Author: Momo Chan

1 After Dad vanished into the parallel dimension, Mom dumped every single penny we had into quantum portal research. To keep me alive and out of her hair, she bought a nanny bot to handle my daily routine. But Mom’s so-called best buddy, Uncle Felix, hacked the robot’s system and locked it into pet mode. Every day, it dispensed exactly ten pieces of dry cat kibble for me to eat. I was so starved I could barely whisper when I finally called Mom begging for help. Her voice over the phone was sharp and cold. “Can you just grow up for once? You are absolutely useless. You couldn’t even keep your own father from leaving!” “I asked Felix to drop by and check on you every single day! Who is teaching you to tell these disgusting lies?” Terrified, I hung up the phone and crawled deep into my bedroom closet. I hid there because the shadows still smelled like Dad. Just as the last bit of warmth was leaving my body, a strange, echoing voice whispered right into my ear. [Would you be willing to give up your life in exchange for your father’s return?] I gave a weak, tiny nod. I would do it. I would do anything as long as Mom and Dad could be happy again. … I curled up on the hardwood floor of the closet, desperately burying my face in the flannel shirts Dad left behind, breathing in the scent of cedarwood and old spice. His clothes were still neatly hanging there, and just looking at them made me feel safe. I kept my head wrapped in his jacket, quietly feeling my life slip away. The closet was pitch black, exactly like the night Dad disappeared. Only this time, I wasn’t scared at all. That strange voice promised me. It said that as long as I let go of my life, Dad would come back. And if Dad came back, Mom wouldn’t have to hurt so much anymore. I closed my eyes, and my mind slowly drifted away into a heavy fog. By the time I realized what was happening, I was floating in the middle of the living room. The nanny bot was humming in standby mode. I drifted through the air and curiously patted its metal head. It had a perfectly round dome and spoke with a voice that sounded just like mine, so Mom had named it Orbit. Mom used to tell me she was going to bring Dad back, so Orbit would be in charge of watching me eat, sleep, and do my homework. I had been so happy. With Orbit around, Mom wouldn’t have to work herself to the bone anymore. But the very next day, Orbit changed. It stopped cooking my favorite meals. Instead, a little hatch on its metallic belly popped open, dropping a few brown pebbles onto a plastic plate. Orbit’s voice was still sickeningly sweet. [Here is your food for today.] “Orbit, I don’t want this. I want Dad’s scrambled eggs with the secret sprinkle of sugar.” [Ben, as a little kitty cat, you must only eat your kibble.] I figured Orbit was just glitching, so I tried pressing the reset button on its back. But Orbit merely tilted its round head and played a pre-recorded message on a loop. [Pet mode engaged. Please contact the administrator to adjust settings.] I called Mom’s cell phone. It rang forever before she finally picked up. The background noise was deafening. I could hear adults shouting over the roar of massive generators. Mom’s voice was hoarse and dripping with impatience. “Ben, didn’t I tell you not to call me unless it’s an emergency?” “Mom, Orbit is broken. It’s only giving me…” Before I could even finish my sentence, she cut me off. “Didn’t I ask Felix to go see you every day? Why are you making up stories, Ben?” I opened my mouth but the words died in my throat when I heard the sudden crack of a sob in Mom’s voice. Everything went wrong when Dad decided to cross over to the other world. He couldn’t stand how close Mom and Uncle Felix were getting. After that, Mom turned into a completely different person. She cut ties with Uncle Felix and practically locked herself inside the underground lab. She lost her mind trying to find a way to drag Dad back to our reality. Uncle Felix didn’t take it well. Whenever he came over to check on me, the look in his eyes was pure poison. And then… My tiny brain was spinning, trying to piece everything together, when a loud click echoed from the front door. The heavy deadbolt turned. Footsteps echoed in the hallway, and my eyes instantly lit up. Mom was home! I floated eagerly through the living room, watching her kick off her heels. “Ben?” “Mom! You’re finally back!” I threw my arms open and lunged at her, only to pass right through her chest. I stared blankly at my own transparent hands. Right. I forgot I was already dead. “Ben? I am not in the mood for hide and seek today. Come out right now!” I pouted, instinctively wanting to argue that I wasn’t playing games. But no matter how loud I screamed, not a single sound reached her ears. All I could do was watch helplessly as Mom walked over to Orbit to check its system logs. “Orbit, where is Ben?” The robot’s oversized digital eyes flashed blue, and its mechanical voice chimed through the quiet room. [Administrator voice recognized. The kitty cat is currently napping in the bedroom closet.] [Breathing is steady. Sleep mode engaged.] Mom paused, letting out a heavy sigh before turning toward the bedroom hallway. My heart felt like it was going to beat right out of my invisible chest. I wanted her to find me, but I didn’t want her to know I was dead just yet. Dad wasn’t back yet. I couldn’t let Mom’s heart break all over again. Just as her fingers brushed the bedroom doorknob, her cell phone suddenly started screaming in her pocket. “Professor Sarah! We are getting massive energy spikes from the multiverse grid! The experiment is stabilizing!” Mom yanked her hand back from the door, spun around, and practically ran out of the house. Watching the door slam shut behind her, I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. Mom and Dad were going to be together soon. That was a good thing. I looked down at my pale, shriveled body lying in the closet and realized how ugly I looked. If Dad saw me looking like a pile of bones, he would be so upset. I swallowed the lump in my throat and floated back to the living room. A massive portrait of our family of three hung right in the center of the wall. Mom had specifically framed it after Dad left. I had asked her why she put it up. She just looked at me with those hollow, haunted eyes and kept whispering that it was all her fault. Mom thought I was too young to understand. But I remembered everything. I remembered how Mom took down all our family photos just because Uncle Felix casually mentioned he didn’t like looking at them. Dad and Mom had a screaming match over it, throwing things until I burst into tears. When Dad heard me crying, all the fight drained out of him. He looked utterly defeated. “If it weren’t for you, Ben, I would have walked out on your mother a long time ago.” “But nobody should be caged like this.” I didn’t really understand what being caged meant, but being buried in Dad’s warm chest always made the scary things go away. I floated up to the gallery wall, looking at the smiles frozen in time. We looked so happy back then. Mom’s eyes were bright, and she looked like she was glowing from the inside out. Dad was grinning like a teenager, wrapping his big arms around both of us as if we were his entire world. I remembered that specific day so clearly. Dad made me his famous scrambled eggs with that secret sprinkle of sugar. Mom sat on the couch with me, binge-watching The Powerpuff Girls until midnight, and then she helped Dad wash the dishes while humming a silly pop song. I reached out, wanting to touch Dad’s smiling face one last time. My phantom fingertips slipped right through the glass. I couldn’t feel a thing. Right at that moment, Orbit whirred to life. Its blue eyes blinked, and Mom’s voice suddenly crackled from its built-in speakers. [Ben.] [Mommy didn’t see you when she came home. If you hear this message, please call me back, okay?] [I know it gets lonely being in that big house all by yourself. I know you’re such a good boy and you never want to cause trouble.] [I’m going to bring Dad home to see you. We’ll all go out and get those giant strawberry milkshakes you love, okay? Mommy promises. I won’t flake on you this time.] [Ben, Mom and Dad love you so much.] The living room fell dead silent. I just floated there, staring blankly at Orbit’s shiny shell, my mind completely empty. Mom must have noticed that the message had been played, and when I didn’t immediately call her back, her voice echoed from the robot again. [Ben? Are you still mad at me?] The house was completely still. No echoes. No footsteps. Mom’s voice grew frantic. I could hear her typing furiously, trying to manually override Orbit’s camera. [Orbit, locate Ben.] Seeing the robot pivot its wheels toward the bedroom hallway, I panicked and threw myself in front of it. But I was already a ghost. If Mom saw my dead body now, Dad would never come back! Orbit rolled right through my transparent chest, its mechanical voice chanting like a metronome. [Locating kitty cat. Locating kitty cat.] I focused every ounce of energy I had, desperately mashing my ghostly fingers against the callback button on Orbit’s interface. Come on, Ben! Just push it! You can’t let it go into the bedroom! Maybe the universe took pity on me, because for a split second, I felt the cold, hard plastic against my fingertips. Without wasting a breath, I slammed the call button. Instantly, Orbit froze in place. [Kitty cat located. Override sequence cancelled.] On the other end of the line, I heard Mom let out a shaky exhale. [Ben, you scared me half to death.] She let out a long, exhausted sigh and cut the connection. I drifted over to the living room window, staring up at the night sky. The stars were popping out one by one, twinkling brightly. They looked exactly like Dad’s eyes when he smiled. Dad used to tell me that when people pass away, they turn into stars so they can watch over the people they love. Was I going to turn into a star now? Would Mom and Dad look up, recognize me, and wave hello? I looked down at my fading, see-through hands and managed a small smile. As long as Dad came back, Mom wouldn’t have to lock herself in that freezing lab anymore, staring at Dad’s photos until her eyes bled. She would smile exactly like she did in the pictures. She would take me and Dad to the diner for those strawberry milkshakes. She would sit on the rug and watch The Powerpuff Girls with me over and over again. She would… I stopped my own thoughts. Right. I was dead. There was no more Ben. I let out a soft giggle. It was totally fine. As long as Mom and Dad were happy, everything was perfectly fine. I lost track of how long I drifted around the empty house. Orbit dispensed my rations two more times. I hovered over the brown kibble, sniffing at it, but I couldn’t smell a thing. Finally, the heavy thud of boots echoed from the stairwell. My heart leaped into my throat. It had to be Mom bringing Dad home! I zoomed toward the entryway, staring intensely at the heavy security door. Dad, are you really back? But as the voice outside grew louder, a wave of crushing disappointment washed over me. It was Uncle Felix. “Sarah acts like I’m a freaking burglar. Changing the passcode every damn day. What a joke!” “Spending all her time on that bullshit research. Does she really think playing mad scientist is going to bring a dead guy back to life?” That’s a lie! Dad isn’t dead! He’s coming back! Uncle Felix is the bad guy! Every time he showed up, Mom and Dad would end up screaming at each other. He always wore these stiff white dress shirts, practically bathing in cheap, overpowering cologne. Whenever Mom was around, he would flash this perfect smile and say, “You must be Ben. You’re just as cute as your mom said.” But the second Mom turned her back, Uncle Felix would secretly pinch my arms until they bruised. When I finally burst into tears and screamed that I hated him, he would look at Mom with these big, victimized eyes. That was the first time Mom ever yelled at me. “Why are you acting exactly like your father? So jealous and petty! I’ve told you a million times, Felix and I are just friends!” “If you can’t behave around adults, you can just stay in your room!” Mom dragged me to the lab that night, and I didn’t see Dad for an entire month. When I finally saw Dad again, something inside him had broken. The light in his eyes was completely gone. Uncle Felix finished scrolling through Orbit’s app data on his phone. He scooped up the uneaten cat kibble from the plate and dumped it straight into the trash. Then he flopped onto our living room couch, pulled a black marker from his pocket, and started scribbling over Dad’s face on the framed family photo. He wiped it off, then did it again. “A big worthless loser raises a little worthless loser. Once the little brat is out of the picture, this whole house, and Sarah, will be mine.” He was humming a cheerful tune when his phone started buzzing. His whole demeanor instantly shifted. “Felix, is Ben okay?” It was Mom! Uncle Felix’s voice melted into a pool of sickening sweetness. “Ben is doing fantastic, Sarah. I just cooked him a big plate of scrambled eggs. He even told me it tasted exactly like the way Arthur used to make it.” Liar! Uncle Felix is a dirty liar! I put my hands on my hips, glaring daggers at his smug face. Ever since Mom locked me in the lab that time, the whole vibe in our house had rotted away. Dad stopped smiling altogether. Mom started coming home later and later. Meanwhile, Uncle Felix basically made himself at home. He would bring me cheap plastic toys, smiling that greasy smile while squeezing my cheeks way too hard. Dad just watched it all happen from the kitchen counter, his eyes filled with an emotion I was too young to understand. It wasn’t until much later that I realized what I had seen. It was the absolute, crushing despair of a man watching his family tear itself apart from the inside. And then came the day Dad triggered the portal and vanished from our world. Nobody knew where he ended up. Mom absolutely lost her mind, harassing everyone we knew, tearing the city apart looking for clues. Uncle Felix was the first one at our door. He pulled Mom into a tight hug as she sobbed, whispering, “Don’t do this to yourself, Sarah. Arthur is probably fine.” Back then, I thought Uncle Felix was genuinely sad. I thought he actually cared about Dad. Now, just thinking about it made me want to throw up. Uncle Felix opened his mouth to say something else to Mom, but she abruptly hung up the phone. “If that bastard hadn’t shown up, Sarah would have been mine years ago.” He muttered under his breath, his face twisting into an ugly scowl. He yanked his phone out, spitefully adjusted Orbit’s pet mode down to just five pieces of kibble, and stormed out the door. “Let’s see how long it takes for you to starve!” I watched the door click shut and scoffed. Mom and Dad love each other! A slimeball like you could never break them apart! The living room slowly faded into pitch darkness, leaving only Orbit’s glowing blue eyes illuminating the dust in the air. Eventually, even the robot powered down, its eyes fading to black. I drifted aimlessly through the shadows of the house. Whenever I got tired, I would curl up inside the closet, trying to breathe in Dad’s scent. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t smell a thing anymore. … As my consciousness started to blur, I hallucinated Mom running around the lab. She and a dozen other scientists were glued to a massive bank of monitors, sweating, waiting for something big. I stared greedily at her face. I couldn’t remember the last time she actually slept. The dark circles under her eyes looked like something out of a comic book. “Professor Sarah! We finally locked onto Arthur’s energy signature! It’s him!” Mom’s lips trembled, but no sound came out. The wavelengths on the giant screen hitched for a second before spiking violently into the red zone. Suddenly, the glass containment pod hissed open, and the man lying inside gasped for air. His eyes snapped open. Dad! It was really Dad! I practically did backflips in the air, zooming around his pod in circles. “Dad, you’re finally back!” “Dad, are you going to make me scrambled eggs? Don’t forget the sugar, please!” “Dad, you and Mom have to stop fighting now, okay? You have to take care of each other. Don’t miss me too much!” Maybe my endless rambling actually reached him. Dad blinked against the harsh fluorescent lights, his chest heaving, and spoke his very first words since crossing back over. “Where’s Ben?” Mom froze. She stared at Dad’s pale face as he repeated himself, louder this time. “Where is my son?” She instinctively blurted out, “Ben is waiting for you at home.” “At home?” Dad chewed on those two words, a deep crease forming between his brows. “You left a little boy in that house all by himself?” “He’s not by himself.” Mom rushed to explain, her words stumbling over each other. “He has the nanny bot. And Felix is checking on him… Ben literally just called me a little while ago. He said he misses you so much.” Dad took a slow, agonizingly deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, the warmth I remembered was completely gone. The look in his eyes was like freezing rain. “Take me home.” I tagged along right behind Dad, completely oblivious to the suffocating tension radiating between them. My head was spinning with nothing but pure joy. Dad was back. Neither of them said a single word during the entire drive. The cramped interior of the car was filled with nothing but my ghostly chatter. “Mom, Dad is back now! You better not bring up Uncle Felix ever again.” “Dad, Mom knows she messed up. You guys have to be good to each other now!” “But hey, Dad, if Mom breaks your heart again, I totally support you doing whatever makes you happy! I won’t hold you back anymore!” Mom kept stealing nervous glances at Dad in the rearview mirror. She opened her mouth to speak a dozen times but always swallowed the words. She kept telling herself that once they walked through the front door and saw Ben, everything would fix itself. The house would go back to being a home. They would be a happy family again. Yes, everything will be fine once Arthur sees Ben. Mom slammed her foot on the gas pedal, the SUV speeding through the empty streets toward our apartment complex. Out of nowhere, Dad broke the silence. “Did Ben grow any taller?” Mom’s knuckles turned stark white as she gripped the steering wheel. “Yeah. He grew a little.” Liar! Ever since Dad left, she hadn’t bothered to measure my height against the kitchen doorframe once. “Did he cry a lot while I was gone?” Mom choked on the air. She didn’t answer. The car lurched to a halt in front of our building. Mom and Dad both stared up at the familiar brick facade. It was eight o’clock at night. Every single window in the building was glowing with warm, yellow light. Except ours. Our windows were dead black. They walked up the stairs, Dad a few paces behind Mom. Mom reached out, her hands shaking slightly as she punched the code into the electronic lock. Feeling Dad’s heavy gaze burning into her back, she rushed to justify herself. “I change the passcode every single day. Felix only comes over when I specifically give him permission.” “Ever since you left, I never let him—” “Just open the door,” Dad cut her off sharply, pushing past her into the suffocating darkness of the hallway. The apartment was terrifyingly quiet. There was no soft, excited voice screaming “Daddy!” from the living room. Dad furrowed his brows. He opened his mouth to call my name. But then, he froze. A faint, sickeningly sweet stench of rotting meat was wafting through the stale air…

