is only a slight sprain, but I’m so scared! Stay with me, don’t leave.” Then came Dominic’s impatient roar: “Natural birth! Make her endure it! What woman doesn’t go through pain during childbirth? Stop being so dramatic!” *Memory Scene Two: Outside the Operating Room* I was hemorrhaging, my life hanging by a thread. The doctor rushed out and asked him: “Mr. Hayes, the mother’s condition is critical. Who do we prioritize, the mother or the baby?” He was gently applying a cold compress to Veronica’s ankle, not even looking up. “Save the baby. She won’t die. It’s just giving birth. Doesn’t every woman give birth?” *Memory Scene Three: The Hospital Room* I was weak postpartum, suffering from incontinence. The nurse’s aide, bribed by Veronica, deliberately left me on a bed soiled with filth for several hours. She even loudly mocked me in front of everyone else in the room. “Look at you, Mrs. Hayes, what a mess you’ve made! You’re humiliating Mr. Hayes!” The excruciating twelve-level labor pain, the bone-chilling abandonment, the boundless humiliation of being shamed, combined with the fear of being torn by the wolf—four layers of pain piled up, like a towering mountain, crushing Dominic’s soul. “Ugh… ah…” His eyes rolled back, foam escaped his lips, and he collapsed onto the floor, convulsing violently. “Dominic! Dominic, what’s wrong? Don’t scare me!” Veronica shrieked, but her first reaction wasn’t to call a doctor. Instead, she quietly pulled out her phone, aimed it at Dominic’s grotesque face, and started recording. “Darling, look, he seems to be dying.” She cried hypocritically while rapidly texting her backup lover. In the arena, the wolf seemed to pause for a thousandth of a second due to Dominic’s violent reaction as the empathy target. Now was my chance! I seized the opportunity, picking up a sharp metal shard someone had dropped on the ground with my uninjured right hand. I used all my strength and slashed at the wolf’s throat! Warm wolf blood splattered across my face. The wolf crashed to the ground. *Ding! Congratulations, Host! You have achieved a counter-kill. Reward: Newbie Gift Pack – Potent Hemostatic Spray x1, Compressed Biscuits x3.* I didn’t stop my bleeding first. The wound on my arm was still gushing blood, but I merely knelt on the ground, my trembling hands carefully breaking the three precious compressed biscuits into small pieces, feeding them bit by bit to my terrified daughters. “Don’t be scared, babies. Mommy’s here.” This maternal love, born in the depths of despair, was clearly transmitted through empathy to the convulsing Dominic. This feeling wasn’t pain, yet it tormented him more than any pain. Because in his memories, he had just personally ordered the扼杀 of the very source of this warmth.

The wolf was dealt with, but the danger wasn’t over. The metal net above the arena opened, and dense swarms of venomous snakes rained down. “Oh my God! Snakes!” “They’re done for, aren’t they? With three liabilities.” “Mr. Hayes sure knows how to entertain! I’m getting excited! Yay! I bet 10 million that woman will throw her kids away first!” On the big screen, the excited chatter of the wealthy elite was relentless. I immediately shielded my daughters in a corner, forming a barrier with my body. Mixed among the snakes were several massive, slimy carrion-eating monitor lizards. Their target wasn’t us, but the still-warm wolf carcass nearby. The giant lizards opened their gaping jaws, tearing and swallowing the rotting flesh, nauseating fluids splattering everywhere. This primal, barbaric scene intensified one of my daughter’s fevers, causing her to hallucinate. She mistook a slowly slithering snake for my hand and actually laughed, reaching out to grab it. “Baby, don’t move!” I was terrified, clutching my daughter’s crying, struggling body with my uninjured hand. This tearing sensation, where I had to hurt her to protect her, felt like a knife twisting in my heart. *Ding! Host’s clever survival tactics have been recognized, rewarding new permission: Public Opinion Control (Basic). You can edit videos under 30 seconds and anonymously upload them to any online platform.* My chance had arrived. I deliberately allowed a colorful, non-venomous snake to bite my ankle. The illusion of being “poisoned” and the sharp pain were immediately synchronized to Dominic. “Help… I’ve been poisoned… there are snakes…” In Dominic Hayes’s corporate office, he writhed on the floor in agony, disrupting everyone trying to help him. At the same time, I activated [Public Opinion Control]. I didn’t spread videos of my own suffering; that would only satisfy the spectators’ morbid curiosity. I carefully edited a 30-second video: The background was the hellish scene of snakes encircling us and giant lizards devouring a corpse. The foreground was me, enduring the agonizing pain in my ankle, gently wiping away my daughter’s tears with the blood-stained hem of my clothing. I made no sound, only silently mouthed to them: “Mommy’s here.” The video ended with my feverish, hallucinating daughter placing her small hand on my face, innocently asking: “Mommy, are we playing a game?” I titled the video: *Mother of the Year: Hell-Level Parenting in Action.* Then, I anonymously uploaded it everywhere online. In less than ten minutes, the video exploded. #HellLevelParenting gained viral traction, rocketing to the top of the trending topics on Ins. “Holy crap! Is this a movie? It looks so real!” “That’s not special effects! Look at the mother’s arm wound, it’s real! And those snakes and monitor lizards!” “Investigate! Find out! Where is this? This is murder!” “That mother’s eyes… I’m crying. For her children, she truly fears nothing.” Soon, resourceful netizens, through a fleeting logo in the live stream background, identified the owner of this underground fighting arena—Dominic Hayes, CEO of Hayes Group, a man known nationwide for his “loving husband and devoted family man” public persona. Public opinion utterly erupted. “What ‘loving husband’ persona? His wife and kids are being fed to snakes in a fighting pit! That bastard!” “Boycott Hayes Group! This scum’s company must go bankrupt!” Hayes Group’s PR department’s phones were ringing off the hook, and their stock began a precipitous freefall. Dominic received countless calls from shareholders and partners demanding answers. But his mind was filled with the slimy sensation of snakes and the innocent cries of his daughters, making him roar incoherently: “Get away! Don’t touch me! There are snakes!” On the cold floor of the arena, I watched the Hayes Group’s market value evaporate on the system panel, and for the first time, a chilling smile touched my lips. Dominic, it seems that only by hurting myself, did I truly, for the first time, hurt you.

Under public pressure, the bloody live stream was forcibly paused. My daughters and I were dragged out of the arena and locked in a damp isolation room. My daughters’ fevers worsened, and they began to babble deliriously. Just as I was about to despair, the door quietly opened. A doctor in a white coat, carrying a medical kit, walked in. “Miss Reid, I was sent by Mr. Hayes.” He injected my daughter with a fever reducer, speaking in a low voice. “Mr. Hayes saw the online backlash and regretted it. He sent me to get you out.” He slipped a keycard into my hand. “This path leads to the parking lot outside. Hurry, before you’re discovered.” I looked into his sincere eyes, half-believing, half-doubting. Dominic Hayes having a change of heart? Pigs would fly first. But looking at my dying daughters in my arms, I had no choice. This glimmer of hope, this chance at escape, was also synchronized to Dominic through the system. His tortured nerves received a brief respite, and he even had a fleeting illusion that “maybe things could still turn around.” I held my three daughters, following the doctor’s directions, moving with difficulty through the labyrinthine underground passages. Finally, at midnight, I saw the door marked “Exit.” Freedom was just ahead. I used my last ounce of strength, swiped the keycard, and pushed open the heavy metal door. Beyond the door was not the free parking lot. But blinding spotlights, countless high-definition cameras aimed at me, and… Dominic Hayes and Veronica Lane, standing in the center of the arena, applauding. My heart instantly plummeted into a bottomless abyss. Dominic put his arm around Veronica, a devilish grin on his face. He spoke into the microphone, his tone like an art connoisseur: “Having fun, my dear wife?” “To provide our esteemed guests with an even more thrilling spectacle, I meticulously prepared this survival reality show just for you. It’s a custom-made, paid-access experience, you know.” As Dominic’s words fell. The iron door behind me slammed shut. At the other end of the arena, a massive iron cage was hoisted, and a狂暴 black bear, injected with an overdose of stimulants, was unleashed with a roar. Its eyes were bloodshot, and its size was three times that of the previous wolf. The power imbalance was absolute. I looked at Dominic’s sneering face, Veronica’s triumphant smile, and the charging black bear. My physical and mental defenses completely collapsed at that moment. Tears of blood streamed down my face. Only one thought remained: if hell had an end, it would be here. But the boundless despair of my towering hatred simultaneously exploded in Dominic’s mind. “Ah—!” Dominic clutched his head, emitting an inhuman scream. Fine trickles of blood oozed from his eyes and mouth, his face a mask of utter agony. And at the very edge of that despair, I finally heard a familiar electronic prompt.

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My roommate and her boyfriend had a major breakup, but I was the one who got kidnapped. In my previous life, Chloe told me her boyfriend, Ryan, was probably cheating and asked me to test his loyalty. I never imagined Ryan wasn’t cheating at all. Instead, he was obsessively in love with her. After Chloe broke up with him, he kidnapped me and forced an entire bottle of bleach down my throat, leading to my agonizing death. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the very day Chloe pulled the same old trick. Knowing the truth this time, I dialed 911: “Hello, Officer, I suspect someone just drugged me…” “Cassie, what are you spacing out for? Are you even listening to me?” Chloe’s sweet, yet oddly demanding voice, drifted into my ear through the phone. Familiar memories flooded back, and I felt a jolt, instinctively touching my throat. No burning sting. No numb sensation of chemical corrosion. I had been reborn?! In my last life, it was exactly today. Chloe had pleaded and pestered me on the phone, begging me to help her test if her boyfriend, Ryan, was really cheating. “Cassie, we’re best friends, you know? Only you can help me with this.” She sighed dramatically on the other end, her voice filled with such grievance, as if she’d suffered the greatest injustice. “I just have this gut feeling. Could you just go feel him out for me? Just chat with him a bit, see how he acts around other girls.” “You know Ryan. He seems aloof, but he totally falls for your straightforward type. If you test him, he won’t be on guard.” “If he really has changed, I can at least get over him, right? Please, help me out?” Back then, I had just graduated. I was naive and easily swayed. I couldn’t resist her repeated pleas and agreed. I never imagined my roommate, with whom I lived day in and day out, harbored such a venomous heart. In my past life, I followed Chloe’s script. At a party she’d conveniently arranged, I casually brought up relationship topics. I even said a few ambiguous things as she instructed. Ryan, already upset by Chloe’s recent coldness, blew up on the spot after my interference. Soon after, Chloe broke up with him. But then Chloe, sobbing dramatically with tears streaming down her face, told Ryan that I had been interested in him all along and deliberately stirred up trouble between them. “I knew she liked you for ages. Her eyes always looked at you weirdly. I thought she’d give up eventually, but I never expected…” “Cassie’s my best friend, I don’t want to hurt her, Ryan, let’s just break up!” All the words I had said, following her instructions, became “proof” of me “seducing” Ryan. Looking back now, Chloe wasn’t trying to test Ryan at all. She clearly wanted to break up but didn’t want to be blamed for cheating, so she staged this whole act. Ryan, with his extreme personality, was blinded by rage. He kidnapped me. “I wondered why she suddenly dumped me! So it was you messing things up behind her back!” I desperately explained that it was all Chloe’s setup, but he didn’t believe me. During our struggle, he pulled out a bottle of bleach from somewhere and forced it into my mouth. “She thought you were her best friend, but you secretly tried to steal her boyfriend!” “Chloe loves me so much, why would she break up with me?! It’s all because of you! Even now, Chloe refuses to get back with me.” “Since you like me so much, then just die!” I writhed on the floor in agony. Before losing consciousness, I only saw Ryan’s twisted, desperate face. By the time the police arrived, I was already dead, from acute chemical poisoning. Ryan was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder. His entire life was utterly ruined. His decent, hardworking parents turned white-haired overnight, nearly fainting from grief in the courtroom. And Chloe? At my funeral, she wept profusely, playing the part of a poor soul who had lost her dearest friend, but her eyes were full of triumph. “Cassie, don’t blame me. Blame yourself for being too trusting. I just said a few ambiguous words, and you actually believed them.” “I didn’t want to hurt you, and I wanted to break up with Ryan peacefully. But that lunatic Ryan would just smash things and get violent every time I mentioned breaking up.” “Besides, it was that lunatic Ryan who did it himself. It has nothing to do with me.” It turned out she had calculated everything from the start. She wanted to get rid of Ryan but was afraid of his extreme personality and what he might do, so she designed this whole thing to implicate me. She even posted tributes to me on social media, subtly implying that I had a crush on Ryan and was accidentally harmed when my advances were rejected. She cleaned her hands completely, winning widespread sympathy. My parents, having to bury their own child, had all the life drained from them overnight. They eventually withered away from grief and sorrow. Perhaps Heaven itself couldn’t stand such injustice, and miraculously gave me a chance to come back. This time, I would make Chloe pay back every single debt, down to the last penny!

“Cassie? Are you listening or not? Just help me this once, please? I’ll treat you to dinner tonight!” Chloe’s voice on the other end of the phone continued to nag. I took a deep breath, suppressing the rising hatred. “Okay.” Chloe’s voice instantly brightened, full of undisguised eagerness. “I knew you were the best! You wouldn’t just stand by and let me be fooled.” I clutched my phone. “Well, he is your boyfriend. You need to know the truth. Tell me, what should I do?” “Just find a chance to ask Ryan out for dinner.” Chloe lowered her voice, a calculated excitement in her tone. “Just say… say that I’ve been complaining to you lately about him not being attentive enough, and you’re sticking up for me, wanting to talk some sense into him.” “Then you can subtly ask if he has something on his mind, or… if he’s met any girls who caught his eye.” She paused, then added, “Remember, don’t be too direct. Act like it’s just casual conversation.” “If he avoids eye contact or speaks vaguely, then something’s definitely wrong! Make sure to tell me right away so I can make my plans.” I intentionally dragged out my words, pretending to hesitate. “Is that really okay? What if he finds out you put me up to it? Won’t he get mad?” Chloe scoffed, her voice confident. “Don’t worry, he trusts you so much, why would he suspect anything?” “Besides, even if he found out, he’d only blame me for being nosy. At most, we’d have an argument, which would be a perfect chance to see his true colors.” I “reluctantly” agreed. After hanging up, the smile on my face instantly vanished. Chloe wasn’t looking for the truth at all. She clearly wanted to use me to plant a seed of doubt in Ryan’s mind, paving the way for her future “victim” persona. In my past life, she taught me the exact same way, step by step, leading me into the trap she had dug. But this time, the hunter and the hunted were about to swap places. After hanging up, I immediately opened Amazon and ordered a tiny voice recorder and a few miniature pinhole cameras. Then I contacted a realtor, giving “roommate’s incompatible schedule” as my reason for urgently seeking a new apartment. I didn’t want to spend another day in that place. Soon, I arranged to meet Ryan, following Chloe’s “script.” The location was a nice Western restaurant. I specifically booked a private room, making it easy to set up the equipment. Arriving half an hour early, I skillfully hid the cameras in a potted plant in the corner of the room and behind a framed painting. I also placed the voice recorder in the side pocket of my canvas bag, ensuring it could clearly pick up sound. As expected, after only a few minutes of chatting, Chloe “surprisingly” appeared with a few mutual friends. “Oh, Cassie, what a coincidence!” She beamed, intimately linking her arm through mine, her eyes quickly scanning the private room as if checking for something. “My friends and I were just shopping, and we happened to pass by here. We just came to say hello, hope we’re not interrupting?” I scoffed inwardly but kept my face neutral. “Of course not, the more the merrier.” Ryan was clearly a bit surprised but still stood up and greeted them with a smile. He had indeed been troubled lately by Chloe’s hot-and-cold attitude, and a hint of subtle fatigue was etched on his brows. During the meal, Chloe acted incredibly dependent on Ryan, showing him much care and concern, as if their relationship was perfect. But I noticed that when she lowered her head to play on her phone, her sweet smile would vanish instantly. Her eyes even held a hint of subtle distortion and annoyance. Mid-meal, the private room door opened. A waiter entered, pushing a beautiful cake, singing “Happy Birthday.” Ryan stood up, holding a bouquet of Chloe’s favorite white roses. He awkwardly scratched his head. “Happy Birthday, sweetheart. I meant to surprise you tonight, but I didn’t expect everyone to be here.” Everyone immediately started cheering and clapping, exclaiming, “How romantic!” and “Ryan’s so thoughtful!” Chloe’s smile froze for a second. Then it became exaggerated, and with reddened eyes, she threw herself into Ryan’s arms. “You scared me! I thought you forgot!” But I was sitting diagonally across from her and saw it clearly. When her face was buried in Ryan’s chest, her lips were turned downwards, and her eyes were filled with a grim, hateful look. I picked up my water glass, hiding the coldness in my eyes. While everyone’s attention was on them, I casually leaned towards Ryan and said: “Ryan, you’re so good to Chloe.” “Honestly, girls love these kinds of surprises, especially when you feel she’s been a little distant lately. Maybe a surprise like this can cheer her up.” Ryan paused, then thoughtfully glanced at Chloe. “You’re right. Maybe I’ve been neglecting her too much lately.”

