Author: Momo Chan

On my first day as a postpartum nanny, the client’s mother-in-law dragged me into the kitchen. “These are our family rules. You must memorize them backwards and forwards. When you’re in our house, you follow our rules,” she hissed. I took the papers she thrust at me and flipped through page after page… There were over 800 rules crammed onto those sheets: “The mother is forbidden from contacting the baby. The baby is forbidden from contacting female babies. The new mother is forbidden from eating her fill…” “Rule 1: The mother is forbidden from contacting the baby. This will cultivate the baby’s independence from an early age. Less contact with mom prevents the baby from becoming a mama’s boy.” “Rule 2: The baby is forbidden from contacting female babies. Our family’s precious heir can’t be corrupted by outside influences too early.” “Rule 3: The new mother is forbidden from eating her fill. As the baby’s mother, she must always be vigilant and can’t live too comfortably.” “Rule 4: It’s forbidden to teach the baby to talk. The later a child speaks, the smarter they are. Newton didn’t start talking until he was 4.” “Rule 5: It’s forbidden to put diapers on the baby…” The list went on and on. I nearly fainted. Was I hired to be a nanny for the royal family or something? Barbara was still rambling on, her voice growing hoarse from reciting so many rules. Finally, she shoved the stack of papers at me and told me to read them myself. After chugging several glasses of water, she started complaining again: “I told Lucy not to stay at that fancy postpartum center. What a waste of $5,000 for a month! And now they’ve hired you. Do you know how hard my David works for his money?” “Be honest with me, you must make at least $800 a month, right?” I looked at the old woman’s fierce expression and kept quiet. I was afraid if I told her I made $1,800 a month, she might have a heart attack. I peeked into the bedroom – thankfully Lucy was still asleep and hadn’t heard any of this. Drawing on my professional ethics, I put on my best smile and said: “Ma’am, I’m afraid these rules won’t work. Modern childcare is based on science. Many old practices are actually harmful to the mother and baby’s health!”

Barbara’s face darkened. “Bullshit! Your so-called science is the outdated nonsense. This is how my mother raised me, and my precious grandson deserves even better care.” “Besides, who do you think you are? Just a nanny trying to act smart? Don’t make me fire you right now!” She was really on a power trip. Too bad for her, as a postpartum nanny with 15 years of experience, I’d seen plenty of difficult characters like her before. I kept smiling politely and nodded. “Of course, you’re absolutely right.” Seeing my submissive attitude, a smug look spread across Barbara’s face. I added: “However, if you fire me now, the $300 deposit is non-refundable.” Barbara’s lips trembled. “What? $300? You’ve only been here one day and you’re keeping the deposit? Is there no justice? Why don’t you just rob us outright!” She cursed my entire ancestry, then demanded to speak to my manager. I calmly handed her my manager’s business card from my bag. The manager is actually my son-in-law. He’s very understanding and knows I’m professional and dedicated. Whenever he gets a complaint about me, we end up cursing out the complainant together. Barbara seemed to do some mental calculations and decided firing me wasn’t worth it. She opened her mouth, then closed it without saying anything more. I smiled again and said: “Mrs. Quinn is my client. Ensuring her and the baby’s physical and mental health is my responsibility.” “If you have any issues with me, you’re welcome to file a complaint. You can even request a replacement if you’d like!” Honestly, when dealing with difficult mother-in-laws like her, I’d be more than happy to leave. Barbara’s face grew even darker. Just then, we heard the sound of the door code being entered. David walked in carrying a pack of diapers.

I took the diapers from him, praising him effusively: “Wow, great job picking out the perfect diapers on your first try! You’re clearly a natural at taking care of the baby. Keep up the good work!” “These days, many fathers are even more skilled than mothers at childcare. I’m sure you’ll be amazing too!” David grinned sheepishly and scratched his head. “Sorry Jane, we weren’t prepared before.” Barbara stepped forward and violently snatched the diapers from my hands, flinging them aside. “Didn’t we agree not to use diapers and use cloth nappies instead? Who’s in charge in this house, me or her?” “My friend Susan’s grandson used diapers and ended up with bowed legs! You’ll see what happens if you dare use these!” “This is your first child. I have way more experience than you – just listen to me and you can’t go wrong!” Lucy heard the commotion and came out of the bedroom. “Mom, let’s use the diapers. All the childcare experts say the benefits outweigh any drawbacks. They won’t cause bowed legs, they’re breathable and comfortable, and they prevent diaper rash better than cloth nappies.” “Besides, people used cloth before because that’s all they had. Now that we can afford better options, why not use them? It’s more convenient for everyone.” Barbara snorted. “What do you know? You’ve all been brainwashed by the diaper companies!” David tried to reason with her too: “Mom, we already bought the diapers. Let’s just use them!” Seeing she was losing the argument, Barbara’s beady eyes darted around. Then she dramatically plopped herself on the floor and started wailing. “Your father died so young, leaving me to raise you three kids all alone, working my fingers to the bone… And now that you’re all grown up with your own wings, none of you listen to me anymore…” “Each of those diapers costs at least a dollar. Don’t you know how hard David works for his money?” I could see this circular argument wasn’t going anywhere. I quickly tried to smooth things over. “We can use cloth nappies too. We’ll just need to wash them thoroughly and change them frequently. Babies have such delicate skin – we don’t want them getting diaper rash.” Lucy and I went into the bedroom to discuss our strategy. We agreed that no matter what ended up in the cloth nappy, we’d immediately toss it in the trash. Within half a day, we’d thrown out all the cloth nappies.

I was just about to have David open the new pack of diapers when Barbara stormed in carrying a pile of ancient undershirts and long johns. She angrily cut them into cloth nappy squares and thrust them at me. “Let’s see who dares throw away my things again!” she snarled. I calmly accepted them, but continued with our previous plan. As soon as one got dirty, I’d change it and toss it. By evening, Barbara exploded when she found all the nappies in the trash. “Are you all deaf? Why the hell did you throw them away again?” Most nannies would have quit by now. But she was dealing with me. The only one getting angry would be Barbara. I calmly explained: “Ma’am, even washed cloth nappies can harbor bacteria. It’s safer for the baby to use fresh ones each time!” Barbara fished all the soiled nappies out of the trash. “I washed these squeaky clean. There’s no damn bacteria! You’re talking nonsense!” I replied: “Well, if you’ve washed them so thoroughly, I’ll leave that task to you then!” After just two days, not only did the whole house reek of urine and feces, but Barbara’s hands were red and raw from constant washing. Seeing Lucy come out of the bedroom for some water, Barbara dramatically tossed aside the nappy she was scrubbing: “Back in our day, we’d be out working the fields right after giving birth. Not like you young people nowadays, eating and sleeping all day long. You have it so easy – you can’t even be bothered to wash a few nappies!” She pointedly glared at Lucy as she said this. I had to admit, this mother-in-law was a real piece of work. She insisted on using cloth nappies and washing them herself, but after just two days she was already complaining. Now she was turning her venom on Lucy.

I pulled David aside. “Your wife needs plenty of rest during this postpartum period. She absolutely can’t do any chores. Overexertion now can lead to lifelong health issues.” “For example, she mustn’t cry or get her hands wet with cold water during this time…” David nodded obediently. But when he turned around, he found Lucy in the bathroom washing nappies with cold water. Her hands were already red and chapped. David quickly grabbed Lucy’s hands: “Honey, let me do that! You need to rest!” Lucy wiped away her tears. “It’s okay, I don’t want Mom to work so hard. I’m young, I can handle it. Mom said that back in her day, women would be out working right after giving birth. I feel bad seeing her do all the work…” Hearing his wife say this, David became furious. It was clear his mother had been guilt-tripping Lucy. He stormed over to confront Barbara, who was scrolling through TikTok on the couch: “Mom, why are you making Lucy wash nappies? She just gave birth!” Barbara didn’t even look up. “Oh please, we’ve all been through childbirth. Besides, she doesn’t even have to take care of the baby. Finding some chores to do is good for her!” Her unreasonable attitude made David explode. He grabbed all the cloth nappies and furiously stuffed them into a garbage bag, then tossed the whole thing into the dumpster outside. Seeing her son truly angry, Barbara didn’t dare say anything. As David passed by the master bedroom, he noticed the air conditioning was on and set to cool. Barbara let out an outraged shriek and glared daggers at me. “Are you deaf AND blind? Didn’t I tell you not to use the AC? If my precious grandson catches a cold, will you take responsibility?” Seeing her losing it, I calmly said: “Well, if we can’t use the AC in the bedroom, we should turn off the living room AC too. Otherwise, the cold air might seep into the bedroom and the baby could catch a draft.” Before Barbara could react, I dashed to the living room and switched off the AC. Barbara muttered something under her breath that I couldn’t catch. After that, whenever I saw her, she was either fanning herself while watching TV or scrolling on her phone while sweating profusely. Well, nobody enjoys 86°F weather without AC. But the next day, angry red rashes appeared all over the baby’s face. Lucy anxiously examined the rashes while asking me: “Jane, are the rashes serious? Will they leave scars?” I had just taken out some rash cream from my suitcase when Barbara burst in. “Didn’t I say the mother shouldn’t have contact with the baby? Are you deliberately trying to defy me?”

