Author: Momo Chan

Six years after we broke up, I found myself in his emergency room. “I’m pregnant. The baby is yours.” His face went ashen. “Pregnant with a six-year-old? What are you even talking about?” The atmosphere instantly became unbearably awkward. “So, you’re not going to acknowledge it?” “You think I’d just step up and be a stand-in dad?” he shot back. I fell silent for a few seconds. “Fine. Then I’ll find a father for him myself.” Nine months later. He clutched the chief surgeon’s arm, his voice rough with desperation. “Please, man, I’m begging you. Make the incision as neat as possible. She’s obsessed with how things look.” I went for a pre-marital health check with my blind date. Turns out, I was pregnant. The wedding was off. Mrs. Gable, the matchmaker, stormed over to my place and reamed my mom out. “You told me your girl was a good, wholesome catch! A good, wholesome catch who’s two months pregnant?!” “You’ve completely ruined my reputation!” “Don’t ever call me again! Bad luck!” … My mom got an earful, then I got an earful from my mom. “Who’s the father?” “…” I just clammed up. “Skylar Hayes, you’re twenty-eight, not eight! Are you still messing around out there? Do you have any common sense?” “Are you trying to kill me, your mother, with stress?” “Whatever.” I turned and went upstairs, locking the door behind me.

I lay on my bed, racking my brain. My period had definitely been three weeks late. And lately, I’d been feeling a bit off my food. My cycle was usually all over the place, impossible to track, mostly thanks to my late nights. I just thought this time was the same. It never crossed my mind that I was pregnant. And the father? None other than my ex-boyfriend from six years ago. Two months back, I went to a class reunion. He showed up really late and was completely wasted. I was the one who took him home. When we got to his place, I practically had to carry him inside. When I left, I stumbled out, practically crawling. The taxi driver must’ve thought something was seriously wrong with me. He kept glancing at me in the rearview mirror, not daring to say a word. … After a few days of thinking at home, I still went to Liam’s hospital. I waited in line, paid the fees, got the tests done, and finally, report in hand, headed to his department. “Consultations are over for the morning. Come back this afternoon.” I’d barely stepped in when he dismissed me without even looking up. He must’ve sensed I hadn’t left, because he suddenly looked up and saw me. His gaze snapped, his pupils shrinking. He looked utterly shocked, like someone seeing a long-lost friend. What an act. How could he have mistaken me for someone else at the reunion? “Skylar?” He parted his lips. Before he could finish, I neatly placed the report in front of him. “I’m pregnant. The baby is yours,” I stated, getting straight to the point. He glanced down at the report, his face grave. I could almost feel his fear. “What baby is six years overdue?” His long fingers tapped the report. “Did you lose your memory? We broke up six years ago.” His words slammed me into silence, my face burning with humiliation. “You’re not going to acknowledge it?” I asked through gritted teeth. He looked up at me, his expression unreadable. “Skylar, if you regret something, you should act like it. What… you think I’d be foolish enough to fall for that?” He didn’t look at the report again, burying his head in a patient file, clearly done with me. “You—!” I almost blurted out a string of curses. I never imagined he wouldn’t just deny it, but accuse me of regretting our breakup! A jerk like him? Skylar Hayes would never regret a thing in her life. Even if… I did regret it, I absolutely couldn’t let him see it! I forced myself to calm down for a few seconds, trying to figure out what to say. “Don’t you think the baby’s eyes look exactly like yours?” He still lowered his head for a quick glance at the report, then sighed. Right? He finally admitted it? “It’s a ten-week ultrasound scan. Tell me, where exactly are its eyes?” In that instant, I realized my mistake. Forget it. You can’t wake up someone who doesn’t want to be a father. “Fine. Then I’ll find a father for him myself.” I tossed out the words and turned, walking out of his office.

Liam was a year older than me, the brilliant, untouchable legend of the medical school. He was incredibly hard to get. I practically worshipped the ground he walked on for four whole years, and finally, just a few months before graduation, I managed to win him over. Everyone said Liam only got with me because I was so ridiculously dramatic and wouldn’t leave him alone. “Otherwise, why would the esteemed A-list genius fall for someone like Skylar Hayes, who’s both chubby and plain, from the History department?” “Her stomach? When she ate, she looked five months pregnant.” They didn’t know that to chase Liam, I’d lost thirty pounds, dropping from 120 to 90. I deleted all my food delivery apps, munched on apples in the mornings, and cucumbers at night. I ate like that for months. I was so starved, I swear I could have eaten a housefly. I did get skinny, but my period became severely irregular, and my sleep was completely messed up. All of it, just for Liam to give me an extra glance. One day, I was running on the track, trailing behind him, and he turned around to look at me. He stared for a long, long time. My entire face flushed crimson. He liked me. He just had to. I nervously walked over, rehearsing my opening line— “Are you Skylar’s sister?” His words hit me like a bucket of ice water, drenching me from head to toe. I was furious, but also found it strangely funny. “I… guess so.” He fell silent for a moment, then handed me a bottle of water. “Then go tell her to stop bothering me.” I took the water he offered. It was the first time I’d been so close to him. His eyelashes were so long, his nose so sharp. And his voice, so gentle when he spoke. But his words were so cold. “Alright.” I swallowed my hurt. After that, we often bumped into each other on the track. After our tenth encounter, he asked for my SnapChat. That was the first time I felt like losing those thirty pounds was totally worth it! Because, my entire life, no one had ever asked for my SnapChat, except for people handing out flyers on the street. I asked him to a movie. He didn’t refuse. I suggested we date. He didn’t refuse. Even when I broke up with him, he didn’t refuse. It was me, actually, who cried for a day and a night straight in my dorm. My roommate asked, “Is a breakup really that sad?” I sobbed, “It’s alright.” “It’s like seeing an old friend off. You just have to cry a little.”

He was like a still, lifeless pond. So calm it terrified me. I only heard that afterward, his friends never dared to mention my name in front of him. He’d flip out if they did. I get it. A big shot like him, brought low by something so trivial? He must’ve been furious. But to say he hated me? I probably wasn’t even worth his hatred. After graduation, I moved back to my hometown city for work. My salary was $4500 a month, and my mom arranged ten blind dates for me a year. I’d gone on over a hundred, big and small, and I was completely numb to it all. Which is why this time, when Mrs. Gable introduced us, we settled on the wedding plans less than a month after meeting. He was a thirty-year-old elementary school teacher from a small town, stable job, parents lived in the countryside, and he had a younger brother in high school. “A guy with his conditions isn’t easy to find. How much could his brother’s high school and college cost anyway?” “You’re twenty-eight, if you don’t get married soon, you’ll only be looking at divorced guys.” “And these divorced guys with kids, if they knew you had a sister like that at home, they’d probably be even harder to snag.” … My mom sat at the table, nodding meekly, her voice low. “Make sure you ask them clearly, they don’t mind our family, right?” “Tell them not to worry, Skylar’s sister won’t be a burden. We’re still young, we can still work…” Every time I saw my mom like that, it just annoyed me. I felt like a bargain-bin item, clearly priced and ready to be sold off. My mom fawningly saw Mrs. Gable out, stuffing a big red envelope into her hand as she left. Everything was ready. Then, that thing happened to me. My mom was so mad she didn’t speak to me for days. But anger aside, within a few days, she showed up in the city with a cardboard box of eggs. Her coat was wrapped around the box, and inside were bags of rice. My mom’s hair was a mess, but not a single egg was broken. “Did you go to the hospital for a check-up?” My mom carefully placed the eggs in the fridge, then turned to ask me. “Check-up for what?” I fiddled with my phone. “No.” “To see what the baby looks like, of course! You, this child, why are you so careless?” My mom started pulling me towards the door. “What’s there to see?” I pulled away. “You really don’t plan on keeping it?” My mom looked at me worriedly. The atmosphere grew awkward. I fell silent. It wasn’t that I didn’t want it; it was that *he* didn’t want it. “You’re not getting any younger. If you don’t keep this one, what if it’s hard to have another later?” “You’ve been going on blind dates anyway. Find that boy, and your dad and I can meet him. If he’s decent, just go ahead and get married.” Get married? She was really dreaming big, dreaming beautiful. “Just leave it alone. I’ll go to the hospital for the procedure in a couple of days.” I brushed my mom off. My mom heard my resolute tone and wanted to persuade me again. “Don’t be impulsive. That’s a life,” my mom insisted as I closed the door. “Is that how you had Lily back then?” I blurted out. “…” My mom instantly clammed up. Her eyes looked deeply hurt. Lily was my younger sister. And my mom’s absolute Achilles’ heel. She was ten years old this year, couldn’t speak, and had epilepsy. After I’d driven her away like that, my chest felt tight. Every time I said those things, I felt like I was retaliating, but then quickly regretted it. I picked up my phone, booked an appointment, and headed to the hospital. On the way, I even seriously considered my mom’s words, “What if you just get married?” I wondered, if I married Liam, would I be willing? How could I not be willing? That was once my dream. Passing the emergency department on the first floor, I instantly spotted Liam. A group of nurses and doctors were frantically working on a newly arrived patient. He was in his white coat, having just inserted a breathing tube, and even his profile view made my breath catch. So I thought, even if I could go back in time, I still wouldn’t have been able to push him away that night at the reunion. The moment I saw him, he saw me too. He only gave me a hurried glance for a second before looking away, continuing the resuscitation. He was so busy. I didn’t dare to disturb him, so I just sat on a chair outside, waiting. I’d made up my mind. Even if he rejected me again, I had to get answers. Why had he acted so passionately towards me at the reunion that night, only to deny it afterward? Even if he didn’t acknowledge it, he should at least come with me for the procedure… I didn’t have the money. In the ten minutes I waited for him, I thought of so many possibilities. Each one, I planned out my escape route. But everything crumbled when I opened my Ins, and saw his latest post… “Liam Miller: Six pounds, six ounces. Mother and son are doing well.” My heart lurched violently, as if all the strength had been drained from me. He was married, and he had a child. Born today. No wonder he didn’t acknowledge what happened that night. No wonder he didn’t want the baby.

I found it somewhat laughable. That night, he was drunk, his eyes red, and he asked me, “Are you Skylar Hayes?” I hesitated. “Yes.” But he deflated, looking at me. “No, you’re not.” “Then tell me, what do you want with her?” I asked, smiling. “To collect a debt.” A debt? My smile froze. “What kind of debt?” “An emotional one.” He looked pale and helpless, then added coldly, “No one messes with Liam Miller and gets away with it.” Hearing him talk about an emotional debt, I suddenly lost myself. The next second, he kissed me. I didn’t push him away. Of course, losing control later was partly due to my own indulgence. In the heat of the moment, I thought maybe, just maybe, he still loved me. I don’t know how I ended up in the gynecology department. The whole process was a blur. I just heard the doctor say that my HCG levels were low, my uterine lining was thin, and there was a high risk of miscarriage. The doctor wanted to prescribe me shots to sustain the pregnancy, but I refused. Thinking of Liam’s Ins post, what was there to sustain anymore…? I took a car and went home, crestfallen. My phone suddenly rang. It was an unknown number. “Where are you?” It was Liam. He hadn’t called in six years, but I still recognized his voice immediately. Aloof, cool. “In the car,” I adjusted my breathing, trying to calm down. “You were looking for me just now? What for?” His tone was still arrogant. I paused for a second. “Uh, it’s nothing now.” He was silent on the other end for a while. “Still not giving up? We have no future.” “…Alright, then. I’m hanging up.” I moved to end the call abruptly. But he wouldn’t let me. “I heard from your doctor. Your condition isn’t great. You should still come back for those shots. I’ll talk to the doctor for you. As acquaintances, that’s all I can do.” *Slam!* I hung up the phone. Jerk! Who needed his help? But he sent another text message, furiously asking, “Skylar, why have you become so rude now?” I was livid with indignation. “What do you consider polite? Instead of lecturing me, you should go home and change more diapers!” “?” He sent a single question mark. I couldn’t be bothered to reply. Did he think I was still the Skylar he could manipulate from back then? Back then, if he posted something, I’d meticulously analyze it for ages; When chatting with him, I never dared let his reply be the last; I racked my brain for topics, only for his replies to always be: “Sleeping.” “Going to shower.” “Talk later.” “…” Back home, I lay on my bed, pulled out our old photos, cut them all to shreds, and flushed his face down the toilet. You bastard, go to hell! But tears still streamed down my face, despite myself.

The next morning, I woke up and went back to work. The company transferred me to the marketing department. “Marketing involves visiting stores. It’s tiring, but if you do well, you can earn over ten thousand a month,” the marketing manager told me, painting a rosy picture. The truth was, a colleague in marketing had gone on maternity leave, and they needed a replacement. In their eyes, an older, unmarried woman like me, who didn’t even have a boyfriend, was the ideal candidate for this kind of job. Otherwise, anyone else might turn out to be a ‘mine’ waiting to explode. “Are there any subsidies?” In the adult world, I didn’t believe in rosy pictures; I only cared about money. “Daily transportation and living allowance of $80. If you perform well, your phone bill will be reimbursed too.” “Deal.” $80 a day, $2400 a month. Sending this extra $2400 back to my mom might slow down the rate at which her gray hairs appeared. So, I went from a regular office worker to a small sales manager, constantly rushing between major supermarkets, clocking in, checking merchandise, compiling sales figures… Every day I came home, I was too exhausted to speak. While using the restroom, I noticed a tiny bit of blood. I remembered the doctor’s words and sighed inwardly. The baby was probably gone. But I was sadder than I expected. I didn’t sleep a wink that night. After another weekend, I went to the hospital to book an appointment for a check-up. This time, it was a female doctor named Dr. Avery Stone, quite pretty. “You know Liam Miller? Why didn’t you say so?” Dr. Stone’s sudden warmth made me a bit uncomfortable. “Sort of.” “So, did he have a girlfriend back in school? What type was she?” I froze. Her questions were a bit beyond the patient-doctor relationship. I think I understood: she was interested in Liam. But Liam already had a child; didn’t she know? Could Liam be lying to his colleagues, pretending to be single? What a jerk. “His college girlfriend was very ordinary,” I answered truthfully. “Do you have a picture? I want to see.” She was really persistent. I looked directly at her, letting her look at me for two seconds. Why look at a picture? The person herself is right in front of you. She seemed to forget I was there for a check-up. The thought of Liam, with a family, still pretending to be single at the reunion, and now portraying himself as single at the hospital, made me furious. “Is he married?” I subtly reminded her. “Married?” She was clearly shocked. “I haven’t heard anything about that.” This… “Why would you say that?” Her expression was a bit unnatural. She seemed to think I was lying, and I felt a headache coming on. “Maybe his Ins account was hacked?” I had no choice but to show her the post. She looked at the post, her face paling in shock. “Dr. Miller has a child?” Just as she finished— “Step outside for a moment.” A cold voice sounded behind me. I jumped. Liam?! Oh no, he’ll be furious that I exposed his secret. “Liam, what are you doing here…?” Dr. Stone stood up, a little flustered. I turned around and saw him in his white coat. He looked as dashing as ever, but his face was incredibly dark. “Hurry up, I don’t have time…” He sounded annoyed. I thought about it. Why should I be scared of him? He was the one in the wrong. So I bravely followed him out. He led me to his office. After we entered, he locked the door. My hand went to my arm, a little nervous. “Just talk. Why are you locking the door?” I looked at the lock, feeling a bad premonition. “Don’t want to be disturbed,” he tossed out, then sat down in his office chair. Huh! Still so arrogant, exactly like six years ago. “So, say it.” In that enclosed room, I actually didn’t dare to look at him. “Are you going around telling everyone I have a child?” He lifted his eyes, squinting at me. It made me break out in a cold sweat. “Not ‘everywhere’… I just stated the facts. Besides, Dr. Stone is a really nice person, you shouldn’t lie to people.” He didn’t say a word, his gaze sweeping over my stomach. Why was he looking at my stomach? I quickly pulled my shirt down further. “Heh…” He let out a cold laugh. “Are you really clinging to me? What, your blind date didn’t meet your standards?” Me: ? When did I cling to him? The baby I was talking about wasn’t this baby. Was he crazy? “Don’t flatter yourself,” I said, exasperated. “Skylar, I know you too well. Do you look any different now than you did when you were chasing me back then?” He looked at me, amused. I admit, his words stung. “And?” “Impossible. Your little tricks only worked on the old me. Do you really think, after six years, I’d still fall for them?” He scoffed. “I heard you’re getting married soon. Don’t bother me anymore. Do you want me to give you a wedding gift?” Married? He thought I was looking for a wedding gift? He really got to me. “You actually think you’re as handsome as you were back then? You’re old now, you’ve got wrinkles! Do you really think I’d be interested in a used, old man like you?” I rattled it off in one breath. His smile froze, his face turning even darker. “Skylar, reverse psychology won’t work on me,” he said, getting up and calmly taking off his white coat. “We broke up. Even if we hadn’t, I wouldn’t spoil you rotten.” The atmosphere instantly turned to an impasse. I laughed. When had he ever spoiled me? What a big softie act. “Liam, you’ve got guts.” I smiled, walking towards the door. At the doorway, I remembered something, turned back around. “You’ve got guts, don’t you get drunk and hold onto me, crying and calling my name. That would make me misunderstand you still can’t forget me.” “And your ‘seed’,” I pointed at my stomach. “It’s gone.” He stood there, as if he’d taken a heavy blow. Seeing him upset made me feel incredibly good. After closing the door, I went back to the gynecology department.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297106”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

