Author: Momo Chan

Julian Hayes dragged me into a compromising situation, busting me with his rival. A barrage of cameras and microphones were shoved into my face, completely ignoring my half-naked body. Julian spoke with a smug, confident tone, “So, Mr. Vance, are you so desperate for women that you’d dare to sleep with my wife?” “Wife, come here.” But I just laid out my divorce certificate and marriage certificate, linking my arm with Caleb Vance’s. “Excuse me, but we’re legally married.” “Julian, did you forget? We got divorced. You were the one who asked for it.” “You wanted me to orchestrate a fake divorce, using my reputation to set up Caleb?” Seriously? I *just* got remarried, thank you very much! Go back to him? Dream on! I stared at the antique clock on the wall. The hour hand pointed to nine. The elaborate dinner on the table had long gone cold, and the candles on the candelabra were burning down to their stumps. “Madam, should I clear the table?” Martha stood at the dining room entrance, hesitant to speak. I shook my head, my fingers unconsciously tracing the embroidery on the napkin. “Just a little longer. He said he’d be home early tonight.” It was my third wedding anniversary with Julian. I’d started preparing a month ago: booked his favorite restaurant, bought a new dress, and even secretly practiced the piano piece he’d been listening to recently, hoping to surprise him after dinner. My phone vibrated. I practically lunged to answer it. “Madam, Mr. Hayes asked me to inform you that he has an important client meeting tonight. He won’t be back for dinner.” It was Daniel, Julian’s assistant, speaking in a strictly businesslike tone. I bit my lower lip until I tasted a hint of blood, then released it. “Did he say… when he’ll be back?” “Mr. Hayes didn’t say. Is there anything you’d like me to relay?” “No, thank you.” I hung up, feeling my eyes sting, but no tears came. In the past three years, I had learned not to show weakness in front of others. Martha sighed and began clearing the table. I stood up to help, but she gently pressed my hand. “Madam, please go rest. I’ll handle this.” I knew she pitied me. Everyone in the Hayes household knew how Julian treated me. In three years of marriage, he’d been home a handful of times. Even when he did return, it was usually late at night, when I was already asleep. Sometimes, I even wondered if he deliberately avoided me. Back in the bedroom, I peeled off the expensive custom-made dress and tossed it onto a chair. The woman in the mirror had a beautiful face and figure, but her eyes were dim. I was only twenty-six, but I felt like I was already old. That rainy night three years ago suddenly flashed before my eyes. My father’s company had plunged into crisis overnight. Creditors blocked the doors, banks demanded payments. The Lin family had fallen from the heights of prosperity into the depths of despair. My father, out of options, humbled himself before the elder Mr. Hayes, desperately pleading for help. “I can help you, but I have a condition.” The elder Mr. Hayes was puffing on a cigar, his eyes sharp. That condition was me. Aurora Lin, the only daughter of the Lin family, would marry Julian Hayes, the heir to the Hayes empire. I still remembered the first time I saw Julian. He stood by the huge floor-to-ceiling window at the Hayes mansion, his back to me, his figure as tall and straight as a pine. When he turned, I was stunned by his handsome face, but his eyes were as cold as ice when he looked at me. “It’s just a business arrangement. Don’t expect me to fall in love with you.” That was the first thing he ever said to me.

I agreed to the marriage. For my father, for the Lin family, I had no choice. The wedding was grand. The Hayes family valued their reputation, wanting even an unwilling marriage to be spectacular. Julian drank a lot that day. He didn’t even step into the bedroom on our wedding night. For three years, I tried to be a perfect wife. I memorized all his preferences, learned about his interests, and even endured his tabloid scandals. I naively believed that if I was good enough, one day he would finally look at me. The sound of water running in the bathroom broke my reverie. I froze. Julian was back? Pushing open the bathroom door, a rush of steam hit me. Julian stood under the shower, water droplets sliding down his muscular back. He turned off the water, grabbed a towel, and wrapped it around his waist. He frowned when he saw me. “You’re still awake?” “It’s our third wedding anniversary today.” I said softly, handing him another towel. He took it and dried his hair, his expression completely flat. “Is it? I forgot.” My heart felt like it was pricked by a needle, but I was used to the pain by now. “It’s okay. Work is important.” Julian walked out of the bathroom, pulled out pajamas from the wardrobe, and changed. I stood there, feeling like a useless decoration. “Right,” he suddenly said. “There’s something I need your cooperation with.” I looked up at him, surprised that he actually needed something from me. “Caleb Vance has been trying to snatch a crucial project from Hayes Corporation recently.” His eyes flashed with a hint of malice when he spoke Caleb’s name. “I need you to get close to him, and collect some… compromising information about him.” My eyes widened. “What do you mean?” “It’s simple.” Julian lit a cigarette, his tone as casual as if discussing the weather. “We’ll get a fake divorce first. That way, your approach to him won’t raise any suspicion.” “With your looks, seducing him shouldn’t be difficult.” I felt a chill run through me, unable to believe what I was hearing. “You… you want me to use my body?” “Don’t put it so crudely.” He exhaled a smoke ring, his eyes filled with indifference. “It’s just business strategy.” “After it’s done, we’ll remarry, and your father’s company will get more resources from Hayes Corporation.” I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my palms. Three years. In his eyes, I was nothing but a tool to be used, not even deserving of basic dignity. “What if I refuse?” I heard myself ask. Julian smiled, and the smile sent shivers down my spine. “Your father’s new government project… seems to have some funding issues, doesn’t it?” The threat was unmistakable. I closed my eyes, feeling a wave of dizziness. So, I didn’t even have the right to say no. “Fine, I’ll do it.” I opened my eyes, my voice eerily calm. Julian nodded, satisfied, and stubbed out his cigarette. “The lawyer will be here tomorrow to handle the paperwork. Remember, it’s just a plan. Don’t take it seriously.” He pulled back the covers and lay down, turning his back to me. I stood there, looking at the man who was legally my husband, and suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of unfamiliarity. That night, I stood on the balcony, gazing at the distant city lights, and made a decision. Since Julian wanted to play this game, I would play it to the very end. Only, he would be the one to regret it in the end.

The lights of the charity gala hurt my eyes. I stood in a corner, my fingers unconsciously tracing the rim of my wine glass, my gaze scanning the room for Caleb Vance. Julian’s briefing material said he’d definitely be here tonight. “Alone?” A man reeking of alcohol leaned in, his eyes lingering unpleasantly on my exposed shoulder. I took a half-step back, forcing a smile. “I’m waiting for someone.” “Waiting for who? Why don’t you have a drink with me first?” He reached out to put his arm around my waist. “This lady clearly isn’t interested.” A deep voice came from my side. I turned, my breath catching in my throat. Caleb Vance was even more striking than in his photos. A chiseled face, eyes as deep as ink, and a perfectly tailored suit that accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist. What surprised me most was the way he looked at me—with a restrained politeness, a stark contrast to the ruthless business shark Julian had described. After the drunken man sheepishly left, Caleb gave a slight nod. “Miss Lin, I hope you weren’t too startled?” He knew my name. My heart skipped a beat. “You know me?” “Who in the business world hasn’t heard of Mrs. Hayes?” A slight smile played on his lips as he offered me a handkerchief. “You spilled some wine.” Only then did I notice the red wine splashed on my wrist from earlier. As I took the handkerchief, I noticed a thin, long scar on his fingertip, strikingly different from Julian’s pampered hands. Wiping away the wine stain, I suddenly realized this was the perfect opportunity to approach him. “Might I have the honor of a dance, Mr. Vance? As a thank you.” Caleb raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised, but quickly extended his hand. “My pleasure.” The music started, and his hand rested lightly on my waist, maintaining a respectful distance. I’d expected to smell heavy cologne, but instead, I caught a hint of crisp cedar. “Miss Lin’s dance steps are quite professional,” he suddenly said. “I studied in college,” I replied casually, but then froze. How did he know I was dancing professional ballroom, not just a social dance? Caleb seemed to sense my confusion, letting out a soft chuckle. “A guess. Your way of following the rhythm is quite unique.” When the dance ended, he politely escorted me back to my seat, not lingering. I should have felt relieved, but a strange sense of disappointment washed over me. “How’s the progress?” Back at the Hayes mansion, Julian was waiting for me in the living room. “I’ve made contact. It will take more time.” I slipped off my high heels. My ankles were already chafed and bleeding. Julian frowned. “Too slow. Hayes Corp. has a private reception next week. Find a way to get an invitation.” He stood up and walked closer, his fingers pinching my chin. “Don’t tell me you’re getting soft? Remember, he might act like a gentleman, but he uses every dirty trick in the book behind the scenes.” I lowered my gaze. “I know.” Three days later, I used the excuse of following up on the charity project to arrange a meeting with Caleb at his company. His secretary led me to his office, but then informed me he had an urgent conference call. “Mr. Vance said you could wait here, or relax in the adjacent study.” The secretary said respectfully. I chose the study. The room was spacious and bright, with a wall-to-wall bookshelf filled with books and files. As I looked closer, I suddenly found a plain black photo album tucked away in a corner. Driven by an inexplicable impulse, I picked it up. Turning the first page, my breath hitched. It was me at eighteen, standing on a piano competition stage, smiling brilliantly. Flipping through, there were nothing but clippings about me: college debate champion, charity performances, even candid shots of me feeding stray cats on campus. “That was seven years ago.” Caleb’s voice came from behind me, startling me so much the album slipped from my grasp. He bent down to pick it up, gently brushing off non-existent dust. “You… why do you have these?” My voice trembled. He gazed at the photos, his eyes incredibly tender. “Because that day, your music made me want to live.”

That evening, Julian returned unusually early. The moment I stepped through the door, he dragged me into the study. He flung a gilded card at me, his eyes full of disdain. “The reception invitation. Friday night. Don’t mess it up.” I rubbed my aching wrist. “I’ll be ready.” “Ready?” Julian sneered. “You’ve only had coffee with him a few times in two weeks. Your progress is like a snail’s pace.” “I need evidence to ruin Caleb Vance, not to see you discussing some damn classical music with him.” He slammed a stack of photos onto the table. They were all candid shots of Caleb and me at a coffee shop. My stomach twisted in a painful knot. He had been having me followed all along. “I need time to build trust.” I tried to keep my voice steady. Julian grabbed my chin. “Listen, your father’s new project is signing the contract next week.” “Before that, I want to see results.” His thumb brushed my lips, but his eyes were cold as ice. “If necessary, use some… special methods. Understand?” I understood. Too well. For three years, I had learned to interpret the meaning behind his every threat. Friday morning, the sky was heavily overcast. I stood across from the Vance Tower, hesitating whether I should “accidentally” run into Caleb for lunch as planned. A drop of rain landed on my nose, and instantly, a downpour began. I hurried to take shelter under the eaves of a convenience store, watching the rain create countless splashes on the ground. It was twenty minutes before our scheduled time, but my clothes were already soaked through. “Looks like we both underestimated the weather.” A black umbrella opened above my head. Caleb had appeared beside me without me noticing. He took off his suit jacket and draped it over my shoulders. The fabric still held his body heat. “My car is just ahead,” he said. The rain blurred my vision as I followed him into a discreet black sedan. “Address?” he asked. I instinctively gave him the address of the Hayes mansion, immediately regretting it. It was like telling him I was going back to my “husband’s” house. But Caleb just nodded and set the navigation. Soft piano music suddenly filled the car. My body tensed. It was a rare, obscure piece, an anodyne I often listened to when I couldn’t sleep. “This song…” My voice trembled. Rain streamed down the car windows. I gripped the towel tightly, my heart pounding wildly in my chest. He knew my coffee preference, remembered my phone’s ringtone, and now he was playing this almost unknown piece of music. Too many coincidences stopped being coincidences. “What exactly do you…” “We’re here.” Caleb cut me off, stopping the car a block away from the Hayes mansion, thoughtfully giving me room to explain. Caleb turned to look at me. The rain cast flowing shadows on the car window, making his expression hard to read. After a long moment, he reached out and gently brushed a drop of water from my hair, his voice soft. “Aurora, why haven’t you understood yet?” The civil affairs office door clicked shut behind me. I looked down at the brand-new divorce certificate in my hand, its red cover stinging my eyes in the sunlight. “Don’t make that face.” Julian adjusted his cufflink, his eyes full of mockery. “We’ll remarry in three months. This is just a formality.” I quickly composed my expression and shoved the divorce certificate into my bag.

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The day the zombie horde broke out, I tore up my assignment roster, forcing myself to stay behind in the doomed Zone C. I held on until dawn the next day, just long enough to hear Caleb’s loud broadcast: Celeste had found a new oasis. Her discovery, he claimed, would be humanity’s last hope. Only then did I finally breathe a sigh of relief. As the horde smashed through the doors, I detonated all my explosives. In my previous life, Caleb had made sure I drew the winning lot. He used my luck-boosting ability to easily find the oasis and become a leader. He promised me that as soon as I found the oasis, he would send away all the other women he was seeing. I believed him. But when I lit the bonfire signal, what arrived wasn’t his support, but betrayal. “Celeste has no powers, she needs my protection more. I just want her and her child to be respected by everyone in this apocalypse. But you, you try to steal even this little bit of credit.” “She got a fever, terrified by zombies, just looking for you. I’ll make you feel ten thousand times her pain.” He chained me to a car and dragged me until I was torn to shreds by zombies. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day the horde erupted. This time, I’d let them have their savior dream.

