Author: Momo Chan

My fiancé, Declan, married me because it was what his family wanted. I actually thought he’d finally given up on Chloe, the girl who held his heart. But for three years after we got married, he was barely ever home, always out and about with her. I couldn’t be bothered to catch them red-handed, so I just got bored and started an online relationship. Then, to my shock, I found out my online boyfriend was none other than Julian, Declan’s best friend. I just couldn’t reconcile the sweet, clingy guy who begged for hugs every day online with the intimidating Julian I knew in real life. I freaked out and broke up with him. But Julian burst into my apartment, crying and begging me to forgive him, not to leave him. As he was pleading, Declan suddenly walked in. Panicked, I shoved Julian into the closet. Declan hugged me, whispering, “It’s over with her. From now on, I’ll focus on you. Let’s have a baby.” Julian, furious, kicked open the closet door. “No way! I don’t agree!” *** Declan threw a lavish birthday party for Chloe on a cruise ship. My best friend, Taylor, couldn’t stand it and insisted on dragging me along to catch them and humiliate the other woman. I was about to refuse, but then I remembered my online boyfriend had sent me his location, and it was somewhere nearby. So, hoping I might bump into him, I went along. But as soon as we arrived, the birthday party was already over. We didn’t even catch a glimpse of Declan or Chloe. Taylor was so mad she started swearing like a sailor. I let her rant for half an hour before I finally managed to calm her down. “Let me take you home. I told you, don’t bother trying to catch them.” Even if we did, what would be the point? After dropping Taylor off, I walked alone down the street, glancing back at the bar behind me, and then stepped inside. I ordered a glass of red wine at the bar, but it tasted bitter, so I only took one sip. My online boyfriend sent me another message. **[My friends moved to a new spot, a bar, but don’t worry, babe, I won’t have any contact with anyone else.]** A thought flashed through my mind. Could it be the very bar I was in right now? I typed a reply. **[What’s the bar called? Do you have a room number?]** He actually sent me the address and the room number. And a teasing remark, too. **[Missing me, babe? It’s too late now. Next time you want to see your husband, let’s pick a proper time. Our first meeting has to be special.]** A smile played on my lips. What I didn’t say was, we might just meet tonight. I hurried upstairs. The corridors were a maze, but I finally found the room number he’d given me. The door wasn’t fully closed; it was slightly ajar. They seemed to be playing a game inside, and I heard Chloe’s voice. A surge of alarm went through me. Had I gone to the wrong room? I glanced back, realizing I hadn’t made a mistake at all. This was definitely the room number my online boyfriend had given me. “Julian! Your turn. Truth or Dare?” From my angle, I couldn’t see Julian’s face, only his back. His shoulders were broad, and he had a great physique. He was Declan’s best friend, closer than brothers since they were kids. Julian lazily drawled, “Truth.” “Who were you just texting, smiling so happily?” Chloe casually asked. Julian glanced at Declan, who was sitting beside him, and said, “Aubrey. My girlfriend.” The room fell silent for a moment. Chloe gave a dry laugh. “What a coincidence.” She quickly looked at Declan, who seemed oblivious, and instantly breathed a sigh of relief. My heart lurched. That was my name, and my online username. It couldn’t be such a coincidence… But the very next second, my heart sank. Julian’s phone screen was projected onto the big monitor. And there, glaringly obvious, was my chat window. “Whoa, Julian, you’re into online dating? And she’s older?” Julian frowned, smacking the person next to him. “Give me my phone back.” He snatched his phone, his expression faltering slightly, and started to walk out of the room. I was terrified and immediately fled the scene. As soon as I reached the stairwell, my phone vibrated in my pocket. In my panic, I just hit hang up. **[Babe, why aren’t you answering? Do you not like me anymore?]** The messages that followed were a rapid-fire flood of pathetic, adorable emojis. Seeing those messages, I took a deep breath. How could Julian, with his unapproachable face, say such things to me? And he’s actually older than me, yet he pretended to be some younger college guy! **Chapter 2** I sprinted all the way home, my back drenched in sweat. My phone now had several new photos of abs. The muscles were perfectly defined, very eye-catching. But I was in no mood to appreciate them. **[Don’t be mad, babe. I’m coming home now. I’ll never go to shady places again.]** **[Babe, please talk to me…]** I sent a voice message. “Sorry, my husband’s home. Don’t text me today.” There was a pause on the other end. Soon, another message came through. **[Babe, didn’t you say your husband was never home?]** I replied without batting an eye. **[He came back today.]** **[Okay, babe. I know I’m not supposed to be seen.]** I knew Julian understood I was lying, but he couldn’t call me out. I had never hidden the fact that I was married, and he also knew my husband was Declan. When we first got together, he said he didn’t care, that he could wait for me to get divorced. Before that, we could be platonic, just a spiritual connection. But I never thought he’d hide his identity. His age and even his name were all fake. And the big question: Did Declan know what Julian was up to? Hooking up with his best friend’s wife behind his back. I slapped my face, annoyed. It was all my fault for not insisting he send me a photo. My fault for trusting a stranger online so completely. I ignored Julian for a few days, planning to ice him out until he got the hint. I didn’t think he’d dare to just show up and expose everything. Julian had to have some shame, right? But Julian, shamelessly, kept sending me messages. Constantly asking, *Is your husband gone? Is your husband gone?* I typed a single word. **[No.]** Not long after, I saw Declan and Chloe trending on Ins. The two of them were shouting declarations from a hot air balloon. “Chloe! I love you!” “Declan! I love you too!” It had gone viral just because the hot air balloon cost a staggering fifty million dollars. Netizens were gushing with envy, joking that they were just NPCs in a grand romance, witnessing another fairytale billionaire love story. All I felt was awkwardness. Didn’t they think shouting from the sky was totally ridiculous? What if a bird pooped on them? Not long after, the trending topic was completely scrubbed clean. My mother-in-law called me. “Aubrey, Declan’s just having a bit of fun. Don’t make a fuss, dear. He’s very busy with work, it’s normal for him to unwind. A man, well, who doesn’t have a few people around them? The Maxwell family only recognizes you as their daughter-in-law.” My voice was flat. “Don’t worry, Mom. I won’t make a fuss.” Hearing that, my mother-in-law quickly hung up. They were being so public about it that people had forgotten I was the original wife. What good would a fuss do now? Honestly, before the marriage, I actually did make a fuss. Declan and Chloe were childhood sweethearts, while Declan and I met later. Strictly speaking, I was the latecomer. My father was Declan’s father’s army buddy. After my dad was killed in action, Declan’s father adopted me. I was sixteen then, and my looks had blossomed; I was quite pretty. Declan was smitten at first sight and made a grand show of pursuing me. Declan’s father thought it was a great idea and decided to arrange our engagement. But Declan’s mother didn’t like me. She thought I was from a common background and wasn’t good enough for her perfect son. Not long after the engagement, Declan changed his mind. He said his feelings for me were just a passing fancy, and the one he truly loved was Chloe, his childhood sweetheart! I was furious and constantly at odds with Chloe. We competed in academics, in dancing, in talents. But other than academics, I was inferior to Chloe in everything. I’d never had any exposure to classical arts. Declan and his friends often mocked me, calling me an unsophisticated country bumpkin. Yet, whenever I scored better than Chloe on a test, Declan would accuse me of being too competitive and not as gentle and lovely as Chloe. Right after high school, I poured every ounce of my effort into my exams and became the top student. While I was basking in joy, I heard Declan scornfully say, “She only knows how to bury her head in books. What good is that? She’s not worthy of being my wife.” **Chapter 3** My heart instantly sank. I had actually thought Declan still had some feelings for me. Turns out, he’d always looked down on me.

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My childhood friend and I were about to leave after dinner when someone suddenly blocked our way, insisting I pay for another table. I flat out refused to acknowledge her, saying I didn’t know them, but the woman blew her top. “Damn it, I’m doing you a favor by letting *this lady* pay! You dare disrespect the Sterling Group in Veridian City? You looking for trouble?” Before I could even speak, she got even more arrogant. “Do you even know who I am? I’m Leo Sterling, the CEO of Sterling Group’s wife! Scared now?” I froze for a second, then called Leo Sterling directly. “Heard you have another wife at the company?” … The second I hung up, the woman absolutely lost it. She snatched my phone and smashed it on the floor. “Still calling people, huh? I’m telling you, you won’t walk out of this restaurant tonight!” “Stop it!” My childhood friend, Riley Blackwood, instantly pulled me behind her. “Is this all the Sterling Group’s people have for manners? Randomly stopping people from paying, and then getting physical?” Riley’s words made the woman’s face flush crimson. “Manners? In Veridian City, the name Sterling Group *is* manners!” “I’m telling you to pay, I’m giving you a golden opportunity, got it?” “You want to talk rules with me? My word *is* the rule!” A humorless laugh escaped my lips. I looked up at Vanessa Reed. “No matter how big the Sterling Group is, I’m pretty sure they didn’t teach you to block people and extort money, did they?” Vanessa sneered, hands on her hips, looking like a total menace. “I’m letting you pay because I’m giving you a chance to social climb! Plenty of people are lined up, begging to pay my bill, and I wouldn’t even look twice at them!” “A chance to social climb,” huh? Since when did my Kingston family need to social climb off anyone in Veridian City? I glanced at my friend, her face darkening. She, a high-society heiress from Capitol City, never imagined she’d be bullied like this by some minor Sterling Group VP in Veridian City. Vanessa scoffed, waving a hand towards the door. “Let me tell you, in Veridian City, I, Vanessa Reed, *am* the rule! Get these two idiots who have no idea who they’re messing with and hold them down!” The words barely left her mouth when seven or eight bodyguards in black suits swarmed in, instantly surrounding us. Riley instinctively pulled me further behind her, her eyes blazing. But there were too many of them. Before she could even make a move, two bodyguards had her arms pinned down. “Riley!” I started to rush forward, but then felt a sharp blow to the back of my neck. My vision instantly went black. Through a haze, I saw Riley struggling, cursing, “Bastard!” before someone landed a punch on her cheek. Blood immediately welled up at the corner of her mouth. I was held down on the ground, forced to watch as Vanessa raised her foot and kicked Riley in the stomach, all while cursing. “You dare meddle in my business? Today, you’ll learn that the Sterling Group is not to be messed with!” The bodyguards’ fists rained down on me, dull pain spreading through my body in waves. Riley had only come here to visit, and now she was caught up in this inexplicable mess. I hoarsely yelled, “Vanessa Reed, I am Chloe Kingston, Leo Sterling’s legal wife!” I pointed to Riley, who was still pinned down beside me. “And she’s Riley Blackwood, from the Blackwood family in Capitol City! Let us go now, and this can still be over!” At that, Vanessa’s foot froze mid-air, then she burst out laughing. “Leo Sterling’s wife? Blackwood family? Are you two out of your damn minds from being hit too hard?” The people at her table behind her also started laughing. “Who doesn’t know Mr. Sterling’s wife is VP Reed?” “This person really has the nerve to show off, saying whatever she wants.” “Blackwood family? Capitol City? I’ve never heard of them. She probably just made it up to scare us.” Vanessa leaned down, grabbing a handful of my hair, her eyes vicious. “You say you’re his wife one more time, and I’ll rip your mouth apart. I’m going to show you what’s real and what’s fake. Only *I* can call him Leo, and only *I* am his woman.” Riley, pinned to the ground by bodyguards, blood still trickling from her mouth, spoke with a mocking tone, “Chloe Kingston, Chloe Kingston, so you got married for nothing, huh? She’s openly claiming him right in front of you, and you, the actual wife, are here looking like a walking joke?” Her words caught me off guard for a moment, then I smiled too, but my laugh carried a hint of malice. Vanessa was still yanking my hair. Suddenly, I violently turned my head and bit down hard on her wrist. She shrieked in pain, her grip loosening instantly. Using that momentum, I slammed my knee into the groin of the bodyguard behind me. While he doubled over in pain, I grabbed a nearby beer bottle and smashed it over the head of another bodyguard. By the time Vanessa reacted, I had lunged at her, my balled fist striking her face. She was stunned by the sudden counterattack, stumbling back two steps, nose instantly gushing blood. “You dare hit me?!” Vanessa was both shocked and enraged. She reached out to claw at my face, but I grabbed her arm and slammed her to the ground. I straddled her, raining down punch after punch. The few Sterling Group employees were desperate, drunkenly rushing forward to pull me off. “You dare hit VP Reed? You have a death wish!” Riley, I don’t know when, had also broken free from the bodyguards. She kicked away an approaching employee and yelled at me, “Damn it, beat her to death! I’ve never been so humiliated in my life!” In the chaos, someone grabbed a chair and smashed it onto my back. I grunted, but didn’t stop. Vanessa screamed, trying frantically to grab my hair. “Sterling’s people, kill her! I’ll take responsibility for anything that happens, triple bonus!” The employees swarmed like mad, some pulling my arms, some grabbing my waist, others secretly kicking at my legs. Vanessa, seizing the moment I was being pulled, suddenly kicked me in the stomach. I stumbled back two steps, just about to charge again, when I heard voices from the restaurant entrance. “Everybody stop!” Two people in police uniforms pushed their way in. Seeing the mess, their brows furrowed. But when their eyes fell on Vanessa Reed, battered and bruised on the floor, their faces instantly changed. “VP Reed? What are you doing here? What happened?” One of the heavier officers quickly stepped forward, his tone clearly fawning, reaching out to help Vanessa up. Vanessa, seeing the police, acted as if she’d found her salvation. She pointed at Riley and me, wailing. “Officer Jenkins! These two out-of-towners are crazy! Not only did they refuse to pay the bill, but they also assaulted people! Look at me, and my employees, they’re all injured because of them!” Officer Jenkins glanced at our injuries, clearly dismissing them, and instead sternly yelled at us. “What do you two think you’re doing? Brawling in broad daylight, and daring to hurt Sterling Group’s people? You’ve got some nerve!” “She was the one who stopped us from paying first, and she hit us.” Riley, clutching her mouth, spat. “Nonsense!” Vanessa immediately interrupted. “I was kindly letting them get a little connection with Sterling Group by paying my bill, but they turned hostile and refused to acknowledge me, and even impersonated my husband’s wife and someone from Capitol City’s Blackwood family.” Officer Jenkins clearly believed her, pointing to the broken beer bottles and overturned tables and chairs. “Regardless, you beat people up like this and ruined the restaurant’s property, so it’s definitely your fault! Let me tell you, in Veridian City, who doesn’t give the Sterling Group some respect? VP Reed is Mr. Sterling’s person. If you touch her, you’re disrespecting Sterling Group, you’re messing with the rules of the entire Veridian City!” The other, thinner officer had already pulled out handcuffs and rattled them. “Less talk, let’s go back to the station with us first! Oh, and by the way, the bill for VP Reed’s table, plus the restaurant’s renovation fees, medical expenses, and emotional distress damages – you two will cover all of it. If you then kneel down and apologize to VP Reed, maybe this can still be settled privately.” “Why should we?” I was so angry I laughed. “She was the one who started the trouble, and you’re just convicting us without even knowing the facts?” “Why? Because you’re out-of-towners!” Officer Jenkins impatiently waved his hand. “Here, you follow the rules here! VP Reed letting you pay was her giving you a break, don’t bite the hand that feeds you!” Riley scoffed. “I’d like to see if Veridian City’s rules are above the law of the land.” “Hey, still talking tough, huh!” Officer Hayes stepped forward, trying to cuff me. “Looks like you haven’t learned your lesson!” I sidestepped, dodging him. He instantly got mad, suddenly pulling out a stun gun and flicking the switch. “You want to play hardball, huh?” He jabbed the stun gun at me. “Looks like you want to end up in jail!” A jolt of electricity instantly shot through my limbs. My whole body went numb, and I almost collapsed. Riley quickly grabbed me, yelling at the officer, “You dare abuse your authority?!” “Abuse my authority? I’m performing my duty.” Officer Jenkins also pulled out his stun gun, pointing it at Riley. “In Veridian City, Sterling Group’s business is big business. You two, who don’t know your place, need to be taught a good lesson in rules!” Riley grunted as she was zapped, and a burnt smell filled the air. “You power-tripping pieces of trash… you’ll regret this one day…” “Regret?” Officer Jenkins laughed even harder, using his stun gun to lift Riley’s chin. “You two can regret it slowly when you’re locked up and getting beaten every day!” He turned and smiled obsequiously at Vanessa Reed. “VP Reed, do you think this is enough? I can add more juice if you like!” Vanessa watched from the side, looking smug. “Give them more juice, make them know who’s in charge here!” Officer Jenkins kicked me, then bowed again to Vanessa Reed. “VP Reed, could you give us a heads-up? When’s your due date roughly? My partner and I will definitely prepare a generous gift to congratulate you and Mr. Sterling.” Officer Hayes also nodded, bending at the waist. “Exactly, exactly. You have to give us the honor then, let us share in the good news. Maybe with this opportunity, Mr. Sterling can even give us a leg up.” Mentioning this, Vanessa smiled. “About four or five months, I had someone check, it’s a boy.” Vanessa… was pregnant…