After the dinner, back at our shared apartment. Chloe immediately dropped her facade. She closed the door, then turned around and questioned me, “Cassie, what did you say to Ryan? He was looking at me weirdly today.” I feigned a troubled expression and pulled out my pre-prepared explanation. “I didn’t say anything… just chatted about how you two have been lately.” “He said he felt you hadn’t been very happy recently and asked me if you had something on your mind.” I deliberately showed a confused expression. “Speaking of which, Ryan is quite considerate towards you, sending flowers and preparing a cake. How come you don’t seem very happy? Did you misunderstand something?” Chloe’s face instantly became unnatural, her eyes darting away. She probably hadn’t expected me to not only fail to sow discord as she’d planned but also to mention her “having something on her mind” to Ryan. This uncertainty made her a bit flustered. “No… nothing,” She forced a smile, her tone a little stiff. “Maybe I was overthinking it… Anyway, it’s getting late. I’m going back to my room.” Watching her flee, I knew she wouldn’t dare make any rash moves for now. In the following days, Chloe’s attitude towards me became noticeably colder. She no longer clung to me like before, but her eyes held a new wariness and scrutiny. I enjoyed the peace and quiet, dealing with her while speeding up my apartment search. Soon, I found a satisfactory apartment from the listings my realtor sent me. While Chloe was at work, I arranged for a moving company, ready to pack up and leave. Just as I was directing the movers to secure the boxes, hurried footsteps echoed in the hallway. Chloe stepped out of the elevator and froze instantly at the sight of my packed luggage at the door. “Cassie? What are you doing?” She rushed over and grabbed my arm, her panic barely concealed. “Why are you suddenly moving? Did I do something to upset you?” I gently pulled my arm free and took a step back. “You’re overthinking it. It’s just that this place is too far from my office, and the commute isn’t convenient.” I frowned. “By the way, why are you back? Isn’t it your work hours?” “I left some files at home, so I came back for them.” As she spoke, she tried to get closer to me again. “Are you still mad at me? Just because I asked you to help me test Ryan?” “My tone was bad last time, I apologize. Please don’t be like this.” Her fake concern, in my past life, would have gone unnoticed. I might even have softened. But now, I just felt disgusted. I ignored her, stepped aside for the movers, and followed them out. At my new place, I pulled out my phone and opened the live feed from the camera app. Sure enough, a leopard can’t change its spots. Just like in my past life, Chloe was on the phone with Ryan, feigning tears.

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After the global collapse, my daughter Daisy’s radiation immunity became our family’s lifeline, finding us food and clean water. But my sister-in-law, Cassandra, pointed at Daisy, accusing her of stealing her son Leo’s abilities. The next day, my six-year-old Daisy was thrown by my husband, Julian, into an abandoned pipe crawling with mutated rats. I knelt outside the iron bars, my head slamming against the concrete, begging them to pull Daisy out. Julian impatiently kicked me away: “She can’t be poisoned to death anyway. What’s wrong with a few rat bites?” “We’re family. Just letting Cassandra blow off some steam.” I watched, horrified, as my daughter screamed and ran inside the pipe, her clothes torn, her tiny body covered in bloody gashes. Cassandra, bored, pulled Julian away to distribute food. Daisy’s cries grew weaker and weaker, until all that was left was the excited gnawing of mutated rats. When Julian finally returned, all that was left of Daisy was half a tiny leg, dragging from the pipe opening. He kicked away a rat still tearing at her, then sneered at me: “Still wailing? I only put common rats in there. They can’t kill a person.” “Who knew she was so stupid she wouldn’t even realize that?”

I knelt on the cold concrete ground, my forehead already raw and bloody. “Please… please, just pull her up… she’s just a child!” My throat was raw from screaming, my fingers scraping against the gaps in the iron bars, nails tearing and bending backwards, but I felt no pain. From deep within the pipe came rustling sounds, mixed with Daisy’s heart-wrenching screams. “Mommy… Mommy, help me! It hurts so bad… they’re biting me… Mommy…” That sound was like a dull blade, slowly, agonizingly carving into my heart. I frantically shook the fence, only to be met with Julian’s impatient kick. “So noisy!” He kicked me to the ground, looking down at me. “Willow, can’t you be sensible? She’s just a girl, is it really worth this?” I crawled over and hugged his leg. “Julian, that’s your daughter, your own daughter.” “Tsk.” He shook me off, turning to look at Cassandra, who was clinging to him. “Cassandra’s right. That girl is just overdramatic.” “So what if she’s radiation immune? If our Leo went out to find supplies, he’d be a hundred times better than her.” Cassandra chuckled, covering her mouth. Her fingers, adorned with vibrant red nail polish, traced circles on Julian’s chest. “Julian, I knew you were the most reasonable one. Kids, they need a little lesson to learn their place.” “Mommy… Mommy…” Daisy’s voice grew weaker and weaker, replaced by the excited squeaking and tearing sounds of the mutated rats. I trembled, lunging at the fence again, but Cassandra grabbed a handful of my hair. “Willow, don’t push your luck.” She leaned close to my ear, a smile twisting her lips. “Your daughter stole my son’s abilities. This is her deserved karma.” “What abilities? There are no abilities!” I shrieked hysterically. “Daisy is just… just physically unique…” “Enough!” Julian cut me off impatiently. “Cassandra, let’s go distribute the supplies. Don’t waste time here.” Cassandra immediately beamed. “Okay, I’m starving anyway.” Before she left, she deliberately kicked the fence. “Little bastard, enjoy yourself.” They walked away, embracing, as my daughter’s increasingly faint cries for help echoed in my ears. I fumbled for a piece of shattered rock on the ground and furiously smashed it against the fence lock. The sound echoed in the empty sewer, but it didn’t budge the sturdy iron lock in the slightest. “Daisy… Daisy, hold on… Mommy’s here…” My voice was choked, fragmented. The response from the pipe had dwindled to faint sobs, then the chilling sound of gnawing. I don’t know how long passed, my hands were already raw and bloody. All I could hear was the rustling feeding sounds of the mutated rats. When Julian and Cassandra returned, well-fed and satisfied, my tears had run dry. Julian carelessly kicked away a fat rat that crawled out of the pipe opening, then shone his flashlight inside. “Tsk, already given up?” He frowned, his eyes full of impatience. “I put common rats in there. They can’t kill a person.” I stared blankly at the pipe opening. Only half of a tiny leg remained, wearing the little bunny socks I had sewn for Daisy myself. Julian followed my gaze, then suddenly laughed. “Huh? That stupid girl, did she just scare herself to death? I told you she always lied and played victim since she was little, didn’t I?” In that moment, a surge of murderous intent ripped through me.

I curled up on the damp, cold concrete floor, my arms tightly wrapped around Daisy’s tiny, incomplete leg. The small limb was already ice-cold, the sock stained with dark red blood. From the next room, the rhythmic creaking of a bed frame and Cassandra’s exaggerated moans slithered into my ears like venomous snakes. “Ah… Julian… you’re so much better than that old hag…” I bit down hard on my lower lip, the taste of rust spreading in my mouth. The small sock in my arms suddenly slipped, revealing a stark white bone. That was the only part of Daisy that was still somewhat intact. My stomach clenched violently, bile and acid surging up my throat, but I swallowed it back down. Memories from three years ago suddenly flashed through my mind. Back then, the apocalypse hadn’t arrived. Julian knelt under a cherry tree outside the company building, holding a diamond ring, looking so sincere. His voice trembled slightly in the spring breeze. “Willow, I will protect you and our future child with my life.” At that time, the sincerity in his eyes made me cry like an idiot. The scene shifted to the day Daisy was born. In the delivery room, Julian held our swaddled daughter, his fingers gently caressing her tender, pink face, his eyes soft as a spring puddle. “Our princess is so beautiful.” He leaned down and kissed my sweaty forehead. “Thank you for giving me a complete home.” Seeing the joy in his eyes made all the pain feel worthwhile. When the first pollution alarm sounded, he drove through the night from the east side of the city to the west to pick up Daisy and me. In the rearview mirror, his gaze was as firm as iron: “Don’t be scared, I’m here.” Outside the car window, crowds scattered in panic, but his arms were my safest harbor. The fragments of memory suddenly sharpened. When did he change? Was it the day Cassandra arrived with her five-year-old son Leo, seeking refuge with us? Or when supplies became increasingly scarce? I watched his eyes grow colder, watched his growing disdain for our daughter, and his overwhelming care for Cassandra… A dull thud from the next room – bodies hitting the wall – followed by Julian’s sated sigh. My hands trembling, I unbuttoned my collar, carefully tucking Daisy’s small sock and that piece of bone into my pocket, close to my skin. The fabric immediately soaked with blood, burning against my heart. “Mommy, don’t be scared… Daisy will protect you…” Before my last outing, Daisy wiped away my tears with her tiny hands. She always said she was a little superhero, meant to protect her timid mommy. She didn’t know that Mommy was the one who should have protected her. Moonlight slanted in through the vent. I looked down at my blood-stained hands. I stood up mechanically, my legs long since numb. I stumbled before I could steady myself. The blast door opening required triple authentication, but I had long memorized Julian’s fingerprint sequence. When the third green light glowed, I opened the blast door. In the early morning, the howl of mutated wolves ripped through the night sky as I stood on the lookout tower. The sound was unlike a normal wolf’s howl; it made my scalp crawl. Soon, a dozen pairs of eerie green eyes gleamed in the darkness. Julian burst out, shirtless, Cassandra following, disheveled, one high heel missing. Their panicked flight towards the SUV made me laugh out loud. “Willow, are you insane?” Julian looked up, saw me standing on the lookout tower, and his face instantly turned ashen. In the moonlight, I could clearly see the un-faded lipstick mark on his neck, vivid red like blood. I didn’t answer, just watched silently as the first mutated wolf pounced on Cassandra. The beast was the size of a small calf, its fur patchy and falling out, revealing rotting muscle underneath. It bit into Cassandra’s meticulously styled long hair, dragging her to the ground. Her scream cut short as the second wolf clamped its jaws around her throat. Julian hesitated for a second. Just one second, then he plunged into the driver’s seat without looking back. The roar of the engine mingled with Cassandra’s dying screams. The SUV rammed through two mutated wolves blocking its way and sped off, leaving a trail of dust. More mutated creatures poured in through the open blast door. I knew this was just the beginning. Julian, you can escape for a while, but you can’t escape forever. From today on, I am no longer the weak Willow. I will live, live longer than anyone else, until I see Julian descend into hell with my own eyes.

I wandered through the ruins for three days. Daisy’s little finger, tucked against my heart, had taken on my body temperature. Sometimes I even imagined I felt it tremble faintly. On the evening of the fourth day, I was surrounded by a pack of wolves. They emerged from beneath a collapsed overpass—twelve of them, maybe more. These mutated wolves were the size of adult Tibetan mastiffs, their exposed skin covered in festering sores. Their fangs were grotesquely elongated, dripping corrosive saliva. The alpha wolf at the front had a rotting empty socket where its right eye should be, its remaining left eye fixed intently on me. I stood my ground. I didn’t run. Death was no longer terrifying to me; it would be a release. The pack slowly closed in, their foul breath hot on my face. I closed my eyes, waiting for the pain to descend. However, nothing happened. I opened my eyes and found the alpha wolf sniffing my clothing, perplexed. Its rotting snout brushed against my exposed arm, but it didn’t bite. The other wolves also appeared unusually agitated, circling me but not daring to approach. “What the hell…?” A rough male voice came from above the ruins. I looked up and saw six fully armed people standing on the edge of the broken overpass. The man in the lead wore a gas mask, but I could feel his sharp gaze fixed on me. He made a gesture, and the others immediately fanned out, moving as swiftly as a pack of leopards. Gunshots rang out, but not aimed at me. Precise shots took down three wolves closest to me. The pack stirred, but instead of attacking me, they bared their teeth at the source of the gunfire. “Ma’am, slowly move to your right.” The leading man shouted at me, his voice muffled through the gas mask. “There’s a recess there, you can temporarily hide.” I didn’t move. Why hide? Wouldn’t it be better for the wolves to tear me apart? The man cursed, then leaped down from the broken bridge. He landed with a forward roll to absorb the impact, his movements clean and precise. As he got to his feet, he had already drawn a military knife. A flash of silver, and a wolf that lunged at him had its throat slit with deadly accuracy. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?” He grabbed my wrist, pulling me behind him. He dealt with the wolves that rushed him one by one. After the last wolf fell, the man finally took off his gas mask. He had a sharply defined face, a scar above his left eyebrow, adding a touch of ferocity to his otherwise handsome features. He panted, but his eyes never left my face. “Are you hurt?” I shook my head, realizing my wrist was still in his grasp. His palm was wide and rough, surprisingly warm. “Why didn’t those wolves attack you?” He asked the crucial question. I didn’t know how to answer. In fact, I wanted to know the answer too. Was it because of Daisy? She could move freely in the radiation zones, and now part of her flesh and blood was integrated with mine… “Never mind. Let’s get out of here first.” Ryder released my wrist and spoke into his communicator. “Found a survivor, female, showing unusual circumstances. Requesting return to base.” “I’m not going to any base.” I took a step back. Ryder raised an eyebrow. “Then where do you plan to go? Continue wandering in the ruins?” “Next time, it might not be a wolf pack. It could be something far worse.” “That’s none of your business.” He stared at me for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled. “Interesting. Fine, go wherever you want.” He turned and waved to his team. “Pack up, we’re heading southeast as planned.” Southeast. My heart pounded. That was the direction Julian had fled. “Wait.” I heard myself say, “Are you… are you searching for survivors?” Ryder turned back, his gaze sharp enough to pierce through my thoughts. “Not entirely.” “We’re tracking a group of scavengers. They’ve looted several shelters.” He paused. “Heard the leader is a man with a missing left arm, with a crazy woman.” “Something about… Julian?” My nails dug deeply into my palms. Julian lost his left arm? When did that happen? “If you change your mind, follow along.” Ryder had already turned to walk away. “But fair warning, if you’re with us, you’re a team member. You follow orders.” I looked at his back, then touched Daisy’s little finger near my heart. I said, “I’m in.” My Daisy died. Why should Julian get to live unharmed?

