Author: Momo Chan

My husband had a daughter with his first love, Seraphina. I always knew. I thought if I just stayed by his side. If I used our daughter to hold him, he would eventually come back to me. That we could build a happy family. To get his attention, I pushed our daughter, Aria, to study hard, controlling her every move, molding her into a proper, elegant lady. I never imagined Aria couldn’t take the pressure and took her own life. My husband then sent me to a mental hospital. With me out of the way, he successfully brought Seraphina into our lives. But I woke up, filled with burning hatred. I was reborn. Aria jumped from a high-rise building, and I couldn’t bear the shock. I passed out. When I woke up, I was told my husband had already taken her body for cremation. I hadn’t even gotten to say goodbye to my own daughter. I found my husband, demanding to know why he wouldn’t let me see her one last time. But he was embracing Seraphina, surrounded by a group of people. He told them to take me to a mental hospital. It hit me then, a sickening clarity. He was an absolute scumbag. Aria’s body wasn’t even cold, and he was already planning to send me away, seize my family’s assets, and install Seraphina as his wife. I wouldn’t accept it. I truly wouldn’t. I lunged forward, confronting him, demanding to know why he was doing this to me. He slapped me, hard. “You killed Aria. If you hadn’t pushed her so hard, controlled her every move, why else would she have taken her own life?” My husband also claimed he only married me because of my father. He only married me because I had a powerful dad. How pathetic and laughable I was. I’d always known his intentions were impure. But I believed my true heart could win his. I knew he couldn’t forget Seraphina, that he even had a daughter with her. I once thought that if I stayed by his side, if I raised Aria into a perfect lady. He would finally look at me. It turns out, I was just deluding myself. My husband was discussing with the medical staff how to deal with me, when Seraphina suddenly walked over, crouching down to whisper in my ear. At that moment, she wasn’t gentle or frail at all. All that remained was pure malice. She hissed, “You look pathetic. What good did getting his body do? You’ll never have his heart. And now, even his body belongs to me too.” Aria’s death had already shattered me, and I couldn’t control my emotions any longer. I yanked her hair, forcing her forehead to the ground, making her grovel as if begging for my daughter’s forgiveness. Seraphina shrieked in terror, drawing Damian’s attention. He rushed toward us, and I felt a sedative injected into my neck by the medical staff. The last thing I saw was my husband gently comforting Seraphina, then casting a look of utter disgust my way. Hatred coiled around my heart, a venomous snake. If I got another chance, I would never let that cheating couple get away with it.

When I opened my eyes again, hatred still surged through me. I thought I had been sent to the mental hospital. But I looked around and realized, wasn’t this our piano room? Suddenly, I heard a quiet sob. Aria knelt before me, her eyes brimming with tears, her palms red and swollen from being hit. I stood there, arms crossed, a ruler still clutched in my hand. Seeing my daughter alive and well, I couldn’t help but burst into tears of joy. I quickly tossed the ruler aside and hugged her tightly. Aria seemed startled by my strange behavior. Her body involuntarily flinched. She cautiously whispered, “Mom?” “Yes, sweetheart?” Aria saw me crying. She looked disbelieving, but also asked with concern what was wrong. I wiped away my tears. “Mommy’s just so happy.” I didn’t know how, but I had returned to the time when Aria had just started her junior year of high school. No matter what, this time, I wouldn’t let the previous tragedy happen again. All those rules about being a lady, all those strict manners, I’d throw them to the wind. This time, all I wanted was for my daughter to grow up healthy and happy. As for that despicable couple, I wouldn’t let them off easy either. Especially that scumbag husband. I would make sure he lost everything and everyone. I stroked Aria’s head, telling her she didn’t have to learn piano if she didn’t want to. She looked at me, disbelief in her eyes, then cautiously said, “Mom, didn’t you always say a proper lady had to learn piano?” I sighed. What was I thinking back then? Why did I keep pushing my daughter, making her so miserable, making her speak to her own mother so timidly? I looked at her seriously. “From now on, do what you want to do. Mom used to think those things were for your own good, but I never considered if you actually needed them.” “From now on, Mom just wants you to be happy.” A flash of surprise crossed Aria’s eyes, but her gaze was still filled with doubt. My heart ached a little. It seemed I truly had been awful before. Even my own daughter didn’t believe I could truly change. But years of ingrained behavior don’t change overnight, and I understood that. I would prove it with my actions. I would earn her trust.

At dinner, Aria was still very reserved. I remembered how she used to come home from school, excited to share her day’s stories during dinner. But I would sharply hit her arm with my fork. Back then, I’d glare at her and say, “What did Mom teach you? No talking at the dinner table. Silence while eating, silence while sleeping.” After that, she remembered it well. Now, thinking about it, we were a family. Why did we need so many rules? I served Aria her favorite braised pork ribs, telling her to eat more. “From now on, you can tell Mom anything.” Aria looked surprised but obediently said, “Okay.” After dinner, Aria dutifully went back to her room to study. I sat in the living room, sipping tea, thinking about how to deal with that despicable couple. Suddenly, Mrs. Davis, our housekeeper, walked over. “Madam, this package is for you.” I opened it. It was a photo, dated for today. In the picture, my husband was hugging Seraphina, celebrating their daughter’s birthday. In the past, seeing this would have sent me into a furious rage. Now, I just felt a quiet sense of irony. Well, isn’t that convenient? I needed to save this. Wasn’t this clear evidence of Damian’s infidelity? The photo, without a doubt, was sent by Seraphina to provoke me. It wasn’t the first time I’d received something like this, but before, my mind wasn’t clear, and I’d just endured it. This time, I planned to remain calm, not to swallow my anger. It was just that I couldn’t divorce him yet. I needed to regain control of the company first. Even though the company shares were still in my name. Damian had been managing the business for so many years that he had successfully sidelined me from the company’s management. Once I had control again, I’d kick that scumbag out, leaving him with absolutely nothing. Then, I’d like to see if his love with Seraphina was truly as solid as gold.

My in-laws, Eleanor and Richard, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time, suddenly showed up at the house. Damian was away on a business trip. Aria, ready for school, dutifully went forward to greet her grandparents. But Eleanor just stared at her, then sighed. “Why is she just a girl?” My eyes turned cold. I spoke up, “A girl is wonderful. I’m very happy with her.” This old-fashioned preference for boys was unacceptable. For years, Eleanor had looked down on me and my daughter for not having a grandson. Before, out of respect, I had endured it. So much so that when I read Aria’s suicide note, she wrote that she felt like an unwanted child. Eleanor, however, ignored me and continued, “What good is a girl? She can’t take care of you in your old age or bury you. And the family fortune will go to someone else eventually.” She even wanted me to have another child. Hah, I scoffed. But Aria looked a little hurt. I took her hand and comforted her. “Don’t worry, Mom will only ever have one daughter, you.” I told her to go to school first and ignore Eleanor’s unreasonable demands. Eleanor sat on the sofa and said, “Your brother-in-law, Jasper, is getting married. Give him one of your properties for his wedding home.” So that was her real purpose for coming. But what was with that condescending attitude? Was that any way to ask for a favor? I refused. I told her I was leaving all my properties to my daughter. Eleanor shamelessly claimed, “If you give your property to Jasper, and his wife has a son, then his son can take care of you in your old age.” The nerve! I said coldly, “I don’t need anyone to take care of me. I can go to a retirement home.” Eleanor was furious, cursing me as a “cursed woman.” “What’s wrong with giving Jasper a property? It’s not like you’re losing an arm or a leg!” “I’ll say it again. All my assets will go to my daughter. No one else will touch a single penny.” Why didn’t this old hag ask her own son to buy him a place? She just wanted to take advantage of me. In my past life, I had given my all for their family. Yet they showed no gratitude. They still wanted to scheme for my assets. Hmph. Eleanor’s face twisted in rage, and she lunged at me, intending to hit me. But Richard held her back. He tried to smooth things over, saying Eleanor was confused. He pulled Eleanor into a room, and I could still hear them whispering. “Damian hasn’t gotten the shares yet. Don’t ruin things with her.”

Truly, there’s no limit to shamelessness. It seems I need to accelerate my return to the company. But before I could even start making plans. That evening, Aria’s homeroom teacher called me, saying Aria had gotten into a fight at school. I rushed over, only to find my husband, Damian, who was supposed to be on a business trip, already there. In the office, besides him, was Seraphina, his mistress. She was crying hysterically, holding her daughter, Celeste, and accusing Aria of bullying her. My daughter stood helplessly to the side. Damian showed no inclination to defend Aria. He even wanted her to apologize to Seraphina’s daughter, Celeste. Aria stubbornly said, “I didn’t do anything wrong, why should I apologize?” Seeing this, Damian raised his hand, intending to slap Aria across the face. I pushed open the door and walked in, radiating power. “Try to hit my daughter, I dare you.” His hand froze in mid-air, unable to strike. Damian glared at me with disgust. “Look at the daughter you’ve raised! Bullying others!” I scoffed. “My daughter would never bully anyone. And you, you want her to apologize without even knowing the reason?” “Are you even her real father? Anyone would think you’re someone else’s dad!” His expression flickered with panic for a second. I ignored him. I asked Aria what happened. She said Celeste was bullying Chloe, and she stepped in to defend Chloe. It was then I noticed a small girl in the corner of the office, likely Chloe, the girl Aria mentioned. I patted Aria’s shoulder, reassuring her. To my surprise, my husband actually interjected. “Why are you so reckless, sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong? And you scratched Celeste’s face like that!” It was just like in my previous life. Damian had always sided with his illegitimate daughter, blaming Aria for being reckless and for stepping in. Back then, I also thought Aria was undignified, not behaving like a proper young lady. I completely ignored Aria’s intentions and just kept scolding her. This time, I absolutely wouldn’t do that again. I glared at him. “Shut up.” I turned to Aria’s homeroom teacher, who hadn’t spoken yet. “I believe the teacher has already clarified the situation.” “My daughter was acting heroically. I don’t believe she did anything wrong.” The one who was wrong was the bully, Damian’s illegitimate daughter. The girl Aria had protected, Chloe, looked timid. But she also confirmed that Aria had stepped in for her. As a homeroom teacher, she naturally knew the character of the students in her class. The teacher asked Celeste to apologize to Chloe and Aria, but Celeste looked defiant. Seraphina also wouldn’t let her daughter apologize, insisting that her daughter would never bully anyone, that she was a good girl. She then cast a pitiful look at Damian, daring to flirt and provoke me right in front of me. I scoffed. Damian looked conflicted. He shamelessly spoke up, “How about we just let it go? It’s not like Aria was hurt.” I scoffed again. “Whether we ‘let it go’ or not is not up to you.”

Chloe was an orphan. In my previous life, once I found out, I forbade Aria from playing with her. Aria had a huge fight with me then, and later, I heard Chloe had been bullied until she took her own life. I couldn’t imagine if Aria had also been bullied. I only knew that this time, I had to help Chloe. I would even sponsor her education, because she was a friend my daughter accepted. In the end, Celeste reluctantly apologized. Seraphina looked as if she had suffered the greatest injustice. After settling the matter, I took Aria home. Damian followed us. On the way, I couldn’t help but taunt him. “Weren’t you on a business trip? How did you get here so fast?” Damian pompously declared that no matter what, nothing was more important than his daughter. Which daughter was he talking about? Who knows. Aria nestled close to me. She had finally completely believed that I wasn’t the controlling mother I used to be. I felt immensely relieved. That night, I slept with Aria. The next day, I went to see Uncle Liam, a highly respected elder and my father’s most trusted friend. He also held shares in the Sterling Group. I stated my intentions, and he pondered for a while. He said Damian had been diligently managing the company for so many years; kicking him out wouldn’t be easy. He could bypass Damian and arrange for me to start at a lower level, prove myself, and then be transferred back to headquarters. Otherwise, the old directors on the board might not approve of me. I assured him I would achieve great results. I used to focus solely on family, but thankfully, I hadn’t forgotten everything I’d learned before. Uncle Liam acted quickly. I was soon assigned to a struggling subsidiary of the Sterling Group. This company had been losing money for a long time, and morale was low. The first thing I needed to do was stabilize their confidence.

I parachuted in to take over this company that was on the verge of being shut down. On my first day, the existing executive director tried to put me in my place. Whatever materials I requested, she claimed weren’t available. Employee morale was also very low. The company was a mess, and that executive director even arrogantly said, “This is how we usually operate.” I flew into a rage, deciding to make an example out of her. I fired her on the spot. I told her to go to accounting to settle her severance. She was furious, claiming I had no right to fire her. I ignored her shouting and simply encouraged the others, “I’ve taken over this company, and I will lead you to success. Work hard with me, and I won’t let you down.” No matter how nice the words sounded, without actual results, there was no convincing power. What I needed most was a big deal, one that could revive this company. That evening, I arranged a meeting with some potential partners and, accompanied by a young assistant, went to negotiate a contract. To my surprise, I met a bald Mr. Henderson. He brazenly eyed me up and down, then coarsely insisted I drink with him. I thought, “I’ll endure this if I can.” For the sake of the deal, I drank. But then he reached out, trying to grope me. My assistant was a man, waiting outside the private room. I wanted to twist his arm off, but then someone walked into the room. The moment Mr. Henderson saw him, his eyes lit up as if he’d struck gold. He ran over like a bootlicker. “Well, Mr. Caleb! It’s rare to see you here. Come, come, let me toast you.” I looked up. It was Caleb Sullivan, my old university classmate. I never imagined he’d be doing so well now. Caleb exchanged pleasantries with Mr. Henderson, then sat down. He said, “I hear you’re discussing a contract with Ms. Sterling, Mr. Henderson. I wonder if I could get a piece of that action?” Mr. Henderson smiled obsequiously, “Of course, Mr. Caleb! With your involvement, it would be twice as easy. Everyone knows following Mr. Caleb means good profits!” Just like that, a major deal was sealed. I looked at Caleb with gratitude. It was all thanks to him that things went so smoothly. I took the opportunity to add Caleb’s contact information.

