Author: Momo Chan

I was rushed to the emergency room, hemorrhaging badly from a severe skin condition. My husband, Mark, rushed to my side, seemingly frantic with worry. My eyes burned with unshed tears, wanting to say something, anything, but then a strange overlay of text flashed before my eyes: **[The devoted, foolish wife. Your husband bound a Beauty System to you, for his adopted sister.]** **[All the expensive skincare and supplements you’ve been using? They’re working on HER. And because her private life is a mess, all the skin diseases she gets? YOU’RE stuck with them! How pathetic.]** A shiver went down my spine. My mother-in-law, Martha, hurried in, bringing my work laptop, wiping sweat from her forehead. More text scrolled into view: **[She also bound a Wealth System to you. All the money you slaved away for, painstakingly earning it through your online store, went straight into her adopted daughter’s pocket.]** **[You went from being a stunning business elite to a bankrupt, ugly, penniless mess—and it’s all THEIR fault!]** I froze, stunned. Fury ignited in my chest, a wildfire spreading through my veins. They wanted their adopted daughter to thrive? How DARE they ruin me for it! I instantly canceled my salon membership, shut down my online store, and officially gave up on life. You want to play dirty? Fine. Let’s see who has the last laugh!

“How could you hemorrhage from a simple laser skin treatment? What’s wrong with you! Don’t you care about your body?” Mark stood by my hospital bed, his eyes blazing with barely concealed rage, fixed on my frail, barely conscious form. We were college sweethearts. I was the one who pursued him, and even though he’d always been distant, he agreed to marry me. I thought, deep down, he had to care about me. But the floating text ripped away the illusion, exposing the brutal truth: Mark had never felt anything for me. Not from the start. “Well, whatever. If my skin condition isn’t going to get better anyway, why bother with expensive treatments? I’ll just let it run its course.” I glanced at him, my face expressionless. I took a bag of extra-spicy takeout and a bag of super-hot chips from the delivery guy and started eating. Before, I’d been so afraid of spicy food ruining my skin, I never dared. Mark’s face darkened, his eyes wide with fury as he jabbed a finger at my face: “You HAVE to take care of your appearance! I’m a successful businessman now! What will people think of me if you look like this? Do you want me to be a laughingstock?” “I’ve already booked you for cryotherapy tomorrow for that corn on your foot. If you don’t go, no food and no sleep for you!” I didn’t even spare him a glance. Mark was livid, his hand twitching, ready to strike me. Just then, my “kindly” mother-in-law, Martha, bustled in and grabbed his arm. “I heard the e-commerce sector is booming lately, and new projects are being selected. If you get picked, there’s a million-dollar start-up grant! Serena must be preparing hard for that, right?” “Alright, she’s busy with work, why are you pushing her so hard? Audrey, you got this! Mom’s rooting for you!” A cold, bitter laugh twisted my lips. I gripped the bedsheet so tightly my knuckles turned white, wishing I could rip them both to shreds. Mark was penniless the year he married me. I was the one who told my parents not to ask for a single cent of financial support, and even brought a substantial dowry, so he’d have money to start his business and build it to its current scale. And Martha? A few years ago, she had a stroke and nearly died. It was *me* who flew in a renowned specialist from out of state for her surgery, and *I* personally cared for her for two months—bathing her, emptying her bedpan, feeding her—literally pulling her back from death’s door. Even all that couldn’t compare to Serena, the adopted sister who’d only been with the family for three years. What exactly was her charm, to turn a once loving family against each other? “You two are truly so thoughtful and caring towards me.” A mocking smile played on my lips. “Don’t worry, I’ll repay your ‘kindness’ a hundredfold. I won’t let you down.” Mark looked uncomfortable, but Martha was beaming with a sickly sweet smile, squeezing closer to me. “Audrey, why say such distant things? You married into the Lewis family, and I treat you like my own daughter. If you really want to thank us… how about this? I recently saw a new Hermès bag I really love. Your dad has money, doesn’t he? Can you ask him to buy it for me?” Still dreaming of a luxury bag? As if you deserve it! I got up, nudged her aside with my laptop, and walked out without looking back.

The next day was Martha’s sixtieth birthday. The house was packed with relatives and friends. Mark’s adopted sister, Serena, naturally wouldn’t miss it. She entered wearing a pure white evening gown, looking like a pure angel, delicate as a lily, drawing everyone’s gaze. Three years ago, when I first met her, she was covered in red spots, her face disfigured, too self-conscious to even look at me. She claimed she was my junior from college and admired me because I was such a campus celebrity. Martha said Serena was her best friend’s child, an orphan, and so pitiable that she took her in. I started helping her find dermatologists to treat her skin, taught her the ropes of doing business, and even urged Mark to be kinder to her, telling him to lighten up. But strangely, my own body started breaking out in strange little bumps, sometimes so painful they’d wake me up in the middle of the night. My business plummeted, and even my in-laws’ concern for me dwindled. Now, Serena rushed to me, sobbing, and hugged me. She meticulously scanned my body, a flicker of triumph flashing in her eyes, barely perceptible. “Audrey, are you okay? Yesterday, Mom said you had a hemorrhage from a beauty treatment and ended up in the hospital. I was away on a business trip, and I was so worried I couldn’t eat or sleep. I even cried.” “If you’re really not feeling well, maybe you should just put skincare on hold for a bit. Your life is definitely more important than your looks, don’t you think?” Before I could even speak, the surrounding relatives burst into mocking laughter. “Serena, you’re so beautiful and kind-hearted. Don’t get too close to women like her. Do you know what kind of skin diseases she has? Syphilis, herpes, maybe even HPV! Women like her get sick because they’re loose! It’s disgusting!” “Serena, you’re pretty and you know how to make money. If only we could have a daughter-in-law like you, that would truly be a blessing from our ancestors!” “Audrey constantly spends money on treatments because there’s a beautiful and smart woman like you living with Mark’s family. She feels threatened, of course, afraid Mark will divorce her and choose to be with you. Honestly, Mark is such an idiot. Why keep a woman like her around?” Before this, I’d actually wondered if I’d caught my skin disease from sitting on a park bench. I even felt guilty towards Mark and Martha, and I dared not protest against the relatives’ ridicule. But now, I uncorked a bottle of red wine and sprayed it all over their faces. “How can your hearts be so vile! Instead of cheering for our family to fall apart, why don’t you try being supportive? You’re so full of garbage yourselves, no wonder you see everyone else as trash!” “Alright, everyone, let’s calm down.” Serena stepped in front of me, looking utterly pitiful, trying to shield me. “I know I’ve made Audrey feel insecure and lacking in confidence, but there’s nothing wrong with her wanting to be better. We should respect everyone’s choices and treat everyone around us with kindness.” “But Audrey, the uncles and aunts were just trying to give you friendly advice. It’s wrong for you to suddenly lose your temper. We’re all family, we should live in harmony.” “Live in harmony, how?” My blood boiled. “Have they ever treated me like family? Would family accuse and insult me like this when I’m sick and miserable?” Grandpa Lewis happened to be pushed into the room in his wheelchair. The relatives glared at me resentfully, then immediately fell silent. “You fickle little hussy, still daring to yell at us here.” After the banquet started, Uncle Dave, carrying a bowl of hot stew, “accidentally” bumped into me. The hot liquid spilled all over me, scalding my skin red and raising blisters. I rushed to find a restroom to rinse off with cold water, but every single one was occupied. I lost my balance and fell, knocking out a front tooth. The pain was excruciating, tearing through me, but everyone around me simply grinned, looking pleased. Kevin, Mark’s best friend, disgustedly pinched his nose. “What a drama queen, and she’s not even pretty! Shouldn’t someone just make her leave? Who could eat with her looking like that!”

Martha’s sixtieth birthday banquet invited many industry elites. Now that the new projects were being selected, ordinarily, I would have sought their advice, eager to learn about the new ventures. But ever since the floating text revealed the truth, I no longer wanted to do business. Why earn money only for someone else to spend it? I sprawled on the sofa, pulled out my phone, and started playing Call of Duty. Serena, surrounded by a group of handsome guys, was laughing and chatting, but then she glanced over and saw me playing a video game. Her composure instantly shattered. “Audrey!” She pushed through the crowd of men and walked towards me, disbelief etched on her face: “Aren’t you running an online store? The e-commerce start-up competition is so popular, and so many of our relatives are in that field. Why aren’t you going to learn something?” “I’ve been doing business for so long, and it’s all been a loss. Even if there’s a project, it wouldn’t be my turn to talk about it, so why humiliate myself?” I smirked, continuing my game without even looking up. It was wonderful to play my game in peace, undisturbed. Other relatives and friends looked down on me and didn’t want to talk to me at all. The more I played, the better I got. My hands felt incredible, my shots were precise, my strategies ingenious. I won every round, laughing all the way to the end. My stats were amazing! I skipped the banquet food and ordered a huge feast of my favorite extra-spicy Thai food, eating and watching variety shows, tears of laughter streaming down my face. As I was about to head back to my room for a good night’s sleep, I noticed several pairs of men’s designer shoes placed outside my door. “Audrey, you must be too insecure to approach those big bosses, right? I’ve already prepared gifts for them. Just give them these, and they’ll definitely be willing to share their business wisdom with you.” Serena linked her arm through mine. “Those few pairs of shoes cost two thousand dollars in total. Remember to transfer the money to my account. And an extra hundred dollars for my service fee, send that too.” She smiled, about to go back and chat with the men, but I spun around and piled all the shoe boxes in front of her. She stared at me, astonished, but my face remained utterly calm. “Who told you to prepare these for me? If you want to give gifts, give them yourself.” I’d always spoken softly to Serena, but today my voice was louder, my attitude harsher. She looked embarrassed, her face flushing with anger. “I spent two thousand dollars on these gifts to help you earn more money! What do you mean by returning them now? Even if I earn a lot, my money is still money, isn’t it? How can you be so wasteful?” I responded coldly, “Stop pretending to be a good person. I didn’t ask you to prepare anything for me. You wanted to buy these yourself, what does it have to do with me?” Serena looked at me, utterly desperate, her face a mix of shock and fury. Then, tears started dripping onto the floor, a picture of absolute heartbreak, sobbing uncontrollably. “I’ve always treated you like my sister-in-law, like family. Everything I do is for your own good. If you don’t appreciate it, fine, but to humiliate me in front of so many people? What is wrong with you?!” She collapsed to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably, gasping for breath. Her pitiful display instantly made outsiders feel an overwhelming urge to protect her. Everyone glared at me, seething. Several wealthy young gentlemen from prominent families even looked like they wanted to rush forward and hit me. “Audrey! So this is how you usually bully your sister-in-law! You’re ugly and your heart is cruel. If I were Serena, I’d beat you to death! You must apologize to her immediately, and give her all your savings from these past years to cheer her up!” Their unbelievable thought process shattered my perception of reality. “She wants to buy and give you shoes? Fine, go ahead and give them. Why drag me into it? It has nothing to do with me.” Martha happened to walk out of the kitchen, carrying a steaming platter of pot roast. “Serena!” She rushed nervously to Serena’s side, quickly putting an arm around her shoulder to check on her, even calling an ambulance. Before leaving, Martha didn’t forget to glare at me, as if I were her sworn enemy.

“Audrey, I’m telling you, if Serena suffers severe psychological trauma, we won’t let you off the hook! Everyone here is a witness!” Relatives and friends pointed fingers at me. They were right, what if Serena fabricated false evidence to frame me? That wouldn’t be good! I immediately followed them into the ambulance. In the emergency room, Serena, looking pale, saw me engrossed in a book and assumed it was a business textbook. But then I flipped it over, showing her the cover, and she realized it was a graphic novel. Her face instantly contorted in a sneer. “Audrey, what is wrong with you? Aren’t you buried under a mountain of debt right now? You’re not trying to earn money, you’re here reading comics! Throw that thing away!” I nonchalantly glanced at her, then moved to a chair by the door to continue reading. Serena looked like she was about to explode. “Have you lost your mind?! Why are you acting so lazy and careless? You used to be so ambitious!” “Mom, why are you staring at me like that?” Martha’s hand, holding a spoon of porridge, froze mid-air. She looked utterly startled. “Serena, why do you have red spots on your neck? That’s strange.” Prompted by Martha, I also looked at her neck. Indeed, there were two or three small red spots, though not very noticeable. Serena’s face instantly drained of all color, looking deeply unhappy. Martha chuckled awkwardly. “Serena, don’t mind me. I just wanted to remind you that there are many mosquitoes at night. I’ll buy you a new electric mosquito repellent later. It’s all my fault, your window screen is broken, and I haven’t had anyone fix it yet.” The doctor reassured Serena that her examination showed no problems and she could go home directly. Martha, overjoyed, ordered Serena’s favorite platter of mixed seafood takeout, hoping it would cheer her up. I pouted, feeling annoyed. “Mom, why are you only concerned with making Serena happy? Just now, you thought I was bullying her, brought her to the hospital, and glared at me, giving me a bad attitude. My feelings are hurt too, so how are you going to cheer me up?” “If I hadn’t refused a dowry and brought my own, and if Mom and Dad hadn’t been helping Mark’s family all these years, his business wouldn’t be the size it is now. Are you trying to cut ties with us after you’ve crossed the bridge?” Martha flinched, then forced a strained smile against her true feelings. “Didn’t I just misunderstand you, Audrey? I know you’ve always been a good child, and I truly care about you. Don’t mind it, Mom apologizes to you.” Hilarious. Care about me? Would she push me to my doom if she truly cared? Honestly, for the first few years after I married into the Lewis family, I truly believed her when she said she’d treat me like her own daughter. “Mom, I really must thank you. You truly are different with me.” As Martha opened the delivery box of marinated seafood, I eagerly rushed over and, with my bare hands, started stuffing shrimp, crab, abalone, and clams into my mouth. Serena’s face went green with horror, and she frantically gave Martha a look, urging her to snatch the food away. But I was strong, and Martha couldn’t take anything back. I had already eaten it all. “Martha, I’m your daughter-in-law. I’ve given your family so much money. Are you really too stingy to even treat me to some takeout?” Seafood would only worsen my skin condition. Bring it on! Let’s go down together! The moment I stepped out of the hospital, I regained my composure. I hurried back to my own home, and as soon as I entered, I grabbed my parents’ hands. “Dad, Mom, Mark borrowed ten million from our family for his business before, didn’t he? Even though we have money, we can’t just let outsiders leech off us. If he wants to make money, he needs to learn to stand on his own two feet. I think we should get all that money back.” “You two always said Mark wasn’t good enough for me. It’s my fault for not listening to you back then. Now I see clearly. I’ll divorce him soon, and I’ll spend the rest of my life honoring you two at home.” My parents exchanged a look, tears welling up in their eyes, deeply moved. They let me move back home, tidying my room meticulously. I didn’t have to do any housework, could eat whatever I wanted, buy whatever I wanted. My family wasn’t short on money, and I didn’t need to earn any. “My sweet girl, as long as you’ve come to your senses, you’ll always be Dad and Mom’s little princess. We’ll do anything for you, unconditionally.” Dad stroked my head. “We only have one wish: we just want you to be happy.” A warm current surged through me, and my eyes welled up. As I lowered my head to wipe away my tears, I caught a glimpse of my arm. The red rashes seemed to have lessened, and they weren’t itching as much! The rumors that I had bullied Serena quickly spread through the family group chat. After Serena was discharged from the hospital, Mark even bought her an apartment, and she moved in directly.

