Author: Momo Chan

I died during the cooling-off period of my ninth divorce from Olivia Reed. My soul hovered above the VIP hospital room, watching her spend millions on her childhood sweetheart’s scribble of a painting. She looked at my body, riddled with tubes, her voice ice-cold: “Adam Carter, stop pretending. Ethan’s auction is waiting for me.” “Sign this debt transfer document, and we’re done.” I couldn’t answer, so she took it as resistance. She pulled out her final trump card: “If you don’t wake up right now, I’ll cut off all expenses for that burden!” “Do you want her to starve to death?!” Just then, my daughter’s pale soul appeared beside me. She looked up at me, her hollow eyes full of confusion: “Daddy, why did Mommy call Emily a ‘burden’?” “Daddy… I’m so hungry.” 0 Today was the last day of the cooling-off period for my ninth divorce from Olivia Reed, and it became my death anniversary. My soul floated above the hospital room, watching Olivia bring her childhood sweetheart, Ethan Brooks, to stand by my hospital bed. “Adam Carter, stop pretending. The auction is about to start,” she said, standing at a distance and slamming a document on the bedside table. Pretending? I wish I could pretend, but how could a brain-dead person pretend? Olivia continued, “Ethan has been preparing for this comeback exhibition for five years. I can’t let his hard work go to waste.” “Your company shares are the only assets that can be quickly liquidated.” “Sign this debt transfer document, transfer the shares to me, and we’re done.” Done? I looked at her cold profile, feeling absurd. Our marriage, our daughter, the countless nights we spent together – in her eyes, was it just a debt relationship that could be easily settled? Of course, I couldn’t answer her. My “silence” in her eyes was a silent protest. She lost patience, taking off the sunglasses that covered half her face, her beautiful almond eyes full of disgust. “Adam Carter, my patience has limits! You think lying here will leave me with no options?” Just then, the attending physician walked in with a nurse. He glanced at the weakly fluctuating line on the ECG and sighed, “Ms. Reed, prepare yourself.” “What?” Olivia’s body suddenly stiffened. But immediately, she let out a cold laugh. “Prepare? He’s just using this method to force me. I’ve seen this trick many times.” The doctor frowned, “Ms. Reed, Mr. Carter suffered severe brain damage from a car accident a week ago. He’s… brain dead.” “Do you know what you’re saying…” “Is that so?” Ethan stepped forward, interrupting the flustered Olivia. Gently holding Olivia’s shoulders, he said, “Olivia, don’t get upset.” Ethan’s voice was gentle, like a spring breeze in April. “Olivia, he must still resent you and doesn’t want to see me succeed.” “Now he’s pretending to be dead, determined not to help me, wanting to see us fail.” Olivia’s momentary hesitation was pulled back to reality by Ethan’s light words. The guilt in her eyes turned to anger. “What right does he have to resent us? Everything he has now, I gave him! Helping you is his duty!” Ethan held Olivia’s hand, feigning magnanimity, “Olivia, let it go.” “If Adam is unwilling, don’t force him.” “I’ll just cancel the exhibition, I’m just afraid… there might not be another chance.” Olivia gripped his hand tightly, her voice trembling, “No! I won’t let you say such things!” “I won’t let your hard work go to waste!” “Adam Carter must sign!” I wanted to rush down and tear apart their hypocritical faces. But I was just an empty soul, unable to do anything. After comforting Ethan, Olivia let go of his hand, rushed to my hospital bed in a few steps, and stared intently at my lifeless face. My face was colorless, eyes tightly closed, lips a deathly blue-purple. Anyone could see this was a body that would never wake up. But Olivia didn’t believe it. She leaned down, speaking into my ear word by word. “Adam Carter, stop pretending. Your acting has really improved.” “I’ll count to three. If you don’t get up, I’ll immediately cut off all of Emily’s expenses!” Emily! My daughter, Emily Carter! That was our daughter, the child she carried for ten months! How could she, how dare she, use our daughter’s survival to threaten me! “One.” “Two.” “Three!” Seeing no reaction from me, Olivia’s last patience disappeared. She straightened up, a cruel smile appearing on her face. “Good, very good. Adam Carter, you forced me to do this.” She took out her phone, issuing a final ultimatum to my body. “That burden won’t survive a day without my money. Do you want her to die with you?!” Just then, Ethan stepped forward again, grabbing Olivia’s hand, saying, “Olivia, don’t rush. I’ve already taken care of Emily.” Olivia was stunned, “Taken care of?” Ethan nodded, “Yes, I was worried you’d be distracted, so I took the liberty of finding a better environment for her.” “I found someone trustworthy and settled her in a very safe place, absolutely no one will disturb her.” “So, you don’t need to worry about Adam using the child to blackmail us.” Olivia looked at Ethan gratefully, then took his arm and left without looking back. “Adam Carter, I’ll give you one day to think it over. Either sign, or wait to bury that burden!” That was her last words to me. The door of the hospital room closed with a “click”, shutting out everything outside. Only my cold body remained, and my soul trembling with anger. Car accident? What a ridiculous cause of death. I didn’t die by accident… Just a week ago, when Ethan first forced me to sign that debt transfer document, I tore it to pieces in front of him. I told him that even if I burned my possessions, I would never use them for someone like him. So that night, as I was driving home, the brakes failed. In the last moment of consciousness, I saw a familiar black car flash by in the rearview mirror, with Ethan at the wheel. I didn’t die in an accident at all, I was murdered by my wife’s childhood sweetheart! Looking at my own tragically dead body, the past six years flashed before my eyes. Six years ago, I was a poor boy who had just graduated from a music college, making a living by performing in various bars. Except for a decent-looking face and a passionate heart, I had nothing. It was then that Olivia Reed found me. At that time, she was the only daughter of the top wealthy Reed family in the city. After listening to me play an entire original piece, she handed me a business card. “You’re very talented, but your style is too sad,” she said, her voice pleasant like a mountain spring. “I know someone, his name is Ethan Brooks, he’s a painter.” “An accident injured his hand, and he can no longer paint.” “He once said that if he were to make music, his style would definitely be warm, like the afternoon sun on a spring day.” She paused, pushing a check in front of me. “I want you to write songs for him, to be his musical substitute.” “You need to change your style, play the warmth he imagines.” “After it’s done, another zero will be added to the end of the number on this check.” I looked at the astronomical figure on the check, then at my worn-out sneakers, and my heart wavered. I needed money; my sister was seriously ill in the hospital, urgently needing a large sum for surgery. So I became Ethan Brooks’ musical substitute. I forced myself to write those warm, sunny tunes. I studied Ethan’s paintings, imagining what kind of person he was, trying to depict his painted world with musical notes. At first, Olivia was very picky with me. “Wrong! The emotion here is too shallow!” “You don’t understand him at all! This is just a poor imitation!” “You’ll never be him!”

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After learning that I voluntarily gave up my promotion opportunity to her beloved junior colleague, my wife, who had always been adamant about not having children, surprisingly agreed to have a baby with me. When the junior colleague found out, he became insanely jealous and threatened to resign, even picking up a scalpel to harm himself. My wife panicked and, to appease him, not only gave him my bonus but also moved out of our home to accompany him on a month-long world tour. Afterwards, my wife acted completely indifferent. “Lucas and I have been busy attending medical conferences. Unlike you, who’s been sitting around doing nothing and jumping to malicious conclusions!” “You’re the one with the dirty mind. People with rotten hearts see everything as filthy!” I clutched the pregnancy test report that her junior colleague had sent me earlier, feeling no anger, just a slight smile. Seeing that I didn’t argue, my wife looked satisfied and promised with a smile that she’d give me a big, chubby son later, fulfilling my wish to become a father. But she didn’t know that we had no future together. Not long ago, she had unknowingly signed our divorce papers with her own hand. 0

It had been a month since I last saw my wife, Olivia. As she and Lucas arrived at the hospital entrance, their colleagues immediately greeted them warmly: “Dr. Jiang, Dr. Chen, welcome back from your conference!” Watching this scene, I couldn’t help but feel a bitter laugh rising in my throat. Conference? They had actually been on a global tour! Throughout the past month, Lucas had constantly sent me photos of him and Olivia on their travels. They watched sunsets on beaches, saw the Northern Lights in the Arctic, and even took cheesy couple photos at the Eiffel Tower. Along with the pictures, Lucas would send me voice messages, gloating about how much more Olivia favored him and telling me to back off. At first, it felt like my heart was being ripped out. Now, I just felt numb and somewhat amused by the absurdity of it all. I had originally planned to return some things to Olivia’s office. Since she was back, I might as well give them to her in person. I approached them, looking directly at Olivia. “Dr. Jiang, I have something for you.” Lucas smirked and said, “Jack, are you bringing a gift for Olivia? How thoughtful.” Immediately, our colleagues turned to me with mocking looks. “A gift? Does Jack even know his place?” “As if he has a chance with Dr. Jiang. Talk about delusional!” I ignored their jeers. After all these years, I was used to it. Olivia and I had been secretly married for seven years, but she always refused to make our relationship public. She never posted photos of us together on social media or mentioned me in any of her updates. Even at the hospital, she insisted on maintaining a professional distance, making me call her “Dr. Jiang” and treating me coldly and strictly at work. Our colleagues had no idea about our relationship. When I sent Olivia flowers for our anniversary, they assumed I was just trying to curry favor with her. They mocked and isolated me, thinking they were pleasing Olivia by doing so. And Olivia? She just watched it all happen, letting me bear the brunt of their disdain. Snapping back to the present, Olivia also assumed I was bringing a gift and coldly said, “Jack, it’s work hours. If you have this much free time, you should focus on your job instead.” “Actually, this is work-related,” I replied. I handed her my white coat and ID badge, which I had already removed. Olivia froze for a moment, confused. “Jack, what’s the meaning of this?” I was equally puzzled. I had resigned, so naturally, I needed to return these items. In fact, I had wanted to quit a month ago, but I had patients under my care that I needed to see through to recovery. Just yesterday, after my last patient was discharged, I immediately went through the resignation process with HR. I had even sent Olivia an online resignation request, which she had approved. But now, why did she look so clueless? It dawned on me that she probably hadn’t even read my message before approving it. I was about to explain about my resignation when Lucas interrupted. “Jack, are you quitting?” He tugged at Olivia’s sleeve, his eyes reddening. “Olivia, Jack must be upset about the promotion incident. That’s why he’s resigning.” “Maybe I should give the promotion back to Jack. He has more experience and would be better suited for the Chief of Surgery position.” Olivia’s face immediately softened with concern. She patted Lucas’s shoulder gently. “Lucas, don’t put yourself down like that.” “You’re so talented. Jack can’t even compare to you. You absolutely deserve to be Chief of Surgery!” She then turned to me with a cold glare. “Jack, stop trying to use your seniority! If we’re going by that logic, even the old guard dog at the gate has been here longer than you!” I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. Olivia really had a talent for twisting the truth. The reality was that Lucas lacked the necessary skills and was only hired because of Olivia’s special treatment. Since joining, he had made frequent mistakes, lacking even basic diagnostic skills and nearly killing patients by prescribing the wrong medications multiple times. Each time, I had to clean up his messes. Despite all this, Olivia still insisted that Lucas was brilliant and told me to learn from him. A month ago, she even wanted me to give up my promotion opportunity to Lucas. When I refused, she gave me the cold shoulder. Not wanting to upset her further, I eventually gave in. But she still wasn’t satisfied and accused me of throwing my weight around. I let out a cold laugh. “You’re right. I can’t compare to Lucas. The hospital is all yours now.” Olivia raised her chin haughtily. “Good that you know your place. By the way, Lucas has been busy traveling lately. You’ll take over his surgeries and research reports, won’t you?” In the past, Olivia had always exploited me like this, claiming it was to “train” me. If it weren’t for her deliberately holding me back, I would have been promoted to Chief of Surgery long ago. Moreover, my skills were far from lacking. She didn’t know that many hospitals had tried to recruit me, but I had turned them all down to stay by her side. Now that I think about it, it really wasn’t worth it. So this time, I firmly refused. “I have no obligation to cover for Lucas. Besides, I’ve already—” Before I could say “resigned,” Lucas tugged at Olivia’s sleeve again, whispering, “Olivia, I’ll do it myself. Jack’s probably just jealous that we went on the trip together…” Olivia’s eyes immediately turned cold. She pulled me aside and hissed, “Jack, are you done with this childish behavior? Lucas and I were busy attending medical conferences. Unlike you, who’s been sitting around doing nothing and jumping to ridiculous conclusions!” Conclusions? It seems she had told this lie so many times that she started believing it herself. I gripped my phone tightly, the screen still showing the private message Lucas had sent me just half an hour ago. It was Olivia’s pregnancy test report! So this was their idea of “attending conferences” and “working.” This time, I didn’t confront Olivia hysterically about her lies like I used to. In the past, whenever I questioned her, she would accuse me of being paranoid, and if she couldn’t argue her way out, she’d give me the silent treatment indefinitely. It was all so tiresome. Thinking about this, I simply smiled. “You misunderstood. I refused because I’m not feeling well.” Hearing this, Olivia’s expression changed, her tone softening slightly. “Not feeling well? Are you sick?” Just as she was about to reach out to me in concern, Lucas suddenly clutched his chest, dramatically exclaiming that he felt dizzy and his chest hurt. Olivia immediately turned her attention to Lucas, running towards him. “Lucas, are you okay? Don’t scare me like that…” Of course, when it came to choosing between Lucas and me, Olivia would always pick Lucas. I had no interest in watching their melodramatic performance, so I turned to leave. As I took the elevator down to the parking garage, I noticed a brand new Mercedes parked next to my car. I recognized it immediately—it was the car Olivia had bought for Lucas!

This Mercedes was Olivia’s gift to Lucas for his promotion. She had always been generous with Lucas, sparing no expense, while being incredibly stingy with me. My old Honda was falling apart, with peeling paint and tires that had been patched up multiple times. It often stalled on me. When I mentioned wanting to get a new car, Olivia told me not to be so materialistic and to learn to be content with what I had. On my birthdays, she would only give me a brief verbal congratulation, sometimes a handwritten card. While I tried not to mind, I couldn’t help feeling envious when I saw other people’s social media posts about the lavish gifts their partners gave them. So, on my 35th birthday, I finally worked up the courage to ask Olivia for a proper gift. She got annoyed. “Jack, we’ve been married for so long. Do we really need to fuss over these trivial things?” If I had truly fussed over every little thing, we would have separated long ago. Over the years, I had given up promising career opportunities and high-paying jobs to stay and work by Olivia’s side. My base salary was the bare minimum, while my workload was the heaviest. Olivia always found reasons to dock my pay. If I entered the hospital with my left foot first, she’d claim it affected the feng shui and deduct money. When Lucas threatened to quit, she’d somehow twist it to be my fault and use my bonus to placate him. Looking back, I realize all that money she held back from me went to spoiling Lucas. The reason Olivia treated me so dismissively was simply that she thought I would never leave her. But this time, I was truly exhausted. It was time to end this miserable marriage. Snapping out of my thoughts, I drove to a law firm to draft divorce papers. Afterwards, I went home to pack a few things before heading to my apartment. I had originally planned to add Olivia’s name to the apartment deed. But when I bought it, I had a sudden change of heart and got it notarized as pre-marital property, as a sort of insurance policy. Now, I’m grateful I made that decision. Otherwise, I’d have nowhere to go after moving out. Arriving at the apartment, I entered the passcode to open the door. To my surprise, the lock flashed red and emitted a harsh beeping sound. The password was wrong! I tried several more times, but none worked. A sense of unease grew in my chest. I quickly called a locksmith to force the door open. When the door swung open, I was completely stunned. The sharp smell of cigarettes hit me, and the floor was littered with cigarette butts and scattered clothes. My beloved minimalist Italian decor had been replaced with a moody blue color scheme. The walls, once covered with photos of Olivia and me, were now plastered with pictures of her and Lucas. Then I remembered—Olivia knew the apartment’s passcode too. Since getting together with Olivia, I had kept nothing from her. But while I gave her my whole heart, she had been using this place as a love nest with Lucas behind my back. Looking at the apartment filled with traces of their life together, I felt sick to my stomach. There was no way I could live here anymore. Using what little savings I had left, I rented a small studio to stay in temporarily. Then I immediately listed the apartment for sale at a low price. Soon, someone contacted me wanting to rent the place. After signing the contract, I sent them the passcode. The new tenant moved in quickly. Just as I finished dealing with all this and was about to rest, my phone rang. I answered, and Olivia’s voice came through. She feigned innocence: “Jack, did you change the apartment passcode? And why is someone saying you sold the place to them?” I didn’t bother hiding it. “Yes, I sold it.” There was a pause on the other end, then Olivia’s voice came back shocked and angry. “You sold it? How could you make such a big decision without consulting me?” I coldly retorted, “The apartment was mine. I had every right to sell it.” “Besides, why are you so worked up about me selling my own apartment?” Olivia was at a loss for words. In the past, I never would have confronted her like this. I always said that what was mine was hers, and she had gotten used to taking advantage of that, claiming everything of mine as her own. Thinking we were family, I didn’t mind. I never expected my sincerity would be met with such entitlement. She never treated me like a husband, so why should I treat her like a wife? Hearing my uncharacteristically harsh tone, Olivia thought I was still upset about her breaking promises. Her voice softened a bit. “Jack, I know you’re still angry that I stood you up, but there were reasons for that.” “I promise, once things settle down, I’ll step back from work and give you a son. Wouldn’t that make you happy?” “But first, you need to get the apartment back from the tenant.” “I forgot to tell you, when Lucas first came to me, he had nothing. I felt bad for him, so I let him stay at your apartment since it was empty anyway. I didn’t expect you’d sell it.” “Now because of you, Lucas has nowhere to live. Jack, stop being difficult and get the apartment back. I’ll keep my promise to you eventually…” There she went again. Whenever Olivia couldn’t argue her way out, she’d make empty promises to try and get me to give in. But after all these years, I was tired of her false promises. Thinking of this, I coldly said, “Fine, I’ll get it back. But Lucas needs to pay rent first.” Olivia angrily berated me. “Money, money, money. Is that all you care about?” “Lucas came to the big city alone with nothing. They say an older sister is like a mother, and as his mentor, I’m practically his mother. It’s only right that I look after him.” “And you? Not only do you refuse to help, but you’re kicking him while he’s down. When did you become so cold-hearted?” I laughed bitterly to myself. Olivia certainly had taken good care of Lucas—she even “took care” of having his child. Besides, Lucas was the one freeloading. How had this become my fault? Seeing my silence, Olivia thought she had me cornered and pressed on, “Jack, if you don’t agree, I’m really going to get angry!” In the past, whenever Olivia got angry, I would immediately apologize and sweet-talk her, even if I had to go against my conscience. But now, I was so done with her that I couldn’t care less if she got upset. Thinking this, I enunciated each word clearly: “Olivia, Lucas’s difficulties are not my doing. I have no obligation to pay for his problems.” With that, I hung up the phone. After settling into my new place, I took the divorce papers and drove back to Olivia’s and my home, intending to have her sign them. As I approached the front door, I heard laughter coming from inside.