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1 I was famous in the corporate world for being the gentle, approachable executive. I always had a warm smile for everyone. I was especially kind to our newest intern, Finn. When he messed up a report, I took the fall for him. When he caught a bad fever, I personally cooked a hot meal and delivered it to his rundown apartment. He would blush and call me Victoria, his eyes completely unable to hide his youthful infatuation and deep gratitude. I shielded him from office politics, fast-tracked his promotion, and even brought takeout directly to his desk when he worked late nights. He thought he had met a fairy godmother in the ruthless corporate jungle. He had no idea that I was the one who paid his roommate to move out. He did not know I made the phone call that revoked his mother’s hospital bed. And he certainly did not know I was the invisible hand that forced his girlfriend of three years to leave him. When he was completely backed into a corner, crying and begging me for a loan, I gently wiped the tears from his face and slid a lifestyle contract across my desk. Sign it, and everything I have is yours. Refuse? You will be sleeping on the streets tomorrow. … “Ms. Sinclair, the new intern is here.” I put down my fountain pen. A young man stood outside the glass door of my office. His cheap white button-down shirt was frayed at the collar, and the right cuff was missing a button. The HR director pushed the door open, and he followed her inside. “Good morning, Ms. Sinclair. My name is Finn.” Twenty-two years old, fresh out of college, and so dangerously thin that his shirt hung off his frame. He flashed a quick smile at me, then immediately pulled it back, probably afraid he looked too foolish. I had seen that exact smile three months ago. It was one in the morning on Interstate 95, and my Mercedes had blown a tire. A rusted Chevy van pulled over onto the shoulder. Finn jumped out, jogged over to my window, and handed me a bottle of water. “Are you alright? Do you need some help?” He helped my driver change the tire. He got a streak of black grease across his knuckles, wiped it off on his jeans, flashed me that exact same smile, and drove away. I memorized the license plate of that Chevy. Three days later, a comprehensive background check was sitting on my desk. Finn Gallagher. Graduated from a no-name state college. His father passed away when he was young, and his mother was chronically ill in their rural hometown. He survived on academic scholarships and grueling minimum-wage gigs. I ordered HR to fish his resume out of the rejection pile and slot him directly into my project team. During his interview, he was so nervous he could barely string a sentence together. His technical answers were full of holes. The HR director later pulled me aside. “Victoria, are you sure we want to hire this kid?” I offered a soft smile. “He looks grounded. Let’s give him a shot.” Surviving in this firm had absolutely nothing to do with being grounded. By his first week, he predictably made a massive mistake. Marcus, the project manager, slammed a stack of financial reports onto Finn’s desk. The sharp crack echoed, making the entire sales floor turn around. “Finn, these data metrics are completely wrong! Are you just here to collect a paycheck?” Finn stood up, his hands visibly shaking. “I am so sorry, Marcus. I will redo it right now.” “Redo it? The client needs this tomorrow morning!” Marcus’s voice echoed louder, and Finn dropped his head lower and lower, staring at his shoes. I stepped out of my office and picked up the scattered papers, flipping through the first two pages. “Marcus, I adjusted the data metrics at the last minute and forgot to CC Finn on the email. This one is on me.” Marcus opened his mouth but swallowed his words, not daring to argue with an executive director. Finn stood frozen. His ears were burning red, and his lips parted several times before he found his voice. “Ms. Sinclair, it was actually my fault.” “Call me Victoria.” I placed the report gently back onto his desk. “Fix the numbers and email it to me. Take your time.” At midnight, my inbox pinged with the revised file. He had left meticulous notes in the margins and even reformatted the headers twice to ensure it was perfect. The truth was, he really had made the mistake. Marcus was entirely justified in yelling at him. I shielded him because I wanted him to owe me a favor. Favors are a dangerous currency. The more you owe, the harder it is to pay back. And when you finally realize you cannot afford the debt, you have no choice but to pay with yourself. Finn was a fast learner. In less than two months, he was independently handling client requests. Marcus never praised him out loud, but he began piling more and more critical tasks onto Finn’s plate. I intentionally encouraged Marcus to bury him in paperwork. It was not to groom his talent. An exhausted person’s social circle shrinks drastically. He was too tired to attend after-work drinks. He could not keep up with office gossip. While other interns scrolled through social media during their lunch breaks, he was desperately typing up proposals. Out of the hundreds of people in that building, I was the only person he actually talked to. One night, we were the only two left in the office. I placed a warm takeout container on his desk. “Victoria, you are still here?” “Just finished a conference call. I picked this up for you on the way in.” He took the container with both hands, opening it as if it were a fragile artifact. He practically inhaled the food, his cheeks puffing out as he ate. He hesitated when he reached the last piece of glazed short rib at the bottom of the bowl, but ultimately picked it up with his fork. “Victoria, this is incredible. Thank you.” He had no idea I had spent hours researching the exact culinary profile of his rural hometown to find that specific flavor. When the autumn chill hit the city, Finn got caught in a torrential downpour and developed a severe fever. He called in sick but did not tell a single soul. I only knew because I checked the attendance logs. At four in the afternoon, I arrived at his building carrying a thermal thermos. It was a decaying tenement building in a sketchy part of town. The hallway lights were completely shattered. When he opened the door, his face was terrifyingly pale, slick with cold sweat. “Victoria? What are you doing here?” “Marcus mentioned you didn’t show up. You weren’t answering your phone.” He panicked, frantically trying to tidy up the cramped studio. The tiny space barely fit a futon and a folding table, with textbooks and cheap clothes piled everywhere. There was a small potted ivy on the windowsill, and right next to it sat a pair of fuzzy pink women’s slippers. He followed my gaze and his feverish flush deepened. “My… my girlfriend. She had to go to work today.” “I know.” I unscrewed the thermos, letting the rich scent of hot chicken soup fill the stale air. He rummaged through his desk drawers looking for medicine, only managing to find a blister pack of ibuprofen that had expired six months ago. I did not say a word. I walked back down six flights of stairs, bought a thermometer and fresh medication from the corner pharmacy, and climbed all the way back up. By the time I returned, he had finished half the soup. “Victoria.” He said my name very softly. His voice was completely wrecked. “You are too good to me.” I pulled the thin blanket up to his chest and pressed the back of my hand against his burning forehead. “Just go to sleep.” He closed his eyes, his breathing growing shallow and even. I sat on the edge of his futon, my eyes drifting toward a beautiful charcoal sketch taped to the wall next to the ivy plant. It was a portrait of him. The strokes were careful and full of life. She really did love him. After Finn recovered, he became incredibly attentive to me. He would pour my coffee before morning meetings. He carried my luggage during business trips. When he noticed the bottled water in my car was running low, he restocked it without being asked. The office rumor mill started churning. “Does Finn have a thing for Victoria?” “Give it a rest. The kid has a girlfriend. Stop making things up.” Finn overheard them. He rushed into my office and spent an entire afternoon stammering through an apology. “Victoria, I swear I don’t mean it like that.” The more he tried to explain, the redder his face became. I interrupted him with a gentle smile. “People will talk no matter what we do. I don’t care about the gossip.” But he cared. For the next week, he intentionally kept his distance. He stopped dropping by my office, and he went back to calling me Ms. Sinclair. I did not panic. A week later, Marcus tore into him over a minor client complaint. I stayed in my office and let it happen. Finn stood alone in the breakroom for ten minutes. When he finally walked out, he flashed a strained smile and told his coworkers he was fine. At nine o’clock that night, he finished his shift and walked past my office. My door was wide open. He stood in the hallway for a very long time. “Victoria, that proposal Marcus was yelling about. Could you take a look at it for me?” I waved him inside. After we fixed the formatting, he stood up to leave, keeping his head bowed. “Victoria, I am really sorry for avoiding you lately.” “Are you hungry? A new late-night diner just opened down the street.” The October wind was biting. We sat on plastic stools outside the food truck, eating hot bowls of ramen. He talked about growing up on a farm, chasing stray dogs through the mud. He talked about how loud his mother used to laugh. He talked about eating three massive bowls of chili because he was so nervous the night before his SATs. He rambled for twenty minutes before suddenly looking embarrassed. “I don’t know why I’m telling you all this. You must think I’m so boring.” “I don’t find you boring at all.” He stared at me for a few seconds, his face flushing, then quickly lowered his head and shoved a massive bite of noodles into his mouth. On the walk back, he stayed on the side of the sidewalk closest to the traffic. Out of nowhere, he blurted out a question. “Victoria, do you… have a boyfriend?” “Why? Are you trying to set me up with someone?” “No, I just…” Under the amber glow of the streetlights, his ears were practically glowing red. I knew he was falling for me. He was a boy who grew up with nothing, navigating a freezing, unforgiving city, and he had stumbled into a woman who was gentle, beautiful, wealthy, and cared for his every need. But I could not let him confess his feelings just yet. He had to lose absolutely everything first. In early November, Finn’s roommate suddenly moved out. When he told me about it, he looked completely lost. “The landlord doubled the rent out of nowhere. My roommate couldn’t afford it, so he packed up and left.” He stared at the calculator app on his phone. His rent spiked from twelve hundred to twenty-four hundred dollars. Factor in his mother’s monthly medical bills and basic groceries, and he literally did not have the margins to breathe in this city. “Victoria, do you happen to know anyone renting out a cheap room?” “Let me ask around for you.” I had my assistant systematically track down every affordable apartment listing in his district. We signed holding deposits and locked them all down, artificially inflating the prices to a bracket he could never reach. Three days later, I looked at him with sympathetic eyes. “The housing market is a nightmare right now. Do you think you can just tough it out for another month or two?” He offered a bitter, exhausted smile and nodded. He did not ask to borrow money. He worked his corporate job during the day and took night shifts stocking shelves at a convenience store. He got off work at 1 AM and woke up at 6 AM. He was surviving on less than five hours of sleep a night. On the security cameras, I watched him doze off at his desk more and more frequently. The dark circles under his eyes deepened into a bruised purple. Finally, he fell asleep in the middle of a client meeting. Marcus marched into my office right after. “Victoria, Finn is completely dropping the ball. His performance is a liability right now.” “Transfer him to my direct supervision.” I took him under my wing. I slashed his workload in half, but mandated that he report to my office for one-on-one reviews every single day. “Victoria, you are always saving my life,” he whispered, his voice raspy from exhaustion. “Just focus on doing good work.” That same week, I paid a local kid to leave a dead rat in the hallway of his apartment building. I had already bribed the property management company to ignore the maintenance calls. Sophie shrieked in terror, running all the way down six flights of stairs, nearly breaking her ankle in the process. Finn apologized to her over the phone. “Just bear with it a little longer, Soph. I will move us out as soon as I save up enough.” Before he could save a dime, the landlord came knocking. He claimed the building was undergoing emergency renovations and ordered them to vacate by the end of the month. Finn spent an entire Sunday calling real estate agents. Every single lead was a dead end. My assistant had already sanitized the neighborhood of anything he could afford. That night, he stayed at the office very late. He hovered outside my door, agonizing over his pride, before finally knocking. “Victoria. Is there any way I could get an advance? Or a loan? I swear I will pay you back on my next paycheck.” I opened my desk drawer, pulled out a thick envelope I had prepared days ago, and pushed it across the mahogany wood. Five thousand dollars in crisp cash. “You don’t need to pay it back.” He gripped the envelope, his fingertips trembling violently. When he turned to leave, he bowed so deeply his back was almost parallel to the floor. It was only five thousand dollars. He had no idea how much money I had burned just to monopolize the rental market in his zip code. December hit, and his mother was hospitalized. Her chronic kidney condition flared up. The doctors in his rural town claimed they lacked the equipment to treat her, demanding she be transferred to a major hospital in the city. Finn took three days of unpaid leave to arrange the transfer. When he returned to the office, he looked like a walking skeleton. “The city hospital said they can secure a bed, but they need a fifty-thousand dollar deposit upfront.” His entire life savings amounted to less than eight thousand dollars. He did not know I was the reason she was transferred to that specific hospital. The Chief of Surgery, Dr. Harrison, had partnered with my firm on a lucrative medical device contract for three years. I made a single phone call. “Secure a bed for her in your ward.” “Ms. Sinclair, her condition is actually manageable at the local level. A transfer might be excessive.” “I said secure the bed.” Finn spent an entire day bouncing between banks, managing to scrape together an extra eight thousand in high-interest personal loans. Sophie sold her expensive drawing tablet and all her premium art supplies, handing him three thousand dollars. He called every single person in his contact list. Some ignored his calls. Some apologized and said times were tight. One old college buddy transferred him five hundred bucks, adding a text that read, This is literally all I have man, I’m sorry. Thirty-seven phone calls. He raised four thousand dollars. He was still short thirty-five thousand. That night, my phone rang. His voice was completely shattered. “Victoria.” “Yes?” “My mom’s surgery deposit…” The rest of the sentence splintered in his throat. I could hear him gasping for air, desperately trying to swallow his sobs so I wouldn’t hear him cry. “Send me your location. I am on my way.” When I walked into the glaring fluorescent lights of the hospital lobby, he was slumped in a plastic waiting chair, crushing a crumpled admission slip in his fist. He stood up, his lips moving frantically, but absolutely no sound came out. I grabbed his wrist, pulled him to the billing counter, and swiped my black card. “Let’s get her scheduled for the operation first. We can worry about the money later.” The lobby was bustling with nurses and patients. He stood in front of the glass partition, biting his lower lip so hard it looked like it was going to bleed. “Thank you, Victoria.” His mother never needed to be in this hospital to begin with. She could have been treated in their hometown for less than ten grand. I was the one who instructed the doctors to exaggerate her prognosis and push for the expensive transfer. And he certainly did not know that the bed could be revoked at any given second. It would only take one phone call from me. The surgery was a success, and his mother began a steady recovery. Every evening after work, he would call her to check on her progress. The crushing weight on his shoulders seemed to lighten, and his voice regained a hint of its old warmth. I did not give him much time to breathe. In mid-December, Sophie lost her job. She did not quit voluntarily. She worked as a graphic designer for a mid-sized marketing firm. The owner just happened to be a former business partner of mine. I paid someone to embed a highly incriminating email in her work inbox. It was sent from a direct competitor, thanking her for leaking confidential design mockups. Her creative director conveniently discovered the email during a routine audit. Sophie tried desperately to explain herself, but the evidence was fabricated perfectly. In the end, she was given the option to “resign” to avoid legal action. That was only phase one. Phase two was fracturing the trust between her and Finn. I instructed a beautiful temp from our marketing department to add Finn on social media. Her messages were strictly about work, but I had my team splice the screenshots together in a way that made the conversation look undeniably flirtatious. Sophie found the messages while scrolling through his phone. She confronted him immediately. “She is just a coworker asking about an ad campaign. You are overthinking this,” Finn explained. Sophie backed down. The next day, a candid photo of Finn and me on a business trip mysteriously found its way to Sophie’s inbox. In the photo, I was wearing a sleek trench coat, walking purposefully ahead, while he trailed closely behind me, carrying my leather briefcase like a devoted shadow. My assistant chose the camera angle perfectly. We looked incredibly intimate. Sophie held on for one more week. On Christmas Eve, she opened his closet and found a brand new cashmere scarf. It retailed for eight hundred dollars. Tucked inside the luxurious box was a handwritten note. It’s getting cold. Make sure to stay warm. It was a “holiday bonus” I had handed out to my entire project team. But Sophie didn’t know that. All she saw was an obscenely expensive gift she could never afford to buy him, given by a mysterious older woman named Victoria. They had an explosive screaming match that night. At 1 AM, my phone buzzed. It was Finn. “Victoria, Sophie broke up with me.” “Why?” “She said I’ve changed.” The line went dead silent for a long time. “Victoria, have I really become a bad person?” I leaned back against my plush headboard, keeping my voice soft and nurturing. “You haven’t changed. She just doesn’t understand the pressure you are under.” He didn’t say another word, but I could hear his muffled crying through the speaker. Three years of history, wiped clean. He genuinely believed he was the toxic one in the relationship. He had no idea that every single job application Sophie submitted after getting fired was instantly met with an anonymous, defamatory tip from my assistant. She had zero income, her boyfriend was spending all his waking hours with a glamorous female executive, and the rent was due. Nobody could survive that kind of pressure. The day Sophie packed her bags and moved out, Finn sent me a text. Victoria, I’m okay. Just a little stressed out today. He added a smiley face emoji at the end. Of course you are okay. Because outside of me, you literally have nowhere else to go. Right after New Year’s Day, three separate disasters crushed Finn on the exact same afternoon. The landlord issued a final eviction notice. He had to be out by the end of the week. Dr. Harrison called him directly. His mother required a secondary, specialized procedure to prevent organ rejection. The deposit was thirty thousand dollars. And finally, the credit cards he had maxed out to pay his previous rent went into severe default. The bank officially froze his checking account. He locked himself inside a bathroom stall at the office for half an hour. When he finally came out, he splashed water on his face, forced a smile, and told his cubicle mates he ate a bad burrito. At three in the afternoon, he knocked on my door. The door was already open. He stood on the threshold, trapped in a purgatory of hesitation. He couldn’t step forward, but he had nowhere to retreat. I beckoned him inside. “Come in.” He closed the heavy wooden door, glued to the spot. His lips trembled violently, opening and closing over and over, but his vocal cords completely failed him. And then, he collapsed. The twenty-two-year-old boy sank to his knees on my Persian rug, burying his face into his hands, his shoulders convulsing with violent, silent sobs. I stood up, walked around my desk, and knelt on the floor right in front of him. I pulled a tissue from my pocket and gently wiped the wet streaks from his cheeks. “What’s wrong? Tell Victoria everything.” Stuttering and gasping for air, he laid out his entire nightmare. Every single piece of it was orchestrated by me. I dried the last tear from his chin. “Finn, if there was a way to permanently fix every single one of these problems right now, would you take it?” He snapped his head up. “What kind of way?” I reached into my desk drawer and pulled out a manila folder. Twelve pages of dense legal jargon, drafted and refined by my corporate lawyers over the last two weeks. An exclusive companionship agreement. He stared at the bold letters on the cover page. His entire body turned to stone. “Sign this, and I will cover your mother’s surgery in full. I will put you in a luxury apartment. I will wipe your debt clean.” “A companionship agreement?” “Yes.” “Victoria, you’re joking…” “When have I ever joked with you about your life?” He scrambled backward, his hands hitting the carpet. “I thought you were…” “You thought what? You thought I was a saint?” I leaned casually against the edge of my mahogany desk, staring down at him. “Finn, I paid your landlord to double the rent so your roommate would leave.” His jaw dropped. “I arranged the transfer with Dr. Harrison. Your mother never actually needed to leave your hometown.” The blood drained from his face, leaving him looking like a ghost. “I had my contacts get Sophie fired. The text messages, the photo, the cashmere scarf. Every single detail was executed by my hand.” His back slammed hard against the closed wooden door. “Everything I did, I did to make sure you ended up right here.” I offered him my warmest, gentlest smile. “Sign the paper, and everything I own is at your disposal. But if you refuse…” I picked up my cell phone and tapped the screen playfully. “Your mother’s surgery gets cancelled tomorrow morning. You will be sleeping on the streets tonight. And your credit score will be ruined for the next seven years.” He pressed his spine against the door, shaking like a leaf in a hurricane. “I will give you exactly one hour to think about it.” I sat back down in my leather executive chair and started reviewing a marketing brief. He stood frozen in the corner of my office for exactly forty-three minutes. Then, he slowly walked over to my desk and picked up the expensive fountain pen. His hand was shaking so violently that the final stroke of his signature dragged into a jagged, broken line across the paper. I picked up the contract, blew gently on the wet ink, and locked it inside my wall safe. “Good boy.” I reached out and ran my fingers affectionately through his soft hair. He didn’t pull away.