As we approached the shelter, a familiar cough echoed from a corner. My blood instantly froze. It was Julian. He was curled up in a pile of moldy blankets, his left sleeve empty and dangling, his face ashen like a corpse. Cassandra was squatting beside him, wiping sweat from his forehead with a dirty rag. Her son, Leo, was nowhere to be seen. The moment Julian looked up and saw me, his murky eyes suddenly lit up. “Willow?” He struggled to stand, his voice hoarse and unrecognizable. “You’re alive.” Cassandra whipped her head around, her meticulously drawn eyebrows raised high. “Well, well, still clinging to life, are we?” She sneered. “What, here to beg Julian for food?” My nails dug deeply into my palms. Ryder, sensing my unease, stepped half a pace to shield me. He asked quietly, “You know them?” “My husband.” I heard myself say. “My former husband.” Julian’s expression rapidly shifted from surprise to anger. “Willow, you have the nerve to come back?” He swayed as he stood. “If you hadn’t opened the blast door, how would I have…” He lifted his empty left sleeve, his voice choked. “How would Leo have…” So the child died. A twisted sense of satisfaction welled up in my heart, but it was immediately swallowed by a greater emptiness. A child’s death shouldn’t make me happy, even if it was Cassandra’s son. “Enough.” Ryder’s voice wasn’t loud, but it instantly silenced the entire shelter. He turned to the shelter’s manager. “This is Willow, a new member of our team.” “She has a unique constitution; she can move freely in heavily radiated zones without getting infected.” A collective gasp swept through the room. Julian and Cassandra’s expressions were priceless. First shock, then greed, then deep, profound fear. “Impossible!” Cassandra shrieked. “She’s just a regular housewife!” Ryder scoffed and pulled a radiation detector from his backpack. He gestured for me to extend my hand, then placed the detector against my skin. The instrument remained silent. But when he moved it towards himself, a piercing alarm immediately blared. “This…” Julian’s eyes widened, shimmering with an emotion I couldn’t decipher. “Willow, what’s going on?” I didn’t answer. Ryder clapped his hands. “From today on, Ms. Willow will be in charge of our supply exchange with the East District shelter.” “Anyone who disrespects her will be considered an enemy of the entire shelter.” Julian’s expression changed again and again, finally settling into a sickeningly fawning look. “My wife… I mean, ex-wife, she’s always been excellent.” He tried to approach me, but Ryder’s gaze pinned him to the spot. “Willow, we need to talk…” That night, I lay in the private cubicle assigned to our team, listening to the continuous coughing and groaning outside. A shadow appeared under the door crack. Then came a familiar, careful knocking. “Willow? It’s me.” Julian’s voice was barely a whisper. “Please, just five minutes.” I scoffed silently, but opened the door anyway. He slinked in like a stray dog, smelling of stale sweat and unwashed clothes. In the dim light, I saw the bloodshot in his eyes and his deeply sunken cheeks. “I know you hate me.” He dropped to his knees as soon as he spoke, his empty sleeve dangling limply. “But I truly regret it, Willow.” “That day, I was misled by Cassandra, I…” “Daisy was only six.” I said softly, my fingers unconsciously caressing the cloth pouch on my chest. “She was still calling for Mommy when she died.” Julian’s tears immediately flowed, whether real or fake. “I have nightmares every night…” He choked. “That pipe… I only found out later that a few mutated rats had gotten in…” Lies. All lies. I distinctly remembered him saying they were just common rats, saying Daisy was too stupid and scared herself to death. But now, looking at him sobbing, I suddenly understood what I needed to do. “Julian…” I reached out and gently stroked his dirty hair, my voice intentionally soft. “I… I also made mistakes…” He clung to my leg like a drowning man grasping a lifeline. “Can we start over? Just like before…” “Give me some time.” I said gently. “Right now, I have to follow the team, but… maybe after the mission is over…” Julian looked up, the hope in his eyes nauseating. “I’ll wait for you.” He said eagerly. “I’ll cut ties with that crazy woman, I swear.” Footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door, and Julian flinched. Ryder’s voice came from outside: “Willow? Everything alright in there?” Julian frantically let go of me. I quickly adjusted my expression and opened the door. Ryder stood at the doorway, his gaze like a knife, sweeping over Julian kneeling on the ground. “Am I interrupting your reunion?” His tone was chillingly calm. Julian scrambled up awkwardly, lowering his head, and slinked away. In the early hours of the morning, an alarm ripped through the shelter’s tranquility. “Mutated plant invasion! Everyone evacuate to the central hall immediately!”

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As a Serpentine Enchantress, my unique essence, when offered from the depths of my being, possessed the power to heal even terminal illnesses. After I cured Sterling of his cancer, I found another woman in our home. My six-year-old son grabbed a small knife and tried to hack at my serpentine tail. Both his and his father’s faces were twisted with disgust. “You killed Iris! You won’t get to kill Brittany too!” “I’ve already made it official with her. Now get out!” Leo rushed forward, clinging to Brittany’s leg, and spat at me. “I don’t want you, this ugly snake, as my mom! Aunt Brittany is my mom!” I massaged my chest, aching from having given my lifeblood, and my voice was raw with bitterness. “Then let’s get a divorce.” Sterling scoffed. “Our marriage license was fake. What’s there to divorce? Just get lost.” My son threw the toys I bought him directly at me. “Don’t come ruin our home with our new mommy! You’re not welcome here!” The front door slammed shut. I pulled out my phone. “Mr. Harrison, you heard it too. I really should go now.” A weary sigh echoed from the other end of the line. “Ah, Sterling has truly wronged you. Your debt has been repaid. Go, child, go…” **1.** The Serpentine Oracle stared at me, a cryptic smile playing on her lips. “Are you certain of your choice?” Outside the operating room, the red light pulsed, a blinding beacon. Sterling’s vital signs were fading, moment by moment. Cancer cells, like greedy vines, had coiled around him, leaving him with barely a breath. “Are you willing to sacrifice your very essence to unleash the primal power of your serpentine lineage, forever cursed to be half-human, half-spirit, enduring the eternal torment of the backlash?” The Serpentine Oracle’s voice carried a cold, tempting allure. “But your lifeblood… it can save him.” I gazed at Sterling’s pale face through the glass window. Six years ago, the memory of him kneeling in the rain, begging me to save him, suddenly flooded my mind. Back then, he wasn’t the high-and-mighty CEO Sterling he was today. He was just a man pushed to the brink by a terminal illness, clutching my hand, his voice choked. “Willow, if I live, I’ll protect you my whole life.” “I’m willing. Just as long as he lives.” I bit my fingertip and stained the ancient pact. A searing, bone-shattering pain instantly ripped through my entire body. The agony was so intense I couldn’t maintain my human form. My smooth calves merged and elongated, transforming into a long tail covered in shimmering silver scales. In a daze, I felt a warm liquid seeping from my neck. It was my serpentine essence, flowing down my collarbone. The Serpentine Oracle’s final gaze held a touch of pity. “Remember, each act of genuine affection will embed your scales deeper into your flesh; any wound inflicted by him will amplify the agony.” I dragged my serpentine tail, unable to retract it due to the extreme use of my power, and pushed open the front door. The pair of red high heels by the entrance were like a poisonous needle, plunging directly into my heart. “You hideous monster! Get out of our house!” My six-year-old son, Leo, wielding a small knife, lunged at me, his face contorted with hatred. “You killed Aunt Iris, and now you want to kill my Mommy Brittany too? Over my dead body!” I never imagined my own flesh and blood would attack me. I was too slow to dodge, frozen in place, until a sharp pain from my tail jolted me back to awareness. “Oh, Leo, be careful! Don’t let this thing that’s neither human nor beast hurt you.” Brittany pretended to reach out, seemingly to pull Leo away, but her fingers subtly pressed the small knife another half-inch deeper into my scales. I had spent the entire night healing Sterling, exhausting most of my essence. This scene before me now made me feel utterly desolate. The herbal soup I’d woken up at five in the morning to brew was still on the coffee table. It was a special concoction, made with my lifeblood and a rare serpentine extract, meant to nourish Sterling. Its fragrant aroma still lingered in the air. “Who told you to come back! You murderer, how dare you show your face and dirty Brittany’s eyes.” Sterling tenderly pulled Brittany into his arms. The blood-red gem around her neck seemed to pulse like an unstemmed gush of lifeblood. Sterling had bought it at an auction last year, claiming it was for his “most precious person.” Brittany feigned weakness, shrinking into Sterling’s embrace, her dress seemingly accidentally sweeping across the coffee table, deliberately knocking over the herbal pot. “Oh, my dress! My dear Cole specifically custom-made this for me. Sister, if you want it, I can let you have it.” Amidst the shattering sound of the pot, I heard the faint crack of my own scales. My lifeblood being so carelessly wasted felt like a blunt knife twisting repeatedly in my chest. Sterling’s gaze pierced me like an ice pick. “You trashy, low-class creature. Always resorting to dirty tricks. Get down on your knees and clean this up for Brittany.” Leo kicked me hard, spitting at me repeatedly. “Big bad monster! Big bad monster! Get on your knees and apologize to Mommy Brittany!” I instinctively curled my tail. The section of my tailbone, covered in fine silver scales, had just endured the backlash of the lifeblood sacrifice. It was now bruised purple, and large pieces of shattered scales, mixed with blood droplets, flew off. The Serpentine Oracle’s warning echoed in my ears again. The pain crawled up my spine, spreading through every limb. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. This was the child I had risked my life to give birth to after ten months of pregnancy! This was the husband I had saved by draining my lifeblood, enduring constant backlash, day and night! I humiliated myself, crawling towards Brittany, wanting to demand why she was destroying everything I had! She shrieked as if she’d been electrocuted. “Ah! Her scales scratched my leg!” Leo was distraught. “You actually hurt my mommy! You monster!” He lunged like a furious little beast, hacking at my serpentine tail with the knife, blow after blow. The sharp blade pierced through the scales, digging into my flesh. The pain made my vision swim. But Leo clapped his hands and laughed. “Tear open your snake skin! Let’s see how you can hurt anyone now!” I slumped powerlessly to the floor, the intense pain making it impossible to straighten up. I stared directly into Sterling’s eyes, trying to maintain some semblance of dignity. “Sterling, let’s get a divorce.” Sterling scoffed. “Our marriage license was fake. What’s there to divorce? Just get as far away as possible.” With that, he deliberately tossed a tattered little red booklet onto my wound. Fake marriage license? I froze. Six years ago, on that rainy night, he knelt before me, begging me to save him, saying that if he lived, he would be my true husband. I believed him, sacrificing half of my serpentine life, draining all my power! I fed him the powerful essence from my true form, watching him transform from a skeletal figure to a radiant, healthy man. But my cherished marriage license, like Sterling’s deceitful heart, had been fake from the very beginning. Another scale on my serpentine tail cracked, and I groaned in pain. The Serpentine Oracle was right after all. This bond, bought with my very life, was destined to be a pain that would pierce me to the bone, right from its root. **2.** The stench of blood mingled with the sharp scent of disinfectant, churning in my nostrils. The wound on my serpentine tail was still gushing blood. Every movement felt like countless needles piercing my marrow. The Serpentine Oracle’s warning of “double backlash” was now burrowing into my bones along the cracks in my scales. Brittany smugly stroked Sterling’s chest, her fingertips tracing his collar. That spot, where I used to playfully straighten his tie, was now Brittany’s territory, a symbol of her claim. Brittany chuckled, a sickly sweet sound laced with malice. “Sterling, look at her tail. So many scales have fallen off. It’s disgusting.” Sterling cast a dismissive glance at me, his eyes regarding me like a dirty rag. “You’re frail, don’t look at such vile things.” He raised a hand and beckoned the butler. “Drag her out and dump her in the old family mausoleum.” “No!” I snapped my head up, my tail twitching with urgency. “Sterling, have you forgotten? Six years ago, you were lying in that hospital bed, cancer cells spread throughout your body, and it was I…” “Shut up!” He cut me off sharply, his leather shoe grinding forcefully on my bloody, mangled tail. “If you hadn’t缠 wrapped me with your dark magic, why would I ever get involved with a monster like you?” “Iris was killed by your dark magic back then, and now Brittany is pregnant with my child. Are you trying to pull the same trick again?” Iris? My heart felt like it had been hit by a massive stone. That gentle, kind woman who used to secretly bring me healing salves… she had an accidental fall from a building. How had it become my fault? “Daddy, hurry and kick her out! I don’t want to see her for another second!” Leo ran over, brandishing the knife. Drops of blood from the blade fell on my hand, burning like fire. He suddenly remembered something, then rushed into the bedroom, emerging with a metal box. He slammed it hard into my face. The box burst open, spilling its contents onto the floor—my collection of shed serpentine scales from the past six years. Each piece had been meticulously cleaned and strung together with gold thread into protective charms. When he was little, he always wore them around his neck, saying, “Mommy’s scales protect me.” “These disgusting things! I’ve wanted to throw them away for ages!” Leo stomped on the specimens, as if crushing a pile of garbage. “Mommy Brittany said wearing them would turn me into a monster!” I looked at the crushed scales and suddenly laughed, though tears streamed uncontrollably down my face. So, six years of mother-son affection, in his eyes, was nothing more than the “mark of a disgusting monster.” Brittany suddenly let out a dramatic gasp, clutching her lower abdomen and frowning. “Sterling, my stomach hurts a little…” Sterling’s face immediately darkened. He yanked me up, his grip so fierce it felt like he would crush my bones. “You jinx! If anything happens to Brittany or the baby, I’ll skin you alive!” He flung me towards the door. My tail slammed against the doorframe with a sickening crack, as if my tailbone had fractured. The excruciating pain made my vision blacken. In a haze, I saw a red booklet, sealed away, on the hallway cabinet. It was a marriage certificate. In the photo, Sterling had his arm around Brittany, smiling so tenderly—a smile I had never seen directed at me. “See?” His voice was laced with ice. “*This* is legitimate. The one in your hand was just a trick to get you to use your powers to save me.” I used the wall to prop myself up. The blood from my tail left dark red streaks on the floor, like a desperate, bleeding serpent. “Sterling,” I rasped, each word tearing at my chest. “When I saved you, I expended ninety percent of my power, almost struck down by heavenly lightning. You promised you’d protect Leo and me for life.” “Witchcraft!” His eyes burned with malice. “Take your tail and get out of my sight!” Leo suddenly picked up a piece of broken glass from the floor and fiercely stabbed my uninjured tail tip. “Get out! Don’t you dare hurt my Mommy Brittany!” Amidst the shattering of scales, I finally, utterly, woke up. The Serpentine Oracle’s pact burned in my veins. So, for six years, what I’d given half my life for was nothing but a cruel deception. The child I’d fought to bring into this world had become the sharpest knife plunged into my heart. I dragged my broken tail towards the door. As I passed the red high heels, I glanced at them again—the heels were caked with dirt, as if they’d just come from a cemetery. The door slammed shut behind me, shaking my tailbone with another jolt of pain. I slumped against the wall, pulling out my phone. Blood from my fingers smeared the screen, and it took several tries to dial the correct number. “Mr. Harrison,” I whispered, staring at the closed door, hearing Brittany’s sweet-talk and Leo’s laughter inside. A metallic taste flooded my throat. “You heard it too. I really should go now.” A weary sigh echoed from the other end of the line. “Alas, Sterling has truly wronged you. Your debt has been repaid. Go, child, go…” I hung up, looking at my phone’s screensaver—a photo of Leo at three, fast asleep on my serpentine tail, his face flushed, clutching one of my silver scales. I wiped away my tears and tossed the phone into the trash. **3.** Just as I stepped out of the apartment building, the intense pain in my tailbone worsened dramatically. The Serpentine Oracle’s curse, branded beneath my scales, flared with heat. This was the backlash from excessive use of my essence. I stumbled, leaning against the wall, my vision swimming. I had to get to a hospital, even if just to deal with the bleeding wound. I flagged down a taxi and managed to gasp out the name of the nearest hospital before the pain stole my words. The driver kept glancing at me in the rearview mirror, hesitating, likely shocked by my blood-streaked serpentine tail. At the hospital, the emergency room buzzed with chaotic activity. I had just reached the triage desk when I heard a familiar voice. “Doctor! Quickly, my wife! She’s having severe abdominal pain!” It was Sterling. He was carefully supporting Brittany, his tension something I’d never seen, not even when I almost perished saving his life. Brittany leaned into his embrace, her face ashen, weakly whimpering, “Sterling, I’m so scared… will the baby be okay?” Doctors and nurses immediately crowded around them, asking questions in a flurry. “Quick, stretcher! Prepare for examination!” I bit back the agonizing pain and nausea, managing to say to a nurse, “Help me… I’m in so much pain…” The nurse looked at my bloody, mangled serpentine tail, then at Brittany, surrounded by the crowd, and her expression turned difficult. “Miss, it’s not that we don’t want to help you, but all the doctors have been called by Mr. Sterling to treat his wife.” “I can’t wait. I just need one doctor to help me,” I ground out, the pain in my tailbone almost making me black out. Just then, Sterling saw me. His eyes hardened, and he roared at the doctors, “Don’t mind this monster! Save my wife first! If anyone dares to treat her, they won’t work in this hospital again!” The doctors exchanged uneasy glances, but in the end, no one dared to approach me. I leaned against the wall in despair, feeling my life force draining away little by little. The Serpentine Oracle had said that when my serpentine essence was fully depleted, that would be the moment my soul scattered into nothingness. “You persistent, wicked creature, still trying to cause trouble!” Leo suddenly rushed out from the crowd, holding an iron rod, and fiercely swung it at my serpentine tail. “Leo!” I stared at him in disbelief. This child, whom I had carried for ten months, this child, for whom I had used my scales to ward off disaster, was repeatedly attacking me with such cruelty. The moment the iron rod struck the wound, the backlash of the curse erupted with a roar. I felt like I was thrown into a vat of boiling oil, screaming in agony. My vision went black, and I almost collapsed. “You deserve it! Who told you to bully Mommy Brittany!” Leo saw my wretched state and, not feeling satisfied, raised the rod to strike again. Just as I was sinking into despair, a hand firmly gripped Leo’s wrist. “How can such a young child be so vicious?” I looked up and saw a man in a white coat, his demeanor gentle, yet his eyes held a sharp, all-knowing insight. His name tag read “Dr. Julian, Head of Surgery.” His gaze fell on the wound at the tip of my tail, and he frowned slightly, seeming to recognize the faint golden covenant patterns glowing beneath the scales. “Who are you? How dare you interfere with the Sterling family’s business?” Sterling demanded, furious. Dr. Julian ignored him. He gently helped me up, his fingertips inadvertently brushing over the curse mark on my tail, and murmured, “I know this kind of pain. Just bear with it.” His voice was soft, yet it carried a reassuring strength. Dr. Julian ignored him and gently helped me up. “Miss, are you alright? I’ll arrange surgery for you immediately.” “No!” Sterling blocked him. “A monster, she’s dead anyway, why waste time?” Dr. Julian frowned. “In a hospital, there are only patients, no monsters. Mr. Sterling, please step aside.” He helped me, firmly bypassing Sterling. “Besides, you seem to forget, if it weren’t for this young lady six years ago, you wouldn’t be alive today.” I looked at Dr. Julian and gave a mocking smile. In my most desperate moment, my so-called family had all abandoned me, even adding insult to injury. Only a stranger, who seemed to know about the Serpentine Oracle’s curse, had resolutely extended a helping hand. “Thank you,” I said weakly. Dr. Julian simply nodded, speaking gently. “Don’t worry, I’m the best surgeon. Not only can I treat your wound, but I also know how to temporarily suppress the backlash of this pact.” He paused, then added, “My ancestors had a pact with the Serpentine Oracle, a vow to protect her descendants.” I smiled faintly. Behind me, Sterling’s enraged shouts and Brittany’s feigned dissuasion echoed, but I no longer cared. Inside the consultation room, Dr. Julian closed the door and began to meticulously treat my wound. “Hold still, it might hurt a little. But you’re safe with me. Even if I have to snatch you from the jaws of death, I promise I’ll save you.” I nodded, watching his focused profile, a warmth spreading through my heart. Perhaps, my life still had a chance. Just as I began to relax, Brittany’s piercing scream cut through the closed door. “Help! My baby! Blood, there’s blood everywhere, Sterling…” Sterling kicked the door with furious force, pounding it like a drum. “Willow! Get out here! If Brittany loses the baby, I’ll make sure you pay with your life!” **4.** My tail tip suddenly twitched. Dr. Julian’s hand on the back of my neck tightened. “Don’t move, the bone fragments will embed deeper.” His fingertips, stained with my blood, dripped red, like scattered plum blossoms, into the tray. “The serpentine curse is dangerous. We need to debride the wound immediately.” “Debride?” I gave a self-deprecating laugh, the movement tugging at my wound with excruciating pain. “He probably won’t even let me leave this room alive.” The backlash from my once beloved was more than I could endure in my current state. No sooner had I spoken than the consultation room door was violently thrown open. Sterling stormed in, clutching the hospital director’s collar. The director’s white coat was creased, still stained with Brittany’s ‘blood’—a color so vividly bright, it looked like freshly opened antiseptic. “Dr. Julian, please be accommodating,” the director said, rubbing his hands obsequiously. “Mr. Sterling is offering an additional one million. Could you… perhaps ask this lady to leave?” “One million?” Dr. Julian set down his probe, the clinking of instruments as cold as ice. “Is that enough to compensate her for six years of lifeblood, or to settle the Serpentine Oracle’s pact?” He looked up, his gaze sweeping over Sterling. “Six years ago, when you were in the ICU, you knelt and begged her to shed her blood to save your life.” Leo also squeezed through the door, clutching the treatment cart, and picked up a pair of surgical scissors, gesturing with them. “Monster, watch me cut off your serpentine tail! Mommy Brittany says if it’s cut off, she won’t hurt anymore!” “Leo!” I cried out in alarm, the pain in my tailbone suddenly turning numb. “See? Even our child knows who the real threat is.” Sterling’s eyes were poisoned with venom. “Willow, crawl out yourself, and I’ll leave you with a whole body.” “Sterling, are you truly unwilling to open your eyes and see?” I stared intently at the wall behind him, where Brittany was feigning weakness, leaning against it. “The ‘blood’ on her dress… isn’t that the antiseptic from the nurses’ station down the hall?” Brittany’s face instantly paled, but Sterling backhanded me. “Shut up! Still trying to sow discord.” My cheek burned, and the taste of blood filled my throat. I licked my lips and suddenly laughed. “Sterling, you’ll spend your entire life living in her lies.” Dr. Julian, quick as lightning, snatched Leo’s wrist. The tip of the scissors was barely an inch from my scales. Leo thrashed wildly in his arms, spitting on the doctor’s face. “She killed Aunt Iris! She’s a wicked, bad woman!” “Iris?” I stiffened. So this was the poison Brittany had been feeding Leo. Brittany suddenly covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face. “Leo, stop talking. She won’t admit it.” Sterling’s face turned iron-gray instantly. He grabbed my throat with both hands, his grip tightening. “I was going to spare your life, but it seems I was too soft-hearted.” Dr. Julian tried to intervene, but Leo bit his arm, holding on tightly. Just as the feeling of suffocation surged, a stern male voice echoed down the hallway. “You savage, let go!” Sterling’s hands, clutching my throat, froze abruptly. His strength drained away, bit by bit. He turned back in shock, and when he saw Mr. Harrison leaning on his cane, his Adam’s apple bobbed, unable to speak a word.