As soon as I entered, I saw Olivia and Lucas’s matching shoes in the entryway. His black leather shoes next to her white stilettos—they looked perfectly coordinated. Actually, long ago, I had suggested to Olivia that we could be like other couples, wearing matching outfits and using couple items. But she had dismissed the idea, saying we were too old for such childish things and it would be embarrassing. Yet now, she was clearly enjoying it. It seems Olivia hadn’t disliked couple items—she just disliked the idea of doing it with me. In the living room, our wedding photo had been deliberately defaced. Someone had scribbled over my eyes in the picture and drawn a large X across my face. Before I could process this, I heard playful laughter coming from the kitchen. “Lucas, just stand there and be good. I promise this porridge will be perfect for your taste.” “Really? Then I can’t wait to try it~” In the kitchen, Olivia had her hair tied up, exposing her slender neck as Lucas leaned in close to help her tie on an apron. Halfway through cooking, she didn’t forget to scoop up a spoonful for Lucas to taste. The two flirted and joked around, completely at ease with each other. I felt like an intruder in my own home. Just then, Lucas noticed me. “Jack! What are you doing here?” “But it’s good timing. Olivia just made some delicious rice porridge. Would you like a bowl?” As he spoke, Lucas was about to go to the kitchen to get me some porridge, acting every bit the host. Olivia quickly stopped him, giving me a cold look. “Lucas, that porridge was made specially for you. There’s none for certain others.” “By the way, Jack, isn’t it still work hours? Why are you home?” “This counts as skipping work. That’s a $200 deduction. Make sure you report it to HR later!” After all this time, Olivia still didn’t know I had resigned? But I couldn’t be bothered to explain. The resignation had been approved; she’d find out sooner or later. I had more important matters to deal with. “I came to see you. I need you to sign something.” I took out the divorce papers and handed them to Olivia. Seeing this, Lucas immediately chimed in with fake concern: “Olivia, Jack must be here to apologize about the phone call earlier. Look, he even brought you a gift! I wonder if it’s a car or a house this time?” Hearing this, Olivia’s expression softened. She also assumed these were some sort of gift to make amends, and signed without even looking. It made sense. In the past, I often placated her this way. Whenever Olivia was unhappy, I would secretly buy her jewelry or a car to cheer her up. But this time, she was in for a disappointment. “You’ve misunderstood. These are div—” Before I could finish, Olivia haughtily cut me off. “Jack, just because I accepted your gift doesn’t mean I’ve forgiven you.” “If you want my forgiveness, you need to apologize to Lucas first.” “Also, since you sold the apartment, Lucas has nowhere to stay. He’ll have to move in with us for a while. You’ll need to give up the master bedroom for him…” “No problem,” I replied. Seeing me so agreeable, Olivia looked pleased. “Jack, if only you had been this understanding from the start.” I coldly interrupted her: “It’s not just the room. I’m giving you up too.” With that, I turned to leave. Lucas’s eyes immediately welled up with tears as he stammered, “Jack must be mad at me. Olivia, I should go. I don’t want to cause problems between you two.” “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine even if I have to sleep under a bridge…” Every time Lucas played the victim, Olivia would melt with sympathy. She immediately glared at me and snapped, “Jack, what’s the big deal about giving up a room? If you don’t want to, then don’t. Why are you being so passive-aggressive?” “Besides, Lucas is already in such a difficult situation. Do you really want him sleeping on the streets? If you keep acting like this, I swear I’ll divorce you!” Lucas quickly tried to mediate, while subtly fanning the flames. “Jack, you should apologize to Olivia. What if she really divorces you? What about your job?” “The job market is tough these days, and you’re not exactly young anymore. Without Olivia, what kind of work could you even find?” Olivia snorted, also using my job as a threat. “That’s right, Jack. You’d better apologize to me and Lucas right now. Otherwise, I’ll divorce you and leave you with nothing!” Olivia was certain I wouldn’t dare leave her. She was trying to use this to force me to give in. But I just laughed and tossed the divorce papers at her. “No need for all that. We’re already divorced.”

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I knelt on the floor, my fingertips touching the cold tiles as I scrubbed at invisible stains. “A blind man, good for nothing but eating,” my mother-in-law’s acidic voice pierced my ears. “Hurry up, you can’t even clean the floor properly. What use are you?” I gripped the rag tightly, enduring it all. “Mom, I’m sorry,” Claire’s voice chimed in, full of impatience. “Why are you bothering with this? We could just hire a maid.” “I don’t like strangers in the house,” my mother-in-law replied coldly. “Besides, James isn’t doing anything else. A little exercise is good for him.” “Whatever you say,” Claire sighed. I heard the sound of her bedroom door closing. The last glimmer of light in my heart extinguished. She hadn’t said a single word in my defense. I felt my way to standing, picking up the bucket of dirty water to empty it. Suddenly, a foot shot out, tripping me hard. There was a loud splash as the icy, foul-smelling water drenched me. I lay sprawled on the floor, utterly humiliated. My mother-in-law stood nearby, her tone mocking: “Useless as always. Can’t even do a simple task.” Claire came out after hearing the commotion but showed no concern for me. I silently crawled to my feet, feeling my way around to clean up the mess. Afterwards, I retreated to the kitchen. As I closed the door, I could clearly hear an argument breaking out. “The company has to be mine. Don’t even think about interfering!” Claire shouted heatedly. “I gave birth to you, raised you. How can the company not include me?” my mother-in-law fired back. “I have my own plans. You’ll get your share,” Claire conceded reluctantly. I numbly picked up a knife, feeling my way around the cutting board. The cold blade sliced my fingertip, drawing blood, but I felt no pain. Claire pushed open the door and took the knife from my hand. “Honey, why are you cooking when you’re sick?” Her voice was suddenly sweet. “Let Mom handle it next time. I want fish for dinner tonight.” Claire gently stroked my hair. I froze, bitterness spreading through me. She hadn’t even noticed my injured hand. “I made your favorite, stir-fried peppers and pork,” I said, my voice shaking. Her hand that had been caressing my face suddenly withdrew. Her tone turned icy. “Who likes that? James, do you not love me anymore? You won’t even make what I want to eat.” Alarm bells went off in my head. I was afraid Claire would stop caring about me because of this. I frantically tried to grab her hand, my arms flailing in the air. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry…” I couldn’t catch her, so I fell to my knees, begging her not to leave. “You’re acting like a lunatic now.” Claire’s voice was filled with undisguised disgust. I knelt on the floor, listening to her departing footsteps. Suddenly I remembered how she used to snuggle in my arms, saying happily: “James, you have to make me stir-fried peppers and pork for the rest of our lives.” I wished so badly that I could regain my sight right now. Then Claire wouldn’t despise me anymore. At dinnertime, Claire’s family was gathered happily in the living room. They seemed to be expecting dinner guests tonight. But none of this had anything to do with me. I huddled alone in my room, silently eating leftovers. They said a blind man like me would be an embarrassment at the table. A familiar voice that sent chills down my spine suddenly rang out by the door. “Have you started eating? I guess I came at a bad time.” My body instantly stiffened. That fear spread from my core to every inch of me. It was my half-brother, Ethan – my father’s illegitimate son. The cheerful chatter in the living room came to an abrupt halt. Claire jumped to her feet, her chair scraping loudly against the floor. “Ethan! You’re here!” The undisguised joy in her voice was a stark contrast to how she spoke to me. Even my usually critical in-laws’ tones became warm and welcoming. “Ethan’s here, come in and sit down!” It was as if Ethan was the true master of this house. Ethan laughed, “I saw the flowers in the yard and picked one for you.” Those were the jasmine flowers I had planted. Claire said she loved the scent of jasmine. I used to pick them one by one, drying them into tea cakes to brew her favorite floral tea. “Oh, you,” Claire’s voice was coy and flirtatious. “You didn’t have to bring anything.” I stood in the doorway of my room, completely out of place in this home. Claire noticed me and her tone instantly dropped to freezing. “James, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and welcome your brother!” My feet felt nailed to the floor, anger and resentment churning in my chest. I couldn’t accept Claire telling me to welcome the man who had ruined my once-happy life. It was because of Ethan and his mother’s interference that my own mother couldn’t accept the reality. Her heart condition relapsed, and her health deteriorated from then on. Ethan spoke up in false concern, “Claire, don’t be like that. He’s my brother after all, and he’s still unwell. How can I let him wait on me?” “Ethan, you’re too kind,” my mother-in-law immediately chimed in. “A blind man, clumsy as he is, what can he do anyway?” “James, if you don’t go now, I’m really going to be angry,” Claire threatened. My throat tightened as I desperately held back tears. I reminded myself this blindness was only temporary. Afraid of upsetting Claire, I felt my way to the kitchen and grabbed a clean set of dishes. I walked over to Ethan and gently set them down beside him. Ethan looked at me and sneered, “My brother is still so capable.” I was in no mood to respond to him. A familiar scent had caught my attention. It was Claire’s favorite perfume, with its cool, woody notes. But it was coming from Ethan. I whirled towards Claire, grabbing her wrist. “Why does he smell like your perfume?” The room fell deathly silent. “James!” Claire yelled at me. “You’re being paranoid again! Can’t you act normal for once? It’s exhausting being with you!” Ethan sighed, adding fuel to the fire. “Claire, don’t be angry. James has always been like this, prone to overthinking. Now that he’s sick, it’s normal for him to be sensitive and suspicious.” But my instincts told me this wasn’t just my imagination. At the same time, I prayed that I really was overthinking things. Claire, I only wish you wouldn’t choose Ethan. Claire’s voice was full of disgust. “I don’t want to argue with you. There’s an urgent project at work. I need to go on a business trip.” I reached out, trying to grab her, but only grasped air. “Claire…” I was at a loss. It was my blindness that made her despise me so much. I had to win back Claire’s heart, which meant I needed to regain my sight. When she returned from her trip, I wanted to surprise her with a husband who could see again, who was healthy. Claire left on her business trip the next day. I immediately contacted my childhood friend to arrange a corneal transplant. Luckily, my surgery was successful. When the bandages came off, the light stung my eyes and brought tears. My mind was filled with thoughts of how to win Claire back, of the happy life we would have together. But fate had other plans. Before I could fully take in the world around me, my phone buzzed with a message. It was from Ethan: “Too bad you’re blind, little brother. Otherwise you’d be able to see your woman in my bed right now.” A photo was attached to the message. Claire lay on her side in bed, hair disheveled, covered by a sheet that revealed only her shoulder, marked with kiss marks. The implications of the photo were crystal clear. The background was the master bedroom of Ethan’s apartment. That bed – I had gone with Claire to pick it out. She said it was a gift for a friend. My heart ached so badly I could hardly breathe. Just then, my assistant called. “Mr. Song, Mrs. Song has ordered the preparation of CEO appointment documents.” Hearing those words, the world was no longer dark, but my heart felt colder than when I was blind. “I’m coming back now.” I locked myself in my office for five days and nights. The desk was piled high with documents, the floor littered with coffee cups and cigarette butts. On the fifth day, my mother-in-law called. “James! I see you’ve grown too big for your britches. Where the hell have you been?” I hung up without a word. Immediately after, Claire’s number lit up my screen. “James, have you lost your mind? What are you playing at now?” Her voice was shrill and grating. “Oh right, you’re not capable of running the company now. Just transfer all the stocks to me.” “Otherwise don’t even think about coming back to this family!” I replied calmly, “Alright.” My calm demeanor caught her off guard. “What do you mean?” “I’m staying at my friend’s place to clear my head. I won’t be coming back for a while.” On the other end of the line, I could almost hear her sigh of relief. “You… you understand then.” Her tone shifted to one of command. “Since you’re free anyway, Ethan’s been so busy he hasn’t eaten dinner yet. Go bring him something to eat.” I arrived outside the CEO’s office. The door was ajar, and Ethan’s voice drifted out. “Claire, don’t blame James. He’s become sensitive and paranoid since losing his sight.” “Once I take over the company, you won’t have to work so hard anymore.” As I listened to Ethan’s voice, my blood suddenly ran cold. After hitting me, the driver had rolled down his window to make a phone call. It was this very voice. I pushed open the door. Seeing me enter, Ethan didn’t realize I had regained my sight. He smirked provocatively, wrapping his arm around Claire’s waist and kissing her shamelessly. Claire showed no shame in doing this in front of me. Perhaps they had done this countless times before in my presence. They were so engrossed in their kiss that Ethan only noticed my empty hands when he finally looked up. He released Claire, frowning in displeasure. “Where’s the food?” “James, I’m warning you, stop playing games. Otherwise Claire really will leave you.” I grabbed the glass from the desk and smashed it against his head. Blood trickled down from Ethan’s temple. Claire screamed. Ethan was stunned too, clutching his head and staring at me in disbelief. “You can see?!” “Security! Get this madman out of here!” he shouted towards the door, while shielding Claire behind him. “Claire, you go out first!” Two security guards rushed in. Having not exercised in a long time, I was quickly overpowered. In the chaos, I lunged at Ethan, grabbing a shard of glass and pressing it against his carotid artery. “Nobody move!” The guards froze. Ethan’s face turned ashen. “James, let go of me!” I ignored him, my gaze fixed on Claire who was making a call outside. After a moment, Claire walked up to me and played a video. “James, look at this.” On the screen, my mother with her heart condition was strapped to a bungee jumping platform. “If you let go of Ethan now, I’ll have them stop the machine.” With each rise of the platform, my mother’s face grew paler as she clutched her chest in pain. “Let go. Kneel down.” Claire’s voice was ice cold, devoid of any emotion. A searing pain shot through my chest. I coughed up blood. I released Ethan and fell to my knees. Claire put away her phone with satisfaction and took Ethan’s arm. “Take him away.” I was brought to an auction hall. Claire stood on the stage. “The position of CEO of Song Corporation, starting bid one million dollars.” She smiled, looking down at my disheveled form like I was a dog.

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In the operating room, my surgeon husband and his mistress nurse abandoned a patient for forty minutes, leading to the patient’s death. Afterward, my husband demanded I sign a medical malpractice waiver. That’s when I realized he thought my own mother was on the operating table. I silently pushed the waiver back to him. “It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to sign this. The deceased’s son should sign it.” “Sign this.” Dr. Victor Thorne slammed the document onto my desk. His face showed no remorse, only impatience. I glanced at the paper. “Medical Malpractice Waiver” read the title. I was confused. Then Tiffany Davis, standing next to Victor, spoke up, her voice dripping with sickly sweetness. “Dr. Hayes, my condolences. Victor did his best, but your mother just didn’t make it…” She pretended to look sad, lowering her head, but her hand clutched Victor’s arm tightly. I froze, instinctively looking at Victor. “What happened? It was just a thyroidectomy, right?” Victor scoffed. Tiffany immediately chimed in, her tone falsely understanding. “Dr. Hayes, you’re a doctor too. How can you say something so unprofessional? There are always complications during surgery. Your mother was old, in poor health… You can’t blame Victor. He’s probably more heartbroken than you are.” He’s more heartbroken than *me*? I frowned, staring at Victor. —And why wouldn’t he be? My gaze seemed to offend him. Victor roughly shoved the waiver back in front of me. “Cut the crap, Amelia! Sign this now and hand it to Director Miller yourself! Also, tomorrow morning at eight, the moment our cooling-off period is over, we’re going straight to the courthouse to get divorced!” He paused, then pulled Tiffany closer, flaunting her. “And, Tiffany and I are getting married tomorrow. Your mom’s funeral is just too much of a downer, so I won’t be going.” With that, Victor didn’t even spare me another glance. He walked away, arm around a smug-looking Tiffany. My mom’s funeral? My eyes fell back to the “Medical Malpractice Waiver.” The patient’s name seemed to be a printer error, with some ink bleed, making it barely legible. I could just make out “M. Thorne.” “Due to insufficient care by the family, the patient died from postoperative complications. The hospital and lead surgeon, Dr. Victor Thorne, bear no responsibility…” I read each line, feeling nothing but a sickening sense of absurdity. Victor only had one surgery scheduled today. The patient was his own mother, Martha Thorne.