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The day I was released from prison, my guys took me to a bar for a welcome back party. But the table next to us was playing a game, and suddenly they wanted me to foot the entire bill for the bar. I politely declined. The guy actually kicked my chair out from under me, grabbed me by the collar, and started screaming. “I’m *the* man, Valentina’s husband! The King of the Emerald City’s underworld! Asking you to pay is doing you a favor, so try saying no again, I dare you!” It wasn’t just me; even my guys behind me were stunned. “Boss, you covered for her for three years. How could she dare to get a new husband outside?” “Has she forgotten what you’re capable of?” … The joy of my release instantly faded. I lowered my head and texted Valentina to demand an explanation. Seeing this, the man flew into a rage, snatched my phone, and tossed it straight into an ice bucket. “Thinking of calling the cops? I’m telling you, the whole Emerald City is my territory. No one can save you!” A nameless rage flared in my chest. I slammed my fist on the table. Behind me, over a dozen of my guys sprang up, rushing forward to form a protective circle around me. “Let go of Jaxson if you don’t wanna die!” The man, instead of getting angry, scoffed and mimicked my gesture, slapping his own table. The bar’s chaotic music suddenly cut out, and the dazzling lights went dark. In the sudden silence, half the people in the venue quickly converged on us. “Ever since our boss, Victor, married Valentina, we haven’t had a troublemaker like this in Emerald City for three years.” “Daring to cause trouble in our man Victor’s place? Today, we’ll show you what real power looks like!” My guys, who had voluntarily stuck by me through three years in prison, stared in disbelief. “Our boss, Jaxson, went to jail for that woman, Valentina, for three years. What the hell happened in those three years?” It wasn’t just them; my mind was reeling too. Three years ago, Valentina hit someone with her car. She was just pregnant then, and she cried and begged me to take the fall for her, promising to look after the crew and raise our child. I didn’t hesitate for a second. But now, everything happening before my eyes made me seriously doubt the past. I slightly lowered my head. Victor thought I was scared and reached out to pat my shoulder. Using the moment he extended his arm, I slammed a beer bottle on the table, shattering it. In a flash, before he could even react, I twisted his arm and body, pressing the sharp, broken edge of the bottle directly against his vulnerable throat. “You say Valentina is your wife. What does that mean?” Victor, who had been so arrogant just moments ago, was scared stiff. His whole body trembled uncontrollably. “What else could it mean? We were in love, I married her, so of course she’s my wife.” When he spoke of Valentina, Victor seemed to regain his confidence. “I’m warning you, don’t touch me. Everyone in Emerald City knows Valentina is crazy in love with me! For my birthday, she booked giant billboards all over the city for three days and three nights to declare her love, and she bought me a downtown high-rise as a wedding anniversary gift! If you dare touch me, my wife won’t let you off the hook!” My scalp tingled with disbelief. I turned my head, signaling my guys to check things out. Taking advantage of my distraction, Victor shoved me hard. The crowd that had been standing behind him instantly swarmed me! I was on my own turf and completely unprepared. I took several hard punches to the chest, almost throwing up blood. Seeing me humiliated, my guys roared and plunged into the brawl. I kicked away the guy pinning me down and, my first priority, stopped my crew. “Don’t fight! You just got out; I can’t have you going back in for me.” Then I jumped onto a table, crossed the chaotic crowd in a few quick steps, and grabbed Victor, who was trying to hide. “Listen up, clearly! My name is Jaxson, and I’m legally married to Valentina!” Victor, seized by me, was flustered at first, then burst out laughing. “I knew it! Who in Emerald City would dare to touch me? Turns out it’s just a lunatic!” Cheers erupted in agreement with his words. “Valentina is madly in love with our man Victor. She sends him luxury cars and mansions every other week. Who are you, some random outsider, to even utter our Sister Valentina’s name?” “Our man Victor and Sister Valentina are a model couple. Who the hell are you, showing up with a few low-level thugs to cause trouble, do you really think we’re scared of you?!” I gritted my teeth, my whole body trembling. I never dreamed that the woman I gave up everything to protect would become a model couple with someone else! My guys around me were fuming, gritting their teeth just like me. “Boss, it’s been three whole years! We can’t just let them get away with this!” “You abandoned everything for that woman at the peak of your power. We have to make her pay for her betrayal!” I took a deep breath, steadying myself. I couldn’t just listen to one side of the story. Valentina depended on me so much back then. Could she really have changed so drastically in just three years? No, I had to get to the bottom of this! My phone was ruined by the water. I rattled off my number and told one of my guys to dial. Hearing the digits I spoke, Victor’s face changed. “You actually got my wife’s private number?!” I reluctantly pressed my lips together. “I told you, I’m Valentina’s husband, legally.” As soon as the words left my mouth, the crowd around Victor surged toward me! “Plenty of white-collar types have coveted our Sister Valentina over the years, but no one has ever dared to challenge our man Victor like you did! Today, we’ll show you what real trouble looks like!” They rushed at me ferociously. I took down a few in quick succession, but then countless more swarmed me. I was outnumbered, and I took some cheap shots, my face stinging from several hard hits, blood trickling from my lip. My guys, seeing this, couldn’t hold back any longer. They grabbed chairs and lunged into the fray, turning the bar into a chaotic mess. These guys were my top enforcers back in the day, skilled fighters, but even a tiger is no match for a pack of wolves. For every one of them that went down, three more stepped up. Before long, everyone was exhausted, protecting me in the center, backs to each other. “Boss, what the hell is going on? Valentina clearly had a lavish wedding ceremony with you back then. When did you two get divorced? How come none of us, your closest guys, knew?!” My teeth felt like they were about to shatter. “Don’t even get me started! I didn’t even know, damn it! Stop fighting for now, preserve your strength, and run!” Knowing we couldn’t win, it was no shame in retreating to regroup. My guys protected me, fighting and withdrawing. Victor watched me fleeing in disarray and burst into laughter. “The woman I, a tiger, protect wouldn’t look twice at a stray dog like you! Chase them!” I’d been in prison for three years, but I still remembered the bar’s underground passage. I took a shortcut to the parking garage, thinking I could shake them off, but somehow, they came down from somewhere and were even faster than me! The front exit of the underground garage was completely blocked, and Victor’s men had locked down the back entrance. A group of them, armed with baseball bats and machetes, swaggered closer, faces full of smug satisfaction. My palms were sweating buckets. I, Jaxson, started from nothing at fifteen, and by twenty, I was the boss of the Emerald City’s underground. I can’t believe that after three years away, I’d come out of prison today only to go down in a gutter! My guys, seeing there was no way out, stood defiantly in front of me. “Boss, we’ll get you out of here, but once you’re out, you have to get a clear explanation from Valentina. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be fair to us, your brothers, for the three years we spent in prison with you!” With that, they roared, ready to fight to the death. At the crucial moment, I pulled them back. “Don’t panic, there are cops!” I never thought in my life I’d be calling on the police for backup. My guys looked a bit lost. “Are you sure about this, Jaxson? We just got out…” I sighed helplessly, but no matter what, better to bend than break, right? A smart man knows when to adapt. I jogged closer, seeing two traffic cops who were slacking off in the bar’s underground garage, supposedly doing a DUI check. I casually offered them a cigarette, plastering on a slightly ingratiating smile. “Officers, my friends and I were having a party, and they not only told me to pay the entire bill but also started hitting me and my friends. Now they’ve surrounded the bar and won’t let us leave. What do you think about this, sirs…?” The two cops lit their cigarettes off my lighter, giving me a smirk that didn’t reach their eyes. “You mean, they hit you?” I nodded repeatedly. To my surprise, the next second, those two cops flicked their cigarettes, sending the lit ends directly onto my shirt, then stomped them out with a kick. “He’s Sister Valentina’s husband, hitting you is doing you a favor!” “Our man Victor told you to pay the bill for the whole bar, that’s your blessing. You didn’t do it and tried to run, so you deserve to be hit!” My heart lurched. It seemed everything they said earlier was true. Valentina really had betrayed me after I went to prison. Otherwise, why would even these traffic cops show Victor such deference?! Victor and his crew had seen me talking to the cops and deliberately held back, only approaching gleefully when they saw the officers twisting the truth. “If our man Victor hadn’t been making good karma for our pregnant Sister Valentina, do you think you’d even be standing here today?” “Our Sister Valentina is due any day now. It’s her first child, precious beyond measure. Victor swore before Buddha he wouldn’t take any lives to pray for the baby’s blessings. You remember this: it’s Victor and Sister Valentina’s son who saved your pathetic life!” “First child?!” I was astonished. I grabbed Victor, who was standing in front of me. “Are you saying Valentina got rid of my baby?!” Victor went ballistic. He swung a punch at my temple. “Are you really crazy or just playing dumb? Who the hell are you, spewing such disgusting lies about my Valentina?!” My last hope shattered. Three years, all for nothing, a complete joke. My mind was spiraling. I threw caution to the wind and lunged at Victor, fighting him with everything I had, every punch connecting, making him howl in pain. Both sides of the guys were terrified and rushed to pull us apart. “Boss, we just got out, don’t send yourself back inside for that awful woman!” My hand movements suddenly paused. The traffic cops seized the opportunity, pulled tactical flashlights from their car, and shone them directly into my eyes. I was blinded instantly, everything went stark white. They quickly pulled the swollen Victor away. Then, taking advantage of my blindness, they swarmed me, punching and kicking. I gritted my teeth, covering my eyes, while frantically swinging my other arm to ward them off. But Victor, having lost all face, was now completely insane. When I finally blinked my eyes open, I saw him lunging at me with a wicked-looking blade! For a split second, someone screamed, someone cheered. My guys bravely threw themselves forward, trying to shield me. My mind went blank, but then I seemed to hear Valentina’s voice. “What are you doing here?!” The blade, with its blood groove, stopped mere inches from my eyes. Victor turned back in surprise, the fury on his face instantly vanishing, replaced by a wide smile. “Valentina, why are you out here? You should be resting!” “This stray dog dared to badmouth you right in front of me. I was just about to teach him a lesson, planning to cut out his tongue!” I ignored the hands trying to help me up, my gaze fixed on Valentina’s rounded belly. “Valentina, care to explain?” Victor kicked me hard in the face. “Still daring to question my wife? You really have a death wish!” A huge black boot print marred my face. My guys, seeing this, glared furiously at Valentina. “Sister-in-law, our boss Jaxson spent three years in prison for you! He had so many chances to get out early, but to atone for you and the child, he served the full three years! Now that you’re doing well, you just let others humiliate him like this?!” “Don’t you have any conscience, woman?! Even if there’s no love left, don’t you have any gratitude? Did our boss Jaxson waste the prime of his youth for you for nothing?!” I stared fixedly at Valentina, my nails digging into my palms until they bled, but I didn’t even notice. Yet, Valentina lowered her eyes, looked at me, and actually let out a disdainful laugh. Yes, she laughed, as if she had seen something utterly ridiculous. “Jaxson? There’s only one ‘Boss’ in Emerald City now, and that’s Victor.” “Jaxson, you don’t need to hold it over me, bringing up how you went to jail for me. You were enjoying your ‘break’ inside all those years, leaving me to struggle to keep things afloat out here. Victor was there for me through my toughest days.” “If you want money as compensation, just say so. There’s no need to cause trouble on Victor’s turf. So childish!” A suffocating pressure built in my chest, making it hard to breathe. “Valentina…” Before I could finish, the smile vanished from Valentina’s face, replaced by a look of malice. “I’m not finished yet, you don’t get to interrupt!” “I can give you what I owe, but you touched my man, so you’re leaving an arm behind today as an apology to Victor!” Immediately, someone with a knife approached me. I looked at Valentina’s resolute expression, my heart aching to the extreme. “Are you trying to make an example of me, just like I used to do for you, to boost your new man’s reputation?”