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The Elder had spoken, his voice echoing a chilling prophecy: a week from now, a devastating apocalypse would descend upon us. Everyone was convinced it would be a zombie apocalypse. Harper, with her formidable combat skills, was instantly elevated to the status of a living savior. As for me, with my water-based power, I was labeled a useless freak. “I believe your power is water, isn’t it? You lame-ass, with that pathetic ability of yours. What, are you planning to go spray the zombies awake?” Harper, my arch-nemesis, sneered. “Tell you what, why don’t you get on your knees, grovel a bit, then sleep with that homeless guy over there, and finally transfer eight hundred thousand to me? Then I’ll consider protecting you, no hard feelings. What do you say?” But soon after, the sun fractured, splitting into three. It turned out to be a scorching heat apocalypse. And there I was, riding my husky, Mochi, like a deity incarnate. “You pathetic losers, kneel before your Queen!” **1** On the day the nine stars aligned, the most revered Oracle in the sanctuary delivered a chilling prophecy: a week from then, a devastating apocalypse would arrive. After uttering his prediction, the Oracle departed from this world. From then on, no one knew what kind of apocalypse it would be. As for me, upon hearing the news, I was so excited I tumbled down the stairs and injured my leg. I was left hobbling around on a crutch, limping out the door. Only… I’d barely taken a few steps outside when Mochi, my husky, came trotting out. The little jerk immediately started mimicking my limp. Right behind him, a Corgi, a Golden Retriever, and a Shiba Inu quickly followed, copying Mochi’s absurd walk. Seriously? What is wrong with you guys? Fuming, I raised my crutch, ready to whack them. Just then, a startled cry came from nearby: “Look at those dogs! Their walk is so weird. What if they’ve caught the zombie virus?” “The Oracle’s apocalypse prediction… it couldn’t be a zombie apocalypse, could it?” My lips twitched. Without a word, I swung my crutch right at Mochi’s butt. He yelped, then bolted, charging toward the chatting group with an even more bizarre limp. Seeing this, the group looked even more terrified, running several blocks with Mochi hot on their heels. The news of a zombie apocalypse spread like wildfire. **2** As soon as the news broke, Harper, possessing the most powerful combat ability, was instantly hailed as the savior, poised to rescue the world. Unfortunately, Harper and I had a bit of history. It was nothing original—just the cliché scenario where her crush confessed his feelings to me. Even though I turned him down, for some reason, she was hell-bent on labeling me a shameless bitch. “Looking to buy instant noodles? Fine, get on your knees and beg me nicely, and I *might* consider selling them to you.” I’d just picked up a pack of instant noodles when an unwelcome guest appeared. Harper, chin haughtily raised, arrogantly kicked me – crutch and all – sending me flying. I gasped, a sharp sting shooting through me. Combat powers were no joke; she really knew how to make it hurt. I scrambled back up, rubbing my bruised arm. “Do these instant noodles have your name on them? Do I need your permission to buy them?” At that, Harper burst into what sounded like the biggest joke ever. “Oh, everyone, listen up! Is this little bitch dreaming? Did she hit her head when she fell? I’m dying laughing. Does she even know what my status is now?” The people around us immediately chimed in: “Yeah, do you even know what kind of apocalypse is coming? A zombie apocalypse! Harper’s power is the strongest for fighting in this sanctuary. She’s a hero who’s going to save the world!” “Let me tell you, Harper’s a huge deal now. Forget a single store; if she wanted the entire bank vault, all she’d have to do is snap her fingers.” “No exaggeration, forget instant noodles. Even if a penny fell from the sky right now, it would belong to Harper. Got it?” “The apocalypse is in a few days. Without her, we’d all be dead. Forget about eating instant noodles.” Listening to their endless sucking up, Harper smiled smugly. “Hear that? Zombie apocalypse. If you want my protection, you’d better behave. Otherwise… oh, I remember your power is water, right? Just that pathetic ability. What, are you planning on giving the zombies a refreshing shower?” Waves of laughter erupted around us. I just smiled slowly, unhurriedly, blinking my eyes. “But I remember the Oracle’s prophecy didn’t specify what kind of apocalypse it would be, did it? Who said it’s definitely a zombie apocalypse? What if it’s a heat apocalypse?” **3** At my words, everyone froze, seemingly pondering what I’d said. Seeing their resolve waver, Harper quickly jumped in: “Heat apocalypse? It’s been raining constantly for months! How could it be a heat apocalypse? I think you’re just jealous that I can save everyone!” “Don’t listen to this little bitch spreading dangerous lies! Everyone saw it that day; that dog clearly mutated! Yesterday it was a dog, tomorrow it could be people! What else could it be but a zombie apocalypse?” I let out a cold laugh. “I’ve heard of people hiding behind a dog’s bark, but never a human *relying* on one.” Especially when it was *my* dog. The nerve! Harper’s eyes blazed with fury, and she raised her hand, ready to slap me. “What did you say? Did you just insult me?” Just then, Mochi, who had gone out for a stroll, came running back. I casually grabbed a hot dog from a shelf and dangled it in front of him. He immediately flopped down, drooling and grinning. I raised an eyebrow. “Besides, mutated? Zombie dog? With this level of stupidity?” The crowd whispered again, “He doesn’t look *that* abnormal…” “What do you mean not abnormal? Look, would a normal dog drool non-stop and get this fat? Isn’t that abnormal?” Before Harper could finish, Mochi snarled and barked furiously at her. Harper jumped, but quickly regained her composure, her expression certain. “See? Barking for no reason! That’s a sign of zombie virus infection! Because the mutation started with Blair’s dog, she’s afraid everyone will blame her, so she’s trying to confuse you all. If you believe her and get infected when the apocalypse hits, don’t come crying to me to save you!” Mochi barked even louder. I rolled my eyes, utterly speechless. Seriously? Someone calls you fat and abnormal, and you don’t even object? And then you blame my dog for barking. You’re literally worse than a dog. I dug in my ear, then whispered to Mochi, “They won’t let me buy you food, and they’re calling you abnormal. Can you really stand for that?” Then, I loosened my grip. Sure enough, the next second, he charged at Harper, boiling with rage. Harper was afraid of dogs. Seeing Mochi charging, she shrieked, forgetting all about her own power, and bolted. But two human legs were no match for four dog legs. Just as Mochi was about to catch Harper, a furious roar came from behind. “Stop it!” **4** I followed the sound and saw Aiden. The man who had confessed to me, and Harper’s crush. Tall, with broad shoulders, a lean build, and a physique that just screamed ‘hot’ in those gray pants. I rubbed my chin. I had to admit, Harper had good taste. Aiden seemed to realize that telling a dog to “stop it” was a bit pointless. He turned to me, furious. “Blair, get your dog to stop right now! I know you can’t accept the news about Harper and me, and jealousy is a natural human emotion, I get that. But do you have any idea how many people you’ll get killed by seeking revenge like this? How can you be so malicious?” When people are truly speechless, they just laugh. Any fleeting good impression I had of him instantly vanished. “Oh, *you’re* not malicious, so why don’t *you* go save her?” I raised an eyebrow. “Or are you scared of being bitten by a dog too?” Aiden’s face flushed red as his secret was exposed. He retorted angrily, “How could I be? I’m being cautious! Do you even know what my power is? Healing! How many people are depending on my power to survive the zombie apocalypse? If something happened to me, could you take responsibility?” As he spoke, he became more and more self-righteous, as if he truly believed himself to be a white knight saving lives. I couldn’t help but chuckle. We hadn’t even figured out what kind of apocalypse it was yet, and he was already this high on himself? What a character. “Oh my God, a healing power! That’s definitely going to be a huge help in a zombie apocalypse! We’re saved!” “Perfectly complements Harper’s combat power. I’m shipping it! I approve this marriage!” “Absolutely! Only a divine figure like Harper deserves to be with Mr. Aiden. How could Blair, with her useless water power, even dream of him?” The surrounding chatter grew louder. I frowned. Before I could say anything, he cleared his throat and continued, “Although you were the one who originally tried to seduce me, wearing that short dress and skirt, I admit, I was fooled and charmed by you for a while. But now it’s the apocalypse, and your water power is simply too useless. I can’t tolerate being with a nobody. So, I’m sorry, we’re not a good match. My heart now belongs only to Harper.”

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Adrian and Olivia had been together for three years, but she still couldn’t forget her first love. There was a locked room in her house, a promise she kept for her first love. If he ever came back, there would always be a place for him in her home. For his sake, she abandoned Adrian time and time again. The last time, Adrian left only a breakup message before vanishing without a trace. But she seemed to go mad, searching for him everywhere. Finally, at the cemetery, she discovered the truth behind everything. Red-eyed, she pointed at the black and white photo of a woman who looked strikingly similar to her and demanded: “Adrian, tell me—” “Who were you really thinking of every time you looked at me?” On Olivia’s birthday, Adrian brought a few of her close friends back to their place to prepare a surprise party for her. At the height of the celebration, everyone started chanting for them to kiss: “Olivia, you need to cherish such a thoughtful boyfriend!” Olivia gazed at Adrian, her eyes shining brightly, as she slowly leaned in. Adrian lowered his head to meet her, and just as their lips were about to touch amidst the cheers of their friends— The door suddenly burst open. A man drenched from the rain stood in the doorway. Olivia froze in place. Adrian turned to look and saw a face that bore a striking resemblance to his own. “Olivia…” the man called out softly. His tone intimate and familiar. Olivia seemed dazed for a moment before her expression changed: “Why are you soaked? Quickly go change into some dry clothes.” The friends around them reacted faster than Adrian, greeting the newcomer naturally: “Ethan, you’re suddenly back? Done with your wandering?” The man stood stunned in the doorway, a faint smile appearing on his face: “It’s been a while.” Olivia’s gaze remained fixed on him, not sparing Adrian a single glance. Adrian wanted to ask who he was. Before he could speak, Ethan walked straight upstairs. Towards that room in Olivia’s house that was always locked, the one she had repeatedly emphasized to Adrian was absolutely off-limits. Ethan skillfully pulled out a key and unlocked the door with ease.

When Ethan came back down, he had changed into dry clothes and casually took an empty seat at the dining table. The friends, tipsy from drinking, naturally draped an arm over Ethan’s shoulder. “Ethan, stay longer this time. Olivia will always keep a room for you anyway.” “How nice, to always have someone as your solid backup.” “I say, you two might as well get marr—” Olivia cleared her throat lightly. She moved closer to Adrian, trying to break the awkward atmosphere: “Adrian, thank you again for helping celebrate my birthday today.” The scent of lily of the valley enveloped him, but Adrian felt a chill run through his body. Adrian had always known that Olivia had a deeply meaningful first love – Ethan. When Olivia’s company was just starting out, Ethan had quit his high-paying job at a foreign firm without hesitation to support her. Even now, years after Ethan had left, Olivia’s friends were still so close with him. They laughed and joked together, reminiscing about old times. Adrian picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of food. But he couldn’t taste anything.

This celebration that belonged to them continued until 10 PM. As everyone was leaving, it started pouring rain. In the end, only the three of them remained in the house. Olivia’s face was flushed from alcohol as she leaned her head on Ethan’s shoulder, looking small and delicate. I, her actual boyfriend, felt like thin air at that moment. “I’ll take you to a hotel,” I said. “I’m not leaving,” Ethan replied coldly. “That room is mine.” “You promised,” he continued. “No matter what, there will always be a room for me in your home.” I felt like an insignificant backdrop, ignored by them both. Olivia was at a loss for words. She looked to me pleadingly: “Let him stay.” “The rain is getting heavier outside.” “Just for one night, okay?” Olivia gazed at me, her eyes flickering with a hint of apology on her face. “Adrian, I’m sorry.” I pressed my lips together and walked past them to go upstairs.

I didn’t sleep well that night. The storm raged on, and a loud clap of thunder woke me with a start in the middle of the night. I instinctively reached out to hold the person beside me. But my hand fell on empty space. I only felt cold sheets. A sliver of light seeped in through the crack in the door. I opened it slightly to peek outside. The living room lights were on bright. Ethan, wearing an apron, brought out a bowl of noodles and set it on the coffee table. Wisps of steam rose from it. He looked every bit the man of the house. I saw his lips curve into an indulgent smile as he spoke softly: “You’re still the same as always.” “Scared by thunder and needing someone by your side to feel safe.” Olivia stood nearby, a smile on her face. Ethan hugged her from behind. I clearly saw Olivia’s body stiffen for a moment. But she didn’t push him away. The warm glow of the living room lights fell on them, inadvertently revealing an air of intimacy. They looked like a couple that no outsider could ever come between.

I met Olivia when I was 22. I had just graduated and started working at her company. My desk was right in front of her office. When her office door wasn’t fully closed, I would peek through that tiny gap to look at her. To gaze at that face that looked 70% similar to the one that had appeared countless times in my dreams. They really looked so alike, especially the dimples that appeared when they smiled. Later, my colleague Sam caught me looking. He pressed an iced coffee against my face, startling me. I turned to meet his eyes as he said, “Adrian.” He smiled and handed me the coffee, his tone light as if joking: “Don’t go falling for Ms. Olivia.” “She’s got someone in her heart already.” I blinked at him. He leaned in to gossip: “Ms. Olivia has a first love she can’t forget.” “Not sure exactly how long they were together, but I think they knew each other since they were students.” “When the company was just starting out, they were still together. He’d come by sometimes to bring her lunch.” “Once during a meeting, she got a call saying he was sick. She immediately left everything behind to go to him.” “Can you believe it? Such a workaholic, dropping everything for her boyfriend.” “Pretty romantic, huh?” I held the coffee and asked softly: “What happened after that?” “They broke up later.” “I don’t know the details, but I think Ms. Olivia still has feelings for him.” “She even keeps his photo on her desk.” Sam shrugged and smiled, “I guess her first love probably hasn’t let go either.” “Loving each other but unable to be together – it’s like a bittersweet ending straight out of a novel.” I was stunned for a moment hearing this. Just then, Olivia’s office door suddenly opened and her secretary came out: “Adrian, Ms. Olivia is calling for you.” When I went in, Olivia was looking over some documents. Seeing me enter, she looked up with a smile. Two small dimples appeared at the corners of her mouth. My gaze fell on a framed photo standing on her desk. I stared at it, my mind full of Sam’s wistful expression from earlier. “…Adrian, will you be my boyfriend?” Olivia suddenly asked. Caught off guard, I answered reflexively: “Okay.”