The unsettling feeling inside me grew stronger. I went straight to the monitoring room to review the surveillance footage of that surgery. The recording showed Victor and Tiffany arriving late. The patient was already anesthetized, her face covered with a sterile drape, when they strolled into the operating room as if nothing were wrong, taking their sweet time. Victor was the lead surgeon, and Tiffany was the instrument nurse. But those two had no focus on the surgery at all. Their flirtatious glances never stopped. Nurse Jenkins cleared her throat, beginning to verify the patient’s information. “October 17th, OR 1, first surgery, patient verification. Patient Martha—” “Alright, alright, don’t waste time. What does the patient’s name have to do with the surgery? It’s just one thyroidectomy today, can’t get it wrong.” Victor cut Nurse Jenkins off and immediately started the surgery. Tiffany gave Nurse Jenkins a slight, smug bump, signaling her to move away from Victor’s side. Nurse Jenkins, already annoyed with Victor, just stepped aside. Soon after the surgery began, Tiffany absentmindedly handed over the wrong size clamp when passing a vascular forceps. Nurse Jenkins immediately spoke up. “Tiffany, that’s the wrong one.” But instead of admitting her mistake, Tiffany rolled her eyes at the experienced nurse. “Oh, who cares if it’s wrong? Why are you so loud? You startled me!” “This is an operating room! It’s a matter of life and death! You’re wrong, and you’re still arguing?” Tiffany was so flustered, her eyes welled up. Victor instantly bristled. He slammed his scalpel down into the tray with a loud *clank*, pointing at Nurse Jenkins’s nose and yelling, “I’m the surgeon, and I didn’t say anything! Who are you to boss anyone around here?!” After yelling, Victor grabbed Tiffany’s arm. The two of them stomped out of the operating room, leaving the patient mid-surgery, abandoned on the operating table! Chaos erupted in the operating room. A young nurse quickly ran after them. Nurse Jenkins, meanwhile, directed the others to continue the surgery while making a call to report the situation to a superior. I fast-forwarded the recording. It took a full forty minutes for Victor and Tiffany, the two culprits, to reappear on screen. Their faces showed no urgency at all. Instead, they had an arrogant, exasperated expression, as if we had to beg them to return. It was at that moment that the heart monitor’s waveform grew weaker and weaker, finally emitting a piercing “beep—” and flattening into a straight line. The shrill alarm echoed throughout the operating room. Victor shuffled over to the operating table, pretending to press the patient’s chest a few times, just going through the motions. “Alright, can’t save her.” From start to finish, he didn’t even bother to lift the drape covering the patient’s face to take a look! There wasn’t a single shred of guilt in his eyes! Even if he didn’t know it was his own mother lying there, such disregard for life and utter irresponsibility made my blood boil, and my stomach churned with disgust! As I unlocked the monitoring room door and stepped out, I bumped into Sarah Olsen, a new nurse from our department, in the hallway. The moment she saw me, she rushed over, her face a mix of cautiousness and eagerness to show concern. “Dr… Dr. Hayes… about your aunt… my condolences…” “It was my mother-in-law who passed away,” I calmly corrected her. “Not my mom. But thank you anyway.” “Oh?!” Sarah’s eyes widened, her face flushing with embarrassment. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Dr. Hayes! I misunderstood. When your aunt came to see you that day, she said she was your mother, so I just assumed…” Of course, I knew my mother-in-law, Martha Thorne, had made a scene when she came to the hospital last time. I wasn’t surprised she’d become gossip fodder for the younger nurses. I shook my head, indicating I didn’t mind. Sarah still looked regretful. “Yesterday, when I was scheduling surgeries, I even specifically told Dr. Thorne that today’s patient was Dr. Hayes’s mom. He heard me and agreed readily… Sigh, how could an accident happen?” “What did you say?!” I cut her off. “You told Victor that my mom was on the operating table?!” Sarah jumped, stammering, “Y-yes…” Sarah was new and had no idea Victor and I were married, nor did she know that my mother-in-law was Victor’s actual mother. She looked at me with confusion. I took a deep breath, utterly flabbergasted. No wonder! No wonder that scum, Victor, was forcing me to sign a waiver for *his own mother*! No wonder he could cruelly say my mom’s funeral was “a downer”! Because he always thought it was my mom lying on that operating table! Suddenly, my heart lurched. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. Victor, before entering the operating room, already “knew” my mom was inside! So, those forty minutes he and Tiffany were gone… was it truly a spur of the moment fit of pique, or was it deliberate? Medical accident, and intentional killing, are two entirely different things.

The next morning, I went to the courthouse and finalized my divorce with Victor. Victor clung to Tiffany the whole time, openly affectionate. As soon as the divorce certificate was issued, he loudly declared they were going to get their marriage license. I didn’t waste another word on him. I drove straight back to the hospital; patients were waiting. After two surgeries, I stepped out of the operating room, only to be cornered by Victor. “Amelia! What the hell do you want?! Why didn’t you sign that damn waiver?! You got me reamed out by Director Miller! All my bonuses are gone! Are you happy now?!” “Victor,” I said, looking at his pathetic display, my heart calm. “It wasn’t appropriate for me to sign that waiver.” “Not appropriate for you?! I think you did it on purpose! You just want to screw me over! Surgery always has risks! If you’re so filial, why didn’t you operate on your own mom yourself?!” “Surgical risks?” I scoffed. “Was it a surgical risk, or was it the lead surgeon leaving with his little nurse for a full forty minutes in the middle of the surgery? Victor, should I pull up the surveillance footage and post it online, so everyone can learn about your ‘surgical risks’?” “You—you really did it on purpose!” He jumped. “Just because your mom died on my operating table, you had to get revenge! You just want to ruin me!” “I’m telling you, Amelia! You owe me this month’s bonus! And that waiver! You need to go right now! Immediately! Sign it for me! Do you hear me?! Director Miller is waiting!” “First, Victor, we’re divorced. You have no right to lay your hands on me. Second, only the deceased’s direct next of kin can sign a waiver like that. We’re divorced, so I can’t sign it.” “Are you out of your mind, Amelia?!” He couldn’t believe his ears. “What does our divorce have to do with your mom?” “You’re the one who’s out of their mind.” I stared into his stupid, angry eyes, pushing the waiver back to him. “We’re divorced, so your mother has absolutely nothing to do with me. That waiver? The deceased’s son should sign it.” I paused, looking at his bewildered face, enunciating each word with a touch of malicious satisfaction: “Victor, do you still not know the name of the patient who died on your operating table yesterday?” “Her name was Martha Thorne.” “Your own mother.”

Victor froze for a moment, then, like a lit firecracker, his voice suddenly shot up in volume. “Amelia! You actually dare to curse my mom to death?!” Victor, this man, was vain, arrogant, disloyal, and unfaithful—his flaws were countless. His only redeeming quality was his filial piety towards his mother. He was genuinely filial. Out of his twelve thousand dollar monthly salary, he’d send eleven thousand to his mom, give me one thousand, then eat and live off me, claiming he was supporting me. Then, as if to prove his accusation, he shoved his phone in front of my face. “See for yourself! This is the death registry list!” he roared. “Open your damn eyes and see who’s on it!” On that list, a name was crudely circled in red marker, standing out like a sore thumb—Eleanor Hayes. Eleanor Hayes… that was my mother’s name. Even the ID number after it was indeed my mother’s information. How was that possible? This morning, just a few hours ago, when I left for work, my mom had just made me my favorite pan-fried buns. They were hot, with thin skin, generous filling, and delicious soup. She even watched me eat, congratulating me on finally escaping the hellhole that was Victor. She was so happy she wanted to go downstairs and light some fireworks to celebrate my new beginning. I knew my face must have turned incredibly pale and stiff right then. Victor clearly noticed my distraught appearance and misinterpreted my reaction. “Nothing to say now, huh?! Amelia, to spite me, you’re actually neglecting your own mother’s funeral arrangements? The person is dead, and you’re still calmly working here? Do you have no conscience?! If your patients knew, who would dare to put their lives in the hands of someone as cold-blooded as you?!” Even though I knew there was a high chance of a mistake, I nervously pulled out my phone and dialed my mom’s number. The phone rang with a “Doo—doo—” but there was no answer for a long time. Victor stood across from me, a smirk on his face, enjoying the show. “Still putting on an act?” he said coldly, his voice full of schadenfreude. “Hurry up and sign that waiver, then go to the morgue to find your mom’s body, hahahaha!” Victor laughed and walked away. I ignored him, continuing to dial my mom’s number over and over. Just as I was about to give up and rush out of my office to drive home and check, the call finally connected. “Hello?” A voice I knew better than my own filled my ear. It was my mom’s voice! It really was my mom! In that instant, my nerves, stretched to their breaking point, suddenly relaxed. I almost cried out, “Mom! Why did it take you so long to answer?! You scared me half to death, do you know that?! I called so many times! Where were you?!” “I was looking for my insurance card!” my mom complained on the other end. “I was rummaging through everything. My phone was charging in the living room, so I didn’t hear it. I remember having it when I went to your hospital last time, how could it just disappear? It’s so strange…” I let out a long sigh of relief, leaning back in my chair, feeling all the strength drain from my body. Listening to my mom’s rambling, I suddenly remembered the scene half a month ago when my mother-in-law, Martha Thorne, came to see me. Half a month ago, I’d been working non-stop at the hospital for over a week. Going home was out of the question; even getting a decent sleep in the on-call room felt like a luxury.