After that deal was secured, I distinctly felt the company’s morale rise significantly. I instructed the finance department to issue a bonus to every employee as encouragement for their hard work. This would better maintain employee loyalty. I also specifically promoted the young assistant who had accompanied me to the negotiation, putting him in charge of liaising with Mr. Henderson. And I specifically invited Caleb to dinner at an elegant, traditional restaurant. Caleb and I chatted about our university days. I couldn’t help but remark, “You were quite the campus celebrity back then, you know. So many girls had crushes on you.” Caleb just smiled, not saying anything. “And now you’re doing so well! What lucky woman gets to marry you?” Caleb paused for a moment, then said, “I’ve been divorced for a long time.” I felt a little awkward. It seemed I had said the wrong thing. Caleb smiled, reassuring me, “It’s been a long time. I’ve moved on.” With him saying that, I didn’t know what else to say, so I just chuckled and changed the subject. I asked Caleb why he suddenly appeared that day to help me. He then told me a story. He said that once, a young man, poor and about to drop out of school, met an old man fishing in the park. Seeing how distraught he looked, the old man kindly asked what was wrong. At that time, the young man told him he was going to quit school. The old man disagreed and urged him to continue his studies, assuring him not to worry about tuition. The old man asked for his ID and school details. He thought that day he had met a con artist, but it turned out he had met a savior. Because soon after, a sum of money appeared in his bank account, enough to see him through to university graduation. Caleb looked intently into my eyes. “That man was your father.” “After I started university, I met you. But back then, you already had a boyfriend.” “I told myself that if you ever faced any difficulties, I would help you with all my might.” “That day, I appeared on purpose.” So, it was my deeply loving father, helping me all along. My eyes welled up with tears. What goes around comes around. I would carry on my father’s generosity. Once I fully took over the group, I would establish a foundation. To help those in need.

fter dinner, I declined Caleb’s offer to drive me home. I decided to browse a mall and buy a gift for Aria. I walked into a jewelry store, and a sales associate warmly greeted me. I said I was looking for a piece of jewelry suitable for a young girl. The sales associate recommended a very beautiful protective pendant, with a braided cord chain that was durable and looked understated. I decided to buy it on the spot. As I finished paying and was about to leave, I saw Seraphina. She was intimately holding a man’s arm, picking out jewelry. After they exchanged some words, she even happily kissed the man in front of the sales associate. I internally exclaimed, “Well, isn’t that something!” Damian is about to get cuckolded. I quickly took out my phone and snapped a few pictures, then quietly slipped away. I wouldn’t tell Damian yet. It wasn’t the right time. I wanted them to tear each other apart when the time was right. Back home, I placed Aria’s gift in her room, planning to surprise her. But when I went downstairs, I saw Damian sitting on the sofa. I raised an eyebrow. The moment he saw me, he started questioning me. “When did you go back to work at the company?” “Whenever I felt like it. What’s it to you?” Damian had the nerve to say, “I hope you put your focus on the family. Aria still needs your guidance.” “Leave the hard work of earning money to me.” Was he starting to panic already? I decided to mimic his hypocritical act. “How could I let you suffer alone? I’m willing to share the burden.” My husband’s face cracked. He pompously stated, “I was just trying to care for you. Don’t be so sarcastic.” I rolled my eyes. “Don’t bother. If you’re so concerned, maybe care about your own daughter.”

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Julian Thorne’s ex, Seraphina, was back from overseas, divorced, and pregnant. The moment she returned, my husband of five years, Julian, just told me to take care of her every need. I didn’t argue or make a fuss; I simply accepted. After all, everyone in the family knew I was just a stand-in for Seraphina. All these years, he’d ignored my dedication to this family. One casual comment from his ex about wanting a ‘servant’ and I’d be running myself ragged for her. If she so much as sighed, Julian would practically hand her his soul. When Seraphina saw me, she immediately flung herself into Julian’s arms. “Brother Julian always had good taste, marrying a free housekeeper.” “I just wonder if asking Amelia to take care of me will make her angry…” Angry? There was no need. Julian had already signed the divorce papers three days ago. From now on, we were going our separate ways, no strings attached. “My mother’s still in the hospital. Seraphina and I have plans tonight, so you go take care of her.” Julian said, pulling on the clothes I painstakingly ironed and laid out for him every day. He didn’t offer a single word of comfort, just grabbed Seraphina and walked straight out the door. He left the breakfast table a total disaster, and even though he knew I hadn’t eaten, he dumped the extra portion straight into the trash. The house was terrifyingly quiet, leaving me alone in a mess. “Oh, you poor thing, Amelia. You really slave away for us day in and day out.” “Now there’s just Seraphina, too, but I’m sure you can handle it. My brother trusts you, that’s why he gave you the task of looking after the whole family.” Julian’s sister, Chloe, muttered a sarcastic remark as she passed me. I knew she’d always disliked me. I mean, who asked me to ‘steal’ her dear Seraphina’s husband, right? Even though I was Julian’s legal wife, Julian and the entire Thorne family’s favoritism toward Seraphina was plain for all to see. I was already exhausted from work every day, yet he ordered me to spend ten hours at the hospital taking care of his mother, who was paralyzed from the waist down. Julian and I had a huge fight about it. Everyone in the Thorne family saw my distress. Even when I yelled and screamed like a banshee, not one of them would say a word in my defense. Even though I’d tirelessly played the part of the perfect daughter-in-law and wife for five long years. This was my last argument. I was exhausted from constantly fighting to stay afloat in this toxic family dynamic. I listed out all the care instructions for Mrs. Thorne in a neat table and sent it to Seraphina. Isn’t she so eager to climb the ladder? Might as well give her a head start on what it means to be a Thorne daughter-in-law. She stomped her foot in anger. “What’s this supposed to mean, Amelia? You’re complaining about taking care of Aunt Thorne?” “Besides, Brother Julian, you know I’m frail and sickly…” So Julian had the absolute audacity to tell me to quit my job and become Seraphina’s full-time caretaker. I stood before them, watching them flirt and intertwine. They both seemed to be waiting for me to get angry, to rage. But none of that happened. I simply said, flatly, “Okay.” And so, today’s scene unfolded. He seemed determined to humiliate me, all just to win a smile from his ex. Julian believed that leaving me utterly devastated was proof of his love for Seraphina. I should have recognized the truth long ago: Julian never loved me. Julian and Seraphina’s love story was the kind people dreamed of, a real fairytale, the kind you read about: childhood sweethearts, perfectly innocent and inseparable. But when the Thornes went to propose, they were utterly shut down. Apparently, the Cross family looked down on the Thornes’ social standing, thinking Julian was just a toad trying to snatch a swan, and married Seraphina off to a wealthy foreign businessman instead. Julian wanted to elope with Seraphina, but she refused, tears in her eyes. She claimed it was for her family’s benefit, but in truth, she had just snagged someone richer than Julian. And so, they parted ways. Seraphina went to live overseas with her husband, and Julian vowed never to marry. But Julian’s parents wouldn’t have it. That’s when they found me. Julian and I met on a rainy day, a scene straight out of a romance movie. I was being harassed by some thugs, and he stood up for me. Then I held my umbrella over him as he stood drenched in the rain. From that moment, love took root in my heart. It had been ten years since then. At first, he strongly resisted, but then, after meeting me, he compromised. It was only then that I realized the truth: it was because my face was an uncanny eight-tenths match for Seraphina’s. Now Seraphina was back, and it was time for me to go.

It was past midnight when I finally finished taking care of Mrs. Thorne. Mrs. Thorne was famously difficult: petty, cruel, and demanding. Even though I tried my absolute best, she was always finding something to complain about, even if it meant splitting hairs. If anything was even slightly not to her liking, she’d start throwing things around the hospital room and cursing me with all sorts of foul language. As a daughter-in-law, my conscience was clear. Tonight was no different. I was only a minute late bringing her food, and she made me kneel by her hospital bed until she fell asleep before I could leave. In the dead of night, taxis were scarce, so I had no choice but to hobble home, my knees swollen and red from kneeling. I couldn’t afford to waste time; I had a major project to follow up on at the company first thing in the morning. Then a notification popped up on my phone. I squinted, and it was from Julian Thorne. He had never actively messaged me before, and for a second, a flicker of surprise, even hope, stirred in my heart. But as I opened the message, my heart died completely. It was a photo of him kissing Seraphina. Behind them, fireworks exploded, and drones lit up the night sky, spelling out a message: “Seraphina, Julian Thorne loves only you, this life and forever!” All the grand gestures were custom-made for Seraphina. Julian’s next message was ice-cold. “Sent it to the wrong person. It was meant for Seraphina.” “Whatever. You saw it, you saw it. Doesn’t matter.” In five years, I had only ever made one request of him: to receive a single bouquet of roses from him. But he had refused. “Roses? Can’t eat ’em, so what’s the point!” Hearing that, I had only felt a quiet sadness, assuming he was just a pragmatist, not into grand gestures. Turns out, Julian wasn’t clueless about romance; he just wasn’t willing to put in the effort for me. The joyful, blissful expression on Julian’s face in the photo was something I had never seen before. I opened my social media feed, and it was completely dominated by Seraphina’s posts. The comment sections were filled exclusively with messages from relatives and friends. “I knew Seraphina and Julian were always the perfect match.” “When is Julian finally going to divorce that old hag, Amelia Vance?” “Wishing them eternity.” Those comments were like daggers plunging into my chest, leaving me breathless. My finger slipped, and I accidentally liked one of Seraphina’s posts. Her message popped up instantly. “Today is the 10,000th day since Brother Julian and I met. He insisted on giving me a surprise, and I forgot to block you, Amelia, which might have upset you.” “But Amelia, you’re such a generous person, I’m sure you won’t mind, right? Oh, and I forgot to tell you, the photo Brother Julian just sent you? I accidentally sent that too.” “Accidentally”? I almost choked laughing at her ‘accident.’ How she managed to ‘accidentally’ pick me out from hundreds of contacts and send that photo, she knew damn well. Seraphina just wanted to see me furious and raging, didn’t she? Well, I was truly going to disappoint her. What once felt like the end of the world now just felt… trivial. At that moment, I calmly downloaded the photo Julian had sent me and the photos from Seraphina’s social media feed, zipped them into a file, and sent them to my lawyer. Everything I was owed, I would get every single penny. I had already wasted too many of my prime years on Julian Thorne. From now on, I would live for myself. I dialed my family’s number. “Big brother, I’ve made up my mind. It’s much more comfortable inheriting the family fortune back home. Will you still welcome me?” My brother was practically weeping with joy. “My little princess is finally willing to come home! There’s always a place for you here, sis.”

Julian didn’t come home, so I immediately called my private investigator. Sure enough, an hour later, I had the video of them ‘doing their thing’ at a hotel. I was determined to get my share of the Thorne family’s assets. After we got married, Julian always wanted to start his own company. So, I handed over the millions of dollars my family gave me as a wedding gift, letting him go all in. He just happened to catch a massive trend, and the company took off, making the Thornes richer and richer. But Julian, with his pea-sized brain, couldn’t even manage to pass his classes back in the day – how did he think he could run a company? He actually believed he was some kind of business genius! If I hadn’t called in financial executives from Vance Group to advise him, he’d have lost his shirt by now, along with everything else. But instead of gratitude, Julian only became more arrogant, and that whole pack of ungrateful wolves in the Thorne family looked down on me even more. How they saw me no longer mattered. Sooner or later, they would reap what they sowed. I just considered all the money and time I’d invested over the years as wasted, thrown to the dogs. First thing the next morning, as I was packing my bags to leave, Julian called and told me to attend the Thorne family dinner. “Don’t forget the family dinner at noon. Just dress casually, nothing too fancy. You know my parents don’t like you dressing too extravagantly, and it wouldn’t look good for the relatives and friends to see you overly made up. Even if the Thornes are rich, we can’t have you being too wasteful.” Before I could refuse, he’d already hung up. Maybe he was afraid I’d argue with him again, or perhaps he was afraid I’d beg him to forgive me over the phone, considering I was always the one meekly going to him to make up after every argument. Whatever he was afraid of, it didn’t matter anymore. I was about to be completely free. My family’s fortune was waiting for me to inherit. No need to work hard, no need to endure being belittled. How great would it be to just ‘lie flat’ and still get paid? The divorce papers were already effective, and I had collected all the evidence of his infidelity. Attending one last family dinner wouldn’t hurt. But when I arrived at the banquet hall, I was stunned. Everyone was dressed to the nines, while my outfit could only be described as pathetic in comparison. No wonder he told me to dress simply. He was setting me up! The most dazzling person in the crowd was undoubtedly Seraphina, wearing a haute couture gown, its skirt shimmering with diamonds, making her look absolutely radiant. Julian had clearly gone all out to make me look bad and let Seraphina shine, putting in a truly pathetic effort. But when I looked closely at the design of the dress, I froze. Wasn’t this the gown design I had personally created? I stood at the entrance of the banquet hall, watching Julian put his arm around Seraphina’s waist and dance elegantly. People around me started whispering. “Is that Julian’s ex-wife? Why is she dressed so shabbily? How embarrassing!” “She clearly knows she can’t compare to Seraphina, yet she still showed up? Talk about overconfident!” “Tsk, tsk, tsk, she looks way too much like Seraphina. Did she get plastic surgery to look like that?” A wave of laughter swept through the room. Seraphina spoke up, feigning concern for me. “What’s so funny? Amelia spends all day slaving away in the kitchen at home. It’s perfectly normal she doesn’t know how to dress herself up.” Anyone who didn’t know better would think Seraphina was being noble, but in reality, she just wanted to embarrass me, pure and simple.

Too tired to deal with them, I turned to leave, but Seraphina grabbed my arm. “Amelia, you just got here! Why leave so soon? Stay and enjoy the party!” “Didn’t Brother Julian prepare a gown for you? I thought he’d arrange something for you too!” I raised my eyes and stared at Julian, but he nervously avoided my gaze. Seraphina continued to chatter. “Oh, that’s right. Amelia, you’re such a rough person, I guess you wouldn’t know how to wear a gown anyway. No need to waste Brother Julian’s money.” I cursed silently in my heart. Sweetie, when I was wearing gowns, you were probably still crawling around in diapers. But I maintained a polite expression. “Oh, you’re absolutely right. I’m just a crude country bumpkin. But Seraphina, you’re so generous, I’m sure you’d be happy to take off your gown and let your ‘older sister’ wear it, wouldn’t you?” Julian spoke up. “Amelia Vance, do you really have to be so difficult with Seraphina? It’s just a dress. I’ll buy you one, okay?” I smiled, looking at Julian. “Oh, yes, just one dress. But everyone at this party is dressed elegantly, and you specifically told me to dress simply. What was your intention, then? To make me a mere backdrop for your first love?” Julian looked a little flustered. “Do you have to be like this, Amelia? I already told you, Mom and Dad don’t like their daughter-in-law dressing too flashy.” I swirled the red wine in my glass, watching Julian perform his little act. “Is it really your parents who don’t like it, or is it your beloved first love?” Seraphina quickly interrupted. “Amelia, if you think it’s me, then it’s me! As long as you don’t fight with Brother Julian, I’m willing to take the blame.” “I’ll toast to you, hoping you’ll calm down.” She raised her glass, trying to clink it with mine. I scoffed. “I have a severe phobia of trash, so no, I won’t be clinking glasses with a b*tch.” Julian roared, “Enough! If you can’t behave, then get lost! Don’t be an eyesore.” I turned to leave, but Seraphina suddenly rushed forward and knelt in front of me, grabbing my hand and trying to pull it towards her face. “It’s all my fault, Amelia, please don’t be angry.” In Seraphina’s violent tug, I lost my balance and spilled the red wine from my glass onto her gown. She shrieked in terror. “Amelia, how could you do this? You can hit me, curse me, but how could you take it out on this gown? This is a haute couture gown worth millions, the only one in the world!” “If you can’t afford to pay for it, Amelia, you’ll be facing jail time. And I truly wouldn’t want to see that happen to you.” I just laughed. A chilling, slow smile that spread across my face. Seraphina looked confused. “Amelia, you’re about to go to jail. Why are you still laughing?”