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I never thought my wife’s business failure and massive debt would lead to such a devastating chain of events. Despite my cancer diagnosis, I worked tirelessly to ease her financial burden. One day, I accepted an urgent delivery job for a large family portrait, hoping to earn enough to buy my wife a new dress and my daughter some art supplies. But when I arrived at the birthday party venue, I was shocked to see a happy family of three posing together – a man with a woman on each arm, beaming with joy. Guests whispered enviously: “The Johnsons are so wealthy. They spent millions just for her husband’s birthday.” “Their daughter is loaded too. She inherited a fortune in company shares and even ordered this family portrait for her dad today.” I froze, unable to move. The two women weren’t strangers – they were my supposedly bankrupt wife and beloved daughter. 0 With a loud crash, the massive family portrait slipped from my hands, shattering into pieces. All eyes turned to me as I stood there, feeling sick to my stomach. The party planner berated me harshly: “What kind of delivery guy are you? You broke Miss Johnson’s custom portrait! You broke delivery guy, how are you going to pay for this?” I stared blankly at the shards on the floor, piecing together the man’s face – a perfect match for the guy in the designer suit on stage. In our line of work, there’s a rule against peeking at customers’ orders. I had no idea the man in the portrait was Nathan Pierce, my wife’s childhood friend. At that moment, he stood there looking blissful, holding hands with my wife and daughter on either side. They looked like a real family of three. A glass of water hit my forehead, snapping me back to reality as warm liquid trickled down my face. The pain confirmed this wasn’t just a bad dream. Nathan’s eyes flashed with malice for a split second, too quick to catch. He started to reach for me in a show of concern, but suddenly I was kicked from behind, sprawling face-first onto the floor. I turned to see my daughter Emily glaring at me, her little face scrunched up in anger. “You ruined my daddy’s portrait! I’m going to report you!” I instinctively pulled my face mask tighter, realizing she didn’t recognize the father who had sung her lullabies just last night. Olivia’s voice rang out, accompanied by the click of high heels. She narrowed her eyes at me haughtily. “Since it’s my husband’s birthday, I’ll let this slide. Take this money and get out of here.” She carelessly tossed a wad of cash at me. I stared at the money on the floor, trembling uncontrollably. The medical bills I couldn’t afford for my cancer treatment were nothing but loose change to them. My chest ached as if I couldn’t breathe, and my stomach cramped painfully. I clutched my abdomen, reaching out to grab Olivia’s arm. But Emily snatched an expensive bottle of wine from the table and smashed it over my head without hesitation. The little girl glared at me fiercely. “You keep trying to ruin things for my mom and dad. Don’t blame me for not being nice!” The room fell silent. No one dared stop a child, simply because her mother was Olivia Johnson – rich and powerful. I watched helplessly as mother and daughter tenderly presented birthday gifts to Nathan. My vision blurred as I lost consciousness. When I came to, I found myself in a hospital bed. A nurse noticed I was awake and exclaimed happily: “Remember when you were diagnosed with stage 3 stomach cancer here a few months ago? The head doctor says it was a misdiagnosis – you don’t have cancer after all! That diagnosis report was fake!” Her smile faded as she added worriedly: “But your body is severely malnourished and overworked. You’ll collapse if you keep this up.” I clutched the fake cancer report tightly, unsure whether to laugh or cry. I had been surviving on one pack of ramen a day, working myself to the bone even as my stomach bled. In what I thought were my final weeks of life, I pushed myself relentlessly so my wife and daughter could have a slightly better life after I was gone. My sweet daughter never complained or asked for expensive things like her classmates. Just last night, my wife had curled up in my arms, saying she’d washed dishes as a housekeeper that day to buy me new clothes. I had felt so guilty then, hating myself for failing as a man and forcing them to live in such hardship. But now I knew the truth – Olivia’s casual birthday gift to Nathan was an entire public company. Even my daughter’s present was an exquisite emerald watch. I looked down at my patched-up, faded clothes. Tears streamed down my face unbidden. I clenched the fake cancer report in my fist. If the man they wanted wasn’t me, then I would disappear from their lives for good. The nurse left to get medication, and I received a video message on my phone. The clip showed Olivia and Nathan kissing passionately in front of a volcano. Emily stood nearby, happily snapping photos of the moment. Nathan teased: “Olivia, you’re spending all your money on me. What about your husband?” Olivia scoffed dismissively. “You’re the one who saved my grandfather’s life. He insisted I marry that penniless nobody instead. Why else would I have married him?” An awkward silence fell after her words. Emily’s sweet voice piped up: “Uncle Nathan, you’re the best daddy ever! I don’t want some poor loser as my dad!” In that moment, my heart shattered completely. But confusion mingled with the pain. Five years ago, Olivia’s grandfather had nearly drowned. I was the one who dove in to save him without hesitation. To this day, my leg still aches in rainy weather from the injury. Sadly, we couldn’t revive her grandfather, but on his deathbed he had made Olivia promise to treat me well. So why did Olivia believe Nathan was her grandfather’s savior? A memory flashed through my mind – I had lost my mother’s heirloom necklace while rescuing her grandfather. It took me ages to find it again afterwards. But today, I saw an identical necklace around Nathan’s neck. My own necklace was safely stored away in a small box. I had been saving it in case I really did pass away suddenly, hoping to leave Olivia and Emily with something valuable to sell. As the pieces fell into place, my mind reeled. Olivia had mistaken Nathan for the real hero, so she orchestrated this elaborate bankruptcy charade to string me along. Even my own daughter wasn’t on my side. What did all my years of sacrifice mean to them? I yanked out my IV and headed to my delivery company’s headquarters. Thanks to Emily’s stunt, I had received over a thousand negative reviews today. My boss fired me on the spot. After collecting my final paycheck, I mechanically made my way back to our tiny rented room. The dark, damp space was home to rats and roaches – and us. My lips twisted in a bitter smile. I had to admire how well mother and daughter had played their roles all this time. I had barely finished packing a small bag when Olivia walked in with Emily. They had changed into shabby, worn-out clothes. Emily hugged my leg like a sticky rice ball, her little face full of adoration. “Daddy, look at the drawing I made for your birthday!” My daughter was incredibly talented at art, especially portraits. But I could tell at a glance this wasn’t her work – probably just a cheap sketch bought from a street vendor to appease me. My wife had already tied on an apron and was setting out a bowl of noodles with a gentle smile. “Jack, I made you longevity noodles for your birthday. Thank you for always standing by us through thick and thin.” She must have been too careless in her act, forgetting I was severely allergic to the seaweed she had added to the dish. If I hadn’t witnessed how they celebrated another man’s birthday with my own eyes, I might have still been fooled by this mother-daughter duo. Noticing I wasn’t smiling like usual, Olivia spoke up nervously: “Honey, do you think the noodles I made are too plain?” Emily’s face scrunched up, looking on the verge of tears. “Daddy, do you not like me anymore? You don’t want my gift?” I looked up, noticing the obvious bite mark behind Olivia’s ear and the gold bracelet peeking out of Emily’s pocket. Just moments ago, Nathan had posted an update on social media. The photo showed an opulent mansion, with Olivia and Emily in designer dresses presenting another birthday cake to him. Nathan stood between them like a precious treasure being pampered. The caption read: “Money buys love. You two are the best birthday gifts ever!” Tears welled up in my eyes, but suddenly I felt like laughing. These two had really gone all out to deceive me. They didn’t even notice the injury on my forehead that they had caused themselves. My throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton, choking me. I used to be a volunteer teacher before marrying Olivia. After our wedding, I quit to take on multiple part-time jobs. Once, a young girl was going to be forced into an arranged marriage for money. I frantically called Olivia, asking if she had any extra cash so I could help save the girl. But my calls went unanswered. With no money of my own, I couldn’t do anything to stop it. Reality had dealt me a cruel blow. Wasn’t I just like that helpless young girl? The person I loved most had been lying to me all along. For their sakes, I had worked my body to the bone, never eating a full meal or getting a good night’s sleep. But now I knew the truth. They had been deceiving me this whole time. Before I could speak, Olivia took a call behind my back. After hanging up, she looked at me apologetically. “Honey, I’m so sorry. My boss just called me in to do some laundry. It pays $100 per load.” She quickly changed out of the apron and planted a soft kiss on my cheek. “Once I pay off our debts, I promise I’ll give you a proper birthday celebration.” She grabbed Emily’s hand and hurried out into the night, seeming eager to leave. If I hadn’t overheard Emily’s excited whisper as they changed clothes, I might never have known: “Mommy, are we going to see Daddy now? This place stinks, I can’t stand being here another second!” I didn’t try to stop them. There was no point in holding onto people who wanted to leave. My mind was in chaos as I stumbled out, clutching our marriage certificate. Somehow I ended up at the registry office. Deep down, I knew I wanted a divorce. I didn’t want Olivia or Emily anymore. “Mr. Wilson, after careful examination, we’ve found your marriage certificate to be fraudulent. The official seal is forged,” the clerk informed me matter-of-factly.

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My brother always hated me. He once told me to my face that he wished I would just die. So I granted his wish and got stomach cancer. But he regretted it. I still died anyway. With a smile on my face, right in front of him. Jake’s call came just as I arrived home. The diagnosis report in my bag was already crumpled into a ball. He never used to call me on his own initiative before. “It was Dad’s birthday two days ago,” he said, his voice cold as ice. As always. “Why didn’t you come back…” “Because I didn’t want to,” I cut him off. “You went back, didn’t you? That’s enough.” “Tina came back from abroad at the beginning of the month.” Tina was my uncle’s daughter who had lived with us since childhood. “If she was there, that’s fine. After all, you only treat her like a sister anyway.” The person on the other end seemed to suddenly flare up in anger, calling my name in a low voice: “Mia!” I hung up. The last bit of sunset glow fell into the room. I sat at the desk, tearing the diagnosis report into tiny pieces. As the shreds of paper fluttered down onto the table, my phone screen suddenly lit up. Jake: Mom’s death anniversary is coming up soon.

Jake was my brother. He had always hated me. Because I was the culprit who took away his mother. Over twenty years ago, my mother died in childbirth. As I was born, she lost her life forever on the operating table. It was a murder disguised as new life. No one welcomed my arrival. Because of me, Dad lost his beloved wife. And Jake lost his mother. This long-standing resentment began from the day I was born and has continued until now. I didn’t intentionally skip Dad’s birthday. It’s just that day, the abdominal pain was so severe I nearly passed out. That’s when I first realized something was wrong. But actually, if I didn’t go, he would probably be more at ease.

Jake didn’t contact me again. I was standing outside the company building when I took a deep breath. After graduation, I had joined his company. Working my way up from the bottom, but no one ever discovered our connection. The number of times I met with him was even fewer than his meetings with ordinary employees. Last week, a senior executive left, and this Monday they were to announce the successor. Everyone said the position was mine for sure. At least before I got the diagnosis report, I had thought so too. In the hallway, I ran into a colleague who greeted me and then excitedly came closer: “Mia, don’t forget to treat us to a big dinner when you get promoted.” I smiled and looked down: “It’s not certain yet.” “It’s definitely going to be you,” she linked arms with me, “You’re the best out of everyone here.” When we entered the conference room, Jake was there. I happened to meet his gaze for a moment before we both looked away like strangers. “Good morning, Mr. Jiang.” He didn’t look at me, just nodded slightly. As indifferent as if our argument that night had never happened. People gradually filled up the conference room. Jake cleared his throat, and my colleague immediately gave me a meaningful look. I lowered my eyes to avoid her gaze. The next second, I heard a familiar name. “Tina Tang.” A familiar figure entered from outside. Slender and graceful, Tina smiled as warmly as ever. Jake stood beside her, introducing her to everyone: “Miss Tang has just returned from abroad and will be taking over the deputy manager position.” Some people instinctively glanced at me. I avoided their eyes and looked at the beaming Tina on the stage. The atmosphere in the room seemed to stagnate for a moment. Invisible undercurrents stirred. I smiled and applauded. Scattered applause broke the slightly awkward atmosphere in the conference room. Tina met my eyes, her expression warm and friendly.

The coffee smell in the break room was so strong it seemed about to overflow. I stirred it with a spoon, took a sip, and felt some acid reflux as I swallowed. My colleague stared angrily, fuming with indignation. “How is this fair? She just parachutes in and steals your position? Is this blatant nepotism?” “Mia, aren’t you angry?” “This position was meant for you. You worked so hard, even almost ended up in the hospital from overworking last time.” Her gaze fell on the dark circles under my eyes: “Mia, I’m telling you, there’s no need to work yourself to death like this. Cut back on the coffee.” The warmth of the coffee seeped through the ceramic mug into my hands as I thanked her softly: “Mr. Jiang must have his reasons.” The girl’s eyes widened as she was about to complain in a low voice when a phone rang abruptly. Jake’s voice was crystal clear in the small break room, tinged with barely suppressed anger: “Mia, come to my office.” My hand shook, spilling a few drops of coffee on my white shirt. The heat seeped through the fabric, scalding my skin. I responded quietly: “Okay.”

The moment Jake’s office door opened, I saw Tina sitting on the sofa, her head slightly bowed. She was clutching a piece of paper in her hand. And Jake, sitting there with a cold expression, suppressing his anger. People used to say that even though Jake and I came from the same womb, only our eyes looked alike. Upturned at the corners, when not smiling, they naturally carried a cold aura that kept people at a distance. Unfortunately, neither of us liked to smile. And Jake had never smiled at me. “Although Tina is new, she has the qualifications for this position.” “Mia.” Jake frowned deeply as he called my name. “If you have complaints, say them directly. Gossiping behind people’s backs, ganging up with colleagues to isolate Tina – Mia, is your viciousness ingrained in your bones?” In just half a day. I glanced sideways at Tina. She happened to look up and meet my eyes. Her face, in her early twenties, was full of collagen. Her eyes were slightly red, with tears reflecting tiny flecks of light. Then she quickly lowered her head again. All the actors in this farce were in place, just waiting for me to play my part. But I really had no interest in acting out their drama. “What other people say with their own mouths has nothing to do with me.” “Besides-” “Everyone’s not stupid.” A sob and the sound of something falling to the ground rang out simultaneously. The expensive pen that had been on the desk was now shattered into pieces. Black ink spread by my feet. “Mia! You…” A light piece of paper fell on his desk. Jake’s words were cut off. When he saw the text clearly, his anger immediately resurged: “Mia!” “Are you still a child?” “Are you throwing a tantrum?” The crisp new resignation letter was crumpled into a ball and thrown back at my feet like trash. It’s not a tantrum at all. I’ve known for a long time. I don’t have the right to throw tantrums. Only children who are coddled have that privilege. And I don’t. “I’ll go to HR myself.” As I closed the door, his roar was shut out along with it. But I hadn’t walked far before Tina caught up with me. “Mia.” Her voice still had a nasal quality, and she carefully reached for my hand. “Mia, don’t be angry. I don’t want this position. I’ll go talk to Jake. Don’t be upset.” “If I had known, I wouldn’t have come back. Mia, don’t let me ruin the relationship between you and your brother.” There was no one in the hallway. I stopped and looked at her. Tina’s eyes naturally carried an air of innocence and pitifulness. Combined with her slightly reddened eyes and nose tip, she could easily win others’ favor. She looked just like she did over ten years ago, when she first came to our home. “Tina.” I moved closer to her, gripping her chin, “This trick never fails-” “Does it?” Tina’s face instantly turned pale. The elevator arrival chime sounded. I let go of her and walked towards the elevator. She seemed not to have recovered, standing rooted to the spot. I smiled at her: “You know very well, there was never any sibling affection between him and me.” “Come to think of it, you’re more like his sister.”