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It was three years after my death when my wife, Seraphina Hayes, demanded my kidney for her childhood sweetheart, Julian Thorne, again. She arrived at my old place, donation papers clutched in her hand, only to find strangers living there. Desperate, she tracked down my landlord, Mr. Henderson, to find out where I’d gone. But he just told her: “Liam? He’s long gone! Heard he died from a full-body infection after a kidney surgery. Couldn’t afford the meds, so he just… faded away.” Seraphina scoffed, refusing to believe him. She accused Mr. Henderson of being in cahoots with me, trying to trick her. Her brow furrowed, and she sneered coldly: “It was just a kidney donation, wasn’t it? How could someone *die* from that?!” “Tell him this: if I don’t see him at the hospital tomorrow, he can forget about getting another penny of child support for that kid!” With that, she stormed off, radiating fury. Mr. Henderson watched her retreating figure, then sighed, a weary sadness in his voice: “But that child… he died from his illness a long time ago too. His ashes are still at the funeral home, unclaimed.” 0

I floated above, watching Seraphina Hayes stomp into my old apartment complex, her heels clacking a furious rhythm. Three years. She still wore perfect makeup, but the usual coldness in her eyes sharpened into something truly cruel. “Hey, where’s Liam Miller? I just went to his place, and the tenants told me he moved out!” Seraphina’s blood boiled just thinking about the rude new tenants. She grabbed Mr. Henderson, who was just leaving, her voice sharp and accusatory, lashing out like a whip: “Where’s Liam living now? Don’t you dare tell me you don’t know!” Mr. Henderson, a man in his sixties, flinched at her belligerence. He frowned. “Liam Miller? He…” “Spit it out! I need to see him, now!” “Your urgency won’t help! Liam’s long dead, dear. Heard he died from a full-body infection after a kidney surgery. Couldn’t afford the meds, so he just… faded away.” “Wh… what, dead?!” Seraphina’s face froze for a beat. She clearly hadn’t processed his words. But after a flicker of hesitation, her sneering disdain returned. “Hah! You’re in cahoots with him, aren’t you? Trying to fool me? Listen to this!” She pulled out her phone, quickly tapping open a voice message. Julian Thorne’s sickly sweet voice drifted from the speaker: “Seraphina, I’ve checked with the surgeon. The operation was a success. Liam was transferred to a regular recovery room. But he’s been upset with me since the last surgery, so I guess he’s using all sorts of excuses to avoid donating another kidney this time…” Seraphina let out a harsh laugh, shoving her phone screen in Mr. Henderson’s face. “Hear that? The doctor said he’s fine! What’s the point of making up such pathetic lies?!” Mr. Henderson’s face clouded. “Why would I lie? Liam is truly…” “Shut up!” Seraphina snapped, her voice shrill. “Liam Miller is a selfish, despicable man! He wouldn’t help Julian, and now he’s got people in on his act? Julian needs his kidney. What right does he have to hide?!” Her attitude enraged Mr. Henderson. His voice turned cold. “How can you be so unreasonable, young lady? The man’s gone, and you’re still here, throwing a tantrum!” But Seraphina was focused solely on Julian. She didn’t listen, just kept raging. “You tell him this: if I don’t see him at the hospital tomorrow, he can forget about getting another penny of child support for that kid!” She spun around and left, her heels clacking like angry drumbeats against the pavement, as if venting all her fury on the ground. Mr. Henderson watched her go, shaking his head. He sighed softly. “But that child… he died from his illness a long time ago too. His ashes are still at the funeral home, unclaimed.” I floated in the hallway, listening to his words, my ghostly heart clutched by an unseen hand. Leo, my son… he never got to see his mother one last time, not even when he died… Seraphina exited the complex, pulling out her phone to call Julian. Her voice instantly softened. “Julian, don’t worry. I’ll make sure that bastard Liam gives you his kidney! If he tries to hide, I’ll make sure he never sees that kid again!” On the other end, Julian coughed weakly, feigning concern. “Seraphina, don’t be too hard on him… after all, he was your husband.” Seraphina scoffed. “Husband? Him? He’s not even fit to be called that! If you hadn’t gone abroad back then, why would I have ever married a good-for-nothing like him?!” I floated behind her, listening to those words. My very soul trembled. So, in her heart, I wasn’t even worthy of being called a “husband.” “Daddy…” Lost in thought, I suddenly heard a tender voice. Looking down, I saw Leo floating beside me. His tiny hand gently tugged at my shirt. He looked up, his big eyes filled with confusion. “Why does Mommy call me a bastard? Does she not like me?” My heart lurched. I instinctively shook my head. “No, sweetheart. How could Mommy not like you?” “Then why did Mommy never come to the family sports day at kindergarten?” Leo pouted, his voice dropping. “All the other kids had their mommies with them…” My throat tightened, words caught painfully inside. In an instant, memories flooded back, a crushing tide— Seraphina and I, we once truly loved each other. We met at an industry conference. It felt like fate, love at first sight for both of us. Our courtship, our marriage—everything felt so natural. I still remember her hands trembling, clutching the pregnancy test, the first time she found out. She was shy and excited as she threw herself into my arms: “Liam, we’re going to be parents!” Back then, I thought I’d found the love of my life. But just four months into her pregnancy, Julian came back from overseas. When she got his call, the milk cup in her hand shook so much she dropped it. I’d heard his name from her before, sometimes. But I thought, it was just the past. Since she chose to marry me, she would know her boundaries, take care of our family. I never imagined that from then on, she would grow colder towards me, constantly making excuses to go out. It escalated to early mornings, late nights, even not coming home at all. What truly broke my heart was when she secretly booked an abortion appointment, wanting to get rid of the baby. I even considered divorce. But every time I saw her, I’d remember the days when we were so deeply in love. I longed for her to come back to me, even begging her on my knees. Only then did she reluctantly agree to keep the child. But after that, she always carried the faint scent of a strange man’s cologne. It wasn’t until she was seven months pregnant that Seraphina got into a car accident. The baby was born prematurely, so tiny and fragile in the incubator, like a frail, abandoned kitten. But during her hospital stay, she only allowed Julian to be with her. That bastard took advantage, lying to her that the baby hadn’t made it. And she believed him! She even sighed in relief! I’ll never forget what she said then: “This is for the best… Julian doesn’t like kids. We can start fresh…” In that moment, my heart turned to ice. I secretly took Leo home, deciding never to tell her the truth— I was terrified she would do something to harm our child for the sake of her so-called “love.” But fate is cruel. When Leo was eighteen months old, Seraphina accidentally ran into us, father and son, at the mall. She froze, her face instantly draining of color. Without a word, she rushed forward and slapped me across the face. “Liam Miller, whose child is this? Are you cheating on me?!” I desperately tried to explain it was our son, but she refused to believe me. Julian, standing nearby, fanned the flames: “Seraphina, that kid’s eyes don’t look anything like yours. How could he be yours?” From then on, she started calling Leo “the bastard.” No matter how I explained, even showing her the birth certificate, she was convinced it was proof of my infidelity. “Daddy?” Leo’s voice pulled me back to reality. He tilted his head, looking at me. “Why are you crying?” Only then did I realize my ghostly essence was trembling. So… ghosts can feel heartbreak too. I crouched down, trying to hug him, but my arms passed right through his translucent body. “Leo, Mommy doesn’t dislike you. She just… forgot.” “Then let’s go tell Mommy, okay?” Leo’s eyes sparkled. “Tell her I’m her baby! She’ll definitely remember!” I looked at his innocent, hopeful gaze, my chest aching so much I couldn’t speak. Just then, Seraphina’s phone rang. Julian’s weak voice came through the receiver: “Seraphina, the doctor says I can’t wait… the surgery has to be by tomorrow at the latest…” Seraphina gripped her phone, her eyes hardening. “Don’t worry. I’ll tear this city apart to find Liam Miller, even if I have to turn it upside down!” I floated above, watching this mother and son— One filled with innocent hope, the other consumed by bitter hatred. Suddenly, an invisible force pulled me, following Seraphina’s car. It seemed my soul was still bound to this cruel woman, unable to break free. *** I followed Seraphina to the hospital, my transparent body passing through walls, floating outside Julian’s hospital room. Julian lay in bed, his face ghostly pale, like a sheet. Seeing Seraphina enter, he weakly reached out.

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I was born with color blindness. A fortune teller once said I had a dark aura that needed to be balanced by someone with strong positive energy. My dad, worried about my future, found seven guys who were said to have exceptionally bright auras. But among them all, my eyes were drawn to Marcus Sinclair— Because in my black and white world, he was the only one in color. I chose him. But on our wedding night, he switched the boxes containing my medication. I usually relied on color to distinguish my pills, and as a result, I accidentally swallowed an overdose of sleeping pills, collapsing in convulsions. Over the phone, he laughed coldly: “Lily Foster, Natalie is in the hospital because of you. It’s time you taste the bitterness of despair.” As the clock ticked away, I counted down my final moments. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day I was supposed to choose a husband. This time, I dug my nails into my palm, refusing to look at Marcus Sinclair who stood in the most prominent position. As my gaze swept across the corner, I suddenly remembered that in my previous life, after I died, only that quiet man had come to collect my body. I raised my hand and pointed directly at him: “I choose him.”

“Lily, do you think changing men will make me care?” Marcus sneered, turning away nonchalantly. “I’ve told you before, I’ll never marry you. If you really like someone else… go ahead and marry them.” Jason Shen, standing nearby, frowned at Marcus’s words and quietly lowered his eyes. Natalie immediately came over and tugged at my arm. “Lily, Marcus is leaving. Why aren’t you chasing after him?” She blinked, feigning concern. “If he gets really angry, you’ll have to beg him to forgive you in a few days.” I shook off her hand and laughed coldly. “Why should I chase after him?” How ridiculous. They had lived in my family’s house since childhood, relying on us for food, clothing, and shelter. Now they expect me, the actual owner, to beg them? In my previous life, I was brainwashed by them, believing that ‘the only color in my world must be my destiny.’ This time, I won’t make the same mistake! “Dad, I want to marry Jason.” My father frowned deeply. “Lily, marriage isn’t a game. This concerns your lifelong happiness!” “Did you have a fight with Marcus?” he probed. “Didn’t you used to like him the most?” Like? That so-called love nearly cost me my life. How could I dare to like him again? I forced a smile. “Dad, people change.” My dad exchanged a glance with the fortune teller, who immediately spread out his tools and began to make a show of divination. After a while, he shook his head dramatically. “Mr. Foster, I’ve carefully calculated. This Mr. Shen has a very unusual aura. He’s not compatible with Miss Lily at all!” “In my opinion, Mr. Sinclair still has the strongest positive energy. Even if they don’t get married, as long as he stays close to Miss Lily, it will keep her safe.” Hearing this, my dad’s face showed hesitation. I directly exposed their trick: “If you say we don’t need to get married, then why not just give him a job to stay in the house? Wouldn’t that work the same?” “Well…” The fortune teller was suddenly at a loss for words, mumbling incoherently. My dad pondered for a moment before finally relenting: “Lily, tomorrow is the anniversary of your mother’s passing. I’ll be away for three days to pay my respects. Take these three days to think it over. Whatever decision you make, I’ll support you.” I nodded gratefully, watching as my dad left. My mom died from complications during my birth. Since then, my dad has poured all the love he had for my mom into me. He took me to see countless specialists, but none could cure my color blindness. Later, when he heard that Marcus could let me see colors, my dad was overjoyed and gave him countless privileges. Who could have imagined that this kindness would eventually become the death warrant for me? In my previous life, when my dad saw my final fate, he must have been heartbroken too. “Lily, quick, think about what gift to send to make up with Marcus!” “How about a yacht?” “A mansion might be more practical.” The group chatted animatedly, completely disregarding my opinions. I folded my arms and coldly watched them. “Who said I was going to apologize?”