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For her first birthday after marriage, Riley had saved every spare penny from her part-time delivery job for six months to buy her husband, Julian, a tie. It was a beautiful light smoke-gray, absolutely perfect. She planned to hide it at the bottom of the closet and surprise him when he came home that night. But instead, at the very bottom of the closet, she found a marriage certificate. The photo on the certificate was still a picture of her and Julian. But his name had an extra initial in front: J. Julian. And the woman’s name was Chloe, her twin sister. Sounds came from outside, Julian seemed to be back. Someone else was with him, probably his assistant. Riley hid in the closet and listened to their conversation. “Mr. Fuentes, the handbag Miss Chloe liked while shopping today? I’ve already arranged to have it delivered to her home. We told her she was a lucky winner chosen during the mall’s anniversary sale, and the bag was her prize.” Julian nodded. “Well done.” “Mr. Fuentes, I don’t quite understand. If you like Miss Chloe so much, why not just reveal your identity and confess directly? Why go undercover and pursue her twin sister first?” Julian’s voice sounded a little desolate. “Chloe has rejected me ninety-nine times, but I can’t let her go. I will only ever love her. As for Riley… she looks eighty percent like Chloe. I just wanted to use her to take the wedding photo on the marriage certificate. Chloe’s ID was used for the actual registration.” “You truly are devoted to Miss Chloe. Even after being rejected so many times, you still find a way to be with her.” Julian’s voice turned dark. “Even if I can’t win her heart, I won’t let her marry another man. She can only be mine!” “So, you disguised your identity to make it easier to escape later?” “Exactly,” Julian said. “I’ll accrue massive debts under the name Julian, so Riley will have no choice but to let go.” That night, Riley stayed in the closet, not coming out. She clutched the marriage certificate, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. So, she was just a tool, used by Julian in his ruthless pursuit. From the very beginning, he had only loved Chloe. All that talk about him being a slave to the corporate grind earning only four thousand a month, or not being able to afford a proper wedding ceremony or flowers – it was all a lie! He was the heir to the colossal Fuentes Group empire, wealthy beyond imagination. What couldn’t he afford? He hid his identity and skipped the wedding because she wasn’t the woman he truly wanted to marry! She wasn’t worthy! The next morning, Riley went straight to the department store and returned the tie. Then, she bought a plane ticket. The staff member asked her, “Ma’am, where would you like to fly?” Riley handed her all the refund money. “See how far this can get me. Just pick the furthest destination possible.” Soon, she received a text message confirming her ticket. Seven days later, her flight would depart for Nigeria. She looked it up on the map. It was a small country in Africa. Perfect. Africa was far enough. When she got home, the lights were off. Julian didn’t seem to be awake yet. Just as she was about to unlock the door with her key, she heard a sound from inside. Julian was holding a woman’s hair tie, kissing it frantically against his lips. “Chloe… Chloe… good girl, I love you…” At the same time, his hand moved rhythmically below, until he found his release. Round after round, he seemed tireless, continuing for a full three hours. Riley waited outside the door for three hours. Only when the sounds completely ceased did she push the door open and step inside. Julian saw her, and the intoxicated look on his face instantly morphed into indifference. “Where have you been? Why weren’t you home all morning?” Riley opened a window to air out the room, letting the heavy, cloying scent of stale desire dissipate. She and Julian had been “married” for over half a year, but Julian had never touched her. Several times, she had tried to be intimate, but Julian would merely push her away gently. “I’m exhausted from work. I don’t have the energy for anything else. You should rest. I’ll sleep on the couch.” At first, she genuinely believed he was just a corporate drone overworked by a soulless company, so she didn’t mind and even felt bad for him. But now that the truth was out, she finally understood the reason for his coldness all these years. It was all just an excuse. Riley said, “The supermarket on the west side of town had a sale on groceries this morning, so I went to queue for it.” Julian looked at her empty hands, puzzled. “Then where are the groceries?” **Chapter 2** Riley said, “I accidentally tripped on the way back. The groceries were crushed, so I threw them away.” Julian simply hummed in response, saying nothing else. Riley asked, “Aren’t you going to ask if I got hurt when I fell?” Julian snapped, “So, did you get hurt?” “No, I’ll just take care of it myself.” Julian frowned, a hint of impatience in his voice. “I’m already incredibly busy and tired. Don’t keep testing if I still love you. It’s really annoying.” Riley let out a bitter laugh. A woman’s intuition is rarely wrong. Ever since they got married, she had constantly doubted whether he truly loved her. So, she would often test him. But now she understood: if she doubted, it meant he didn’t love her. Riley said, “Don’t worry, I won’t do these pointless tests anymore.” Julian’s expression finally softened. “Good. Just remember that. Don’t keep bothering me.” I will remember. Because in seven days, I’ll be gone from your world forever. You don’t need to cook up some massive debt to drive me away. I’ll leave on my own. I won’t cling to you. “Julian, tomorrow’s the weekend. Will you come shopping with me? I want to buy my father a birthday gift.” Julian frowned irritably. “No time. I have to work overtime.” “Chloe will be there too.” As expected, at the mention of Chloe’s name, Julian conceded. “Since it’s for my father-in-law’s gift, then as a son-in-law, I suppose I should make an appearance.” Saturday morning, she and Julian went to the department store. Chloe waved at them from a distance. “Sister, brother-in-law, we’re over here—!” Julian immediately turned his back, not letting Chloe or their parents see his face. He whispered to Riley, “You go ahead and shop. I’m going to the restroom.” Then he hurried away. Chloe quickly ran over, affectionately linking her arm through Riley’s. “Sister, why did brother-in-law run off again? Since you two got married, Mom and Dad and I still haven’t seen what he looks like.” Riley offered a faint smile and said, “You’ll see him eventually.” When I’m gone, he’ll definitely take you by force, bring you home, and lock you up. Then, even if you don’t want to see him, he’ll force you to. As for these in-laws, he’ll probably be eager to claim them as his own. Chloe linked her arm through their father’s, coaxing, “Dad, what gift do you want? I’ll buy it for you! I’ve been making money tutoring lately!” Their mother quickly interjected, “You’re still in school, where would you get the money? Your thoughtfulness is enough. Let your sister buy it.” After that, her mother specifically turned to Riley. “Your sister has been tutoring lately and her little face has gotten so thin from exhaustion. As the older sister, you should feel for her. The money for your father’s gift should come from you.” Riley actually wanted to ask. If Chloe was tired from tutoring, was she not tired from working as a delivery driver? And she was only born one minute before her sister. Did that mean she had to tolerate and support everything about her sister? Why? Her father saw that she didn’t immediately answer and instantly rebuked her. “It’s just a bit of your money, and you’re acting so unwilling. How much did I spend raising you? You can’t even bear to buy a gift. You’re truly selfish, a heartless ingrate!” Chloe feigned concern, crying, “Oh, Mom and Dad, don’t talk about Sister like that. Sister didn’t say she wouldn’t buy it. Come on, let’s go pick out a gift! Sister is the most filial. As long as Dad likes it, she’ll definitely buy it, right, Sister?” Her father glared fiercely at Riley, but when he turned to Chloe, his expression immediately softened into a doting smile. “Our Chloe is the most filial and sensible one.” “Dad, when I start working, I’ll buy you anything you want!” “Oh, my sweet girl, Dad doesn’t need you to buy gifts. As long as you’re healthy and happy, that’s enough. Just buy things for yourself with your money.” Her father, mother, and Chloe walked ahead, browsing and picking things out, like a happy family of three. Riley walked behind them, ignored by everyone, spoken to by no one, as if she were merely an attendant responsible for paying today. Her father picked out a watch and gestured to her. “Riley, I think this one’s good.” Riley glanced at the price. A Tudor watch. While not an excessively luxurious brand, even the lowest-end model cost at least twenty to thirty thousand. Almost all her money had gone towards buying the plane ticket; she didn’t have much cash left. She said, “Dad, why don’t you look at something else? There are plenty of other stores ahead…” “Just say you don’t want to buy it! What kind of excuse is that? I like this one. Are you buying it or not?!” Chloe started to tear up. “Dad, maybe I can get another part-time job and save up to buy it for you…” Just then, the manager of the watch store walked out with a beaming smile. “You must be Miss Chloe, correct?” Chloe nodded. “Yes, but how do you know me?” The manager was overly flattering. “Your friend just instructed us that anything in our mall today, anything you and your family like, you can take with you. He’ll take care of the bill! Sir, you like this watch, right? I’ll have someone wrap it up for you immediately!” **Chapter 3** Her parents’ eyes lit up with surprise. “Chloe, when did you get such a rich friend?” Chloe’s face flushed. “I… I don’t know either.” Just then, a commotion erupted downstairs. It turned out the mall’s entire security team had been deployed, clearing the entire place in moments. The entire mall was now serving only the Miller family. A man who looked like an assistant approached, speaking to Chloe with great respect and politeness. “Miss Chloe, my master has instructed that today, you should simply browse with Mr. and Mrs. Miller. Just tell me what you like, and I’ll carry it for you.” Chloe asked, “Sir, please, what is your master’s name?” The assistant smiled. “Apologies, Miss Chloe, but my master said it’s not yet convenient for you to know his true identity. Once he handles a few matters, he will naturally come to meet you.” Riley watched from the side, a subtle ache in her heart. Handle a few matters? It was probably about divorcing her. No, that wasn’t right. They hadn’t even truly registered their marriage. The registration was done with Chloe. Even their “marriage” was a sham. He just needed to “dispose” of her, then he could reveal his true identity and, with the actual marriage certificate, present himself to his in-laws. Chloe nodded, seemingly understanding, yet not. “Oh, okay. If it’s inconvenient for him, then I won’t ask.” The assistant added, “Mr. and Mrs. Miller can also choose freely. Our master said that since you are Miss Chloe’s parents, you are also his elders, and it is right for him to show you respect.” Her father pointed to a watch in the nearby store. “Even something this expensive?” “Of course.” With a wave of the assistant’s hand, the watch store manager immediately ordered, “Hurry, wrap up all the watches in our store! Mr. Miller can wear a different one every day!” Her mother also became excited, asking, “Chloe, I also need a handbag to match my outfits…” Upon hearing this, the assistant immediately said, “Ma’am, I’ve arranged for all brands of handbags in the mall today to be delivered to your home. You can take your time choosing.” “All of them? How much would that cost?!” “Money is no object. If you like the bags, keep them. If not, just throw them away.” “Oh, we couldn’t possibly!” “My master and Miss Chloe are friends. As long as Miss Chloe is happy, he is happy.” Chloe acted coy, asking, “Sir, is there anything I can do for this friend? I can’t just take so many valuable things for free.” The assistant said, “Miss Chloe, you are truly just as our master described: pure of heart and untouched by greed. How about this? Please give me your hair clip. I’ll pass it on to my master as your thank-you gift.” Chloe nodded, took off the hair clip from her head, and handed it to the assistant. She said, “This way, it’s a fair exchange. I can accept the gifts with a clear conscience.” Fair exchange? Julian was spending a fortune, and she was returning a cheap trinket from a street vendor. Was that considered a fair exchange? It just goes to show, when someone’s adored like that, they act like they own the world. Whether it was a hair tie or a hair clip, as long as it belonged to Chloe, Julian treated it like a priceless treasure. Chloe leaned playfully against Riley, cooing, “Sister, I’ve already bought Mom and Dad gifts. What about you?” Riley had noticed a scarf in the distance. The price was reasonable, and the pattern was beautiful. It was a branded item, over three thousand, and she had enough money to pay for it. “Dad, do you like that scarf?” Before her father could speak, the assistant said with a strained smile, “Miss Riley, our master said that everything in this mall today already belongs to Miss Chloe, including that scarf.” Riley chuckled, but it was humorless. “Your master isn’t leaving me even one item?” “That’s right. He only cares about Miss Chloe being happy. Everyone else, he can’t be bothered with.” Great. “Can’t be bothered with,” indeed. Julian, you certainly draw a clear line between those you favor and those you don’t! When it was time to leave, the assistant respectfully ushered her parents and Chloe into a car and drove them home. When it was Riley’s turn, the assistant held out a hand to block her. “I’m sorry, Miss Riley, but there’s no more room in the car. You’ll have to find your own way back.” Chloe murmured, “Sir, let Sister come in. She can squeeze in with me.” “Miss Chloe, my master instructed that no one is to make you uncomfortable. If you’re squeezed, he’ll punish me when we get back.” Chloe nodded regretfully. “Oh, alright then. Sister, I guess you’ll have to take the bus then~” Riley stood rooted to the spot, watching their car drive away. Besides the assistant personally driving her parents and Chloe, there was a line of black sedans following behind, at least twenty or thirty of them, all carrying the bodyguards who had just cleared the mall. Every car had empty seats, but without Julian’s permission, no one dared to give her a ride. Riley let out a bitter laugh. Oh well. She’d be leaving soon anyway, so what was the point of dwelling on it? She turned and started walking towards the bus stop. But suddenly, several figures rushed out from behind her, clamping their hands over her mouth and nose. “What are you doing— mmmph…” **Chapter 4** When Riley woke up, she didn’t know how much time had passed. She had been taken to a desolate forest, where the roars of wild animals echoed around her. Several men stood before her. The scarred leader raised a hand and slapped her across the face, asking fiercely, “You’re Julian’s wife, aren’t you?” Riley looked up, frowning. “Who are you?” “Let me tell you, that Julian kid owes us a huge sum of money, and you’re going to pay it back for him!” Riley chuckled. Massive debts. So this was where that was leading. The scarred man slapped her again. “What are you laughing at?! Didn’t you hear me?! You’re his wife, you have to pay his debt! Otherwise, we’ll sell you to the lowest-class brothel, where you’ll wish for death but never find it!” What was she laughing at? Julian, oh Julian, to force me to leave, you’re actually making the act this realistic? I know you couldn’t wait. You used me to take wedding photos, and you registered the marriage with Chloe’s ID. My usefulness has run out. You’re desperate to kick me out so you can rightfully be with Chloe! If that’s the case, I’ll grant your wish. She chuckled softly and asked, “Are you also going to say that if I leave Julian and have no more ties to him, I won’t have to pay his debt?” The scarred man was stunned by the question, but still said, “Exactly! As long as you have nothing to do with him, we naturally won’t come looking for you for the debt.” “Good,” Riley said coldly. “Go back and tell him that from today, from this very moment, I, Riley Miller, have absolutely nothing to do with him! May God strike me down if I go back on my word!” … When Riley returned home, it was already midnight. Julian still had a sour expression. “Didn’t you ask me to go pick out a gift with you? I went to the restroom for a minute, and you were gone. Where did you go?” Riley looked at him talking to himself and just wanted to laugh. “You know exactly where I was, don’t you?” Julian still insisted, “I can’t read your mind, how would I possibly know?” There were no buses at midnight. She had walked all the way back from the forest. Her feet were blistered from the walk. Julian frowned. “How did you get into this state?” Riley said, “None of your business. Go about your own.” “I’m your husband. If you’re hurt, I should at least ask.” Riley looked up. “Are you my husband?” “…” You’re not my husband. You’re Chloe’s. She took a deep breath, shaking her head with a faint smile. “Julian, someone kidnapped me today and said you owe a lot of money, and I have to pay it back for you.” Julian admitted it quickly. “I do owe a lot of money. I don’t want to drag you down, so… perhaps we should separate.” “Alright,” Riley readily agreed. “I told the kidnappers I’d cut ties with you. I hope they won’t come looking for me anymore.” Julian said, “Don’t worry, they won’t.” But no sooner had he spoken than the front door was kicked open from outside. Over a dozen men in black stormed in, quickly pinning Riley to the ground. “Don’t move! This is a robbery!” A robber pressed a gun against the back of Riley’s head and shouted fiercely at Julian, “You! Find all the bank cards in the house and tell me the passwords, or I’ll blow your wife’s brains out!” Julian’s expression turned cold. “Alright, I’ll get them.” But the next second, his phone rang. The moment he saw the caller ID, he almost erupted with joy. “Chloe! You finally called me on your own!” On the other end of the line, Chloe still maintained a haughty tone. “…The library suddenly had a power outage, and I’m scared of the dark. Can you come pick me up?” “Okay, I’ll be right there.” With that, he turned and walked away. Even the robbers were stunned. “Stop! Are you going to call the police? If you take one more step outside, I’ll shoot immediately!” Bang— A gunshot rang out. Julian seemed not to have heard it at all, vanishing from sight in an instant. **Chapter 5** When Riley woke up again, she was in a hospital. Outside her door, a young nurse was whispering. “Did you see that guy in the VIP room? He’s so handsome!” “And he’s incredibly sweet to his girlfriend. She just twisted her ankle in the dark, and he’s called in all the famous doctors from the whole city!” “But I think his girlfriend treats him pretty badly, ordering him around like he’s her personal servant, yet he seems happy about it.” “Sigh, that girl has such good fortune, unlike this one in room 502, who almost died and has no one even visiting her…” Riley felt an intense pain in her shoulder, making her hiss. The robber’s aim must have been bad; it didn’t hit a vital organ, so she was lucky to survive. She got out of bed and struggled to the door. She happened to see Julian passing by, supporting Chloe. Chloe pushed him away in disgust. “Don’t touch me. I can walk on my own.” “No, your ankle is newly twisted. I’m worried.” With that, he scooped Chloe up into his arms and quickly walked away. Chloe’s face turned red, and she playfully punched his chest with a small fist in his arms. “What are you doing? I only asked you to pick me up. I haven’t agreed to be your girlfriend yet.” “You’ll agree eventually, because you’re already my wi—” Chloe blinked. “Your what?” Julian chuckled. “Nothing. I meant, you’ll always be mine. You can’t escape.” Riley retreated back into her hospital room, tears silently streaming down her face. In the afternoon, Julian finally came to visit. He stood, looking down at her. “I heard from the doctor. You weren’t hit in a vital spot. You’ll be fine after some rest.” Riley just hummed in response. “Last night, I had some urgent work. I couldn’t not go.” “I know,” Riley said coldly. “I want to sleep for a bit. You can go.” Julian didn’t waste a second, immediately turning and leaving. Urgent work? What kind of urgent work could be more important than a person’s life? Julian’s excuse was too flimsy, but Riley was too tired to care. She opened her phone and checked the calendar. Only three days left until her departure. In her current state, she definitely couldn’t get to the airport on her own. She needed someone to help. So, she called her best friend, Harper. Harper readily agreed. “Don’t worry, I’ll take you when the time comes.” That afternoon, her father called her. “Your sister won an award in her aerobics competition this time. Come back for dinner with us.” Riley said, “Dad, I’m injured. I’m still in the hospital…” “You’re not dead, are you? What’s a little injury? You have to come back tonight, or I’ll have no daughter!” That evening, Riley dragged her weakened body back home. Her mother had prepared a huge table full of dishes. Her father had called friends and relatives, and dozens of people filled the house, making it lively and boisterous. Chloe, dressed in a pure white dress, looked like a little princess. She was receiving praises and compliments from everyone. “Did Chloe win first prize in her aerobics competition?” Her father laughed heartily. “Even though it was just a participation award, Chloe worked very hard. Unlike her sister, who, despite being a twin, is so unremarkable. She’s truly an embarrassment to me.” Riley stood by, silent as a wooden statue. She was the one who had gotten into an Ivy League school, while her sister only got into a community college. But their family was struggling financially and couldn’t afford for both of them to go to college. Her parents said that since she was the older sister, she should go directly to work and give the opportunity to study to her younger sister. Riley agreed. She worked hard, earning money, and almost all her wages went to Chloe as pocket money. Yet, she still couldn’t earn a single word of praise from her parents. It was as if her being an older sister meant it was her natural duty to always defer to and uplift her sister. While she was lost in thought, a loud, clear voice rang out from the doorway. “Mr. Julian Fuentes, CEO of the Fuentes Group, sends his congratulations and gifts to Miss Chloe Miller on her award—!” **Chapter 6** Max, the assistant, entered with a team of people, each carrying priceless gifts. A complete set of emerald jewelry from the British Royal Collection; An entire season’s worth of haute couture gowns, hand-stitched by renowned designers; A famous calligrapher’s special inscription for Chloe, “Ode to Chloe’s Unique Spirit,” in elegant brushstrokes; And countless antique vases, coral, and agate. Finally, Max personally presented a set of keys. He said, “Mr. Fuentes has purchased a private jet and a private yacht for Miss Chloe. Both are adorned with Miss Chloe’s photos and are exclusively for her use.” All the relatives and friends were stunned. “The Fuentes Group? Isn’t that the largest publicly traded company in the city?” “Oh my goodness, the CEO of the Fuentes Group personally sending gifts to Chloe? Chloe is going to be the CEO’s wife one day!” Immediately, everyone in the room began to fawn over Chloe. They competed to heap even more compliments on her. Chloe’s face flushed as she shyly said, “Auntie, don’t talk nonsense. I don’t even know the Fuentes CEO.” Her aunt chuckled. “You don’t know him, and he’s sending you all these gifts? He definitely likes you.” Another older woman chimed in, “Yes, Chloe. When you become the CEO’s wife, don’t forget to help your cousins out.” “Oh, nothing’s set in stone yet…” Max, the assistant, stood nearby and announced loudly for all to hear, “Miss Chloe, Mr. Fuentes asked me to tell you: if you simply nod your head, tomorrow he will arrive with flowers and the most lavish, fairy-tale wedding to take you home!” … Riley stood alone in the corner, feeling utterly disgusted. She went outside for some fresh air. She didn’t know how long she stood there, chilled to the point of numbness. Suddenly, Chloe’s voice came from behind her. “Sister, it must be painful for you to see everyone liking me and revolving around me, isn’t it?” Everyone else was inside; currently, only the two sisters were in the yard. Chloe had shed her “good girl” facade, and her smile turned malicious. “But there’s nothing you can do. I’m just more likable than you. Not only Mom and Dad like me…” She leaned closer to Riley’s ear. “Even your husband is my simp.” Riley hadn’t intended to argue with her, until she heard that last sentence. “…You know Julian’s true identity?” “Of course. He’s the CEO of the Fuentes Group! If I can marry him, I’ll be the envied Mrs. Fuentes! But I know that to make a man devoted, you can’t make it too easy for him. So I’ve been rejecting him, but every now and then, I give him a little hope. This push and pull makes him utterly obsessed with me…” Chloe held Riley’s hand and continued, “Oh, by the way, Sister, you didn’t know this, did you? When we were little, Mom and Dad thought you stole money and beat you terribly, and from then on, they hated you. That money was actually stolen by me, and I secretly put it in your backpack…” That stealing incident was the root cause of her parents’ change in attitude. Her parents found the money in her backpack, and no matter how she tried to explain, they were convinced she stole it. From then on, they started to detest her and instead pampered and adored Chloe. So, everything, absolutely everything, had been Chloe’s doing! The long-suppressed anger finally erupted in an instant. Riley raised her hand to slap her. But before her hand could land, Chloe herself collapsed to the ground. She clutched her face, crying, “Sister, it’s all my fault! I’ll never do it again, boo hoo hoo…” Her cries drew everyone from inside. Her mother clutched Chloe, glaring furiously at Riley. Her father directly laid hands on her. Slap! Slap! Slap! He slapped Riley three times. “You’re out of your mind! How dare you lay a hand on my daughter?!” Riley demanded sharply, “Am I not your daughter too?!” “I don’t have a daughter as rotten to the core as you! You’re inherently wicked! I wish I’d strangled you at birth. I only consider myself to have given birth to one child, Chloe!” Slap! Her father delivered another slap, making Riley’s ears ring. He pointed furiously towards the door. “Get out! From now on, I have no daughter like you!” Riley scrambled up from the ground, wiped the blood from the corner of her lip, and sneered. “Even if you weren’t kicking me out, I wouldn’t want to stay here anymore. This place makes me sick!” Turning to leave, she collided head-on with a sharply dressed Julian, who was just arriving. She sneered. “So, you’re finally willing to show your true face?” **Chapter 7** Julian coldly glanced at her and asked, “Which hand did you use to hit Chloe?” “I didn’t even touch her! She fell down herself! Ah—!” Julian grabbed her throat, grinding his teeth, eyes wide with fury. “How dare you touch Chloe! You’re asking to die!” The men in black behind him quickly moved, several burly figures pinning her down tightly and dragging her into a car. The vehicle bumped along for a long time until she was taken to a desolate, uninhabited area. A sharp pain shot through her knee as she was kicked, forcing her to her knees. A pair of black leather shoes appeared in her line of sight. Julian looked down at her from above, like a devil from hell. “I was going to leave you one hand, but since you won’t talk, you won’t need either!” Riley’s hands were pinned to the ground by the men in black, and a thick, long steel nail was immediately driven into her palm. “Ah!” Then, the other side. Excruciating pain flooded her senses, and Riley nearly fainted from it. Julian said, “Riley, you two are twins, but it’s always been you, the older sister, who received all the parents’ affection. Chloe has always tolerated and yielded to you since childhood, so why do you still bully her?!” Riley endured the intense pain, twisting her lips. “I bullied her? Is that what she told you?” “Riley, Chloe is my bottom line.” “So, what then, Mr. Fuentes? Are you planning to get revenge for her?” Julian said, “I never explained my identity to you before, so you probably don’t know my temper. Riley, all the suffering Chloe has endured since childhood, you’ll have to repay tenfold, a hundredfold!” Before leaving, he instructed the men in black: “Don’t touch her face, but I don’t want to see an inch of good skin anywhere else.” “Yes, sir!” Not touching her face—was it because her face looked almost identical to Chloe’s? Julian, oh Julian, when you find out about her schemes, will you still love her so blindly? A searing, tearing pain simultaneously erupted from every part of her body. The men in black held glowing red branding irons, pressing them fiercely onto every inch of her skin. The excruciating agony made her instinctively writhe and roll. But with her hands nailed to the ground, she had no escape. … Riley didn’t know how long she had been unconscious. She was woken by a villager who happened to be passing by. He said, “It’s been raining for two days and two nights now. How did you end up lying here, covered in injuries?” So, two days and two nights had already passed. Today must be her flight day. Seven days went by so fast. The kind villager handed her his phone. “Do you want to call your family?” Family? She shook her head with a bitter smile. “I don’t have a family anymore.” She called Harper. Harper immediately drove over when she heard Riley was in that remote place. But Riley’s condition still made her gasp in shock. She was covered in injuries—burns, whip marks, stab wounds, all overlapping. Because she had been soaked in the rain, all her wounds had reopened, and blood stained the ground. Harper immediately burst into tears. “Riley, who did this?! I’m going to call the police right now and have them arrested!” “No need,” Riley said. “My boarding time is almost here. Please take me to the airport.” “But your injuries…” Riley didn’t want to go to the hospital. She knew her injuries were severe and the hospital would surely require her to be admitted. But she didn’t want to wait another moment. The people in this land disgusted her; she didn’t want to stay here for another second. Harper had no choice but to go to a pharmacy herself, buy some medications, and roughly treat Riley’s wounds. When they reached the airport, there were only 10 minutes left before the gate closed. Harper was practically crying the whole way. She pushed Riley in a wheelchair, choked up. “Riley, go. Go to a new place and start over.” Riley nodded with difficulty. “Harper, thank you for bringing me.” The moment she boarded the plane, she transferred all the remaining money in her account to Harper. Then she broke her SIM card in half and threw it, along with her phone, into a trash can. Goodbye, Julian. Goodbye, everyone who hated me. Because I, too, hate you all very, very much! **Chapter 8** At the hospital. Chloe lay in her hospital bed, and Julian sat by her side, peeling an apple for her. He was skilled, the apple peel coming off in one continuous strand.