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I used to be the life of our family. Until my sister, Lily, was born. Suddenly, every creative, hyperactive thing I did became a “threat” to her safety. For Lily’s first birthday, I spent a whole month building a mechanical musical castle for her. It had over a thousand tiny custom gears and parts. But when I turned it on, the flashing LED lights and the whirring of the gears terrified her. She burst into tears. That night, my dad smashed my castle to pieces. And my mom slapped me across the face for the first time in my life. The very next day, I was shipped off to “New Life Academy,” a notorious, high-security reform school. I still remember the freezing coldness in my dad’s eyes when he looked at the director. “Dr. Vance, my son is out of control. Make him normal. Whatever it takes.” “As for your compensation, I’ll donate three million dollars to your academy today. And I’ll personally cover all your son’s future tuition and research funds.” Three years later, they came to the academy to bring me home. They looked at me—dressed in a stiff, pressed white button-down and black slacks, hands folded perfectly over my stomach, walking with strides so precise they could have been measured with a ruler. They looked absolutely thrilled. My dad smiled and opened his arms wide. “Tyler, buddy. Dad’s here to take you home.” I took a sharp step back, bowed at a perfect thirty-degree angle, and spoke in a flat, monotone voice. “Protocol Three of the New Life Academy: Unnecessary physical contact within three meters of strangers is strictly prohibited.”

My dad’s arms froze in mid-air. The smile on his face slowly melted away, leaving nothing but sheer shock. My mom quickly stepped forward, pulling his arms down, trying to force a bright, cheerful smile onto her face. “Oh, look at Tyler! He’s so polite now. That’s a good thing, right?” She reached out, trying to take my hand. I stepped back again, keeping exactly three meters of distance between us. My mom’s smile completely froze. My dad’s face darkened, but he tried to keep his patience. “Tyler, stop playing games. Let’s go home with Mom and Dad.” I didn’t move. I just stared at them with empty, hollow eyes. Exactly sixty seconds later, I nodded once. “Command confirmed: Go home.” I turned on my heel and marched forward. Every single step I took was of the exact same length. They followed silently behind me, the air heavy with tension. The car pulled up to our familiar suburban house, but I felt absolutely nothing. They led me to my room. Plain white walls. Plain white sheets. A bare white desk. Aside from the bare essentials, there wasn’t a single decoration. It looked exactly like a high-end hospital ward. My dad spoke, his voice carrying a desperate, pleading tone. “Tyler, look! We made a brand new room just for you. You always used to complain about how messy your room was. You’re going to love this one, right?” I scanned the room and nodded. “This complies with Appendix Two of the New Life Protocol: Standard Environmental Cleanliness.” The muscles in my dad’s jaw twitched. Dinner time. I sat at the dining table, my spine perfectly straight, my hands resting flat on my thighs. Once dinner started, I picked up my fork and only ate the steamed broccoli directly in front of me. The number of times I chewed, the exact intervals at which I drank water—everything followed an invisible, rigid schedule. My mom watched me, her eyes filled with an overwhelming, painful ache. She picked up a piece of juicy pot roast and put it on my plate. “Tyler, sweetheart, this was your absolute favorite. Come on, try some.” I put down my fork. Then, right in front of her, I used my fork to pick up the meat and placed it onto an empty side plate. I raised my head, looked at her suddenly pale face, and recited calmly: “Protocol Seven of the New Life Protocol: Reject unsolicited gifts to eliminate greed.” “You don’t have to follow those stupid rules at home!” My dad finally snapped. He slammed his hand on the table and roared. I turned my eyes to him, devoid of any emotion. “The Protocol is life. It cannot be violated.” The silence in the dining room became suffocating. Right then, a little girl in pink pajamas came waddling into the room. She was holding a plush doll, holding it up toward me. “Tyler, play with me!” It was Lily. I instantly stood up from my chair and took two rapid steps back, putting distance between us. “Protocol Nineteen of the New Life Protocol: Contact with highly addictive entertainment materials is strictly prohibited.” My response was instant, robotic, and cold. Four-year-old Lily was terrified. She stood frozen on the spot, her lips trembling, and then she let out a loud, piercing sob. Her crying shattered the silence of the room. Three years ago, a cry just like this had made my dad smash my castle. History was repeating itself. My mom’s face twisted in anger. Without even thinking, she screamed at me. “Not again! Why do you always—” But the moment her eyes met mine—completely blank, empty, lifeless—the fire in her voice was instantly snuffed out by a wave of pure dread. Her mouth hung open, but she couldn’t utter another word. A chilling shiver ran down her spine. My dad, visibly frustrated, scooped up the crying Lily and waved his hand dismissively. “Fine! Just go back to your room!” I didn’t argue. “Command received.” I turned, took my ruler-straight strides, and left the dining room. Behind me, Lily’s crying continued, accompanied by the increasingly heavy, panicked breathing of my parents. They had finally gotten their “perfect” son. An absolutely obedient, rule-following machine.

The next day, my dad tried to use material things to win me back. He bought a massive, brand-new LEGO Star Wars UCS Millennium Falcon set with over seven thousand pieces. It was the dream toy I used to beg for every single night. He pushed the giant box in front of me, a hopeful look in his eyes. “Tyler, look at this. Dad bought it for you.” I walked over, my eyes resting on the box for exactly three seconds. Then, I picked it up calmly, walked over to the storage closet, and placed it on the very top, hardest-to-reach shelf. I turned around to face his bewildered expression. “Protocol Fifteen of the New Life Protocol: Engagement in unnecessary, complex creative activities is prohibited to prevent mind-wandering.” My dad’s face went completely pale. The gift he had spent hours tracking down and buying was treated by his own son as a contraband item that needed to be locked away. My mom tried to appeal to my emotions. She pulled out a thick family photo album, gesturing for me to sit next to her on the couch. I didn’t move. Seeing this, she had no choice but to hold the album up to me, pointing at one of the pictures. “Tyler, look. This is you. You were so cute.” In the photo, a nine-year-old boy wearing a paint-stained T-shirt was laughing hysterically at the camera, a bit of frosting smeared on his cheek. I stared at the photo, completely expressionless. After thirty seconds, I nodded. “Data verified. Subject: Tyler Miller. Time: Ninth birthday.” I paused, then added, “Emotional response module: Not activated.” My mom’s hands began to shake violently. She looked at my dad, pleading for help. My dad’s throat tightened, but he couldn’t say a word. In the afternoon, Lily was chasing a ball around the living room. She slipped, fell forward, and her knee hit the sharp corner of the coffee table hard. “Ouch! Mommy! Daddy!” She screamed in pain as blood started to ooze from her knee. “Lily!” My parents gasped, rushing toward her. But I was faster. My body reacted like an automated emergency response unit. I rushed to the medical cabinet, opened it, and grabbed the antiseptic wipes, cotton swabs, and bandages. There was not a single second of hesitation. I marched over to Lily and knelt down. Lily was sobbing hysterically, looking at me with pure terror in her eyes. In a flat, even voice, I said, “Initiating emergency medical procedure. Step One: Clean the wound.” My fingers were as steady as surgical clamps. I precisely wiped the bleeding cut with the antiseptic swab. I wiped it exactly ten times. Every five wipes, I switched to a new swab. The sting of the medicine made Lily cry harder, and she started thrashing around. “Command: Remain still.” I said coldly. Lily seemed shocked by the absolute lack of warmth in my voice. Her crying stopped for a second, and she actually froze. I quickly cleaned, disinfected, and applied the bandage. Once done, I stood up and reported to my stunned parents. “Procedure complete. Wound depth: approximately two millimeters. Length: three centimeters.” “Recommendation: Monitor for twenty-four hours to prevent infection.” With that, I turned to wash the used medical tools. The living room was dead quiet, save for Lily’s quiet whimpering. My mom stared at my rigid back, her lips trembling before she finally managed to speak. “Before… when she just got a tiny scratch, you would cry even harder than she did…” I stopped what I was doing and turned to look at her. My eyes were hollow, as if I were analyzing a word I couldn’t comprehend. “Cry?” I tilted my head, searching through my internal database for the command. A few seconds later, I gave my answer. “No such command exists in database.” In that moment, I saw it clearly. For the first time, pure terror crept onto their faces. They were finally starting to realize something. What they had erased wasn’t just my “behavioral issues.” It was my humanity.

Late at night. I lay on my plain white bed, but my body felt like it was trapped in an invisible cage. The nightmares hit me like a tidal wave. *“Subject 734. Violation of solitary containment protocol. Thinking unauthorized thoughts.”* *“Punishment: Waterboarding…”* *“No… please…”* *“Alert! Alert! Emotional fluctuation exceeds limit! Initiating electroshock therapy…”* I began to thrash violently on the bed. Cold sweat poured down my forehead, and my teeth gritted so hard they made a grinding sound. “It hurts… I’m sorry… I’ll be good…” I muttered incoherently. My parents were startled awake in the next room. They rushed into my bedroom, flipped on the lights, and were horrified by the sight of me in agony. “Tyler!” My mom let out a sob, tears instantly streaming down her face. She threw herself onto the bed, reaching out to hold me and wipe the sweat from my forehead. “Tyler, don’t be scared. Mommy’s here. Mommy’s here…” But the moment her hand touched my skin, my eyes snapped open. Those eyes weren’t empty anymore. They were filled with an absolute, terrifying panic and pain. Like a wild animal cornered in a trap. “Alert! Alert! Violation of Protocol Three! Unnecessary contact with strangers!” I used every ounce of my strength to shove her away. “Initiating Level Two Punishment!” A shrill siren seemed to blast inside my brain. I bolted upright, gripping my head with both hands, and my body began to convulse violently. My jaw clenched so hard it clicked, and animalistic groans forced their way out of my throat. It was a pure, physiological reaction to extreme pain. My parents were completely paralyzed with horror. They stood frozen, watching me convulse and twitch on the bed, not daring to take a single step forward. After what felt like an eternity, the convulsions suddenly stopped. I released my head, sat up perfectly straight like a soldier, and the agonizing panic in my eyes instantly vanished back into a dead, hollow void. It was as if the brutal struggle from a moment ago had been nothing but a hallucination. I looked up at their terrified faces and said in a chillingly calm voice: “System glitch resolved.” “Please leave. It is currently designated rest hours.” My dad’s lips trembled, but he couldn’t form a single word. My mom collapsed onto the floor, staring at the empty shell of her son. A deep, bone-chilling coldness crept from her toes straight to her chest. This was the hell they had built for me, all in the name of “discipline.” My dad sat in the living room and called Dr. Vance all night, but nobody picked up. It wasn’t until 9:00 AM the next morning that the call finally went through. “Vance! What the hell did you do to my son?!” my dad screamed into the phone. “What is this punishment mechanism?!” On the other end of the line, Dr. Vance’s voice sounded incredibly polite, almost amused. “Mr. Miller, please calm down. That is just our latest ‘Deep Sleep Therapy.’ It uses subconscious conditioning to correct unwanted behaviors. A few minor rejection side effects are perfectly normal.” “Normal?! He was convulsing like a lunatic! He was screaming about electroshocks and waterboarding!” My dad’s voice shook with pure rage. The laughter on the phone vanished. Dr. Vance’s tone turned ice-cold. “Mr. Miller, let me remind you that *you* were the one who demanded we use the most efficient, absolute methods to make him ‘normal.’ You signed the papers.” My dad’s breath hitched. Dr. Vance continued slowly, his voice like a slithering snake. “Oh, by the way, I forgot to mention. My son just got a full ride to MIT. He’s heading to Boston next month.” “We really have to thank you for that generous three-million-dollar donation. Our family will always remember your kindness.” It was a blatant, naked threat. Using his own son’s future and that three-million-dollar “donation” to shut my dad up. My dad slammed the phone down. I heard the dull thud of his fist hitting the wooden desk, followed by his ragged, heavy breathing. He was trapped, completely helpless against the monster he had personally funded. Meanwhile, my mom was losing her mind. She searched frantically on Google and Twitter for any information on “New Life Academy.” But other than the glowing, heavily moderated reviews on their official website, she found absolutely nothing. Just as she was about to give up, she stumbled upon an encrypted underground forum for parents. She paid a hacker to bypass the password. Inside, she found a hell completely different from the polished website. Row after row, post after post, of pure agony and blood.

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As a senior partner at a top Manhattan law firm, I’ve handled countless messy divorces. I’ve seen bitter exes having catfights, and trashy husbands hiding assets in offshore accounts. But I never expected that one day, this cheap soap opera would dump its garbage right on my head. And it was iced, too. Absolutely chilling. A sobbing, fragile-looking girl was blocking the entrance of my law firm. She wore a simple, faded white sundress that made her pale face look incredibly pathetic and helpless. Her belly was slightly swollen. She looked about four or five months pregnant. “Serena, please, I beg you. Let him go. This baby needs a father.” It was the morning rush hour. The lobby was packed with gossiping colleagues and clients, all staring and whispering. The receptionist tried to stop her, but the girl’s dramatic wailing kept everyone frozen in place. “I know I’m in the wrong! But I love him, and he loves me! Please, just sign the papers!” I stood at the top of the marble steps, my heart completely numb. Honestly, I wanted to laugh. I see this kind of drama at least eight times a month. “Miss,” I said, walking down the steps. My high heels clicked sharply against the marble floor. “If you want to pull a scam, at least do your homework. I’m… a widow.”

