Author: Momo Chan

On the day I got my acceptance letters from all the top schools, my billionaire dad told me to pick a fiancé from the roster of brilliant young men he’d sponsored. In my last life, I chose Trevor, my long-time crush. Who knew that after we married, he’d sell me to the dark web, where I was brutally dismembered and tortured! My daughter, Lily, begged him on her knees, but he choked her to death right in front of me. “Daisy! If you hadn’t used your dad’s sponsorship to force my hand, I never would’ve missed out on Chloe! She wouldn’t have left heartbroken and died in that car crash out in the middle of nowhere!” “If I had to choose again, I’d throw *everything* away just to never be with you!” Trevor stomped on Lily’s lifeless body, then, amidst my screams, he tossed her into the street, leaving her to be crushed by passing vehicles. The entire process of my torture and murder was recorded, turned into a video on the dark web, and went viral, racking up hundreds of thousands of views. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day my college applications were finalized, choosing my fiancé. I ignored Trevor’s eager gaze, my finger shooting out to point at Julian, the guy with the absolute worst reputation: “I want him.”

Dad’s gaze swept over the line of men before him, finally settling on me: “Daisy, your old man isn’t getting any younger. I don’t know how much longer I’ll be here to look after you. These are all young men I’ve watched grow up, carefully selected. Their character and capabilities are… *barely* up to your standards. No matter who you choose, your dad will bless your decision.” Everyone held their breath, their tension palpable. If I picked them, it meant a life of unimaginable wealth and influence, a smooth ride forever. I looked at Trevor. The moment our eyes met, my fists clenched involuntarily. The phantom pain of the inhuman torture from my past life still lingered. Just a flicker of that memory in my mind was enough to send shivers down my spine. I scoffed, my gaze shifting to Julian, who stood a little apart. After I died in my last life, Trevor ordered my body to be thrown into a junkyard and completely destroyed. It was Julian who spent a fortune, hiring people to sneak my body out, ensuring I received a proper burial and could finally rest in peace. That kindness, I never forgot. In a single breath, I’d made my decision. I turned, meeting Dad’s expectant gaze with a small smile: “Dad, the person I want…” Trevor was already poised, ready to step forward. After all, everyone knew I’d been relentlessly chasing Trevor for years. My husband, it could only be him. “Is Julian.” My finger landed squarely in front of *him*. “I accept— *what*?!” Trevor’s head snapped up, disbelief etched on his face. My dad, meanwhile, shot straight up from his chair: “Are you out of your mind? Julian? He’s a notorious playboy who’s been caught with girls since his freshman year of high school! How could you possibly choose him?” My expression didn’t falter: “Dad, you said you’d bless whoever I chose.” I already knew the truth about that whole thing. Trevor blurted it out when he was drunk in my last life. Julian never did anything like that. Trevor just got worried that Julian, who was better than him in every single way, would earn Dad’s favor instead. It was all a lie. A nasty rumor. A complete and utter scoundrel. My dad stared at me for so long, I thought he was going to pass out from anger. Finally, he grudgingly nodded: “Fine, fine. It’s just an engagement, not a marriage contract. If you want to have your fun, go for it. Your old man can always bail you out, no matter what.” He agreed! A wave of excitement washed over me. I honestly thought I’d have to argue more. Barely able to contain my excitement, I quickly reached out to give Dad’s shoulders a grateful squeeze. In this life, as long as I could get rid of that lecherous leech, it was a victory.

The moment I stepped out of the mansion, Trevor grabbed my wrist from behind: “Daisy! What the hell do you think you’re doing?!” His grip was too strong, making my face twist in pain: “Are you out of your mind?! If you’re having a bad day, go get a rabies shot, don’t come here acting like a rabid dog!” Trevor’s voice was practically spitting through clenched teeth: “Everyone knows you’ve been shamelessly chasing me since we were kids, begging to marry me! Now you have the perfect chance, and you’re throwing it away? Isn’t this just your pathetic attempt at playing hard to get?” I actually laughed, I was so mad. I’d never met anyone so utterly shameless: “I can’t believe your delusions have gotten this bad. I chose Julian because I *like* Julian. I didn’t choose you because the sight of you makes me want to puke, got it?” Trevor, naturally, didn’t believe it. After all, half an hour ago I was still calling him ‘my dearest Trevor’ non-stop. Now, suddenly turning on him like this? Anyone would think something fishy was going on. Just as he was about to say more, I was suddenly pulled into a warm embrace: “Looks like some dogs just don’t understand human words. My fiancée has made it perfectly clear she wants nothing to do with you, yet you’re still clinging on. Your hide must be thicker than a rhino’s.” Because of me, everyone in my household used to treat Trevor with kid gloves, giving him special deference. When had he ever been so utterly humiliated? Trevor’s face flushed crimson with rage: “Do you honestly think she wants to marry *you*? She’s just using you to make me jealous! I saw through her pathetic little games ages ago!” “Daisy, Chloe was right! You arrogant, spoiled rich girls are all just leeches, the scum of society!” SMACK! I swung my arm in a wide arc, my palm connecting squarely with his face. The force sent him stumbling backward: “You dared to hit me?!” It was the first time I’d seen someone’s eyes bug out quite so dramatically, like they were about to pop out of their sockets. I shook out my wrist: “Hitting you? That was the *least* of it. Looking at how lively and energetic you are, you don’t exactly seem like someone who needs charity, do you?” “You’re right, we *are* scum. And naturally, money from the family of scum like us simply *cannot* be used. So, for your future college life, you’ll have to work extra hard, won’t you?” The moment he heard I was revoking his sponsorship, Trevor panicked: “How dare you?! I’m a top scholar!” Julian snorted a laugh: “Oh, right, *county-level* first place is also called a ‘top scholar,’ isn’t it? Such high *value*.” Trevor glared daggers at Julian: “I’m talking to *her*. Do you have a license to butt in?” Julian just flexed his wrist: “Looking for a beating?” Trevor wanted to retort, but then he looked at Julian, who stood a good half-head taller than him. He grudgingly snapped his mouth shut. And stormed away. “So *that’s* the kind of guy you used to like?” The smirk still hadn’t left Julian’s lips. I looked at him, slowly speaking: “Your husband.” ? Julian fell silent. Heh. Go on, laugh. If you mock me again, he’s *your* husband now too. Fair enough, right?

The next day, as I stepped out of the mansion, I spotted Chloe and Trevor at the gates, practically draped all over each other, playing the part of lovesick puppies. Chloe’s eyes were brimming with tears, as if she’d suffered some unimaginable injustice, as she sobbed uncontrollably, nestled in Trevor’s arms: “How could she humiliate you like that? My Trevor is the best man in the entire world!” Trevor sighed dramatically: “Rich people like them are just spoiled rotten. They have no idea how to respect anyone. She’s probably just trying some new trick to get my attention, but I saw through her disgusting little schemes ages ago. She just makes me sick!” Chloe bit her lip, nodding softly: “Trevor, I’m worried she’ll deliberately cause trouble for you… After all, people like them, what *wouldn’t* they do?” Trevor scoffed: “She won’t dare. All I have to do is ignore her for a couple of days, and she’ll come crawling back to beg for my attention.” I leaned against the doorway, casually shattering his little fantasy: “Oh, really?” Trevor heard my voice and, as if on instinct, immediately put some space between himself and Chloe. But seeing Chloe’s stunned expression, he realized his reaction was a bit too obvious. To save face, he snapped at me: “Who told you to eavesdrop on us?!” I raised an eyebrow: “This is *my* house. Do I need to report my movements to an outsider like you? Oh, and by the way, my dad has officially cut ties with your sponsorship. Isn’t it a bit awkward for you to still be hanging around *our* house?” My eyes curved into little crescents as I smiled, instructing the housekeeper to pack up all his *pathetic* belongings and toss them out. The housekeeper initially just put the bag on the floor, playing along, since I’d pulled this stunt plenty of times before when Trevor and I fought. And I’d always ended up meekly helping him carry his stuff back inside. It had gotten so bad that even the housekeeper thought I couldn’t live without him. Trevor glanced at the bag on the ground, frowning: “Why is this all there is? Where are my watches and shoes?” I smirked: “Those? I bought them. What makes you think you have any right to take them? You’re not even worthy.” I had never spoken to him with such venom before. Trevor’s disgusted expression finally wavered, a hint of something else surfacing: “Alright, stop messing around. You’re just upset because you saw me with Chloe, right? Fine, I’ll make her leave.” With that, he started to pick up the bag, intending to go back inside. But I extended my foot, blocking his path. My expression was no longer casual: “I didn’t realize the last name of this house had changed to ‘Trevor.’ Since you’re all so loyal to young master Trevor, you can pack your bags and leave with him.” The housekeeper, hearing she was about to be fired, was too terrified to pretend anymore. She swiftly picked up his pathetic bundle and sent it flying with a kick. Clothes and personal items spilled everywhere. Before Trevor could even react, Chloe couldn’t stand it anymore. She put her hands on her hips, striking a pose of righteous indignation, and demanded: “How can you bully people like this?!” She was half a head shorter than me; I had to look down to meet her gaze. Honestly, such a bother. “Do you really think you have the right to speak to *me*?” That single sentence utterly shattered Chloe’s fragile self-esteem. Right, if it weren’t for Trevor… …she would never have even seen me in her entire life. It was the truth, but she couldn’t handle it. Her big eyes immediately filled with tears: “How could you say that to me…?” So, I’m supposed to baby you now? Idiots truly do attract other idiots, don’t they? Seeing his beloved crying, Trevor felt even more humiliated. He bellowed at me: “How did you become like this? You’re absolutely impossible! Isn’t all this just to make me marry you? Fine! I’ll marry you! Just stop bothering Chloe! I’ll do anything you want!” He looked like a martyr, which utterly melted Chloe’s heart: “Trevor, I don’t want you to give up so much for me…” Trevor gazed at her adoringly: “As long as you’re well, I’m well…” Honestly, it made me want to puke. “Trevor, I don’t recall ever saying I wanted to marry you.” Trevor sneered: “Stop joking around. Don’t I know you? You love me so much, of course you’d marry me. Stop pretending.” I shrugged: “Sorry, but I should warn you, you might want to move.” He reflexively turned his head. And collided squarely with Julian’s fist. His nose bled, gushing a good ten feet. Hah. Spectacular. “Hearing dogs bark first thing in the morning. So annoying.” Trevor lay on the ground, unable to get up, too weak to even retaliate. Julian frowned: “Even more useless than I thought.” Smiling, I took his hand and led him back inside. Once we were alone, he finally voiced the question on his mind: “I know you only got engaged to me to get back at him, but as long as you need me, I’ll be right here by your side. And if… if one day you grow to hate me, I’ll just leave on my own. I won’t make it difficult for you…” What was with that aggrieved look? Like *I* was the one who wronged *him*. Anyone would think I’d betrayed him. I smiled, leaning closer: “What if I never hate you?” His ears instantly flushed red: “Then… then I’ll be with you forever.” My little innocent. He’s quite the sweetheart, isn’t he?

Days later, a phone call shattered my peaceful life once more: “Ms. Daisy, Mr. Trevor has run up a tab here more than three times, totaling over fifty thousand dollars. When can you come settle his bill?” I raised an eyebrow: “What does his bill have to do with me? Didn’t you know he’s been kicked out of my family’s home?” The person on the other end sounded surprised: “But he said to just call you directly for the money, and that you’d definitely pay…” I rubbed my temples: “And you just take his word for it? Do you have *any* critical thinking skills? He was just some hanger-on my dad found for me. Why would he have any right to spend *my* money?” The call was abruptly disconnected. I immediately sent a message to all the shops I was familiar with: Trevor’s bills have nothing to do with me. Do not harass me. Within minutes, Trevor’s call came in. The moment I answered, he immediately launched into an indignant tirade: “Chloe, are you insane?! Why won’t you pay my bills?! I’m giving you an out here, don’t be ungrateful!” An out? As if I needed one. “Are we close? And besides, why would a man of *your* principles ever spend a woman’s money? I’m just looking out for your reputation, aren’t I?” From the other end of the line, Chloe’s voice suddenly chimed in: “Is it settled? Those shops are calling *me* now, demanding payment! Where are we going to get all that money?!” No wonder he’d blown through so much money in just a few days. So he was trying to impress his little girlfriend. Pathetic. Trevor’s voice got frantic: “I don’t care what game you’re playing! I’m ordering you to pay those bills right now! Chloe’s been crying hysterically because of all the debt collectors! You need to buy her some jewelry and go apologize to her immediately!” Jewelry too? How about a good slap across the face instead? Chloe was still putting on her pathetic act on the other end: “It’s okay, Trevor. I know Daisy hates me, and I can understand if she doesn’t care about me. It’s all my fault for dragging you into this.” Trevor sighed again. His voice held a tenderness I’d never heard directed at me. I didn’t want to watch their pathetic little love drama unfold, so I clicked my tongue: “Anything else?” My cold indifference made Trevor’s heart skip a beat. He sensed something was off with me, and he knew it wasn’t a good sign. “Playing hard to get has its limits, Daisy. You’re just going to make me hate you even more.” I honestly laughed out loud. “Then do me a favor and hate me for the rest of your life. And never contact me again. You make me sick.” He tried to speak, but I just hung up. Seconds later, another call came in. I was about to hang up, but then I saw the name on the screen. I immediately changed my mind: “Hello?” “Is this Trevor’s guardian? His tuition hasn’t been paid, and the deadline is fast approaching. Is he still attending classes this semester?” It was an administrator from a top university. Trevor’s tuition used to be covered by my dad. Even though our family paid for all his living expenses—food, rent, everything—my dad still sent him a regular allowance. It wasn’t that he didn’t have money. He just wanted to use the tuition as leverage to make me beg. What a joke. If he didn’t attend school, the only future he’d be ruining was his own. What did that have to do with me? “Actually, we’ve already decided to have him withdrawn. Sorry for the trouble.” The administrator sounded surprised. Trevor was, after all, a promising student. She admitted she’d called Trevor before, but he’d just haughtily declared: “Get the money from the Davis family. If they don’t pay the tuition, I’m not going.” At the time, she thought it was just idle threats. Now, it seemed he was serious about dropping out. The withdrawal paperwork was processed quickly. Meanwhile, Trevor, the clueless idiot, proudly dragged Chloe along on the first day of classes, ready to register. But the admissions officer stared at him for a long moment before finally speaking: “Didn’t you already withdraw?” Trevor froze on the spot. When Trevor was sent packing from the university, looking like a whipped dog, I was having breakfast with Julian, our arms linked.

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My daughter held up her drawing book, pointing at the row of cars parked in our garage, asking which one she should draw. That’s when I found out her kindergarten had assigned homework: little ones had to draw their family car. And write a sentence: “My dad’s car is a XX brand, and he drives this car every day to take me to kindergarten.” My brows furrowed at this assignment. Was this just a sneaky way to peek into our financial standing? I knelt down, stroking Daisy’s head. “Draw whichever one you like best, sweetie.” Daisy thought for a long time, then finally said, “I don’t like any of them. I like the little pickup truck the bunny dad drives in the cartoon.” She handed in her homework, expecting praise from her teacher, but instead, she faced constant targeting. I called Mr. Harrison, the principal, to complain, but Ms. Thorne only escalated her behavior. She even started live-streaming, portraying my daughter as a spoiled, bratty kid, leading to her being cyberbullied by thousands online.