“Astrid! Get in the car!” “Any later, and the horde will completely surround us!” I looked into the distance. The energy shield around the perimeter of Zone C was weakening. Leo was so anxious, he was almost in tears. “Astrid! You’re the only one with powers in the entire base! Where there’s life, there’s hope! Don’t throw away your life!” I was about to speak. The steel door of the safe house was violently kicked open. Caleb’s personal guard roughly seized my arms, dragging me out without a word. Leo roared from behind, his voice gut-wrenching. “Let her go! Astrid’s pregnant, you’ll make her miscarry dragging her like this! You damn lackeys of the base leader!” They finally pushed me to the base’s central plaza. A pre-assault rally was being held there. In the center of the plaza, a dozen people were already kneeling. These people were all scapegoats, accused of various crimes. Some were charged with hoarding rations, others falsely accused of trying to steal a vehicle to escape. Then, the enforcement squad stepped out. They carried a large wooden bucket, walking up to each person, prying open their jaws. Spoon after spoon of black-green liquid was forcibly poured down their throats. That water was contaminated from the base’s failed purification system, filled with radiation. The entire plaza was instantly drowned in screams and sounds of retching. A man next to me convulsed violently, foaming at the mouth. “We just wanted to save some extra food for our kids… Why are you doing this to us?!” I wasn’t spared either. A full spoon of contaminated water was forced down, and my stomach cramped in excruciating pain. Blood gushed from between my legs. I let out a muffled groan of agony, which startled those around me. “That’s Astrid! The Commander’s wife! They’re pouring it down her too?” “Isn’t she our hero in Zone C? She led a team to reclaim a batch of medicine yesterday! What in the world is going on?!” The intense pain made my vision blur, and I crumpled to the ground. “Medic! Call a medic now! Someone’s going to die!” Just then, the noisy crowd automatically parted, creating a path. Celeste, dressed in a brand-new white combat suit, looked impossibly clean for this apocalypse. She clung intimately to Caleb’s arm, a saintly, yet pitying smile gracing her face. Caleb’s gaze swept over us, groaning in pain on the ground, his face grim. Celeste dramatically covered her mouth. “Oh my, why is everyone collapsed? Who could be so heartless as to shake our morale at such a critical moment, with the zombie horde surrounding us?” Before she even finished, Caleb’s face was filled with rage, and he violently kicked my stomach. “You vicious wretch!” He roared at me, “The moment I step away from the base, you dare to incite people and cause internal strife!” “You’re so consumed by jealousy that you’d try to steal Celeste’s credit for finding the oasis!” That kick left me unable to even cry out. I looked at Celeste’s face behind him, twisted with a triumphant smirk. I gritted my teeth and squeezed out a few words from my throat. “I didn’t… It was her…” “Still trying to lie your way out of it?!” Caleb bellowed. “This isn’t the first time you’ve been so unscrupulous for credit! This time, I will not let you off!”

He pointed at the struggling survivors on the ground and ordered them. “Each of you, give her one shot from a taser. After you’re done, I’ll personally escort you to the oasis, and your food and medicine rations will be doubled.” The personal guard dragged me up from the ground, completely ignoring my miscarriage. The survivors who had been forced to drink the contaminated water looked at me, their eyes filled with reluctance. A middle-aged man walked forward, tears in his eyes, and pulled the trigger. “I’m sorry, Captain Astrid… I have two children at home…” One person, two people… Blue electric arcs flashed again and again, scorching the life out of my unborn baby. Only after everyone had tasered me and left did Caleb, satisfied, take the water Celeste offered him. He took her hand and walked over to me. He looked at me, covered in dust, my cheeks bruised, and a flicker of something complex crossed his eyes. But the next moment, he coldly lifted my chin. “Don’t blame me for making them do it. I had to teach you a lesson, so you know this is what happens if you dare to be jealous, if you dare to harm others again.” “Save yourself the trouble of trying to steal Celeste’s credit again.” My whole body trembled, and I looked up at him. So, I wasn’t the only one who had been reborn. No wonder they found the oasis even without my luck. No wonder he said it wasn’t the “first time” I’d done this. Because in my previous life, he had similarly framed me and sentenced me to death for Celeste’s sake. My eyes reddened, and I wiped away my tears. “Astrid, playing the victim won’t work anymore. No matter how capable you are, it’s useless.” “I’ve already had the medical team give Celeste the top-tier genetic enhancer. Her powers will definitely upgrade, helping me become the leader.” I gave a bitter laugh, clutching my constantly cramping abdomen. “I already paved the way for you. But why did you have them force contaminated water on me? Why destroy Zone C and kill my teammates…?” He paused, his brows furrowed. “Don’t talk nonsense. You clearly led your team in a failed breakthrough yesterday, resulting in the entire unit being wiped out.” Sweat streamed down my face from the pain. I grabbed his pant leg, trying to make him look at Leo, the scout, who was still alive on the monitoring screen. His face was filled with disgust, and he impatiently kicked my hand away. “Stop acting. If you want to prove you weren’t trying to harm Celeste, then tomorrow, during the base-wide broadcast, you can personally admit that your abilities were insufficient, that your reconnaissance failed, and that you begged Celeste to share some of her credit with you.” “Then you’ll hand over all your merits and supplies to her and the child she’s carrying, and in the future, you’ll serve as her loyal deputy.” “If you dare to play any more tricks, if you dare to touch a single hair on her head, this time I won’t just deal with you and your useless team—Leo, the one you care about most, won’t get a single dose of anti-infection medicine either.” My eyes widened, staring at Caleb in disbelief: “Caleb, you bastard! Leo was scratched by a zombie while covering me, he’s a hero of the base! How can you threaten me with his life?!” Caleb looked annoyed. “As long as you obediently serve Celeste’s team and take good care of them from now on, I won’t touch him.” With that, he put his arm around Celeste, ready to leave. “Celeste, thank you for finding hope for the base. I’m going to reward you well.” I watched their retreating figures, warm blood continuously seeping from my lower body because of the miscarriage. Professor Albright, a researcher who treated me like his own daughter, rushed over, his face paling when he saw my injuries. “Quickly, get her to treatment! If anything happens to Astrid, I won’t let any of you off!” I was sent to the medical bay, but the healing medic never showed up. Professor Albright, enraged, demanded to know where the medical team assigned to me had gone.

Mia, the assistant, spoke with difficulty. “Professor Albright, all the healing medics in the entire base have been called to Captain Celeste’s room by the Commander. Miss Celeste scratched her finger while testing a weapon, and Commander Caleb is worried something might happen to her, so he’s keeping all the healing medics on standby.” “Right now, there are no healing medics in the entire base.” Professor Albright was furious, constantly making calls. “He’s gone mad! His own wife is critically injured and clinging to life, yet he calls away all her healing medics for some mistress, completely disregarding her fate!” The communicator finally connected after the twentieth attempt. “Is Astrid stirring up trouble again and making you call me to back her up?” Professor Albright shouted excitedly, “Astrid is bleeding internally and has fainted! Several of our brothers in the team are about to die! And you’ve taken away her healing medics! Do you want to kill the base’s elite unit?!” Caleb scoffed, “Did Astrid tell you to call me? Her check-up was perfectly fine, what’s this critically injured and dying act now?” “Alright, alright, I still have Celeste and her team’s victory banquet to attend. She wants healing medics, does she? I’ll send someone over.” Professor Albright hung up the call, gripping my hand tightly. “Don’t be afraid, Astrid, the healing medics will be here soon.” I felt my life force gradually fading. I thought of my previous life, how my teammates were similarly stabbed in the back by Caleb’s team, eaten alive by zombies. I trembled all over, pulling Professor Albright’s hand, and said with difficulty. “Professor Albright, you promised me you’d treat me like your own child. If Caleb didn’t treat me well, you’d help me get away from him.” “I just want to save Leo’s life, and then survive.” Professor Albright was already in tears, saying repeatedly. “After Caleb was saved by you, he loved you so much. It’s all that vile creature, Celeste’s, doing. If she hadn’t suddenly appeared, you two wouldn’t have ended up like this.” I gave a tragic smile. How could a life-and-death companion, who once fought alongside me, become like this? The man who, after repelling zombies, would blush and say he’d face life and death with me, swearing that if he ever betrayed me, he’d die a horrible death, with no corpse left behind. Now, for another woman, he abandoned me without a second thought. “Please, Professor Albright.” I gritted out each word. Listening to my plea, Professor Albright finally nodded. “Tomorrow, I will announce that you are the sole power-user of Zone C. As for that ungrateful beast, I will no longer assist him!” Professor Albright immediately left to deal with the matter. I lay on the medical bed, the sharp pain in my abdomen surging like a tide. Professor Albright’s young assistant, Mia, anxiously kept hoping the healing medics sent by Caleb would arrive. Finally, someone came. But it wasn’t a healing medic; it was a logistics orderly. Seeing the bloody scene in the medical bay, he handed over a few bandages and a bottle of expired disinfectant. “Commander Caleb said it’s just a minor injury, nothing life-threatening. He told you to deal with it yourselves and stop bothering him with such disgusting things.” Mia cried and smashed the box. “Astrid, I’ll take you and the brothers to another base right now. You have to hold on.” My vision went black, and I finally passed out. When I woke up again, it was to a bucket of ice-cold snow water being abruptly poured over me. Caleb’s face, full of disgust, loomed before me. “You’re awake, stop faking it.” He looked down at me. “You know I’m about to announce the oasis and Celeste’s achievements, yet you’re making a scene about going to my enemy base. You just want everyone to think Celeste is bullying you, don’t you?” Celeste, clutching a report, stood behind him, tears streaming down her face, looking utterly pathetic. “Astrid, I know you hate me. But it’s okay to get revenge on me, why did you have Professor Albright try to steal my credit?”

“That assistant was still screaming that I was a vile creature before they dragged her away, saying I didn’t deserve to be the savior’s partner…” I opened my mouth, but not a single word escaped my throat. I could only shake my head with all my strength, trembling as I pleaded, “I… I didn’t… Send me to the medical bay… The brothers… They can’t hold on much longer…” “You’re lying again!” Caleb impatiently furrowed his brow. “Professor Albright rallied her old subordinates overnight and even found the base’s records officer. Wasn’t it you instigating her from behind? You think by stealing Celeste’s credit, you can secure the second-in-command position at the base?” Celeste cried and pleaded in his arms, “Astrid, I beg you, please don’t separate Caleb and me… If you really insist on taking my credit, I’ll just run out of the base alone and die in the zombie horde!” She made a move as if to run, and Caleb immediately held her tight. He was enraged, and he kicked my stomach again. “How many times have I warned you not to bully Celeste, but you just won’t listen! Since that’s the case, I’ll have to resort to special measures.” He suddenly turned and coldly ordered his personal guard. “She forced Celeste to run into the zombie horde, so she should pay the price. Go, shut down Professor Albright’s lab’s purification system, and throw the people out of the research facility!” “Caleb!” I shrieked, tearing my throat. “You’re insane! That’s Professor Albright! Her research is for all humanity!!” “So what?!” Caleb scoffed. “To get you into the command structure, she forced me to marry you. Now you’re a captain, and I’ve even let you command your own unit. If you couldn’t find the oasis, that’s your own uselessness. I’ve repaid my debt of gratitude, I don’t owe you anything anymore!” “Do it!” I frantically lunged at the personal guard, trying to stop them, but I was brutally kicked to the ground. The wound on my abdomen, which had barely stopped bleeding, burst open from the violent impact, gushing like a broken dam, instantly staining the floor beneath me crimson. I screamed in agony, my throat raw, curling into a ball. Caleb was about to drag me further, but then he suddenly saw the pool of crimson on the floor, and his face went white. He instinctively stopped, turning to Celeste and demanding. “What happened?! I told you to take care of her and her pregnancy, why is she still bleeding?!” Celeste’s face also changed slightly. But her eyes darted, and she quickly squeezed out tears. “I’ve always taken good care of Astrid… This is the medical report they did for her yesterday.” She handed over the report, her voice choked. “The report says she only has superficial wounds, and her bodily functions and the baby are all perfectly normal.” Caleb snatched the report. He only scanned it once, and he believed it. The next second, he furiously lifted me from the ground and violently threw me onto the cold, hard metal floor. My head slammed down hard, and blood instantly gushed out. “You dared to lie to me?!” He growled, “To make me soft, you can even fake a miscarriage?! How disgusting, how utterly vile!” “You thought I’d fall for it this time? Dream on!” He raised his leg, kicking my abdomen mercilessly, again and again. Blood mixed with screams splattered with every impact. “Ah… no… no…” I pleaded, almost tearing my throat, but my body grew colder and colder. Until I had no strength left to even beg, only able to curl up in my own pool of blood. He wiped his blood-stained boots and turned to Celeste, his face full of apology. “I’m sorry, Celeste, for making you smell this disgusting odor. I’ll deal with her right away. Once it’s done, I’ll fly you to the oasis to see the scenery, as compensation for my mistake, okay?” Celeste, however, shook her head tearfully, her voice pitiful. “Forget it. Astrid hates me so much. What if you leave with me, and she immediately comes up with a new way to sabotage me?” “Otherwise, I’ll just take my team and leave. I’ll even let her have the credit.” She spoke cautiously, utterly wronged, yet it perfectly struck Caleb’s nerve. His face instantly turned as dark as night, his voice gentle but chillingly cold: “Don’t worry, I won’t give her any more chances to harm you.” He waved his hand: “Lock her in the containment cell outside the base. Once I officially announce Celeste as the discoverer of the oasis tomorrow, then release her.”