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The company’s annual gala was a blur of shimmering dresses and forced smiles. Then, Chloe, the new intern, publicly accused me of deliberately tripping her and staining her designer gown. My husband, Liam, didn’t hesitate. He told me to hand over the dress I’d picked out for our anniversary to compensate her. When I refused, she flew into a rage, humiliating me in front of everyone: “You’re nothing but a discarded toy, auctioned off and shamed by your ex-fiancé! How dare you even think of marrying Liam?!” With that, she threw a glass of red wine over my head. “I heard your compromising photos were auctioned off for a dollar! There are so many people here today, why don’t you show off your wet body to everyone?” A collective gasp swept through the room. My heart clenched, and I stared at my husband in shock. My mind raced back. I’d been drugged and tricked into a sham marriage by my ex-fiancé, and my intimate photos were livestreamed for auction. Luckily, my childhood friend, Liam, came to my rescue, buying off all those photos at an astronomical price. But now, I realized the salvation I thought I’d found was just a casual joke to him. If that’s the case, I choose to leave.

I was drenched and stunned by the glass of red wine Chloe threw at me. Before I could even react, her voice lashed out again. “Audrey Smith, you only got your position because of Mr. Scott, didn’t you? Don’t think everyone doesn’t know about your past!” “Remember when your nude photos were auctioned off for a pittance, causing a massive scandal that rocked the entire city? Tsk, tsk, what a show!” Every word she uttered felt like a poisoned needle piercing my wounds. All eyes in the room fixed on me – shocked, disgusted, and gleefully malicious. A chill ran through me, the humiliation from years ago washing over me again. Instinctively, I looked at my husband, Liam Scott. I still remembered how he saved me when I was at my most desperate, buying all my private photos for an astronomical sum. I’d always seen him as my savior. But now, he stood just a few feet away, motionless. He saw my plea for help in my eyes. Yet, he only frowned, his gaze flickering before he looked away. No defense, no explanation, not even a hint of concern. He silently condoned Chloe’s insult and didn’t care about the judgment raining down on me. My breath hitched in my chest. Seeing this, Chloe leaned triumphantly towards Liam. “Mr. Scott, I didn’t mean to. It was Manager Smith who… she pushed me first!” Liam patted her arm reassuringly. “I know.” Then he pointed at me, clearly annoyed. “Audrey, what are you even doing? You’ve been so unreasonable lately.” “You weren’t like this before.” His words stabbed into my heart like a knife. Before? Yes, I was so “reasonable” then. I never questioned him when he didn’t come home at night. I cleared his name when rumors about his affairs spread. But what did my “reasonableness” get me? In my panic, someone tripped me, and I stumbled backward. The wine glass in my hand shattered on the floor. I instinctively put my hand down to brace myself, feeling a sharp sting. Blood stained the polished floor. I looked up, wincing in pain, and met Liam’s gaze. Those eyes, once filled with tenderness, now held only icy disgust. In that moment, I clearly understood: in his eyes, I was perhaps never a cherished lover. I was just a shameful stain in his life, someone to be constantly reminded of, lest I embarrass him. I had always believed those sordid past events were a secret between only him and me. But I never imagined he’d casually tell an outsider like Chloe, giving her ammunition to attack and humiliate me. My heart turned to ice, inch by painful inch. I picked myself up from the floor, blood still flowing from my palm, but I no longer felt the pain. I just wanted to escape this place. I ducked my head, pushing through the crowd, and stumbled out of the ballroom. Liam’s voice pursued me. “Audrey Smith, where are you going? Get back here!” I didn’t look back, quickening my pace. I had just found my car in the parking lot when he appeared, like a ghost, behind me. “Audrey, have you had enough?” He grabbed my arm. I looked at him with vacant eyes. He seemed a little uncomfortable and let go of my arm, but his tone remained firm. “Chloe is young, why are you making such a big deal out of it?” “Where’s that dress in the car? Chloe’s dress is ruined, she can wear it as a backup.” I paused, then remembered the dress I’d specially prepared, sitting on the back seat. I’d intended to wear it for our anniversary. How ridiculous it seemed now. Seeing my inaction, he impatiently opened the car door himself, roughly pulled out the dress box, and without a glance at me, turned and walked away. I deflated, too drained to go after him and question him. Chloe jogged over from a short distance away. Liam handed her the dress box, and she broke into a delighted smile, intimately linking her arm with his. Then, as if to spite me, she pulled the dress out and threw it on the ground, stomping on it several times with a look of vengeful satisfaction. Liam stood by, watching her foolishness with a tolerant smile. I closed my eyes, feeling the last bit of strength drain from my body. They walked away together, leaving me in the parking lot with the soiled dress on the ground. As I was about to get into my car, several dark figures suddenly surrounded me. Leading them was my ex-fiancé, Derek Stone. He smiled maliciously, closing in on me. “Long time no see, Audrey Smith.” “What, you’re Mrs. Scott now? I hear Liam can’t satisfy you, so you remembered me?” The men behind him chuckled obscenely. A warning bell rang in my head, but I forced myself to stay calm. “Derek, what do you want?” “What do I want?” He sneered. “Chloe’s under my protection. You’d better not get in her way, or else…” He reached out for my face. I recoiled in terror, screaming, “Don’t come any closer!” But they pressed in, cornering me against my car door. My vision blurred, and I completely lost consciousness. When I woke up again, I was lying in a hospital bed. The nurse said a passerby had found me and brought me in. She also told me I was about six weeks pregnant. My mind exploded with a *boom*. I was pregnant? This was Liam’s and my child… My emotions were a complicated mess. The nurse gave me instructions for early pregnancy care, then left the room. I lay on the bed, staring blankly, my hand unconsciously stroking my lower abdomen. Here, a tiny life was forming. Liam and I had always wanted a child. But for various reasons, we’d put it off. Now I had his child, but our relationship was no longer intimate. In the evening, I completed the discharge procedures. My body was still weak, but a certain thought in my mind grew clearer and clearer. I returned home. The living room was dark; he hadn’t come back tonight. I wearily walked towards the bedroom on the second floor. As I reached the staircase, I heard gasping sounds coming from under the bedroom door. The sounds were all too familiar: Liam and Chloe. I was rooted to the spot, unable to move. My fingers dug into my palms, but I felt no pain. I turned and walked back down the stairs. No tears, no hysterics, not even a flicker of emotion. There is no greater sorrow than a heart that has died. I left the house and wandered the streets. The night wind blew cold on my face, but it was nothing compared to the chill in my heart. As dawn approached, I made a decision. I booked an abortion for early the next morning and a flight to another country for three days later. Finally, I contacted an agency specializing in faked deaths, paid a large sum, and asked them to stage an accidental death for me. Three days from now, there would be no more Audrey Smith in this world.

The next morning, I woke up in a hotel. My phone’s notification sound was buzzing frantically. I looked, and my work WhatsApp group was blowing up. Someone had forwarded a video—the humiliating footage from three years ago that Derek had coerced me into filming. Although key parts were pixelated, anyone could tell the person in the video was me. Under the video were various vile comments. My phone also showed dozens of missed calls, all from Liam. I sneered, turning off my phone directly. The next second, the hotel room door suddenly burst open! Liam stormed in, his face contorted with rage, and slammed a photo down in front of me. “Audrey Smith, explain yourself! What is this?!” he roared. It was a photo of Derek and me in the parking lot last night. The angle was tricky, making it look intimate and ambiguous, like we were kissing. “That’s not…” I started to explain. “Not what? Not you throwing yourself at him?” Liam cut me off, his voice filled with disgust, not waiting for my explanation at all. “Audrey Smith, I never thought you’d be so depraved! Being my wife on one hand, and still hooking up with your ex-fiancé on the other!” “I didn’t! This is clearly staged!” I couldn’t help but retort. But Chloe peered out from behind him, chiming in, “Mr. Scott, please don’t be angry. Manager Smith probably didn’t intentionally meet someone in the middle of the night. Maybe she had a reason.” “What reason could she have?” Liam snorted. “I think she’s shameless and promiscuous!” “She did something disgraceful herself, and she still has the nerve to be jealous of you, deliberately making things difficult for you at the party!” “Audrey Smith, you will kneel and apologize to Chloe right now!” I stared at him in disbelief. Was he crazy? He wanted me to kneel and apologize to Chloe? “Liam Scott, how dare you order me around?!” I trembled with anger. “Because I’m your husband! Because you did something to betray me!” His tone was absolute. “I didn’t!” I stubbornly met his gaze. “Still haven’t learned your lesson yet? Have you forgotten how your compromising photos were auctioned off back then?” He grabbed me and threw me to the ground. I hit the floor unexpectedly, my knees throbbing with pain. But it was nothing compared to the despair in my heart. I looked at the man I had loved for so many years and felt, for the first time, how utterly foreign he seemed. I humiliated myself by kneeling. “Chloe, she knows she was wrong.” He wrapped his arm around Chloe and walked away haughtily. Not long after, I saw the entertainment trending topic – #ScottGroupCEOPubliclyDisplaysAffectionWithNewLover# The accompanying picture showed the doting and indulgent look he gave her. My heart felt nothing. I wrote a divorce agreement and sent it to Liam via express delivery. After all this, I lay on the hospital operating table. As the cold instruments took away the little life inside me, I didn’t shed a single tear. I just felt incredibly cold. After the surgery, I returned home. Opening the door, I saw a bracelet shattered into several pieces on the coffee table. This was our promise bracelet, Liam’s and mine. Sunlight streamed through, and I stared at the fragments. Perhaps, from the moment he allowed Chloe to humiliate me, this bracelet, along with our feelings, had already shattered. Suddenly, my phone rang. It was Liam. I hesitated but answered. “Audrey, where are you?” His voice sounded a little tired, but still impatient. “Do you need something?” My tone was flat. “That bracelet… Chloe accidentally broke it. She didn’t mean to.” He explained, his voice a bit stiff. “I understand.” “Don’t overthink it. I’ll buy you a better one later. Tomorrow is our third wedding anniversary, by the way, I’ve prepared a surprise for you.” Third wedding anniversary? He still remembered. But to me, it no longer mattered. “No need,” I refused coolly. “I have to make an impromptu trip to a neighboring country tomorrow. I’ll be catching an early flight and will be back in the evening.” There was silence on the other end for a few seconds. “So sudden?” He seemed a little surprised. “Then I’ll drive you to the airport tomorrow.” “Okay.” I replied faintly, then hung up. That night, Liam didn’t come home. Alone in the house, I personally burned all the memories of him and me. Photos I once cherished, gifts he had given me, and things we had used together. The firelight reflected on my calm face. Everything should end now. The next day, when I was about to leave, Liam called. “Audrey, I’m sorry, I can’t take you to the airport today,” his voice carried a hint of apology. “Chloe’s puppy suddenly got very sick and is making a big fuss. I have to go with her to the vet.” “You go to the airport alone, be careful on your way.” Chloe’s crying could be heard from the other end of the line, and Liam was gently comforting her. I chuckled mockingly. See? I was not even as important as Chloe’s dog. “Okay,” I replied emotionlessly. After hanging up, I unhesitatingly blocked his number and tossed my phone SIM card into the trash. Then I pulled my suitcase and walked towards the airport without looking back. Boarding, takeoff.

That evening, at the city’s most exclusive revolving restaurant, Liam had meticulously set up a romantic scene. Red roses adorned the table, along with a velvet jewelry box containing a diamond necklace he had specially chosen. He held a bouquet of flowers in his arms, glancing at his watch repeatedly. Why wasn’t Audrey here yet? Liam called her, but the ring tone indicated her phone was off. He tried again from a different number, still off. He felt an inexplicable irritation and unease. Chloe’s call came in just then, crying that her dog’s condition had worsened and urging him to come quickly. Liam felt annoyed and quickly brushed her off. His heart grew increasingly unsettled. He suddenly remembered Audrey’s unusual coldness and calmness during their phone call yesterday, and his heart tightened. She seemed… different. He instructed his assistant, “If my wife arrives, tell her to wait for me for a while. I’ll be back soon.” Then he left the restaurant in a hurry. At the vet, though he was with Chloe, his mind was completely elsewhere. He kept checking his phone; there was still no news from his assistant, and Audrey hadn’t shown up. He felt a sense of panic he’d never experienced before. He couldn’t sit still any longer and decided to go look for Audrey himself. He planned to say goodbye to Chloe, but as he reached the door of the examination room, he heard Chloe’s deliberately lowered voice inside. “Derek, don’t worry, Liam is completely wrapped around my finger now.” “As for that bitch Audrey, she’s utterly disgraced now. I doubt she can cause any trouble.” “Once I climb into the upper class, we can team up, find more wealthy housewives like Audrey, take their private photos, and then we won’t have to worry about money, right? Hahaha…” Liam’s eyes instantly turned bloodshot. So, this was all a setup! Chloe and Derek had conspired to frame Audrey! And he, like a fool, had been played by Chloe, personally pushing his own wife into the abyss! Regret and fury instantly consumed his heart. Liam was about to burst into the room when his assistant called. “Mr. Scott, it’s bad! I just received a delivery—a divorce agreement from your wife!” A divorce agreement? Liam felt as if he’d been struck by lightning. She wanted to divorce him? No, impossible! She loved him so much; how could she bear to divorce him?! He refused to believe it, couldn’t accept it. He frantically called Audrey, but the line was still busy.

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My first act after being reborn was to pour my best friend’s ashes down the drain. In my previous life, my best friend’s wife cheated on him, not only emptying their joint accounts but also leaving him drowning in debt. He ended up homeless, beaten to a pulp by loan sharks, barely clinging to life. When I finally reached him, he was barely breathing, and he begged me to raise his daughter. Seeing how young the child was, I soft-heartedly agreed. To take care of her, my girlfriend broke up with me, and my parents kicked me out of the house. I poured my blood, sweat, and tears into raising her. When she became an adult, she became a rising model after shooting a commercial. Everyone envied me for having such a wonderful daughter. But as I was celebrating her success, my best friend, who had supposedly died years ago, appeared, arm-in-arm with my ex-girlfriend. “Looks like you passed my test.” Seeing my confusion, my ex-girlfriend explained arrogantly. “Derek is the heir to a multi-billion dollar fortune. Who knows if you were only friends with him for his money.” “But now that you’ve honestly raised our daughter, you’ve proven yourself worthy.” I furiously stepped forward, ready to punch them, but my adopted daughter threw a drink in my face. “You sick freak! How dare you lay a hand on my parents?!” I choked on my rage, my vision blurring, and then I just… collapsed. When I woke up again, I had been reborn to the very day my best friend was beaten by thugs.