I am the luckiest man in the world. I have the most perfect wife, Princess Aria of the Eastern Sea. Six hundred years ago, I willingly took a magical potion to bear a child, not wanting my beloved wife to endure the pain of childbirth. Little did I know that my child would turn out to be an extraordinary golden dragon, a species thought to be extinct for millennia. Yet, on the day of his birth, I raised my sword and severed his head, kicking it around like a ball. My wife clutched our child’s lifeless body, her eyes red from crying, begging me to stop. I turned and plunged my sword into the chests of my in-laws. Blood stained my white robes, but I felt nothing. I didn’t stop until I had slaughtered the entire Eastern Sea clan, only halting when my sword’s edge had become blunt. Then, holding the golden dragon’s head, I sat in a pool of blood, waiting for divine punishment to arrive. 0 It’s rare for a man to give birth, let alone to the world’s only golden dragon. On the day my child was born, golden light filled the sky, celestial music played, and the entire palace was filled with the fragrance of flowers. The Eastern Sea rejoiced. The bloodline of the ancient golden dragons, extinct for tens of thousands of years, had reappeared. The entire realm was in a frenzy. The Dragon Kings of the Four Seas and fairies from all directions rushed to celebrate. But as they entered the Eastern Sea, they were greeted by the thick smell of blood. Red everywhere, ironically fitting for such a joyous occasion. However, the hosts of this celebration were now lying neatly in pools of blood. I stared blankly at everything before me, picked up the golden dragon’s head, and kicked it to the feet of the newcomers. I spoke softly, “Are you looking for him?” Seeing the severed head of the golden dragon, shock filled everyone’s eyes. “This… this is a golden dragon, how could you!” “What are you doing? Even tigers don’t eat their cubs, this is your child!” “Ah! Brother, I told you we shouldn’t have kept that mysterious black snake! Look what’s happened now!” “You’re nothing but a lowly black snake. If Aria hadn’t taken a liking to you, you wouldn’t have these good days. My brother kindly let you marry into the Eastern Sea, and you killed his entire family. You’re utterly heartless!” The speakers were King Neptune and King Poseidon, the good brothers of my father-in-law. I laughed coldly. Yes, I had married into the Eastern Sea, wedded to Aria, the most beautiful woman in all the realms. I was the luckiest man in the world. King Triton had no son, so he treated me like his own. He even publicly promised that my child would be the next Dragon King of the Eastern Sea! I was once the object of everyone’s envy. They all wondered how I deserved such fortune. A mere lowly black snake, gaining the favor of the most beautiful woman, who rejected the Prince of the Northern Sea for me. And King Triton handed over the Eastern Sea’s legacy to me. 0

I had asked myself many times, what did I do to deserve this? I remember back then, I was just a black snake with unknown parentage, weak in magic, surviving by scavenging behind greater monsters. One day, I found a beautiful woman on the beach. I simply did a good deed, saved her, and she wanted to marry me in return. I refused multiple times, knowing my lowly birth made me unworthy of such a beauty. Moreover, I lived in a place surrounded by powerful monsters. An innocent man with a precious treasure invites disaster. But she repeatedly expressed her love for me, saying she didn’t care about status or position, and that she had a magical treasure that could hide our presence from the monsters. Looking at her otherworldly beauty, I nodded. We spent a happy time in the mountains. I picked fruits, hunted, and collected seashells to make toys for her. She always looked at me with starry eyes, praising my abilities. I was immersed in happiness, but every time I woke up at midnight, I would be terrified, fearing it was all just a dream. Only when I felt the soft, fragrant body in my arms did I dare believe it was all real! Later, the royal carriage of the Eastern Sea came to my poor, rough mountain cave. Only then did I learn she was Princess Aria. I followed her back to the Dragon Palace. I thought King Triton would oppose our union, but to my surprise, he took an immediate liking to me. He said seeing me was like seeing his own child. He told me that Aria’s brothers had all died young, and from now on, I would be their son. Aria and the Eastern Sea were entrusted to me. I promised nervously that I would treat Aria well. Knowing Aria wanted children, I volunteered to take the magical potion to spare her the pain of childbirth. Who knew this pregnancy would last three hundred years? When my child was finally born… Golden light appeared in the sky above the Eastern Sea, celestial music played, and the entire palace was filled with fragrance! My child turned out to be an ancient golden dragon. The golden dragon bloodline had been extinct for tens of thousands of years. When my child was born, he became the world’s only golden dragon. I carefully examined the dragon egg. Its seven-colored shell sparkled with golden light. A faint dragon’s cry came from inside. My wife Aria hugged me, shedding tears of happiness. To avoid tiring my wife, I volunteered to continue the task of incubating the egg, which took another three hundred years. Today was the day the golden dragon would hatch. I had waited six hundred years for this day. Deities from all over the realm would come to the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace to witness the birth of the golden dragon. My wife Aria had been busy since before dawn, brewing medicine for me. I had been taking this medicine for six hundred years! She brought the carefully brewed medicine to my bedside: “My dear, you’ve suffered so much. You took the potion to bear a child for me, ruining your health. I don’t know how to make it up to you!” I took the medicine and put it aside, holding her hand: “Thank you, Aria. But this medicine is so bitter. Can I skip it today?” She reached out her jade-like fingers and clung to me, like a bewitching morning glory vine entangling me. “My love, you can’t skip it. I spent three hours brewing this medicine. It’s my heartfelt care for you. If you take your medicine regularly and get better, you can better accompany me and our child!” Her soft waist leaned into my embrace as she coaxed me, then held the medicine to my lips. I reluctantly drank the medicine, and she took out an almond candy: “I know you don’t like bitter tastes, so I prepared this almond candy specially for you. How is it? Not bitter anymore, right?” I looked at my wife’s face in my arms. She was still as beautiful and gentle as ever. Like clouds on the horizon, dazzling yet distant. She was the rare sweetness in my bitter life. I, on the other hand, had become gaunt and increasingly emaciated due to childbearing. I looked at my pale fingers, remembering the days I used to hunt in the mountains. I could hardly believe I had once been so vibrant. Soon, this cloud in my arms drifted away. She took the medicine pot to the small kitchen. She didn’t forget to turn back and say to me: “My dear, let Lily help you get dressed. It would be impolite if you’re not ready when the guests arrive!” I watched my wife leave, the warmth from her body still lingering in my arms. I grasped at the air but caught nothing. I dared not think, if only she had stayed in my arms a little longer. If only she had been willing to let me skip the medicine just this once, would I… would I… I dared not think, nor did I want to. Just then, my wife’s personal maid Lily entered the room. “My lord, the Dragon Queen specially ordered this crystal crown to be made for you. Please wear it today!” She carefully helped me dress. I stared at my gaunt face and hair that had turned white overnight due to the potion, feeling dazed. Lily’s voice brought me back: “This crystal crown is a rare treasure in all the realms. Wearing it protects you from blades and fire!” I looked at the glittering crystal crown in the mirror: “Oh, is that so? Perfect!” Perfect for my killing spree! “Hmm? What did you say?” “I said such a crown is fitting for such a joyous day!” Such a joyous day, of course, needs to be marked with blood! “Indeed! Even when the princes were alive, they never wore such a fine crown!” Is that so? Why don’t I send you all to reunite with them in the underworld? 0

When I finished dressing and went out, my wife Aria had already changed into her golden thread dress and nine-dragon phoenix crown, making her even more dazzling and unparalleled in beauty. She reached out her hand to hold mine. I withdrew my hand without changing my expression. She frowned slightly and pouted: “What’s wrong, my dear?” I smiled: “My hand is bony. I’m afraid it would be uncomfortable for you to hold.” “In all the heavens and earth, I only want to hold your hand!” When King Triton and Queen Marina arrived, they saw Aria and me hand in hand, talking and laughing happily. The maid Lily couldn’t help but tease: “Your Majesty, look how loving the Prince Consort and Princess are! You are truly blessed!” King Triton, holding the seven-colored dragon egg, smiled so hard his beard quivered. “It’s all thanks to Aria’s good judgment, finding us such a wonderful son-in-law. How else could we have a golden dragon born to us?” My wife Aria blushed and leaned into my embrace: “Father, what are you saying? It’s embarrassing!” Queen Marina smiled brightly beside them: “Child, why are you so shy now? Wasn’t it you who cried and insisted you would marry no one but him?” King Triton placed his hand on my shoulder and solemnly put the dragon egg in my hands: “The future of the dragon clan is entrusted to you!” I looked at my wife’s blushing face and felt a surge of anger rising. I strongly resisted the urge to crush the dragon egg and accepted it: “Please rest assured!” Rest assured! I will surely bury the filthy future of the dragon clan with my own hands! Queen Marina looked at me lovingly: “Don’t worry, everything is prepared. The auspicious time is almost here. You are the great benefactor of our Eastern Sea. The child should see you first when it hatches!” I pretended to decline: “Not at all. I’m lucky to have married a fairy like Aria. Anything I do for her is worth it!” “It doesn’t matter who the child sees first. I won’t compete with Aria.” Aria took my hand and smiled: “No, I want you to compete!” Everyone laughed and crowded around us, the family of five, as we headed to the main hall. In the center of the great hall was a giant seashell cradle. A dreamcatcher hung above it, and incense burned around it. Everyone’s expectant gazes turned to me: “Prince Consort, quickly place the young prince on it!” I gently placed the dragon egg on it, and a bell chimed. A crack appeared on the seven-colored eggshell. Everyone held their breath, staring at the dragon egg. Soon, seven-colored golden light shone through the crack. The dragon child had broken through its shell! “A golden dragon, it really is a golden dragon!” Amidst Chancellor Sheldon’s exclamation, everyone knelt before this little creature. How adorable. Though a golden dragon, it was so tiny. At this moment, it was holding its belly and laughing at me. I couldn’t help but reach out to touch the little one’s dragon horns. Its little claws eagerly grasped my fingertip and called me: “Daddy!” The warm, soft touch made me lose myself for a moment. This was the child I had waited 600 years for! I shed tears of emotion, then decisively cut off his head with the silver snake sword hidden in my sleeve! It happened so suddenly that no one had time to react. My wife Aria, who had been watching our intimate interaction with a happy face, looked at the scene before her in disbelief. She rushed towards me like a madwoman: “Have you gone crazy? What are you doing? This is the child we waited 600 years for!” Unfortunately, her hand hadn’t even touched my sleeve before she collapsed to the ground, her body weak. I had secretly put anesthetic powder in the incense. Soon, everyone in the palace fell down. “Son-in-law, son-in-law, what’s wrong with you? I’m Triton, your father-in-law! Have you been bewitched by something? Wake up!” Hearing King Triton’s voice, I turned and emotionlessly plunged my sword into the bodies of my dear father-in-law and mother-in-law. They struggled desperately, splattering blood on my face. How dirty! My wife opened her mouth in horror: “No, no! What are you doing? You’re not my husband. You must be possessed!” I walked to her side and examined this face that once made me fall deeply in love: “My lady, I know you’re in pain. Just wait a little longer. But first, give me your eyes!” I cruelly gouged out her eyeballs with my sword. Soon, those eyes seemed to have a life of their own and burrowed into my body. My black, lifeless eyes turned golden, with golden spiritual energy overflowing from the sockets. I then peeled off all the scales from her body, as easily as scaling a fish. Those scales, unsurprisingly, also entered my body. Immense spiritual power awakened in me. I no longer looked weak and powerless. I then cut off her dragon horns and pressed them onto my head. Now I looked like a true dragon. “You, you did this to become a dragon? If you wanted to become a dragon, there were other ways. Why did you have to kill my entire family!” “Were all our past feelings fake? You once swore in public that you loved me most, and if you betrayed me, you’d be struck by lightning!” I stopped in my tracks, turned to look at her, and shed a tear. She showed a joyful expression, thinking I would have a change of heart. But I only said: “Then let’s wait for divine punishment. I’m willing to bear it!” Then I resolutely left. Nothing could stop my steps of revenge. I slaughtered the entire Eastern Sea. The royal physician who diagnosed me, the maid Lily who helped me dress, the guard who taught me martial arts… Yesterday, they stood beside me, congratulating me on becoming a father. Today, they became vengeful spirits under my sword! I kept cutting, kept cutting, until even the blade of the silver snake sword was bent. I checked again and again to make sure there were no survivors in the Eastern Sea except for Aria. Knowing my sins were grave, I threw down the sword, picked up the golden dragon’s head. I sat in the pool of blood, waiting silently for divine punishment to arrive. When relatives and friends of the Eastern Sea arrived for the celebration, they saw this sea of red. The expressions on their faces were truly a spectacle! 0 “Heavens, what have you done? What you’re holding is a golden dragon!” “Why? Why did you do this?” “Of course, it was for the Eastern Sea, for the future of the Eastern Sea. I had to eliminate this evil!” Aria struggled to get up: “What nonsense are you talking about? Killing the entire Eastern Sea clan for the sake of the Eastern Sea?” I snorted coldly, looking at Aria on the ground, and kicked the golden dragon’s head over: “What your family did ten thousand years ago, you know better than anyone!” “With people like you in charge of the Eastern Sea, how can there be a future?” I looked at everyone and spoke again: “I am guilty and willing to be punished, but the sins of the Eastern Sea people should also be accounted for!”