As the elevator doors closed, I saw my expressionless face reflected in them. My abdomen cramped with pain. Actually, in the beginning, my relationship with Jake wasn’t as bad as this. When we were young, although he didn’t like me, he never did or said anything too extreme. Compared to Dad who treated me like I was invisible, Jake as a brother was the only person I felt close to. Back then I thought, even if Jake didn’t like me, we were still family. That’s what blood ties meant. Until middle school, when Tina came to live with us. That’s when I realized. Brothers could actually be so nice to others. Not always wearing a cold expression, not telling her to “get lost,” not mocking her with sarcasm. That was how a brother should really treat a sister. But Tina wasn’t satisfied. On the fifth day after she transferred to my middle school, when I came home from school, Jake slapped me hard across the face. I held my cheek and stared at him in shock. He was saying things I couldn’t understand. Bullying. Evil. Vicious. Apologize. But when I saw Tina standing behind him, head bowed and clutching his shirt, These scattered words suddenly pieced together into a complete lie in my mind. I tried to explain. But he didn’t believe me. The argument that erupted that day and the obvious favoritism suddenly shattered the naive and foolish thoughts I once had. Jake wasn’t stupid enough to be unable to tell right from wrong. It was simply that he chose not to. I seemed to belatedly realize on that day. My brother truly harbored genuine hatred towards me. My relationship with Jake deteriorated rapidly. Unfortunately, in my foolishness and immaturity at the time, I only thought that rather than having him treat me like a stranger like Dad did, I might as well antagonize him. At least then, Jake would see me. The tense relationship between us continued until I was eighteen. At eighteen, I was dragged into hell. After eighteen, my relationship with Jake suddenly became that of strangers. Like a war that abruptly ceased. We no longer argued, no longer lashed out hysterically, no longer confronted each other. Just cold indifference, as if we didn’t know each other at all.

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I told the school’s notorious bad boy that I was Briar’s real boyfriend. I pulled out all the stops to keep them apart. After graduation, Briar found out the truth and broke down, crying. She hated me for destroying her love story. Even on the day I died, she was still cursing me, calling me selfish, a despicable jerk, worse than a dog. As a twisted form of revenge, she deliberately didn’t tell my family about my critical condition. I never got to say goodbye to them. I died with my eyes wide open, consumed by bitterness. After I was reborn, I chose to let go. She finally got her wish, pregnant with the bad boy’s baby. The valedictorian and the school’s bad boy were an item. Our entire senior year was buzzing with this gossip, everyone’s faces alight with barely contained excitement. I sat at my desk, quietly working on practice problems, completely oblivious to the chatter in the hallway. It wasn’t a surprise to me. Yesterday, Jax wrote Briar’s name on the blackboard, confessing his feelings to her in front of everyone. The whole class saw that cheesy, copy-pasted love confession from the internet. Briar, far from being angry, completely fell for it. Her face flushed crimson, but her eyes and brows, though, sparkled with an irrepressible delight. She pretty much gave him her silent approval. Just like that, they became the main characters of some high school romance drama. It had only been one night, and their social media profiles already sported matching couple avatars, openly declaring their relationship on SnapChat. They couldn’t wait to scream their love to the world. The old Briar would never have done something like that. But she’d changed. Ever since she met Jax, she wasn’t the Briar I knew anymore. “Ugh, how could a straight-A student like her fall for that punk? He’s always getting into trouble outside of school. Who knows if he’ll even get into college.” Leo, my best friend, sighed behind me, poking my arm with his pen. “If you ask me, Jax is miles below you.” “Should’ve known Briar liked wild types. You shouldn’t have been such a doormat for her.” I stopped writing, saying seriously, “I haven’t liked her for a long time.” Yeah, I liked her in my last life. Not this one. I still remembered her face at my hospital bed, eyes filled with such visceral hatred. She cursed me over and over, her gaze practically spat daggers at me. “Asher, you deserve this! You’re going straight to hell when you die!” “Do you know how much Jax meant to me? How dare you make decisions for me back then?!” “Karma’s a real b*tch, Asher. You don’t deserve to live.” As she ranted, tears streamed down her face, her voice choked. “Do you know he was the one I loved most…?” When she saw my life slipping away, watching the heart monitor flatline, She didn’t show an ounce of pity. She even deliberately didn’t inform my family. Leaving me to die alone. Her last words before I faded away were: “Asher, now you know what regret feels like, don’t you?” Yeah, I do. Given a second chance, I’ll be a silent shadow. I won’t get in your way and Jax’s ever again. The bell for class rang, pulling my memories back to reality. Jax swaggered in, his rebellious face practically oozing pride and arrogance. Briar followed close behind him, clutching her sleeve tightly. Her lips, redder than the ripest cherries, looked like they’d just been thoroughly kissed. I watched them calmly. It reminded me of Briar and my marriage, a long time ago. That was the first time I ever saw that kind of shy, maidenly expression on her face.

Our families tried to set Briar and me up. I never thought she’d agree. After all, we were like oil and water back then. She’d even glare at me just for walking past. After high school, Briar got into one of the country’s most prestigious universities, and I became her schoolmate. The day I received my acceptance letter, I told Briar about Jax’s crush on her. Part of it was selfish, yes. But mostly, I didn’t want romance to mess with Briar’s studies. Everyone knew what kind of person Jax truly was. He’d only been at our school for a year, but he’d already racked up a ton of disciplinary actions, constantly breaking school rules and getting into fights off campus. Not only did he smoke and drink, but he’d also gone through more girlfriends than red marks on his report card. He only saw Briar as a game. But Briar, for some reason, liked guys like him. With that charming, yet absolutely toxic, look of his, he’d sit in the back row, humming love songs all day. He’d fold his textbooks into paper airplanes and casually toss them out the window. We’d been childhood friends for so many years; I knew Briar better than anyone. If she knew Jax was planning to confess to her, she’d agree without a second thought. Then she’d fall deep and never pull herself out. “Jax, I know what you’re up to. I suggest you don’t do it, or you’ll regret it big time.” That afternoon, Jax was excitedly grabbing chalk to write on the blackboard, taking advantage of the empty classroom after school. I stood at the back door, my voice cold, cutting him off. “Why not?” He raised an annoyed eyebrow. “Because I’m Briar’s boyfriend.” “You—” The name ‘Briar’ instantly changed his expression. He knew we’d been best friends since kindergarten, in the same class since then, and our parents were even neighbors in the same building. He thought our friendship was purely platonic. “You don’t want her to reject you in front of everyone, do you? You’d lose all face at Northwood High.” I continued, showing him the hair tie on my wrist, silently asserting my claim. It was the same kind Briar wore. Jax’s clenched fist tightened, then loosened. “Oh, and by the way, we’ve been together longer than you’ve even known her.” As I left, I didn’t forget to twist the knife, making sure Jax completely gave up. I lied to Jax. But the hair ties really were from Briar. She was always losing things, so she just gave me a whole box of them. She’d just hold out her hand for one when she needed it. Soon after, Jax shifted his attention to other girls, and we had a peaceful senior year. Later, Briar went crazy trying to chase him, hoping to make up for that missed love. She found out Jax had already moved abroad. They were worlds apart. “Asher, I hate you…” She pounded my chest repeatedly, her tears flowing like a broken dam. For a moment, I hesitated. Should I have just let them be? But then I saw Briar, standing tall, going straight from her undergraduate to her PhD, becoming a dazzling female executive in the finance world, securing a future everyone envied. I still felt it was worth it. After thirty, I was still single, and so was she. Our elders started getting anxious. “Fine,” Just as I was about to refuse, Briar nodded, agreeing to the marriage. It completely blew my mind. She smiled at me, her eyes holding a tenderness I’d never seen before. Suddenly, an unrealistic fantasy sparked within me. After all these years, Briar had finally let go of Jax and was willing to look back at me. I loved her. It was the deepest secret buried in my heart. I don’t think any guy could resist a lively girl with sweet dimples who was always by his side. Her soft, long hair brushed my fingertips, sending an uncontrollable tremor through my heart. But a fantasy is just that, a fantasy. She could nonchalantly pick out a wedding dress, do a photo shoot, finalize wedding arrangements. But she would never actually say she loved me. Jax was her one true love, her ‘what if’ dream. So, she ran away on our wedding day. I was completely humiliated in front of all our guests. The video went viral, and someone even posted a breakdown of the whole story. Netizens mocked me, calling me a pathetic doormat who ended up losing everything. That manipulative snake who ruined true love deserved to be abandoned. Briar had successfully completed her long-planned revenge.

“Briar, your grades slipped by dozens of ranks in the last monthly exam. You really need to take this seriously.” Mr. Harrison, our class teacher, said earnestly, holding her report card. He glanced at Briar, then at Jax waiting outside his office, shaking his head with a sigh. “It’s normal to have crushes at your age, but you need to keep your eyes open and make smart choices. Classmates should push each other to improve, not just think about having fun all the time.” “I think Asher is doing great. He ranked first in the entire grade this time. He’s a role model for the boys…” “Mr. Harrison.” Briar cut him off, seeing Jax’s annoyed expression. “I’ll handle my own affairs. You don’t need to worry about me.” Briar snatched the report card from his hand and walked off towards Jax without a backward glance. Jax brazenly blew a whistle, practically preening, then threw his arm around Briar’s shoulders, completely ignoring everyone else, and swaggered off. No one at this school could control Jax. His parents were prominent entrepreneurs. The new school building being constructed was a donation from their family. Mr. Harrison stared at their retreating backs, a pang of heartache hitting him. He never imagined his best student would turn out this way. I was on my way to turn in homework when I ran into Briar and Jax. “Asher…” Briar was about to greet me, but swallowed her words. Jax had her hand clutched tight. I felt his hostile glare. Briar was quick to obey him, immediately averting her gaze. She walked past me like a stranger. Jax was jealous of me; I knew Briar must be thrilled about that, loving every minute of it. She thought possessiveness was a sign of love. That was fine. Time to draw a line in the sand. We’d go our separate ways.

Mr. Thompson asked me why I hadn’t been walking home with Briar lately. I hesitated for a long time but still didn’t tell him about her early relationship. Though, I figured her parents would find out soon enough. With Jax by her side, no matter how late she stayed out, Briar always made it home safely. After school, you could often see them running hand in hand down the street. Their laughter and playful teasing drifted to my ears, sounding as distant as if from another world. Some classmates even spotted them at night in the small grove at the park. Under the dark, windy sky, Jax had Briar pinned against a tree, kissing passionately. Their reputation instantly flipped. From rebellious, passionate lovers, they became the shameless, scandalous couple everyone whispered about. Briar was angry at first, but then she just stopped caring, letting them say whatever they wanted. She continued to spend every waking moment with Jax. Jax had money and bought Briar many designer lipsticks, so Briar learned how to do her makeup and dress up. She started looking down on girls who showed up to school barefaced every day, disdaining to stand next to them. She also looked down on guys who only bought a single boba for dates, secretly calling them poor. She didn’t understand that in student days, a girl’s most beautiful face was her unadorned one. Youth was them, not them transforming into youth. Even a cheap boba could leave a lasting impression for many. The last time Briar spoke to me first was when she threw a small note to Jax during class, accidentally tossing it onto my desk. “Nerd, pass it over, quick.” Briar urged impatiently, afraid I might peek. She no longer called me Asher with a cheerful smile, but adopted Jax’s habit of giving people nicknames. The next second, the math teacher stood in front of my seat, his face stern as he confiscated the note. I heard Jax click his tongue in annoyance, kicking his desk leg. Then he stood up and slammed the door as he walked out. Briar glared at me, her eyes spitting venom. She blamed me for getting them caught. Our math teacher was famously strict. After reading the inappropriate content, he immediately called both sets of parents after class. Jax’s parents, of course, didn’t show up. They let their son run wild. Rumor had it, as long as Jax didn’t get anyone pregnant, his parents didn’t care how many girls he dated. Mr. Thompson, getting the news, rushed back from the construction site, still clutching his hard hat, sweat mixed with dirt caked on his tanned skin. He finally understood why Briar had changed so much lately; it was because she was always with the school bad boy. He was utterly disappointed in his precious daughter. Mr. Thompson hit her for the first time. Briar clutched her face in disbelief, immediately protesting vehemently. You could hear the furious argument from the other end of the hallway, even sitting in the classroom. It lasted a whole afternoon.