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The night before my wedding, Christian’s charity student, Stella, was in trouble again. “Stella overdosed on sleeping pills. She just got rescued.” “Her parents are claiming that by taking her away, I ruined her reputation.” “If I don’t marry her, those monsters will marry her off to some local eccentric.” Christian leaned against my doorframe, lighting a cigarette. “You’re not very mobile, so having her stand in for you at the wedding would be good for you too.” “To avoid any suspicion, you can go abroad for a while. Think of it as a vacation.” The sharp pain of my nails digging into my palm jolted me back to reality. “Okay,” I whispered. The room was thick with cigarette smoke, making me cough. It had been a long time since I last saw Christian Hayes, my fiancé. The last time was a month ago, on my birthday. He was unusually happy, inviting a bunch of friends from his circle to celebrate with me. As I blew out my candles and made a wish, Stella accidentally knocked over my cake. The lit candles caught the blanket covering my legs on fire. My legs were burned, but it was Stella who looked terrified. She immediately dropped to her knees, her face contorted with fear. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Vance. It’s all my fault. I deserve to die. I shouldn’t even be here!” With that, she bowed her head repeatedly towards me, practically knocking it on the floor. “Ms. Vance, please forgive me! I truly have nowhere else to go if I leave the Hayes family. Please don’t kick me out, please…” Stella sobbed, her whole body trembling, looking utterly terrified. My friends, who were rushing to check my injury, were instantly distracted by her. “What’s going on?” “I heard Mr. Hayes’ fiancée doesn’t like this charity student. Looks like she’s been giving her a hard time.” “If you ask me, Ms. Vance should’ve taught her a lesson long ago. Always hovering around Christian, who knows what she’s really after.” … Christian, who had been kneeling beside me, worriedly checking my burns, looked up at me, bewildered. Then he stood up and walked decisively towards Stella. “Stella, no one blames you,” Christian gently comforted her. “I’m here. No one can make you leave.” He pulled Stella into a hug, and she buried her face in his chest, sobbing. The guests exchanged glances, wanting to say something but holding back. Finally, someone whispered a reminder. “Christian, Eleanor is still hurt.” Stella heard that and immediately lifted her head, her eyes wide with fresh panic. She pulled away from Christian’s embrace and stumbled back to kneel before me again. “Ms. Vance, it’s all my fault. Please don’t make things difficult for Christian.” “Whatever it takes to calm your anger, I’ll do it!” “I know you’ve always hated me, hated that I have normal legs…” “If it makes you feel better, I’m willing to burn my legs too!” Stella put on a pitiful display, looking at me, but I ignored her. She gritted her teeth and reached for a lighter on the table, as if to ignite it. “Enough!” Christian slapped the lighter out of Stella’s hand and pulled her back into his arms. “Eleanor Vance, do you have to drive her to her death to be satisfied?!” I, who had been startled and frozen in place, finally snapped back. “What?” “You know she’s studying dance, why would you want to burn her legs?!” “Stella has it hard enough already. It wasn’t on purpose. Is it really fun for you to target her like this?” “The accident back then wasn’t her fault, so how long are you going to hold a grudge?” Christian’s angry accusations felt alien to me. “I didn’t…” My defense was cut off before I could even utter it. “Ha, you just can’t dance anymore, so you can’t stand to see anyone else succeed.” “Eleanor Vance, you’re taking advantage of Stella’s dependent position, bullying her when I’m not around.” “But don’t forget, you’re not much better off than her.” I stared at Christian in disbelief. “I was the one who insisted on sponsoring Stella. If you have a problem, take it out on me, but don’t resort to such low tactics. It makes me sick.” With that, he didn’t spare me another glance, turning and carrying Stella upstairs. “Christian! Eleanor’s leg is still injured, and you’re just going to leave her like that?!” A friend jumped in to defend me, but Christian didn’t even turn his head. “What’s the act? How could a cripple’s leg have any feeling?” “Maria, take Ms. Vance back to her room. She’s not allowed to leave until Stella says she forgives her!”

My friends’ sympathetic glances didn’t linger for long. The second Maria took my wheelchair, Christian dismissed all the guests. Maria pushed me to my room, knelt down, and carefully treated my wound. “Ms. Vance, are you in pain?” she asked, tears splashing onto my leg. I shook my head. A cripple’s leg has no feeling, so even if it’s burned, what’s the big deal? But strangely, my numb legs were now throbbing with piercing pain. I lay in bed, tears soaking my pillow again and again. After what felt like an eternity, the accident from years ago resurfaced in my dreams. The country estate abroad held almost all my childhood joys. There, my parents didn’t have to work all day, and they had plenty of time to spend with me. We’d go on boat rides, fly kites, read books, and play the piano together. Before bed, I used to wish upon the brightest star in the night sky for our family to be happy forever. But the forest fire came so fast. So fast that I didn’t even get to see my parents one last time. The acrid smoke choked me, making it impossible to open my eyes, and the pain of the wooden beam crashing onto my legs made me pass out. When I woke up again, only those fake relatives stood by my side, along with a lawyer holding a will, waiting to read it. The memory of that day gradually blurred… I only remember the relatives getting furious and arguing when they realized they couldn’t get any benefits from me. “I’m his actual uncle! How dare that brat cut me out!” “All of it to just one little girl? We’re her true family! Why let someone named Hayes manage all this for her?” “They’re only giving us this much money to raise her?” “What a family disgrace! A true disgrace!” They argued, pushed each other, and shirked the responsibility of raising me. Until Christian pushed open the door. He roared, chasing away those greedy relatives, and held me tightly in his arms. “Don’t be scared, Ellie. If they won’t raise you, I will.” Tears slowly filled my empty eyes, and my fingers clenched tightly onto the hem of his shirt. Finally, I buried my face in his embrace, letting all my sadness and resentment pour out in tears. I could feel Christian’s body trembling. But he just choked out, repeating, “Don’t be scared, I’m here.”

Christian misunderstood. I should explain things clearly to him. That’s what I thought. But I waited in my room for one day, two days, a week, two weeks… He never showed up. “Dependent,” “cripple”—my mind started to wander. Christian had changed. He no longer cared about my pain. He no longer trusted me. In the constant anxiety that filled my days, something inside me slowly began to fade away. Finally, he came that day. But it was to replace me as his bride. “The wedding, I’ll make it up to you later. I’ll explain things to Mom and Dad.” “I’ll rent a nice place for you abroad and arrange for someone to take care of you.” “Stella’s life is already hard enough. Can’t you just try to understand…” Christian frowned, as if my refusal would be an unforgivable sin. “Okay,” I nodded, my calmness surprising even myself. Christian froze for a moment, seemingly not expecting me to agree so readily. His prepared lecture went unused. The acrid smoke made me cough again. Christian seemed to suddenly remember something and quickly snuffed out his cigarette. “I’m sorry, I’m just a little stressed.” For Stella, he’d been constantly stressed for Stella these past few years. Seeing no reaction from me, he explained again. “Ellie, since I decided to sponsor Stella, I have to be responsible for her life.” “Mhm.” “Living in an environment like that, she’s just so insecure.” “I swear, this is the last time I’ll help her. As soon as her family stops bothering her, I’ll cut ties with her immediately.” “Mhm.” “Once this is settled, we’ll get our marriage license.” “…” I didn’t respond to Christian’s words, just pressed a hand to my forehead. “I’m tired. Let’s talk about it tomorrow.” I turned my wheelchair around and pressed the call button by my bed. Maria walked in. “Mr. Hayes, please leave. Ms. Vance needs to rest.” Christian opened his mouth, a somewhat crestfallen expression on his face. “Okay, get some rest.” With that, he turned and left.

Mr. and Mrs. Hayes were my parents’ long-time best friends. They handled my parents’ funeral arrangements and took me in to live with them. From then on, they treated me like their own daughter. Mrs. Hayes once held my hand, smiling, and asked if I’d be willing to be her goddaughter. But Christian interrupted her, so flustered he could barely speak. From that moment, I knew clearly that my relationship with Christian was no longer ordinary. The Christian of the past was flamboyant, carefree, and never took anything seriously. But ever since my accident, he seemed to have become a different person. He voluntarily took on the responsibility of caring for my daily needs, even asking Mr. and Mrs. Hayes to let him drop a grade to study with me. Every morning, he would carry me to the car, and at school, he’d carry me into the classroom. He would carefully blow on my hot soup to cool it down, meticulously choose blankets to cover my legs, and push me around the track every evening to feel the breeze… Of course, he would also argue, even fight, with others who gossiped about me. He started learning how to take care of people, and he also started sitting alone, silent and withdrawn. I once saw him, in the early hours of the morning, secretly crying alone in his room. His love for me was known to everyone. So, how could I not love him? I couldn’t *not* love him. But ever since Stella came to this house, everything seemed to change. I still remember the first time I met Stella. That year, it was our senior year of high school, and everyone was under a lot of pressure. Christian and his friends planned a hiking trip. When he came back, he had Stella with him. The simply dressed girl shyly hid behind Christian, greeting me. “Hello, big sister.” Christian patiently explained Stella’s plight to me. She lived in a rural area, her father was an alcoholic and abusive, and her mother was passive. She’d only received compulsory education because the village insisted. In her teens, her parents planned to marry her off to a stranger to get money for her brother. Christian couldn’t bear it. He gave her parents a sum of money. He promised to sponsor Stella through college and then brought her home. “Ellie, I failed to protect you back then. Now, I can’t bear to see her fall into despair too.” Christian was wrong. I wasn’t the only one still holding a grudge about that accident.

Mr. and Mrs. Hayes were very busy, constantly traveling for work all over the world, so they rarely stayed at the house. Thinking that one more person might make the house feel livelier, I smiled and welcomed Stella in. At first, Stella was always cautious around the house. Christian kept her by his side every day, buying her new clothes, teaching her how to interact with people. Slowly, Stella’s smile grew, and Christian seemed happier too. So she would laugh and twirl, showing Christian her new dresses. She would pull Christian out for a run every morning. They’d meet up for walks on the track, their hands brushing casually. Though I was neglected more and more often, seeing Christian’s radiant smile, I didn’t feel much resentment. After all, I loved him. Despite all this, Stella’s daily clinging to Christian still drew dissatisfaction from those around us. “Who’s that freshman girl?” “I heard she’s Christian’s charity student.” “Why is she always glued to him? Doesn’t she know Christian has a girlfriend? No sense of boundaries at all!” “Exactly! Christian and Eleanor have been engaged since childhood. I heard their wedding date is set; they’re getting their marriage license right after college.” “She’s from a small town, what does she know? She probably just wants to latch onto Christian and skyrocket her life…” Everyone knew about my relationship with Christian, so naturally, they disliked Stella’s behavior and targeted her, sometimes subtly, sometimes overtly. Then, one bright morning, Stella ran into my classroom with red eyes and dropped to her knees in front of me. “Ms. Vance, I know I was wrong. Please stop spreading rumors that I’m a homewrecker.” “I won’t bother Christian anymore, please, please don’t let those people bully me anymore…” Before I could even process her nonsensical words, Christian, who was beside me, shot up. I rarely saw him get that angry, even angrier than the day he heard some delinquents jokingly call me a ‘cripple.’ He harshly warned everyone around us to stop spreading rumors, and even his gaze towards me held a chill. Stella’s crying grew even more heartbroken. “After being talked about like this, I can’t bear to stay here anymore!” With that, she ran out, crying. “Stella!” Christian immediately chased after her, frantic. As he left, he bumped my wheelchair, and I inexplicably felt a sharp pain. It turned out the pen he’d dropped had scratched my lower leg, and a string of bright red blood trickled down. For a moment, it wasn’t just my heart that ached. Christian no longer belonged to me. This thought crossed my mind for the first time.

That day, Christian and Stella didn’t show up until school let out. In the evening, a drizzle began to fall. Did Christian make it home? Did he get caught in the rain? I instinctively started to worry. I picked up my phone and called him, but it rang for a long time with no answer. Classmates gradually started heading home, their gazes towards me filled with a hint of pity. “Ellie, do you need a ride home?” Chloe, a girl I was usually friendly with, walked over and asked cautiously. It was a kind gesture, but I inexplicably twisted up inside. “No, thank you. My driver will pick me up.” I wore a polite smile. As if doing so could protect my ridiculous pride. As if doing so could hide the fact that Christian had abandoned me. But I was wrong. “Ms. Vance, I’m on my way to pick up Mr. Hayes now. Aren’t you two together?” “I’m sorry, it seems Stella had an accident. Mr. Hayes is in a hurry, so please wait at school for now.” The sky gradually darkened, and the school lights went out. The blanket on my legs couldn’t ward off the damp chill, and my body began to shiver slightly. The darkness made me uneasy. I started trying to push my wheelchair. Cold rainwater splashed on me, and a biting cold swept through. But I didn’t want to wait anymore. Was I so reliant on Christian that I couldn’t even get home without him? The wheelchair, slick with water, became incredibly difficult to move. The blanket on me, soaked through, felt heavy. I wanted to pick it up and throw it away. But the wheelchair suddenly slid, and I fell clumsily to the ground. “Ah!” I cried out in pain, trying to stand up, but my legs wouldn’t cooperate. “Eleanor Vance!” The girl I had refused returned and found me fallen in the schoolyard. I could no longer tell if it was tears or rain on my face… In the end, it was Chloe who took me home. “Oh, dear! Ms. Vance, what happened to you? Quick, get some hot water ready for Ms. Vance!” Maria anxiously picked me up and thanked the girl who had brought me home. But I just turned my head away, unable to utter a single word the entire time. By the time I had cleaned up the scrapes on my arms and face and was lying in bed, Christian and Stella finally came home. “Christian, I’m scared. Can you stay with me a little longer?” Stella’s tearful plea reached my ears, and I suddenly felt utterly disgusted. Maria spoke up to remind him, “Mr. Hayes, Ms. Vance is injured.” “Christian…” “If you’re hurt, rest up. I’m not a doctor.” Christian dropped that sentence and didn’t linger outside my door for another step. Even when it was later confirmed that those rumors about Stella hadn’t been spread by me, I never received an apology from Christian or Stella. “Didn’t I tell you to wait at school? Why did you have to act tough? You fell and hurt yourself like this…” “Stella is just a bit insecure. Her way of handling things is inappropriate, but try to understand her.” “Besides, if you were more tolerant towards her, would she have suspected you?” “Ellie, Stella has it hard enough. Do you really have to be so petty with her?” It felt like from that day on, I slowly lost all my emotions regarding Christian. No desire to question, no more jealousy.

A relationship bound by so-called gratitude felt utterly meaningless. Christian finally allowed me to leave my room. Maria was even happier than usual as she pushed me to get ready. “Mr. Hayes was just throwing a tantrum. How could he bear to keep you locked up in here every day?” “They’re about to get married, but he still acts like such a child.” “Today I told the kitchen to make several of Ms. Vance’s favorite dishes. You’ve gotten a bit thin these past few days…” When Maria pushed me into the dining room, Stella first looked at Christian in surprise. Seeing no reaction from him, she then stood up and intimately took my wheelchair from Maria. “I haven’t seen you in days, big sister. I missed you so much! Are you feeling better?” Truth be told, Stella and I weren’t very close. Her forced intimacy now just repulsed me. “Eat more, big sister. Look how thin you’ve gotten.” As she spoke, Stella kept putting food on my plate. Christian seemed pleased to see us getting along, teasing, “Why don’t I ever see you put food on my plate?” Stella feigned shyness. “Can’t you ever eat without talking?” I wasn’t in the mood to watch them flirt. I just wanted to finish my meal and leave. “Um, big sister.” Seeing me ignore her, Stella fidgeted and looked at me again. “Even though what happened last time wasn’t intentional on your part, I still don’t really want to see you.” I felt as if I’d heard the biggest joke. “So? You want to keep me locked in my room?” “Stella!” Christian snapped, his voice sharp. Stella’s eyes immediately welled up. “No, big sister, it’s just that it hurt me so much. Is it true that you still don’t like me? Christian, I’m scared…” “Ms. Reed.” I truly had no more strength to argue. “All the common areas in this house have cameras. Everyone knows how I usually treat you, whether I’ve ever mistreated or bullied you. You don’t need to put on an act for me.” Stella took a deep breath, looking at Christian in disbelief. Christian, too, frowned impatiently. Of course, he knew everything. He just didn’t want to explain for me, choosing to side with Stella unconditionally.