“Cough, cough… Alex, you’re finally here…” Derek lay on the ground, filthy and covered in an ugly mosaic of purplish-blue bruises. Deep gashes bled on his arms and legs. I froze, then suddenly realized I had actually been reborn! “Alex, what are you standing there for… cough, cough, take me to the hospital…” Derek lay weakly on the ground, speaking to me without an ounce of strength. In my last life, I received his desperate call and rushed to find him. The sight of him covered in blood sent me into a panic, and I immediately thought of calling 911 for an ambulance. But Derek insisted the location was too remote, and he’d be dead by the time 911 arrived. So, I personally carried him on my back, stumbling for over two hours, back to the city, and straight to the hospital. But now, the thought of it all being his elaborate scheme made a wave of profound disgust wash over me. “No need to call 911, it’s too remote here… just carry me…” Derek coughed a few times, looking at me pleadingly. I frowned, feigning discomfort, and bent down to rub my ankle. “I’m sorry, I wish I could carry you, but I just twisted my ankle. I really can’t carry you.” Afraid he wouldn’t believe me, I even pulled up my pant leg to show him my visibly swollen and red ankle. In my last life, I had endured the pain to carry him, and by the time we reached the hospital, my ankle was practically useless. It cost a fortune to heal. This time, I wouldn’t be so foolish. Derek’s face instantly paled, looking as if he was truly on his last breath. Just then, an SUV pulled up beside us. The driver, a kind stranger, warmly asked if we needed help. To avoid raising suspicion, I quickly smiled and accepted. At the hospital, Derek was immediately rushed into the emergency room. Soon, a female doctor, Dr. Evans, hurried out, saying Derek had lost too much blood and needed a transfusion. “The hospital’s blood bank is severely low. A transfer would take too long and could delay treatment.” “Mr. Miller said you have the same blood type as him. Please come with me to prepare for a blood transfusion.” I scoffed internally at her words. This was the exact same spiel as in my last life. This doctor had used the same excuse, drawing 600cc of my blood without a single word of explanation. Normally, blood donations don’t exceed 400cc, but I was too distraught to notice then. After the blood draw, I felt weak all over and dizzy. And Derek had used that moment to plead with me to take care of his daughter in the hospital room, and I, in my dazed state, had nodded and agreed. So I told Dr. Evans, “I apologize, but I have low blood sugar and anemia. I can’t donate blood. You’ll have to find another solution.” Dr. Evans didn’t expect my refusal. She stomped her foot angrily and hurried back into the emergency room. Another twenty minutes passed. Dr. Evans emerged, her face filled with sorrow. “I’m sorry, we did our best, but Mr. Miller’s condition is too severe. There’s nothing more we can do.” “He’s still conscious now. You can go in and spend his final moments with him.” I nodded, my face calm, and walked in. Sure enough, Derek was lying on the hospital bed, pale and weak, just like in my previous life. He faintly called my name. I walked to his side. “What is it? Do you have anything you want to tell me?” Tears welled up in Derek’s eyes. “Alex, you’re my best friend. Why didn’t you donate blood for me? If you had, maybe I…” Dr. Evans, standing nearby, interjected indignantly. “Yes, Mr. Miller truly considered you his best friend, yet you refused. It’s a tragedy Mr. Miller is so young and can’t hold on. You’re truly heartless.” I said calmly, “You should blame your hospital for not even having the blood a patient needs. I have low blood sugar and anemia. If something happened to me because of a blood donation, would your hospital pay with its life?”

My words left Dr. Evans momentarily speechless. Derek’s face was grim, but he quickly composed himself, his eyes red. “Forget it, Alex isn’t to blame for this. It’s just my bad luck…” “I’m dying now. My wife betrayed me, my family sold me out, I don’t even want to live anymore.” “But I still have a daughter who just turned one. She’s so pitiful, abandoned by her mother, and her father can’t live on. I just can’t bear to leave her.” “Alex, you’re the only good brother I have. Please, I beg you, raise her for me.” Dr. Evans, ever the empath, let two streams of tears fall. “Look, Mr. Miller is begging you like this. Just say yes. You’re his best friend, could you really be so cruel as to refuse? If so, you don’t deserve to be a man!” Watching them play good cop, bad cop, perfectly coordinated, I felt nothing but disgust. In my last life, I had too much blood drawn and was disoriented. Derek even colluded with Dr. Evans to set a trap for me. I was genuinely soft-hearted, which was why I agreed to take care of his daughter. But no good deed goes unpunished. My girlfriend was hostile toward this adopted daughter, believing her to be my love child with another woman. She refused to listen to my explanations, packed her things, and left me, also falling out with her family. At that time, I hadn’t even graduated from my Master’s program and couldn’t juggle both studies and the child, so I had to drop out. Because my major was a combined Bachelor’s and Master’s program, and due to the circumstances, I didn’t even have a Bachelor’s degree; I was just a college dropout. Without a good degree, I could only do arduous manual labor. To better support the child, I worked three jobs a day, often sleeping only three or four hours. And the child had poor health from a young age, constantly ending up in the hospital, even undergoing several major surgeries, with money flowing like water. I gritted my teeth and took out high-interest loans, but with the interest compounding, I couldn’t pay them back at all. The debt collectors were brutal, causing constant harassment for everyone, and my landlord refused to renew the lease, kicking me and the child out. To avoid the debt collectors, I moved many times, living in dirty, dilapidated places. After finally enduring the hardest ten years, I met a kind female boss. She was divorced with a child herself and sympathized with my hardship, so she hired me to work at her barbecue restaurant. After my job stabilized, I also thought about finding a partner. However, I had no house, no car, nothing to my name, and I was raising a child in her early teens. It was truly difficult to date. Finally, I met a simple woman from the countryside who seemed to genuinely not care about my financial situation. I thought I could settle down, but after less than two months, she ran off. She only left me a note, apologizing and saying she could never let go of her ex-husband and child, so she had to quietly leave. From then on, I completely gave up on looking for a partner. Eighteen years passed. I painstakingly raised the child into an adult. But at her celebration party, Derek, who was supposed to be dead, appeared. And he claimed it was all just a test for me. Did I *have* to be his friend? I wasted the most precious eighteen years of my life! Without that child, I could have smoothly graduated with my Master’s, joined a good company, had a respectable job, and a loving, happy family. My life should have been thriving, but it was ruined because of him! Even the child I poured my heart and soul into, chose her biological parents at the moment of conflict, and turned against me. Thinking of this, the hatred surging within me threatened to drown me. I clenched my fists, saying each word clearly, “No, I refuse.” “I can send her to an orphanage, but I will absolutely not raise your child.”

Hearing my refusal, Derek stopped playing the dying man, sat up abruptly, and pointed at me, yelling full of vigor. “Alex, are you even human?! You call me your brother, but in reality, you’re ungrateful, cold-blooded, and heartless!” “You wouldn’t donate blood to save me, fine. But you won’t even raise my only daughter? What kind of a brother are you, you piece of garbage!” I watched him coolly. “Oh, Derek, you seem pretty energetic now, don’t you? You don’t look like you’re about to die at all. Did this quack doctor misdiagnose you?” As I spoke, I glanced at Dr. Evans, who stood by, and she instinctively averted her gaze. Realizing his performance was off, Derek suddenly clutched his chest and collapsed, gasping for air and trembling all over. I had to admit, his acting was good. Dr. Evans immediately reacted, pushing me out, saying she needed to perform emergency aid on Mr. Miller. I wanted to see what other tricks Derek had up his sleeve, so I stood outside the emergency room and waited. About ten minutes later, Dr. Evans came out holding a cooing baby. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Miller is gone. That was just a final surge of life.” “This child is his daughter. His dying wish was for you to care for her until she grows up.” “As for the adoption procedures, don’t worry, Mr. Miller made all the arrangements before he passed. The paperwork will be completed within two days.” “You just need to raise the child well. If you abandon her, that’s illegal, and if I find out, I will absolutely make sure you go to jail!” After saying this, she tried to thrust the baby into my arms. I immediately stepped back. Are you kidding me? Forcing a child on someone like this is actually illegal! In my last life, blinded by so-called brotherhood, I never questioned the truth of this series of events. Thinking about it now, it’s ridiculous. Even with proper adoption procedures, it couldn’t happen this fast. “You said Derek died, right? Fine, then I want to see his body.” Saying this, I bypassed her and rushed into the emergency room. It was completely empty inside. Dr. Evans’s urgent voice rang out. “What are you doing! You can’t just go in there!” I pointed at the empty emergency room. “Didn’t you say he died? Where’s the body? Where did you send it?” Dr. Evans said matter-of-factly, “The body was, of course, sent to the crematorium immediately for cremation.” I asked again, “Sent to the crematorium that quickly? Alright, I’ll go to the crematorium now to see him off.” Saying this, I ignored her protests and strode out of the hospital. Want me to be a fool and raise his kid? In your dreams! Upon arriving at the city crematorium, I immediately inquired with the staff about Derek’s remains. To my surprise, they actually had registered information. Soon, a staff member brought me Derek’s urn. In my previous life, I was too distraught. I just took his daughter home and only attended Derek’s funeral a week later after receiving notification. “Is this Derek’s ashes?” “Yes.” The staff member gave a brief reply and quickly left. But I still felt something was off. Normal cremation of a body doesn’t happen that fast. Even at the quickest, it takes at least a day. And now, less than three hours had passed between Dr. Evans announcing Derek’s death and me receiving his urn. It was practically a mockery of my intelligence. So the next moment, I opened the urn and unhesitatingly poured its contents onto the floor.

Grayish-white powder spilled across the floor. A staff member nearby immediately shrieked. “Hey! What are you doing?!” People who were at the crematorium to handle arrangements for their deceased family members quickly backed away. “Is that person crazy? Why are they scattering ashes on the ground?” “They must be sick. Don’t they know that’s bad luck? How unlucky!” “Did something trigger them? Never mind, I’ll just stay away.” Everyone murmured, pointing at me, their gazes unfriendly. I expressionlessly kicked the “ashes” on the ground. “Look closely, everyone. Are these really human ashes?” At my words, everyone’s gaze fell to the ground. “It does look a bit strange. Why aren’t there any small pieces or fragments of bone?” “Now that you mention it, you’re right. Cremation can’t turn all bones into dust.” I curved my lips into a slight smile and said loudly to the staff member, “Don’t you think you owe me an explanation?” “The crematorium staff gave me fake ashes? Do you have any professional ethics left?” “There are so many bereaved families here. Does this mean the ashes they received are also fake?” At my series of questions, many family members’ faces turned ugly. The staff member anxiously said, “Don’t talk nonsense! We follow all procedures!” I pressed on. “Is that really true? Derek was declared dead at the hospital just two hours ago. How could his body have been successfully cremated two hours later? When did your efficiency become so high?” The crowd instantly erupted. “What? Two hours?!” “Are you insane?! I thought handling everything for my loved one was fast, and it still took a full day. How could it be cremated in two hours?” “No wonder the powder on the ground didn’t look like ashes. There really *is* something fishy going on!” Under the barrage of questions from the crowd, the staff member stammered nervously, completely flustered. He never imagined I would scatter the ashes in public and then question the cremation time. He managed to appease the crowd with a few hurried words, then rushed inside. A moment later, he walked up to me, his face plastered with a forced smile. “My apologies, we had a mistake in our work. The ashes we just gave you belonged to someone else. Your friend’s body is still undergoing cremation. Please wait a bit longer.” Several hours later, the staff member brought me another urn. And the female doctor from the hospital suddenly appeared at the crematorium. “Mr. Hayes, before Mr. Miller passed, he instructed me to ensure his child was given to you to raise. This was his dying wish, and you must fulfill it.” “You were the best of brothers in life, so now that he’s gone, his child is your child.” “Also, here are his life savings, a total of fifty thousand dollars. He hopes you will raise his child well.” Her words were grand and righteous. She then thrust the baby and the bank card into my arms. The onlookers, unaware of the full story, were deeply moved and applauded me. I looked down at the child and let out a soft laugh. Derek, you *really* want me to raise your child, don’t you? Then I’ll grant your wish.

Eighteen years passed in a blur. Over these past decades, after earning my first significant capital, I started running my own Twitter account. I never appeared on camera myself; instead, my sweet, innocent child was the star. She was a natural in front of the camera, every movement graceful and captivating, instantly capturing the audience’s attention. Within a year of starting the account, her follower count reached over a million. She had been a child model since she was little, and even at a young age, she had endorsed several major national clothing brands, her sweet smile leaving a lasting impression. As she grew older, she ventured into the modeling industry. Whether it was photoshoots for print ads or walking runways for major designers, she excelled at everything, a true darling of the camera. Her fame now was far greater than in my previous life. To celebrate her successful completion of a major brand fashion show, I specifically hosted a small celebration banquet for her at a five-star hotel. My colleagues and friends were there, along with many of her industry connections. The room was filled with dazzling personalities. But just as Autumn raised her glass to toast with everyone, Derek appeared. He wasn’t alone; his arm was linked with my ex-girlfriend, Sarah, both dressed to make a statement. Derek, his face filled with a tender smile, reached out and took Autumn’s hand. “Daughter, Daddy finally sees you.” Everyone froze, trying to figure out what kind of stunt this was. Autumn immediately pulled her hand away, stepping back warily. “My dad passed away a long time ago. Why are you pretending to be him?” Derek’s face was filled with emotion. “Silly child, I am your father. Back then, I was severely injured and died on the way to the hospital. Before I passed, I entrusted you to Alex.” “But unexpectedly, I woke up on the way to the crematorium and my life was saved.” “Later, I came back to look for you, but you were already gone.” “I’ve been searching for you for eighteen years. I’ve always loved you! I’m your real dad!” Derek even shed tears as he spoke, looking overjoyed to be reunited. I watched him perform with a faint smile. He clearly thought everything was playing out just like in my last life, believing this successful new model whom *I* had raised, was his biological daughter. But I had been reborn. How could I fall for his trick again? “Derek, you want to claim paternity, do you?” “Of course! I think about my child every single day!” I smiled, looking at him. “But you’ve got the wrong person. She’s not your daughter.” Derek exploded. “What do you mean she’s not my daughter?!” “Don’t think that just because you raised her for eighteen years, she now has your blood running through her veins!”

