Author: Momo Chan

While staying by Alpha Riven’s side for eight years, I also had to raise the little wolf pup born to him and my deceased sister. Enduring constant humiliation and bullying from his mistress and their pup, I finally left the pack that brought me nothing but disgrace and lies. I returned to inherit the Crowhurst Pack—but there was a condition. I had to bond with Alpha Caelum, a man who had lost his mother in a tragic accident, was mentally unstable, and born without a wolf spirit. Ironically, he was also Alpha Riven’s half-brother. I thought Alpha Caelum was a cripple… until one day, he stood up. Ravenna’s POV I took a deep breath before answering the phone, “I’m ready to fulfill your condition and take my rightful place as the heiress,” I said, before hanging up abruptly. The weight of my decision hit me, but I knew it was the only way forward. Staring at the room that had been my sanctuary for eight long years, I felt a bittersweet smile tug at my lips. Years of devotion, patience, and love had led me here—empty-handed. My heart pulsed with the same bitter ache that had echoed through me for so long, the same ache that the wolves called the weight of a bond never realized. A piercing voice broke the silence, sharp and angry. “How dare you wear my mother’s dress!” Corvin’s words were like a slap in the face, and I turned to face him, fighting the urge to bare my teeth at him. His eyes were full of fury, but I had long since stopped caring. “You’re not going to respond?” He snarled again, his voice dripping with venom. I took a slow breath, controlling the beast inside me, the part of me that wanted to shift and rip him apart. “Go to your celebration, Corvin. Your pack is waiting for you.” My words were soft, laced with the weariness of someone who had fought too many battles with those who never saw her as a true part of their pack. “No!” He roared, fury dancing in his eyes as he grabbed the pitcher from the table, and with a swift motion, splashed the hot contents all over me. The burn hit me like a punch to the chest. “This is what you deserve!” He spat. “You can never replace my mother! You killed her with your jealousy and now you wear her dress like it’s your right!” His words were poison, each one a reminder of everything I’d lost and could never have again. I screamed, the heat of the coffee searing my skin, but I knew better than to fight back. The sting on my body was nothing compared to the sting in my heart. A maid rushed in, gasping at the sight of my scalded skin and coffee-stained clothes. “I’m so sorry, Miss Ravenna. Corvin ran off again. Let me take him away,” she quickly said, her voice trembling. As they scurried off, I stood there, feeling the rage of my wolf slowly subside, replaced by the cold numbness of defeat. That dress…it had never been Elspeth’s. It had been mine—given to me by my mother before her passing. But Elspeth had taken it, just like she had taken everything else from me. I sighed heavily as I stepped into the shower. The familiar sting of the hot water was nothing compared to the ache inside, the ache of losing everything I had ever wanted. Eight years ago, I was supposed to marry Alpha Riven Grimsbane, the Alpha who was once my childhood sweetheart, the one I thought I’d build a life with. But it all shattered when he chose Elspeth over me. She was the one who carried his bloodline forward, and their son, Corvin, became the focus of all their attention. But Elspeth died during childbirth, and I was blamed for it, accused of killing her out of jealousy. The truth, however, was far darker. As the only sister of the deceased, I had been forced to stay in their home and care for Corvin. I had been instructed by my stepmother to treat him as my own son. But the role I was given felt like a cage—no love, no respect, just the cruel reminder that my place was never as anything more than a mere servant. For eight years, I poured everything into Corvin, raised him, loved him, but nothing ever changed. Alpha Riven never loved me. He was a wolf who had chosen his pack over me, his mate over his promise. I had been a fool to believe otherwise. But the truth was clear now. I had no place in this house except as a discarded concubine. Every action from Alpha Riven, every word from Corvin, reminded me of my insignificant position in their lives. As I stepped out of the shower, the sound of Alpha Riven’s voice pulled me back into reality. “The celebration is starting. Where are you, Ravenna?” He called out, his voice full of authority, like the Alpha he was meant to be. I took a deep breath, steadying myself before exiting the bathroom. He entered just as I had finished drying off. His eyes immediately fell on the coffee stains, and I saw the disappointment flicker across his face. “I heard what Corvin did. Don’t take it to heart,” Alpha Riven said, his voice soft but laced with a warning. “He’s still just a boy, and he does care about you.” I scoffed. “That child knows nothing of love. Not when it comes to me.” My words were sharp, a bitter truth I had come to accept long ago. His face tightened. “Don’t say that, Ravenna. He’s a good boy.” I turned away, ignoring the way his presence made my skin crawl, and grabbed the soothing balm from the nightstand. I applied it to my scalded skin, the ointment cooling the burn. It would heal by morning, just like my heart had learned to heal over the years. “Let me help you, Ravenna.” Alpha Riven’s voice broke through the silence, and before I could stop him, he took the balm from my hands and began to rub it into the inflamed skin. A few years ago, I would have melted at his touch, but now, it just made my skin crawl. “You don’t get it, do you?” I muttered under my breath, but he didn’t hear me. His breath was warm against my neck as he whispered, “You have to be patient with him.” I jerked away, feeling the familiar pull of the wolf that wanted to fight back, to push him away. “I need to tell you something,” I said, my voice hard. Alpha Riven frowned. “Can’t it wait? The birthday celebrations are starting.” “No, it can’t,” I said, my voice steady, the decision clear in my heart. “Today marks the eighth year. I’m leaving. I’m done.” Alpha Riven stared at me, confusion and disbelief written on his face. But I had made my choice. There was no going back now.

Ravenna’s Pov “What nonsense are you spewing now?” Alpha Riven’s voice rumbled like thunder, shaking the very air between us. The tension in the room was palpable, but I stood my ground, unflinching under his piercing gaze. “It’s been eight years, Alpha Riven,” I declared, my voice steady, yet edged with finality. “I’m leaving.” Alpha Riven’s features twisted in a snarl, his wolfish anger rising to the surface. His aura pressed down on me, almost suffocating. “Why are you making a fuss now? Corvin’s just a cub. Don’t take his childish antics to heart. Today is his birthday. Come along, don’t be difficult. I’ll deal with him later.” Before I could respond, his hand clamped around mine, tugging me toward the door. I yanked my hand away, my eyes cold as I faced him. “You promised me, Alpha Riven. When Corvin turned eight, I was free to go. Why am I making a fuss?” As I spoke, a voice sliced through the thick air, sharp and biting. “Ravenna, how dare you cause such a scene? You always manage to steal the spotlight, even on a day meant for my grandson!” I didn’t need to turn around to recognize Sara’s voice. She was the one who had struck the deal with Alpha Riven, promising me freedom once Corvin turned eight. So why was she now making such a racket? “I’m not stealing anything, Sara,” I shot back, my words laced with ice. “You were the one who said I could leave after eight years.” Her lips twisted into a venomous sneer. “On Corvin’s birthday, Ravenna? You couldn’t wait until tomorrow?” Alpha Riven intervened, his voice too smooth, too calculated. “It’s fine, Sara. Ravenna didn’t mean to disrupt things.” I could see through him now. Years ago, I would’ve believed it, but now I knew his words were just an empty attempt to keep me by his side, trapped in this unending cycle. “Come, let’s go join the party,” Alpha Riven said, a hint of impatience creeping into his voice. I didn’t protest, letting him lead me into the crowded celebration. Corvin and his friends were already in the middle of their chaos, but as soon as Corvin saw me, his face hardened, turning to stone. “Look, Corvin,” one of his friends called, “Your mother is here.” Corvin’s lip curled in disgust. “She’s not my mother.” The sting of his words didn’t pierce my heart like they used to. Now, I stood unmoving, only watching as Alpha Riven sighed deeply, pulling Corvin into line. “We don’t speak like that, Corvin. Ravenna is your mother now. She’s taken care of you like her own.” Corvin’s face contorted with rage. “She’s not my mother! She killed my mother!” His voice cracked with fury as he pointed at me, accusing me before the entire room. Whispers rippled through the hall, the guests’ eyes darting to me like I was some kind of pariah. “She’s the boy’s aunt.” “Why does he act like that toward her?” “Obviously, she’s done something wrong. He doesn’t like her…” Alpha Riven’s booming voice cut through the murmur of voices. “Apologize to Ravenna, Corvin!” I raised my hand, stopping him in his tracks. “Let him be, Alpha Riven. It doesn’t matter anymore.” Without a word, I turned and walked out of the room, my steps composed but my mind swirling. In the past, Corvin’s words would have crushed me. But now, I was numb to his hatred, numb to the way Alpha Riven’s love always belonged to someone else. “Why would you cause a scene on his birthday, Ravenna?” Sara’s shrill voice echoed behind me, and I turned to face her, my expression neutral. “What do you want, Sara?” I said, my voice dripping with exhaustion. “I’ve fulfilled my duty for eight years. I’m done.” Her eyes narrowed with disdain as she took a step closer. “You should treat Corvin like your son. Endure his fits, care for him as if he’s your flesh and blood. If my daughter were alive, she’d have handled him better.” I gave a nonchalant shrug, the bitterness of the situation settling in. “Pity, your daughter is dead.” Without warning, Sara’s hand shot out, aiming for my cheek. But I caught her wrist effortlessly, my grip like iron. “Don’t try it, Sara. I’m not in the mood for this. Eight years ago, you forced me to come here and care for them. The contract is over. Corvin is eight. I have every right to leave.” She jerked her hand away, glaring at me as she rubbed her wrist. “Do whatever you want, Ravenna,” she hissed, “No one will ever love you. Not even your father.” She turned on her heel and stormed off. A hollow smile twisted on my lips as I watched her leave. It had been eight years since I’d last seen my father. Ever since his beloved daughter had died, he’d sent me away and never looked back. “I’m sorry, Ravenna. I brought you a gift.” A quiet voice broke my thoughts, and I turned to see Corvin standing there, holding a small, neatly wrapped box. His innocent smile was almost too much to bear. “You shouldn’t have,” I said, my voice flat, though I could see the hint of irony behind my words. Corvin giggled, a light, almost playful sound. “I wanted to. Please, open it.” With a shrug, I unwrapped the box. The moment I opened it, an overpowering stench hit me. Inside was the lifeless body of my cat, an arrow lodged through its heart. “That will be you, if you don’t leave me and my father alone,” Corvin said, his voice dripping with sick amusement, his eyes gleaming with a chilling intent. Chapter 3 Ravenna’s Pov I was mortified staring at my only pet that I had been allowed to bring to the pack mansion nestled deep in Bloodpine Forest, the ancestral land of the Moonclaw Pack. The same way I have taken care of Corvin. The air was sharp with winter frost, my Beta senses pricking at every sound, but all I could hear was my own heartbeat—and Corvin’s angry growl. “Don’t mess with me and don’t get my father upset with me!” Corvin snapped, his wolf aura flickering in his eyes, golden like his father’s. I watched as he stomped off while I stared at the arrow in my cat’s body. A silver-tipped arrow. Wolf-forged, cruel, precise. Fate is indeed mocking me because I was the one who taught Corvin how to shoot arrows. I taught Corvin everything he knows and now he’s using it against me. I cradled the box as I stared at Lin Lin, my best friend, and a single tear slipped from my eyes. “Why are you out in the cold, Ravenna? Don’t get sick on me!” Alpha Riven Grimsbane’s deep voice carried through the thick wooden door, laced with command and concern. He immediately stood behind me as he draped me with his jacket, his scent—pine and steel—enveloping me in a wave of unwelcome familiarity, which I shrugged off. “What’s wrong?” he queried. His face twisted in slight disgust when he saw the dead cat in the box. “Your son came to apologize,” I stated. Alpha Riven’s frown deepened, “He’s your son too.” I scoffed, “He hates me, Alpha Riven! He killed my cat.” “Come now, let’s go inside. I’ll have a talk with him in the morning, and you can bury the cat tomorrow. I’m sure he was just messing around and it was a silly prank,” Alpha Riven said. I shrugged away from him as I carried the cat and headed into the garden. The moon above was nearly full—another cruel reminder that I wasn’t his Luna, only his obligation. I wasn’t going to let my cat stay out all night for some animal to poke at him. Alpha Riven followed me, complaining about how I was being stubborn, but he stayed with me while I buried Lin Lin. When I was done, I went inside. The party was over, and the guests had all gone home. The pack house was silent now, except for the distant howls echoing through the valley. It was already late and windy. I sneezed just as Alpha Riven held me. We got to my room, and he sat me down on his lap. His touch no longer warmed me—it burned like an unwanted bond. I cringed inwardly. “What do you want?” I snapped. Alpha Riven sighed, “What’s wrong, Ravenna? I’ll get you a new cat.” “I want to leave, Alpha Riven. Tomorrow,” I stated. Alpha Riven tensed. A flicker of Alpha command slipped into his gaze, but I held mine, refusing to submit. “Corvin is a child. I don’t trust anyone to take care of him except you. Besides, where do you want to go? It’s not like you have anyone else.” I shrugged, “I’ll worry about that. I have no place here. You have refused to marry me after eight years.” Alpha Riven sighed, “I already told you, Ravenna, I can’t take another mate now.” “I’m not asking you to. In fact, I don’t want to marry you. I just want to leave.” “Okay, why don’t you have a child for me? That way I can secure your future and that of your child. If you have a child for me, no one would dare say a bad word against you. And then Corvin will have a little sibling.” I smiled sadly. I had reduced myself to nothing and discarded my pride and yet eight years still he wants me to have an illegitimate child for him. All this just to protect Corvin and keep me in the same house as him. “I’ve instructed the maid everything she needs to know about Corvin. He’s homeschooled, so you can get the best tutors for him or send him to school. He doesn’t need me again,” I stated. Alpha Riven kissed me, his lips cold despite the heat of his wolf. “Sleep on it and tell me how you feel in the morning.” That night I didn’t sleep a wink. I packed my luggage and I kept seeing the face of Lin Lin. In my dreams, Lin Lin ran under moonlight… until the arrow struck again. Morning came sooner than expected, and after a quick shower, I dragged my suitcases outside. It was finally happening. I was leaving. But of course, I wasn’t going to leave in peace. A slow clap echoed through the courtyard, followed by a familiar, mocking voice. “Well, well, well,” Kiera’s shadowed voice cut through the early dawn fog. She leaned against the stone pillar of the eastern gate, her Beta aura bristling beneath her flawless skin. “Have you finally come to your senses?” I sighed. Kiera, my Alpha Riven’s mistress, always knew when to strike with her venomous charm. Corvin adored her. She never let me forget it. I ignored her and kept walking, but she stepped into my path, tilting her head in amusement. “Eight years, Ravenna,” she continued, crossing her arms. “Eight years of playing house, of waiting for an Alpha who never claimed you. And now, after all that time, you’re finally leaving.” She chuckled. “Took you long enough to realize that Alpha Riven and Corvin will never love you. You’ve been nothing but a worthless concubine.” I met her gaze, my expression unreadable. “Enjoy it, then,” I said simply. “Do whatever you want. None of this concerns me anymore.” Her smirk widened. “Oh, I will. Don’t worry,” she whispered. “Soon, I’ll move in and take your place.” Before I could respond, the front doors swung open. Alpha Riven stepped out, followed closely by Corvin. And in an instant, Elspeth’s entire demeanor changed. She gasped dramatically and dropped to her knees, clutching the hem of my coat as if her life depended on it. “Ravenna, please!” she sobbed, her voice thick with desperation. “Please don’t go! Corvin needs you! You’ve been taking care of him all these years—how could you just leave him like this?” I stared down at her blankly. “Corvin loves you, he really does,” she continued, her voice cracking. “He’s just a child! Please, don’t leave him. I’m so sorry for everything, just please, Ravenna—”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296814”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

I was born a wellspring of good fortune; simply being married to me, sharing intimacy, could amplify one’s luck. My husband, Julian, however, was a magnet for bad luck, a hex. Only I could nullify its devastating effects. For a lifetime, we spent countless nights baring our souls, our bodies intertwined. His fortune skyrocketed, his assets multiplied, building an immense business empire and making him the wealthiest man in the world. Yet, after enjoying a lifetime of luxury, the day he was diagnosed with a terminal illness, he had me brutally beaten, my limbs shattered, and left me at the foot of a desolate tombstone. I was stunned, utterly horrified, but he just sneered, a cruel twist on his face: “All these years, I never loved you. The only one I ever loved was Seraphina!” Time had faded my memory; I couldn’t even recall who Seraphina was. All I could do was beg for mercy, but Julian mercilessly plunged a knife into my heart. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the very day Julian became the nation’s wealthiest man. A furious voice cut through the air: “Seraphina! Can you please just stay away from me? I don’t like you at all!” Watching the melodramatic scene unfold between the man and woman before me, I simply smiled: “Since your feelings are so strong, then by all means, stay.” This time, I was eager to see if, without my luck aura, Julian still had the resources to live happily ever after with Seraphina. 0