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After transmigrating into this novel, I was bound to a yandere system. My mission: to *dominate* the male lead, or I die. But even after giving him the full treatment, my life countdown timer still flickered. “System, what the hell are you playing at?” 【You genius, who told you the guy with a leg disability was the male lead?】 【You tied up the yandere villain!】 I instinctively ran my hand over the abs beneath me, my eyes wide with a dangerous sparkle. “Oh no, I’m a fake yandere! He’s the real deal!” When I *brought* Julian back—or rather, *nabbed* him—he was already burning up with fever, delirious. In the basement, walls lined with various ‘props’, Julian was forced into a specially designed chair, barely clinging to consciousness. His ears burned crimson, his eyes fluttering with a mix of fury and something else, as he watched my massager gun continue its downward journey on him. “Don’t you dare go too far!” “But you seem to be enjoying it, darling~” I gave an innocent smile, then cranked the massager gun up a notch. His jaw clenched even tighter. “Don’t push your luck! It’s not too late to let me go now…” It was meant to be a warning, but his voice was soft, utterly devoid of threat. “Sweetheart, what are you thinking?” I playfully slapped his scorching hot cheek. “You didn’t really think anyone was coming to save you, did you?” Watching the darkness in his eyes deepen, I scoffed. “It’s been two hours already. If anyone *really* wanted to find you, this place wouldn’t be much of a hideout.” Julian had originally been outside, punished by being left in the rain. His leg disability combined with the rain and high fever made him the perfect ‘catch’ for me. I removed the massager gun and replaced it with a thin rope, wrapping it around his chest and binding his pecs tight several times before I was satisfied. In the chair, Julian’s face was flushed even redder. He tried to struggle, but I restrained him again. “Tsk, I don’t know why you’re being so stubborn. Even *this* thing has more life in it than you.” Julian wasn’t provoked by the truth I’d just spoken, but rather by my blatant honesty. “When I get out of here, I’ll kill you!” He probably expected me to be scared, but little did he know, it only excited me more. “Oh? How are you going to kill me? Like this, or like this…” …… Ten minutes later, he looked even more like a drowned puppy. His wet eyes stared at me, so pitiful, it was enough to melt anyone’s heart. Good thing I have a heart of stone! I placed the back of my hand against Julian’s forehead. It wasn’t as burning hot anymore, but he was still feverish. Julian breathed weakly, his eyes shadowed. “Are you humiliating me for Liam?” Liam? Who’s Liam? Never heard of him. With a wicked grin, I leaned in closer, then unzipped his pants. “Looks like you still have some energy, then how about we…” The next second, the System’s mute period conveniently ended, interrupting me. 【Holy moly, what are you trying to do?!】 “Sleep with him! Can’t you tell?” As soon as the words left my mouth, I saw Julian’s… *greatness*, and my eyes widened. Whoa~ Even disabled, he’s this potent? As expected of the male lead! 【I knew what you were trying to do, that’s why I wanted to warn you…!】 “Shush, no talking during the show.” I found the System too noisy, so I muted it again for 24 hours before it could finish. As for whether I’d need longer, that depended on my performance later~ The rain outside made the air humid. The basement lights stayed on, casting flickering shadows. When I finally dragged myself up, my body felt like it had been run over by a truck. There wasn’t a single spot that wasn’t sore. Who would’ve thought that the initially frail, beautiful man would break free halfway through our ‘session’ and then reveal his fangs? I glanced at the scattered items on the floor, feeling like I’d broken five fingers. Then I looked at Julian, who was deeply asleep from exhaustion, his fever completely gone. I silently wondered: *My pathetic life should be safe now, right?* But the next second, I saw my life countdown timer in the nearby mirror: 48 hours remaining. I immediately unmuted the System to get an explanation. “System, what the hell are you playing at? Didn’t I already *force love* the male lead?” 【You genius, who told you the guy with a leg disability was the male lead?】

“No, no, no, he’s still a handsome, ‘strong’ tragic figure who’s leg-disabled and was thrown out to suffer in the rain!” 【Enough! You tied up the yandere villain!】 “!!!” I immediately felt Julian’s abs again, my eyes sparkling. “Oh no, I’m a fake yandere! He’s the real deal!” 【Why are you excited? The villain turns you into a delightful little collector’s item later on~】 My hand trembled. “But I transmigrated as the female lead! “In most novels, don’t the male lead and male second lead love the female lead to death?” The System scoffed. 【In this book, the original female lead, in her desperate attempt to win the male lead’s love, not only forcefully took what she wanted from him but also ruthlessly targeted the villain who threatened the male lead’s position. As a result, she was targeted by the villain, who straight-up slaughtered her as a sacrifice. 【It was only then that the male lead, who originally detested the female lead, finally realized his love for her. Filled with remorse, he ensured the villain received a life sentence.】 “Wow~” What a damn twisted plot. After hearing the System’s summary of the plot, the only person I felt sorry for for was myself. “So, who’s the *real* male lead?” The System sighed, looking utterly exasperated. 【The male lead is obviously the female lead’s fiancé!】 “But wasn’t Julian my fiancé?” When I transmigrated, it happened to be the day the original female lead returned from abroad. I only remembered standing at the front gate of the Thompson family mansion when the System told me that the house next door belonged to my fiancé. Then I pointed to the man sitting in a wheelchair, getting drenched in the rain, and asked who he was. The System said, “That’s Julian.” Come on, childhood friend *and* fiancé, *plus* he’s disabled? Talk about a male lead jackpot! So, without a second thought, to save my sorry ass, I immediately ‘rescued’ Julian, who was feverish from the rain. The System tried to stop me during the process, but I muted it before it could say anything. And that’s how everything before this happened. The System’s furious roar echoed in my head: 【You’re the death of me! Your fiancé is Julian’s uncle, his name is Liam!】 I hesitated. “Then am I…?” 【Yes, you defiled your future nephew.】 …… In the end, I sent Julian back exactly as I found him, threatening him to keep quiet about everything, or I’d post his ‘unflattering’ photos all over the internet. He first laughed, but it was a cold, enraged laugh, before he gritted his teeth and agreed. Pfft, a little yandere villain? That’s all? Piece of cake, I’ve got him wrapped around my finger. It was only later that I learned this, uh, rather *unique* basement, packed with ‘toys’ you wouldn’t want to explain, was actually prepared by the original female lead for Liam, out of unrequited love. But by a strange twist of fate, I… ended up using it on my future nephew… Just as I watched my life countdown hit 28 hours, the System informed me that Liam had just returned home from a business dinner, making it the perfect time to strike. So, armed with handcuffs, I stormed over to the neighboring Liam’s house. In Liam’s living room. Liam was sprawled on the sofa, seemingly asleep. I stood beside the couch, briefly debated, then decisively put the handcuffs on his wrist. *Click*. The cold touch finally made Liam realize something was wrong. A sharp, chilling glint flickered in his narrow eyes as they opened, then softened back to their usual gentle, somewhat hazy warmth. “Chloe? When did you come back?” “That’s not important. What’s important is…” I jingled the silver handcuffs, smiling sweetly. “Are you going to let me sleep with you or not?”

The warmth in Liam’s eyes cooled a few degrees, but his expression remained gentle. “Don’t be ridiculous.” I frowned. Honestly, I didn’t like the way he was looking at me right now. So, with my free hand, I grabbed his tie, then climbed onto the sofa, leaning in over him. “You don’t want to? That’s fine… “Just relax, honey. No need for you to do anything.” As I said this, my fingers traced the prominent vein down his neck— “Chloe Thompson, is this how you’ve been ‘studying’ abroad for the past year?!” Liam’s face darkened. He turned his head away, snatching my ‘naughty’ hand. His grip on my hand was surprisingly strong. I raised an eyebrow, thinking Julian was much more obedient. But then Liam said, “There’s a limit to your mischief, Chloe.” “We’re already engaged! What are you still shy about?” I should’ve just kidnapped him back to the basement. Then he wouldn’t have so much to say. But Liam’s brows furrowed even deeper, and I was already losing my patience. My hand deftly slipped free from his grip, and I immediately tore open his shirt. The next second, my hand immediately reached out, touching his bare chest— But suddenly, I heard a *click*, and then my eyes were momentarily blinded by a flash. Both Liam and I froze, then turned our heads in unison to the source. It was Julian, holding up his phone, taking our picture. “Tsk, future Auntie has so much energy at night, doesn’t she?” My hand, resting on Liam’s pecs, stiffened. I silently vowed that Julian had better not push me to post his pictures online. But while I was distracted, Liam abruptly shoved me aside. “Chloe, unlock these handcuffs.” Thanks to Julian’s little interruption, I failed to ‘pounce’ on the male lead. So, I had no choice but to leave, disappointed, with my handcuffs still on. But as I reached Liam’s front door, a sudden realization hit me. “Maybe I should bring a stun gun next time?” After I left, the uncle and nephew in the living room were locked in a silent standoff. Julian, still in his wheelchair, idly playing with his phone, propped his other hand under his chin, observing his uncle with a leisurely, almost smug air. By now, Liam had straightened his clothes. “Delete the photo.” “What’s wrong? Afraid I’ll secretly send it to *her*?” Liam’s fingers twitched, neither admitting nor denying anything, but the look in his eyes towards Julian was icy. The overhead light illuminated half of Julian’s face, revealing the slight deepening of the curve of his lips. “So fake, wanting to have your cake and eat it too.” Julian kept his eyes on Liam as he spoke. Seeing no change in Liam’s expression, he continued to mock, “Then again, without the Thompson family’s support, your precious *CEO* position wouldn’t be so secure.” At this, Julian suddenly smiled in an uncharacteristic way. His gaze dropped to Julian’s legs. “Talk when you can stand up.” …… With only 24 hours left on my life countdown, I returned to Liam’s house. But this time, I snuck in. In the pitch-black room, I walked towards the man on the bed, armed with a stun gun. But just as I was about to reach him, a large hand snatched my arm, pulling me into the covers. *Thump!* The stun gun in my hand fell to the floor. Then, the room was flooded with light. “What a coincidence, future Auntie~”

A man’s arm held me tightly in his embrace, his body heat radiating onto mine. I tried to kick him off, but I was instantly pinned down. When I realized what was happening, my pupils constricted. “Your legs…” Julian, however, showed no panic. He leaned close to my ear and slowly whispered, “Oh dear, you’ve discovered my little secret~” “…” “What should we do? Maybe I should just dispose of the evidence?” Julian said this, sucking on my earlobe. The arm clamping me was so strong it felt like he could twist me in half. I instinctively swallowed, the scene from the paid section of the basement flashing in my mind. “How about… you ‘sleep with me’ again?” But after I proposed this, the air went silent. Only the System’s voice: 【Ancestor! Please don’t add random plot lines!】 I ignored the System’s furious roar, waiting for Julian’s reply. But after a stretch of silence, I felt the vibration from Julian’s chest, and his low chuckle. “Didn’t realize before, but future Auntie is really quite cute~” I chuckled awkwardly, speechless for a moment, because… Damn it, this was getting even *more* thrilling! Suddenly, that stupid life countdown didn’t seem like such a big deal anymore. Under the covers, Julian’s fingers traced suggestive patterns on my sensitive waist. “How about you break off that engagement with my uncle? Give me a try instead?” What can I say? Damn it, his suggestion was actually pretty tempting. Too bad he wasn’t the male lead. So, the words I instinctively wanted to agree to changed into: “No.” As soon as I spoke, I saw Julian’s eyes change. I expected his expression to sour, but the smile on his face deepened instead. It felt… not normal. “Oh, so *that’s* what you’re into?” Julian said, biting my lip until it bled before letting go. Then he continued, “What a coincidence, me too.” “Heh.” “And a little secret, my uncle’s room is right next door.” “!!!” “So? Do you dare to play a *bigger* game?” System: 【Warning! Stop altering the plot! Please respect the original story!】 But I continued to ignore the System and replied, “Okay.” …… In the room next door, Liam hadn’t been asleep. He was still dealing with Thompson Group work. But as he worked, thumping sounds started coming from next door, like someone hitting a wall. At first, Liam didn’t pay much attention, thinking Julian was just deliberately causing trouble. But then, he realized something was off. He wondered if his ears were too good, or if he was hallucinating, because he heard *those* kinds of sounds! Liam finally closed his laptop, then stood up and removed his gold-rimmed glasses. When he reached Julian’s room door, the sounds from inside became significantly clearer. He knocked on the door. “Julian?” Julian’s movements inside the room paused, immediately sending shivers down my spine. I thought, *Damn this yandere, he’s totally my type!* Liam, getting no response from inside, assumed the occupants had settled down. So he decided to head back to his own room. But he hadn’t walked two steps before he heard the sounds again. Liam frowned, then turned back and knocked again. This time, the commotion got even louder… Liam’s face instantly darkened. If he couldn’t tell what was happening inside, he’d have lived thirty years for nothing. Besides, he’d felt Julian was off yesterday. Then, Liam heard a line from inside the room: “Auntie… why aren’t you calling out…?” *Whoosh.* Liam’s eyes instantly turned cold. “Julian, open the door!” The commotion in the room gradually subsided, then the sound of wheelchair wheels rubbing on the floor came from afar, drawing closer.

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The day Asher confessed to me, Serena, who had chased him for three years, jumped off the roof. Before she took her life, she cried, accusing me of campus bullying and having a messy personal life. It was only when I went into labor and Asher refused to take me to the hospital that I realized his confession had just been a ploy to get rid of Serena. And after Serena’s death, Asher became obsessed with her, falling madly in love. He blamed me entirely for her demise. When I was heavily pregnant, he imprisoned me at home, tormenting me until I drew my last breath. I never expected to open my eyes again and find myself back on the day Serena jumped. “Get together! Get together!” The chaotic shouts jolted me back to reality, the familiar scene merging with my memories. My gaze fell on Asher, standing before me with flowers in hand. Just like me, he looked around, a bewildered expression on his face. His eyes lit up, then he tossed the flowers aside and frantically ran towards the rooftop. Watching his retreating figure, I realized that both Asher and I had been reborn. We were back on the day Asher confessed to me. In my previous life, on this very day Asher confessed, Serena had stood on that rooftop. From the top of the building, her face filled with despair, she cried out to the entire school, accusing me of campus bullying. Everyone pressured me, demanding I kneel and beg for her forgiveness, for her to come down. Even though I had never bullied her, I was forced by the whole school to kneel and plead with her not to jump. But after I knelt, she screamed even louder, collapsing in tears: “You’re willing to kneel in public just to force my forgiveness? Does a bully apologizing mean the bullied has to forgive them?” “I’ll tell you this: I’ll never forgive you, never.” With that, she leaped from the rooftop. The incident went viral online, and without any real evidence, I became the infamous bully everyone demonized across the internet. Later, after a police investigation, a statement was released proving my innocence, that I hadn’t bullied anyone. But by then, no one believed me. The official police clarification video was filled with hateful comments about me: “Why would she kneel and apologize if she didn’t bully anyone?” “Do you think anyone would use their life to frame someone else?” “Who’s pulling strings for this bully? Why isn’t she in jail?” … The school couldn’t handle the online pressure either and advised me to withdraw. I gradually developed depression, and after multiple failed suicide attempts, Asher reappeared. He repeatedly told me he believed I was innocent, helping me slowly recover. He gradually became my only lifeline. Later, I moved to another city for college, choosing the same university as Asher, and we officially started dating. After graduation, we got married. Lulled by his sweet words, I pregnant and promptly quit my job to become a stay-at-home wife. Little did I know, that was the beginning of my nightmare. He imprisoned me at home, cutting me off from the outside world, tormenting me daily with photos of Serena. When I was heavily pregnant and nearing delivery, he forcibly locked me in a room, brutally abusing and tormenting me. It was then I realized that after Serena’s death, Asher had suddenly realized she was the one he truly loved, regretting that he hadn’t cherished her. He blamed me for Serena’s death, believing I had provoked her into taking her own life He channeled all his hatred onto me, exacting a furious revenge. His prolonged torment led to my water breaking and premature labor. He watched coldly as I struggled in the room, cruelly tormenting me until I drew my last breath. I never expected to open my eyes again and find myself back on the day Asher confessed to me, the day Serena jumped.