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I had dedicated years to figure skating, and to repay the immense sponsorship from the Harrington family, I married Julian Harrington. In our seven years of marriage, he’d taken on dozens of women, even setting them up in the same exclusive community. His twisted excuse? It made it easier for me, his legitimate wife, to ‘manage’ them. I became adept at handling the women he grew tired of, all while maintaining my grueling training schedule. Just as I was on the brink of winning the Grand Slam, a teammate accidentally grazed my neck with her skate blade during a competition. Streams of blood dripped onto the ice, freezing into crimson streaks. Julian merely glanced at me. “If you’re not dead, then get back on the ice and win!” Only later did I discover she was Julian’s new favorite. This was her twisted display of power, his warning. When I regained consciousness, I stared at the familiar room, yet couldn’t recall where I was. All I knew was that my debt was paid. I could finally leave…

“You’re finally awake! I’ll call the family doctor!” Julian’s sister, Elara Harrington, immediately sprang from the chair, rushing out to usher a team of doctors into my room. “Skylar Xu is our Harrington family’s treasure! Make sure you check her thoroughly!” I lay there like a fish on a chopping block, pinned to the bed, letting them poke and prod. Just answering a few robotic questions confirmed I was mostly fine. As they left, I overheard someone sigh softly: “Treasure? More like a cash cow, if you ask me.” I looked down at the countless scars, old and new, etched onto my body from years of intense training. Even if they saw them, they never once asked if I was in pain or if I was tired. The only thing they ever cared about was whether my performance on the ice could generate more income for the Harrington family. “Elara, I’ve done everything you asked. Can I leave now?” She stared at me, surprised. “Why the sudden urge to leave?” My gaze dimmed as I shifted my eyes from her face to the window. Soon, her secretary rushed in, breathless, reporting everything that had happened during the competition. Listening to him, she took a deep breath, her voice low and stern as she gave an order: “Bring Julian to me!” The usually decisive businesswoman, after hearing the full story, seemed to feel a pang of compassion. Pity, regret, and a touch of helplessness mingled in her gaze as she looked at me. “I’m so sorry, Sky. I thought he’d settle down once he’d had his fun. I never imagined he’d let some outside woman hurt you…” I shook my head. “It’s fine. It was my obligation to repay their kindness. Once it’s fully paid, please let me go.” My phone rang at an inconvenient moment. I answered, and a voice, arrogant yet deceptively sweet, came through the line: “Skylar Xu, you’re 27 now. It’s time for you to step down.” “You should thank me. That cut was merciful; I didn’t aim for your face, but it’s enough to end your glory days.” “Whether it’s the Ice Princess or Julian Harrington’s wife, that position will finally be mine!” As soon as she finished speaking, she let out a delicate giggle and quickly hung up. I lifted my head and met Elara’s gaze. The unspoken understanding between adults kept us silent. Recalling Tiffany’s words, I almost wanted to laugh. Did she really think being Julian’s wife was as glamorous as it seemed? Learning how to discreetly handle the women Julian grew bored of. Knowing how to deal with those who would threaten suicide to demand legitimacy. These were my mandatory lessons. From clumsy fear and cluelessness at the start, I had evolved into someone who handled it with practiced ease. Outsiders only saw my calm exterior, unaware it was the result of five years of emotional attrition. Five years that had mercilessly tortured a vibrant, beating heart until it barely clung to life. Perhaps it was a woman’s empathy, but Elara didn’t try to persuade me to stay. She sighed deeply. “The doctor said you injured your head, and it might cause stress-induced memory loss.” “You need to avoid strenuous exercise and excessive fatigue for a while.” “Once you’ve recovered, I’ll help you get a divorce and send you abroad.” “As for Celeste Johnson, I don’t want to hear that name from outsiders ever again.” She was warning me, subtly telling me not to leak the old scandal. I softly replied, “I know.” My family was poor when I was little, but I was discovered to have a talent for figure skating. The Harrington family covered the substantial cost. The price of accepting their sponsorship was marrying Julian Harrington. To win the Grand Slam and help launch Harrington Sports’ brand. Originally, this kind of good fortune wouldn’t have fallen to me. Julian Harrington had a long-term girlfriend, Celeste Johnson, who he’d grown up with. But then Celeste cheated on him with Julian’s brother-in-law. Elara caught them in bed. She didn’t want this incident to ruin the relationship between her and her brother. So she found some random excuse to divorce and sent Celeste abroad. To completely sever this toxic connection, she even went as far as to drug Julian and me, ensuring we ended up in bed. Unexpectedly, Julian agreed to marry me without any fuss. When we first got married, I had just graduated, at an age when my heart was easily stirred. Plus, I’d secretly admired Julian for a long time, so marrying him felt like a dream. During that time, besides training, I would carefully inquire about Julian’s preferences. I knew the staff looked down on me, thinking a country girl like me wasn’t worthy of their young master. But I liked Julian. Even enduring their cold stares and impatience, I’d brazenly ask them to teach me how to make Julian’s favorite dishes and his preferred soups. I meticulously remembered he disliked spicy food, loved sweets, preferred plain, understated clothes that made him seem composed. Even for water, he liked… What temperature was it again? I suddenly couldn’t recall. I shook my head, but it didn’t help; instead, it triggered a headache, making me gasp. Elara looked worried and asked, “Are you okay?” “I’m fine. I’ll only stay for one more week at most.” Because in one week, I would be joining Team E, becoming their youngest-ever head coach for figure skating. She nodded her agreement. Before sleeping that night, I felt a faint blank spot in my memory, specifically about Julian. I tried hard to recall it, but it wouldn’t come back. Instead, it only brought on palpitations. It didn’t matter. Let it be forgotten. From the moment he started bringing various women home, being intimate with them right in front of me. Whispering sweet nothings, entwined with them on the very bed we shared on our wedding night. I should have given up on him then, instead of lowering my standards, endlessly tolerating him. He knew I was allergic to smoke, yet after every session, he’d light a cigarette and blow the smoke in my face. He’d mock me in a contemptuous tone: “The moment you worked so hard to climb into my bed, and said all those bad things about Celeste in front of my sister, you should have foreseen this outcome.” “Skylar Xu got rid of Celeste Johnson, taking her place like a homewrecker. So you should know that after marriage, there will be other ‘Skylars’ who will get rid of you in the same way.” “Do their actions on my body look familiar to you?” “Are they just like the night you begged me for intimacy?” “If so, you’re practically their mentor.” He suddenly leaned close, the smoke from his nostrils stinging my eyes, making tears stream down my face. He clasped the back of my neck, a warning in his grip. “No matter how many I’ve slept with, none of them feel like you did that night.” “Why don’t you personally teach them a few tricks, so they can please me better?” “Or perhaps…” He narrowed his eyes, looking at me like a predator about to bite my neck. His gaze sent a shiver down my spine, an indescribable emotion swelling within me. His hand expertly found my sensitive spots, leaving me utterly paralyzed. “Is your body’s sensitivity and softness the result of all that scandalous figure skating practice?” I stared at him, wide-eyed in disbelief, unable to believe those words came from his mouth. In that moment, the romanticized image of him I’d held since childhood shattered into a million pieces. I saw the ugliest, most primitive state of a man in him: vulgar and perverse. I couldn’t bear it any longer. Tears welled in my eyes, my nails digging into his arm. “Julian Harrington, you can say whatever you want about me, but don’t you dare desecrate the sport of figure skating…” Amidst a whirlwind of thoughts, my pillow grew damp, my wet hair sticking to my cheeks. It was itchy, and a little painful. Drowsiness prevented me from discerning whether the pain came from my face or from the depths of my heart… I just felt certain memories drifting further and further away…

Julian returned the next day around noon, bringing Tiffany along. The staff were all discussing it: “The young master has so many women outside, but this is the first time he’s brought one home.” “Looks like the Lady Harrington position is about to change hands.” They never bothered to hide their discussions from me, nor did they ever show me the respect I deserved. Tiffany overheard their words and shot me a challenging look across the room. It was as if she was saying, ‘You can’t even control the staff, how could you ever hope to keep Julian’s heart? The position of Lady Harrington will definitely be mine!’ I pursed my lips, a soft laugh escaping my nostrils involuntarily. How to keep Julian’s heart? His heart was as hard as stone; no matter how sincerely I treated him, it wouldn’t stir him in the slightest. He’d even think I was trying to flatter him or grab his attention. It would only make him despise me more. Julian pulled out a chair at the dining table and said, “Get me a glass of water.” The staff didn’t budge. For five years, they’d silently agreed that serving Julian was my job. Just a little longer, I told myself. Five more days, and I’d be free. I picked a clean glass and poured him some water, handing it to him. He frowned slightly, took a sip, and set it down. “Are you trying to scald me with this temperature?” “I only drink water at 55 degrees. You’ve never messed up before. What’s wrong today?” Before he could finish, I reached for the glass, but he pressed my hand down. “New tactics now? Trying to provoke me, get my attention?” “Are you jealous?” I calmly met his cold gaze, speaking with detached composure. “I forgot.” A flicker of surprise crossed his face at my reaction. After all, I used to be obedient to his every word, quick to explain if I fell short. My indifference today piqued his suspicion. But he said nothing more. At the dinner table, he proposed that I retire. The Harrington family’s club was planning to sign Tiffany. He wanted me to coach her. I had thought that by winning the Grand Slam and making my name known worldwide, Providing free advertising for the Harrington brand, and helping Julian expand his business empire, That would be enough. Now, even my life after retirement—was that to be invaded and exploited too? It turns out that in his eyes, I had always been an inexhaustible, free resource. “My contract with the Harrington family is almost up. As for a club coach, I can recommend someone to you.” Thinking back, this was the first time I had ever refused Julian’s demand. As I expected, he flew into a rage. “So, you think your wings have grown strong enough to leave the Harrington family, huh, Skylar Xu? I’m telling you, don’t even think about it!” “You would never have achieved what you have today without the Harrington family!” With that, he abruptly stood up and went upstairs with Tiffany. I silently bowed my head, picking at my rice, tears steadily falling into it. He wasn’t wrong, but my contributions to the Harrington family over the years had long exceeded the amount of their sponsorship. I wanted to leave. I wanted my own life, my own plans. To no longer be a puppet subservient to the Harrington family. Heading upstairs to pack my bags, I passed Julian’s door and heard quite a commotion inside. “Julian, please divorce Skylar, okay?” “Anything she can give you, I can give you too. Anything she can’t, I have it all.” “Touch my skin, isn’t it softer and firmer than hers?” If I had known it was going to be such a disgusting conversation, I would never have stopped. Just as I was about to leave, Julian’s sharp voice cut through the air. “I will not divorce her! Get rid of those inappropriate thoughts of yours.” “Do your job, become the next Skylar Xu, and don’t waste my investment in you.” Why wouldn’t he divorce me? There was no love left between us, only hatred. Perhaps this was his revenge, for me occupying Celeste’s place. To bind me in this marriage and torture me for the rest of my life. At that thought, my head felt like it was splitting open, the pain radiating from my scalp to the tip of my nose, half my face going numb. I lay rigidly on the bed, taking half an hour to recover. When the pain finally subsided, the blank space in my brain, that missing memory, began to expand. I felt like I had forgotten something, but I just couldn’t recall what. The following days, I was busy with preparations to go abroad. As the contract still had a few days left, I had to follow Julian’s instructions, spending my free time training Tiffany. The day I received my passport, I was called to the training rink. Tiffany, wearing my competition outfit, paraded in front of me, tossing her head as she said, “Julian said your support team and costume designers are all mine now.” I just softly said, “Oh.” Suddenly, she lay down on the ground, placing her arm near my skate, and with her other hand, grabbed my clothes. I momentarily lost my balance, and the tip of my blade carved a shocking gash on her arm. “Skylar Xu!” Julian strode quickly towards us, roughly pushing me to the ground. He bent down, picked Tiffany up, and placed her on the mat. Then he told someone to call the team doctor and dragged me into an empty changing room. “Are you insane! If you want to hurt someone, can’t you find a place without cameras?” “If this gets out, accusing you of bullying a teammate and intentional injury, what about your reputation? What about the Harrington family’s standing?” His actions lately, I understood them less and less. His words contained no reproach for me harming his new favorite; instead, he seemed to be considering my welfare. I was about to reply when he bent down and picked up a piece of paper from behind me. “What is this?” He leaned closer to read it. “An offer from Team E?” My heart instantly clenched, sweat breaking out on my palms. I took a steady breath, then calmly pulled the offer letter from his hand. “Didn’t I say I’d recommend a coach last time? Many people want to join Harrington Sports, so I had them submit their resumes for screening.” His expression visibly relaxed, then turned stern again. “When did I agree to let you leave?” “Here’s the new contract, another ten years.” He tossed a stack of documents into my lap. I pretended to agree, but secretly, I deliberately misspelled my name on the contract, like random scribbles. I also slipped a divorce agreement among the papers, watching him sign them all. The huge weight on my heart finally lifted.

The day before I left, Celeste Johnson returned to the country. She hadn’t changed at all, still as arrogant as before, tossing her jacket onto me. “Are you enjoying your role as Lady Harrington?” “I know you had a crush on Julian back then. My five years away gave you a five-year trial.” “So, you should probably be kneeling and thanking me.” “Still, Julian never forgot me, did he?” I released my grip, and her jacket dropped straight to the floor. I stepped over it. “Was cheating fun? What do you think Julian’s reaction will be when he finds out the truth?” She hadn’t expected me to know about it and, enraged, raised her hand and slapped me. It was too fast; I couldn’t dodge. When I registered it, my face was stinging. Seeing Julian approach, Celeste began to play the victim, clinging to his arm and whining, “Julian, I’m back now. It’s time for this stand-in to leave, isn’t it?” I held back my tears, turning to go upstairs and change my flight. I’d leave tonight. Julian sensed something was wrong. He paced outside my room, wanting to explain but unsure what to say. When he finally twisted the doorknob and saw the empty room, he froze. Realizing what had happened, he roared, “Where’s Skylar Xu?!” Just then, Elara returned from her office, her brows furrowed in confusion at her brother’s frantic demeanor. “Didn’t she tell you? She’s becoming the head coach of Team E’s figure skating team tomorrow.” It was as if a light bulb went off in his head, finally understanding the source of his deep-seated unease all this time. But he simply couldn’t accept the fact that I had truly left. “Impossible! We signed a renewal contract just two days ago! If she just leaves like this, I can pursue legal action!” The undisguised fury in Julian’s eyes was fully directed at Elara. It was the first time Elara had ever seen her brother speak to her in such a tone. His strong, hot hand gripped her shoulder, his gaze sharp, radiating an intense pressure. Elara had a fiery temper herself. After their parents died, she truly became like a mother to her younger brother. As the elder, she wouldn’t tolerate her brother treating her this way. She raised her hand and slapped him directly. “You can’t even keep your own wife in line, and now you’re coming to me asking where she is?” “That contract isn’t valid.” Julian rubbed his stinging cheek, a bewildered look on his face. “What do you mean, not valid?” Elara sighed, a helpless expression washing over her face. “She intentionally misspelled her own name. Her message was crystal clear.” “For all these years, the revenue she brought to the corporation has long surpassed the Harrington family’s initial kindness.”

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My boyfriend, Mason, was crippled and deep in debt after a brutal attack. In just one month, he tried to end it all four times: slashing his wrists, jumping from a building, carbon monoxide poisoning, and even mixing prescription pills with liquor. Every single time, I found him just in time to stop him! To make him abandon his suicidal thoughts, I worked multiple jobs and even pawned my mother’s heirloom jade bracelet to pay off his debts. To get him back on his feet, I decided to be a living donor, offering my own spinal cord stem cells. Just as I was thrilled about his improving health, I accidentally discovered that his legs were never paralyzed, and he wasn’t in debt at all. Turns out, he was actually Mason Blackwood, the heir to the colossal Blackwood Conglomerate. His poverty, his paralysis, our entire relationship… it was all a sick, drunken bet among his trust fund friends: A “pauper’s love test”! Ha! Well, I’d give *him* a test. But then, why did *he* suddenly crack?

I pushed open the door and saw Mason, a bottle of liquor in one hand, a handful of pills in the other, lifting them to his mouth. My heart seized. I practically flew across the room, swatting the deadly combo from his grasp. “What are you doing?!” I cried out, my voice trembling with a raw, panicked sob. Mason’s voice was dead, his smile a tragic grimace. “What am I doing? Isn’t it obvious? I’m dying…” His eyes pleaded with me, filled with tears. “Please, Riley, have a heart, just leave me alone! Let me die!” “I’m ruined. There’s no point in living.” I buried my face in his chest, shaking my head frantically. This was his fourth suicide attempt this month. The last time, he tried carbon monoxide poisoning. Before that, he tried to drown himself. And before that, he tried to slash his wrists. Every single time, I found him just in time. I couldn’t bear to imagine what would happen if I were even a moment too late. “Mason, please don’t do this.” I cupped his face, my voice shaking. “We’ll face this together, okay?” Mason shoved me away roughly. “Face what? The debt collectors?” He pounded his fists on his own legs. “Look at these legs! They’re useless, they can’t move! How can I work like this? How can I earn money?” “Don’t you get sick of looking at these useless legs every day? Because I do!” My heart ached as I watched him. Ever since that brutal attack by the debt collectors, he hadn’t been able to stand. Mason aggressively reached for the pills and liquor I’d knocked over. “Better to just end it quickly now, and get it over with! I won’t drag you down!” I threw myself at him, wrapping my arms around his hands. “You’re not dragging me down! You’re all I have in this world! If you leave, what will I do…?” I desperately tried to convince him he was still needed, still useful. “Without you, how can I live?!” Tears blurring my vision, I choked out, “If you can’t work, I can! It’s just money! I’ll pay it back, I’ll pay it back with you! I’ll even get your legs fixed, I’ll get you back on your feet…” “So please, just don’t die!” Mason scoffed, a cold, cynical laugh, calling me naive. “You’ll pay? You’ll even fix my legs? Do you know how much five million in debt, plus medical costs, adds up to? At least six million!” He pointed at me, then at himself. “Look at you, then look at me. You earn next to nothing! Even if we saved every single penny, it would take us over a century to clear five million! Do you honestly think we’d live that long? Do you think those loan sharks would wait that long?” I bit my lip, silent. Mason continued, “You say you’ll pay off my debts now, but what about later? When you’re exhausted, when you crave something decent to eat but can’t afford it, when you have to pinch every single penny… you’ll resent me! You’ll resent why I’m such a cripple! You’ll resent ever trying to save me!” His voice suddenly turned icy. “Wealthy people stab each other in the back for profit. What makes you think *our* love, as commoners, is any different?” “Wake up.” I gripped his hand, my eyes locked on his. “That’s not how it works, Mason. Yes, I’m barely making minimum wage now, but I’ll get promoted. My salary will increase. And I can pick up extra jobs…” “Mason,” I said firmly, “we’ll figure this out together.” Mason turned his head away, refusing to look at me. I stood up, grabbed my bag, and headed for the door. “Where are you going?” Mason asked. “To find work,” I said, without looking back. From that day on, I plunged into a frantic work-life. During the day, I worked at the office. In the evenings, I tutored. On weekends, I delivered food, even squeezing in errands for colleagues to earn extra cash during my work breaks. I was like a wound-up machine, working non-stop. I slept only three hours a day, for a solid month. I calculated my earnings for that grueling month: $36,880. The number was auspicious, but it made my eyes dry and ache. It wasn’t even a fraction of five million.

I collapsed my head onto my desk, softly banging it against the surface, choking out, “Only thirty thousand… just thirty thousand…” It wasn’t even a fraction of five million. If I couldn’t pay off the debt, Mason would try to kill himself again. Mark, a colleague, passed my cubicle and sighed when he saw me. “Riley, you can’t keep going like this,” he said softly. I looked up, my eyes red-rimmed. Mark hesitated, then lowered his voice. “If you’re really desperate for money, I have some freelance design projects. Do you want to take them on?” I shot up from my seat. “Yes!” Mark was startled by my reaction. “I’ll take them under my name. We can negotiate a higher fee, but I’ll take a commission.” “Don’t get the wrong idea, I’m not—” I nodded vigorously. “I understand. Taking them under your name means you’re taking a risk on a newcomer like me. I won’t get the wrong idea. I’m incredibly grateful you’re helping me, Mark. Thank you.” And just like that, I had yet another job. Once again, I went three days without sleep, finally completing five design drafts that satisfied the clients and sending them over. My phone chimed with the notification of the payment hitting my account, and I managed a tired smile. In that year, at my peak, I worked seven jobs simultaneously, sleeping three hours a day. I earned almost five hundred thousand. Finally, it was a respectable fraction of five million. I was about to accept another project when, with a breath, a sharp pain shot through my chest, as if someone was violently twisting my heart. My body broke out in a cold sweat, my ears rang, and my vision swam. “Riley! Are you okay? Riley!” I vaguely heard Mark calling my name, but his voice drifted, now close, now far away. Then everything went black. When I regained consciousness, I saw white walls everywhere and IV lines connected to my arm. I realized I was in a hospital, and no one was beside me. I pressed the call button. A young doctor with glasses and a nurse came in, their faces stern, to examine me. “How do you feel now that you’re awake?” I nodded blankly, a little guilty, and mumbled that I was fine. “Hmph!” Dr. Alex scoffed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “You’ve been asleep for two days, of course you feel fine!” “Stress-induced coma! Gastritis, myocardial ischemia… You’re practically a walking medical textbook at your age! Impressive dedication to self-destruction!” The nurse was startled by his sharp tongue, discreetly tugging at his shirt to remind him to be gentler, while offering me appeasing smiles to prevent me from complaining. Two days! I quickly latched onto the key point. I hadn’t been home for two days. What about Mason, alone at home?! I panicked, wanting to demand discharge, but facing the doctor’s cold gaze, all my words caught in my throat. My eyes darted away, and I obediently listened to his lecture, burning with impatience. “No matter how important the job, no matter how much money, you need to be alive to do it, to spend it…” He continued to scold me as he checked my symptoms, finally clicking his tongue in dissatisfaction. “Stay for a few days for observation to see if there are any other issues. And you better explain how you managed to run yourself into the ground like this!” I suddenly raised my head, ready to protest, to refuse hospitalization. But under the doctor’s oppressive gaze, I offered a sheepish smile. “Dr. Alex…” “You stay put, young lady! You’re staying here to save your sorry hide!” Dr. Alex shot me a stern look, then warned the nurse that I was prone to ‘pulling stunts.’ I lowered my head, looking miserable and silent. Just thinking about the hospital bills made my chest ache again. Just as I was mentally plotting eight hundred escape plans to avoid Dr. Alex and the hospital, Mark arrived. I excitedly grabbed his hand. “Mark, Mark, please help me with the discharge papers.” Mark refused. He said the doctor had informed him of my terrible condition and advised me to listen to Dr. Alex, to stay for a few days of observation. “Just relax for a few days. I’ll count it as paid leave for you.” I insisted on being discharged. Not only was I worried about Mason being home alone and paralyzed, but I was also incredibly reluctant to spend money on hospital fees when I usually didn’t even buy medicine for a cold. Mark frowned, clearly unable to accept my attitude. “Riley, Mason is an adult. And he’s in a wheelchair, not missing his hands! He can order takeout, he can take care of himself.” But I still insisted on going back. “Riley, you’re too much with him…” He cut himself off mid-sentence. He looked like he was searching for the right words, then finally just patted my shoulder gently. “Sometimes, what you see isn’t the whole truth. You need to open your eyes and really *see* people. Don’t believe everything you’re told.”

After Mark spoke, he walked out of the room with a complex expression to handle my discharge papers. I didn’t understand what he meant, and my urgency to get back home left me no time to ponder his words. I shakily stood up and quickly gathered my belongings. I slipped out, slinking past the nurses, and headed straight home. As I rushed home from the hospital, I tried calling Mason, worried something might have happened, while also mulling over Mark’s cryptic words. “Open your eyes and see people”? Was someone betraying me? Was someone trying to trick me? Or was he trying to hint at something? I shook my head, discarding those chaotic thoughts. Mason still wasn’t answering my calls, making me even more worried that something had happened to him. The most important thing now was to get home and check on Mason. The moment I pushed open the front door, my already anxious heart pounded even harder. The apartment was a disaster zone, shattered fragments everywhere, furniture overturned like a hurricane had ripped through it. Mason lay sprawled next to his wheelchair, unmoving like a dying fish. A group of men surrounded him. One of them banged a stick against Mason’s overturned wheelchair. “Pay up, or we’ll carve out your kidneys!” “Mason!” My voice cracked, a desperate shriek. I rushed forward to help him up, but a rough hand seized my wrist. “No money to pay, but you’re still wearing jewelry!” The man glared at me, menacingly reaching for the jade bracelet on my wrist. “No! That’s from my great-grandmother!” I struggled desperately, but his strength was overwhelming. He easily ripped the jade bracelet from my arm. “Fine, we won’t leave empty-handed today. This bracelet will serve as collateral. We’ll hold off on the kidneys for now.” I told them it was genuine antique jadeite and, at market value, it should clear a million of their debt. The man laughed, calling me naive. He said collateral never goes by market value. “And it’s a dead person’s jewelry, bad juju! We’ll give you thirty-five thousand for it, at most.” I opened my mouth to say something, but ultimately, I remained silent. After the men left, I quietly began cleaning up the mess. Suddenly, my phone rang. It was the rehab hospital where Mason was getting treatment. “Ms. Riley… International rehabilitation specialist Richard… next month… Yes… you can book an appointment…” The nurse’s excited voice came through the receiver. “If we can get him to see Mason, the chances of recovery will be much higher!” Finally, a piece of good news amidst all the bad! I nodded excitedly, agreeing to book the specialist’s appointment. My gaze involuntarily fell on Mason. His dull eyes subtly shifted, meeting my tear-filled, hopeful gaze. His expression was complex, with a look I couldn’t decipher, but at least he seemed a little more human. I hung up the phone, my heart hammering, a frantic drumbeat against my ribs. Finally, there was hope.

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My boyfriend, Daniel, never lied. He said I had a ‘fat gene’ that would shorten my life, so I needed to diet. I bit back my protest and agreed. He told me I was a bad omen for my parents, that my presence could harm their health, so I had to stay away. After much agonizing, tears blurring my vision, I agreed. Then he claimed my features weren’t ‘right’ for our future, that they needed to be ‘adjusted’ for our marriage to work. After agonizing over it, I still said yes. The day of the surgery, lying in the operating room, it suddenly hit me: I was allergic to a certain anesthetic. As I got off the bed to find a nurse, I accidentally overheard voices just outside the door. “It’s been six years since you broke up, and you still can’t let go of Lily?” Daniel’s voice, sickeningly familiar, came from just beyond the door. “Yeah, Lily’s etched into my very soul. I can’t let go.” “Since I’m destined to marry someone else, I’ll just try my best to make Chloe look more like Lily, then even more…” After a long silence, Daniel’s casual, almost dismissive voice floated back. “Honestly, Chloe is so easy to mold. I tell her anything, and she just goes along with it.” In that instant, I felt like the most ridiculous fool alive. Luckily, it wasn’t too late. The wedding plans could still be adjusted. “Hello, wedding plans have changed. Please replace the bride with a scarecrow.”

All these years with Daniel, he knew I was an introverted social recluse, always needing someone by my side. So this morning, he’d woken up early and prepared everything. When I woke up, all that was left was to eat breakfast and follow him to the plastic surgery clinic. Before he led me into the operating room, he even kissed my forehead, his eyes overflowing with what looked like deep affection. “Chloe, as soon as this surgery is done, we’ll make it official.” “Chloe, you know? I can’t wait to tie the knot with you!” Looking at the man before me, I felt so incredibly lucky and happy, convinced I’d found the perfect guy. Lying in the operating room, I suddenly remembered I was allergic to a specific anesthetic. Just as I reached the door, I saw Dr. Miller, the plastic surgeon, in his white coat. I opened my mouth to speak, but then I heard Daniel’s familiar voice from just outside. “Seriously, I can’t believe it. It’s been six whole years since you broke up, and you still haven’t moved on from Lily? She’s married now, her kid’s two years old! You’re not still fantasizing about her, are you?” After a few seconds of silence, Daniel’s voice came through, filled with a bitterness I’d never heard before. “Yeah, Lily’s etched into my very soul. All these years since we broke up, I’ve dreamt of her every single night. How am I supposed to let go?” “Since I’m destined to never marry Lily, I might as well find a woman who’s easy to mold and reshape her into Lily’s image.” “And honestly? This Chloe, she’s the easiest woman I’ve ever met to string along.” “She believes everything I say. She even believes I never lie? It’s actually hilarious. Who in this world never lies?” Dr. Miller’s voice came again. “But you clearly love Lily, yet you’re marrying Chloe. Is that fair to Chloe?” Just seconds later, Daniel’s indifferent voice replied, “Fair or not, what’s it matter? I’ll treat her well after we’re married, won’t I?” “Besides, Chloe likes me so much. The fact that I’d even agree to marry her? She should buy a lottery ticket, she’s so lucky.” I leaned against the cold wall, and in that instant, I felt my body temperature drop even lower than the frigid surface beneath my back. Before I met Daniel, I never believed anyone in this world truly never lied. But then, I saw him risk everything to speak the truth for an old lady hit by a car, or choose to lose millions to be honest about his company’s finances. Time and again, in countless crises, even life-or-death situations, he always chose the truth. I’d known Daniel for seven whole years, and I’d only ever seen him lie once. And that single lie, though it was for me, almost cost him his life. That’s when I learned that since birth, whenever he lied, his body would break out in rashes, severe enough to be life-threatening. Yet Daniel’s casual ‘easy to string along’ comment effortlessly negated seven years of my love for him. Their conversation wasn’t over. Clenching my teeth against the searing pain in my chest, I picked up my phone and hit record.

“Are you really going through with this? If you do this surgery, you’ll owe Chloe even more!” Daniel’s voice, now tinged with impatience, retorted, “Owe her? What’s there to owe? It’s not like I dragged her here against her will, is it?” “This was *her* decision, okay? What does it have to do with me?” “Even if I *do* owe her, I’m compensating her with marriage. Isn’t that enough?” Daniel’s voice was so familiar, yet utterly alien. All this time, the Daniel I thought I knew—kind, warm, thoughtful—deserved every beautiful word in the dictionary. Now, I realized that even the most profound, uncontrollable love could be faked. He truly was a brilliant actor. The marriage I’d dreamed of, to him, was nothing more than meaningless compensation. At this point, I had no more courage left to listen. I didn’t want to imagine what other ‘surprises’ I’d overhear if I stayed. Ignoring the two outside, I grabbed my coat from the side table and quietly slipped out through another door in the ward. I saw Daniel’s car parked at the entrance, and a bitter, twisted smile pulled at my lips. I’d always wanted to get my driver’s license, but Daniel, under the guise of ‘it’s for your own good,’ insisted he could drive me everywhere, always on call. Now, it dawned on me: he was probably just used to chauffeuring his ‘true love,’ Lily, and didn’t want to change his routine. I walked past the car, standing at a crossroads, watching the vehicles come and go, momentarily lost, not knowing where to turn. Just as I was about to step away, a hand clamped onto my wrist from behind. I knew that touch too well. I didn’t even need to turn around to know it was Daniel. I’d never really liked his cologne; it was always too sweet, too cloying. I could never understand why Daniel, of all people, would wear such a strong, sugary scent—it completely clashed with his aura. But he liked it, and after so long, I’d just gotten used to it. Now, it all made perfect sense. That cologne was probably Lily’s favorite, wasn’t it? The moment my eyes met Daniel’s, a jolt of shock went through me. The man who was always so gentle and patient was now seething with rage. As if sensing my shift, Daniel reined in his anger, forcing his usual gentle smile back onto his face. “Pear,” he said. “Why are you running off?” “Pear, the surgery isn’t done. Let me take you back, okay?” “Pear, I know you’re scared of surgery, but if you don’t do it, how can we tie the knot? Didn’t you want to marry me more than anything, huh?” Hearing ‘Pear’ over and over again, I suddenly felt sick to my stomach. Soon after Daniel and I started dating, he started calling me ‘Pear.’ I’d asked him, confused, why he called me that. Everyone else just called me Chloe. He’d ruffled my hair, his eyes full of what I thought was adoration. “My favorite word is pear, and you’re my favorite woman. Of course, that’s what I’ll call you.” Back then, I’d just shyly buried my face in his chest, repeating his special nickname over and over. Now, I realized. All these years, he’d only been using me as a stand-in for Lily.

“Daniel,” I said softly, my voice barely a whisper, “Did you forget? I’m allergic to anesthetic.” I quietly took half a step back, tears stinging my eyes. My words made Daniel frown, but I distinctly saw a flicker of guilt flash in his eyes. He took two steps forward, pulling me into his arms, his voice laced with obvious remorse when he spoke again. “Baby, I’m so sorry. It’s my fault.” “How about we skip the surgery today? I’ll talk to the doctor later and adjust the plan. Will you wait for my call?” I pushed him away, my voice barely a choked whisper. “Daniel, can’t we… just not do this surgery?” “No, we can’t.” His tone was as gentle as always, but his eyes held a rare, unyielding resolve. “Didn’t we agree? As soon as the surgery’s done, we’re tying the knot, babe!” “Alright, just sit in the car and wait for me, okay? I’m going to call the doctor.” His tone was supposedly ‘negotiating,’ but Daniel didn’t wait for my answer. He simply pushed me into the car and casually shut the door. I leaned against the car window, watching him on his phone, a strange, bitter ache coiling in my gut. I pushed the door handle, trying to get out, but found he’d locked the doors. As I sat there, stunned, voices suddenly filled the car. It took me a moment to realize Daniel had forgotten his phone was still connected to the car’s Bluetooth. “What? Daniel, are you insane? You know she’s allergic to anesthetic, and you still want to go through with the surgery? Do you have any idea how painful plastic surgery is without it? Forget her, no one could stand that!” Daniel’s indifferent voice replied, “She can just bear with it.” “What am I supposed to do? Stop the surgery just because she’s allergic to anesthetic?” “It’s fine. She listens to me. I’ll just sweet-talk her later. You just schedule the surgery as planned.” I sat in the car, the heater blasting, yet I felt like I’d plummeted into an ice cavern, shivering uncontrollably. I couldn’t believe it. The man who used to tear up if I just scraped my knee could be so utterly cold-blooded. And there Daniel stood, just a short distance away, mouthing the most tender ‘I love you, baby’ at me while simultaneously uttering the cruelest, most heartless words. I couldn’t even manage a fake smile. Bitterness seeped into every cell, flowing through my veins, poisoning me from the inside out. My phone buzzed in my pocket, perfectly timed. My hand trembled as I pulled it out. It was the wedding planner, asking if there were any last-minute adjustments or additions I wanted for the approaching wedding. Holding my phone, I stared at the man outside the car. After a long moment, I spoke softly, “Yes, an adjustment. Please replace the bride with a scarecrow.”

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On the day of the graduation ceremony, I mustered up the courage to confess my feelings to my long-time crush. But I accidentally got hit by a car. When I woke up, my crush was standing in front of me, looking at me with a cold expression. “You’re awake? Perfect timing. Let’s discuss the divorce agreement.” Me: ??? I haven’t even confessed yet, how did we end up talking about divorce? 0On the day of my college commencement ceremony, I finally mustered up the courage to confess my feelings to Aria, my long-time crush. Across the street, Aria was taking photos in her beautiful graduation gown. Excited, I ran towards her, not noticing the red light at the crosswalk. A loud “BANG!” echoed, and I was struck by a car. Everything went black. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself staring at a stark white ceiling. To my surprise, Aria was standing by my bedside. She was as beautiful as ever, and this was probably the closest we’d ever been. Aria stood there, her gaze shifting from the IV drip to my face. As I looked at her, I noticed a ring on her left ring finger. My heart sank. Had the girl I’d loved for so long already found someone else? Swallowing my disappointment, I forced a smile and greeted her, “What are you doing here?” As I tried to sit up, I realized my arm was wrapped in thick bandages. Aria sat down on the chair beside my bed, her voice cold and distant. “Mr. Liam, you really know how to make a scene. Risking your life for a divorce? That’s a bit much, don’t you think?” I stared at her, completely bewildered. Divorce? I hadn’t even graduated yet, let alone gotten married. Where did this talk of divorce come from? Just then, a nurse entered the room, carrying a tray of bandages. “Dr. Aria, you’re still here? Sir, you’re so lucky. When you had the accident, Dr. Aria happened to be passing by and gave you emergency treatment. Otherwise, you’d be dealing with more than just a broken arm.” The nurse carefully cleaned my wound as she spoke. As she gently placed my hand down, I noticed something shocking – there was a ring on my right ring finger too! And it clearly matched Aria’s ring. Panic and confusion flooded my mind. After the nurse left, I grabbed Aria’s sleeve. “Your name is Aria, right?” Aria frowned, looking annoyed. She jerked her sleeve away from my grasp and stared at me coldly. “Since you’re awake, let’s discuss the divorce agreement.” 0

This was absolutely insane! I was certain I had been on my way to the commencement ceremony when I got hit by a car. How did I wake up to this scenario where I was supposedly trying to divorce Aria by “risking my life”? I was convinced that either I had gone mad, or Aria had. “Wait a second!” I started, but before I could finish, a little girl suddenly appeared in the room, running straight into Aria’s arms. I was stunned. What an adorable child! I reached out with my uninjured hand, wanting to pinch her chubby cheeks, but she shyly hid in Aria’s embrace. “Hey sweetie, I’m sorry. You’re just so cute, I couldn’t help myself,” I said, trying to sound friendly. Aria looked at me disapprovingly, reminding me that I had called her to wait but hadn’t explained why. “Look, this might sound unbelievable, but I have no memory of what you’re talking about. The last thing I remember is going to the commencement ceremony…” Aria impatiently cut me off. “So, you’re saying you have amnesia now?” Amnesia? Yes, that must be it. It was the only explanation for why I had no recollection of all this. I nodded vigorously and sincerely. Aria’s face remained icy as she pulled out a document from her bag and tossed it in front of me. “This is the divorce agreement. All the terms are as you requested. If you have no objections, sign it quickly.” I opened my mouth to speak but couldn’t find the words. The little girl in Aria’s arms looked at me with a pout when she heard Aria mention divorce. “Maybe we shouldn’t discuss this in front of the child,” I suggested. “It might not be good for her. Perhaps we could put this on hold for a while?” Aria scoffed. “The child? Liam, you’re really playing this amnesia act well. This is our daughter.” I hadn’t even processed her first statement when she continued, “And when you were having dinner with another woman, did you consider whether that was good for our child’s well-being?” My mind went blank as I tried to absorb this information. Not only was I married, but I had a child too? And apparently, I had been unfaithful? The little girl didn’t even look at me, burying her face in Aria’s neck. It was too much information. My brain crashed like an overloaded computer. 0

It took me an entire day to process the situation in my head. It seemed I really did have amnesia. I was still me, and Aria was still Aria. The only difference was that we were married and had a baby. But the divorce papers on the hospital bed silently conveyed another message: our marriage was clearly in trouble. The problem seemed to be that I might have cheated? But how was that possible? Why would I cheat on someone as beautiful and intelligent as Aria? Had I lost my mind? Where did things go wrong? How could I regain my memories? I scratched my head in frustration, feeling completely lost. “Daddy.” I looked up at the sound of a soft knock. The door opened slightly, and the little girl’s cute face peeked in shyly. “Mommy said to remember to disinfect your hand. Here’s the antiseptic. She said you should do it yourself.” Her tiny hands clutched a bottle of iodine solution. I reached out to her, gesturing for her to come in. “Daddy’s hand hurts a bit. Can you bring it over for me?” The little girl looked at me hesitantly but eventually nodded. She timidly ran to my side and placed the bottle on my bedside table. I picked her up with my good arm and sat her on my lap, studying her features closely. She had my eyes – big, round, and bright. Her nose was like Aria’s, high and straight. She had Aria’s oval face shape too. She was absolutely beautiful. This was my daughter with Aria. I couldn’t help myself. I hugged her close and planted a big kiss on her cheek. The little girl smelled like milk, and I found her utterly adorable. When I looked up, I saw that her face had turned bright red. She froze in my arms for a moment, then wrapped her little arms around my neck and hugged me tightly. She whispered in my ear, “Daddy, you smell nice.” She was the sweetest thing in the world. As I basked in the joy of being complimented by my baby, the door opened. Aria’s familiar figure appeared in the doorway and walked towards us. “Mommy!” The little girl in my arms immediately ran to Aria, stretching out her arms to be picked up. Aria had clearly just showered, wearing casual home clothes that made her look both sexy and relaxed. Her hair fell naturally over her forehead, with droplets of water sliding down her neck into her collar. I swallowed hard, feeling the allure of her beauty. As she came closer, my heart began to race even faster. However, Aria’s words quickly doused my excitement. “Mr. Liam, don’t you think it’s a bit late to start being nice to Coco now?” “I’m not… I…” I wanted to explain, but one look at Aria’s cold expression told me she wouldn’t believe anything I said. In the end, I chose to remain silent. “Never mind. You can go about your business. I’m leaving,” she said. As I walked out of the study, Coco peeked out from Aria’s neck and glanced at me. Seeing how close they were made my heart ache. What good was having a wife and child if my wife wanted to divorce me and my child was closer to her mother? I started to wonder why we had chosen to get married in the first place. Outside on the balcony, a full moon hung high in the sky. The night breeze blew in, scattering my thoughts. Everything else remained the same. It seemed I was the only one who had changed. 0

The master bedroom had only one large bed. The room’s decor was minimalist, with a simple black, white, and gray color scheme. Apart from that, the room was kept immaculately clean, with a faint scent of gardenia wafting through the air. I remembered that this was a fragrance I liked. I walked to the walk-in closet, hoping to find some of my pajamas, but all I saw was a sea of black clothing. … With no other option, I knocked on the study door. “Honey, I’m sorry to bother you,” I said, trying to sound as respectful as possible. Aria, who was working at her computer, looked up at me. “Do you know where my pajamas are? I looked in the master bedroom closet but couldn’t find any.” Aria stared at me for a few seconds without saying anything. Just as I thought she wasn’t going to answer and was about to leave, she suddenly stood up from her chair and walked towards me. Aria smirked, hands in her pockets. “What, are you planning to keep up this amnesia act?” I swallowed hard, not knowing what to say. The problem was, even if I told the truth, she wouldn’t believe me. Fortunately, she didn’t press the issue this time and walked past me towards another room. I stood there, unsure of what to do. She glanced back at me. “Aren’t you coming?” I immediately followed her like an obedient puppy, making sure to keep a respectful distance. “Thank you.” Two minutes later, when I happily opened the closet door to get my pajamas, I immediately slammed it shut. My face turned bright red. It was too embarrassing to look at! “This is…” I didn’t finish my sentence, but I was sure Aria understood. She was leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed, silently watching me. Her eyes seemed to say, “Go ahead and keep pretending. I’ll just watch without saying a word.” … I took a deep breath and slowly opened the closet door again. The clothing style inside was so revealing that I could hardly believe it. The worst part was that Aria was still standing there, showing no intention of leaving. I tried my best to ignore her gaze. With my back to her, I rummaged through the clothes from top to bottom, unable to find a single “normal” piece of clothing. … I sighed inwardly, turned around, and not knowing what came over me, I asked Aria, “Honey, which one do you… prefer me to wear?” Then, I clearly saw Aria’s eyes darken. She scoffed and walked out, slamming the door shut behind her so hard it made me jump. Why did she get angry? As I took my pajamas to the bathroom, a thought suddenly occurred to me. Could our impending divorce be due to problems in our intimate life? After showering, I put on a robe and went to Coco’s nursery. The nursery was decorated warmly, showing that Aria cared a lot about the child. I tiptoed in. Coco was already in a sweet dream, hugging a stuffed animal. I gently tucked the kicked-off blanket back around her and carefully removed her thumb from her mouth, wiping it with a tissue. It was at this moment that I truly felt like a father. But I only knew her name was Coco; I didn’t even know how old she was. I looked at my marriage certificate with Aria. The date was four years ago. So Coco must be around three years old. I stroked her head and then left her room. As soon as I closed the door and turned around, I saw Aria standing in front of me. My heart started racing so fast I thought it might jump out of my throat. “Are you done?” she asked. “Yes,” I replied. The atmosphere was awkward, and I didn’t know what to say. “So… are you going to bed?” I asked. Aria didn’t respond or make any move. “I’ll go to sleep then,” I said, and quickly escaped to the master bedroom. Without another word, I lifted the covers and lay down, keeping myself as still as possible. Not long after, the bedroom door opened, and Aria walked in. Seeing me lying in bed, she paused for a moment, her footsteps stopping as she just stood there looking at me. Her gaze made my scalp tingle. “Honey, which side do you usually sleep on?” I asked. She didn’t answer. I was starting to feel that Aria’s personality had become quite strange in the years I couldn’t remember. She always liked to stare at people coldly without saying a word. I forced a smile and got out of bed. “You choose first,” I said. Petty Aria! I cursed her in my mind, knowing she couldn’t hear my thoughts. But this time, she moved. She walked to the other side of the bed, lay down, and ignored me, turning off the bedside lamp with a sharp click. I… I fumbled in the dark, getting back under the covers. The person beside me was breathing evenly. Everything around was quiet, but I couldn’t sleep at all. I couldn’t even think straight; my mind was a jumbled mess. But I could feel that she was very close to me, so close that our breaths seemed to mingle silently in the air between us. “Honey, are you still awake?” I asked softly. “What do you want?” she replied. “What?” “You were the one who wanted to get married, and you were the one who went to great lengths to get a divorce. Now you’re lying here with me, trying to seduce me. Liam, I don’t have time to play your games. If you want something, just say it.” “Seduce?” I stared at her with wide eyes, suddenly feeling a chill run through my chest. I looked down and realized how revealing the outfit I was wearing actually was. No wonder Aria thought my current behavior was an attempt to seduce her. “I… I didn’t mean it that way. I’m sorry,” I stammered. But Aria clearly didn’t want to continue sharing a bed with me. She got up and left the bedroom, leaving me with these parting words: “Liam, I don’t care what you’re thinking right now. I have no feelings left for you. I hope you understand that. Whether you’re pretending to have amnesia or trying to seduce me, it doesn’t matter to me anymore.” “I’ll sleep in the guest room tonight. Do whatever you want.” Aria left. In the vast space of the bedroom, I was left alone with nothing but my sorrow. 0

I couldn’t sleep. I lay there, wide awake until dawn. Around seven, I heard Aria talking outside, along with another woman repeatedly saying “okay, okay.” I guessed it must be the housekeeper. A moment later, the front door closed, and the sound of a car engine starting up told me Aria had left for work. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind in chaos as I began to reflect. I had never been an outgoing guy; otherwise, I wouldn’t have secretly harbored a crush on Aria for so many years. But now, finding out that not only had my crush been successful, but I had become her husband, I felt shocked, yes, but more than that, I felt an undisguised joy. I thought this was a chance given to me by fate, but I never imagined I’d mess up this marriage so badly. Low emotional intelligence really is a fatal flaw. Lost in my thoughts, the bedroom door suddenly opened. A woman wearing a housekeeper’s uniform walked in. Seeing me, she quickly apologized. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize anyone was in here.” “It’s alright, I was just about to get up,” I said with a smile. She seemed relieved and slowly entered the room. “Ms. Aria left for work. I thought this room was empty. Didn’t you used to sleep in your own room?” she asked. My own room? I suddenly remembered that when I went to get clothes yesterday, there was indeed a bed in that other room. So, I had been sleeping in a separate room all along. Does this mean we were living separately? Thinking about it this way, all of Aria’s unusual behavior yesterday started to make sense. I felt utterly embarrassed. I buried my face in my hands, already regretting my actions many times over. Coco must have heard our conversation because she came running to the bedroom door, barefoot. She looked at me expectantly but didn’t dare to come in. “Coco, come here to Daddy,” I said gently, holding out my arms to her. Hearing this, the little one excitedly ran towards me. She pounced on me, knocking me back onto the bed, and flashed her little tiger teeth in a big smile. “Daddy,” she said, nuzzling her head against my chest. My heart melted. She really was my adorable baby girl. No matter how much Aria might hate me right now, Coco was still my daughter, and I was determined to be a good father to her. I said goodbye to the housekeeper and took Coco out for a day just for the two of us. We went shopping, and I bought her lots of pretty clothes. I also bought some normal clothes for myself. After all, my post-marriage style was a bit hard to accept. I carried Coco in my arms as she happily ate ice cream, her face covered in cream. I gently wiped her face clean. “Coco, what was Daddy like before?” I asked. Coco looked at me, pouted a little, and said in a slightly hurt tone, “Mean to Coco.” Then she added, “Grumpy.” Children don’t lie, and her words made my heart ache. It seemed the old me had changed so much that even I couldn’t recognize myself. So why did Aria choose to marry me? Was it because she liked me? If so, she must have had quite unusual taste. “Daddy, I want that!” Coco suddenly pointed her chubby little hand at a poster for the latest McDonald’s family meal deal. Ah, the irresistible appeal of fast food to kids. “Sure, let’s get it!” I said. An hour later, Coco and I sat with our heads down on the couch in Aria’s office, looking very much like two kids who had been caught doing something wrong. The cause of our predicament was the aromatic family meal deal sitting on the coffee table in front of us. It all started with Coco’s filial piety. She felt that while we were out having fun, her mom was working hard alone, so she wanted to share her “delicious food” with her mom. Aria’s workplace happened to be near the mall, and I couldn’t bear to refuse the little one’s request. So, we cheerfully went to Aria’s office. But in Aria’s eyes, Coco’s “delicious food” was nothing but “junk.” And that’s how we ended up in this interrogation.

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Clock Out. Or Die. As quitting time approached, a pop-up notification flashed across everyone’s screens within the company network. **[Please log off promptly at 6:00 PM. Otherwise, you might die!]** I thought it was just some lame prank and was about to click it away when, the next second, a notification from our never-seen boss appeared: **[All departments will work until midnight tonight.]** Only a few high-level executives had the permission to @everyone. But this message came from an anonymous sender with a blank profile picture. There was no way to tell who it was. Were they just rage-quitting? “???” “Who is this?” **[@Sherry, HR Director, what the hell is going on?]** **[Who enabled anonymous access?]** … Sherry, HR Director: **[I’m sorry, I’m checking immediately!]** The group chat fell silent. Dead silent. Ten minutes later, the company’s big boss, Mr. Harrison, who’d never once shown his face in the internal chat, finally popped up. Just one sentence: **[All departments will work until midnight tonight. Project Alpha needs to launch ahead of schedule. Everyone, let’s push through. Your hard work is appreciated.]** *Whoosh whoosh whoosh!* Immediately, a flood of replies followed: **[Got it!]** Mr. Harrison added another line: **[HR will calculate overtime pay as per policy.]** Suddenly, the group chat was flooded with praise and adoration. Even in the dead of winter, the brown-nosers were popping up faster than dandelions in spring. Especially those thumbs-up emojis – every single one of them was used with sickening, masterful skill. Right after that, I heard Ms. Davenport, the HR VP, roaring: “Who was that anonymous sender?! Find them for me, now!” I was just pulling my keyboard closer, resigned to bury myself in work, when the pop-up appeared again. **Alert: [Dear diligent workers, quitting time has arrived!]** **[If you insist on working overtime, please strictly follow the rules below!]** **[1. Unless absolutely necessary, please avoid moving around. Outside your workstation, any other location may pose a fatal danger.]** **[2. No smoking in public areas! Warning: The former smoking lounge poses extreme danger and is currently unusable!]** **[3. Do NOT eat employee meals! Do NOT eat employee meals! Do NOT eat employee meals! Ordering takeout is permitted!]** **[4. Be wary of takeout delivery personnel.]** **[5. Do NOT make coffee! Do NOT make coffee! Do NOT make coffee!]** **[6. These rules are active from 6:00 PM to midnight. Death quota: 4 people. May you survive!]** **— Anonymous User!** At this moment, the clock struck 6:00 PM—the exact time we were supposed to log off. … Mr. Preston, our tech department head, was yelling: “Which damn jerk did this?! I’ll rip their hide off!” Chad, at the desk to my right, and I exchanged glances. Chad pursed his lips, then turned to our team lead, Derek: “Derek, should I go at him?” Derek pushed up his glasses, not even bothering to look up: “Mr. Evans’s team is already on it.” Chad shoved his keyboard away, clearly annoyed. Derek used to be such a workaholic, leading our team to outperform others and earning serious respect from Mr. Harrison. Too bad that was in the past. To my left was Chloe, a new intern. She was in her early twenties, full of life, and even in this cold weather, she was rocking a cute, trendy schoolgirl-style outfit with white stockings and pigtails. Let me put it this way: in our tech field, women are already a rare gem, like finding a unicorn. And Chloe? She was a unicorn with a unicorn’s rare blood type. As far as I know, at least a dozen male colleagues were constantly trying to get her attention. But Chloe was sweet and well-behaved. She stuck by me after joining the team and wasn’t high-maintenance at all. Chloe cautiously looked up at me: “Alex, is this company into these kinds of games?” “Don’t sweat it, it’s clearly just a prank. We just need to keep doing our jobs.” I said it easily, but my heart was thumping a bit too. “Check your OKR progress. It’s perfect for a bit of overtime, isn’t it?” Suddenly, Derek stood up and clapped his hands. The ceiling lights cast a cold, stark white glow on his lean face. “Stop discussing, everyone. Just focus on your work. Alex, pass me the topic list.” “Oh, right. Sure.” I gestured: “Chloe, can you print this for me? I’ll send you the file right away.” Chloe pulled back her neck, a little scared, and mumbled softly: “Alex, the rules said not to leave our workstation…” I almost laughed out loud. The girl was really taking it seriously. “You actually believe that? Fine, I’ll print it myself then.” “No, no, Alex! It’s just a small thing, you don’t need to do it. I’ll go, I’ll go…” That’s more like it. “Go on, then. Hurry up.”

Chloe had been with me since she started her internship, acting as both an assistant and a general helper. Honestly, whether she’d get her full-time offer in two weeks depended entirely on my signature. Chloe received the file, remotely sent it to the printer, grabbed her water bottle, and headed to the print room, apparently intending to get some water as well. Three minutes later, Chloe placed a stack of documents on my desk. I stared at the code on my screen, grunted, and planned to give them to Derek later. First, the new project topic list needed more discussion. I still needed to think it over and talk about the specifics with Derek. Second, since the beginning of the year, our team lead had become surprisingly chill. He dragged his feet on projects even more than we did. I figured he wasn’t in a hurry. I’d heard a rumor that he landed a massive side gig last year and raked in a fortune! Honestly, working when you’re broke, that’s sacrificing your soul! But working when you’re loaded? It’s just… a lifestyle choice. To be honest, if I weren’t broke, I’d probably be just as chill… “Al-Alex…” Chloe hadn’t left, her voice thick with tears. “What’s wrong?” I looked up and asked. “Alex, look…” My eyes scanned the printed documents, and I instantly flared up: “What the hell? Why did you print it in red ink? If I give this to Derek, he’d totally ream me out!” “I didn’t, Alex!” Chloe cried, her voice trembling. “I really didn’t! I don’t know how, but it just printed like this!” “Is the printer broken? Then switch to another one and print it again!” “I… I don’t dare…” “Huh?” I glared at Chloe again, but the next second, I realized something was wrong, and my heart sank. The words on the document were vivid red, abnormally so. Something wasn’t right! I ran my finger over the paper, and a bright smear spread! This wasn’t red ink at all. It looked more like… blood! I shot up from my chair: “Which printer?” “Number 3!” “I’ll go check!” I took a step, but then my body tensed, and I froze: “Chloe, go back to your desk first.” Chloe meekly nodded, pulling her neck in, and sat back down. “…Outside your workstation, any other location may pose a fatal danger!” That warning echoed in my mind. Could it be… “Ah…!” Suddenly, a piercing scream erupted from the direction of the print room! “Someone’s dead!”

I didn’t have time to react. Those closest to the print room had already rushed in. Then came the terrified shouts: “Quick! Someone! Call an ambulance!” I instinctively followed the crowd towards the print room. Just as I turned, I saw Chloe huddled in her chair, head buried. Curled up like a pathetic little quail. By the time I reached the print room, a chaotic crowd had already gathered. The deceased, I remembered seeing him around, but I couldn’t recall his name. Everyone immediately confirmed there was no point in trying to save him. He was sprawled over a standing printer, his right hand clenched into a fist, pressed against his throat. A ballpoint pen was plunged into his throat. A small section of it had even pierced through the back of his neck! His death was like something out of a crime thriller, or those old-school detective shows where someone gets a pen jammed into their throat. It was exactly the same. A large amount of fresh blood covered the printer, pooling onto the floor. His shirt collar was hooked on the corner of the printer’s lid, which was why he hadn’t slid off after collapsing onto it. And at his feet, there was a streak of water. I could almost visualize the scene! He was standing by the printer, waiting for documents, holding a pen, idly tapping it on the printer lid. Perhaps he got tired and shifted his weight, inadvertently slipping on the water. His foot slid backward, and he pitched forward! The upright pen in his hand pierced his throat! It seemed perfectly logical. But also far too coincidental. Suddenly, someone yelled: “Why is there no signal?! I can’t call 911!” “Then go outside and call! Someone died in the company, what the hell is going on?!” “Everyone back to your workstations! Don’t panic! I’ll handle things here! Forget a dead body, even if the sky falls, Project Alpha *must* launch by midnight!” The speaker was Trevor, whom we all called Big Trev. He held the title of General Office Assistant, which was basically a useless position, only handling miscellaneous stuff. He was a busybody, always riding on Mr. Harrison’s coattails, and incredibly reckless… In short, he was a universally despised jerk. But what could we do? He was Mr. Harrison’s cousin. That bastard. This was his chance to really throw his weight around! I quietly exited the print room. Outside, the atmosphere was already explosive. “Damn, this is seriously messed up. Someone died in the company late at night, and we’re still not allowed to leave?” “Do you think it has something to do with those rules in the chat? About not leaving your workstation because other places are fatally dangerous?” “Stop BS-ing, you actually believe that?” “Just wait and see how the company tries to hush it up if someone dies during overtime.” “Our tech department is freaking amazing, they managed to jam all the signals in the entire company!” Hearing that, I quickly pulled my head back. I’m in the damn tech department too!

I thought that after someone died, everyone would be terrified and want to leave the office. To my surprise, their panic didn’t last more than three minutes. They were all eager to gossip, their eyes practically glued to the print room. Just then, the window on the south side of the office space suddenly blew open with a bang! The frigid winter wind rushed in like a blade. “Quick, close the window! I’m freezing to death!” Looking at the eerie green glow of the ‘Emergency Exit’ sign above the door, my heart tightened. Chloe slid her chair closer, leaning over. There were tear streaks on her face, and her nose was red. “Alex, can I go home? I’m too scared…” It was cold, and Chloe’s lean exposed a glimpse of her thermal shirt underneath her cute schoolgirl-style uniform collar, but even so, my eyes couldn’t help but wander. Still, my resolve was firm. “Chloe, I understand you’re scared, but if you really leave now, whether you get your full-time offer might not be my call anymore…” I subtly gestured towards Derek, our team lead. Chloe froze, then lowered her head and sat back down. Faintly, I heard Chloe’s sniffles. My heart softened. I looked up and asked Derek, who was three workstations away: “Derek, it’s getting too late. Chloe’s just a young girl, it’s not safe for her to go home alone. Besides, I don’t really have anything for her to do, so maybe…” Derek pushed up his glasses, the light casting a cold, stark white on his face. His voice was just as cold: “Either work overtime, or resign.” I could only give Chloe a helpless look.

“Alex, did you get a good look? I couldn’t squeeze in! I heard the pen went all the way through his neck, blood was everywhere on the printer, and there were even blood spatters on the ceiling!” Chad slid his chair next to me and whispered, leaning in. “Man, that’s wild! Alex, do you know who died?” “I’ve seen him before, but I can’t remember his name. I just remember… he always wore a blue plaid shirt, carried a thermos like an old man, and was balding at such a young age…” Chad slapped his thigh: “???! The King of the Grind died?!” The mention of “King of the Grind” made my mind buzz, and I remembered too. The King of the Grind was Kyle. He was a textbook example of the ‘overzealous underachiever.’ Constantly teetering between promotion and promotion failure. He held the record for failing six promotions in one year! “Ugh, well, that’s a relief. The group chat will be a lot quieter now. I was so sick of seeing his damn thumbs-up! Right, Alex?” Every time overtime was announced, Kyle was always the first to respond with a thumbs-up emoji. And he’d drag everyone else down with him. His work intensity was comparable to two full-time employees and a caffeinated dog. He wasn’t even a programmer in our tech department, but at such a young age, his head was balder than Chad’s. I thought, the man’s dead, why keep mocking him? I didn’t take Chad’s bait. *Boom!* From the direction of the print room, a dull explosion suddenly roared! Then, a cloud of black smoke drifted out. Across from me, Chloe jumped up with a start, tears streaming down her face. “Holy crap, was his grudge so strong he blew up the printer?” Chad clicked his tongue playfully, dragging his chair back. My heart was pounding like it was caught in a snare, twitching harder with every beat. *Click!* Just then, all the lights in the entire company suddenly went out! Everyone’s computer screens went black too! “Ah!!!” “It’s haunted!” “What a crappy company! I’m out! Screw this!” Instantly, screams and angry shouts erupted. At first, when someone died and we weren’t allowed to leave, everyone held it in. But now that the lights were out, even if nothing was wrong, it was enough to terrify everyone! In the darkness, I felt a hand blindly reaching out, grabbing mine!

I considered myself pretty brave. I grew up in the sticks, and my grandma used to tell me all sorts of spooky old tales. I thought I’d heard it all. But this time, it still scared the living daylights out of me! “Alex, please, talk to Derek again. Let me go home, I want to go home, boohoo…” I instinctively tightened my grip, clutching Chloe’s soft hand. “Chloe, don’t do that, you almost scared me to death!” Honestly, my head was buzzing too, a complete blank. Even though I’m usually a rational guy and don’t believe in ghosts, I was seriously creeped out. Could it really be haunted? “Everyone shut the hell up! The printer shorted out, the circuit breaker popped! I’ll just flip it back on. Everyone, sit down! Mr. Harrison said if the project launches tonight, everyone gets a two-thousand-dollar bonus!” Hearing that, the restless colleagues actually quieted down quite a bit. *Click!* As power was restored and the lights came back on, everyone looked at each other, unsure what to do. Chloe pulled her hand back, glanced awkwardly at her bag, hesitated for a moment, but ultimately didn’t leave. She sat back down. Money truly makes the world go ’round, or at least makes people forget their fears. Two thousand bucks was roughly a month’s pay for Chloe as an intern before she even got her full-time offer. Like puppets, everyone rebooted their computers and went back to work. “Alex, look, who’s that? Why is someone covered in blood coming back from outside?” Chad pointed towards the entrance. I turned my head and, sure enough, a man, covered in blood, stumbled in. “Mr. Preston? What happened to you?” a colleague asked, startled. Mr. Preston was our department head! My boss’s boss! “It’s real! Those rules are real! Everyone, don’t run! Don’t run, just stay here, don’t move! It’s real!” With that, Mr. Preston crumpled to the floor.

Luckily, Mr. Preston wasn’t dead. He was covered in cuts, drenched in blood. They laid him on a lounge chair, and he gasped for air for a good while before he finally recovered. Thank goodness. If two people died within such a short time, everyone would probably freak out. Colleagues exchanged uneasy glances. I forced myself to stay calm and restarted my computer. After the computer rebooted, several windows popped up from the internal software again. Without exception, they were all from the VP of Human Resources and Finance! **@everyone: [There’s an unexpected situation at the company. Everyone stay calm and don’t move. Someone will handle it!]** **@everyone: [Tonight’s project *must* launch on time. Any slip-ups will be traced to individuals!]** **@everyone: [Considering tonight’s special circumstances, the company has decided to give every employee who clocks out after midnight a $2000 cash subsidy. $200 will be paid directly after logging off, and the remaining amount will be deposited into your bank account along with your salary over 9 months.]** **@everyone: [After power is restored, ensure orderly work. Strictly forbidden to take photos or videos. Do NOT leak videos or images outside the company. Violators will be held accountable!]** … “Tsk, I knew it! The higher-ups are all the same, aren’t they? Two thousand bucks, and they’re paying it in installments? Why don’t they just go broke themselves!” Chad muttered beside me. “Alex, let’s go grab a smoke! It’s too stifling in here.” Chad stood up, motioning for me to come with him. He was right. All this back and forth had my nerves shot. I needed a break. “Let’s go, let’s just tough it out until midnight, then I’m taking five days off tomorrow and just chilling!” As Chad and I walked past the door, we got a pretty good idea of how Mr. Preston got his injuries. “Ugh! Serves him right!” Chad spat. He’d disliked Mr. Preston, our department head, for a long time. To the left of the company entrance were the restrooms and the smoking lounge. Straight ahead was the corridor and the shared elevator lobby. To the right was the fire shutter leading to the stairwell. We smokers sometimes used the stairwell when we were too lazy to go to the smoking lounge. Normally, the fire shutter wasn’t lowered. But now, it was not only half-lowered but severely damaged. The rolled-up metal sheets were covered in blood, and there were blood spatters on the floor and walls. Several grotesque bloody handprints were slapped on the wall, tearing chunks out of the drywall. “Mr. Preston must have tried to go to the stairwell for a smoke and got hit by the shutter. He got caught in it, but luckily, he didn’t die.” I felt a surge of relief for Mr. Preston. I glanced at Chad and whispered: “It might be that what the group message said is true…” “Alex, don’t scare me. Dude, I’m a millennial barely making rent, the only thing I’m terrified of is going bankrupt. You think I’m scared of a prank?” “I was just saying.” Chad cursed: “You watch. That idiotic rule said the smoking lounge was dangerous, right? I’m gonna go try it! It’s all just the higher-ups messing with us!” *Flick!* Chad lit a cigarette and put it in his mouth. Suddenly, I vaguely thought I saw a red dot on his forehead, which then vanished. I shook my head, assuming I’d imagined it. The red dot must have been the lit end of his cigarette… It was then that I felt something like a gust of wind on the back of my neck. But when I turned around, there was nothing there… “Don’t smoke here! Let’s walk to the bathroom, quick, hurry!” At this point, I was subtly starting to believe the anonymous rules in the group chat! Rule 2: **[No smoking in public areas! Warning: The former smoking lounge poses extreme danger and is currently unusable!]** I pulled Chad along, heading from the corridor towards the restroom, which was right across from the smoking lounge. Chad, true to form, refused to believe in bad luck. He took a step and walked right into the smoking lounge. “Ha, Alex, just watch. Nothing’s gonna happen. I bet Chloe was scared for nothing, hahaha.” I paused for a few seconds. Seeing Chad was fine, I didn’t think much of it and started lighting my own cigarette as I walked in. But… *CRASH!* A grating sound tore through the air! And then, I noticed Chad wasn’t moving! His eyes were slits, and a faint tremor ran through his jaw. The cigarette clenched between his lips dropped. “Chad?” The source of that horrific crashing sound was the metal trash can in the corner of the smoking lounge. The trash can was bouncing wildly on the floor, completely split open, its metal sides covered in blood.

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