The moment my words left my lips, both of them, tangled together just moments before, froze. They clearly didn’t expect me to butt in like that, to utter such a thing. A moment later, Julian turned to me, his eyes flickering with a hint of doubt. I knew he didn’t believe I was being sincere. Reliving this life, having endured the betrayal of the last one… I’d already come to terms with the fact that Julian held no true love for me. No, he just wanted my body, playing a calculated part. As I pondered this, Julian resumed his act. “We’re not even in the same league, Seraphina. You’re just an intern doctor. Do you even realize the gap between us?” An intern doctor? At that, a long-buried memory surfaced in my mind. In my previous life, Julian had met an intern doctor at the hospital while he was admitted for an illness. Their relationship had clearly developed at lightning speed behind my back. By the time I found out, I’d already sensed something was off. But back then, I was far too naive. I intended to investigate, but Julian preemptively distanced himself entirely from that relationship. At the time, I didn’t think much of it. I assumed it was just the intern doctor being overly persistent, so I naturally lowered my guard. But recalling it now, it was probably a carefully orchestrated charade by Julian himself. He might have already discovered I was investigating, so he reacted in advance. Thinking of this, all I felt was self-mockery. I couldn’t believe I’d been so foolish. Kept in the dark for so long, without the slightest inkling. Now, knowing the whole story, it was like a sudden epiphany, everything clicking into place. Fine, Julian. This time, I’ll grant your wish. Since you like Seraphina, I’ll step aside. A divorce is nothing; I have all the time in the world. I made my decision. My tragic death in the last life had left me utterly clear-headed now. I wasn’t about to jump into the same pit of fire twice. “Just leave. You’re not welcome here.” When I snapped back to reality, I heard Julian’s voice, his tone ice-cold. And I, without hesitation, cut in. “Julian, why are you being so heartless towards a girl? Is there anything wrong with her staying here?” “Anya, I don’t want her to affect our relationship.” “Oh? Is our relationship so fragile that one girl’s appearance can shatter it into pieces? Hah, well, in that case, she definitely doesn’t need to leave.” At this moment, I’d already anticipated the subsequent events. In my last life, I hadn’t stopped Julian. In fact, I continued to target Seraphina, which ultimately led to Seraphina’s death in a car accident. I suspected that this very incident was the cause of my eventual tragedy. Because of this, I had no intention of repeating my past mistakes. I even wanted to fulfill the desires of that toxic couple. But as my words fell, Julian’s expression subtly shifted, looking extremely serious. “Anya, she certainly can’t affect our relationship or our feelings. I just worry you’ll overthink things. You know I’m a man of integrity.” “Overthink? She’s not that important. You don’t need to drive anyone away for my sake. I don’t want people to think I’m petty and jealous.” With that final remark, I had no intention of meddling in their relationship any further. Yet, even so, Julian still swore to me, full of conviction. “Alright then, Anya. But I swear, Seraphina and I are completely innocent!” Watching Julian’s seemingly sincere expression, all I felt was sick to my stomach. 0

The charade ended soon after. I returned home alone to rest. By the time Julian and Seraphina came back, it was already deep into the night. I stood by the window, watching them downstairs. After a brief farewell, Seraphina left first. Julian, standing there seeing her off, looked utterly reluctant to part. The emotion in his eyes was like a torrent. It wasn’t until Julian saw me later that he reined it in. As if everything had just been my imagination. But now, I saw right through Julian. I was no longer the naive woman he could deceive and manipulate. “Anya, if you don’t like her, you really don’t have to keep her here for my sake.” Julian put on a show of considering my feelings. But I felt not a shred of gratitude. Hah, his words? Could they be trusted? I shook my head, then simply ignored him and returned to my room. But the next moment, Julian rushed in from behind me. Before I could react, he had me pinned to the bed. His eyes were filled with raw desire. But I’d already seen through Julian. And I knew that, from beginning to end, he only saw me as a tool to make money. Because of this, I almost instinctively pushed him away. “It’s not convenient these past few days.” I just made a quick excuse to brush him off. Julian’s face showed a hint of displeasure, but in the blink of an eye, he put on a happy expression. “Hmm, then another day. Oh, by the way, Anya, I’ve just become the wealthiest man in the nation, and it’s all thanks to your help. How about we throw a celebration party? I’ll let everyone know about all your hard work behind the scenes all these years?” Julian changed the subject. But I had no interest whatsoever in a so-called celebration party. I just mumbled a couple of vague replies. “We’ll see.” The night passed without a word. The next morning, a call from the hospital broke the silence. “Hello, Ms. Anya Reed. We’ve found a kidney donor for your Grandma.” At that, I rushed to the hospital in a frantic hurry. When I arrived, Grandma Helen was sitting by her hospital bed, as lively and cheerful as ever. “Sweetheart, why are you so sweaty? You’re so grown up, yet you’re still so clumsy and scatterbrained?” Grandma Helen’s tone carried a hint of scolding, but her eyes were full of concern. “I’m just so happy, Grandma! Do you know your illness can be cured? They found a matching kidney for you!” “I know, I know. Look how excited you are.” “Of course! Grandma, you’ve been in the hospital for so long, I’ve missed you so much! Oh, and for the surgery, you have to be ready…” “I know, I know. You nag more than an old woman! It’s just a small operation, don’t worry so much.” Grandma Helen stroked my hair, her face full of doting affection. Seeing her looking so relaxed, my worries gradually faded. In my last life, Grandma Helen’s surgery was incredibly successful. I remembered she had passed away peacefully in her sleep many years later. Because of this, I slowly let go of the anxiety in my heart. Meanwhile, Julian, who had accompanied me, also chimed in with some empty assurances. “Anya, Grandma’s always been tough as nails. Don’t worry, this surgery will go perfectly.” As Julian’s words fell, I suddenly felt a surge of unease for some reason. I turned to look at him. He still maintained a gentle and humble demeanor. But the more he did, the more panicked I became. Ultimately, I didn’t overthink it, and the surgery began soon after. I stood outside the operating room, waiting for several hours. Until the doctor opened the door and walked over to me, his face grim. “During the surgery, an unexpected rejection reaction occurred. The patient…” “Please prepare for the worst.” 0

For a moment, it felt like the world had lost all sound. Grandma Helen was dead? No way. In my previous life, her surgery was perfectly successful! Why? Why was this happening? “I’m sorry, we did our best.” “This isn’t about doing your best! Why is my grandma dead? You guaranteed me earlier that this surgical technique was very mature!” My mind replayed what he’d said about a rejection reaction. Why would this happen? My brain practically shut down. I felt like the very ground beneath me had vanished. At the same time, Grandma Helen’s hospital bed was wheeled out of the operating room. Her face was pale, and she looked utterly peaceful in her sleep. Seeing this, my tears wouldn’t stop flowing. But unexpectedly, a fleeting glance caught my eye: a doctor standing at the back of the crowd. She wore a mask, and her eyes darted away, but I instantly sensed something. Without a moment’s hesitation, I rushed forward, and the next second, I tore off her mask. “Seraphina, it’s you? Where’s the lead surgeon?!” I’d found the source of all this wrongness. And my furious questioning brought the entire crowd to a stunned silence. I finally understood the reason for Grandma Helen’s death. It was because I had indulged Seraphina, and it ultimately led to Grandma Helen’s demise! My original intention was just to expose their affair, but in the end, I lost the person who loved me most. It was all because of Seraphina! In an instant, my grief was consumed by rage. “Is this your hospital’s professional conduct? An intern doctor as the lead surgeon for an organ transplant?! You’re killing for profit!” My expression grew increasingly agitated. Just as everyone else was at a loss for what to do, Julian suddenly stepped in front of me. “Seraphina, what’s going on here? With your skill, an accident like this shouldn’t have happened!” Julian and Seraphina exchanged glances. Snapping back to reality, Seraphina quickly replied. “The rejection reaction was too strong this time, and the patient’s physical condition wasn’t good, which led to this tragedy. I’m very sorry.” Hearing this, Julian turned back to me, taking my hand and continuing. “Anya, I know Seraphina’s skills. No one wanted a tragedy like this to happen. I understand your grief right now, but rejection reactions are an inherent risk in transplant surgeries. Grandma Helen was old, and you know her physical condition. This time, even if we had an experienced surgeon, it might not have been successful. Don’t let this upset you too much and harm your own health.” Julian appeared to be seeking justice for me, but every word he spoke was an attempt to cover for Seraphina. And his lengthy defense gained the approval of most of the doctors and nurses present. Seeing this, I found it utterly laughable. With my previous life’s experience, how could I not guess the true situation? But to my dismay, the female nurses around me all stepped forward to defend Seraphina. “Mr. Hayes is right. This was purely an accident. Doctor Seraphina did her best at the first sign of rejection. She took every possible emergency measure. So, please, Ms. Reed, accept our condolences.” As more and more people started voicing their support for Seraphina, Julian eventually took me back home. But as soon as we arrived, Julian received a phone call. After glancing at it, he explained to me that it was work-related. He left the room, even stepping into the hallway before answering. He looked so careful and cautious, little did he know, I was listening in. “Julian, I’m scared something will go wrong.” Seraphina’s voice came from the other end of the line. “Don’t worry, I promise you, Anya won’t give you any trouble. It was just an accident; everyone thinks so. No one will suspect you.” “Every lead surgeon starts as an intern. You just got some early practice. You don’t need to blame yourself too much.” Hearing Julian’s reply, I froze instantly. In a daze, it felt like a vital thread, connecting us, suddenly snapped. That was the luck aura bound between us. I hadn’t expected that besides divorce, a broken heart could also sever the luck. At that moment, I regretted my decision to let Seraphina go even more. If only I had known, Grandma Helen might not have died… My heart turned to ash as I returned to my room. Soon after, Julian opened the door. His face was somber, and he immediately started comforting me. “Anya, don’t be too sad about Grandma Helen. It was purely a medical accident; the main reason wasn’t the doctors’ fault. Grandma Helen was old; it was to be expected.” He was defending Seraphina. I sneered inwardly but felt no surprise. Perhaps because of my silence, Julian changed the subject after a moment. “Anya, are you still coming to the celebration party?” Celebration party? I abruptly lifted my head, gritting my teeth. “Yes, of course, I’m coming.” Not only was I going, but I was going to see him fall from his pedestal. 0

Grandma Helen’s funeral arrangements were completed two days later. And today was also the celebration party Julian had prepared. I thought Julian would take me, but then I received a message from him on my phone. “Sorry, Anya, I have some company matters to handle today. Please take a cab there by yourself.” I’d seen excuses like this far too many times this week. Julian hadn’t even attended Grandma Helen’s funeral. He always claimed it was work issues. But in reality, he was just off seeing that wretched Seraphina. But I didn’t care. Julian and I had long since lost any affection for each other. All that was left was hatred. In the end, I didn’t bother to dress up. I checked the time and headed to the party venue. Soon after I entered, everyone around me turned their gazes my way. “Is that Mr. Hayes’s wife? She’s dressed so shabbily.” “I know, right? Her clothes are stained, and she smells faintly of smoke. I don’t know how Mr. Hayes ever fell for her. She doesn’t even deserve such a brilliant young man.” I heard every whisper around me. However, I felt no emotional stirring whatsoever. Not even being compared to someone else bothered me. I didn’t deserve Julian? Sorry, they had it all wrong. Suddenly, the crowd stirred. “Wow, is that the doctor who saved Mr. Hayes? She looks so elegant! Looking at them, they’re truly a match made in heaven! As for that so-called wife, she’s just a piece of trash!” Following everyone’s gaze, I saw Julian and Seraphina slowly approaching from a distance. And everyone in the room had their eyes fixed on Seraphina. They kept talking, comparing me to Seraphina. Julian didn’t stop them. In fact, his expression grew even more delighted with the compliments. It wasn’t until a moment later that Julian finally noticed my presence. Immediately, his smile vanished, and he walked towards me with a sorrowful, troubled look. “Anya, I’ve been so busy with work lately, I haven’t been able to pay attention to you. Please don’t be angry.” Hah, busy with work? You couldn’t bother with me, but you could bother with that cheap woman, Seraphina. Listening to Julian’s flimsy excuses, I didn’t even want to argue. He must have realized something, then quickly added. “As for Seraphina, I just ran into her on the way. She said she wanted to attend my celebration party, and of course, I couldn’t refuse. After all, you know she saved my life. But don’t worry, there’s only one leading lady tonight, and that’s you.” I glanced at Seraphina, who was standing not far away. She was wearing a luxurious gown, her entire demeanor refined and elegant, as if she were the center of attention. Anyone who didn’t know might have thought she was tonight’s main attraction. Thinking of this, I found Julian’s words even more laughable. The gown Seraphina was wearing, purely in terms of its purchase price, was astronomical. With her intern doctor’s salary, she definitely couldn’t afford such an expensive dress. So, it could only have come from Julian. Hah. He kept saying I was the lead, but behind my back, he was supporting another woman. Julian, do you honestly think I’m a complete idiot? He didn’t know what I was thinking. After his explanation, he began to mingle. Soon after, the banquet began. Julian, as the host, stood at the front of the stage, giving a speech. He spoke emotionally about his entrepreneurial journey and my silent contributions behind him all these years. If I hadn’t already seen through him, I might have even been moved. As the speech continued, Julian extended an invitation to me. He still looked at me with tender affection, his eyes filled with love. “Anya, thank you for all your silent contributions these past years. Without you, I wouldn’t be where I am today. In the future, I will continue to work hard to grow this company, making it bigger and stronger, reaching global heights! And you, will you continue to walk this path with me?” Julian’s impassioned speech deeply resonated with the audience. However, as his last sentence fell, many onlookers expressed their displeasure. “Hah, does a woman like that even deserve Julian? What is she? She’s not even fit to carry his shoes!” “Exactly! Compared to Ms. Seraphina, she’s like heaven and earth! I have no idea how Julian ever liked her!” The crowd’s constant praising of Seraphina while putting me down made Seraphina, sitting in the middle of the room as if surrounded by stars, very pleased. A hint of smugness entered her gaze as she looked at me. But I didn’t care. I even thought, since everyone believes I don’t deserve Julian, Why don’t I just grant their wish? “I don’t.” My ice-cold reply stunned Julian for a moment. “What? She actually refused? Does this woman think she can do whatever she wants just because she has Mr. Hayes’s affection? Or is she out of her mind? Such a great opportunity, and she refuses? Doesn’t she look in the mirror and know her place?” “I think she’s just playing hard to get. This woman is so cunning! I knew Julian couldn’t possibly like her; looks like this b*tch really knows how to play games!” The people below looked incredulous. Clearly, they had never expected me to reject Julian’s proposal. But even so, the crowd continued to hurl insults at me. After a moment, Julian snapped back to reality. Just as he thought I was joking and wanted to inquire further, His assistant suddenly burst into the hall. “Boss, it’s bad! Our company’s stock has crashed!” 0Julian froze. A moment later, he came back to his senses and gasped, demanding to know. “Crashed! How is that possible! It was just fine a moment ago!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296813”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

I kept telling myself that snakes were cold-blooded creatures, so it was only natural my adopted shifter wouldn’t want to get close to me. It wasn’t until later that I realized he was in love with my sister. Because my sister was tall, with long limbs, the dream partner for all snake-shifters. And I? I was a freak who just wouldn’t grow. I simply wasn’t worthy of that magnificent snake. Damian was a sickly little snake I’d adopted. It wasn’t uncommon for humans and shifters to pair and bond. My family had been bonded with snake shifters for generations. From a young age, each of us would either be gifted a snake beast-man by our parents or find one on our own. But I was out of favor, so I quietly went and found my own little snake. When I found Damian in a dilapidated sewer drain, he was tiny and frail. His body, having just shed its skin, was incredibly weak, and he was barely clinging to life. I saved him, and I raised him for twelve years. Raising a snake took immense energy, resources, and money. Raising a *sick* snake was adding insult to injury. And being an unfavored, penniless person? That was like adding insult to injury and then some. Thankfully, Damian grew up healthy. His bronzed, muscular lines curved smoothly down, outlining his taut waist, yet his snake form kept him from looking bulky, instead giving him a certain delicate grace. Many in my family said I’d struck gold, finding such a handsome snake-shifter. I’d just smile, never saying a word. Only I truly understood the bitter reality of our bond. Damian rarely initiated physical contact with me. Even when I had to train for my snake-bonding rituals, he rarely cooperated. He’d always be cold-faced, impatiently wrapping himself around my arm, his scales grating painfully against my skin. I constantly reassured myself that snakes were cold-blooded, and that was why he didn’t want to be affectionate with me. Until that day I saw him, his face flushed, carefully wrapping himself around my sister Chloe’s calf, softly asking her, “Does it hurt?” Chloe looked helpless, gently pushing his head away. “Damian, I know you like me, but you’re my sister’s companion. This isn’t right for us.” His face instantly hardened, and he scoffed. “I don’t care. I only like you. Who would ever like that short little freak?” Chloe tried to protest further, but Damian moved closer, wrapping around her waist, his scales smoothed against her, playfully tickling her. Damian was *flirting*. Scene after scene from the past twelve years flashed through my mind. Damian rarely smiled, but during family dinners, sitting across from me, his face always held a faint smile. Looking back now, he was never looking at me. He was looking at my sister, Chloe, beside me. The signs had been there all along, but I had just been too blind to see them. I had thought that my adopting this sickly little snake was a mutual rescue, a fate that brought us together. But I never imagined it was precisely *because* I was a freak that he disliked me. It felt like my heart was being squeezed. That tiny flicker of hope I’d harbored for years, which used to tickle my heart, suddenly sharpened into a blade, piercing right through me.