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The Prince of the Eagle Clan and the Prince of the Merfolk have come of age. As human princesses, my sister and I are to be married off to form alliances. My sister Willow chose the handsome and gentle Merfolk prince. I married the fierce-looking Eagle prince. A year later, I returned to my homeland triumphantly riding on Hawk’s back. Willow, however, looked pale and frightened as she glanced at Finn. When Willow and I were alone, I saw the wounds on her body. Just as I was about to help her seek revenge, Willow suddenly plunged a dagger into my body. When I opened my eyes again, Willow and I had returned to the day we were choosing our husbands. Before Willow could speak, Hawk eagerly said he wanted to marry her. Willow looked surprised and delighted, hastily agreeing. I raised an eyebrow and smiled. It seems we’ve both returned. Me? I’m an expert at taming beasts! “Aria, Willow, the two princes have arrived. Mind your manners!” a familiar voice called out. I was momentarily confused, then looked towards the cold expression of our father on his throne. In an instant, I understood – I had been reborn! My sister Willow was sitting beside me, muttering to herself. “We’re back! We’re really back! It wasn’t a lie after all!” I calmly picked up the teacup in front of me and took a small sip. How interesting. It seems I have this ungrateful sister to thank for this second chance at life. Willow leaned in close to whisper to me. “Sister, this time I will win Hawk’s love and enjoy all the glory. While you? You’ll be stuck living among stinking fish!” In my past life, Willow had tearfully shown me her injuries, claiming Finn was cruel and violent. She said she was covered in wounds and feared for her life. After all, she was my sister. Out of kindness, I had offered to help “tame” Finn for her. But as I turned away, Willow stabbed me in the back. I looked at her in shock as she pulled out the knife, her face twisted with hatred. She stabbed me again and again, finally slashing across my eyes. I let out an agonized scream. Willow just laughed, grabbing my chin and sneering: “Aria, why should you always be on top? Why should your life be better than mine? Even in death, I want you to suffer horribly.” The feeling of my eyeballs rupturing still lingered. I blinked and looked at Willow. Willow was grinning triumphantly, about to speak again when Hawk and Finn entered together, just like in my past life. Our father then gave his opening speech: “Princes, Aria and Willow are my most exceptional daughters. I will not arrange their marriages for them. Young people should decide such matters for themselves!” As soon as Father finished speaking, Willow eagerly stood up. But before she could say anything, Hawk spoke up, very different from his cold demeanor in my past life: “Princess Willow is beautiful and virtuous. I, Hawk, humbly request Princess Willow’s hand in marriage from Your Majesty!” Willow froze for a moment, then couldn’t stop the smile spreading across her face. Seeing Father look her way, Willow quickly curtsied. “Father, I also favor the Eagle Prince and am willing to marry him! Besides, my sister is delicate and frail. The Eagle Clan rules the skies and requires great strength. I fear my sister may not be able to handle such a demanding life!” Willow spoke excitedly, not noticing Hawk’s twitching lips as she called me weak and frail. Father nodded approvingly, agreeing with Willow. “Such grace and consideration! Truly befitting a princess!” You senile old fool, isn’t that basically insulting Finn by implying he’s weak? However, Finn still stood there smiling gently as always, though his teeth seemed to gleam a bit brighter. I had to admit, the Merfolk were renowned for their beauty. Finn’s face was truly captivating. When he smiled warmly, it was as if he could steal your soul away. No wonder Willow had fallen for him at first sight in my past life, eagerly choosing Finn before either prince could speak. On the way back to my chambers, Willow caught up to me. “Sister, the Merfolk Prince is so incredibly handsome. You’re so lucky! Though I wonder how long your frail body will last in his bed?” The malice in Willow’s eyes was almost palpable. She seemed eager to see me suffer a miserable fate. I replied with feigned confusion: “Sister, the Merfolk Prince seems very gentle. It’s the Eagle Prince who looks fierce. You should take care to protect yourself!” I truly hoped my sister would protect herself well. It would be a shame if she didn’t survive long enough for me to get my revenge! In my past life, I had married Hawk. He took me to the eagle’s nest high in the mountains. Before I could recover from the dizzying flight, I was overwhelmed by altitude sickness. I was violently ill, my head spinning. To make matters worse, the eagles relieved themselves right off the edge of the cliff. I nearly tumbled off to my death. At first, I couldn’t adapt to the eagle clan’s ways at all. But beast-men aren’t known for being gentle or considerate. The eagles were volatile and quick to anger, especially Hawk as their leader. I suffered greatly in those early days. It took half a year before I grew accustomed to the physical effects of living at such high altitudes. Only then could I begin the process of taming Hawk bit by bit. Long before I knew I would marry into a beast clan, I had begun studying their habits and weaknesses. Whether eagle or merfolk, I needed to know my enemy to survive comfortably. If Willow thought Hawk had a good temperament just because she saw me riding on his back when I returned home, she was in for quite a surprise. Her days would certainly be… eventful. Ever since the great war a thousand years ago, the royal families ruling the sea, land and sky were required to intermarry every hundred years. Though the eagle and merfolk clans were powerful, they had very small populations and struggled to reproduce. Humans may be physically weaker, but we are extremely fertile. The beast clans coveted this trait, which is why they demanded marriages with the human royal family. But since humans have much shorter lifespans than the beast clans, they always wait for the beast princes to come of age before arranging the marriages. This generation, it was Willow’s and my turn. In my past life, I had managed to tame Hawk. This time… well, aren’t merfolk beasts too? Taming beasts is my specialty!

Willow gave me a meaningful look before walking away. Soon, the day arrived for Willow and I to be married. Though we called it a wedding, it really just involved us walking out of the palace gates in red bridal gowns. The rest of the journey would be handled by our respective husbands-to-be. In my past life, as soon as we exited the gates, Hawk had grabbed me and taken flight. By the time we reached the eagle’s nest, I felt like my soul had been scattered to the winds. Then came the suffocating altitude sickness! Now, Willow and I walked along the palace pathway with our future husbands at our sides. Willow suddenly turned to Finn and said sweetly: “Brother-in-law, you must take good ‘care’ of my sister!” Finn blinked at her words, then replied gently: “Of course!” Willow beamed with satisfaction. Well, I couldn’t let that pass unremarked. I looked at Hawk and said: “Brother-in-law, I’ll be very upset if my sister isn’t… happy!” Willow was still smiling smugly, completely missing how Hawk’s body instinctively trembled when I addressed him. “Don’t worry, Princess. I will take good care of the Second Princess,” Hawk replied. Hearing this, Willow looked even more pleased as she strode ahead of me towards the palace gates. By the time I reached the outer gates, Willow and Hawk had already disappeared. I hope my sister’s beautiful black hair has a safe journey! Finn and I took a carriage towards the nearest coastline. Inside the carriage, Finn gazed at me tenderly. Predators are driven by hunger and lust. I was feeling a bit… restless. I shifted closer to Finn, taking his hand in mine. “Husband, you must behave yourself from now on!” If he misbehaves, I might get even more excited. Finn’s usually smiling eyes widened in surprise. He clearly hadn’t expected me to act this way. Then his smile broadened, revealing sharp fangs. “My lady, I’m thirsty. You know merfolk can’t be away from water for long!” As he spoke, Finn’s handsome face drew closer to my neck, burying his head there as if in an intimate embrace. I wrapped my arms around Finn. “Thirsty? Let me help you with that!” When I felt a slight pain on my neck, Finn’s body suddenly trembled. He jerked his head up, glaring at me furiously. I raised my hand to his lips, letting drops of blue liquid fall. “Drink up. Your own venom shouldn’t kill you, right?” Finn yanked out the dagger hidden behind his back and tossed it aside. Scales appeared around his ears as his teeth grew even sharper. He was transforming in his anger! Finn’s slender hand suddenly gripped my throat tightly. A wicked smirk played across his lips. “My lady, perhaps I should find out if your blood tastes sweeter?” I managed a strained smile and rasped out: “Go ahead!” There was a sudden squelching sound of a blade piercing flesh. Finn clutched his partially transformed tail in agony. A dagger was firmly embedded in it. I rubbed my sore neck. “My apologies. I prefer blades and always carry a few on me!” Finn held his wounded tail, his fake smile completely gone. The merfolk’s weakness lies in their tails, especially when on land. A wounded tail saps much of their strength. The scales on a merfolk’s tail are extremely tough. Ordinary human weapons can’t easily penetrate them. But everyone has their vulnerable spots! If my aim had been off by even an inch, I might have lost any chance at future “happiness”. “Finn, you won’t dare kill me outright. And if you try to torture me, well, remember I am your mate now.” I glanced meaningfully at his injured lower half. “It would be quite unfortunate if I were to… slip up one day!” Finn stared at me expressionlessly, then resumed his gentle demeanor. The carriage moved swiftly. Soon Finn and I arrived at the coast. After swallowing a water-breathing pearl, I unhesitatingly jumped into the sea with Finn. Perhaps due to the blood from Finn’s wound, we didn’t encounter a single fish on the way to the merfolk palace. The beast clans were incredibly efficient. As soon as Finn and I reached the merfolk palace, the bonding ceremony began. A new water-breathing pearl was hung around my neck. With that, the ceremony concluded. Three days after the bonding, I was to return home and present this new pearl to my father.

But I never expected Willow to return as well, riding on Hawk’s back. Willow clung to Hawk’s arm. Though her face was somewhat pale, she still lifted her chin haughtily when she saw me, deliberately showing off some faint marks on her neck. “Sister, Hawk truly cherishes me so much. We’re blissfully happy now. I think I’ll soon be carrying the next little prince or princess of the Eagle Clan!” Then Willow made a show of looking behind me. “Oh my! Sister, did you come back alone? Where is your husband? Didn’t he accompany you?” Of course, your brother-in-law is recuperating from his injuries! “Sister, you and your husband seem so close. I’m truly, deeply envious!” Willow took my words as genuine jealousy. She turned to Hawk and cooed: “Darling, I’ll give you a child very soon!” Beast-men place great importance on offspring. Hearing Willow say this, Hawk’s gaze towards her grew even warmer. I was rather curious how Willow planned to lay an egg! In my past life, Hawk couldn’t even look at me without his legs going weak, let alone consummate our marriage. I’d never witnessed the egg-laying process. How intriguing! “Sister, when the little eagle prince or princess is ready to hatch, be sure to invite me to watch. I’m so curious how humans lay eggs!” Willow glared at me angrily. “Aria, I swear I’ll have a better life than you this time!” I handed the water-breathing pearl to Father, intending to leave immediately. But thinking of Willow left me feeling unsettled. So I changed course and went to find Hawk instead. When Hawk saw me, he instinctively took half a step back. I mentally rolled my eyes. Just because I plucked all his feathers once, was that any reason to be so afraid of me? “It’s been a while, brother-in-law!” Hawk steadied himself, seemingly remembering this wasn’t his past life. He put on an intimidating front. “Princess Aria, we just saw each other today!” I sat down in a chair, popping a grape into my mouth. “Hawk, the grapes you picked from South Mountain were much sweeter.” Hawk’s expression changed drastically. His pupils dilated as he stared at me. “You… you…” When I returned to the Merfolk, Finn’s wound had almost completely healed. What disappointing news. Fortunately, within three days I received some good news. Willow had fallen from the eagle’s nest. Though Hawk managed to save her in time, she still broke her leg! Trading all his feathers for one of her legs seemed like a fair exchange! I was in a good mood and decided to seek out my absent merfolk husband. I called for a servant girl. “Where is His Highness?” Without even looking up, the girl replied curtly, “Don’t know!” Her tone was full of impatience. How delightful! That evening, as I was enjoying some fish soup, Finn stormed in angrily. He knocked the bowl out of my hands. “Aria, you truly have a heart of venom! Using my clan’s servant girl to make soup – are human princesses really so delicate that my merfolk can’t afford to keep you?” I ladled myself another bowl of soup. “What are you talking about, Your Highness? How could I possibly cook a merfolk servant? This is just ordinary fish. See for yourself!” Finn’s anger subsided slightly as he frowned. “Where is Snow Grace? Why haven’t I seen her?” Ah, so that servant was called Snow Grace. I pointed to a bloodied, lifeless body in the corner. “Snow Grace is right there! You misunderstood me, Your Highness. I don’t eat fish that have gained sentience. It’s unsanitary!” Finn stared at me in disbelief. He suddenly stood up, then immediately collapsed to the ground. I set down my soup and walked over to Finn, clearly seeing the fear growing in his eyes. “I hadn’t planned to kill that servant girl. But she called me a lowly human and spat at me. It would have been remiss not to kill her.” Ever since my mother died, I knew that only by being strong could one avoid being manipulated. Only by inspiring fear could one gain respect. This palace was filled with an incense of my own making. The antidote was hidden in the fish soup. “Your Highness, I’ve heard that every member of the Merfolk has a heart scale. They’re incredibly precious. Is it true that possessing a merfolk’s heart scale allows one to control them?”

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My best friend and I were transported to a tribe of shapeshifters. She became the substitute for the aloof Raptor Priest’s idealized love, While I ended up as the devoted pet of a possessive Snake King with two formidable appendages. We used our modern knowledge to greatly improve the tribe’s infrastructure. But the tribe’s holy woman branded us as heretics and brutally murdered us. Beheaded and torn apart, our bodies were left in pieces. When I opened my eyes again, I immediately grabbed my backpack and knocked on my friend’s door, “Ready to die?” “Let’s die together.” After our demise, both our husbands went mad. 0 When the Raptor Priest returned, Lily and I were figuring out what to do with our last box of supplies. She carefully sorted through the items at the bottom of the box. From small bottles of hot sauce to folding tents, everything was precious. Over the years, we had unknowingly accumulated a small warehouse through our efforts to modernize the tribe. She crouched on the ground, examining each item with interest. As I stood beside her, I felt both envious and proud. Suddenly, an urgent announcement came from outside: “The High Priest has returned to the tribe!” Lily jumped up in an instant. Without hesitation, she shoved me along with the packages under the bed: “Hide well and don’t make a sound!” Her strength was frightening. She handed me a three-kilogram pot as if it weighed nothing more than a feather. “If that priestess makes a move first, use this to bash her!” Just as she finished speaking, the door was kicked open with a loud bang by the Raptor Priest. Although “priest” was a civilized title, the man before us was still very much a predator. His height nearly blocked out the light from outside, his body covered in sleek muscles. One look down from him was enough to make one’s heart tremble. Lily, who had just been engrossed in sorting supplies, now raised her head with tears in her eyes, looking so helpless she seemed about to shatter: “Why didn’t you send word of your return so I could welcome you properly?…” She choked back a sob, her voice filled with resentment. The Raptor Priest’s gaze shifted, his voice like a crack in a glacier: “Where have you hidden Sophia?” “Sophia is missing?!” Lily’s face was full of shock, not looking like an act at all. “How many times have I told you, she is the holy woman guided by the gods. My intimate rituals with her are destined by fate.” His patience was like thin ice. Before he finished speaking, his eyes had already turned gloomy, making one’s scalp tingle: “You meet her in private once, and she vanishes without a trace. Now you’re still trying to put on an act for me?” “I really don’t know. She called me over, saying she wanted to talk…” Lily’s voice trembled softly as she reached out to grasp the hem of the Raptor Priest’s robe, only to be coldly shaken off. The force was too strong, instantly leaving a red mark on Lily’s wrist. She shivered, tears streaming down her face. Seeing the mark, the priest paused for a moment before turning to leave: “Without my orders, don’t take half a step out of this room!” After he spoke, the hem of his robe disappeared through the doorway. Lily was left wailing and pleading: “My lord, please stay… don’t go…” Her sorrowful voice lingered in the air as I stared wide-eyed from under the bed. Lily’s acting skills had improved. As soon as the man’s figure turned out of sight, Lily immediately locked the door, wiped her face, and said: “You can come out now. The show has begun.” “Sophia’s started making trouble. After messing with the priest, it’ll be your snake’s turn.” “I think so too.” I crawled out and looked back at the spoils of war scattered on the floor. Lily and I exchanged glances, and I cleared my throat: “Ready to die?” Lily nodded without hesitation: “We must die to teach those men a lesson.” 0

Lily and I were both transported to this world. Her identity here was the substitute for Callum’s idealized love – the holy priestess Sophia. In this savage tribe of shapeshifters, the priest held an exalted position blessed with divine power. Callum was handsome and revered by everyone in the tribe. Unfortunately, his heart was always fixated on the priestess Sophia. No matter how beautiful, a cold butt that can’t be warmed is useless. As expected of best friends, my situation was even worse than hers. When we first arrived, not understanding the situation, a row of naked men knelt before us begging to be chosen. I just had to pick the most dangerous-looking one. With a low, icy voice and a dangerous aura. Everyone in the tribe feared the Snake King’s venom, and even more so his ruthless cruelty. It wasn’t until the man was in bed that I realized how powerful those two appendages of his were. To protect myself, I became the Snake King Liam’s devoted pet. As long as he was happy, I suffered a little less. In our previous life, Lily and I relied on our modern knowledge to greatly improve the tribe. We built bridges and roads, constructed houses and wove cloth, and even dug a simple well. But while our men were away, Sophia needed only one word to turn us into sacrificial offerings on the altar. The two of us were tied to pillars, watching helplessly as Sophia, wearing a pristine white robe and an angelic smile, raised a dagger to my face. Slice by slice, slice by slice. My blood stained the altar red. I was beheaded, my body torn to pieces. With a final burst of flame, Sophia burned our very souls. “What did she actually talk to you about?” “How would I know? I never went to meet her.” Lily gritted her teeth. “Living a second time, I’m not that stupid.” I sighed, rubbing my forehead. “Callum may be cold, but even if Sophia causes trouble, he’ll just be distant for a few days. At worst, he might send you away.” I laughed coldly, though my heart was pounding: “But that snake of mine…” Lily shuddered along with me: “Your psycho snake is truly terrifying. He might really flay you alive.” “It’s not just ‘might’.” I trembled, recalling the rumors about the Snake King: Apparently, to extract information, Liam once cut off a prisoner’s ears and then skinned the shapeshifter alive. The screams echoed endlessly, scaring the enemy into fleeing in all directions. It became a legend that established his reputation. Unfortunately, such a “god of death” had never stayed for me. His heart and eyes were also fixed on the woman who had doomed Lily and me — Sophia. Thinking about having to die, I also needed to plan my escape luggage. As soon as I entered the door, I was grabbed by the waist and pinned against the wall in a dizzying motion. A voice that made my heart race sounded: “Where have you been?”

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My ex-fiancé Ethan Parker embezzled $3 million from my personal investment fund. Even worse, I discovered he had been having an affair with his assistant Olivia Wilson for months, plotting to steal all my assets! Four years of love turned out to be nothing but an elaborate scam! “Where’s my money?” I kicked open the door to his office. “Oh, that,” Ethan said casually. “Olivia’s new project needed some startup capital, so I borrowed it temporarily.” “Borrowed? Is $3 million just pocket change to you?” “Aren’t we family? Why be so particular about money?” He had the audacity to act righteous. “Family? Does family sleep with someone else behind your back?” I threw the hotel photos of him and Olivia on the desk. Ethan’s face turned pale, but he quickly regained composure. “There’s nothing to explain. Olivia and I just have a work relationship.” “Does a work relationship require sharing a bed?” Looking at this man I once loved deeply, anger boiled inside me like lava. Four years of tenderness and care, all just an act! He treated me like an ATM, using my love as a bargaining chip!

It was an ordinary Tuesday until I noticed something unusual in the studio’s account. Three million dollars, gone. “Lucy!” I called out. Lucy Liu hurried in, looking flustered. “Yes, Ms. Green…” “Where’s the $3 million from the Starlight Design Fund?” I slammed the bank statement on the desk. “It… it was approved for transfer by Mr. Parker.” Lucy was trembling as she spoke. “He approved what? That was my dedicated design project fund!” My voice rose several octaves. “Mr. Parker said it was a temporary loan…” “Temporary loan?” I stood up abruptly. “What right does he have to touch my money?” Lucy took half a step back in fear. “Ms. Green, I was just following Mr. Parker’s instructions…” “Get out!” Ethan Parker, my fiancé, was also the general manager of Inspired Creations Advertising. We had been dating for four years and were supposed to get married next month. Now it seemed that wedding needed to be reconsidered. I stormed straight to his office. Ethan was organizing some files. When he saw me burst in, the pen in his hand fell to the floor. “Where’s my money?” I walked up to his desk, both hands on the surface. “What money?” His gaze shifted. “Don’t play dumb! The $3 million from the Starlight Design Fund!” My voice was so loud the next office could probably hear. Ethan stood up, adjusting his tie. “Lower your voice. What will the colleagues think?” “I want everyone to hear!” I pointed at him. “What did you do with my money without my permission?” “Oh, that money.” Ethan said nonchalantly. “Olivia’s new project needed some startup funds, so I borrowed it temporarily. I’ll return it this week.” “Borrowed?” I sneered. “Is $3 million just pocket change to you?” “We’re getting married soon. Why be so particular?” Ethan was getting impatient. “Don’t you trust me?” “Married?” My voice got even louder. “Does being married mean you can take each other’s money as you please?” Just then, Olivia knocked and entered. She was the studio’s assistant designer, admittedly quite attractive, with a very approachable demeanor. “What’s going on? I could hear arguing from the hallway.” Olivia pretended to look concerned. “Perfect timing, Olivia.” Ethan immediately changed his attitude. “Explain to Rachel why your project needs that startup capital.” Olivia immediately put on a pitiful expression, her eyes reddening. “Ms. Green, it’s all my fault for not being capable enough. The project ran into difficulties.” “If we didn’t urgently need these funds, I wouldn’t have troubled Mr. Parker…” “You troubled him?” I stared at Olivia. “Did you know that was my personal fund?” “I… I didn’t know.” Olivia lowered her head. “I thought it was the studio’s working capital. I’m really sorry!” “If sorry was enough, we wouldn’t need contracts, would we?” My voice was cold as ice. Ethan suddenly slammed the table: “Enough, Rachel! Olivia has apologized. What more do you want?” “What do I want?” I turned to him. “I want my money, right now!” “I don’t have it now!” Ethan shouted back. “The funds have already been invested in the project. We have to wait until this week to recover them!” “This week? What if the project fails?” “It won’t fail.” Olivia hurriedly said. “I guarantee the project will succeed.” “You guarantee?” I looked at her. “What can you use as collateral?” Olivia opened her mouth but couldn’t say a word. “It must be repaid this week,” I pointed at Ethan. “Not a penny less!” I left, but turned back at the door. “Oh, and in the future, you’d better get my permission before touching my money!”

Back in my office, Lucy carefully brought in some tea. “Ms. Green, should I look into the specific flow of that fund?” “Do it. As detailed as possible.” Two days later, Lucy brought a stack of photos, her hands trembling. “Ms. Green, take a look at this.” In the photos, Ethan and Olivia were coming out of a high-end French restaurant. Olivia was helping Ethan adjust his shirt collar. They were laughing happily, and Ethan’s hand was on Olivia’s shoulder. “When was this taken?” I picked up the photo to examine closely. “Last night at 9:20 PM.” Lucy pulled out her phone. “I followed them until 10:30 PM before they left separately.” I clearly remembered that last night when I texted Ethan, he said he was working late on files and his phone was about to die. “Anything else?” Lucy took out another stack of documents: “This is Mr. Parker’s schedule for the past week.” I flipped through page by page, getting angrier with each one. The schedule said he was meeting important clients, but the actual locations all matched Olivia’s activity tracks. “This bastard!” I threw the documents on the table. “Ms. Green, there’s something even worse.” Lucy played a recording on her phone. “I recorded this in the break room yesterday.” Olivia’s voice came through the recording: “Mr. Parker looked so handsome in that navy suit last night, much more manly than usual.” Another female voice asked: “What’s really going on between you two?” Olivia gave a light laugh: “You know.” I smashed the water glass on the floor, shattering it to pieces. “Keep investigating! I want to know their every move!” The next day, I decided to test Olivia myself. I cornered her in the design department’s break room. “How was the French dinner yesterday?” I asked deliberately. Olivia was making coffee. Hearing this, her hand shook, spilling coffee grounds all over the table. “What… what French dinner?” She nervously cleaned up the mess. “Don’t pretend.” I walked closer to her. “That place by the river last night. Pretty good, wasn’t it?” Olivia’s face turned pale instantly, then she forced a smile. “Oh, that. It was nice. Mr. Parker said he enjoyed it too.” As soon as she finished speaking, she realized she had slipped up and immediately shut her mouth. “Is that so?” I stared into her eyes. “Didn’t Ethan say he was working late last night?” “I… I…” Olivia stammered. “Maybe I remembered wrong.” “Remembered wrong?” I sneered. “Or have you gotten so used to your dates that you forgot to keep them secret?” “Ms. Green, you’ve misunderstood!” Olivia was sweating profusely. “Mr. Parker and I really just have a work relationship!” “Work?” I took out my phone and showed her the photo Lucy sent me. “Is this work too?” In the photo, Ethan and Olivia were laughing and chatting in the restaurant. Olivia was intimately wiping the corner of Ethan’s mouth. Olivia’s face went completely white when she saw the photo. “This… this is…” “What is this?” I held the phone in front of her face. “Care to explain?” Olivia opened her mouth but couldn’t say a word. Just then, Ethan pushed open the door: “What are you two talking about?” “About your date.” I showed him the phone directly. “Care to explain?” Ethan’s face changed when he saw the photo. But he quickly regained composure. “What’s there to explain?” He even acted righteous. “Olivia and I were discussing the project over dinner. Is there a problem?” “Does discussing a project require feeding each other?” I pointed at the photo. “Is this what you call discussing a project?” “That was… that was an accident.” Olivia started to panic. “We were talking about the design plan, and I had papers in my hand, so…” “So you fed him by accident?” I sneered. “Olivia Wilson, do you think I’m an idiot?” “Rachel, you’re overthinking this.” Ethan started to act gentle. “Olivia and I really just have a work relationship.” “Is that so?” I took out another photo. “Then how do you explain this?”

In the second photo, Ethan’s arm was around Olivia’s waist as they stood at the entrance of a boutique hotel. This time Olivia was completely speechless. “I can explain!” Ethan suddenly spoke up. “Olivia had too much to drink that day, so I sent her back to the hotel!” “Sent her back to the hotel?” I laughed. “Did you send her to her room?” “No!” Ethan waved his hands frantically. “Just to the lobby!” “Really?” I took out my phone and played a recording. It was the voice of the hotel receptionist: “Room 312, two guests, check-in time 10:15 PM, check-out time 10 AM the next day.” The room fell dead silent. “Anything else you want to explain?” I looked at both of them. Ethan and Olivia exchanged a glance, neither daring to speak. “Very well.” I put away my phone. “Since you’re not saying anything, I’ll take that as an admission.” With that, I left them standing there staring at each other. A week later, it was the studio’s annual design exhibition. The exhibition was held at the downtown art gallery, with over 500 attendees, all important figures in the fashion world. I sat in the VIP section, with Ethan next to me, wearing exquisite makeup and the dress I had personally designed. “This year’s Best Creative Award goes to our assistant designer, Olivia Wilson!” the host announced. The audience applauded as Olivia walked onto the stage, beaming. She looked especially beautiful today, wearing a white evening gown with flawless makeup. “Thank you everyone!” Olivia took the microphone. “This year our design department has achieved great results…” She started playing a PowerPoint presentation. The first part showed normal design works. I was about to applaud when suddenly the tone changed dramatically. My early failed design cases appeared on the big screen. A huge meme was added, with the word “FAILURE” written prominently. The whole room burst into laughter. “Haha, Rachel’s design back then was really ugly!” “How much did that exhibition cost again? $500,000?” “It’s still hilarious to think about now!” The murmurs in the audience grew louder. Everyone was looking at me, some snickering, some pointing and whispering. I sat there, expressionless, watching my past failures being displayed as a joke on the big screen. Even worse, Olivia on stage pretended to be flustered: “Oh! I’m so sorry, Ms. Green! This was an old template that wasn’t deleted properly! I’m really sorry!” But while she apologized, her face showed a hint of smugness. It was clearly intentional. Ethan not only didn’t stop it, but laughed along. He covered his mouth, laughing so hard he was bent over, almost to tears. “Ethan, you find this amusing too?” I turned to look at him. “No, I just…” Ethan was still laughing. “Just remembered that project from back then…” People in the audience started commenting loudly: “Rachel’s work quality has really declined these past few years!” “I heard she’s lost quite a few projects!” “She’s just riding on her past reputation now!” “If it weren’t for her dad’s connections, she would’ve gone bankrupt long ago!”

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Iris was pregnant, and the father of her child was my legal husband, Julian Thorne. On our seventh wedding anniversary, Serena Hastings leaned into Julian’s embrace, triumphantly announcing the news to all our guests. I, Iris Thorne, the rightful Mrs. Thorne, became a colossal joke. Julian warned me to keep my schemes in check and to wholeheartedly serve Serena during her pregnancy. He showed no regard for my dignity. I stared at the tall man before me, a wave of desolation washing over my heart. It has to end, I thought. When I decided to leave, Julian casually made a bet with his friends: “If Iris isn’t back, begging to come home within 24 hours, how about that prime development property downtown? It’s yours.” “24 hours? No way, eight is plenty! Everyone knows Iris can’t live without Mr. Thorne,” someone scoffed. Laughter erupted. Outside, a Jaguar sat parked in the dark night. The man inside wore sunglasses, his expression unreadable. This time, I was truly leaving. My suitcase had been packed for ages, holding only a few changes of clothes. After marrying Julian, all the jewelry gifted by his family, those precious pieces, had been meticulously kept in the master bedroom’s jewelry box. I didn’t take a single one. As I dragged my suitcase, about to step out of the villa door, I heard Serena’s sickly sweet voice. “Iris, just walking out like that wouldn’t be very nice, would it?” I paused, wondering what game Serena was playing. “The Thornes are a powerful family, a massive empire. Who knows what precious valuables you’ve stuffed into that suitcase.” I calmly replied, “I haven’t taken anything from the Thorne family. This is just some of my clothes.” Serena clacked towards me in her high heels, stopped right in front of me, and looked down her nose, dramatically saying, “Clothes? Are clothes even yours? You’re a freeloader with no job, living off him!” Her cruel words flooded my ears. I bit down hard on my lip, quickly tasting the metallic tang of blood. Serena was right. I didn’t have a job. Seven years ago, when Julian and I got married, I had just graduated from college. But Julian had said he didn’t like high-powered career women who were never home. He preferred a devoted wife, someone who’d make a warm home for him. So, I decisively gave up the offer from an internationally renowned design firm, trapping myself within the four walls of the kitchen. “Fine.” I pushed my suitcase forward. Serena was still relentless. “What about what you’re wearing?” I froze. What I was wearing? “Julian, make her leave the clothes! She can’t take anything that isn’t hers.” Serena pulled Julian in front of me, waiting for him to speak and back her up. “Iris, strip.” Numbly, I took off my jacket and tossed it to the ground. Finally, I gave one last, heavy look at the husband I’d been married to for seven years, then turned and walked away without a backward glance. A familiar license plate came into view. I quickened my pace, when suddenly a large hand, like a vice, clamped onto my wrist. It was Julian. “Iris, even like this, you’re still dead set on leaving?” My wrist throbbed from his grip. I ignored Julian’s words and instead asked him, “Julian, do you still remember our child?” Julian’s grip on my wrist loosened.

In the second year of our marriage, I unexpectedly found out I was pregnant. When I had my check-up at the hospital, the doctor said I was exactly three months along. Overjoyed by the news, I couldn’t wait to share it with Julian immediately. At the time, Julian was on a business trip abroad. I planned to keep the news a surprise and tell him when he returned home. The day Julian came back, it was pouring rain. I warned him to be careful and to come home right after his plane landed. I’d given Maria, the housemaid, the day off. I curled up alone on the couch, stroking my belly, imagining how delighted Julian would be. But Julian never came home. Because Serena was afraid of thunder, Julian stayed with her all night. Meanwhile, I slipped on a spilled glass of water and fell heavily to the ground. A warm gush between my legs sent me into a panic. Fighting the sharp pains in my stomach, I dragged myself to reach for my phone on the table. Dots of blood stained the floor. I called Julian’s phone repeatedly, but it just rang unanswered. I prayed that my baby inside would be strong, just a little stronger, strong enough to hold on until I could get to the hospital. I gritted my teeth and, with my last ounce of strength, dialed 911. I woke up in the hospital. Julian told me the baby was gone. I furiously gripped his collar, asking why he didn’t come home? Why didn’t he answer his phone? Serena rushed over, tears in her eyes, begging for my forgiveness. She said she was scared of thunder, so she’d messaged Julian, pleading with him to come stay with her. My child, this baby who had only been in my womb for three months, died that thundering, rainy night.

“Julian, what does any of this matter? Even if there are mountains of knives and seas of fire, I’m still leaving,” I said with absolute resolve. “Fine.” Julian’s eyes held a dark shadow. I hadn’t walked two steps before a sharp pain flared in my neck, and I lost consciousness. Julian had me locked away. Someone delivered my meals every day. I didn’t understand what Julian was playing at. Two weeks into my confinement, I was taken to the hospital. I was strapped to a gurney and brought into an operating room. A second before the anesthesia took effect, I heard the doctor sigh, “Uterine cancer, needs a hysterectomy. Poor thing.” My uterus was removed. Julian sat by my hospital bed, holding a bowl of soup Maria had made, ready to feed me. I turned my head away. “Iris, you just had surgery. Don’t play around with your health,” Julian’s chilling voice rang out. Surgery? If it weren’t for you and Serena, I wouldn’t have needed this surgery. Serena’s pregnancy wasn’t going well. She’d heard about some supposedly powerful fortuneteller from somewhere and dragged Julian to see him. The fortuneteller told them that my future child would bring her bad luck, and if I had any chance of getting pregnant, not only would Serena’s baby not survive, but it would also harm the mother. Then, they gave Julian the birth details of this “woman,” which matched mine exactly. So, they fabricated a “uterine cancer” diagnosis for me. “Iris, after you’re discharged, you’ll still be Mrs. Thorne. Serena’s child will call you Mommy,” Julian said, as if to himself. As if that could somehow erase the harm they had inflicted upon me. “Iris, I’ll compensate you.” As he said this, Julian’s phone rang. It was Serena calling him. “Julian, I hurt my hand! Hurry and come here!” her anxious voice came through the receiver. I grabbed Julian’s hand and said, “The only compensation I want is for you to refuse Serena.” Serena kept urging him over the phone. Julian pried my hand open. He said, word for word, “Don’t be ungrateful. Know your place. What do you have that can compare to Serena?” Then he turned and left without a backward glance. The empty hospital room was left with just me. Compared to Serena’s injured hand – a matter Julian treated as monumental – my uterus being removed seemed utterly trivial. I, Iris, was completely insignificant to Julian. Serena posted sweet photos of herself and Julian on Ins. The caption read: “I jokingly said my hand was hurt, and someone rushed right over to see me. I’m so happy!” I coldly ‘liked’ her post, then shared it with the comment, “Wishing you both happiness.” After a period of observation in the hospital, I was again confined to Julian’s villa. Why do I say confined? Because on the day I was discharged, Julian sent two burly bodyguards. Seeing the strong men, whose wrists were as thick as my calves, I had no choice but to push down my thoughts and temporarily return home.

Back at the villa, I was assigned to the guest room. This villa was Julian’s and my marital home. Every corner had been decorated by my own hands. The plush ornaments on the sofa, the exquisite stone sculptures on the display cabinet, the fresh flowers in the floor vase… But now, they were all gone. Alfred, the butler, told me it was at Miss Hastings’ request. Serena had moved into Julian’s and my marital bedroom. “Iris, you’re finally home! This is wonderful!” Serena came down from the second floor, eagerly rushing to my side. “Finally, I’m not the only one in this house. You can keep me company now!” I wasn’t used to feigning civility with Serena. I pulled my hand from her grasp and said nothing. Julian followed her down from the second floor. He was displeased with my cold attitude and was about to scold me when Serena gently stopped him. She sweetly said, “Iris, please don’t be mad at me. I really didn’t want to do this, but I’m so uncomfortable with my pregnancy that I have to trouble you to take care of me for a while.” I was confused. Take care of her? Me, take care of Serena? I thought Julian had just said it offhand, but I hadn’t expected him to actually mean turning me into her personal attendant. “Where’s the housemaid?” I demanded of Julian. “Serena doesn’t like outsiders,” Julian said, knowing he was in the wrong, but not wanting to lose face. After all, in front of me, Julian always had to be superior. “Serena’s pregnancy is hard on her. As Mrs. Thorne, it’s only right that you take care of her,” Julian added. Mrs. Thorne. It seemed that as long as I had those three words, as long as I had that title, it could somehow compensate for all the hurt Julian had inflicted on me. I had no heart to argue with them anymore. I just wanted to go back to my room and get some sleep. Watching my back as I walked towards the guest room, Julian’s heart inexplicably trembled. Iris had lost more weight. After all, she’d had surgery. He instructed Alfred to make some of my favorite dishes for dinner. Seeing Julian staring blankly at Iris’s retreating figure, a venomous glint flashed in Serena’s eyes. Without a housemaid, and with bodyguards supervising me 24/7, I was trapped in the villa, becoming Serena’s personal servant. During this time, I had kept in touch with Liam Carter. Liam had repeatedly tried to find ways to help me escape Julian. But given that I was under strict surveillance, Liam’s plan had to be put on hold for now. Liam, despite the time difference, consistently stayed up to chat with me. He was incredibly thoughtful, always sensing my low moods and finding ways to cheer me up. “Iris, what are you looking at?” Julian stood at the doorway, his voice low and heavy. I jumped, instinctively turning off my phone. I had been so engrossed in my chat with Liam that I hadn’t even noticed Julian opening the door. “You should knock before entering someone’s room,” I frowned. “This is my home. Why would I knock?” Julian said imperiously. Using his height advantage, he snatched my phone, trying to unlock it. “What’s the password?” Julian asked. He was so arrogant and self-centered. I didn’t have the energy to fight him for my phone. “My birthday.” Julian repeatedly entered the password, but the phone kept rejecting it, until the security system issued a warning. He sheepishly tossed the phone onto the bed. Seven years of marriage, and Julian knew nothing about my birthday. Yet, every year, I prepared for his birthday in advance, sending blessings and gifts right on time. “Don’t chat with irrelevant people.” Julian threw out this remark, then stormed out, slamming the door so hard it shook the house.

During my boring confinement in the villa, I used drawing to pass the time. Honestly, I’d always had a regret: not pursuing my passion for design further. So, during my seven years at home, whenever my hands itched, I’d sketch out design drafts. Liam sent me a set of photos. They were the winning designs from an emerging talent competition three years ago, and my work was clearly among them. A designer’s work is their heart and soul. I’d recognize a design that came from my hands even if it was reduced to ashes. Yet, the design that was clearly mine was credited to Serena Hastings. My mind instantly went blank, and a terrifying thought emerged. The information I asked Liam to check quickly arrived. It confirmed my suspicions. Serena had stolen my work to enter the competition. Three years ago, I had mysteriously lost a portfolio of my sketches. I searched high and low for half a month but found nothing and eventually gave up. And Serena was the new designer who had suddenly risen to prominence three years ago. Looking through her work from these past few years, almost all of it bore the shadow of my sketches; some were even direct copies. The thought of Serena using my hard work, wearing the crown of praise, and proudly flaunting her career success to me, made me tremble with rage. I found Serena and confronted her. Serena didn’t flinch. She placed a hand on her slightly bulging belly and said indifferently, “So what if I stole it? What if I didn’t? You were never going to use it anyway. Isn’t it a good deed to help someone else succeed?” I didn’t know how low this woman’s shamelessness could go. Serena kept shattering my perception of her. Watching me so enraged I could barely stand, Serena studied me with interest, then slowly delivered another blow: “And I didn’t steal this sketch, Julian gave it to me.” Julian gave it to Serena? The memory of Julian’s feigned concern when I was looking for my sketches made my stomach churn. Suddenly, Serena leaned close to my ear and whispered, “You should have gone to hell with your damn mother.” My mother was my raw nerve. Especially with Serena involved; if it weren’t for her back then, I wouldn’t have missed seeing my mother one last time. Burning with fury, I slapped Serena across the face. To my surprise, Serena stumbled and fell to the ground with my slap. I stared in shock at Serena, clutching her stomach on the floor, and then incredulously at my own hand. I could swear that slap was not hard enough to make Serena fall like that. Hearing the commotion, the bodyguards outside quickly rushed in to check. Julian was also alarmed and hurried upstairs. Julian pushed open the door and saw Serena, her cheek slightly swollen, lying pale on the floor, while I stood perfectly fine beside her. Without a word, he slapped me. It was a powerful slap. I guessed Julian put all his strength into it. My face snapped to the side, and my lower back hit the wooden sofa armrest hard. Sharp pain spread across my face and down my back. Julian hadn’t expected to lose control of his strength. Seeing the blood-tinged corner of my mouth, his eyes flickered. Serena noticed Julian’s hesitation and immediately began to whimper, crying out that Iris shouldn’t hit her, even if it was just for the baby’s sake. Julian stopped bothering with me, scooped Serena up, and rushed downstairs. Within moments, the room, which had just been full of people, was empty again, leaving only me. Looking at my high, swollen face in the mirror, I thought of the year my mother died. Counting today’s slap, Julian had hit me twice. The first time was that year. Back then, Serena was often unwell, running to the hospital every few days. Julian was frantic with worry. Serena told Julian she had a dream: if Iris went to a temple to pray for her, it would help her ward off a supposed curse for the year. She badgered Julian into sending me to that temple. The ritual required 49 days of continuous prayer. Normally, I might not have refused, but at the time, my mother was gravely ill—a situation where every visit counted. I pleaded with Julian to wait until my mother’s condition stabilized before sending me to pray, but he refused. Julian only said he would take care of my mother, completely disregarding a daughter’s wish to be by her dying parent’s side. Disheartened, I left for the temple. When the 49 days of prayer ended, I never got to see my mother one last time. At the funeral, Serena feigned an apology to me. My patience finally snapped. I grabbed the cup of hot water by my hand and violently threw it at her. The moment the water splashed on Serena, Julian’s hand was already raised high. He chastised me, saying I was mad with grief, treating Serena’s genuine kindness like trash. The memory overlapped with the present. I looked at the haggard woman in the mirror, my eyes filled with cold determination. The bodyguards guarding the villa were all called to the hospital to watch over a supposedly traumatized Serena. I left the house that held so much of my pain, without any resistance. As the plane soared through the clear blue sky, I quietly said goodbye to everything there. Goodbye. Never again. Julian had soothed Serena, and now he sat wearily on a bench in the hospital corridor. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw my face, red and swollen where I’d clutched it.

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My A-list actor husband and I were a picture-perfect couple, but it was all an act. In public, he adored me, even throwing punches for me when other guys got too close. Behind closed doors, he hated my guts, keeping a beautiful young mistress on the side. He wore matching wedding rings with her. He called her his “good wife.” His friends even called her, “sister-in-law.” I didn’t cry or make a fuss. I just quietly deleted the old texts where he’d promised to love me forever. We were each other’s first love, entangled for years. Until I fell ill and slowly started forgetting everything about him. That’s when he panicked. He tried to create romantic surprises for me, desperate to make me better. But he could only watch as I fell in love with someone else. It was the seventh year of my love-hate relationship with Brandon Hayes when he met the woman he truly liked. Her name was Willow Green, a budding actress fresh out of school. She was pure and sweet, and her smile reminded me so much of my younger self. Our friends said Willow was just a stand-in for me. They thought Brandon was probably just looking for something new, playing around. After all, Brandon and I had been on-again, off-again for years. Everyone had seen how a proud man like him would laugh and cry for me, how he’d bend over backwards for me. Everyone knew he loved me, loved me to the point of obsession. I suddenly remembered that night we’d broken up and gotten back together. Brandon ripped my dress, taking from me tirelessly. I was a puddle of exhaustion. In my daze, I heard him whisper in my ear, coaxing me, “Baby, we’re meant to tangle, to torment each other forever.” I used to think Brandon would never love another woman the way he loved me. But then, in our third year of marriage, our relationship shattered. And that’s when Willow appeared.

At first, Brandon despised Willow. They were on a set, playing lovers. Willow was a huge fan of Brandon’s. Every time they held hands or hugged, her face would flush, her crush obvious. Back then, Brandon and I were still good. He’d often tell me how much he disliked Willow acting like a total fan. Willow wore cartoon T-shirts, and Brandon called her childish and silly. Willow wore hot shorts, and Brandon called her so tacky. Whatever Willow did, Brandon found annoying. Yet, perhaps he didn’t even realize it himself, but every time he mentioned Willow, he was smiling. During our nightly phone calls, he slowly started to drift off. Most of the time, it was because Willow was so clueless. She’d constantly bother Brandon with all sorts of questions. Brandon would complain, but patiently answer her every time. Before we hung up, I’d ask Brandon, “Tomorrow, can we please not talk about Willow anymore?” He’d flash that mischievous grin and tease, “Are you jealous, baby?” He’d joke around with me, then block Willow’s number right then and there. Until a few days later, Willow posted something on Ins: “A passionate kiss scene, with two hearts truly moved. “Can’t sleep tonight, I’m pulling an all-nighter talking to the person I like!” That night, Brandon didn’t call me. I tried calling him, but his line was busy. I knew then, this time, Brandon was falling for Willow, playing make-believe for real.

After that night, it was like Brandon suddenly stopped loving me. We started giving each other the silent treatment. He didn’t explain, and he didn’t try to sweet-talk me into making up. For a whole month, we didn’t speak. Then, on the last day of filming, during a live interview on set. A reporter asked him, “Work’s done, what do you want to do most right now?” He pulled out his phone, showing a photo of me wearing an apron, flirting with him. He smiled gently and said, “Right now, I miss my wife the most. I want to eat her home-cooked meal.” In some ways, Brandon was my financial backer. If he didn’t love me anymore, I could just hide my true feelings, follow his lead, and make some good money. That night, I cooked a feast. But Brandon never came home. I didn’t wait up for him; I went to bed early. Then, in the middle of the night, he called me. He sounded drunk, mumbling and whining. “Wife, my sweet wife, I miss you so much. Come pick me up, please.” He hadn’t called me ‘wife’ in ages. My eyes stung, and I didn’t say a word. His buddies were hyping him up in the background: “Who’s the big star calling? Is that Willow?” They kept shouting into the phone, “Sister-in-law! Brandon wished tonight that he’d be with you forever, always…” So, Brandon had called Willow. He called her his “good wife,” and his friends called her “sister-in-law.” He had already brought Willow into his life. A sharp headache flared, and I quickly hung up, burying myself deep in my covers, pulling them tight around me. It’s fine. I could pretend not to care. My acting was always top-notch.

Word quickly spread that Brandon and I were having problems. Everyone in the industry said he’d fallen for Willow. He took her to candlelit dinners, bought her houses and cars. Sometimes he’d even rent out an entire amusement park just to ride silly carousels with her. He liked her so much, he practically wanted to give her the world. Even that ruby necklace I’d wanted so badly, the one I could never find, Brandon recently bought it. I thought he’d give it to Willow. But one morning, I woke up to find the necklace resting quietly on my bedside table. Next to it was a note that read: “Happy Anniversary.” It was Brandon’s handwriting. I silently crumpled the note and tossed it in the trash. I couldn’t understand Brandon’s intentions anymore, and I didn’t want to.

A few days later, at a private dinner party, I met Willow for the first time. She smiled as soon as she saw me. She stared at my necklace and said in a sweet, soft voice, “Mr. Hayes bought me a ton of jewelry a few days ago, but this necklace felt a bit too old for me, so I asked him to give it to you. “I just knew you, Skylar, being more mature, would look perfect in it. “Mr. Hayes always said he spoiled me like a child, and I used to argue, I mean, I’m twenty-two! “But compared to you, Skylar, I suddenly feel like I’m really too young.” I froze, suddenly feeling utterly ridiculous. My cherished anniversary gift, the one I loved so much, was just Willow’s hand-me-down. Willow saw my displeasure and smiled even sweeter. She tossed her hair and continued to gloat, “Skylar, don’t be shy about me giving you the necklace; just wear it. “Mr. Hayes buys me so many things; I can’t even wear them all. If there’s anything else you like, just tell me. Feel free to take whatever you want.” I smiled back at her, asking softly, “You’ll give it to me, just if I like it?” Willow nodded smugly. I reached out and touched the dazzling diamond earring on her ear, then suddenly pulled hard, tearing it right off. Willow screamed in pain, clutching her ear and bending over. Blood seeped through her fingers. I looked down at her, still smiling, and asked softly, “Thank you for the gift. Can I have the other earring too?”

Willow’s pupils trembled slightly, as if she was scared of me. Her blood splattered on the floor, and the people around us started to murmur. Brandon arrived shortly after. He saw the blood on the ground, and his expression turned cold and savage. He pulled me into his arms, checking me over from head to toe. The concern and tension in his eyes looked so real. Willow released her hand, letting the blood stream down her ear and drip onto her white gown. She reached for Brandon, saying softly, “Mr. Hayes, I’m in so much pain…” Brandon raised his arm, dodging her, and gave her a cold glance. That look made Willow freeze, biting her lip in humiliation. She didn’t understand. Brandon came from a wealthy family; keeping a mistress privately was one thing, but if it became public, it would be a huge scandal. In front of others, Brandon could only love me. His fingers caressed my furrowed brow, and he coaxed me gently, “Who upset you?” I didn’t speak, and no one else dared to. Two seconds later, Brandon suddenly grabbed a vase from a nearby table and smashed it on the floor, snarling, “Are you all deaf? Who upset my wife? Speak up!” The atmosphere was terribly oppressive. Willow clenched her fists, then burst out, “It was me! It was all my fault, okay, Brandon Hayes!?” She finally couldn’t hold back, her tears streaming down as she looked at Brandon defiantly, choking out, “It’s my fault for wanting to get close to Skylar but being hated by her! “It’s my fault for falling for the wrong person, willing to be called a mistress just to be with him no matter what! “It’s my fault for being delusional, thinking he liked me too, my fault for being an idiot!” She lifted the wine glass above her head and poured it over herself. The wine and blood mixed, staining the front of her dress. Crying, she asked Brandon, “Mr. Hayes, is this enough? Is your beloved wife satisfied?” Brandon’s hand tightened on my shoulder, squeezing harder and harder. He must have felt pain for her. He asked me, “Satisfied?” I chuckled, tears almost falling from my eyes. I asked Brandon, “Is it exhausting, pretending to love me? “Brandon, I have a great idea. I can make it so you can openly love whoever you want. “Give me money. Lots and lots of money. Then, we get a divorce.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297100”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