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My girlfriend and my childhood best friend indulged in their desires non-stop for days, while I stood by, silently handing out condoms to men. “Don’t worry, they can handle it. Just have fun.” In my past life, a plane crash stranded everyone who attended a company interview on a deserted island. After the disaster, the CEO teamed up with other men to hoard food, making women trade their bodies for survival. I tried to convince the women to uphold their dignity, but my usually conservative girlfriend just mocked me for being old-fashioned. “Are you jealous of the CEO’s kindness?” “We’re on a deserted island now, who cares about morals and dignity? You’re not going to break up with me over this, are you?” “You’re useless, but you can’t deny me a chance to survive, can you?” Almost all the women were swayed and walked over, but Chloe, my childhood best friend, stayed firmly by my side. It wasn’t until the company’s bodyguards arrived to take us back that everyone realized this was just a corporate compliance test. Those who passed successfully would get to stay with the company. Chloe and I were fired, but my girlfriend, Briana, successfully joined the company due to her outstanding performance and even married the CEO. When Chloe found me, I had just uncovered the truth about the company. But she stabbed me, again and again. “Why did you stop me? Do you know how much I wanted to get into this company? How much I wanted to marry him?” “If it weren’t for you, I would have succeeded long ago. How could I let someone else snatch it away?” It was then I realized she had been secretly in love with the CEO all along. When I opened my eyes again, Chloe was asking for my opinion. I pushed her forward. “Fight for it. If you want something, go snatch it.”

“Liam, do you think they really don’t regret it?” “Isn’t this just selling their bodies? It’s disgusting.” The moment I opened my eyes, I heard that familiar complaining voice. I looked at Chloe. Though she claimed it was disgusting, the envy in her eyes was almost palpable. It was so obvious, yet how could I have been so blind in my past life? Just as I was about to speak, Darian, the CEO, who was holding my girlfriend, Briana, looked at me with disdain. “Liam, this is my way of making sure everyone survives.” “There’s no absolute fairness in this world. Only those who hold power get to make the rules.” The men who had benefited nodded in agreement. “Exactly. You’re not, like, embarrassed to show yourself to women because you’re bad in bed, are you?” “They don’t mind, so why do you, a grown man, care so much? Just drop the holier-than-thou act.” Briana couldn’t help but snicker. “Don’t even get me started. We’ve been together this long, and he never even touched me. Who knows what’s wrong with him.” It used to be her who refused my touch, saying I only cared about her body. But now, she was turning it around, questioning my masculinity. Sure enough, for the person she desired, she could say anything. I didn’t beg her for an explanation as I had in the past. Instead, I turned to Chloe. In my previous life, everyone had accepted this twisted way of life. Only she, after my desperate pleas, was the sole person who didn’t go along with it. Later, she even agreed to start a business with me and move towards marriage. I thought she was the only sane one. But I never expected that the moment I uncovered the truth, she would stab me, even pouring out her deep affection for Darian. This love was hidden too perfectly, even I, her childhood best friend, hadn’t noticed. Just then, Darian’s gaze fell upon her. “You’re quite pretty. If you’re willing, you could play with me for a few days.” His flippant words easily made Chloe’s breathing erratic. Seeing her about to lose control and walk over, I simply stood up to leave. But she grabbed my hand. I was stunned. I thought she would leave with me, just like in my past life, but her complex gaze met mine. “Most of the girls here are single, but your girlfriend isn’t. Can’t you take her with you?” In that instant, it felt like an electric current shot through me, from head to toe. Chloe, had she also been reborn? As if to confirm my thoughts, she walked over, took Briana’s hand, and placed it in mine. Her eyes were filled with wariness. Right. Darian was a sucker for a pretty face. Besides Chloe herself, Briana was the most beautiful here. “Are you trying to get me killed?” Briana gnashed her teeth, scoffing as she yanked her hand away from mine. “If I don’t get into that company, I swear I’ll haunt you two even in death.” She whispered it, but my hearing had always been excellent since childhood. I heard it loud and clear. I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. So, my girlfriend from the last life already knew this was a company compliance test? No wonder she was so proactive. And she could just watch so many people go down a path of no return? My heart grew even colder. I couldn’t help but sneer, but Chloe was still wary of me, afraid I’d ruin her plans. “Liam, try to be open-minded. This is actually very normal.” “If you can’t accept it, then just leave us alone. Don’t bother us.” She was solely focused on competing with Briana, but she had no idea the path she was on now was a dead end. Joining that company was their first step towards despair. The company was a playground for perverted rich guys, offering them ‘toys’. They had no real jobs, just endless forced performances. The reason Briana married Darian was because she had lost all value. Her ultimate fate would be the same as his previous wives – a convenient ‘accident’. I had investigated all this, but Chloe wouldn’t give me a chance to speak. Thinking of the suffocating feeling of being stabbed to death in my past life, I pushed Chloe forward. “Fight for it. If you want something, go snatch it.”

The moment the words left my mouth, they all stared at me, astonished. They seemed unable to believe those words had come from me. Briana looked at me with pity. “I know it’s unfair to you that two women you like are involved with someone else, but I’m in a special situation right now. Just put up with it.” “If you can’t handle it, then let’s just break up for now.” The old me would always be sensitive to her jokes like that, forcing her to take back any mention of breaking up. But now, I just smiled. “I thought we broke up ages ago, the moment you chose to trade your body.” With that, I turned to leave. It was just three days, right? I could wait. Briana’s smile froze. Before I could take a step, Darian grabbed me. “Alright, don’t act like I stole your woman. We’re all men here, no need for so much fuss. Come on, join us.” A few men stepped forward, grabbing me by each arm. I struggled wildly. “No, I won’t! Let go of me!” Remembering what they wanted me to do, my stomach churned, and I pushed them away and threw up. Darian’s face was grim for a moment, then he suddenly burst out laughing. “I’ve never seen a guy as pure as you.” “You’re so stubborn. Now I really want you to join us.” Briana and Chloe clearly didn’t want me to, but Darian just looked at them with an arrogant smirk. “If I don’t make him come, he’ll go around spreading rumors about me stealing his woman.” “Don’t worry, we won’t do anything like that. It’s just a simple party. You’ll see when you get there.” Chloe’s outstretched hand froze, but she still managed a strained smile. “I knew Mr. Darian wasn’t like that. How could he possibly lust after our bodies?” Briana, though disappointed, also breathed a sigh of relief. “Yeah, who would be so blatant about trading bodies? That’s illegal. It’s just a joke.” “Alright, Liam, the misunderstanding is cleared up. Only if you go yourself will you believe Mr. Darian’s good intentions. Stop making a fuss.” Others chimed in. “Exactly! Even if we’re stranded on a deserted island, it’s still a civilized society. No one would seriously do that.” “Since you don’t care about us, just go watch your girlfriend. She definitely won’t do anything out of line.” The more they tried to make me go, the more uneasy I felt. I struggled desperately. “I broke up with her! I’m not going!” Briana rolled her eyes impatiently. “It’s not like we haven’t broken up before. We’ll still end up together, won’t we?” I almost choked. Was she going to cling to me even to death? I struggled violently, but more people held me down, forcibly dragging me away. In despair, I desperately clutched Chloe’s clothes. “Once you go, there’s no turning back! You know this isn’t just a compliance test, it’s…” Chloe suddenly yelled, cutting me off, covering my mouth and whispering in my ear. “I know there’s something wrong with their company.” “But how can you guarantee I won’t be the one Darian treats specially?” “There’s no way I’m worse than that idiot Briana, right?” My eyes widened, and I even forgot to breathe. She really was crazy for what she called love, to this extent. I opened my mouth to yell and snap her out of it, but someone shoved a rag in my mouth. “Shut up! You’ll find out when we get there.” I was shoved into a metal barrel and rolled away, unable to make a sound. I could only stare wide-eyed at Chloe, hoping she’d understand what I meant. But she only bothered to flirt with Darian, completely ignoring my fate. But when I finally reached their tent, I couldn’t help but gasp. Screams echoed in my ears.

Before my eyes were men and women, pantsless and engaging in orgies. They seemed to have forgotten the world, lost in their own pleasure. All the girls covered their faces, yet couldn’t help but peek. The air was thick with a foul, musky scent. Realizing someone had arrived, they stopped, brazenly exposing themselves as they looked at us. Darian watched our stunned expressions and then let out an abrupt laugh. “Don’t be scared. These are just savages from the island. They don’t count as women. At best, they’re just human sex dolls.” “We would never treat actual women like this.” Only then did everyone look closely and realize they indeed looked different from regular humans, covered in an alarming amount of body hair. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, but my heart was filled with despair. Since we’d landed on the island, Darian’s people had thoroughly explored the entire place. There was no way to escape. Darian handed each girl a cup of grass juice, saying that if they drank it, they could join them and be protected. Facing the girls’ suspicious glances, Darian merely smiled faintly. “This is a potion our male doctor researched. After drinking it, you’ll just fall asleep. It’ll make you feel refreshed and cleanse all toxins, with no other side effects.” He made it sound appealing, but I clearly smelled the scent of an aphrodisiac within it. I desperately tried to signal Chloe, who was also a medical major, hoping she would reveal the truth. But she was the first to step forward. “He’s right, this really is good for us.” With that, she drank it directly. Once one person started, others quickly followed suit. Briana, unwilling to be outdone, drank two cups. Her face flushed, she looked at Darian. “Can we pick our favorite man to protect us while we’re passed out?” I couldn’t watch anymore. I broke free from the men holding me and sharply slapped Chloe across the face. “Are you insane? Spit it out, quickly!” “If the drug takes effect, no one can save you!” Chloe pushed me away, kicking me hard. “This has nothing to do with you! If you dare to interfere, I swear I won’t let you go!” My head buzzed. I felt like the world had completely surpassed my expectations. They were all crazy. I gritted my teeth. “Don’t forget, you all have to go back to civilization! What will your families think if they find out?” “Then you just don’t say anything! No one will ever know!” Seeing the naked killing intent in her eyes, I utterly lost my voice. She was no longer the little sister who used to follow me around, calling me Liam. That last flicker of hope in my heart was thoroughly extinguished by cold water. Meanwhile, Briana had already collapsed into Darian’s arms. She restlessly tugged at her flimsy, barely-there clothes, yet she still didn’t forget to scorn me. “What could possibly happen? You’re making such a big deal out of nothing!” “Liam, how can you make up such lies just to target Mr. Darian?” “He said it was just a joke before, and now he’s helping us with our health! Do you just despise him that much?” Not just her, several other girls had started stripping their clothes. The men who had tasted the sweetness had their eyes glued on them. Their warning gazes all turned to me. “Are you done yet? What do you do all day besides maliciously guessing at people?” “This is just a normal treatment, isn’t it? Look how much your girlfriend is enjoying it! You don’t know a good thing when you see it!” Several people were already kissing. I couldn’t imagine what would happen if I stayed here, so I frantically ran out of the tent. A few men immediately came up and dragged me back inside. Briana, mustering her strength, struggled over and kicked me. “You just can’t stand to see me doing well.” “Since he’s so ungrateful, just forget about him! Throw him into the sea to feed the sharks! Don’t let him bother us!” Darian smoothly pulled her shoulder closer, his lips curling into a scornful smirk at me. Then, right in front of me, he slid his hand into her clothes, eliciting moans from her. However, the R-rated scene didn’t play out in front of me. Chloe, who suddenly rushed out, interrupted them. She twisted Darian’s neck and kissed him fiercely. Darian froze for a moment, then pressed into her.

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On the day my ex-wife Natalie, a renowned perfumer, announced her engagement, we crossed paths again at an upscale club. Five years had passed. She had become a millionaire, while I, driven by desperate circumstances, had taken a job as a male escort at the club. Her fiancé, intent on humiliating me, dangled $200,000 as bait, challenging me to compete with a dog for food. Natalie watched as I bent down, her lips curling in disdain. “So, this is the ‘better future’ you spoke of when you left me? Becoming an escort for others’ amusement?” “Lucas, I should thank you for abandoning me. Looking at you now makes me sick to my stomach.” What she didn’t know was that I was in the final stages of uremia. Five years ago, when she was on the brink of death, I had given her my kidney. Now, as I swallowed my pride and allowed others to trample on me, it was only to secure a decent burial plot. As I woke up, I saw the blood-stained sheets and couldn’t hold back my tears. While I was clumsily trying to clean the bloodstains, my phone buzzed. It was a message from the cemetery manager: “Mr. Foster, the burial plot you’re interested in only needs another $200,000 to complete the transaction. If you’re certain, please make the payment soon.” This burial plot was the final resting place I had chosen for myself. After replying, I changed into my club uniform, preparing for work. A few days ago, I had been hired as a male escort at a high-end club. Although the job was far from respectable, I had no other choice if I wanted to quickly save up $200,000. Little did I know that as soon as I stepped into the club’s lobby, I’d hear a familiar voice. I looked up to see Natalie and her fiancé Simon standing not far away. My heart clenched, and I instinctively wanted to avoid them. But Simon deliberately called out loudly: “Isn’t that Lucas? So you work here now? Let me see your number tag.” I lowered my head, not wanting them to see the expression on my face. Simon, however, was relentless. He grabbed my arm and read out the number on my tag loudly: “250! What a fitting number.” Natalie’s face darkened. “Lucas, how did you end up like this?” I clenched my jaw, not wanting to appear weak in front of them. But Simon didn’t give me a moment’s respite: “Lucas, I hear being an escort here pays well. With your looks, you must make at least $50,000 a day, right?” The onlookers burst into laughter, and I felt a sharp pain in my chest. But I knew I couldn’t cause a scene here. “Simon, what do you want?” He smiled slightly. “Nothing much, just want to give you an opportunity.” Saying this, he pulled out a check from his pocket and waved it in the air. “$200,000. It’s yours if you’re willing to compete with my pet dog for food.” My heart skipped a beat, and a wave of humiliation washed over me. But looking at that check, I felt torn. Natalie, standing nearby, had contempt in her eyes. “Lucas, are you really willing to give up your dignity for money?” My heart ached, but I turned to Simon and said, “Fine, I’ll do it.” Natalie looked at me, her eyes full of disappointment and disgust. “Lucas, you’re still as revolting as ever.” She turned and left. Simon dragged me to a private room and placed a dog bowl in front of me. Then he sneered, “Come on, eat up. Don’t disappoint me.” With trembling hands, I reached for the food in the bowl. At that moment, Simon suddenly grabbed my hair and shoved my face into the dog bowl. My face pressed against the bowl, humiliation and anger nearly made me lose my mind. “Hahaha, Lucas, you’re such a fucking loser.” Simon laughed out loud and released his grip. After a long while, I finally raised my head. Wiping the food residue from my face, I felt utterly hopeless. “What’s with that look? Not happy? Should I say sorry, big bro Lucas?” Simon exchanged glances with his friends, their faces filled with undisguised mockery. Natalie sat there with a dark expression, silently downing her drink. Seeing this, Simon’s eyes flashed with jealousy, and he stood up, intending to humiliate me further. But this time, Natalie stopped him. She grabbed my arm and coldly left the room.