On my way home, I passed a clothing store and couldn’t help but stop. Chloe had one of the dresses displayed in the window. The sales assistant looked hesitant but, seeing my persistence, handed me a set of clothes. The girl in the changing room was small, barely reaching half the height of the full-length mirror. My chest was flat, my limbs slender and weak – the body of someone too frail to properly bond with a snake-shifter. That outfit, which looked absolutely stunning on Chloe, made me look like a precocious little girl secretly wearing her mother’s high heels. Images of Chloe with her shifter automatically flashed through my mind. Tall, with long limbs, Chloe looked incredibly beautiful when she bonded with a snake-shifter. Damian wrapped around her, they looked perfectly matched. No wonder Damian didn’t like me. From the day I was born, even my own parents didn’t want me. I hadn’t developed properly in the womb, born with a frail constitution. I grew slower and stayed shorter than everyone else. Even as an adult, I still looked like an eleven or twelve-year-old child. Others would mock me: “A freak of nature in a family of revered snake-tamers! She’ll probably snap her arm just trying to handle one.” Those cruel words pricked at my heart like thorns that couldn’t be removed, and they brought shame to my parents’ faces too. They learned their lesson and were extra attentive when Chloe was conceived. And that extra care gave them every snake-shifter’s dream match – she grew fast and tall. With Chloe, they cared for me even less. It was as if they were a complete family of three, and I was just a poorly-nurtured burden. I stared at my small hands, angrily digging my nails into my palm, then curled my fingers into fists, silently sobbing.

I arrived home, my eyes swollen raw, like bruised fruit. Damian was sitting on the sofa, his expression impatient and chillingly cold. “What took you so long? Do you know I’m starving?” I sniffled, my emotions, just barely controlled, surged up again. “I’ll order you some takeout later, I’m a little tired.” He scoffed, “Ha, you want me to eat takeout?” Not wanting to argue, I sighed. My foot, already stepping towards the bathroom, changed direction, heading to the kitchen instead. I usually cooked for Damian. He never lifted a finger in the kitchen. Even with a fridge full of ingredients, he was too pampered to dirty his precious hands. Once before, I’d come home late, and Damian had thrown a terrible fit because he was hungry. I thought he was specially waiting for me to eat, and, filled with guilt and a tiny bit of joy, I cooked him a huge meal. But as I pulled out a chair, about to sit down, he threw cold water on my hopes. “You reek of cooking oil. Go take a shower.” Snapping back to reality, I placed the prepared meal in front of him, but Damian didn’t touch it. “Why do you smell like another shifter?” I raised my arm and sniffed. It was probably from the clothing store earlier. I suddenly remembered when I was little and had no money, I had to hike up the mountain to hunt wild rabbits and pheasants to feed him. He’d grumble, chewing on the tough, stringy meat. He’d complain about the mud on my face and the scent of other shifters on me, always keeping his distance. “I’ll go shower now.” I set the cutlery on the table and walked towards the bathroom, but Damian swept the cooked meal onto the floor with a single arm. “Audrey Miller, aren’t you going to explain yourself?” A shard of ceramic from the shattered bowl cut my calf, and the pain instantly sharpened my mind. Some people are just so strange. They don’t love you, but they still want to possess you. They give you the illusion of being cherished, of being cared for, when all they truly want is to extract more love from *you*. Damian was exactly like that. For the first time, I looked at him with a cold face. “Explain what? “It’s fine for you to smell like other people, but I can’t?” A flicker of surprise crossed his face. But it was quickly replaced by anger. “You’re doubting me? “Don’t forget who presumptuously saved you?” I didn’t answer, stepping past him to get the first-aid kit. I brushed past his arm, and he immediately flinched back, the sharp edges of his scales scraping me. His voice was colder than his expression. “Don’t touch me.” Right. He barely let me touch him even during bonding training. Outside of training? That was a pipe dream. I gave a self-deprecating laugh. I used to think he was just a cold-blooded creature, too hard to warm, too wild to tame. Turns out, he just didn’t like *me*. Twelve years of sincere companionship from a freak meant nothing compared to his instant infatuation with a ‘normal’ person.

I took a dissolution of adoption agreement from my bag. “I’m sorry. Sorry for presumptuously saving you, for intruding into over ten years of your life without permission, and for making you unhappy. “So, let’s part ways amicably. “May you finally achieve everything you wish for, and live a life filled with joy and ease.” Damian ground his molars together, a sound of pure rage, his face dark as he asked, “What do you mean?” I said calmly, “It means we’re breaking up.” I then pulled out a property transfer deed and a bank card for him. “I sold the house. We’ll split the money evenly, and with this bank card, you’ll have enough to buy a small studio apartment for yourself.” His face grew even darker. “You’re abandoning me? “Didn’t you say you loved me?” Did I love Damian? I had wondered about that myself. I had never truly received love, so I wasn’t entirely sure what love felt like. I just thought that love meant being good to someone. I looked up at the small house filled with our memories. I had moved out with Damian after I came of age. At first, he was reluctant. Back then, I had to both study and work to support him, so I was always out early and back late, with little time to spend with him. He’d be all alone in that cramped rental apartment, his snake tail sticking out from the folding bed with nowhere to go. I thought that was why he was reluctant. So I worked seven or eight jobs, saving up to buy a house for him. Even then, he still didn’t want to touch me, locking his bedroom door even though we each had our own room. But I still wanted to melt his icy demeanor. He was my responsibility, the one I had saved and raised. I couldn’t just abandon him. Yet, I had seen how others in my family interacted with their shifters. My childhood friend, Hailey, had a snow leopard beast-man. That snow leopard had been very arrogant when first adopted, but Hailey’s gentle persistence eventually melted his icy heart. He’d affectionately rub against Hailey’s neck, and gently lick the back of her hand. Like a mouse in the gutter, I watched, craving a beauty that wasn’t mine. I searched for shifter vlogs online, learning their preferred ways of care. I spoiled him rotten, never letting him do any chores, giving him whatever he wanted. I never thought that what was my sweet gesture was his bitter poison. I also thought that one day I could truly enter Damian’s heart, but his heart had long been occupied by someone else. Perhaps I had loved Damian once, but those feelings had slowly eroded over the years. Until I saw him wrapped around Chloe – that was when the melting snow mountain of my hope finally crumbled into dust. “I don’t love you anymore.”

*Bang!* The door slammed shut with a heavy thud. Damian stormed out in a rage. I didn’t need to guess; I knew he was hiding in some nearby corner, waiting for me to rush out and coax him back. But not this time. I pulled my suitcase and walked out of that small house. On the way, I tripped over a pebble, and the heel of my high shoe instantly snapped off. I sat numbly on the ground, a memory flashing through my mind: Chloe twisting her ankle once. Damian, who was walking behind us, immediately supported her, his face full of tenderness. “Chloe, are you okay?” Chloe, blushing, stood steadily, then pulled my hand and laughed. “Oh, Audrey, you’re so lucky! You have such a thoughtful shifter!” Thoughtful? I had never felt it. If Chloe had found you that day, you would have been happier, wouldn’t you? I felt inferior for being a freak, and I envied the love Chloe received. But Mom and Dad were her parents and mine. If I couldn’t get their love, I accepted it. But Damian was *my* shifter. Only mine. I couldn’t accept the fact that he didn’t love me, that he even loved someone else, and still foolishly continue to be good to him. I couldn’t just get over it in a short time, so I decided to leave this painful place. Separate ways, to the ends of the earth. I needed to start a new life, to live for myself. My new job was as a junior clerk at an electronics company. My salary wasn’t high, so I rented a small studio apartment near the office. Though small, it was cozy in winter and cool in summer—perfect for a cold-blooded creature to hibernate. I instinctively started to say, “Damian, you won’t have to worry about hibernation now.” But the words caught in my throat, and I swallowed them, a lump of pain. I couldn’t help but remember Damian’s retreating back that day. No matter how much he pretended to care then, he was probably overjoyed now, wagging his tail as he ran off to find Chloe. I opened the window, and the cool evening breeze brushed against my face. I let the wind flow into my heart, letting the chill settle over my scars. I remembered something I’d read in a book: True sorrow isn’t about dramatic highs or lows, but a quiet, steady current, like a flowing river. I never understood it then. But now it was clear. Just like for decades, Damian would light a cigarette on the balcony after every family dinner. A subtle sadness always lingered in his eyes. I thought he was upset because I’d been called a freak again, that he was furious for me. But, just like I thought he was reluctant to move out with me, I was just projecting. He was only sad for himself. Sad that he couldn’t see Chloe. Sad that he couldn’t be with her.

To numb myself and completely let go of that relationship, I threw myself wholeheartedly into work. I eagerly took on new tasks and helped seniors with theirs. Unexpectedly, I won over many of my senior colleagues. They admired me, giving me a thumbs-up and showering me with praise: “Small but mighty!” The first time I heard it, I paused, surprised. But I had to admit, I felt a little thrill. After tasting that sweetness once, I buried myself deeper into my work, hoping to use my abilities to hide my flaw of being a freak. They praised me for my ambition. Some of the bolder seniors even leaned in and asked, “Audrey, do you have a shifter, dear?” I just stared blankly, nodding instinctively, then suddenly snapped out of it and shook my head vigorously. Brenda furrowed her brow and asked, “Do you or don’t you?” I answered honestly, “I did, but we dissolved our bond.” Brenda looked a little awkward. Another senior subtly gave her a look, and her “Why?” was swallowed whole. She grabbed a handful of pistachios for me, trying to comfort me. I fumbled, and they scattered across the floor. My eyes fell on a pair of gleaming bear paws. I looked up in confusion, meeting a pair of light brown eyes. Above those eyes, a pair of fluffy ears twitched unconsciously. Before I could even process how a shifter had suddenly appeared in the company, I heard one of the seniors quietly whisper, “Boss.” The bear softly grunted in response. I quickly pulled the nearest senior colleague and whispered, “Why didn’t I know our boss was a bear? “Will he fire me for slacking off and eating snacks?” The thought that this job, where for once no one seemed to hate me for being a freak, might be gone, made my heart ache. The entire room fell silent. It was the bear boss who broke the silence first. He bent down, picked up the scattered pistachios, and steadily placed them on my desk. “I won’t fire you.” Then he extended his bear paw. “I was in hibernation when you started. Let’s reintroduce ourselves. My name is Arthur.” After shaking his paw, my cubicle was surrounded by a crowd of curious faces. One senior, her face full of curiosity, asked, “Audrey, what did the boss’s hand feel like?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296812”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

The smartest thing I ever did at 22 was make the bold move of getting into Julian Davies’s bed. From then on, I became his most unremarkable yet longest-staying mistress. In our fifth year together, he handed me a card, his expression indifferent. “Chloe, we’re done. Don’t be clingy.” I took the card, a smile playing on my lips. “Understood, Mr. Davies.” Two years later, I married someone else, and his hair had turned stark white. The company chat group was buzzing with talk of Julian Davies’s wedding, while I was busy picking out candy for the celebration. It was supposed to be a task for him and the esteemed Seraphina Hayes, but with both of them so swamped, these trivial matters fell to me. “Is CEO Davies really tying the knot with Ms. Hayes from the A Group? They’re a perfect power couple!” “Congratulations! CEO Davies must be nearly thirty now, it’s about time he settled down. I heard Seraphina was his first love.” “First love? She’s the one that got away, his pure love. I heard they were childhood sweethearts.” I glanced at the bustling chat, said nothing, then opened my laptop and started printing my resignation letter. Julian was half a perfectionist. Before his grand wedding with Seraphina, he’d clean up all the messy women around him. And I was the last loose end he needed to snip. I’d been with Julian since I was 22, sticking around until 27. Now, I was not only his personal indulgence but also his competent assistant. A good assistant and compliant mistress knows how to anticipate her boss’s needs. So, before Julian even had to ask, I had my resignation letter printed and placed it on his desk. Right next to it was the list of recommended wedding candy brands. Julian walked into his office precisely at 9:30 AM every day. He saw me standing by the CEO’s office door and called out, “Chloe, come in for a moment.” I nodded obediently, my face serene, and followed him inside. “Mr. Davies, this is my resignation. And these are the wedding candies and recommended brands you asked me to select yesterday.” Julian’s sharp eyes narrowed slightly as he scanned the resignation letter. Without a hint of hesitation, he pulled out a pen and swiftly signed his name. “Chloe, these two apartments will be under your name. This card has five million. And the car I bought a while ago, that’s yours too. Are these terms acceptable?” I sat across from Julian, looking up at his serious, focused face. My eyes curved into a smile. “Perfectly acceptable, Mr. Davies.” A flicker of surprise crossed his face, but he quickly returned to normal. “Chloe, I hope you remember I don’t like clingy women.” I reached out to take the card he offered, my smile still flawless. “I wouldn’t dream of it, Mr. Davies. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now.” “Hm.” Julian said no more, immediately looking down at the documents in his hands. I stood there quietly for a moment, wanting to use these last few seconds to etch his image into my mind. Julian was a generous patron. His compensation packages when ending relationships were always lavish, and mine was the most substantial. So, I had no reason to be dissatisfied with this ending. Leaving the company and settling into a taxi heading back to my downtown apartment, I felt all the strength drain out of me. I leaned back against the seat, silently gazing out the window. Julian had many mistresses, but I was the most obedient and sensible one, the one he trusted most. Even his friends couldn’t help but marvel, asking where he’d found such a dutiful, considerate mistress who never took advantage of his affections. Back then, Julian’s eyes would always hold a hint of tenderness. When our fingers interlaced, he’d gently knead the soft flesh on the back of my hand. “Maybe it’s fate.” But he probably never imagined that his most obedient mistress had already fallen for him, and that love had lasted five years.

My story with Julian began with a setup. After graduation, I worked diligently, hoping to make a living in the big city through my own efforts. But life wasn’t a fairy tale where dreams came true. When I was 22, my boss, to shift blame onto me, accused me of leaking company secrets, causing significant losses, and facing ten years in prison plus a hefty fine. I’d just been at Davies Corp. with my team leader, discussing a collaboration, when I heard the news. I don’t know how I ended up stumbling into Julian’s lounge, curled up in a corner, crying and begging any god to help me. In the lounge, Julian’s face clearly showed his annoyance at being woken. He stared at me blankly. Perhaps seeing my ugly-crying, Julian tossed a pack of tissues my way. “Wipe your face. Stop begging gods, beg me. I’m far more useful than any deity.” Julian’s face was fierce, a clearly menacing expression, yet I felt strangely at ease. He was like a hero swooping in to save me. I swallowed my tears and obediently walked over to him, pleading, “Sir, can you really help me? I was truly framed. I didn’t leak any company secrets.” Julian stroked my head, his voice surprisingly soft. “This little thing? Of course, I can help you. But I’m a businessman, so what can you offer me?” Thinking back to that day, I always felt Julian had peculiar tastes. I was crying so ugly, and he still thought of making me his mistress. His taste must be truly extraordinary. Later, I asked Julian why he wanted me to be his mistress. He said, “You were crying like a messy kettle, quite amusing. Besides, weren’t you the one who asked for my help first?” Once I realized it wasn’t my face that had caught Julian’s interest, I began to diligently learn how to be a good mistress. I put away all my petty schemes, listened to my patron, avoided causing him trouble, never took advantage of his affections, and worked hard to improve myself so I could contribute to his success. Countless times during boring flower arranging classes, I’d reflect on what good any of this was. Was I going to perform flower arranging while in bed with Julian? In fact, my choices were correct. The more I learned, the more presentable I became. I helped Julian close one tough contract after another and accompanied him to high-stakes meetings with powerful figures, never once embarrassing him. Julian was very satisfied. He spent more and more time with me, showered me with more and more affection, even dragging me along to his gatherings with friends. But I never played games. I just diligently did whatever Julian asked. I witnessed Julian’s cold indifference firsthand at an exclusive club. A popular actress, soaked in liquor, lay sprawled on the carpet, frantically reaching for Julian’s pant leg, only to be kicked away by a bodyguard. Julian stood holding a glass of hard liquor, staring emotionlessly at the woman on the floor. “My girlfriend? Do you really think you’re worthy?” The actress, who had claimed to be Julian’s girlfriend, frantically kowtowed, her body trembling. “Mr. Davies, I was wrong! Mr. Davies, it was a moment of madness, I spoke out of turn! I know I’m not worthy of being your girlfriend, I misspoke. Mr. Davies, please be magnanimous, don’t hold it against me!” Julian said nothing, letting his bodyguards hold the actress down and watch her struggle. His peripheral vision caught me, and he waved me over. He gently rubbed my face, which the actress had slapped, sighing softly. “Why are you so bad at protecting yourself? You let someone slap you? You’re my competent assistant. How could you let someone bully you without saying a word?”