On our fifth wedding anniversary, Liam promised me the grand wedding he’d always wanted to give me. He said he deeply regretted not giving me a ceremony back then, and that I would be the most beautiful bride. But on our wedding day, he got a text message and rushed off. I chased after him, stumbling in my heavy wedding dress. He only offered a rushed comfort: “Avery, something really important came up at work. I have to go.” His lies were pathetic, so clumsy, but I didn’t even have the energy to call him out. Because I had cancer. And I didn’t have long left. Liam didn’t know I’d received the message before he did. I was sitting in front of the vanity mirror, my phone buzzing with a SnapChat notification. I opened it to see the text: “Avery, I won’t bother your life anymore. Are you satisfied?” My heart hammered in my chest. Before I could even react, I saw Liam glance down at his phone, then his face went pale with panic, and he dashed out. He was always so composed, so in control. I’d never seen him like this. As I rushed after him, I almost tripped over my skirt, crashing into the doorframe. My knee stung, a sharp, burning pain. He didn’t even look back. He just slammed the car door shut, leaving that one flimsy excuse hanging in the air. For this wedding, I’d chosen a strapless mermaid gown, despite the chilly autumn weather. I just wanted my life to be beautiful, just once. And he left me there, alone, with all our invited family and friends. For a moment, I wanted to flee, to run away immediately. I was so exhausted. I didn’t want to deal with the mess he’d left behind. He was the one who promised me a surprise. He was the one who filled me with hope. And he was the one who abandoned me here. But I looked at their expectant faces. We weren’t a fresh young couple just going through the motions. We’d been married for years, and we’d carefully invited only our closest circle – less than six tables in total – a mix of friends and family from both sides. My old college roommates and close friends from work were sitting inside. They’d traveled from far away, just to indulge my sentimental heart. I stiffly turned, changed into something lighter, and went to greet them one by one. Liam’s buddy, Mark, joked, “You two are still playing games, huh, Avery? A wedding five years later! Don’t forget to invite us to your silver and gold anniversaries!” I smiled and promised him I would. But I knew in my heart there wouldn’t be any more anniversaries. Even if I lived that long, my marriage with Liam wouldn’t last. My best friend, Chloe, rubbed my hands. “Why are your hands so cold? And where’s Liam?” I forced a smile. “Oh! He’s busy. Work called him away again.” She squeezed my hand tight. After more than a decade, we knew each other too well. Meeting her gaze, I nearly lost it, tears threatening to spill. I didn’t want anyone to see how upset I was, but my mind was a chaotic mess. Finally, after settling everyone, I collapsed onto a chair, utterly drained, unable to say another word. Then my mom suddenly called, launching into a furious tirade: “Are you completely heartless? Your sister is dying, and you still have the nerve to throw a wedding?” I didn’t even have the strength to stand up, listening calmly as she ranted. It took me a moment to piece together what she was saying: Selena had an episode, slit her wrists on the school rooftop. It took all my effort to find my voice. “Didn’t the groom already rush off to save her? What more do you want? Should I just… kill myself to appease her? Will that make her better?” There was one more thing I didn’t say: *I don’t have long to live anyway. You’ll be satisfied soon enough.* But I didn’t want them to know. I didn’t want to see any of them in my final days. “What are you talking about? Your own husband couldn’t stand it! Your sister, who grew up with you, is dying, and you have no reaction whatsoever? How can you be so cold-blooded?” My mom continued to yell. She didn’t know that my throat was burning just from trying to speak. I choked back a cough and hung up, looking at myself in the mirror. I looked like a ghost. Whenever Selena was involved, I lost. She always won. She could effortlessly snatch everything from me, every single time. Selena was my aunt’s daughter. After my aunt and uncle died in a car accident, she came to live with us. From that day on, I heard the same line every single day: “Selena’s already so miserable! Why do you always have to fight her? Can’t you just let her have this?”

That evening, Liam came back, looking utterly exhausted. I was tending to the wound on my knee. Honestly, I was too tired to even bother, but it looked pretty bad, and even the slightest inflammation could cause me immense pain now. It could lead to further complications, widespread inflammation. I numbly continued to treat it. I actually hated pain. Every day, falling asleep was a battle. Since college, I’d suffered from severe anxiety. When it flared up, I’d vomit and suffer from insomnia, my mouth raw with acid after each bout. Liam glanced at me, then stopped midway to the bathroom to shower. He saw the bloody gash on my knee. “What happened? How did you get this? Can’t you be more careful?” I didn’t answer him, just focused on my wound. I didn’t really want to talk to him anymore. He slowly sat down beside me, reaching out to take the gauze. I looked up, my gaze cold. “Avery, I’m so sorry! Today was a real accident, please don’t be mad at me, okay?” His eyes looked so sincere. If the truth hadn’t been staring me in the face, I would have fallen for that look again. “Liam, let’s get a divorce. I’m just… so tired.” I didn’t want to look at him, dropping my gaze back to my knee. As soon as I finished bandaging it, he suddenly pressed against me, pulling me into a tight hug. Perhaps it was the panic of a guilty man. He squeezed me so tightly, he brushed against my wound. I hissed, and he slowly released me, kneeling in front of me, looking genuinely remorseful. “Avery, we’re going to have so many anniversaries. That word ‘divorce’… please don’t say it so casually. It hurts.” “Liam, this afternoon was the last bit of dignity I gave you,” I said, meeting his eyes, my gaze unblinking. He froze, then his expression contorted into one of frantic panic. “Avery, it’s not what you think, really. The situation was just too urgent, I had to rush over, but I didn’t dare tell you directly. I was just afraid you’d misunderstand, I…” Liam, for the first time, was stammering. “Liam, what are you so afraid of? Am I that terrifying? Or is it that you’re all afraid I’ll bully Selena, and now you’re afraid I’ll bully you?” I laughed, a bitter, humorless sound. “Avery, you’re too emotional right now. I don’t want to argue.” He dodged the question, retreating into the bathroom to shower. I ignored him, went into the study, and closed the door. The moment it clicked shut, I felt my hands trembling. I lay in bed, staring wide-eyed at the ceiling. I was perpetually exhausted, but sleep rarely came. I only managed three or four hours a night. Honestly, I should have realized the truth a long time ago. Selena was his vibrant red rose, the indelible mark on his heart, the one he could never truly let go of. When I met Liam, he had already broken up with Selena. He never showed me photos of his ex-girlfriend. All I knew was that the relationship had caused him a lot of pain, but I never knew his ex-girlfriend was Selena. We both silently agreed not to mention it. It wasn’t until after we officially got married and went home for the winter holidays that Selena happened to be back for the holidays too. Selena was there that day, and it was the first time I saw Liam panic. A woman’s intuition told me something was terribly wrong. I wanted to ask Liam about it, but every time I brought it up, he’d cut me off, saying the past wasn’t pleasant and only brought unhappiness. And after the holidays, Selena went abroad to study the violin, which she loved. My parents even sold our house and moved to the countryside to support her. I couldn’t quite describe the feeling back then. It had always been like this, ever since I was little. Selena could take expensive music lessons, while I couldn’t even afford tutoring. I’ll never forget the look on my mom’s face when she learned Selena was continuing her studies. She was beaming with pride, saying she never imagined our family would produce a musician. Liam was beside me then. He squeezed my hand tightly and said, “In my eyes, my wife is the best.” He really was good to me. He let me look at his phone, gave me his bank cards. He was everything you’d read about online, the ‘perfect’ husband. I had a poor appetite, so he specifically learned to cook, making me dinner every day after work. In the evenings, we’d walk hand in hand. Those days were simple and pure. I thought it would last forever. Then Selena came back. She hadn’t become a famous musician. She suffered from severe depression. Her arms were crisscrossed with scars, self-inflicted with an eyebrow razor. My mom held her, sobbing uncontrollably, a complete wreck. She came to find me, her face gaunt and pale. “Avery, I regret it. Can you give Liam back to me?” The whole thing felt utterly absurd. She acted like Liam was just another one of the things I’d always given up for her – like a dress, a toy, a room, or even just a snack. She was used to me always stepping aside the moment she opened her mouth. I ignored her, simply thinking she was crazy. She had been with Liam before; she was the one who told me herself. I still remember that New Year’s Eve, fireworks bursting everywhere. For the first time, she acted really close to me, saying she wanted to watch the fireworks with me, pulling me outside. Liam stayed inside, playing cards with the older folks. Selena kept pulling me along, walking endlessly. ***截断点***

We walked so far, to a bench in a park. She pulled me down beside her and talked about the past, sighing, “Avery, I can’t believe you, who was so small back then, are married now.” I was speechless for a moment, unsure what to say. Then, she suddenly changed her tone. “Avery, you’ve always hated me, haven’t you?” “Say something!” I truly didn’t know what to say. “You hated me so much that you had to marry Liam, simply because he was once my boyfriend.” As soon as she said it, she was sobbing uncontrollably. Fireworks exploded in the sky. She leaned back against the bench, the light reflecting off her face, showing countless tears. It was the first time I’d ever seen Selena cry like that. In that instant, my hands and feet went cold. She was Liam’s ex-girlfriend? We had only been officially married for less than a month! Heaven help me, if I had known they were together, I would have run as far away as possible. But I didn’t know! Liam had come into my life, telling me how much he liked me. He had been there for me through my toughest days. “I didn’t know you two were together,” I finally managed to explain. She glanced at me, said nothing, and just walked away. A few days later, she left to pursue her music dream. Before she left, she sent me a text: “You’ve given in to me so many times. I’ll let you have this one.” I clutched that text message and had a massive fight with Liam. What did she mean, ‘let me have this’? If Liam couldn’t let her go, he should just stay with her. I’d just admit I’d chosen the wrong person. Liam yelled it was all a huge mistake, that he was being unfairly targeted. He showed me his phone. “Avery, you can’t do this to me. I don’t even have her on SnapChat. I didn’t know about your relationship.” “What would you have done if you knew about our relationship?” “I would have gotten with you sooner, hidden from her, and closed my eyes so I wouldn’t even see her.” He closed his eyes as he spoke. His antics made me laugh, and he quickly pulled me into a tight hug. In the following years, Selena genuinely didn’t appear in our lives. I even almost forgot about it. Until she finished her studies and came back, utterly exhausted, looking like a wilting rose – even more delicate and heartbreaking. Selena complained about feeling cold every day then, perhaps also because she came back in winter. My mom was so worried, it was like she’d aged years, her hair turning grayer by the day. I even introduced her to some doctors I knew. But then I saw the way Liam looked at her. I couldn’t lie to myself anymore – how could you hide that look of deep concern for someone? It felt like a needle piercing my heart, the pain so sharp it stole my breath. I confronted him. He lost his temper for the first time: “Enough, Avery! She’s already like this, what more do you want? Why are you making a scene?” His words made tears stream down my face, and he quickly rushed to comfort me. “I’m so sorry, Avery, I really didn’t mean to yell at you. We’ve been together for so many years; don’t you trust me?” I managed to push it away for a moment. All those years, all that companionship… it made me cling to a delusional dream, deceiving myself. Later, he went on a business trip to a remote area, and returned right around New Year’s. We went together to give gifts to my parents. Without me knowing anything, I watched him pull out a small bag of saffron and hand it to Selena. “Locals say this tea helps with the cold.” Then, under her astonished and grateful gaze, he produced a small good luck charm. “They say this also brings peace and protection.” I remained silent the entire time, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu, like I was back many years ago. My parents would always buy Selena a huge pile of gifts whenever they went out, while I could only watch with longing eyes, like a dog begging for scraps. On the way home, Liam tried to hold my hand, but I kept struggling. Then I noticed he’d placed a large, sparkling ring on my ring finger at some point. I was surprised. He gently pinched my cheek. “Is my little Avery getting jealous? The saffron was for your mom, she asked me to get it. And the good luck charm was just a thoughtful extra. They thought your sister was under some kind of bad influence.” “But the ring… I chose this one myself, I spent ages finding it. With me, you’ll always be safe and sound,” he said. He was always so charming when he said sweet things. I stared blankly at the massive, pigeon’s-egg-sized ruby ring. He suddenly kissed my forehead. “Avery, let’s have a wedding. I’ve always been so sorry I couldn’t give you one.” Our eyes met. In that moment, I genuinely believed that everything before was just my imagination, that he truly loved me. Suddenly, tears welled up and streamed down my face. He quickly wiped them away, asking what was wrong, his expression like a child who had made a mistake. In that moment, I desperately wanted to tell him. During his business trip, my insomnia had gotten worse, and I was vomiting constantly, feeling utterly miserable. At first, I thought it was good news, and happily went to the hospital to check. But the doctor, seeing my continuous vomiting, recommended a full body scan. When I received the diagnosis, I truly couldn’t believe it. How was this possible? I was so young. How could this be happening? I went to several more hospitals, but received the same devastating result each time. I pulled out my phone, wanting so badly to tell him, but I couldn’t calm myself. I couldn’t even face my own reality. I didn’t know who to tell, or how to say it. The doctor asked why I hadn’t come earlier. I told him it had been like this since college; I’d vomit whenever I felt anxious. He sighed. “Young people are under too much stress these days.” Back in college, my mom was funding Selena, so she literally had no money left for me. She only paid my tuition. Every day, she’d send me messages, call me, telling me to work hard, to “be realistic” about our family’s finances. Sometimes I’d get texts at six or seven in the morning, asking if I had a part-time job, if I was earning money, if I could get a scholarship. She said she was so anxious, that the family could never save money, and what would happen when they got old? I asked her why she was still funding Selena’s expensive music lessons then. She got angry and snapped, “Why are you always so petty? Why can’t you just let Selena be? She finally has a dream; shouldn’t she be supported?” “What about me?” “What more do you want? I already put you through college! Are you trying to kill me with stress?” She wanted Selena to live the life she desired, at the expense of my own survival, but she never saw that as a problem. She’d only say, “I gave birth to you, I raised you – what more do you want from me?” Every day, I worried about my living expenses, how to earn money, how to make my resume look better, how to find a higher-paying job. That’s when I met Liam. He comforted me, understood me. Later, when he started his business, I was by his side, traveling everywhere with him. To save money, we’d buy the cheapest bus tickets, spending twenty-plus hours practically standing. He bought two small stools, and we’d sit huddled together, him shielding me from the crush of the crowd. He’d whisper in my ear, “I’ll make sure you have a good life.” But now… my days are numbered.

Liam didn’t know that on the night of the wedding, as I walked past a nearby jewelry store, the name felt oddly familiar. Almost as if compelled by an unseen force, I walked in. I showed the sales associate the large red ring on my ring finger and asked about it. She was a very young sales associate, her face flushed as she spoke. “Oh, this ring? Just last Sunday evening, we were almost closing, and a gentleman rushed in right after getting off a plane to buy it for his wife.” “He must really love his wife, otherwise why would he be in such a hurry?” “Or was he in such a hurry because he’d done something wrong?” I murmured softly, not sure if I was asking her or myself. She froze, looking awkward. I turned and left. *Of course,* I thought. *That’s why he suddenly bought a ring. He bought gifts for everyone else on the way home, but forgot me. Maybe he bought it because he felt guilty, and it was an expensive way to smooth things over.* All my previous warmth and gratitude felt utterly ridiculous. Those nights, I was terrified countless times. I wanted to tell him, tell him about my illness, to find some warmth that wasn’t even there, but it was just my own wishful thinking. I lay in bed, numbly shedding tears. The door suddenly opened. Liam pinned me down, kissing my tears. “Avery, what do I have to do to make you stop overthinking?” A fierce wave of nausea surged up my throat. With a strength I didn’t know I had, I violently pushed him away, rushing to the bathroom to throw up. He looked utterly humiliated. “Avery? What are you doing? Can’t I even touch you anymore? How could you treat me like this?” I ignored him, collapsing weakly to the floor. When I finally found the strength to stand, I splashed cold water on my face. “Let’s get a divorce. I’m serious.” He tossed a tissue at me, then turned. “You’re dreaming!” I watched his back as he fled in a panic. “You will,” I muttered to myself.

I went to the hospital for a pain injection. I couldn’t even swallow pain pills anymore. Then I went directly to Selena’s hospital. I simply walked into her room and sat down. She immediately became incredibly agitated, ripping out her IV, blood gushing everywhere, and screamed at me, “Avery, what do you want? Can’t you just leave me alone?” I said nothing, just quietly peeled an orange. After finally finishing, I realized I couldn’t eat it anyway. I was already on a liquid diet. There were so many things I wanted to taste, but I couldn’t even do that. I held out the orange to her. “Want some? It should be sweet.” I wished I could taste it, even if it was sour. Selena’s agitation only intensified. She swatted the orange from my hand, sobbing uncontrollably. My mom stormed in, carrying a takeout bag – a meal for Selena. The dishes looked eerily familiar, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it. She raised her hand and slapped me across the face. “What did Selena do to you? Why do you keep hounding her?” My nose started bleeding, a steady stream. I just looked at the blood on the floor, saying nothing, then stood and walked out of the room. My mom chased after me, wanting to say something. Finally, she grabbed my arm. “Avery, what’s wrong? Are you getting sick? Why have you lost so much weight lately?” “What’s it to you?” “I’m your mother!” she snapped. “Oh, really? I don’t believe you,” I said, a smile breaking through my tears. My tears came too. But she cried even louder than me. “I’m your mom, what do you want me to do? Can’t you try to understand me, too?” “I named you Avery – ‘knowing intent’ – you used to be so understanding, so considerate when you were little. What happened to you now?” I couldn’t listen anymore. Perhaps it was from eating so little, but my head was spinning. I fled the hospital like a ghost. But as long as Liam didn’t sign the divorce papers, I would keep coming back here. Let’s just torment each other.