Everyone burst into laughter. “Lily, stop being stubborn. If Marcus really ignores you, you’ll end up crying again.” Ignoring my protests, they forcibly pushed me into a car, insisting on taking me to the mansion where Marcus lived. These people were so eager because in my previous life, every time I went to apologize to Marcus, they would tag along and reap considerable benefits. When Marcus saw me, he showed no surprise, just arrogantly turned his face away. The freshly picked flower in his hand was alluringly beautiful, like a bottle of enticing poison, tempting me to come closer. “Give me back the keys to the mansion.” “…What did you say?” I calmly repeated myself, shocking everyone present. “Lily, have you gone mad?!” “Marcus, don’t take it to heart. Lily didn’t mean it. Lily, apologize quickly!” Everyone panicked as if Marcus was the true owner of the Foster family. Marcus slowly walked up to me: “Lily, I’ll give you one last chance.” “No need.” “Fine, I’ll give them back to you.” He took out the keys but let them slip from his fingers just as I was about to catch them. The keys fell into the drain with a ‘clink’. “You!” I knelt on the ground, desperately reaching for the keys. Although the water flow wasn’t strong, the keys always seemed just out of reach. Mocking laughter erupted around me: “Come on, Miss Foster, try harder. If the keys wash away, you won’t be able to apologize.” “Hah, I thought she had really changed, but look at her now, scrambling for Marcus’s keys like a dog.” The keys quickly blended into the dark drain. As I fumbled around, my nostrils filled with the stench of decaying leaves. Finally, I felt the keys. But Natalie immediately pulled Marcus back. “Marcus, be careful, don’t get dirty.” Suppressing my anger, I used the keys to open the mansion’s front door, only to be shocked speechless by the sight before me— “Who told you to touch anything here?!” This was the ancestral home my grandmother had left me. Every piece of furniture was her life’s work. But now, all those old items that carried memories were gone. Marcus carelessly adjusted his cuffs. “Last year, you gave me this house as a birthday gift. Don’t you remember?” “I gave you the right to use it!” I gripped the doorknob tightly. “This is a heritage site. Unauthorized alterations are illegal.” He sneered, “You want to take back something you’ve given away? Miss Foster, you never cease to amaze me.” Natalie, standing to the side, suddenly chuckled softly. “Marcus, Miss Foster probably doesn’t know that all the old furniture has been sent to storage.” She added, feigning thoughtfulness, “We’ve just put them away temporarily~” “We?” I coldly looked at her. “Since when did Miss Sullivan become the mistress of this place?” Natalie’s eyes immediately welled up with tears as she shrank behind Marcus. “I was just… trying to explain…” Marcus immediately shielded her and raised his hand, slapping me hard across the face. “Apologize to Natalie!” Everyone present was stunned. No one expected Marcus to actually hit me. “Never!” Marcus laughed in extreme anger. “Fine! Since Miss Foster values her pride so much, I’ll grant your wish!” Marcus roughly pushed me into the unfinished walk-in closet and locked the door with a click. A blinding whiteness greeted my eyes. The walls, ceiling, and floor were all a stark white. When I was eight, I was once kidnapped. The kidnappers locked me in a room just like this for three days and three nights. Marcus knew this incident better than anyone, yet now he deliberately used my greatest fear to punish me. “Open the door! Marcus!” I pounded desperately on the door, cold sweat already beading on my forehead, but the door didn’t budge. Laughter filtered through from outside: “The young miss sure has a temper.” “Only you can put up with her, Marcus.” “Let her cool off in there for a while. It’ll do her good.” Marcus’s voice penetrated the door, each word cutting deep: “She’s nothing but a lapdog. If it weren’t for Mr. Foster’s sake, who would bother entertaining her?” Even though I knew this man had never loved me, hearing such an evaluation firsthand still felt like my heart was being ripped open. I had offered my sincere feelings for so many years. Even the most ordinary friend would show some respect and affection. But Marcus insisted on trampling my dignity and grinding it into the mud. My breathing began to shake uncontrollably. The air in the confined space felt terrifyingly thin. The heavy smell of paint mixed with the acrid scent of disinfectant churned in my lungs. I opened my mouth wide, desperately gasping for air, but it was as futile as a fish out of water. Drip, drip. Whether it was real water or an auditory hallucination brought on by impending breakdown, the walls before me began to twist and writhe, like countless pale hands reaching out to grab me. Just before I lost consciousness completely, I was roughly dragged out of the room by my arm. “Stop pretending! Natalie is about to go to the press conference. You’re the brand manager, don’t think you can slack off!” I struggled to lift my head and saw several men in suits surrounding Natalie like stars around the moon. The dress she wore made my pupils constrict— “How dare you let her wear my gown?!” That was the wedding dress my grandmother had specially customized for me. Every stitch carried her blessings. “It’s just a dress,” one of the men scoffed dismissively. “Take it off!” I struggled to rush over. Suddenly, Natalie burst into tears. “I’m sorry… It’s all my fault… I’ll take it off right away…” She forcefully tore open the collar. The men immediately surrounded her, hastily covering her with their jackets. My precious wedding gown was carelessly trampled underfoot. The exquisite embroidery was ruined beyond recognition, and the inlaid jewels scattered across the floor. Natalie looked at me with tear-filled eyes. “Are you satisfied now, Miss Foster?” Marcus grabbed a fistful of my hair, his voice ice-cold. “Apologize!” Security guards rushed in at the commotion. “What’s going o—” Before they could finish, Marcus slowly turned, his gaze piercingly cold. “You want to interfere?” The guards’ eyes darted between Marcus and me. Finally, one pressed his radio. “Report, all normal in the villa area.” Then they quickly left. Marcus released my hair and leaned down to whisper in my ear. “Lily, you’d better behave. Otherwise… I can’t guarantee what might happen next.” I clenched my fists tightly, my nails digging into my palms. “Marcus, do you really think you’re above the law?” He straightened up with a light chuckle. “I wouldn’t say above the law, but dealing with you… is well within my means.” The press conference staff came to hurry them along. Only then did Marcus temporarily let me go, leading Natalie towards the venue. Marcus quickly got Natalie a new gown and was coaxing her in a low voice. I looked down at my simple white T-shirt and suddenly felt the irony acutely. How could I have been so blind in my previous life? Just as I was about to take my seat, Marcus suddenly pushed me aside. “Natalie, you sit here.” I suppressed my anger. “If she sits here, where am I supposed to sit?” “What?” He raised an eyebrow mockingly. “Don’t tell me you still think this is your reserved seat?” With that, he kicked over a low stool. “Sit if you want, or get lost if you don’t.” He couldn’t resist adding a final jab. “If it weren’t for your dad’s influence, do you think you’d even qualify to be at an event like this?”

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Seven years into my marriage, I was diagnosed with cancer. After another coughing fit, I collapsed at home, blood staining my lips. That very evening, Liam walked in, holding the woman he’d lost and just found again, his first love, Serena. He kicked open my hospital room door with a violent crash. He shoved a kidney donation consent form directly into my hand. “Serena’s condition can’t wait. You’re young, you’ll recover quickly. I’m begging you.” “Don’t worry, I’ll cover all the surgery costs, and I’ll take care of you afterward.” I didn’t cry out in pain. My hand fumbled, shakily signing my name on the paper. The nurses outside looked at me with disdain. “No wonder she holds her position as Mrs. [Liam’s Last Name]. She’d even give her life for him. Who else could compare?” Liam gently held Serena in his arms, tossing a line at me without even looking back: “After you’re discharged, I’ll take you to Switzerland to see the snow-capped mountains. Isn’t that what you always wanted?” He had no idea my body couldn’t handle the surgery anymore. I was destined not to make it to that day.

On our seventh wedding anniversary, I received my late-stage lung cancer diagnosis. “Ms. [Aria’s Last Name], based on the test results, you’re seven weeks pregnant.” The doctor’s voice seemed to drift from a far-off place. “However, given your current condition, you must begin chemotherapy immediately.” I clutched the diagnosis in my hand, unable to stop myself from asking, “What if… what if I want to keep this baby?” The doctor pushed up his glasses, his tone heavy. “The cancer cells have already spread. If you don’t get immediate treatment, your survival period might not exceed six months.” “And chemotherapy drugs could cause fetal deformities or even death.” I whispered, “So, if the baby lives, I have to die?” “Ms. [Aria’s Last Name], I advise you to terminate the pregnancy as soon as possible.” The doctor’s voice was tinged with professional sympathy. “You’re still young. Once your condition stabilizes…” I didn’t hear the rest of what he said. Seven years. Liam and I had longed for this child for seven whole years. Every negative pregnancy test felt like it was mocking my foolish hopes. Now it was finally here, but it had to be my killer. As I walked out of the hospital, I touched my abdomen, making a decision. I was going to tell Liam the good news. Maybe this child could save our increasingly cold marriage. Maybe, just maybe, he’d hold me tight like he did seven years ago, saying, “Aria, don’t be scared, I’m here.” The villa was empty. Liam wasn’t back again. I had grown used to it. Ever since Serena returned three months ago, he rarely stayed overnight at home. I changed into his favorite white dress and began preparing our anniversary dinner. Candlelight, red wine, his favorite steak. I wrote “Happy 7th Anniversary” on the cake, then sat at the dining table, waiting for him. My phone screen lit up. It was a video from an unknown number. The moment I opened it, my blood froze. Fireworks bloomed in the night sky, forming the letters “AL forever.” That was our special fireworks display, the one he designed for me when Liam and I got married. AL, for Aria and Liam, our initials. But now, standing under the fireworks was Serena, Liam leaning in to kiss her forehead. The video ended on Serena’s smug, triumphant smile. “Aria, did you really think what you stole could ever truly be yours?” “Take a good look, see who he truly loves.” My phone slipped from my hand and clattered to the floor. A metallic taste rose in my throat. I stumbled, grabbing the dining table, and a mouthful of fresh blood splattered onto the pristine white cake. In the last second before darkness claimed me, I seemed to hear Liam, seven years ago, whispering in my ear. “Aria, in this life, I’ll only set off fireworks for you.”

The ceiling swayed in my vision, the antiseptic stinging my nostrils. I blinked, the metallic taste of blood still lingering in my throat. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. My hand unconsciously went to my abdomen. It was still flat, yet it already held the life I’d yearned for seven years. The ward door suddenly kicked open, slamming against the wall with a thunderous bang. I jumped, my IV tube swaying violently. Liam strode in, his suit as crisp as if he’d just left a board meeting. In his arms, Serena, like a lazy cat, was wearing that Chanel dress I’d seen in a magazine last week. “Finally awake.” Liam’s voice was edged with impatience. “I’ve waited three hours for you.” My fingernails dug into my palms. Three hours? I’d been unconscious for a whole day and night. Serena peeked out from his arm, her lips slightly pouted. “Liam, it smells awful in here. I’m getting dizzy.” Liam immediately clutched her tighter, pulling out a delicate small bottle from his pocket and placing it at her nose. “Peppermint essential oil. Just sniff it.” I watched silently, like a surreal play unfolding before me. The man who once took an entire day off because of my period cramps was now carefully attending to someone else. Liam turned to me, suddenly pulling a document from his briefcase. “Aria, Serena has kidney failure and needs a transplant.” “The matching results show you’re the most suitable donor.” The document was shoved into my hand. I looked down at the words ‘Living Kidney Donation Consent Form’ and suddenly wanted to laugh. “She’s young and afraid of pain.” Liam’s voice softened. It was the first time today he’d used that tone with me. “You’ve always been strong, and you recover quickly.” A tear splattered onto the signature line, blurring a small patch. I looked up at Liam. His brows were slightly furrowed, but his gaze was fixed on Serena. His fingers gently ran through her long hair. “Pen.” I reached out, my voice so hoarse it didn’t sound like my own. Liam visibly froze, as if he hadn’t expected me to agree so readily. He hastily pulled out his fountain pen and handed it to me. Our wedding anniversary was still engraved on it. I shakily signed my name, each stroke like I was personally burying my own love. After signing, I quickly tucked the cancer diagnosis under my pillow. Liam visibly relaxed, a long-lost tenderness appearing on his face. “Thank you. I’ll cover all the surgery costs, and afterward… I’ll take care of you.” What generous charity. I turned my face away, looking out the window. The sun was still so bright, shining on the small wildflowers on the windowsill. “After you’re discharged, I’ll take you to Switzerland to see the snow-capped mountains.” He continued, his tone lighter now. “Didn’t you always want to go?” My heart clenched violently. It was something we promised during our honeymoon. To go to Switzerland together on our seventh anniversary. He remembered after all. But now the promise sounded so bitterly ironic. “Liam…” Serena suddenly cut him off in a delicate voice, “It’s so stuffy in here, I feel sick…” Liam’s face instantly changed. He scooped her up in his arms. “We’re going back right now.” He turned to leave, then paused. “The surgery is scheduled for next Wednesday. Get some good rest these next few days.” The ward door closed again, his footsteps fading away. “Tsk tsk, how impressive.” The nurses’ whispers drifted from the doorway. “No wonder she can be Mrs. [Liam’s Last Name]. She’d even give her life for him.” I pulled the blanket up over my face, finally letting the tears flow freely.

The next day, I found the doctor again. “Ms. [Aria’s Last Name], are you sure you want to sign this ‘Consent to Forgo Treatment’ form?” The doctor’s pen hovered above the paper, his eyes behind his glasses showing confusion. I slowly nodded. “Given your current physical condition, a kidney transplant is almost equivalent to suicide.” The doctor lowered his voice. “Not to mention keeping the fetus.” “I understand.” I reached out for the fountain pen, saying indifferently, “But the surgery must be done.” “At least wait until the fetus is twelve weeks…” “He can’t wait anymore.” I cut off the doctor, signing my name on the consent form. The ink bled, like a black tear. At the end of the hallway, a long line of women waited at the obstetrics and gynecology clinic, each pregnant woman touching her swollen belly, her face radiating a happiness I dared not dream of. I clutched the examination report, the words ‘Termination of Pregnancy’ stinging my eyes. The operating table was colder than I imagined. As the instruments clinked, I bit down hard on my lip, staring at the ceiling. A sharp pain spread from my lower abdomen to my entire body. My nails dug into my palms, but it was nothing compared to the pain in my heart. Tears streamed down my temples into my hairline. I thought of the hope and disappointment with every pregnancy test over the past seven years, and the euphoria of last week when I learned I was pregnant. This child, unwanted by its father, perhaps it was better if it never came into this world. The nurse wiped the blood from between my legs. “You can leave after half an hour of rest.” I nodded mechanically, my hand instinctively touching my flat abdomen. There had once been a heartbeat. Now, only a desolate silence remained. It was dusk when I returned to the villa. I pushed open the door, and a sweet, cloying scent of ginger tea hit me. In the living room, Liam was half-kneeling in front of the sofa, one hand holding a bowl, the other gently stroking Serena’s hair. “Just one more sip, hmm?” His voice was achingly gentle, completely unfamiliar. “Drink it, and your stomach won’t hurt anymore.” Serena was wrapped in *my* wool blanket, her face pale, yet the moment she saw me, a triumphant smile appeared. She deliberately let out a soft moan, burrowing deeper into Liam’s arms. “Liam, it hurts so much…” Only then did Liam notice me standing at the doorway. His gaze lingered on my pale face for a second, then he frowned. “Where have you been? You didn’t answer your phone.” I opened my mouth, but no words came out. Was I supposed to say I’d just gone and killed our baby? “Go make Serena a bowl of brown sugar water.” He commanded, then turned to gently coax the woman in his arms, “Aria makes the best brown sugar water, try some.” Aria. He hadn’t called me that in a long time. In the kitchen, I mechanically sliced ginger, the knife blade grazing my fingertips several times. Pains in my abdomen came in waves, cold sweat beaded on my back. When the water boiled, I felt a dizzy spell, grabbing the counter to keep from falling. “Not done yet?” Liam’s voice came from behind me. “Serena’s waiting uncomfortably.”