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I had just left the biggest tech summit in the world when my mentor, who I considered a mother, called me. She’d arranged a marriage for me, with Charlotte Thorne, the daughter of her good friend. Charlotte was one of the most brilliant business minds in this city. I’d licensed several of my patents to her company, and they were currently the core technology for their new products. I finished up my lab work, slipped into a carefully chosen suit, and headed to the engagement party. But Charlotte Thorne’s male assistant, Leo Stone, blocked me right at the entrance of the ballroom. He was wearing a sharply tailored, luxury suit, looking meticulously groomed, more like the groom than I did. “If you know what’s good for you, just scram. An orphan with no connections, do you really think you’re good enough for our Ms. Thorne?” I shot back, “Does Charlotte Thorne know you’re acting so high and mighty?” Leo Stone sneered, a dismissive chuckle escaping him. “A pretty boy who only climbs high because of his mentor’s name, how could you ever understand how important I am to Ms. Thorne?” As he spoke, a trace of obsession and smugness actually flickered in his eyes. I watched him for a moment, then pulled out my phone and called Charlotte Thorne. “If your hospitality means keeping your fiancé blocked at the door, then I suppose I could just let you see the contract for my patents, and then sell them to your rival company?”

I was an orphan. The only reason I finished school and got into the top research lab in the country was all thanks to my mentor’s guidance. She’d given me so much care, almost like my own mother. So, when she chose an engagement for me, I was willing to be patient. If Charlotte Thorne could handle this properly and give me a decent explanation, I was ready to give her another chance. “Asher Vance? What is it?” The other end of the line was noisy, with guests seemingly talking around her. She first responded to her guests, then casually brought the phone to her ear, as if she hadn’t been listening to me at all. “Come pick me up and let me into the venue, your assistant…” Before I could finish, she let out a disdainful “Tch,” cutting me off impatiently. “Do you have some kind of prince syndrome? Can’t walk on your own two legs?” “I have guests to entertain. How would I have time to pick you up? Just come in yourself.” A busy signal buzzed in my ear. Leo Stone clapped a hand over his mouth, letting out a suppressed giggle, his eyes alight with undisguised mockery. “I’m just following Ms. Thorne’s orders. If you want to go in, go ahead. I definitely won’t stop you now.” I could calmly complete even the most difficult experiments. But talking to someone so utterly unreasonable? All I felt was a throbbing in my temples. “Mr. Stone, do you think your position as an assistant is very secure? Harassing your CEO’s fiancé at the ballroom entrance – is that part of your career plan?” “Oh, too bad. Compared to a professional elite like me, the CEO despises a useless kept man like you even more.” I lifted my gaze, staring at him with a cold intensity. “Professional elite? The kind of elite who harbors inappropriate fantasies about his female boss?” “Does Charlotte Thorne even know her assistant acts like a lapdog, wagging his tail and begging at her feet every single day?” Leo Stone instantly flew into a rage. He raised his hand, lashing out with a sudden swing towards me. I took two steps back, dodging it. “Lost your cool and resorted to violence? So when you have a business deal go south, do you just slap your partners too? What an ‘elite’ move.” “You! Hold him down!” His thoughts exposed, Leo Stone’s shrill voice cracked. He gasped, staring intently at me, his finger trembling as he pointed. The nearby security guards, who had been watching the show, started walking towards me at his command. “Leo Stone’s being an idiot, but are you all going to follow suit? Do you realize the person you’re about to use force on is Charlotte Thorne’s fiancé?” I tried to appeal to their reason. The security guards exchanged glances. The lead guard spoke, feigning apology, but his eyes held clear derision. “Mr. Vance, we’re just following orders. Please understand.” “Mr. Stone is the CEO’s right-hand man, while you’re just a pawn in an arranged marriage with no connections.” “If your dead parents suddenly came back to life with some earth-shshattering background, then we’d definitely apologize to you.” To attend the engagement, I was dressed in a perfectly fitted suit, with expensive leather shoes on my feet. After dodging a couple of attempts, I was quickly grabbed by two security guards, my arms pinned, half-pressed and held in front of Leo Stone. He stared at my face with a dark expression, then suddenly stretched his lips into a smile. He raised his hand, his designer watch glinting coldly, about to slap me. I squeezed my eyes shut. “Stop!” A clear, cold voice, laced with anger, rang out. Leo Stone’s hand froze in mid-air.

Charlotte Thorne walked towards me. Tall and slender, her face strikingly beautiful, even more captivating than in her photos. She scanned me with a look of disdain, her gaze sweeping over my face, pausing for a fraction of a second. “It’s our engagement party today. What disgraceful scene are you making here?” I broke free from the security guards’ grip, straightened up, and adjusted the collar of my suit, letting out a cold scoff. “Can’t you see what’s happening?” “Charlotte Thorne, I’d like to ask you, is having your security guards assault me at the ballroom entrance your idea of hospitality?” “Do you know what your assistant just—” Before I could finish, Charlotte Thorne cut me off with a frown. “Enough! You’re late for the engagement party and instead of coming in, you’re causing trouble at the door. If my security guards didn’t stop you, were they supposed to just let you run inside and disturb the guests?” “My time is precious, and you’ve just wasted it. “You’re a worthless orphan, and foolish. I really don’t know why my mother wants me to get engaged to you.” The guests who had followed her out to watch the drama discreetly looked my way, whispering amongst themselves. Those condescending stares made me feel like a clown. I felt my time was wasted too. I’d spent so much effort preparing, even taking a special day off. With that time, I could have updated the data for my new experiment. “What a coincidence, I also feel my time has been wasted.” “Since we clearly can’t stand each other, why don’t we just call off the engagement?” Charlotte Thorne froze, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Are you threatening me?” “Causing trouble in front of me isn’t enough, now you’re trying to use breaking off the engagement as leverage? Do you really think that will make me bend to your will?” I looked at Charlotte Thorne’s expression and suddenly felt speechless, a sense of talking to a brick wall. Beside her, Leo Stone stood respectfully, yet his voice held a hint of familiarity and grievance. “Ms. Thorne, he’s causing such a scene at the engagement party. What’ll happen when you’re married? Will he turn everything upside down?” “And just now, he saw that I’m your capable assistant and thought I was stealing his thunder, so he got angry and tried to hit me.” “If those security guards hadn’t protected me, he definitely would have gotten away with it.” Charlotte Thorne looked at me with disbelief. “Leo has been my assistant for two years. He’s handled countless things for me. Do you think he’s some useless freeloader who got his position through connections, like you? What do you have to be jealous of?” I tugged at the corner of my lips, but there wasn’t a shred of a smile in my eyes. “Though I’m curious why you think I’m useless.” “But you just believe your assistant’s words like that?” “It was your assistant—” Charlotte Thorne interrupted me again. “If I don’t believe my assistant, should I believe a lunatic like you?” Leo Stone raised a hand to cover his rising smile, then blinked, and tears welled up in his eyes. “Ms. Thorne, my heart aches for you.” “You’re already one of the most powerful people in this city, yet you’re still constrained by your mother and forced into an arranged marriage with a lunatic.” Charlotte Thorne had only taken over Thorne Corp. two years ago, and Mrs. Eleanor Thorne still interfered with the company’s affairs. She had accumulated a lot of anger due to her mother’s meddling. After Leo Stone’s words, the atmosphere around her immediately became heavy. “Asher Vance, you’d better apologize to me properly, and compensate me.” “Otherwise, not even my mother can save you.”

I finally understood. Leo Stone wasn’t so much a capable right-hand man as a fawning sycophant. He knew exactly how to twist his words to get into Charlotte Thorne’s head. This perception of me as “useless” definitely stemmed from him whispering in her ear. Charlotte Thorne was used to being flattered. Playing along with her seemed the easiest way to solve the problem. I glanced at her, feeling a surge of weariness. “What kind of compensation do you want?” She scoffed. “I want you to personally call my mother and tell her that you’re the one who wants to break off the engagement.” I nodded sharply. “Fine.” With that, I pulled out my phone and opened my contacts. Charlotte Thorne looked at me in surprise, pursing her lips. “Think carefully. Once you make that call, all the prestige and wealth of Thorne Corp. will have nothing to do with you.” I didn’t reply. I just found Mrs. Eleanor Thorne’s contact and pressed the call button. “Not only that, I want him to kneel down and apologize to me in front of everyone!” Leo Stone’s tearful, exaggerated voice cut in. “Ms. Thorne, I’ve worked for Thorne Corp. for so long. Everything I’ve achieved is based on my work ability.” “To be bullied and insulted like that just now, I really can’t bear it.” “Unless he apologizes to me, I will absolutely not forgive him.” I actually laughed. Those security guards were still standing there. Who was bullying whom, exactly? “Leo Stone, you just casually twist the truth, do you think everyone’s an idiot?” “You instigated the security guards to restrain me, and you even tried to hit me. Now you’re saying I bullied you?” Charlotte Thorne stepped in front of Leo Stone. “You must have provoked Mr. Stone first. He was just trying to protect himself.” “If you have any basic human dignity, then apologize to Mr. Stone.” “Otherwise, I’ll have to force you to apologize.” She glanced around, and the security guards received the unspoken instruction, eyeing me menacingly. “Asher certainly has dignity. I, on the other hand, think you and your male assistant have completely lost all shame.” A clear voice echoed from behind Charlotte Thorne. It was Seraphina Hayes, CEO of Hayes Industries. She walked gracefully, the beauty mark beneath her phoenix eyes gleaming. Hayes Industries was Thorne Corp.’s rival, with many overlapping business areas. Seraphina Hayes had taken over her family’s business early on, and her company was thriving. She and Charlotte Thorne had always been like two queens who avoided each other’s direct sight. However, thanks to my patent technology, Thorne Corp.’s recent product upgrades had subtly put them ahead of Hayes Industries. Charlotte Thorne was quite surprised that Seraphina Hayes had come to the engagement party at all. “Ms. Hayes, you must be quite闲, to not only attend a rival’s engagement party but also interfere in my private affairs?” Charlotte Thorne said, displeased. I, too, was a bit surprised to see Seraphina Hayes shielding me. I’d discussed collaborations with her before, and our interactions had been pleasant enough. I just hadn’t expected that halfway through our dealings, she would actually try to use her charm on me, which scared me into fleeing back to my lab overnight. It was the same with this patent. Since my mentor and Mrs. Eleanor Thorne had been good friends for years, I had licensed the patent to Thorne Corp. I hadn’t expected Seraphina to actually step forward and help me.

“Asher, dear? How’s the engagement going? Are you happy with the venue?” Mrs. Eleanor Thorne’s gentle voice came through the phone. “I’m calling to tell you that I’m breaking off the engagement.” “Ms. Thorne’s assistant blocked me and wouldn’t let me into the venue, and he even had the security guards lay hands on me.” “And Ms. Thorne came out, didn’t bother to get the full story, and then demanded I kneel and apologize to her assistant.” “Your family’s standards are too high. I won’t be coming in.” Silence hung on the other end of the line for a moment. “What?!” “That little punk always causes trouble for me… I’ll be right over to deal with her…” Mrs. Eleanor Thorne muttered, followed by the sound of a car engine starting. “Mrs. Thorne, don’t listen to this conniving little man! He’s just a freeloader trying to take advantage of your generosity!” Leo Stone snatched my phone, his face twisted with feigned grievance. “I was properly greeting Mr. Vance at the door, but he refused to come in and just caused trouble there instead.” “I’ve worked tirelessly for Thorne Corp. for so many years. Can’t I even get a simple apology?” Mrs. Eleanor Thorne’s voice turned chilling. “Mr. Stone, is it?” “You’re fired. Go to HR and process your resignation.” Leo Stone’s face froze. “My daughter’s engagement – what business is it of yours to meddle?” “Do you think those lies can fool me?” I hadn’t expected Mrs. Eleanor Thorne to believe me. Leo Stone’s face twitched, his hand tightening around the phone. He squeezed his eyes, then looked at Charlotte Thorne, feigning tears. “Ms. Thorne, if Mrs. Thorne doesn’t care about her own daughter, can’t I care?” “Just to gain favor with a professor, you forced Ms. Thorne to get engaged to an orphan with no connections. Are you treating Ms. Thorne as just a tool for an arranged marriage?” Silence fell on the other end of the line again. After a long pause, Mrs. Eleanor Thorne sighed, her voice suddenly sounding much older. “Charlotte, do you… do you feel the same way?” “Do you think… it’s my fault? So you did all this, unwilling to get engaged to Asher?” Charlotte Thorne glanced at me, then averted her eyes. “As long as Asher Vance is willing to apologize properly to my assistant, I’m still willing to go through with the engagement.” A scratching sound came from my phone case as I looked over. Leo Stone’s face was contorted. “This… Asher… what do you say?” The other end of the phone seemed to be waiting with bated breath. Waiting for what? For me to apologize to Leo Stone? All my previous patent collaborations had been with Mrs. Eleanor Thorne, and I’d always found her to be a fair person. I trusted her family’s upbringing, which was why when my mentor said my fiancée was Charlotte Thorne, I’d come with an open mind. But in the end, a businesswoman is still a businesswoman. To achieve her goal, even knowing the truth, she was willing to sacrifice me. I was curious, did she really think I had no other options besides Charlotte Thorne? I suddenly felt a surge of amusement. I lightly tapped the shoulder of the person in front of me. Seraphina Hayes’ body trembled slightly. She had been furious from Mrs. Eleanor Thorne’s words, about to retort with a sarcastic jab, but I had interrupted her. She softened her expression and looked at me, tilting her head slightly, blinking, and signaling for me to speak. “Seraphina Hayes, I’m planning to find a new engagement partner.” “Are you volunteering?”

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When I took the kids for their routine pre-school check-up, I unexpectedly found out that my stepson, Liam, had leukemia. I immediately contacted the bank, desperate to get a loan for a bone marrow transplant. But my daughter, Bella, suddenly piped up, “Dad, when we go in, just say *I* have leukemia.” The moment we walked through the door, Bella dropped to her knees in front of my wife, tears streaming down her face. “Mom, I want to live. Please, save me.” I knew this was Bella’s test, and my eyes were glued to Eleanor’s reaction. If she said *anything* about treating Bella, I’d sell everything I owned to cure Liam. But if Eleanor couldn’t stand by me through this hardship, then I’d have no choice but to watch Liam’s illness with cold indifference. Eleanor helped Bella up, but I caught a flash of resentment in her eyes. She sighed, looking at me with a weighty tone. “I already know about Bella’s leukemia. You know our financial situation… maybe we should just… let it go.” I quickly cut in, “The child calls you Mom, after all! How can we just let it go?” Liam, who was engrossed in his game, impatiently interjected. “So what if she calls her Mom? She’s not her *real* daughter.” His utter lack of concern sent a chill down my spine. After we remarried, I was so worried he wouldn’t adjust that I gave him everything, the very best. I never imagined he wouldn’t just fail to protect his sister, but would say something so heartless. I was shaking with rage, standing up and pointing at him, demanding, “Bella is your sister! Just because she’s not biological, she doesn’t deserve to be saved?” Eleanor, clearly annoyed, pulled me back. “Enough! Why are you yelling at Liam? Forget the astronomical cost of a bone marrow transplant, even a single round of radiation therapy costs tens of thousands. This is a bottomless pit with no end in sight.” She glanced at Bella, whose tears were still wet on her cheeks, and spoke coldly. “Blame Bella for her bad luck, I guess. I know you like having a girl, but if it comes down to it, we can just have another one.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I spoke, my voice laced with urgency. “Leukemia isn’t as terrifying as you think. Early treatment can be covered by insurance. Are you just going to stand there and watch the child…?” She crossed her arms, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Your child is a child, but Liam and I are outsiders? We’re just living together, you know. Don’t be so selfish, okay? If it were Liam who was sick, I would absolutely divorce you and bear the responsibility alone. I would never drag you down.” “Besides, you’d sell the house and car to treat this money pit, and she’ll just get married off eventually anyway, right? How much can you get back from a dowry?” She looked at Bella with disdain, letting out a scornful scoff. “But you can’t just…” Before I could finish, Liam violently slammed his phone screen onto the couch and roared. “Ugh! So annoying!” “I’ve said it a hundred times, she’s not getting treated! You’ve completely messed up my character in the game! If you bother me again while I’m playing, I’ll pull your oxygen tube when you’re old!” Liam was like a furious little beast, his eyes wide, looking at me as if I were his enemy. Suddenly, I felt Eleanor had a point. If I risked everything—selling the house and car—to save Liam, and then had to worry about him not taking care of me in old age, would saving him really be worth it? Lost in thought, Eleanor handed me divorce papers. “What’s the meaning of this?” My heart sank. Only an hour or two had passed since the test results came out, and she already had the divorce papers ready! “Leukemia treatment is astronomically expensive. I don’t want my child to live a life of hardship with you. Sign this, and let’s go to the registry office to get divorced.” Just one glance sent a shiver down my spine. She not only demanded that I leave with absolutely nothing, but also that I pay monthly child support for Liam. I lightly tapped my finger on the table, my eyes fixed on Eleanor. “Why should I walk away with nothing?” Eleanor’s expression was one of complete righteousness. “All these years, I’ve been a stay-at-home mom, taking care of the child. I’ve lost my ability to work. Isn’t it only right that you compensate my son and me?” I spread my hands. “After the divorce, you won’t have to take care of the child? Won’t you still need to find a job?” A look of urgency flashed across her face: “Jobs are so hard to find these days. Until I find one, don’t you think you should give me some financial security? Otherwise, how will a single mother and her child survive?” “Didn’t I give you your ‘financial security’ before we even got married? Now that we’re talking divorce, why should I care how you survive?” I genuinely couldn’t fathom how she could say such things. The wedding gifts given before marriage were security, the pre-marriage jewelry was security. Now, if I were the one at fault, she’d seize my property as security. And if a child got sick, she’d take the security and continue her life. As a family, shouldn’t we share risks? Why was a human life worth less than a so-called comfortable life? When she heard I wouldn’t leave penniless, Eleanor started acting hurt again, wiping away tears and sobbing. “Children cost a lot of money, and I don’t have any other income. How are a single mother and her child supposed to survive? After all these years as husband and wife, shouldn’t you take full responsibility?” Wasn’t I responsible enough? The moment I found out about Liam’s illness, I contacted the bank to apply for a loan, ready to sell everything to pay for his treatment! Now, the tables were turned. I just wanted to hear her say *one word* about saving my daughter, just one word! But her? One moment she was calling my daughter a worthless money pit, the next she was demanding I leave with nothing. Was that *my* lack of responsibility? Seeing that I wouldn’t budge, Eleanor sat next to me, took my arm, and softened her voice.

“I treat her like my own daughter too. I don’t mind you treating her as long as it doesn’t cost *our* family’s money. But what if? What if we spend all that money and she doesn’t make it? We need to think about our future, right?” “Divorce is a last resort. Just hand over all the property to me for safekeeping first. Bella isn’t my biological daughter, so after the divorce, I won’t have any obligation to care for her. Even if she really doesn’t make it, you can declare personal bankruptcy, and then we can remarry. That way, your future will be secure, won’t it?” I scoffed internally. The moment she learned my daughter was sick, she was in a frantic rush to divorce me and split the assets. But she *did* remind me of something. Right now, I have a parental obligation to Liam. After a divorce, no matter what, I wouldn’t have to bear any responsibility for him. I looked at the divorce papers. If Eleanor was determined to let Bella go untreated, then I wouldn’t reveal that *her* son was the one who was sick. “I’m not one to fight over a bit of property. We’ve been through so much these years, don’t you trust me?” Seeing my silence, Eleanor raised her voice, asking incredulously. “It’s only been two hours since the medical report came out, and you already have the divorce papers ready. How can I trust you?” Hearing me say that, she instantly exploded. “Honey, honestly, how have I treated Bella all these years? Now she’s become a burden on the family, and isn’t what I’m doing for *our* future?” Each word, “burden,” made my face turn ashen. I pointed at Eleanor, my voice stern. “She’s a living, breathing person, not a burden!” Seeing me on the verge of exploding, Liam forcefully pushed Bella. My already frail daughter was knocked hard to the ground, crying out in pain. “You old man, if you yell at my mom again, I’ll kill her! She’s just a waste of money living anyway!” Liam shrieked at me hysterically, his eyes filled with a ferocity I’d never seen before. I’d never seen such a vicious side to Liam. Turns out, his previous obedience was all an act. He was nothing but an ungrateful monster! Liam pointed at my nose and cursed. “What? You wanna lay a hand on me? Go on, try it! Domestic abuse can make you lose everything, you know!” My fists clenched, wanting nothing more than to slap him across the face. I’d been better to him than my own daughter for four years, and I even thought about getting a loan for his bone marrow transplant! “Come on, hit me here! Do it!” He patted his own face, acting crazed. “Liam, how have I taught you? Kneel!” Eleanor’s stern voice rang out. She turned to me, her voice softening. “My son is being unruly. I’ll make him apologize to his sister right now.” The moment before so arrogant, Liam gnashed his teeth and knelt in front of Bella, deliberately turning his head away, his face full of resentment. Eleanor squatted in front of Bella, gently smoothing the stray hairs from her temples. “Bella, your brother was just impulsive. I’m making him apologize to you. We’re a family, we should be understanding of each other, right? I know what just happened makes you feel wronged, but Mommy feels wronged too!” “A minor illness is one thing, but this is leukemia! Do you want to make Daddy, Mommy, and your brother live a life of hardship with you, or do you want to become a star in the sky, watching us be happy every day?” “But… as long as our family is together, I’ll be happy,” Bella said with innocent sweetness. “Bella, you’re still little, you don’t understand,” Eleanor sighed deeply, shaking her head. “We’re just an ordinary family, we simply don’t have the money to treat you! Didn’t Dad always say not to bother others? I’m not your real mother! Why should I suffer with you?” “Think about it, during treatment, you’ll be hooked up to tubes, in pain and discomfort. Our family’s entire savings will be spent on you alone. Daddy and Mommy will be busy to death every day, and your brother will be mocked at school for not being able to afford designer brands. Is that what you want?” I glared at Eleanor through gritted teeth. She truly was a woman with a viper’s heart. Knowing she couldn’t convince me, she turned to manipulate my daughter. When I found out Liam was sick, I was willing to take out a loan to save him. But when it came to my daughter, she was actually convincing her to die! “Thump!”

The next second, Eleanor, her face haggard, dropped straight to her knees in front of Bella, weeping uncontrollably. “Please, honey, Mom is begging you. Our family really doesn’t have that much money. Can we just not treat it? We’ll make sure you’re happy for the time you have left. I’m still young, I don’t want to beg on the streets!” “Yeah, sis, I just accidentally pushed you earlier, and I apologized. Can you just die without dragging me down?” Liam, still kneeling beside them, added. “But what if? What if I get better, can things go back to how they were?” Bella looked at Eleanor, still hopeful and innocent. Eleanor grew impatient, her voice sharp as she massaged her forehead and retorted, “How many ‘what ifs’ are there? Even if you get better, can the money spent on you be brought back?” That simple sentence extinguished the last flicker of hope I had for saving Liam. “We’re just ordinary people, we only get one chance to gamble. If we lose, our lives will be ruined because of you alone. When you said ‘face it together,’ weren’t you just trying to drag us down with you?” “Mommy and your brother are people too. We don’t ask for great wealth, just a stable life. Can’t you be considerate of Mommy?” With that, she even managed to squeeze out a few fake tears. Liam quickly handed her a tissue, then stood up and glared at me. “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Both of them are selfish, they don’t consider our feelings at all!” “Mom, you two should get divorced immediately. I don’t want to go to hell with these two selfish people!” Watching them, I couldn’t help but reflect on their words. Yes, why should I gamble my entire future and Bella’s future for a slim chance at saving *her* son? Seeing that Bella couldn’t be swayed either, Eleanor stood up and looked at me coldly, speaking her true thoughts. “There’s only one illness in this world: poverty. I’m terrified of being poor. I’m just looking out for my own best interests.” I looked at her假惺惺 (hypocritical/feigned) demeanor with a bitter smile, shaking my head helplessly. As for the truth about Liam’s illness? If she was going to look out for her own interests, why couldn’t I? “You’re right. I don’t need you to bear any of this.” Hearing me say that, a glimmer of delight flickered in Eleanor’s eyes. She quickly handed over the divorce papers, striking while the iron was hot. “It’s best if you understand. We’re both thinking of the children, so there’s no need to blame each other.” Just then, my phone rang. It was the bank. “Mr. David, we’ve reviewed your credit score and spending history. Your approved loan amount is fifty thousand dollars.” Hearing the call, Liam’s face changed. “You took out a loan? Why didn’t you discuss something this big with my mom?” Eleanor’s face contorted. “Oh, I see now. I finally understand you. You never considered Liam and me family at all! Confess honestly, were you planning to use that loan to treat that worthless money pit and make *me* share the debt with you?” “I can’t believe you’re this kind of person. We’re getting divorced anyway, can’t we just be civil to each other?” I looked at her helplessly. “We’re getting divorced anyway, what’s wrong with me taking out a loan to treat my child on my own?” Eleanor stared at me, her neck stiff, and shouted. “What’s wrong? If you take out a loan for her treatment now, it becomes shared debt, and *we* have to bear it too!” Liam wasn’t to be outdone, threatening, “You old man, if you make my mom take on that debt, I’ll strangle that b*tch! I’m underage, so I won’t even go to jail!” I turned to look at him, a chill running through me at the venom in his eyes. This little devil would say *anything* to avoid debt! Eleanor patted my shoulder. “I don’t care if you want to take out a loan for treatment, but don’t make me share the debt, okay?” With words like that, I truly felt that all my efforts for them over the years were worthless. If Bella hadn’t had the foresight to test them, I would probably have been completely fooled. I sighed. “Alright then, let’s get divorced now. I’m in a hurry to get the money for treatment. This house goes to me, and the rest of the assets go to you, how about that?” Hearing me say this, Eleanor, barely concealing her smile, modified the agreement and watched intently as I signed the divorce papers. I pulled out the notarized prenuptial agreement from the cabinet and handed it to her. Eleanor looked at the pre-marriage property notarization, and her smile slowly froze. “What is the meaning of this?”