I watched his retreating figure with cold indifference. Facing the curious gazes of the bystanders, I picked up a broom and swept the flowers into the trash can. My eyes scanned Asher’s friends, the ones who had been loudest in their cheering, and I spoke flatly: “What’s with all the fuss? College entrance exams are coming up soon. Don’t you want to focus on your studies, or do you plan to repeat this year?” Under my cold stare, they exchanged glances, then quickly returned to their seats. Once the classroom was quiet again, I pulled out my textbook and buried myself in studying. Thinking of everything I’d suffered in my previous life because of that toxic pair, an irritable rage simmered within me. This time, I had to stay far away from those two. Asher didn’t reappear at school after leaving until evening dismissal. I glanced at their empty seats, packed my things, and practically sprinted home. Seeing my parents, looking years younger, in the living room, my eyes welled up. I let out a choked sob and threw myself into my mom’s arms. Seeing me like this, she panicked, holding me close and gently patting my back. “Honey, what’s wrong? Did someone bully you at school? Tell Mom, I’ll make sure you get justice.” After a long while, I calmed myself, sniffling. “No, I just… suddenly missed you both so, so much. And I’m so sorry.” Hearing me, Mom sighed in relief, playfully patting my head. “Did you mess up a test this time?” My dad chimed in from behind, “Don’t be too stressed, it’s just the college entrance exam. Even if you mess up, Dad will support you for life.” Watching the harmonious atmosphere at home, my heart gradually settled. My parents were so good to me, yet in my previous life, Asher’s manipulation had led me to give up my career after pregnancy and become a stay-at-home wife, handing over full control of the company to him. Because my parents disagreed, I had a huge fight with them and cut off all contact. This also allowed Asher to use my pregnancy as an excuse to trick me into moving away, imprisoning me in a secluded basement he’d prepared just for me. No one found me for a long time after I died. Meanwhile, he used his position to embezzle company funds, draining the accounts and leaving the company bankrupt. My parents, reeling from the twin shocks of my death and the company’s bankruptcy, became distraught and were tragically killed in a car accident. I clenched my fists. This time, I would protect them, no matter what. In the middle of the night, I dreamed of my previous life again. In a dimly lit room, my hands were cuffed to the bed frame. Suddenly, a beam of light, and a pair of polished leather shoes appeared before me. I recoiled in terror, shrinking into the corner, but the owner of the shoes wouldn’t let me go. He stomped on my calf, grinding his heel back and forth: “Does that hurt? Imagine how desperate Serena must have been when you bullied her until she jumped. You should go to hell to atone for your sins.” I croaked, struggling to explain, “Asher, I never bullied her.” “Still trying to deny it!” He lifted his foot and slammed it without hesitation into my stomach. “No!” As I struggled, the handcuffs snapped. Seizing the opportunity, I threw a straight punch directly at his most sensitive spot. I didn’t waste a second, getting up and hitting Asher with a left hook, then a right hook, until he was on his knees, begging for mercy.

I woke up feeling incredibly refreshed and headed to school. Asher and Serena entered the classroom one after another after the second period ended. Serena, walking in behind Asher, had swollen, glistening lips and flushed cheeks. Faint hickeys peeked from her neck. It was obvious to anyone what had happened last night. Asher’s friends exchanged knowing glances and started chanting: “Asher, what happened? Weren’t you going to confess to our class president, Avery? How did you end up with Serena overnight?” As they spoke, their eyes darted between Serena and me. They were all curious how Asher, who had rejected Serena so many times, had suddenly gotten together with her overnight. Asher shot me a dismissive glance, then pulled Serena into a tight embrace. “Serena and I had some misunderstandings before, but now they’re cleared up. Say hi to your new sister-in-law!” At his words, Serena’s face flushed deep red, and she quickly buried her face in Asher’s chest. At the same time, she cast a guilty glance my way. I gave them a bland look and returned to my worksheets. Serena and I used to be best friends. We were neighbors back then, and we practically lived at each other’s houses, always sharing meals and sleeping over. I remember being smaller than other kids my age, and often getting picked on by classmates. Afterwards, she would always take me to confront the bullies. We promised to be best friends for life. But later, in middle school, her dad got into gambling, and the sounds of him yelling and hitting people often came from her house. My parents told me not to go to Serena’s house anymore. But I felt sorry for her, so I kept playing with her. Until eighth grade, I suddenly had a growth spurt, and my features became more defined. The boys who used to bully me started sending me love letters and told me the real reason they had picked on me in elementary school: it was Serena who had used the snacks I gave her to bribe them into bullying me. When I found out, I confronted her. She sneered, “Why? There’s no why. I just didn’t like you.” I was heartbroken. Around that time, my parents’ company also started making a profit, and they decided to give me a better environment for school. We quickly moved out of our old neighborhood. I never expected we’d meet again in high school. I thought we’d be casual strangers. Until one day after school, I saw her being beaten by a group of people in an alley. When I went to help her, I found out she was the other woman, and the people beating her were the man’s wife and her friends. I promised to keep her secret. The very next day, she stood on the rooftop, crying and accusing me of campus bullying. There was less than a hundred days left until the college entrance exams. This time, I was determined to study hard, aiming for a top-tier university in finance and management, to take over the company and expand it significantly. Because Asher had been reborn and was already an adult mentally, he wasn’t afraid of the teachers’ authority. He openly dated Serena at school, not even trying to hide it. He even dramatically recorded their love story on his phone and posted it online. This was the era when the internet was booming. I knew he wanted to get into the influencer game. In just a few days, Asher and Serena’s accounts were gaining significant traction. Ever since I was subjected to that online mob in my previous life, I realized the immense harm that biased, one-sided reports from sensationalist online accounts could cause. Later, I started learning how to run an account myself, to expand my influence and speak up for more people who faced injustice. Gradually, I understood how to crack the algorithm for going viral and successfully built a following. In my spare time, I even started a daily couple’s account with Asher in my previous life, explaining the techniques to him and guiding him to become an internet influencer. I scrolled through his current account’s cringey, low-quality videos titled “High School Love Daily.” I clicked one open. They were hugging and deeply kissing, the captions vulgar and overly dramatic. Serena in the video smiled sweetly, swaying her hips in a way that left little to the imagination. I closed my phone, the comments below full of disgusting remarks. The account he was running now was the exact case study of the simplest, most successful launch by a popular influencer that I had analyzed and explained to him years ago in my previous life. It involved starting with controversial content to gain traction, then leveraging a major incident to ‘cleanse’ their image and go mainstream. I had told him that while this method was simple, promoting problematic values could easily get you banned, and successful transformation was incredibly difficult. Clearly, he had only heard the “simple” part. This time, he was using this strategy directly. I wondered how he planned to pivot later. I didn’t pay them any more attention. With my experience from the previous life, I also registered an account, studying and running my own content page simultaneously. I absolutely had to seize this internet opportunity. Their public displays of affection didn’t last long. Soon, their indulgent, anti-study behavior was reprimanded by the school, and their parents were notified. Reportedly, the principal’s office was utter chaos that day. Asher’s family was very conservative. Knowing that Asher’s grades had plummeted and he faced expulsion, his mother immediately grabbed Serena’s hair in the office and slapped her repeatedly, left and right. The teachers present couldn’t even stop her. She only stopped when Serena’s dad showed up and saw the scene. Asher’s mom then started yelling obscenities at Serena’s father. Serena’s father, a notorious lowlife, wasn’t angry after learning Serena and Asher were dating and had slept together. Instead, he started demanding a hefty payout from Asher’s family. Initially, Asher’s parents refused, but since Serena was underage, taking it to the police would mean Asher could be charged with sexual assault. And so, with the teachers as witnesses in the office, they negotiated the payout and got engaged. The principal had originally wanted to expel both of them, but Asher’s mother threw such a dramatic, shameless tantrum on the floor that he reluctantly compromised, agreeing to expel only one. Asher’s parents, who hated Serena, forced her to drop out so their precious son could continue school. They believed their brilliant son had Ivy League potential, but was now obsessed with the internet, talking crazy about making money online. Serena’s father, after getting the money, didn’t care about her at all. Serena dropping out for love caused a huge stir, spreading throughout the school. The campus social media was filled with praises for their love story. I seized the opportunity to report on this incident. Soon, the story went viral online, and they gained even more popularity. Asher was overjoyed, immediately telling Serena to start live streaming from home to make money. Just as I expected, their follower count skyrocketed. Their account name changed from “Serena’s High School Love Daily” to “Serena, High School Dropout, Caring for Boyfriend Daily.” I created a new burner account to follow them. After school, I saw them engaging in sleazy live challenges and casually sent them a few thousand dollars in donations. Watching their beaming faces, a slight smirk played on my lips. Enjoy this happy time while it lasts. In the days of peak popularity, Asher took a leave of absence from school to live stream with Serena at home. He returned to school three weeks later. Asher caused a stir, strutting in his latest Air Force Ones and a PRADA outfit.

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He Chose Her Dog Over Our Son. Julian’s childhood friend was taken. It was all because of her reckless compassion. To save a tiny dog, she tricked someone’s kid into opening the door, and he was bitten to death by zombies. To save her, Julian planned to throw our four-year-old son into the zombie horde, just to appease them. I ran to the edge of the zombie pit, kneeling and begging. “They just want to vent their rage! You can send me down there instead! They can hit me, curse me, tear me to shreds by the zombies—I’ll take it all, just please, I beg you, let the child go!” Julian yanked me onto the ground, his face twisted in utter disgust. “You go? If you die, who protects the Pei family? Don’t forget, you were bound to the Pei family by Grandpa Arthur, meant to serve until your dying breath.” “Besides, I’m just filming a video. I’m not actually going to kill him.” He rushed off to retrieve his childhood friend, leaving our son dangling in the air, transforming into a zombie right before my eyes. That night, I hardened my heart and ended my son’s life myself. Meanwhile, Julian spent the entire night comforting his friend, bringing her three fluffy puppies. I knelt before Grandpa Arthur, clutching Leo’s body, half of it already a chilling purple-black. “You laid my entire family to rest back then, and I saved your son’s life, even bore him a child. Now, my debt is fully repaid. There’s no reason for me to stay in the Pei family any longer.”

Leo’s eyes, wide and pale, were fixed on me. My heart grew heavier and heavier. All I could do was numbly raise the pistol. To end his suffering quickly. Only when Grandpa Arthur arrived could I cross the electric fence and reach my son. The rope binding Leo had two distinct marks. I gripped it tightly, replaying the footage on the camera. Originally, he was still far from the zombie horde. But hearing the sobs from the other end of the phone, Julian immediately loosened the rope, letting it drop significantly, afraid that Serena would think his apology wasn’t sincere. My heart churned with unbearable turmoil. He would hurt his own son for a woman who caused a death! Grandpa Arthur coughed, sputtering with rage. He had someone call Julian while he continued to curse. “He’s an animal!” As Grandpa Arthur ranted on, Julian’s bodyguard delivered a box of tranquilizers. The expiration date was a year old. That lit a fuse in him. “This scoundrel! Is the Pei family short on medicine or money, that he’d use expired tranquilizers?!” “Is that little tramp so important that she’s made him abandon his wife and son completely?!” He coughed, choking on his anger, and seeing the pistol in my hand, he nearly exploded with rage. “You’re just as foolish and cold-blooded! A good child, and you just had to kill him? Was there absolutely no way to save him?” “You’re a mother!” His own son didn’t want his wife and child, yet he called me cold-blooded? I stared at Grandpa Arthur, a chilling emptiness in my eyes. If there was a bullet left, I would have put it through my own head, just to be with Leo. Julian suddenly called, his voice furious the moment I answered. “Ava, can you stop exaggerating everything? I just wanted Leo to film a video, and you act like you’re suffering? Grandpa Arthur is so old, why are you making him worry? You have no shame!” “It was just for a video. You act like I was trying to kill our son. Besides, aren’t you some elite combatant? If Leo was in danger, you should have saved him! A few zombies are nothing for you, right?” “Oh, I forgot. You’re a liar, a manipulative bitch who only steals others’ credit and plays the victim.” “And didn’t I send the tranquilizers over? If Leo’s scared, give him a shot. Serena is too shaken up to be left alone. If you bother Grandpa Arthur again, I swear, I’ll make your life hell!” The call was on speaker. Hearing his son’s utter lack of remorse, his insufferable arrogance, Grandpa Arthur slammed the tranquilizer box onto the ground. The coffee powder spilled everywhere, mixed with some unidentifiable yellowish-green specks. Grandpa Arthur was too furious to speak. The moment I smelled the coffee powder, my skin began to itch. He sent a fake product, but beyond that, as a husband and a father, he didn’t even know I was allergic to coffee, and Leo couldn’t even be near the scent. I laughed, tears streaming down my face. My son was pulled up, wrapped in a suit jacket. Grandpa Arthur saw the abnormal purple-black on his body and his swollen arm. He was speechless for a long time. After a long silence, he knelt on the ground, slapping himself repeatedly. “I was so foolish! How could I raise such a scoundrel who disowns his own wife and son?!” “Now, all I can do is use this old face of mine to beg you. Just give Julian a chance to atone, and I, this old man, will give you my life!” I threw the suit jacket to the ground and held the cold Leo tightly. Ten years ago, he had knelt like this, just as pitifully, begging me to save Julian. During the harshest times of the apocalypse, Grandpa Arthur had laid my entire family to rest, giving them a final resting place. To repay that kindness, I had agreed. How pitiful that I, disregarding my own life, expanded the Pei family’s territory, helping them gain a foothold in this apocalypse, only to receive this outcome. He was old; I couldn’t bear his plea. I knelt down with Leo, showing no mercy. “Back then, the resting place for my family was given by you, Grandpa Arthur. But for ten years, what I’ve done for the Pei family is far more than just marrying and bearing a child.” “Grandpa Arthur, my debt is repaid. The Pei family cannot stop me.”

The next morning, Grandpa Arthur was waiting for me. He saw me, covered in mud and bloodstains, and his eyes glazed over slightly, still holding onto a flicker of hope. “The funeral… won’t it be held at the Pei family estate?” I had spent the entire night killing one thousand two hundred and sixty zombies. That was how many days Leo had lived in this world. “I’ve chosen a good place for Leo. He will leave with me.” Grandpa Arthur reluctantly handed me the urn. He tried to make me stay, but I refused. That place had mountains and water, where one could see the sun and moon exchange places. It was better than this cutthroat, unforgiving place called the Pei family estate. I didn’t want Julian and Leo to have any more connection. But I knew Grandpa Arthur truly loved his grandson, so I left Leo’s favorite rattle with him. Heading home to pack my tools, I stumbled upon Julian and Serena lying naked in bed. Serena wriggled her hips, scratching his face with a lecherous grin. Her voice was sickly sweet as she traced circles on his chest. “Oh, Julian, they’re just so mean. I just wanted to save that poor little dog, and that child just had to come over. Now he’s dead, and they blame me.” Julian listened, his heart aching for her. He hugged her tighter, his hand sliding stickily along her waist. “I know you’re kind, honey. Look, I specially brought you three puppies. Do you like them?” Serena playfully pushed him. “Oh, you’re so naughty, Julian…” “Naughty? Here?” Their flirting only brought back the image of Leo’s face, contorted in agony, right before he died. I kicked the door open. They were even more brazen now. Julian scoffed, seeing my weapons neatly packed in my hand. “What, going off to some place to stay for a couple of days to put on a show for Grandpa Arthur again?” “Can’t you be more genuine, woman? You’re neither hot nor cold, full of lies, utterly detestable! Your knack for fooling Grandpa Arthur won’t work on me.” “If you’re leaving, just leave for good and don’t come back. It’ll be perfect; I can just let Serena be Leo’s mom.” His arrogant, unreasonable face ignited a raging fire within me. Leo’s dying agony kept replaying in my mind. Even though his face was convulsing with pain, his consciousness fading, he had still managed a weak smile and asked me: “Mommy, is Daddy hanging me here to train me? Look how strong I am, I’m not crying at all.” “Daddy, Leo is useful, Leo is brave. Daddy, don’t be angry, don’t hate Mommy.” A four-year-old child, whose only thought was how to make his father happy. But thinking of everything Julian had done to him, my heart ached until I felt utterly drained. Seeing my lack of reaction, Julian told Serena to take the puppies out. He grabbed me, pinning me tightly against the bed, and cursed: “You lying woman, do you even deserve to be called a mother? Let me tell you, my wife, the future mistress of the Pei family, can only be Serena!” “If you hadn’t played your tricks and ruined Serena’s chances of having children, why would I have ever married you? Leo should have been Serena’s son! You, you fraud, you stole him!” I stared at him, my face blank and cold, which only seemed to excite him more. “You’ve got guts, daring to get angry with me?” He pressed me into the bedding, tearing open my collar, letting out a guttural roar. “Didn’t realize you liked kids so much, huh? I’ll just give you another one then!” “Ava, Leo is what you owe Serena. You’d better bring him to Serena today, return him to her. Maybe if I’m in a good mood, I’ll even let you see him again.” The bedding reeked of their recent pleasure, making me gag. Julian’s shamelessness completely severed the last thread of affection I had for him. I slapped him hard, yelling, my voice raw: “Leo is dead!” “If you want to find him, if you want Serena to be his mother, then go to hell!”