Julian’s eyes were filled with pity and sympathy, his words of affection like tiny needles, tugging at my heartstrings. My heart stirred. The sting of the actress’s slap was replaced by Julian’s tenderness. I instinctively brushed my hand against his palm. “Because I trust you, Mr. Davies. I knew you wouldn’t let me be wronged.” Julian raised an eyebrow, playfully squeezing my neck, then lowered his head to kiss me near my lips. “You trust your Mr. Davies that much?” “Mm-hmm.” I reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck, looking at him with devotion. “Mr. Davies is the only one who will protect me. I’ve always trusted you.” Julian was completely taken by my sincerity, by the way I trusted him implicitly. That night, he was rough with me, a flurry of intense kisses raining down on my forehead, neck, and back. Finally, he paused over my heart. I heard him murmur, “Chloe, you’re a true gem. I really can’t bear to let you go.” Unfortunately, the lighting was dim, and his captivating eyes were too distracting. I didn’t pay much attention to that remark. It was much later that I learned Julian had intended to hand me over to a business partner that day, but my trust in him had made him reluctant. And he hadn’t stood up for me because of *me* then; it was because the actress had used his girlfriend’s identity to act arrogant toward Davies Corp. employees. Soon after, the actress was embroiled in a sex scandal that utterly destroyed her reputation. “Chloe, I’m serious, you’ve got Julian Davies wrapped around your finger. Do you think there’s a chance you’ll become Mrs. Davies?” When I heard Liam laughingly bringing up these old stories, I just smiled and raised my glass, playing along with his probing. “No chance, Mr. Liam. You’re overthinking it.” Back at my downtown apartment, I walked barefoot on the cold floor, curled up on the sofa, watching the news channel extensively report on Julian Davies’s wedding to Seraphina Hayes. “Recently, Julian Davies, CEO of Davies Corp., announced his marriage to Seraphina Hayes, daughter of the Hayes Group. It’s understood the two have been childhood sweethearts…” I carefully watched every news segment about his impending marriage, seeing how perfectly matched he and Seraphina looked standing together. Seraphina was beautiful, raised in a privileged home, carrying herself with grace, confidence, and undisguised pride. I couldn’t understand why anyone would think Julian sought mistresses as replacements for Seraphina. Clearly… Seraphina was nothing like any of the women he had kept. I first met Seraphina at a party. That day, I didn’t know who Julian was going to meet, but I could see the anticipation in his eyes. He specifically hired a designer to pick out his outfit and even personally chose a gift, finally holding an amber-colored brooch and asking me to wrap it. At the party, I finally understood Julian’s unusual behavior was all for a young woman named Seraphina. Seraphina sat in the center of the ballroom, her fingers dancing across black and white keys, producing one beautiful melody after another. All the lights in the hall were focused on her; she was like a luminous fairy, captivating everyone’s attention, including Julian’s. After finishing her piece, Seraphina stood up and walked toward us. “Julian! I knew you’d come! Long time no see. And who is this?” “My secretary.” Julian gently took Seraphina’s hand, deftly changing the subject. “Want to play a duet together?” Seraphina smiled and nodded, her girlish shyness evident. That day, Julian and Seraphina performed perfectly together, earning a standing ovation and countless compliments. Amidst praises of “golden couple” and “perfect match,” I learned the identity of that young lady. Julian’s childhood sweetheart, the one he held dearest, his future wife.

The banquet was bustling, full of clinking glasses and lively chatter. I sat in the dessert area, watching Julian, with a faint smile, chat with the playful Seraphina and other guests. After watching for a while, I suddenly felt suffocated. I grabbed a glass of juice and went to the outdoor gazebo for some fresh air. Outside, the moonlight poured down like liquid silver, and a faint floral scent hung in the air. I leaned against a pillar, gazing up at the moon. The way Julian looked at Seraphina was ardent, a look none of his mistresses had ever received. It was almost time to leave. I turned my head to look at the wall. Through the wall, I saw Julian’s smiling face—a blessing I had never received. Suddenly, a man emerged from the shadows and stood before me. “Beautiful lady, all alone?” The man leaned in, his warm breath almost brushing my face. “May I buy you a drink?” I frowned, subtly stepping back two paces. “No, thank you. I don’t really drink.” “That’s odd,” the man scratched his head. “Aren’t you the one who’s always so good at drinking on behalf of Julian Davies? How can you not drink now? Are you refusing to give me face?” Hearing that he knew my background, I didn’t dare refuse outright. I simply raised my glass, my smile flawless. “It’s a special occasion, sir. I hope you understand. Perhaps another time?” “Alright,” the man stepped out of the shadows, revealing a face five parts similar to Seraphina’s. “You’re interesting, Chloe. Let’s arrange something for next time.” He pulled out his phone to open a QR code, casually bringing up another matter. “But I wonder, your boss wouldn’t be mad if I asked you out, would he? A man and a woman, alone together, it might not look good.” “He wouldn’t.” I obediently scanned his SnapChat code and explained softly, “Mr. Davies is just my boss. He doesn’t interfere with my private time.” Seeing the relaxed expression on his face, I knew my answer had satisfied them. I saw Seraphina in the distance, holding a drink and raising an eyebrow at me, her face exuding the air of a victor. Julian was draped his coat over Seraphina, adjusting her collar, without sparing me a glance. After the banquet, sitting in the car on the way back, Julian calmly said, “Well done.” “Mm.” I looked down at the back of my hand, silently calculating how much longer I could stay with Julian. “I’ll be careful to maintain my boundaries with you, Mr. Davies.” That night, he didn’t give me a farewell kiss, nor did he walk me up. He simply told me to start contacting wedding planners. Watching Julian’s car drive away, my knees buckled, and I crumpled to the ground. I stared blankly at the asphalt, not crying, not sad, just feeling all emotions stripped from my body, leaving only an empty shell. It took me a week to sell off all the jewelry, apartments, and the car Julian had given me. During that same week, the news of Davies Corp. and Hayes Group’s impending union spread like wildfire.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296811”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

My cousin saw a marriage video online and wanted to marry an enclave leader, dreaming of living like royalty. The two handsome men in the video seemed so sincere. [“We’re simply looking for a wife to spend our lives with. We promise to treat you well, cherish you, and grow old together.”] Something felt off to me. I begged my cousin not to go. Six months later, my cousin saw a viral live stream. There, in plain sight, were the same enclave leaders from the marriage video. A woman nestled happily in their arms, gushing about her blissful and incredibly wealthy life post-marriage. Turns out, the enclave leaders were worth hundreds of millions. That very day, my cousin burst into my apartment and grabbed me, squeezing my neck tight. “You b*tch! Why did you stop me from marrying into a wealthy family?!” When I opened my eyes again, I saw my cousin, Tiffany, blushing as she asked me, “Maya, should I go meet them?” I opened my eyes again, and the phantom sensation of being choked still lingered on my neck. Cold sweat instantly drenched my back. I looked around. It was my familiar rental apartment, the lingering scent of instant noodles still in the air. Had I… come back to life? “Maya, what are you spacing out for? Come on, help me look!” My cousin, Tiffany Miller’s voice, jolted me back to reality. I stiffly turned my head. She was holding up her phone, and on the screen played a video I knew all too well. In the video, two men stood side by side. One was mature and composed, the other bright and charming. Both wore clothes that hinted at an exotic, far-off land. “Miss Tiffany Miller, hello. I’m Kael,” the older brother, Kael Thorne, said, his voice deep and magnetic, his eyes sincere. His younger brother, Zane Thorne, then spoke, his smile dazzling. “And I’m Zane.” “We are sincerely looking for a wife to spend our lives with.” “From the first moment we saw you, we knew, Tiffany, you are the one destined for us.” “We sincerely invite you to meet us, to give us a chance to get to know you, won’t you?” In my previous life, my first reaction to that marriage video was utter absurdity. What era were we in? Claiming ‘destiny’ after seeing someone only on a video? This was either a catfishing scam or worse, a human trafficking trap. Pure bait. I painstakingly tried to explain the risks to Tiffany, from online fraud to human trafficking, from fake personas to international crime. Finally, after talking until I was hoarse, I managed to convince her. Though her face showed reluctance, Tiffany reluctantly closed the video, promising she wouldn’t contact those two men again. I thought that was the end of it. Until six months later, a live stream by a blogger named “Seraphina Blackwood” went viral overnight. In the live video, a woman dripping with jewels was nestled happily in Kael and Zane’s arms. Inside a palatial mansion, the dining table was laden with exotic gourmet dishes most people had only dreamed of. She casually picked up a limited-edition Hermes bag and flaunted it. “So many people ask me how I suddenly started living this life. The secret? I married well, darling!” “When my husbands first asked me to meet them, I actually thought it was a scam. Who knew they were secretly billionaires?” “You’re asking what I do now? Every day, I just shop, get beauty treatments, and have SPA days.” “My only complaint is that the brothers are just so… passionate. I can barely keep up!” “Why can I marry two men? Oh, my husbands come from a unique enclave. Their community practices polyandry – one wife, multiple husbands. And there are still so many handsome bachelors without wives!” “You want me to ask for you? Sure! If you’re interested, sweethearts, remember to DM me after the stream!” Tiffany completely lost it after seeing that live stream. She believed I had deliberately blocked her from marrying into wealth and becoming one of the elite. So, that night, she barged into my apartment, rushed to my bed, and choked me to death. “Maya Reid, you b*tch! If it weren’t for you, I’d be living like a goddess right now! Why did you stop me?!” The suffocating pain and her twisted, enraged face were the last things I remembered before dying in my past life. Seeing me still lost in thought, Tiffany nudged me again. “Maya, they seem so sincere, and they’re so handsome. Tell me, should I go meet them?” Watching her face flush with imaginary bliss, a chill ran down my spine. My good intentions in my previous life had led to my brutal death. This time, Tiffany Miller, I won’t stand in your way. So, when she asked, I simply replied, “Cousin, this is a huge decision for your life. You need to think it through and decide for yourself.”

Hearing my answer, Tiffany visibly froze. She had probably prepared a whole speech to argue with me, never expecting me not to stop her. She eyed me suspiciously, thinking I hadn’t finished, but I just turned to scroll on my phone, ignoring her. Seeing I wouldn’t say more, Tiffany put away her phone, a smile returning to her face. “You’re right, of course. After all, not everyone gets this kind of incredible luck.” “Just wait for my good news, sis.” I didn’t say another word. I had no desire to relive the painful experience of my past life. Tiffany Miller, this time, you walk your own path. Your hell, you descend into it yourself. Without my interference, Tiffany moved with astonishing speed. That very afternoon, she took time off work and booked a flight for the next morning to the border city where the men were located. The next evening, Tiffany video-called me. The moment I answered, the luxurious scene on the screen dazzled me. Tiffany was sitting in a lavishly decorated private room, a dazzling crystal chandelier hanging above her. She wore heavy makeup, designer clothes, and a huge emerald pendant gleamed at her neck. “Maya! You won’t believe how amazing they are!” Tiffany’s voice was buzzing with excitement. “They are totally my soulmates! After just a few words, they understood me completely!” “And they’re even more handsome in person than in the video, and so incredibly gentle and sweet!” Then she aimed the camera at the dishes on the table; each one was an exquisite work of art. “Do you know how much this meal cost us?” She didn’t give me a chance to answer, holding up both hands. “A hundred thousand! A full hundred thousand! Have you ever had a hundred-thousand-dollar meal?” “And this afternoon, Kael asked if I’d be willing to marry both of them.” “Kael and Zane said that according to their enclave’s tradition, I can marry both brothers! They practice polyandry!” “See? What did I tell you? I, Tiffany Miller, am destined for wealth! Two high-quality men have fallen for me head over heels!” Just then, Kael and Zane appeared in the frame, offering polite but distant smiles. “Hello, you must be Maya, Tiffany’s cousin? Tiffany talks about you often, says you’re her best sister.” Kael spoke, his tone gentle, but his eyes were sizing me up. “That’s right, we brothers are both very fond of Tiffany,” Zane’s smile was still bright. Tiffany snatched the camera back, her face so red it looked like it would drip blood. She happily announced, “Just now, I said yes to their proposal!” She eagerly lifted her wrist, showing off chunky gold jewelry. “See? These are all gifts they gave me just now. They said that as long as I marry in, the entire enclave’s treasury will be mine.” Then she glanced at my loungewear, her eyes full of undisguised pity. “Maya, look at you, working yourself to death with overtime every day, and your monthly salary isn’t even enough for one of my bracelets. Sister’s telling you, a woman, it’s not about working hard, it’s about marrying well.” “Don’t worry. Once I’m a rich lady, I definitely won’t forget you. I’ll introduce you to some of their enclave’s eligible bachelors with deep pockets, so you can have a good life too.” I listened silently to her bragging, just pulling at the corners of my mouth in response. “Well, congratulations, cousin.”

My calmness completely threw Tiffany off. She pouted, bragged a few more times, and then reluctantly hung up. Over the next few days, my Ins feed was flooded with Tiffany’s posts. One day, a selfie in a five-star hotel’s presidential suite. The next, a shopping spree with Kael and Zane at a luxury boutique. The day after, a top-tier club with tables piled high with Romanee-Conti, and her holding a glass, her eyes glazed. In the photos, she was always flanked by the two men, her designer outfits changing daily, never repeating. The comments section exploded. Friends showered Tiffany with extravagant praise. “OMG! Tiffany, did you land a sugar daddy? That’s insane!” “Those two hot guys adore you! What kind of fairy-tale love is this? I’m so jealous!” “Tiffany, you’re literally living the dream! Take me with you!” Tiffany humblebragged in her replies: “Hehe, not really, I just found the love of my life, that’s all.” She never mentioned marrying two men, simply basking in the adoration of the crowd. I thought that after she married into wealth, she wouldn’t bother her poor, struggling cousin anymore. Until one day, walking home from work in my neighborhood, I suddenly felt a shiver down my spine. Like a pair of eyes were staring at me from the shadows. The gaze was cold, sticky, making my hairs stand on end. I spun around, but there was no one there, only the rustling of leaves in the evening breeze. Was it just my imagination? Muttering to myself, I quickened my pace, jogging back to my building. Just then, my phone rang. “Tiffany Miller” flashed across the screen. I hesitated, then answered the video call. “Maya!” On the video, Tiffany’s face seemed thinner, and the dark circles under her eyes couldn’t be hidden even by a filter. But her tone was still frantic. “I’m marrying Kael and Zane next week!” “We’re best friends, how can you not be there for such a big event?” “Hurry up and come be my bridesmaid, soak up some of my good luck!” She smiled, looking perfectly sincere. “I’ve already had Kael book your flight, all expenses paid. It’ll be a real eye-opener for you, consider it my gift.” I looked at her slightly distorted face on the screen and sneered inwardly. Bridesmaid? More like luring me there to sell me off or harvest my organs. “No, cousin,” I refused. “I’m really swamped with work lately, I can’t take time off.” To my surprise, the moment I finished speaking, Tiffany’s face instantly darkened. “Maya Reid, what do you mean?” Her voice suddenly sharpened. “I’m giving you a chance to make it big, don’t be ungrateful!” “Are you jealous of me? Can’t stand to see me doing better than you?” Her voice grew louder, but I couldn’t be bothered to argue. “Think whatever you want.” As I spoke, I reached into my bag for my keys, ready to unlock the door. But I searched and searched, and found nothing. My wallet? It had my ID, bank cards, and a few hundred dollars in cash. Had it fallen out on the subway on the way home… “I can’t talk anymore, I think I lost my wallet.” I said into the phone, preparing to hang up. “What’s the big deal about a stupid wallet?!” Tiffany was still ranting on the other end. I ignored her and hung up directly. The feeling of being watched grew stronger. I didn’t dare linger downstairs and quickly hailed a cab to the police station.