The murmurs around us died down instantly. Everyone in the firm knew that Serena, the ice queen partner, had lost her husband three years ago. It was a tragedy no one dared to bring up. But the girl didn’t back down. She quickly reached into her designer bag, pulled out a stack of photos, and threw them at my feet. The pictures scattered across the floor. I looked down, and my pupils dilated instantly. The photos showed a man and a woman in very intimate poses. I knew that man’s face all too well. Julian. My husband, who had been dead for three years. In the photos, his skin was darker than I remembered, and there were more wrinkles around his eyes. But that smirk, and the way he held her—I would recognize him even if he were burned to ashes. What the girl said next made my blood run cold. “He has a birthmark on his lower back. It’s shaped like a ragged line. It turns a dark crimson when he gets flushed, right?” My hand trembled, almost spilling my iced Americano. The stares from the crowd felt like needles piercing my skin. “Wait, Serena’s husband… isn’t dead?” “Faking his death? Insurance fraud? Or…” Whispers flooded my ears. I took a deep breath, pushed up my gold-rimmed glasses, and forced down the raging storm in my chest. I bent over and picked up one of the photos. I dug my fingernail hard into Julian’s face in the photo, almost tearing the paper. Then, I looked up and gave her a chilling smile. “Are you sure this baby is my husband’s?” The girl puffed out her chest, looking stubborn. “Julian told me that as soon as you sign the divorce papers, he’ll marry me!” “Julian?” I repeated the name slowly. “Julian Miller?” “Yes! Julian Miller!” I nodded, took out my phone, and dialed a number right in front of everyone. “911? I’d like to report a disturbance.” “There is a woman harassing people at my office entrance, and I suspect she’s trying to extort me.” “Yes, she claims she’s pregnant with the child of my husband, who died three years ago. I suspect she’s either a grave robber or an escaped mental patient.” I hung up and looked at the girl, whose face had gone completely pale. “Since you say he’s the father, that works out perfectly,” I said calmly. “My husband’s cremains are in the columbarium Uptown. Do you want to go there now for a DNA test, or should I hire someone to exhume his body to confront you?” The girl took two steps back in terror. But the look in her eyes wasn’t guilt. Instead, it was… pity? “Serena, stop lying to yourself. Julian is alive.” “He said if you agree to sign the divorce agreement, he’ll meet you.” She showed me an address on her phone. At that moment, I felt like all the blood in my body was rushing backward. Alive? Then what was that funeral where I cried my eyes out? What was my three years of mourning? I didn’t even realize how I got into the elevator. Security was holding the girl back outside, and she was still screaming. I pressed the button for the basement level. It was a shortcut to the quiet coffee shop next door. I am a lawyer. I rely on evidence and logic. The dead do not rise. Unless… he never died in the first place. Three years ago, Julian went on a business trip to upstate New York. He was reportedly caught in a massive landslide, and his car went over a cliff. The police only found a crushed car, fire damage, and some unidentifiable remains. DNA testing was difficult back then, but his personal belongings and the license plate all matched. I received a box of cremains and a massive life insurance payout. Five million dollars. At that time, I had just been made partner. I was incredibly busy, and his death was a devastating blow. I even took a six-month leave of absence. And now, she was telling me he was alive? The elevator doors opened with a ding. The coffee shop was tucked in a quiet corner, dimly lit. I saw that familiar back immediately. He was sitting by the window, wearing a dusty gray jacket. His hair was longer than before, messy and unstyled. He held a cigarette, looking down at his phone. The way he smoked, the slight slouch in his shoulders… My heart felt like it was being squeezed by a giant fist. It hurt so bad I could barely breathe. I softened my steps and walked over, inch by inch. As I got closer, his silhouette became clearer. When I stood right behind him, I smelled that cheap, harsh tobacco. I used to tell him to buy better cigarettes, but he always said he preferred this throat-burning stuff. “Julian.” I called out. He slowly turned his head. Our eyes met. It was indeed Julian. But he was darker and thinner than three years ago. The gentle, warm smile in his eyes was gone, replaced by a sneaky, greasy look. Seeing me, he showed no joy, no guilt. He just frowned and crushed his cigarette butt into his half-finished black coffee. “You’re here?” His tone was as casual as if he were asking me what we should have for dinner. *SLAP!* I raised my hand and slapped him with everything I had. The crisp sound echoed through the quiet coffee shop. Julian’s head snapped to the side, and a trickle of blood appeared at the corner of his mouth. He was stunned for a second, then his face turned red with anger. He stood up abruptly. “Serena! Are you out of your mind?!” “Am I out of my mind?” I laughed coldly, though tears were desperately welling up in my eyes. “Julian, you’ve been dead for three years. I spent three years grieving you, and I took care of your parents. I even buried your father last year!” “And now you show up alive?” “If you were alive, why didn’t you come back? Why did you send a pregnant girl to make a scene at my law firm?” “Are you trying to ruin my reputation, or are you trying to kill me?” Julian rubbed his cheek, his eyes darkening. “Serena, I didn’t come back because I was in deep debt. I didn’t want the loan sharks to come after you.” “I’m back now because Chloe is pregnant. I need to marry her and give my child a proper name.” “Let’s make this easy. Sign the divorce papers, and… you need to return that five-million-dollar insurance payout to me.” “I exchanged my life for that money. Now that I’m alive, that money belongs to me.” I was so angry I laughed out loud. So that was it. It wasn’t a miracle. It was a scam. He faked his death to escape his debts and steal insurance money. Now that the heat was off, or maybe because he had spent all his cash, he wanted to come back and claim the payout. And he wanted to bring his mistress and his bastard child to step on my face to climb back up. Looking at the man in front of me, I felt a terrifying wave of disgust. This was the man I loved for seven years? This was the “late husband” I wept for during lonely nights? “Julian,” I wiped the tear from the corner of my eye, my gaze turning completely cold. “Did you forget what I do for a living?” “I’m a lawyer.” “Faking your death for insurance is major grand larceny and insurance fraud. With five million dollars, you’re looking at ten years minimum.” “You’re also committing bigamy, which is another crime.” “And now, you’re extorting me. That’s blackmail.” “You want that five million? Sure.” I took a step forward, staring straight into his eyes. “Go get it in federal prison.” Julian’s expression changed. He clearly didn’t expect me to be this ruthless. Suddenly, his attitude flipped. He fell to his knees with a thud, grabbing my legs. “Baby! Serena! I was wrong! I had no choice!” “I spent all my money on gambling debts! If I didn’t pay them, they were going to kill me!” “Chloe… Chloe is innocent. Please don’t sue me, I beg you!” The other customers in the coffee shop were all staring. The man who had been so arrogant a second ago was now begging like a stray dog. I looked down at him. The very last drop of affection I had for him evaporated completely.

I kicked Julian away, ignoring his pathetic groveling, and walked out of the coffee shop. When I got back to the office lobby, Chloe was still sitting there. Seeing me, her eyes lit up, but my icy glare froze her in her seat. “Serena…” “Shut up.” I walked straight into my private office and slammed the door shut, locking out the world. My hands were shaking. Not from fear. From pure, unadulterated rage. And disgust. I sat in my leather chair, forcing myself to take deep breaths. Julian was back. This meant my peaceful life was over. Faking death for insurance—once this came out, I would be dragged into the investigation. Even though I knew nothing about it at the time, as the beneficiary, the insurance company would definitely come after me. More importantly, the five million dollars. Julian said he spent his money on gambling debts? That didn’t make sense. The five million was still sitting in my high-yield investment account. I hadn’t touched a single cent because it felt like blood money. So where did he get the money to pay his gambling debts? And where did he get the money to support a pregnant mistress? Suddenly, my phone buzzed. It was Eleanor, Julian’s mother. Over the past three years, even though I resented Julian for leaving me, I had done everything to take care of his parents. I sent them monthly allowance checks, took care of them when they were sick, and handled all the arrangements for his father’s funeral last year. I picked up the call, keeping my voice steady. “Hi, Eleanor.” “Serena!” Eleanor’s voice was incredibly excited, almost shaking. “You need to come home right now! Come to the house! Something wonderful has happened!” “What is it?” “Julian! Julian is back!” Eleanor started sobbing hysterically on the other end. “My boy! He’s not dead! He’s alive! And he brought back a grandson for me! She’s still pregnant, but I had a psychic check—it’s a boy! Our family name will live on!” My knuckles turned white as I gripped the phone. So, they were in on it together. Julian had just finished his little act with me at the coffee shop, and then he immediately went to his mother so she could pressure me. And from what Eleanor was saying… “Eleanor, do you know who that woman is?” “Oh, who cares who she is! As long as she can give our family a boy, she’s a saint!” Eleanor’s tone was incredibly self-righteous. “Serena, don’t blame me for being blunt. You were married to Julian for five years, and your womb was completely dry. Now Julian survived a miracle and brought back an heir. God has answered my prayers!” “Just come over and sign the divorce papers. We can’t keep that poor girl waiting.” My heart felt like it was dropped into ice water and then smashed with a hammer. Three years of devotion. Three years of playing the perfect daughter-in-law. It was worth absolutely nothing compared to an unborn grandson. And a trashy, scammer son. I let out a soft chuckle into the phone. “Sure, Eleanor.” “I’ll be right over.” “I’d love to settle the score with Julian.” I hung up, opened my laptop, and pulled up the digital copy of the life insurance policy. Beneficiary: Serena Miller. Insured: Julian Miller. Death certificate, cremation records, official registration—everything was complete. Eleanor had handed me all these documents himself three years ago. She said she couldn’t bear to look at them and asked me to handle the paperwork. Looking back now, it was full of loopholes. If Julian was alive, whose body was in that coffin? If Julian was alive, where had he been hiding for three years? And Eleanor’s reaction just now was way too fast. I closed my laptop, grabbed a voice recorder from my desk drawer, and slid it into my purse. Then, I texted my assistant on WhatsApp: “Run a check on Julian Miller’s bank accounts for the last three years. Do the same for his mother, Eleanor Miller. Focus on any large cash transfers.” “Also, contact the legal department at the insurance company. Tell them I have major lead on a fraud case.”

I pushed open the door to the Miller family home, and the smell of a home-cooked feast hit me. In the living room, Eleanor was holding Chloe’s hand, pampering her like a princess. The coffee table was covered in expensive fruits, snacks, and a bowl of fresh bird’s nest soup. Julian was sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed, smoking a cigarette, looking incredibly relaxed. As soon as I walked in, the room fell dead silent. Chloe instinctively shrunk back behind Eleanor, looking like a frightened little lamb. Eleanor immediately stood in front of her like a mother hen protecting her chick, glaring at me. “Serena, today is a day of celebration. Don’t bring your gloomy attitude in here. You should be happy!” I didn’t even take off my high heels. I walked straight into the living room, my heels clicking loudly. “A day of celebration?” I looked around the room, my eyes finally locking onto Julian. “Indeed. A dead man coming back to life—it’s a medical miracle. We should call the news.” Julian blew out a ring of smoke, looking at me with disdain. “Serena, drop the attitude. Mom told me everything. You barely took care of them anyway; you were too busy making money. But now I’m back.” “I drafted the divorce agreement. Take a look.” He pulled a sheet of paper from under the coffee table and threw it on the glass surface. I picked it up and almost laughed. The agreement read: 1. Both parties agree to a mutual divorce. 2. All marital assets, including the house, cars, and savings, go to the husband. 3. The wife must return the $5,000,000 life insurance payout to the husband. 4. The wife leaves with nothing. “Julian, do you have shit for brains?” I ripped the agreement into shreds and threw the pieces right into his face. “You want me to leave with nothing? And return the money?” “I bought this house. I bought the cars. Even the jacket you’re wearing right now was bought with my money!” “What right do you have to negotiate with me?” Eleanor suddenly rushed forward, pointing her finger at my nose. “Serena, you barren woman! You couldn’t even give him a child! Now that Julian has an heir, why are you still clinging on?” “That five million is Julian’s life money! It belongs to him! You kept it for three years, and I didn’t even charge you interest. Are you trying to steal it?” Chloe chimed in from the side, her voice sweet but venomous. “Serena, money is just temporary. Julian said that if you let him go, we’ll treat you like our own sister.” *Sister?* Looking at these three, I felt a deep sense of absurdity. This wasn’t a family. It was a den of thieves. I took a deep breath, fighting the urge to flip the table. “Fine,” I said, suddenly softening my voice. “Since you put it that way, I’m not an unreasonable person.” “Divorce is fine. The money… we can negotiate.” “But Julian, you owe me an explanation.” I looked at Julian, my eyes showing a mix of curiosity and hurt. “Where have you been for three years? Why did you lie to me about your death?” “If you tell me the truth, I’ll sign.” Julian clearly didn’t expect me to give in so easily. He exchanged a look with Eleanor. “Serena, I knew you still loved me.” Julian stood up, trying to grab my hand, but I subtly stepped back. “The truth is, the car accident was real. But I survived and was saved by an old herbalist in the deep mountains.” “But I hit my head and got amnesia. I lived in the mountains for three years, and I only regained my memory recently.” “Chloe is the herbalist’s granddaughter. She took care of me for three years.” *Amnesia?* *An old herbalist?* Did he really think he was in a cheap soap opera? I sneered inside, but kept a touched expression on my face. “I see… you must have suffered so much.” “Since she saved your life, Chloe definitely deserves to be in this family.” I turned to look at Chloe, my eyes lingering on her stomach for a moment. “But just to be safe, and to make sure this baby is legally recognized as a Miller…” “Let’s do a paternity test.” “As soon as the DNA proves the baby is yours, Julian, I will sign the paper and leave with nothing.” Julian and Chloe’s faces turned pale at the same time. Eleanor jumped up instantly. “Why do we need a test?! I know my son’s bloodline when I see it! You just don’t want to give us the money!”

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The year my parents died in a tragic plane crash, I became the last surviving daughter of the Miller family. The man I used to call my guardian, Christian Pierce, took me into his estate. For ten years, he spoiled me into the most pampered, untouchable princess of New York high society. Whatever I wanted, I got. Until the night of my eighteenth birthday. Drunk and foolish, I stole a kiss from him while he slept, and I took his obsidian cufflinks—the ones he never parted with. The next morning, he walked into my bedroom and caught me putting a silver chain through the cufflink, keeping it close to my bare skin. Rage, dark and tempestuous, flared in his eyes. That very day, he shredded my college acceptance letter and shipped me off to Ridgeview Academy. On my first day, the headmaster whipped me ten times. He called it my welcoming ceremony. On the second day, because I refused to clean the toilets with my bare hands, they subjected me to an hour of electroshock therapy until I lost control of my bladder. From the third day onward, the instructors came to our rooms every night, forcing us to drink their “special milk.”

Three years later, he finally came to pick me up. I sat in the backseat of the car. Christian’s expression was as cold as ever. Hailey sat in the passenger seat, wearing a beige cashmere coat, her curled hair styled to perfection. I looked down at my own faded, dusty jacket. The cuffs were frayed and threadbare. “What are you staring at?” Christian’s voice cut through the silence. Hailey turned and smiled at me. “Chloe, you’re back. You’ve gotten so thin.” “All those inappropriate thoughts of yours,” Christian said, his eyes meeting mine in the rearview mirror. He paused. “Have they been thoroughly beaten out of you?” The first lesson Ridgeview Academy taught me was that when it hurts, you endure it. If you endure it long enough, you stop feeling it altogether. “Yes, they are gone,” I whispered. I saw his jawline tighten for a fraction of a second before it relaxed. Hailey leaned back in her seat. “I told you, Christian. Ridgeview works wonders. Look how obedient Chloe is now.” *Obedient.* The instructors at Ridgeview loved that word too. They would pinch my chin, forcing my face up, and ask, *Are you going to be obedient now?* I would scream, *Yes, yes, I’ll be good!* They would laugh, saying it wasn’t enough, before forcing more of their “medicine” down my throat. The car pulled into the Pierce estate. The roses in the garden were still there, but they were withered, their stems drooping lifelessly. Mrs. Gable, the housekeeper, was waiting at the door. “Oh, Miss Chloe…” Her lips trembled. I simply nodded at her. I stood in the hallway for a moment, hearing footsteps behind me. “Oh, I forgot to tell you,” Hailey walked over, her voice dripping with sweet apology. “Christian said your old room had the best natural light, so he let me convert it into my walk-in closet. Your things… I had Mrs. Gable move them to the guest room. You don’t mind, right?” I turned around. “I don’t mind.” Christian stood at the top of the stairs, watching us. He didn’t say a word. At dinner, the table was piled with exquisite dishes. Christian was peeling shrimp, meticulously placing them one by one into Hailey’s bowl. “That’s enough, Christian. I can’t eat all of this,” Hailey giggled, her voice soft and airy. “Eat more,” he murmured. When I was a child, I once ran a fever of 103 degrees. I was delirious. Christian held me in his arms, not closing his eyes for a single second all night. When I cried because the medicine was too bitter, he would coax me, saying, *Be a good girl, Chloe. Drink it, and I’ll buy you all the candy you want.* I had sobbed, clinging to his neck, *I don’t want candy. I only want you to stay with me forever.* He had smiled and whispered, *Okay, I’ll stay with you for the rest of my life.* “Chloe, try this,” Hailey said, placing a piece of fish into my bowl. My fork paused for a second. Then, I picked it up and shoved it into my mouth. Even when the boiling heat blistered my tongue, I didn’t stop chewing. “Eat slower,” Christian frowned, staring intently at my bowl. “Poor thing. The food at Ridgeview must have been dreadful,” Hailey added, putting a piece of chicken onto my plate. “Eat up. You need to gain some weight.” I chewed and swallowed mechanically, like a robot performing a task. Christian set his fork down. “There’s no need to eat like you’re starving.” After dinner, I went back to my room, opened my phone, and booked a one-way ticket to a small town in the south—a place I had never heard of. Christian stood at my doorway, holding a glass of warm milk. “Drink this,” he commanded. The instructors at Ridgeview also loved delivering “milk” at night. Once you drank it, you fell asleep. And when you woke up, your body would be covered in new wounds. Sometimes needle marks, sometimes dark purple bruises, along with a swollen lip and bleeding thighs. My knees went weak. Out of pure instinct, I dropped to the floor, my forehead pressing flat against the cold hardwood. “I’m sorry! I’ll never do it again! Please don’t make me drink it… please, I beg you, don’t make me drink it…” The room was deathly quiet, so quiet that I could hear my own frantic heartbeat. Christian stood frozen, still holding the glass. The icy mask on his face cracked for a split second, revealing something raw, before freezing over again. “You…” His throat bobbed. “Get up.” He took a step forward. I screamed and scrambled backward until my spine slammed against the bedpost. He set the glass on the nightstand. The milk sloshed over the rim, spilling onto the dark wood.