Julian knelt over me, adjusting his clothes. He laughed loudly, as if trying to see through me, and gripped my chin tightly. “I truly underestimated you. To be the young mistress of the Pei family, you’d even curse your own son. You don’t love him as much as Grandpa Arthur said, do you?” “How could heaven let such a vain woman be a mother? Leo had terrible luck with you as his mother!” With that, he disgustedly flung my chin away. He looked at me as if I were something filthy, then stood up and left. I slowly sat up, a cold smile on my face. “Julian, in your eyes, I’m just a worthless, vain woman?” “If it weren’t for you, who used tricks to deceive Grandpa Arthur, adding Serena’s credit to your own, and harming her so she couldn’t have children in this life, you would never have touched the threshold of the Pei family!” “Serena is genuine and kind, while you are full of vanity, without a single truthful word! Your schemes won’t work on me. Everything that belongs to her, I will help her take back, one by one.” Julian slammed the door as he left. I recalled the third year of the apocalypse. The Pei family was gradually declining. Julian was infected by the smog and fell into a coma. Grandpa Arthur said there was the largest hospital in the southwest, the only one with intact equipment, that could save Julian. To repay my debt, I ignored my teammates’ warnings. Alone, with a gun and a hammer, I fought my way through floor by floor to occupy the hospital, ensuring Julian received timely treatment. We then used it as the Pei family’s territory, expanding outwards. When he finally woke up, I collapsed, covered in injuries and exhaustion. Julian held me, slipping a wedding ring onto my finger. He said he would only acknowledge me in this life. Drifting through the apocalypse for so long, it was the first time I felt loved, and I dared to fantasize about happiness. It wasn’t until I was pregnant, close to giving birth, that Julian brought back a woman covered in blood. From then on, his resentment and hatred towards me grew deeper and deeper. After I gave birth to Leo, Serena stood in the doorway, looking at Leo with envy. I didn’t know then that it was the beginning of my happiness slipping away. Julian frantically sought my affections, but then, upon learning of my pregnancy, forced me to take medication to abort. The first time, he was still willing to explain. The second, the third time, he grew increasingly annoyed, revealing his true colors. “Ava, this is your retribution for what you did to Serena.” “All the pain she suffered because of you, I will make you endure, little by little!” I hugged Leo’s urn and my packed weapons, then opened the door to leave. But bodyguards were already waiting outside, striking me with electrified riot batons. “Apologies, Ms. Ava, but Ms. Serena has caught a cold. Young Master Julian wants you to take care of her puppies.” “The Young Master said the puppies are fragile, and their feeding and care must be quick. If Ms. Ava is even a little slow, you’ll be punished and warned.” Before I could even question it, another baton struck my back. The searing pain of the electric shock always reminded me of Leo’s death, when I was held back by the electric fence, crying out powerlessly. By the time I reached Serena’s room, my body was numb from the beating, every step trembling. Julian, however, thought I was faking it, his face impatient as he urged me. “Hurry up and feed the puppies! If they get hungry and make Serena upset, you won’t eat tonight.” I gritted my teeth, enduring the pain, and picked up the bottle to feed them. But the puppy in my arms kept whimpering uncomfortably. Serena heard it and walked over, letting out a sharp cry. “Sister Ava, it’s still so small, why would you kill it?” Tears welled in her eyes. She reached out to grab me, then weakly collapsed to the ground, only looking at me and demanding: “Sister, I can’t have children anymore. I just wanted to raise a few dogs with Julian. Is even that not allowed?” Julian’s heart ached. He slapped me hard across the face. My already numb body couldn’t support me. I hit the corner of a table, dazed and unable to open my eyes. But he cursed me for faking it, picked up Serena, and frantically called a doctor. I lay on the ground, regaining my senses only after a long while. Picking up the dead puppy from the floor, I saw blood at its mouth. It had been poisoned. I rummaged through my belongings, put the puppy in a small metal basin Leo used to play with, and added two toys so he wouldn’t be alone. Before leaving, I lit a match and took the basin outside to set it ablaze. Having taken care of everything, I felt a sense of peace and left. Just as the city gates registered my face for exit, a bullet pierced my knee, the pain making me pass out. When I woke again, Julian was dragging me, throwing me at the entrance of Serena’s room. Three half-burned puppies, charred all over, lay there. He furiously kicked me in the chest, cursing. “You bitch, how dare you hurt Serena’s puppies?! What right do you have to get revenge on her?!” He dragged me out, pulling me before a sobbing, breathless Serena, forcing me to my knees. Serena gasped through her tears.

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As the true daughter, I was asked to donate a kidney to the adopted daughter. I pulled out my cancer diagnosis: “I’m sick, I can’t donate.” My eldest brother, Alex, flung the diagnosis in my face. “Liar! Do you know falsifying hospital documents is illegal?” My second brother, Ryan, his eyes red, clamped onto my wrist. “I know you’re jealous of Serena. Are you really going to let her die just to win favor?” My mother, Eleanor, cried, cursing me for being cold-blooded. “Serena’s dying! What’s wrong with giving her a kidney?!” My father, Robert, shattered my last shred of hope with a slap. “Your life’s only value is to save Serena. Don’t be ungrateful.” After being thrown out of the house, I swallowed a massive dose of sleeping pills, lying in bed, calmly waiting for death. But the Cancer Research Institute called me: “Miss Davies, why did you suddenly request to stop the drug clinical trial?” I sighed, defeated. “I’m sorry, I’m a little busy right now.” “Can we talk tomorrow?”

The project leader on the other end, Julian, fell silent for a moment. He asked in a meticulous tone: “Miss Davies, when you signed the consent form, you promised me you’d see it through to the end.” “You’ve been so proactive with every treatment. Why the sudden change of heart?” I sighed, a headache throbbing, not because of him, but because the expected sleep never came. It was probably the resistance from relying on sleeping pills for my usual insomnia. Good thing I had a backup plan. I lay in the simple folding bathtub and slowly brought the razor to my wrist. “Sorry, I’m a little busy right now.” “Can we talk tomorrow?” Julian was stubbornly insistent. “What are you busy with?” I watched the blood bloom in the water, hesitating. Should I tell him I was busy dying? While I was still conscious, I quickly mass-texted my family. Attached was a selfie, the screen awash in crimson. “You wanted my kidney, right? Come collect the body!” “If you’re late, I’ll bleed out, and the kidney won’t be fresh.” My eldest brother, Alex: “You must have spent a fortune Photoshopping that.” “According to the tech I developed, if that blood loss were real, you’d be unconscious already.” “Charlotte Davies, stop acting. If you really want to die, jump off a building.” My fingers trembled, fumbling for the keys. “Your software sucks. You need to send it back to the drawing board.” In the SnapChat chat, a red exclamation mark popped up. System notification: Message sent, but rejected by the recipient. My second brother, Ryan, rapidly sent several messages: “You’re such a drama queen; Hollywood really missed out without you.” “If you truly wanted to donate, why didn’t you just come home? Stop pretending!” “I saw right through you after Serena’s engagement party, you phony!” I was getting dizzy from the rapid blood loss.

That day, it was Serena’s engagement party, but I was the one who went viral, trending everywhere. “Wardrobe Malfunction Steals the Show! The Real Heiress’s Raw Beauty Outshines the Socialite’s ‘Perfect’ Image.” Serena wept, accusing me of humiliating her. Alex said I used despicable tactics to steal Serena’s spotlight on her most important day. Ryan had my dress ripped off me. “You don’t deserve to wear something I made with my own hands!” Dad’s single phrase, “family discipline,” had me confined in the attic for seven whole days. Nothing but water. No food. I developed insomnia, terrified of the dark. From then on, I became withdrawn and quiet. Dad seemed quite proud, believing my newfound obedience was a result of his ‘effective’ parenting. “You came back and turned this house upside down. I truly wish you’d never come back.” His words pierced me, my eyes stinging. I opened Mom’s voice message, clinging to a final sliver of hope. “Charlotte, are you threatening your mother?” Her voice was tearful: “Serena is as much a daughter of the Davies family as you are.” “She’s sick, and as her older sister, you should help her!” “You can’t hate her because of what happened to you when you were little!” I stared up at the ceiling. A true daughter, stolen and sold in childhood, then found again, was nothing but vulgar in their eyes, not worth a single strand of the adopted daughter’s hair. But I, foolishly oblivious, had tried so desperately to win their approval. The moment they invited me to a family dinner, I rushed home, eager. Seeing the birthday cake, I couldn’t contain my excitement and surprise. After so many years, they finally remembered my birthday, finally ready to accept me! Just as I reached for the gift box, Alex smacked my hand away. “That’s Serena’s birthday gift. Who told you to touch it?” I felt a pang of confusion, watching Serena, surrounded and adored, blow out the candles amidst joyous laughter. “So, why did you call me home?”… I listened several times before I understood what they meant. “You want me to donate a kidney to Serena?” I pulled out my cancer diagnosis. “I’m sick, I can’t donate.” “Can’t donate, or don’t want to donate?” Alex scolded my hypocrisy, and Ryan raged that I’d disregard someone’s life just to compete for attention. Mom’s tearful curses and Dad’s slap utterly shattered the last bit of hope I had for the Davies family. I gave a bitter laugh. “Should the true daughter’s blood just drain dry for the sake of the adopted one?” I clutched my phone, feeling like I was squeezing my own heart, my face numb with pain. “Are you going to save your beloved Serena or not?” “If you are, come collect the body.” Mom’s tone was reproaching, as if speaking to an unruly child. “Charlotte, stop acting up. I can’t leave.” “Serena needs me.” Dad’s messages, as always, vanished without a trace. I stared at the silent chat list, muttering to myself, “Didn’t you want my kidney?” “Now that I’m willing to give it, why don’t you want it anymore?”… “Miss Davies, are you still there?” I slowly came back to myself, dropping my hand weakly. “I’m so sorry, I really can’t help you.” “However, I’d be very happy to donate my body to your research.”

I slept restlessly, plagued by nightmares. Sporadic noises drifted into my ears, like someone speaking. When I woke again, Julian’s voice rang above my head. He was pressing hard on my wrist wound, his tone edged with a furious grit. “Miss Davies, did you take pills too?” I smiled, dazed, a flicker of pride in my voice. “Yup! Sleeping pills!” “I saved them up for two months!” Julian rushed me into the emergency room, but a man swiftly cut in front of him. “Doctor, my sister was scratched by a stray cat; she needs a vaccine!” Hearing the familiar voice, I sharply looked up, staring intently at the backs of the two people ahead. What a coincidence. It was my second brother, Ryan, and Serena. “Why did you have to go feed that stray cat? It’s none of your business if it starves to death.” Serena whimpered, looking aggrieved. “Ryan, that’s the cat Charlotte often feeds.” “I saw she wasn’t around, so I wanted to help.” Ryan looked at the three bloodied scratches on her hand, his doting expression twisting into irritation and anger. “This is all Charlotte Davies’s fault, getting you hurt.” I struggled to make sense of it. Mimi? She’s so timid, she hides so well. How did Serena find her? Julian, seeing them cut in line, scowled and moved to argue. I stopped him, weakly saying, “Let’s go to another hospital.” Julian glared. “Change? Change what? You need your stomach pumped, we can’t wait!” The doctor’s ears perked up, and she instantly looked at me, her eyes wide. “Charlotte Davies, is that you?” I recognized her as my clinic doctor and gave her a helpless smile. Hearing my name, Serena immediately looked over. Catching sight of my wound, she turned pale with fright, backing away repeatedly until she stumbled into Ryan’s arms. Ryan frowned, as if suppressing disgust as he glanced at my wound. A few seconds later, a mocking smile twisted his lips. “How much ketchup did you waste on that outfit?” “The wound’s quite realistic though. Are you really trying to fool people even at a hospital?” The doctor pushed him aside. “Sir, this lady’s condition is more serious. I need to see her first.” As Julian carried me past, Ryan shielded Serena. His eyes were wary, as if I were the most dangerous virus on earth, capable of harming his beloved sister. The doctor bandaged my wound and arranged for my stomach to be pumped. She looked hesitant. “Even with late-stage cancer, don’t give up hope.” I deliberately laughed exaggeratedly, pretending nothing was wrong. “You misunderstood.” “Every time I come here, you all say there’s nothing you can do.” “So I just learned from the ancients and tried bloodletting myself.” Ryan’s eyes were filled with disdain and contempt. “Charlotte Davies, aren’t you getting a little too deep into character?!” “A tiny scratch, a few pills, and you’re making a scene at the hospital saying you’re suicidal.” “Now you’re upgrading the drama, playing a cancer patient. Do you really need to go this far just to compete with Serena for attention?” The doctor was annoyed. “She’s my patient, I know her condition!” Ryan eyed me and the doctor back and forth, as if so enraged he found it funny. “Bravo, Charlotte Davies.” “You’re even colluding with doctors just to avoid donating a kidney to Serena.” I shrugged, a faint smile playing on my lips. “If you’d come earlier, my kidney would’ve been yours.” “Now it’s too late. I promised to donate my body to the institute.” Julian suddenly stepped forward, grabbing Ryan’s collar. “She’s this sick, and you still want her to donate a kidney? Are you even human?” Ryan violently shook him off, both angry and amused. “What’s it to you?” “It’s only right for her to save her own family!” My throat choked up, and I gave a bitter laugh. “How do I deserve to be family with Miss Serena Davies?” “Did you ever treat me as family?” Ryan’s face stiffened, then he clenched his jaw, suppressing his anger. “You’re a Davies daughter, living in luxury, you want for nothing. What else do you want?” “Just wait till you get home; Dad will teach you a lesson!” My ears buzzed, and my cheeks faintly stung, as if a burning slap had just landed on my face again. My fingers dug into the edge of the table, my whole body trembling uncontrollably, my voice squeezed through clenched teeth. “Do I even have a home?” “Don’t forget, you threw me out.” Ryan’s face darkened, veins throbbing on his forehead. “It was clearly your spoiled tantrum that made you run away.” He mumbled softly, “We just said a few things to you.”

Julian gently squeezed the IV tube, cool liquid with his body warmth slowly entering my veins. When I woke, I couldn’t help but marvel, “You’re truly dedicated to your patients.” Julian’s face looked a bit unnatural. “You’re not just my patient; you’re also my friend.” I was startled by the answer, taking a moment to process it. Julian’s lowered lashes fluttered. “Of course, maybe it’s just me unilaterally thinking you’re my friend.” “No, no, no, I’d be honored to be your friend!” “I thought geniuses like you only liked making friends with other geniuses.” I paused. “I’m just surprised you’d even consider me.” Julian frowned and pursed his lips, lost in thought. After a moment, he slowly raised his eyes, his earlobes flushing, his expression incredibly serious. “Charlotte Davies, you are the kindest, most understanding person I’ve ever met.” “When I start talking about my research, I can’t stop, and everyone else gets annoyed, but you listen patiently and ask questions.” “When you look seriously into my eyes and smile at me, it makes me really happy.” “In my heart, you’re amazing.” My eyes grew warm, and I turned my head, feigning nonchalance. “As a friend, do I get any special privileges?” Julian lowered his head to check his phone, then said earnestly, “I just asked my AI.” “As a friend, I have an obligation to be there for you when you need me.” “So, is there anything you want to do?” Julian drove me back to the apartment complex, and I softly called out, “Mimi.” A rustling sound came from the bushes. A tabby cat peeked out, looking around warily, then emerged when it saw me. It circled my legs, rubbing against me and meowing affectionately. After making sure Mimi was okay, I got up to leave. Julian spoke up. “I thought you’d take her home.” “You really like her, and she likes you too.” I fell silent for a moment, my chest heavy. I had thought about adopting her too. But when Mom found out, she said stray cats carry all sorts of germs, bad for people. I mustered my courage and said, “I’ll take her to get her shots!” The dinner table went quiet for a moment, Mom looking a little awkward. Alex scoffed. “Charlotte Davies, Mom’s giving you an out, can’t you tell?” “Let me tell you, no cats allowed in this house, because Serena doesn’t like them!” “Whatever Serena dislikes, anything you say is useless.” I murmured, “I don’t have a home, so how can I give her one?” That was just where I was staying, dependent on others. I composed myself and asked Julian, “Do you know anywhere with a really, really tall building?” Seeing his confusion, I quickly explained, “The ancients used to say you could reach out and pluck stars from the sky, and I want to try that too.” He nodded. “I know a place where the stars are beautiful.” “I’ll make a call to set it up.” A shadow fell over me. I exhaled slowly, looking up. “Where are we going next?” It wasn’t Julian. I stared blankly at Mom and Alex.