A loud crash came from behind us, and I knew it was Simon venting his frustration. When we reached the end of the hallway, I quickly shook off Natalie’s hand. She let out a cold laugh, her tone full of disdain. “So this is the great future you spoke of?” “Lucas, you abandoned me when I was on the verge of death, all for the sake of becoming an escort? You really have foresight.” Five years ago, Natalie had fallen seriously ill, with both her kidneys infected by a virus. Without her knowledge, I had myself tested for compatibility and, surprisingly, was a match. I didn’t hesitate to make the exchange. But my body had a severe rejection reaction, and I lost ten pounds in just three days. The doctor said I wouldn’t last a year. To spare Natalie from experiencing the same pain as me, I staged a scenario to trick her into divorcing me. But I never expected to hold on for over five years. After being heartbroken by me, Natalie met a benefactor who helped her rise to become a top perfumer. She also established herself in the entertainment industry and fell in love with the superstar Simon. They had just announced their engagement yesterday. Coming back to my senses, I gave her a bright smile. “You’re right, the money comes fast. It suits a gold digger like me.” “Natalie, congratulations on your engagement to Simon. I wish you a lifetime of happiness.” As soon as I finished speaking, Natalie slapped me hard across the face. Her eyes were red, and the air around her became heavy. “This is for the me who once dreamed of growing old with you. Lucas, get lost. I never want to see you again.” I suppressed the urge to cough and used all my strength to stand up, but the medical report in my pocket accidentally fell out. Natalie picked it up first. After reading it, her brows furrowed. The next second, she slapped me again. “You knew I was coming today, so you deliberately prepared a fake medical report, didn’t you?” “Lucas, you’re wrong. Even if you died in front of me, I wouldn’t shed a single tear for someone like you.” Hearing Natalie’s words, my heart felt like it was being stabbed by countless needles, making it almost impossible to breathe. But in the end, I managed to nod, forcing a smile that looked worse than crying. “It’s best if you think that way.” With that, I turned to leave. But before I could take more than a few steps, my vision suddenly went black, and I collapsed to the ground. In the last moment of consciousness, I vaguely thought that leaving like this wouldn’t be so bad. At least I wouldn’t have to see Natalie’s eyes filled with disgust anymore.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself lying in a hospital bed, feeling a surge of panic. If Natalie were to find out about my condition, everything I had been holding onto would have been in vain. I tried to get up, but my body felt as heavy as lead. Just then, I saw Natalie come and sit down in the chair next to the bed, looking at me with a complex expression. The disgust and contempt were gone from her eyes, replaced by an indescribable complexity. “You’re awake,” Natalie said softly, with a hint of concern that was barely noticeable. I was stunned for a moment, then quickly recovered and managed a smile. “Yeah, I’m awake.” Natalie frowned slightly. “Why did you suddenly faint? The doctor said you have severe hypertension.” My heart tightened, but I quickly composed myself. “Oh, I might just be too tired lately, not getting enough rest.” But Natalie clearly didn’t believe me. She stared at me, her eyes full of inquiry. “Lucas, what are you hiding?” “Was that medical report really fake?” I panicked a bit but tried to maintain my composure as I explained, “Of course it was fake. What, don’t tell me you’re having old feelings resurface and want to get back together?” Just then, Natalie’s phone suddenly rang. She glanced at the caller ID, her brow furrowing slightly, but she still answered the call. Simon’s voice came from the other end of the line, with a hint of tears. “Natalie, where are you? Are you still choosing him?” Natalie looked at me, hesitation flashing in her eyes, but she quickly soothed Simon in a gentle voice, “No, don’t overthink it. I just came to check on him, after all, he was once my husband.” Simon on the other end of the line clearly didn’t believe her, his voice becoming more agitated. “Natalie, don’t lie to me. Just tell me, do you still love him?” Hearing this, Natalie was silent for a moment, then said, “Simon, I love you. Only you. Don’t overthink it, I’ll be back soon.” I closed my eyes tightly, not wanting to hear her profess her love for Simon. After Natalie hung up the phone, she still didn’t leave. We stared at each other for a long time, neither of us saying anything. After a while, I was the first to look away. “What do you mean by this? Didn’t you say you were leaving? Why are you still sitting here?” “Lucas, have you ever regretted it in these five years?” Natalie stared at me calmly. “We were together for seven years. If it wasn’t for that illness, I never would have believed that you would be the kind of person to abandon me at a critical moment.” Back then, I had given my heart and soul to Natalie, so after our abrupt divorce, she fell into severe depression for a time. At this moment, my nails dug deep into my flesh, and only the intense pain allowed me to calm my nervous emotions. “I’ll never regret it, Natalie. When love is gone, it’s gone. Why are you so insistent on asking me for an answer?” She slapped me, her long, sharp nails leaving deep red marks on my face. Then she turned her back to me, tilting her head back to wipe away her tears.

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I am the son of the crime boss of Harbor City. I was supposed to reveal my identity at my wedding. But my sister said I was being targeted and couldn’t expose myself. My fiancée took off my suit and dressed the driver in it, while my bodyguard stole my family heirloom. I trusted them completely, but when the wedding began, I saw the driver with one arm around my fiancée and the other caressing my sister and female bodyguard’s waists. When I questioned them, the driver smiled viciously and ordered his men to break my limbs. They locked me in the basement, forcing me to watch as they had sex, before finally flaying me alive and throwing my barely breathing body to be devoured by wild animals. Recalling the horrific experience of my past life, I punched the driver, breaking his ribs. “You can have my fiancée, but you’re not worthy of my family heirloom.” Charles screamed in pain from my punches. My fiancée Chloe turned pale and slapped me hard across the face. “Jack, how dare you assault Charles!” My sister Emma’s eyes reddened with concern as she raised her fist at me. “How dare you attack the heir of the Blue Gang at the wedding! You’ll be punished according to family law!” My bodyguard Bella immediately started fighting me, but I kicked her away after just two moves. She coughed up blood, looking at me in shock. “Jack, you dare use such force against me?!” I brushed the dust off my clothes and sat down in a chair center stage. “So you still remember my name is Jack?” “Then surely you haven’t forgotten that I, Jack, am Robert’s only son and the sole heir to the Blue Gang.” “And more importantly, I’m the groom at this wedding!” My words caused an uproar among the guests. “What’s going on? He’s the groom? Then who was the previous groom?” All eyes turned to Charles, who was still coughing up blood. I laughed coldly. In my past life, I had pitied Charles’s tragic background and kept him on as my driver at my sister’s urging. Before long, Charles had used his good looks to bewitch my sister, bodyguard and fiancée. After my father was gravely injured, I was supposed to announce my identity at the wedding and take over the Blue Gang. But the three women convinced me that the gang had too many enemies. They feared I would meet the same fate as my father and insisted I hide my identity. They had Charles change his name to Jack and take my place at the wedding to prevent assassination attempts. After I agreed, the three of them slept with Charles on my wedding night. I caught them in the act. Once exposed, they simply threw me into an underground fighting cage, using me as Charles’s punching bag. They even performed sex acts in front of me, torturing me day and night! Remembering the agony of being eaten alive by wild dogs, I didn’t hesitate to stomp hard on Charles’s broken ribs. “Tell me, who are you? And who am I?” Charles howled in pain, desperately calling out to my fiancée Chloe. “Honey, get this madman out of here! Sis, save me!” Chloe was frightened by my murderous aura, but hearing Charles’s pleas, she still resolutely spread her arms to block me. “Jack, so what if your last name is Jiang? I can prove Charles is the next leader of the Blue Gang!” My sister coldly scolded me while tenderly helping Charles up. “Stop this nonsense. We’re doing this for your own good. Apologize to Charles now, then go back and accept your punishment!” My bodyguard Bella also stood up, pulling out a baton and pointing it at me. “No need to go back. Kneel down right now! How dare a servant like you disrupt the young master’s wedding. I’ll personally punish you!” I looked at the three women closest to me, clenching my fists so hard my knuckles turned white. “Since you’re all siding with this driver, don’t blame me for what happens next.” With that, I lifted Charles up and smashed him onto the floor below the stage. “Sorry for the scene, everyone.” “The arranged marriage is over. This wedding will now become my succession ceremony.”

The wedding guests were all dumbfounded. “We’ve heard the Blue Gang has serious infighting, but isn’t the heir Robert’s only son? There’s no dispute about that, right?” “Yeah, everyone knows Robert’s only son is named Charles. The wedding invitation said Jack Charles too. Who does this Jack think he is?” “Daring to cause trouble and hurt Young Master Charles at the wedding, this Jack is dead for sure.” My fiancée and the other two women looked uncertain, but hearing the guests’ comments, they finally relaxed. “Jack, what’s wrong with you today? Get down from there now!” “I am Charles’s wife Chloe. I can testify that Charles is the groom and the heir to the Blue Gang!” “I’m Emma, Charles’s sister. I watched Charles grow up, how could I be mistaken!” “I’m Bella, Charles’s personal bodyguard. Charles is the true heir of the Blue Gang. As for Jack, I don’t know him!” The three women stood in a row, fiercely protecting Charles and glaring at me. The guests burst into laughter. “This poor boy must have gone mad. The Jiang family may have many beauties, but they’re not for him to covet.” “The heir’s identity has been kept secret all these years, but we all know Emma is the eldest Jiang daughter, Chloe is the daughter-in-law, and Bella is the heir’s bodyguard. They can’t be wrong.” “That’s right. Jack, why don’t you kneel and apologize?!” I held my head high, looking past the women in front of me to the woman hurrying over. “Aunt Yvonne, you’ve been with my dad for so many years. Surely you know who his son is?” Everyone followed my gaze, whispering amongst themselves. “Isn’t that Robert’s mistress Yvonne? Why is she here?” “With such a big commotion at the wedding, and Robert on his deathbed, of course someone had to be sent to take charge.” Yvonne said nothing, rushing over in her high heels. She helped Charles up first before turning to me. “You little bastard, who gave a servant like you the guts to fight with Charles!” “Someone tie Jack up. I’ll take him back for the old master to deal with personally!” My heart skipped a beat in shock. In my past life, I only knew my fiancée and the other two women had been bewitched by Charles. I never realized even my dad’s mistress Yvonne had become Charles’s ally! With Yvonne’s order, people immediately came forward to grab me. I stood my ground, using only the Jiang family’s secret martial arts to defeat everyone who came at me. Seeing their injured comrades on the ground, some people finally sensed something was amiss. “Jack is using the Jiang family’s secret fighting techniques. Throughout history, only the direct heirs were allowed to learn it.” “If he’s really just an insignificant servant, how could he possibly know how to use it!” I coldly looked at the group of women, waiting for their lies to be exposed. But just then, the badly injured Charles struggled to his feet with their support and performed a full set of Jiang family martial arts! Taking advantage of the stunned silence from the audience, Charles wiped the blood from his mouth and spoke loudly. “Jack, I pitied your background in the past and let you fetch water while I practiced. But you’ve gone too far, daring to steal my techniques!” I glared hatefully at my sister Emma. Apart from my father Robert, only she and I knew these martial arts. How dare she personally teach our family’s secret techniques to an outsider! She had no respect for rules at all! I was so furious my qi surged, and I grabbed Emma by the collar. “How dare you!” Emma wasn’t flustered at all, looking towards Charles instead. Charles seized the opportunity to pull something from his pocket, holding it high. “Father already passed the Blue Gang’s heirloom to me. Jack, your farce ends now.”

Seeing the ancient heirloom in his hand, everyone was shocked. “It seems Robert’s health really is in bad shape if he’s handed over the Blue Gang heirloom to Charles.” “Jack, with both testimony and physical evidence, you’re just a servant. Get lost now!” I gritted my teeth so hard I tasted blood. In my past life, I didn’t stop them, so I had no idea they had already hollowed out the Jiang family behind my back! Consumed by hatred, I leapt forward to snatch the heirloom from Charles’s hand. Bella had completely turned against me by now. With one shout, countless loyal followers blocked my path and attacked. Although I was skilled in martial arts, I was still only human. I couldn’t fight off so many opponents, and soon someone struck the back of my head with a blunt object. The blow nearly split my skull open. My vision blurred and I staggered. Bella looked at me with disdain and kicked me hard in the chest, sending me flying off the stage. Charles got cocky and came over, raising his foot as if to stomp on my face! Hatred surged through me. I punched the sole of his foot, and Charles, who was all show, fell over. Robert’s mistress Yvonne was so angry her nose almost twisted. “You little beast, you still dare to hurt people. Break his hand!” Bella immediately pulled out a switchblade. She had people hold down my right arm and stabbed down hard! “Jack, today I’m not only going to cripple your hand, I’m going to cut your tendons too. I’ll throw you in the underground fighting pit and make you a complete cripple, forever under Charles’s feet!” The pain spread, and some people looked away, unable to watch. I spat a mouthful of bloody saliva in the women’s faces and shouted hoarsely. “Go ahead and kill me if you have the guts. Otherwise, when my father arrives, you’ll all be dead!” A flash of panic crossed my sister Emma’s face, and she quickly looked at Yvonne. Yvonne snorted coldly, her face full of disdain. She leaned in close to my ear and whispered. “I’ll tell you the truth. Your dad’s never waking up.” “Jack, don’t dream about someone swooping in to prove your identity. The entire Blue Gang, including your women, will all belong to Charles in the future.” A wicked smile curved her lips, and my heart sank. No wonder in my past life, after I was thrown in the fighting cage, no one from my family came to save me. It turns out they had already secretly conspired to harm my father! Seeing the panic on my face, the women laughed raucously. I took the chance to break free from the people holding me down and bit Yvonne’s ear, ripping off a chunk of flesh with a shake of my head! Yvonne screamed in pain. Charles looked heartbroken. My sister Emma cursed furiously. Not satisfied, she grabbed a wine bottle and smashed it down on my head. “Do you know what you’ve done! How dare you hurt her!” My head was ringing from the blow, but I suddenly noticed something odd. Emma had always despised Yvonne, calling her a vulgar slut with no class who stole our mother’s place. But now, why was she so protective of this mistress?! My fiancée Chloe also looked worried, rushing to help Yvonne treat her wound. Bella’s knife flashed coldly as she pressed it against my throat. “Jack, I’m sorry. I didn’t want to take your life.” “But you’ve hurt the people I care about again and again. I can’t let you live!” I was injured all over, with my limbs crippled. I was no match for Bella now. In the stands, some people covered their eyes, waiting for my blood to spill. Just then, a thunderous shout came from the entrance of the hall. “What’s going on at Jack’s wedding? Everyone stop right now!”