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In the first year of the apocalypse, Liam grew tired of me. He began favoring my sister, Rowan, his combat partner. Everyone in the team silently agreed they were the perfect match, leaving me feeling like an outcast. Before the apocalypse, I was his light, his savior. After, I became nothing but a dead weight, dragging our team down. Later, after he and my sister finally confessed their feelings during a battle, he allowed the rest of the team to bully me. To save the one he truly loved, he even pushed me into the arms of another man. Until, I truly fell for someone else. He suddenly remembered me, the girl who took him in, battered and broken, back when we first met. **1** I huddled with the Normals, curled up in a corner in the dead of night. I quickly ducked my head, took a stealthy bite of the last cookie, holding it in my mouth to muffle any sound. My stomach churned with acid, protesting the long hours of hunger. The cookie was a little moldy. I’d secretly stashed it away earlier when we were scavenging for supplies. It was the second year of the apocalypse. We still hadn’t reached the Northern Base, and our team had grown from five to twelve members. Seven Ability Users and five Normals. I was one of the Normals, never having awakened an ability. Not far away, a group held up lights, studying a map. Their voices drifted faintly. “Newport City has fallen. We’ll have to skirt around it, cutting through the mountains to reach the town on the other side. Fewer zombies there. Rowan, what do you think?” A cool, detached female voice replied, “Hmm. That works.” I looked up when I heard his voice. The man holding the lamp had messy hair, but his eyes held a surprising gentleness. “We should reach the Northern Base in about a month. I heard order is slowly being restored there.” Liam and I hadn’t spoken in a long time, even though he was my boyfriend. I finished the last crumb of my cookie, my gaze falling on the woman in leather, exuding an icy coolness. Thank goodness, only a month left. Once we reach the Northern Base, everything will be fine. I’d heard even Normals could live decent lives there. Then, I could finally end things. My fingers instinctively brushed against the zombie crystal core I’d secretly stashed in my pocket. They said if a Normal swallowed a pure crystal, there was a chance they’d awaken an ability. Ability Users could absorb it to grow stronger, but for a Normal, it meant a gruesome, explosive death. Yet, holding it, a fragile spark of hope flickered within me. While the Ability User squad cleared out the zombies outside, our Normal squad searched the convenience store for any remaining supplies. I wore a pack nearly half my height and climbed through a small window into a convenience store. It looked like it had already been picked clean. Only a few daily necessities and some dried peanuts were left. I stuffed everything into my bag, then my sharp eyes spotted a box of coconut candies under the table. I crouched down and tucked them into my sleeve. It was deep summer outside, but thick winter clothing enveloped my skeletal frame. I slowed my breathing, trying to minimize my presence. I handed over everything I found to Hank, the man in charge of supplies. Hank’s gaze lingered on me, laced with ill intent. That predatory look had been following me for a long time now. He took my bag, his clammy fingers brushing my hand. Hank grinned. “Elara, you’re dressed so heavily, but your hands are still freezing.” I pulled my hand back and scurried behind Liam, linking my arm through his. Liam frowned, looking at me, but I just tilted my head back and gave him a sweet, innocent smile, pretending not to notice his stiff posture. Rowan glanced at us, her eyes flashing with a hint of mockery as she saw our linked arms. “Before the apocalypse, she relied on her parents. After, she relies on men…” I pressed my lips together, offering no defense. She seemed to find it uninteresting, turning away, her neat ponytail whipping through the air. Liam watched her disappear into the vehicle, then turned to me, his gaze laced with clear disapproval. “Elara, you know your sister gets upset when she sees you. Why do you always have to appear in front of her?” The impatience in his eyes was almost palpable. I stared, stunned, biting my lip, trying to look lost and helpless. “I’m sorry, but I was scared. Hank just touched me.” Liam’s expression became uncomfortable, but he didn’t pull his hand away. This was the man I’d been with since high school. I’d found him in a dark, damp alley. Ribs showed through his emaciated frame, covered in wounds, passed out in dirty water. Pity compelled me to rescue him. I scrounged and saved every penny to get him treated, even shared my meager meals daily when he had nothing to eat. Back then, Liam’s mother had passed away, and his father was an alcoholic who beat him senseless when drunk. He only managed to stay in school because his grades were exceptional, earning him a scholarship. Slowly, the dark, brooding boy I knew began to heal, his eyes and heart holding only me. We naturally fell in love. He even gave up a scholarship opportunity to attend the same university as me. But on our wedding day, the apocalypse hit. A guest mutated, tearing into another, plunging the reception into utter chaos. My parents, in a desperate act to save us, locked Rowan and me behind an iron gate. They used their own bodies as a shield, buying us precious moments to escape. Then, right before our eyes, they turned, becoming mindless zombies. Rowan was my older sister, three years my senior, and she’d despised me since we were kids. From childhood, I was sickly; a simple cold could nearly kill me. Until I was thirteen, I was practically on medication every day. While other kids chased and played, I could only watch from indoors. Even when my health improved, my parents still worried endlessly about me. I was always so docile and well-behaved, they never spoke a harsh word to me. Rowan always believed my presence stole her parents’ love, feeling they played favorites. During her teenage years, she was as prickly as a hedgehog, and we argued constantly, every other day. She later went to a university far from home and only returned when I was about to get married. That day, her hatred seemed to climax. She grabbed my arm, relentlessly questioning, “Why you, Elara? Why aren’t you dead? If you hadn’t gotten married, none of this would’ve happened! Mom and Dad wouldn’t be dead! You’re a curse, a jinx! They gave you all their love, and even in their last moments, they told me to take care of you! Why, Elara? Why don’t you just die?!” In our small team, Rowan and Liam were the first to awaken their abilities. Ability Users were physically superior to Normals in every way, their strength and endurance far exceeding ours. Rowan had ice powers, Liam awakened fire powers. The other two were Liam’s college roommates, who awakened water and wood abilities respectively. With the apocalypse came earthquakes and floods, ravaging human homes. Nearly all water sources were contaminated, and cities plunged into darkness. Later, we heard there was a survivor’s base up north, so our group set off on the journey. Initially, everyone was friendly to me, but that changed when they realized I hadn’t awakened an ability. Resentment started to fester within the team. If I hadn’t been Liam’s girlfriend and Rowan’s sister, they would have said something. But instead, their occasional impatience and disgust revealed their inner disdain. They probably forgot that, in the beginning, before they awakened their abilities, when buildings were being destroyed by thousands of zombies, it was *me* who squeezed into collapsed ruins to find food. When their abilities were slow to improve, I was also the first to discover that some zombies had crystal cores in their heads. I watched as, over this past year, Liam’s heart was slowly, undeniably, turning towards Rowan. Her ice, his fire – a devastating combination that made quick work of any zombie horde. They were the most in-sync partners, a truly formidable duo. Maybe he felt a kinship with Rowan, a shared sense of tragedy. The more he learned about her past, comparing it to my own carefree nature, the more he seemed to ache for her strength and independence. During food shortages, I even overheard them debating whether to abandon me. They were combat partners, fighting side-by-side. I was nothing but a dead weight, dragging them down. Other Normals, even without abilities, could manage against zombies in groups. But I was weak, frail. I was only useful for my small size, able to squeeze into tight spots to find food. Nothing more than a burden. Later, Hank and his group joined. Hank was a Strength Ability User, and the man with him, George, had a rare healing ability. When did I realize he no longer loved me? Perhaps it was his silence when others mocked me. Or perhaps it was the day I went to get into the car, and my usual seat was piled high with a large duffel bag, packed with all the food I’d found. And Liam’s hesitant eyes when he looked at me. “This car is for Ability Users only. Elara, I’m the leader. I can’t show you favoritism just because you’re my girlfriend. Can you understand that, Elara?” I nodded and went to the back, to the minivan with the rest of the Normals. The Normals in the team were all like me. Any food we found had to be given to the Ability Users. Normals were given only tiny portions of water and food each day, just enough to sustain life. Everyone in the van was silent, eyes closed, conserving energy. That’s when everyone knew: Liam didn’t consider me special anymore. If I hadn’t been Liam’s girlfriend, Hank would have made his move on me long ago. And Liam seemed oblivious to Hank’s blatant, predatory gaze. He just dismissed it, telling me I was overthinking things. “Liam, we’re almost at the Northern Base.” I whispered, lowering my eyes. He paused, as if he hadn’t understood my meaning. I sighed internally. Once we reached the Northern Base, no one would have to pretend anymore. We’d all be free. **2** After a day of rest, the team set off on foot into the mountains. Newport City had long since become a zombie-infested ruin. We planned to enter through a small town at the foot of the mountains. I followed the team. This area used to be a tourist attraction, with man-made paths, so the mountain trail wasn’t too treacherous. The mountain forest was strangely quiet. Behind me, a Normal collapsed. The prolonged hunger had made it impossible for him to keep walking, but everyone else simply ignored him, as if he didn’t exist, continuing forward. I followed, the weight of my backpack reminding me that supplies were low. As I passed him, two coconut candies tumbled from my sleeve. When I looked up after doing that, my eyes met Rowan’s cold gaze. “I think someone needs to carry the pack.” I kept my head down and walked forward, pretending not to hear her. But then the strap of my backpack was yanked. “I said, someone needs to carry it. Are you deaf?!” The people in front stopped. All eyes were on Rowan and me. Rowan suddenly grabbed my arm and yanked up my thick winter sleeve. A bag of coconut candies and two compressed biscuits fell out. “Because someone’s being selfish and hoarding food.” “In the apocalypse, the first to die are the bleeding hearts. You’re damn lucky you’ve made it this far.” Her tone was mocking, her eyes filled with disdain. She picked up the biscuits from the ground and threw them at the collapsed Normal. “Eat up and hurry along.” Then she glared at me. “Don’t let me find anything else missing from the bag.” “I understand,” I mumbled, not a hint of embarrassment for being caught hoarding food. Most of the supplies in the apocalypse had already been scavenged. The majority of the food in our team’s possession was found by me, tucked away in dangerous, narrow crevices. I had to face the constant threat of zombies while navigating crumbling, precarious buildings. And since I found most of our team’s food, I didn’t feel I owed them anything, even if I hadn’t awakened an ability. The supplies they rationed to Normals were pitifully small. What I hid, I believed, was rightfully mine. But I said nothing. Speaking up would only make them think I was ungrateful. The team stopped at a mountain lodge halfway up the slope. Night had fallen. The place seemed to have been ransacked already; anything useful was gone. I set down my heavy pack. Clearly, they had no intention of sharing food with the Normals tonight. I went upstairs, searching every room, trying to find some forgotten scrap of food, but found nothing. No one noticed me. I quickly popped the last coconut candy I’d hidden in my chest into my mouth, then went downstairs and curled up in a corner to try and sleep. A group not far away seemed to be discussing something. Finally, they all left. They returned in the middle of the night. Liam was carrying Rowan, his face etched with worry. She was pale, leaning against him, her entire shoulder soaked with blood. I could vaguely see the raw flesh underneath. If she didn’t get treatment soon, Rowan would turn into a mindless zombie. The two groups seemed to be arguing, the atmosphere tense and volatile. I hid behind the crowd, vaguely understanding what had happened. Rowan had sensed a high-tier zombie in these mountains. Everyone else’s abilities had been leveling up, but hers had stagnated for too long. She was fiercely competitive, incapable of accepting that she was standing still. After sensing the high-tier zombie, she was desperate to get its crystal core. To get this crystal, everyone in the team had taken hits, but Rowan was clearly the most gravely wounded. Hank and George, the healing ability user behind him, along with a Lightning Ability User, stood opposite Liam. Liam’s eyes were bloodshot, and a fiery ball gathered in his palm, ready to strike at any second. “Make your man save Rowan! Besides this Fourth-Tier crystal, I’ll give you anything you want, *anything*.” “Anything I want?” Hank’s ill-intentioned gaze fell on me, then he grinned. “I want you to break up with Elara.” Liam turned and looked at me, standing outside the circle. My lips trembled, and my face instantly went pale. If I lost my status as an Ability User’s girlfriend, as a Normal without an awakened power, my fate was easy to imagine. Hank’s voice continued, “Anyone with eyes can see you’re Elara’s boyfriend, yet you’re obviously into Rowan too. We only have a few women in this team, and you’re hogging the two prettiest ones. That’s not fair, is it? Let go of Elara, and I promise to treat her well. Besides, she’s just a Normal, no ability — being with me would be her goddamn good fortune.” They laughed and debated, nobody caring about what I wanted. They simply decided my future with ease. Liam turned back to me. I instinctively grabbed his hand, tears welling in my eyes. “No, Liam, I don’t want to break up.” Only a month left until the Northern Base! Just one month! Liam looked down at me. He carefully put Rowan down, then gripped my hand and pulled me away. “Liam, you promised you wouldn’t leave me.” I flung myself into his arms, my tears blurring my vision. “Liam, Liam, don’t break up…” I pleaded in a low voice. Breaking up would send a dangerous signal to everyone else. Then, I’d just be a slab of meat on the chopping block, to be devoured not just by Hank, but by the other Ability Users in the team too. In the apocalypse, order had crumbled, and humanity’s depravity was on full display. I’d seen what happened to other Normals, both men and women, who hadn’t awakened abilities. The weak weren’t their kin; they were just resources, to be traded or consumed. I didn’t want to become that. We were so close, just one more month. “Elara, I’m sorry…” Liam’s expression was cold, devoid of the pity he once held for me. “Elara, your sister, she’s always had such a hard life. She was neglected since she was a child, always so strong-willed. I always thought I only felt a comradeship for her, but today, seeing her on the verge of death, I can’t lie to myself anymore. I’ve fallen for her.” “Do you know what will happen to me if we break up?” He fell silent, then spoke, “Hank is a Fourth-Tier Strength user, just as powerful as me. For you, he’s a decent option.” He analyzed it calmly, his eyes devoid of the tenderness they once held. The man who, in the early days of the apocalypse, had shielded me with his body, nearly dying at the hands of the Infected, now looked like a demon. “Besides, Elara, she’s your sister. When did you become so selfish? Do you know when I started to fall for your sister? She pretends not to care about the Normals, but when facing zombies, she’s always the first to charge in. But you? You only think of yourself, even when your own sister’s life hangs in the balance.” As he spoke, a cruel sneer twisted his lips. Rowan’s ‘tough exterior, soft heart’ act was only for others. We were sisters, yet she hated me so fiercely. As a child, she could have softened her tone a little to mend her relationship with our parents, but she always chose the sharpest thorns to face our family. When she insisted on going to a university far from home, our parents, unable to stop her, agonized over it, their hair turning gray with worry. The expenses there were huge. They sent her a hefty sum every month, even selling our family home and downsizing to afford it. No one ever owed her anything. All this way, because of Liam and Rowan’s subtle dislike for me, I had been isolated by everyone. Despite there being so many Normals in the team, I was the only one they routinely mocked and called useless. I wiped my tears, looking at the man before me, knowing it was hopeless. I turned and walked towards the door, a faint glow of dawn visible in the sky, illuminating a path through the mountains. Liam’s voice drifted from behind me, eerily quiet. “There are still some zombies in the mountains. We’ve been here so long, they’ve probably caught our scent. They should be nearby. If you think you can get down the mountain safely by yourself, then go ahead.” “Elara, how did you become so selfish?” I turned back to him. He seemed certain I wouldn’t dare go alone. Liam’s gaze was a mixture of disappointment and relief—as if he was finally seeing me for who I truly was, and was glad of it. To ensure safety, everyone stayed together. I huddled with the Normals, curled up in a corner, knees drawn to my chest. It was an excruciatingly uncomfortable position, but I’d grown used to it. An hour later, everyone rested in place. Sunlight streamed into the room, dimly illuminating the scene. A pair of hands pulled me up. I screamed, but a hand clamped over my mouth and nose. The room was silent. I struggled, kicking over a table and chairs in the living room. I saw the sofa where Liam had been sleeping shift, then settle back into stillness. The man’s foul stench filled my nostrils. His hands, like steel clamps, cinched my waist, dragging me into a room. Everyone else pretended to be oblivious. I gritted my teeth, fumbling for the small knife in my pocket. With a swift movement, I sliced open my palm, drawing blood. When everyone else awakened their abilities, even a tiny scratch on me would draw countless zombies. Born frail, then cursed by the apocalypse, even the ability I’d instinctively awakened was a useless, dangerous curse that seemed intent on killing me. I closed my eyes. If no one wanted me alive, then let everyone die. The hand covering my mouth and nose loosened. He started tearing at my clothes. The blade in my palm sank halfway into my flesh, and blood dripped onto the bedsheets. Outside the window, pale, decaying zombies smashed through the window, lunging into the room and shattering the quiet. Hank scrambled to his feet. I lay limp on the bed, my thick winter coat ripped open, revealing the short-sleeved top underneath. Liam pushed open the door, practically unable to look me in the eyes. They finished off the zombies. Hank pried open a zombie head, found no crystal core, then spat in disgust and left the room, his interest gone. Liam looked back at me. After a long moment, he closed the door. I looked at the scattered zombie corpses on the floor, walked over, and slowly reached out my hand. Just as it was about to touch the rotting flesh, I yanked it back. I couldn’t die. After all the mockery, scorn, and bullying in the apocalypse, enduring so much—wasn’t it all just to survive? **3** The next day, the team continued their trek. The mountain path stretched endlessly, growing steeper and more treacherous the further we went. Besides a few zombies in hiking gear, there were no other signs of life.