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On our wedding night, my succubus craving cycle hit. I lay on the bed, my face flushed with a shy blush, waiting for my husband, Julian Vance, to comfort me. But then, his first love, Seraphina Thorne, suddenly got dosed with an aphrodisiac. He kicked open the bedroom door, yanking me off the bed. “Sera can’t wait. You’re a succubus, your body’s tough, you can hold out a little longer.” He paused, a dismissive wave of his hand. “Don’t overthink it. If I don’t help her, she’d be in absolute agony. Don’t worry, you’re still my only wife.” I didn’t cry or make a fuss. I calmly got dressed and walked out. His cronies, peeking from the hallway, whistled. “The boss’s woman really knows her place! What did I tell you? Even if she’s asleep, she has to make way!” “Mrs. Vance truly lives up to her name. With that incredible self-control, she’s certainly got the main Mrs. Vance position locked down!” Julian was already impatiently kissing Seraphina’s lips. He caught me in his peripheral vision, his eyes full of annoyance. “Good girl. Didn’t you always want a bespoke diamond ring? I’ll have the butler take you shopping tomorrow.” I shook my head. That very night, I knocked on the door of Damian Blackwood, the city’s most powerful billionaire. “Looking for a new master? I assure you, I can be quite… dominant. Guaranteed to be an experience.” … I stood at his doorstep, a blush still staining my cheeks. Damian Blackwood froze, the files in his hand scattering to the floor. His expression was unreadable as he took one step after another towards me. “Cassandra Hayes, you better not be messing with me.” My fingertip brushed his tie, tracing downwards, my gaze seductive and intensely predatory. “Care to find out?” Damian abruptly grabbed my hand as it slid lower, his breathing heavy. “Cassie, are you only here because you’re angry with Julian Vance?” I shook my head, my other arm wrapping around his neck. “I don’t want him anymore.” At those words, Damian instantly wrapped his arms around my waist, his kisses falling wildly, one after another… After a night of pleasure, I left a note that simply said “Wait for me,” and returned to the Vance estate. The moment I stepped inside, I saw Julian Vance’s four cronies neatly sprawled outside the master bedroom door. From inside, Seraphina’s sugary cries drifted out, along with Julian’s barely suppressed grunts. My heart sank, my fingertips trembling. The cronies saw me and swaggered over, laughing. “Well, well, Mrs. Vance, you actually came back.” “Why don’t you come listen? Julian’s a real beast in bed. He’s making Sera cry like that, it’s getting me all worked up~” The sounds from the room picked up right on cue, growing wilder, each collision a heavy hammer striking my heart. I couldn’t stop trembling. My hand instinctively reached into my bag for my medication, but I accidentally dropped it. I bent down to pick it up, but one of the cronies kicked it, grinding it under his heel. “Whoa, Mrs. Vance, what’s this? Some kiddie pacifier? Julian not enough for you, Mrs. Vance? You gotta get your kicks yourself?” “If you can’t handle it, just ask us! We might be able to help you out~” I glared at him, my teeth gritted, my fingers clutching the corner of the crushed medicine box. Suddenly, the bedroom door opened. Julian Vance emerged wrapped in a bathrobe, Seraphina Thorne hiding behind him, draped in nothing but a few scraps of fabric. “What are you doing?! Get out!” Julian roared, and his cronies instantly scattered. My muscles ached terribly. All I could do was pick up the crushed medicine from the floor and shove it into my mouth. Julian finally looked at me, a flicker of disdain in his eyes. “You? Mrs. Vance? You look nothing like her.” I scoffed internally. What kind of Mrs. Vance was I anymore? Since his company went public, he’d kept thirty mistresses outside, yet not one of them had dared to cause trouble in front of me. That was until Seraphina appeared. Julian dismissed everyone for her, even bringing her into our home. Last night, he knew a succubus in her craving cycle wouldn’t “explode” without a man, yet he still abandoned me to comfort Seraphina. Now, Seraphina, covered in love bites, picked up a delicate, antique crystal figurine and disdainfully dropped it to the floor. “Oh, Cassie, so sorry! My hand slipped.” She gave me a simpering smile. “We were just looking for a toy, and this thing was pretty useful. Do you have more, sweetie?” I gasped, practically lunging forward, but I could only watch helplessly as the crystal figurine shattered before me. It was a cherished heirloom, passed down from my mother, always kept locked in my safe. But now, it wasn’t just broken; it was stained with some sickening, unknown fluid. Julian glanced at it, his eyes completely devoid of emotion. “If you like it, I’ll have one custom-made for you. That trash is only good for a quick fix anyway.” I glared at the two of them, my heart utterly cold. Not even my medication for volatile moods could suppress the furious rage swelling inside me. Seraphina flashed a triumphant smile at me, then climbed onto Julian’s neck, leaving a playful row of bite marks on his ear. “Julian, darling, it’s all their fault for interrupting! Didn’t you say you still had to punish me? I haven’t been good at all~” Julian’s face flushed instantly. He stole a glance at me, but his hand unconsciously tightened around Seraphina’s waist. “Sera’s medication hasn’t worn off yet, Cassie. You should go.” Before he even finished speaking, he was already impatiently scooping Seraphina into his arms and heading back into the room. The door slammed shut with a heavy thud, followed immediately by the creaking of bedsprings and rhythmic thumps. My fingertips dug into the floor, scraping until they were bloody, before my mind cleared a fraction. I rushed to the storage room, fumbled for my rage stabilizers, and crammed a handful into my mouth. The moment the pills went down, it was like someone had pulled my plug. I collapsed to the floor, listening as the sounds from the next room grew louder, wilder… **2.** I drifted in and out of a daze, waking only when morning light filled the room. Seraphina emerged from the bathroom, draped in a bathrobe, her face still flushed from the night. She swayed her hips as she approached me, a smirk in her eyes. “Oh, Cassie, so sorry about taking your bed.” She giggled. “Couldn’t help it. Julian’s just too wild. If we’d stayed on the couch, I’m not sure I’d be able to get up today~” As she spoke, her hand loosened, and the bathrobe slid open, revealing sheer silk lingerie and a body covered in love bites. “Julian never treated you like this, did he, sweetie?” Suddenly, the front door clicked open. Four cronies stepped inside, instantly freezing at the steamy scene before them. “We didn’t see anything!” They immediately clapped their hands over their eyes, though they couldn’t resist peeking through their fingers. “Ahhh!” Seraphina shrieked, squatting down to grab her bathrobe and wrap herself. “Sera!” Julian Vance burst down the stairs and pulled her protectively into his arms. “Get out, all of you! If anyone dares to look again, I’ll gouge out your eyeballs!” Seraphina immediately started to whimper pitifully, tears streaming down her face. “Cassie, why would you pull off my clothes and humiliate me? Julian was just helping me with my treatment, I never wanted to steal your place! Why are you doing this to me? My reputation means everything to a woman!” I was dumbfounded. I was at least five steps away from her. How could she possibly pin this on me? And talk about a “reputation” after fooling around with a married man? Julian, however, turned to me, his face cold. “Cassandra Hayes, apologize to Sera.” “Julian Vance, use your idiotic brain for once! How could I possibly pull off her clothes from this distance?” But he wouldn’t listen. He strode forward and slapped me across the face. “Apologize, or you’re not going to the company today!” My face burned, but it was nothing compared to the pain in my heart. I’d spent three months on this project, making dozens of trips back and forth. He knew that. Now, just as the contract was about to be signed, he wanted to keep me home, all for Seraphina? I clenched my fists. “Julian Vance, if you don’t want Mr. Kingston’s business, then go ahead and call him right now!” With that, I didn’t spare that disgusting pair another glance and turned to leave. At the company, my assistant looked hesitant. “Ms. Hayes… Mr. Kingston called. He said Mr. Vance cancelled the meeting.” “What?” My mind exploded. I’d nearly run myself ragged, pouring everything into this deal, and he just threw it away like that? I slumped onto the sofa, feeling dizzy. My assistant hesitated. “Should I try to contact him again…?” I shook my head, sighing softly. “I’m just the VP. If the CEO doesn’t want to make this deal, I can talk until I’m blue in the face, it won’t matter.” After a long silence, I looked up, my eyes red. “Contact my industry contacts. I’m selling my 25% shares.” Just as the words left my lips, the lounge door opened. Julian Vance entered, his arm around Seraphina’s waist. “Cassie, you’re finally being obedient for once. How about this: transfer your shares to Sera. You go home, manage the house, take care of me and her, and I might consider forgiving your past mistakes.”

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The homeless man I’d accidentally helped turned out to be the CEO’s long-lost son. After he returned to his family and took over the business, he wanted to appoint me as the General Manager of a new company under their conglomerate. When the appointment letter arrived, my father took my sister to a plastic surgery clinic and had her face molded into mine, intending for her to take my place. Tiffany, my sister, was mediocre at best and always hung out with a rough crowd. “Your sister has a low education, and her reputation is in tatters,” my father said. “If she doesn’t seize this chance to turn her life around, she’ll never marry well.” “You’re educated and capable. Even without this position, you can still make a name for yourself based on your own merit.” I said nothing. My father called in my fiancé, Brandon Pierce. Brandon’s smile was gentle. “Perhaps a different path would be more suitable. You should just listen to your uncle, Seraphina.” “You’re too stubborn, you don’t know how to adapt. If you really became General Manager, you’d regret it.” I nodded and agreed, “Sounds good.”

My agreement was so quick that my father’s carefully prepared words got stuck in his throat, almost choking him. His face lit up with delight as he immediately told the nanny to pull off my designer bracelet and replace it with a wrinkled old hoodie. I stood still, letting them do as they pleased. “Don’t blame your dad for being heartless.” My father let out a long breath. “Your sister got into trouble with that gang of troublemakers a while back. She broke the leg of the son of the CEO’s rival.” “After your surgery, you’ll go to the police station and turn yourself in. It’ll save the police from coming here to find you.” My heart felt like it was being impaled by an ice pick. I clenched my fists, biting back tears, my voice hoarse: “Dad, am I really your biological daughter?” My father flinched. “What foolishness are you talking about, child?” “Of course you’re my daughter, but your sister grew up without a mother’s guidance. She’s a bit wild, and she’s already pitiful enough.” Brandon walked over too, reaching out to guide me to the basement for the plastic surgeon to start. “It’s hard to get bail from the police station, but I’ll visit you often.” “Once your sister establishes herself with the CEO, she’ll find a way to get you out and be her assistant.” “Even with a criminal record, I’ll still marry you. Your sister will take care of you, and things will get better.” A shot of anesthetic went in, and my vision blurred. When I woke up, the mirror showed a face wrapped in bandages. Brandon shouted to someone outside, “This is the one who assaulted him. Send her to the police station immediately!” He leaned in and whispered, “Act convincingly. Don’t let anyone see through it.” Two bodyguards came to drag me out. I took a deep breath and yelled: “I’ll walk myself!” My father and Brandon exchanged a knowing look, a hint of complicity on their faces. They let go of me. My father, with feigned concern, touched my still swollen and painful face. “Good girl, I’ve wronged you.” Brandon pulled a small bag from his pocket. Inside were a few small bills, some antiseptic wipes, a trashy magazine… All essentials for the detention center. He pressed the bag into my hand. “I specifically went and asked around near the detention center for these. They’re all for you.” I fought back tears, walking towards the door without a word. “My sweet girl!” A frantic voice called from behind me. Grandma Grace ran over, breathless, and grabbed my arm. “My sweet girl, I heard the CEO wants you to be the General Manager of the new company?” “That’s wonderful! Our family will finally be able to hold our heads high!” She took off her gold bracelet and put it on my wrist. “You’ve suffered so much these past years. Good times are finally coming.” I couldn’t hold back anymore. Tears streamed down, splashing onto Grandma’s hand. Grandma panicked, quickly letting go of me. “What’s wrong?” My father’s eyes darted away. Brandon kept checking his watch, glancing frequently towards the door. He urged, “Don’t waste time. If we don’t go now, the police will get suspicious.” Grandma looked bewildered. “What police?” My father remained silent, only waving his hand for the bodyguards to take me out.