When I got home that evening, Daisy didn’t rush over like usual when she heard me unlock the door. I called her name a few times, but there was no answer. The clock hands pointed to eight. Usually, by this time, she’d be on the couch, watching her favorite cartoon. Mrs. Davis hurried down from upstairs. “Ms. Sterling, you’re back.” I handed her my coat, asking, “Where’s Daisy?” “She’s asleep, ma’am.” “So early?” Mrs. Davis explained, “She looked a bit off when she came back from kindergarten. She went straight to her room the moment she got back and didn’t even eat dinner.” My brows knitted with worry, afraid she might be sick. I went upstairs and gently pushed open her door. The person on the bed, hearing the movement, turned over, pulling back the covers to look at me. “Mommy.” I sat by her bed, turned on the night light, and felt her forehead. “What’s wrong, sweetie? Are you not feeling well?” Daisy shook her head. Feeling her forehead, confirming her temperature was normal, my heart finally eased. My gaze was drawn to the drawing book on her nightstand. “Are you drawing? What did you draw? Can Mommy see?” She hesitated for a moment, then nodded, saying uncertainly, “My drawing isn’t very good.” “Nonsense! Mommy thinks your drawings are the most beautiful in the world, darling.” I flipped through the drawing book, only to find the last few pages filled with all sorts of cars. The drawings grew more agitated, more chaotic with each page. Until the very last page, messy, tangled lines completely buried the picture beneath. I instantly knew something was wrong. Daisy was always so emotionally stable; she’d never expressed herself like this before. I helped her sit upright, asking with concern, “Tell Mommy, why did you draw so many cars?” She bit her lip, her eyes red. “Teacher said my drawing assignment was the worst in the whole class.”

My heart sank. Even if her drawing wasn’t perfect, a teacher shouldn’t tell her that to her face. Especially not Daisy, who’s just a kindergartner. A single comment from a teacher could easily kill a child’s interest in something. But I also knew I couldn’t just take a child’s word for it. Maybe the teacher didn’t say that at all, and Daisy just misunderstood. I pulled out my phone and opened the SnapChat group chat for the class. Just as I was about to private message the class teacher to get the full story, I saw the “excellent student works” she’d posted in the group that afternoon. I clicked in and saw they were all luxury cars: Ferraris, Rolls-Royces, and the “worst” were BMWs and Mercedes. And those drawings, far from being “excellent,” some of them had crooked, wobbly lines; you could barely make out the car’s shape. Only the car logos were strikingly clear. I suddenly remembered a few days ago, when Daisy pointed at the cars in the garage and asked me which one to draw. She said it was school homework and needed a caption: “My dad drives this car every day to take me to school.” Daisy had deliberated for a long time and ended up drawing the little pickup truck from a cartoon. It all clicked for me. This teacher’s standard for judging homework wasn’t based on artistic skill, but on the car’s value.

Aurora Kindergarten, where Daisy went, was the best private kindergarten in the city. It wasn’t uncommon for elite families to send their children there, and of course, some ordinary families bit the bullet, scraping together every penny to get their kids in. Getting into this kindergarten meant guaranteed admission to Aurora Group’s affiliated middle and high schools, and studying abroad would also be much simpler later on. I specifically chose it for the opportunities and benefits behind it, which is why I enrolled Daisy. Before this incident, I was quite satisfied with the kindergarten. Not only because of the school’s excellent faculty, but more so because of how well they protected student family privacy. That was until this semester started. Daisy’s original class teacher went on maternity leave, and a young new teacher took her place. Ms. Thorne. The first thing she did was send out a survey form, asking kids to take it home for their parents to fill out. It was all questions about parents’ jobs, annual income, and so on, saying she wanted to “understand the students better.” My husband, Mr. Evans, and I are both well-known entrepreneurs, each with our own ventures. We knew that standing out too much could draw unwanted scrutiny. So, we just filled out that form casually and handed it in. I hadn’t thought much of it, but now with this new incident, I couldn’t help but suspect this teacher had ulterior motives. Daisy was going to elementary school next semester, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, she’d also be attending Aurora. I wanted her to finish her kindergarten years happily, and I was afraid she’d be discriminated against again in the future. So, I called Mr. Harrison, the principal. The phone rang less than twice before he quickly picked up. Mr. Harrison’s overly eager voice came through the receiver. “Ms. Sterling, why are you calling me personally? Is there a problem with the investment?” I stated calmly, “I always believed your school highly values student privacy. Yet, with these survey forms and drawing assignments about family cars, what exactly is your school trying to investigate?” There was a distinct pause on the other end; he stammered for a moment. “Wh-what?” “My daughter was unfairly scolded by her teacher because of this assignment. I do not want this to happen again. Otherwise, I will have to reconsider investing in your school.” Mr. Harrison quickly said, “Your daughter attends our school too? Ms. Sterling, there must be some misunderstanding. I will investigate this thoroughly and give you a satisfactory explanation.” I didn’t want to talk any further and hung up. These past few years, the education sector has been booming, with private schools springing up rapidly. Aurora had also faced quite a bit of impact because of this and had been seeking corporate funding. Because of Daisy, and also because my company specializes in AI, fostering talent is fundamental. So, I decided to invest in Aurora, and one of Aurora’s shareholders was Mr. Harrison, the principal of Aurora Kindergarten. I chose to deal with him regarding the partnership. Adhering to a strict boundary between my professional and personal lives, I had never disclosed my private information. So, he had no idea my daughter was actually attending Aurora.

After putting Daisy to sleep, I had just returned to my room when Mr. Harrison called again. “My apologies, Ms. Sterling. Ms. Thorne is new and perhaps a bit out of line. I’ve reprimanded her severely. I’m currently away on a business trip, but when I return, I’ll personally bring Ms. Thorne to apologize.” Mr. Harrison’s tone was sincere, and I didn’t want to make things difficult for them over this. So, I softened my voice and declined. “It’s fine, as long as this doesn’t happen again.” “Understood. We’ll still need your continued guidance and supervision in the future, Ms. Sterling.” After a few more polite exchanges, I hung up. But lying in bed, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. My company’s new project was in its critical final stages, and my husband had also been away on business. We had indeed neglected Daisy’s development. I hadn’t even met the new teacher in person. After much thought, I decided to personally pick Daisy up from school tomorrow so I could talk to Ms. Thorne face-to-face.

The next day, I made sure to leave work right on time. At the kindergarten gate, lines of students streamed out in orderly rows. I scanned the crowd and finally spotted Daisy in her little floral dress. “Daisy!” I waved to her. She seemed surprised to see me, her face lighting up with joy. She quickly ran into my arms. I immediately noticed her messy hair. I knelt down, untangling her hair as I asked, “What did you play today at kindergarten? Your hair looks like a little scamp’s.” Daisy shook her head. “After nap time, the teacher didn’t comb my hair, so I just tied it up myself.” “What about the other kids? Did they tie their own hair too?” Daisy answered without hesitation, “No, Ms. Thorne braided all of theirs, especially Isabella’s braids, they were really pretty. But when it was my turn, the bell for class rang, and the teacher just left.” My eyes grew cold. Doing children’s hair was part of the teacher’s job. I didn’t expect her to make it look like a masterpiece. But she shouldn’t just walk away the moment the bell rings, right? I took Daisy’s hand and walked into the kindergarten. A few more children from Daisy’s class hadn’t been picked up yet, so the teacher was waiting with them by the door. I looked at the young teacher fanning herself in the shade and politely greeted her, “Hello, Ms. Thorne, I’m Daisy’s mom.” She looked up at me for a few moments, a little hesitant. “That’s not right, I haven’t seen you before.” Ms. Thorne remembered clearly that it was always a plainly dressed middle-aged woman who picked up and dropped off Daisy. But the woman in front of her was elegant and radiant, exuding an invisible aura of authority. I said, “I’m usually busy with work, so I haven’t been able to pick up or drop off my child much. I wonder if you have some time? I’d like to chat with you.” She flat-out refused. “You can SnapChat me if there’s anything important. After work hours are my private time, and I don’t want to deal with work matters.” “Then I’ll be brief.” I could hear the impatience in her voice, so I naturally dropped my polite tone. “Aurora has always valued student privacy. I do not want to see any more incidents of student backgrounds being investigated in various ways.” She scoffed. “Daisy’s mom, I’ve always followed school regulations. If you have a problem, you can always transfer Daisy to another school. After all, our Aurora isn’t just for anyone.” That last sentence immediately shut down any desire I had to continue the conversation. I sneered, “Whether there’s a threshold for admission, I don’t know, but there certainly seems to be no threshold for teachers. I will relay every word you said today to Mr. Harrison.” She casually shrugged. “Our principal is very busy; not everyone can get in touch with him.” I pointed at her. “Whether I can reach him is my business. You just wait to be fired!” “Big words! Even if every teacher in this kindergarten gets fired, I won’t be going anywhere.” I caught the deeper meaning in her words. “What, are you some big shot, indispensable to Aurora?” She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, quite pleased with herself. “Naturally. Oh, well… you common folk wouldn’t understand.” I was about to retort when I saw her eyes light up. She grabbed a girl standing nearby and walked towards a woman who had just entered the entrance. “Isabella’s mom, you’re finally here! Isabella was so well-behaved today.” I watched Ms. Thorne’s fawning mannerisms, feeling utterly speechless. Isabella… that name sounded familiar. I seemed to recall that the top scorer on this assignment was Isabella. I pulled out my phone and opened the SnapChat group chat. It was indeed her. Although her drawing was crooked and distorted, the car logo was clearly identifiable as a Rolls-Royce.

Daisy tugged at my sleeve. “Mommy, aren’t we going home yet?” I snapped back to reality, took her hand, and left the school. “Daisy, would you like to switch kindergartens?” She hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “But I still want to go to the weekend parent-child activity with you, Mommy.” “Okay.” I stroked her head, deciding to accompany her to this one activity, then proceed with the transfer. And as for the investment in Aurora, I also decided to withdraw it. An educational group that doesn’t prioritize character in its teachers, only background, isn’t worth my money. As soon as we got home, I saw a large bouquet of roses on the table. Just as I picked them up, someone wrapped their arms around my waist from behind, whispering in my ear, “Honey, I missed you so much.” “Daddy!” Daisy cried out excitedly. My husband released me, picked her up, and gave her a big kiss on the cheek. “My precious girl, did you miss Daddy?” “Yes, I missed you every single day.” Daisy wrapped her arms around his neck. “Daddy, will you come to the school activity with me?” I playfully scolded her, “Just now you said you wanted to go with Mommy. Are you already breaking your promise?” Daisy made a funny face. “Mommy can come too!” My husband pulled me into his embrace. “That’s right, it’s been a while since the three of us were together. It’s perfect timing, my work is done, so I can spend some quality time with you both.” I nodded. “My project is almost finished too. Let’s go on a trip abroad soon.” “Yay!” Daisy clapped her hands excitedly.

Our reunion felt like a second honeymoon, and it wasn’t until late into the night that we quietly lay in bed, chatting. I told my husband about Daisy’s school situation. Regarding the suggestion to transfer schools, while he felt it was a bit inconvenient, he didn’t outright object. After all, it was the last semester, and he just told me to handle it as I saw fit. Weekend arrived in a blink, and as my husband and Daisy were organizing the things they needed to take to kindergarten. I received a call from my company. They said the newly developed robot suddenly malfunctioned. And the new product launch was scheduled for next Monday, so time was extremely tight. My husband was understanding. “The project is important. Daisy has me.” “Okay.” I kissed both their faces. “I’ll try my best to make it back.” I rushed to the company, where the technicians were already inspecting the product. They finally found it was a source code issue. The designer asked me, “Ms. Sterling, does the robot you have at home have this problem?” I paused for a moment, realizing I hadn’t seen that robot at home in a long time. Since it was a new product development, not yet mass-produced, only two units of this series had been made. One was the human-sized humanoid robot. The other was a small robot model that I had taken home for Daisy to play with. It was also a good way to test the robot’s performance and practical use at home, to make adjustments later. But it seemed that at some point, that robot had gone missing. And because I was too busy with work, I had just overlooked it. When I got home, I’d have to ask Daisy and find that little robot. Work wasn’t done until late at night, and the kindergarten activity had long since ended. I opened my phone and saw a dozen missed calls, all from my husband. Fearing something had happened, I quickly called him back. The moment the call connected, I heard my husband’s angry roar from the other end. “She absolutely has to transfer! What kind of damn kindergarten is this? What kind of damn teacher? I can’t trust Daisy there!” My husband was usually a gentle, even-tempered man; he’d never gotten this angry before.

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My boyfriend asked me, the winner of the North American Architectural Design Award, to draw his blueprints. After five years of dating and on the verge of getting married, I agreed. I pulled all-nighters, day in and day out, helping him with his designs, which landed him the sole coveted faculty position at the university. But when I went to help him organize his office for the new semester, I ran into his new assistant, Briar Thorne. “Audrey, your designs are so handy. It’s just, the paper for your sketches was so stiff, it wasn’t comfortable to lie on. It even chafed my skin. Next time, use something softer, like fine art paper.” “I’m attending Professor Thorne’s induction ceremony in three days, and Mr. Hayes worked so hard to get Professor Thorne to take me on as his protégé. What if I can’t even wear my dress?” I looked at the water-stained blueprints, and it hit me: my all-nighters, my blood, sweat, and tears, were just a flimsy pad for my boyfriend and his assistant to… well, *enjoy themselves* on! Noah always preached that Briar came from a rough background, and he was just “doing his part” to help her out. He told me to “broaden my horizons,” to stop being so “petty.” But he took my design plans and put Briar Thorne’s name on them! And for three whole months, my hard-earned designs? Just a prop in their twisted little *game*! Silently, I tossed the design sketches into the trash. Then, I called Professor Sterling Thorne, the man who’d been trying to recruit me as his protégé for years. “Professor Thorne,” I said, my voice cutting through the silence, “Your apprentice? It’s either me or her!”

“Audrey, you finally came around!” Professor Thorne’s voice was filled with barely contained delight. “You absolutely *must* be there for the induction ceremony in three days!” “It was always meant for you. You are the true star, the guest of honor!” I simply hummed in response, listening as Professor Thorne continued to give instructions. “That Noah kid, he did recommend a student named Briar Thorne to me.” “I saw that design draft. It was brimming with creativity and showed a deep foundation. But that kind of innate design sense? No ordinary student could pull that off.” “I found it suspicious then, and I’d been meaning to ask you about it. I just didn’t realize… you’re just too patient, kid.” Professor Thorne’s words stirred a bitter ache in my chest. After hanging up, I drove back to the apartment Noah and I had decorated together, a place filled with five years of memories. Pushing open the door, Noah was sitting on the sofa, drinking a beer, talking to Briar Thorne on FaceTime. His voice was so soft and gentle, it could melt butter. “Briar, don’t worry. I’ve handled everything with Professor Thorne. He really admires your talent.” “Just be stunning at the induction ceremony.” He saw me, but didn’t hang up. He just casually lifted his chin, gesturing for me to change my shoes. After he finished the call, he noticed my calm demeanor and realized something was off. He scowled, his face full of impatience. “What now, Audrey Blake? Who annoyed you?” I tossed my phone onto the coffee table in front of him. The screen showed the photo of the water-stained blueprint. Noah’s face instantly changed. “Audrey Blake, what is this supposed to mean?” “What do I mean? Noah, why is Briar Thorne’s name on *my* design?” Seeing that I’d caught him, his tone softened slightly. “Audrey, I only did this for *our* future!” “Think about it, if Briar becomes Professor Thorne’s protégé, won’t we have an extra connection in this industry? It’ll benefit both our careers!” He reached for my hand, but I sidestepped, avoiding his touch. “You’re going to doubt our five years together just because of a piece of paper?” “Audrey Blake, you’re really disappointing me!” Disappointing? I looked at his indignant face and felt nothing but absurdity. “Disappointment? Is it because I didn’t use softer paper, so it chafed *her* skin?” “You two know exactly what you did on my blueprints!” At that, Noah’s face turned beet red. He snarled, “Audrey Blake! How can your mind be so filthy?!” “Briar is young, she’s just a kid, she likes to joke around. Why are you getting so worked up over it? Don’t you have any dignity as an upperclassman?!” I watched his furious outburst, and the last flicker of warmth in my heart completely extinguished. That’s what true heartbreak feels like, when your heart just… dies. “Noah, we’re over.” I spoke calmly, and the air instantly solidified. The anger on Noah’s face froze. He probably thought this was just another one of my usual “tantrums.” Throughout our five-year relationship, he’d grown accustomed to my tolerance, my yielding, my habit of always revolving within the circle he drew for me. “Audrey Blake, you’re being utterly unreasonable! Fine, I’ll let you cool off for a few days.” He walked into the bedroom, slamming the door shut. “Once the induction ceremony is over, you’ll understand my good intentions.” I looked at this man, who had become completely unrecognizable, and a cold smile touched my lips. Noah, there is no future for us anymore.