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After my wife Olivia tortured me for the 98th time because of Liam, I was completely heartbroken and accepted the pursuit of her best friend, Scarlett. After a night of passion with Scarlett, she promised to help me fake my death and marry her abroad with a brand new identity. After taking the fake death pill Scarlett gave me, I woke up prematurely in the coffin. I couldn’t move my body at all, but I could hear Scarlett talking to someone outside the coffin. “Ms. Shen, you’ve made Olivia torture Lucas and then pretended to save him. You’ve completely gained his trust. Why do you still need to arrange for him to fake his death and be buried?” “Only by doing this will the Wilson family believe he’s dead. Then Liam’s position as the heir will be secure, and no one will ever mention that he’s an illegitimate child again.” The other person hesitantly asked, “Won’t it be too long to dig him out after seven days when you and Liam hold your wedding?” “The fake death pill’s effect can last for five days. I’ve already had people put water, food, and an oxygen tank in the coffin. He won’t die.”

In the darkness, a sense of suffocation overwhelmed me. My heart was gripped with pain. So, it was Scarlett who made my wife torture me, and then she came to pursue me, making me agree to fake my death and give up everything to be with her. This woman who said she would marry me was going to hold a wedding with Liam after burying me alive. But now I’ve woken up early, and there’s no water or food in the coffin at all! The cramped space made it hard to breathe. Through the wooden board, Scarlett’s voice sounded muffled but pierced through me like a sword, pinning me to the coffin. “When Liam’s identity as an illegitimate child was exposed years ago, his engagement to Olivia became his brother Lucas’s. Liam lost love, so I want to help him gain power and status. I promised Liam I would be his backbone.” “As for Lucas, to punish him all these years, I had Olivia torture him physically. Now letting him leave is a kind of relief. He loves me so much; he’ll forever be immersed in the beautiful dream I’ve woven for him.” The person beside her hesitated and said reluctantly: “But Lucas doesn’t know that faking death requires actually being buried. Burying a living person underground for seven whole days is too risky. And Mr. Wilson is so afraid of the dark and has claustrophobia. What if something happens in the coffin…” “It won’t!” Scarlett’s words left no room for argument: “The Wilson family is very cautious; we must make it look completely real. It’s only seven days, and he’ll actually only be conscious for two days. What could happen? Besides, Olivia agreed to lock him in a closet after every beating. He should be used to it by now.” “Liam has waited five years for this opportunity. We must ensure everything goes perfectly. After everything is settled and I marry Liam, we’ll get a fake marriage certificate abroad to fool Lucas. We’ll treat him well and make sure he can never return to the country.” As the footsteps faded away, I couldn’t make a sound no matter how hard I tried. The fake death pill kept my mind clear, but I couldn’t move my body or speak. My claustrophobia kicked in. I bit my tongue to force myself to stay calm, but my back was already soaked with sweat. In the pitch-black darkness, I was reminded of the five years I’ve been married to Olivia. Every time she tortured me, she would lock me in the closet. Painful memories flooded back like a tidal wave, and my stomach kept contracting. Two years ago, when I was locked in the closet again, it was Scarlett who saved me. The moment she opened the closet door, I felt like I saw an angel. Someone who could dispel all the darkness in my life. Since then, Scarlett has pursued me relentlessly. She took care of my battered body, comforted my broken heart, and told me to bravely resist Olivia’s abuse. How foolish I was to think I had found my salvation. Little did I know that all the torture I endured was instigated by Scarlett! She made Olivia hurt me while pretending to be the good person who healed me. And all of this was for my brother, Liam. I bit my lip hard, trying to make my body move. Suddenly, I heard the sound of a door opening outside. The sound of a man’s leather shoes was accompanied by Liam’s voice. “Scarlett, are you sure burying Lucas underground for seven days won’t cause any problems? He’s going to be buried today. He is my brother after all. I still feel it’s too cruel.” I felt like I had grabbed onto a lifeline, helplessly screaming in my heart: Save me! Please, just open the coffin and look. One glance and you’ll see I’m already awake. I don’t want to be buried alive. I don’t want to experience the pain of suffocating in darkness!

But no one could hear my inner cries. The only response was Scarlett’s cold voice. “Liam, you’re still too soft-hearted. We’ve planned this for so long, all for this day. We can’t ruin everything at this point.” “Have you forgotten how Lucas took everything from you? If it weren’t for his mother, your identity as an illegitimate child wouldn’t have been exposed, your mother wouldn’t have died, you would have married the woman you loved, and you wouldn’t have been kicked out of the Wilson family!” “Don’t worry, when this is all over, I’ll make it up to Lucas.” My whole body trembled, my limbs numb and convulsing, as if a thousand needles were piercing my body. The taste of blood filled my mouth, and I had to swallow the metallic sweetness in my throat. Scarlett, I don’t want your compensation! If you just let me out, I’ll willingly give up my position as heir, run far away, and never bother you again! Liam seemed to be crying, choking out: “Scarlett, you’re so good to me. Every time I was sad and upset, you deliberately provoked Olivia to torture Lucas, and had her send photos and videos.” “Seeing Lucas beaten black and blue, kneeling on the ground begging for mercy, and him locked in the closet for three days and nights until he was dehydrated, it always made me feel better.” Scarlett held Liam tightly in her arms, sighing: “As long as you’re happy, hurting Lucas a thousand or ten thousand times is worth it. This is what he owes you.” In the coffin, my tears gushed out. My heart felt as if it had been heavily hammered, caving in. Scarlett, is this how you’ve always seen me? How can people be so cruel? So every time I was abused, it was your doing. You were extremely gentle to my face, but behind my back, you took videos and photos of me being tortured to please another man. I laughed silently, tears sliding down the corners of my eyes, instantly absorbed by the wooden board. Perhaps it was because of the extreme pain, but my body suddenly burst forth with unprecedented strength. My fingers could move! No matter how much I hated this despicable couple, I just wanted to live now! My nails scratched several marks on the coffin board beneath me, making a faint scraping sound. I hoped they could hear the movement inside the coffin. The next second, my hope was shattered. I heard the sound of passionate kissing outside. I could feel the man being pressed against the coffin, his back tightly against the wooden board. I desperately tapped on the wooden board with my fingers. But the two outside were lost in the heat of the moment and couldn’t hear anything. The man and woman’s heavy breathing intertwined, the two of them bumping against the coffin, making it creak incessantly. My desperate cries for help were easily drowned out. The woman moved her body while professing her love: “Liam, do you know how long I’ve waited for this day? I’ve finally waited for you to give up Olivia and agree to marry me.” “For you, I endured the disgust of seducing Lucas. That night with him, all I could think of was your face.” I closed my eyes, gritted my teeth, and forced myself not to listen to those nauseating sounds outside. I thought my desire to live would outweigh my hatred for them. I was wrong. I hate them so much. As much as I once loved Scarlett, I now hate her just as intensely. I hate myself even more for falling in love with two women who hurt me without restraint. After what seemed like an eternity, it finally quieted down outside. Just as I was despairing and waiting for death, the coffin suddenly opened a crack.

The sudden white light was blinding. What came into view was Liam’s handsome but slightly gloomy face. The man’s cheeks were flushed, his clothes disheveled, clearly having just experienced that act. I looked at him with pleading eyes, hoping he would save me. But Liam didn’t seem surprised that I was awake. He looked at me with disdain. “Tsk tsk, how pitiful. You’re about to be buried alive. Scarlett went to handle the funeral arrangements. Good little brother, let me keep you company for a while.” “Five years ago, your mother uncovered my identity. To clear the obstacles for you, she drove my mother to death and made Dad remove me from the Wilson family! Not only that, you also stole my wedding. The one who should have married Olivia was me!” “For five years of marriage, you’ve been tortured by Olivia for five years. I didn’t expect you to be so patient, refusing to divorce. I had no choice but to let Scarlett seduce you. You were so stupid, actually falling in love with Scarlett. Didn’t you fantasize about going abroad to marry Scarlett? You stole my marriage, so I’m going to steal yours too!” “I’ve been waiting for your mother to die. I also tampered with your fake death pill. Once you’re buried, you’ll watch yourself die with your eyes wide open. Your death day will be my and Scarlett’s wedding day.” Liam spoke the cruelest words one by one, and my heart grew colder and colder. The hope that had just been rekindled was extinguished once again. Liam curled his lips, extremely pleased. He took out the water and food prepared in the coffin, saying carelessly: “Since you’re going to die anyway, you won’t be able to eat these things. But I’ll leave the oxygen tank for you, to let you live a few more days. Too bad you won’t be able to see my and Scarlett’s wedding.” The coffin was closed again, and the last bit of light disappeared. My fingers dug deep into the wooden board, my nails almost breaking. My eyelids grew heavier, and I passed out from exhaustion. When I woke up again, I could only hear the hustle and bustle outside. My funeral had begun. Guests exchanged greetings and laughter, no one mourning my “death”. “The Wilson family’s second young master has finally been tortured to death. Olivia beat him until he was unrecognizable, but for the sake of the family, he refused to divorce no matter what.” “He deserved it! Who told him to steal his brother’s woman? His brother is more handsome and capable than him. If it weren’t for being exposed as an illegitimate child, how could it have been Lucas’s turn to take over?” “Exactly. To marry Olivia, he even drugged her. How shameless. As a result, right after they got married, Olivia miscarried their child. Serves him right. Now that he’s dead, Olivia won’t even attend the funeral.” “Liam is the lucky one. Although he suffered five years ago, now that his brother is dead, he’s the only heir to the Wilson family. In a week, he’s even going to marry the only daughter of the Shen Group. Who would dare call him an illegitimate child now?” … People discussed my family and my marriage, freely belittling and mocking me. Yet they didn’t know that lying in the coffin was a living person, desperately waiting for death. The priest finished the prayer, and it was time for the burial. I struggled bitterly, feeling time ticking away second by second, yet no one could save me. I was carried to the cemetery. Before being lowered into the grave, I heard Scarlett leaning against my coffin. I desperately forced three words out of my throat: “Save… save me.”

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I was born with cursed words. Everything I said seemed to come true in the worst way possible, so I stopped speaking entirely since I was old enough to understand. When our six-year-old son accidentally bumped into my pregnant sister-in-law, my husband sent him to a brutal dog training facility. Our son had been bitten by a dog before and was terrified of them. I desperately tried to stop it, begging on my knees until my forehead was bleeding. Gabriel helped Lily up, gently caressing her swollen belly. His voice was cold and unfeeling when he spoke to me: “Don’t think I can’t see through you. He did this because you told him to. You’re a conniving mute, and he has your tainted blood running through his veins. If we don’t teach him now, he’ll grow up to be just as rotten as you.” “We’re sending him to learn some manners, to understand respect and hierarchy. It’ll teach you a lesson too – don’t meddle in things that aren’t your business!” When I finally found our son, he was locked in a cage with five vicious dogs, his small body torn to pieces. I pieced together my son’s tiny body, and for the first time in over twenty years, I spoke: “Gabriel Curtis, I swear you’ll pay for this in blood. Your family will be ruined.”

When I returned to the Curtis mansion carrying my son’s incomplete remains, Gabriel was in the garden, personally planting roses for Lily. Blood-red roses, blooming lusciously. Gabriel’s eyes were tender when looking at Lily, but they turned to disgust when he saw me: “Aria Stone, look at yourself. You look like death warmed over. Has the Curtis family gone bankrupt that we can’t afford to feed you? You look like a beggar with your messy hair and dirty face.” “Don’t think I’ll feel sorry for you. You can’t even raise a child properly, always scheming. Why can’t you learn from Lily?” Lily gave me a smug look, then said softly, “Aria must be worried about Jack. If only I had stayed away from Jack, he wouldn’t have bumped into me. Aria must be blaming me. Gabriel, please bring Jack back soon.” Gabriel frowned, “Jack’s been spoiled by this wretched woman. I sent him to the dog training facility to teach him manners. It’s for his own good, and it’s not your fault.” He turned to me and said, “Go clean yourself up. You’re an eyesore.” I held Jack’s body, staring at Gabriel expressionlessly. I was born with cursed words. Everything I said seemed to come true in the worst way possible, so I stopped speaking entirely since I was old enough to understand. I used to hate why I was cursed with such a power, but now I only hoped my words would come true quickly, punishing them for what they’d done. My voice was hoarse from years of disuse: “Gabriel, you’re right. The Curtis family is about to go bankrupt.” Gabriel was shocked to hear me speak: “Aria Stone, you can talk!” His shock quickly turned to anger: “You’re really something, aren’t you? Pretending to be mute all these years to gain my sympathy! What a deep game you’ve been playing!” “Why speak up now? Let me tell you, the Curtis heir will only be Lily’s child. Don’t even think about it. If you dare to harm her or the baby, I won’t let you off easy.” He didn’t spare me another glance: “Looking at you makes me sick. Throw away that filthy thing in your arms and get out of my sight.” My hands trembled as I held Jack’s body. He was dead, yet his own father called him filthy. I remembered how every night, he would look up at me with his innocent face and ask, “Mommy, if I’m a little better behaved, will Daddy read me a bedtime story?” “On my birthday, will Daddy take me to the amusement park? He promised me before.” My heart ached terribly. My hands shook as I held Jack’s body, tears streaming down my face. I choked out: “Gabriel Curtis, this isn’t filthy. This is the body of your son Jack. He’s dead, just as you wanted!” Gabriel paused, then sneered, “Aria Stone, so this is why you’re not pretending to be mute anymore? You needed your voice for this performance? You’d even curse your own son. You’re truly terrifying.” He snatched Jack’s body from my arms, glanced at it carelessly, and said with cruel intent: “Since you claim this mess of flesh is Jack, let’s have the dogs identify it. We’ll see if it’s human flesh or some animal meat you’ve brought to act out your little drama.”