My hands instinctively reached for his belt, ready to unbuckle it to please him. At Ridgeview, if you were a second too slow, another man would join in. “Chloe Miller!” Christian’s voice vibrated with suppressed fury. “Have you no shame? Three years, and this is the trashy, cheap filth you learned?” “No… I didn’t…” My voice came out cracked and hollow. “No?” He bent down, grabbing my chin, forcing my face up. “Then what the hell are you doing right now? Huh?” My lips trembled so violently I couldn’t form words. I stared at the buttons of his pajama shirt, not daring to look into his eyes. “Let me tell you something,” he leaned in, his cold breath brushing against my skin, sending shivers of terror down my spine. “Even if you stripped naked and lay on this bed right now, I wouldn’t even spare you a glance!” He turned on his heel and slammed the door. Within seconds, I heard the door to the master bedroom next door open. First came Hailey’s sleepy, whimpering voice. “Christian? What’s wrong…” Then came his muffled, strained response. Soon, the mattress began to creak, the sound growing louder and more rhythmic. Hailey’s moans pierced through the thin walls, rising higher and higher. I covered my ears, curling into a ball. No, this was wrong. At Ridgeview, those men never made noise. There were only heavy grunts, the clinking of belt buckles, and then they left when they were done. I crawled on my hands and knees into the furthest corner of the room, pressing my forehead against the freezing wall. “Chloe will be good…” “Chloe doesn’t love Christian anymore…” “Never again… never again…” I chanted the words like a mantra until my forehead went numb, until the noises next door finally stopped. I fell asleep on the floor just as dawn was breaking. Mrs. Gable came in with a basin of water. When she saw me huddled in the corner, her eyes welled with tears. “Miss Chloe! Oh my god, your head…” She rushed over to help me up. I flinched away from her hand. “I’m fine.” The girl in the mirror was ghostly pale, the dark bruise on my forehead glaringly obvious. I pulled my bangs down to cover it. When I went downstairs for breakfast, Christian and Hailey were already seated. Hailey looked radiant, wearing a silk nightgown, a prominent red mark blooming on the side of her neck. “Chloe,” Christian spoke suddenly, his eyes still fixed on the morning paper. “What happened to your head?” My spoon paused. I kept eating. “I tripped.” “Tripped?” He lowered the paper, glaring at me. “How do you trip and get a bruise like that?” Hailey placed a peeled egg onto his plate and said softly, “Oh, she probably just bumped into a door frame. Chloe is still adjusting to being back.” Christian ignored her, keeping his gaze locked on me. “I asked you a question. Are you playing games again—” “I’m full,” I said, pushing my bowl away and standing up. I had barely touched the oatmeal, but my stomach felt like it was filled with lead. Three days. Just three more days, and I would be gone. “Stop right there,” Christian’s voice dropped, dangerous and low. “Did I say you could leave?” Hailey quickly intervened. “Christian, don’t be so harsh. We’re going bridal gown shopping today. Why don’t we bring Chloe along? She can help me choose.” My fingernails dug into my palms. “I’m not going.” Christian slammed the newspaper onto the table with a loud *thud*. “Did my words yesterday go through one ear and out the other? I told you to get along with Hailey!” I lowered my head, my stomach twisting in pain. “Okay.” The bridal boutique was blindingly bright. At Ridgeview, we lived in endless darkness. Hailey twirled in front of the mirror. “Christian, do you like it?” Christian sat on the plush sofa, his legs crossed, nodding slightly. “It looks good.” He used to bring me to places like this. He used to tell me, *Our Chloe will look like a little angel in a white gown.* Later, I had clung to him, asking, *Will you buy me the most beautiful wedding dress in the world when I grow up?* He had ruffled my hair, laughing, *I’ll buy you an entire room full of them.* “Chloe,” Hailey called out, holding a sleek mermaid-style dress. “What do you think of this one?” I looked up. “It’s nice.” “Why don’t you try one on?” She smiled, her eyes crinkling. “I mean, even though you… well, every girl deserves to wear a wedding dress at least once.” She walked over, leaning close to my ear, her voice dropping to a vicious whisper.

“Honestly, I’ve always wondered… just how shameless do you have to be to fall in love with your own guardian? Hmm? Chloe, care to tell me?” My body went entirely rigid, the blood freezing in my veins. She knew. How did she know? Watching the color drain from my face, Hailey’s smile grew sweeter. “Frightened? Did you think your filthy little secret was hard to guess?” She patted my arm, raising her voice for Christian to hear. “Go on, try it on! Let Christian and me have a look.” Christian glanced over, his brow furrowed, clearly annoyed that I was wasting time. Right then, Hailey gasped. “Ah!” In one sudden movement, her body flew backward! She clutched her stomach, her face twisting in agony as tears streamed down her cheeks. “Ah… my stomach… it hurts so much…” Christian bolted upright, rushing over in three long strides. Hailey looked up at him with tear-filled eyes, her trembling finger pointing directly at me, her breath shallow. “Christian… don’t… don’t blame Chloe… she probably… she probably didn’t mean to push me…” I was dragged down and locked in the basement. The door was kicked open with a loud bang. Christian stood in the doorway, his long shadow stretching across the damp floor. “Chloe Miller!” his voice was cold enough to kill. I scrambled to my knees. At Ridgeview, you had to kneel when being questioned. “Look at what you’ve done!” He stormed in, grabbing my chin in a iron grip. “Hailey lost the baby! How dare you!” I looked into his bloodshot eyes. “I didn’t push her.” Hailey’s soft sobbing echoed from the top of the stairs. “Christian… forget it. Chloe is still young, she didn’t mean it… It’s my fault. I wasn’t blessed enough to keep our baby…” Christian’s chest heaved as he glared down at me. “You were the only one near her! And you still dare to lie?” I stopped talking. At Ridgeview, if the instructor said you were guilty, you were guilty. Arguing only brought worse punishment. “Fine. You won’t confess.” He let go of me, turning to grab a leather crop hanging on the wall. “I’ll make you confess!” *Crack!* The lash struck my back like searing-hot iron. I bit my lip, refusing to make a sound. “Speak! Why did you do it?” *Crack!* “Are you still harbor those disgusting feelings for me? Huh?” The whip fell again and again. My shirt grew damp, the fabric clinging to the fresh, warm blood oozing from my skin. I remembered when I was a child learning the piano, and a broken string cut my finger. Christian had held my hand, his face filled with panic. *Don’t cry, Chloe. Let me blow on it, and the pain will go away. I promise you, I will never let anyone hurt you again.* The whipping stopped. Christian was panting. He grabbed my arm and dragged me up. “Speak! Are you mute?” I looked up at him, sweat and blood stinging my eyes. In his fury, he ripped the back of my shirt open. My bare back was exposed to the light—revealing a horrific tapestry of old and new wounds. Scars upon scars, deep and shallow, jagged lines and round burn marks. “What… what is this?” His voice cracked, his hand starting to tremble. Hailey crept down the stairs, catching a glimpse, and gasped, covering her mouth. “Oh my god! Chloe, your back… where did all those scars come from?” She turned to Christian, her voice trembling with crocodile tears. “Christian… could this be… a sympathy play? Did she do this to herself to make us feel guilty?” Christian’s hand froze mid-air. He looked at me, his eyes a chaotic storm of confusion and suspicion. “A sympathy play?” he whispered, as if asking himself. Finally, he let go of my arm, taking a step back. “Chloe, you are… utterly hopeless.” “No food. You stay in this room until you’ve reflected on what you’ve done!” I collapsed onto the floor, my raw back scraping against the rough ground. The pain was blinding. But it was fine. I had survived far worse than this. I could get through this. Just two more days, and I would be free.

The door opened, and Hailey walked in carrying a bowl of soup. “Chloe, eat something,” she said, sitting on the edge of the mattress, stirring the soup. “I begged Christian to forgive you. This matter is over. Tonight is the Pierce Family Gala, and you are coming with us.” She leaned in close, whispering, “Don’t ruin this for yourself. If you don’t show up, Christian will only be more convinced you’re guilty.” She paused, a smirk playing on her lips. “Or are you just afraid to see us announce our engagement?” I looked at her. Her face was soft and gentle, but her eyes were venomous. I had to go. My flight was tomorrow morning. If I could just survive tonight, I would be free forever. The gala was dazzling, the chandelier lights making my head spin. Hailey clung to Christian’s arm, greeting guests and basking in their congratulations. “Is that Chloe Miller? How did she end up looking like a ghost?” “I heard she had some… inappropriate thoughts and was sent away by Mr. Pierce for three years.” “My, look how generous Hailey is, still bringing her out.” While Christian was surrounded by investors, Hailey walked over to me. “Chloe,” she said, her voice loud enough for the nearby guests to hear. “Christian asked me to return this to you.” It was the heirloom emerald brooch—the piece traditionally passed down to the matriarch of the Pierce family. When I was a little girl, I had begged Christian for it. Unable to say no to me, he had given it to me, saying I could keep it safe for him. Christian looked over from across the room, his eyes dark and unreadable. I walked straight to him and handed the box back. “Here. I wish you and Hailey a lifetime of happiness.” Christian snatched the box, his lips parting as if he wanted to say something, but a sudden scream cut him off. Fire! The curtains in the corner had caught fire, and the flames were spreading rapidly. The panicked crowd surged forward, shoving me aside. Through the smoke, I saw a little boy huddled in the corner, crying in terror. Without thinking, I ran toward him. “Chloe!” Someone grabbed my arm—it was Christian. With his other arm, he scooped up the child and dragged me toward the exit. A piece of the burning ceiling collapsed, grazing his arm. He groaned in pain but didn’t let go of me. We finally burst out into the freezing night air. I collapsed onto the grass, coughing violently, feeling as though my lungs were turning to ash. Christian set the child down and immediately reached for me to check for injuries. His sleeve was scorched, and blood was dripping from his arm. “Are you—” he began. “Christian!” Hailey threw herself into his arms, sobbing hysterically. “Are you alright? You scared me to death!” Suddenly, she pointed a shaking finger at me. “It was her! I saw her! She started the fire! She wanted to burn us all to death!” Everyone turned to stare at me. Christian froze. Hailey wailed, “She just returned that brooch to you as a farewell! She knew she couldn’t have you, so she wanted to destroy you!” I shook my head, trying to speak, but my throat was so scorched by the smoke that no sound came out. Christian looked down at my hands. Clutching in my trembling palm was a lighter—the one Hailey had shoved into my hand during the chaos. “Chloe Miller,” his voice was barely a whisper, filled with crushing disappointment and disgust. “You really are… utterly hopeless.” Hailey clung to him, weeping. “Christian, she almost ruined our engagement… I’m so scared…” Christian wrapped his arms tightly around her. When he looked back at me, the last shred of warmth in his eyes had vanished. He turned to his security guards, his voice flat. “Take her away. Hand her over to Hailey to deal with.” Hailey buried her face in his chest, but as she did, she cast a glance back at me, a vicious, triumphant smile flashing across her face. The guards grabbed me. I didn’t struggle. I knew then that I wouldn’t be boarding my flight tomorrow. I watched Christian’s retreating back and remembered a night from my childhood when he had sat me on his shoulders to watch the New Year’s fireworks. When the loud bangs started, he had covered my ears and whispered, *My little girl will never have to face danger as long as I’m alive.* But now, he had personally thrown me into the abyss. Hailey walked over, kneeling in front of me. “Tonight, Chloe, we’re going to have some real fun.”

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The intern from the finance department thought our high-profile client was too ugly, so she slashed my $75,000 client hospitality budget down to fifty bucks. “Real business relies on capability, not drinking and sleeping with pigs,” Chloe said, her smile sweet and innocent. “Oh, I forgot. Manager Sera, you got parachuted into this position at such a young age. You must have slept with quite a few men to get here.” After our $30 million deal went up in flames, she immediately went online and blasted me on social media. [Exposing the corrupt female executive sent from HQ! A $30 million deal was ruined because she insisted on selling her body to please a client!] Too bad for her, I suffer from extreme workplace paranoia. Keeping voice recordings and a paper trail for everything is my second nature. Watching Chloe’s self-righteous, tearful accusations online, I felt nothing but amusement. It was true that I was parachuted in from headquarters. But I wasn’t here to play corporate games—I was the Senior Compliance Investigator sent to audit this entire branch!

“Manager Sera, I cannot approve this $75,000 entertainment expense.” Chloe, our finance intern, gently slid the reimbursement form back to me. Her voice was soft, but her tone was rock hard. I frowned, not understanding her problem. “This is the pre-approved budget for our onboarding project with Grandview Group. The contract is worth thirty million dollars. Pre-meeting hospitality is standard procedure.” “But,” Chloe looked up, her eyes filled with undisguised disgust, “I saw Mr. Harrison from Grandview yesterday. He is hideous. Fat, greasy, and looks like a wild boar. For our company to spend this much money hosting someone like him—isn’t that basically selling our bodies and dignity for profit?” I was temporarily speechless. Since when did multi-million dollar corporate mergers depend on the client’s looks? Around us, the other accountants stopped typing. The office fell dead silent. I looked at her. She was wearing a high ponytail, round-rimmed glasses, and carried the face of a pure, justice-seeking intern. “I believe business should be won through capability, not by sucking up to pigs over dinners,” she said. She picked up a black pen and crossed out the numbers on my form with smooth, practiced strokes. “Seventy-five thousand is too much. Fifty dollars is plenty. Let’s buy a few packs of bottled water. That’s more than enough hospitality for him.” The black pen dragged across the paper. “$75,000” was aggressively crossed out. Next to it, she wrote a bold, mocking “$50.” Then, she gracefully signed her name: *Chloe, Finance Intern.* “Chloe,” I kept my voice as calm as possible, “do you actually realize what you are doing?” “Of course I do,” she smiled, handing the paper back to me. “According to company policy, even interns have auditing rights. I find this expense unreasonable, so I have the right to adjust it.” I took the fifty-dollar request form, completely dumbfounded. As I turned to leave the finance department, I caught her whispering to the girl next to her: “Look at her. You just know she slept her way to the top. It’s disgusting. Wearing that designer skirt and heavy makeup—does she look like she’s here to actually work? No wonder HQ parachuted her straight into a manager position!” My steps paused, but I didn’t turn around. It was true that I was parachuted in. But I was a Senior Compliance Investigator from the Corporate Integrity Division! Not only do I have workplace paranoia, but I also believe in eye-for-an-eye. I have been cautious my entire life. My father used to be a mid-level manager at a state-backed firm. When he was forty, a subordinate framed him for taking kickbacks. The man forged receipts and edited voice recordings. My father had no way to prove his innocence. The investigation dragged on for six agonizing months. Although he was eventually cleared, his career was ruined, and his spirit was completely broken. During those six months, I watched my mother cry herself to sleep every night. I watched our relatives and friends abandon us. I watched my father’s hair turn white overnight. From that moment on, I learned a hard truth: rumors can kill, but hard evidence keeps you safe. I majored in corporate law and joined HQ’s Compliance Department right after graduation. In seven years, I climbed from a basic assistant to a Senior Investigator. I’ve handled dozens of internal investigations. I have seen too many people get framed by envious colleagues and end up in orange jumpsuits just because of one careless mistake. So, I developed a habit: leave a paper trail for everything, and back up every single file. Every conversation I have is legally recorded within compliance boundaries. Every email is archived chronologically. Every time I meet a client, I log my itinerary and purpose in the internal system beforehand. My phone holds three encrypted cloud drives, and my journals record every detail of my work over the years. My colleagues mock me for having “workplace paranoia.” I just smile. They have never seen how fast a person can fall from grace. I have. My father was the perfect example. So, from the very first day I landed in this coastal branch for this undercover audit, I started recording. The voice recorder in my pocket was always on. A tiny pin-camera was attached to my blazer, capturing everything. I would never give anyone the chance to ruin me.

I went to the Chief Financial Officer’s office, but the CFO wasn’t there. A colleague whispered to me, “Chloe said your expense was highly suspicious. She took the CFO directly to the General Manager’s office to report you.” I turned on my heel and walked straight to the GM’s office. The door was slightly ajar. Chloe’s whiny, victimized voice drifted out: “Mr. Sterling, I didn’t mean to go over your head, but I really couldn’t watch this happen. “That new manager, Sera, demanded seventy-five thousand dollars for a client dinner the moment she arrived. She claims it’s for Mr. Harrison from Grandview. But I’ve seen him at the expo last month—he was staring at the booth models like a total creep. Sera is so beautiful. If we approve this money and rumors start spreading, it will ruin our company’s reputation…” Mr. Sterling hesitated. “But Grandview is our long-term partner. Client entertainment is standard…” “We can partner with them in healthier ways!” Chloe’s voice rose. “Like sending them some eco-friendly company merchandise, or having a Zoom meeting. Why does it have to involve fancy dinners and drinks? I believe our corporate culture should be clean. We shouldn’t tolerate this toxic drinking culture.” “And…” she lowered her voice, “I heard Sera doesn’t even hold a real title back at HQ. She’s probably just some executive’s spoiled princess sent here to collect achievements. We don’t need to play along with her dirty games.” After Chloe left, I walked into the GM’s office. “Mr. Sterling, the dinner tonight is already booked. Grandview’s team has confirmed their attendance. If we cancel this…” I paused, “the thirty-million-dollar deal will be dead.” Mr. Sterling was silent for a few seconds. Finally, he sighed. “Fine. I will personally override the block and sign the budget.” I nodded and took the newly signed form. As I walked out, I heard him mumble, “Kids these days…” I immediately got to work—confirming the menu, the wine, the seating chart, and the gifts. Most of the $75,000 budget went to the venue and high-end catering. A portion of it was reserved for customized gifts for the Grandview executive team: samples of our brand-new smart office equipment. By 3:00 PM, everything was set. By 4:00 PM, Mr. Harrison’s assistant called to confirm the final details. By 5:00 PM, I changed into my backup dark-gray business suit and touched up my makeup. By 6:00 PM, I arrived at the hotel banquet hall. By 6:30 PM, the Grandview team was supposed to arrive. But the hall was empty, save for our own staff. At 6:45 PM, I called Mr. Harrison’s number. It went straight to voicemail. At 7:00 PM, Mr. Sterling walked in, his face absolutely livid. “I just got off the phone with Mr. Harrison. He’s not coming.” “Why?” Mr. Sterling glared at me. “He said he heard our company thinks he has ‘moral issues’ and isn’t fit to sit at a dinner table. He also said he’s apparently too ugly to breathe the same air as our beautiful female manager.” I gripped my phone tightly. “Who leaked that?” “Who do you think?” Mr. Sterling rubbed his temples. “Chloe didn’t just come to me this afternoon. She posted a massive call-to-action in the company-wide Snapchat group. She urged all female employees to ‘reject toxic workplace dinner culture’ by refusing to eat with clients. Someone screenshotted it and sent it to Grandview. Now it’s reached Mr. Harrison.” I opened Snapchat. Sure enough, there were several deleted messages in the main company group. But the screenshots had already gone viral. Right next to Chloe’s cute profile picture was a block of text: *“Girls, if we don’t respect ourselves, who will? Starting today, say NO to any dinners or drinks under the guise of work! If a client refuses to partner with us just because we won’t eat with them, then we don’t need their dirty money anyway!”* Below her post, several female colleagues had left heart emojis. Someone even tagged me in the comments: *“Agreed! Manager Sera should lead by example!”* I honestly felt like these people had mush for brains. This was a thirty-million-dollar corporate contract, not a thirty-dollar Uber Eats order.