Grandma’s confusion deepened, and she held onto me tightly, refusing to let go. “You wouldn’t dare! My granddaughter is the CEO’s chosen General Manager!” Just then, the butler rushed in. “The police are here.” Grandma gasped. “What do the police want?” Brandon grew impatient. He forcibly pried Grandma’s fingers from my arm. “She’s the one who caused trouble now.” “The real Seraphina and her sister switched faces. Ugh, it’s complicated. Just get her out of here!” Grandma shrieked, clutching me tight, refusing to release me. She looked at my father, then at my bandaged face, and understood everything. She screamed hysterically: “Arthur Hayes, you heartless monster! Not only do you not care for your daughter, but you want your own flesh and blood to go to jail! I’d rather kill myself right here than let you commit such a heinous act!” Then, she grabbed me again, sobbing uncontrollably: “My good granddaughter, Grandma is useless. I let you suffer so much, but this opportunity you finally got, why should you give it to that walking disaster?” “Did you forget what you promised Grandma?” I was crying so hard I could barely breathe. Yet, I hardened my heart and pulled my hand away, forcing a smile. “Grandma, there are things in this world more important than positions of power or a clean record.” “I’ve made my decision. I won’t regret it.” With that, I cruelly pushed Grandma away and strode out. Grandma tried to follow, but the house staff held her back. She suddenly shrieked, “Granddaughter, if you dare to step out of this house, I will die right here in front of you!” Seeing her in such agony, my heart twisted in agony. I suppressed the bitter pain in my heart, walking forward without looking back. “If you die, you’ll no longer be Grandma Hayes.” Grandma cried even harder. “I used to endure everything, afraid your grandfather would get angry, all for your safe upbringing. But now you’re going to jail for someone else, what more do I have to fear!” I nodded. “Now that I’m going to jail, you don’t have to put up with it anymore. Move to the old house.” “Cut ties with the Hayes family.” Grandma collapsed onto the floor in despair. “My sweet girl, what foolishness have you gotten into?” My father rushed over, threw a statement of disownment at Grandma, and hastily told the bodyguards to push me out. I bit my lip, forcing myself not to look back, Grandma’s cries still echoing in my ears. I kept reassuring myself that at least Grandma had cut ties with the Hayes family. She wouldn’t have to suffer any more grievances. Brandon Pierce, afraid I might try something, drove his car behind the police escort heading to the detention center. He slipped the guard a thick envelope, buying himself a few minutes to speak with me alone. I sat in the chair, looking at him coldly. “What else do you have to say?” Brandon checked his phone. “She should be here soon.” I asked, bewildered, “Who’s coming?” Just as I spoke, a person wearing a hat and a mask rushed in. It was Tiffany. Her eyes were red. As soon as she entered, she grabbed my hand. “Seraphina, you’re willing to take the fall for me. I’ll never be able to repay this kindness in my life. I promise to make it up to you.” Brandon “caringly” helped her up. “Ugh, you just had your stitches removed. Why did you rush over?” My already numb heart was pierced with sharp pain again. “It’s all your fault, you hit him so hard.” Tiffany leaned weakly into Brandon’s arms, looking frail. Brandon stroked her back, his eyes still holding a hint of lingering intimacy, but he turned to me and explained: “Don’t get the wrong idea. She has to pretend to be you now, which means she needs to be close to me. But you’re the one I truly care about.” I forced a faint smile. “You two are certainly close.”

I pushed myself up from the table, opened the door, and called for the guards to “escort” the two of them out. As soon as they left, I was dragged by a corrections officer into solitary confinement. They said they wanted to show me what happened to disobedient inmates. My ears filled with cries, and the figures of those being punished blurred, overlapping with Grandma Grace’s image. My mother died in childbirth after having Tiffany. I was raised by Grandma Grace from a young age. In the Hayes family, Grandma was always treated coldly by my grandfather. I remembered what Grandma Grace used to tell me when she secretly wiped away tears. She said not to be like her, enduring everything in silence. No one could be a lifelong pillar of support in this world; to stand firm, you ultimately had to rely on yourself. So I worked incredibly hard, studying finance, earning certifications, practicing negotiations, sharpening my skills. I wanted to carve out my own path, so Grandma could live with her head held high. But in the end, all of it turned into a mirage. I was pushed into a detention center to take the fall for someone else. My father’s favoritism, Brandon Pierce’s schemes—they sliced at my heart like blunt knives. I wanted to cry my eyes out. But I knew crying wouldn’t solve anything. “Grandma, wait for me,” I whispered. The next day, I obediently changed into a prisoner’s uniform and joined the other inmates in the detention center’s labor. The TV happened to be showing Brandon Pierce and Tiffany’s engagement party. My cellmates craned their necks, whispering: “Did you hear? The CEO of Pierce Corporation’s son is marrying the CEO’s newly recognized adopted daughter, the one who’s supposed to be General Manager?” “Yeah, apparently the CEO was lost and alone, and she kindly took him in, even giving him medical and travel expenses, which helped him reclaim his identity.” “What good fortune…”

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My husband was supposedly turned to ashes in a fire the night before our wedding. I read his final letter, written in blood, and dutifully cared for his parents for thirty years. But when I went to cancel his official documents, the clerk informed me he had long since remarried and had a child. I refused to believe it and went to find him myself. He claimed I was mentally ill and had me committed, where I suffered greatly. I turned the tables and called the police. “Officer, someone here has committed bigamy!” 0 “Ma’am, I think there’s been a misunderstanding. Mr. Grant isn’t dead. In fact, he has a son,” the clerk said. I stood there in shock. George Grant had supposedly been reduced to ashes in a fire twenty years ago. He left a final letter written in blood, and in my dreams he told me I must take care of his parents. I shouldered that burden, caring for them for thirty years. Now they’re telling me George Grant isn’t dead? What have these past thirty years been for? Fighting back tears, I secretly took some photos of George’s current address. I returned home in a daze and called Mr. and Mrs. Grant. In the background noise, I could faintly hear children playing. “Mom, Dad, George is still alive, isn’t he? I heard his voice.” Mrs. Grant smacked her forehead and protested loudly. “How could that be? I think you’re just exhausted lately. Get some rest. It’s perfect timing since we’re traveling, so you can relax too.” With that, she hurriedly hung up. I laughed bitterly and collapsed on the floor, completely drained. It wasn’t the first time I’d heard George’s voice. At first I thought I was hallucinating, that my mind was playing tricks on me. So I didn’t think much of it. But now all the clues were telling me one thing: George Grant wasn’t dead. Looking around at everything I’d worked for to build this home, I broke down sobbing. George and I had fallen in love at first sight. He pursued me passionately. But misfortune always finds those who suffer most. The night before our wedding, while he was cleaning our new home, a faulty appliance caught fire, leading to his untimely death. My eyes were nearly blinded from crying. In the end, I had no choice but to accept this reality. Everyone told me to move on, to find a new husband. Even Mr. and Mrs. Grant said I should remarry and find happiness. But looking at that blood-written letter, I gritted my teeth and treated his parents as my own. For thirty years, I never wavered. My blood pressure spiked as I trembled all over. Didn’t George love me most? If he was alive, why didn’t he come find me? Was there some unspeakable reason? I grabbed my ID and rushed to the neighboring city. I had to find him and get answers. In a lavish mansion, George was living happily with his wife and son. Even Mr. and Mrs. Grant were there. Their happiness stung my eyes. Looking down at my worn-out shoes from the market stall, the wrinkles and scars on my face showed how much I’d sacrificed for this family. I pushed open the door and stared straight at George, calling out to him. “George, you’re alive. Why didn’t you come find me…” Everyone in the mansion panicked. Mrs. Grant quickly came over and slapped me. “What nonsense are you spouting! This is George’s twin brother, Gary. You’ve got the wrong person!” Mrs. Grant had always been kind, but this was the first time she’d ever struck me. “We were planning to tell you after some time, but George’s death was too big a shock for you… We kept it from you for your own good…” I forced a bitter smile. Even if George had been reduced to ashes, I would recognize him. How dare they claim this was his twin brother? 0

Moreover, they only ever had one son. Since when did they have twins? “Sarah, Mom’s here. There must be some misunderstanding. Don’t be upset,” said the woman facing me. She wore elaborate makeup, expensive perfume, and had a perfect manicure. She approached me with ill intent and slapped me without hesitation. “Who are you? How dare you try to scam us, claiming this is your husband? What backwoods hick are you?” Seeing her strike me, the child couldn’t hold back anymore. He came up and kicked me. “Who are you? Get out! You’re not welcome here! Don’t try to steal my dad!” The child kicked hard, drawing blood on my leg. I stood there motionless, my heart pierced as if by needles, aching all over. “George, won’t you say something? I know it’s you.” “If you have some difficulty you can’t speak of, just tell me, okay?” “I’ve worked so hard to care for your parents for thirty years. Are all of you conspiring to deceive me?” He opened his mouth to speak but was stopped by his father. “Sarah, I think you’re just too tired lately. How about this – you’ve cared for us for almost thirty years. After we die, that’ll be the end of it. You don’t need to care for us anymore. Go home now.” I stared at George with hollow eyes. “Won’t you say anything? Are you just going to abandon me like this? You did it thirty years ago, and now you’re doing it again thirty years later? Doesn’t your conscience hurt?” George spoke coldly, “I’m sorry, sister-in-law. You’ve got the wrong person…” Some sister-in-law. Some apology. Thirty years of my youth, and all I get is “sister-in-law” and “sorry”? I clung desperately to George’s legs, wailing. “George Grant, you heartless bastard! How could you abandon me like this? Now you’ve even married and had a child. Are you even human?” He pried my fingers off one by one in disgust, spraying alcohol all over. “Sister-in-law, don’t push your luck. I’m not George Grant! You’ve got the wrong person.” George had changed… everything had changed. My heart-wrenching cries drew the attention of other neighbors. They gathered outside, pointing and whispering. “How tragic, betraying her for thirty years… and then marrying someone else and having a kid.” “Yeah, and calling her ‘sister-in-law’ and claiming to be the twin brother. What a liar… absolute scum!” “Look at that woman all dolled up. She’s clearly no good. Probably slept her way to the top.” Sophia and George’s faces turned ashen as they clenched their fists. The next moment, he called the mental hospital impatiently. “Hello doctor, there’s a mentally ill person here. Please come take her away for treatment!” I shook my head like a rattle drum. “No… no!” “George, do you know how hard it was for me to find you?” I had put on the cleanest outfit from my closet, fixed my hair, and rushed over as fast as I could. Now he was accusing me of being mentally ill. I stood up and looked at George with tear-filled eyes. “You were the first person I ever loved, and the last. I did everything I could to care for your parents. But you conspired with them to deceive me. Doesn’t your conscience hurt at all?” 0

The doctors from the mental hospital got out of the ambulance and dragged me in. I was older now, and these doctors were strong young men. No matter how much I struggled, it was useless. “George, say something! Do you think locking me up will let you do whatever you want? Do you think it will change the fact that you’re George Grant?” I ranted and raved like a madwoman, cursing heaven and earth. But he watched coldly, as if nothing was happening. That’s how I was taken to the mental hospital. I heard their chilling voices in my ear. “Mr. Grant said to torture her to within an inch of her life. She’s old anyway, she won’t die.” “He also said she’s destroying his family, so we shouldn’t go easy on her.” As they spoke, they slowly took off their clothes. Only then did I realize: They weren’t from the mental hospital at all, but thugs hired by George. I curled up in the corner, hugging my knees and trembling. “Please, let me go. I’m just a weak woman. I came to find my husband. There must be some misunderstanding!” “Ahhhh!” A steel pipe struck my leg as smoke filled the air. “Begging won’t help. We’re just doing the job we were paid for!” Sweat poured down my forehead in big drops as I gritted my teeth through the pain. Did George really hate me this much? No matter how I begged, they showed no mercy. They only stopped when I passed out on the ground. Faintly, I heard them calling George. “Mr. Grant… we’ve beaten her pretty badly. About the money…” George laughed coldly on the other end. “Good job. My life is happy and perfect. She insisted on butting in, so she has only herself to blame!” Blood and tears mixed together, falling bitterly into my mouth. Oh heavens, I loved someone with all my heart and soul. Was that also wrong? I kept an empty home, caring dutifully for his parents. Is this really how it all ends? I gasped for air like a dying fish. The next moment, George called. “Sarah Newman, this is what happens when you insist on opposing me. If there’s a next time, don’t expect to keep your life!” “Everything between us is in the past. I’m happy now. Stop bothering me!” As he finished speaking, a coquettish female voice came through the phone. “George, your bath is ready. Come wash up.” After George hung up, A commotion arose outside the vehicle. A group of people with cameras started taking photos of me in my wretched state. Rotten eggs, kitchen waste, and all sorts of trash were thrown at my face. “Sisters, keep throwing! This woman ruined Sophia’s happiness!” “How dare an old hag like you try to compete! Shameless!” “They’re married with a son! Get lost already!” Foul-smelling juices clung to my body. I weakly protested in a small voice: “George and I were married first… It’s not my fault…” “I just gave him my whole heart…” I blacked out and woke up in the hospital. Opening my phone, I saw a flood of messages from Mrs. Grant. “Stop harassing us. Here’s $10,000 to end all ties between us!” “My son is married with his own family now. You can leave.”