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My best friend, Isabelle, and I were unexpectedly transported to a post-apocalyptic world where women were incredibly scarce. Here, the men gave us the best food and protected us with all their might. Slowly, Isabelle grew reluctant to return to our original world. “This,” she’d say, “is paradise.” But watching the men who constantly guarded us, I felt a chilling fear instead. I knew there was no such thing as kindness without reason. The primal instinct of males, above all else, is reproduction. By the time I realized this, the security officers had already silently entered the quarters Isabelle and I shared. There were eight of them. Dressed in black uniforms, they stood in the dim light. Young, lethal, and cold. They stood in silence for a moment, then two of them headed towards Isabelle’s room and mine, respectively. I nervously pretended to be asleep, hoping they were just on a routine patrol. But a nagging feeling told me they were here for Isabelle and me to get pregnant. This morning, during my medical examination, I’d overheard the doctors talking: “Their physical conditions are exceptional. The base hasn’t seen bodies this good in twenty years. “We’ve also screened eight men with high genetic compatibility. “If all goes well, there will be new lives this time next year. “Heaven, after all, has finally shown us mercy.” There were a few other women undergoing examinations with me that day, so I didn’t immediately realize they were talking about Isabelle and and me. After the check-up, we were sent to this high tower—the only place in the base with a view of the outside world. On the table, besides our daily beef, milk, and bread, there were two rare apples. These were luxuries reserved for the base’s upper echelons. Commoners struggled to survive on meager grains like corn and sweet potatoes. Isabelle and I, though classified as commoners after our arrival, frequently received these precious foods. I knew the base strictly enforced its post-apocalyptic distribution system: you got what you put in. If we received something precious, we would surely have to give something precious in return. Isabelle and I had nothing. Only our bodies. Isabelle, as usual, picked up her milk, standing by the window, gazing at the vast, desolate landscape outside. She stood in the sunlight, her skin fair, gentle, and lovely, as pure as an angel. I, meanwhile, stared at the food, my stomach churning with unease. Isabelle looked at me, puzzled. “What’s wrong?” I told her what the doctors had said. “This place is too strange. We need to find a way back to our original world, fast.” She fell silent. After a long moment, she softly asked, “Chloe, isn’t this place good?” I was baffled. What was good about it? The apocalypse had lasted for a century, the ecology was imbalanced, the climate extreme, food was scarce, and the walking dead roamed everywhere… This place was a living hell. But she continued, “Here, we don’t worry about food or clothes, we don’t worry about finding work, no mortgages to pay, no one bullies us, everyone cares for us and looks after us. “For me, this place… is paradise.” I shook my head. “There’s no kindness without a root or a price. “Women are scarce here. Our price might be our bodies, our fertility.” Isabelle gathered her wind-blown hair. “But Chloe, in our old world, we still had to dedicate our bodies and fertility, didn’t we?”

The man entered my room and stopped at the foot of my bed. I knew him. His name was Caleb. Son of the former base commander. The most cold-blooded and ruthless security officer. Rumor had it, he’d personally killed his parents when he was just ten. The first time I saw him, I was struck by his appearance. But the next second, his gun was aimed straight at my head. Isabelle and I had been transported here while at an amusement park. The ground had suddenly caved in, and we’d fallen. I was still wearing grey-blue contact lenses then. Grey-blue eyes were the mark of the infected. Caleb had mistaken me for one. Though the misunderstanding was later cleared, he had always loathed me. He hated that I, a human, would adorn my eyes with the color of the infected. Yet, the base had assigned him to oversee Isabelle’s and my safety. He was an absolute enforcer; even with his disgust, he had to follow orders. But I didn’t like him either. Many people at the base disliked him. They said the security officers were the lapdogs of the elite, and Caleb was the most loyal and vicious among them. Caleb stood still by my bed. I heard the metallic buckle of his belt unfasten. I’d guessed right. He was indeed here to carry out the breeding assignment. I stopped pretending to sleep, sat up, and pressed a small knife I’d prepared against my throat, speaking each word slowly: “Get out, or I’ll die right here in front of you.” I’d sharpened the knife considerably. My hand trembled slightly, and the blade cut into my skin. Warm blood trickled down my neck. I was gambling. Gambling that he wouldn’t dare, couldn’t allow me to die. Sure enough, Caleb froze. A flicker of surprise crossed his face. It seemed I wasn’t supposed to be awake. I immediately thought of the milk from today. I hadn’t drunk it. Isabelle, not wanting to waste it, had drunk mine. That’s why she’d fallen asleep so early. They had drugged the milk. Now, another man had already entered Isabelle’s room. I continued to threaten Caleb with death. “I said get out, and take those men with you.” But the next second, he snatched the knife away, and his hand clamped tightly over my mouth. I tried to struggle, but I couldn’t move at all. For the first time, I clearly and desperately realized the massive strength disparity between women and men. Especially when I was facing the strongest man in the base. My tears fell uncontrollably. I didn’t want to be forced into breeding. So I bit down hard on Caleb’s hand, and my mouth was soon filled with the taste of blood. Caleb remained unmoved. But he didn’t make any further moves either. A voice came through his comms unit: “Major Caleb, what’s your situation over there?” Caleb glanced at me. “She’s awake, uncooperative, and self-harming.” The voice simply said, “Oh.” Then, “Then terminate the mission for now. Don’t let her harm herself.” Caleb responded, “Understood.” He released me. I pushed him away and jumped off the bed. I had to go save Isabelle. But Caleb threw me back onto the bed. I thought he was going to continue and sneered, “What, is a lapdog like you going to defy your master’s orders?” He lowered his gaze, said nothing, then unbuckled his belt, tied my hands to the headboard, and gagged my mouth with a piece of cloth. Then, he sat down on a chair, facing me.

In the silent darkness, the creaking of Isabelle’s iron bed in the next room was painfully distinct. And her soft moans. She should have been deep in sleep. But now, she was immersed in physical pleasure. It seemed the milk contained more than just a sedative. And there were six other men outside. The doctors had said these were our compatible matches. I didn’t know if all of them were meant to participate. I blamed myself for not preparing Isabelle for this. After a long, agonizing time, the sounds from Isabelle’s room finally ceased. Someone said something to the man, and he led Isabelle away. Panic seized me. When Caleb finally unbound me, I asked him, “Where are you taking Isabelle?” Caleb didn’t answer directly, only saying, “Your current state will affect her. You’ll meet again when the time is right.” I asked others, but no one answered me either. Two months after we’d been transported here, Isabelle and I lost contact for the first time. I was isolated. Caleb, who had always been glued to my side, didn’t appear. The door was locked. I picked up a chair and smashed it against the window, only to discover that the window was made of specialized glass, impenetrable to my strength.

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