That night, I stood at the hotel entrance for a long time. The dinner was cancelled, but the booking deposit was non-refundable. The hotel policy stated that last-minute cancellations incurred a 100% penalty. Thirty-five thousand dollars, gone down the drain. More importantly, Grandview formally blacklisted us. I didn’t get back to my apartment until nearly 10:00 PM. I opened my laptop and began filling out my daily compliance log for HQ. I uploaded the timeline, the location, the recorded audio files, and the videos into the secure folder. Once done, I backed up everything. I kept every recording, starting from Chloe calling the client a pig to the gossiping in the hallways. Then, I opened our encrypted messenger and sent a brief report to the Director of Compliance at HQ: *“An intern has overstepped her authority to interfere with a major commercial contract, leveraging gender politics to create internal hostility, resulting in massive financial loss. I am compiling the full chain of evidence. Recommend continuing observation according to the original plan. Do not intervene yet.”* A few minutes later, the Director replied: *“Received. Stay safe. Document everything.”* I shut my laptop and walked to the window. What was Chloe’s actual angle? Was she really just a naive intern with an overactive sense of justice? I highly doubted it. I shook my head, refusing to overthink. But my “workplace paranoia” was screaming at me: this was far from over. The next morning, the atmosphere in the office was suffocating. Mr. Sterling sat at the head of the conference table, his face dark. The department heads stared at their folders in silence. “A thirty-million-dollar deal, gone in one night,” Mr. Sterling finally spoke. His voice wasn’t loud, but each word hit like a brick. “Who is going to give me an explanation?” Every eye in the room immediately shot to me. Just as I was about to speak, the conference room door was pushed open. Chloe walked in. She was wearing a simple cream-colored linen dress today. Her hair flowed loosely over her shoulders, her face was completely makeup-free, and her eyes were puffy and red as if she had been crying all night. “Mr. Sterling, managers,” her voice was soft, trembling slightly. “I’m so sorry. I… I came to apologize.” She walked to the front of the table and bowed deeply. “Everything that happened yesterday was my fault. I shouldn’t have changed the budget form, and I shouldn’t have posted those things in the group chat… But I swear I had no bad intentions. I just felt that business shouldn’t rely on expensive dinners…” She looked up, a perfect tear spilling down her cheek. “My family raised me to be honest and clean. My mother is a high school teacher. She always told me that girls must maintain their dignity in the workplace and never take shortcuts… When I saw Manager Sera request such a massive entertainment budget the moment she got here, I was scared. I didn’t want our company to become one of those toxic places run on alcohol and favors…” She sobbed softly, her voice shaky but perfectly audible to everyone. “I know I was wrong. I shouldn’t have judged the client, and I shouldn’t have gone over Manager Sera’s head… But I really did it for the good of the company… Manager Sera, can you ever forgive me?” Once again, the spotlight was on me. A few young female department heads were already looking at her with deep sympathy. Someone whispered, “Chloe meant well. She just went about it the wrong way…” I pulled out my phone and pulled up the screenshots. “You stated in the group chat, and I quote: ‘If a client refuses to partner with us just because we won’t eat with them, then we don’t need their dirty money anyway.’ May I ask, what was the business basis for that statement? Did you perform a risk assessment? Did you calculate the potential financial damage? Did you consult the sales department before making that call?” Chloe froze, unable to utter a single word. She just stood there, crying silently. Mr. Sterling rubbed his temples. “Alright, that’s enough. What’s done is done. Our priority right now is to figure out how to salvage our relationship with Grandview.” Chloe covered her face and ran out of the room. The moment the door slammed shut, I heard her whisper under her breath, “What a pretentious bitch…” When I left the office, my phone buzzed. A notification from the company’s anonymous internal forum popped up. I tapped it. It was a freshly posted thread, the title pinned in bold: *[Exposing the corrupt female executive from HQ! A $30 million deal was ruined because she insisted on sleeping with a client!]*

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I lived like a dog for a whole year for my pregnant director, Samantha Vance. I did all her spreadsheets, drove her to prenatal checkups, and even had to wash her stained maternity underwear when she had bladder leaks in her third trimester. She always promised me that once she went on maternity leave, her director position would be mine. Yet, on the first day back to work after the New Year, she walked into the office wearing a skin-tight dress and stiletto heels. Her stomach was as flat as a board. There was no baby. And my promotion announcement was nowhere to be seen. I asked her where the baby was. I asked her about the promotion she promised. She slapped me right across the face. “Who the hell are you cursing on the first day of the year? I don’t even have a boyfriend. Where would I get a baby from?” But my Amazon order history was packed with maternity supplies, and my phone was filled with secret photos of her ultrasounds. I ran around the office, showing my phone to everyone, trying to prove my innocence. But everyone thought I had gone completely insane with jealousy. “She’s desperate for a promotion. Creating fake pregnancy rumors about her own boss? How has this psycho not been fired yet?” Due to a “severe breach of company conduct,” the security guards dragged me out of the building like a dead dog and threw me onto the street. Every time I tried to explain, Samantha had her goons corner me in dark alleys, beating me up and forcing me to get on my knees and apologize. During my last attempt to claw back my phone for the evidence, I was pushed down a flight of stairs. Everything went black as I broke my neck. But then, I opened my eyes again. I was back. Back to the first day of work after the New Year. **1** I sat at my desk, my head spinning. Around me, my coworkers were wishing each other a Happy New Year, and the HR manager was handing out welcome-back coffee gift cards. I wasn’t dead. I was alive. Was everything that happened just a nightmare? I quickly tapped my phone screen. The latest photo in my gallery was a sneaky picture I took of Samantha during her 4D ultrasound. In the photo, Samantha’s face was glowing with maternal warmth. She was looking at the screen, rubbing her belly, her eyes curving into happy crescents. “Elena, you’ve worked so hard this year. Once this little one is out, the director chair is yours.” That was the promise she made me right before the holiday, when she was eight months pregnant. For that promise, I had lived like a dog for a year. When she wanted to drink at corporate dinners, I took the shots for her. I drank so much that I got stomach ulcers and ended up in the ER, only to drag myself back to her apartment to make her hangover soup. When her legs swelled up during her third trimester, I knelt on the floor to massage them, only for her to kick me in the shoulder, complaining my hands were too rough. When she craved a specific smoothie from a shop three miles away during a heavy storm, I biked there to get it. I wiped out on the wet asphalt, my knees bleeding, but I still protected the thermal bag in my arms. And most humiliating of all, when she had bladder leaks late in her pregnancy, I was the one who washed her underwear. Everyone in the office called me “Samantha’s obedient golden retriever.” I was the butt of every joke behind my back. But I didn’t care. My family was from a small town, and my younger brother needed a kidney transplant. I desperately needed the salary and the status of that director position. If being a dog for a year got me the crown, so be it. “Elena, what are you staring at? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” The HR manager tossed a coffee card onto my desk. “Get to Samantha’s office. She just arrived and asked for you. Probably wants to talk about your promotion. You’re a lucky girl.” I took a deep breath, my heart hammering against my ribs. This was it. Samantha was about to pop. She had promised I would take over the department after the holidays. Clutching my phone, I rushed toward the elevator. *Ding.* The doors slid open. My eyes traveled up. Samantha stepped out. She was wearing a tight, cropped top and a miniskirt, showing off a perfectly flat midriff. She carried a limited-edition Chanel bag on her arm. In that second, my brain short-circuited. Where was the belly? Where was the huge, eight-month pregnant belly that made her waddle and hold her lower back? I froze, staring blankly at her flat stomach. She was eight months pregnant. It had only been a ten-day holiday. How could she look like she had never carried a child in her life? “Are you planning to stand there blocking the door all day?” Samantha walked past me, slamming a heavy stack of reports against my chest. “Last month’s data is absolute garbage. Redo it. I want a new proposal on my desk by midnight.” Instinctively, I reached out to touch her waist, my lips trembling. “Sam… your… your baby bump…” *Slap!* Samantha backhanded my hand away with brutal force. “Are you out of your mind? Why are you touching me?” She pulled a sanitizing wipe from her bag, aggressively rubbing the spot I had touched. “Ugh, what a disgusting way to start the morning.” *** **2** The entire open-plan office fell dead silent. Dozens of eyes locked onto us. Ignoring the stinging pain on my hand, I shoved my phone screen right in front of her face. “Sam, where is the baby? We just went to the prenatal checkup before the holidays! Here is the photo! Look! Where is the baby? Did something happen to it?” I was genuinely panicking. That was a life. A baby I had spent a year catering to as if it were royalty. Samantha glanced at my screen. Without even looking closely, she swiped her arm. My phone flew out of my hand, crashing onto the tiled floor and sliding several feet away. “Elena, have you gone completely insane trying to get a promotion? You’re making up sick, disgusting rumors about me being pregnant? I don’t even have a boyfriend! Where would I get a baby? If you’re mentally unstable, go see a psychiatrist, don’t throw a tantrum in my office!” “No boyfriend?” I pointed at the cracked phone on the floor. “Then why did I drink myself to the ER for you? What about the bottles of prenatal vitamins and calcium pills in your cabinet? What about the maternity pads I changed for you?!” “How can you pretend you weren’t pregnant?!” Samantha let out a cold laugh, turning to the whispering crowd. “Do you hear this? You feed a stray dog, and it bites you. I mentored her, and now she’s cursing me, claiming I had an illegitimate child. Elena, you are fired. Pack your things and get out.” “I’m not leaving!” I pushed past Samantha, losing my mind as I sprinted into her private office. I just needed to find proof. I frantically tore open her desk drawers and cabinets, searching for any trace of her pregnancy. But everything was gone. It was as if the baby had never existed. As if my entire year of slaving away for her was just a delusion of my own mind. “Security! Are you guys dead?!” Samantha’s shrill voice echoed from the door. “Get this psycho out of here!” Two beefy security guards rushed in, grabbing me by my arms. “Let go of me! I’m her assistant, I’m looking for proof!” My feet dangled off the ground as I kicked wildly. “Samantha, you monster! You aborted the baby just to clean up your track, and now you’re trying to get rid of me, aren’t you?!” “She’s still spouting nonsense!” Samantha spat. “Drag her out! Toss her into the street!” They dragged me across the floor. My skirt rode up, and the friction against the carpet burned my thighs. As we passed the cubicles, I desperately grabbed a doorframe. “Chloe! At the annual gala, didn’t I drink a whole bottle of whiskey for Samantha? You saw me throwing up blood! Say something!” “Valerie! You saw her morning sickness! You literally asked her if she was expecting! Tell them!” Chloe shrank back into her chair, eyes darting away. “Elena… don’t drag me into this. You just got drunk because you wanted to party. Samantha even paid for your Uber to the hospital…” Valerie kept her head down, typing furiously. “I don’t know anything. Leave me out of your drama.” “Let go!” the guard barked. I screamed as my fingers slipped from the doorframe. *Thud!* They threw me onto the cold concrete sidewalk outside the office building. My phone was tossed out after me, hitting my forehead and instantly raising a painful bump. I refused to believe this was happening. Samantha could buy off my coworkers, she could destroy physical evidence, but she couldn’t silence everyone. Marcus. The company driver. He was the one who drove us to every single prenatal appointment. He was an old, honest guy who had once slipped me a chocolate bar, telling me I was working too hard. A black Buick SUV slowly rolled out of the underground garage. It was Marcus’s car! Ignoring my bruised knees, I ran like a madwoman and threw myself in front of the hood. Before the car could even come to a full stop, I banged on the driver-side window. “Marcus! Marcus, please help me! Tell them! Didn’t you drive Samantha to the OB-GYN clinic this past year? Didn’t you?!” The window rolled down halfway, revealing Marcus’s weathered face. He glanced at Samantha, who was watching from the glass doors of the lobby, and then looked at my disheveled self. “Elena,” Marcus sighed. “Are you under too much stress? When did I ever drive Ms. Vance to a hospital? This past year, I only drove her to client dinners and golf courses. I’ve never been to an OB-GYN.” *** **3** My fingers clawed at the window seal. “You’re lying, Marcus! On the thirteenth of last month, in the freezing snow, the car broke down and I had to push it! We were going to her gestational diabetes screening! Did you forget?!” “Get some help, kid,” Marcus said, rolling up the window so fast it almost caught my fingers. “Don’t try to scam me.” “Still putting on a show?” A smug male voice sounded behind me. I turned around. It was Lucas Sterling. The vice president. Everyone in the office whispered about his secret affair with Samantha. I knew the truth—the baby was his. In my past life, I had walked in on Lucas rubbing Samantha’s bump, whispering, *“Daddy loves you, little angel.”* “Lucas!” I lunged forward like a drowning person catching a life raft, grabbing his leg. “You know the truth, right? That was your baby! Samantha got rid of it, and now she’s blaming me! Just tell the truth, please! I just want to clear my name!” Lucas looked down at me, disgust in his eyes. “Elena, I thought you were just stupid. I didn’t realize you were malicious.” Lucas kicked me square in the chest. He didn’t hold back. The kick sent me flying backward, my spine crashing hard against the concrete edge of a planter. The wind was knocked out of me, and a metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. “Samantha and I are child-free. We hate kids, and everyone in this company knows that. How dare you spread such vile lies, claiming she was carrying my child? You’re defaming my character.” “Defaming?” I choked out. “Lucas, are you even a man? When Samantha had severe morning sickness, you were the one who ordered me to buy those expensive sour plums! You made me boil bird’s nest soup for her! Now the baby is gone, and to protect your VP seat, you’re acting like none of it happened?!” “Where’s your proof?” Lucas pulled a neatly folded expense report from his coat and slapped it onto my face. “You claim you drank for Samantha? Look closely at the entertainment expense reports for the past year. Who signed off as the host?” I grabbed the paper. In bold ink, the signature at the bottom of every single dinner expense was *Lucas Sterling*. “No… this is impossible…” My eyes widened. “I was the one who drank… I got hospitalized… Lucas wasn’t even in the room…” “Then you’re either delusional, or you’ve fabricated a savior complex to force a promotion.” A crowd had gathered around us. Several people were holding up their phones, livestreaming the drama. “Look at this, guys. This is the psycho assistant who tried to ruin her boss with fake pregnancy rumors. Got shut down instantly.” “So disgusting. If she can’t get promoted, she tries to drag everyone down.” “She looked so innocent, who knew she was such a snake?” I stood in the center of the crowd, shivering violently. The memories were rewritten, the evidence was gone, and every witness had turned against me. I was nothing but a joke. So, I called the police. I refused to believe they could bribe the police. I refused to believe medical records could be faked. Inside the interrogation room. Two detectives sat across from me. Beside them sat Samantha, crossing her legs, and Lucas, looking grim. “Detectives, I have proof!” With my swollen, trembling hand, I unlocked my cracked phone. Thank god, it still worked. I tapped on the video file. “Look! This was taken right before the holidays!” I thrust the screen toward the detectives, my voice cracking with desperation. “This is Samantha! Look at her belly! Is that fake? Is that voice AI-generated?!” In the video, Samantha was holding her massive belly, smiling at the camera. *”When the baby is born, I’ll make sure he calls you Auntie Elena.”* The detective frowned as he watched the video, then turned to Samantha. “Ms. Vance, can you explain this?” Samantha calmly opened her designer bag and pulled out a manila envelope. “Detective, with how advanced deepfakes are these days, I’m sure you’re aware of what people can do,” Samantha said, giving me a pitying look. “That video is a complete fabrication. Here, I have my actual medical records from the most prestigious hospital in the city.” *** **4** She emptied the envelope. Several diagnostic sheets with official hospital seals slid onto the table. *Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).* *Uterine lining thickness: 0.4cm (Severely thin).* *Diagnosis: Primary Infertility.* Samantha pointed at the documents, her eyes welling with tears. “Detective, my greatest pain in life is that I can never be a mother. Elena, as my assistant, knew this. She used deepfake technology to create this video just to mock my trauma and spread rumors in the office… It’s like she stabbed me right in the heart.” The detective picked up the documents, checking the official stamps and security watermarks. They were 100% authentic. “No! This is fake! She bribed the hospital to get these!” I lunged across the table, trying to grab the papers. “Check the surveillance cameras! Check the garage! The cameras must have caught me helping her into the car! Her belly was huge, you can’t fake that on CCTV!” “Be my guest,” Lucas sneered, handing a USB drive to the detective. The detective plugged it in, and the projector on the wall turned on. The footage showed Samantha walking through the garage over the past few months. In every clip, she was wearing fitted dresses, her waist incredibly slender. There was no baby bump. I stared at the screen, my reflection looking back at me like a textbook lunatic. Samantha wiped her tears. “Detective, you see? She has been obsessively stalking me, projecting some weird fantasy onto me. Now that her scheme failed, she’s trying to drag me down.” The detective’s gaze turned cold as he looked at me. “Ms. Miller,” he said, closing his notebook. “Based on the evidence, you are being charged with harassment, defamation, and public disturbance…” “I didn’t do it! I’m not crazy!” I screamed in despair. “That’s enough.” Lucas stood up, straightening his tie as his lawyer handed over a document. “Since Ms. Miller’s actions have severely damaged our company’s reputation and caused our stock price to dip today, we are suing her for $300,000 in damages. We also demand she be detained immediately.” Three hundred thousand dollars. Even if I sold my organs, I couldn’t pay that. I stared at my cracked phone on the table. It was my only hope. I snatched for it. “Still trying to destroy evidence?” Lucas reacted instantly, grabbing my arms and slamming me face-first onto the metal interrogation table. Samantha leaned down, whispering in my ear. “Elena, for the sake of our past year, I’ll give you one chance.” She pointed to the concrete floor of the precinct. “Kneel down right now. Give me three deep bows, record a video admitting you’re a delusional psycho who made up stories because you wanted to sleep with Lucas, and we’ll settle this quietly. I’ll drop the charges and the lawsuit.” If I knelt and recorded that video, I would be a social pariah forever. My name would be ruined, and I would never be able to clear it. “Go… to… hell…” I spat through my teeth. “I’ll see you both in prison…” Lucas snapped. “You ungrateful bitch!” He grabbed me by my hair. *Crack!* He slammed my forehead against the edge of the metal table. A blinding pain exploded in my skull. My ears rang loudly, but through the static, I could still hear Samantha’s soft, wicked chuckle. “Some people just have to learn the hard way.” My body went limp, slipping onto the floor. My consciousness began to drift. Before I blacked out completely, my blurry vision focused on the digital calendar hanging on the wall of the interrogation room. The glowing red numbers were pulsing. And then, everything clicked.