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It’s been three years since my family got trapped in this horror game, and I fell in love with an NPC. I died for him ninety-eight times. When bloodthirsty ants gnawed off my limbs, I desperately wished he’d just turn and look at me. When a monster swallowed me whole, I still wondered if he’d shed a single tear. After my ninety-ninth revival, he finally agreed to be with me. I thought it was salvation. Until my mother got caught by a monster. “Julian! Hit the switch, now!” I screamed until my throat bled. Activating that switch would set fire to those monsters and save her. But he spun around, pressing his hand firmly on the lever. “Seraphina is afraid of fire! No one touches it!” Mom’s screams cut off abruptly. Seraphina saw me sobbing uncontrollably. She hid behind Julian, peering out shyly. “Julian, Cassidy is crying. She said this world is just a game, and even if Aunt Eleanor dies, she’ll just revive.” But he had no idea. Here, if my mom died, she was truly gone. She’d never come back. I watched him protect another woman as they walked away. The boy who used to need me to hold his hand just to step outside was now a stranger to me, like he’d swapped bodies with someone else. Later, when monsters besieged our community, Julian, naturally, ordered me to lead them away. I turned around without hesitation and walked into the stronghold I’d built for myself. “Who do you think you are, to demand my life again?”

I froze, listening to the monsters’ guttural swallowing, my blood feeling like it had turned to ice in my veins. Julian still habitually gripped my wrist, his palm’s warmth once the only light in these three years of endless darkness. But now, that light felt poisoned, burning me with searing pain. “Get away from me! Don’t touch me!” I violently yanked my hand free from his grasp, shoved Seraphina aside, and rushed to my mother’s mangled remains. I hadn’t used much force, but Seraphina still stumbled back a good distance, falling into a reeking ditch full of rotting corpses. “Cassidy, what gives you the right to hurt her?!” Julian kicked me hard in the stomach. A gush of blood instantly spilled from my mouth. He’d forgotten. After my seventy-seventh revival, when I’d saved him, my ribs had been completely shattered. I’d spent ages recovering, and it still hurt with the slightest touch. He’d promised me that as long as he was there, he’d never let me get hurt again. Yet this time, he was the one who personally broke them. I watched him—a man who prided himself on being a clean freak—unhesitatingly rush into that stinking ditch and carry the other woman out in a princess carry. “Julian, it’s all my fault. If I weren’t so scared, Cassidy wouldn’t have lost her mom. She can hit me, she can yell at me, but why did she have to stain my favorite dress? You bought this for me…” She cried, tears streaming down her face, looking utterly heartbroken. Every tear was a heavy hammer striking Julian’s heart, making him ache with sympathy. So, in front of everyone in the organization, he coldly ordered me: “Take off your clothes and give them to Seraphina. Now, immediately!” My eyes blazed red as I looked up at him in disbelief. My mother had been indirectly killed because of them, and not a single apology. Now he was ordering me to strip in front of dozens of people in the organization, for another woman?! Seeing my refusal, Julian actually ordered his guys to hold me down and told his underlings to start tearing off my clothes. “Julian, are you insane?! I’m your girlfriend!” My voice was a raw, trembling mess with fear, my gaze sweeping past the crowd. I saw him reach up and gently ruffle Seraphina’s hair, his movements so tender they could melt steel. Yet these same hands, just three months ago, had trembled as they wiped away my tears. “Cassidy, when the blood ants gnawed at your skin, it must have hurt terribly, right?” For my seventy-seventh revival, he’d been ensnared by monstrous vines. I’d desperately cut open my own artery, bleeding as I rushed to sever the vines. I’d ended up with my own ribs crushed by them. On the day of my ninety-ninth revival, he’d knelt before me, kissing the back of my hand for the first time, his voice hoarse as he said: “Cassidy, from now on, I’ll protect you.” I believed him. But I never would have imagined that his idea of protecting me was to stand by and watch my mom get torn apart by monsters, just to comfort a woman afraid of fire! I crawled forward, grabbing his arm fiercely. “Julian, open your eyes and look! Seraphina’s clothes are only slightly dirty! What’s most important right now is to gather my mother’s remains and let her rest in peace, not for you to flirt with another woman here! How could you do this to me?! How could you do this to my mother?!”

During our first year in this world, my family members died one after another at the hands of monsters. Only my mother and I were left, along with Julian, whom I had saved. My mother treated him like her own son. She saved her share of the food she found, unwilling to eat it herself, giving it all to him. She even collapsed from starvation because of it. Now, he was willing to watch her die for another woman! “Cassidy, can you stop being so dramatic?” He clicked his tongue in annoyance, looking at me like I was some hysterical lunatic. “Can’t your mom just revive? Why are you making such a big deal out of it? Seraphina cares about her appearance and can’t stand having a stain on her clothes. Besides, even if your mom really died, you still need to take off your clothes and give them to Seraphina, right now!” As his words fell, he seemed to fear my resistance. He grabbed a long spike and nailed my limbs to a wooden board. The moment the spike pierced my flesh, my agonizing scream echoed through the sky. But this bloody scene still couldn’t stir a shred of softness in Julian. Seeing my pain, he, fearing it might scare Seraphina, turned and covered her eyes. “Cassidy, you dirtied Seraphina’s clothes and wouldn’t take them off for her. You deserved this!” Julian’s voice was as cold as ice. He didn’t notice the undeniable triumph in Seraphina’s eyes as she nestled in his arms. They stepped closer, their actions becoming increasingly unrestrained as they tore my clothes into shreds. Leaving large patches of my skin exposed. Most of them were survivors who had received my help in the past. Now, they all leered with crude amusement, even sneering and making vulgar jokes about me: “Wow, I never would have thought our capable Sister Cassidy had such smooth, fair skin underneath. You must’ve gotten a lot of ‘nourishment’ from Julian, huh?” “What are you talking about? Do you really think Julian alone could ‘satisfy’ a slut like that?!” “This is a good chance then. Julian alone probably can’t keep you happy, right? How about us guys give you a proper ‘service’ tonight!” Seeing this, Julian stepped forward and stopped them. My eyes instantly lit up. Just as I thought that after dying for him ninety-nine times, he might still have a little love for me… His next words plunged me back into the abyss. “Be careful not to hurt her, or I swear I’ll make you pay!” I suddenly burst out laughing. I laughed at myself, at how after my ninety-ninth revival, I actually believed this NPC could have real feelings. The bronze key in my pocket pressed against my chest. That was the pass to the stronghold, earned with sixty-six of my lives. The stronghold’s leader was Rhys, the strongest survivor in this game. His stronghold was impregnable, but not just anyone could enter. To secure a spot for Julian, I agreed to their demands and risked my life to scavenge supplies from the monsters’ main lair. I died sixty-six times there before they finally agreed to let Julian and me live inside. I had planned to tell him on his birthday, “Julian, we have a home now.” But then he used sharp steel cables to tightly bind me, just to save another woman. “Cassidy, you’ve already died so many times, what’s one more? But Seraphina is different, she’ll be scared to tears!” With that, he violently threw me towards the monsters. I watched in horror as the monsters closed in. The memory of my past agonizing deaths made me instinctively struggle violently. But the more I struggled, the deeper the sharp spikes dug into me. As the monsters came closer, I screamed desperately towards Julian: “Julian, I’m scared too! Please, come save me! I’m your girlfriend, you can’t just abandon me!”