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At my younger brother Brandon’s graduation party, he was absolutely beaming, declaring he was going to make a fortune this summer. “I’m going to start a live stream and become an influencer! I’m going to take on the ‘one hundred girls home’ challenge!” Recently, many people were doing this challenge, and the views were great. Plus, Brandon had just been accepted into a top-tier university, so everyone rushed to flatter him, praising his intelligence and innovative ideas. But I’d seen those videos. They called it “escorting girls home,” but in reality, it was just stalking and harassment. In my previous life, I was the only one who disagreed. I tried to convince Brandon that chasing this kind of viral trend would seriously blow up in his face, and he might even get his university admission revoked. But my mom slapped me. “You’re just jealous your brother is smarter than you!” Brandon’s tone dripped with sarcasm. “Sis, you just can’t stand that I’m more successful than you.” To stop him, I paid for and arranged a graduation trip for him, finally making him give up the idea. But just a few days later, those who took on the challenge blew up. Brandon started to resent me. He followed me after I finished working late, and under the cover of night, he pushed me into the river. I drowned. My parents claimed I’d accidentally fallen and drowned, then hastily buried me. After I died, my soul watched them laughing, celebrating that they had finally gotten rid of me, the obstacle holding them back from striking it rich. Reborn, I was back at Brandon’s graduation party. This time, I just offered a faint smile. “Oh, Brandon’s the smartest, absolutely.” 1 “Seriously? Didn’t you just say that was a terrible idea?” “What? Are you going to be so fake and wishy-washy even in front of your own family?” My mom looked at me with contempt, her voice dripping with scorn. My dad chimed in, sarcastically, “Oh, honey, just ignore her. This daughter of ours has no conscience. We might as well consider her a lost cause.” After dying once, I found myself much calmer than in my previous life. Before, I would have desperately tried to prove I was a good daughter and that I truly cared about Brandon’s well-being. But now, I just smiled politely. My brother, Brandon, saw my indifference and started wailing dramatically: “Everyone, she’s my own sister! Why is she so jealous of me? How can she be so cold-hearted?!” Encouraged by his performance, a chorus of relatives began to speak up: “Aster, you were indeed the only one who made it into a top-tier university in our family, but now Brandon is more promising. Don’t think you’re so special anymore!” “See? I told you. Girls just aren’t as good as boys; they’re not as smart and tend to be ungrateful leeches.” I looked around at them. They all seemed to have forgotten… When Uncle Ben was sick, I paid for his treatment; when Aunt Carol’s son needed money for a down payment on a house, I helped him raise it; when Aunt Sarah’s daughter couldn’t get into school, I pulled strings to find her a place. Even Brandon’s acceptance into a top-tier university was because I diligently tutored him for three years, helping him go from average to the top of his class. And anyway, if my dad hadn’t insisted I go buy fruit for Brandon on the day of my college entrance exam, how would I have been late? How would I, who was always number one in the entire city, have performed so poorly that my scores ended up being lower than Brandon’s? I closed my eyes. Before, I always lied to myself, convincing myself that they loved me too, maybe they just didn’t know how to express it. Sure enough, it’s hard for children to admit their parents don’t love them. I opened my eyes again. Thankfully, the Aster who craved family affection was already dead. I spoke calmly, almost nonchalantly, “Everyone…” I noticed my parents and Brandon staring at me intently, their faces full of schadenfreude. This scene was all too familiar. They often did this, blaming me back and forth, then watching me frantically try to defend myself like a lunatic. Then they could tell everyone I had mental issues, using it as an excuse to continue suppressing me. But this time, I offered a small smile. “Everyone, please don’t be upset. If Brandon wants to escort a hundred girls home, let him.” “You’re right. Brandon’s exam scores were higher than mine. He must be smarter.” 2 I noticed my mom’s expression instantly dimmed, and my dad pursed his lips. They were so disappointed that they hadn’t managed to drive me crazy and make a fool of me in front of everyone. My parents could still control their expressions, but Brandon couldn’t. He was too young. He looked a little flustered. “Aster, what do you mean by that?! Are you being sarcastic?! Do you think I won’t get famous?!” “I’m telling you, once I get famous and rich, everyone here today will be living the good life with me, except for you!” The relatives and friends present burst into laughter. Aunt Carol said, “Brandon, your aunt doesn’t want anything from you, but I just hope that when you make it big, you’ll help out my son’s kids.” Aunt Sarah smiled too. “Brandon, my daughter’s grades have always been a struggle. Why don’t you tutor her, perhaps?” “Your aunt won’t make you work for free. I’ll give you a red envelope.” Aunt Sarah pulled out a thick red envelope. Seeing this, many others also pulled out red envelopes for Brandon. These weren’t gifts for my parents; they were specifically for Brandon. Brandon held his head high, glancing at me triumphantly. My parents were also beaming with pride. I couldn’t help but remember my own graduation party a few years ago. Back then, no one valued me so highly, and no one gave me red envelopes. Instead, they all presumed I would become an ungrateful wretch, constantly reminding me to remember family affection and not to forget my family once I got a boyfriend. I still remember feeling like I was on pins and needles then. It was supposed to be a celebratory graduation party, but I was on the verge of tears from the injustice. I sneered inwardly. This time, I’d make sure they saw what a *real* ungrateful leech looked like. My parents and Brandon basked in others’ flattery, enjoying their moment of glory. Let them be proud for a while. I remembered clearly that not long after I died in my last life, those who were escorting girls home late at night did indeed face backlash. Many media outlets stepped in to criticize the phenomenon. If Brandon became one of them, would any university still accept him? After collecting all the red envelopes, Brandon turned to me. “Sis, where’s *your* red envelope?” I feigned surprise. “Why would you think I’d give you one?” “Don’t you know I’m cold-hearted? Don’t Mom, Dad, and all our relatives know I’m an ungrateful leech with no conscience?” This was the first time I had ever refused my family money. Everyone looked stunned, frozen in place. Before they could react, I stood up and walked away. I’d had enough of this place. As I reached the door, I heard Brandon’s furious roar behind me: “Aster! Don’t you ever think you’ll get a single dime from me in the future!” Everyone present started echoing his words. I scoffed. These people were flattering Brandon just to invest in a potential goldmine, hoping for double the profits. But trying to make money off someone with Brandon’s despicable character was like dancing with the devil. 3 Just a few days later, Brandon started his live streams. Brandon specifically targeted young, pretty girls, and the comments in his stream were utterly disgusting. But it was clear these girls didn’t want to be escorted by a stranger. They looked terrified, stumbling as they tried to run away, yet the number of viewers in his stream kept soaring. In the family SnapChat group, messages popped up one after another. “Brandon’s only been streaming for three days and he already has so many viewers!” My mom replied proudly, “Of course! He already has over ten thousand followers!” My dad also said, “Yeah! Brandon is just so much better than his sister!” How boring… I was about to turn off my phone when a private message from my mom popped up. “Your Grandma Rose is sick. If you still have any conscience, come see her.” My heart clenched instantly. When I was little, my parents were always busy. Grandma Rose raised me. But after Brandon was born, they suddenly weren’t busy anymore. When I felt lost because of my parents’ indifference, Grandma Rose was there, holding me, comforting me. Grandma Rose always said that no matter what my parents thought, she would always love me the most. I took a day off and went to Grandma Rose’s little house. Grandma Rose’s eyes welled up when she saw me. She said weakly, “Aster, Grandma is fine, just a little high blood pressure. You taking time off will just delay your work.” “It’s fine, Grandma. But your blood pressure was stable, wasn’t it? Why did it suddenly go up?” Grandma Rose sighed. It turned out that on the day of Brandon’s graduation party, Grandma Rose had seen me being bullied by everyone and was so anxious and angry that she fainted shortly after I left. My heart ached. Even for Grandma Rose, I had to find a way to get rid of these parasitic relatives. At dinner time, everyone at the table was loudly chatting. Brandon boasted to me, “Sis, I’m really going to blow up. Go check out my follower count now!” “Sis, I’ll let the red envelope thing slide from my graduation party.” “Now, if you give me ten thousand, I’ll use it to boost my content, and I’ll count you as an investor, how about that?” I shook my head. “I’m not interested.” “Brandon, if I really partnered with you, Mom and Dad would probably be worried sick every day, wondering if I, this ungrateful leech, would scheme against their precious son.” My dad slammed his fork down, ready to curse at me. But my mom glanced at a frail Grandma Rose and stopped my dad with her eyes. My dad quieted down, but Uncle Ben started acting pompous again. “Aster, everyone at this table is your flesh and blood, your closest family! You can’t be so petty with your own relatives!” “You young people nowadays are so selfish, not as righteous as us older folks!” Aunt Sarah chimed in, “My brother’s right. You have to have a spirit of dedication to your family. It’s just a little money you need to invest!” I was mindful of Grandma Rose and didn’t want to start a conflict with them. I mentally told myself to just pretend they were talking nonsense! Uncle Ben, with the alcohol kicking in, got even more excited: “What’s wrong with investing a little money in Brandon? Brandon isn’t an outsider!” “How many people in this world can truly treat you well? Only the few of us at this table, right?” “If you ask me, forget investing money! Even if Brandon loses it all, so what?! That’s family love!” I had reached my limit. I was about to retort… Just then, “Uncle Ben! Why don’t *you* invest in me then?!” Brandon’s eyes lit up as he looked at Uncle Ben. Uncle Ben froze instantly, his drunken eyes clearing up. “Uh… I…” Uncle Ben stammered. I almost burst out laughing. Brandon then turned to Aunt Sarah, who quickly looked down. But Brandon spoke anyway. “Aunt Sarah, you should invest a little too!” Aunt Sarah’s body stiffened. Brandon didn’t seem to care about their current awkwardness, talking to himself: “Thank you, Uncle Ben! Thank you, Aunt Sarah! I, Brandon, am so lucky! To have such loyal and devoted elders!” Uncle Ben and Aunt Sarah exchanged glances, their faces thunderous. At that moment, my parents quickly refilled Uncle Ben’s and Aunt Sarah’s glasses, ready to toast them. My dad said, “Our Brandon is a top-tier university student! You can invest with confidence! He’ll never lose it!” My mom wiped away fake tears. “Indeed, no one can be relied on but my own brother and sister! Not even my own daughter!” Uncle Ben and Aunt Sarah were completely cornered, gritting their teeth and nodding. At this point, Aunt Laura and Uncle Gary’s faces were even darker than the bottom of a pot. 4 I lowered my head, hiding the smile I couldn’t suppress. Just then, a sharp pain shot through my waist. My mom had pinched me hard. She leaned in close and whispered, “Even so, you still have to give your brother ten thousand!” “Otherwise, I’ll tell everyone you’re unfilial! You can just wait to be dragged through the mud and face online hate!” A chill ran down my spine. I didn’t care about what people said, but how much did she truly despise me? To go to such lengths against me? I vaguely nodded. Seeing my nod, she smiled with satisfaction. Ha, I just didn’t want to cause a scene in front of Grandma Rose. If I actually gave them money, wouldn’t I just sink deeper into this swamp of a family? After leaving Grandma Rose’s house, I immediately blocked all my relatives, including my parents and Brandon. And I didn’t forget to leave the family SnapChat group. Then, I quickly found a new place to live and moved in. After settling everything, my heart gradually calmed down. But I couldn’t understand why Brandon’s follower count was growing so fast and steadily. Did he even need to boost his content? And he’d received so many red envelopes at his graduation party, why did he still need so much money? Thinking this, I opened his live stream again. The girl Brandon picked this time looked quite young, still carrying a school backpack, probably only sixteen or seventeen. When she realized Brandon was following her, her face instantly turned incredibly pale. The girl quickened her pace. Seeing the girl try to escape, Brandon lunged and blocked her path. He smiled maliciously. “Why are you running, little sister? Do I look like a bad guy?” The girl tried to stay calm. “Get lost! I’ve seen enough creeps like you, and I’m not afraid!” The comments scrolled rapidly. “Good intentions wasted on an ungrateful person,主播 quickly teach her a lesson!” “This girl is such a jerk, can’t even take a joke.” Seeing that the girl had riled up the audience, Brandon smiled. “Little sister, I’m not a bad guy. I want to escort you home.” “I see you’re probably in high school, right? I just graduated from senior year.” He said smugly, “Plus, I’ve been accepted into a top-tier university. I could even come to your house and tutor you!” As Brandon said this, the comments exploded with excitement. “The streamer got into a top-tier university? This girl must be dumbfounded!” “This girl is so ungrateful! It’s an honor for a top-tier university student to offer to escort her!” The girl wasn’t buying any of it. She shoved Brandon hard and ran off. The comments became even more frenzied. “Hahahaha streamer, chase her! Chase her!” My anger flared. How pathetic must these people’s lives be to need to terrorize a girl late at night to prove their strength? Gift effects popped up one after another, and Brandon chased with increasing enthusiasm. I reached out and clicked “Report.” Just then, a sharp screech of tires pierced the air, and the girl fell to the ground. Brandon stopped abruptly, and his pale face was reflected on the screen. Comments scrolled wildly, and Brandon immediately ended the live stream. At that moment, I finally recognized the girl. She was the daughter of my company’s CEO, and he was the wealthiest person in the city. I quickly dialed 91 That night, I was sleepless. The next day at work, I found a layoff notice on the company HR computer that hadn’t been issued yet. My name was on it. Immediately after, my phone rang suddenly. It was an unfamiliar number. I answered, and the voice on the other end was harsh and shrill. It was my parents. Their numbers were blocked, so they had gotten a new one to call me. “Aster! Go find your CEO right now! Whatever you have to do! Fix this for your brother!” “That girl isn’t even dead! She just got a little hurt! Why should your brother’s future be ruined because of that?!” “Your CEO thinks so highly of you, doesn’t he?! Go sleep with him! You *have* to save your brother!” I hung up, my heart growing colder and colder. I no longer hesitated. I walked to the CEO’s office and knocked on the door. 5 After I went to see the CEO, Brandon really wasn’t held responsible, and I wasn’t fired either. Grandma Rose called me, extremely worried.

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I nurtured a beastman bodyguard with my own lifeblood. Six years. I loved him, cherished him, poured out every ounce of my heart, only to get one answer: “Don’t even think about taming me.” During the Creature Uprising, he shielded another girl, leaving me to be trampled. He was *my* bodyguard. Yet he always left me behind. He even used his scorpion tail to constrict my throat, forcing me to give my blood to save that girl. He didn’t know that every drop of blood I shed diminished my life force. He also didn’t know it was the last of my lifespan. “Anya, I swear I’ll make it up to you. Please, save her.” The proud creature finally bowed, acknowledging me as his master. My fingers slowly became transparent. “But… we don’t have a future.” His scorpion tail thrashed wildly, his eyes glazed over with primal rage. He’d gone feral. “Chloe…” Even then, he called her name. I let him bite into my arm. Only when my blood touched his throat did he slowly calm down. “Thank you…” I didn’t whine or complain like I usually would. Instead, I pushed him away, wiping the remaining blood on a nearby plant. The withered leaves instantly revived. And my life force dwindled further. “I’m moving closer to the lab. You’re my bodyguard, so you’re coming with me.” Kael froze. “But…” “I feed you with my blood every month, not so you can handle her heat cycles.” His chest was covered in love bites. I forced my gaze away, my eyes stinging. The accusation almost spilled from my lips. But it twisted, turning into a threat. “Don’t forget your duties. If anything happens to me, the Federation won’t let you off.” In this fractured world, after the great creature upheaval, food crops were on the brink of extinction. I was the Federation’s only botanist. “Understood.” Kael lowered his gaze. “I’ll head out then.” As he reached the door, I called out to him. “Kael, what do you think we are to each other?” He paused. His broad shoulders shrugged, taut, golden-bronze muscles tensed. At his waist, there was the indelible brand of a rejected specimen. If I hadn’t spent half my life saving him, he would have died long ago. “Employer and bodyguard.” “You provide the blood, I protect you.” The answer I expected. No matter how much I gave, his heart would never have a single corner for me. Why force it? He was never my Liam. He wouldn’t cherish me like I was the most precious thing in the world. No matter how much he looked like him, he wasn’t. Tears blurred my vision. I tried to wipe them away, but my fingertips were already turning transparent. “I might not be able to pay your salary anymore.” I was fading fast. Kael didn’t take me seriously. “Then I’ll find a new gig.” He strode away, leaving the door ajar and me to my quiet sobs. I always joked with him. But this time, it was real.