Soon, the butler brought two large black dogs. Gabriel threw the bundle in front of them. They smelled the blood and excitedly dragged out the remaining limbs, starting to devour them. I went mad, rushing forward to snatch Jack back, but the butler held me tightly. I screamed at Gabriel, my heart breaking: “Gabriel Curtis, that’s your son! He was killed by dogs, how can you feed him to dogs again? Are you even human?!” Gabriel carefully shielded Lily, worried the bloody smell might frighten her. He looked at me mockingly: “Aria Stone, you’re quite the actress. You’ve really put a lot of thought into this scheme, but use your brain for once. Jack is learning manners at the dog training facility. He’s fine.” “In a week, I’ll bring him back myself. No matter how you act now, I won’t give in to you.” I hated him so much my teeth bled from biting down. I fought like a wild animal against those holding me back, finally managing to grab back the remaining body parts. The black dogs, enjoying their meal, bared their teeth at me when I took away their food. Gabriel frowned and quickly had the dogs taken away. He had lost all patience with me and didn’t want to look at me anymore. He turned to leave with Lily. I spat out hatefully at their backs: “My child is dead. Her child won’t live either!” Ever since Gabriel’s older brother died, he had been taking care of his sister-in-law Lily, even to the point of sharing a bed. At first, Gabriel tried to keep the affair secret, doing his best to hide it from me. Until one day, Gabriel brought back a badly injured Lily. His eyes were cold and unfamiliar when he looked at me. He slapped me hard: “Aria Stone, I never thought you could be so vicious. If I hadn’t arrived in time, Lily would have been violated and killed. She’s pregnant, for God’s sake.” That was the first time Gabriel had ever hit me. I was confused, not knowing what had happened, and tried to ask using sign language. But he no longer had the patience to wait for me to finish signing. He warned me: “Stop acting all pitiful. I won’t fall for it anymore.” “If you can’t accept Lily, I don’t mind divorcing you and marrying her.” From then on, Gabriel and Lily’s relationship was out in the open. Even his mother, Mrs. Curtis, couldn’t do anything about it. I had thought about divorcing him countless times, but I couldn’t because I wouldn’t get custody of Jack. In the end, it cost Jack his life. I held Jack’s body and cried until I passed out. When I woke up again, Gabriel was dragging me by my hair to Lily’s bedside. Lily’s face was pale. She looked at me with tears in her eyes: “Aria, I know you don’t like me. You think I stole Gabriel from you. But the baby is innocent. How could you be so cruel as to exchange my baby’s life for your ability to speak?” The cursed words had come true. Her child was gone. I smiled coldly. Seeing my reaction, Gabriel became even more furious. He kicked me in the chest, making me cough up blood. “You bitch! I knew there was a reason you suddenly started talking. You must have used some evil method to exchange Lily’s child for your voice!” “I’ve always been too soft on you, letting you forget your place. Now that Lily’s lost her baby, you must pay the price!” “You want to talk? Wait for your next life!” Gabriel picked up a bowl of medicine and grabbed my neck, trying to force it down my throat. I tightly closed my mouth, struggling desperately. He pried open my teeth, and just as the medicine was about to pour in, I was too exhausted to resist anymore. If I drank this medicine, I would become truly mute. Gabriel Curtis, how could you be so cruel!

“Stop! Stop this instant! This is a sin!” Mrs. Curtis’s arrival interrupted Gabriel’s actions. I fell from his grasp onto the floor, coughing violently, my mouth full of a bloody taste. Mrs. Curtis looked at the scene before her and sighed deeply. She helped me up. “Aria, are you alright?” I managed to say a few words with difficulty: “I’m fine.” Mrs. Curtis’s whole body shook. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing: “Aria, you… you can speak?” She suddenly seemed to age a decade, too weak to stand. Tears streamed down her face as she muttered, “It’s over, it’s all over…” Gabriel looked at her strangely and asked, “Mom, what’s wrong?” Mrs. Curtis’s voice was heavy with age and sorrow: “Years ago, when the Curtis family was in crisis, your father paid a great price to have our fortunes read. The fortune-teller said that if you married a mute woman with a matching birth chart, it would protect the Curtis family’s fortunes from decline.” “But when the mute woman speaks, the Curtis family… will be ruined!” The fortune was correct, but it didn’t account for the fact that I was pretending to be mute because of my cursed words. Gabriel didn’t believe it, scoffing at the idea: “That’s all superstition to trick old people like you. Our Curtis family’s wealth is what we’ve earned ourselves. What does it have to do with Aria Stone?” “If she really had such power, how come she couldn’t even raise her own son properly?” Mrs. Curtis wanted to say more but held back. She had doubted it too, but the Curtis family’s business had rapidly improved after Gabriel married Aria. Mr. Curtis had died just two years after getting the fortune read. Part of her had to believe it, while another part hoped it wasn’t true. Hearing about Jack, she perked up a bit. She doted on Jack the most. “Where’s Jack? I haven’t seen him.” Gabriel looked at me coldly: “Aria Stone couldn’t teach him properly, so I sent him to a dog training facility to learn some manners.” I looked at Mrs. Curtis and said hoarsely: “Jack is dead.” Gabriel couldn’t tolerate me repeating the same lie. He impatiently said: “How long are you going to keep this up? Are you going to say that pile of rotten meat is Jack again? Someone, burn that mess to ashes and use it as fertilizer for the roses.” Watching Jack’s body being thrown into the fire, this time I didn’t struggle. Jack was gone. Keeping his body had no meaning. It was better to burn it and let him leave this world clean. In his next life, he could be born into a good family and live a happy, peaceful life. Mrs. Curtis looked from Gabriel to me, not knowing who to believe. She hurriedly left for the dog training facility. After Mrs. Curtis left, Lily said tearfully: “My poor baby, you didn’t even get to see the world. You would have grown up to be as big as Jack, calling us Mommy and Daddy.” “Gabriel, do you think we’ll have children in the future?” Gabriel kissed her forehead tenderly, comforting her: “We will, in the future.” His gaze turned even more hateful when he looked at me: “Aria Stone, I let you off easy earlier because my mother was here, but I must teach you a lesson.” “Since Lily’s child is gone, the child in your belly will have to make up for it.” Watching Gabriel approach me step by step, I fearfully backed away until I fell to the ground with nowhere else to retreat. I said with a trembling voice: “Gabriel Curtis, you’ve already killed Jack. Are you going to kill my other child too? It’s your child as well!” Gabriel paused. Seeing his hesitation, Lily spoke up: “Gabriel, you don’t need to do this for me. My position in this family is already awkward. How can my child compare to Aria’s? Even though you said the Curtis heir would be my child, no one really believes it.” Gabriel said solemnly: “I make the decisions in this house. What I say goes, and everyone will take it seriously. Aria Stone isn’t worth a single hair on your head.” He hesitated no longer, raising his foot to stomp hard on my stomach.

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Just because I accidentally broke the dried flower arrangement made by my wife’s childhood friend, she sent me to a “men’s etiquette school” for reformation. Facing inhuman torture at the school, I desperately screamed, struggled, and begged on my knees. But no one paid any attention to me. After forty-nine days of brutal body modification, my limbs were removed and I was molded into a vase. When Sophia received an invitation to a private auction, she whispered to the boy beside her: “Jake, I’ll bid on this vase. It would be perfect to display your new dried flower arrangement.” At the moment of my last breath, a commotion broke out in the crowd. With just one glance, Sophia’s eyes widened in shock as she frantically raised her bidding paddle. With a crisp slap, Sophia’s hand struck my face. “Ryan! You useless good-for-nothing!” she snarled, her face dark with anger as she jabbed a finger at my nose. “I didn’t marry you so you could live a life of luxury! You can’t even handle this simple task! How dare you carelessly ruin Jake’s heartfelt gift?” Jake rushed over, looking very apologetic. “Sophia, please don’t blame Ryan. It wasn’t intentional,” he pleaded. “These dried flowers weren’t anything special – just a small gift I stayed up late for a week to make for you,” Jake continued. “It’s a shame you liked them so much, but I didn’t even get a chance to give them to you before Ryan broke them…” He crouched down and carefully gathered up the remains of the dried flowers. I hurriedly tried to explain: “It was an accident! I was being careful, but he-” “Enough!” Sophia cut me off impatiently. “Look at yourself, then look at Jake!” “Jake always puts me first and considers my feelings. But you? All you do is cause trouble for me!” “I’ve told you before not to mess with Jake. Did it all go in one ear and out the other?” She looked at me with disdain and disappointment in her eyes. “Apologize to Jake right now and learn from him how to be a proper husband!” I held my stinging cheek, my heart bitter. After five years of marriage to Sophia, I took care of the household chores, shielded her from drinking at social events, and gave up my own career and hobbies for her. Yet in her eyes, I couldn’t compare to a simple dried flower arrangement from Jake. An immense sense of loss washed over me as I forced myself to apologize through gritted teeth. But Jake still wasn’t satisfied. Sophia declared she would “punish” me to teach me a lesson. Jake approached and patted my shoulder. “Ryan, don’t be upset with Sophia. She just wants you to improve,” he said smoothly. “You’re so handsome and strong. You just need some refinement in your manners.” His tone suddenly shifted. “I heard about a top-notch men’s etiquette school that recently opened downtown. Not only does it cultivate proper behavior, but it also offers physical training.” “Why don’t we send Ryan there to study? It’ll be like returning him to his prime at age 20. What do you think?” This wasn’t a suggestion – it was a poisoned trap! Fear gripped me like an invisible hand. By the time I realized what was happening, I was already restrained by security guards, unable to move. “No! Sophia! I won’t go! You can’t do this to me! Jake has ulterior motives!” I couldn’t help but scream, struggling desperately and crawling to clutch at her legs. But Sophia turned a deaf ear, her eyes cold and impatient. She ignored my pleas and protests. A guard chopped the back of my neck. Darkness instantly swallowed me.

I was awakened by the glare of surgical lights above me. The scent of antiseptic mixed with crisp cedar cologne filled my nostrils. My hands and feet were bound, leaving me completely immobile. I used all my strength to shout: “This is illegal detention! It’s a crime! I’m calling the police!” But the room was empty – no one responded to my cries for help. Overwhelming panic seized me like a tidal wave. They had taken my phone, cutting off all contact with the outside world. I realized with horror that no one was coming to save me. Despair coiled around my heart like vines, making it hard to breathe. After a while, the heavy door opened. A man in a white coat entered, his face expressionless. Without a word, he gestured to the men behind him. Two large men came forward and held me down as a syringe was forcibly injected into my arm. My body gradually went numb, but my mind remained terrifyingly alert. The man in the coat approached and firmly pinched my now-insensate arm. “Ah!” I couldn’t help but cry out in pain, my body shaking violently. He smiled eerily. “Good, the pain receptors are still active. This will make our ‘artistic creation’ much more soulful.” The familiar scent of cedar cologne wafted into my nose. I forced my eyes open wide, finally recognizing the face hidden behind the surgical mask. It was Jake! That bottle of cedar cologne was a gift Sophia had given him just yesterday to welcome him. Now he was discussing my “vase modification plan” with two doctors. “Jake! Let me go right now! Sophia won’t let you get away with this!” I shouted. He didn’t even glance my way. Sophia, you fool! She had no idea that Jake, her dear childhood friend, wasn’t sending me for simple fitness training. He intended to humiliate me, to turn me into a living… vase for people to admire! With the last bit of strength left in my body, my survival instinct exploded. I desperately struggled to roll off the operating table. I had to crawl away! I had to escape! I had barely crawled half a meter when a shiny leather shoe stomped down hard on my right hand! “Ahhhhh!” An agonized scream erupted from my throat. “Trying to escape? Where do you think you can go? Ryan, you need to learn to submit,” Jake said. As he spoke, he deliberately twisted his shoe, grinding it into my fingers. I was in so much pain I nearly passed out. The sound of bones crunching was sickeningly clear. I no longer cared about dignity: “I was wrong, please, I’m begging you, let me go please…” Just then, Jake’s phone rang. He casually answered and put it on speaker. Sophia’s voice came through. “Jake, how is… Ryan doing? Is he still causing trouble?” I thought I detected a hint of concern in her voice, but quickly dismissed the notion. How naive of me – even at this point, what was I still hoping for? Jake glanced at me and smiled smugly. “Don’t worry, Sophia. Ryan is undergoing a body modification treatment. He’ll be completely obedient to you soon.” As he spoke, he ground the toe of his shoe into my hand again. I let out an even more piercing scream. I used my last ounce of strength to beg Sophia for help. But not only did she show no mercy, she laughed coldly: “Ryan, don’t be so ungrateful! Jake is helping you – you should be thankful! Stop trying to play the victim and gain sympathy. I’ve seen through your act!” “Behave yourself and don’t embarrass me!” I thought back to five years ago at our wedding, when she vowed to love me for life and support each other forever. Those promises now seemed utterly ironic and laughable. Immense disappointment and betrayal washed over me. I stopped calling for help and closed my eyes, my heart dying in that moment. Jake hung up the phone and directed the men to move me back onto the operating table. He gripped my jaw, forcing me to look at him. “Ryan, what I hate most is that pretentious face of yours,” he sneered. “And you’re too noisy. It would be better if you were quiet.” Before I could react, a cold scalpel slashed viciously at my tongue! Excruciating pain shot through me as blood gushed out. The agony was so intense I couldn’t even scream. My vision went black as I passed out completely.

When I regained consciousness, I discovered I had truly been turned into a “vase”! And before me was an auction hall. I was trapped inside the vase mold, completely immobilized. Every inch of skin, every bone in my body, screamed with unbearable pain. In a daze, flashes of the operating table came back to me. That devil Jake had personally broken my bones, forcibly molding my body into the shape he desired with clay. Countless tiny needles repeatedly pierced my skin, carving out bizarre patterns. I kept waking from the extreme torture only to pass out again, unable to bear it. That feeling of wishing for death was so intense, I almost forgot I was still alive. The more my body hurt, the deeper my hatred for Sophia and Jake grew. But I was utterly helpless, like a fish on a chopping board, at their mercy. The crowd stared at me intently as the auctioneer spoke passionately. “Ladies and gentlemen, look at this human vase! It took exactly forty-nine days to create the crackle glaze effect!” “Real human blood was used for the red glaze. The more pain the subject felt, the more beautiful the patterns became!” Whispers spread through the audience. Apparently I had been sent to an auction. “This is so artistic! I’ve never seen a vase made from a real person before. It would be quite a conversation piece!” “New patterns are still forming – how fascinating! Truly a rare treasure!” “This auction was well worth attending!” I could feel my life force slowly draining away, barely clinging to existence. Looking closer, I saw Sophia seated in the front row. Her gaze paused on me briefly as it swept across the room. She didn’t recognize me, instead turning to complain to her assistant. “Why hasn’t Ryan made any contact recently?” Jake immediately reassured her, his voice low but just loud enough for me to hear. “Sophia, Ryan is probably focusing on his training. Don’t be angry with him. Maybe he’s planning a surprise for you.” Sophia scoffed after hearing this. “Speaking of vases, why is he so special? I prefer the one on stage.” I had no energy to argue. Let her think what she wants. I was already at their mercy. The crowd below had gone into a frenzy, emotions running high as they bid astronomical sums to acquire me. My gaze met Sophia’s again. From not far away, she seemed to finally recognize me. A look of disbelief flashed in her eyes. “This vase… why does it look like… Ryan? What’s he doing here?” “Putting a person… inside a vase? Is that safe?” She stood up, perhaps wanting a closer look, but Jake grabbed her arm. “Sophia, don’t worry. This must be Ryan’s way of pursuing an artistic effect – he made himself into a vase shape.” “Besides, isn’t he more special this way?” “He can’t go anywhere or cause any more trouble for you now.” Sophia nodded thoughtfully at his words and sat back down calmly. Watching them chat intimately, the physical pain paled in comparison to the despair and hatred in my heart. Sophia! Jake! I truly hate you both so much!

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