Hearing my plea, Seraphina turned and snuggled deeper into Julian’s embrace. She whimpered sweetly, “Julian, those monsters sound so scary! Let’s go inside, quickly.” So I watched, my heart breaking, as the man I had protected with my life didn’t even glance at me again, turning to leave with the other woman. I reached out and grabbed his sleeve, but he violently shook me off. “What are you so afraid of? You’ll just revive after you die anyway. Didn’t you say yourself that this world is just a game to you?” But I hurt too. Every death, the pain that overwhelmed me, was real. “Julian, maybe… maybe we should just let it go. I’ll be fine. After all, Cassidy is your girlfriend…” Seraphina gently tugged his sleeve, feigning innocence as she deliberately exposed the bleeding claw marks on her arm. Seeing this, Julian’s eyes immediately darkened. He raised his hand and slapped me hard across the face. “Cassidy, how could you be so cruel and lay your hands on Seraphina!” The force of the blow made my ears ring, and blood instantly seeped from the corner of my mouth. Even so, he wasn’t satisfied. He directly grabbed a sharp, barbed wire and tied my hands with it, his voice chilling. “She’s all yours. Play with her however you like, just don’t kill her. After all, I still need her as a meat shield to get Seraphina her favorite strawberry cake.” As his words fell, my eyes instantly filled with terror. Looking at the dozens of men surrounding me, I couldn’t imagine if I’d survive the night. I desperately crawled forward, blood foam dripping from my mouth. Pleading with him to spare me: “Julian, do you remember when you died for the seventy-third time? I dug out my heart and used it as bait for you!” His face flickered. “When you were possessed by a vengeful spirit for the eighty-fourth time, I bit off my tongue and used my lifeblood to exorcise it for you! You said, ‘Cassidy, from now on, I’ll protect you.’ How can you go back on your word?! I don’t need your protection anymore, I don’t want you. I’m willing to let you and Seraphina be together, but I beg you, please let them leave me alone, okay? I’m begging you, otherwise, this time, I’ll truly die!” Julian disgustedly furrowed his brows, then stomped his foot on my hand, which was pressed against the ground, completely disregarding my heart-wrenching screams. “Cassidy, how long are you going to keep bringing up all that old stuff about your sacrifices? One tear from Seraphina is worth more than you dying a hundred times over!” Seraphina timely sniffled and tugged his sleeve. “Julian, don’t argue with Cassidy. She’s just sad because her mother died. But Cassidy, people need to learn to be generous. Everyone here has been holding it in for so long, and it’s not like you’ll actually die, so what’s wrong with entertaining them a little?” My pupils constricted. Generous? If she was so generous, why didn’t she strip naked and lie in those men’s arms to entertain them?! Julian heard her words and looked at Seraphina with an appreciative gaze. He then kicked me towards the group of men. “Seraphina’s right. It’s not like you’ll actually die, so why not sacrifice yourself and let everyone vent their frustrations on you. Everyone will remember your kindness.” He bent down and gently stroked my cheek, “Don’t worry, Cass, even if you’re ‘dirty,’ I won’t abandon you.” I laughed, shaking uncontrollably, and spat a mouthful of bloody phlegm directly onto his face. “Disgusting!” “Julian, I should have seen it sooner! You’re nothing but a hypocritical scumbag! I actually fell foolishly in love with you, and even indirectly caused my mother’s death!” Hearing my words, Julian showed no trace of guilt. His face darkened as he warned me, “This is all your fault! If you dare hurt Seraphina, I’ll make you pay a thousand times over!” “Anyway, your mother will revive, and as for you, even if you’re played to death by them, I won’t find you dirty.” Those men’s filthy hands were already on my waist, brazenly biting at various parts of my body. Humiliating tears streamed down my cheeks. The more I struggled, the harsher their actions became. I still didn’t give up, crying out for Julian to pull me away. But I saw him offer no resistance, letting the other woman stand on tiptoes and kiss him. Suddenly, I didn’t want to resist anymore. My gaze met Julian’s eyes precisely. “Julian, you’ll regret this!”

In ten minutes, the monsters would besiege the stronghold. If they hadn’t found shelter by then, they’d all be dead. But Julian seemed to hear the biggest joke in the world. He bent down and pinched my chin. He forced me to look into the mirror, to see how these men were humiliating me. To see how many more men were standing by, eager to get their turn! “Regret? When they have you crying and begging for mercy later, remember how ridiculous that sounds today!” Seraphina leaned into his arms, timidly adding, “Cassidy, don’t be so stubborn. Just cooperate, and everyone will have an easier time!” I closed my eyes in despair, my fingers subtly gripping the bronze key at my chest. Just as another man reached out to tear open my collar, an earth-shattering roar suddenly came from the distance. The sky instantly rolled with black mist, thick enough to blot out the sun. Monsters surged forward like a tide. “It’s a horde! The ultimate boss is leading a horde!” The crowd instantly erupted into chaos. Cries, gunshots, and monster roars became a tangled mess. Julian’s face instantly paled. He instinctively shielded Seraphina behind him, his gaze sweeping over the chaotic crowd before finally fixating on me. “Cassidy! Quick, cut off your arm and use your blood to lure them to the east gate! You can’t die, can you? Go now!” I coldly pushed myself up from the ground. Seeing me not move, Julian tried to rush at me, but a sudden pouncing monster forced him to retreat. He stamped his foot impatiently. “Cassidy, are you crazy? If you don’t go, we’ll all die!” I pulled out the last long spike piercing my ankle and stepped barefoot into the pooling blood. Step by step, I walked towards the stronghold. “Cassidy, are you kidding me? That’s Commander Rhys’s stronghold, not just anyone can get in! If you go now and lure those monsters away, I promise you, after you revive, we’ll get married, okay?!” He screamed my name like a madman, his voice filled with panic for the first time. I stopped but didn’t turn back. I just held up the bronze key in my hand. I lowered my head and chuckled softly: “Married? Julian, do you even deserve it?” Blood dripped from my fingertips onto the ground, reflecting his terrified face. “This is the pass I earned with sixty-six of my lives. I even secured a spot for you, but unfortunately, that disappeared the moment you stood by and watched my mother die for another woman!” “You and your precious sweetheart can stay here and be torn to shreds by monsters. I’m not saving you!” Julian stared at the bronze key in my hand in disbelief, watching me walk into the stronghold behind me. The moment the main gate was about to close, Julian finally panicked.

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I had a pretty intense libido. That’s why I chose my current husband, a man who seemed to share my interests. I thought we could just go wild and have fun after getting married. Yet, a hundred days into our marriage, Liam and I had barely been intimate, and when we were, it was never satisfying. Every single time we started to get into the mood, my stepmom would interrupt us. Finally, after the tenth time my stepmom disrupted us under the guise of a broken lightbulb in her room, I completely snapped. “Liam, you’re not going tonight.” “Honey, Dad is a vegetable now, and it’s because of me. Eleanor is helpless and alone; it’s really hard for her. We should be a little more understanding of her feelings. It’ll get better in a while.” He still went. I didn’t make a scene like I used to. The next day, I slapped the divorce papers right onto his face. “Divorce! If you can’t satisfy me, then don’t stop me from finding someone who can.” Liam and I gave each other the silent treatment for two weeks before we finally made up. We were wrapped in each other’s arms, giving in to our desires. Just as things were heating up, his phone rang. I pretended not to hear it, wrapping my arms tighter around him, pressing closer. “Oh, Liam…” But the ringing just kept going, like a swarm of buzzing mosquitoes, killing the mood. The desire in Liam’s eyes finally dimmed. He pushed me away, got up, and answered the call. I was still longing for the warmth we’d just shared, the rush of desire hadn’t completely faded from my chest. I glared at him resentfully. Then I heard Eleanor, my stepmom, speaking in a soft, fragile voice from the phone. “Liam, I had a nightmare. I’m so scared…” Liam didn’t hesitate for a second. He immediately got ready to get out of bed and put on his clothes. I hadn’t been satisfied yet, so I quickly wrapped my arms around his waist from behind, breathing softly as I tried to hold him back. “Liam, just a few more minutes. Can’t you go after we’re done?” He coldly pulled my hands away, buttoning the last button of his shirt. “Chloe, you understand. Dad is in this state because of me. I can’t just ignore her.” His words infuriated me. “Liam, is Liam the only one in this house? We have so many staff! Can’t she call someone else if she needs help?” “Except for the few days I’m on my period, she calls you over every single night. Do you honestly think that’s normal?” “And why is it always at night?” “Stop talking!” Liam’s face instantly changed. “Don’t think such terrible things about Eleanor.” I looked at him defending another woman, and the man in front of me felt utterly foreign. Perhaps sensing my displeasure, Liam softened his tone, turned, and placed his hands on my shoulders. “Don’t worry, I’ll just go check on her. I’ll be right back if nothing’s wrong.” Liam left. I lay alone in bed, and the more I thought about it, the more something felt off. Liam, like me, had a strong libido. Every single time we tried to be intimate after we got married, his stepmom interrupted us with all sorts of excuses. Plus, we’d just been giving each other the silent treatment for two weeks. By all accounts, tonight he should have been unable to control himself, but when he answered the phone, he didn’t struggle at all? Had he already found release somewhere else? This thought spiraled wildly in my mind. I immediately got out of bed. I had to see if my dear stepmom was truly having a nightmare or if she had something else in mind. As soon as I stepped out of the bedroom, Liam sent me a message. “Eleanor just dreamed of Dad and is having a hard time controlling her emotions. I need to comfort her. I don’t know when I’ll be back. You should go to sleep early.” When I tiptoed to my stepmom’s door, I heard her voice from inside. “Your dad is just a living corpse now. How am I supposed to live alone?” Through the slightly ajar door, I saw Liam’s hand gently stroking Eleanor’s back. He was murmuring soft words of comfort. This endless, pitiful laments, like a broken record, had been performed by my stepmom no less than ten times since I got married. Every single time, our intimacy was interrupted by her phone call. And Liam would abandon me without hesitation. And whenever I came to her door, I always saw a similar scene.

There was a reason Liam acted this way. Liam and his father, Richard, had a fierce argument during a board meeting about a strategic issue. His father became emotionally agitated and suffered a sudden cerebral hemorrhage, becoming a bedridden vegetable ever since. At that time, Eleanor, twenty years younger than Richard, had only recently married into the family. Barely married and effectively widowed, and it was because of him. So Liam looking after his stepmom, I could completely understand. I even thought it was his duty as a son. It wasn’t until our wedding night that I noticed his stepmom was a little different with Liam. That night, we were burning with passion in bed when she came knocking, wearing a camisole nightgown and looking distressed. “Liam, I think I saw your dad move a little… Could you come take a look?” Liam didn’t hesitate. He got dressed and immediately followed her to her room to check. Though annoyed, I didn’t think much of it, considering she was so young to face such a sudden misfortune. But when I got up, tidied myself, and passed her door, I saw her completely wrapped around Liam, crying, her whole body shaking. “Oh, Liam, with Richard like this, what am I going to do? I’m just a woman.” Liam kept gently patting her back, comforting her. “Don’t be afraid. I’ll take care of everything.” Their posture was too intimate. My female intuition told me this wasn’t right. Sure enough, in the days that followed, I found Eleanor’s presence everywhere. During the day, when Liam was at work, she never appeared in front of me. But as soon as Liam came home, she would appear, dressed provocatively, wandering around us. Once, in the middle of the night, just as we were about to reach the peak of pleasure, she actually burst in, asking if we needed bathwater prepared. Then she’d stare at Liam with teary eyes, looking like she had no intention of leaving. What was even worse was that she once, right in front of us, tried on her newly bought lingerie in the living room. She even commented that the size was too small, without any shame. I was incredibly upset. I tried to subtly remind her to be careful, but she seemed not to understand. Or she would just get red-eyed, looking like she was suffering a great injustice. Her antics made me incredibly frustrated. I even spoke to Liam about it, but he always said I was overthinking things. Until that night Liam was away on a business trip. I got up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. Passing her room, I accidentally heard her watching adult videos. “Oh, Liam… *pleasure me*…” It was like a lightning bolt struck me. I instantly felt sick to my stomach. After discovering her sordid intentions, I immediately suggested moving out. But Liam thought I was just causing trouble. “We’re living perfectly fine together, why are you making a fuss again?” I had no proof, and I couldn’t just blurt out such an absurd thing without reason, so I had to endure it for now. But who knew Eleanor would become even more outrageous? She precisely kept track of my menstrual cycle. Except for those few nights, for the remaining twenty-something days, she’d find all sorts of reasons to call Liam away. “Liam, the light in my room is broken.” “Liam, your dad seems to have moved.” “Liam, I had a nightmare, I’m scared to be alone.” “Liam…” Later, I couldn’t take it anymore and confronted her directly. “Eleanor, Liam is my husband, not an electrician or a doctor. If you’re not feeling well or need help, you can find a professional.” Eleanor clutched the corner of her dress, her eyes instantly reddening. Liam immediately cut me off, his face dark. “How can you talk to Eleanor like that?” “I already told you, she’s my elder. With Dad in this state, I’m just showing her more care.” “Even if you’re upset, there should be a limit, right?” “Fine, I won’t make a fuss anymore. You two go play your sweet mother-son routine.” In a fit of anger, I stormed off to my parents’ house. That was the most serious argument we’d had since we started dating and got married. The next day, Liam came over with gifts to apologize. He knelt before my parents, swearing he would draw a clear line with Eleanor. But I still wouldn’t forgive him. He came to see me every day, trying every trick in the book to win over my parents. Plus, my mother-in-law, Victoria, personally came to guarantee that she would frequently visit and help Eleanor look after Richard, allowing Liam and me to move out. My mother-in-law, Liam’s birth mother, had divorced his father, Richard, due to irreconcilable differences, which was why Richard then married Eleanor. After I got married, Victoria had always been very caring towards me. Thinking of her efforts, and seeing the man I had given eight years of my life to, the sincerity in his eyes swayed me. Even though Eleanor was out of line, Liam’s intentions might truly have been out of filial piety. After all, we had spent wonderful college years together. He had carried me to the emergency room when I had gastroenteritis during a rainstorm and had always put thought into preparing gifts for every holiday. “I’m giving you one last chance.” I warned him as I accepted his apology gift. “If there’s a next time, we’re completely over.” Though I agreed to come home, a thorn remained in my heart, so my attitude towards him became much colder. The next period of time was indeed peaceful. Eleanor seemed to have truly changed. When we occasionally met at family gatherings, she remained polite and distant. Finally, after nearly two weeks of the silent treatment, Liam and my marriage life returned to normal. But just as I started to have a normal married life, Eleanor began causing trouble again. Thinking back carefully, there were so many staff in the family. Why did every small matter require Liam’s personal presence? I had endured the previous nine times, but this time, I couldn’t take it anymore.