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Julian shot down two roses that day — hers and mine, and I become his legal wife. Selene, the illegitimate daughter of the Archer family, was the woman he actually wanted — but my family’s name forced him to put a ring on my finger. So he gave her one as well. Called it “equal.” It was never equal. Because after the wedding, Julian gave Selene everything. His time. His attention. His love. “You got the title,” he told me once, not even looking up from his phone. “Selene’s the one who suffered. You have the name, Vivienne. Stop fighting her for the rest.” So I wore the family ring. I managed the house. I handled the books, the staff, the events. And I slept alone. Every single night. I wasted away in that house. By the time my body finally gave out, I barely had the strength to ask him one question. “If you never loved me — why did you marry me?” Julian looked at me like I was something stuck to the bottom of his shoe. “I was aiming for the red rose that day. Yours wasn’t supposed to be anywhere near it. But you put your flower right next to hers so I’d hit both.” His jaw tightened. “Your family forced my hand. I had to marry you because of the Ashworth name. Selene paid the price for years. And you still weren’t satisfied?” He exhaled. Slow. Relieved. “Now that you’re gone — it’ll just be the two of us. Finally.” I died with those words ringing in my ears. And then I opened my eyes. The sun was blinding. The air smelled like gardenias. I was standing on the Crane estate lawn, surrounded by a hundred guests in summer whites, and Julian Crane was raising a pistol toward a row of roses strung across a wire. The Rose Ceremony. The Crane family tradition. The heir shoots. The rose that falls decides his bride. I’d lived this day before. Last time, my white rose hung right next to Selene’s red one. His bullet tore through both. Two roses fell. Two women married him. One was loved. One was buried. Not this time. I reached up, unclipped my white rose from the wire, and slipped it into my pocket. The gunshot cracked through the air. The red rose exploded off the wire and tumbled to the ground. One rose. One bride. The crowd erupted. “Beautiful shot.” “Whose rose was that?” “It has to be the Ashworth girl’s, right? She and Julian grew up together — their families have been planning this match for years. Who else would he choose?” “Jealous? Maybe you could ask the Cranes to take you on as a mistress.” “Oh, stop. Julian and the Ashworth girl are solid. He’d never do that to her.” A girl nudged my arm, grinning. “Vivienne, congratulations! You’re about to be Mrs. Crane.” Across the lawn, I could see Selene Archer’s face draining white. Her lower lip trembled. Her eyes glistened. I said nothing. Up on the terrace, Victoria — Julian’s mother — smiled and waved me over. “Vivienne, sweetheart. Come here.” The women around her laughed. “Don’t be shy, dear. He shot your rose — it’s fate.” I smiled. Took one step forward. But I didn’t go to them. Instead, I curtsied — just enough to be polite — and said, “Victoria, I’m flattered. But that red rose isn’t mine. I didn’t put one up. I wonder which lucky girl caught your son’s eye.” The lawn went dead silent. Then the whispers broke out everywhere. “It’s not hers? Then whose is it?” “Mrs. Crane —” A soft voice cut through the noise. “The red rose is mine.” Selene Archer stepped forward. White dress. Teary eyes. Fragile as glass — but stealing a glance at Julian like she’d already won. Victoria’s smile froze solid on her face.

Victoria stared at Selene for a long moment. “I don’t think we’ve met,” she said, her voice cool. “Whose daughter are you?” Mrs. Archer scrambled out of her seat. “Mrs. Crane, my husband just took a position at the city clerk’s office — we only recently moved to New York. Selene is our daughter. She doesn’t get out much, which is why you haven’t seen her before.” She didn’t say illegitimate. But she didn’t need to. Everyone in that garden already knew. A minor city clerk’s daughter — and not even his legitimate one. Victoria’s expression went dark. She said nothing. She turned to look at Julian. Julian had already put the gun down. He walked straight across the lawn, past every guest, past every daughter of every family that mattered in this city — and stopped in front of Selene. He took her hand. Led her to his mother. “Mom. Selene is kind, graceful, and everything I want. I choose her.” Victoria glanced at me. I could read her face like a headline: this is a disaster. “Julian,” she said carefully, “the ceremony can be unpredictable. One shot shouldn’t decide everything. Why don’t we have the girls do something else — a second round? Something to make sure.” A few girls nodded. They all knew what a “second round” meant. Victoria was handing me the win on a silver platter. Everyone turned to look at me. Before Julian or Selene could respond, I stepped forward. “Victoria, the rules of the Rose Ceremony are clear — the shot decides the bride. Julian chose Selene’s rose. If we change the rules now, it wouldn’t be fair to her.” Julian jumped in immediately. “Vivienne’s right. Mom, this is fate. Selene is the one I want. There’s no need for another round.” Victoria looked at me with open disappointment. “Vivienne, you know I’ve always adored you. You’re exactly the kind of woman this family needs.” Julian cut her off. “Mom, I’ve always seen Vivienne as a little sister. I never once thought of marrying her.” Selene squeezed Julian’s hand. She shot me a look — quick, satisfied — then put on her apologetic face. “Julian can be a little blunt. Please don’t take it to heart, Vivienne.” She paused, then smiled sweetly. “But if you really do have feelings for him… after the wedding, maybe I could talk him into finding a place for you. We could be like sisters under the same roof.” My mother shot to her feet. The entire garden held its breath. Asking an Ashworth to play second to a nobody’s bastard daughter? Mrs. Archer grabbed Selene’s arm. “Shut your mouth,” she hissed. Julian knew Selene had gone too far. He stepped in fast. “Vivienne, she didn’t mean it like that. Selene’s just — she’s new here, she doesn’t understand how things work. She’s young. She didn’t know what she was saying.” I smiled. “Julian, we grew up together, so I’ll give you this one for free — Selene is actually two years older than me.” “If she still ‘doesn’t understand how things work’ and ‘doesn’t know what she’s saying’ at her age, I’d be worried about bringing her into the Crane family.” I tilted my head. “The wives in the Five Families will eat her alive. And when they do, it won’t be the Ashworth name they laugh at — it’ll be yours.” Selene’s face flushed red. Tears spilled down her cheeks. She turned to Julian with trembling lips. “I just got to New York — I don’t know the rules yet. But Vivienne is supposed to be from a powerful family. Is this how powerful women talk? By being cruel?” I kept my smile. “You just got here, so I’ll give you a pass. But in this circle? What I just said is considered polite.” “Trust me — the other wives won’t be this gentle.” Before Selene could fire back, Victoria’s voice cut through like a blade. “Enough.” She looked at Julian, cold. “You’ve made your choice. Fine. But hear me clearly — the woman who walks into this family as your wife must know how to carry herself. If she can’t, I don’t care if she has a ring on her finger. I will never accept her.” The garden was silent. Selene’s tears kept falling. Julian held her close, jaw tight. And I felt nothing.

The party ended. I was heading for the car when Julian caught up to me. “Vivienne.” He stepped in front of me, blocking the door. “Are you upset about today?” He had the nerve to look guilty. Like he was a good man who’d done a hard thing. “You and I grew up together. Our families wanted us to end up together. I always thought I’d marry you too.” He paused. “But then I met Selene.” “The moment I saw her, I knew. Everything I felt before — for you, for anyone — that wasn’t love. She’s the one, Vivienne. She’s the one I’m supposed to be with.” He said it like a confession. Like I should be moved. All I felt was cold. Because I’d heard this speech before. In another life. Right before years of empty rooms and slow death. I buried the chill crawling up my spine and stepped back. “Julian, I don’t know what you’re talking about. My parents never discussed a match with the Cranes. And actually — my family’s already working out a deal for me. The engagement will be announced soon.” I kept my voice light. “If I ever gave you the wrong impression, I apologize.” Julian didn’t even blink. Like he hadn’t heard a word. “Vivienne, don’t be stupid. You’re an Ashworth — you know what that’s worth. I’ll marry Selene. She’ll have the title. But I’ll set you up too.” He took a step closer. “Your own place. Your own account. A ring on your finger. You’ll run the household — Selene wouldn’t know where to start. Everyone will still call you Mrs. Crane. No one will disrespect you.” “The three of us — we can make this work.” He reached for my hand. I pulled back. Hard. “Watch yourself, Julian.” My voice came out sharp enough to make him flinch. “I have an engagement coming. You and I are done. Keep your distance.” Julian sighed like I was being difficult. “I know you’re embarrassed about what happened today. I’ll stop by your house and apologize in person. I’ll make it right.” He tilted his head, almost amused. “Vivienne — you know how this world works. Every man in the Five Families has a wife and a mistress. That’s just how it is.” “Even an Ashworth woman can’t expect her husband to have no one else.” “I know today wasn’t ideal. But the deal I’m offering you? It’s more than fair. The wedding, the terms — I’ll match everything Selene gets. Dollar for dollar.” I didn’t answer. I turned and got in the car. He followed. He was still talking when my mother came out of the house. She saw Julian standing by our car and her face turned to stone. “Julian. You have a fiancee now. It’s not appropriate for you to be seen with my daughter. Your reputation is your business — but Vivienne’s? I won’t let anyone put a scratch on it.” Julian straightened up. He always behaved around my mother. “Mrs. Ashworth, I just wanted to talk to Vivienne. Today was my fault.” He lowered his voice. “When I work out the terms, I’ll make sure Vivienne is taken care of. A proper wedding. The full thing — cathedral, reception, the whole nine yards.” My mother stared at him. “An Ashworth woman does not share a husband. Not as a wife. Not as a mistress. Not as anything.” Julian opened his mouth. “Drive,” my mother told the chauffeur. The car pulled away. Julian shrank in the rearview mirror. I didn’t understand what he was doing. In our past life, he’d been so obsessed with Selene that I was invisible to him. This time, he was just as obsessed — so why was he clinging to me? It didn’t matter. His engagement to Selene was all over New York within days. The Archers couldn’t contain themselves. Mrs. Archer threw party after party, telling anyone who’d listen that her daughter was marrying into the Crane family. Victoria was disgusted. Her son had lost his mind over an illegitimate girl from a nobody family, and now the whole city knew. Every time she saw another Five Families wedding announcement, she wanted to scream. When it came time to discuss the terms of the marriage, Victoria barely put anything on the table. Her assistant asked if it wasn’t enough. Victoria smiled coldly. “If we offer too much, it’ll look like we’re buying the girl. And what would the Archers put up in return? A walk-up in Queens and a used Honda?” She waved her hand. “The terms should match what her family can bring to the table. Anything more would just embarrass them.”

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Every time Conrad brought a mistress home, he brought a man for me as well. “I need novelty. You need company. We each get what we want, so neither of us has the right to complain,” he always said. Then his mistress got pregnant, and he brought home yet another man. This time, he informed me coldly, “Sherry won’t have the baby unless I give her a proper title. We’ll divorce for now. Before we remarry, you can get to know him. I won’t stop you.” In private, someone asked him, “Conrad, that’s the wife you knelt through ninety-nine stone steps to win back. Are you really willing to let her sleep with another man?” Conrad merely took a slow drag of his cigarette. “Everyone knows Cecilia has a purist streak when it comes to love. She won’t touch him.” Just as everyone assumed I would do what I had done before, write the man a check and send him away, I smiled. “All right. I’ll do as you say.” … The cigarette between Conrad’s lips stilled. Someone nearby sucked in a sharp breath. “She agreed?” “No way. She’s not kicking him out this time?” Conrad quickly recovered his careless expression. He stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray, walked over, and patted my shoulder. “Enjoy yourself.” Then he put an arm around Sherry and headed upstairs. Behind me, whispers rustled through the room. “Is Cecilia serious this time?” “Oh, please. She loves Conrad too much. I bet she’ll still write that guy a check and send him packing.” “Conrad got someone pregnant this time. She’s probably just putting on a show to make him jealous.” I clenched my fists and walked forward with Adrian. They were right. Before this, every time Conrad brought another man to me, I handed him a check with a cold face and drove him away. I thought that was loyalty to my marriage. I thought that at least I was cleaner than Conrad. In the end, Sherry’s belly began to swell. What my so-called purity earned me was a divorce agreement, a bed I slept in alone, and the mocking eyes of everyone in the living room. I pushed open the bedroom door. When I turned around, I bumped straight into Adrian’s chest.

The tips of Adrian’s ears flushed faintly red. I gave a light cough and sat on the bed, pretending to be calm. “You sell yourself for money?” I asked. He nodded. The old me probably would have sneered, tossed him a check, told him to “take the money and get out,” and thought he was filthy. But really, among these people, who was filthier than Conrad? “Go take a shower.” I glanced at the divorce agreement on the bedside table and spoke quietly. For the past three years, I had turned a blind eye to Conrad’s absurd behavior. Because I loved him, I retreated step by step, while he pushed further and further. Now that we were both tired of this marriage… It was time for it to end. I picked up the pen and signed my name. Adrian came out of the shower just then, his hair still damp. The moment he saw me, the tips of his ears reddened visibly. “I’m done showering…” At the same time, my phone lit up. A message from Conrad: 【Go to bed early.】 I almost laughed. He had never sent me messages like that before. He had never cared about my daily life. But today, he did. Was it because I had kept Adrian? Was it because he had finally realized that Cecilia, the woman who had always been loyal to him, might truly be changing? I did not reply. I untied the belt of Adrian’s robe, slipped my hand inside, and pressed my palm against his abs. The lights went out, and we fell onto the bed kissing.

Early the next morning, I pressed a hand against my aching waist. We had done it several times last night. Adrian’s stamina in bed was almost terrifying. When I went downstairs, Adrian was in the kitchen helping the housekeeper. The moment he saw me, his ears turned red again. I smiled. I had just sat down at the dining table when Conrad came downstairs. He sat across from me, wearing an unreadable smile. “How was last night?” Before I could answer, the front door was pushed open. Conrad’s friend Mike rushed in cheerfully. “I bet she kicks him out by noon!” Jack followed right behind him. “Conrad, I bet she kicked that guy out last night—” His voice stopped abruptly. When he saw me, his expression shifted from excitement to embarrassment. “Cecilia… morning!” Conrad lifted the coffee beside him and took a sip, looking perfectly relaxed. As if his friends treating his marriage like entertainment was something to be proud of. I stood and walked toward the kitchen. “You should go. About what we discussed last night, we’ll talk later.” Adrian froze for a moment. Joy flashed in his eyes. He took off the apron, turned, and left. The front door closed. The living room fell silent for two seconds. Jack lowered his voice deliberately. “See? She still kicked him out.” Mike laughed. “Conrad really knows how to train a wife. That’s the kind of woman you marry. From now on, Conrad can have as many lovers as he wants. I’m jealous.” Conrad sat at the table, listening to them with the corners of his mouth curved. I exhaled and walked out of the dining room. Conrad and I spoke almost at the same time. “Come back to the old house with me for dinner tonight…” “Go to city hall at two this afternoon and finalize the divorce…”

Everyone froze. I placed the signed divorce agreement on the table. “Let’s get the divorce done first.” Conrad’s gaze fell on my signature. He did not move. Only after a long while did he look up at me. “What’s the rush? Didn’t I say we’d wait until Sherry’s pregnancy was more stable?” I sneered. “You don’t want to wait until I change my mind and tear up the agreement again, do you?” The atmosphere stiffened for several seconds. Then Sherry came downstairs. “Cecilia, please don’t be anxious. I just don’t want my child to be called illegitimate after he’s born. You don’t have to pressure Conrad like this.” As she spoke, her eyes reddened. Conrad looked at her pitiful face and suddenly laughed. “Cecilia, you think I don’t dare sign?” He picked up the pen from the table and signed his name quickly. Afterward, he threw the pen down hard. “Don’t worry. Once Sherry gives birth, we’ll remarry.” He stood and leaned close to my ear. “You’re the woman I stole back from hell. Out of all those things outside, which one could ever compare to you?” “This child will be raised by you later. Only you are qualified to raise him. Understand?” I said nothing. I dragged out the suitcase I had already packed and left. Behind me, Sherry’s soft voice drifted over. “Conrad, she… won’t really refuse to come back, will she?” Conrad glanced at Sherry. “Now that Cecilia’s gone, you must be secretly delighted.” “Of course not!” Sherry pouted. “My upbringing would never allow me to destroy someone else’s marriage…” As she spoke, she lowered her head and touched her belly. “Everything is for the child.” That wronged little expression instantly dissolved Conrad’s temper. “All right, don’t cry. I was only teasing you.” I took a deep breath and quickly left with my suitcase.