Telling Tiffany I lost my wallet and was going to the police station wasn’t entirely an excuse. My documents were important. Stepping into the police station, that persistent, chilling sensation finally receded slightly. The officer on duty, Detective Miller, was patient. He took my statement and said he would keep an eye out for my wallet. But for a wallet lost on the street, the chances of recovery were slim to none. “Don’t worry too much, young lady. But it’s best if you report your bank cards stolen first. We can help you with a new ID,” Detective Miller said. But my real purpose went beyond that. I told the police everything about Tiffany’s situation, from that ridiculously suspicious marriage video to the so-called enclave leaders and polyandry. As I spoke, I handed Detective Miller screenshots of Tiffany’s Ins posts. At first, Detective Miller thought it was just another common catfishing scam. But as he listened, his expression grew increasingly serious. By the time I finished, he immediately connected it to several recent disappearances of young women. “The pattern is too similar. They all use online romance or high-paying jobs as bait, and the victims disappear completely within days of arriving at a border city. We suspect there’s a well-organized cross-border crime syndicate at play,” he said. Hearing that, my heart sank. In my previous life, I was merely a victim. This time, only now did I truly glimpse how deep this rabbit hole went. “Ms. Reid, the information you’ve provided is incredibly important. Your cousin is in danger right now; she might even be an accomplice to these people.” “We need your cooperation. This is a chance to take them all down.” “Take this micro-tracker. If they forcibly take you away and imprison you, find a way to leave the tracker behind. We’ll use its location to launch a rescue operation.” Detective Miller looked at me, his expression grave. “This process will be extremely dangerous. Are you willing?” “I am,” I replied without a moment’s hesitation. This wasn’t for Tiffany. It was for myself, who had died so tragically in my past life, and for all the innocent girls like Tiffany who had been lured into hell. By the time I left the police station, it was completely dark. Walking home, that chilling gaze reappeared. My heart pounded, and my palms were slick with cold sweat. As I approached a street corner, I hardened my resolve. I suddenly sprinted a few steps, then ducked and hid in the nearby bushes. I held my breath, staring intently at the corner. Rapid footsteps grew louder, approaching from afar. Closer and closer! It was him! My heart was practically leaping out of my throat. Just as the person was about to appear, a little boy on a scooter shot out from around the corner, shouting, “Avengers assemble!” The rapid footsteps came to an abrupt halt. I paused, confused. Had I… been too nervous? I waited a little longer in the corner, but no one else passed by, and the chilling sensation on my back vanished. I let out a breath of relief, chuckled self-deprecatingly, and hurried home. Maybe I was just overthinking things. However, the very next morning, reality slapped me hard in the face. I was about to leave for work. The moment I pulled the door open a crack, several unfamiliar faces blocked my way. They were all burly, their eyes hostile, reeking of stale cigarettes, alcohol, and menace. My heart jumped, and I instinctively tried to close the door. “Bang!” A foot firmly wedged in the doorframe. Before I could even scream, a knife pressed against my waist. I was paralyzed with fear by the sudden turn of events, forced back into my apartment. “What do you want?” I heard my voice tremble. The leader of the men grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. “What do we want?” “Of course, we’re taking you to Miss Tiffany’s wedding.” His words instantly sent a chill through me. It was Tiffany! She had actually hired people to kidnap me! My mind went blank. Before I could react, a towel reeking of acrid chemicals was clapped over my mouth and nose. In the last second before darkness claimed me, I thought I saw a glint of reflected light behind the man. When I woke again, I found my eyes blindfolded. My mouth was tightly sealed with tape, allowing only muffled sounds to escape. My hands and feet were bound with rough rope, and any slight movement caused my wrists to burn with pain.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296810”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

After the bankruptcy, I was drugged and practically thrown into my childhood friend Liam’s bed. From that day on, he brought someone new home every night, then tossed a divorce agreement at me. “Ellie, beg me, and I won’t go through with it.” He’d look down on me, watching me grovel in the dirt again and again, just to get him to change his mind. He even openly ordered me to massage his new assistant, Chloe’s, feet right there in his office. Until the day Sterling Corp needed just ten million dollars to completely turn things around, Chloe blocked all my desperate calls for help. I waited a grueling twenty-four hours, until Sterling Corp utterly collapsed, and my parents, driven to despair, jumped from a building. Liam, however, walked in with Chloe, practically throwing the signed divorce papers at me again. “Ellie, weren’t you just looking for me to get money to save your family? Beg me. As long as I don’t divorce you, no one would dare touch Sterling Corp.” This time, I signed my name with a quiet, devastating calm: “Mr. Hayes, it’s not necessary. Sterling Corp doesn’t need your help anymore.”

The moment I signed the divorce papers, the smug triumph on Liam’s face instantly froze. He snatched the signed agreement, his eyes bloodshot, his fingers tightening around my throat, nearly insane. “Ellie! What new game are you playing now?!” “Don’t forget, you *begged* your way into my bed! You’d stop at nothing to marry me!” “What? Now you’re putting on a show of purity? Debasing yourself like that was all for money, wasn’t it?!” Each word was uglier than the last. For three years, he’d repeatedly brought up these things, constantly humiliating me. As if he was afraid I’d forget that it was I, Eleanor Sterling, who was shameless enough to slink into Liam’s bed. I would always cry and deny it. For three years, every day, I’d explain myself to him, believing that one day, he’d finally see my true feelings. But now, my heart was utterly dead. Whether he believed me or not no longer mattered. Watching him rage, his voice hoarse, I only felt an overwhelming weariness. That crushing weight, so deep it felt like it was in my very bones, made me think death wouldn’t be so bad. “Ellie! Say something! How dare you look at me like that! You’re the one who wronged me!” Liam’s furious shouting finally died down. After he had calmed slightly, I slowly raised my head. “Are you done talking?” “If you’re done, can I leave?” For the first time in three years, I felt this calm. Liam, however, panicked. He scoffed, trying to hide the fleeting alarm in his eyes. “Leave? Where do you plan on going?” “You want to leave? Fine. Every single thing on you, isn’t it all *my* money? You want to leave? Fine. Go back the way you came – with nothing!” He stood there, looking down at me, and through him, I somehow saw the Liam of my youth. Back then, he was so afraid I’d leave him, he’d pull me close every day, just begging me to say I loved him. But all of that had long since vanished with the wind. Now, standing before him, I only felt the utter humiliation of being stripped bare and shoved into his bed. Looking at his eyes, practically screaming “beg me,” I forced a smile. “Alright.” I took off the watch from my wrist. He’d threatened me this way countless times. Each time, I would cry and plead with him, begging him not to humiliate me like this, for the sake of our past. Back then, I still had hope for him and for our future. But now. Living was more torturous than dying. These humiliations were just icing on the cake of my suffering. It hurt, but it didn’t matter. I took off the last jacket he’d given me, then removed the wedding ring he’d bought. I stared at him, then let go of my fingers. The wedding ring clattered to the floor, a sharp, clear sound. Something I once cherished above all else now felt no different from a cold stone. I didn’t look back at his trembling form. Barefoot, I walked step by step toward the door. “Ellie! Are you insane?! Stop right there!” Liam’s furious roar echoed behind me. But the bruises marring my thin body – a canvas of black and blue – became the ultimate mockery of him. I walked faster and faster, heading toward the sunlight, leaving him completely behind. Watching my retreating figure, Liam, whether from rage or grief, trembled violently and collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air. “Mr. Hayes, Ms. Sterling is just being so ungrateful. She’s throwing such a tantrum just because you didn’t answer her call. Does she have someone else?” Chloe’s words were laced with insinuation. Liam suddenly pushed her away, his eyes blazing red. “Get out!” “Mr. Jenkins, take her clothes to her. How dare she leave? How dare she walk out on me!” “Ellie, you were the one who wronged me first!”

The biting spring chill made my body tremble as I walked barefoot on the asphalt road. I had walked this road countless times. The most degrading time was when disaster struck Sterling Corp. My family elders drugged me and shoved me into Liam’s bed like a piece of merchandise, all to buy Sterling Corp a lifeline. Now, Sterling Corp was completely gone. I no longer had to humble myself, and surprisingly, I felt a sense of liberation. “Ms. Sterling!” Mr. Jenkins’ voice called from behind, his footsteps hurried. Before I could turn around, a coat was draped over my shoulders. “Ms. Sterling, Mr. Hayes asked me to bring you this coat.” “Mr. Hayes still cares for you. You two love each other, why do you have to…” “Mr. Jenkins, please thank him for me.” I interrupted him. Mr. Jenkins sighed and said no more, turning to leave. I looked at the familiar coat on me, sinking into memories. Liam bought this coat for me. Back then, I was still the adored princess of the Sterling family. When he gave me the coat, his eyes were full of love. He promised to protect me for a lifetime. From childhood, he had always shielded me, never allowing me to suffer the slightest injustice. The first time I was bullied, he brought his friends and beat the person up. When my family found out, he faced severe family punishment. Even lying in bed, he couldn’t stay still, making funny faces to cheer me up. At that time, I cried with heartache, and he frantically wiped my tears. “Ellie, don’t cry. With me here, no one is allowed to make you cry!” In high school, I was cornered by some bullies from school. He rushed in alone, like a beacon of light, and was beaten black and blue. Even when my family arrived, he couldn’t stand straight, but still foolishly asked if I was scared. I laughed through my tears, exasperated by him. Back then, he never got close to any other girl except me. Every time, he’d proudly brag to his friends, saying, “My little jealous one keeps me on a short leash.” Liam and I were childhood sweethearts, innocent and inseparable. Everyone envied us, saying we were a match made in heaven. We were just waiting for the day our families had set, when we could walk hand-in-hand into marriage, becoming the most important people in each other’s lives. But fate had other plans. Sterling Corp faced a major financial crisis due to a flawed decision. They were afraid the Hayes family would back out of the engagement, so they drugged me and shoved me into Liam’s bed. And the glass of wine Liam drank, the one laced with drugs, I had handed to him myself. I explained to him countless times that I truly didn’t know there was medicine in the wine. But every time he looked at me, it was with the same look he’d had the moment he woke up in that bed. Full of disgust and contempt, looking down on me as if I were an object. He was convinced that I had used manipulative tricks, offering myself to him, to force his hand and save my family. From that moment, I was utterly condemned in his eyes, nailed to a pillar of shame. I no longer had any right to defend myself. Yet, he still honored the engagement. He gave me a grand wedding, making everyone envious. He still saved Sterling Corp. I thought he still had feelings for me. But on our wedding night, he brought a woman home. After that, he brought a different woman home every single day. Everyone in the city knew the rumors: Liam’s place had enough women to open a whole club. He found endless ways to humiliate me, seemingly only happy when he saw my pain. I endured it day by day, thinking that once he’d vented enough, he’d finally sit down and listen to me. That we would have a day when we reconciled. I never imagined that this endurance would last for three years. And what I finally got was… Sterling Corp’s complete collapse, and my parents’ desperate suicide.

Penniless, I had no choice but to walk barefoot from the Hayes family mansion on the hillside down to the city below. By the time I reached the park, my feet were bleeding and raw. Thankfully, the pen I’d used to sign the papers was still in my hand. I asked someone for a few sheets of paper and sat on the park steps, quietly sketching the scenery before me. This moment of tranquility seemed to transport me back to before I married Liam. I laid out the finished drawings, one by one, on the ground. Each one was small and intricate. Until a little girl knelt in front of me. “Miss, your feet are bleeding. Doesn’t it hurt?” I looked down, my gaze fixed on my feet. After walking such a long distance, the soles of my feet were already a bloody mess. But I felt nothing. It turned out the pain in my heart truly overshadowed any physical agony. Not wanting to scare the little girl, I tucked my feet away and smiled. “No, it doesn’t hurt.” The little girl tilted her head, then pulled out a crumpled ten-dollar bill from her pocket. “Miss, I only have this much. Can I buy one of your paintings? They’re so beautiful, they remind me of someone I used to know.” Hearing her speak like such a grown-up, I couldn’t help but smile. How old was she to have “someone she used to know”? “It’s enough that you like them. Take all of these. Thank you for your ten dollars.” I never thought. One day, the only ten dollars I had would come from a child. But I truly needed that money. Holding the bill, I walked into a small internet cafe, exchanging the ten dollars for an hour of online time. I opened the computer and logged into the social media account that had been my torment for three years. “A true woman is submissive and puts her husband first.” “Wives should be meek, compliant, and never voice a single complaint.” “A woman’s honor lies in her purity; she must guard it fiercely.” These sickening, pinned posts were all things Liam had forced me to publish. When we first got married, I still had hope for him. Every time he brought a woman home, I would argue with him. Later, the first time he punished me by making me kneel in the garden, making his mistress watch me as he read from some ancient treatises on female conduct he’d bought, I resisted fiercely. The consequence was that he forced me to post these things online. He told me I was merchandise he’d bought, and I should act like it. He said he wanted everyone to see what a ‘virtuous and benevolent’ wife I, Eleanor Sterling, truly was. After that, whenever I made him angry, he’d force me to publish these statements online. It became our twisted routine. And my account became a battleground for countless online users to condemn me. They called me a “brainwashed traditionalist,” a “feudal relic,” a “disgrace to modern women.” I couldn’t refute them, nor was I allowed to. Silence became my best escape from everything. Liam gradually grew dissatisfied with just that. He made me personally ‘attend’ to the women he brought home. The ones who even slept in his bed? I was forced to ‘prepare’ them myself. He’d sneer, “Someone as shameless as you knows best how to please a man.” Each time, he’d stand by, watching my humiliated, pained expression with a look of amusement and mockery. Later, I gradually grew numb. I no longer resisted, no longer argued. He found it boring, too, and stopped scrutinizing me. Instead, he changed his method, making me beg him, beg him not to divorce me. I compromised again and again for my family, but now, I had nothing left, and I no longer needed to beg him. Looking at the emptied page, I let out a long breath. As the last post was finally deleted. I felt as if the shackles on my body had shattered. I collapsed onto the table, utterly drained, my entire being emptied from the inside out. In that moment, I didn’t even know if I was alive or dead. Until someone gently tapped my back. “Ellie?”

I spun around abruptly, seeing a kind face with a hint of surprise. It was my university mentor, Professor Hayes. When the news of my marriage to Liam got out, he strongly opposed it, calling me countless times, and even didn’t attend my wedding. But I had my reasons, and I could never bring myself to tell him. Now, he was the only elder I had left. Looking at him, my eyes instantly welled up, my voice trembling involuntarily. “Professor Hayes, it’s me.” Just three short words, and my tears became uncontrollable. All the suppressed grievances I had kept buried erupted. “Don’t cry. The little girl who just bought your drawing was my daughter.” “Your professor is asking, do you still want to pursue further studies?” His gaze, just like it was back then, was full of expectation. I nodded, tears still in my eyes. If it weren’t for what happened with Sterling Corp, I would have gone abroad with Professor Hayes and held my first art exhibition. Professor Hayes and I went to complete the formalities, then headed to the airport to wait for our flight. Inside the Hayes family mansion. Liam paced restlessly in the living room. “You still haven’t found Ellie?” The butler shook his head. “Find her! If you can’t find her, then keep looking!” His voice was sharp and cold. His eyes, usually calm and emotionless, were now filled with panic. “Mr. Hayes, Ms. Sterling might just be out having fun. She has no friends, no family, what do you have to worry about?” Chloe, wearing my nightgown, leaned into Liam’s arms, twisting her body, trying every trick to kiss his lips, but he pushed her away sharply. “Get out!” Liam’s voice was icy, his gaze fixed on Chloe as if she were a dead woman. “Who gave you permission to wear her clothes? Take it off! None of you have the right to touch her things.” Chloe ran off, her eyes red. He sat on the couch, stubbornly waiting. Every tick of the second hand only amplified his frustration. He gritted his teeth, calling my number again and again. After countless times, the automated voice prompted him to leave a message, he let out a frustrated growl. “Ellie, you’ve gotten brave, haven’t you? Running away from home now?” “I’m giving you one hour. Get back here right now! Otherwise, I’m really divorcing you!” Another hour passed. He left me another message. “Ellie, if you don’t come back, even if you cry and beg me, I’m still divorcing you!” By the third message, his voice was starting to sound frantic. “Are you deliberately trying to see if I care about you? Just come back! Is it money you want? As long as you come back, I’ll give you whatever you need.” “Ellie, you’re the one who wronged me, why are you throwing a tantrum?!” “Just come back, say you love me, and I’ll let it go.” “Why don’t you care about all those other women but you can’t tolerate Chloe? I already sent her away, so come back quickly, don’t be so ungrateful!” He waited for a day and a night, calling me countless times, but he never received any news from me.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296809”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

To help my wife, Chloe, settle the crushing debts from her disastrous investments, I agreed to her unthinkable proposal: to sell my kidney. But on the day of the surgery, our six-year-old son, Leo, raced to the clinic by himself, frantically calling his mother for help. Chloe’s voice was strained. “Daddy’s just giving up one kidney, Leo. It’ll buy Mommy peace for the rest of her life. If he doesn’t, Mommy’s life is ruined.” Leo still objected, but Chloe simply hung up. Turning away, she anxiously walked towards a high-end private room nearby, gazing at her pale first love, Ryan, soothing him in a low voice. “Don’t worry,” she whispered. “The kidney source is here. You’ll be fine soon.” “Don’t blame yourself. I chose to lie to him. He’s still young anyway; one less kidney won’t matter.” Later, Chloe’s first love had a successful surgery. Chloe was in high spirits, uncharacteristically suggesting a trip, a ‘honeymoon’ for me, her, and Leo. But she didn’t know. I was already dead. Because on the day of the kidney removal, I couldn’t afford the crucial post-operative antibiotics, and the wound infection claimed my life. And Leo? He had completely given up on her.