Leaving the apartment and getting into my car, I watched the city lights fly by outside the window, remembering the laughable five years I’d spent with Noah. Noah’s talent was limited; he originally wouldn’t have been able to secure a faculty position. It was *me* who locked myself in the studio, researching, sketching, and building models day and night, helping him complete the design that earned recognition from FasTech and secured him that sole coveted faculty position. The last week before the project deadline, I was on my period, doubled over in pain, cold sweat drenching my clothes. Noah brought me a warm tea, his eyes full of feigned concern. “Audrey, maybe you should stop drawing. Your health is the most important thing.” I was so touched back then, I drank the tea, put on a heating pad, and gritted my teeth, continuing to work. Now that I think about it, his “maybe you should stop” was probably the only honest thing he said. The next day, I returned to the studio with bloodshot, swollen eyes. My assistant, Julian Reed, brought in coffee and gasped when he saw me. “Audrey, what happened to you? Did a client push you this hard?” Julian has been my assistant since I graduated. He’s two years younger than me, usually seems laid-back, but he’s sharper and more attentive than anyone. I didn’t say anything. I just silently opened my laptop and pulled up the design I’d made for Noah. “This…” Julian’s eyes lit up after just one glance. “Audrey, is this your new work? It’s brilliant! That mortise and tenon joint structure is simply divine!” I forced a bitter smile. “This design? It belongs to someone else now.” After Julian heard what happened, he slammed the folder in his hand onto the desk in anger. “Holy hell! You gave your blood, sweat, and tears to that jerk, and he hands it over to that manipulative snake? And they used it as a damn *pad*? Are you kidding me? Who *does* that?!” “Audrey, just wait. I’m going to have someone teach that jerk a lesson right now!” Seeing him hopping mad, my heavy heart lightened a little. “It’s fine, no need.” But Julian wouldn’t back down. He suddenly sat across from me, looking at me with a serious expression. “Audrey, seriously, are you just going to keep this dead weight around? Dump him, now!” He winked, a playful tone in his voice, “If you need a place to stay, you can come to my place. If you need a boyfriend, you can consider me.” “I promise, I’ll spoil you rotten, take care of your every need. I’ll never let you suffer any more injustice.” I laughed, amused. “Are you getting your lines from a bad rom-com, kid? Get back to work.” He pouted, wearing an expression that clearly said, “I’m serious, you know.” Just then, my phone rang. I answered, and Noah’s condescending lecture immediately came through. “Audrey Blake, stop messing around.” “You’ve had your fit, right? I’m apologizing, okay?” “Two days from now, dress up nicely and come to the ceremony. Apologize to Briar in front of everyone, and we’ll put this behind us.” “We can go back to how we were before, okay?” Before I could say anything, a sickly sweet, suggestive female voice came from the other end. “Mr. Hayes, hurry up, please. Help me with the zipper on the back of my dress, I can’t reach it…” It was Briar Thorne. Noah’s voice dropped, tender and comforting. “Don’t rush, I’m coming.” They didn’t even bother to hide it from me. I forced a bitter laugh. Julian, noticing my mood, clenched his jaw, his knuckles white. He looked ready to jump through the phone and tear that rotten pair apart. I reached out and gently pressed his hand, then spoke calmly into the phone. “Okay.” “I’ll be at the induction ceremony in three days.” With that, I hung up and dragged Noah’s number into my blacklist. Julian looked at me incredulously. “Audrey, you’re really going to…” “Apologize?” I raised an eyebrow. “What are you thinking?” I stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the bustling street below. “That ceremony was always *mine*.” “I’m just going to reclaim what belongs to me.” “As for apologizing… the one who needs to apologize? It’s certainly not me.” “Audrey, you look so powerful right now.” Julian’s eyes held a flash of concern, but he quickly put on a joking facade to comfort me. What I didn’t see was that the moment he closed the door, the smile on his face vanished. Julian pulled out his phone and dialed a number, his voice cold as ice. “Look into Noah Hayes and Briar Thorne from the Architecture Department at A-University.” “Yes, I want them… utterly ruined.”

Three days later, the induction ceremony. The venue was the city’s most exclusive hotel ballroom. Noah had clearly pulled out all the stops. To build momentum for Briar, he had already leaked my design, credited to Briar Thorne, to several friendly media outlets. Headlines screaming “Architectural Prodigy Takes the World by Storm!” and “Professor Thorne’s Visionary Discovery” were plastered everywhere. Noah wore a crisp, tailored suit, looking radiant. Briar, in a white strapless gown, her makeup flawless, nestled against his arm, playing the demure damsel. “Mr. Hayes is truly young and accomplished, and so sharp-eyed to discover such a talent like Briar!” “Indeed, a perfect match, a match made in heaven!” “Briar is Professor Thorne’s final protégé! We seniors will have to look after this little genius in the future, won’t we?” Noah beamed, unable to contain his joy. While his words were humble, his eyes were practically overflowing with smugness. “Oh, it’s nothing, really. Briar simply has immense talent and works incredibly hard.” “Everyone here is part of the same community now, so please, do look after our Briar.” Noah and Briar revelled in the compliments, completely oblivious to how dark Professor Thorne’s face was on stage! Professor Thorne took the microphone, his deep voice resounding throughout the ballroom. “Good evening, distinguished guests. Today, I’ve invited you all here to introduce a young designer whom I deeply admire.” He gestured to a staff member, who projected a 3D rendering of a design onto the large screen behind him. It was “The Nest,” the very design I had poured countless sleepless nights into. “This design, ‘The Nest,’ is a work of genius, whether viewed from its structure, concept, or humanitarian considerations.” Below the stage, Briar Thorne already wore a triumphant smile. She was even ready to elegantly walk onto the stage the moment Professor Thorne called her name. Noah also smugly adjusted his tie, preparing to accept everyone’s congratulations. Just then, I walked into the ballroom, arm in arm with Julian. Seeing me, the smiles on Noah’s and Briar’s faces froze. Noah strode towards me, his voice low and sharp. “Audrey Blake! How can you be so clueless?!” “I know you’re feeling wronged, but today is Briar’s induction ceremony. What are you doing here? Do you *have* to embarrass Briar?!” On stage, Professor Thorne’s gaze swept across the room, his eyes suddenly sharp. “Today, besides introducing a true genius, I also want to use this opportunity to reveal a truth and personally rid our design world of plagiarism and its perpetrators!” At these words, the entire hall fell silent!

The reporters Noah had invited to fill the room were the first to react, swarming around me. “Miss Blake, there are rumors circulating online that you maliciously plagiarized new designer Briar Thorne’s work. What’s your explanation?” “We hear you were in a relationship with Mr. Hayes. Did you make such an irrational move out of jealousy that your boyfriend was promoting a new talent?” “Are you here today to publicly apologize to Miss Briar Thorne and Professor Thorne?” Sharp questions came one after another, flashbulbs flickering wildly, threatening to swallow me whole. Noah looked at me coldly. “Just go back! The plagiarism rumors are already trending! Do you seriously have the nerve to come here and make a scene?!” After reprimanding me, he quickly stepped forward, adopting a humble and deferential posture toward Professor Thorne on stage. “Professor Thorne, please don’t be angry. Audrey is young, she made a mistake. I’ll make sure to teach her a good lesson when we get home!” Briar Thorne’s eyes immediately welled up, tears flowing freely. She weakly stepped to the front of the stage, pleading with Professor Thorne in a seemingly magnanimous tone. “Professor Thorne, please don’t blame Audrey.” “I know Audrey didn’t mean it. She probably just liked my design too much and made such a mistake.” “Please, I beg you, give her another chance. I… I’m willing to forgive her.” Her words, while seemingly magnanimous, were utterly insidious, directly nailing me to the pillar of shame for plagiarism. The gazes of the crowd below were already filled with disdain and contempt. Professor Thorne gave them a cold glance, saying nothing, but then turned the microphone towards me, his eyes burning with intensity. “Audrey, come up here!” “Now, I would like to formally introduce you to someone.” “This person is the true author of the genius work ‘The Nest,’ and the brilliant designer I have been searching for years to take under my wing—Audrey Blake!”

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After five years of supporting my girlfriend’s acting career, she was in debt again. The first time, I sold the house my mom left me to pay off her three hundred million. The second time, I worked non-stop for a year, taking countless low-budget, terrible gigs. My fans ripped into me, calling me a sellout, a desperate guy chasing quick bucks. I paid off three billion for her. The third time, I heard her faint sobs through the phone. I stood outside my billionaire dad’s mansion, hesitating whether to knock. But that very night, I accidentally overheard her bragging to her friends in a private room. “Scarlett really knows how to play the game. So many people would pay tens of millions just to have dinner with Liam Stone, and he’s willing to be her little puppy.” “You’re telling me! So, Scarlett, how much debt are you planning to rack up this time?” “Nearly a hundred billion. Otherwise, Liam would just pay it off too easily. Where’s the fun in that?” I tore up the signed contract for degrading content and turned to knock on my billionaire dad’s mansion door. “Dad, I’m ready to come back and take over the family business. I’ll marry Seraphina Sterling.” “Good. The wedding is set for three days from now.”

When I got back from my billionaire dad’s place, Scarlett was in the study, on the phone with a friend. Her friend on the other end was excitedly suggesting, “Scarlett, I heard Liam Stone is even going to sell himself off for you! Is he filming explicit content, or just literally selling himself?” “Nearly a hundred billion? Filming isn’t enough for that. But a hot guy like him must be worth tens of millions a night, right?” “The men Scarlett plays with always taste good. Let me go first when you’re done.” Their vulgar words pierced my ears, one after another. I stood at the study door, clutching the marriage certificate I’d just signed with Seraphina Sterling so tightly my knuckles turned white. I’d been with Scarlett for five years, and I’d paid off her debts twice. The first time, she said the company’s funds had dried up. I sold the house my mom left me to help her. Scarlett knelt before me, tears streaming down her face, promising, “Liam, I swear I’ll marry you.” But then, as I worked non-stop for her, took on terrible roles and got ripped apart by fans, or drank with investors until I landed in the hospital, she came to me again. She claimed the company had been scammed and needed three hundred million to get it back. I didn’t blame her. I just worked even harder to help. She hugged me, touched, and said she’d love me forever. I just never imagined she’d been lying to me the entire time. “Alright, this drama is definitely going to be epic.” Scarlett hung up the phone, laughing as she walked out. When she saw my pale face, a flicker of panic crossed her eyes. “Honey, why are you back so early?” “What’s that in your hand?” I shoved the marriage certificate into my bag, trying to be casual, and forced a smile. “Nothing, just a little trinket from a fan.” Scarlett didn’t seem suspicious. She grabbed my hand, looking apologetic. “Honey, you’ve been through so much because of me. This nearly hundred billion debt… I just don’t know what to do.” “Maybe… maybe you should leave me. Don’t let me drag you down.” She even teared up, putting on an act of thinking only of me. In the past, I would have immediately told her, “Everything’s going to be okay. I’ll handle it.” “I’ll face it with her.” But now, I just stared blankly at the brooch on her dress. That brooch was a unique, limited edition. Not long ago, the mysterious tycoon who lavished billions on his secretary just to make her smile wore the exact same one. She was willing to blow billions for a smile, yet couldn’t pay off a hundred billion debt. And I, with nothing, was about to sell myself for her. It turns out my sincerity meant absolutely nothing to her. Seeing my prolonged silence, Scarlett pulled her hand away, a hurt expression on her face. “Liam, I know I have nothing right now. It’s normal that you don’t want to help me.” “I love you. I don’t want to burden you, but I was just about to…” She paused, pulling a ring from her pocket. “I was even ready to marry you.” It was the same old pity play. Because I loved her, she only needed one trick to fool me. “Liam, I promise this is the last time. Once this debt is paid off, we’ll get married, okay?” I looked at her seemingly earnest expression and suddenly remembered Seraphina Sterling’s shy smile from that afternoon when we signed the papers, and the snacks she’d thoughtfully prepared for me, knowing I hadn’t had lunch. Suddenly, I felt like none of it mattered anymore. If, at first, I had wanted to confront her and ask questions. Now, I just felt exhausted. All I wanted to do was pack my things and leave. I calmly pushed her hand away. “But Scarlett, I’m out of money.”

Scarlett froze, clearly not expecting that. After all, in her imagination, I should have been holding her, comforting her with every last ounce of my being, willing to do anything to pay off her debt. Instantly, her face twisted with fury. “Liam Stone, I really misjudged you.” “Have you been in this industry too long? Do you think I’m not as good as those people who can just hand you tens of millions? Is this how you hurt my sincere heart?” With that, she shot me a hateful glare, turned, and slammed the door as she left. No elevator sounds followed for a long time. I knew she was trying to force me to give in. But not only did I not call her back, I blocked all her contact information. I looked at the company share transfer contract she’d left on the floor – no official seal, no signature. How ridiculous was I, to have been fooled by something like this twice? I gave a bitter laugh and sent a message to my agent. 【Brenda, I’m planning to quit the industry. Help me draft a statement.】 I’d only entered this business to pay off Scarlett’s debts. For her, I’d forced myself to drink with repulsive, pot-bellied investors, enduring their creepy hands, and stayed silent when I was slapped on set. Now, I didn’t want her anymore. There was no reason to stay in this industry. My phone screen lit up. It was a message from Seraphina Sterling. I never would have expected someone who looked so cold and aloof to send me over a dozen wedding dress photos and bouquet styles, each with her thoughtful notes. A warmth spread through my chest. After all these years with Scarlett, she had never been so thoughtful towards me. I’m allergic to mangoes, but she kept buying me mango cake, just because that shop was on her way home. I hate noisy environments, but she dragged me to clubs to party with her friends, even after I hadn’t slept for three days, claiming it was to “boost her image.” She never actively gave me gifts. The only time was when she bought me a bottle of perfume for a mere hundred bucks. I was so happy I cried then. She just laughed, hugging me, saying how easy I was to fool. A little bit of kindness would make me incredibly grateful. I thought she was being sweet to me then. Now, it seems she truly thought I was a fool. I sent her all the money I earned from filming and gigs, keeping only two hundred for emergencies. She said, “Liam Stone is hopelessly stupid.” When our boat hit rough waters, I gave her my only life vest. She turned around and boasted to her friends, “That dumb guy was willing to die for me.” Even when I was hospitalized from exhaustion while paying off her debt, she’d take photos of my weak and pale face and send them to friends. “Liam Stone is so idiotic, he’s almost dying, but he’s still thinking about paying my debt…” Even through the door, I could imagine Scarlett’s triumphant, disdainful expression as she said those words. But it didn’t matter anymore. I was leaving her soon. Nothing about her concerned me anymore. I opened my suitcase and started packing. But in that massive room, my belongings were pitifully few. The closet was filled with Scarlett’s dresses. Back then, I foolishly thought she needed to look good for business, not shabby. So, every time I got paid, I spent it on her. Later, I just got used to it. I tried to put my clothes in the closet, but there wasn’t even a spot left. Scarlett had told me that once her company grew, she’d get us a bigger house and give me a grand wedding. I believed every one of her promises, then silently sacrificed for her, foolishly waiting for her to marry me. But now, it seems I never had a place in her heart at all. Just then, my agent called. “Liam, I can’t make the decision for you to quit. You need to talk to the boss yourself.” The next morning, I arrived at the company promptly to wait for the boss. On the luxurious top floor, through the blinds, I saw Scarlett. She was in a designer power suit, standing by the huge floor-to-ceiling window, on the phone. Then, a man in a dress shirt wrapped his arms around her from behind. Scarlett smiled softly and turned to melt into his embrace. They hugged intimately, but my heart went numb. Two weeks ago, the man who forced me to sign that degrading contract was the very same man. Back then, I was cornered in the dressing room. Several hulking men held me down, forcing me to my knees. The man in front of me slapped me without mercy. He said if I didn’t agree to film explicit content, they would seize Scarlett’s company, burden her with massive debts, and make her lose everything. Scarlett knew perfectly well that I would agree for her sake. So she deliberately tormented me, watching me get twisted around her little finger. After my fans found out I was going to film explicit content, they blocked the entrance, cursing me as a shameless jerk who only cared about money. Some even snuck into my dressing room and put thumbtacks in my shoes. My feet bled profusely from the punctures, but when I got home, I still felt guilty towards Scarlett. That day, when she hugged me as I sobbed uncontrollably, comforting me with tenderness, was she also thinking, *How pathetic is he, willing to do anything for me?* Thinking about it, tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. When my agent arrived, I had already wiped away my tears. She looked at me, puzzled. “Why aren’t you going in? The big boss is waiting.” My voice trembled. I looked at my agent, incredulous. “Scarlett…” “Is she really the company’s owner?”