Alex eyed me up and down. I instinctively hid my injured hand behind my back. His brows furrowed into a deep V. “A few days out on your own and you’ve made a mess of yourself. I’m embarrassed to even say you’re a Davies.” Here we go again. Next would be— “You’re both Davies daughters, but how can you be so different from Serena?” “Did you feed everything you learned in etiquette class to the dogs?” Mom’s eyes welled with tears. “Charlotte, just come home.” “You and Serena are sisters, you should help each other.” Help? I swayed for a moment, understanding her meaning, a sharp pain shooting through my wrist wound. Alex crossed his arms, a flicker of irritation in his eyes. “Mom, don’t spoil her.” “Is the Davies home a hotel? You can just leave and come back whenever you want?” “You can come home, but first, you apologize properly to Serena.” “I’ll arrange the kidney donation. That way, Serena will surely forgive your past mistakes.” My body stiffened, my face expressionless. “What did I do wrong? Why should I apologize?” Alex rubbed the bridge of his nose hard, a look of impatience and exhaustion on his face, as if he’d reached his limit of tolerance. “You leaked company secrets and tried to climb into Daniel Chen’s bed, Serena’s fiancé. Do you have no shame?” I opened my mouth, my throat dry. “I didn’t do that.” Alex laughed, enraged. “Enough! Caught red-handed, you think we’re all blind?” “If Daniel hadn’t recognized you in time and prevented a major disaster, Serena’s lifelong happiness would have been utterly ruined by you.” “How could the Davies family have given birth to such a manipulative daughter like you?” “I’m truly grateful Mom and Dad brought Serena home that year, not you!” Alex’s eyes held no warmth, looking at me the same way he’d look at trash on the street. My mind went blank, and I helplessly looked at Mom. Mom’s expression had flattened. “Charlotte, Serena was generous back then, she pleaded for you, otherwise, if this had blown up, you would have gone to jail.” “Listen to your mother. Give Serena a kidney.” “Whatever happened before, right or wrong, will be completely wiped clean.” My nails dug deep into my palms, a cold chill running through my body, my voice coming out raspy and despairing. “Mom… I didn’t do any of that. Why don’t you believe me?” Suddenly, someone pulled me behind them. Julian glared at them, angry and anxious, then looked solemnly at me. “Charlotte Davies, your body is your own.” “Not even your own mother has the right to force you to do anything!” He finished speaking and pulled me, intending to leave. Mom shouted, stopping me. “Charlotte, where are you going?” Alex’s arm muscles tensed, a hint of ruthlessness in his eyes. “Charlotte Davies, Mom and I have said all the nice things we can.” “If you leave today, the Davies family will consider you no longer their daughter!” My steps faltered, my lips trembling slightly, all the blood in my body rushing backward. My gaze finally landed on the brightly lit room in the distance. I once thought that was my forever home. I fiercely squeezed my eyes shut, forcing back the tears brimming in my eyes, and finally, gave a liberated smile. “Fine. I don’t care about being a Davies daughter anyway!” Julian took me to an observatory by the sea. I gazed blankly at the sky dotted with stars, feeling as if I were immersed in a galaxy. “It’s beautiful.” Julian’s face showed a rare, boyish, proud smile. “I knew you’d like it.”

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Just before my final exams for college, my roommate suddenly gifted me a ridiculously expensive necklace. She said it was an early celebration, wishing me luck getting into a top-tier Ivy League university. But then, I got a message from Willow, our dorm’s resident mystic. [Chloe, don’t wear that necklace. If you do, you’ll turn into a total blank slate before the exams.] The moment the dorm lights flickered on, my roommate Tiffany held out a shimmering silver necklace. “Chloe, this is a special gift I had made for you when I traveled to Japan. Consider it an early celebration for getting into your dream university.” Tiffany was a true heiress; she spent every break traveling. I was genuinely surprised she remembered my birthday. I quickly took the necklace, thanking her profusely. Right after, my roommate Willow handed me her gift – a bracelet inscribed with ancient, mystical symbols. You could tell she’d made it herself. Willow was always obsessed with spiritual and occult studies. But whether it was expensive or cheap, the thought counts, and that’s priceless. I accepted both. Still, being a girl, I couldn’t help but feel Tiffany’s gift was clearly superior. “Come on, let me put it on for you myself.” Oddly enough, the necklace felt icy cold against my skin, making me shiver. Seeing this, Willow wasn’t to be outdone. She urged me to put on her bracelet too. But Tiffany quickly stopped her. “Maybe not. Our first major mock exam is tomorrow, and that bracelet is covered in symbols. What if the proctor gets suspicious?” Tiffany had a point. I could only apologize to Willow, promising to wear her bracelet as soon as the exam was over. Normally, Willow would insist on having her way. But this time, she just frowned, saying nothing more. Just as I thought my birthday celebration had ended perfectly, right after my shower, Willow grabbed my arm. Her eyes burned into my neck as she said, her voice serious: “Chloe, you can’t wear that necklace. If you do, you’ll turn into a total blank slate before the exams.” Hearing her, I thought she was still upset about the earlier incident. I quickly tried to reassure her. “Willow, don’t be mad. I’ll wear your bracelet right after the exam tomorrow.” “No, I’m not mad. The necklace Tiffany gave you… its previous owner was a complete academic failure. She made a pact with it, and it feeds on *your* essence to give *her* power!” What was she talking about? This was getting ridiculous. “Just listen to me, okay? Take it off, now.” Without a word, Willow spun me around, trying to unfasten the necklace. But Tiffany walked right in on us, having just returned to the dorm. She thought Willow was forcing me to wear her bracelet and instantly lost her temper. “Are you serious? You’re allowed to give gifts, but mine’s no good? Or are you just targeting me?” Seeing the tension fill the air in our dorm, I quickly intervened to smooth things over. “I just have some pimples on my neck, and Willow was helping me put on some cream. Tiffany, don’t misunderstand.” Willow saw my signal and didn’t argue. Instead, she discreetly sprinkled some fine powder near my bed. Before I fell asleep, she kept signaling me with her eyes, urging me to take off the necklace. Lying in bed that night, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Willow’s words kept replaying in my mind. It wasn’t until the latter half of the night that I finally started to feel drowsy. Then, a rustling sound woke me up. It sounded like someone was dragging ill-fitting jeans across the floor. But that didn’t make sense, did it? Willow preferred simple, natural fabrics like cotton and linen. Tiffany came from money and favored designer clothes; she’d never wear anything ill-fitting. My heart pounded in my chest. I secretly pulled back the curtain a crack. Through the faint moonlight from the window, I saw a distorted, shadowy figure of a “person” dragging its limp limbs, twisting eerily across the dorm floor, inching closer to my bed… I woke up, scared senseless. It was just a nightmare, I realized. Still shaken, I lay back down, pulling the covers over my head, and vaguely managed to stay like that until morning.

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My mercenary husband, Caleb, was on a mission when he found himself acting as a ‘cure’ for Sera, a new operative on his team. They explored every intimacy imaginable within that cave. He didn’t return for three full days and nights. He knelt before me, his voice filled with despair and pleading. “Aubrey, it was all for the mission, a matter of life and death. As captain, I couldn’t just stand by.” “But you’re the only one I truly love.” To show his commitment, he removed Sera from the team. He also promised to leave the mercenary life in three years and return as the heir to the Davies family fortune. I cradled the tiny two-month-old life inside me and forgave him. Three years later, having just suffered yet another miscarriage, I saw Caleb Davies at the hospital, when he was supposed to be on a mission. He was holding Sera, who was covered in blood, screaming at the top of his lungs for a doctor. It turned out Sera had taken a bullet for Caleb, the slug missing her heart by mere inches. And her child was already three years old. It was Caleb’s. Caleb knelt before me, his face pale as death. “That time, three years ago, she got pregnant and raised the child alone. I just came to see them, mother and son, because I felt sorry for her, and then… this happened.” “Aubrey, there’s nothing between us. Even if you can’t carry a child, you’ll always be my wife.” Sera, still recovering from her injuries, looked at me, her eyes filled with tears. “Mrs. Davies, please, I beg you, save my child! He has leukemia and needs umbilical cord blood from a full sibling…” Caleb looked at her, his expression filled with tenderness, then turned to me. “Aubrey, you’re the kindest person I know. I can’t just let him die. Don’t worry, we’ll just do IVF.” I stared at him, thinking of the investigation report I’d received. I spoke calmly, “Then while we’re at it, let’s get a divorce. We wouldn’t want the child to be born out of wedlock, that would be too sad…” “Aubrey, I knew you’d understand me perfectly!” Caleb’s face visibly brightened with joy. “Don’t worry, once the baby is born and registered, we’ll remarry.” I ignored him and walked straight out. I pulled out a golden card and made a call. “Your offer, I accept.”

Caleb’s relief was almost palpable when he heard me suggest divorce. He quickly helped Sera to her feet, adjusted her hospital gown, and gently scolded her. “You just healed, and you’re already worrying me. My Aubrey is so kind, stop kneeling all the time.” Sera, her face pale, shook her head. “You don’t understand, only a woman truly understands another woman.” “You see Aubrey acting all calm and composed, but she’s really hurting inside. Promise me, you’ll spend some real time with her.” Every word she spoke sounded perfectly reasonable and compassionate to Caleb. But I knew, she was rubbing it in my face, flaunting the undeniable intimacy she shared with Caleb. Caleb glanced at me, then seemed to realize something. “Aubrey, why are you at the hospital?” I felt the cold ache radiating from my lower abdomen. I hid my trembling hands. I thought of the phone call I hadn’t made, not wanting to distract Caleb from his mission. A self-mocking smile touched my lips. “Just visiting a friend,” I said softly. But Caleb reached for my hand, finding it icy cold. I pulled away as if I’d been shocked. Sera gasped dramatically at just the right moment, diverting his attention. He pulled out a tissue and, with practiced ease, wiped her forehead. “I told you to stay in bed. Everything’s resolved now, let me help you back to rest.” Then he turned back to me. “Aubrey, you can go back by yourself. Sera was injured for me, after all. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I didn’t stay with her for a couple of days.” I walked out in silence. Caleb called out to me. “Oh, Aubrey, I’ve already prepared the divorce papers. Remember to sign them.” I hung my head low, stubbornly refusing to let my tears fall. As I walked out of the hospital, I saw Caleb’s parents. Of course, I only knew who they were after doing my own research. Caleb had never introduced me to his family. They were holding onto each other, their voices full of satisfaction and relief. “Last grandchild, you gave fifty million. This time, it needs to be double!” “Right, right! And we need to arrange the wedding quickly. Our grandson’s mother is Miss Kingston, she absolutely can’t be an illegitimate child!” “What illegitimate child? Our Caleb isn’t even married yet.” My hands clenched tightly. So Caleb had never told his family about my existence at all. And he and Sera already had another child on the way. Tears finally, unwillingly, streamed down my face. I raised a hand to wipe them away. The jade bangle on my wrist slipped from my sleeve. Mrs. Davies, sharp-eyed, immediately stepped forward, grabbing my hand, her voice sharp. “Who are you? How dare you steal my daughter-in-law’s bangle!” I was about to protest. But the Davies’ bodyguards stepped forward and restrained me. Mrs. Davies tried to yank the bangle from my wrist, instructing the bodyguards to call the police. Hearing the commotion, Caleb rushed over, panicked. “Mom, Dad, you’ve misunderstood. This is… one of our family’s bodyguards. She’s just helping Sera take her things back.” I stared at him, seeing that familiar plea in his eyes. It was the same look he had when he begged for my forgiveness after sleeping with Sera three years ago. Suddenly, I felt utterly disgusted. I deliberately slipped the bangle off my wrist and placed it in Caleb’s hand. “Mr. Davies, returning what’s rightfully yours.” Caleb’s face went ashen. He lowered his voice, his tone tense. “Aubrey, wait, I’ll explain everything later…” I curved my lips into a cold smile. “No need. Wouldn’t want your family to misunderstand.” Then, without looking back, I left. Once on the street, I pulled out my phone and dialed. “Your offer, I accept.” The voice on the other end was low. “Good. Don’t worry. In three days, you will ‘die’ taking a bullet for Caleb. After that, you will only ever be Mrs. Kingston.” I hung up. A cold laugh echoed in my mind. Caleb Davies, since you choose Sera every single time. This time, I’ll make sure you lose me forever because of her.

Back home. My phone buzzed with a SnapChat friend request. My heart fluttered. I knew instinctively who it was. Sure enough, after accepting, I saw Sera’s profile picture. More precisely, it was a photo of her and Caleb from behind. Her feed was filled with screenshots from the Davies family SnapChat group. Three years ago, after she gave birth, everyone in the Davies family had sent their congratulations. It turned out that after Caleb sent her away back then, she immediately contacted Mr. and Mrs. Davies. She’d used their son to completely charm the elder Davies. Caleb had compromised for his child, again and again. When he lied to me about going on missions, he was actually spending time with them, mother and son. Because of that, he missed both of my miscarriages. He missed every one of my birthdays. Her most recent post was a video. The filming location was the hospital. Caleb was nervously watching Sera as she got her check-up. When the doctor said the fetus was perfectly fine, he let out a sigh of relief. He took the bangle he’d snatched from my wrist and placed it on hers. Sera let him put it on, but protested with her words. “This is Mrs. Davies’s, how can I wear it?” Caleb leaned down and kissed her forehead. “You’re always so considerate. Don’t worry, if I give it to you, you wear it. After all, in Mom and Dad’s social circle, you’ve already been Mrs. Davies for a while.” Sera shook her head. “I know you only love Aubrey. In your heart, only Aubrey is Mrs. Davies.” Caleb looked into her eyes, his voice, warm and melting like the spring snow. “Everything else besides love, I can give to you.” Then he eagerly kissed her lips. At the end of the video, Sera provocatively glanced at the camera, then unbuttoned Caleb’s shirt. I pressed a hand to my chest, but I couldn’t stop the cold wind that seemed to blow right into my bones. I stumbled to my study. With a firm hand, I signed the divorce papers. Our divorce process didn’t require a cooling-off period. I told myself, *only three more days.* In three days, I would never cry for Caleb Davies again. The next day, Caleb called. His voice was deliberately low. “Aubrey, I’m sorry about Mom and Dad yesterday. You know how elders are, they just want grandchildren.” “Since you can’t have children, let Sera and the baby stay with them in the future. It’ll save them from bothering you.” I scoffed. “Mr. Davies, you don’t need to explain. We’re already divorced.” Caleb’s breathing hitched. His voice turned anxious. “Aubrey, are you mad? I told you, once the baby is born, we’ll remarry…” “Wait for me, I’m coming home now.” I didn’t bother listening, hanging up directly. I started clearing out my old belongings. My gaze fell on a blood-stained shirt, and I drifted into thought. Caleb and I met five years ago. I had been dragged into a dark alley by some thugs when a man saved me, even taking a knife for me. In the darkness, I hadn’t seen his face clearly. But when I woke up in the hospital, what I saw was that blood-stained shirt and Caleb sitting by my bedside. My gratitude turned to affection. We spent five years together. Because of his special identity, our marriage was kept secret. He said it was to protect me. I once cherished that secretive affection. Now, it was nothing but a joke. I snapped back to reality and threw the shirt, along with all my other old belongings, into the trash. Who knew, Caleb actually came back.