At one fifty that afternoon, I sat on a bench at city hall. I called Conrad for the tenth time. Still no answer. I found my lawyer’s number and sent a message. 【Help me file for divorce through litigation. I’ll send you the materials this afternoon.】 That night, after Conrad’s father, Old Blackwell, urged me several times, I still went back to the old house. Not long after I arrived, the door opened. Conrad walked in with his arm around Sherry. When he saw me, he froze. Old Blackwell’s face darkened. “You bastard. You bring just anyone into this house now?” Conrad sat down with Sherry in his arms, his tone easy. “Dad, it’s just dinner. Do you need to be this angry?” Then he glanced at me. “I thought you weren’t coming, so I brought her. Today is her occasion. Don’t make trouble.” I gave a small laugh. We were not even divorced yet, and he had already brought his mistress to meet his parents. Back then, on the day Conrad proposed to me, I was unexpectedly diagnosed with an illness. To avoid holding him back, I cruelly rejected him. But Conrad ran to the church and knelt his way up the stone steps one by one. Ninety-nine steps. His knees were scraped raw, all to pray that I would recover. When I found out, I cried bitterly and finally agreed to marry him. At the time, I thought true love could overcome anything. “So this is the pregnant mistress? Shameless.” Conrad’s mother’s voice interrupted my thoughts. Almost instinctively, he frowned and pulled Sherry closer. “Mom, you don’t get to criticize my woman.” Sherry leaned against him with red eyes. She always looked as if the entire world had wronged her. I found it boring and stood indifferently. “I’ll leave first.” The moment I walked out of the Blackwell family gates, I suddenly remembered something. Back then, his prayer had been: “Even if Cecilia never stays with me, as long as she is healthy, that’s enough.” Well then. He got his wish.

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The Praise Moon Festival, open to all unmated beastkin in the tribe, was held once every three years. Whoever caught a moonflower could enter a binding contract ceremony. I had planned to stay home. But Ash, my fiancé, loved a spectacle. He signed me up without asking. So I pulled my brother James and my childhood friend Liam aside. “Tomorrow, three females will toss their moonflowers at the same time. If Ash can’t catch mine, you two need to make sure you grab it for me.” They both nodded and promised. But when my moonflower fell, they charged toward Chloe—a rabbit beastkin from our tribe—and helped Ash catch hers instead. My moonflower landed squarely in the hands of Rex, a lone dragon beastkin who’d lost three mates and was about to leave the territory for good. My heart hammered with panic. I went straight to the Elder to negotiate the return of my moonflower and cancel the binding contract. But at the corner of the hall, I overheard the three of them whispering. James spoke first, addressing my fiancé. “Ash, you caught Chloe’s moonflower. By tribal law, you’ll have to enter a contract with her. What are we going to do about my sister?” Ash cradled Chloe’s moonflower like something precious. “What can we do? It’s just a ceremony. It’s not like we’d have to register it with the Alliance. It’s a fake wedding, nothing more.” “At least this way, Chloe’s mother will stop pressuring her to marry.” “As for Iris—worst case, she throws a fit, refuses the contract, and gets her tribal mark erased. She’s a female avian beastkin. What difference does it make whether she stays on the Clan Register or not?” Liam chuckled in agreement. “Iris has always believed in the Moon God’s blessings. Just sweet-talk her a little, and she’ll go along with your contract with Chloe.” I stood frozen in place, a bitter smile pulling at my lips. They’d all forgotten. Staying on the Clan Register to inherit my mother’s land was the dream I’d carried my entire life. It was the reason I needed to marry in the first place. And now the Moon God had given a sign. How could I possibly refuse? … The walk home was short. When I pushed through the door, James was the first to greet me, his voice low and urgent. “So? You went to the Elder to refuse the contract. What did he say?” Our parents looked over too. I hung my coat on the hook by the door. “Nothing much.” My father slammed his teacup down on the table. “If you refuse the contract, you know what that means—tribal law demands your mark be erased. Don’t come crying about it later.” “You’ve been with Ash for eight years. How did you let something like this happen?” I said nothing. After all these years, I was used to it. Whenever something went wrong, he blamed me. Never stood up for me. Never once felt sorry for what I went through. He only ever cared about Chloe, because Chloe was his first love’s daughter. Anything involving the Bennett family, and he’d take their side without a second thought. Even when it was never my fault. My mother had always been timid, silent in the face of my father and James’s favoritism. She opened her mouth as if to speak, then simply pushed a bowl of hot corn chowder toward me. I glanced at her and felt nothing I hadn’t already made peace with. As long as she was safe and well, that was enough. I could marry anyone. The doorbell rang just as I sat down. James went to answer it. Ash and Liam walked in side by side. Chloe trailed behind them. The moment she stepped inside, she called out in that sweet, clinging voice of hers, “Uncle! I’m here to mooch dinner!” Her rabbit ears drooped slightly, and she gazed up at my father with that coy look of hers. He beamed, couldn’t stop grinning. “Sit, sit, come sit down!” He pulled out a chair for her himself. They’d just come back from the sanctuary, where the Moon God’s blessing had been confirmed. Chloe’s moonflower had landed right in Ash’s arms. By tribal law, they were now “destined by the Moon God.” As for whether I accepted or refused the contract—none of them cared either way. Chloe settled into the seat beside Ash. He forked a piece of barbecued rib onto her plate first, then seemed to remember I existed and dropped a chunk of roasted bell pepper into my bowl. “You should eat too, Iris.” I looked down at it. I set it aside without a word. I’d hated bell peppers since I was a child. Was he so giddy from catching his sweetheart’s flower that he’d forgotten even that? At dinner, James started cracking jokes. “Rex showing up to the Praise Moon Festival—can you imagine? The guy must be desperate for a wife.” Liam leaned in eagerly. “Right? He’s been in the western territory less than three months. Word is he killed off three mates before he got here. Dragon bloodline or not, who’d marry a cursed beast?” My father took a sip of tea. “Tribal law says whoever catches the moonflower enters the contract. There was a bit of a mix-up today, but Ash and Chloe—their contract stands.” “Chloe and her mother have had it hard enough. They can’t lose their tribal marks. Everything else can wait.” My mother spoke up, her voice tight. “But what about Iris—” “And whose fault is that?” My father cut her off, his tone sharp. “She couldn’t even convince the Elder herself.” “When the time comes, Ash and Iris can register at the Alliance. For now, we follow tribal rules.” My mother’s eyes brimmed with tears, but she could only lower her head. I was about to tell her not to worry when Ash took my hand. His voice was patient enough. “Iris, nobody wanted this to happen today. Three moonflowers fell at once—it was chaos.” “I didn’t expect to catch Chloe’s either.” “Once things settle down here, we’ll go register at the Alliance. Nobody’s going to remember a ceremony. Okay?” I took a sip of soup and nodded. “Okay.” He blinked. I rarely gave in that easily. In the past, I would have made a fuss, waited for him to coax me, dragged it out a little before letting it go. But his surprise lasted only a moment. Then he released my hand, quick and relieved, like he’d finally set down something heavy. He turned to Chloe, his gaze soft. “What about you, Chloe?” Her face flushed instantly. The tips of her rabbit ears trembled. “My mom insisted I enter the Festival. She wanted me married off. I didn’t have a choice. But at least it was you who caught my flower.” “I’ll do whatever you all decide.” Everyone laughed and launched into plans—how grand the ceremony should be, which band to hire for the Moon God hymns. No one remembered that I was supposed to be Ash’s bride. I finished my meal in silence and set down my fork. “You all keep talking. I’m full.” The chair legs scraped against the floor. The table went quiet for a beat. As I walked away, I heard Chloe whisper, “Is Iris upset?” Ash reassured her gently. “Don’t overthink it. Iris isn’t the sensitive type. She’s probably just tired from the Festival.” My steps faltered for just a moment. So that’s how useful the word “tired” was. It could explain away every grievance, silence every question, and let everyone feel perfectly justified.

I walked out into the yard. The moon hadn’t risen yet. Only the stars scattered coldly across the sky. “Iris.” Ash followed me out, a half-smoked cigarette between his fingers. “You barely ate. Are you angry?” “Yes.” Honest as always. He laughed once and stubbed out the cigarette. “Don’t be petty about this. It’s your tribe’s customs that caused the mess. Three flowers dropped at once—who could tell them apart?” “Like I said, the tribal ceremony doesn’t count. Once we register at the Alliance—” “Ash.” I cut him off. He paused. I lifted my head and looked into his eyes. “From the very beginning, I told you I didn’t want to enter the Praise Moon Festival.” This was the tribe’s marriage tradition. It meant the Moon God had witnessed two souls and joined them as one. For thousands of years, the tribe had believed in it. I respected that belief. I didn’t want to participate because I already had Ash. I didn’t want to make a mockery of the Moon God’s will. But he’d had James put my name on the list. By the time I found out, my name was already recorded. There was no taking it back. Back then, I had no idea Chloe was also entering. He stared at me for a second. “It’s already happened. What’s the point of bringing this up now?” “You’re right. Nothing I say matters, because you never listen.” Ash frowned, his lips pressing into a thin line. That look on his face—I’d seen it for eight years. Impatience, barely held in check. “Iris, what’s the point of digging up old grievances? The Festival was an accident. There was nothing I could do. If you’re really that unhappy, I’ll have someone talk to the Elder tomorrow. We’ll just go through the motions—keep it simple so you don’t lose face.” I looked at him. “Just go through the motions?” “A binding contract means marriage. Everyone in this tribe understands that. Are you really going to pretend you don’t?” Ash pinched the bridge of his nose. “Iris, be reasonable—” “Reasonable?” I let out a short laugh. “When I try to reason with my father, he says I’m talking back. When I try to reason with my mother, she tells me not to take things so seriously. When I try to reason with James, he calls me petty.” “I thought being with you would be different. But it turns out you’re exactly the same.” His mouth opened. “I didn’t—” “You didn’t listen to me,” I said. “You just assumed I’d give in eventually.” The way my father assumed I’d shut up in the end. The way my mother assumed I’d swallow it. The way James assumed I’d shrug it off. “Iris…” His voice softened. He reached for me. I stepped back and turned into the darkness. The plume feathers along my spine shivered in the night wind, as if they, too, were trembling on my behalf. Behind me, his footsteps followed for two paces, then stopped. Chloe’s soft voice drifted over—”Ash, what happened?”—and someone inside called him back to discuss the ceremony. He didn’t come after me. Three years ago, when he proposed, his eyes had been full of light—bright and warm and all for me. Now that light had gone somewhere I couldn’t find.

I stayed out until late. No one came looking for me. When I returned, they were all gathered in the yard around a bonfire, setting off fireworks. Beside them sat roses, wine, and grilled meat that Ash had prepared. Chloe held a sparkler, her face lit by the glow. A few stray sparks clung to her rabbit ears. “Ash, do you think Iris will be upset? Us having fun out here like this…” James waved his sparkler dismissively. “Upset about what? Chloe, you’re too kind. The more you worry about her, the more entitled she gets. Just ignore her.” Liam chimed in with a grin. “Exactly. Don’t waste your energy on her. Think about it—Ash caught your moonflower, of all people. If that’s not fate, what is? The Moon God himself is matchmaking for you two.” Chloe’s blush deepened, her ear tips drooping shyly. “Stop saying things like that. Iris would be upset if she heard…” Ash chuckled but didn’t deny it. “The Elder says all three couples from the Festival will hold their ceremonies together.” “One pair refused the contract, so it’s down to two.” “I won’t let anyone outshine you. I’m going to make sure your ceremony is perfect.” After all, this was the only thing he could give her. A small compensation for her feelings—the ones he couldn’t accept. Chloe lowered her head, her voice thin as thread. “But my gown won’t be ready in time. I’ll have to wear something plain.” James laughed. “Ash already thought of that. He had Iris’s dress altered to your measurements.” Chloe looked up. “Really? But what about Iris?” “She won’t need it.” Ash struck a match and lit Chloe’s sparkler. Silver sparks showered down across his shoulder. I couldn’t move. That dress. I’d had it made by a friend in the tribe who specialized in traditional craft. I’d used feathers from my own molting season, sewn on one by one. There was only one like it in the world. Ash had volunteered to oversee the progress. He’d taken my measurements himself. But when the dress arrived, it was too tight. Now I understood why. The March night wasn’t cold anymore, but a chill crept down my spine in waves. “But getting your tribal mark erased—that hasn’t happened to anyone in thirty years. Iris must be devastated.” Ash reached over and tapped Chloe’s nose with his finger. “You almost ended up married off to a stranger, and you’re still worrying about someone else.” His voice carried a smile—intimate, certain. “Iris does what her father and brother tell her at home. Once she’s married, she’ll do what her husband says. Getting removed from the Clan Register isn’t a big deal.” “Did you see her stand up to me today? She didn’t. She was calmer than I expected. She’s afraid I’ll actually leave her.” Chloe’s voice went small and muffled. “I just think Iris is so pitiful…” “Pitiful?” Ash looked down at her. “All she’s doing is giving up her spot in the tribe to you. Outside of here, nothing changes.” The night breeze carried his cigarette smoke and his laughter straight to where I stood. I gathered my emotions, packed them away neatly, and walked back in.

The yard went half-silent the moment they saw me. Ash still had an unlit cigarette between his fingers. Chloe scurried over and grabbed my sleeve, her rabbit ears quivering. “Iris! You’re back! I was just about to come find you—” I raised my hand to pull free. She tumbled backward with a little yelp and landed on the ground. The sparkler rolled away across the stones. “Chloe!” Ash closed the distance in three strides, shoving me aside. I stumbled back, tripped over the pile of spent firework casings, and went down hard. My palms hit the hot debris. The burn seared through me and I curled inward. James and Liam rushed over too. They hovered around Chloe like she was made of glass, helping her up with the tenderest hands. Not one of them looked at me. Ash turned his head in my direction. His eyes were blazing. “What the hell is wrong with you?” “Chloe was just worrying about you running off. She was worried about your safety.” “And you come back and shove her? Is that how you were raised?” The pain in my palms throbbed upward in waves. Moonlight fell across my hands. Blisters were already rising. He noticed me cradling my hand, and his tone softened—barely. “…Are you okay?” I didn’t look at him. I braced myself against the ground and stood up on my own. A laugh escaped me. “Worried about my safety. So worried she’s out here setting off fireworks to celebrate.” Ash faltered. “What are you talking about? Fireworks after the Praise Moon Festival—isn’t that your tribe’s tradition?” Yes. Tradition. But what did any of it have to do with me? “Move.” My voice was quiet. His brow furrowed. “You shoved someone and you’re just going to walk away without apologizing?” I looked up at him. My palm pulsed with every heartbeat. “Apologize?” I said. “Ask her. Did I even touch her?” Ash didn’t turn around, but behind him, Chloe let out a soft, wet sniffle. That single sound swallowed whatever words he might have said. “Iris, for both our sakes, you’d better apologize right now.” “If you really cared about us,” I said, looking straight at him, “you’d walk out of here with me. Right now.” “Go register at the Alliance. Forget Chloe. Forget the Moon God’s blessing. Forget everything about this Festival. Do you dare?” His lips moved. I waited for him to speak. Waited for him to take that one step toward me. But he hesitated. His head turned, just slightly, and he saw Chloe sitting on the steps, gazing up at him. Those red eyes, glistening and wet. Those rabbit ears, drooping like wilted petals. “Iris…” His voice sank low. “Don’t push me like this. There’s no rush for us. Chloe, she—” “Forget it.” I cut him off and brushed the ash from my skirt. “I was joking.” I already knew the answer. Why force him to say it out loud? Behind me, Chloe choked out, “Iris got burned. Let me get the first aid kit—” Ash grabbed her arm immediately, his voice going hard. “Leave her. She’s the one who shoved you first. Who is this act for?” I pushed open the bedroom door and walked inside. The footsteps outside faded. I sat on the edge of the bed and looked at my hand. The burn had blistered right across the softest part of my palm. It hurt. It hurt so much that everything went numb.

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