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At Deer City International Airport, as the last flight of the day landed smoothly, Mia Collins rubbed her sore right shoulder and walked out of the air traffic control tower. Mia gazed thoughtfully at the heavy snow falling outside the floor-to-ceiling windows. Just moments ago, she had received a job offer from British Airways. In one month, she could go to England and become a pilot again. At that moment, her best friend Sophia Wilson called. “It’s not good, Mia. I heard that Jake Sanders’ old flame, Zoe Parker – you know, the one who competed with you for that special training spot in Australia – she’s back in the country. Word is the flight department is throwing her a welcome party,” said Sophia. As Mia’s colleague in the control tower and her best friend, Sophia was the only person in all of Deer City Aviation who knew that Jake and Mia were married. On the other end of the line, Sophia carefully asked, “Mia, Jake will definitely be there. Are you going?” Mia paused. Indeed, the entire Sanders Aviation belonged to Jake Sanders. Looking at the gradually darkening sky outside the window, Mia realized she hadn’t seen Jake for over a month. Their only interaction recently was when Jake was in the air and Mia was in the control tower. “I’ll go. You go first, I’ll be there a bit later,” Mia replied. When Mia arrived at the bar, it was already past 9 PM. She didn’t go in, but could vaguely see the scene inside through the glass door. Mia gently pushed the door open, creating just a small gap, but she could already hear people inside egging others on. “Mr. Sanders actually chose the dare today. Doesn’t he have to do the intertwined drink with our beautiful Zoe?” In the flirtatious atmosphere, Jake calmly picked up his glass and drank with the girl beside him. Zoe was facing the door and clearly saw Mia. A smug smile instantly spread across her stunning face, as if to say, “See? This is your husband.” Everyone clamored for the two to finish their drinks. Unexpectedly, Jake said nothing, took Zoe’s glass, and drained it in one gulp. “Oh my, Mr. Sanders is being so protective. No wonder his old flame is back in the country. That’s some serious impact. Don’t tell me we’ll be drinking wedding wine in a few days?” The guys joked shamelessly. Ironically, Jake didn’t deny it with even half a word. Mia stood there, her hand that was about to push the door stopped, and her thoughts suddenly went back to that year. Back then, Mia had just gotten pregnant and went to the bar late at night to pick up a drunk Jake. But at the private room door, she overheard words that kept her awake all night. “Jake, if you had to choose between Mia and Zoe, who would you pick?” Jake’s good friend asked this question, and Mia instantly tensed up. “Zoe.” That night, she wandered alone on the streets until dawn. Jake didn’t call even once. When dawn broke, Mia walked back to the villa and saw Jake passed out from drinking. From then on, their relationship suddenly cooled to freezing point. Mia had originally lost the courage to enter, but remembering Evelyn’s words, she still pushed the door open. The noisy private room suddenly fell silent. “Jake Sanders, I need to talk to you.” Mia didn’t even glance at Zoe, her gaze fixed firmly on Jake. Other colleagues started whispering. Jake stood up and pulled Mia outside.

The car hadn’t driven far when Jake became impatient. “What is it? What did you want to talk to me about?” Seeing Mia not speaking, Jake got a bit angry. “You said you had something to discuss with me, now you’re not talking? Mia, cat got your tongue?” Mia glanced at the driver and was about to speak when Jake’s phone rang. “Bro, Zoe seems to have gotten drunk. Can you come back and check on her?” Jake had the call on speakerphone, and Mia could hear every word clearly. Jake spoke coldly, “Since you have nothing to say, then don’t say it. Get out of the car. I’m going back to the bar.” Mia was stunned. The driver, Mr. Johnson, tried to smooth things over: “I can drive Mr. Sanders back to the bar first, then take Mrs. Sanders home.” Mia looked at the cold Jake and said, “No need. I’d like to walk for a bit.” After Mia got out of the car, she watched Jake’s car drive away, feeling particularly calm. This wasn’t the first time Jake had abandoned Mia. Two years ago, Jake accompanied Mia, who was three months pregnant, for a prenatal checkup. Halfway there, he got a call that Zoe had been in a car accident abroad. Jake panicked and slammed on the brakes, causing the car behind to rear-end them. Mia felt a faint pain in her belly but didn’t say anything. Mia never expected him to call his assistant to the scene with just one phone call, leaving behind a curt “Little Sun will be here soon,” before rushing straight to the airport. The belly pain that was originally just a dull ache turned into threatened miscarriage due to Jake’s actions. By the time Mia was sent to the hospital, the baby was already gone. “The marriage contract is for three years. If you don’t conceive a child for the Sanders family within three years, you will initiate the divorce. And you cannot disclose to others that you and Jake are married.” When Mia woke up, her mother-in-law Evelyn Sanders’ words were vivid in her mind. Mia’s father had once been a civilian airline captain, but died in a plane crash. That flight was originally supposed to be flown by Jake’s father, Richard Sanders. They had switched shifts, and Richard Sanders narrowly escaped disaster because of this. After that accident, Richard Sanders returned home to inherit the family business. Mia’s mother, who already had depression, couldn’t bear the blow and committed suicide. The Sanders family felt they owed the Collins family, so they adopted Mia. When the Sanders family first adopted Mia, her classmates at school often ostracized and mocked her. As long as Mia got first place, she would be accused of cheating. Every time, it was Jake who actively stood up to defend Mia. “Mia is part of the Sanders family, my own family. If you can’t stand it, get lost!” Jake would say. Jake’s mother Evelyn didn’t like Mia and felt that Mia’s father was simply unlucky. The Sanders family had no responsibility to raise Mia. But unable to argue against her husband and precious son, she could only accept it. Until Zoe’s appearance completely shattered Jake and Mia’s relationship.

Zoe confessed to Jake not long after enrolling in school. Jake didn’t agree, and Zoe thought it was because Mia was interfering. So she ganged up with several classmates to bully Mia. At first, Jake always protected Mia. Until the first semester of senior year, Zoe firmly insisted that Mia had drugged her water bottle and stolen her spot in the math competition. That time, Jake didn’t stand on Mia’s side. In their senior year of college, Mia refused the Sanders family’s connections and wanted to become a pilot on her own merits. There was only one spot for female pilots to go for special training in Australia. Mia and Zoe fought tooth and nail for it. But during a break, Zoe fell down the stairs and fractured her right hand. Zoe insisted that Mia had pushed her. It was a blind spot for the security cameras. Even though Mia firmly maintained that she hadn’t touched Zoe, no one believed her. Jake didn’t believe her either. Later, before Richard Sanders passed away, he arranged the marriage between Jake and Mia. Jake wasn’t happy about it, which made Mia feel he didn’t want to marry her. Jake’s mother was even more unwilling, which led to her later making a private marriage contract with Mia. …… Watching Jake’s car gradually disappear into the distance, the memories also slowly faded from Mia’s mind. Now Mia and Jake were more like strangers than strangers. “Hello, what’s the matter so late?” Mia called her mother-in-law Evelyn Sanders. “Mom, I’ll take care of the divorce as soon as possible.” There was silence on the other end for a few seconds before Mia heard Evelyn reply with a faint “Okay.” A month ago, Evelyn had already called Mia, urging her to initiate divorce proceedings with Jake. “When you first married Jake, we agreed that if you didn’t conceive an heir for the Sanders family within three years, you would initiate divorce after the three-year contract marriage ended. Mia, the Sanders family has raised you for over a decade, what exactly are you delaying for?” Evelyn’s words had always been like knives stabbing into Mia’s chest. But Mia could never bring herself to speak up, until Zoe’s return to the country. Mia slowly began, “Mom…” The moment she called out “Mom”, Mia choked up. She suddenly felt very tired. She crouched down and took a deep breath. “Mom… I remember all the kindness the Sanders family has shown me over the years. I will… try my best to repay it…” After saying this, Mia hung up the phone and buried her entire head in the crook of her arm. It started snowing again. Mia crouched on the ground for a long time, letting the snowflakes soak her body until she was shivering from the cold before standing up to call a cab. Of course, it was difficult to get a cab in the snow. Mia waited half an hour but no driver was willing to accept the ride. She slowly walked back to the villa alone. It was already 11 PM when she got home. Mia turned on her computer and typed out a divorce agreement word by word. The past decade or so flashed before her eyes – from losing both parents to moving into the Sanders home; from being carefully protected by Jake to Zoe appearing in their lives; from marrying Jake to the two of them becoming completely estranged. Mia was exhausted. Mia, what are you still hoping for? You should have woken up long ago. All of this should have ended long ago.

After drafting the divorce agreement, Mia fell into a groggy sleep. In the middle of the night, Jake stumbled drunkenly into the master bedroom and turned on the light. Mia groggily got up. “What’s wrong?” “What did you come to the bar to find me for today?” Jake was drunk. “Let’s talk when you’re sober.” Mia pressed the switch by the bed, plunging the room back into darkness. Click. Jake turned the light on again. Then there was a loud crash. Mia poked her head out from under the covers again. The crystal ball that had been on the TV stand in the master bedroom had been smashed by Jake. “Weren’t you just jealous that Zoe is back, so you came to the bar to see what exactly I was doing with her?” Jake’s alcohol-laden breath spewed these words, the air filled with the smell of liquor. Mia walked over to the pile of glass shards, crouched down, and began picking up the pieces one by one. “This crystal ball was the first gift you gave me when I got into the top high school at 15. Don’t you remember?” Mia’s voice was shaking. Over the years, as the rift between them grew, Jake rarely gave her anything. Only this crystal ball, Mia had always cherished. “It’s just a crystal ball. I’ll buy you another one later if you want.” Jake’s anger subsided a bit when he saw Mia was about to cry. “It’s just Zoe Parker, yet she can make you smash the gift you gave me. She really is special to you.” Mia laughed coldly. Hearing this, Jake’s temper flared up again. “Mia, aren’t you just jealous that Zoe is a pilot now while you’re only an air traffic controller? It’s not like you’ve only been jealous of her for a day or two. Otherwise you wouldn’t have pushed her down the stairs.” After saying this, Jake left the master bedroom. Mia’s shoulders shook. So in Jake’s eyes, this was the kind of person she was. Mia held back her tears and put the crystal ball shards in a drawer, unable to sleep all night. The next morning, Mia came to the living room and saw Jake eating breakfast while on the phone. She took out the divorce agreement, flipped to the last page, and brought it to Jake. Jake didn’t look at any of the content, just signed his name at the signature line. Even after hanging up the phone, he didn’t think to read the agreement carefully. “It will take effect in one month.” Mia said, taking the agreement and walking towards the second floor master bedroom. Jake looked at his phone while muttering, “Why is the stray animal agreement expiring so early this year? Isn’t it usually at the end of the year?” Jake had no idea that in just one month, Mia would have nothing to do with him anymore.

Mia got ready and prepared to go to work. Arriving at the control tower, Sophia saw Mia didn’t look right but didn’t dare ask what happened last night. She just reminded Mia there would be many flights today, so it might be busy. Mia changed into her work uniform and officially started her shift. The weather conditions were very good today, and all the flights were taking off and landing smoothly. Unexpectedly, near noon, Mia noticed something was off with Southern Airlines Flight 8744 that was landing. Following her instinct, she grabbed binoculars and walked to the window. Their work area was on the 19th floor of the tower. Mia could vaguely see that the right rear tire of Southern 8744 looked strange. Mia quickly returned to her workstation and picked up the headset. “Southern 8744, Deer City Tower. Your right rear tire appears to have a suspected blowout. Please verify immediately.” The captain of Southern 8744 immediately replied, “We have a blown tire on the right side, Southern 8744.” “Roger that. Maintain heading 026, altitude 1500. Please state your intentions.” The situation was urgent. While maintaining contact with Southern 8744, Mia immediately notified ground control and ground crew. “Runway 18R temporarily closed for use. Southern 8744 has a blown tire. Ground crew please prepare emergency vehicles.” While the tower was in a frenzy, another plane requested landing clearance. Mia checked the schedule and saw it was Sanders Aviation Flight 9523, piloted by Zoe Parker. If she remembered correctly, this was Zoe’s first flight after returning to the country. And Sanders Aviation was the Sanders family’s airline company. It seemed Zoe immediately became captain after returning, thanks to Jake Sanders’ help. Sure enough, Zoe’s voice soon came through the headphones. “Deer City Approach, Sanders 9523, altitude 3800, request clearance to land on Runway 18R.” Without hesitation, Mia denied Zoe’s request. “Sanders 9523, Runway 18R is currently closed. Deer City Tower.” Mia said this and continued focusing her attention on the aircraft with the blown tire, Southern 8744. “Southern 8744, what’s your current situation?” Mia was a bit worried when Southern 8744 didn’t respond. She checked the schedule and saw that today’s captain on Southern 8744 was a newly promoted captain. “Southern 8744, Deer City Tower, please respond if you copy.” Mia didn’t receive a reply from Southern 8744, but heard Zoe’s impatient urging instead. “Deer City Approach, Sanders 9523, then request clearance to land on Runway 16L.” It wasn’t that Mia was deliberately making things difficult for Zoe. Runway 16L happened to be closed for maintenance as well. Mia could only answer truthfully, “Runway 16L is not available either, Sanders 9523.” But Zoe was clearly dissatisfied with this answer. This was her first flight back, and landing was already not going smoothly. Her patience was exhausted. “Deer City Tower, please advise. Give me a runway to land on, Sanders 9523.” Zoe’s tone sounded very unpleasant. At this moment, Southern 8744 finally responded to Mia. The captain of Southern 8744 said they had finished dumping fuel and were ready to descend, then land. Mia let out a long breath of relief. She reported Southern 8744’s status to ground control in real time and began arranging a runway for Sanders 9523. “Sanders 9523, please report current altitude. Deer City Tower.” This time it was Zoe who didn’t respond to Mia. After much back and forth and waiting, Zoe’s Sanders 9523 finally landed safely on the runway at Deer City International Airport. Mia thought the morning’s work was over, but unexpectedly heard Zoe angrily say, “Which air traffic controller is on duty at Deer City Tower today? I want to file a complaint.” Mia was stunned for a moment, then unhesitatingly stated her own name. She heard Zoe snort coldly through the headphones. “Huh, Mia Collins, it’s really you. No wonder.” Mia naturally couldn’t stand this sarcasm. “If you have any objections to the tower’s instructions, you can file a complaint against me.”

Sure enough, Mia was called to Mr. Chen’s office. “Mia, do you know there was a pregnant woman on Sanders 9523? Now because of the delayed landing, she went into premature labor and is hemorrhaging heavily. The family wants to file a complaint against our airport.” Mia had a clear conscience. She hadn’t deliberately delayed just because the captain of Sanders 9523 was Zoe. “Southern 8744 had a blown right rear tire. The situation was urgent. If not handled promptly, all the passengers on that flight would have been in danger. I was also monitoring the takeoffs and landings of other flights simultaneously and didn’t neglect anything.” Mia calmly explained, her emotions stable. Mr. Chen rubbed his forehead. “Now Zoe has received a complaint and is insisting you didn’t arrange a landing runway promptly. She’s clearly trying to shift the blame to you.” Mia handed the coffee on the desk to Mr. Chen. “The leaders can review the surveillance footage of the situation at any time. I have a clear conscience and am not afraid of her shifting blame.” With that, Mia returned to her station to work. During her break, Mia went to the cafeteria to buy coffee. Unexpectedly, while in line, the person in front suddenly stepped back, causing Mia’s coffee to spill on her blouse. “Ah…” The girl who got splashed turned around, meeting Mia’s apologetic gaze. It was actually Zoe? Mia instantly came to her senses. “I’m so sorry, I bumped into you. Let me help you clean up.” Mia was about to take out some wet wipes to help Zoe clean up when Zoe suddenly knocked Mia’s coffee to the ground. “You again, Mia Collins. Are you deliberately trying to make things difficult for me today?” It was clearly Zoe who had stepped back into Mia, but the way she said it made it seem like Mia had bumped into her. “I didn’t do it on purpose. Besides, you were standing still, why did you suddenly step back?” Mia didn’t back down and quickly retorted. “Don’t think I don’t know. When I was landing earlier, you deliberately didn’t assign me a runway, almost getting me grounded. Mia Collins, what exactly are you trying to do?” Zoe looked furious. “I made no mistakes in the tower control procedures this morning. As for you getting complained about, that’s your problem. I’ll compensate you for a new uniform later.” Mia said, turning to leave. Unexpectedly, Zoe grabbed her and poured her own coffee on Mia. Taking advantage of Mia’s shock, she slapped Mia across the face. Colleagues nearby who couldn’t stand by any longer rushed over to pull Zoe away. “Captain Parker, let’s talk this out. How can you hit someone?” Mia held her face and looked up. The person speaking was the co-pilot of Sanders 9523, who used to be Jake’s apprentice. But Zoe wouldn’t let it go. “You were there during landing today. She deliberately retaliated against me for complaining about her earlier. Now I’m the one getting complained about by passengers. Slapping her is getting off easy.” Zoe was known for her loud voice. More and more colleagues gathered around. Mia had never suffered such humiliation in her life. She was about to hit back when her raised hand was grabbed by another hand.

“What are you doing? Still want to fight?” Mia looked closely and saw that the person stopping her from retaliating was her husband, Jake Sanders. Although they had entered the divorce cooling-off period according to procedure, they were still legally married. Mia felt extremely wronged. Her own husband watched her get slapped in public, yet once again took Zoe’s side. Seeing Jake arrive, Zoe immediately hid behind him with teary eyes, looking like a damsel in distress. At this moment, Mia just felt disgusted. “I’ve heard about the landing incident this morning. Mia, can’t you separate personal and professional matters? Don’t take out your personal grudges at work.” Jake looked coldly at Mia. Every word he said was to vent anger for Zoe. Of all the airport staff, only Sophia, who wasn’t present, knew Mia was Jake’s wife. This scene looked more like Mia had stolen Zoe’s man. Colleagues around started gossiping. “I heard Mr. Sanders threw Zoe a welcome party last night. They were very intimate. People are saying they’re together now.” “Yeah, I heard Mr. Sanders hasn’t dated for years because he was waiting for his soulmate Zoe to return. Now they can soar through the skies together. Ah, they really are a perfect match. I ship it!” All these gossip voices rushed into Mia’s ears. She couldn’t bear to listen anymore. The slap Zoe gave her earlier made her dizzy, and her ear seemed to start ringing. She didn’t bother with Jake and Zoe behind her anymore, nor did she refute the rumors. She just wanted to leave the airport as quickly as possible. She went home and packed a few things, planning to stay at the mountain villa for a while. It would be a good chance to prepare her English and courses for training in England. Finally having the opportunity to be reborn as a pilot, Mia didn’t want to waste any more time or energy on these irrelevant people and things. The next day after work, Mia drove straight to the mountain villa. But when she opened the front door, she saw the person she least wanted to see. “Zoe Parker? What are you doing here?” Mia was stunned.

Zoe sprawled casually on the sofa. “Why can’t I be here?” “This villa is in my name. Who gave you permission to stay here?” Mia demanded. This was Jake’s wedding gift to Mia. Back then, Jake still had Mia in his heart. As newlyweds, they couldn’t go abroad due to the pandemic, so the couple chose to honeymoon at the villa. They got snowed in during a blizzard and ended up staying at the villa for two whole months. Not long after leaving the villa, Mia got pregnant. Later, their relationship cooled to freezing point, and Mia never stayed there again. “I’ll give you half an hour to pack your things and get out of my villa. Otherwise I’ll report you for trespassing.” But Zoe didn’t budge at all. “You want me to move out just like that? Mia Collins, I’ve been living here for over a month already, long before you knew I was back in the country.” Zoe pulled open her collar, revealing dense hickeys on her chest. She then led Mia to the master bedroom upstairs and took out a box of condoms from the nightstand. “On my body, in every corner of this villa, there are traces of Jake and I making love. If you want to see, I can show you slowly. Mia Collins, do you think these can be erased just because you say so?” Mia looked at Zoe’s smug face and felt nauseous. “Why are you so comfortable being the other woman?” She resisted the urge to hit Zoe and turned to leave the villa. “Mia, it’s so late, and the snow is so heavy outside. I don’t mind if you stay in the guest room for the night.” Zoe sat smiling on the sofa, completely taking on the air of the lady of the house. “My villa is already dirty. I don’t want dirty things anymore. If you insist on staying here, just wait to talk to my lawyer.” Mia said, leaving with her luggage. The snow outside was getting heavier. Mia had only driven about 3 kilometers when her car broke down. She could only call a tow truck company. But with the heavy snow blocking the mountain roads, the tow truck couldn’t make it up either. With the car stalled, there was no more heat. Mia felt so cold. She curled up in the driver’s seat, her whole body shaking. After who knows how long, Mia dozily fell asleep. In her dream, Mia went back to 9th grade. The school organized a camping trip. Mia and her classmates went to catch fireflies at night and got lost. In the end, when the school couldn’t contact the parents, Jake directly sent the family helicopter to pick her up from the mountains. ……. When Mia woke up again, she found herself lying in a hospital bed. “How did I end up here?” Mia woke up to see busy nurses around her. A nurse replied, “You passed out in your car. The tow truck company brought you to the hospital.” Mia held her dizzy head. The nurse said with concern, “You’re a bit anemic and have low blood sugar. It’s best to stay for observation.” At this moment, another nurse said, “Hey, did you hear about that girl who slit her wrists in the next room? Last night in the heavy snow, her boyfriend sent the family helicopter directly to pick her up.” Helicopter? Mia was stunned for a moment hearing those three words. “That’s the Sanders family of Deer City. The entire Sanders Aviation belongs to them. What’s one helicopter to them?”

Mia got out of bed and went to the next room. She heard Jake’s reproachful voice coming from inside. “Zoe, can you not be so impulsive next time? I just said the heavy snow blocked the roads so I couldn’t come see you today. How could you do something to hurt yourself like this?” Mia hadn’t heard Jake speak so gently in a very long time. “If Mia hadn’t come to the villa and called me a homewrecker, I wouldn’t have wanted to see you so badly. I’m sorry, Jake.” Zoe pressed her whole body against Jake. “She’s really getting more and more out of line.” Jake gently hugged Zoe, comforting her softly. Mia couldn’t listen anymore. She quickly checked out of the hospital and stayed at Sophia’s place for a few days. Five days later, Mia returned home. As soon as she reached the front door, she saw the housekeeper Mrs. Johnson’s strange look. Mia had an ominous feeling. Sure enough, as soon as she entered, she saw Zoe eating in the dining room, her face full of satisfaction and enjoyment. Needless to say, this must have been approved by Jake. “Mia’s back? Oh right, I just got out of the hospital. The doctor said I need to rest and recover. Jake couldn’t bear to let me stay in a hotel alone, so he brought me back here.” Jake saw Mia’s look of contempt and came over guiltily to take her luggage, explaining, “Where have you been these past few days? Why didn’t you tell me you weren’t coming home? Zoe hasn’t found a suitable place yet, so she’s just staying with us for a few days.” Mia coldly moved Jake’s hand away. “The master bedroom is definitely dirty now. I’ll go to the guest room.” Mia moved all her things to the guest room, planning to stay there from now on. She started the process of selling the mountain villa. Remembering Evelyn saying “The Sanders family has treated you well all these years”, she felt she could never repay what she owed the Sanders family. The visa for England went through exceptionally smoothly. These days, Zoe lived in Jake and Mia’s home, living each day like the lady of the Sanders house. Mia left early and returned late every day, ignoring Zoe and Jake’s existence whenever she came and went. The mountain villa sold successfully. Along with some handbags and jewelry she had, Mia prepared a card with 60 million dollars. A week before leaving, Mia found a piece of paper under the sink in the first floor bathroom. Curious, she picked it up and opened it. It turned out to be an ultrasound report for a pregnant woman, with Zoe Parker’s name clearly written as the patient. The moment she saw those three words, Mia felt like something snapped in her brain. Jake Sanders, you really are efficient. In such a short time since Zoe returned to the country, she was already pregnant with his child. At this moment, Zoe’s voice came from the living room. “Mrs. Johnson, what are we having for dinner tonight?” Mia put the ultrasound report in her pocket and walked calmly to the living room. Zoe suddenly turned around, clearly startled. She clutched her chest and screamed, “My god, where did you come from? You scared me to death.” Zoe glared at Mia and tossed her purse aside, sitting down on the sofa. She twirled the ring on her finger while watching Mia take out the ultrasound report. “What’s this about? Whose child is it?” Mia questioned. Zoe snorted coldly. “Mia Collins, what do you think?”

Mia put the ultrasound report on the coffee table. “Since you’re pregnant, don’t do stupid things like slitting your wrists again… Take good care of the Sanders heir.” Zoe said arrogantly, “You saw how worried Jake was about me. I just wanted to test him a little, and he immediately sent a helicopter to pick me up. He even scolded me for being impulsive, saying I almost miscarried.” Mia smiled helplessly. “That’s great. Anyway, this whole farce is about to end soon.” “Mia Collins, Jake Sanders married you for three years. Those three years were stolen from me by you. You’re just a thief. You stole my competition spot in high school, my outstanding graduate title in college, and then the Australia training spot. Jake is mine. I’m just taking back what’s rightfully mine now.” Zoe spoke righteously. If Mia didn’t know her so well, she might have believed her. Hearing all this, Mia didn’t argue or refute. She just gave Zoe a look of disdain before leaving. That disdainful look made Zoe extremely uncomfortable. Mia Collins actually just walked away like that, without saying a single word in her defense. Deer City International Airport Control Tower. While handing over work to Sophia, Mia told her about recent events. Sophia was so angry her eyebrows went all crooked, and she cursed for a full ten minutes. “Mia, why didn’t you slap that bitch a few times? You just left like that? That’s letting her off too easy! And what about how she framed you before? Aren’t you going to tell Jake about that?” Sophia was truly furious that Mia, the rightful Mrs. Sanders, was being displaced by a homewrecker. Mia looked out the window and shook her head. Sophia sighed helplessly. “Those two really deserve each other!” But Mia just smiled. She gazed at the vast whiteness outside. She truly didn’t care anymore. Now Mia only wanted to start a new life, one that truly belonged to her. As the year end approached, Sanders Aviation held its annual party as scheduled. This time, Sanders Aviation unprecedentedly invited other airport departments. Their air traffic control center was among those invited. Mia originally didn’t plan to go. There were only two days left before she went abroad, and she didn’t even have time to pack. But Sophia disagreed. “After that big scene in the cafeteria, if you don’t go, people will really think you’re the mistress who ruined the scumbag and bitch’s relationship. You must go!” At the party, Mia stood alone with some fruit and a drink, about to head to the balcony to eat, when she overheard people whispering nearby. “Isn’t that Mia Collins from the control tower? Today is Sanders Aviation’s event, yet she has the nerve to show up? Talk about thick-skinned.” Mia glanced sideways. The one gossiping was an intern from the ground crew department. “Exactly. They say she’s the mistress. I heard she even went to the Sanders’ mountain villa that day, but got stranded there in the heavy snow. What a joke.” Another girl sneered. Sophia had somehow appeared by Mia’s side, her face already red with anger. “This is outrageous. I wasn’t there last time, but I won’t let them bully you like this again!” Mia tried to hold Sophia back, but it was too late. Sophia smashed her glass on the ground, instantly drawing everyone’s attention. Sophia walked up to the two gossiping girls and said, “You’d rather be gossipmongers than decent people, huh?” The two girls were stunned by Sophia’s aggressive stance, momentarily frozen in place. Mia stepped forward to pull Sophia back. “Let it go. It’s better to avoid trouble.” Sophia shook off Mia’s arm and started berating the girls directly. “You don’t know anything about the situation, yet you’re spreading rumors here? Be careful, or I’ll sue you for defamation!” Although Sophia was just a small-time air traffic controller, her father was the second-in-command at Deer City International Airport. She wasn’t afraid of causing trouble at all. One of the gossiping girls rolled her eyes. “A mistress is a mistress. Go ahead and sue. I’d like to see who the real mistress is!” As soon as she finished speaking, Sophia grabbed an untouched glass of orange juice from nearby and threw it directly in the girl’s face. Seeing the situation escalating, Mia hurriedly tried to pull Sophia away again. “Sophia, stop it. This is the annual party, it’s not appropriate! Listen to me!” Mia was about to drag Sophia away when she saw Zoe striding towards them.

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