My agent looked confused. “You didn’t know? General Manager Sterling owns half the industry! Every movie, every TV show you’ve ever filmed was produced by a company under her.” I stared at Scarlett behind the blinds, the anger and indignation welling up in my chest becoming uncontrollable. Tears streamed down my face. I never imagined that the person who forced me into endless networking, made me endure the creepy hands of slimy investors, pushed me into all sorts of terrible projects, and subjected me to workplace bullying was Scarlett herself. The worst time, I simply bought the director the wrong brand of coffee. He slapped me on the spot and demanded I kneel and apologize. When I refused, unable to bear the humiliation, they dumped me in the middle of nowhere. Five years in this industry, being bullied and verbally abused had become routine. But I never mentioned it to Scarlett. I didn’t want to burden her. This one time, though, I was truly terrified, especially with the faint sound of wolves howling in the distance. I cried as I called her, too scared to form coherent sentences. I begged her, “Scarlett, I’m so scared, please come save me, I’m so, so scared.” Scarlett knew the truth, but she remained silent, telling me the crew wouldn’t abandon me and that I shouldn’t throw a tantrum or go against the director. Alone, using the faint light of my phone, I walked for an entire day and night before finally finding a main road. By the time I emerged, I was completely drained. But even then, I never hated Scarlett. I only regretted being useless, unable to bear all her burdens. But now, the truth was right in front of me. Scarlett was my boss. She knew I was stranded in the mountains. She could have saved me with a single word, but she didn’t. My agent was flustered by the torrent of tears on my face. “What’s wrong with you?” “Liam, you…” Before she could finish, I pushed her aside and ran out of the company, still crying. I hailed a cab and told the driver to take me to Seraphina Sterling’s mansion. In the car, my hands trembled as I called her. “Please come pick me up now…” “Okay.” With her answer, I leaned weakly against the seat back. I never thought that after twenty years, the person I could rely on would be the woman my father arranged for me to marry. ······ Meanwhile, Scarlett and her secretary were emerging from her office. She agitatedly pulled out her phone again, but there were still no messages from me. In the past, whenever we argued, I would constantly call her, apologize, and beg for her forgiveness. But this time… Scarlett felt an ominous premonition stirring within her. “General Manager Sterling, I want to try that new French restaurant. Will you come with me tonight?” The young secretary clung to her arm, whining, but Scarlett impatiently pushed him away, a hint of annoyance in her voice. “Go by yourself.” Seeing Scarlett’s phone screen still stuck on our chat, he said sourly, “Oh, but General Manager Sterling…” “What kind of waves can a man like Liam Stone possibly stir up? He’s like a dog, how could he bear to leave you?” Scarlett’s eyes flashed with anger, her voice turning serious. “How dare you speak about Liam Stone like that!” Just as she spoke, my agent, who had been waiting nearby, immediately approached. “General Manager Sterling, you know Liam Stone?” “That’s odd. Why didn’t he just talk to you about terminating his contract? Why was he waiting outside?” Scarlett frowned deeply, almost blurting out, “How could Liam Stone possibly terminate his contract!” My agent gave her an awkward smile, trying to be accommodating, completely unaware of the significance of his words. “Liam said he’s tired and wants to quit the industry to get married.” “I heard he signed the papers three days ago.” Scarlett’s eyes widened instantly. She lunged forward, grabbing my agent by the collar, her expression vicious. “What did you say? Married? Who’s getting married?” My agent’s face turned pale at Scarlett’s furious expression, and he stammered, repeating. “It… it’s Liam Stone!”

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My innocent face was exactly why the Thorne family picked me to marry Landon Thorne. The moment the engagement news broke, Landon Thorne publicly vowed he’d torture me to death if I didn’t call it off. I raised an eyebrow, gave his physique a dismissive once-over, and scoffed, “If you don’t manage to kill me, it just means you’re not man enough!” The day after our engagement was announced, Landon saw me take down countless burly men. His cheeks flushed crimson, and his eyes practically glowed as he stared at me. “Hey, goody-two-shoes, those moves were awesome! Teach me, won’t ya?” I pulled a cigarette from my pocket and lit it. “I don’t teach guys who aren’t man enough.” By the third day of our engagement, Landon was practically bouncing, eager to prove he was indeed ‘man enough,’ and came looking for me. Just as he was about to leave his house, he saw me coming to break off the engagement. “I’m the fake heiress. The new real heiress is super sweet, perfect for Landon Thorne.” With that, I turned and walked away with a flourish. Landon practically skipped after me, insisting he only wanted to marry me. I, utterly disgusted, kicked him away and walked off like he was yesterday’s trash. His ‘precious wife’ was actually ditching him, even trying to hand him over to someone else! No way! He vowed to win her back and prove to her that he *was* man enough!

After calling off the engagement, I returned to the Davis family home. The moment I walked through the door, I saw a scene of joyful family harmony in the living room. “Is the engagement called off? You know everything you have now belongs to Chloe. If she weren’t so kind, you’d be out on the streets already!” My father gently served the girl beside him, speaking without even looking up. “It’s off. I know.” Just as I was about to head upstairs, he called out to me again. I thought he’d ask me to join them for dinner. After all, I hadn’t eaten anything all morning; they’d rushed me to go tell the Thornes that I was the fake heiress. “Chloe needs your room. You’ll just have to crash with Buster for a couple of days until the nanny’s room is cleaned out, then you can move there.” I took a deep breath, forced a bitter smile, and nodded. Sure enough, twenty-something years of supposed love, and it still couldn’t compete with the bond of blood. I turned and walked in the opposite direction, toward Buster’s little mansion. Buster is my German Shepherd. Because I loved him so much, I specifically built him a dog mansion. I never thought that spur-of-the-moment decision would lead to *me* living in a dog mansion. Buster and I lay on the same bed, looking at the piles of luggage nearby, a bitter feeling spreading through my chest. The tenderness and attentiveness my father showed that girl were something I’d never seen from him. With me, he was always so stern. He always told me, ‘You’re a Davis, you should contribute to the Davis family.’ Recalling the scene I’d just witnessed, a sharp ache in my chest made it hard to breathe. So, they *could* care about their daughter, *could* be gentle and protective! Maybe it was because we weren’t bound by blood that they had no qualms about seeing me as a commodity, to be sold to whoever offered the highest price. Lost in thought, a call from my colleague pulled me back to reality. “Captain Hayes, suspect spotted at 99 Green River Road.” “Copy that.” I hung up, sprang to my feet, and ran out. Usually, I’d climb over the wall to avoid questions at this hour. But now that I wasn’t their daughter, they wouldn’t care when I left anymore. My colleague had spotted the suspect inside an upscale bar on Green River Road. The music inside the bar was deafening. To hear anything, we had to lean in close to talk. As my colleague was briefing me, Landon Thorne stormed over. He inexplicably shoved my colleague away and swung his fist toward his face. Just then, my phone vibrated twice. Another colleague had sent the signal. I waved my hand, signaling my team to move. Landon, seeing this, burst into a furious rage. Fearing he’d alert our target, I delivered a swift chop to his neck, knocking him out cold. Before he passed out, I heard his heartbroken murmur, “Harper Hayes, you’re breaking off our engagement for *him*, aren’t you?!” With Landon unconscious, I dragged him into a private room next to the suspect’s. After the suspect was apprehended and taken away, I returned to the room and hoisted Landon over my shoulder. “Typical Captain Hayes, always so tough! Is that your fiancé? He looks a bit weak!” a nearby colleague teased. I shot them a glance, my lips pressed thin. “Don’t talk nonsense. He’s not my fiancé anymore. And hand me a cigarette, I’m out.” My colleague seemed to remember something and slipped a pack into my pocket. “Captain Hayes, some things are better left behind. And try to smoke less.” After saying goodbye to my colleague, I found a nearby hotel and settled Landon there. With my hands free, I lit a cigarette. As I exhaled a cloud of smoke, I remembered how he became my fiancé.

The news of an engagement with a major player from the city’s elite circles had completely blindsided me. Everyone in our circle knew Landon Thorne suffered from severe rage issues. Not long ago, he’d beaten some rich kid into the ICU just because the guy rolled his eyes at him. The guy was still there, barely clinging to life. And I, well, I was pretty much his match. But my parents were lightning fast with their PR, terrified that my true reputation would get out and lower my market value. So, the outside world thought I was a timid, cowardly, easily controlled goody-two-shoes. They say two powerhouses couldn’t coexist. With our personalities, either I’d end up killing him, or he’d end up killing me! But the Thorne family offered so much, my parents didn’t hesitate to push me forward. The day the engagement news spread, my parents lectured me all morning. To make me change my ‘bad habits’ and become a lady, they not only confiscated my treasured possessions and cigarettes but also put a limit on my bank card. I wasn’t the only one unhappy with this engagement. The Thorne heir was even *more* displeased than I was. While I was being driven mad by our etiquette teacher, he was smashing everything in his house over the engagement. I heard five or six house staff were injured, and he didn’t even spare his own father. When I saw that news, I bared my teeth and let out a laugh. The moment I laughed, the etiquette teacher’s ruler smacked my hand. “What kind of laugh was that? You should never show your teeth when you laugh.” I immediately wiped the smile off my face, adopting the prim and proper look of a good girl. My father, watching from the side, looked pleased. He dismissed the etiquette teacher and walked over to me. “Keep that obedient look. The Thorne family chose you because you’re ‘obedient.’” I nodded dismissively. “Go, take these gifts to young Master Thorne. Make a good impression on him. The future of the Davis family completely rests on you.” Make a good impression? Oh, I’d definitely make a ‘good impression’! To get it over with, I promptly sold the expensive gifts my father bought to Landon Thorne’s buddy at a tenth of the price, then had him take me to Landon. He led me to a private room in a bar. The noisy music of the bar couldn’t drown out Landon’s furious shouts. “That old man’s addicted to matchmaking! It’s not enough that he’s meddling in my brother’s marriage, now he’s meddling in mine! Saying he’s found me some ‘goody-two-shoes’ for a wife! Doesn’t he realize I might just play her to death?!” “Tsk, he wants me to go through with this engagement? Fine! Let’s see if I don’t torture her to death!” I pulled open the door to the room and stepped inside, carefully sizing up Landon Thorne. Just a skinny guy, and he thinks he can kill me? “Alright. If you don’t manage to kill me, it means you’re not man enough!” Landon, hearing the challenge to his manliness, grabbed a bottle and lunged to smash it over my head. I sidestepped, picked up a bottle myself, and swung it fiercely towards his forehead. “That’s not a very nice way to say hello!” *CRACK!* Just as the bottle was about to connect with his forehead, it swerved, smashing against the floor instead. Landon clenched his jaw. This was the first time in his life someone had provoked him like this. He raised his fist, ready to strike. The moment he clearly saw my face, his hand froze mid-air. “Is that… you?” Landon’s neck and ears flushed crimson. The man who’d been so violent and ferocious moments ago had transformed in the blink of an eye. “Oops, my bad! Are you okay? Did the bottle hurt your hand? Next time, don’t hit me with a bottle. What if it shatters and cuts you? If you want to hit me, just say the word, and I’ll stand still and let you do whatever you want.” He examined me meticulously from head to toe. Seeing no injuries on me, he let out a sigh of relief. His buddies stared blankly at Landon’s sudden personality shift, then one meekly spoke up. “Uh, Landon, didn’t you just say you were going to play her to death…?” “I was going to play *who* to death? …Wait, is she my fiancée?!” All his buddies nodded. “This is *perfect*! And I never said anything about playing anyone to death! Don’t slander me!” I blinked, momentarily unable to process what was happening. He knew me? And what kind of personality flip was this? He wasn’t going to kill me if I married him? What was going on? Remembering all this, a smile tugged at the corner of my lips. His face changed faster than a chameleon, almost like he’d studied method acting. It was… entertaining. The way he’d desperately tried to avoid our engagement was still so clear in my mind. Now, it seemed he was getting exactly what he wished for. After settling him in, I stood up to leave. But a burning hot hand gripped my arm tightly.

“Please, don’t go!” A whimpering sound, like a small, distressed animal, came from Landon. Trapped in a nightmare, he mumbled incoherently. He looked exactly like Buster did when he was a puppy. I instinctively patted Landon’s head, trying to make him settle down. Only after I did it did I remember he wasn’t a dog. Good thing he was still unconscious, or with his temper, he’d probably throw a fit. Suddenly, a strong pull on my wrist sent me tumbling onto the bed, caught off guard. Landon let out a muffled grunt as I landed on him. His eyelashes fluttered. I lay sprawled on top of him, and where our skin touched, there was an intense, burning heat. Perhaps it was nervousness, or maybe guilt, but my heart started beating inexplicably fast. Something hard pressed against my hip, jolting me out of my daze. “What’s that?” I muttered, reaching down to move whatever was digging into my left hip. The moment my hand touched it, the person beneath me went incredibly rigid, and the heat beneath my palm was astonishing. When I realized what I had touched, I instinctively recoiled, a flush of heat rushing straight up to my ears. “Harper, I told you I was man enough! Are you… satisfied with what you touched…?” Landon had woken up at some point, and his warm breath caressed my ear, sending shivers down my spine. I sprang to my feet, backing away several steps, my words stumbling out in embarrassment. “You, you, you… when did you wake up?” At my question, Landon clearly looked uncomfortable. His face was beet red, practically dripping blood. The man who’d been speaking so smoothly just moments ago was now stammering. “Just, just now… yeah, just now, when you landed on me!” Normally, I could see through his lies in a second, but at that moment, I had no mind to try and read the micro-expressions on his face. “Oh, I see. Well, um, sorry, I didn’t mean to. Anyway, I have something to do, so I’m heading out.” I admit, running away might be shameful, but I was afraid if I stayed another second, he’d ask something else. To be safe, it was better to retreat. Landon watched my retreating back, a part of his heart sinking. He pulled out his phone and opened his photo album. The woman’s silhouette in the album overlapped with the person who had just left. He’d taken that photo in a desolate wilderness in the Mojave Desert. His companions had deliberately abandoned him, driving away and leaving him alone on an empty road. He didn’t know how long he’d walked. The sky had turned pitch black, and sand swirled violently ahead. He thought he would die there. In his despair, a hand reached out to him. “Hey, get in. It’s not safe out here.” The woman’s melodious yet serious voice descended upon his world like a savior. He stared blankly as she pulled him into the vehicle. The SUV sped across the desolate highway, only the woman’s stern admonishments filling his ears. “Who gave you the guts to cross the Mojave Desert without permission? Are you thrill-seekers trying to get yourselves killed?!” “Do you have any idea that if I’d been a minute later, that tornado up ahead would’ve taken your life…?” The woman said a lot, and though he didn’t hear a single word, her voice and face were deeply etched into his mind. For the first time in over twenty years, his heart pounded violently for a girl. He was taken to a remote ranger station in the desert. After getting out of the car, he was left behind by the woman. It was then that he took that photo. He still remembered what everyone there called her: “Officer Hayes.” After that mission, I moved out of the Davis family home. As the Davis family watched me pull my suitcase away, my father off-handedly remarked,

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It was the third year of my marriage to my arch-nemesis, Leo Maxwell, when a new intern accidentally spilled water all over our marriage certificate on his desk. Panicked, I rushed to the County Clerk’s Office to get a replacement. But the staff told me the certificate was fake. I went back to the office, ready to confront Leo. That’s when I saw him, pinning the intern, Felicity Reed, against the door for a passionate kiss. “We’ve been fighting for five years, but I’ve been secretly in love with you for ten,” he whispered to her. “Our real marriage certificate? I’ve had it safely stored in my personal safe all along.” Even when Felicity pushed me down the stairs, leaving me bleeding and bruised, Leo just stood there, watching coldly. He cradled Felicity in his arms, murmuring comforting words. “Don’t look, you’re afraid of blood.” Later, due to delayed emergency treatment, I suffered a cognitive impairment. When I finally opened my eyes again, My memory was stuck on the year I hated him the most.