And he brought Sera with him. Caleb carefully helped her out of the car. Sera saw me and lifted her neck, covered in faint marks. “Sister Aubrey, would you be my bridesmaid tomorrow for our wedding?” I looked at her, utterly bewildered. Caleb’s face looked unnatural as he explained, “Aubrey, Mom and Dad insisted that Sera and I have a wedding. It’s all for the child…” I scoffed. “It hardly seems appropriate for an ex-wife to be at your wedding.” Sera’s eyes reddened at the corners. “Sister Aubrey, you know Caleb only loves you. Please don’t be sarcastic and upset him…” Caleb stepped forward, gently comforting her. “There, there, you have a baby in your belly, you can’t keep crying.” Then he looked up at me, his eyes full of helplessness. “Aubrey, the wedding is just a formality. No matter what outsiders think, you’re the only one in my heart.” I stared coldly at Caleb. Just like that, he was shamelessly standing here. Yesterday, he was begging me to agree to their IVF. Today, he brought pregnant Sera home. He swore up and down he loved me, yet he was marrying another woman and having children with her. Was I truly naive, or was he just deluding himself? Seeing me turn to leave, Caleb’s temper flared. He frowned deeply. “Aubrey, Sera is already being so understanding. Why are you still not satisfied?” “What exactly do you want us to do to make everyone happy?” I closed my eyes briefly. “Fine. I’ll go tomorrow.” *And then leave you forever.* That night, after I showered, Caleb appeared before me. His eyes held that familiar warmth. He reached out to hug me from behind, but I stepped away. He didn’t give up, chuckling softly, his warm breath fanning my neck. He mysteriously pulled a small box from his pocket. Inside was a pink diamond ring. His voice husky, he said, “Aubrey, after the baby is born and we remarry, we’ll go on a honeymoon trip.” “Sera and the baby are just for Mom and Dad.” “She’ll never interfere with us.” He leaned in for a kiss. A knock on the door came at the perfect moment, saving him from the slap I was about to deliver. It was Sera. Her face was pale. “Caleb, my morning sickness is really bad this time. Can you make me the sour plum soup you made when I was pregnant before?” She glanced at me, then covered her mouth, as if she’d said something she shouldn’t have. Caleb peered at my expression. “What are you talking about? I don’t know how to make that!” He slammed the door shut. Blocking Sera’s tear-streaked face from view. I lay still, and soon *fell asleep*. Caleb, who had been restless, finally quietly opened the door and left. Sera’s SnapChat feed updated immediately. The picture showed a steaming bowl of sour plum soup. [Someone scolded me for running around with morning sickness, so he punished me by making me drink two bowls.] [Hmph, he messed up, so he’s punished by having to rub my back.] Then she sent a direct message on SnapChat. [Sister Aubrey, I heard you were the principal dancer in your dance troupe. But why did he say my waist was softer than yours?] I screenshot the message and turned off my screen. I remembered. Three years ago, I heard Caleb had fallen into an icy lake during a mission. I forgot I was pregnant and jumped in after him. After three hours of searching, when I was pulled out, I’d lost the baby. The next day, Caleb returned and held me, crying as if his heart would break, his eyes full of tenderness and guilt. “Aubrey, it’s okay if we never have children.” Only a few days ago, through my investigation, did I discover that he hadn’t participated in that mission at all. He had been taking care of Sera, who was suffering from severe morning sickness. He didn’t care if I could have children. Because he already had one. I laughed at myself bitterly in my mind. *Fool.* Even more foolish for crying over such a liar. As I drifted into a hazy sleep, I felt someone wiping away my tears. When I woke again, Caleb was by the bed, putting on his wedding suit.

“Aubrey, can you help me with my tie?” His voice was intimate and lazy. It gave me a fleeting illusion that we were back to the beginning. But seeing the hair tie on his wrist, which wasn’t mine, immediately brought me back to reality. Just as I was about to refuse, his phone rang. Sera’s voice, sickly sweet, came through the speaker. “Caleb, can you come help me zip up my dress?” Caleb hesitated for a moment, then nodded gently. “Wait for me.” Then he grabbed the silk tie and left without a backward glance. I changed into the dress I wore the day Caleb and I first met. I placed the lucky charm we’d gotten together inside the chest of my dress. I numbly watched Caleb lift Sera into the wedding car. Her long wedding dress didn’t even touch the ground. He turned and saw me. He hurried over. The scent of freesias from Sera’s dress clung to him. He tried to put the ring box into my hand. “Aubrey, when it’s time to exchange rings, bring them up to us.” I looked at him steadily, not taking it. He shoved it into my arms, his face full of impatience. “Aubrey, not now. Don’t make a scene.” I dodged his hand as he tried to pat my head. He awkwardly lowered it. “I’ll come back to you tonight.” I didn’t answer. I glanced around. I wondered where *that person* would appear. Soon, we arrived at the wedding venue. It was an outdoor setting, flowers everywhere. Guests gathered in small groups. Caleb’s family sat on a long bench. The child was held by Mrs. Davies. The family looked happy and harmonious. Only I had foolishly waited for his promise to leave the mercenaries in three years. When it was time to exchange rings, Caleb and Sera’s eyes locked, practically melting together. He didn’t spare a single glance for me, standing right beside them. As the wedding atmosphere reached its climax, the child in Mrs. Davies’s arms suddenly started crying. In the confusion, Caleb rushed off the stage to check on the child. Bang— A gunshot rang out. The crowd erupted in chaos. Sera clutched her stomach, crying out in pain. Caleb rushed back, scooped up Sera, and began to leave. He looked up at me, his eyes darting away. “Aubrey, Sera’s pregnant, hide yourself. I…” Before he could finish, a whistling bullet pierced my chest. Mrs. Davies had pushed me, making me shield Caleb. “Let this bodyguard take the bullet! Son, grab your daughter-in-law and run!” Caleb stared at me in a panic, his voice trembling. “Aubrey, wait for me, I’ll call an ambulance.” I collapsed to the ground, blood gushing from my chest. Though the blood was fake, watching him walk away with Sera without hesitation, The heart that had beaten for him for five years finally died. Caleb Davies, we are over. A few days later, it would be the grand wedding of Miss Kingston and the heir to the Kingston family. ———-此处为截断点———- Caleb placed Sera in the ambulance and was about to grab a nurse to rush back. “Quick, hurry back with me to save Aubrey!”

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My fiancé was dirt poor. So poor I had to fashion my wedding dress from a mosquito net, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. During our rare vacation, when we’d finally saved enough for a trip, Blake left me in the car while I was sleeping and walked away. Men stuck on the highway took turns, one after another, in the car, but I was completely unaware. When we finally got to the Airbnb, he, usually so reserved and controlled, started playing increasingly twisted games. It wasn’t until he was showering that I saw him sharing photos and videos of me in the car, and in the public restroom near the rest area, in a group chat. Disbelief choked me. I wanted to confront him, but another message popped up in the chat. “Just ten thousand for Young Master Blake’s fiancée? I’ll pay thirty thousand upfront!” “Young Master Blake really knows how to play! Pretending to be poor for all these years, just to get revenge for Scarlett Zhao. Finally, he’s playing for high stakes!” Before I could even process why my fiancé was being called “Young Master Blake,” the man in the shower instantly replied: “Scarlett Zhao only went into the woods with those guys back then to save me. I just want to get revenge for her.” Tears streamed down my face, hitting the screen. It hit me like a lightning bolt. I was the one who went into the woods with those ten men to save him back then…

The chat continued to buzz. “Ten thousand a pop, tsk tsk. Young Master Blake must have made hundreds of thousands these past few days, right?” “You really think Young Master Blake needs money? Did you see Scarlett Zhao’s Ins post? Young Master Blake just gifted her a three-hundred-million villa yesterday!” I vaguely heard a cheerful chuckle from the bathroom. “I was supposed to take Scarlett to France for the May Day holiday, but couldn’t make it, so I just got her a small gift as compensation. It’s fine. At least this island trip let me get revenge for what happened to her back then.” The group members showered him with praise, but one person, seemingly unable to stomach it, asked: “But Young Master Blake, you’ve been pretending to be poor for so many years, and only Harper Su stuck by you. Last time it was your birthday, she even sold blood to buy you a gift. Aren’t you going a bit too far treating her like this…?” It felt like someone had violently squeezed my heart, and my breath hitched. A moment later, Blake replied with an eye-roll emoji and a few sentences: “If it weren’t for her, Scarlett wouldn’t have gone through that, having to leave the country to escape the backlash.” “If it weren’t for her, Scarlett and I would have been together ages ago. Everything Harper’s going through is her own damn fault.” “Harper needs to experience a hundred times the pain Scarlett did. Tonight’s guests won’t be charged. Come on in, everyone who wants a piece of her.” Amidst the cheers of dozens of people in the group, Blake sent the Airbnb’s location and our room number. “Once she drinks the milk, she’ll be out cold. Just take it easy on her.” I wanted to rush in, snatch his phone, and stop him, but my body trembled uncontrollably, my limbs completely unresponsive. Hearing Blake about to walk out of the bathroom, I mustered my last bit of strength, marked all the tablet messages as unread, and then collapsed onto the bed, wracked with pain. “Baby, what’s wrong?” Blake rushed over. Seeing my eyes red-rimmed and tears streaming down, he looked surprised. “Why are you suddenly having an episode?” He knew I had bipolar disorder. Sometimes I’d be tormented by intense depression, wanting to leave this world. Other times, I’d become abnormally manic, practically wanting to grab a knife and kill everyone. When an episode hit, my observations became even sharper. For the first time, I saw it: under Blake’s mask of concern, a flicker of well-hidden disgust in his eyes. Blake’s gaze fell on the tablet, and he probed thoughtfully, “Did you see something?” My throat felt like it was choked with rocks and sand. I couldn’t utter a single word, only shaking my head silently. Blake checked the tablet, confirming the messages were unread before he turned and hugged me with feigned tenderness. “I’m sorry. Have we been doing too much these past few days? Is it too much for you?” “It’s all my fault for being useless, for not being able to take you to a doctor… The medication for bipolar disorder is too expensive. I’m sorry, baby…” A man who could give a three-hundred-million villa as a “small gift” was now telling me he couldn’t afford even a few dozen dollars for medication. My stomach churned. His embrace made me sick. I struggled to break free from his arms. He hesitated for a moment, a hint of struggle on his face. I almost卑微地 thought, if only Blake, you still cared about me, even just a little, if only you’d abandon your plan… In the end. I watched him get up and pour a glass of milk. “Drink some milk and get some sleep. You’ll feel better tomorrow.” Since the May Day holiday, Blake had prepared a glass of milk for me every day. It wasn’t until I saw the messages in the group chat that I understood why I’d slept soundly for four or five hours on the highway, why I slept so deeply every night at the Airbnb, only to wake up with shameful marks all over my body the next morning. I thought Blake had finally opened up, developed a taste for me, but I never expected… The thought of those hundreds of photos with all sorts of different men made me sink deeper into despair. Even with me in this state, having an episode, he still intended to let those men come and take their revenge on me? My hands trembled as I slapped the glass of milk, sending it flying. Blake’s face instantly flashed with a flicker of annoyance. But when he saw me, pale as a ghost and slumped on the floor, wildly hitting my head with my hands, he said nothing, just let out an almost imperceptible sigh and turned to leave. I stared blankly, letting the waves of depression and self-loathing wash over me. I don’t know how much time passed, but suddenly, there was a faint click of the doorknob from outside. Were Blake’s “friends” finally here? One, two, or… how many?

The doorknob gently turned, and a man stealthily crept in. I stared at him in the darkness, my eyes bloodshot. He was clearly startled. “Oh, crap, you’re still awake…” Before he could finish, Blake’s urgent, sharp voice cut him off. “You’re drunk! Wrong room!” Blake forcibly dragged the man out, speaking in hushed tones outside the door. I caught fragmented pieces of their conversation: “She’s having an episode… Go back… there will be other chances…” The man’s voice rose. “I even prepared the little pills! How can I…” I don’t know what Blake said in the end, but the surroundings fell silent. Throughout the rest of the night, similar situations happened twice more. I stayed awake, sitting motionless on the floor. Blake didn’t come in to check on me. I thought blankly, was it worth it for Blake to pretend for ten years, all for this day? I had met Blake even earlier than he thought. I was in the middle of the road, bipolar disorder suddenly striking, rendering me unable to move. Just as the traffic was about to rush towards me, a young man suddenly appeared and saved me. Later, I inquired about him everywhere and found out he was known as the poorest student in school. A gambling father, a sick mother, and him – kind and silent. From then on, my entire youth revolved around Blake. From high school to college, I pursued him for seven long years until we finally got together. When he had no money for food, I would eat cheap buns every day, giving him all my living expenses so he could have proper meals with meat and vegetables. He envied other boys who had the latest sneakers. I endured harassment working at a busy diner for two months, buying him three pairs that made every guy in school incredibly jealous. He was even beaten by ten thugs and almost lost his life. It was me who swallowed my pride and agreed to go into the woods with them so he could escape unharmed. Last year, his mother’s illness worsened, requiring hundreds of thousands. I begged everyone, even kowtowed to my stepfather who used to bully me when I was little, just to raise the money. I thought sharing hardships would lead to undying love, but it turned out to be a cruel prank by a rich man. But why? WHY?! Blake had forgotten to take his tablet, and new messages kept popping up: “Young Master Blake is being so unfair. He said we could come, and now he won’t let us.” “Don’t even get me started, I really want to know what it’s like with a woman having an episode… I heard some get super excited!” “I really want to experience Young Master Blake’s life. He pretended to be poor in high school, had Harper working like a dog, sacrificing everything for him, and also had a beauty like Scarlett Zhao who, to save him, willingly went into the woods with other men. Tsk, tsk, tsk.” “Oh, come on, you playboy, you don’t even have a tenth of Young Master Blake’s devotion. Scarlett Zhao just returned to the country, and Young Master Blake not only bought her a car and designer bags but also purchased an entire piece of land in Grandview Estates, planning to build a mansion there someday. He doesn’t even care if Harper finds out and jumps off a building.” These words were like sharp knives, tearing repeatedly at my already tattered heart. Blake and I, broke and with nothing, crammed into a tiny studio in a sketchy part of town. He once held my hand and said that if we worked hard together, one day we’d be able to afford a subsidized apartment near Grandview Estates. I always thought a bright, clean apartment with one bedroom and one living room was our unreachable dream. It turned out everything was so absurd. I frantically picked up the fruit knife beside me. Just as I was positioning it against my wrist, a sickeningly intimate moan suddenly came from the room next door: “Blake~ Mmm…”

The Airbnb had terrible soundproofing. The woman’s voice was almost a taunt in my ear: “I missed you so much too… Just thinking about you and Harper on your honeymoon here, my depression acts up…” “I’m so sad, boo hoo hoo. I keep dreaming about going into the woods with those men…” I recognized it instantly. It was Scarlett Zhao’s voice. I never thought Blake valued her so much that he’d even bring her to our “honeymoon” and arrange for her to stay in the room next door. Blake’s voice was husky, filled with endless tenderness and heartache: “Scarlett, I’m so sorry for what I put you through.” “Don’t be afraid. The top psychology team from abroad is already on their way. Just get some good sleep, and by tomorrow, the doctors will be here, okay?” After I got together with Blake, I’d had several episodes. Each time, he claimed he couldn’t afford the expensive treatment. I was sensible too, daring not to spend an extra dime. I’d just lock myself in the room, refusing to eat or drink, enduring it until it passed. One time, I almost died. At the last moment, a surge of survival instinct made me dial for emergency help. The doctor said if I’d been a few minutes slower, I would have been gone. Afterward, Blake even blamed me for spending the rent money. I just listened in silence, went and sold blood once, and paid the rent. It turned out that when he loved someone, he could spend a fortune to fly in foreign experts overnight, instead of scolding her for wasting money by going to the hospital. Scarlett Zhao’s voice stretched out, whining, “Blake, seeing Harper have an episode, aren’t you feeling bad for her?” In the long, yet fleeting darkness, I heard Blake softly scoff, “How could I? In this whole world, the only person I truly care for is you.” Scarlett Zhao, with a hint of petulance, giggled and asked him, “You’ve been sleeping here with me every night, listening to other men play with Harper. Don’t tell me you have some kind of kink, you like other people using your wife? If that’s the case, I won’t have anything to do with you.” He said in a low voice, “Scarlett, you know I’m doing all of this to get revenge for you. As for Harper… I won’t marry her. After being used by so many men, she’s not worthy of being the Blake family’s young mistress.” Soon, unspeakable sounds came from next door. My phone lit up with two notifications. One was “3rd Anniversary with Blake,” and the other was “Happy 25th Birthday to me.” The man I had given my entire youth and everything to, the man I loved, was spending my 25th birthday, on our three-year anniversary, while I was suffering terribly from a bipolar episode, indulging in a night of debauchery with another woman in the room next door. My heart shattered completely. I sent a text to my step-brother, Sawyer Hayes: “Sawyer Hayes, can you come pick me up? I don’t want to be with Blake anymore.” He replied instantly: “Okay, wait for me.” A tidal wave of exhaustion washed over me. Amidst overwhelming self-loathing, I slowly drifted to sleep. But I forgot to ask Sawyer how he knew where I was.