“Liam.” My voice echoed in the silent mansion. He abruptly turned around, his eyes filled with shock. At the same time, he subtly released Eleanor’s hand, which he had been holding. A flicker of disappointment crossed Eleanor’s face. “Chloe? Why are you here…” “I came to learn from you.” I was blunt. Fearing they wouldn’t understand my implied meaning, I pulled out a cold smile. “After all, my husband is very busy right now. At night, he not only has to take care of me but also needs to help take care of other women.” Eleanor’s face instantly turned pale, her fingers clutching the sofa armrest tightly. “Chloe, don’t jump to conclusions. I was just…” “Just what? Just happened to slip and twist your ankle while going to the bathroom in the middle of the night?” I walked step by step towards them, staring at her. “What a coincidence. Every time we’re halfway through being intimate, you always seem to have a little ‘accident’.” Eleanor buried her head deeper, her shoulders trembling slightly as she began to cry silently. “Enough, don’t say another word.” Liam abruptly stood up, grabbed my wrist, and dragged me towards the guest room. He lowered his voice, questioning me. “Are you out of your mind? Dad is still lying in his room!” “Ha, so you remember your dad is lying in his room? Then what exactly are you and Eleanor doing, cuddling here?” “You’re absolutely unreasonable. Eleanor and I are innocent; there’s nothing going on.” He was clearly furious, his grip strong, as he forcefully pushed me into the guest room. “Let go!” I struggled with all my might, my nails leaving several red marks on his hand. “You’re hurting me!” The guest room door clicked shut. Liam gripped my hand tightly. “Chloe, let me explain.” He released me, his tone suddenly softening. “Eleanor really did slip and twist her ankle. I just helped her up.” “So, helping her up requires a hug and comfort?” I sneered, rubbing my reddened wrist. “Does it require you to stay up all night, talking to her and comforting her? Does it require you to—” “Enough!” Liam, exasperated, punched the wall. “Can your mind not be so filthy?” “She’s my dad’s wife!” “My dad is in this state because of me. Is it wrong for me to look after her on his behalf?” I looked at his bloodshot eyes and suddenly found everything incredibly laughable. “Liam, do you dare say you’re *just* looking after her?” He was about to say something when his phone suddenly rang. The words “Stepmom” on the screen stung my eyes. Liam hesitated for a moment, then answered. “Okay, wait for me. I’ll go with you.” He hung up, looking at me with hesitation. “Eleanor’s ankle is swollen. We need to go to the hospital.” “So?” I leaned against the headboard, my eyes full of sarcasm. “Are you leaving me again?” “I’ll be quick.” He tried to reach out and pat my shoulder, but I shifted, dodging him. “Wait for me at home. I promise I’ll be back soon.” “Get lost!” I closed my eyes, listening as his footsteps and Eleanor’s voice faded away down the hallway. A chill spread through my limbs. A “ding” sound echoed, like a new message notification. I opened my eyes, stood up, and searched for the source of the sound. Finally, on the second shelf of the nightstand to the left, I found a phone with its screen lit up. This was Liam’s work spare phone, which he usually used for company business. Why was it in the guest room? A wild idea drove me to pick it up. The lock screen showed a blurry photo, vaguely revealing two silhouettes. I entered his common password. The moment the phone unlocked and I saw its contents, I began to tremble uncontrollably.

What I saw were explicit videos and all sorts of extremely provocative, vulgar messages. The main characters were none other than Liam and Eleanor. In the video, Eleanor was straddling Liam, her arms tightly wrapped around his neck. Her lips were wildly kissing his. And Liam, my husband who had sworn he only felt familial respect for Eleanor, showed no resistance at all. He even lifted his hand, stroking Eleanor’s hair in return. Their movements were practiced and synchronized, clearly not their first time. “Liam, give me a child, please. I’m so lonely, just give me…” In the throes of passion, Eleanor moaned softly. I felt all the blood rush to my head. My stomach churned. I rushed into the guest bathroom and vomited until I was dizzy. So, the so-called filial piety, the so-called responsibility, were all just pretexts for their affair. Every single one of my compromises and concessions had become a joke in their eyes. Liam and Eleanor, those disgusting animals, had made a fool out of me. I leaned against the wall, wiping the stains from my mouth. I didn’t cry, and I didn’t make a fuss. Instead, I calmly walked to the bed and picked up the phone. I saved the video, which was enough to destroy everything they had. Then I sent it to my private email. After doing all that, I changed my clothes and left that disgusting place without looking back. I drove aimlessly through the streets. As dawn approached, I parked my car in front of a twenty-four-hour coffee shop. I needed a plan. A plan that would ruin them and make them pay a heavy price. My phone rang then. It was Liam. I hung up. He called again quickly, persistent. I hung up again, then blocked his number. Soon, his messages flooded in. “Chloe, where did you go? Why aren’t you home?” “Why aren’t you answering my calls? Are you mad at me?” “Eleanor’s ankle isn’t serious, just a soft tissue contusion.” “Please come back, okay? Let’s talk things through.” “I admit my attitude was bad last night. I apologize.” Looking at those hypocritical words, I just found them laughable. I took out my phone and dialed my college friend. She was the most famous divorce lawyer in the city. “Hey, it’s me, Chloe.” “I need your help. I want a divorce.” “And I want my husband and his wonderful stepmom to leave with nothing.” My friend, Sarah, on the other end, paused, wanting to speak but quickly stifled her curiosity and returned to her professional demeanor. “Send me all the documents. I’ll start processing it for you tomorrow when I’m at work.” “Okay.” After hanging up, I packaged that video, along with all the times and reasons Eleanor had interrupted us that I had documented, and sent them over. The evidence was irrefutable. I closed my eyes, the disgusting scene of Liam and Eleanor entwined flashing in my mind. Liam, Eleanor. Your karma begins now.

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My son loves to threaten me by punishing himself. It was scorching hot, over 100 degrees, and he deliberately smashed the AC unit. “Unless you immediately transfer fifty thousand dollars to my dad,” he snarled, “I’ll let myself overheat and die right here!” I was just so tired of this familiar drama. Quietly, I used that fifty thousand dollars to buy a small apartment, then moved to a cooler resort town overnight. The temperature hit a new high today. News reports said two hundred new cases of heatstroke had been reported, including two severe heatstroke cases. I remembered my son, Liam, had complained the old AC wasn’t cooling well, so I immediately ordered a brand-new one for him. Before he got back, I turned the AC on, setting it to a comfortable temperature. For dinner, I made some refreshing, cool salads and cold noodles. The food was on the table when he walked in. “Mom, why is it so cool in here? Did you get a new AC?” he asked the moment he stepped inside. I smiled. “Yep, it cost over five thousand dollars, but the weather’s so hot, I had to. You wouldn’t sleep well otherwise, and how would you study?” His face inexplicably darkened. He slammed the book in his hand onto the floor. He glared at me, his eyes cold. “Five thousand dollars for an AC, just like that?! How can you be so wasteful? No wonder Dad divorced you!” My smile vanished. “It’s so hot, I only replaced it for your good. How can you talk to your mom like that?” “Besides, I’m spending my own money. What does that have to do with your dad?” He rubbed the back of his head, annoyed. He pointed out the window. “My dad’s out there delivering food in this scorching heat, and here you are, chilling in air conditioning. Don’t you feel ashamed?” He started to get teary-eyed with anger. “It’s almost 100 degrees! After a hard day, he only has a fan in his cramped, rundown apartment in the city’s older district. How many times does he wake up in the middle of the night from the heat? He barely falls asleep before he has to get up before dawn to deliver food again! And what were you doing then? Sleeping soundly in your nice, cool room!” He pointed a finger at my nose, spitting as he yelled, “Just for that, you don’t deserve this AC!” With that, he angrily grabbed the fire extinguisher from the corner and rushed towards the standing AC unit, smashing it with all his might. “My dad’s suffering, so I don’t deserve to be comfortable either! Unless you transfer fifty thousand dollars to him, I’m not using this AC!” Under his relentless blows, the AC unit shattered. He didn’t stop there. He grabbed a pair of scissors and snipped the AC wires into pieces, completely destroying it. I was too shocked to speak. I thought about the past few days, how Liam had several times seemed on the verge of saying something to me, and how he’d been having inexplicable outbursts of temper. Suddenly, it all clicked. He was blowing off steam for his dad.

My ex-husband, Richard Peterson, and I divorced five years ago. The reason was that he secretly lent my ten years of savings to his younger sister, Chloe, for her business without telling me. In less than three months, Chloe blew through all my money. Richard then secretly told Chloe that she didn’t have to pay it back, so they wouldn’t feel burdened. At that time, my smoothie shop was forced to close because it lacked the working capital from that money. I still clearly remember how he scolded me when I asked his sister for the money back. “We’re married, so my sister is your sister. What’s wrong with spending some money on family? Why are you so selfish? Only thinking about yourself!” “I’m the oldest in the family; it’s my responsibility to support my siblings. How can I ask for the money back now? Where would I put my face?” “Yes, I know you’re upset, but we’re the older ones, aren’t we? We should suffer a little so our younger siblings can have a good life, right?” So, I divorced him without hesitation. Our son, Liam, lived with me, only visiting his dad for a few days during summer and winter breaks. At first, everything was harmonious. Later, Liam, for some reason, started finding fault with me every other day. When I bought expensive grapes, he said I was wasting money. When I had a late-night snack, he said I was extravagant. Even when I bought him study materials, he said I had too much money and nowhere to spend it. The day we moved into our new house, he flipped over a table full of food in front of my friends. He screamed, asking me why I was moving. Why I deserved to live in such a nice house. I never understood. I tried every way to create good living conditions for him, so how could everything I did be wrong in his eyes? Now I get it. He could empathize with his dad but couldn’t empathize with me. No matter what I did, as long as I was doing better than his dad, I was wrong. I suddenly remembered when he found out the reason for my divorce, he said something dismissively. “It’s just two hundred thousand, isn’t it? Aunt Chloe isn’t an outsider. Do you really need to make such a big deal out of it?” Back then, I thought his dad had taught him that. Now, it seems he and his dad are cut from the same cloth. They both want to burn themselves out to light up others. Unfortunately, I’m not that noble.

I tried to reason with him. “Your dad is a private school teacher; he has a solid salary. He has enough money to install an AC for himself. Do you know why he still works hard delivering food after work?” He kept smashing the AC, scoffed, and said nothing. I patiently explained, “It’s because his younger brother, David, is getting married and needs a three-hundred-thousand-dollar dowry. He sent all his savings back, but he’s still short by one hundred and fifty thousand, so he had to start delivering food.” “For the past year, he’s been working multiple jobs so hard, all to save money for David’s wedding.” “Last month, I heard he was still short fifty thousand, and David couldn’t wait any longer, urging him to get the money quickly. That’s why he came to me. After buying this apartment, I didn’t have much money left, and I needed to save that for your college tuition, so of course, I wouldn’t lend it to him.” He cut me off. “I don’t care! I just want my dad not to work so hard! Transfer the money to him right now! Otherwise, I’ll overheat and die right here!” He went back into his room, grabbed a blanket, wrapped it around himself, and said firmly, “I mean it!” The temperature in the room quickly rose. I was already sweating profusely. He was even worse. He was panting from the heat, his breath hot, like steam from a boiling pot. But his eyes, covered in sweat, stared at me with fierce determination. He’d used this trick since he was little. He always used himself to threaten me. If I didn’t buy him something, he’d go on a hunger strike or lock himself in his room. My heart ached for him, and I always had to give in. This time, though, I felt unusually exhausted. Suddenly, I wondered what the point of working so hard was. He wrapped another blanket around himself, forcing me to transfer the money to Richard. I had no choice but to FaceTime Richard. I aimed the camera at Liam and told Richard, “Your son is punishing himself because you won’t use the AC. Please, talk some sense into him. He’s deliberately suffering; he’ll get sick eventually.” Richard said exactly what I expected. “That’s my good boy. It’s okay to be a little hot; it won’t kill anyone. The money saved on the AC can be used for your uncle David’s wedding.” I watched Liam’s reaction, hoping he’d realize the truth. But he just nodded, moved. “Dad, don’t worry, I know you’re doing this for me. I’ll always support you!” Seeing this, the last flicker of hope in my heart was completely extinguished. I opened my SnapChat wallet. Liam immediately threw off the blankets, his face beaming with pride, thinking he had me exactly where he wanted me. “That’s right! You married my dad, so you should be his strongest supporter, fully backing all his decisions.” “After you transfer the money to him, go buy an AC from eBay. No, buy two! One for us, and one for Dad. A family should share hardships together.” I didn’t respond. He noticed I wasn’t transferring money at all; I was actually browsing hotels. He immediately exploded. “What are you doing? Didn’t I tell you to transfer money to Dad?” I booked a king-sized room right in front of him, calmly saying, “It’s too hot to sleep without AC. If you want to share hardships with your dad, that’s fine, but I have no interest in joining you.” His face contorted with rage. Then he piled all the blankets back on himself. “If you dare go to that hotel, I’ll literally overheat and die for you!” I didn’t answer, packed a change of clothes, and walked out.

I was sleeping comfortably in the hotel when I was woken up by a call from my neighbor. He said my son had suffered heatstroke and had crawled to his doorstep in the middle of the night for help. He was currently being treated at the hospital. I notified Richard to rush to the hospital. By the time I arrived, Liam’s condition had stabilized. His face was still flushed, as if it had been scorched by fire. When he saw me, his eyes reddened, and he stubbornly turned his face away. “What are you doing here? Go back to your hotel and enjoy your AC! Just let me die from the heat!” I was both angry and amused. “So, you really don’t want me here?” He retorted without hesitation, “Who needs you here? Without you, my dad would take care of me. Living with him is a hundred times, a thousand times better than living with you!” I chuckled. “It only takes about fifteen minutes to get here from your dad’s place, while it takes me half an hour from the hotel. I only left after I notified him, and I’ve been here for ten minutes already, but he still hasn’t arrived. Do you really think he puts you first?” Just as I finished speaking, Richard arrived. He was wearing a loose, shapeless white undershirt and faded black shorts, his head completely shaved. He looked like he’d stepped out of the 80s. The first thing he did when he saw me was to curse. “How could you take care of our son so poorly? The AC was on at home, and he still got heatstroke?” Liam started sobbing, touched. Watching this touching father-son scene, I suddenly said, “Alright, since you say I can’t take care of him, then you take him. Anyway, he doesn’t care to live with me.” Both of them froze. Richard opened his mouth and chuckled awkwardly. “Sarah, don’t try that on me. You begged and paid to get custody of our son back then, and now you’re willing to give him up? I don’t believe your nonsense!” Liam also had a cold expression, saying impatiently, “She’s just so dramatic. She’s unwilling to help her family at all. She’s just a self-centered and manipulative person who only cares about her own pleasure.” I had no strength to argue back. After a sigh, I said, “Say whatever you want. Anyway, I won’t interfere with your affairs.” Liam immediately sat up and pulled out his IV drip. “I told you to transfer the money to Dad, so you better do it! Otherwise, I’m leaving with Dad today, and I’ll never see you again!” Richard chimed in, “My son, so young, understands this, but you, an adult, don’t. You should reflect on yourself. Anyway, if I just get fifty thousand to solve my brother’s urgent problem, I can relax for a while.” As he spoke, his phone rang. From the sound, it seemed to be his brother, David. “Bro, I’m hungry. Can you bring me some food? I want crayfish and stir-fried noodles, and a cold beer, plus Michelle’s bubble tea, a large one! Hurry up and bring it. You know my room number. Just send it up with a robot; you don’t have to run all the way, save yourself the trouble.” Richard looked troubled. “David, your nephew is in the hospital. I can’t leave right now. How about I transfer two hundred dollars so you can order takeout?” The voice on the other end wouldn’t give up. “I don’t trust takeout, Bro. I only trust food from the places you personally buy it from. And isn’t Liam with his mom? How could you bother yourself with this?” “Anyway, if you don’t bring it, then we’ll just starve. We might just get stomach problems, and then Mom and Dad will have to worry about me and lose sleep.” At this point, Richard quickly agreed. “Alright, alright, Bro, I’m going to buy it for you now. Just wait. There should be some crackers in the hotel; eat those to tide yourself over.” He hung up the phone and looked at me. “Sarah, you heard that. My brother’s here. You watch Liam. He seems stable enough.” I asked him, “Your brother’s here, why isn’t he staying with you in your rental? Don’t you always preach frugality?” He frowned. “He brought his girlfriend; could I make them stay with me? Besides, I’m the eldest brother. It’s only right for the eldest brother to take care of his younger siblings. Why are you so against my family doing well?” I waved my hand. “Forget it, I don’t care. It’s none of my business anyway.” He hesitated, then turned to Liam. “Liam, Dad has to go. Take care of yourself.” Liam nodded, his eyes soft. “Dad, I know your struggles. Don’t worry about me; I can take care of myself.” As soon as Richard left, Liam’s eyes reddened. “My dad works so hard. He earns the money, but others get to enjoy it. Some people just don’t have any sympathy for him.” He still hadn’t reinserted his IV. He glared at me resentfully. “I think Uncle David is only here for that fifty thousand. He won’t leave until he gets the money. For Dad’s sake, can’t you just let him use the money?” I shook my head. “No.” He got angry. “Fine, you’re something else. Then you can guard your money. From today on, I’m moving in with my dad!”

My son kept his word. That evening, he went home, packed his things, and left. He only took his study materials, a few clothes, and essential ID. He left everything else behind. As he left, he gave me a particularly defiant ultimatum: “Unless you solve my dad’s financial problems, even if you roll out the red carpet for me, I won’t come back!” “I’ll just re-study in that hot, cramped room in the city’s older district. Then I’ll be too hot to study anything, and next year I’ll score even worse than this year, maybe not even enough for community college! In the end, I won’t find a decent job and will end up doing manual labor in a factory. My life will be completely ruined!” I didn’t say a word. He stood there for a few minutes, then finally walked away with his backpack. This was his second time running away from home. The first time was three years ago. That’s when I heard his aunt Chloe had money, so I sued her to get my money back. His dad found out and was so angry he ended up in the hospital. Liam also got anxious and forced me to withdraw the lawsuit. When I refused, he ran away from home. He rode the bicycle I bought him to his dad’s place overnight. No matter how I tried to convince him, he wouldn’t go back to school. I was worried. Afraid he’d fall behind in school, I had no choice but to compromise and withdraw the lawsuit. He even made me apologize to his aunt Chloe in front of everyone. Only then did he reluctantly come back with me. Now, looking back, I truly regret it. The past cannot be changed. But the present and future are in my hands. I won’t make the same mistake again. I contacted a real estate agent that night and put my apartment up for sale. At the same time, I contacted someone to find me an affordable place in a small, remote town. The agent was efficient and got back to me the next day. They sent me several small apartments that cost only tens of thousands of dollars. The temperature there was around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, a natural summer retreat. It gets very cold in winter, but with floor heating, it wouldn’t be an issue. On the day I arrived at my new home, my son, who had been silent for a week, suddenly called me. “Mom, where are you? Why can’t I get into the house anymore?”

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I chased Elias Vance for four long years, utterly devoid of shame. He was utterly exasperated by me. Under his immense pressure, my family, cowering in fear, shipped me off overseas. He said, “Whatever it takes, make her stop bothering me!” “Otherwise, don’t expect any mercy from me.” Drugs, hypnosis, electroshock therapy… These methods were incredibly effective. I forgot what it felt like to love him. Even my memories of him became blurry, indistinct. He finally relented, allowing me to return home. I instinctively avoided any place where he might appear. My mother had warned me that I couldn’t afford to cross that breathtakingly handsome man. Seeing him kiss Seraphina, my sister, I secretly pulled out my phone to snap a picture. His eyes were predatory and icy. Terrified, I shrank into the corner, my words caught in my throat: “I’m sorry, I just thought you two looked so perfect together, like something out of a romance movie…” I don’t know why. The man who usually showed no emotion, his gaze trembled violently. **1** Ever since I came back from overseas, my mind has felt… fuzzy. Most of my day was spent sleeping. I felt like I might be sick. Mom comforted me, saying there was nothing to worry about. “You’ve always been a little sleepyhead, unlike your sister who’s so disciplined.” “It’s fine. Everyone’s constitution is different. If you’re tired, go to sleep.” I poured myself a large cup of black coffee, hoping to perk up. But it had no effect. I tapped my temples, frustrated, when the front door chimed. The butler announced, “Miss Seraphina has brought Mr. Vance home.” My parents’ eyes instantly lit up with joy. Dad eagerly rushed out to greet them. Mom was about to follow, then suddenly remembered something. She looked at me apologetically: “Daisy, you…” I nodded understandingly: “I know, Mr. Vance isn’t fond of me.” “Seraphina’s engagement is important. I’ll go upstairs now; it’s a good time for me to catch some more sleep anyway.” Mom looked at my yawning face with a hint of relief. I had only taken a few steps when I suddenly remembered I hadn’t taken my coffee cup. I wanted to try another cup later. The moment I turned, I inadvertently met a cold, icy gaze. It was almost a primal instinct. I forgot about the coffee cup and bolted, as if delaying for even a second would cost me my life. I didn’t stop until I reached my room and locked the door. I even shoved a table against the door from the inside. Only then did the knot in my stomach finally loosen. I couldn’t explain why, but whenever I saw Elias Vance, a powerful emotion surged through me: fear. Mom said it was because Elias was a born leader, someone who naturally makes anyone around him feel small. “Especially you, a natural pushover.” Mom told me not to appear in front of Mr. Vance. “Mr. Vance, he… he doesn’t like people who look sweet but are actually ditzy.” “His eyes only linger on accomplished girls like your sister.” “What caliber is the Vance family? Marrying into them would set us up for generations, wouldn’t it?” “Daisy, you need to be sensible.” I was very sensible. So, every time Elias came to the house, I actively avoided him. Mom was always relieved by this, sometimes stroking my head. It was the greatest reward for me, and I cherished it. That’s why I never dared to tell Mom. Even if she didn’t say it, I would still actively avoid Elias Vance. His presence was just too overwhelming. I felt so uneasy. So suffocated. It was like someone was squeezing my heart. And there was this strange, aching bitterness. Downstairs, laughter and chatter echoed. Amidst that joyous noise, I drifted off into a hazy sleep. **2** When I woke up again, the sky had darkened. It was already evening. The mansion was quiet. Elias Vance must have left. My stomach rumbled. I pushed open my door, wearing a white, princess-style nightgown, and padded barefoot downstairs looking for food. The cold floor made my fuzzy brain feel a tiny bit clearer. I was standing by the counter, heating some bread slices. Suddenly, the study door opened. Elias Vance, dressed in a sharp suit, walked out. Under the warm, yellow glow of the lights, his silhouette was even sharper, his body perfectly straight. His features were chiseled, like a god who held the power of life and death. But he was so cold. His entire demeanor was cold, his eyes were cold. Even the lead-grey cufflinks on his suit gleamed with a chilling light. Across the long living room, his gaze fell dispassionately on me. His thin lips were pressed into a grim line. His presence was utterly intimidating. Almost immediately. I snapped back to reality. Clutching my head, I crouched under the dining table. I scrambled to hide, only making my presence more obvious. Seraphina’s light steps skipped down the stairs. She practically flew into Elias’s arms, clinging to his arm and swaying it playfully. “Are you really leaving already? You haven’t even seen my new publicity photos, and you haven’t eaten dinner yet! Please stay?” Seraphina usually carried herself with a cool, distant air. But now, she was all girlish charm, her voice a sweet, lilting sound. Like a beautiful bird, with dazzling plumage and a melodious song. Elias Vance didn’t speak. He looked coldly at me, cowering under the table. Seraphina’s smile faltered. She bit her lip and said, “If you’re busy, you can see them another time. Let’s go, I’ll walk you out.” Elias Vance stood still. His oppressive presence was so heavy, as if he hadn’t heard Seraphina speaking at all. Seraphina opened her mouth but dared not speak. After a long moment, he finally spoke, his voice low and deep: “Alright, I’ll eat dinner before I leave.” Dad and Seraphina’s faces simultaneously showed expressions of surprise and disbelief. Elias’s lips curved faintly: “What are you afraid of? She’s forgotten everything, hasn’t she?” Elias Vance strode his long legs to the dining table and crouched down. His tailored suit pants highlighted the strong lines of his legs. “Daisy, do you still recognize me?” I timidly raised my eyes, then lowered them again, not daring to meet his gaze. I slowly nodded. But my fingertips and toes suddenly felt like they were being pricked with needles. It was like an automatic, panic response. I screamed. Clamping my eyes shut. Shaking my head frantically. “No! I don’t! Don’t hurt me! I don’t know you!” **3** At the dinner table, the atmosphere was bizarre. My parents tried desperately to liven things up. But Elias Vance simply ate in silence, his posture noble and graceful. He showed no intention of speaking, making my parents’ enthusiasm incredibly awkward. Seraphina’s face was dark, and she didn’t say a word. I didn’t dare to pick up dishes, only eating small bites of rice. Finally, the meal was over, and both my parents seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. Watching Elias Vance’s departing figure, I suddenly remembered something and called out to him: “Mr. Vance, wait a minute.” Everyone looked at me in surprise. Including Elias Vance. His brows slightly furrowed, clearly impatient. “Just for a second. Please?” I held up my finger, indicating a tiny distance. With that, I dashed upstairs, and soon ran back down clutching a metal box. All eyes were locked on me. I opened the lid of the metal box and asked, “Mr. Vance, is this yours?” On top of the box were a dozen or so ID photos. Some were small, some were larger. You could tell they hadn’t been obtained through official channels. Some had embossed stamps, others had dried glue on the back. Clearly, they’d been peeled off from various places. The Elias Vance in the photos was younger than now, with a hint of youthful innocence in his eyes, but his features were already strikingly superior. Besides the ID photos, there were all sorts of random things: candy wrappers, cigarette packs, used pen refills, crumpled test papers, and so on. Elias Vance looked at me with piercing eyes. I bit my lip before I dared to continue: “I found it in a corner of my wardrobe. I don’t know who put it there. But I recognized your photos, so it must be yours, right?” Elias Vance’s gaze shifted slightly, as if with a hint of inquiry. His stare made me feel small. My shoulders slumped. He finally spoke: “It’s not mine. Throw it away.” “Oh, okay.” I casually tossed the box into the nearby trash can and started to head upstairs. Elias Vance’s eyes suddenly held a dangerous glint. “Daisy, are you doing this on purpose?” he called out to me. I was confused: “What?” He seemed to see through everything, his eyes mocking as he scoffed. “Nothing. You’re a good actress. But don’t bother next time. I’m not interested.” With that, he turned and left. **4** Mom closed the door. Seraphina, who had held it in all night, finally burst into tears, collapsing onto the table. Dad watched, his heart aching, and eventually couldn’t hold back his anger, striking out with a slap. I was unprepared and fell awkwardly to the floor. My head hit the corner of the table. A dull throb pulsed through it. Mom, her face etched with pain and frustration, embraced Seraphina’s shoulders and said to me, “Daisy, don’t blame your father for being so harsh; tonight, you were truly, truly a disappointment!” “Did you forget Mom’s repeated warnings?” “Why did you come downstairs on your own? Why did you talk to him? Are you really that pathetic?!” Blood oozed from the cut on my forehead, trickling into my eyes. My vision blurred, obscured by a crimson haze. Clutching the bleeding wound, I tried to explain: “I’m sorry, I thought he had left. I didn’t mean to…” Seraphina suddenly grabbed my collar, screaming hysterically: “Coming downstairs dressed like that, deliberately walking around barefoot in front of him, and bringing out some old box trying to get his attention, Daisy, who are you trying to seduce?!” “Do you even know who Elias Vance is? Do you know who *you* are? How dare you even think about him?” “Do you realize that because of your indecent behavior tonight, I could lose him?” “Can’t you live without a man? Seducing your own sister’s boyfriend!” With that, Seraphina opened the door and walked out. Mom quickly grabbed her: “Seraphina, where are you going at this hour?” Seraphina glared at me with hatred: “It’s either me or her in this house. If she stays, I leave!” Soon, the sound of a car engine starting echoed from the garage. Mom sighed deeply. Dad slammed a door in frustration. I spoke softly: “Should I stay somewhere else tonight?” Mom hesitated for a few moments: “Where would you go?” “I can stay in a hotel. I always stayed in hotels when I was abroad; I’m used to it.” Back then, I couldn’t stand the inhumane torment, so whenever I had a chance, I would escape from the hospital. I stayed in the cheapest motels, trying to avoid the painful treatments they arranged for me. But Seraphina always found me quickly and dragged me back. Mom was silent, then after a while, she nodded: “Tonight was indeed your fault, so go stay out. When your sister cools down, Mom will pick you up.” **5** In the hotel room. Standing in front of the mirror, I carefully wiped away the blood from my forehead. The wound was a bit large; a single bandage wouldn’t cover it. But it was so late, and I didn’t dare leave the hotel room to buy more bandages. Usually, I could never get enough sleep. But tonight, perhaps because of the throbbing pain in my forehead, I found it hard to sleep at all. I had forgotten why I was sent abroad. I only remembered that, ever since childhood, Seraphina had always been smarter and more accomplished than me. Wherever she went, she seemed to glow. So, my parents held the highest expectations for her. Seraphina started as a child model at a very young age, and later, she became wildly popular with her image as a brilliant scholar. As for me, besides having looks comparable to hers, I was completely useless. So, I understood my parents’ favoritism. I agreed with their decision to channel more resources towards my capable sister. But was this favoritism the reason they sent me abroad? I remembered when I was abroad, taking handfuls of pills and undergoing painful treatments. Mom told me on the phone that it would make me smarter. But I always felt that since returning from abroad, my brain worked even worse. Besides being constantly sleepy, my reactions were slower. Had my parents brought me back because the treatment failed? Were they even more displeased with me because I was dumber? **6** During the day, I wandered the streets. As soon as night fell, I returned to the hotel to sleep. I stayed in the hotel for a week, but Mom still hadn’t told me to come back. I had run out of money. I SnapChatted my mom. I discovered she had blocked me. At noon, as I sat in the hotel lobby, staring blankly, I saw a striking couple from a distance, standing at the entrance to the indoor garden. The man had a tall, commanding presence, his back to me, showing only his broad, straight shoulders. The woman had an enviable figure, accentuated by an elegant long dress, her face upturned as she smiled at the man. But I could only see half of her profile. I shook my head, trying to see more clearly. But these past few days, I always had a headache, and everything looked as if through a fog. This only made the scene in front of me feel even more atmospheric. I pulled out my phone to capture the beautiful scene. But I completely forgot to turn off the flash, and my shutter sound was cranked all the way up. They quickly noticed me. The man’s jawline seemed to clench. His gaze towards me was extremely hostile. I watched as the two of them strode towards me, feeling fidgety and anxious. Until Elias Vance and Seraphina stood over me, looking down. “Daisy, what are you doing here?” Elias Vance’s voice was as cold as ever. I looked at Seraphina, too scared to speak. Elias Vance extended a long, slender hand: “Give me your phone.” Trembling, I handed my phone to him. It was so strange; he knew my password. Even I didn’t know what my six-digit password meant. I’d tried everyone’s birthdays at home, but none of them worked. Elias Vance pulled up the photo, his eyes dangerously narrowed: “Why were you secretly taking pictures? Daisy, what do you intend to do to Seraphina? Are you trying to hurt her again?” I shook my head frantically, so nervous I was close to tears: “No, I didn’t.” I knew Seraphina was more accomplished than me. I was so ordinary, so I never thought about competing with her for anything. But Mom said I had once appeared at Seraphina’s new show’s press conference, dressed to the nines. A reporter had commented that Seraphina and I looked alike but had completely different temperaments. Seraphina was pure and ethereal, while I was whimsical and utterly innocent. They said I had a broader range for acting roles. Because of that, Seraphina’s confirmed lead role suddenly ran into complications. In the end, I didn’t get to act, but Seraphina lost her chance to become an A-list actress. That’s why Seraphina hated me, hated me for deliberately stealing the spotlight and being unable to bear her success. No matter how I explained, no one believed me. That day, I wasn’t trying to steal Seraphina’s glory; I just wanted to witness her success. I had spent all my pocket money renting an expensive gown, just so I wouldn’t embarrass my sister. I never imagined that I would somehow outshine her. I really didn’t mean to. But no one believed me. Those days when everyone turned against me, my family took turns expressing their disappointment. It was suffocating. Like a nightmare. I never wanted to go through it again. “Please believe me, I didn’t.” I desperately grabbed Elias Vance’s sleeve, pleading. He frowned, then said: “Daisy, are you still pretending? You didn’t really lose your memory, did you?

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My husband, Daniel, seems to be in love. He’s always grinning foolishly at his phone, showering more often, changing outfits multiple times before going out, and he even changed our profile pictures to matching couple’s avatars without asking. Whenever I used to see these kinds of social media posts, I always thought they were just relatable jokes. That is, until the eve of our fifth wedding anniversary. My usually serious and stiff husband sent me a message: “Company dinner tonight, darling. Will my Queen grace us with her presence?” Daniel sounded so sweet. He even used a cute emoji I’d never seen him use before. My heart instantly clenched, a cold chill spreading through me. I’d seen that animated character on the emoji before. It was the profile picture of the new intern at his company. It wasn’t just “seems like.” In the tenth year of our love, my husband was in love—with someone else. “Where did you get such a cute emoji?” The “typing…” bubble stayed on for a long time before Daniel replied: “Saved it from a group chat.” Before I could ask more questions, Daniel’s profile picture flickered, changing to a Q-version of the same animated character. It was a matching couple’s avatar. “Honey, isn’t my new profile picture cute?” “It’s the style you asked me to change to before! You should use this one.” He sent me a photo, a really cute animated character. It looked familiar, but I couldn’t place where I’d seen it. Instinctively, I opened the company’s main SnapChat group chat to check. Sure enough, there was an identical profile picture. Chloe Hayes. I remembered her. The new intern at the company, a sweet-smiling young girl. My heart dropped. It felt like my heart skipped a beat, and a cold dread spread from my limbs, chilling me to the bone. Tears welled up instantly, overflowing and blurring my vision as I looked at the yellowing wedding photo on the wall. I decided to confirm it myself. With trembling hands, I replied: “Yes, I’ll be there for the dinner tonight.” That evening, when Daniel drove up to pick me, Chloe, just an intern, was sitting in the passenger seat. The back seats were occupied by some of the closer management staff. Chloe, quite thoughtfully, got out to offer me the passenger seat. Daniel leaned over and explained, “Chloe gets carsick, and ride-shares often have weird smells. So I just had her ride with me.” “My Queen, please get in.” I managed a strained smile, greeted everyone, and got into the passenger seat. Low murmurs of chatter came from the back. Chloe remained quiet, watching Daniel as he drove through the rearview mirror. I decided to test him. While we were waiting at a red light, I deliberately reached out and took Daniel’s hand, which was resting on the gear stick. From the back, flirty cheers immediately erupted: “Whoa, the boss and his wife are so sweet together!” But Daniel pulled his hand back as if he’d been shocked. He gave me a forced, awkward smile, trying to cover it up as he explained, “Honey, I’m driving. Safety first.” I subtly turned my face away, responding flatly, “I was just wondering why you suddenly stopped wearing your wedding ring.” Daniel gave a couple of dry laughs: “I’ve gained a little happy weight recently; you must be cooking too well, my love.” “This ring is just a bit tight.” “It’s our fifth anniversary soon anyway. We can go pick out a new set of matching rings.” I said nothing, just nodded. I played along, pretending we were a loving, happy couple. Through the rearview mirror, I saw Chloe’s red-rimmed eyes in the back. Her fingers were clenched so hard they were bloodless; she must have been in a lot of pain, holding it in. I glanced sideways and saw Daniel secretly watching her, his gaze filled with warmth, guilt, and deep reassurance. They stared deeply into each other’s eyes through the mirror. It wasn’t until the honking of the cars behind us reminded him that the light had changed that Daniel snapped out of it and started driving again. I witnessed it all, my heart feeling crushed under a heavy rock, a suffocating pain. Unable to bear it, I rolled down the window for some air. After a long moment of thought, I finally opened my lawyer friend’s contact on my phone and typed out a message: “Taking cases?” “I’m divorcing Daniel Miller.”

It was a celebration dinner, and the atmosphere was relaxed. Daniel stood on stage, glass in hand, looking vibrant and confident as he announced the mid-year bonuses. At the table, Chloe rested her chin in her hand, her eyes shining as she watched him. Her gaze was full of girlish adoration. Daniel chatted casually with the employees below, but his gaze always landed on her. After a few rounds of drinks, Chloe, who couldn’t hold her liquor, quietly left the table. Daniel noticed. He leaned in, his warm breath tickling my ear, and said: “Reporting in!” “Honey, I need to use the restroom.” I agreed. I nodded, but stealthily followed him, watching him turn into the fire escape stairwell, which was in the opposite direction from the restrooms. Chloe’s suppressed sobs drifted into the air, soft and pitiful. Daniel sat beside her, his voice tender, asking, “Why are you crying?” Chloe looked up, her eyes red, fixing on him: “From our college days to your wedding day, you and Amelia are so deeply in love. I envy her so much.” “My internship ends soon, and I’ll have to take on projects independently. I won’t be able to just follow you around anymore. I’ll make sure to keep my feelings in check from now on, but I really can’t bear to leave you.” “Please, just one last thing. Can you… kiss me?” The air seemed to freeze in that instant. Daniel moved. But he didn’t kiss her. Instead, he gave Chloe a gentle hug. His voice turned hoarse, choked with emotion: “I’m sorry, we met too late. I’m already married, I…” Daniel didn’t finish his sentence. Chloe cupped his face and pressed a deep kiss onto his forehead. Daniel froze. But he didn’t push her away; instead, he closed his eyes. I heard the sound of my own heart breaking. It echoed in the silent fire escape, making no sound at all. They left, one after the other. I looked at my phone screen, where the recording button was still lit, and finally pressed stop. When I returned, Daniel and Chloe were already seated. The celebration dinner was pretty much winding down. Employees were gathering in small groups, figuring out who lived near whom and how they’d get home. Daniel, whom I was helping to support, suddenly stopped, as if remembering something, and turned around. He held up his phone to everyone: “It’s getting late. The guys need to make sure all the ladies get home safely.” “Once you’re home, remember to check in on the group chat!” Everyone chorused, “Okay!” Daniel, swaying as if very drunk, patted Chloe’s shoulder. “Chloe, I remember you get carsick. Why don’t you ride with us?” Chloe hesitated, looking at me. She seemed to be waiting for me to say something. “Come with us,” I said. “You’ve had quite a bit to drink too. I’ll drop you off first.” The ride was silent. Daniel, usually chatty when he drank, was unusually quiet, pretending to nap with his eyes closed in the passenger seat. Chloe sat quietly in the back. He knew that if he talked to me, Chloe would be upset. Only when Chloe got out of the car did Daniel snap awake. He rolled down the window, waved goodbye to her, and watched her go inside. Even after I started the car, he kept looking in the rearview mirror until Chloe’s figure disappeared. Then he finally looked at me and said: “Honey, this Sunday is our tenth wedding anniversary.” “Let’s go buy new rings then, okay?” I chuckled softly, not responding directly. I just gently pushed his head, making him sit up straight. When we got home, Daniel’s alcohol had fully hit, and he was disoriented. I put him in the guest bedroom. Having seen his infidelity, I just felt dirty thinking about sharing a bed with him again. As I was about to close the door and leave, his phone, which was on the bedside table, lit up. A familiar profile picture popped up, sending a message: “Daniel, are you asleep?”

I walked out with Daniel’s phone. He had no defenses against me. I easily unlocked his phone, but I didn’t reply to Chloe’s message. I just scrolled up, As if tracing back their story. The serious, rigid boss meets the innocent, lively intern, causing trouble yet finding himself intrigued and a little smitten by her antics. They both knew what was happening, but preferred to enjoy the unspoken flirtation, letting themselves fall deeper. I tried to steady my breathing. I pressed the record button again, capturing the evidence of my husband’s infidelity. I opened his photo gallery. It was almost entirely filled with pictures of Chloe. But no pictures of them together. They were all secretly taken by Daniel. Chloe working, Chloe talking to colleagues, Chloe napping, Chloe slacking off. From initially not looking at the camera at all, to later shyly acknowledging it, the last few pictures showed Chloe laughing freely, facing the lens. Just as I finished recording, Another message popped up on SnapChat. “Daniel, it’s been ten years. Don’t do anything to hurt Amelia. Her face tonight was clearly off.” The sender was Ben. One of the company’s OGs. When the company first started, there were only three of us. Me, Ben, and Daniel. Later, as the company grew and staff increased, I gradually returned to focusing on our family. It was only when doing financial reports that I remembered I still held a nominal title as CFO. Daniel and Ben were super close. From the moment Daniel first realized his unusual feelings, they’d talked about it. Bits and pieces, detailing Daniel’s slow slide into infidelity. “It’s been ten years, I haven’t felt love for Amelia for ages. Every time I hold her hand, it’s like I’m holding my own hand. When I touch her body, it feels like touching my own. This isn’t love anymore.” “Yes, I know Amelia gave up her career to take care of my mom back then. But now we have nothing in common. The moment she starts talking about groceries and bills, I get annoyed.” “Ben, I hadn’t felt that rush, that flutter in my chest, in ages. Meeting her, I feel like I’m in love.” “She’s so kind, so fragile. I genuinely want to take care of her for the rest of my life, but I’m already married. I know I shouldn’t betray Amelia, but I can’t control my feelings.” … In the end, there was only one ridiculous question left: “Does emotional cheating count as cheating?” Ben didn’t reply. It was Daniel’s own self-doubt. “Forget it. It’s been ten years. No more drama.” That night, Daniel snored loudly enough to shake the house in the guest bedroom, probably living out his wish to be with Chloe in his dreams. In the master bedroom, I cried all night, watching every detail of his betrayal unfold. It wasn’t until dawn that I finally exhaled a sigh: “Disgusting.” Ten years of love, and all that was left for me in the end was a churning, overwhelming sense of disgust. My phone vibrated. It was my lawyer. “Amelia, the agreement is drafted. When do you plan to confront Daniel?” From outside, Daniel’s voice rang out: “Honey, I’m up. You should get ready too.” “Let’s go buy new rings today, tomorrow’s our fifth wedding anniversary. We should really celebrate!” I hummed in response. I looked down and replied to my lawyer: “I want to get away for a bit. For our anniversary tomorrow, please meet Daniel in my place.” “Confront him, talk about the divorce.”

Soon after I left, a heavy rain started. The summer thunderstorm was so intense it caused power outages, even cutting off electricity at the mall. They managed to stay open using their own generators. The mall was very close to the apartment complex Chloe rented. Daniel seemed very anxious. He said he was going to the restroom, but he kept making call after call. I waited for him by the restroom door. He came out sweating profusely and told me: “The company seems to have lost power due to the storm, and there’s an issue with the servers. I need to get back there immediately.” He handed me his bank card, reassuring me: “Honey, buy whatever you like. Anything is fine with me.” Daniel left in a hurry, not even giving me a chance to ask questions. I looked down at my phone screen. I had just sent a message to Ben: “Are you on duty today? There’s a power issue in the South Side area. How’s the company?” He replied: “We have generators. Everything’s fine, no problems at all. Don’t worry, Amelia.” I didn’t buy any rings. My heart was terrifyingly calm, as if I had long been prepared to sever the last thread of attachment to those ten years of our relationship. After a long time trying to hail a cab, I ended up walking home in the rain. I pulled out cardboard boxes and started packing my things. It wasn’t until dusk that Daniel finally called me: “Amelia, the company situation here is a bit tricky. I won’t be coming home tonight; I’ll stay here to handle it.” “Tomorrow! Tomorrow, I promise I’ll spend our anniversary properly with you.” Before I could say anything, Daniel hung up, as if there was something he was in an urgent rush to do. It seemed even the algorithms disapproved of Daniel’s clumsy lies. When I opened Ins, I accidentally stumbled upon Chloe’s account. I recognized the hand in the photo instantly as Daniel’s. There was a scar on his middle finger knuckle, and a faint white mark on his ring finger where his wedding ring used to be. But with just a hand, there might still be room for self-deception. However, another photo, a profile shot of Daniel shirtless, left me with no way to lie to myself. Chloe’s caption was incredibly sweet: **[He appeared when I needed him most.]** I dialed Daniel’s number. It rang for a long time before he picked up, his tone impatient: “Amelia, what is it? I’m really busy right now.” I glanced at the lightning and thunder outside and lied: “I’m at the mall, and I can’t get a cab.” “Can you come pick me up? I’ll get sick if I stay in the rain in this weather.” There was a moment of silence on his end. He still refused, even with a hint of blame: “I really have something going on at the company. Just go home, take a shower, and you’ll be fine.” “Don’t make a big deal out of nothing.” “I have to go, I’m hanging up.” Beep, beep, beep. I opened my mouth, but only a dial tone met me. An hour later, Chloe updated her Ins again: **[I have him, he has me.]** The picture was a selfie of her and Daniel. They were in a bed, and Daniel’s eyes were closed, asleep. I glanced at it, and the heartbreak I felt was now just a dull, aching numbness. I quietly screen-recorded it as evidence of Daniel’s infidelity, not a single tear falling. I paid extra to arrange a moving company to ship my belongings. The house was empty now. Of our things, only the large, yellowing wedding photo remained on the wall. It was an eyesore and a painful reminder. I didn’t take it. With a simple carry-on bag, I arrived at the train station. I hadn’t decided where to go, so I just glanced at the ticket display. Whichever train was boarding earliest, I’d take that one, aimlessly. “Ma’am, the final destination for this train is Brighton. How many tickets?” “One.” The next morning, I woke up in a B&B in Brighton. As I was feeding seagulls by the lake, Daniel sent me a message: **[Good morning, Honey. Happy fifth wedding anniversary!]** I didn’t reply. Midday arrived. Daniel seemed to realize something was wrong and sent a few more messages: **[Honey, are you mad because I didn’t pick you up yesterday?]** **[The company really did have an emergency. You’re not the type to hold a grudge over something like this. Come on, I’ve booked the best table at the lakeside restaurant. Twelve o’clock sharp, to celebrate our anniversary!]** **[Honey, don’t be mad. I love my wife the most!]** I still didn’t reply. It was already past one o’clock. Daniel had clearly run out of patience: **[?]** **[Are you seriously mad? There’s no need for this. All these years of our relationship, just because I didn’t pick you up? ]** **[Where are you? I’ll come find you. Why is your temper getting worse and worse lately?]** Just as Daniel called me, Mr. Davis, my lawyer, arrived. He walked straight up to Daniel: “Mr. Miller, I presume?” “I’m Mr. Davis, a lawyer. Ms. Amelia Wei has retained me to discuss divorce proceedings with you.” Daniel frowned, looking utterly bewildered: “Divorce? What nonsense are you talking about?” “Where is she? She’s not replying to messages, not answering calls.” After a few rings, I answered the phone. Daniel immediately put it on speaker, his tone hostile as he interrogated me: “Amelia Wei, what exactly do you mean by this?!” “Just because I didn’t pick you up yesterday, you want a divorce? How many times have I told you, the company servers had issues! It wasn’t that I didn’t want to pick you up, I simply couldn’t leave. ” “Today is our wedding anniversary. Do you really have to blow things out of proportion like this and make such a scene?” His tone was aggressive. But perhaps it was because I had completely given up hope, I felt extraordinarily calm in comparison. I no longer tried to play along. Instead, I completely ripped off the band-aid, speaking without mercy: “Daniel Miller, were the company servers set up on Chloe Hayes’s bed?” “Was cheating on your wife stimulating?”

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