When I opened my eyes again, a strange lightness washed over me. All the pain was gone. I thought I’d pulled through the surgery, but then Leo’s childlike wail echoed in my ears. “Daddy, what’s wrong? Get up!” I turned towards the sound and saw my six-year-old son kneeling beside the clinic bed, sobbing his heart out. Before him, lying on the bed, was ‘me,’ pale and lifeless. It dawned on me. Oh. I hadn’t pulled through. I was dead. Of course. I had the surgery done at some cheap, rundown clinic because we had no money. There were no antibiotics, no painkillers after the procedure. So, once the anesthesia wore off, after the kidney was removed, the agony was unbearable. I knew then, with terrifying clarity, that I was dying. But I quickly accepted the reality. I didn’t even feel sad. Our family was deep in debt. We desperately needed money. If my death could bring peace to Chloe and Leo for the rest of their lives, then it was worth it. Just as I thought this, a man in a white coat entered through the doorway. He tossed a card onto the floor in front of Leo, his voice impatient. “Stop that bawling, you’re a real jinx! Here, take this five hundred thousand. Now grab your dad’s body and get out.” With that, he turned to retrieve the fresh kidney, soaking in a solution, from a cooler nearby. Leo’s eyes blazed red. He rushed forward. “That’s my daddy’s! You can’t take it!” Leo tried to grab it back, but the man merely kicked him in the chest. Leo slammed hard against the wall, his face paling with pain. My heart ached terribly. I had thought my timid, crybaby son would give up. But to my surprise, he sobbed, then hysterically rushed forward again. The man snapped his fingers, and three men instantly appeared from outside the door, grabbing Leo and pinning him to the ground. They held him fast, even as he screamed and thrashed. The man sneered, “Your daddy’s? We already bought it for five hundred thousand. Don’t cause trouble, kid. Take the money and leave. This kidney was bought for a huge price. If anything goes wrong, you won’t get a dime, and your daddy will have died for nothing.” Leo was pinned to the ground, crying helplessly. “I don’t want the money! I want Daddy! I’ll give you back the money! Just give Daddy back to me…” But no one listened. The man, clutching the organ transport cooler, hurried away. Only after the sound of a car engine faded outside the door was Leo released. Perhaps he was too exhausted from crying, for he was reduced to mere sobs. He picked up his phone and called Chloe again and again. After the usual unanswered calls, he finally, despairingly, picked up the bank card from the floor. His small shoulders somehow bore my body. “Daddy, I’m taking you home.” How Leo, with his tiny, frail body, managed to get me home, I don’t know. My spirit, uncontrolled, simply followed the man into the car. All the way, the man protected my kidney with extreme care. He buckled it into the passenger seat and constantly glanced over at it. Only when the car stopped in front of a luxurious private hospital did he finally relax, bowing and scraping as he handed the cooler to a woman waiting at the entrance. When I saw her face, one I knew intimately, I was stunned. It was Chloe, my wife, the one who had suggested I sell my kidney to pay off her debts. Before I could wonder why the man was giving her the kidney, Chloe carefully accepted it. “The remaining five million has already been transferred to you.” Without a single word about me, she turned and hurried into the hospital. I stood there, frozen, unable to process it. Chloe had recently lost everything in a disastrous investment, ending up millions in debt. I’d sold our house to help her pay off debts, and Leo had even sold his beloved action figures, but there was still a massive amount unpaid. Where did she get five million from? I hadn’t found an answer yet when Chloe strode quickly into the hospital, anxiously handing the kidney to a doctor. Before she could speak, a nurse rushed over. “Ms. Chloe, your boyfriend absolutely refuses the surgery. Please, go talk to him!” A flicker of tension crossed Chloe’s face, but it quickly vanished. As usual, she calmly instructed the doctor to arrange the surgery immediately, then, her heels clicking, she hurried away. I dazedly followed her, eventually stopping with her in front of a high-end private room. My breath hitched when I saw the young man lying on the bed. It was Ryan, Chloe’s first love. They’d dated for a while, but Chloe’s family disapproved of Ryan. In a fit of anger, he’d left the country and hadn’t been heard from for years. Later, the Xu family fell on hard times, and Chloe was forced into an arranged meeting with me. We logically married and had a child. After Leo was born, I once saw Chloe secretly weeping over Ryan’s picture. That’s when I learned she had a “first love.” But I didn’t care. After all those years of marriage, we were like family, our bond as deep as blood. But I never imagined… Chloe suggested I sell my kidney just to give it to him? Ryan, his face pale, looked at her. “Chloe, maybe we should just forget it. You’re already married anyway. I feel like there’s no point in living.” Chloe quickly stepped forward and took Ryan’s hand. Her voice, when she spoke, was so gentle it felt alien to me. “I was forced to marry him back then. You’ve always been the one in my heart. If you die, *I’m* the one who won’t be able to live.” “Promise me, you’ll be a good boy and have the surgery, okay? Your blood type is rare; it took me so long to find this kidney for you.” Ryan shook his head. “I know this is your husband’s kidney. You should give it back to him. I don’t want you two to have problems because of me.” Chloe’s voice turned pleading. “Ryan, don’t overthink it. Just listen to me this one time.” Ryan was stubborn. “What if your husband gets angry with you? What if he finds out you lied to him and hits you? Then I wouldn’t even be able to help you. Do you want me to just stand by and watch him bully you?” “He won’t,” Chloe shook her head. “He loves me very much.” “…” They looked like a pair of tragic, star-crossed lovers. One after another, the pieces of information clicked, and the truth began to form. After Ryan returned to the country, he discovered he had end-stage uremia and needed a kidney transplant to survive. But his blood type was rare, and a matching kidney was incredibly hard to find. For months, Chloe had been tirelessly searching for a match, all to no avail. Ryan grew weaker by the day. Until finally, Chloe secretly did a tissue match between me and Ryan. When she found we were a match, she set her sights on me. All that talk about failed investments, about being hounded by creditors – it was all a lie. I gave a bitter laugh. Chloe was right. I loved her very much. When I heard about her bankruptcy, my first instinct was to stand by her. I sold everything I could, scrambled for money everywhere. When it wasn’t enough, I even sold my blood, juggling five different jobs a day. Anything that paid, I did it. I felt that as a man, I should shoulder the responsibility of my family. Until a week ago, Chloe suggested I sell one of my kidneys. At first, I refused. But the very next day, Chloe was dragged away by creditors, who threatened her with unspeakable violence. After I rescued Chloe, she stood on the balcony late that night, saying she couldn’t take it anymore, that she wanted to end it all. I finally gave in and agreed. Back then, I was filled with terror for her and a heartbreaking pity that I couldn’t do more to help. But I never imagined… It was all a lie. Chloe, usually so impatient, coaxed him for nearly half an hour. Finally, Ryan agreed to the surgery. As he was about to enter the operating room, Chloe’s gaze never left him. I’d never seen such a worried look on her face before. Before my kidney surgery, she was supposed to be with me, but after a phone call, she rushed off. I walked into that clinic alone, and those cold instruments stole my life. It turns out, love and not loving are so painfully clear. As Chloe waited anxiously outside the operating room, her phone rang again. My name, ‘Liam,’ flashed across the screen. This time, she didn’t hang up. After two seconds of silence, her finger moved to the “answer” button.

“Mommy, Daddy he…” As soon as she answered, Leo’s tearful voice came through. But before he could finish, Chloe interrupted him coolly. “Leo, Mommy really can’t help it. Please stop calling. Daddy is pitiful, but Mommy is working hard too, earning money, trying to pay off the family debts, and buy you new action figures.” Chloe said these words without a hint of shame, her face perfectly composed. Before, I used to pity her. Now, I just felt utterly foolish. I’d been married for eight years, and I never knew the person sharing my bed was such a masterful actress. Leo cried. “I don’t want action figures! I don’t want anything! Mommy, just come home!” Chloe sounded annoyed. “Leo, why are you being so unreasonable? Do you want to see Mommy get beaten to death by creditors because she can’t pay her debts?” “I don’t want to…” “Then be a good boy. Daddy will wake up in a couple of hours. Take good care of him. I can’t come home tonight. Tell Daddy for me.” Just as she finished speaking, a doctor emerged from the operating room. Chloe didn’t wait to hear what else Leo had to say. She hurriedly hung up and rushed to the doctor. Upon learning the surgery was a success, she let out a sigh of profound relief. She fussed over Ryan, taking care of his every need. Fearing muscle atrophy from his long confinement, the impatient Chloe spent forty minutes massaging Ryan’s legs. Worried the IV fluid was too cold, she personally warmed the tube with her hands. When Ryan complained his little toe was cramping, the usually fastidious Chloe didn’t hesitate, gently massaging it for him. In my memory, she had always been careless. She couldn’t even take proper care of Leo; she once almost fed our son laundry detergent instead of formula. This was the first time I had ever seen her so meticulous. Those in love always recover quickly. In less than two days, Ryan was able to get out of bed and walk around. Chloe, seeing the good weather, took him to a nearby park. During their rest, Chloe left for two minutes. When she returned, her hands were behind her back, and she smiled mysteriously. “To reward brave little Ryan for completing his surgery, Big Sister Chloe has a gift for him.” With that, she presented the items she’d been hiding behind her back to Ryan, like she was showing off a prize. They were samples of wedding dresses and suits. Ryan’s eyes widened in surprise. Chloe winked playfully. “I specially picked out the most expensive package. Once you’ve fully recovered at the end of this month, we’ll go take our wedding photos. What do you think?” Ryan was about to nod, then seemed to remember something. His eyes flickered, and his gaze darkened. “Aren’t you afraid Liam will find out?” At the mention of my name, the smile on Chloe’s face froze. “Let’s not mention anyone else right now.” “Besides, I’m already married to him. It’s just taking wedding photos. Surely he won’t make a big fuss over such a small thing.” Ryan’s lips curved into a smile. “Chloe, you’ve done so much for me. I’m really touched.” He stood up, gazing at Chloe with an alluring intensity, slowly leaning closer. The air crackled with an unspoken tension, an almost palpable heat that made my heart race. I understood what they were about to do next. My heart throbbed, a dull ache like a knife twisting inside me. “Mommy!” Just then, Leo’s voice came from nearby. Chloe snapped back to reality, hastily pulling away from Ryan, casting a guilty glance in the direction of the voice. Seeing Leo, my heart felt tightly squeezed. His clothes were stained and tattered, his beautiful eyes swollen like walnuts, veined with angry red. My death had clearly been a massive shock to him. He wasn’t focused on Chloe and Ryan’s actions just now. When he saw Chloe, he rushed into her arms, his voice hoarse and dry. “Mommy, I finally found you.” “Daddy’s dead. He bled a lot. He won’t move, and he won’t talk to me…” He wanted to cry, but his tears had run dry. In the end, only a hoarse, ugly sound escaped him. Hearing his words, Chloe paused. Ryan, beside them, laughed. “Leo, is it? Don’t worry too much. Your dad just had surgery and was given anesthesia, so he can’t move. He’s probably just too tired to talk. He’s not dead.” Then, he patted Leo’s head. “What a cute little boy.” Leo dodged his hand, looking at him blankly. A child might not understand all the nuances, but with Chloe and Ryan together here, Leo clearly sensed something was wrong. He pointed at Ryan, angrily asking Chloe, “Mommy, who is he? Why are you with him?” Chloe gave a forced laugh. “He’s Mommy’s friend.” Leo challenged her. “So, Mommy’s been with him all these days? Does Mommy spend so much time with a friend?” Chloe was speechless. Ryan struggled to take a couple of steps, gasping for breath. “Chloe, maybe you should go back with the child first. Liam really needs someone to take care of him.” Leo was too young to catch the hidden meaning. Hearing this, he hastily grabbed Chloe’s hand. “Mommy, come back with me to see Daddy, Daddy…” Before Leo could finish, Chloe pulled her hand away. “No, Leo. Mommy’s friend still needs care. You go back by yourself for now.” “Mommy will give you money. You can buy the action figures you like, okay?” With that, Chloe, just like she used to dismiss Leo, pulled out a card from her bag and offered it to him. Leo froze. “Mommy, didn’t we run out of money?” Chloe’s hand, poised to offer the card, froze mid-air. Leo looked at her with an unfamiliar gaze, slowly stepping back. Perhaps it was then that he noticed Chloe, who had been dressing more simply for months, was now in a vibrant, glamorous dress, looking so radiant he barely recognized her. He also saw Chloe supporting Ryan, and beside them, a thick wedding photo album. “Mommy, do you not love Daddy and me anymore?” After a long moment, Leo asked, his voice strained. Chloe fell silent for a moment, as if she wanted to say something. But Leo seemed to understand everything. He turned and ran, sprinting away, as if he couldn’t bear to hear that terrible final answer. Chloe instinctively wanted to chase after him, but Ryan held her wrist. “Don’t worry, Chloe. He’s young; if you explain it to him later, he’ll understand.” Chloe pressed her lips together. Finally, looking at the struggling Ryan, she didn’t pursue Leo. Perhaps fearing Leo would tell me, Chloe made time to call me several times when she got back. But each time, the calls went unanswered, automatically hanging up. She frowned slightly, typing out a message: “Leo must have told you everything, but it’s not what you think. Please pick up, let’s talk properly.” I didn’t know what she wanted to talk about. Perhaps even she didn’t know, because after typing the message, she deleted it, word by word. After a long silence, she returned to Ryan’s room. “I need to go home tomorrow. You rest well here for now.”