The next morning, I was woken again by the sounds from next door. I lay with my eyes closed, letting tears stream down. An hour later, the frolicking next door stopped, and the sound of running water from the shower began. Another hour passed before Blake walked in as usual, though his ears were still unusually flushed. Blake acted as if nothing had happened and took me downstairs for breakfast. Malicious gazes, a mix of curiosity and malice, landed on me. “Is that her? She looks like…” “I remember two days ago when she checked in, she was wearing that mosquito net wedding dress…” “She looks so innocent, but behind closed doors, she’s really…” My body stiffened. The whispers in my ears magnified, growing louder and louder… Did they all know? Had they all seen? Seen me in that ridiculous mosquito net wedding dress, in the back of the car, in the public restroom by the highway rest area, in the Airbnb… like a broken rag doll, used and discarded? My hands trembled violently. My fork clattered to the floor. All eyes instantly and shamelessly focused on me. Cold sweat drenched my back. I squeezed a sentence through gritted teeth: “What… what are they saying…?” Blake shot a warning glare at the people around us, then patted my hand reassuringly. “They’re not talking about you. Don’t overthink it.” How could that be?! They definitely saw it! How much did Blake hate me?! After letting countless men humiliate me, he even uploaded the videos online?! My pupils constricted, and a scream tore from my throat before I even realized what I was doing. Blake looked at me, bewildered, a hint of guilt and unease flickering across his face. My hands instinctively covered my eyes. Overwhelming panic suffocated me, making it impossible to breathe. Through my fingers, I saw Sawyer Hayes striding towards me. Just as I thought I was about to be rescued. Blake looked at him and snapped, his voice sharp and urgent. His words made me plummet into hell instantly: “I told you to come tonight! What are you doing here now!” Sawyer Hayes was my step-brother, only three years older than me. When I was little, my stepfather, right in front of my mom, reached into my shirt. It was Sawyer who grabbed a beer bottle, injured him, and dragged me out of that hellhole.

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I was a world-renowned professional angler. After marrying Grant Sterling, the eldest son of the Sterling family, I helped him close dozens of deals by using our shared passion for fishing to build connections, doubling the company’s profits. The day after I found out I was pregnant, I suffered an accidental miscarriage in the middle of the vast ocean. His childhood friend, Summer Hayes, hooked the bit of tissue that had slipped from my body, then gave me a sly, taunting wink: “Quick, cast a line while it’s fresh! I bet the fish out here have never tasted bait like *this* before! You’re not angry, are you, Harper?” I looked at Grant Sterling, pleading for help, but he just chastised me: “You’re just on your period, right? You can single-handedly lift those heavy water coolers, why are you acting so delicate? Next time, remember to bring tampons! You’ve made a mess of my boat!” I begged him to turn back, but a fish bit his line, and he told me to wait. Only after he reeled in the fish did Grant have time for me. “Didn’t you say you had something to tell me today?” The air was silent. “Nonsense. Say it or don’t.” Grant said impatiently. I closed my eyes. Suddenly, I felt like *I* was the one who was wrong.

It was a marlin, its head bristling with long, sharp spikes, weighing about a hundred pounds. Grant and Summer had fought it for almost an hour. Summer excitedly posed with the fish from different angles for photos: “Fishing is so much fun! I’ve decided I’m going to enter the sea angling competition Grant is sponsoring! Grant, you can fish with me, and since Harper isn’t feeling well, she can just drive the boat for us.” “Sounds good. She’s the most familiar with all the trivial stuff like picking out tackle and preparing bait anyway.” I shoved her away like a maniac, desperate to pry open the marlin’s mouth. Summer let out a delicate gasp, her legs buckled, and she almost tumbled into the sea. My two-month-old baby hadn’t even fully formed. That bloody tissue was already torn apart, its shape unrecognizable. “Slap!” A stinging slap landed on my face. Grant held the startled Summer in his arms: “What kind of animalistic behavior is that? Is this how you act as Mrs. Sterling? If you’re done with being my wife, just say so!” I grew up by the sea, the daughter of a fisherman. After marrying Grant, I spent every waking moment learning proper etiquette and bearing, never daring to relax. But thank goodness I wasn’t some fragile, helpless rich girl, otherwise, how could I have endured such pain? Beneath my dark athletic shorts, a horrifying gush of blood streamed down my thighs. By the time the boat docked, it had already dried. Many of the fishing enthusiasts showered Grant and Summer with compliments: “This beautiful lady caught Mr. Sterling’s exclusive lucky fish on her first try! It seems you two really are meant to be!” “If it were just a little bigger, it could break the record of the one in the center of the Sterling Group’s lobby, right?” Summer’s face was flushed crimson from the sun, looking utterly adorable. She tilted her head towards Grant: “How big does it need to be to break the record?” Grant stroked her head. The corners of his lips, usually stern and aloof, curled into a rare, doting smile: “You don’t need to break any records. As long as you want it, we’ll turn *your* fish into a specimen and hang it in the Group’s lobby. How about that?” “Then I’ll really have to try my best!” The marlin specimen displayed in the Sterling Group’s lobby? Grant caught that one under my guidance. It was 3.4 meters long, weighing a massive 450 pounds – three times the size of today’s catch – and it broke the national record for marlin sea fishing. No one has beaten it since. That fish that made him renowned throughout the entire fishing community. That fish that made him see me as his lucky charm. That fish that symbolized the Sterling Group’s unyielding spirit. Somewhere along the way, it had become utterly worthless. Grant went into the boat cabin to pack his fishing gear, his gaze on me filled with disgust: “Wait until Summer and I are far away before you leave. Don’t let anyone see you looking so disgraceful.” “Grant Sterling, let’s get a divorce.” My voice was hoarse. I cupped a handful of seawater, poured it into my insulated bottle, and hugged it tight. Grant froze for a moment, seeing the utter despair in my eyes. Then, he reluctantly softened his tone: “The Sterling Group and the Hayes Corporation have many collaborations ahead. I’m just playing nice with Summer to keep old Mr. Hayes happy, understand? You’re on your period, so just go home and rest. I’m letting today’s incident slide. But tomorrow, when Summer goes fishing, you still need to be there. You’re strong; half a day’s rest is plenty.” “I’m not going back. Tonight, I’m sleeping with the ocean.” He paused for a moment, seemingly unable to comprehend why I had suddenly become so sullen and rebellious. But he still forgave me magnanimously: “Alright, alright, fine. Consider this your sincere devotion to the sea tonight. Just make sure tomorrow you help Summer catch a fish even rarer than that golden moonfish she posted on her Ins, so she can post about it and be happy, okay?” I frowned, but then burst out laughing. My heart didn’t ache as it usually did. That child, as it left my body, took with it the last shred of my illusions about him.

The next day at noon, I bought my own fishing yacht. Before that, I went to the hospital and picked up a pile of vitamins and medication to help with the miscarriage, scattering them loosely on the boat deck. Next to the pills was a registration notice for the sea angling competition. The competition was set to start the day after tomorrow. I had pulled some strings in the fishing community to get a spot. I was sick of being Grant Sterling’s business tool. I needed to return to my own world. Grant and Summer walked up together. Summer innocently asked: “Is this our fishing yacht for today? Harper chose it herself, so it must be good!” Grant glanced at the items on the yacht and chuckled: “I’ve already spoken with the organizers about Summer joining the competition as a sponsor… But since you helped her register, that was thoughtful of you. Let’s go to a nearby shop and pick out some fishing gear for her. You’re the professional; you know best.” I just stared at him, speechless. I pulled out a signed divorce paper from my bag and handed it to him. Grant didn’t take it. Instead, he pulled me aside, and for once, he tried to softly coax me: “You actually like Summer too, don’t you? She’s such a spirited, free-spirited girl. When I look at her, it’s like seeing a younger you. If we had a child, they’d probably be just like her.” My heart ached for a second. Treat her like a child? He must be treating me like an utter fool. Summer was only three years younger than me. I pulled away from him: “We’re getting a divorce. There won’t be any children.” Grant’s face hardened: “Harper, don’t be so ungrateful!” I scoffed and walked directly toward the tackle shop. I needed to buy a new set of gear for my competition the day after tomorrow. Grant wrapped an arm around Summer’s waist, leaving me behind. The tackle shop was run by a local fishing association, with a wall covered in medals and trophies from its members. I had a wall like that in my own room, but it was all mine. Grant and Summer whispered to each other, pointing at the trophies. They exchanged knowing glances and shared a quiet laugh, just like a couple of young lovers. Suddenly, Summer walked over, frowning as she looked at the fishing gear I had carefully selected: “This rod isn’t good. I don’t like blue. And this lure is so ugly! I need to take pictures for my Ins that day!” Grant coldly ordered me: “Get a lighter set. It’s too heavy for Summer to hold. But not too light either, or the fish will pull it away. No colors other than black. Hurry up; we need to go to dinner soon.” I was baffled. “I’m buying fishing gear for myself. What does that have to do with you two?” “Are you out of your damn mind?” Grant thought I was just throwing a tantrum and laughed, annoyed. My fishing gear was already very complete; buying a whole new set now was indeed unnecessary. But Summer had used my most comfortable set that day, and I found it disgusting. I left the fishing gear with the shop owner. As I stepped out, I received a message from Grant: [We’re already at the restaurant. Here’s the address. Hurry up, don’t delay Summer’s fishing trip this afternoon.]

I still went to that restaurant because I learned that his assistant, Chris, would be there to deliver some documents to Grant. “Mrs. Sterling, is everything alright?” Chris’s hand trembled as he took the divorce papers from me. “I don’t have time to chase him to sign this. You can hold onto it for me,” I said curtly. Suddenly, a pink figure descended from upstairs. It was Summer. She sweetly called out to me: “Harper, you’re finally here? Come quick, that bluefin tuna is waiting for you!” I frowned, then heard a few servers, who had been standing by the door for a long time, whispering: “Didn’t Ms. Hayes say she invited the sea angling champion to our restaurant? Who’s this?” “Ugh, I even prepared my camera for a photo op…” My brow twitched. I had been a sea angling champion five years ago, so of course, no one remembered me. But a bad feeling still rose in my gut. The next second, several chefs walked out, carrying a fresh bluefin tuna. “Harper, I’m worried the restaurant won’t prepare this fish well. Only a professional like you can slice it properly.” I scoffed. This kind of high-end seafood restaurant—if someone catches a rare fish offshore, they’ll buy it for a high price immediately. Their chefs can handle any fish. Summer walked up to me, all pretense of innocence gone from her face. It was replaced by intense mockery and arrogance. She whispered in my ear: “If Grant hadn’t married you, you’d probably be just like the guy who caught this fish – bowing and scraping, just to get it onto someone else’s table after a quick photo, wouldn’t you? I’m giving you a chance to slice it for me. You should really appreciate it.” The servers watched as the fish was taken to the private room, and they started whispering again: “Ugh, what champion? She’s just a fish butcher.” “Probably some champion from a bush-league competition. Ms. Hayes is just being nice by saying that.” I looked at Grant, who stood not far away, watching me with a smirk, as if enjoying a show. I knew he was telling me that without him, I was nothing. My phone vibrated. It was a photo from the movers I’d hired. They cautiously asked me: “Should the things in the trophies… be packed too?” The photo showed a trophy accidentally knocked over, spilling out a sticky, damp mess of used condoms. Every single trophy contained them. My temples throbbed. Grant would never have allowed that when he was with me. It could only be Summer and him. Recalling their snickering at the tackle shop, I sneered. I casually pulled out the small knife I always carried and, with one swift, clean cut, gutted the fish. Its internal organs spilled out onto the floor. Summer screamed, covering her eyes. Grant put his arm around Summer and snapped, “Harper Vance, aren’t you disgusted with yourself?!” He’d once praised the exact same action, calling me free-spirited and charming. Now, his eyes were full of nothing but disgust. “Not as disgusted as you two make me!” Grant froze, seemingly shocked that I dared to talk back. I turned to leave, and my phone immediately buzzed. It was a voice message from Grant. He was truly enraged: [Harper Vance, I didn’t want to tell you, but I only liked you at first because of the suspension bridge effect. You got off easy being Mrs. Sterling for five years; it’s gone to your head!] The suspension bridge effect: It means when you’re in a high-stakes, exciting situation, you mistake your racing heart for actual feelings for the other person. That night, we had fought that marlin for almost seven hours. The fishing yacht had nearly capsized several times. It was certainly stimulating enough. So that’s what he considered our love. But I no longer cared. Seeing that I didn’t reply, he assumed I was intimidated and added: [You scared Summer. I’m ordering you to drive the boat for her during her competition tomorrow, to apologize with your actions! Otherwise, don’t blame me if I actually sign the divorce papers!] I scoffed and replied: [My pleasure.]

The next day, it was the sea angling competition. I arrived at the beach early with my gear, looking for my boat. From a distance, I saw a scattering of white and yellow medicine boxes floating in the water around my fishing yacht. It suddenly dawned on me that I hadn’t taken a single one of the pills I got from the hospital. I let out a bitter laugh, then noticed the entire fishing yacht was shaking unnaturally. As I got closer, the sickening sounds of their tryst from inside the cabin drifted into my ears, carried by the waves. I took a deep breath, stepped onto the boat to pick up the remaining medicine boxes, and through the cabin window, I met Grant’s gaze. Grant squinted at me, a taunting smirk on his face, and then deliberately intensified his movements. The fishing yacht rocked even more violently. Fighting back nausea, I left, returned to the tackle shop, and rented a new fishing yacht. Just then, I received another message from him: [This is your punishment. Every time you’re stubborn, I’ll punish you again.] I scoffed, amused, but I had no time for him. The competition was still two hours away, and I had something important to do. I arrived at a small, weathered chapel by the sea. Growing up, before my father went fishing, we always visited a similar shrine to offer prayers. I carried that insulated bottle, knelt, and bowed my head three times, praying that this child’s soul would find peace. The chapel was quiet. A kind-faced attendant wearing simple robes approached me. “Hello, ma’am, would you like to buy a blessed charm?” “Do you have any that bless children?” I asked hesitantly. Just then, Summer’s laughter drifted in from the doorway. She had red marks on her neck and twisted her body, looking innocent, as she walked up to me: “Harper, you really are here! I told Grant you fisher-folk loved to come pray at this chapel, but he didn’t believe me! What are you looking at, Harper? What are these?” The attendant was interrupted and seemed to momentarily forget what I had just asked. He instinctively pulled out two charms: “This one’s for a harmonious marriage, and this one for fertility and a blessed child. Which would you prefer?” I fell silent. Grant’s expression turned playful. He pulled Summer’s hand and walked into the chapel: “If you don’t appreciate your own blessings, no charm in the world will help you.” My brow twitched. I suddenly remembered my insulated bottle was still beside the prayer mat. Sure enough, the next second I heard Grant’s voice: “Harper Vance, are you ditching your crappy insulated bottle?” Then came a jarring clatter. He kicked the bottle aside with his foot. But I’d unscrewed the cap, hoping to receive the chapel’s blessing for the seawater inside. With that kick, the seawater spilled onto the ground, not a single drop remaining. It was like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over my head. I had planned to go out to sea today and pour the blessed water from the bottle back into the ocean, hoping it would allow the child’s soul to rest. But I hadn’t expected that even this private wish would be denied.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296846”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #狼人Werewolf