When I woke up, Kael was already geared up and waiting by the main entrance. “Your clothes are all here. Files are sorted.” He frowned slightly, his strong, elegant fingers brushing aside a stray lock of hair as he meticulously checked the luggage. “Your calming diffuser was a bit damp, so I didn’t bring it. I’ll get you a new one later.” “The plushie, I bagged it separately…” “Throw it out,” I said flatly. That plushie was a gift from Kael. He was originally going to give it to Chloe, but she rejected it, so he passed it off to me. The ridiculous part was, I cherished it. Kael paused. “Why?” It was the first time he hadn’t obeyed my command. “Didn’t you like it a lot? Keep it…” “Brother Kael!” Chloe’s light footsteps echoed as she ran into the yard, throwing herself into Kael’s arms. “Thank you for yesterday! I came to express my gratitude.” Kael stiffened, his hands unsure where to go. His ears, out of Chloe’s sight, were flushed and hot. His scorpion tail hovered high, as if afraid of accidentally hurting her. I glanced at the back of my hand. It had been brushed by a venomous barb last night. It was red and swollen, looking like it might break the skin. Perhaps I was used to it; I didn’t even feel the pain. “Oh? Isn’t this the doll I didn’t want?” Chloe picked up the beautifully wrapped plushie, examining it. “How did it get here?” “Did you give it to Anya?” Kael glanced at me. He hesitated slightly. “Uh… no.” I turned my face away, my hands, hanging at my sides, unconsciously clenching. He said, “I left it at home and forgot to throw it out. It’s just garbage.” With a flick of his scorpion tail, the plushie was flung into the trash. Its plush face, still smiling, rolled into the grime, becoming saturated with its foul wetness. “I knew it! Why would you give my unwanted garbage to Anya?” Kael caught sight of my pale face, his pupils trembled, then he quickly looked away. I couldn’t tell if it was guilt or perhaps a flicker of pity. He was afraid Chloe would misunderstand. So, he chose to hurt me. Of course, there was no comparison between us. Even a gift had to be something she didn’t want. I unclenched my hands. Several crescent-shaped indents marred my palms. “Throw out the luggage. I’ll buy new stuff.” “I don’t want any of it.” I looked at Kael. “Not even you. I don’t want you anymore.”

I applied to the Federation for a new bodyguard. “Are you sure?” “Kael cost you half your life to save.” Director Thorne chuckled. “Ms. Anya, the food crops in the North District are growing exceptionally well. Want to take a look?” “It cost you half your blood.” “And where you begged and pleaded on your knees with the High Council, grass has now grown. That beastman doesn’t know that, does he?” “A failed genetic experiment like him, why would he be worth your life?” “Oh, I forgot, he looks just like Ms. Anya’s childhood best friend. No wonder…” I had made up my mind. I would replace Kael and never get involved with him again. The next day, my new bodyguard from the Federation arrived. It was Ryker, the Alpha Guard, even taller than Kael, his snowy white tail curled around his luggage. “Greetings, Ms. Anya.” I cleared out the room I’d prepared for Kael and let the Alpha Guard move in. Just as I was briefing him on his duties, the doorbell rang. I didn’t answer. Kael waited outside for a while, assuming no one was home, and then tried to punch in the code himself. “Access Denied—” He thought he misheard. He tried again. “Access Denied.” He started pounding on the door. Annoyed, I sent the Alpha Guard to deal with him. A thunderous crash shook the entire house. I rushed out and saw Kael and Ryker locked in a violent struggle, neither giving an inch, the front door ripped off its hinges. “Stop!” Kael looked up, jealousy practically dripping from him. His scorpion tail powerfully plunged into Ryker’s side. A muffled grunt, and the Alpha Guard sagged, his skin visibly bruising. “Are you insane!” I slapped Kael across the face. His head snapped to the side, several drops of blood flying. Only then did I notice the raw, bleeding gouge on the back of his head where Ryker had clawed him. “Who is he?” Kael stared intently at the other man. “My new bodyguard.” I helped Ryker, quickly cut my arm, and fed my blood to him. Kael’s eyes turned bloodshot. “*I’m* your bodyguard.” His defiant stance crumbled. He stood frozen, looking lost, especially without my response. Even his scorpion tail drooped. “I am your bodyguard…” “You can’t protect me,” I said coldly. “Get out.” He stood rooted to the spot. Perhaps realizing how awful he’d been, he muttered something, his lips barely moving, unable to utter a single word of protest. “I can…” “I’ll protect you properly from now on, I’ll protect you with my life…” Kael’s reflection stared back from the glass, his jaw tight, his gaze locked on me. He didn’t even flinch, despite the blood running into his eyes. “Just give me one more chance.” Ryker woke up, shoved me aside, and bolted for the door as if a venomous barb was still chasing him. “Anya, no one’s better suited for this job than me,” Kael took a step forward. “I *can* protect you.” I was silent for a moment. Then I looked at him. “You said, ‘with your life’.” Kael nodded frantically. “I promise.”

I could feel my life force draining. An inexplicable weariness settled over me. My sleep lengthened, and even the plants in the lab barely responded to my control anymore. “I’m tired. I’m heading back.” “Of course, Doctor.” Kael was waiting just outside the lab. He slipped the heating pad he’d been holding for ages into my arms, said nothing, and deliberately walked on the windward side, shielding me from the drifting snow. “Cough, cough—” I coughed violently. The recent experiment had drained a huge amount of energy from me. I could barely stand. As soon as I got home, I started running a fever. Kael used cold water to wipe my body down, over and over. “Liam…” Burning with fever, my vision blurred, my hand lightly brushed Kael’s cheek. “I love you so much…” He suddenly grabbed my hand. “The Liam you called… was it me?” “Who is this Liam?” I closed my eyes, drifting into sleep. Kael kept pressing. “Don’t ask. You’re Liam, okay? Just stop…” He let out a shaky breath, the tension visibly draining from his shoulders. He pulled out the photo he had hidden in his pocket. He examined it closely. The man’s face was identical to his own, but Kael couldn’t remember ever taking such a picture. “Maybe I forgot.” He mumbled to himself. He pulled up the blanket, only for his attention to be caught by my semi-transparent hand. Kael’s heart jolted. He blinked, and my hand looked normal again. *Ding—* A notification sound broke his thoughts. “Brother Kael, you haven’t come to see me in ages…” Chloe was slurring, clearly wasted. “If you don’t come soon, I’ll be whisked away…” Kael threw on his jacket and moved to leave. I grabbed him. “Don’t go. Stay and take care of me. I feel awful…” “I’m going to die…” He pulled free. “Don’t talk nonsense.” “Chloe has an emergency. I have to go to her first.” His back was resolute. He never lingered for me, not even for a second. He was *my* bodyguard, yet he always left me behind. He had promised to protect me with his life. Kael, I believed you again and again. Chloe’s words were true. “If the Federation hadn’t forced him, he wouldn’t be your bodyguard.” “Brother Kael cares about me the most, Anya. Even if you died right in front of him, he wouldn’t feel an ounce of pity.” “You’re just a burden to him.” Whether it was during the Creature Uprising three years ago, when he abandoned me in the eye of the storm, or three years later, when I told him I was dying. Kael never truly cared. I called my assistant. “Take out the blood I had stored for Kael’s sustenance.” “Yes, give it to the North District. Let them use it to grow food.” I wouldn’t leave him a single thing.

It was a rare moment of free time, so I went to a bar alone. Most of the patrons were beastmen. Seeing a pure-blooded human like me, they couldn’t help but be curious, gravitating towards my table one by one. “Hey, sis.” A young man sat beside me, his yellow ears perked up. “Let’s hang out.” “I’ll teach you a game we play in the beastman world…” His tail unconsciously wrapped around my arm, soft and fluffy, feeling nice to the touch. “Are you a cat?” He paused, then smiled, revealing sharp teeth. “Yeah, do you like it? A lot of people…” Before he could finish, someone grabbed him by the throat and lifted him. The young man was about to get angry. But when he saw a venomous barb hovering before his eyes, he deflated instantly. Kael’s posture was commanding; just standing there, he kept many other beastmen at bay. The lights were dim, so I couldn’t make out his expression, but the veins on his neck were clearly prominent. “He’s not a cat. He’s a leopard.” “It’s dangerous out here. How could you travel alone? Or is he your new bodyguard?” I stared straight at Kael. “Put him down, then get out.” An invisible pressure spread through the bar. Kael took a deep breath and threw the young man onto the floor. He didn’t leave. Instead, he approached me. “We’re going home.” “The sector’s energy fluctuations have been unpredictable lately. Be careful of uprisings.” “What uprising?” someone scoffed. “General Liam Beckett is coming back soon! Who’d dare cause trouble then?” I instinctively looked towards the bar entrance. No one. A wave of disappointment washed over me. Kael saw it clearly. His heart inexplicably swelled with irritation. “Let’s go.” He reached for me. Suddenly, Leo lunged, biting Kael’s arm, tearing at it. Immediately after, red-eyed beastmen poured in from all sides of the bar, attacking anything alive, especially pure-blooded humans. Countless eyes stared at me with hunger. If Kael dared to leave, I would be torn to shreds. “Brother Kael!” Chloe crouched in a corner, tears streaming down her face. “I’m scared!” Fueled by pure survival instinct, I clung to Kael’s clothes, my fingernails bent backwards, drawing blood. “Protect me! You’re *my* bodyguard!” He tried to pull free. “Don’t you dare! If you leave me, I’ll have Director Thorne kill both you and Chloe!” Kael hesitated. In that moment, Chloe was tackled by a large beast. “Chloe!” I don’t remember much of what happened next. All I know is, Kael left me again. It hurt so much. I was bleeding profusely. Herbivore creatures scrambled for the wild growth sprouting from the floor, while carnivores greedily lapped at my wounds. A flash of white light. Time seemed to stand still. The next second, all the beastmen collapsed to the ground. I was lifted. “Anya, hold on to me.” Light shone on his face. Was it Kael? No. He wasn’t this gentle. He didn’t call me ‘Anya’ with such tenderness, nor would he hold me in his arms like this. “Liam…” “I’m here.” When I woke up, I was already lying at home. All my wounds had vanished. “Liam?” Barefoot, I searched every room. No one. It was as if it had all been a dream.

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When I was seven, I got lost in the mountains with my parents and was raised by a community living wild in the mountains. At fifteen, my parents found me. But I couldn’t fit into human society. It was my twin sister who patiently guided me. When my wild side flared up, hurting people and getting me ostracized, She shielded me with her frail body, took a beating so bad she coughed up blood, and was left with a chronic illness from that day on. For her, I pushed myself to study, got into a top university, and joined a special department thanks to my ability to communicate with animals. At twenty-three, My sister excitedly told me, “Sis, I really love him.” “He took 99 lashes for me; we’re going to be so happy.” But less than a month later, I received a video from my parents. My sister, covered in wounds, her face a pulpy mess, lay in a coffin, her severed limbs beside her. In that moment, my long-suppressed wildness exploded. All I wanted was to find the person who killed my sister and rip them to shreds!

When I arrived at the scene, my sister, her eyes frozen open in terror, lay silently in the coffin. The coffin lid next to her was covered in countless scratch marks, swirling in patterns. They screamed of how much pain and despair my sister had endured before she died. It was as if her cries for help were right there, echoing. “Sis, save me!” “I’m sorry.” All my strength drained, and I collapsed to my knees, my veins throbbing as my hands clawed at the dirt. Sharp pebbles cut into my palms, and only that searing, agonizing pain kept me from losing all sanity. Slowly, I pieced her broken body parts back together. “You beasts! The Blackwood family has gone too far!” My parents, who arrived shortly after, roared in heart-wrenching anguish at the sight. My mother even had a heart attack and passed out on the spot. She couldn’t even attend the funeral. In the mourning hall, My dad kept whispering to my sister. “Don’t trust men so easily over there, especially those who talk big but do nothing.” “What a nuisance. Why would he call me to a place like this?” A man’s impatient shouts drifted in from outside. My dad, roaring with grief and fury, snatched up the nearest heavy object and stormed out. “Brandon Blackwood, give me back my daughter’s life!” I immediately followed, seeing the man from my sister’s wedding photo, Brandon, with his fingers intertwined with another woman’s. That woman bore a faint resemblance to my sister. So he was just using her as a replacement! “Stop acting crazy, old man. Get your daughter out here!” Brandon disgustedly shoved my dad down and stepped on his face. “She’s dead! You’ll never see her again in this lifetime!” The woman next to Brandon giggled. “What a joke. Earlier, Sister was locked in with a venomous snake for three days, not only did she not die, but she acted disgusting, like she was with the snake.” “I advised her not to mess around with animals, but she didn’t listen and even pushed me. “Brandon was just thinking of teaching her a lesson by sending her to a monastery to reflect.” Hearing this, Brandon’s face turned terrifyingly dark. “That disgraceful slut! Was she that desperate?” He looked like he wanted to slice my sister into a thousand pieces with his eyes alone. “She made me lose all face with the Blackwood family!” Then, he looked around, raising his voice. “Cassidy, if you don’t show yourself, I’ll chop your dad into pieces and feed him to the dogs!” Having lived with all sorts of animals for so long, I’d seen countless times how out-of-control predators ripped apart their prey. Now, I saw that same savagery in Brandon. If I didn’t make myself known, he really would kill my dad in the most cruel and vicious way. “Dad.” I mimicked my sister’s manner, helping my dad up. “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have doubted Brandon and Seraphina’s relationship.” Then, I turned and knelt, begging through tears. “Brandon, I know I’ve been bad. Please let me come home.” Brandon squatted down, his cold fingers brushing my cheek. “That’s more like it. As long as you’re obedient, the position of Mrs. Blackwood will always be yours.” I nodded hard, then told my dad to take care before hurrying to follow the two in front. “Cassidy.” My dad grabbed my hand, trembling all over. “Do… does it have to be this way?” His neck veins bulged as he spoke with effort. A father who had already lost one daughter didn’t want to lose another. My nose stung. For years, my sister had been taking care of them. She always said, “Sister is meant for great things.” “Let this little good-for-nothing take care of Mom and Dad.” “As long as Sister is happy, I’m happy.” But she had no idea that in my heart, she was the little sun that supported me through one danger after another. I never got to say thank you. I had saved so much for her dowry. We’d promised to watch the sunrise ceremony together, but we never went. And now she was gone, her body dismembered! So, even if it meant going through hell and high water, I would get justice for her! “I promise I’ll be fine.” I patted my father’s hand reassuringly, then turned and quickened my pace. Carrying a father’s helpless despair, I embarked on the path of revenge.

As soon as we returned to the Blackwood mansion, Brandon immediately ordered me to kneel and help Seraphina change her shoes. I was barely a second slow when he kicked me, sending me sprawling. “Useless trash! What good are you for? “Are you only good for acting like a slut and serving those animals?” Seraphina whined sweetly, “Brandon, don’t break my servant. Who will fan me when I sleep tonight?” I clenched my fists, my teeth grinding audibly. This was the life my sister had endured! To torment her, Brandon not only made her kneel in the room, listening to him and Seraphina have sex through a screen, Sometimes he even forced my sister to go in and hold Seraphina up so they could complete complicated positions. When they finished, my sister had to clean up their disgusting mess. In the middle of summer, when they could easily have turned on the air conditioning, Seraphina, citing her allergies, made my sister stay up all night, fanning her manually. My sister initially resisted, but the consequence was Brandon taking out his anger on our parents. First, they were falsely accused and suspended from their jobs without cause. Then, the news spread online, and some brainless fanatics harassed my parents in real life. Once, my mother was so traumatized she ended up in the hospital, almost not making it. From then on, my sister never dared to defy Brandon. She clung to life like a dog, barely surviving! She never told me about any of the pain or suffering she endured. Because of my work, I could only talk to her once in a long while. Yet, every time, she was always cheerful, never complaining once. She would even remind me to take care of myself and not worry, saying she would look after Mom and Dad. “This kind of slut would have gone bad ages ago. Everyone said not to take her, but some fortune teller insisted she’d bring wealth to the family.” “My old-fashioned dad forced me to marry her.” Brandon brought it up, looking like he wanted to tear my flesh off. “If it weren’t for her, I’d already be married to the woman I truly love.” “So you never loved her?” Sister, I stared at Brandon, asking each word slowly. My mind replayed my sister’s radiant smile when she said she was getting married. Little did she know that a beast had woven a deadly lie for her, Ending her young life forever in the summer she turned twenty-three. “Why would I care for a clingy leech? Just smelling her made me sick, and she kept dreaming of Cinderella and Prince Charming.” Brandon’s eyes looked at me like I was a maggot. Seraphina pretended to be kind, patting Brandon to signal him to stop, then reached out to me. “Sister, please get up.” I saw malice in her eyes, then brushed her hand away and stood up myself. I looked up, and a painting caught my eye. It was a nude painting of Seraphina. Her pale body lay on vibrant roses, beautiful and alluring. But I felt a chill run through me. Because the roses in that painting were painted with my sister’s blood. She hadn’t slept a wink, except for a brief moment of comfort, and every day she had to let Seraphina draw her blood for painting. If she was even a little slow, Brandon would lock her in a cage and force her to fight for food with wild dogs. Just imagining those scenes made me want to tear the two people in front of me to shreds. “You damn dare to glare at me!” Brandon furiously shoved me, sending me flying. I covered my swollen face, silent for a moment. Suddenly, I grabbed Seraphina. I opened my mouth and bit into the soft flesh of her neck. As she shrieked in terror, I slowly increased the pressure. The taste of blood surged through my nerve endings. Every cell screamed, “Kill her.” Brandon saw my mouth covered in blood and finally reacted. He pulled me off forcefully. I spat the bitten-off piece of flesh onto his face. “Crazy bitch! Send her to the monastery! This time, unless I say so, she can die there for all I care!” Brandon roared, enraged. As I was dragged away, I smiled. I was just looking for an excuse to go back to that place.

The monastery in the desolate mountains wasn’t as simple as it looked; beneath it lay a fully equipped, well-staffed laboratory. It was funded by the Blackwood family, specifically for researching how to extend human lifespan. But their test subjects weren’t animals; they were people! When I arrived, I was locked in a tiny, airtight room. A few burly men, laughing obscenely, entered. “You didn’t die last time, even with all that fun. This time, I’ve got something special.” The man held up a pair of obstetric forceps. My stomach clenched, and a video recording appeared before my eyes. My sister’s hysterical screams instantly pierced my ears. She was tied to a bed, and the man standing between her splayed legs held obstetric forceps, laughing as he pulled and twisted. In that moment, all my blood froze. Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face. My sweet, obedient sister, the sister who always saved a share for me, the sister who said we’d be sisters forever! She was tortured to death, little by little, by them! “Animals!” I roared, lunging at the man, snatching the forceps, and violently stabbing them into his eye. “Ah!” Blood mixed with shattered bits of eyeball splattered out, and the small room filled with the man’s horrific screams. The others reacted, trying to grab me. But I had been raised by wild people; I’d long since developed immense strength. They outnumbered me, but that just meant it would take one more minute. After knocking everyone down, I grabbed one of them by the collar. “Do you want to live?” The man nodded frantically. “Do exactly what you see in the video to them.” I pointed at the screen still playing on the wall. The men immediately wailed, frantically kowtowing and begging for mercy. “We were just following orders! Please spare us!” “We even tried to persuade him back then, but he cursed at us and said he had to use the most extreme methods to teach you a lesson.” “If you want to settle scores, go after the Blackwoods. He even planned to inject you with a newly developed drug that supposedly makes a person rot into a watery mess, little by little.” “Spare you?” I smiled, toying with a small knife. “Did you show any mercy when you laid hands on me?!” With that, I plunged the knife into the thigh of the man I held. “Do it or not?” The man screamed, “Yes! Yes! W-w-w-w-I’ll do it!” I pulled a chair over and sat down. The man began to act. Screams echoed endlessly in the room. I watched with cold eyes, occasionally whistling. As time passed, the men passed out. Body parts lay on the floor, and the white tiles were stained red. A stench of blood and decay permeated the air, making me sick to my stomach. I pointed at the man who had done the deed. “Clean it up. Don’t let Brandon notice any trace, or your end will be a hundred times worse than theirs.” The man had already witnessed my methods and dared not defy me. He cleaned the scene in the shortest possible time. Soon, the small room was restored to its clean, white state. I lay on the bed, waiting for Brandon’s arrival.

A week later was Mr. Blackwood’s birthday. My sister, as the only publicly acknowledged wife of the Blackwood family, was naturally expected to attend. So Brandon sent people to pick me up. Compared to when I entered, I was so thin the wind could blow me over, and my gaunt face with two hollow, dark eye sockets was especially eerie. Brandon looked pleased. “Looks like you received excellent hospitality.” Brandon lifted my sleeve; my arm was covered in self-inflicted cuts. I had made them to suppress my restless, animalistic urges. Indeed, Brandon smiled even more brightly, grabbing and excitedly kissing Seraphina beside him. They intertwined, making intimate, swallowing sounds. I kept my head bowed, expressionless, calculating how much longer I needed to torture them. The birthday gala was about to begin. Brandon stopped his intimacy with Seraphina just in time. “Darling, I’ll come find you later.” Brandon went to the next room to change. Seraphina stayed behind, circling me. “Still not enough. How about this?” She grabbed my chin, lifting it. “Tonight’s gala has a lot of media here. It would be absolutely scandalous if the Blackwood family’s wife performed a strip show right in front of everyone.” Seraphina clapped excitedly and called Brandon. “Brandon, I’ve thought of something super fun! Come quick!” After hearing Seraphina’s plan, Brandon dotingly praised her. “See? I told you my darling was brilliant.” Seraphina laughed triumphantly, wrapping her arms around Brandon’s waist. “I just worry your dad might not be happy.” “He won’t be. He already has a thing for that piece of trash. We’ll let him have his fun with her later, it’ll make him ecstatic.” Brandon’s gentle voice sounded like a demon’s whisper. In his eyes, my sister was just an object to be discarded at will. Worse than a rat in a sewer. I suppressed my rising fury and stood up. “Who told you to move! Kneel!” Brandon’s face contorted, and he kicked out. I nimbly twisted my body to avoid it. At that moment, someone pushed the door open. They carried a rectangular object wrapped in black cloth. Then they placed it beside me. “Who are you guys? And what is this?” The men carrying the object ignored Brandon, bowing respectfully to me. I waved them off, signaling they could leave. One of them said, “My superiors believe you shouldn’t dirty your hands with such worthless people.” I nodded, indicating I understood. Brandon, seeing them leave, chased after them, cursing a few times. Then he returned, pointing a finger at my nose, demanding, “Those were your lovers, weren’t they?” “How utterly disgusting. You’re just a slut through and through.” I ignored him, pulling back the black cloth. A vibrant red coffin came into view. Under their astonished gazes, I chuckled softly, speaking as if coaxing a three-year-old child. “The hunting game begins now. Welcome to hell!” “Are you insane!” Brandon snapped back, his face darkening as he approached. “What’s the meaning of bringing a coffin to my dad’s birthday?”

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In my past life, I was Emily Foster, the substitute for Alexander Carter’s idealized first love – cherished one moment, discarded the next. Just because a new girl appeared who looked more like his first love, I was ruthlessly abandoned. In the end, I was killed by his new flame. When I opened my eyes again, I had been reborn as my suicidal twin sister. It felt like jumping from one cage into another hell. The good thing was, the substitute for his first love was gone, and now I had become the substitute. Alexander Carter started acting like a clingy puppy that couldn’t be shooed away. As memories flooded back, my head felt like it was about to split open. The last image that flashed before my eyes was Olivia Parker’s smug face. “Emily, don’t blame me. If you have to blame someone, blame yourself for being in the way.” “Alexander loves that face, and I look more like her than you do, don’t I?” “So, just die already.” She laughed as she pushed me off the 30-story building. Seconds later, I was engulfed in darkness. So, I was never more than a shadow of Alexander Carter’s idealized first love. A cheap substitute that could be replaced at any time. A dull ache spread through my chest. I struggled to sit up, looking around the unfamiliar and dilapidated room. The walls were peeling, and the only furniture was an old wooden table and a chair with a broken leg. I stumbled to the only mirror hanging on the wall. The person in the mirror made my pupils constrict. My arms were covered in purple bruises, old injuries layered with new ones. But the facial features were clearly seven or eight tenths similar to mine before I died. Only younger, and more… battered. Who was this? Why was I here? “You lazy brat! What are you dawdling for? Have you washed the dishes yet?!” A woman’s shrill, harsh voice came from outside the door, accompanied by loud banging. I instinctively shrank back, my body’s reflexes carrying deep-seated fear. An obese figure burst through the door, hands on hips, spittle flying as she pointed at me. “Always slacking off! Get your ass to the kitchen and wash those dishes! Do you want to starve?!” I looked at her, my gaze cold. It seemed the heavens hadn’t let me die completely. They had given me a new identity. The original owner of this body was called Mia Foster, an adopted child in this family. The fat woman was her foster mother, Linda. There was also a foster father, Frank, who spent his days idling and either beating or scolding her, and a good-for-nothing brother, Tyler. In this family, Mia was treated like an unpaid servant, living a life worse than a dog’s. Her personality was timid, submissive, even numb. This made it convenient for me to hide my true self. Until that day, when I found an old notebook under the floorboards. It was Mia’s diary. Out of curiosity about the original owner of this body, I opened it. The handwriting was messy, recording years of darkness. “Got beaten again today. My arm hurts so much. Mom said it’s because I was disobedient.” “Tyler stole the five dollars I had secretly saved up. Dad saw and just laughed at me.” “They said I’m an abandoned bastard, eating for free, so I should do all the work.” “I want to die so badly. Would death finally set me free?” Page after page, line after line, all were cries of despair and pain. Long-term physical abuse and mental torture had left her unable to see any light. The last few pages of the diary detailed her plans for suicide. So, I had been reborn because she had actively given up her own life. My chest felt tight. I continued flipping through, and several photos slipped out from the diary. One was a family photo of young Mia with her foster parents and brother. She was timidly hiding in the corner. There were also a few photos of a gentle, beautiful woman holding a baby. That woman’s face… My breath caught sharply. It was my deceased mother! In her diary, Mia had written that she was abandoned, with only a photo of her mother holding her as a keepsake. Combined with this face so similar to mine… A ridiculous thought struck me. Mia Foster was my long-lost twin sister! We were actually twins! I held the photos, tears silently falling. So I wasn’t alone after all. I once had a sister. But she had died in this hell, tortured to death.

From that day on, Mia Foster changed. When Tyler came home drunk again, wanting to get handsy with me like usual, I didn’t dodge. As he approached, I grabbed the ashtray from the table and smashed it against his forehead. He clutched his bleeding forehead, looking at me in disbelief. “You dare hit me?!” I coldly looked at him. “Get lost.” He cursed and charged at me. I dodged to the side, simultaneously knocking out a small packet of white powder hidden in his pocket. His face changed drastically as he hurriedly tried to pick it up. I didn’t give him the chance, immediately calling the police on my phone. “Hello, police? I’d like to report drug use and illegal gambling.” When Tyler was taken away by the police, his eyes were full of hatred. Linda and Frank naturally took out their anger on me. Linda pointed at my nose and cursed, “You ungrateful bitch! You jinx! How dare you hurt your brother!” Frank raised his hand to hit me. I didn’t dodge, instead meeting his gaze and speaking. “Dad, you didn’t come home last night. Were you at that widow Jenny’s house down the street?” “I saw you, you know. She had her arms around your neck, calling you ‘darling’.” Frank’s face instantly turned pale, his raised hand frozen in mid-air. Linda was stunned for a moment, then pounced on Frank like a madwoman, scratching and hitting. “You bastard, Frank! How dare you cheat on me!” “I’ll kill you!” The house instantly descended into chaos. The news of her husband’s affair was enough to keep Linda occupied for a while. She wouldn’t have the energy to cause me trouble for now. I coldly watched all this, feeling no ripples in my heart. This was just the beginning. Using Emily Foster’s memories from my past life, I had accumulated some knowledge and insight into the financial markets. I used the little money Mia had secretly saved as seed capital and made a few short-term trades in the stock market. Luck was on my side, and I earned my first chunk of startup capital. I kept quiet about it, secretly moving out and renting a small studio apartment in the city. I bought a few well-fitting clothes and applied light makeup. The girl in the mirror had shed her previous timidity and dullness. Though still thin, her eyes were calm and sharp. This face looked so much like Emily Foster’s. Enough to make Alexander Carter lose his composure. I knew Alexander Carter’s habits. Every Friday afternoon, he would go to a teahouse in the west of the city. It was the place he and his first love used to love going to. How devoted. I timed it perfectly and walked into the teahouse. I chose a seat by the window and ordered the most ordinary green tea. Before long, Alexander Carter’s figure appeared. He was wearing a well-tailored black suit, handsome and dignified. He walked straight towards his usual private room. As he passed by me, his footsteps faltered. I could feel his gaze on me, scrutinizing and uncertain. I didn’t look up, pretending to be focused on the view outside, my fingers unconsciously tracing the rim of the cup. From the corner of my eye, I saw him standing there, looking at me for a full half minute. Then he continued towards the private room, though his steps seemed to have slowed.

A few days later, someone claiming to be Alexander Carter’s assistant contacted me. “Miss Foster, our Mr. Carter would like to invite you to dinner. Would that be convenient for you?” I spoke into the phone, my voice tinged with timidity and confusion. “Mr. Carter? I don’t know him…” “It’s like this – Mr. Carter saw you at the Serenity Teahouse the other day and thought you looked very similar to an old acquaintance. He’d like to get to know you.” I inwardly smirked, but outwardly agreed. “Oh, alright then.” The dinner was set at a high-end Western restaurant. Alexander Carter sat across from me, his gaze barely leaving my face. “Miss Foster, I apologize for being so forward, but you look very much like someone I know,” he began, his voice low. I lowered my head, fidgeting with the hem of my clothes, putting on an act of nervousness. “Is that so?” “Her name was Emily Foster.” He said the name slowly, watching intently for my reaction. My heart stung sharply, but my face showed only confusion. “Emily Foster? I don’t know her…” He seemed somewhat disappointed, yet also relieved. For the rest of the time, he probed indirectly about my background. I responded with half-truths and half-lies, portraying myself as Mia Foster – a girl from a poor family with a sad past. I deliberately mimicked some of Emily’s small habits, like slightly pursing my lips when drinking water, or gently biting my lower lip when thinking. These details made Alexander Carter’s gaze grow increasingly complex. Over the next few days, he frequently asked me out, sent me gifts, and took me to various high-end places. Bags, jewelry, clothes – all brands and styles that Emily used to like. The way he looked at me was sometimes gentle, sometimes dazed, as if seeing someone else through me. I knew that in his eyes, I had become another substitute. How laughable. He would never know that this new substitute he was trying to control had the soul of Emily Foster, the one he had abandoned. Once, while dining with Alexander Carter, I accidentally raised my hand to brush back my hair, revealing a bruise on my wrist that hadn’t fully faded. Alexander Carter’s gaze instantly froze. He grabbed my wrist, his face terrifyingly dark. “How did this happen?” I hurriedly pulled my hand back, lowering my head, my voice trembling. “It’s nothing, just an accident.” “Mia Foster!” He raised his voice. “Tell me, who did this?”

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The day I was acknowledged by the wealthy family, I had a three-year-old child by my side. Sophia, the adopted daughter, covered her mouth and laughed, “Sister, life must have been tough for you these years, huh? You even had a bastard child. How dare you come back to the Sullivan family?” My ex-fiancé, Mark Foster, immediately darkened his face and turned to Mr. Foster Sr., saying, “I absolutely refuse to marry a woman with such a questionable background.” I lowered my head, gently stroking my child’s soft hair, and nodded obediently, “Alright.” After all, this child belonged to his uncle. In the tea room of the Foster family mansion, Mr. Foster Sr. sat in the main seat with a grim expression. Mark’s mother, Linda Foster, who had slept her way to her current position, was crying in a shrill voice, “Mr. Foster, Mark is your only grandson. How can he marry a woman with a bastard child? What will people say?” She glanced at me sideways, her words full of insinuation, “Some people will do anything to climb the social ladder.” My mother laughed coldly, “Mrs. Foster, didn’t you also rely on an ‘accidental’ pregnancy to enter this family? How ironic that you’re now calling others impure.” Linda’s face instantly turned ashen. Mark suddenly slammed the table, throwing a disgusted look at me, “I’ll release a statement tomorrow to break off the engagement.” I lowered my eyes to hide my smile. That suits me just fine. Mr. Foster Sr. frowned deeply, his gaze moving back and forth between me and my child. But my little one wasn’t shy. He looked up with his small face and chirped sweetly, “Hello, Grandpa!” Mr. Foster Sr. was taken aback, his stern expression cracking slightly, “This child… seems quite clever.” Seeing this, Linda immediately shrieked, “Mr. Foster, don’t be fooled! Who knows where this bastard child came from…” Before Linda could finish, my mother had already slammed her teacup onto the saucer with a loud “clang”. “Mrs. Foster, mind your words. You have no right to comment on my family’s bloodline.” Linda’s face alternated between red and white, “What do you mean? Are you saying this child is…” “Enough!” Mr. Foster Sr. suddenly roared, his dragon-headed cane striking the marble floor with a startling sound. The tea room instantly fell silent, with only my child shrinking into my arms uneasily. I gently patted his back, feeling his tiny body trembling slightly. “All of you, shut up!” Mr. Foster Sr. sighed, “This matter ends here! Everyone get out!” My mother laughed coldly, standing up gracefully, “Perfect, we Sullivans don’t want to stay any longer either.” She gave me a look, “Olivia, let’s go.” The little one seemed to sense my mood and touched my face with his soft little hand, “Mommy, don’t be angry. Little Bean will protect you.” I didn’t look back, just held my child tighter. My mother’s hand holding mine trembled slightly, her eyes almost overflowing with guilt. She had originally intended to use this arranged marriage to let me return to the Sullivan family properly, to reclaim everything that belonged to the true daughter. After all, the engagement with the Foster family was originally meant for me. But she hadn’t expected that this carefully arranged meeting would turn into a scene where my dignity was trampled. Linda’s acerbic mockery and Mark’s disgusted looks all stabbed at her heart like knives. Her voice choked, “Olivia, it’s Mom’s fault…” I shook my head, gripping her hand back. This humiliation was never our fault.

By the time we returned to the Sullivan mansion, it was already dark. The hall was brightly lit, with my father sitting on the sofa reviewing documents. Sophia was leaning against him, smiling coyly. Seeing us enter, a flash of mockery crossed her eyes as she deliberately raised her voice, “Dad, sister has come back with her child.” My father looked up, his gaze falling on the child in my arms, his brow instantly furrowing, “You have the nerve to come back?” Before I could speak, Sophia was already covering her mouth and laughing lightly, “Sister, you’ve certainly had an exciting life out there. Having a child out of wedlock, bringing back a little bastard, how scandalous if word gets out.” “Sophia!” my mother rebuked sharply, “Watch your mouth!” But my father raised his hand to stop my mother, his eyes coldly fixed on me, “Whose child is this exactly?” I took a deep breath, my nails almost digging into my palms. Those memories I had deliberately buried came flooding back. Three years ago, on that rainy night, I found Ethan Foster covered in blood. I sent him to the hospital and cared for him day and night. Ethan had lost all his memories due to the car accident. I took care of him, accompanied him through rehabilitation. He always liked to hold my hand in the warm afternoon sun, saying softly, “Olivia, when I’m better, let’s get married.” His palm was warm and dry, his gaze so focused as if I was the only person left in the world. Later, as he gradually recovered, we lived in a small house by the sea. He would brew coffee in the early morning and gently kiss my forehead. He would also hold me in his arms during thunderstorms, saying “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.” At that time, he was so gentle, unlike the cold young master of the Foster family, but just an ordinary man who loved me deeply. But later… His memory returned. One morning, when I woke up, the bed beside me was already empty. A check was left on the table, the amount so large it hurt my eyes. He also left a note, saying he would come back for me. I hated him for leaving without a word, so I burned the note and left that place. After leaving, I found out I was pregnant. I didn’t want to abandon this little life, so I chose to give birth. Three years later, the Sullivan family found me. “Can’t say it?” My father sneered, “You’ve completely disgraced the Sullivan family!” “Disgrace?” My mother suddenly stood up, her voice shaking, “When you brought Sophia home back then, didn’t you feel disgraced? Now you dare to blame Olivia?” My father’s face turned ashen, “How can that be the same? Sophia is my biological daughter!” “And what about Olivia?” My mother’s eyes were red, “Isn’t she your flesh and blood? Your favoritism should have a limit!” Sophia pretended to mediate from the side, “Auntie, don’t be angry. Dad is just worried about sister’s reputation…” “No need for your fake kindness!” My mother pushed her away. Sophia staggered a few steps, deliberately falling to the ground, tears instantly welling up, “Dad, I was just trying to calm Auntie down, but she pushed me…” My father flew into a rage, raising his hand to strike my mother. I rushed forward to shield her, but suddenly heard my child burst into tears. “Mommy… I’m scared…” he tightly hugged my leg, his little face covered in tears. At that moment, my heart felt like it was torn in two. I crouched down and hugged him, my voice trembling, “Little Bean, don’t be afraid. Mommy’s here.” My father’s hand froze in mid-air, finally dropping heavily. He rubbed his brow wearily, “Go back to your room, don’t stand here annoying me!” My mother still wanted to argue, but I held her back and shook my head. As I carried my child upstairs, Sophia’s triumphant gaze stabbed into my back like knives. Closing the door, my child nestled against my shoulder, sobbing softly, “Mommy, why doesn’t Grandpa like us?” I bit my lip hard, tears finally falling. Why? I wanted to know why too. Why did Ethan leave without a word? Why did my father only have eyes for Sophia? Why did my child have to bear all this malice? Outside the window, thunder rumbled, and raindrops slammed against the glass. I held my child tightly, as if I could shield him from all the storms of the world this way.

Early the next morning, there was a commotion downstairs. Followed by Sophia’s exaggerated giggles. “Mark, why did you suddenly come?” Sophia’s voice was sickeningly sweet, “Did you miss me?” Mark’s voice carried impatience, “Where’s your sister?” My heart suddenly sank. What was he doing here? The door was suddenly pushed open. Mark stood at the doorway with a gloomy face, Sophia hanging on his arm with a malicious smile. “Sister, Mark has something to say to you.” Mark coldly swept a glance at the child in my arms, frowning in disgust, “Olivia Sullivan, I’m warning you, don’t think you can cling to the Foster family just because you have a bastard child.” My fingers unconsciously tightened, and my child whimpered softly in his sleep. “I’m not…” My voice was barely audible. “Not?” Mark sneered, “Then why did you choose this time to return to the Sullivan family? What, can’t afford to raise the child anymore? Want me to pay for the bastard’s milk powder?” Sophia added fuel to the fire from the side, “Sister, life must have been tough for you these years? Raising a fatherless child…” “Enough!” I suddenly looked up, “Who gave you permission to call my child a bastard?” Mark seemed to be angered by my reaction. He strode over and grabbed my wrist, “Olivia Sullivan, stop playing the victim! If it weren’t for the relationship between our families, I wouldn’t have agreed to marry you in the first place!” His grip was shockingly strong, causing a sharp pain in my wrist. My child was startled awake. Seeing the scene before him, he immediately burst into tears. “Mommy! Don’t bully Mommy!” He reached out his little hands, trying to push Mark away. Mark shoved the child away. His small body hit the wall with a dull thud. “Little Bean!” I broke free from Mark’s grip and rushed to hug my child. A red mark had appeared on his forehead, and he was crying uncontrollably. “Mark Foster! He’s just a child!” I shouted hoarsely, tears blurring my vision. Sophia laughed gleefully from the side, “Oh my, Mark, this child is quite protective, just as shameless as his mother.” Mark looked down at us coldly, his gaze icy, “Olivia Sullivan, I’ll make a public statement tomorrow to break off the engagement. If you dare to cause any trouble…” He didn’t finish his sentence, but the threat was clear. I held my child tightly, feeling my heart shatter into pieces. Why? Why treat us like this? What wrong had my child done? He’s just an innocent child… Mark turned to leave, Sophia shot me a triumphant look and followed, clinging to his arm. “By the way,” Mark stopped at the door, not looking back, “Uncle asked me to tell you, stop dreaming. The Foster family will never acknowledge this bastard.” Those words were like a knife, stabbing deep into my heart. Ethan… This child is his own flesh and blood. The door slammed shut. I could no longer hold myself up, sliding to the floor with my child in my arms. My child’s little hands frantically wiped away my tears, “Mommy, don’t cry. Little Bean will blow the pain away…” I held him tightly in my arms, my tears soaking his collar. The man who had promised me a home three years ago now wouldn’t even acknowledge his own child. All those gentle whispers, those passionate promises, turned out to be nothing but a joke. “Mommy, why doesn’t Daddy want us?” my child suddenly asked softly, his voice filled with confusion and hurt. My heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand, the pain almost unbearable. How could I answer? Outside the window, the rain grew heavier, thunder rumbling. I hugged my child tightly. In the Sullivan house, apart from my mother who truly cared for me, it was just me and my child depending on each other. “Little Bean, don’t be afraid,” I said softly, my voice trembling terribly, “Mommy will never leave you.”

The day the invitation to the Foster family banquet arrived at the Sullivan house, my mother slammed it on the coffee table in front of my father. “Olivia must go,” she said, her nails almost digging into the leather sofa. “My daughter is not some dirty secret to be hidden away.” My father frowned, looking at the child in my arms. Sophia immediately chimed in with her sweet voice, “Auntie, won’t it be more embarrassing if sister brings the child?” “Shut up!” my mother snapped, then turned to my father, her eyes red, “Sullivan, search your conscience. What exactly has Olivia done wrong? Is it her fault she was abandoned? Is it her fault she’s raising a child alone?” My father remained silent for a long time, finally turning his face away, “Do as you please.” I bit my lip hard until I tasted blood. My child seemed to sense my emotions, his little hand clutching tightly at the hem of my clothes, his big eyes full of unease. On the night of the banquet, my mother chose a dark green velvet gown for me. As she styled my hair, her fingers trembled slightly, “Olivia, hold your head high tonight. You’ve done nothing wrong.” I looked at myself in the mirror, forcing a smile onto my pale face. My child, dressed in a little suit, lay on my lap looking up at me, “Mommy, are we going to see Daddy?” My heart suddenly clenched. “Little Bean,” I knelt down to adjust his bow tie, my voice barely audible, “If… if Daddy doesn’t recognize us, don’t be sad, okay?” He nodded innocently, but in his clear eyes, I saw my own reflection full of nervousness and anxiety. The Foster family mansion was brightly lit. As soon as we stepped into the banquet hall, I heard a familiar deep voice coming from the direction of the balcony. “She’s nothing but a gold digger,” Ethan’s voice was full of contempt. “Bringing a child of unknown origin, thinking she can latch onto the Foster family. How laughable.” I froze in place, my blood instantly turning to ice. My mother angrily wanted to rush over, but I held her wrist tightly, shaking my head. “I heard the child looks like someone from the Foster family?” someone asked curiously. Ethan let out a cold laugh, “I’ve seen this trick many times. Mark was right to break off the engagement. Who knows how many men she’s been with…” His words suddenly stopped. Because I had walked out from behind a Roman column, holding my child’s hand. Under the crystal chandelier, Ethan’s wine glass shattered on the marble floor. He stared at me intently, his pupils contracting violently, cracks appearing for the first time on that usually composed face.

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On our wedding anniversary, my wife Rachel, a professional translator, once again received an urgent assignment and couldn’t spend the day with me. But before I knew it, she appeared in Ryan’s social media video, hurling insults at a group of old ladies in eighteen different languages. Gone was her usual elegant demeanor. The caption read: “Grandma says having a translator for a daughter-in-law is great. No one in the village will dare argue with me now.” I chuckled and liked the post, commenting: “Quite the spectacle.” My colleagues quickly flooded the comments section, even placing bets on whether I would explode this time. Rachel immediately called me, her voice cold as ice: “Jack Thompson, who told you to comment? Are you deliberately trying to embarrass Ryan in front of the team?” “He was being bullied in his hometown, what’s wrong with me showing some support? Someone like you, who’s been pampered all your life, wouldn’t understand how hard life can be for ordinary people.” “Delete that comment right now. I’ll make it up to you with another anniversary celebration in a few days.” I hung up with a bitter laugh, rubbing my aching stomach. In three days, the divorce cooling-off period would be over!

I asked the doctor to change my pain medication to an appendectomy. The doctor looked at me quizzically, “Why the sudden change of heart? Not going to be with your wife?” I smiled bitterly, “Because she just died.” The doctor froze for a moment, then gave me a strange, sympathetic look without saying anything more. As soon as I opened SnapChat, I saw Ryan tagging everyone in our work group: “Sorry for the misunderstanding, everyone. The post I shared earlier was just a joke. I hope you all don’t read too much into it.” This deliberate show-off of an apology made me want to vomit. Rachel immediately replied: “Ryan, you don’t need to apologize. It’s obviously a joke, and we’re not all so thin-skinned that we’d take it seriously.” As soon as our head translator spoke, those cunning colleagues who had been lurking suddenly chimed in: “Exactly! The office atmosphere is usually so dull, it’s refreshing to have some young blood cracking jokes.” “Rachel, your comeback was so sharp! That’s why you’re our boss!” “Ryan, looks like our only thin-skinned colleague hasn’t responded yet. Maybe you should message him privately to explain!” Watching my colleagues constantly sucking up and putting others down, I felt a mix of emotions. Half of these people were my former mentees. The more affectionately they used to call me “mentor,” the more cold-hearted they were now. What could I expect when Rachel was the head of the translation team and Ryan was her new favorite? To them, I was just a pushover who had cut ties with my parents for Rachel’s sake. I sighed deeply and exited SnapChat, not wanting to let them ruin my mood. But before I could put down my phone, Rachel called again. I answered impatiently, “What do you want?” She took a deep breath on the other end, seemingly suppressing her anger: “Jack Thompson, I need you to write a peace speech in English and Farsi right now. Ryan needs it for tomorrow! Make it easy to read, don’t use any complicated words, got it?” Her tone left no room for refusal, as if she were ordering a dog around. I instantly flared up. This trip to the Middle East wasn’t just about giving a peace speech; it also involved coordinating with humanitarian aid teams from multiple countries and communicating with locals. Ryan’s mediocre English skills were nowhere near sufficient for the job. But Ryan wanted this experience as a stepping stone for his career advancement, so he had begged Rachel to let him go. Rachel, completely focused on him, had assigned Ryan without any discussion. Now, with the departure date approaching and Ryan not even having prepared a speech, they were scrambling to have me clean up their mess. How shameless! So it wasn’t an emergency back home, but rather realizing his incompetence and potential exposure. Rachel took her little troublemaker to play the role of a grandson in the countryside, while leaving me here to write the speech. No way! “Hey, did you hear me? Send it to me for review first! If it’s good, I’ll pass it on to Ryan.” Rachel’s tone was impatient. I laughed coldly and refused outright: “I’m not writing someone else’s speech. If Ryan can’t write it himself, why don’t you help him? After all, you’ve been doing most of his work during his probation period. What’s wrong with helping him advance his career?” “Ms. Head Translator, if there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up.” Before I could end the call, Rachel’s furious voice nearly split my eardrum: “Don’t you dare hang up! Jack Thompson, have I been giving you too much face lately?”

“It’s me who’s been giving you too much face, or else how would you have the nerve to ask me to clean up after your little mistress!” I couldn’t be bothered to hold back anymore and lashed out at her. There was a moment of silence on the other end before she spoke again, suppressing her rage, “Jack Thompson, what’s wrong with you? You’re being so vulgar. Have all those years of education gone to waste? I told you I’d make it up to you when I get back, why are you still angry!” “If I don’t receive Ryan’s speech in my inbox by tonight, then let’s just call it quits!” I clenched my fists tightly, “Fine, let’s call it quits. Who wants to be with you anyway!” Before I could finish, I heard Ryan’s voice on the other end, “Rachel, Grandma’s calling you for dinner.” Rachel covered the mouthpiece, her voice suddenly as sweet as a well-mannered college student, “I’m just arranging some work, I’ll be right there.” Then she turned back to me, her voice cold enough to kill: “What did you just say?” I laughed: “Rachel Walker, listen carefully. I said if you enjoy being a lapdog so much, then keep at it. Don’t get cocky and provoke your grandma into teaching you a lesson!” Rachel barely contained her fury as she shouted: “Ryan was bullied in the village, and I, as his mentor, am just helping him save face. What’s wrong with that? Do you think everyone is as heartless as you?” “Jack Thompson, if you can’t even write this speech well, then you don’t need to stay in our team anymore!” She hung up abruptly after saying this. I sat at the cold entrance of the operating room, rubbing my stomach, feeling a surge of bitterness rising within me. My relationship with her was like this painfully inflamed appendix – it should have been cut out long ago. After the surgery, I went home and fell asleep alone. But early the next morning, I was woken by urgent knocking on my door. I opened it to find officers from the National Security Department. They said someone had reported me as a foreign spy and asked me to cooperate with their investigation. I felt a sudden sense of unreality and reflexively asked, “How could I possibly be a spy? I’m even a member of the counter-espionage team!” But they showed me the report directly. I immediately felt dizzy and followed them back to the office. As soon as I entered, I saw the disappointed look in my boss’s eyes, and my heart sank. The report mentioned several translation receptions that I had indeed led, and confidential information had been leaked afterward. It was hard not to suspect me. But when I saw the witness, everything became clear. The so-called witness was the meeting recorder, also Ryan’s most loyal lackey. Remembering how the two of them had acted separately from the team several times, I suspected they might be the real spies. I hurriedly tried to explain: “Officers, he can’t be a witness. Everyone knows he’s Ryan’s man, and Ryan has a grudge against me!” “Besides, during those translation receptions, I was with everyone the whole time and had no chance to leak information. But those two…” “Shut up, don’t embarrass our translation team!” Rachel angrily interrupted me. She took two big steps towards me, keeping a disdainful distance: “What grudge? I think you’re just randomly accusing people because you’ve done something wrong!” “Jack Thompson, I used to think you were just petty and lacked quality, but at least I didn’t think you’d betray the country. I never imagined you’d do something so inhumane!” “Do you know what the punishment is for falsely accusing a public official? I can’t believe you’ve become so depraved as to turn traitor. You’re not human, you scum! You don’t deserve to be my husband!” My throat felt like it was blocked by a red-hot iron, and I couldn’t utter a word. After a long while, I finally squeezed out a few hoarse words, “Rachel, in your heart, am I the kind of person who would betray my country out of jealousy?” I stared straight at her, but saw her gaze growing colder and colder, “You didn’t have a chance to leak information on the day of the reception, but you knew several people from the visiting delegation. Who knows what you might have said when you met them privately?” Rachel’s righteousness in condemning her husband led to my immediate suspension pending investigation. Suddenly, a family member of one of the victims picked up a chair and smashed it on my head, causing me to bleed profusely. “You beast! You traitor! It’s all your fault for leaking secrets that got my sister killed!” The man unleashed all his strength on me, beating me until I was nearly unconscious. He only stopped when he saw I was barely breathing. As I lay on the ground, I saw Ryan approach, looking down at me with glee. “Jack Thompson, of all things, why did you choose to be a traitor? Now you’re getting what you deserve.”

Seeing his smug, disgusting expression of getting what he wanted, I struggled through the pain to get up from the ground and sneered back: “You know exactly what you’ve done, Ryan Miller. Your retribution will come sooner or later!” A flash of wariness crossed Ryan’s eyes, but he quickly adopted a righteous tone, pointing at me accusingly, “Jack Thompson, don’t try to implicate others! I’m not like you. I would never betray my colleagues! Let alone become a traitor! You’ve disgraced our entire team, our whole country!” I laughed bitterly, too tired to argue with him, and slowly started to move away despite the pain. But Ryan wouldn’t let it go. He came forward and grabbed me, touching my wound and making me wince in pain. Before I could react, he suddenly fell on his butt and started wailing like a bad actor. Rachel, who had been keeping a straight face until now, instantly panicked. She took two big steps, pushing me aside, and anxiously helped Ryan up from the ground, gently patting his back and comforting him softly. Seeing he wasn’t hurt, Rachel glared at me angrily, “Well, Jack Thompson, your parents worked hard to put you through twenty years of school, and this is what you learned? Betraying your country and deliberately hurting people? Apologize to Ryan right now!” I laughed coldly, but before I could speak, Ryan whined pitifully, adding fuel to the fire, “I just wanted to see if Jack was being wrongly accused. He just misunderstood me, he didn’t mean to push me.” But Rachel’s face darkened, “There’s no misunderstanding. He’s getting what he deserves now!” I had no outlet for my anger, and all I could manage was a flat statement, “You know who really deserves punishment.” Rachel’s face, which I once loved to death, now seemed completely unfamiliar to me. Even if she saw through Ryan’s act, even if she was willing to let me bear the label of a traitor and ruin my life, Rachel still chose him without hesitation. I don’t have evidence now, but the truth will come out eventually. I couldn’t be bothered to argue with them anymore. Pressing the bleeding wound on my head, I hurried to leave. Staying with them for another second made me want to vomit. As I was leaving, Rachel called out, “Jack Thompson, you’re a suspect now. You’re not allowed to leave the city. Report your whereabouts to me every hour.” Without turning back, I walked out of that dark room, saying, “Fine, but you’d better keep a close eye on Ryan Miller. Otherwise, you might end up in jail or worse!” Thinking about Rachel’s gritting teeth, I felt a secret satisfaction. She had intended to pressure me into cleaning up after Ryan, but this time I didn’t give an inch. She had hit a wall. And this spy accusation was far more complicated than it appeared on the surface. After leaving the office, I contacted a real estate agent to list the house I had bought for our marriage. The agent said that houses in good school districts were in high demand, and she had a buyer willing to pay even more than my asking price. The price didn’t matter to me. What mattered was that anything associated with Rachel now felt like a thorn in my side. Then I drove straight to the civil affairs bureau and finally got the divorce certificate I had been longing for. This mutually torturous marriage was finally over!

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After graduating from medical school, I broke up with James. “Just because I went to her medical lecture instead of your graduation ceremony?” He smirked sarcastically. I nodded silently. “You really never grow up, do you?” He laughed coldly. “Fine, have it your way. But don’t come crawling back to me later.” From age twelve to twenty-five, I had always been chasing after him, so insecure that everyone thought I couldn’t live without him. But this time, I was truly exhausted. He didn’t know that I had already applied to study abroad. In a country far, far away from him. From now on, no one would stop him from doing things for his sister-in-law anymore. 0 “I went to Megan’s medical lecture,” James explained coldly. Megan was his sister-in-law. She once said, “We’re all the same age, don’t call me sister-in-law. It makes me feel old.” So James started calling her “Megan” without hesitation. “I know,” I bit my lip. “You know and you’re still angry?” He sounded exasperated. “Can you stop acting like a child?” “James,” I clenched my fingers, gathering the courage to look him in the eye, “Let’s break up!” James leaned back in his office chair, looking at me coldly: “Just because I didn’t go to your graduation ceremony?” I nodded silently. “You really want to break up?” he asked. “Yes.” “Sophia.” “Hmm.” “I don’t have the patience to play this ‘on-again-off-again’ game with you. Adults should think carefully before they speak.” “Hmm.” “You really never grow up, do you?” He laughed coldly. “Fine, have it your way. But don’t come crawling back to me later.” I nodded: “Don’t worry, I won’t!” As I turned to leave, I ran into Megan coming through the door. “James, want to grab dinner? I have a question…” Megan looked surprised to see me: “Sophia, what are you doing here?” She glanced between James and me. “Did you two have a fight?” “Is it because James didn’t go to your graduation ceremony?” she asked me. Then she explained: “Sophia, don’t misunderstand! This was my first time giving a medical lecture, it was really important to me, so I asked James to stay and help me prepare. I didn’t think it would take so long and make him miss your graduation. I’m so sorry!” Her words were flawless, making me look childish in comparison. This was what I hated most about her. Seeing my silence, she linked her arm with mine: “Come on! Have dinner with us.” She teased James: “Your girlfriend’s here, let’s not eat at the cafeteria today! Let’s get sushi! I haven’t had it in ages. James, you’re treating!” Then she covered her mouth and laughed: “Oh, I forgot, you always treat.” She turned to me: “Sophia, I heard from James that you like sushi too, right?” I froze, glaring at James: “Really? I don’t remember that.” Megan frowned slightly: “Oh, maybe I remembered wrong. But no worries, just tell us what you want to eat. Don’t be shy!” She was treating me like a complete outsider. James didn’t seem to notice anything wrong, and just stood up, calmly taking off his lab coat: “Let’s go. Sushi it is.” I pulled my arm away from Megan: “You two go ahead. I’m going home.” Then I fled. As I left, I heard James say calmly: “Just ignore her. She’s being childish. It’s time she grew up a bit.” 0

That night, I saw Megan’s social media post. It was a photo of James listening to her lecture, head bowed. The caption read: [So glad to have you.] Not long after, she posted a picture of sushi: [Thanks for still remembering what I like.] I threw my phone aside. Hugging my pillow, I felt miserable and couldn’t sleep all night. The next day, Megan updated her social media again. It was a photo of James sleeping. The caption was extremely suggestive: [You worked hard, handsome.] There were no likes from any mutual friends. I guess it was posted just for me to see. My chest felt tight. A while later, James sent me a message. It said: “My mom wants you to try on wedding dresses. Megan has an important surgery today, her first time as lead surgeon, so I need to supervise. I can’t go with you.” I blocked him immediately. When I went downstairs for breakfast, my mom had just gotten off the phone with James’ mom. She smiled and waved me over, saying James’ mom had taken the day off to go dress shopping with me. She said she’d also taken the day off to come along. She went on: “I’ve always liked that James since he was little. My intuition was right, he’s grown up to be so outstanding. Sophia, marrying him is like winning the lottery in your past life.” I bit my lip and gathered my courage to say: “Mom, I broke up with him, so naturally the engagement is off.” Mom’s expression changed instantly. “You’re cancelling the engagement without any notice? Do you think this is some kids’ game?” My body trembled: “I thought James would have told you.” “James is so busy, and he has to put up with you playing these childish games. You really never learn to grow up, do you?” Tears started falling uncontrollably: “That’s right, I can’t grow up. No one ever taught me how, so how am I supposed to grow up?” My usually quiet dad suddenly spoke up: “If you don’t want to get married, then don’t. What’s the big deal?” Then he asked me: “You’re not going to work at his hospital anymore?” I answered: “No, Dad. I want to study abroad for a while.” Mom got even angrier and was about to speak, but Dad silenced her with a look. “If you want to go, then go. This is the first time I’ve seen you be so decisive about something. That’s good. Don’t worry, I’ll handle the engagement cancellation.” Just then, I got a message from my best friend: “Sophia, my brother’s having a heart attack. He’s at your fiancé’s hospital now, but the process is so complicated. I’m worried my brother can’t wait that long. Could you ask your fiancé to help take a look?” On the phone, I was silent for a few seconds. My friend suddenly apologized: “I’m so sorry, Sophia. I’m just too worried. You’ve said before you don’t like this. I’m sorry! I’ll figure something out myself!” I sighed and said: “I’ll head over first!” 0

Ten minutes later, I arrived at the hospital. My friend’s brother’s condition looked quite serious. I asked the nurse why none of the cardiology specialists were available. The nurse grumbled that they had all been called to the operating room by James. Megan was performing her first surgery as lead surgeon, and he wanted to ensure everything went perfectly. Megan didn’t have that kind of authority. I knew this was James’ doing. After all, this whole hospital basically belonged to the Johnson family. I called James many times. But his phone was always off. So I ran to wait outside the operating room. After waiting for a long time, the surgery light finally went off. James came out carrying Megan in his arms. He glanced at me: “Why are you here?” I grabbed his arm: “My friend’s brother is in serious condition…” Before I could finish, James shook off my grip and strode forward. I jogged after him all the way to his office. He carefully placed Megan in his rest area. Then he sat down at his computer, staring intently at the screen. I hurried over: “Dr. Johnson, my friend’s brother is having a heart attack. It’s urgent. Can you please go take a look?” He looked up: “Why are you still here? Isn’t my mom waiting for you to try on dresses?” I emphasized again: “Can you please go check on him?” James sighed slightly: “Megan just finished surgery. I’m worried she might have nightmares.” My heart ached, but I still persisted: “Then can you send another doctor over?” “I can’t. They need to monitor the patients’ conditions. I won’t allow any mistakes.” “James, don’t you have any professional ethics? I’ve told you there’s a critical patient outside. As a doctor, shouldn’t you at least go take a look?” He seemed surprised by my outburst. He frowned and said coldly: “Sophia, how many times have I told you? In our profession, the most taboo thing is having empathy. No matter how serious a patient’s condition is, we have to follow hospital procedures. When it’s my turn to go, I’ll go on time.” My voice softened: “Emma is my only friend left. Please, I’m begging you!” He laughed coldly: “Didn’t you just say yesterday that you wouldn’t beg me anymore?” “This is the last time!” Tears started streaming down my face. James seemed to soften a bit. But suddenly Megan’s voice came from inside: “James, are you there? I’m scared.” James stood up and said coldly to me: “If you really can’t wait, you can transfer to another hospital.”

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My relationship with my wife is complicated. I give her $8,000 a month for living expenses. The house and car are in our daughter’s name. To outsiders, I’m the perfect husband. But I have a secret. I know she knows. She knows I know she knows. But we both… pretend not to know. I thought we could go on like this forever, in our unspoken agreement. But one day, she suddenly said to me: “It’s been hard these past few years. Let’s get divorced.” “I’ve transferred this month’s money to you,” I said casually, lounging on the sofa and addressing Sophia’s back. She was bent over, feeding the gecko in its terrarium. After a while, she slowly straightened up and turned to me with a smile. “Yes, I’ve received it.” Her voice was as gentle and warm as ever, matching her overall demeanor. I paused, then spoke again: “Oh, there’s something I need to tell you. I have to fly to Jiuzhaigou for a few days tomorrow. Work’s been stressful lately, and the team’s been clamoring for a change of scenery to relax, so…” “In that case, why don’t you stay a few extra days? Do you need me to pack for you?” she asked, standing at a comfortable distance. A faint smile played on her lips. “No need. There are, uh, some spare clothes at the office,” I replied. She nodded, then added as an afterthought: “The temperature varies a lot in the mountains. Remember to bring a jacket, or you might end up sick in the hospital again.” As she said this, her expression was serious and sincere, clearly genuinely concerned about my health. I couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Sophia was a gentle soul. That was everyone’s unanimous impression of her, including mine. Throughout our marriage, she had been exemplary, truly deserving of the title “virtuous wife and loving mother.” She devoted herself to raising and nurturing our daughter Chloe; For me, she was endlessly accommodating and attentive. Last year, when I was hospitalized with pneumonia after getting caught in the rain, she was constantly bustling about, making me nourishing soups and seeking out traditional remedies. The doctor said it would normally take a month to recover, but I was better in just two weeks. Still not satisfied, she repeatedly confirmed with the doctor: “Are you sure he’s fully recovered? Can he go back to work now?” Only after receiving the doctor’s assurance did she seem to let out a long-held breath. I knew with absolute certainty. Sophia loved me. Apart from our daughter, I was her whole world. Any small matter concerning me became the center of her universe; a minor illness or pain was enough to consume her entirely… I really shouldn’t have been leaving at this time. In two days, it would be the death anniversary of her parents. They had died in a car accident, and following their wishes, their ashes were scattered in the mountains. The annual memorial trip required a grueling four to five-hour hike. In fact, Sophia and I first met during one of my hiking trips, when I encountered her making the solitary journey to pay respects to her parents. It wasn’t safe for a woman alone in the wilderness, so after we got together, I made it a point to accompany her every year without fail. But. Zoe had been in a mood lately. I had promised to take her to Jiuzhaigou to cheer her up.

The next morning, I had barely settled into my office chair when Zoe burst in, wearing a bright red floral dress. “So, did you and the wifey have a passionate reunion last night?” she teased, perching on my desk and swinging her legs. I took a sip of the coffee my secretary had prepared. “We’ve been sleeping in separate rooms for years now, as you well know.” Zoe smirked and scoffed. “Separate rooms? That’s nothing. It’s just a matter of going through one door and into another. Didn’t you once dramatically threaten to kill yourself over your wife?” I looked at her helplessly. “You know I promised Sophia I’d go home at least twice a week to be with Chloe, no matter how busy work gets. I’m purely there for our daughter; you’re reading too much into it.” Zoe was silent for a moment, then tilted her head. “No, I want you to prove it to me.” I laughed. “How am I supposed to do that?” She bit her lip lightly, using the tip of her high heel to nudge my crotch. “Let it prove it.” I glanced at the half-open office door. “There are people outside. We’re flying to Chengdu this afternoon anyway, so tonight we can—” Before I could finish, Zoe’s hand was already reaching for me… with practiced ease. “They won’t come in if they see me here. Besides, isn’t it more exciting with people around?” she purred. Zoe had been insatiable lately, her desires reaching alarming levels. She would also get angry suddenly, and I often didn’t even know why. To avoid trouble, I had been trying to go along with her whims. I caught her wandering hand, chuckling, “Try to keep it down a bit, will you?” “Make me!” she challenged. “…” Zoe was my business partner and my lover. We had been together for four years. She and Sophia were two completely different types of women. If Sophia was a gentle, harmless rabbit, then Zoe was a lioness. Confident, proud, vibrant, always brimming with strength and courage. Zoe and I were both VPs at local investment banks, originally competitors from different companies. After crossing paths in various professional settings, we developed a mutual admiration. She was a firm believer in never marrying or having children. Her bold declaration was well-known in the industry: “I make $200,000 a year, I’m rich, beautiful, and capable. Why would I need a man or a child to lower my quality of life?” This statement made her an idol among her female subordinates, who saw her as a role model for women. I suppose many men go through a complex process of struggle, hesitation, and testing before they cheat. But I later realized that when the time, place, and person are all right, the brain doesn’t have time to think. Like my first time with Zoe. It was at an industry dinner. We’d had a few drinks, and we ran into each other in the elevator on the way back to our rooms. Somehow, we ended up kissing passionately. The elevator doors opened and closed, but we couldn’t bear to part. We stumbled into the room, barely making it inside. We didn’t even make it to the bed. It happened right there against the door. … The coffee had gone cold. I stood up, wiping lipstick off my pants. Zoe sat on the desk, touching up her makeup. Her phone on the table rang, and she casually picked it up, giggling as she read the message. “Your wife says she’s prepared some medicine for you and is having it delivered. She doesnd some medicine for you and is’t want you to get sick while in Jiuzhaigou. Hah, I have to admit, I can’t compete with that level of devotion!” Whenever Zoe mentioned Sophia to me, she never used her name or called her “your wife.” She always said “that woman of yours,” as if Sophia wasn’t even worth mentioning. She probably thought the only reason Sophia was still my wife in name was because Zoe herself adhered to her no-marriage policy. Because she had no interest in competing for the position. After all, in terms of looks, education, and ability, the two women weren’t even in the same league. So in Zoe’s mind, Sophia’s current comfortable life was something she had graciously allowed her to have. I suddenly felt an inexplicable irritation rising within me. I snatched the phone away, snapping, “She’s still my wife. If she doesn’t care about me, who will? You?” Zoe froze, staring at me in shock.

Zoe was angry. She put on her underwear stiffly and stomped out in her high heels. In the past, when she acted like this, I would have rushed after her, apologizing and trying to smooth things over. But this time, watching her slam the door shut, I found I had no desire to move. The sunlight outside was bright and energetic. I sank into my chair, closing my eyes in exhaustion. At some point, Sophia’s face popped into my mind. Lately, I seemed to be frequently recalling our past together. Sophia was a biology teacher at a public high school. She was small and slender, with skin a few shades paler than most. She spoke softly and always wore a faint smile. Her eyes were actually quite beautiful. When she focused on someone, they were liquid and bright, reminding me of a celebrity crush from my youth. But in recent years, she always wore glasses. Through the reflective lenses, I often found it hard to discern certain emotions in her eyes. I remembered how she looked when I first met her. On that hiking trip, I had been bitten by a snake. My foot was so swollen I couldn’t walk. I was in the middle of nowhere, feeling desperate and helpless. Then Sophia appeared, wearing a black windbreaker and carrying a backpack, descending the mountain path with light, graceful steps. I felt both joy and disappointment. She looked so small and fragile, not at all like someone who could help. But after carefully examining my injury, she calmly told me it wasn’t a venomous snake bite. Then she left for a while, returning with a handful of herbs. She chewed some up and applied the paste to my wound. An hour later, my foot, which had swollen to the size of a bun, gradually returned to normal. I could walk again, albeit with difficulty. I asked her in amazement who she was, saying she must be an angel sent from heaven to save me in my time of need. She smiled and said, “I’m a high school biology teacher.” That day, I leaned on her slight frame as we slowly made our way down the mountain. … My affair with Zoe was a secret, separate from my ordinary life. Men, after all, have many facets. When I first entered the workforce, I was a green rookie. I couldn’t hold my liquor at business dinners or assert myself in negotiations. One day, after a meal, an industry veteran patted me on the shoulder and said: “Act the part for whatever situation you’re in. The sooner a man understands this, the more successful he’ll be.” It was an epiphany for me. From then on, I put this advice into practice. Sure enough, as the veteran had said, my career took off, and I found myself living a more relaxed and uninhibited life. As for Sophia. I played my part as a husband well, to the fullest. That made me a successful husband. And her a happy wife. My affair with Zoe was a different aspect of my life, one Sophia had no need to be involved in! But paper can’t wrap up fire forever, and Zoe was never one for discretion. Six months later, Sophia found out. As luck would have it, Zoe and Chloe shared the same birthday. Zoe was big on celebrations, and it was our first birthday together, so naturally I had to be with her. I apologetically told my wife and daughter that I had to go on a two-day business trip and would miss the birthday. Chloe was 8 at the time, a quiet girl just like her mother. She came up to me, shyly kissed me on the cheek, and said in a soft voice: “It’s okay, Daddy.” “Take care, Daddy.” We had originally planned to spend two secluded days in a hotel, but Zoe suddenly had a craving for a particular dessert and insisted on going out to buy it. At the dessert shop, as Zoe was playfully smearing cream on my nose, I looked up and saw Sophia and Chloe. They were standing there hand in hand, looking surprised. Their first reaction wasn’t suspicion or anger, but delight. “Honey, you’re back!” “Daddy, did you come to buy my birthday cake too?” Zoe glanced at them, then sauntered to the side, casually eating her cake with a spoon. I quickly composed myself and smiled, “Yes! I came back early to surprise you.” Mother and daughter joyfully came to take my hands. “Thank you, Daddy!” Chloe’s face bloomed like a flower. Zoe suddenly spoke up in a casual tone: “Mr. Chen, didn’t we agree to work on the project all night? Have you forgotten?” Sophia turned to look at Zoe. Her expression slightly clouded. Zoe met her gaze with a smile. I made a quick decision. In that situation, denying Zoe’s words would only raise suspicion. So I slapped my forehead, exclaiming, “Oh no, how could I have forgotten about that!” I looked at Sophia apologetically. Sophia stared at me for a moment, then quietly asked: “Honey, do you really have to go?” I nodded solemnly. “Yes, this project is crucial. I can’t skip it.” I ordered the most expensive princess birthday cake for Chloe, making her clap her hands in delight. “Thank you, Daddy! You’re the best!” As Zoe and I were leaving, I glanced back. Sophia stood on the busy sidewalk, holding Chloe’s hand, watching us silently. The setting sun behind her created a blinding halo. I squinted. Her face was a bit blurry. That night, I punished Zoe severely for her careless words earlier. She squirmed and laughed. “Hah, looks like all those thousands you give her every month are wasted. You don’t even have the guts to stand up to her!” An inexplicable anger burned inside me, and I became even rougher. The next afternoon, I really did receive an urgent assignment requiring a week-long business trip. I rushed home from the hotel to pack some things. On the way, I called Sophia, wanting her to prepare some clothes for me in advance. She didn’t answer. I called again, and this time she hung up on me. Irritated, I returned home with a dark expression. But the house was empty and quiet. During summer vacation, Sophia rarely went out, usually staying home to tutor Chloe. Yet today, of all days, she was nowhere to be found. Fuming, I hastily packed a few clothes myself. As I went into the study to get my laptop, I noticed the screen wasn’t fully closed.

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