Liam rushed back. I was staring at the mushy, overcooked porridge, my head aching from the sheer effort of trying to swallow it. I’d managed a few spoonfuls, but threw them all up. I drank some sugar water, forcing it down. “Avery, what exactly are you doing?” He struggled to keep his voice low, trying to control his anger. “Could you cook me a bowl of noodles?” Liam was an excellent cook; his noodles were especially delicious. But he hadn’t cooked in ages. I couldn’t remember if it was because he was too busy with work or for some other reason. I had been on a liquid diet for so many days, drinking everything through a straw. For some reason, I just really wanted noodles—the kind Liam made. I’d tried many restaurants, but none tasted like his. I knew I wouldn’t be able to swallow them, but just smelling them would be enough. “She’s already in such a state, please, just leave her alone, okay?” he pleaded. His words were like a knife, twisting raw in my bleeding heart. I remembered back when our love was at its peak, I’d told him he was my closest confidant. I truly believed that then, but I never expected that period of closeness to be so brief. “Divorce me? Then I won’t go near her.” I insisted stubbornly. “You’re utterly unreasonable!” Infuriated, he turned and left, the door slamming shut behind him. Liam once said he’d never let me regret marrying him. But I did regret it. I also couldn’t understand why I wanted a divorce so badly when I only had a few days left anyway. But every time I thought about those days, it made me sick. Do people really change so suddenly? How could he do this to me? How could he? Why did I lay my heart bare only to have it trampled on? They all seemed to delight in crushing me. Can’t I just… escape? I insisted on visiting Selena every day. Anyone who didn’t know us would truly think we had a deep sisterly bond. And then I finally realized whose food she was eating. Selena caught my gaze on her food and challenged me, a taunting glint in her eyes. “Want some? Liam made it. It’s the only thing I can stomach these days.” For the first time, I almost lost it right there in front of her. I hadn’t even left the hospital when Liam called. His voice was laced with irritation. “Avery, please stop this. Selena is sick.” “Divorce me! Then I’ll stop,” I replied, repeating the same words. I reached the crosswalk, a desperate urge to just… step in front of a car. But then a thought flashed through my mind: that wouldn’t be fair to anyone. Everyone’s struggling. I couldn’t just create more trouble for others, even in death. I stepped back, watching the teeming crowds, cars rushing by. My mind was filled with images of Liam cooking for Selena. The irony was suffocating. He always looked so tired, and I’d always been considerate, learning to cook his favorite dishes and waiting for him to come home, even when I couldn’t eat anything myself. I understood his exhaustion, yet he was painstakingly preparing nutritious meals for Selena every day. Liam, how could you? If I had the time, I would take him to court, fight him tooth and nail. But I only had my final days left. Perhaps fate intervened, or maybe Selena finally cracked. That day, I went to see Selena again. We stood at the stairwell, arguing. I envied her how easily she could yell, how much energy she had. My mom had called Liam, and Selena was crying, her face wet with tears. “I really don’t want to see you. Just die!” I remained silent. She reached out and grabbed my arm, shaking me violently. “What do you want?” I turned to look at Liam, my intention clear. Selena was incredibly agitated. She tugged at me, lost her balance, and almost fell down the stairs. Then I saw Liam rush forward in a panic, catching her. I tumbled down the stairs. At the landing, there were some glass shards. I put my hand out to break my fall. *CRASH!* The glass shattered. My white sweater was soaked with blood, my arm covered in glass fragments. There were some on my face too. I must have looked terrible, so ugly. I hadn’t looked good in a long time. I couldn’t even bear to look in a mirror. I was so ugly! Liam rushed down, his voice frantic. “What happened? How did you get like this?” Blood stained my sweater red. Liam tried to pick me up, but I pushed against his chest, fighting back my tears. “Will you divorce me? Please? If you divorce me, I won’t come here anymore.” “I promise I won’t bother you two again.” “Please, divorce me?” I truly didn’t have much time left. I couldn’t afford to wait, I couldn’t delay, and I didn’t want to see Selena. Even more, I didn’t want to see my mom, clucking protectively over Selena like a mother hen.

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I Died. Then I Saw Everything. The day I died, my boyfriend brought his first love home. They kissed shamelessly on the sofa I bought, ate the special savory dumplings I’d made, and played on the gaming console I’d given him. One day, his first love, Celeste, asked curiously, “Where’s Anya?” Dorian’s voice was calm, “She got into an argument with me a few days ago, then applied for a business trip.” Oh, he still didn’t know I was dead. On Dorian’s birthday, I was in a car accident on my way back, and I died on the spot. My soul floated above, wanting to see Dorian one last time. Just then, I saw Dorian bring his first love, Celeste, back to *our* home. In the dim light, Celeste’s fair face was flushed, as if she were deeply drunk, clinging to Dorian, her body limp against his. “Dorian, Dorian…” He steadily held her waist, brushed away her messy hair, and patiently responded to her every call. Dorian, usually so distant, reserved that tenderness only for her. Seeing this, even though I was prepared, my heart still ached. Ever since Dorian found out about Celeste’s divorce, he’d been distracted, coming home less and less, growing colder towards me. I’d found out that Celeste’s ex-husband’s company had gone bankrupt, and he’d fled with the money. Celeste only discovered she was pregnant after the divorce, and debt collectors hounded her daily, scaring her into multiple near-miscarriages. Dorian had been with her at the hospital all these days. I argued with Dorian because he wanted to bring Celeste home to care for her. “Celeste’s parents once helped me out. I can’t not help her.” My eyes were red, “Is that the only reason?” Dorian was silent for a moment, then suddenly extinguished his cigarette. “I promised I’d marry you.” “Anya, what exactly are you so insecure about?” What was I insecure about? Dorian knew, deep down, but he pretended not to. That night, I suddenly lost control, and for the first time, I suggested we break up. Dorian’s face grew darker. Without a word, he carried me into the bathroom, turning on the shower. “Do you know what you just said?” I trembled, hugging myself, his tall shadow looming over me. He ripped off my shirt buttons, almost punishingly biting my lips. “Anya, never talk about breaking up with me.” Cold water poured over my head, his hot breath grazed my neck, and his face blurred before my eyes. “Celeste is only staying for a while. Once the police find her ex-husband, I’ll send her back.” He whispered close to my ear, “There’s really no future for her and me.” I gasped for breath, struggling, closing my eyes and threatening, “To get me to agree, I’d have to be dead.” And then, I really died. Dorian really brought Celeste back.

I watched Dorian place the drunken Celeste on the sofa and wipe her face with a hot towel. “…You’re pregnant. You shouldn’t drink so much.” He spoke in a low voice, yet his tone was gentle, just like he used to scold her for not paying attention in class. Celeste didn’t seem to hear, muttering about a headache. Dorian chuckled softly, helping her up, his long fingers pressing gently on her forehead, from her brow to her temples, then behind her ears. It was a tender scene, and my heart tightened, as if it had stopped for a few seconds, then furiously started beating again. For a moment, I was lost in thought. Back when we’d just graduated college, Dorian’s grandmother passed away. And Celeste’s parents, due to Dorian’s family background, refused to let them be together, forcing Celeste into an arranged marriage. During those six gloomy months, I stayed by Dorian’s side, helping him through it all, little by little. Six months later, he accepted my confession. Later, he decided to start his own business and often went out for drinks. I would clean him up, cook him hangover soup, and take care of him all night long. The next day, my eyes would be dark, looking utterly exhausted. Dorian would gaze at me for a long time, sigh, and then have me lay my head on his lap, massaging my temples. I was a little overwhelmed, yet the gentle pressure was so comforting that I started acting playfully. “Dorian, you’re not allowed to massage anyone else’s head, okay?” As soon as I said it, I regretted it. Just as I was about to backtrack, I heard Dorian chuckle softly above me: “Okay.” He said, “Okay.” But. Of course, Celeste wasn’t “anyone else.” I was just a sudden exception for Dorian, while she was, and always had been, his preference.

Suddenly, I felt like I should leave this place. I couldn’t even stand watching Dorian massage Celeste. What if they rekindled their old flame one day? What if they hugged? Kissed? What if… The thought alone sent a searing pain through my chest, like ants crawling up my spine, making me restless. I frantically ran towards the door. But the moment I touched it, a sudden, tearing pain shot through me, even worse than the car crash, worse than being smashed to pieces after falling from a cliff. I couldn’t even scream. My body was yanked back. After several attempts, my face was ashen white, drenched in cold sweat, and I finally realized something— I couldn’t leave this house. Or rather, I couldn’t leave Dorian. Instantly, all my strength left me. I numbly continued to watch the two of them. Dorian had finished massaging Celeste and was about to leave when a hand hooked around his neck. Celeste opened her eyes. Their eyes met. “Dorian, do you still like me?” Celeste asked directly. Dorian stared into her eyes. “I hate you.” Celeste’s face paled. His palm rested on her cheek, his thumb tracing her skin inch by inch, as if with a sigh, “But I’ve also never forgotten you.” I curled my lips mockingly. A smile bloomed across Celeste’s face, lighting up her eyes. Then, as if she suddenly thought of something, her gaze flickered, “What about Anya? She’s been with you for five years. What do you feel for her?” Dorian paused, parting his lips, but said nothing. The atmosphere suddenly fell silent. Celeste’s expression subtly shifted, her eyes scrutinizing him. The next second, she tilted her neck slightly and kissed the corner of his lips. Dorian’s body stiffened noticeably, but only for a moment. He quickly took control, his large hand scooping her waist to pull her onto his lap, his fingers clasping the back of her head, deepening the kiss. A wave of nausea instantly rushed to my head. I clamped my hand over my mouth, afraid my churning stomach would rise into my chest. “Dorian, he’s already abandoned me. Don’t you abandon me. I don’t want to be alone.” Celeste gasped for breath, pleading against his lips. “I know you only feel gratitude and guilt for her; the one you truly love is me…” Celeste’s kiss moved to his collarbone, pausing slightly, then her hand reached for the buttons of his shirt— Dorian suddenly pressed down on her hand. “No.” His voice was cold and deep, his eyes equally frigid. A chill emanated from him, spreading outwards, making even my soul, which felt no temperature, shiver. Celeste stared at him blankly, as if she hadn’t expected to be rejected. “Is it because of Anya that—” I stared at him blankly too, my heart pounding uncontrollably and wildly. Dorian was silent for a while, then lowered his eyes, his expression unreadable. “Celeste, I have a girlfriend right now.” “This isn’t good for you.” Celeste understood, and the corners of her lips curled up slightly. “I’ll wait for you.” I understood too, and laughed mockingly. Dorian meant that as long as we hadn’t broken up, he and Celeste wouldn’t cross any substantial lines. This wasn’t about his character, nor was it out of respect for me, his official girlfriend. He just didn’t want Celeste to bear any stain or moral condemnation. He cherished and protected her so much. Laughing, large tears began to fall.

After tucking Celeste into bed, Dorian went to the balcony to smoke alone. He stood tall and refined, his body almost merging with the night, only the glow of his cigarette tip shining faintly. His face was almost expressionless, his thumb repeatedly rubbing the cigarette, which meant he was extremely agitated. I was forced to hover less than two meters away from him, watching him coldly. He and the woman he loved had already confessed their feelings for each other; I didn’t know why he was still agitated. Oh, right, we hadn’t broken up yet. Perhaps it was because of what happened earlier, unfulfilled desire. I thought. Suddenly, his phone chimed. Dorian almost immediately opened his phone, his deep, dark eyes fixed on the screen. The next second, a hint of disappointment flickered in his eyes. My curiosity piqued. I floated behind him, shamelessly peeking at his screen. What I saw made me freeze— Dorian had opened his SnapChat chat with *me*. Since that big argument, we hadn’t contacted each other. The last chat message was from me: “Comrade Dorian’s birthday is in seven days! What gift do you want?” Perhaps he was too busy with work that day, or perhaps he was taking care of Celeste at the hospital, but he hadn’t replied. Now, Dorian’s fingers unconsciously scrolled up and down, refreshing SnapChat, as if doing so would make a message appear from the other side. I wasn’t sure how to react. In a daze, Dorian had already sent a SnapChat message. Dorian: “It’s eleven-thirty.” In an instant, I understood his reminder. It was 11:30 PM. His birthday was almost over. I, his girlfriend, who hadn’t missed his birthday for five years, who always cooked him longevity noodles and vegetable potstickers, hadn’t even wished him a happy birthday this year. But I wouldn’t anymore. Never again. Because I was already dead.

Dorian stood on the balcony for a full thirty minutes. When he returned to the living room, shrouded in a chilling aura, his face was already grim. He stared at his phone screen for two more seconds, then irritably tossed it onto the sofa. His long strides carried him to the fridge, where he pulled out a bag of the vegetable potstickers I had made last time but hadn’t eaten, specially freezing them. He thawed the potstickers with a blank expression, cooked them, then sat at the dining table, head bowed, eating them slowly and deliberately, one by one. The hazy grey smoke curled around his brow bone, making him appear even more distant and cold. Watching him quietly eat the potstickers, a thought suddenly popped into my head. Dorian… he probably cared about me a little. I was surprised, then it dawned on me. Actually, strictly speaking, today wasn’t Dorian’s real birthday. Dorian’s actual birthday was a week ago. But five years ago, on that very day, Dorian’s grandmother passed away, and Celeste also left him. From then on, Dorian didn’t want to celebrate his birthday. It was my idea to move his birthday back a week. And it was always me, relentlessly enthusiastic, who would arrange his birthday celebrations. I was an orphan. At the orphanage, my birthday was the happiest day of the year. I just wanted him to be a little happier too. The first time I celebrated his birthday, I secretly spent months learning a game he loved to play. I planned to stay up all night playing with him, but I fell asleep on his lap at 2 AM. When I woke up, Dorian was above me, arms crossed, his usually stoic eyes curved in a half-smile, “All-nighter, huh?” The second time, I cooked a huge dinner table, cutting several of my fingers, and only the longevity noodles and vegetable potstickers were edible. Dorian ate everything, though, and even he, usually so quiet, praised the potstickers several times. I was always one to seize an opportunity, so I puffed out my chest, “Your heart isn’t good, and these potstickers are my special recipe, packed with ingredients that are good for your heart, so I studied really hard to get the perfect shape and taste.” Dorian looked at me for a long time then. “Anya, why are you so good to me?” I smiled, “Because I like you! I really, really like you.” Before I could confess more, Dorian cupped my jaw and leaned in to kiss me. Dorian always hid his emotions, but that was the first time I felt such an overt, intense emotion from him. Then we tumbled into bed. That night, we were both so clumsy, exploring each other. But later, he seemed to become a natural, his hands gripping my waist, his deep, dark eyes reflecting my tear-stained face. He was silent but fierce, late into the night. But it turns out, my stubborn persistence worked. The third and fourth times I celebrated his birthday, Dorian just went along with it. It made me think that five years of devoted care and constant companionship must have left some mark on his heart.