Ryan nodded. “I’ll come with you. Let’s make things clear.” Chloe seemed about to refuse, but Ryan continued, “After all, this kidney came from Liam. Even if he doesn’t know now, I want to thank him.” After a few seconds, Chloe gave a very slight nod. That night, I watched Chloe constantly checking her phone, even opening our old chat history. It struck me that she was waiting for a message from me, and I was surprised. All these years, she had been aloof; I was always the one clinging to her. But every time I shared something about my life, she either didn’t reply or just gave a faint “Mm.” Our last message, too, had been from me. It was a photo of a beautiful diamond ring. I had told her: “I feel like this suits you perfectly. I can’t imagine how beautiful you’d look wearing it.” Thinking about it, Chloe now finally replied, “It is very beautiful.” Perhaps she expected me to reply as usual, because the next morning, Chloe woke up and immediately grabbed her phone, opening our chat window. Still, there was no reply. Chloe seemed a little annoyed. On the way back with Ryan, she was distracted even when he spoke to her. Ryan squeezed her hand reassuringly. “It’s okay.” Chloe frowned, growing even angrier. “Whatever. So what if we divorce? We were just set up anyway; it’s not like we were deeply in love.” Ryan told her not to say things in anger, but Chloe remained silent. The car soon pulled up in front of the building where we rented an apartment. The house I’d worked so hard to buy had been sold to help Chloe pay her debts, and we were now living in a dilapidated resettlement house. As she got out of the car, Chloe spotted something in the trash can and frowned slightly. It was her usual set of bedding. She visibly grew angrier, her face dark as she went upstairs. “Liam, aren’t you going too far?” As soon as she walked in, she angrily yelled. Leo emerged from the adjacent bedroom. He seemed even smaller, thinner, and his eyes were still red and swollen. Seeing Leo, Chloe’s anger subsided a bit. “Leo, where’s your dad?” Leo merely glanced at her blandly, saying nothing, and then tossed her cosmetics from the house into the trash can. Chloe frowned, a hint of unease on her face. “Leo, I’m asking you a question.” Ryan walked over, gently soothing. “Chloe, don’t be angry. Let me talk to the child. I’ve been through this phase, I know how to communicate.” Chloe usually wasn’t very concerned about Leo, so she believed Ryan and nodded. Ryan walked up to Leo, crouching down. He smiled. “Leo, I know you’re very angry, but you have to trust Mommy. Don’t be angry with Mommy and Uncle, okay? I believe in you. You’re a little man who can handle his emotions.” He reached out and gently rubbed Leo’s shoulder. But I noticed a cruel glint flash in his eyes as he subtly, harshly, pinched Leo’s shoulder. Leo flinched in pain and shoved Ryan away. Ryan lost his balance, tumbling to the floor, clutching the area where he’d had surgery, his face contorted in agony. “Leo, what are you doing?” In a fit of rage, Chloe not only called Leo by his full name, but she rushed forward and roughly pushed him away. Leo’s head hit the nearby table with a dull thud. Chloe didn’t even glance at him, frantically helping Ryan up. Ignoring Leo’s stunned, numb gaze, she yelled, “Who taught you to be so rude? Was it your dad? Where is he? Tell him to come out!” Just as she finished speaking, the front door opened. A man in a black suit entered, carrying an urn. He surveyed the room and asked, “Who are Liam’s family? This is Liam’s ashes. Please sign for them.” The side of the urn with my black and white photo faced Chloe directly. Chloe froze, staring blankly at Leo.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296808”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

The news hit me like a train wreck: my first love had died in a car crash. And then, at my own engagement party, my fiancée slit her wrists, giving up on everything. It was then, and only then, that I finally understood: her heart had always belonged to Julian. I was reborn, back to the very day of our engagement. But she never showed up. Instead, she booked a billion-dollar luxury yacht and married Julian. I watched their wedding trending across every major news headline, then turned and walked away. Six years later, I returned to the country with my wife. At an exclusive high-society gala, I unexpectedly ran into Chloe again. By now, she was the heiress to a massive business empire, celebrated as an outstanding female executive. She was clinging intimately to Julian, chatting with the guests, radiating success. When I pushed through the crowd, looking for someone, her brows furrowed in annoyance. “Six years, and you still haven’t given up on me? Even if you offered to be my assistant and polish my shoes, my feelings for you wouldn’t change.” I ignored her, reaching under a long table to pull out my daughter, who was secretly stuffing her face with cake. Suddenly, Chloe’s eyes widened, turning red. Her voice trembled as she accused me, “How could you marry someone else and have a child? Didn’t you say you’d only marry me?!”

I never thought I’d run into Chloe again, not at a gala on my very first day back in the country. She was dazzling, draped around Julian, her gaze soft and affectionate. Amidst the clinking glasses and flowing conversations, guests showered them with compliments. “Ms. Davies and her husband have been married for years, yet they seem even more in love than when they first tied the knot.” “Mr. Julian is truly blessed. Ms. Davies threw this party tonight to welcome the Princess Royal of the East Coast elite. Her business ventures are about to take off like a rocket!” Chloe smiled, looking tenderly at Julian. “Marrying Julian is the greatest blessing of my life. His touring art exhibition is coming up in a few days; I hope everyone can come show their support.” At the mention of the art exhibition, someone in the crowd asked, puzzled, “Ms. Davies, you’ve been married for six years, but why has Mr. Julian never held an exhibition before?” Julian cared so much about his art. How could he not have held an exhibition for six years? It was a question I’d always wondered myself. In my past life, Chloe loved Julian so fiercely she was willing to die for him. Even after I was reborn, she defied her powerful family, the Davies, just to marry him. Julian’s pleasant smile faltered instantly when he heard the question. “Painting is quite draining, and Chloe is simply worried I might strain my eyes.” The men in the room listened, both envious and praising Chloe as the perfect wife. In my past life, after I married Chloe, I wanted to hold a design exhibition. But Chloe’s mother scolded me, accusing me of trying to steal the spotlight. She constantly felt I wasn’t good enough for Chloe and repeatedly tried to get her to divorce me. After Chloe became the group heiress, her mother actually had a lawyer draft divorce papers. Now, Chloe handled Julian’s art exhibition entirely herself, with him not lifting a finger. It turned out, in my last life, I was the one who was never truly loved. I let out a soft, bitter laugh, shaking my head. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a figure beneath the long table, ready to follow them. But then I bumped into a waiter carrying a tray of red wine. Glass shattered everywhere, and wine splattered all over me. “Watch where you’re going! That was for the Princess Royal’s husband!” “If the gentleman complains, you’ll be out of a job!” The waiter’s loud scolding immediately drew everyone’s attention. I looked up and explained, “It’s fine, I didn’t really like that wine anyway.” Chloe looked over, startled. “Alex, what are you doing here?” Others quickly chimed in, “Who is this?” Chloe’s tone was dismissive. “Just a university classmate. He was totally obsessed with me back then; the whole school knew he wanted to marry me. After graduation, he still spent all his energy trying to chase me down.” “But my heart has always belonged only to Julian.” Hearing this, everyone’s gazes and voices filled with mocking amusement. Chloe gripped her wine glass, her voice stern. “Please, don’t spread rumors! I don’t want my husband to misunderstand!” Julian wrapped an arm around Chloe’s shoulders, his voice soft. “Oh, darling, don’t be upset. Mr. Alex must just be terribly infatuated to follow you all the way here.” Chloe’s brow furrowed. She turned to someone beside her. “Take him out. I’ll handle this.” With that, she leaned in and kissed Julian’s cheek, her eyes filled with sweet affection, not even sparing me a glance. “It’s only because Ms. Davies is so kind, otherwise, you’d be in serious trouble.” “Get out of here. This isn’t a place for someone like you.” I struggled to break free from their grip. “I’m here looking for someone.” The staff smirked, looking at my rough linen clothes with blatant disdain. “We’ve seen plenty of men like you, trying to win Ms. Davies’ favor with pathetic infatuation. Don’t waste your breath.” They finished speaking, then forcibly shoved me out the door. “Stop.” Suddenly, a familiar voice called out from behind me.

Chloe walked over, instructing the staff, “He’s here for me. You can go.” She approached me, her tone sharp with warning. “This is a reception for the Princess Royal of the East Coast elite. Don’t make a scene here!” “No matter how much you adore me, you shouldn’t be here.” “I’m going to make things perfectly clear to you today!” She leaned into Julian’s embrace, her eyes overflowing with tender affection for him, but when she faced me, her voice was ice cold. “In this lifetime, I only love Julian. No matter what you do, I will never like you. Just give up!” Julian’s face lit up with a smug grin. “Mr. Alex, I’ve seen desperate people, but I’ve never seen anyone as shameless as you.” “If word of your behavior gets out, what woman would ever agree to marry you?” He was practically oozing mockery. “Still, Chloe is so exceptional, I can understand why you can’t forget her. After all, she’s the heir to a huge conglomerate now, and there are always men trying to curry favor with her.” He glanced at my rough linen clothes, his expression even more contemptuous. “You’re thirty years old and still so unkempt. What woman would ever look at you?” With that, he took off the gold watch from his wrist and tossed it at me. “I’m a charitable man. Consider this watch my gift to you. Go buy some decent clothes.” I glanced down at my clothes. I’d rushed out of the house and hadn’t changed, but what I found comfortable and practical, they saw as a disgrace. Seeing my silence, Chloe’s brow furrowed. She then pulled off the ruby pendant from her neck, her voice laced with impatience and warning. “And this pendant, it should be enough for you to live on. Just stop coming to find me.” When I remained unmoved, her face instantly darkened, and her voice held a touch of anger. “Alex, what do you mean? You don’t want my things?” What a joke. I was already married. I shouldn’t accept anything from another woman, especially not jewelry. Besides, my wife was the Princess Royal of the East Coast elite. Taking these cheap trinkets from Chloe would be a direct slap in her face. I said calmly, “Didn’t you say you didn’t want me to take your things anymore?” Chloe’s face turned even colder. “You…” She pointed at me, but ultimately said nothing. I politely refused. “I don’t need any of these.” My refusal again made Chloe’s expression turn even worse. She gripped the pendant tightly in her hand, veins bulging. “If I wasn’t looking at you as an old university classmate, seeing you in such a pathetic state, do you think I’d bother with you?” “Alright, alright, don’t get angry.” Julian wrapped an arm around her waist, gently comforting her. “Darling, you’re just too sentimental. Since Mr. Alex is so ungrateful, just let him figure things out for himself.” “Look, Mr. Alex has a pretty face. I’m sure he’ll find a way to survive. We don’t need to worry about him.” Every word Julian spoke was meant to imply I was a frivolous man. But I remembered all his disgraceful past actions perfectly well.

In my previous life, Chloe didn’t marry Julian, not just because of family status, but because Julian used to be a kept man, supported by some rich socialite. Mr. Davies Sr. had declared that if Chloe insisted on marrying him, she would be stripped of her heir status and thrown out of the Davies family. Chloe was willing to give up everything for Julian. Her mother became so ill with rage she had to be hospitalized. But Julian wasn’t willing to live a life of poverty. He turned around and became the trophy husband of a wealthy foreign woman. Chloe was consumed by grief and illness. If I hadn’t stayed by her side, caring for her and helping her through those painful days, she probably would have died. Afterwards, she developed a habit of heavy drinking at social events, and I would always be there to help her finish glass after glass of hard liquor, which eventually ruined my stomach. She loved skiing, so I’d accompany her, even if it meant tumbling down snowy slopes and injuring myself; I’d always insist on staying by her side. Later, she said she was willing to marry me, swearing she would love me for a lifetime. I asked her if she still thought of Julian. After all, her home still contained all of Julian’s things, untouched. I’d seen her more than once, holed up in that room, drinking miserably. She looked at me, her voice firm. “Now, my heart is only for you. You are the one I want to marry. From the moment Julian trampled on my true feelings, we had no relationship whatsoever.” “I will love you well and stay by your side forever.” I thought my sincerity had won Chloe’s true heart. But after six years together, not only did I give up my beloved design career, I became a house husband. Chloe even kept delaying our wedding. I asked her repeatedly, only to be verbally abused by her mother, who claimed Chloe was at a critical stage in her career and that I wasn’t supporting her, constantly bringing up the wedding. Because of this, the entire East Coast elite circles laughed at me, saying I was nothing more than a glorified house husband in the Davies family. I got angry again and again. Chloe, just to calm me down, agreed to get engaged first. But at our engagement party, I accidentally overheard her conversation with her mother. That’s when I realized she didn’t want to marry me at all. Even the wedding suit she’d had designed was custom-tailored to Julian’s exact measurements. I had a huge fight with her. Right then, news broke that Julian had died in a car accident. Chloe stood there, stunned and silent, then eventually slit her wrists. Before dying, she calmly looked at me, weeping and kneeling before her. “From beginning to end, Julian was the only one in my heart. He was my truest love. Everything before was a lie.” “If he’s gone, I won’t live either.” Tears streamed down her face. “Julian, I’m coming to marry you now.” In that moment, my heart turned to ash. So, when I was reborn back to the engagement party, and Chloe didn’t show up, I wasn’t surprised at all. Media headlines reported that she’d spent a billion dollars on a luxury yacht to marry Julian, their wedding becoming a top trending topic. And I simply turned and walked away. I never thought I’d see her here, in this life. I was about to leave, but Julian still wanted to humiliate me further. “Mr. Alex, if you really don’t want these designer things, how about you come work as a security guard at our company?” “Our security guards get to see celebrities and important figures every day, it’s quite prestigious.” “If you give up trying to seduce Chloe, I might even promote you to head of security.” As soon as he finished speaking, people around him immediately chimed in. “A security guard job at Davies Group is a great gig! Why aren’t you kneeling and thanking Mr. Julian?” “Mr. Julian is truly benevolent. If anyone tried to seduce my wife, I’d tear them apart.” Seeing their taunts and sneers, a flicker of anger flashed in my eyes. “I’m already married, and I have absolutely no inappropriate thoughts about Chloe.” “Stop spreading fabricated rumors!” Chloe scoffed. “Alex, do you think saying that will make me regret anything?” “Using marriage to make me jealous? You’re not even worthy.” After leaving Chloe, I went abroad. I met the Princess Royal of the East Coast elite while rescuing a stray cat. Over time, she fell for me. She pursued me for two years before I finally agreed to be with her. After we married, I discovered she was the Princess Royal, a radiant beauty with countless admirers. But she earnestly and seriously told me that I was the only one she truly loved. When our daughter, Lily, was born, Chloe almost had a difficult labor. She immediately called her lawyer on the spot to change all beneficiaries of her assets to my name. The entire East Coast elite circles gossiped that the Princess Royal was madly in love with her husband. But to reduce unnecessary disruptions, most people hadn’t actually met me. Yet now Chloe thought I was using my marriage to make her jealous? She still believed I was in love with her. Since she didn’t believe me, I couldn’t be bothered to explain. After all, I had no one with me right now who could verify my identity. My daughter, Lily, heard there was cake at the party and secretly snuck out. I was so worried I didn’t even change, just rushed out in my comfortable linen clothes to find her. I tried to go around the crowd, but the previous waiter stopped me. “His clothes… they look like a luxury haute couture piece.” “Only two were ever released globally. One is owned by the British Royal Family, and the other belongs to the Princess Royal’s husband.” “What audacity! How dare you steal something belonging to the Princess Royal’s husband!” “These clothes are mine.” Julian scoffed when he heard me. “How could *you* afford haute couture? You didn’t steal those clothes, did you, just to come here and try to win Chloe’s favor?” Chloe looked at me, her face full of disdain. “Don’t dream! I only love Julian.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296807”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

After Six Years of Marriage, My Husband Still Cheated For the sake of our five-year-old daughter, to mend our crumbling family, I sent Olivia, my husband’s beloved mistress, back to her hometown. I gave money to Olivia’s husband and advised him, “Your son is still young. He can’t be without a mother.” Two days later, on our sixth anniversary, I painstakingly prepared a video of our memories. I hoped it would remind him of our happiness together and stop him from destroying everything with his own hands. Jack arrived as promised. I thought this was the beginning of his change of heart. But to my horror, he brought bodyguards who forced my grandmother to kneel and apologize to Olivia’s photo. He announced on the spot that my grandmother’s company was bankrupt. He roughly snatched our crying daughter from my arms and tossed her to the bodyguards. “Emily, I gave you a good life, and you forgot your place?” he sneered. “You dare to touch my woman? I think you’ve had it too easy.” Jack’s eyes were bloodshot with disgust as he said this. I stared at him for a long time. Four years of dating, six years of marriage. We had spent the most beautiful decade together, from high school to work, from school uniforms to wedding dresses. We were one of the few campus couples who made it, but now, things had come to this. I looked at our daughter, her little face turning purple as the bodyguard covered her mouth to stifle her cries. But Jack seemed blind to this, his eyes full of dark storms as he questioned me: “Tell me, where did you send her?” My heart was filled with sorrow. I wanted to rush over and take back our daughter, to pull my grandmother away from here. But I didn’t dare, I couldn’t. My impulsive act of sending Olivia away had already caused my grandmother to lose her peace. “Let go of our daughter and let my grandmother stand up. Then I’ll tell you,” I said. Jack raised an eyebrow. He slapped me hard, knocking me to the ground. He elegantly crouched down, grabbed my hair, and yanked it back, forcing me to look up at him. “Emily, haven’t you realized your situation yet?” He contemptuously patted my face with the back of his hand. It didn’t hurt, but it was extremely humiliating. “You think I can’t find out if you don’t tell me? I’m giving you a chance to redeem yourself. Don’t be ungrateful.” He stepped on my knee-length hair, which I had kept long for him, twisting it hard. It felt like my scalp was about to be torn off. I trembled in pain, a great fear dragging me into an abyss. I couldn’t accept this. I tried to break free from his trampling, shouting with all my might: “How dare you make my grandmother kneel to that homewrecker!” “That’s the grandmother who raised me! How dare you!” Jack said nothing, just raised his other foot and stepped on my neck, with enough force to seem like he wanted to break it. My face turned purple, my neck hurt so much I couldn’t make a sound, but I still stubbornly stared at Jack. I watched the waves rolling in his eyes, about to lose all reason. My grandmother and daughter struggled and cried out to save me, but were pinned down by the bodyguards. Grandma Rose kowtowed to Jack until her head was bleeding, begging him to spare my life. “Daddy! Daddy! Lily will be good, Daddy, don’t hit Mommy!” our daughter cried. Jack didn’t respond or move, just enjoying watching us cry and struggle in his hands. I finally believed that he would make our family suffer a fate worse than death for the sake of his mistress. Just as I was about to suffocate and faint, Jack kicked me away. I clutched my neck, gasping for air, and vomited bile. The feeling of near-death lingered. I couldn’t help but think of our ten years together – the beautiful, youthful, brilliant, happy times. His gentle caresses, his fascinated gazes, all flashed through my mind. My emotions reached a breaking point, and I couldn’t help but burst into tears. I regretted not seeing through him, regretted that my impulsiveness had cost my grandmother her life’s work in an instant. Even more, I felt sorry for myself. Jack looked down at me coldly, as if watching a madwoman he didn’t know. The impatience in his eyes grew. He turned and grabbed our daughter’s neck, lifting her off the ground, his eyes full of reckless madness. “Don’t test my patience. Where is my Olivia?!” Jack left, taking our daughter with him. He finally got the answer he wanted and rushed out the door. I saw the relaxed and joyful expression on his face. The man I had loved for ten years had now completely transferred his affections to the point of madness. I crawled over to my grandmother, and we hugged each other, silently weeping. “I’m sorry, I should have listened to you. I’m so sorry…” I kept apologizing to her. Grandma Rose stroked my swollen face, her eyes full of pain: “Don’t cry, Emily. You’ve been through so much.” “I still have some savings. Once we find Lily, we’ll go abroad to live.” My grandmother’s aged voice was full of reluctance. After sending Grandma Rose home in a car, I sat numbly in the messy living room. The carefully prepared cake was scattered on the floor like garbage. On the screen, the video I had edited with such hope was still playing. We were two top students who fell in love in our senior year of high school, married in our senior year of college, and I gave birth to our lovely daughter right after graduation. Jack’s family was powerful and wealthy. My family’s modest wealth couldn’t compare. My grandmother had never imagined I could marry the heir to the Qin family. She had once stayed up all night worrying, afraid I would be mistreated in Jack’s family. Back then, I had laughed confidently: “Don’t worry, Grandma! Jack loves me more than life itself. How could he let anyone bully me!”