Two days after my surgery, Leo Maxwell finally showed up. I was sitting on my hospital bed, chatting and laughing with Chloe, the nurse. The moment I saw him walk in, my face froze. “What are you doing here?” Leo’s gaze lingered on my forehead for a moment. He scoffed, “Felicity has been worried about you for two days. Are you just faking it here?” Before I could even process his words, Leo strode forward. He reached out, yanking hard on my IV tube. The needle was pulled out unexpectedly, and I gasped in pain. Blood splattered, and the nurse beside me screamed, rushing to stop the bleeding. But I reacted faster, slapping Leo hard across the face. “Seriously, what’s your deal? You’re practically radiating bad karma from a past life.” “Are you blind? Can’t you see the bandage on the back of my head?” When I first joined the company, it was the worst year for me and Leo. He’d call me stiff and boring. I’d curse him, saying he was worse than a dog. The first thing we’d do when meeting was tear into each other’s families. Leo turned his head from the blow, looking utterly shocked. He was speechless for a long time, but I wasn’t done with him. Once the bleeding on my hand stopped, I glared at Leo. I was about to call someone to kick him out. But a nurse rushing over stopped me dead in my tracks. “Mr. Maxwell, please sign here under Ms. Anya’s family member section.” The words had barely left her mouth when, before Leo could react, I snatched the form from her. “Sign what? What kind of family member is he?” I froze, staring at the form before I could finish my sentence. In the spouse section, Leo Maxwell’s name was starkly there. Seeing my reaction, Leo rubbed his temples. “I know you’re mad at Felicity, but her mother is sick, and her last wish is to see her get married.” “Felicity and I are childhood sweethearts. I was the most suitable person. Later, I’ll divorce her.” My movements were stiff, and it took me a while to react and open my phone. The top contact, labeled ‘Husband,’ was Leo Maxwell’s eternally unchanging profile picture. And in the company SnapChat group, Felicity Reed, the intern who had just spoken, had matching profile pictures with him. [Getting married next month, everyone’s welcome to our wedding!] The picture below was deleted within seconds, but I was quick as lightning and saved it. It was a wedding photo, with Leo looking at her, his eyes full of tenderness. The group chat was already buzzing with shocked messages, but I had no desire to keep reading. My photo album? There wasn’t a single picture of me and Leo. The doctor told me that the severe impact had left me with after-effects. That’s why I lost five years of my memory. Now, I hadn’t even processed the fact that I was possibly married to my arch-nemesis. And here I was, seeing his wedding photo with someone else. Just then, a message popped up. It was from Maya, my friend who worked at the County Clerk’s Office. “You asked me to look up Leo Maxwell last time, he registered his marriage a year ago.” “In the spouse column, it’s Felicity Reed.” “That fake certificate you brought in didn’t have a stamp, so it’s not legally recognized.” Reading that last sentence, my heart felt like it was pierced by a knife. My head spun, throbbing faintly. All those lingering emotions surged up, stinging my eyes. I stayed silent for a long time, and Leo probably took it as my silent agreement. He frowned, stepping closer, wanting to touch me. “You…” Leo looked confused, unsure how to explain himself to me. Right, we’d argued for so long, always clashing whenever we met. So the idea that I would fall for him was utterly absurd. I let out a breath, and when I looked up again, my face was calm. “Don’t you know office romances aren’t allowed?”

Our last conversation ended with Felicity calling. Leo was about to explain things to me when her crying drew him away. He quickly left with a hurried “Wait for me.” He never came back. I discharged myself and packed my belongings alone. Chloe, the nurse, couldn’t stand watching and helped me, grumbling as she did. “He admitted he was your family, but then he wasn’t there when it mattered.” She was indignant, but I just felt indifferent. Luckily, I don’t like changing passwords, so my phone worked fine. I found the address of my new place in my notes and hailed a cab. After packing up and heading downstairs, the bakery owner called out to me, “The usual, miss?” Like I was possessed, I mumbled a “Yes.” When I came to my senses, I was holding two pastries. Cabbage-filled. I don’t even like them. The moment I stepped into the company building, a colleague walked up, teasing, “Bringing pastries for Mr. Maxwell again?” As soon as he finished speaking, the pastry was snatched from my hand. Felicity’s face lit up with joy. “Anya, I love the cabbage pastries from this place the most!” Hearing her overly sweet, affected tone, I frowned. I snatched the pastry back and handed it to the colleague next to me, raising an eyebrow. “They’re for you. Be careful not to get any green tea on them.” The colleague froze, before they could even react, Leo walked over. He first pulled the red-eyed Felicity behind him. Then he looked down at me. “Just because Felicity and I have the same taste, you can’t stand her?” The colleagues who had gathered to watch the drama quieted down at his words. Their expressions were strange as they darted their eyes back and forth between the three of us. After all, the two main protagonists of this dispute had already been the talk of the town yesterday. I stayed silent for too long, and someone, unable to bear it, stepped forward to speak up for me. But before she could even open her mouth, Felicity’s sobs started. Tears flowed artfully down her face, making her look utterly heartbroken. “I didn’t know you liked this flavor after I left, Anya.” “When I saw the familiar packaging, I thought Anya had brought it for me.” Leo shot me a warning look, then turned away to gently wipe her tears. I stared intently at the watch on his wrist. I’d seen an identical one on my bedside table at home, though it was a woman’s version. When I snapped back to reality, Felicity had already uttered the words: “If you mind, Anya, I can apologize.” She was pure green tea. It reminded me of the manipulative female antagonist I’d cursed for three days straight in a novel. I blinked and said, “Then apologize.” Felicity choked on my words, her tears abruptly stopping. I, however, smoothed my brow, pointing to the ID badge on my chest. “Are you, an intern, really going to go against me, a department manager?” “I know you’re straightforward, but you don’t have to talk so much crap.” I emphasized the word “manager.” According to company policy, Felicity should have been fired. It was Leo who took the responsibility, using his own demotion to protect her. I sighed, somewhat confused as to why he was so foolish. Last night, I’d stayed up all night reviewing all our chat records. Only then did I realize I’d been forced into a secret relationship with him for three years. Leo had never publicly acknowledged me. Now seeing him protect Felicity like this, my feelings were incredibly complicated. But I showed no emotion on my face. Instead, I picked up a box with a good-natured expression and handed it to Leo. “Maxwell, darling, hurry up and move to your new desk.” I had no intention of quitting. After all, I wasn’t the one at fault, so why should I leave? But when I was leaving work, Leo stopped me.

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**Chapter One** “Breathing so heavily, aren’t we? How many dicks have you taken?” Julian Vance gripped Elara Thorne’s chin, his body pressing into her, a cruel force. His eyes were dark, simmering with fury. Just a curtain separated us. Outside, the college reunion buzzed with laughter and teasing. “Classic Julian, playing it rough! This girl sounds hot, mind if a few of us have a turn later?” Others chimed in, egging him on. Julian’s voice was lazy, dripping with mockery as he stared at me. “No way. I’m not done with her yet.” “Unless, of course, I get bored.” I bit my lower lip, a scorching wave of hatred washing over me. Julian’s fiancée, Anya Petrova, had drowned herself. He’d sworn I was the one who drove her to it. After that, he’d forced me to marry him, demanding I replace the wife I’d supposedly taken from him. Years into our marriage, Julian had never once acknowledged our relationship publicly. But the ways he found to torment me? They changed all the time. He’d humiliate me without a thought for my well-being, all to avenge his dead saint, Anya. I’d resisted sleeping with him once, and he locked me away for seven days and seven nights. I’d angered his trophy girl, and he’d turned around and leaked my private videos to the media. I refused to break, longing for home every single day, until news came that my parents had been run over and killed by a speeding sports car. Then, to make matters worse, a fire burned my house to the ground, leaving me homeless. To him, I was nothing more than a cheap plaything. The more I suffered, the happier he seemed. Julian watched my humiliated expression, then grabbed my wrist, his eyes sparkling with malice. “Impatient, are we? Just get on your knees and say you love me, and I’ll take back everything I just said.” I stared into his eyes, refusing to utter a single word. Kneel and say I loved the man who’d brought me so much bloody misery? I’d die before I ever did that. Julian just smirked, already used to my guarded demeanor. “Such a tough nut to crack,” he murmured, his fingertip tracing the tear-mole near my eye. “All these years, you’ve never once given in to me. Not even when your parents died did you shed a tear in front of me. You’re truly ruthless.” My eyes were already cold and numb. I endured the humiliation by his side to drag the entire Vance Group down with him, to bury it alongside my parents. But he was always so careful. It took me five agonizing years to find even a faint clue. Just three more days. In three days, I would have all the evidence of his crimes, enough to send him straight to hell. Julian, however, remained completely oblivious. He chuckled. “Your first love is out there, do you want him to see you moaning for me?” He was a madman… My nails dug deep into my palms. Sensing my trembling, Julian’s interest only grew. “Remember how you’d rather die than marry me? You ran out into the pouring rain to beg him, but he was too afraid of the Vance family’s power, so he shut the door in your face.” A playful glint flickered in his eyes, but his voice deepened. “What exactly did you see in him?” Seeing I wouldn’t answer, he leaned in, whispering into my ear. “No answer? Then how about I start a live stream for him? Let him get a good look at his ex-girlfriend enjoying herself under me.” With that, Julian raised his phone. My mind buzzed, then exploded. The accumulated shame and fury finally erupted. My nails raked wildly across his body, desperate to tear him apart. His shirt was loose and open, his exquisite collarbone marred by my messy claw marks, little beads of blood surfacing, a truly shocking sight. Julian’s eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of irritation darkening his brow. “You’re already married to me, and you still dare to think of him?” Ignoring my struggles, he pinned me beneath him, his actions growing more reckless, his voice a cold, low command. “Scream. Let him hear it loud and clear.” The brutal retaliation rained down on me. My muffled whimpers slowly transformed into uncontrollable moans of arousal, tears streaming down my face from the pain, yet he wouldn’t stop. A mix of shame and rage, I wildly slapped him across the face, my voice trembling, tearful. “Julian Vance, you animal!” He looked at my reaction, utterly satisfied, a cruel smile playing on his lips. Outside, the others finally sensed something was wrong. “Blake, doesn’t that voice sound like your ex-girlfriend, Elara?” **Chapter Two** The mention of Blake Carrington made me reel. Back in high school, local delinquents with dyed hair had whistled and leered at me. They were influential troublemakers in the area. Before, one female student had been assaulted, and the school, wanting to avoid trouble, expelled her. She later jumped to her death. I was terrified. A few of the punks dragged me into an alley, pinning my hands and feet, tearing at my underwear. Passersby ignored my desperate pleas. When I heard the sound of a zipper, I almost despaired. It was Blake Carrington, wearing his blue and white school uniform, who rushed in. He fought them off, almost breaking his arm. That day, he was covered in blood, his chin weakly resting on my shoulder. The proud young man, backlit by the sun, asked me with eyes full of tenderness and sincerity: “My 99th confession, Elara… will you be my girlfriend?” “Blake, you’re such an idiot.” I cried as I said yes, believing I’d found salvation. Our seventeen-year-old secret was him secretly writing “I love you” a thousand times on the flyleaf of my book, it was his profile from under the cherry blossom tree, my gaze lingering a thousand times. After Anya Petrova’s death, Blake was the only one who came to comfort me. He even gave me a fruit wine, disguised as a proposal. I thought I’d found love, a beautiful ending from campus to wedding gown. Who knew Blake had drugged my drink and sold my first time to Julian Vance? That night was the beginning of my nightmare. Later, I learned that he’d pursued me only to make Anya jealous, and the thugs were hired by him, part of a setup. As for the thousand “I love you’s” on the flyleaf of that book? They were love letters written to Anya… After Anya’s death, Blake hated me to his core. So, he feigned a proposal, when in reality, it was all to ruin my innocence. From start to finish, I was just a joke. “Why bring her up? She’s as flat as a board, and stiff as a plank in bed. Boring.” Blake Carrington swirled his wine glass, his lean fingers tapping restlessly. Hearing my name, he clearly looked annoyed. Someone chuckled, “Back then, she was so poor she only ate bread and drank tap water, so she was just underdeveloped. You can’t tell me, Blake, you never felt anything for that seductive face of hers?” “Blake doesn’t lack women, but plenty of brothers have had their eye on her for years, wishing they could get her in bed…” Those words seemed to stir Blake’s memories. He’d seen too many women. My figure held no appeal for him, but my face was undeniably alluring. One glance and his stomach would burn. He frowned, then started walking towards the curtain. The curtain was suddenly yanked open. I instinctively trembled and squeezed my eyes shut. If Julian Vance was a nightmare, Blake Carrington was a wolf in human skin, pretending to be kind but always scheming and exploiting. I’d die before I ever saw him again. The next second, a black suit jacket was draped over me, hiding the numerous hickeys covering my body. Julian pressed me into his arms, his voice mocking. “Well, well, Blake. In a hurry, aren’t we?” Blake’s gaze swept over the messy scene, his face darkening. “You and Anya were best friends. You drove her to her death, and you still have the nerve to do this with her fiancé…” His tone was cold and thin, a flicker of unconcealed disgust in his eyes. “Do you have any conscience left?” I closed my eyes slightly. “I told you, I didn’t force her…” That year, Anya had jumped into the sea. Before she died, she pointed at me, accusing me of stealing Julian Vance, then jumped to her despairing death right in front of me. But I never even liked Julian Vance. Why would I force Anya to die? Blake scoffed. “After her death, you grandly married into the Vance family. If it wasn’t you, who else could it be? And you still have the nerve to show your face at this reunion… Elara, don’t you disgust yourself?” Disgusting. The word was like a knife, plunging deep into my chest, causing a dull ache. After Julian took my first time, Blake had comforted me, full of feigned sympathy. Later, he indulged his appetite, whispering countless intimate words to me in hotel beds. Now, he called me disgusting. Perhaps Julian noticed the fleeting hurt in my eyes. His brow raised in amusement. “She’s my wife. Is it for an outsider like you to decide if she’s disgusting or not?” “You…” Blake’s face turned ashen, and he spun around and left. Julian, however, seemed to be in a good mood. He carefully covered me up, then personally carried me back to his latest Rolls-Royce. In the car, Julian’s fingers grazed my lips, then pressed down hard. “Your first love didn’t save you. Disappointed?” I closed my eyes, expressionless, unwilling to respond. Julian wasn’t satisfied. He bit my earlobe, his voice low. “If you don’t answer me, I’ll do it right here in the car. It’ll be a nice show for all the passersby.” People were coming and going all around us. I snapped my eyes open. “You’re insane!” **Chapter Three** Perhaps my tone was too agitated. Julian’s lips curved slightly, playing with my hair. “Just kidding, why so tense?” His voice was unusually gentle. He ran his fingers through my hair. “I’m not happy with your behavior today. I have some company matters to deal with, so go home, be a good girl, get cleaned up, and wait for me. I’ll be back later to keep you company.” Every time he wanted to punish me, he’d use every means to make me submit. Recalling those details, a wave of nausea washed over me. My gaze was cold as I said, “I’m not feeling well.” Julian’s expression subtly tightened. He brushed a stray lock of hair from my face. “I have tens of thousands of your private videos.” My face paled, my nails digging deep into my palms. Back then, Julian, to retaliate against me and ensure I couldn’t escape the Vance family, had recorded tens of thousands of intimate videos during countless nights—thousands of gigabytes, all stored on his computer. “Don’t look at me like that,” Julian loosened his tie. His black suit made his legs look exceptionally straight and long, and his eyes held a playful, unreadable smile. “Otherwise, I’ll think you’re inviting me right now.” His tone was incredibly suggestive. I bit down, straightened my messy collar, then got out of the car and hailed a taxi. Soon. My nails dug deeper into my palms. Soon, I would have collected all the evidence, sent Julian Vance to prison, and started a new life somewhere else. I opened my phone and suddenly saw an anonymous post. [Documenting the 99th humiliation plan: Making the heartthrob publicly humiliate his best friend at a party, embarrassing her in front of her ex-boyfriend!] The poster claimed she had a crush on a guy in high school, but he fell for her best friend. In a fit of rage, she found a corpse and faked her own suicide by jumping into the sea. Afterward, the heartthrob was filled with regret and married the best friend, tormenting her for five agonizing years. Just as the heartthrob grew disheartened, the poster went to the hospital, got plastic surgery to become her own double, and made the heartthrob avenge his “dead” self, orchestrating a “hundred humiliations plan.” As soon as he completed a hundred plans, she would accept his proposal. The contents of these plans were practically dog training, including but not limited to locking her best friend with chains for seven days and seven nights, recording thousands of gigabytes of private videos, and so on. Even more absurdly, the heartthrob actually carried out each one. The more I read, the tighter my brows furrowed. My heart pounded as I scrolled to the top and saw the latest post, uploaded five minutes ago. It included a picture of a girl in a white dress, smiling sweetly at the screen. That face was nine-tenths identical to the deceased Anya Petrova! And the content of the latest post was: [Documenting the 100th humiliation plan: Getting the heartthrob to abandon his wife to celebrate my birthday. Another day of being a little princess~] A sudden chill swept over me, my mind in turmoil, but I instinctively denied my suspicions. No way. It must be another one of Julian’s sick jokes. When Anya died, I had seen her body with my own eyes, bloated from the water. The birthmark on her shoulder couldn’t have been wrong. I stared intently at the address on the post, then told the driver in a low voice, “To the Imperial Luxury Hotel.” The car sped towards the opulent hotel. The lobby was grand and magnificent, illuminated like daytime by dazzling crystal chandeliers, filled with wealthy and renowned figures. I stared at the scene before me, stunned. The two men who had seemed at odds at the party—Julian Vance, CEO of Vance Group, and Blake Carrington, a powerful socialite—now stood beside a woman who bore an uncanny resemblance to Anya Petrova. Under the soft lighting, the noble and unruly Julian Vance inclined his head slightly, personally placing a silver tiara on Anya’s head. Beside him, Blake Carrington knelt on one knee, gently placing crystal shoes worth hundreds of millions on her feet. It was exactly like a scene from a romantic drama. Julian handed her an exquisite crystal bottle, his usually stern eyes softening a few degrees. “For you. Happy birthday.” Anya gasped. “This is the aurora sample I mentioned offhand last time, Julian. How did you get it?” Julian chuckled softly. “Knew you liked it. Saw it at an auction and just picked it up.” Only I knew he was lying. Such a rare, priceless item could only be found in the deepest parts of the polar regions, a place even professional exploration teams dared not venture. That day, Julian had traveled to the Arctic alone, nearly losing his life. When he was rushed to the ICU upon his return, he was still clutching that crystal bottle tightly. Looking at that aurora crystal bottle, my heart twisted inch by agonizing inch. Julian, such an arrogant and cold man, would only ever risk his life for one woman. “Thank you, Julian.” Anya deliberately rubbed against Julian’s neck, deliberately exposing a white molar-shaped birthmark on her shoulder. The expression, the tone, and the shape of that birthmark—they were identical! The ironclad evidence became the last straw that broke the camel’s back. I could barely stand. I stumbled forward, gathering every ounce of strength to walk over to Anya Petrova. Julian finally noticed me, his gaze unperturbed, showing no awkwardness at being caught. I opened my mouth, my voice trembling as I asked, “Who is she?” He raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk on his face. “What answer do you want to hear?” “Julian Vance, is she…” My eyes reddened. I took a deep breath, then choked out the question, “Is she Anya Petrova?” Julian seemed genuinely surprised. No matter how much humiliation I suffered in the past, I never shed a single tear. Not even when my parents died did I bat an eye. But now, my entire body was trembling. Seeing my red eyes, he raised an eyebrow. “No.” “She’s not Anya,” Blake Carrington subtly stepped in front of Anya, his brow furrowed. “Elara, have you forgotten? Anya was killed by you long ago.” I had seen with my own eyes Anya “die” in front of me. Back then, Anya and I were the best of friends. After she drowned, I carried a crushing guilt for five years. Every night I closed my eyes, I’d dream of Anya’s desperate, helpless gaze. But now, the face from my memories merged with the face of the woman before me. Anya’s red lips curved slightly, and she smiled sweetly. “Hi, I’m Anya, Anya as in ‘Anya rising’ if you know what I mean, big sister.” **Chapter Four** Anya Petrova, Anya. Just an elaborate fake death scheme. I suddenly felt like a complete joke. My best friend, my husband, my ex-boyfriend—all of them had conspired together to weave this massive web of revenge, tormenting me until I was a walking corpse, wishing for death.

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Everyone said Liam Blackwood was absolutely obsessed with me. Even after my mother and I were kicked out of our home, he still went through with our engagement. He even rehearsed our perfect wedding ninety-nine times, all by himself, just for me. They had no idea. The brides at those weddings? They were chosen by drawing lots from the ninety-nine kept women Liam Blackwood maintained. “Ava, you’re already Mrs. Blackwood. It’s just a wedding for each of them. That’s not asking too much, right?” I numbly took the large box of cash he handed me, then rushed to the hospital. It wasn’t until my own wedding, when he walked down the aisle with my father’s illegitimate daughter, that I finally couldn’t hold back my tears. “Anyone else, but why her?” I choked out. A chilling smile played on Liam’s lips. “She’s carrying my child.” “Ava, be generous. Don’t be like your mother. She got so old, and you still had to beg people for her medical bills.” Under the mocking stares of every single guest, I clutched the money and fled in a panic. But at the hospital entrance, I saw my mother plunge. Her blood splattered across my face, her eyes wide. With her last breath, she rasped, “Ava Sterling, don’t ever beg him again.”

I clutched my mother’s rapidly stiffening body, my own blood turning to ice. My mouth hung open, but no sound escaped. Liam Blackwood’s phone rang, a frantic sound. I answered it instinctively. His lazy voice drifted through the line. “Ava, it’s Skylar’s and my wedding night. We’re out of protection at the house. Go buy a box and bring it back.” My fingers trembled, ready to hang up, but his voice came again. “Oh, right. And grab a box of milk candies. My little one’s afraid of pain, I’ll just sweet-talk her.” My mind flashed back to the night Liam Blackwood came to pick up my mother and me from our run-down apartment. He gently slid a ring onto my finger. “Trying to hide from me? You had me looking for so long.” “Even if you’re not the Thorne family’s eldest daughter, you’re still my wife, Ava. I’ll give you a perfect wedding.” On our first night, I was in so much pain I teared up. He slipped a milk candy into my mouth and murmured tenderly, “My little one, will sweetening you up with a milk candy make you forgive me?” Even though I knew about Liam Blackwood’s notorious playboy reputation, I still greedily fell in love with him. I never cared about those kept women. I knew he was just putting on a show. But Skylar Thorne was different. He allowed her to carry his child. In our five years of marriage, no matter how passionate Liam got, he always made sure to use protection. My greed finally met its punishment. His one exception was the person I hated most. If not for Skylar Thorne, my mother wouldn’t have lost her husband, and I wouldn’t have lost my father. He hung up first, as always. I stared blankly as the funeral home staff took my mother away. When they handed me a small box, I finally lost control, sobbing uncontrollably. After getting the death certificate, a call came in. “Miss Sterling, the DNA report shows that your mother was Mr. Sterling Senior’s biological daughter, lost years ago.” “Your plane tickets are booked. Would you like to meet your grandfather? Don’t worry, the old man isn’t as terrifying as rumors suggest.” I clutched my mother’s urn tightly, tears streaming down my face. “Yes.” “Then in three days, bring your identification. Someone will pick you up.” I returned home numbly, only to hear a group of drunken playboys loudly discussing. “Liam, Skylar Thorne is your wife’s half-sister. Didn’t you hate her the most? How did she suddenly become the bride for today’s wedding?” Liam Blackwood slowly swirled his red wine, chuckling softly. “Can’t help it. The mother of my child needs to have noble origins.” After the guys cheered, someone cautiously asked, “So, Liam, what about your wife?” Liam’s smile turned wicked. “Ava? Oh, she’s very obedient. I’ve been with other women right in front of her, and she’d still obediently hand me protection. It’s just a wedding. I can always give her another one later, right?” The group burst into laughter. “Liam, aren’t you worried your wife will actually get angry and leave? After all, if not for Skylar Thorne, your wife would still be the Thorne family’s eldest daughter!” Liam replied indifferently, “No way. Even if I kick her out, she’ll still kneel on the ground, crying and begging me not to abandon her.” “After all, her frail mother still depended on me to keep her alive.” I staggered backward, bumping into someone who had silently appeared behind me. “Sister, you’re back.” I turned, my eyes darkening as I saw Skylar Thorne’s face. “I don’t have a sister.” I turned to walk out the side door, but Skylar suddenly shrieked. “Ah!” Instantly, the chatter in the living room ceased.

Liam Blackwood walked over, hands in his pockets. He saw Skylar Thorne on the floor and gave me a meaningful look. “Did you push her?” Skylar quickly explained, “No, no, Sister didn’t push me. I just tripped accidentally.” Then she sobbed softly, “Liam, my stomach hurts a bit. Is the baby…?” Liam clicked his tongue, then scooped Skylar up in his arms. He looked back at me, his voice cold. “Come here.” He carried Skylar back into the mansion, setting her gently on his lap, like a delicate, precious gem. The playboys exchanged glances and quietly cleared out. I walked in silently. The playboy I brushed past whistled, as if watching a show. Before, no matter how much of a playboy Liam Blackwood was, they never dared to openly disrespect me. They were smart enough to see that Liam’s treatment of Skylar Thorne was different from the ninety-nine kept women outside. So, I was now treated like those kept women – free for anyone to tease and toy with. When I realized this, a sharp, jagged pain sliced through my already numb heart. He didn’t ask anything. He just looked at me with cold indifference. “Ava, apologize.” I bit my lip hard until my mouth filled with the coppery taste of blood. “I didn’t push her.” A cruel smile played on Liam Blackwood’s lips. He instructed the butler, “Go get the madam’s cat.” My pupils constricted. “What are you doing?” Liam Blackwood’s smile was savage. “Ava, Skylar is different from those other women. She’s my business partner, the Thorne Group’s eldest daughter, and she’s carrying my child.” “I cannot tolerate anyone bullying the mother of my child, including you.” “So, you need to pay a price to understand your mistake.” The moment he finished speaking, the cat was thrown into a pot of scalding liquid, letting out a horrific shriek. I lunged forward, but Liam Blackwood grabbed me. He pressed my head down onto the table, making me watch as my little cat, who had been with me for ten years, was scalded alive. Liam Blackwood leaned close to my ear and whispered, “Ava Sterling, this time it’s just the cat. If you dare to bully Skylar again, next time, you’ll have to consider your mother’s life.” The tears welling in my eyes fell silently. The memories of him protecting me in front of those kept women now felt like a cruel boomerang, striking me right in the heart. Next, Liam Blackwood placed a divorce agreement in front of me. “Sign it. My child can’t be born out of wedlock.” I trembled as I stared at the cat floating in the pot. It had been my only solace when my mother and I were thrown out of our home. Now, like my mother, it was completely gone. This marriage no longer held any meaning. I took the agreement and swiftly signed my name. Liam Blackwood frowned imperceptibly, seeing no hesitation in me. He gave a soft “Hmph.” “Since you’re no longer Mrs. Blackwood, move to the staff quarters. Your mother’s future medical expenses will be earned through your labor.” I forced a bitter smile, recalling my mother’s dying wish. I said faintly, “No need.” Just then, sounds of vomiting came from my room. My heart sank. I rushed into the room, only to see my mother’s handmade bedsheet covered in vomit. Skylar Thorne got up, looking apologetic. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Sister. I just couldn’t hold it in.” She then pulled a ten-dollar bill from her wallet. “This bedsheet looks old anyway. Here, ten dollars for it.” *“Slap!”* My eyes were bloodshot. I slapped her hard across the face. “Skylar Thorne, you’ve gone too far!” Skylar Thorne clutched her face, looking utterly wronged at Liam Blackwood behind her. “Liam, I didn’t mean it. I already apologized to Sister.” The next moment, a searing pain exploded on my own cheek.

He used all his strength, knocking me to the ground, without even sparing me a glance. He walked straight to Skylar Thorne, carefully checking her face. “Are you okay?” Skylar Thorne whimpered, burying her face in Liam Blackwood’s embrace. “It’s my fault. I ruined Sister’s bedsheet with my vomit.” Liam Blackwood’s gaze finally fell on the stained bed. He said indifferently, “Burn it.” “No! That’s my mother’s! I can wash it myself, don’t burn it!” But he knew perfectly well that I had nightmares every night and could only sleep peacefully while holding that bedsheet. He ignored my pleading gaze and instructed the housemaids behind him, “When the new madam moves in, throw out all these old things.” *“CRASH!”* The wedding photo on the wall crashed to the floor, swept out of the room like trash. Yet, all I could hear was his vow from when we took those photos. He had once sworn in front of everyone, “I, Liam Blackwood, will only ever love Ava Sterling.” When the bedsheet caught fire, I rushed to the brazier, grabbed it with my bare hands, and smothered the flames with my body. Blisters immediately swelled on my hands. Liam Blackwood rushed over in a flash, grabbing my hand, his eyes sharp. “Does it hurt?” Skylar Thorne suddenly clutched her stomach, pointing at the already opened urn. “I’m allergic to dust. Why is Sister bringing back a pile of ashes?” “Cough, cough, cough! Liam, help me!” I lunged forward. “No!” But my mother’s ashes were kicked over by Skylar Thorne. I could no longer control the rage burning within me. I rushed at her, tearing at her hair, my eyes blazing red. “You did that on purpose?!” “Slut! Wasn’t it enough that your mother was a homewrecker who seduced my father? Now you’re rushing to be a mistress, stealing someone else’s husband!” Skylar Thorne shrieked, “Liam, Sister’s gone crazy! She’s going to kill me!” I squeezed Skylar Thorne’s neck with all my might, but Liam Blackwood kicked me away. The moment I fell to the ground, fresh blood streamed from beneath me. I crawled to gather my mother’s ashes, leaving a glaring trail of blood across the floor. Tears dripped onto the ashes. “Mom, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…” But the next moment, Liam Blackwood snatched the urn from my arms. He coldly emptied all of my mother’s ashes into the toilet! *“WHOOSH!”* The sound of the flushing water almost shattered my eardrums. I knelt there, stunned, in front of the toilet, looking up to meet Liam Blackwood’s gaze, my eyes burning red. “Liam Blackwood, I will never! Never forgive you!” His eyes flashed with shock and pain, but it was only for an instant. Skylar Thorne held the handful of hair I’d torn out, crying like a wilting flower. “Liam, Sister pulled out so much of my hair! I don’t want to have your baby now, having babies makes you so ugly!” Liam Blackwood tenderly picked her up, cooing, “No, you won’t, Skylar is the most beautiful girl in the world, she won’t turn ugly.” Then, his gaze fell on me, like I was a lifeless object. He ordered the maid standing outside, “Get me some scissors.” He took the scissors, stood before me, and contemptuously pinched my chin. “Ava Sterling, have I been spoiling you too much?” With that, he pressed the scissors against my scalp, cutting off my long hair, strand by strand, as if he were trimming useless weeds. Just the day before our wedding, he had held my hair, treating it like a precious treasure, “I love Ava’s long hair the most.” He didn’t stop until my head was practically bare, with only a few sparse strands left. Then, Liam Blackwood threw the scissors aside. He turned, embraced Skylar Thorne, and reverently kissed her hair. “Do you still think you’re ugly now?” Skylar Thorne’s tears turned to laughter. She looked at me, her eyes full of triumph. “Heh, Sister looks like a little clown!”

My eyes stared blankly at everything before me. I cried and laughed at the same time. Pointing at Liam Blackwood, my voice was icy. “You will regret this.” But Liam Blackwood had someone bring a dog leash. He casually applied ointment to Skylar Thorne’s wound, not even looking up. “Tomorrow is Skylar’s birthday party. It seems the only way to keep you in line is to tie you up.” A maid stepped forward to fasten the leash around my neck. Her eyes widened when she saw the blood beneath me. She looked at Liam Blackwood repeatedly, hesitating. “Sir, the madam… she seems to be bleeding.” The next instant, the maid was struck by the scissors Liam had thrown. A cruel smile spread across Liam Blackwood’s lips. “It seems Ava Sterling has been bribing you all quite a bit. I’ll give you one more chance. Tell me, who is the madam?” The maid immediately knelt, begging for mercy, facing Skylar Thorne. “I’m sorry, Madam. I spoke out of turn. I’ll punish myself!” With that, the maid furiously slapped herself. Skylar Thorne, however, clutched Liam Blackwood’s arm, whimpering, “Liam, maybe I should just go. No one here likes me.” Hearing this, the maid immediately turned and fastened the leash around my neck. Like training a dog, she kicked me. “Crawl, now!” Then she turned back to Skylar Thorne with a fawning smile. “Madam, please don’t worry, we all love you!” Skylar Thorne finally gave a satisfied smile, while Liam Blackwood’s gaze remained solely on Skylar Thorne the entire time. He watched her, utterly captivated. I was leashed like a dog in front of the mansion gates, listening to the sounds of passionate intimacy from upstairs for an entire day and night. The next evening, guests arrived in a steady stream. Liam Blackwood and Skylar Thorne stood at the entrance, welcoming guests like a truly loving couple, completely oblivious to my presence. The wives who used to be close to me now fawned over Skylar Thorne. They approached me, showering me with insults. “Well, well, isn’t this the former Mrs. Blackwood? How did your hair get cut like some bald, pathetic creature? Standing guard here?” “Oh, my heavens, you’re giving her too much credit! ‘Mrs. Blackwood’? Please! She’s even more worthless than the kept women Mr. Blackwood keeps outside.” “Haven’t you heard? After she and her mom got kicked out of the Thorne family, she got involved in some shady dealings. She’s all used up, that’s why she can’t even have kids…” “…” The playboys still whistled, “kindly” tossing a piece of meat in front of me, their hands tracing indecently over my body. “Looks like Liam really dumped his wife. Why not come with me?” The group cheered, “Liam doesn’t want her anyway. What’s wrong with us brothers having a taste of his ex-wife?” With that, someone unfastened the leash from my neck. They impatiently stripped off my clothes. Some even sat on me, ignoring the fresh blood staining me, and began to move on their own. Loud, lewd laughter filled the air. The moment I looked up, I met a pair of cold, indifferent eyes on the second floor. Liam Blackwood swayed his wine glass, watching coldly the entire time. Perhaps he was annoyed by the noise, but he turned and walked away without a backward glance. I finally closed my eyes in despair, but the tears streaming down my cheeks were covered by a warm sensation. I opened my eyes to see the man who had been on top of me lying sprawled to the side, eyes wide and unseeing. The blood gushing from his neck splattered onto my face. The vile men scattered like they’d seen death itself. When I finally made out the face in the dim light, I gasped in shock. “How are you here?” A few minutes later, Liam Blackwood received the land transfer agreement signed by the Thorne family. His lips curved slightly.

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Seven months pregnant. With my belly showing, I helped Caleb Prescott secure the latest quarterly partnership. Then, checking his location discreetly, I headed to the bar, planning to surprise him. Just before pushing open the private room door, I heard his voice, laced with a cynical laugh, mingling with his friends. “Caleb, won’t Audrey be mad if she finds out you deliberately sent her on that business trip just so you could celebrate Chloe finishing high school and getting into college?” Caleb scoffed, utterly dismissive. “I’ve pampered Audrey for years. What more could she possibly want? Besides, she’s pregnant, easily agitated. I kept it quiet just to prevent her from getting jealous.” “True, Audrey has been with you for so long, she probably can’t live without you. But you’ve raised Chloe for all these years, and now she’s an adult, and so beautiful. Don’t you have… any thoughts?” Caleb reached out, casually wrapping his arm around Chloe Sterling’s delicate shoulders, his voice thick with doting affection. “That depends on whether our Chloe is willing.” “I… I’m willing to marry Uncle Caleb.”

I pushed the door open. The conversation inside the private room died instantly. Caleb instinctively pulled his hand back from Chloe’s shoulder, his doting expression quickly morphing into calm. “Audrey, what are you doing here? Is the contract settled?” Caleb’s friends, seeing my upset face, quickly tried to smooth things over with smiles. “Audrey, Chloe just finished high school today, and we’re all celebrating. Caleb was just about to call you to join us!” “No, thanks. You all have fun. I’m heading back.” I looked at Caleb and Chloe, their intimate posture a punch to the gut. I forced a strained smile onto my face and turned to leave. “Audrey.” Caleb called out, getting up and coming to my side. “Chloe just lost a game and has to drink ten penalty shots. I’ll be driving later, so could you take them for her?” I clutched my pregnant belly, fighting back the burning sensation in my nose, staring at Caleb in disbelief. “You want *me* to drink?” “It’s a celebration for Chloe. Just cooperate, don’t spoil the fun.” “Fine.” I picked up a glass and chugged it. The beer rushed down my throat, the foam stinging my nose, and my stomach churned, threatening to revolt. One glass. Two glasses. … Caleb’s friends started to look uncomfortable, one finally speaking up. “Caleb, maybe that’s enough.” “It’s fine. Back when Audrey helped me close deals with clients, she could down a liter of hard liquor without batting an eye. This is nothing to her.” I held the last glass, feeling nothing but bitter amusement. The year we got married, Caleb’s company hit a rough patch. I wanted to help him by drinking with clients to secure partnerships, but he stopped me, swearing solemnly that no matter how tough things got, he’d never let me suffer that humiliation. But then Chloe came into our lives. Caleb said she was a friend’s orphan, and he needed to take responsibility as her guardian. From that moment on, all his attention shifted to Chloe. For his company, I started to repeatedly drink and smile for investors. Until six months ago, I was force-fed by an investor until I had stomach bleeding and was almost taken to a hotel. I only escaped by slitting my wrists, threatening to end my life. And that night, he used the investment I had begged on my knees for to throw an all-night fireworks display to celebrate Chloe’s birthday. I finished the last drink, nothing left in my throat but a raw, bitter taste. “Caleb, I’m leaving.” “I’ll drive you back…” Caleb was about to reach out and help me, but then he heard Chloe’s saccharine tone. “Uncle Caleb, I don’t have any family left in this world. Could you… divorce Audrey and stay with just me, forever?” The private room fell into a deathly silence. I froze, looking at Caleb. He didn’t hesitate, handing me a divorce agreement, a pleading look in his eyes. “Audrey, Chloe rarely asks for anything from me. I don’t want to disappoint her.” “Fine. I’ll sign.” I managed a desolate smile, fighting back the tears stinging my eyes, and picked up the pen to sign the divorce agreement. As I walked out of the room, I heard Caleb’s friends trying to reason with him: “Caleb, a divorce agreement isn’t a joke. If Audrey truly gets angry, you might take things too far.” “Audrey’s been with me for eight years, and now she’s pregnant. She can’t leave me. I’ll just sweet-talk her later, it’ll be fine.” Tears finally streamed down my face, uncontrolled. I took a deep breath, wiped them away, and cast one last look at the joyous private room. Then, I pulled out my phone and dialed the hospital. **[截断点]** “Please schedule an abortion for me. The sooner, the better.”

Just as I left the bar, Caleb rushed out after me. “It’s too late. I’ll take you home.” I reached for the passenger side door, but he stopped me. “You’re pregnant. The front seat isn’t as safe for you. You should sit in the back.” Caleb then opened the passenger door for Chloe himself, and thoughtfully buckled her seatbelt. I looked at the “Wife’s Seat Only” sticker on the dashboard, finding it incredibly ironic and blindingly painful. “Uncle Caleb, can I date when I’m in college?” “No!” Caleb’s tone was stern. Chloe giggled, playfully feeding a snack into Caleb’s mouth: “Okay then, Uncle Caleb, I’ll listen to you. I’ll only be with you, forever.” I glanced at the car’s interior, decorated with a girlish touch. The mini-fridge that used to hold my milk and pregnancy snacks had long been replaced with Chloe’s favorite candies. This car, the one I brought into our marriage, felt utterly foreign now. Chloe had quietly, insidiously woven herself into Caleb’s life, yet he deluded himself into believing he was merely a guardian, never truly falling for her. How ridiculous. How utterly ironic. Noticing my gaze, Caleb spoke up. “Chloe said she’s never stayed in a hotel before, so I’m going to drop her off to experience that first. I’ll take you home later.” The car soon stopped outside a hotel. I watched Caleb lead Chloe into the hotel, my eyes falling on a discarded receipt on the passenger seat. The receipt clearly showed purchases of condoms and lingerie – all Caleb’s preferred styles. These two things hadn’t been used since I got pregnant. I remembered when Caleb and I got married, he told me his mother had taken her own life because she couldn’t bear her husband’s infidelity. He hated all unfaithful men in the world. He promised he’d protect me forever, never betray me. But as I stood outside that hotel room, hearing a woman’s sweet cries and a man’s muffled grunts from inside, His past vows felt like a cruel illusion. My eyes welled up, but I had no courage to burst in and catch them red-handed. If you couldn’t keep your word, why make those promises in the first place? … Two hours later. Caleb returned to the car, his hair damp. “That girl Chloe is so clingy. She wouldn’t let me leave, so I just took a quick shower. Sorry to keep you waiting.” I silently stared at the hickeys on his neck. Suddenly, this man I’d lived with for eight years felt like a complete stranger. Caleb noticed my silence and sat beside me. “Audrey, Chloe’s just a kid. Don’t be so hard on her.” “That divorce agreement was just to humor her. The terms clearly state I’m leaving with nothing. Don’t worry, once she loses interest, we’ll get back together right away.” I just smiled, saying nothing. Get back together? Caleb, I loved you for eight years. It’s time for it to end.

Early the next morning. Chloe burst into my room with a housekeeper. “Audrey Prescott, you’ve already divorced Uncle Caleb, so why are you still living here? I’m the lady of this house now, get out!” The housekeeper began clearing out my things. I didn’t stop them. I simply picked up my pre-packed suitcase and walked out of the house without looking back. “Wait! Open your suitcase. Who knows if you’ve stolen anything valuable? Uncle Caleb said everything in this mansion is mine now.” The housekeeper snatched my suitcase, ransacking it. Inside were only a few clothes I’d bought before marrying Caleb. Nothing else. “Can I go now?” “No! You haven’t been searched yet. Strip her!” The housekeeper stepped forward, pulling at my clothes until I was completely naked. Chloe looked at my pregnant belly with disgust. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. Are those stretch marks? So ugly. No wonder Uncle Caleb said he didn’t want to touch you.” I clenched my fists, enduring the housekeeper’s mocking stares, and squatted down to pick up my clothes and put them back on. Suddenly, Chloe rushed toward me, slapping my belly hard. I instinctively raised my hand. But Chloe stumbled first, falling to the ground and pointing at my suitcase, sobbing. “Uncle Caleb, Audrey won’t let me move in, and she threw my suitcase!” Caleb glared at me, barely suppressing his rage. “What’s going on?” “Uncle Caleb, Audrey called me a fatherless child and told me to stay away from you. She said I was a burden to you. If only my dad were still here…” Chloe continued to sob. Caleb’s fury could no longer be contained. He slapped me hard across the face. “Apologize to Chloe, now!” Blood seeped from the corner of my mouth, my eyes blurring with tears. “Caleb, we’ve been together for eight years. Is this truly how you see me?” “And why wouldn’t I! Chloe’s just a child. Would she lie about you?!” Chloe clung to Caleb’s arm, acting utterly wronged, and pointed at a frog mascot costume. “Uncle Caleb, I want to see Audrey wear that.” “Did you hear her? Put it on and apologize to Chloe! Don’t forget your dad is still in the ICU. I can stop his medical treatment any time!” Caleb said, already dialing the hospital. “No! I’ll wear it.” I endured the mocking stares around me, painstakingly pulling on the frog costume. The tight fabric pressed painfully against my belly. “Uncle Caleb, look at Audrey in that frog suit! Her belly’s all puffy like that, doesn’t it look like a pregnant toad?!” “As long as Chloe likes it. You can wear it every day to make her happy.” The mascot costume was stifling. My head spun, and sharp pains radiated from my lower abdomen. I don’t know how long passed, then a wave of dizziness swept over me. I fell heavily to the ground.

I woke up in the hospital. Caleb was by my bedside, holding my hand. “Audrey, don’t be mad. Chloe’s just a kid, playful. Just go apologize to her properly later, and this whole thing will blow over.” “What if I don’t?” “It’s just an apology! Why are you arguing with a child?! I swear, you’ve gone completely crazy since you got pregnant!” Caleb angrily threw my hand away and stormed out. A nurse quickly rushed over, her voice urgent: “Ms. Sterling, your father’s medical treatment has been stopped. His condition suddenly worsened, and he’s not doing well. You need to go see him one last time!” My pupils constricted. I instinctively tried to get up. But Caleb, leading a team of doctors, burst into the room and dragged me to the operating theater without a word. “Caleb! Let me go! I need to see my dad…” “Audrey, Chloe just had a sudden severe anemia, and she needs umbilical cord blood to save her life. You can see your dad anytime. You need to give birth now.” I was forcibly strapped to the operating table. “Mr. Prescott, the patient is only six months pregnant, far from her due date. Administering labor-inducing drugs now could have a fatal impact on the fetus.” “Saving a life is more important! Do it!” Caleb snatched the oxytocin syringe from the doctor’s hand and brutally plunged it into my belly. Restraints tightly bound my limbs. I struggled desperately, looking at Caleb, trying to find a flicker of compassion in his eyes. But Caleb’s expression remained coldly indifferent. He just injected one syringe of oxytocin after another into my body until all five were empty. The doctor urgently tried to stop Caleb’s hand: “Mr. Prescott, five syringes are the limit! Any more and the baby will die from premature birth!” “Get out of my way! I only care if Chloe lives!” Caleb brutally plunged in the sixth syringe. An excruciating pain surged through my entire body. I couldn’t hold on any longer and completely passed out. … When I opened my eyes again, My abdomen was flat once more. I desperately got up and rushed to my father’s room, only for the nurse to tell me I was too late. My father had passed away just as Caleb dragged me away. The nurse said his last words were my name, whispered repeatedly. Passing a VIP room, I heard Chloe’s voice. “Uncle Caleb, it’s all my fault for being so sick. It caused Audrey’s baby to be born prematurely and die. She won’t be angry, will she?” “It’s fine. If the baby’s gone, Audrey can just have another one. All that matters is that you’re okay.” I touched my flat abdomen, closing my eyes in despair, letting tears stream down my cheeks. Caleb and I started trying to conceive right after we got married. We bought piles of baby clothes and toys, and he devoured books on childcare, saying he wanted our baby to be the happiest child in the world. Seven months ago, when I finally got pregnant, he was so excited, holding me and listening to the baby’s movements all night. That was the child we had hoped for for seven years. How could he be so cruel?! Three days later. I finished my father’s funeral and buried the baby’s tiny body alongside him. Leaving the cemetery.

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Just because I accidentally hurt Julian Vance’s mistress while bathing her. Julian threw my gravely ill mother out into the pouring rain, leaving her to die alone. After Mom passed, I handed him the divorce papers, begging him to let me go. But he just stared at me with a stone-cold face, kicking me to the ground. “Anya Reed, you’re really getting into this act, aren’t you? Haven’t you heard that people can actually die from getting rained on?” “Besides, I’ve supported you two parasites for so many years. If you want to leave, you’ll have to compensate me tens of millions.” I nodded calmly. A few days later, a massive sum landed in his account. He didn’t know, that was the price of my life. No sooner had the words left his mouth than a ledger slammed into my face. Julian Vance used the tip of his leather shoe to nudge the ledger open. “See that clearly?” His voice was chilling, like ice. “Every single penny you’ve spent since the day you married into the Vance family is right here.” The ledger was filled with his scrawled, almost aggressive handwriting, detailing every one of my expenses. From an extra slice of toast at breakfast to my mother’s emergency hospital bills. Every detail was meticulously recorded, down to the last cent. My fingers instinctively curled, staring blankly at the ledger as tears streamed down my face, uncontrolled. I never imagined Julian would go to such lengths. “A total of thirteen million two hundred thousand.” He bent down, his warm breath brushing my ear. “I’ll round it down for you, Anya. With that much money, you’d have to prostitute yourself from now until they’re defiling your corpse, wouldn’t you?” I snapped my head up, my gaze locking onto the icy disdain in Julian’s eyes. The man who once seemed like my closest confidant was now spewing words that bordered on pure venom. A bitter ache filled my throat. I glanced at Celeste Hayes, who was clinging to Julian’s arm, and let out a self-deprecating laugh. “If I recall correctly, Miss Hayes, the necklace around your neck is worth ten million alone, isn’t it?” The esteemed Mrs. Vance, after five years, had spent less than a single piece of jewelry on his trophy girlfriend. A sharp shove sent me sprawling to the ground. Celeste irritably rubbed her wrist, scoffing, “You old hag, who do you think you are, daring to compare yourself to me?” She whined, stretching her palm out to Julian, “This old hag is so thick-skinned, she actually hurt my hand~” Julian didn’t spare me a glance. Instead, he dotingly blew on Celeste’s palm. “Next time, don’t lay a hand on her yourself. It breaks my heart.” A wave of dizziness washed over me. I collapsed onto the floor, clutching my face as blood gushed from my nose. “Ugh!” Celeste shrieked, pulling up her skirt. “You old hag, how disgusting! Your nosebleed got on my shoe!” Seeing the crimson blood on the floor, a flicker of panic crossed Julian’s eyes, but it quickly turned to disgust when he spotted the divorce papers lying nearby. “Anya Reed, what trick are you trying to pull now?” That cold, hateful gaze reminded me of our wedding day, when Julian had gripped my throat, pinning me against the champagne tower, his face contorted with dark fury: “Anya Reed, your mother killed mine. And you still think you can marry me? You wicked woman, I’ll strangle you right now!” That day, he didn’t strangle me. But every day since had been a living hell. I said nothing, just wiped away the blood, and shakily got to my feet, intending to leave. But Celeste yanked me back by my hair. “You stained my shoe, old hag. You have to lick it clean.” I stumbled back down to the floor, but my eyes burned with stubborn defiance. Lick a mistress’s shoe? Never! I grabbed the table, trying to stand, but Julian kicked me hard in the back of my knee. “You want a divorce, don’t you? If she tells you to lick it, you lick it.” My entire body stiffened. I bit down hard on my lower lip, the metallic taste of blood flooding my mouth. Divorce… once I’m divorced, I’ll be free. My last shred of dignity shattered, I could only humiliate myself, extending my tongue. Again and again, I licked Celeste Hayes’s high heel until it gleamed. Celeste wrapped her arms around Julian, pouting, “Julian, darling, since this old hag is so good at licking shoes, why don’t we send her to Nightfall Bar to lick all the customers’ shoes?” “I still haven’t settled the score with her for hurting me~” I clenched my fists, staring at Julian’s face in disbelief. We weren’t divorced yet. I was still officially Mrs. Vance. Was he really not going to spare me even a shred of dignity? Julian’s gaze lingered on me, then he lifted his foot and deliberately ground it into the divorce papers. “Anya Reed, you deserve a lesson.”

The bar manager took pity on me and didn’t make me actually lick anyone’s shoes. He just handed me a flannel cloth and told me to kneel and wipe the customers’ shoes clean. Drunken patrons insulted me freely, some even stepping on my face with force. But I just calmly polished their shoes until they gleamed. A group of rich kids in front of me stared at their phones, laughing loudly. “Holy crap, Mr. Vance must really adore his new favorite! He’s put out a hundred-million-dollar bounty for a matching heart for her!” “Heard when that girl was diagnosed with heart disease this afternoon, Mr. Vance was so furious he almost trashed the whole hospital. Those doctors nearly peed their pants.” “A hundred million! Mr. Vance is way too generous. If you ask me, she’s just a little bird, so what if she dies?” “You don’t know anything. Celeste is different. They all say she looks just like Anya Reed from back in college…” I froze, my gaze drawn to their phone screens. Bold black letters clearly stated that anyone who was a match and agreed to donate a heart to Celeste Hayes would receive a one-hundred-million-dollar reward. If I remembered correctly, my blood type and all my health indicators matched Celeste’s. I had even been dragged by Julian to donate 3000cc of blood because of it. The screen’s light illuminated my face. The rich kids in front of me looked at me in surprise, then burst into laughter. “Isn’t that Mrs. Vance? Why aren’t you serving your Mr. Vance’s new darling? How’d you end up here shining our shoes?” “If you ask me, you should just sleep with us, it’d be better than being the Vance family’s dog.” Lewd gazes roved over my body, and several hands reached out to touch me. I recoiled in terror, grabbing a beer bottle, just as I was about to make a run for it, three bodyguards rushed in, kicking the rich kids far away. Ignoring their angry curses and wails, they turned and grabbed me. “Madam, it’s time for you to assist Miss Hayes with her bath.” My expression was numb. I let them drag me into the car. Outside, thunder and rain raged, just like the day my mother died in my arms—cold and piercing. The moment the door opened, a sticky, foul-smelling lace thong was flung at my face. On the sofa, Julian, looking utterly sated after his latest tryst, held Celeste close and lit a cigar. “Still remember how to come back? I thought you’d be too busy licking shoes to get off the bed by now.” I ignored his words, simply walking up to Celeste and saying, “Miss Hayes, it’s time for your bath.” *SLAP!* My face snapped sideways from the sudden blow. Julian flicked his cigarette at me, his eyes blazing with displeasure. “Can’t you speak properly?” I staggered a few steps before regaining my balance, clenching my fists, swallowing the metallic taste in my throat, and choked out, “Miss Hayes, please allow me to assist you with your bath.” “No way!” Celeste hid in Julian’s arms, whining, “That disgusting old hag will definitely hurt me on purpose! Let her bathe Little Monster tonight, it’ll be good practice for her.” Little Monster was Celeste’s pit bull terrier, and it had bitten me many times. What was the difference between bathing it and walking into a death trap? I shivered uncontrollably, instinctively resisting. “No, I won’t!” “You won’t?” Julian stood up, grabbing my hair and pulling me close, humiliatingly patting my face. “What right do you have to refuse? Don’t you care about your mother’s life anymore?” **截断点**

At the mention of my mother, my eyes instantly welled up. Seeing my tears, Julian paused for a moment, then roughly shoved me to the ground. “Anya Reed, a heartless woman like you can cry?” “If you hadn’t desperately stopped me from finding my mother back then, she wouldn’t have been pushed down the stairs by your mother. You’re the culprit!” “If Celeste isn’t happy today, you and your mother can both go to hell.” His eyes burned with raw hatred, yet he refused to look at me. Tears streamed down my face. I clutched my chest tightly. To keep that secret all those years ago, my mother and I had suffered so much. Yet, Julian still hated me so deeply… If that’s how it was, then after the divorce, I would tell him the truth and clear my mother and my names! Thinking this, I suddenly felt a sense of relief. All along, Julian had hated the wrong person. I wondered how desperate he would be the day he learned the truth. I staggered to my feet and walked towards the tightly shut metal door. From deep inside the room, I heard the growls of a dog. Fear surged through me. I turned to run, but the metal door slammed shut. Julian’s voice was icy. “I’m taking Celeste to watch the fireworks. Don’t let her out to bother us.” As the sound of his footsteps faded, the vicious dog instantly lunged at me, sinking its teeth into my arm. My pathetic screams and the fireworks outside erupted simultaneously. When I was finally let out, my body was covered in over a dozen lacerations, big and small. The dog kennel was littered with torn flesh and fresh blood. A bodyguard threw me a roll of gauze and a check. “Mr. Vance said for you to get lost.” I picked up the check with trembling hands. The amount was exactly enough for my mother’s treatment this month. But it wasn’t needed anymore. I tore the check into pieces and threw it on the ground, forcing myself to stand and leave. I would never come back to this place. I took a cab to the hospital, had my wounds stitched, received a vaccine, and then contacted the hospital director using the number on the bounty notice. “Are you sure you want to voluntarily donate your heart?” The hospital director looked at my medical report with satisfaction, nodding. “You are indeed the most suitable candidate for Miss Hayes’s heart transplant. However, the surgical risks are very high…” “It’s fine.” I raised my hand and signed the voluntary donor agreement without hesitation. If death was a release, could anything be worse than this? After signing the agreement and confirming the precautions, I had just stepped out of the hospital when Julian’s call came through. “Are you the one donating a heart to Celeste? What’s your name?” I gripped the phone tightly, my breath catching in my throat. “I…” Before I could speak, Julian impatiently cut me off, “Proceed with the surgery as soon as possible. The payment will be transferred to your card afterward.” The call disconnected. Staring at the name “Husband” on my phone, a mixture of sarcasm and bitterness twisted into an indescribable pain in my heart. If only he had looked at how he’d saved my contact, he would have known who I was. On my phone, a news headline popped up: *Vance Group CEO Spends Millions Lighting Up the City with Fireworks to Win His Beloved’s Smile.* Meanwhile, I clutched my wounds, found the nearest park, and spent the night lying on a cold bench. When I woke up, I received a call informing me that my mother’s grave had been arranged. To ensure they could be together, I used all my remaining savings to purchase a burial plot next to Mrs. Vance. After visiting my mother’s grave, I bowed three times to Beatrice Vance’s as well. Just as I was about to stand, a powerful force from behind kicked me. “You, the daughter of a murderer, what right do you have to visit my mother!”

My wounds ripped open, and blood seeped, staining my black dress. Julian Vance appeared before Beatrice Vance’s tombstone with Celeste Hayes. His eyes raged with hatred, and he flung a bouquet of flowers at my face. “Anya Reed, didn’t I warn you not to appear before my mother?” I clutched my arm, grinding my teeth. “I am not the daughter of a murderer!” My mother was right there. I couldn’t let her be slandered even from the grave! *SLAP!* A stinging slap landed on my face, making my ears ring. Celeste, in her towering heels, deliberately ground her foot into my wounds. “You old hag, aren’t you pathetic? Are you here to show off that Julian didn’t kill you, and even paid for your mom’s hospital bills?” At her words, Julian’s fingers trembled, his eyes filled with immense guilt towards his mother. When he looked at me, it turned into overwhelming fury. He grabbed my hair, dragging me like a dead dog, then kicked my knee. Before I could even stabilize my kneeling position, he grabbed my head and forcefully slammed it against the stone slab. “Today, you’ll kneel here and kowtow, and properly apologize to my mother.” “As for your mother, that wretched culprit, I’ll have her tortured mercilessly, making her wish she were dead!” I clutched my forehead, laughing a desolate, bitter laugh. “But my mother is already dead, isn’t she?” The portrait of Beatrice Vance before me smiled gently and kindly, as if she had found solace. The sense of grievance and pain in my heart almost overflowed. I murmured bitterly, a soft, broken whisper: “But my mother… she’s already dead…” She died painfully, miserably. “What did you say?” Julian staggered back a step. He stared at me, his voice trembling uncontrollably. “Anya Reed, do you think lying to me like this will atone for your sins and hers?!” “She’s right there!” My whole body trembled. I pointed to my mother’s tombstone beside us. If Julian just looked, he would see my mother’s photo. “Go look, Julian Vance, just look! My mother has already been killed by you. Are you satisfied?!” Julian’s eyes widened. He stared intently at the nearby tombstone, his entire posture visibly slumping. He reached out a trembling hand, about to push aside the flowers in front of the gravestone. *Thump!* Celeste collapsed to the ground, her face pale, hands clutching her chest, her breath shallow and weak. “Julian, darling, my heart hurts so much…” Julian instantly turned back in a panic, sweeping Celeste into his arms, ready to leave. “Wait!” I lunged forward, desperately grabbing his pant leg. “If I pay back that ten million, you’ll sign the divorce papers, right?” Julian’s body stiffened. He didn’t look back, only his cold voice echoed in my ears. “Anya Reed, I will never let you or your mother off the hook.” I smiled, tears filling my eyes. Julian Vance, you don’t need to let us off. Because my mother and I are both leaving your world. Just as I walked out of the cemetery, my phone rang. It was the hospital. “Miss Reed, Mr. Vance is demanding the heart transplant surgery immediately. We need you to rush over!” “Alright,” I gripped my phone. “But I have one condition: conceal my identity until after the surgery. Don’t let anyone know who I am.” I lay in the hospital bed, then was wheeled into the ICU. Julian Vance, pacing anxiously outside the door, glanced at me with a solemn expression, then rubbed his eyes and turned away, dismissing the flicker of doubt in his gaze. It was laughable. For a moment, he actually thought the woman before him was Anya Reed. How could that be? After all, she was such a cowardly woman, so afraid of death, she’d cry over a mere scratch… The surgery was a success. To celebrate, he bought Celeste a thirty-million-dollar emerald jewelry set and had it displayed on the front page of the news. In front of him, Celeste smiled and called his name, but Julian seemed distracted. He pulled out his phone, wondering if Anya Reed had reacted at all. Suddenly, a text message popped up. [Bank transfer: $100,000,000.] The sender was Anya Reed. A terrible premonition surged within him. Julian’s pupils constricted. He quickly grabbed a passing nurse, urgently asking: “What was the name of the person who donated the heart?” The young nurse was startled, stammering, “I think it was… Anya Reed…” “The poor girl was covered in injuries when she arrived.” “I heard her mother passed away just a few days ago after failed resuscitation efforts.” “What…” Julian’s lips trembled slightly. He staggered a few steps, grabbing the wall for support, his eyes filled with disbelief.

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