A “clink” brought my wandering thoughts back. Dorian seemed to be lost in thought too, not even noticing the spoon that had fallen to the floor. I instinctively leaned down to pick it up, but my non-corporeal hand passed right through the spoon. I froze for a moment. Then the spoon was picked up by another hand. “What are you eating?” Celeste’s soft voice filled the room. I spread my palms, looking at these hands that were growing fainter, almost unable to solidify, then looked at Celeste’s long, fair hands. Suddenly, I felt a pang of insecurity. My hands used to be beautiful before I died. Now I could cook a full meal, effortlessly complete games, but now I couldn’t even touch anything. “What flavor are these dumplings? They smell so strange.” Celeste picked up another spoon and slowly stirred the dumplings in Dorian’s bowl. Dorian’s brow furrowed slightly, but he still replied, “Vegetable.” Celeste nodded indifferently, then looked up at Dorian, “Why did Anya say today was your birthday?” Dorian flinched. Celeste smiled candidly, “Your phone was on the sofa just now, I glanced at your chat history.” Then she added, “I can’t believe your lock screen password hasn’t changed, 0802, the day we first met.” Dorian looked down, and I couldn’t see the expression in his eyes. My heart still twisted slightly. I used to playfully ask Dorian to change his lock screen password to the day we got together, but he always refused. It was because of her, after all. “Hurry, answer my question. Why did Anya say today was your birthday?” I stared coldly at Celeste. Dorian had promised me that this was a secret between just me and him, that he wouldn’t tell anyone— “A lot of bad things happened on that day five years ago, so she suggested postponing my birthday by a week, finding ways to celebrate it for me.” His familiar voice was as low and calm as ever. I bit down hard on my tongue, a bitter, metallic taste welling up and spreading through my mouth. Suddenly, I wanted to laugh, at myself. Celeste was silent for a moment. “She really was good to you.” “These dumplings are hers too? Made specifically for your birthday?” “Yes.” “You rushed me to sleep just to eat these? To keep a promise with her?” Dorian didn’t answer. Silence settled. Celeste quickly scooped up a dumpling, then suddenly said, “I want to eat it.” “No!” I screamed, a desperate, raw sound. No one heard me. I reached out to grab her spoon. I couldn’t touch it. Dorian’s gaze darkened. He grabbed her wrist, warning softly, “Celeste.” Celeste stared into his eyes, repeating each word, “I want to eat it.” “Dorian, from now on, I’ll be with you for every one of your birthdays.” She was forcing him to choose. Dorian’s jawline tightened, a flicker of struggle in his dark eyes. After what felt like an eternity, he slowly released Celeste’s hand. Celeste ate the dumpling, as she wished. I watched, numb, tears endlessly spilling from my eyes. It felt like knives carving into my heart, tearing flesh, bleeding profusely. This wasn’t just about dumplings. This wasn’t just about dumplings. These past few days, I’d hovered in the corner, watching them indifferently, feeling as though all emotion had left me. But I wasn’t sure if it was my imagination, after that incident, Dorian’s attitude towards Celeste seemed much colder. Aside from playing games together, he had no other intimate gestures with Celeste, even deliberately avoiding her touch. One day, Celeste suddenly asked, “I always forgot to ask, where’s Anya?” Dorian paused, his voice calm, “She got into an argument with me a few days ago, then applied for a business trip.” Celeste laughed, “So many days without contact, maybe she already wanted to break up with you.” Dorian’s eyes darkened, utterly certain: “Impossible.” As he spoke, he instinctively pulled out his phone, looking at his chat with me. A rare hint of unease and anxiety appeared between his brows. Oh, he still didn’t know I was dead. I suddenly became curious about his reaction when he did find out. The next day, Dorian received a package from me. —It was the engagement ring he’d given me. A month ago, Dorian and I were at a restaurant. Halfway through the meal, the man sitting opposite me suddenly stood up, pulled out a ring without warning, and knelt on one knee.

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I was the real daughter of the Miller family, swapped at birth. The first thing I did when I returned to the Millers was to give my biological parents two choices. “Give me two hundred thousand, and I’ll cut ties with you. I leave. Or, Isabella leaves within twenty-four hours, and I stay.” My biological parents found me while I was working odd jobs at my foster parents’ diner. Someone bumped into my shoulder on the way to serving a customer soup, and the hot liquid splashed all over my leg. The porcelain bowl shattered on the floor with a loud crash. My foster mother, Brenda, who was binge-watching a show on her phone and munching on chips at the counter, heard the commotion. She rushed over and slapped me across the face. “I must’ve committed some sin in my past life to have a jinx like you!” she spat. My face and leg stung. Just as she muttered curses and raised her hand for a second slap, an enraged voice stopped her cold: “Stop! Who gave you permission to lay a hand on my daughter!”

After the doctor treated my burns, Victoria, my biological mother, clutched my hand tightly. She had been crying since she first hugged me on the way to the hospital. Richard, my biological father, stood by, constantly comforting her, his eyes filled with guilt as he looked at me, occasionally handing his wife a fresh tissue. Victoria sniffled, “It’s all… it’s all our fault. If only we had arrived a little sooner, you wouldn’t have been hurt.” Victoria’s hand felt warm, making my palm sweat. Just like her embrace, it was intensely warm. And she smelled really nice. Maybe it was her overwhelming perfume, but the burning sensation on my leg seemed to fade significantly on the way over. I turned my face away from her, pulling my hand free without hesitation. “You can both leave. I’m a little tired.” “Hazel…” Victoria tried to say something more, but Richard stopped her, leading her out of the room. I watched them walk out of the hospital room, my gaze fixed on Victoria’s tightly clenched hand. In it, she held a strand of my hair, which she’d subtly plucked when she hugged me. My scalp had stung when she pulled it, but I had to pretend not to notice a thing. She was trying to be clever, but it wasn’t exactly rocket science.

Half a month passed, and Richard and Victoria came together to pick me up and take me back to the Miller family home. During those two weeks, they had been incredibly diligent in their visits. Victoria, especially, acted as if she wanted to move into the hospital with me. Victoria constantly introduced me to the Miller family members, telling me I had two older brothers and an older sister. An older sister? Before they even found me, I already had the Millers all figured out. After all, I was the one who had that paternity test delivered to their doorstep. The Millers only had one daughter. The so-called sister was Isabella, the girl they had raised for seventeen years. Isabella, huh. What a precious name. A smile involuntarily curved on my lips. Victoria thought I was happy to hear about them and went on to talk about the three siblings. It was always her talking, and me staying silent. She asked about my life for the past seventeen years, and I remained silent. But when she mentioned how excited my two brothers were to meet me and how well they would treat me, I finally spoke. My eyes lit up as I looked at her, asking with a mix of anticipation and caution, “R-really?” Liam Hayes had never been stingy with his praise for my acting skills. Watching Victoria’s delighted expression, I wholeheartedly agreed. She smiled, and I mirrored her, my fingertips unconsciously tracing the blanket covering me. If they truly welcomed me, why hadn’t they bothered to show their faces even once in two weeks?

The car pulled up to the villa, which was shrouded in darkness. Richard and Victoria led me inside. The lock clicked, the lights flickered on, and party poppers went off. Inside, a girl in a pink dress, holding a cake with a radiant smile, cheerfully announced, “Welcome home, Hazel!” She was flanked by two guys. The one on her left had a gentle smile as he looked at me, saying, “Welcome, little sister.” The one on her right looked completely bored. As if sensing it, Isabella subtly tugged at Blake’s sleeve. Blake’s voice was ice-cold. “Welcome.” Richard’s face instantly darkened, and he bit out, barely suppressing his rage, “Blake!” Victoria quickly stepped in to play peacemaker, linking her arm through mine. “Hazel, Isabella knew you were coming home today. She organized this welcome party especially for you.” I offered a faint smile, letting Victoria guide me towards Isabella. I mumbled a “thank you,” but my hand had a mind of its own. In one swift motion, I *accidentally* flipped the cake, sending a tidal wave of frosting splattering all over Isabella’s pristine new dress. The entire Miller family’s expressions soured. Blake, quick as a flash, pulled Isabella behind him, glaring at me with malice. “What the hell are you doing?!” he roared. Isabella cowered behind him, her beautiful eyes, wide and innocent, filling with tears. Honestly, her looks definitely took after my foster mother, Brenda. Their eyes were strikingly similar – those innocent, tear-filled eyes, designed to make anyone pity her. And her acting? Not bad at all. I met Blake’s gaze, a taunting smirk on my face. “She stole seventeen years of my life. Isn’t it perfectly natural for me to hate her?” Victoria seemed surprised by my attitude. In the hospital, I’d always smiled sweetly whenever Isabella was mentioned. “What does this have to do with Isabella? She didn’t intentionally get swapped! She’s innocent! Why do you hate her so much?!” Blake yelled. I shot back, “Her innocence has nothing to do with me.” “Besides, who said I hate *her*?” I stepped closer, closing the distance between us. “The one who messed up the baby tags, causing the mix-up all those years ago… wasn’t that you?” Blake stumbled backward in shock, dragging Isabella with him. They both lost their footing and tumbled to the ground in a heap. I burst out laughing, completely unmasked. When I accidentally watched a show once, I utterly despised the older brother character. Now that it was happening to me, this brother was even more insufferable. **截断点**

“Isabella…” Victoria immediately released my hand and rushed to help her up, frantically checking her for injuries. Isabella’s chin had hit Blake, and it was bright red. Leaning on Victoria, she whined pitifully, “Mom, it hurts… I think my mouth is bleeding.” Blake scrambled to his feet and immediately apologized to his sister. Daniel, who hadn’t spoken until now, looked at me, a frown creasing his brow. “You went too far.” The Miller family was in chaos, and I watched the scene unfold. Victoria anxiously told Isabella to open her mouth so she could check. Blake was fumbling around, apologizing profusely. Daniel had run off to another room, phone to his ear, calling for a doctor. A strange discomfort stirred within me. Maybe it was Victoria’s excessive care for me in the hospital, and I was somehow swayed by it. Kindness can be a powerful, insidious weapon. It cuts deep. The ancients were truly wise. Richard suddenly spoke, “Hazel, I know you’ve suffered. But Blake’s right, Isabella is innocent. You can’t let your resentment…” I knew Richard had been investigating my past life while I was hospitalized, and I had shown him exactly what I wanted him to see. The Dawsons, my foster family, were incredibly old-fashioned, always favoring boys. My life had been tough from a young age. My foster father, Frank, was an alcoholic and abusive, and my foster mother, Brenda, had been cruel to me since I was a child. I was constantly mocked and ostracized at school. Richard had uncovered all of this, and he had kept it from Victoria. I cut him off before he could finish, formally calling him, “Mr. Miller.” “Give me two hundred thousand, and I’ll cut ties with you. I leave. Or, Isabella leaves within twenty-four hours, and I stay.” Victoria stopped her movements, her eyes wide with surprise as she looked at me. She quickly said, “How can you say that?! Hazel, you and Isabella are both my daughters!” I ignored her, continuing my negotiation with Richard. “I’m still underage, so you have a responsibility to support me. You never raised me for the past seventeen years. Two hundred thousand for a clean break is pocket change for the Millers. It’s a very good deal for you.” After all, Isabella’s monthly allowance was more than two hundred thousand. Richard’s gaze was fixed on me, and he asked seriously, “In your eyes, is this just a transaction between us? Do you think we’ll always favor Isabella?” I shrugged. Some people always think they’re the epitome of fairness. 5 (Continued) I walked out of the Miller’s villa. Richard and Victoria didn’t want me to leave, but I stated clearly: if Isabella was in, I was out. Blake wanted to explode, but he crumbled the moment his eyes met mine, a flicker of guilt crossing his eyes. I gave Richard the address of my small apartment, telling him to let me know his decision. Seeing my insistence, Richard told Daniel to make sure I got home safely. Daniel agreed, but by the time he opened the car door, I had already walked far away. He quickly chased after me, but I shook him off in no time. After all, I’d walked alone at night plenty of times. A girl always had to be careful, especially then. I was pretty good at losing people. Of course, except for Liam. But he used to say I was brilliant, that my safety awareness was too good, making me hard to catch. The night wind was cool as I walked along, guided by the streetlights. Thinking of Isabella’s smile, I impulsively plucked a flower from a roadside planter. I tore at it as I walked, grinding the petals between my fingers until the sap stained my hands and it was nothing but a mangled mess. I hated Isabella. When she smiled, it was like something out of a fairy tale: sunshine, sweet candy, a beacon of light. She wore pristine dresses, vibrant and lively, and would sweetly flirt with her brothers, father, and mother. Every beautiful word in the world could describe her. I was different. I was rotten to the core, my very bones steeped in bitterness. The perfect villainess from a story — that was me. The moment I saw her eyes, I thought of my foster mother, Brenda Dawson. I thought of her smiling as she snatched my favorite doll and threw it into the furnace, holding me back so I couldn’t save it. I thought of her pushing me into the living room after my foster father got drunk, hiding in her room, listening to my cries as he beat me, punch after punch. I thought of her grabbing my backpack, searching for the scholarship money I’d just received from school, and then stepping on my textbooks on her way out. I thought of her slapping me across the face when she saw the medicine I bought for my foster sister, telling me I was wasting money. I thought of her casually saying, “If she dies, she dies…” They say love extends to everything associated with it, but so does hatred. It can implicate others.

“What’s my little witch thinking about? You don’t look too happy.” A teasing voice broke through my thoughts. As I stepped out of the villa complex, I saw someone leaning against a small scooter parked nearby, their eyes fixed on me. I hurried over, taking in the scooter’s pink finish, adorned with several Doraemon stickers. “Manly pink?” I chuckled, looking at Liam Hayes, then feigned a look of grave disappointment. “The great Young Master Hayes, riding a scooter? That’s really falling from grace!” Liam gave me a gentle flick on the forehead, stopping my dramatic act. I glared at him, annoyed, grinding my teeth. “Ow! That hurt, you jerk!” Liam rubbed my forehead, which actually didn’t hurt anymore, and chuckled. “A jerk’s girlfriend is just as much of a jerk, right?” “Who’s your girlfriend?” I glared at him! “Your future is already sealed with me. You think you can run off with some other guy?” He smiled, spreading his hands helplessly, two shallow dimples appearing on his cheeks. I rolled my eyes dramatically. If looks could kill, Liam would have been six feet under eight hundred times since I met him. But now… I thought about it. I wouldn’t want to. Liam noticed my hands stained with flower sap. He pulled out a pack of wet wipes from his pocket and meticulously cleaned them. Then, he gently put a helmet on my head. It was black, with ‘Cool’ sprayed in white paint on the top, looking absolutely awesome. When my foster brother used to watch TV as a kid, I’d sometimes catch glimpses. That kid, Noby, had a robot cat by his side. Doraemon’s magic pocket could always pull out amazing gadgets to help Noby. I looked up Liam’s jawline. His eyes were serious. Liam didn’t have Doraemon’s magic. He couldn’t conjure up amazing gadgets or change the things I had hated and tried to escape for years. But when did Liam become *my* Doraemon?

His pink helmet had two fluffy ears, and I couldn’t resist reaching up on my tiptoes to pinch them. We were suddenly very close. Then, I heard an angry shout from behind us, “What are you doing?!” I turned around to see Daniel, who had rushed out, looking furious, like he’d caught us doing something scandalous. Oops. Our little flirtation had taken a bit too long. Daniel’s eyes were wide and bulging, just like my hateful foster father when he was angry. I patted Liam’s shoulder, ignoring Daniel. “Let’s go.” Liam smoothly hopped onto the scooter, and I quickly followed. Daniel yelled at Liam, “Young Master Hayes! My sister is still young! Isn’t it inappropriate to lead her into an early relationship and have her stay out late at night?!” It wasn’t surprising that Liam and Daniel, both from wealthy families, knew each other. But I thought about Daniel saying “late night” and checked my phone. 8:30 PM. For a night owl like me, the night was just beginning. Had the young master of a rich family started living such a healthy lifestyle so early? It didn’t seem to be working, though. I glanced at Daniel’s hair. Even with his bangs covering his hairline, I could see a hint of the edge. Hmm… a little bald. Liam turned his head to look at him, raising an eyebrow coolly. “Sister? Not necessarily! When did Young Master Daniel’s brain go bad enough for him to claim sisters and meddle in my Hazel’s business?” He paused, seemed to assess Daniel for a moment, then nodded seriously. “Our Hayes family’s private hospital has pretty good neurologists. I can introduce you to one if you like. Oh, and our doctors are also excellent at hair transplants.” Liam must be a mind-reader. He knew exactly what I was thinking. I clung to Liam’s shirt, not even trying to stifle my laughter. His words were sharp, and I’d experienced them many times before. Daniel’s expression looked like he was ready to eat someone, and he was about to rush forward to pull me off the scooter. Liam twisted the throttle, and the scooter whirred, speeding away at 25 mph, leaving Daniel far behind. From where I was, the distance wasn’t *that* far, but Daniel wouldn’t be able to catch up on foot. All the way, Liam hummed a happy tune. I listened to his off-key singing, “Riding my beloved little donkey, I’ll never be stuck in traffic…” Liam’s speaking voice was pleasant, but his singing was dreadful, always tormenting my ears. Using his body to shield myself from the wind, I said, “Liam, you won’t go bald that fast too, will you?” A bald boyfriend… I imagined Liam’s handsome face with a receding hairline, and I shivered involuntarily. “Maybe we should just break up while we’re ahead!” “No way!” Liam’s gritted voice pierced through the wind. “No one in the Hayes family has that balding gene.” He said that, but later, when we officially started dating, I noticed his shampoo bottles – every single one was for hair growth and strengthening. The next afternoon, Richard appeared outside my small apartment door. The apartment was tiny; Richard struggled to find a place to stand when he entered. At that moment, I had just finished bathing Buddy.

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