On my birthdays, he would take me to the amusement park, dress up as Nick the fox, my favorite character, and dance the silliest dances with me. He would cut ties with friends who made crude jokes about me and ask his long-estranged mother to ruin their companies. When I was studying for my master’s degree abroad, he would finish work and fly over with our daughter, still a toddler then, in the middle of the night to see me. He once said, “Emily, my father and grandfather were both serial cheaters. Because of them, I was abused since childhood. Don’t worry, I will never become such a scumbag. I will love you and our daughter well. You are the best treasures God has given me.” Jack was a person with high emotional walls. He only revealed his true self to those he trusted. I thought that person would always be me. I thought we could travel the world together after our daughter grew up, to see the most romantic scenery. I thought I would have many more chances to hear him say “I love you.” I thought we still had many, many “later”s. It was precisely because of all my expectations that I noticed his subtle changes, but I didn’t want to believe it. Olivia was a girl from a small town who applied for a cleaning job at Jack’s company. The first time I saw her was when her father brought her brother to cry and make a scene in front of the company, forcing her to give them money. I saw Jack ask his secretary to help Olivia resolve the situation. At the time, I was glad he had helped this poor girl and praised him for it. Little did I know that soon after, Olivia, whose qualifications and abilities were far below standard, became Jack’s personal assistant, a new position created specifically for her. To help Olivia realize her dream of going to college, he personally took care of everything. When Olivia was mocked for not knowing how to shoot an arrow, he held her in his arms and taught her personally. He even forced a male executive who had pressured Olivia to drink at a business dinner to kneel and apologize, then drink ten cases of alcohol, landing him in the ICU with alcohol poisoning. Jack had taken all the love he had withdrawn from me and given it to Olivia. Everyone in the company knew that the CEO’s kindness to the little cleaner had long exceeded normal boundaries. Only I, the CEO’s lawful wife, remained completely unaware. On his birthday, when he said he had to work late and couldn’t come home, I personally made him a birthday cake. I brought our daughter to surprise him at the office, only to find Jack eating cake off Olivia’s body. I quickly turned around to block our daughter’s view and sent her to wait in the lounge. With my suspicions confirmed, I shouted at him, which was rare for me. He sent Olivia away and lounged lazily on the sofa. He made no attempt to explain the large red marks on his neck and collarbone, just glanced at me contemptuously. “Using our daughter to fight for attention? You don’t deserve to be a mother,” he sneered. I trembled with anger. “Why?” I asked. He just smiled. “Olivia is right. You’re a rich lady with status and money. She’s only taking my love, it won’t affect you, will it?” “Besides, when I still found you fresh and exciting, didn’t I love you the same way?” In that moment, it felt like a steel needle had pierced my heart. The sharp pain forced me to face reality. What he loved was nothing more than the thrill of falling in love with different women. And I, his wife of ten years, had become an old toy that no longer held any charm. The idea of divorce lingered in my mind for a long time. But seeing our daughter’s eyes full of hope for her father to come home, I had someone send Olivia back to her hometown. The result was predictably disastrous. After ten years of love, I was nothing more than a piece of gum to Jack, carelessly spat out when the flavor was gone. Ten years as a clown in a supporting role was enough. Grandma Rose said she needed at most five days. Fearing Jack would still target us in the country, we had to go abroad. While Grandma Rose had people looking for our daughter, I found a lawyer to file for divorce. The lawyers I found all backed away when they heard it was a divorce case against Jack. “Mrs. Qin, I hope you won’t laugh, but we have no chance of winning against Qin Corporation’s legal team,” one said apologetically. Hearing their reluctant tone, I understood. If they lost the case and offended Jack, they wouldn’t have a good outcome. I thought about asking my closest friends for help, but considering Jack’s methods, I gave up on the idea. He valued Olivia so much; once he found her, it shouldn’t be difficult for me to bring up divorce.

During this waiting period, I started packing things for myself and our daughter. Documents and clothes, along with Lily’s favorite white bunny plush. I didn’t want anything else. Including the photo album that recorded our family’s happiness. After packing, I sat numbly on the sofa, staring at our wedding photo. What was once the most beautiful memory had now become the deadliest poison. The more I remembered, the more heart-wrenching pain it brought me. Tears flowed down my pale face time and time again. I don’t know how long it lasted. Outside, the lights had come on, while I sat alone in darkness. Click. The sound of the door opening startled me from my sorrow. It was Jack, half-embracing, half-carrying Olivia in. To my surprise, our daughter Lily followed behind. The little girl was carrying several large shopping bags full of luxury goods, panting from the effort. I was about to rush over to take away those things and let her rest. But Olivia blocked my way. “Sister Emily, hello, nice to meet you,” she said. She smiled, but her eyes were full of mockery. I looked down at the hand she extended. On her ring finger was a pink diamond ring that dazzled my eyes. It was the engagement ring Jack had spent three years designing as a gift for our tenth anniversary of being together. Jack saw me staring at the diamond ring: “My family has never lacked money because of you. Who are you putting on this stingy act for?” “Olivia, don’t mind her. You’re being so forgiving, and she’s still acting up.” Jack grabbed Olivia’s hand and pulled her back into his arms. “Jack, don’t say that. Sister Emily just loves you too much, that’s why she dislikes me,” Olivia said. She seemed to be mediating, but her eyes were red as if she was deeply wronged. Jack looked ready to scold me, but I didn’t want to argue with them. “Lily, do you want to leave with Mommy?” I reached out to stroke my daughter’s messy short hair. My daughter slapped my hand away and ran to hug Olivia: “No! I want to play with Sister Olivia. I want Daddy!” I froze. “Lily, I’m Mommy. Didn’t you say you loved Mommy the most?” My daughter turned her head away, refusing to look at me, her little hands tightly hugging Olivia. Jack sneered, “Go with you? How would a housewife like you survive out there? Relying on your grandmother? How many years does she have left?” I didn’t want to argue with him. I just wanted to take our daughter and leave. “Lily Qin! Come here!” I tried hard not to let my voice shake, not wanting to show weakness in front of Jack. “Daddy, let me take your surname. I don’t want Mom’s surname anymore…” Our daughter cried and ran to hug Jack’s leg. I found it ironic. Back then, Jack had insisted on giving our daughter my surname to express his love for me, and also because childbirth was so dangerous. But now, this surname that had been nurtured with love had become a burden. My daughter’s words pierced my heart like an icicle. My voice trembled: “Fine, as you wish.” “Jack, let’s divorce. You can have custody of our daughter.” I threw the divorce agreement in front of Jack. “Sign it.” Jack didn’t even look at me properly. He gazed at Olivia with gentle eyes. “You won. Do as you like tonight,” he said intimately, lightly tapping Olivia’s cute nose, his tone ambiguous. They had actually bet on whether I would ask for a divorce, using it for their dirty games. “Jack! I’m talking to you!” I shouted, unable to contain myself any longer. Jack’s lips curled into a smile as he looked me up and down meaningfully. In his eyes was something I had never seen before… contempt?

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296806”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

After my brother’s death, my parents forced me to undergo plastic surgery to look like him and live his life. “Your brother was a genius. His fiancée and research project can’t just disappear. You have to take over,” they insisted. “You’ve never amounted to anything anyway. Living his life is a windfall for you!” They seemed to forget that I had my own name and life. My personal records were erased, yet my parents felt completely justified. “If you’re a good son, you’ll understand our position.” “We’re doing this for your own good. Don’t be ungrateful.” Everyone thought I would break down and run away. Instead, I laughed. “He was a genius? Fine, I’ll take his place.” Later, wearing my brother’s face, I signed a high-stakes agreement with his former rival and even conducted more daring experiments in his name. “Son, don’t do anything rash. It could ruin our family…” my parents pleaded. I looked at them calmly. “I understand now.” I gripped the will my brother left behind and silently fed it into the paper shredder.

The face in the mirror was both familiar and strange. It was Liam’s face. My twin brother’s face. Three months ago, Liam had jumped from the roof of his research lab without leaving a word. A week ago, I removed the last bandage from my face, becoming him. “Perfect. Looks just like him,” my father, Frank, said excitedly behind me. My mother fussed with the ill-fitting suit I wore. Her voice trembled with barely contained excitement. “Liam, don’t be nervous. Rachel will be here soon.” My name is Lucas, not Liam. But now, no one remembers Lucas anymore. My identity, my education records, every trace of my existence had been quietly erased a week ago. “She’s here,” my father announced as the sound of high heels echoed from outside. A woman in a Chanel suit walked in. When she saw my face, her eyes instantly welled up with tears. This was Rachel, my brother’s fiancée, a woman as outstanding in family background as she was in beauty. “Liam…” she whispered, throwing herself into my arms. Her body shook slightly. I could smell her expensive perfume. My body stiffened, unsure how to respond. My father immediately stepped forward, patting my back with satisfaction. “Rachel, dear, you see? Liam is fine. He just had a little accident, hurt his brain, forgot some things. But he’s all better now.” “Your engagement, his project, everything can continue as planned.” Rachel lifted her tear-stained face, examining me closely. “Really… you remember everything now?” My mother pinched my arm hard. Suppressing the pain, I mimicked my brother’s smile – warm yet distant. “Rachel, it’s been a while.” Rachel’s eyes flickered for a moment, then broke into a smile. “I knew you wouldn’t leave me.” My parents exchanged relieved glances. They took Rachel to the study, discussing how to restart my brother’s “Genesis” project. I stood alone in the spacious living room, surrounded by Liam’s trophies and awards on the walls. He had always been a genius, the pride of our parents. And I? I was the twin of a genius, the shadow no one cared about in his brilliant light. We had the same face, but walked completely different paths in life. He was the star, I was utterly ordinary. I thought we would continue like this forever. Until he decisively jumped from the research building he had built with his own hands. My parents’ world collapsed. Then, they placed that fallen sky on my shoulders. My phone vibrated. It was a message from my only friend. “Lucas, where have you disappeared to?” I stared at those two words – my name – and slowly typed a reply. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.” Then, I blocked him. From today on, Lucas no longer exists in this world. There is only Liam.

I was “escorted” to my brother’s company, to the core lab of the “Genesis” project. Everything here bore Liam’s mark. The employees looked at me with relief, as if they had survived a disaster. “Mr. Lane, you’re finally back!” “With you here for the project, we have our cornerstone again!” My father, Frank, stood beside me, basking in these compliments as if I really were his resurrected genius son. “Liam’s just recovered. Please bear with him,” he said, pushing me towards the main console. “Son, go on. Show everyone what you’ve got.” I stared at the complex data streams before me, my mind blank. I had majored in history in college. I knew nothing about quantum physics. Just then, the lab door was kicked open. A man in a black jacket strode in, followed by several aggressive-looking board members. The man was tall, with sharp features and a rebellious smirk. Sean Frost. My brother’s biggest rival in life, and the only madman in the industry who could compete with him. “Liam Lane, heard you’ve come back from the dead. I’m here to pay my respects to the deceased,” Sean’s gaze fell on my face like a knife. My father’s face darkened. “Sean! Watch your words!” Sean sneered, ignoring him completely, and walked straight up to me. He reached out and roughly grabbed my chin, forcing me to look up. “Let me see. Did the fall fry your brain, or just give you a new set of balls?” His fingers were cold, his grip strong. Rachel immediately rushed over, slapping his hand away. “Sean! Don’t go too far!” Sean glanced at her, his eyes ambiguous. “Rachel, no need to be so formal between us, right?” Rachel’s face paled for a moment, but she quickly regained composure. “Please show some respect.” My father was shaking with anger, pointing at Sean. “You… you! Security!” “Dad.” I suddenly spoke up. My voice wasn’t loud, but it silenced everyone. I gently pushed away Rachel’s protective hand and calmly met Sean’s gaze. “Mr. Frost, it’s been a while.” My parents were stunned. Sean raised an eyebrow, seeming surprised. “Oh? You still recognize me?” He leaned in close, lowering his voice so only I could hear. “When Liam hit the ground, his head splattered like a rotten melon. Yours… seems stitched up quite nicely.” My heart clenched violently. He straightened up, his voice returning to normal. “Your ‘Genesis’ project is nothing but a scam. I’m here today to expose you!” He threw a document onto the main console. “This is a joint agreement between me and the board. Either you produce results within three months to prove your theory, or you and your family get the hell out of this building!” My father clutched his chest, coughing violently. “You… you’re taking advantage of our misfortune!” “Dad, don’t get excited.” I steadied him, but my eyes never left Sean. I smiled and picked up the agreement. “Alright, I’ll sign it.”

The news that I had signed the high-stakes agreement spread like wildfire through the company. Everyone thought I had gone mad. My father was so angry his blood pressure spiked, and he was admitted to the hospital that night. In the hospital room, he pointed at my nose and cursed. “Ungrateful child! Are you trying to drive our family to ruin?” “Even your brother wouldn’t dare sign such an agreement with Sean when he was alive. Who do you think you are!” My mother wiped her tears beside him. “Liam, tell mom the truth. Did you really… hurt your brain? We can beg Sean to withdraw the agreement…” “Beg?” I let out a cold laugh. “When did you ever see Liam Lane beg anyone?” That sentence left them speechless. Liam was a genius, a prodigy. He had his pride. He never bowed his head. My mother stared at me blankly, a hint of confusion in her eyes. “You… you just now, you really looked like your brother.” My father fell silent too. Just then, Rachel walked in carrying a fruit basket. Seeing the tense atmosphere in the room, she spoke up tactfully. “Uncle, Aunt, don’t blame Liam. I believe in him. He must have his own plans.” She walked to my side and linked her arm with mine, her posture intimate. “Liam, I’ll always support you.” That night, I returned to my brother’s spacious apartment. Rachel followed me in, saying it was to “take better care of me”. She hugged me from behind, her warm breath on my neck. “Liam, it’s been so long… since you held me.” Her hands began to wander inappropriately over my body. I suddenly grabbed her wrist. “I’m tired.” Rachel’s body stiffened. She looked up, her eyes filled with a mix of inquiry and dissatisfaction. “You weren’t like this before.” I broke free from her embrace and walked straight to the study. “I have a lot of project work to deal with.” I closed the study door, shutting her out. Leaning against the door, I waited until I heard no more movement outside before letting out a sigh of relief. I turned on my brother’s computer. It was full of data on the “Genesis” project, dense and overwhelming, like an insurmountable mountain. I couldn’t understand any of it. But I knew my brother’s secret must be hidden in here somewhere. I tried several passwords my brother commonly used, but they all showed errors. I stared at the login screen with my brother’s confident photo, suddenly remembering something. Many years ago, when we brothers were still close, he had once pointed at the night sky and said to me. “Lucas, look. That dimmest star, one day, I’ll make it shine brighter than the sun.” That was a secret between us. I typed the name of that star into the password field. “Nyx”. The computer screen lit up, entering the desktop. But what I saw wasn’t research data for “Genesis”. It was an encrypted video file and a hidden folder. The folder was named “Thief”.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296805”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance