Author: Momo Chan

Jasmine became an overnight sensation after playing a bullied schoolgirl in a movie.
Fans called her the “White Rose” of the entertainment industry.
She jumped into icy water in winter just to film a scene perfectly. Meanwhile, I would only complain and wrap myself tightly in a coat when the crew asked me to wear a spaghetti strap dress.
After she subtly pointed out my wickedness countless times,
Angry fans sent me to the All-People’s Court for judgment.
They requested that I be judged for four crimes: [Violence], [Heartlessness], [Laziness], and [Promiscuity].
But I just smiled lightly at the camera and grabbed Jasmine’s long hair:
”You’re all so stupid, being played like fools by a born villain.” 1
 This is a world where public judgment prevails.
As long as 100,000 netizens jointly petition, they can send someone to the court.
I’m a notorious scandal-ridden actress in the industry, not very famous but always in trouble.
Not following the crew’s arrangements, being exposed for bullying the weak, willingly getting involved in others’ relationships – all kinds of negative news surrounded me.
Naturally, I became the perfect foil for my sister Jasmine.
Jasmine isn’t my biological sister; we just grew up in the same orphanage.
But even so, when you compare a pure and flawless white flower to a vicious man-eating flower,
Not to mention how Jasmine would often encourage me to turn over a new leaf on social media.
Deliberately pointing out my viciousness.
Of course, the fans became furious. 100,000 people joined hands to list my four crimes.
Successfully sending me to the All-People’s Court.
The impartial Karmic Judge would determine whether my four crimes were established and decide if I would go to jail.
I sat expressionlessly in the defendant’s seat.
The live stream’s comments instantly flooded the screen. [Skylar is actually really pretty…]
[Sweet face but cruel heart, that’s her!]
[She’s just a bitch, always bullying our Jasmine back at the orphanage.]
[I hope the trial ends quickly, and Skylar gets locked up for ten years!] Suddenly, Jasmine pulled a child with lowered eyes to stand in front of me: “Sister, I hope you won’t be sentenced! The kids from the orphanage and I all hope you can do well.” Seeing her trying hard to suppress her upturned mouth, I chuckled softly.
I reached out to gently stroke her silky black hair, then suddenly yanked it hard.
I was satisfied to see her pained expression: “You think I’m as stupid as them? To believe the words of a born villain like you!” Jasmine winced, letting out a weak cry of surprise: “Sister, you’re mistaken about me…” I sneered and pushed her away. [How dare she call Jasmine a villain when she’s done so many bad things herself!]
[Judge, can you teach her a lesson!] Jasmine’s poor acting made me laugh, but oddly enough, there was a group of supporters willing to be fooled by her.
I looked at her pretending to sob quietly with an indifferent expression.
No wonder she could hurt so many people and still escape, she’s been acting since she was a child. Jasmine, do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this day? 2
 A video started playing on the big screen.
The former director of the orphanage sat in a wheelchair with tears in her eyes: “Skylar, I don’t blame you for ruining my legs. Just admit your mistakes…” The comments went silent for a moment, then started scrolling frantically. [Is Skylar sick? The director was so kind, and she ruined her legs?]
[Oh my god, so that’s why the orphanage changed directors! She hurt the previous one!] Some angry audience members started cursing at me, and some even threw their shoes at me in their rage. “You ungrateful wretch, growing up in an orphanage and then hurting your own director!”
”You bitch, being so cold to your own director and sister! Who knows what else you’ve done behind people’s backs!”
”How can someone be so black-hearted? Look at her unrepentant face, it makes me so angry!” The Karmic Judge cleared his throat and had the staff put the judgment device on me.
The judgment device would extract memory fragments from my mind as evidence for this trial. “The trial begins! First crime: Violence!” The director also accused me of being violent towards the other children who grew up with me in the orphanage, bullying them more than once.
She even produced medical diagnoses from that time. I sneered coldly. Did they think providing evidence meant it was the truth? The big screen started playing extracted fragments of my memories for the Karmic Judge to make a judgment under the supervision of all the spectators. A little girl with two small pigtails and a soft, chubby white face full of anxiety: “Jasmine, did they bully you again?” This was me at seven years old. The comments were also stunned for a moment: [Was Skylar so cute when she was little?]
[Were she and Jasmine so close when they were young?] Jasmine threw herself into my arms with a sob: “Skylar, how could they do this to me?” Looking at her torn princess dress, I said sympathetically: “They’re too much! I’ll go settle accounts with them. Don’t be sad!” The scene changed, and the chubby-faced little girl angrily rushed in front of several children taller than her. “Harrison, why do you always bully Jasmine!” Her milky voice rang out. The boy in front looked me up and down: “Little fool, did Jasmine call you over to stand up for her again?” I was stunned: “What do you mean?” Harrison tapped my head: “You really are silly. She came over here herself to show off her new dress to us.” “Jasmine was just too happy…” I fidgeted with my fingers awkwardly. Harrison sighed: “Little Five wanted to buy study materials, but the director said there was no money, then turned around and bought her a new dress… Don’t be too kind-hearted, you’re being used as a pawn.” I didn’t notice Jasmine quietly following behind me.
But the big screen clearly showed the strange look in her eyes, unsuitable for a five-year-old child.
It seemed to be jealousy, or perhaps anger. [Jasmine’s eyes look so scary…]
[To be honest, five-year-olds don’t understand anything. How could Skylar bully others?]
[Agreed with the above, she’s just a little bean herself, how could she bully other children? And they seem to treat Skylar quite well.] Jasmine sat in the audience, looking at the comments with a gloomy expression. Late at night, Jasmine dragged me to the orphanage’s garage.
Two small figures huddled together in the dark. I looked at the pin she handed me with difficulty: “Jasmine, we shouldn’t do this! What if something goes wrong!” Jasmine smiled sweetly as she pushed the pin into my hand: “It’s fine, we’re just scaring them a little! They don’t ride bikes much anyway.” I pulled my hand back: “I don’t want to! Jasmine, I’m going back first. You shouldn’t do this either!” Jasmine watched my retreating back with an expressionless face, picking up the pin from the ground. 3
 The next day, the director suddenly announced a bicycle race.
The winner would get a new set of study materials. I worriedly watched Harrison and the others eagerly preparing.
Glancing at Jasmine’s smug face, I quietly approached Harrison. Tugging at his sleeve, I muttered: “Don’t ride bikes, it’s very dangerous.” The boy scratched his head carelessly: “I’m very good at riding bikes, I’ll show you in a bit.” I opened my mouth to say more, but Jasmine pulled me away. “Jasmine, you didn’t…” Before I could finish, Jasmine covered my mouth. She looked around: “Skylar, I didn’t do anything, don’t talk nonsense!” I felt relieved hearing that, but an accident happened right before our eyes. As they were riding, a rope suddenly appeared on the track ahead.
Harrison’s bicycle went out of control and fell heavily to the ground. Some of the other kids’ bikes had flat tires, while others had broken brakes. I watched with wide eyes as they tumbled into a heap.
Glancing at Jasmine’s pleased expression on her childish face, I hurriedly ran over to help them up. The director quickly called for a car to take them to the hospital.
I watched the director’s seemingly anxious expression, always feeling something was off. The video ended there… The comments seemed to freeze, only starting to scroll after a while. [These children getting hurt wasn’t Skylar’s doing!]
[Skylar was so cute when she was little, I think she’s quite nice…]
[Maybe she turned bad when she grew up!] I listened to the doubts from the audience seats with an indifferent expression. The Karmic Judge gestured for the evidence team staff to present the evidence. In the video, a handsome young man pushed up the glasses on his nose: “Hello everyone, I’m Little Five, the orphanage child who was allegedly bullied by Skylar… I feel it’s necessary to clarify that our group who grew up together all liked Skylar very much. The so-called medical diagnoses online were from when we got hurt in that bicycle race! I hope everyone won’t just follow the crowd and hurt a truly good person.” The comments couldn’t believe what they were hearing. [What the hell, is this a helper Skylar hired?]
[I think Jasmine is the one with issues… Didn’t you see her staying in the bike shed that night?]
[Above, this is a famous AI designer in the industry now.]
[Skylar may not have bullied anyone, but she did other bad things!] The Karmic Judge’s gaze was cold as he made his judgment: “Skylar’s first crime: Violence, verdict not guilty!” As the judge’s words fell, Jasmine’s hand secretly tightened, causing the orphanage child she was holding to whimper softly in pain. I noticed the commotion on her side, my gaze growing cold, as if it could form icicles. Jasmine, you and your backer won’t be smug for long! 4
 “Judging the second crime: Heartlessness!” The Karmic Judge tapped the gavel in front of him.
The trial began again. I was accused of maliciously setting fire to the orphanage, causing the director’s legs to be amputated. The extracted memories this time started from a few days before the fire occurred at the orphanage. Me as a high school student, already grown into a graceful young lady. The beautiful Jasmine clung to my wrist: “Skylar, I heard there will be many famous entrepreneurs coming to the orphanage’s donation banquet tomorrow night!” I smiled faintly and pulled my arm away: “Is that so?” Unlike when I was little, I wasn’t so easily fooled anymore.
By this time, I had vaguely started to notice Jasmine’s insincerity and began to distance myself from her. The director walked gently into the courtyard: “Skylar, Jasmine, dress up nicely tomorrow and perform well, don’t be nervous.” Watching her softly stroke Jasmine’s hair, a dark glint flashed in my eyes. Some people in the comments noticed my expression. [What kind of look is that on Skylar’s face? Is she jealous of our Jasmine?]
[She must be jealous that the director likes our Jasmine!] Soon it was the day of the banquet. I, who had been living at school, returned to the orphanage to help out. While getting vases from the storage room,
I heard the director on the phone: “Mr. Shen, I know your taste. Don’t worry, I’ll arrange everything.” Standing in the corner, enveloped by the shadows, I felt something was very wrong. Lily, noticing my tightly furrowed brow, asked with concern: “Big sis Skylar, what are you thinking about?” I patted her head.
But she flinched, and my expression changed: “Is someone bullying you?” Lily was a few years younger than me and had only been at the orphanage for a short time. She was good at reading people’s expressions. When I occasionally returned to the orphanage on breaks, I would often help her with her studies. Seeing her tightly gripping her sleeves and her evasive gaze, I felt suspicious.
I suddenly grabbed her hand and pushed up her sleeve: “What… happened to this!” My voice trembled as I saw Lily’s thin arm covered in bruises and swelling. Lily carefully looked around, and seeing no one else, she threw herself into my arms and burst into tears. Listening to her sobbing confession in my ear, my eyes turned blood-red, as if about to drip blood. [Can anyone in the comments hear what this little girl is whispering in Skylar’s ear?]
[Can’t hear, in this situation she probably subconsciously hid this part of the conversation…]
[She’s not planning to do something bad, is she?]
[Skylar’s expression is so scary.] I followed Lily into her room. On the other bed in the double room lay a girl with a deathly pale face. My face was as cold as water. Lily met my eyes and nodded firmly. In the footage, I seemed to want to rush out.
But suddenly thinking of something, I stopped in my tracks. I turned back to pour a glass of water for the girl and brought it to her parched lips. The audience whispered among themselves: “This Skylar seems quite kind-hearted!” [You can’t judge a book by its cover, who knows what she’s plotting in her mind.]
[Don’t forget she’s an arsonist and a troublemaker!] At the banquet, the director enthusiastically invited the orphanage children and donors to take photos together.
Seeing how timid the children were, the anger in my heart burned uncontrollably. The orphanage quieted down.
The director, with a smile on her face, led the donors through the dormitories. I hid behind them, watching their disgusting, jovial manner with a frosty expression.
Quietly turning the lighter in my hand. [Look! She started the fire at the orphanage!]
[Skylar has such a vicious heart! She wanted to burn the donors and the orphanage people to death!]
[Could she be what they call an antisocial personality?] Jasmine’s mouth curved upward, smiling gently as she looked at me.
With malice in her eyes, she mouthed to me: Skylar, arsonist, you’re finished!

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My wife accused our son of trying to harm someone, just because he poured a glass of cold water for her male bodyguard who was coughing. “Don’t you know cold water makes a cough worse? You’re so young and already learning to hurt people. What will you be like when you grow up?” She grounded Leo for 24 hours, saying she wanted to teach him a lesson. I begged her, telling her Leo had a high fever and urgently needed treatment. I even offered to take the punishment instead. But Victoria scoffed, “You’ve spoiled him rotten. Now he’s faking sickness to avoid responsibility? He needs to be locked up for a few more days to learn some manners.” She was afraid I’d make trouble, so she locked me in another room. I crashed through the door, desperate, but Leo didn’t make it. He died on the spot from the fever. Three days later, as I was packing Leo’s things, Victoria returned from her trip with Julian, the male bodyguard. She was beaming, plucking a single rose from the 999 Julian had given her and handing it to me. “Stop acting. He was just grounded for a few days, what’s the big deal? Worst case, I’ll take you two on a trip in a couple of days to cheer him up.” But she didn’t know. Our child was dead. And I couldn’t live with her anymore.

If it had been before, her giving me a flower would have thrilled me to no end. But now, clutching Leo’s tiny clothes, my heart was in pieces, numb from the pain. Her raised arm started to ache, and she angrily threw the rose at my face. “I only brought Julian with me for protection. There’s nothing going on between us. Who are you putting on this face for?” A thorn from the stem left a small scratch on my face, a trickle of blood oozing out. A flicker of distress crossed Victoria’s eyes, and she reined in her temper. “Whatever. I can’t be bothered arguing with you. I’m just letting you know something: I’m going away on a business trip for a year. You manage Leo and don’t make trouble, I…” As she spoke, she suddenly retched. Julian rushed over to pat Victoria’s back, then seemingly “accidentally” dropped a pregnancy test from his pocket. I picked it up. It read “Four weeks pregnant.” No wonder. Before, her trips with Julian would last for months. This time, she just left and came right back. So, she was pregnant. “A year-long business trip.” Clearly, she wanted to disappear and secretly have this child. My poor Leo. To please Victoria, he saw Julian, Victoria’s favorite, coughing, and, just like his teacher taught him, he poured him a glass of water. But because it was cold water, Victoria decided he was learning bad habits, trying to harm Julian. Even with him burning up with fever, she ignored my desperate pleas and locked him in his room. I fought to break free from the bodyguards, crashing through the door to save him. My tiny boy was hot as a furnace, and his last flicker of consciousness made him shake his head. “No, Daddy. Mommy said three days. Time’s not up. Mommy will hate Leo if she knows.” They say men don’t cry easily, but that day, I couldn’t stop. Tears streamed down my face. “No more. We don’t want this mommy anymore, Leo. I’m taking you to the hospital…” Sadly, it was too late. He couldn’t be saved. Before his last breath, he clutched my sleeve, choked out, “Why didn’t Mommy come see Leo? Was Leo a bad boy?” Meeting his hopeful eyes, my throat went dry. I couldn’t utter a single word. Now, looking at this pregnancy test, I felt nothing but bitter irony. If Leo knew that the mommy he adored had given all her attention to another child, how heartbroken would he be? I couldn’t control my rage any longer. I slammed the pregnancy test down in front of Victoria. “Victoria, is this what you meant by ‘nothing’ going on? Have you ever considered our child’s feelings?” A flash of surprise crossed Julian’s face. He hadn’t expected me, who usually endured all grievances in silence, to finally fight back. He immediately lowered his head and explained to Victoria: “I’m sorry, I was just so happy about being a dad that I kept the pregnancy test in my pocket. I didn’t mean to drop it, and I certainly didn’t mean for Alex to see it. Victoria, please punish me.” Victoria raised an eyebrow, reassuring Julian, “It wasn’t intentional. Don’t overthink it.” Then, she glared at me. “You have the nerve to bring up our child? Aren’t *you* the one who caused all of this?” “Alex, everything happening today is your deserved karma.” My eyes darkened. Years ago, Victoria wanted to use IVF to have a child for Noah, her first love who was supposedly battling cancer. But it turned out Noah was faking his illness and then ran off with all the donation money. Her grandma, Eleanor, fearing Victoria would lose her mind, begged me to tamper with the IVF. I flat-out refused. Even though Victoria and I had signed a marriage certificate, we had a contract: we were only a contractual couple, not to interfere with each other’s private lives. But Grandma Eleanor knelt before me, showing me records of all the money she’d given me, from elementary school through my PhD, pleading for my help. “My son and daughter-in-law are gone. Victoria is my only granddaughter. If anything happens to her, I won’t live either.” Without her, I wouldn’t be where I was today. I couldn’t refuse. I had to do it. Victoria gave birth to my child, believing him to be Noah’s last descendant, and lovingly cared for him. During that time, she saw how good I was to the child and her attitude towards me greatly improved. She even suggested canceling our contract and truly spending our lives together. Then Julian appeared. She became utterly infatuated with Julian’s face and demeanor, which were ninety percent similar to Noah’s. She started staying out all night. She thought I didn’t know. At first, she met him secretly, then she arranged for him to be her bodyguard. But life remained relatively stable, so I just turned a blind eye. When Victoria learned the truth, she felt guilty towards me and decided to send Julian away. But Julian suddenly pulled out a DNA test, accusing me: “Alex used your trust to tamper with the IVF, making the person you loved most infertile. And you, Victoria, you’ve been foolishly enduring and sacrificing for him. You’re a complete joke.” Victoria flew into a rage on the spot. From then on, her attitude towards me and Leo completely reversed. It was constant abuse, harshness, and punishment. I could bear the suffering, but I never imagined that our child would lose his life because of it. Now, facing Victoria’s accusations, I couldn’t help but want to reveal the truth. “Victoria, about what happened back then…”

Just as I was about to speak, my phone suddenly vibrated. Grandma Eleanor’s name flashed on the screen. I looked up and saw the security camera in the living room blinking red. A bitter smile touched my lips. Grandma Eleanor had been monitoring me. She wouldn’t allow me to reveal the truth. “Alex, if you’ve got the child’s clothes ready, come over. He’s waiting.” Grandma Eleanor’s voice was kind, yet a chill ran down my spine. I nodded and hung up. Victoria watched me suddenly pack my things without a word. She raised an eyebrow. “What about what happened back then? You’re not trying to say you had your reasons, are you?” A flicker of anxiety crossed Julian’s eyes, and he quickly interjected, “Victoria, no man can accept his wife having another man’s child. You should consider his pride as a man.” Victoria exploded. She grabbed a cup from the table and hurled it at me. “A good-for-nothing freeloading off my family still dares to talk about pride?” I didn’t say a word. As her cup shattered, I walked out of that suffocating house and headed to the old family estate. The moment I arrived, Grandma Eleanor pressed a bank card into my hand. “Alex, you and the child have suffered. Please take this money.” I knelt before her. “I don’t want money. I just ask for one thing.” Grandma Eleanor quickly helped me up. “If you want to leave, I’ll agree.” “You’ve endured so many years of hardship. The kindness I showed you back then has long been paid in full. You don’t owe me anything.” My eyes reddened as I looked at Leo’s body. “Besides that, I want to take Leo with me. I want to change his last name and bury him in my family’s cemetery back home.” Grandma Eleanor hesitated. After all, I had married into their family, and Leo not only bore Victoria’s family name but was also listed in their family tree. Knowing she wouldn’t easily agree, I handed her the crumpled pregnancy test. “Victoria is pregnant. She’ll have other children. But Leo only has me.” Grandma Eleanor remembered what Victoria had done to Leo, and she couldn’t bear it. Finally, she nodded. After handling Leo’s funeral, I clutched his urn and returned to get my documents. *Click!* The lights flickered on. Victoria was sitting in the living room, waiting for me. Julian stood beside her, a smug look on his face. The atmosphere was eerily silent until Victoria broke it, angrily. “Look at the good your son did.” I raised an eyebrow, confused. Leo was dead. What could he possibly have done? Julian slowly patted Victoria’s back. “Calm down, don’t stress the baby.” “Leo put peanuts, which you’re allergic to, in your nutritional meal. He was just jealous of his unborn brother and wanted to harm him. It’s our fault for not discussing having another baby with Leo. He’s young and doesn’t know any better. You shouldn’t take it to heart.” Victoria was furious. “It seems the last punishment was too light. He hasn’t learned his lesson.” He was only a three-year-old child. How would he know how to do that? Besides, he was already dead… “Leo didn’t do it.” He was such a good boy. Even until his death, he regretted pouring cold water and making Victoria angry. Yet Victoria believed someone else’s slander and wanted to punish him. Ultimately, Victoria had transferred her hatred for me onto our child. I’m so sorry, Leo. Mommy hated you because of me. You didn’t do anything wrong. I hugged the urn tightly, fighting back tears. Julian sighed. “If he didn’t do it, then did you?” Victoria grew even angrier, grabbing a tissue box from the table and throwing it at me. “It’s because you always cover for him that he became so unruly at such a young age! Today, he needs a lesson to learn some manners!” “Hand Leo over now, or don’t make me punish you instead.” He was so small. How could he possibly take the blame for such a big thing? I couldn’t take it anymore. Holding up the urn, I yelled, “Victoria, Leo was locked in his room by you and died from a high fever!” “His ashes are right here. How could he possibly harm you?”

Victoria shot to her feet. “What did you say?” She rose too quickly and nearly stumbled. Julian quickly steadied her, looking disappointed. “Victoria, he’s lied to you before. How can you still believe him?” “This afternoon, I distinctly saw the child wandering around the kitchen with a bag of peanuts, and then Grandma Eleanor picked him up.” Victoria immediately sighed in relief. She pulled out her phone and video-called Grandma Eleanor. “Grandma, is Leo with you?” Leo was dead. She would soon realize how terrible her actions had been. On the other end of the line, Grandma Eleanor smiled. “He’s with me.” “Leo, do you want to talk to Mommy?” I rushed forward. Through the camera, I saw Leo squatting among a pile of toys, shaking his head, and burying himself in his play. Grandma Eleanor scowled and reprimanded Victoria. “It’s all your fault for being so harsh on Leo. Now he doesn’t even want to talk to you.” My face turned ashen. I’d almost forgotten. Victoria’s grandma had the most prestigious high-tech team in the world. Back when AI wasn’t even popular, she had used it to make me appear with Noah’s face in a video call for Victoria to say her final goodbyes. Now, she was using someone else’s child to impersonate Leo, just to put Victoria at ease. In this family, my son and I were nothing but tools that no one cared about. It’s okay, Leo. Even if everyone in the world doesn’t love you, Daddy will always love you. I caressed the urn, speechless. Victoria’s face darkened. She hung up the phone and angrily said, “Alex, you dared to lie to me!” “Fine. Your son is with Grandma Eleanor, so I can’t punish him. Then I’ll punish you.” “Julian, smash that broken thing in his hands.” I struggled desperately, but I couldn’t fight off the several bodyguards who restrained me. Seeing Julian raise the urn high, I fell to my knees, pleading: “Victoria, I beg you, give Leo back to me!” “I’ll do anything you want, please!” Victoria’s heart also twisted. Just at the crucial moment, she suddenly called out, stopping Julian. She waved her hand. “Forget it. It’s just a broken box. Smashing it is pointless. Give it back to him.” Julian disappointedly threw the urn back to me. I lunged forward, catching the box securely. Relieved to have it back, I hugged Leo’s ashes tightly to my chest. Julian sighed. “Victoria, you’re too kind.” “Don’t worry, I’ll keep a closer eye on things from now on. After all, protecting you and the baby is my job.” Victoria placed a hand on her abdomen and suddenly called out to me as I was about to leave. “Wait. I said I wouldn’t punish Leo, not that I wouldn’t punish you.” “Since you love taking the blame for your son so much, then you can experience what an allergic reaction feels like.” “Order him ten thousand lobsters. He’s not allowed to leave until he’s peeled every single one.” She knew I was severely allergic to lobster. Just touching it would make me break out in hives. Even when our relationship was at its worst, she never allowed a single lobster on the table. Now, she must be completely furious. I tightly clutched the urn. Looking at the huge basin of lobsters in front of me, my eyes stung. As soon as I grabbed one to start peeling, my fingers began to redden from the allergy. Victoria turned her face away, then stood up with her back to me. “I’m tired. I’m going to rest. Don’t think about slacking off. I’ll have someone watch you.” Julian helped her to her room. Seeing the line of burly bodyguards, I didn’t resist. I numbly continued peeling lobsters. As time passed, my entire body was covered in red welts, and my breathing became increasingly difficult. In a haze, a pair of polished leather shoes appeared before me. Julian grabbed my chin, his voice cold. “Just peeling lobsters is too light a punishment. You’re allergic, right? Then eat them.” He forced lobster meat into my mouth. With a single movement, I easily pushed him away. With his weak physique, he wasn’t even as strong as me. The only reason he was a bodyguard was because Victoria missed Noah so much, she kept him by her side. Seeing my resistance, Julian grew angry. “If you struggle again, I swear I’ll smash your son’s urn.” I glared at him. He knew. He’d been intentional earlier! Julian saw me compromise and maliciously shoved a handful of lobster meat into my mouth. For Leo, I didn’t dare to resist. Just at the crucial moment, Grandma Eleanor appeared behind me, tapping her cane. She angrily told Julian, “No one gets to bully my family’s son-in-law. Get out.” Julian looked like he wanted to say more but was ultimately kicked out. Grandma Eleanor dismissed everyone else. Ignoring the grease on my hands, she helped me up. “Alex, stop peeling. You’re having a severe allergic reaction. I’ll take you to the hospital first, then help you leave.” I nodded, wiped the grease off my body, and then picked up the urn. A flicker of shame crossed Grandma Eleanor’s eyes. She explained, “Victoria is pregnant, and her emotions can’t fluctuate too much. I thought I’d tell her about Leo’s death once she was more stable.” “You and the child have suffered again. Alex, you must take this money.” She pushed two more cards toward me. I shook my head. “No, thank you. You’ve given enough. I just want to leave peacefully with my child.” Grandma Eleanor pressed the cards into my hand, hinting, “Take them. Back then, Victoria’s first love ran off with her money and abandoned her. I was the one who forced you to switch the IVF sample, making Victoria conceive your child.” “But I never imagined that my decision, as an old woman, would kill poor Leo.” “I regret it deeply. I shouldn’t have forced you.” “The money here isn’t much. It’s my apology. I hope you’ll accept it.” “And please, don’t blame this old woman. Victoria is my son’s only daughter, she’s my life.” She seemed to be pleading, but in reality, she was threatening me. If I didn’t take this hush money, I wouldn’t be leaving with Leo today. “Then, thank you, Grandma Eleanor.” I helplessly reached for the cards. *Crash!* A glass shattered. Victoria, dressed in her pajamas, stood frozen in the doorway. We turned to the sound, seeing Victoria’s face drained of color. “Victoria, why are you up?” Grandma Eleanor’s face was even paler than Victoria’s. She wanted to slap herself silly right now.

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My CEO girlfriend of five years doubted my loyalty. She demanded I collect ten thousand blessings from strangers before she’d marry me. But when Marcus, the man she truly obsessed over – the one she’d broken up with three times – asked her to marry him on a dare, she couldn’t wait to make their relationship official, splashing it across every major screen in the city. My mom, who’d just come to the city to meet my fiancée, was so enraged she suffered a heart attack and ended up in the hospital. I rushed to the announcement site, falling to my knees, begging Vivian to return my savings for Mom’s medical bills. But she frowned, saying that once my money was in her hands, it was hers. She had no obligation to pay for my family’s expenses, telling me to figure it out myself. Then, right in front of me, she used my money to order Marcus a luxury car. Because I couldn’t pay on time, Mom missed her window for treatment and died tragically in the hospital morgue. I buried her with tears in my eyes, accepted an offer from a major overseas company, and submitted my resignation. Vivian, though, just thought I was throwing a tantrum. She casually said, “Where else would a guy your age go without me? Don’t play your little games with me. I’ll take your mom out for a few days later, just doing my duty as your future daughter-in-law.” But when she saw me at the airport, why did her eyes turn red, and why did she fall to her knees, begging for my forgiveness?

After my visa was approved, I went home to pack. The moment I opened my closet, Vivian popped out, startling me. “Alex! I’m the hunter, and I’ve caught my prey!” She was beaming, her cheeks flushed, laughing heartily. I knew she’d used a “business trip” as an excuse these past two days, but she was really just traveling with Marcus to avoid me. In the past, I would have greeted her with a warm smile, asking about her trip. Now, I just pulled her aside and started rummaging for my clothes. Vivian stood there, looking a bit lost. After a long moment, she poked my arm. “Alex, what’s wrong? Are you still mad about me not lending you money that day? I was trying to complete Marcus’s dare. We’re friends, and he was about to lose in fifteen minutes. I didn’t have time to transfer money. Didn’t I soften up later and have the finance department give you an advance?” I gave a bitter laugh, suppressing the sting in my nose, and kept stuffing clothes into my suitcase. That day, Mom had just arrived from out of town when she saw her future daughter-in-law on a giant screen, holding another man’s hand and making their relationship official. She collapsed on the spot. I rushed to the scene, falling to my knees in front of Vivian, pleading with her to give me back my savings for Mom’s medical bills. It would have taken less than three seconds to pull out her bank card from her bag. But she just coldly kicked me aside, telling me to figure it out myself. Then, she used every last cent from my card to buy Marcus a luxury car. Later, when I went to the finance department for an advance, the finance officer rolled her eyes at me. “Alex, who do you think you are, dreaming about someone like her? Mr. Marcus and CEO Vivian are the golden couple.” She deliberately dragged out the process. I ran around the company, completing eighteen different procedures, which took three hours, just to get a $200 advance. The finance officer said it was Vivian’s order, and they couldn’t do anything about it. By the time I rushed to the hospital, Mom had already passed away. Vivian saw I wasn’t speaking, snatched the clothes from my hands, and threw them onto the bed. “That’s what I dislike about you small-town guys. You’re so petty. You hand over a few hundred thousand, and then you try every trick to get it back. Honestly, I bought Marcus that sports car just to cut off your idea of getting into my pockets!” My heart felt like it was squeezed hard. I took a deep breath. I thought if I just poured my heart out and gave her all my earnings, Vivian would eventually let go of her suspicions. But I never imagined she still thought I was after her money. Marcus and she had broken up and gotten back together three times. Each time, it was her winning him back with luxury cars and lavish homes. So why was it suddenly me who was being petty? I finished packing, picked up my suitcase, and curled my lips into a sarcastic smile. “It won’t happen again. Keep your money for Marcus to spend.” Vivian’s eyes widened. She grabbed me. *CRASH!* A storage box was knocked over, sending countless paper slips covered with blessings fluttering to the ground like snow. These were all the blessing messages I had pleaded with anyone and everyone I met on the street to write for me. She had said she’d had enough heartbreak. Unless I collected ten thousand blessings from strangers to prove my sincerity, she wouldn’t marry me. The ten thousandth blessing was from a passenger sitting next to my mom on the train ride into the city. When Mom handed it to me, she wished Vivian and me a long and happy life together. But Vivian still announced her relationship with Marcus just because of one sentence from him. All my boundaries, all my efforts, were a joke. Vivian picked up a slip of paper. Her beautiful brows relaxed, and she sighed. “Alright, Alex, stop sulking. I’ll give you another three hundred. Take your mom to get some nice clothes and good food. Later, I’ll take her on a trip. I’ll do my duty as a daughter-in-law.” In the past, I would have taken the out and praised her as a good wife. But now, the bitterness in my heart wouldn’t let up. I just couldn’t swallow it. I covered her transfer screen with my hand and said coldly, “No need. You’re not her daughter-in-law. We’re over.” My words were swallowed by the sound of a key in the lock. “Vivian, I’m here to pick you up! Didn’t we say we’d treat everyone to dinner to celebrate?” Marcus walked in, looking surprised. “Assistant Alex, why are you at Vivian’s place?” Vivian coughed, putting distance between us. “Alex’s mom needed money, he just asked if he could get an advance on his salary.” We’d been in a secret relationship for five years. She always kept me at arm’s length, and I couldn’t even post about her on Ins. I thought it was because she didn’t want an office romance. Turns out, keeping it from everyone was just about keeping it from *him*. Marcus looked righteous and reprimanded me sharply. “Assistant Alex, don’t go too far. I didn’t even say anything about you causing a scene at the announcement, but you have hands and feet. You can’t just take advantage of Vivian’s kindness and demand money from her!” Vivian frowned, about to speak. I curled my lips. “You’re right, that’s exactly what I think. So I’m leaving now.” With that, I picked up my suitcase and walked past Vivian, heading downstairs. She took a step as if to follow, glanced at Marcus, then calmly said, “Be careful on your way.” As I walked out of the building, Vivian sent me a SnapChat message: “Alex, don’t worry. This is the last time I’ll help Marcus out. I’ll make time in a couple of days to take your aunt out, and we can discuss our wedding plans and get married soon.” I scoffed. I just opened my chat with William, the HR from the overseas company. “William, my visa is done. Flight’s tomorrow afternoon. See you there.”

I hailed a cab to the company to pick up my files, but the HR officer looked impatient. “CEO Vivian has been holding up your resignation application. Come back next Monday to ask again.” I called Vivian, but it just rang busy. It was always like this when she was with Marcus. I should have waited for her to approve my resignation before rushing off earlier. Frustrated, I frowned and left the company. Behind me, a burst of laughter erupted. “When Mr. Marcus and CEO Vivian made their relationship official, he was there singing and dancing, even kneeling and begging Vivian for money! So embarrassing!” “Didn’t you see how awful his face looked when he couldn’t get through to CEO Vivian just now? If I were her, I’d block a leech like that too!” I was used to these mocking words by now. My phone pinged with a notification – a taunting message from Marcus. The photo showed the blessing slips stuffed into a reeking, greasy trash can. “Vivian threw away all ten thousand blessings just because I said so. I heard you spent a year collecting them, so much effort, how sad.” “So what if you dated for five years? The moment I came back, you were kicked to the curb. She’s eating with me right now, peeling shrimp for me, her hands covered in sauce. You’ve never seen that, have you? If you’re curious, come to the restaurant’s private room, I’ll let you see all you want.” My hand tightened around my phone. Since he’d returned, I’d seen too many messages like this. Vivian, who was a clean freak and so proud, would wash his clothes, cook for him, and even wash his feet and make his bed. Before, I used to dread Marcus’s messages, yet I’d self-torture myself by watching Vivian’s special treatment of him. I even tried to tell myself it was all Photoshopped, telling him not to stir up trouble, thinking if I didn’t see the truth, I could keep lying to myself. This time, I went. Not out of jealousy, but to get Vivian to sign my resignation and sever all ties with her. Half an hour later, I arrived at the restaurant, only to hear Vivian arguing with someone in the stairwell. I instinctively hid around the corner. “Vivian, are you out of your mind?! Marcus dumped you three times, each time worse than the last! He even tricked you to a cliff and almost broke your leg! And you’re making it official with him?! Alex has been with you for five years, and you never gave him a title. Don’t forget he risked his life to save you before!” It was Sasha, Vivian’s best friend. I touched the uneven scar on my forehead. A year ago, Vivian and I were in a car accident during a business trip. To protect her, I was impaled by the windshield. I had a dozen steel plates implanted in my body, and a scar above my left eyebrow disfigured me, making my formerly gentle eyes look fierce. Colleagues secretly called me ‘Scarface,’ kept their distance, and even spread rumors that I was beaten by loan sharks. Vivian, however, never clarified anything to avoid suspicion. The next second, Vivian’s reply struck me like a lightning bolt. “It’s because he had the car accident. He has a scar over his eye. He doesn’t look like Marcus anymore.” Sasha was furious. “So you were still treating him as a substitute! No wonder when he proposed, you made him do an impossible task. Ten thousand blessings? Even if he asked thirty people a day, it would take a year! If you didn’t want to marry him, you didn’t have to string him along! What kind of spell did a scumbag like Marcus put on you?!” “Enough!” Vivian snapped, her voice sharp. “Don’t you dare slander Marcus like that! He said he’s turned over a new leaf. I’m just trying to make up for past regrets. Give me two more days, and I’ll break it off with him.” Sasha was speechless. “Aren’t you afraid Alex will truly give up?” Vivian seemed relaxed, in control. “Alex’s job came from me, he lives in my apartment. He has nothing without me. I’ll take responsibility for him. We’ve been out too long, Marcus will get impatient. Let’s head back.” Watching their retreating figures, I stood there for a long time, then sank to the floor, holding myself. When Mom got sick, I brought her to the city for treatment. When I was desperate because we had no money, Vivian was the one who approached me, inviting me to work at her company. She was gentle and compassionate, like a goddess, and I fell for her. Now, looking back, I was wearing a mask then, only my eyes visible. And her eyes were filled with the joy of finding something she’d lost. Whenever she mentioned her ex, Vivian would gnash her teeth, full of love and hate. Then she’d bury her head against my chest, sighing how lucky she was to have me. After Marcus returned to the country, she deliberately ‘ran into’ him several times, clashing with him, but their ‘arguments’ were just her way of flirting and showing how much she missed him. No wonder Vivian suddenly became distant after the car accident. I was foolishly thinking it was because Marcus was back, and she was just conflicted. Turns out, the original was back, and I, the substitute, was useless, which was why she made me collect ten thousand blessings to politely reject me. After a while, I took a deep breath and pushed open the private room door. Inside, everyone was already tipsy, clapping and cheering. “Their dramatic reunion, their intense, complicated love – I’m totally hooked! Vivian, you have to kiss Marcus!” Vivian openly kissed Marcus on the lips. Her long lashes trembled, and her ears turned crimson, betraying her racing heart. She didn’t know how long it had been until the cheering died down. She opened her eyes in confusion. She saw me, standing behind Marcus, my face emotionless. She shot up, her face pale. “Alex, I can explain everything! It’s not what you think!” Her attempt to cover it up just made her look incredibly guilty. “Vivian, we’re done.”

The next second, I pulled out my resignation application. “Also, please sign this so I can leave the company.” Vivian was flustered. Everyone in the room looked on with mixed expressions, some hesitating, wanting to advise me. But then, *whoosh!* Marcus swept the drinks and fruit bowls off the table, looking utterly humiliated. “You two are a couple?!” “Vivian, I told you, the love I want is one where only I exist in your eyes. If you had a boyfriend, you should have just said so. There was no need to take revenge on me like this!” He stormed out. Vivian snapped back to reality and, losing all composure, slapped me. “How dare you make a scene in front of Marcus? Why did you expose our relationship? He’s sensitive and can’t handle shocks, don’t you know that?” My head was snapped sideways from the blow, my eyes cold. The fierce fire in her eyes suddenly died, replaced by a flicker of distress. The hand that hit me trembled violently. She turned her head away and said sharply, “You just want to force me into marriage, but your plan failed. I’d like to see how you’re going to cause trouble for Marcus without the job I gave you!” She snatched my resignation application and signed it. The next second, she shouted “Marcus!” and ran off, chasing him. I rubbed the crumpled paper, and with a sense of relief, I left amidst the stunned gazes of the crowd. Now, there was only one thing left to do. After Mom passed, I decided to take her ashes abroad, so I had only arranged a simple memorial. Tomorrow, I needed to pick up Mom’s ashes and belongings from the hospital. The next morning, I timed my arrival at the hospital perfectly, intending to leave straight for the airport afterward. As I passed a department, I overheard a doctor calling out Vivian’s name. “You young people are crazy in love! Your eyes are inflamed, ulcerated, and bleeding. You could go blind permanently! You can’t keep doing this!” I unconsciously slowed my steps. Then I heard Marcus’s whining voice. “Vivian, I was just being dramatic yesterday when I said I’d only forgive you if you had eyes only for me! Why did you actually tattoo my name all over your eyeballs?!” Vivian’s voice was full of deep affection. “For you, it’s nothing.” I turned my head and saw Vivian’s eyes. Her eyelids were swollen, blood vessels burst, and they were hazy with blood. I could faintly see her eyeballs were dark, densely covered with Marcus’s name. Yet, before, when I had just bought a pair of matching couple’s rings, she had cursed me out, saying I was deliberately claiming ownership and trying to tie her down, restricting her freedom. Turns out, in the face of love, everyone is equally desperate. I continued toward the morgue. Marcus had already spotted me and deliberately picked a fight. “Alex, Vivian said you’re just a persistent admirer who won’t give up. What do you want now?” Vivian, surprisingly, wasn’t angry at all. She quickly put on her sunglasses, adjusted her hair, and her lips curved upward. “Alex, I know you came here looking for me on purpose. As long as you swear not to do anything out of line again, I can still let you come back to the company. I heard your mom is in our city recently. I could be generous and take her on a trip.” My eyes were full of sarcasm. What “out of line” things? Should I continue to be her secret lover, smilingly bless her and Marcus, and then, after she’s had her fun and decided to settle down, gratefully marry her? To this day, she still didn’t know that Mom had already died, her last wish being for me to find someone who loved me. The nurse, however, couldn’t wait. She rushed out to find me, handing me Mom’s ashes and belongings. “Alex, I have other families to attend to. Just sign here, and you can take your mother’s ashes.”

Vivian’s triumphant expression froze. “What ashes?” The medical staff looked at her, surprised. “Alex’s mother passed away two days ago because she couldn’t afford the medical fees.” Vivian was speechless. It took her a moment to find her voice. “How is that possible? Alex, you didn’t use the money I gave you for your mom?!” I bent down to sign the ash collection form. Marcus frowned, then suddenly spoke. “Vivian, I suddenly feel a little discomfort in my heart. Could you please ask the doctor to check me? Alex and I are both men, maybe I can comfort him properly.” Vivian hesitated, then finally called out to me. “Alex, you stay here. Don’t move. Once I call the doctor, we can talk properly!” As soon as she left, Marcus’s eyes filled with malice, and he deliberately knocked over my mother’s ashes. He whispered mockingly, “Alex, you’re truly a persistent ghost. I deliberately told finance not to give you the funds. Your mom died because you didn’t know your place. And Vivian even said she’s giving your vacant position to me. If you’re smart, you’ll get lost!” My pupils contracted. So Marcus was behind my mom’s death! Furious, I didn’t hesitate to slap him. But he immediately collapsed, curled up in the corner, looking pained and begging, “Alex, don’t kill me! I’m so sad your mother died too!” Passersby, not knowing the full story, all assumed I was just venting my anger. They had all seen Vivian and Marcus’s official announcement video and were now righteously indignant. “His own mom died, and he’s bullying another patient to vent?! Where’s security? Get this guy out of the hospital!” “Don’t you know that’s CEO Vivian’s husband? The Sterling family has immense wealth, you just messed with the wrong person! It’s not too late to beg for forgiveness now!” My face was numb. I knelt down to pick up the shattered ceramic urn holding my mother’s ashes. The sharp edges of the fragments cut my fingers, leaving streaks of blood, but I didn’t seem to feel the pain. As everyone condemned me, Vivian finally arrived with the doctor. They vied to speak, as if taking credit. “CEO Vivian, your husband is being bullied! Aren’t you going to stand up for him?” Marcus, looking triumphant, weakly cried out, “Vivian, I’m fine. I was just kindly helping Alex with his mother’s ashes, and I accidentally broke them. He didn’t mean to push me or slap me. I’m okay, I don’t think anything’s broken.” Vivian took three swift steps towards me. I didn’t even lift my head, gathering my mother’s ashes. I figured she’d just say a few words to me. But to my surprise, the next second, she knelt directly in front of me, carefully cradling my hands and asking, “Does it hurt?” She held my bloody hands, her eyes filled with heartache. Everyone present stared at each other, stunned. Marcus was dumbfounded, even forgetting to feign illness, his eyes wide.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296791”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

After receiving the last message from my husband, Liam, before his supposed plane crash, I felt utterly hopeless. I leaped from the hospital rooftop, but death wouldn’t have me. The moment consciousness returned, a tear of despair traced a path down my cheek. *Why wouldn’t it let me die?* Then, I heard hushed whispers from the hallway outside my hospital room. “Didn’t Liam say he’d pass this ‘widow’ of his around for us to have some fun after he faked his death? I don’t want anything to do with a paralytic! What do we do now?” “Exactly! Aria got twenty-something fractures and still didn’t die from the fall. When they brought her in, she was twisted like a pretzel! How many scars is she going to have? I can’t get it up for a broken mess like that!” “Just wait it out! At least until she can pose in bed, right? Otherwise, what’s the difference between her and an inflatable doll?” “Didn’t the doctor say? Her spinal cord is damaged, she might be in a wheelchair for life. Liam, man, you tricked her so badly, don’t you feel even a little bit bad?” Liam’s voice was flat, devoid of emotion. “It’s Aria’s honor to make Chloe happy.” “To keep me tied down forever, he lied, saying my eye cornea was donated by his mom. Did he really think I didn’t know it was Chloe’s mom who donated it? He loves playing games so much, let him taste what it’s like to be truly deceived!” The moment I heard Liam’s voice, I thought I was in heaven. Now, I was in hell. … “Liam really knows how to train a woman!” “Seriously, all these years, she’s donated bone marrow for you, taken the fall for you, and done it all willingly! You gotta teach us how to find a wife that obedient!” Liam scoffed. “It’s easy, really. Find someone whose parents died young, who battles depression. Give them a few crumbs of kindness, and they’ll put you before their own life.” “Liam, if you mess with her like this, aren’t you afraid she’ll actually commit suicide from depression?” Chloe’s voice was dismissive. “Please, it’s clearly an act! Besides, if she’s so quick to kill herself, then she might as well. She’s just wasting space anyway!” A man’s gentle voice chimed in, “Chloe’s right. Even if I found some entertainment from someone who constantly has mental breakdowns, I’d only last a little while before rushing back to my little sunshine, Chloe, to recharge.” “If she’s going to die, it better not be because of me. That’s just bad luck!” My eyes widened in disbelief, my mind a blank slate. My dad passed away when I was very young. After my mom died, I lost my last remaining family. I spiraled into a severe depression, even attempting to end my life. It was Liam who pulled me back from the brink. He gave me hope, encouraged me to study, showed me the world, and guided me out of the darkness. I gave him my entire being, treating him as the new light in my life. But he saw me as nothing more than a toy for him and his true love, Chloe. Even my mom’s eye cornea, for some reason, was now credited to someone else. I desperately wanted to wipe away these damn tears from my face, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t even lift my arm. I didn’t even notice when Liam walked in. His voice was light. “Aria, why are you crying? I’m perfectly fine.” He followed my gaze to the corner of my eye, seeing the large wet patch on my pillow. His voice instantly tensed. “What’s wrong? Are you in pain somewhere?” Seeing that I said nothing, only staring, tears streaming uncontrollably, he panicked. He turned and roared at his friends, “Doctor! Go get a doctor, now!” “Aria, hang in there! The doctor will be here any second! You can’t let anything happen to you!” The doctor arrived and said I was fine, but Liam didn’t believe it. He forced the doctor to perform a full body scan. “The patient has severe fractures all over her body. We don’t recommend frequent movement because—” He cut him off, his voice firm. “Her body is most important. Do it now.” The doctor quickly added, “She just had casts and metal plates put in. No matter how careful we are, moving her will inevitably hurt her.” Liam’s brow furrowed, and he roared, “I said do it! Are you deaf?! If anything happens to my wife, can you take responsibility?!” With that, he scooped me up into a princess carry, and the doctors couldn’t stop him. My body groaned with sickening cracks, and I instantly burst into tears from the pain, unable to utter a single word. I could only shake my head frantically. His voice was gentle yet firm. “You’re uncomfortable, aren’t you? I’ll make sure they cure you!” Liam carried me through various departments, and everyone we passed gave me envious looks. One young girl even squealed, “She’s so lucky! Her husband must love her so much!” I was tossed and turned for a full check-up, only to find nothing wrong. But the newly placed metal plates had all been dislocated by his frantic movements. The doctors had no choice but to reopen my wounds and re-fix them. Liam finally relaxed, gently stroking my hair. “Good, I’m glad you’re okay.” “I know you must want to go home. I’ve arranged for the best medical team to care for you there.” “But I need to go to a therapy session. The plane crash was a huge trauma. Aria, you go home first. I’ll come take care of you after my treatment.” I was too numb from the pain to react. I let them transfer me to a wheelchair and hand me over to his assistant. But the moment we left the room, the assistant passed me off to someone else. I strained to turn my head, only catching sight of a strange man. A shiver of fear ran down my spine. 2 “What are you doing?!” “Ms. Chloe has a gift for you.” I was wheeled to the back door of a hospital room, and through the crack in the door, I could see the bed. Inside the room, two familiar figures were tangled together, locked in a passionate kiss. “I thought you were going to see your therapist? How did you end up here?” “Little minx, you’re the one who seduced me. You look so hot in that nurse’s uniform.” “Liam, your wife is still sick, you know.” Liam grumbled, “Don’t even get me started. She’s got fractures, and I have to wait on her. She tries to kill herself every other day, she’s a total psycho. Chloe, seeing how pathetic I am, you’ll have to spend more time with me.” Chloe giggled sweetly. “Okay, then let Nurse Chloe check what kind of illness you have?” “Lovesickness. It’s a good session of loving you that’ll cure it…” Their intimate whispers relentlessly pierced my ears. I struggled to lift my only uninjured limb, my left hand, and clamped it over my mouth, desperate to stifle my cries. I wanted to escape. The wheelchair brake was right in front of me. I frantically willed my right hand to move, but I couldn’t even lift it a millimeter. I thrashed wildly in despair, tumbling out of the wheelchair onto the floor. “What was that sound?!” Chloe casually glanced at me through the crack in the door, then cupped Liam’s face, preventing him from turning. “Someone’s outside, don’t worry about it.” I lay splayed on the floor like a ragdoll, gasping for breath, tears streaming. I don’t know how much time passed before the sounds from inside finally stopped. Chloe walked out, her face flushed, and looked down at me, sneering. “Sister, what a mess you’ve made of yourself.” She helped me back into the wheelchair and pushed me out. “Envious? Have you ever seen Liam so passionate? Do you know what positions he likes?” “Did you really think he loved you just because he married you? He was just obligated to repay a debt.” I screamed, indignant. “I don’t believe it! You have no idea what Liam and I went through together! You won’t trick me!” Chloe suddenly burst into uncontrollable laughter, pulled out her phone, and tossed it onto my lap. “Oh, you’re still proud, huh?” “You, you’re just a toy for our amusement.” The screen displayed a social media account’s record log. The username leaped out at me: **My Dog-Training Diary.** The earliest post was three years ago. “Tricking my love-struck girlfriend into believing I was accused of plagiarism. What will she do?” “Update: It was hilarious watching her kneel in the office and take the fall for me, hahaha, so stupid!” “She dropped out, and I got into a prestigious university with my research award!” Then, a year ago, our wedding. “What’s it like to ditch your fiancée on your wedding day?” “A little boring, I smoothed things over with a few words the next day.” “But, the first night with my true love was the best wedding gift.” Then, last month. “Tricking my devoted wife into believing my mom had leukemia and needed a bone marrow transplant. Guess if she’ll donate?” “LOL, she was pregnant and took induction shots to donate cord blood for my mom. She miscarried with massive bleeding and still begged the doctors to draw more of her bone marrow!” Every single entry, over a hundred posts, he had documented in clear, precise detail. My fingertips whitened from pressing so hard, tears raining down like broken pearls onto the screen. Unbeknownst to me, Chloe had pushed me to the hospital rooftop. She bent down, helpfully scrolling to the latest post. “Tricking my devoted wife into believing I crashed. What will she do?” The latest reply was an hour ago: “So funny, she actually jumped off a building to kill herself! Good thing she didn’t die, otherwise, this account wouldn’t have any more content!” I had been so heartbroken for him that I wanted to die, still grieving even the moment I woke up, and I was just a fool. Chloe savored my expression, her voice mocking. “Aria, big sister, have you ever felt like your life has been particularly dramatic and exciting these past few years?” “Those were all my ideas!” Her smile slowly faded, replaced by a vicious snarl. “But why didn’t you die?! You should have just died cleanly!” “Now you’re still alive, looking like this ghost, and hogging Liam! Who are you trying to disgust?!” With that, she slowly pushed me closer to the edge of the rooftop. Seeing the height of several stories, I panicked and begged for mercy. “I was wrong! I’ll never appear before him again, please don’t kill me! Please!” A sinister voice echoed behind me. “Too late.” She raised her hand, shoved me hard, and then jumped herself. Suddenly, a pair of hands grabbed hold of us both. 3 It was Liam! His eyes were filled only with me, his anxious voice trembling. “Didn’t I tell you to go home? Why did you come back up here to try and die again? I told you I’d cure you, don’t do anything reckless!” My voice trembled. “It wasn’t me, it was Chlo—” Chloe suddenly burst into loud sobs. “Sister Aria, I don’t know why she invited me to the rooftop, but when I saw her, she was already at the edge. She forced me to jump, saying why should I be able to run around happily, and if I didn’t jump, she’d throw herself down again! I had no choice but to jump, but I didn’t expect her to lose her balance and fall too!” Liam’s gaze instantly turned cold. “Aria, when did you become so malicious?!” “No! I didn’t…” Chloe continued to wail, “Liam, you can’t hold both of us by yourself! Sister Aria is already like this, if she falls again, she’ll die!” “Let go of me, save Sister Aria!” Liam looked at me, then at Chloe. After only a few seconds of hesitation, I felt the hand holding me slowly loosen. “Aria, you already have fractures. Another fall won’t make things much worse. But Chloe isn’t injured yet, and I simply can’t bear for both of you to be stuck in bed.” “Besides, this time it’s your own doing, consider it a lesson learned. I won’t hold it against you after this.” He pursed his lips and sighed. “Aria, protect your head, okay?” “Close your eyes if you’re scared, the pain will pass quickly. I’ll come right down to get you.” With that, he released my hand. I kept my eyes wide open. Liam’s expression showed sadness, anger, worry—I couldn’t read it. Perhaps, in all these years, I had never truly understood him. The hospital was only four stories high. I was momentarily caught by a crooked tree in mid-air, and when I hit the ground, I didn’t even lose consciousness. But it hurt so much, like my entire body had been shattered into countless pieces, scattered across the ground. This time, Liam hadn’t lied to me. Before the concrete beneath me had even warmed, he arrived, holding Chloe in his arms. About fifteen meters away, Chloe struggled out of Liam’s embrace with a look of worry, then jogged towards me. She knelt on the ground and helped me up, crying loudly, but not a single tear fell from her face. Instead, she smiled mockingly. “Aria, what do you have to fight me with?” “Whether I’m right or wrong, Liam will always be on my side!” My body was flooded with adrenaline, and I instantly felt no pain. Gathering all my strength, I raised my left hand and slapped Chloe hard. “Aria! What are you doing?!” The warmth on Liam’s face froze, and he roared, rushing over to scoop Chloe up and shield her behind him. My head suddenly lost its support and hit the ground. Everything went black, and the sounds around me grew fainter. “I thought this would be enough to make you reflect, but I didn’t expect you to be so stubborn. I’ve been too soft on you!” He coldly dialed a number, telling the doctor not to bother coming. “I was worried you fell badly, but looking at how you just hit someone, you’re full of energy! You can just lie here yourself!” With that, he took Chloe’s hand and turned to leave. Chloe wasn’t satisfied. “Liam, are we just going to leave like this?” “Sister Aria clearly hasn’t realized her mistake. If we don’t punish her, what if she threatens me again next time?” Liam frowned slightly. “She’s unconscious. Isn’t leaving her for a day and a night enough?” Chloe deliberately showed him the side of her face that I had slapped red, looking wronged. “She framed me. Shouldn’t I decide how to teach her a lesson? Let me give her one more dare. Tell her that you have enemies looking for revenge, and the only way they’ll let you go is if she pleases a dozen men. Can we do that?” 4 Chloe’s voice grew softer and softer. “What man would want a woman who’s broken like this? I just want to scare her, teach her a lesson…” Liam looked at me, lying unconscious, and didn’t speak for a moment. After a long pause, he said in a low voice, “Don’t you think that’s a bit much?” Chloe burst into tears, covering her face, and ran off. “Fine, I’m just too petty! She’s your wife, I’m nothing to you! Anyway, you saved me, so whatever! Next time, just let me die!” The hesitation in Liam’s eyes vanished, and he immediately pulled her into a comforting embrace, his voice tender. “Don’t talk nonsense. I can’t even stand to see you get a small scratch. If you died, how would I live?” “Okay, I’ll do whatever you say.” My consciousness faded, tears welling in my eyes. When I woke up again, everything around me was dim, and I was lying on a bed. Liam was helping to secure the plaster splints on my body. He meticulously checked each connection for looseness, his movements gentle, as if afraid of hurting me. Seeing that I was awake, he lowered his gaze and gently stroked the corner of my eye. “Aria, I’m being targeted by my enemies. They want my life, unless you… go appease them…” “Will you help me? I won’t mind.” “From now on, you’ll be my lifesaver. I’ll love you forever.” He let go of my hand without waiting for my reply. Before leaving, he gave detailed instructions to the people outside the door. “I’ve already spoken with her, she’ll cooperate. Don’t hurt her, and don’t turn on the lights so she won’t remember.” With that, over a dozen men entered one after another, their eyes fixated on me with a greasy gaze. I spoke to the man standing closest to me. “Can I borrow your phone for a moment?” He sneered. “Calling for backup? Your husband already gave you to us to play with. Who else can save you?” My eyes were vacant, and I spoke as if my oil had run out and my lamp was dim. “Not to make a call. I just want to glance at a certain social media account.” “Just one look, please.” I got the phone as I wished and searched for the “Dog Training Log” account. I so hoped that everything I heard before I passed out was false, but the truth always stabbed me violently. “Tricking my wife, who just woke up from a suicide attempt, into believing enemies are after me and she needs to repay their debt with her body. Will she agree?” A new user commented below: “What happened to your wife? Why did she try to commit suicide?” “Oh, she has depression. Just typical behavior for her.” “Then why are you still messing with her like that?” “She’s going to die sooner or later anyway, so what’s wrong with getting some entertainment before she does? If you don’t like it, leave. Nobody’s forcing you to watch!” My left hand fell weakly onto the bed, my breathing becoming rapid. It felt like a wire had snapped in my brain. The severe depression I had suppressed for years finally erupted completely at that moment. Extreme somatic symptoms caused my whole body to tremble uncontrollably, like I was having a seizure. My vision blurred. I reached out and grabbed onto something, anything. “Kill me! I want to die so bad! Let me die! Just let me die!!” The men around me jumped in fright. “What the hell is wrong with her?! Didn’t he say she was just a paralytic with broken bones? Is she sick or something?! I don’t want to be involved in a death!” A man from the back pushed his way to the front, grumbling, “You guys are picky when there’s fun to be had. I love playing with psychos!” “She wants to die, doesn’t she? Guys, let’s play her to death, hahaha!” A cold sensation spread across my chest, and I closed my eyes in resignation. Suddenly, the room door was kicked open with a loud bang. A voice rang out: “How is it that you’re always either being tricked, or on your way to being tricked?” 5 With one punch, he knocked a man down. The remaining standing men fled in terror. He strode over, took off his jacket, and covered me with it.

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The night before my wedding, I was busy decorating our new home when I discovered something unexpected on our bed. As I was arranging the bedroom, I noticed an unidentified stain on the sheets. Someone else had been in our new marital home! My mind went blank. I immediately video called my fiancé. Surprisingly, he answered right away. “The new bed is really soft. I’ve tested it out for you,” said a sultry voice. It was Jack’s assistant, Rachel, who answered the call. The woman smiled seductively and smugly. Well then, I guess I don’t want this man anymore. “Where’s Jack? Tell him to answer the phone,” I demanded, momentarily stunned but quickly regaining my composure. Rachel peered at my surroundings through the screen. She smirked, “Oh, Miss Lily is in the new house.” “The new bed is really soft. I’ve tested it out for you,” she purred. I felt like the ground had disappeared beneath my feet, my mind going blank. I glared at the woman on the screen, momentarily speechless. Rachel’s eyes swept over the bed behind me, her tone triumphant: “The groom is quite impressive too. I’ve tested him out for you as well.” Now I could see her surroundings clearly – she was in a hotel room. I forced myself to stay calm, suppressing my rage. I asked again, “Where is Jack?” Rachel glanced off-screen theatrically, then feigned reluctance: “Mr. Wilson is working late, of course. He’s very busy.” Then I heard that familiar voice. “Rachel, come scrub my back.” At that moment, I felt paralyzed, my mouth opening and closing without a sound. “You just want to trick me into the shower with you, you naughty boy,” Rachel cooed. As she spoke, she shot me a smug look, then abruptly ended the call. I collapsed to the floor, overwhelmed by anger and heartbreak. After who knows how long, I let out a bitter laugh and tossed the sheets into the trash. Tomorrow was supposed to be my wedding day with Jack. While I was busy preparing our home, he was busy taking a romantic bath with his assistant. I knew Rachel wanted to ruin my wedding. She had succeeded. I sent Jack a message: “Jack, let’s break up. The wedding is off.” I don’t want a tainted new home, and I certainly don’t want a tainted man. I looked at the decorative figurines on the table – a bride and groom in traditional red kissing. I threw them in the trash too. I smashed our framed wedding photos hanging on the wall. I destroyed the wedding decorations I had painstakingly put up. I sent messages to friends and family canceling the wedding, then turned off my phone and went home. Once things quieted down, I forced myself not to dwell on the years I’d spent with that scumbag. I drank myself into a stupor, seeking oblivion in alcohol. The next morning, I was jolted awake by aggressive pounding on my door. Jack and his groomsmen stood there in their suits, looking picture perfect. The roses in Jack’s hand were crushed and scattered. Seeing my clearly hungover state, he flew into a rage. “Lily! Are you out of your mind?!” He looked so ugly with his face contorted in anger. I actually found it a bit amusing. My laughter seemed to infuriate Jack further. He violently threw down what remained of the bouquet and roared, “Do you know today is our wedding day?!”

I rubbed my eyes, irritated at having my hangover disturbed. I snapped back, “Didn’t I tell you the wedding’s off?! We’re done, don’t you understand?!” Jack’s eyes were bloodshot, as if he was barely containing his fury. He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment before gritting out, “Get dressed and come with me right now. I’ll pretend this never happened. I can forgive you this one time.” How on earth did he get the impression I was some lovesick fool who couldn’t leave him? Just because I took our relationship seriously doesn’t mean I can’t walk away! I glanced at the groomsmen behind him, who all looked like they were enjoying the show. “Jack! You’re the one who messed up. Do you want to discuss your relationship with Rachel right here?” “Get lost! We’re over, got it?!” Jack was stunned for a moment before his expression changed dramatically. Gone was his earlier arrogance. He averted his gaze and changed his tone. “You’ve misunderstood. It’s my fault for not explaining things clearly beforehand.” “You can hit me or yell at me later if you want. Today is our wedding day, the most important day of our lives. All our family and friends are waiting. Please don’t make a scene, just come with me, okay?” He shook his head and smiled bitterly, his eyes sincere, as if I was the one being unreasonable. This man could change his tune so quickly, able to bow and scrape when needed. Seeing the groomsmen looking at me disapprovingly, his closest friend even tried to persuade me. “Sis, today really isn’t the time to throw a tantrum. You can do whatever you want after the wedding.” Very well, if Jack wanted to force my hand, I’d play along. But whatever happened next would be on him. I nodded, “Fine, wait a minute.” I quickly washed up and threw on a dress before heading out. Jack asked where I was going to do my makeup and change into my wedding dress, but I refused. His face darkened, but he couldn’t do anything about it. At the hotel, only his family’s guests were there. My family and friends, though unsure what had happened, knew I had canceled the wedding. Seeing me arrive dressed like this, the crowd’s expressions became meaningful. Several aunties immediately started criticizing me. “How can you throw a tantrum on such an important day? You’re so willful, only Jack would put up with this. Anyone else would have left you by now.” “Exactly, with all these guests waiting, why didn’t you just call it off earlier if you didn’t want to get married!” “Alright, alright, Lily’s here now, isn’t she?” Mrs. Wilson took my arm and led me to their table, motioning for me to sit. Her face betrayed no displeasure. She even asked, “Oh sweetie, we were so worried when we couldn’t reach you. Did Jack upset you? Tell us, we’ll set him straight.” Mr. Wilson chimed in kindly, “That’s right, we’re on your side.” Jack’s parents had always been good to me. Marrying into their family wouldn’t have meant dealing with in-law problems. Mrs. Wilson was an especially considerate and tolerant woman, and Mr. Wilson was a gentle and generous man. But Jack had cheated, and I could never forgive that. I remained silent for a moment. Mrs. Wilson thought I was still sulking. She said earnestly, “Lily, listen to me. Go get your hair and makeup done and change into your dress. I promise I’ll make Jack apologize to you later.” “Yes, don’t ruin the big day,” Mr. Wilson agreed. I let out a long sigh. At that moment, I wanted to explain things calmly to Jack’s parents and resolve this peacefully. But someone’s arrival interrupted me. Rachel floated in wearing a flowing red dress, looking coquettish and pretty. She smiled slightly, her gaze challenging as she looked at me. Her elaborate makeup contrasted sharply with my bare face. The click of her heels drew everyone’s attention as she approached. “I’m not late, am I? Congratulations on your wedding, Miss Lily.”

I smiled back. How lovely, that red dress made her look like the star of the wedding. Rachel sat down next to me in the seat that should have been Jack’s. As she bent to sit, a glint at her neck caught my eye. I thought my heart had already turned to ice, but it managed to drop a few more degrees. It was a diamond ring, identical to my wedding ring. I had personally designed it – there was only one in the world. Now it hung around the neck of Jack’s mistress. If our wedding had gone ahead as planned, I don’t know what kind of ring he would have given me. But whether he found a quick replacement or took it off his assistant’s neck, it was all utterly disgusting. I couldn’t help but feel angry again. I dug my nails into my palms to keep from losing my composure. Just then, Jack walked in with the officiant. “Isn’t the bride wearing a wedding dress? A red dress is fine too, very pretty,” the officiant remarked. Clearly, he thought Rachel in her red dress and full makeup was the sulking bride. He nodded approvingly. Rachel glanced at me, then quickly waved her hands as if embarrassed: “Oh no, I’m not the bride today. Miss Lily, please don’t be upset.” Jack strode over, his face dark as he questioned me: “Why haven’t you gone to get ready? Don’t you care about our wedding at all?!” He reached out to grab me. Mrs. Wilson quickly intervened, scolding Jack: “Jack, watch your tone! There’s no need to be so harsh.” Rachel jumped in at the perfect moment: “That’s right, Miss Lily is just being a bit willful. Mr. Wilson, you should sweet talk her. Don’t let it ruin the wedding.” Jack indeed became angrier. In front of all the guests, he seemed thoroughly annoyed. He pointed at me: “Lily, there’s a limit to how unreasonable you can be. Go change right now!” Rachel stood up and patted Jack’s arm soothingly, saying, “Don’t be angry. I’ll keep Miss Lily company while she changes, and we can apologize to the guests together.” “Why don’t you just go ahead and marry him yourself, since you’re so eager to keep him company,” I retorted coldly. I was done pretending everything was fine. Clearly, there was no way to resolve this calmly today. I made a snap decision and announced loudly: “I’m sorry everyone had to witness this spectacle. Please enjoy the food and drinks, but Jack and I are officially breaking up as of today. Consider yourselves witnesses.” “How much longer are you going to keep this up?!” Jack glared at me furiously. Rachel feigned distress, even stamping her foot. Her heels made a sharp sound against the floor as she said, “Miss Lily, please don’t misunderstand. I just meant I’d help greet the guests for you. I didn’t mean anything else.” What a seasoned manipulator. I crossed my arms and coldly watched her performance. “You’re not just greeting guests for me. Didn’t you consummate the marriage for me too?” I sneered. Rachel seemed pleased by my reaction. A flash of triumph crossed her eyes before she quickly affected a deeply wronged expression. “Miss Lily, you really misunderstand me.” The little vixen was quite the actress, but I had no interest in playing her games. “Lily, have you gone mad?!” Jack cried out in alarm.

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I was my father’s illegitimate daughter, my sole purpose in life for two decades was to be a walking bone marrow bank for my half-sister. To make me willingly donate my bone marrow for the last time, my father promised me a fiancé. “Pick one. After the surgery, he’ll take you away, and you’ll never want for anything again.” I chose Julian Hayes, who had always been the kindest to me. He was my sister’s attending physician. But the second before I was wheeled into the operating room, he drained my life-saving blood. I was abandoned in the morgue, that bag of blood transfused into another woman’s body. “Sierra, don’t be afraid. I used that illegitimate girl’s blood to save your life. You are my whole world.” Every minute, my body temperature dropped by one degree. 240 minutes later, my blood congealed, and my soul froze. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day I chose my fiancé. In front of my father, the nine gilded résumés still lay there. This time, I bypassed Julian and picked the man from his stack of business documents – the rumored ruthless and heartless arch-rival. But my father scoffed, “Him? He’s practically on his deathbed.”

The man in the photo was Hunter Thorne, with sharp eyes and a fierce gaze. He was the capital’s newest business magnate, and also the Sterling family’s sworn enemy in business. My father was stunned. “Aurora, what are you playing at? You’ve always liked Dr. Hayes, haven’t you?” I squeezed my hands tightly, the pain keeping me grounded. Julian Hayes, a highly respected and compassionate attending physician, who had always been so caring and gentle towards me. In my past life, that very gentleness was what dragged me to hell. “Him.” My father frowned, his eyes filled with disdain. “Aurora, don’t act like a child. Who is Hunter Thorne? Some unknown nobody who appeared out of nowhere, does he really think he’s good enough to marry into the Sterling family?” He picked up the eight résumés, pulled Julian’s out, and pushed it towards me. “Dr. Hayes comes from a good family, he’s been devoted to your sister, and he’s always been patient with you. He’s the best choice.” Oh yes, so good that he personally drained my blood to save his beloved. I met my father’s impatient gaze. “I choose Hunter Thorne.” My father’s face darkened completely. He slammed the résumés onto the table. “Are you deliberately trying to defy me? Fine, I’ll tell you, forget about it! Hunter Thorne can’t beat me. His company is on the verge of bankruptcy, and he’s practically dying, stuck in some isolated hospice, just waiting to die!” My father’s assistant knocked on the door and entered at just the right moment, whispering a few words in his ear. After listening, my father revealed a cruel sneer. “Did you hear that? He checked into a private hospice last month, suffering from an incurable disease. Even the doctors gave up on him. You want to pick a dying man? Do you want to be a widow right away?” “I’m not choosing anyone.” I abruptly stood up, my heart seizing in my chest. As I walked out of the study, a hand suddenly grabbed my wrist. I turned around. It was Julian Hayes. He was wearing a white lab coat, his eyes behind the gold-rimmed glasses as gentle as ever. “Aurora, your sister said she wants to see you.” Behind him stood my ‘good sister,’ Chloe Sterling. She was dressed in a pristine white hospital gown, her face pale, her body so frail it seemed a gust of wind could blow her over. She looked at me timidly, her eyes reddening. “Sister, don’t be mad at Dad…”

Chloe’s tears flowed freely, and she leaned weakly against Julian. “It’s all my fault. If it weren’t for my weak body, you wouldn’t have to suffer so much.” Julian tenderly supported her, his gaze at me tinged with reproach. “Aurora, your sister isn’t well. Can’t you just be more understanding with her?” In the past, I would have softened and apologized immediately. I shook off his hand, my gaze coldly sweeping over both of them. “Something you need?” Chloe bit her lip, walking towards me. “Sister, that heirloom jade pendant Mom left you, I heard it has a soothing, healing effect. Could I borrow it for a few days? You know my illness, I’m always anxious. If I wear it, maybe I can get some good sleep.” That blood-red jade pendant, smooth and warm to the touch, with a subtle crimson glow within – it was my mother’s only keepsake. “No.” I refused coldly. Chloe’s face drained of all color. “Sister, are you still blaming me? Blaming me for taking your blood, your bone marrow…” She choked on her sobs. “But I didn’t want to either… Julian, I… I feel so dizzy…” Her body went limp, and she swayed into Julian’s arms. Julian immediately held her, anxiously checking her condition, then looked up and glared at me. “Aurora! Do you have to provoke your sister like this?! She’s about to undergo surgery! Can’t you be more sensible?” I scoffed. “Sensible? Does that mean I have to give her my life to be ‘sensible’?” I turned and walked away, not bothering to watch their act any longer. Back in my room, I immediately started searching. Dressing table, jewelry box, wardrobe… Nowhere. That blood-red jade pendant was gone. I rushed out of the room and grabbed a maid. “Where’s the jade pendant from my room?” The maid stammered, “Miss Aurora… Miss Chloe said… said you agreed, and she took it to wear for a few days…” All the blood in my body instantly rushed to my head. My ‘good sister,’ indeed. She didn’t even bother to pretend anymore, she just took it. I kicked open Chloe’s bedroom door. She was sitting on the sofa, showing off my blood-red jade pendant to Sierra Maxwell, who had come to visit her. “Sierra, look, this is what my mom left me, isn’t it beautiful? My sister treasures it the most, but the moment I asked, she still obediently gave it to me.”

Sierra touched the jade pendant with an envious expression. “It’s truly beautiful, Chloe. You’re so lucky to have such a loving family.” Chloe was pleased by her words, the smile on her face growing even more smug. “Of course. After all, the entire Sterling family depends on my life.” The moment she finished speaking, she saw me standing at the doorway. The smile on her face instantly froze. Sierra was also startled, quickly standing up and looking at me uneasily. “Give me back my things.” I held out my hand. Chloe snapped back to reality, immediately putting on a tearful expression, clutching the jade pendant tightly to her chest. “Sister, I just… I just wanted to borrow it, to get some of Mom’s good fortune, to bless my surgery…” She cried, looking towards Julian, who had rushed over. “Julian, please, tell my sister, I didn’t mean to take her things…” Julian immediately stood in front of Chloe, frowning at me. “Aurora, it’s just a jade pendant, isn’t it? Do you have to make such a fuss? She’s about to have surgery, can’t you just let her be at peace?” “I’ll say it again,” I stared intensely at the hypocritical face behind him. “Give me back my property.” “You!” Julian was enraged by my attitude. “How can you be so unreasonable!” He reached out to grab my wrist, but I dodged him. In the struggle, Chloe shrieked, “Ah!” and fell backward. The jade pendant she was clutching to her chest flew out of her hand, then hit the marble floor with a loud “CRACK.” It shattered into several pieces. Chloe looked at the fragments on the floor and let out a piercing wail. Julian spun around, saw the broken jade pendant, and violently shoved me away. “Aurora! Are you happy now?!” I stumbled back a few steps, my lower back hitting the doorframe hard. Just then, my father, Robert Sterling, rushed over, drawn by the noise, and saw the mess on the floor. He saw Chloe, who was crying herself almost to unconsciousness, and the broken jade pendant on the floor. Without a word, he raised his hand and gave me a resounding slap across the face. “You unruly brat! Apologize to your sister!” My face burned with pain, my ears ringing. I looked at the three faces before me and suddenly smiled. “Alright.” I bent down, picked up the largest piece of the shattered jade, then walked to Chloe. “I’m sorry.” As I spoke, I suddenly raised my hand.

No one reacted fast enough. Chloe instinctively closed her eyes. But I simply smashed that piece of jade onto the coffee table in front of her. A jarring crash. “I don’t want this anymore.” I looked at her pale face. “Along with the life I owe you, once the surgery is done, we’ll be completely even. From now on, we owe each other nothing.” With that, I turned and left. Back in my room, I locked the door and slid down to the floor, leaning against the doorframe. My phone rang. “Miss Aurora, we’ve found something. Mr. Thorne is indeed publicly claiming to be gravely ill, but he’s not in any public hospice. Our people traced his whereabouts to a private estate on the outskirts of the city that’s not open to the public.” “He’s not sick,” I immediately concluded. “He was poisoned.” Only that could explain why he suddenly became “gravely ill.” Three days later, I used the excuse of visiting a secluded spiritual retreat to shake off the Sterling family’s watch, driving alone to that estate. The mountain road was winding, the night deeply dark. Just as I was nearing my destination, my car suddenly stalled. Several blinding headlights flared from behind, and a few SUVs surrounded my car. A car door opened, and a group of men in black stepped out. Leading them was, strikingly, Julian Hayes. “Aurora, it’s so late. Where are you going?” He pulled open my car door, holding a syringe in his hand. “Your sister’s condition has suddenly worsened, and she urgently needs a blood transfusion. Come back with me and obediently donate your blood.” I gripped the steering wheel tightly. “I’m not going.” “That’s not up to you.” He sneered, giving a signal to the men behind him. Just as they were about to rush forward, a deep male voice suddenly echoed from the darkness. “She said she’s not going.”

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Three years into our marriage, my wife, Scarlett, had conned me into donating blood 47 times. Meanwhile, she was getting intimate with Jax, her gym trainer. “Every time I see that look on his face, so willing to donate blood to save someone, I just find it hilarious,” Scarlett scoffed, catching her breath. “Come on, don’t say that. Our dear Leo is such a saint. He genuinely believes his blood is saving lives, all for those ‘patients’ you’ve made up.” Jax chuckled, gently holding her waist. I watched through the crack in the door, my blood freezing instantly. “We’ll need another batch of blood next month. We can raise the price again this time; Leo’s blood type is so rare after all.” Scarlett adjusted her position and kissed him. My hands clenched into fists, nails digging into my palms. Through the door crack, I saw her sitting on the office desk, her legs wrapped around the young man’s waist, locked in a fervent kiss. “$70,000 a bag, that’s indeed a good price,” Jax replied, satisfied. My fists tightened, the blood in my veins felt like it was burning.

The moment the needle was pulled from my arm, a wave of faint dizziness washed over me. This was the forty-seventh time. The nurse carefully pressed on the needle site, a hint of concern in her eyes. “Mr. Leo, this is your third donation this month. Are you really sure your body can handle it?” I managed a weak smile, waving my hand to signal I was fine. As someone with Rh-negative O-type blood, I’d long been used to this feeling of being needed. Especially when Scarlett told me there was another patient desperately in need of my blood, I never refused. “How’s the patient doing today?” I asked, rolling down my sleeve. The nurse hesitated, then simply said, “You should ask Dr. Scarlett. She’s in the VIP ward section.” I nodded and got up, heading towards the VIP wards. After so many donations, I was incredibly familiar with the hospital. Even more so than some newly hired nurses, I knew the exact location of every department. As I walked down the corridor of the VIP ward section, I spotted the door to Scarlett’s office from afar. The door wasn’t fully closed, leaving a narrow crack, and I could hear low voices inside. I was about to push the door open, but the voices from within froze me in my tracks the moment my hand touched the doorknob. “Every time I see that look on his face, so willing to donate blood to save someone, I just find it hilarious.” Scarlett’s voice carried a mocking tone I had never heard before. “Don’t say that, our dear Leo is such a saint.” “He genuinely believes his blood is saving lives, all for those ‘patients’ you’ve made up.” Another man’s voice chimed in, sounding young and flippant. My heart began to pound violently, and my palms grew sweaty. Through the crack, I saw Scarlett sitting on the office desk, a young man standing in front of her. The distance between them was intimate, almost scandalous. “Jax, what do you think his face would look like if he knew the real use of all that blood?” Scarlett reached out and hooked her arm around the man’s neck. “He’d probably crumble, right? After all, he trusts you so much, his little angel of mercy.” Jax’s hands began to roam over Scarlett’s body. I forced myself to stay calm and kept listening. “Mr. Henderson needs another batch of blood next month. We can raise the price again this time; Leo’s blood type is so rare after all.” Scarlett’s tone was as casual as if she were discussing an ordinary business transaction. “$70,000 a bag, that’s indeed a good price. But aren’t you worried he’ll find out?” Jax asked. “Find out what? He can’t even get into the blood bank, and I always concoct a perfect story.” “Acute leukemia, massive blood loss from a car accident, he falls for it every single time,” Scarlett said with a triumphant laugh. My entire world imploded in an instant. For three years, I thought I was saving lives, but it turned out I was just providing raw material for their filthy dealings. All those patients I thought I’d saved, all that blood I’d shed, it was all a lie. The two inside the room had started embracing, and Scarlett let out soft moans. I suppressed my nausea and quietly slipped away. Back home, I sat on the couch, lost in thought. The room was filled with Scarlett’s various medical awards and certificates of honor. Our wedding photo hung on the wall; in it, she smiled so purely and beautifully. I picked up my phone and scrolled through my blood donation records from over the years. Every single time, she would convince me with a different reason. Sometimes it was an urgent late-night call, sometimes tearful pleas, sometimes a righteous speech about a doctor’s compassion. And I, like a fool, extended my arm without hesitation every single time.

When Scarlett returned home that evening, I was in the kitchen preparing dinner. “Rough day? Was the patient okay?” I tried to make my voice sound normal. Scarlett walked over and hugged me from behind, resting her face against my back. “Thank you, Leo. Without your blood, that little girl might not have made it.” My hands paused mid-air, a bitter taste rising in my mouth. She was still spinning lies, and she said it so naturally, as if there really was a little girl who needed my blood to survive. “Glad I could help,” I mumbled. “You really are the kindest person in the world.” Scarlett whispered into my ear, “Sometimes I can’t believe I got to marry such a wonderful man.” Hearing that, I almost lost control of my emotions. She called me kind, yet she was using my kindness to earn dirty money. She said she couldn’t believe she married me, yet she was tangled up with another man in her office. “Scarlett, I want to ask you something,” I turned to face her. “What is it?” She blinked those eyes I once adored so deeply. “If one day, I couldn’t donate blood anymore, would you still love me like you do now?” Scarlett paused, then chuckled, “Why would you ask such a strange question?” “I don’t love you just because you can donate blood.” “Then why?” I pressed on. She seemed a bit uncomfortable with my serious tone, her smile becoming strained. “Of course, it’s because of you, your kindness, your thoughtfulness, everything about you.” I nodded, saying nothing more. But in my heart, I already had the answer: she didn’t love me for who I was, but for the priceless blood flowing in my veins. During dinner, I deliberately brought it up: “I haven’t been feeling well lately. I might need a full check-up.” Scarlett put down her forks, asking nervously, “What’s wrong? Where do you feel unwell?” “Just feeling a bit tired. Maybe I’ve been donating too frequently.” “The doctor suggested I stop donating blood for a while to let my body recover.” After I finished, I carefully watched her expression. Sure enough, her face instantly fell, and a flicker of panic crossed her eyes. “But, but there are so many patients in urgent need of blood at the hospital lately. If you stop donating now…” “Are lives more important, or is my health?” I countered. Scarlett was speechless, and after a moment, she said, “Of course, your health is more important. I’m just worried about those patients…” “Are there other blood sources that can replace mine for those patients?” I probed further. “Well…” She stammered. “Rh-negative blood types are already rare; it’s difficult to find a temporary substitute.” Seeing her anxiety, my suspicions grew stronger. If she truly loved me, she should have been concerned about my health first, not the blood donations. “How about this then? I’ll go to the hospital for a check-up tomorrow. If my body’s fine, I’ll continue donating,” I pretended to compromise. Scarlett finally let out a sigh of relief. “Okay, I’ll go with you for the check-up tomorrow.” That night, I tossed and turned in bed. Scarlett quickly fell asleep, her breathing even and peaceful, as if she had no burden on her conscience. I quietly got up and went to my study, opening the computer. After some searching, I found news reports about black market rare blood type transactions. The reports mentioned that Rh-negative blood commanded astonishingly high prices on the black market. Especially when used for certain illicit cosmetic procedures, the price would double. I thought about Scarlett’s sudden increase in income over the past two years. All that extra income she claimed was from hospital bonuses, those designer bags and expensive jewelry – it turned out they were all bought with my blood.

The next day, I went to the hospital for my check-up as planned. Scarlett stayed by my side, acting like a caring wife, but I could sense her inner anxiety. Whenever the doctor asked about my donation frequency, she would quickly jump in to answer, afraid I might say something incriminating. “Mr. Leo’s donation frequency is indeed quite high,” the examining doctor stated seriously. “We recommend reducing the frequency of donations for now, to allow your body to fully rest.” “How long do I need to rest?” Scarlett asked eagerly. “At least three months,” the doctor replied. I saw Scarlett’s face instantly turn pale. She forced a smile. “Okay, we’ll follow the doctor’s orders.” After leaving the consultation room, Scarlett remained distracted. I deliberately said, “Looks like I really can’t donate blood for a while. Those patients waiting for help will have to find other solutions.” “Yeah, it’s a pity,” she replied perfunctorily, her eyes darting around. Back home, I excused myself, claiming to be unwell, and went to rest early. In reality, I wanted to observe Scarlett’s reaction. Sure enough, once she thought I was asleep, she started making phone calls in the living room. I quietly crept to the door and eavesdropped. “Mr. Henderson, things are a bit complicated… Yes, the blood supply is temporarily cut off… What? You need the shipment next week? This…” Scarlett’s voice was clearly anxious. “It’s not that I’m not trying, it’s just that he developed a health issue. The doctor advised him to stop donating blood for three months…” “I know the consequences of breaching the contract, but there’s really nothing I can do right now…” Hearing this, my judgment was completely confirmed. Scarlett was indeed involved in some kind of blood trade using my blood, and a stable business chain had already been established. After she hung up, I heard Scarlett pacing in the living room, occasionally letting out anxious sighs. A while later, another call came in. “Jax? We have a problem… Yes, he can’t donate blood anymore… Do you have any ideas?” This call lasted a long time. I couldn’t make out the specific content, but I could feel Scarlett’s emotions growing increasingly agitated. The next morning, Scarlett seemed preoccupied. She hesitated several times, then finally spoke. “Leo, I thought about it all night, and I think that doctor might be a bit overly cautious.” “Look, you’re in such good spirits now. Do you really need to stop donating blood for three months?” I pretended to consider it: “But the doctor said…” “Doctors aren’t infallible. Sometimes they give overly conservative advice to avoid liability,” Scarlett interrupted me. “And right now, there really are a lot of patients waiting in the hospital. Their lives are hanging by a thread.” “Which patients?” I asked. Scarlett paused, then quickly said, “There’s an eight-year-old boy with leukemia who urgently needs Rh-negative blood for treatment.” “And a pregnant woman who had a massive hemorrhage after childbirth. Her situation is critical.” She spoke with such passion, if I didn’t know the truth, I would have been moved. But now, I just felt sick to my stomach. “In that case, I’ll go donate one more time,” I pretended to be persuaded. Scarlett’s eyes instantly lit up: “Really? You’re really willing?” “Of course, it’s a matter of life and death. How could I just stand by?” I said. She hugged me excitedly: “I knew you were the kindest person. Those patients are saved.” I was in her arms, but my heart felt ice cold.

When it was time to donate, I made an excuse to get the nurse out of the room and stayed in the donation cubicle alone for a while. I used this opportunity to secretly mark the blood bag, a small mark only I would recognize. After the donation, I told Scarlett I wanted to visit the blood bank to understand how the blood was stored. She seemed a bit nervous but still agreed. “The blood bank staff are all very professional, so you don’t need to worry,” she said as we walked. “I’m just curious. I want to see how my blood is preserved,” I replied. She couldn’t argue with me and had no choice but to take me there. At the blood bank, the administrator greeted us warmly. I pretended to browse casually, but I was actually looking for the bag of blood I had just donated. Soon, I found it in a special storage area. To my shock, the blood in this area was all labeled “special purposes.” And the price tags displayed numbers far exceeding the value of normal blood. “What are these blood units used for?” I asked the administrator, pointing to the area. The administrator glanced at Scarlett, seemingly seeking her approval. Scarlett subtly shook her head. The administrator then said, “These are for certain special medical projects. I’m not entirely clear on the specifics myself.” I nodded, not pressing further. But in my heart, I understood. This was Scarlett’s transit station for her blood transactions. After leaving the blood bank, I suggested to Scarlett that I wanted to see the patients who had received transfusions. Especially the eight-year-old boy and the pregnant woman she had mentioned earlier. “They’re not convenient for visits right now. The doctor said they need an absolutely quiet environment,” Scarlett refused my request. “Then I’ll just glance from afar, I won’t go into the room,” I insisted. Scarlett grew increasingly uncomfortable: “Leo, why are you asking so many questions today? Usually, you just go straight home after donating.” “I just want to confirm that my blood truly helped someone,” I said, looking into her eyes. Eventually, she led me to the pediatric ward. We walked around the corridor, but I didn’t see the eight-year-old leukemia patient she mentioned. “He might have been transferred to another department,” Scarlett explained. “What about the pregnant woman?” I pressed. “She’s already been discharged. She’s recovering well,” Scarlett’s answers became increasingly evasive. My anger simmered, but I kept my composure on the surface. On the way home, I decided to investigate this matter thoroughly. That evening, while Scarlett was showering, I secretly checked her phone. In her SnapChat chat history, I found numerous conversations between her and Jax, the contents of which left me reeling. “Made over a hundred grand this month again, thanks to my good husband, haha.” “He’s still so gullible, just make up a story and he buys it.” “What do you think he’d do if he found out his blood was being sold to rich old women for anti-aging treatments? He’d probably lose his mind, right?” “Who cares? As long as we’re making money.” Seeing these chat logs, my hands trembled. It turned out that all the blood I had donated over the years had been sold by her to wealthy individuals pursuing eternal youth, for what they called “rejuvenation transfusions.” What infuriated me even more was how they mocked me in their chats, treating my kindness as a weakness to be exploited. I continued to scroll down, finding even more outrageous content. They weren’t just selling my blood; they were planning how to extract even more value. “Next time, make him donate more. His body’s robust anyway.” “I think three times a month isn’t enough. Can we increase it to four?” “Be careful not to kill him, or we’ll lose our cash cow.” “Don’t worry, I’m a doctor. I know what I’m doing.” At this point, I could no longer control my emotions.

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Eight years married, twelve pregnancies, twelve heartbreaks. Each time, a mysterious miscarriage stole my babies away. Everyone whispered it was my fault, that my wild youth had ruined my body. I endured countless IVF treatments, swallowed mountains of pills. But no matter what, I could never hold onto a pregnancy. I couldn’t bear to see Liam so tormented. Tears blurring my vision, I nodded, agreeing to let his childhood sweetheart, Chloe, bear him a child. Chloe became pregnant, and the baby was perfectly healthy. He wrapped me in a tight embrace, his face alight with pure joy. “Now you won’t have to go through the pain of IVF anymore. This child, once born, will be the sole heir to the Davies fortune.” I truly believed the storm had passed, that we could finally settle into a loving, peaceful marriage. But then, I stumbled upon a conversation between Liam and Chloe that shattered my world. “I knew your heart was always mine. I told you, I made Avery believe it was her fault, by putting miscarriage-inducing drugs in her food.” Liam gently stroked her belly, a soft smile gracing his lips. “She’s so unbelievably stupid. She believes anything I tell her. If it wasn’t for making her get the hint and divorce me willingly, I wouldn’t have even bothered with the drugs. Once our baby is here, everything in the Davies family will be ours. And his parents? They won’t be able to do a damn thing.” I thought about the endless IVF cycles, the infections, the internal damage to my body, and a wave of ice-cold horror washed over me. Eight years of marriage. It was all a lie. And it was finally time for it to end.

My fists clenched, my eyes burning red, my whole body shaking with pure rage. The sounds from the room continued, sweet whispers turning into fervent kisses. “Liam, my love, I remember everything you’ve done for me. You’ve worked so hard. Let me show you my gratitude.” “Stop, darling, you’re pregnant.” The tenderness Liam showed her, a tenderness he had *never* shown me, made my entire body ache, numb with pain. For eight years, he’d often held me, comforting me about our lost children, making me feel eternally guilty. He had suggested, with feigned anguish, that Chloe help us have a child. I couldn’t bear to see him suffer, so I agreed. I never, *never* imagined that the twelve children in my womb had been murdered by his own hands, all so he could be with Chloe. I turned and walked away, immediately sending the video I’d just recorded to his mother, Mrs. Davies. Mrs. Davies arrived quickly. The sounds from the room hadn’t stopped. As she listened, her face turned a terrifying shade of dark. I wanted to stop her, but she kicked the door open, ignoring everything else. Liam and Chloe gasped in shock, scrambling to pull the covers over their naked bodies. “Mom? What are you doing here?” Mrs. Davies landed a resounding slap across Liam’s face. The sickeningly sweet scent of their betrayal still hung in the air. I stopped at the doorway, mortified. Mrs. Davies’ shoulders heaved with fury. She pulled out her phone and played the video I’d sent her. “You animal! Those were your own flesh and blood! How could you do such a thing?” Liam finally realized what was happening, his face contorting with anger. He glared at me, his eyes burning with hatred, his jaw clenched tight. “You disgust me, Avery! How dare you tattle on me?” My heart turned to ice. I just stared at him, utterly heartbroken. He seemed to realize there was no point in pretending anymore. He gently stroked Chloe’s belly, then tossed a vasectomy report onto the bed. “Mom, you want a grandchild, right? The baby in Chloe’s belly will be the only child I’ll ever have. I’ve had a vasectomy. I can’t have any other children.” Mrs. Davies looked utterly shattered, her face drained of color. She swayed, almost collapsing, but I managed to catch her just in time. The report clearly stated that Liam’s vasectomy was permanent, with no possibility of reversal. Chloe, tears welling in her eyes, nestled gratefully into Liam’s embrace. She met Mrs. Davies’ gaze, her expression defiant. “Auntie, you forced me away once. But now, I’m carrying the only Davies heir. Do you really want to send me away again, and let your family line die out?” Mrs. Davies’ face flushed with anger, then slowly softened. She looked at me, a flicker of guilt in her eyes. “Avery, this is the Davies family’s *only* child. Be the bigger person, darling. Don’t fight them on this. The Davies family has wronged you, I know, but I promise you, the Lady Davies title will always be yours.” My face went deathly pale. I instantly understood her true intention. She wanted me to swallow my pain, to endure it until the baby was born. Before I could even respond, Liam’s voice cut in, full of resentment. “Mom, I don’t understand why you’re so against Chloe and me being together. Is it just her family background? Avery is nothing but a down-on-her-luck heiress herself. If I stayed with her, imagine how many people in this city would mock me for marrying into a bankrupt family?” He looked at me with utter contempt, the disgust in his eyes a sharp stab to my heart. He gritted his teeth. “Avery, even if you *pretend* to be the bigger person, I will *never* love you.”

Mrs. Davies dragged me away, practically by force. Behind us, Liam’s furious accusations still echoed, but Mrs. Davies held herself upright, refusing to collapse. Her trembling hand clasped mine. “Avery, Liam is the only heir left in our family. Chloe’s baby simply *cannot* be harmed. For my sake, please, just let it go.” My heart felt like it was being squeezed in a vice, a desolate pain settling over me. Liam and I weren’t just a business arrangement; we were childhood sweethearts. He was the one who chased me as a child, insisting he’d marry me someday, setting this whole engagement in stone. “What about my twelve lost children? Am I just supposed to pretend they never existed?” “Let bygones be bygones. We need to focus on the future. As a woman, you have to be more understanding.” Mrs. Davies’ tone grew impatient, as if I was being utterly unreasonable. The light in my eyes slowly faded. After the truth came out, Liam dropped all pretense and spent his days at the office. I couldn’t care less about seeing him. Since we still worked at the same company, bumping into Liam and Chloe was an everyday occurrence. Chloe suffered from severe morning sickness, but Liam didn’t have her stay home to rest. Instead, he made her his personal assistant at the office. Naturally, the whispers among the staff began. “Look at how careful Mr. Davies is with her. That baby the assistant’s carrying has got to be his, right?” “But I heard Mr. Davies and his wife were so in love?” Someone scoffed, cutting in. “In love? Please. Mrs. Davies went through IVF a dozen times and couldn’t keep a baby. Rumor has it her uterus was ruined from all her past wild partying. Look at Mr. Davies – one try with someone else, and the baby’s perfectly healthy.” Before the words even finished, everyone’s gazes flickered to me, filled with blatant contempt and mockery. I ignored them, walking straight into my office. “Ms. Shaw, your assets are deeply intertwined with Mr. Davies’. It’s very difficult to separate them without his signature. You’ll need to discuss this thoroughly with Mr. Davies.” I sighed, a wave of helplessness washing over me. Liam would never agree to this easily. I wanted to sort out the assets first before filing for divorce, just to avoid any further complications. “So, all I need is his signature?” “Sign what?” Liam pushed the door open, his entrance perfectly timed to my phone call. Before I could answer, his eyes landed on the contract on my desk, and he frowned, displeased. “You want to split our assets? Typical. Always putting profit first, terrified of losing a single thing.” I met his gaze, my expression chillingly calm, a faint smile playing on my lips. I softly called his name: “Liam.” My voice was so cold, it made him visibly flinch. He just stared at me, dumbfounded. “What do you *think* I should do? Hand over everything I own to my husband and the child he had with another woman? Do you honestly think I’m that stupid? Don’t forget, you’re the one who murdered my children. I haven’t sought revenge. You should count yourself lucky.” He had never seen me look at him with such intense hatred, as if I wanted to sever every last tie. His face darkened considerably. He stood there, forcing himself upright, his eyes sweeping over the contract on the desk. He let out a series of cold, hollow laughs. “Fine. If you want to cut ties, I’ll grant your wish. I don’t care about your paltry assets anyway. Just don’t come crying to me later.” Liam signed the contract, then flung it right at my face. He sneered, a superior smirk on his face. “What’s the point of just signing a property division agreement? If you’re so brave, divorce me outright! Deep down, you just want to use our marriage to control me. You don’t actually want a divorce.” He wore an expression that suggested he knew me inside out, then scoffed and turned to leave. I gave a self-deprecating smile, bending down to pick up the contract before handing it to my lawyer. “I’ve sent all the divorce-related details to your email. You can handle it from here.”

The moment Mrs. Davies found out Liam and I were estranged, she called me. Her voice, when she spoke, was laced with accusation: “Avery, what is going on with you? I hear you’ve moved out? How can a wife abandon her husband like that? Liam made a mistake, yes, but he’s learned his lesson. Chloe’s baby will be your child too, someday. You need to show some care. It’s done, Avery. Can’t you just be the bigger person?” Mrs. Davies didn’t give me a chance to speak, her accusations tumbling out one after another. She had no idea I’d already decided to divorce Liam. Whatever happened to Liam and Chloe, it had nothing to do with me anymore. Before anything else, I needed to go back to the family estate, to the old graveyard. I wanted to visit my twelve lost children. They were still buried in the Davies family plot. When I arrived home, I could hear Liam’s triumphant sneer from a distance. “Oh, look who decided to come back. I thought you’d be out running wild forever.” Chloe nestled into his arms, then leaned in provocatively and kissed the corner of his mouth. She raised an eyebrow at me. “Liam, darling, don’t blame Avery. She just doesn’t like me, that’s all, right? If she’s constantly around us, I’d worry about it affecting our baby.” I scoffed, ignoring them both, and headed towards the back hill of the estate. I had erected a tombstone for each of my twelve lost children, burying them in the Davies family graveyard. One after another, the cold, stark tombstones lined up before me. My eyes burned, and tears freely streamed down my face. If I hadn’t walked in on Liam and Chloe, I would have remained completely oblivious to the truth. After burning some offerings for my children – a tradition I’d maintained – I went back inside, packed the things I’d prepared for my unborn babies into a suitcase, and headed out. Liam saw me and, displeasure etched on his face, strode over to block my path. “Where are you going now?” He snatched my suitcase impatiently, opened it, and frowned. “Aren’t these things for *our* child? They’ll be perfect for Chloe’s baby. After all, it’s still *my* child. The agony of childbirth – you don’t have to suffer it now. Chloe’s doing it for you. Shouldn’t you be grateful? We’re not even asking you to thank her. Why the long face all the time? Who are you trying to impress?” Liam’s accusations rained down on me, one after another. Each word was a knife, twisting deeper into my heart. I looked up at him. “They were my flesh and blood! I yearned for them, dreamt of them coming into this world, giving them names, watching them grow. But in the end, they never even got a chance to live, their lives snuffed out by their own father. Now, there’s nothing but cold, desolate tombstones. You never even bothered to see them once! Just because they weren’t carried by someone you *loved*, does that make you so heartless, so cruel? Liam Davies, when you lie awake at night, don’t you ever worry that our children will come back to haunt you, demanding retribution?” My frenzied outburst clearly terrified Liam. His face went ashen, and he stumbled back, step after step. Finally, a faint flicker of guilt crossed his features. Seeing this, Chloe stepped forward, cradling her swollen belly, shielding Liam. She pointed an accusing finger at me, indignant. “It’s your own weak body that couldn’t hold onto those babies! What does that have to do with us? Besides, Liam never liked you from the start. He certainly wouldn’t have liked your babies. *Our* child is the crystallization of true love. Yours were nothing. Why should Liam feel sad for a bunch of embryos? They died in your womb. They deserved it.” I snapped. My hand shot out, delivering a stinging slap across her face. Chloe was stunned. Liam immediately stepped in front of her to shield her. I kicked him away, grabbed his shirt collar, and slapped him, hard, again and again. But the pain of my palms striking his face was nothing compared to the agony in my heart. I roared, “How dare your ‘true love’ be built on *my* suffering? If you didn’t want me to have those children, you could have just said so! Why did you have to murder them in secret? Your hands are stained with their blood! Both of you murdered them!” Liam was so startled, he forgot to fight back for a moment. Chloe reached out, clawing at my arm, trying to pull me away. But reason had abandoned me. All I wanted was for the people who’d destroyed my children to feel a fraction of my pain. I violently shook Chloe’s hand off, just as I was about to unleash more. Then, a pained shriek erupted from behind me. I froze, turning to look. Liam had shoved me, hard, sending me sprawling onto the floor. Chloe was curled on the ground, trembling with agony. Her white dress was rapidly blooming with scarlet. “Help! My baby! Someone, please, help my baby!”

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My husband, Jaxson, had lost everything in a terrible investment. He’d racked up massive debts, and the creditors had kidnapped him, threatening to sell his organs if I didn’t pay up. Over the phone, his voice choked with tears. “Forget about me, Harper. Maybe we’ll find each other in the next life…” To save him, I made the agonizing choice to abort my two-month-old baby. Then, I agreed to the creditors’ demands: I would become a surrogate. Four months later, I stumbled upon Jaxson and his widowed sister-in-law, Sera, sharing a dark secret. “Don’t worry, Sera,” Jaxson’s voice was smooth, reassuring. “The doctors say *our* triplets are perfectly healthy.” Sera’s voice, sugary sweet, followed. “Besides the title of Mrs. Hayes, I can give you everything. The fortune, the children—they’re all yours!” “Once Harper delivers, I’ll find an excuse. I’ll say she’s tainted, and I’ll never touch her again!” Jaxson promised. “I belong only to you!” I laughed. A hollow, bitter sound. My heart didn’t just break; it shattered into a million irreparable pieces. Fine. If that’s how it is, then the role of Mrs. Hayes? You two can have it.

“Mr. Hayes, your children with Ms. Blackwood are perfectly healthy. However, as they are triplets, there’s a risk of premature birth for the surrogate. Please be prepared.” I thought I’d simply overheard someone else’s private conversation. I was about to slip away quietly. But then, *his* familiar yet chillingly unfamiliar voice echoed from the room. “As long as the babies are fine. *She’s* not important.” My heart clenched. My steps froze at the doorway. “Oh, Jaxson,” Sera’s voice was a soft, helpless sob. “It’s all my fault for having a weak body, for not being able to carry a pregnancy. Otherwise, I’d truly want to bear your child myself.” “But isn’t this unfair to Harper? After all, she aborted *your* child just to…” A sharp, derisive laugh cut her off. “She had it coming!” Jaxson’s voice was so cold it sent a shiver down my spine. “If she hadn’t secretly messed with the condoms, how would she have gotten pregnant in the first place? But even if she tried to trick me, I’d never have let her keep that baby!” His voice softened, directed at Sera. “Sera, besides the title of Mrs. Hayes, my fortune and my children are *only* for you!” “Besides, you’re so fragile, so delicate. You deserve to be pampered. Dangerous things like carrying a child? Of course, *she* should handle that.” It felt like someone had violently smashed my chest. A silent, excruciating pain spread through me, and cold sweat drenched my back. Jaxson’s voice continued. “You’re just too kind, always thinking of her. Truth is, I haven’t wanted her for a long time… But since she insists on being Mrs. Hayes, then she’ll pay the price!” “Once she gives birth, I’ll just find some excuse, say she’s tainted, and never touch her again!” “Sera, relax. I belong only to you!” I stood outside the door, my body stiff, my heart a stone thrown into the deep ocean. I was suffocating, unable to make a sound. My prenatal check-up was supposed to be this weekend, but these past few days, I’d been plagued by a gnawing unease. I was terrified something might go wrong with the babies inside me, jeopardizing the ransom. That’s why I’d rushed to the fertility clinic today. But I never imagined I’d walk into *this*. No wonder! No wonder when I told Jaxson I was pregnant, he only stayed silent. And within days, he claimed his investments had failed, that he owed a massive debt. For months, I’d lived in constant fear because of him, plagued by sleepless nights. I even aborted my own child and risked my life with this high-risk surrogacy, all just to get him back safe and sound. Turns out, this entire charade, from beginning to end, was a calculated scheme against me! My fingers trembled, my legs felt like jelly, my breath came in ragged gasps. Tears, hot and unstoppable, flooded my eyes. I fought back the rising nausea, forcing myself to turn around. My steps faltered as I stumbled out of the clinic. With every step, the crack in my heart widened. I pulled out my phone, my fingers so cold they barely gripped it. Scrolling to a message buried deep in my inbox, I slowly typed a reply. “Damian, I’m in. I’ll do what we talked about.” “Please help me arrange the surgery again. This weekend.”

When I got home, the moment I pushed open the door, a flurry of hurried movement erupted in the living room. Jaxson’s lips still bore a tell-tale smudged lipstick mark, while Sera, head bowed, fumbled to straighten her skirt. Back then, when Sera offered to buy our house and let us continue living there, I was so grateful I almost wept. I thought she was so thoughtful, so kind-hearted. But now, I saw it for what it was: a convenient arrangement for her and Jaxson to meet. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to act as if I hadn’t seen anything. I turned to change my shoes. Jaxson approached me, his face plastered with that fake smile. “Harper, why are you out by yourself with your belly so big? You make me worry.” Once, I would have thought that was genuine concern. But now, I finally understood. He wasn’t worried about me. He was worried about *his* babies with *her*. I said flatly, “My stomach felt bloated. I went for a walk.” Sera’s eyes flashed with panic at my words. She reached out, attempting to touch my belly. “Are the babies okay? Have you been eating something you shouldn’t have?” Instinctively, I recoiled sharply, pushing her hand away, my voice cold. Her smile instantly froze, replaced by a wounded whine. “What are you doing? I was just trying to show concern!” I took another deep breath. “Sera, if you love children so much, why don’t you have your own?” Jaxson’s face darkened. He strode forward, his voice low and sharp. “Harper! Sera means well. How can you talk to her like that?” Then his gaze shifted to Sera. She stood with her head down, lips trembling, the very picture of pitiful vulnerability: “I know you look down on women like me who have health issues and can’t have children. But I simply love kids. Please don’t misunderstand, okay?” Jaxson’s brows furrowed. His voice was low and cold, but clearly biased. “See! What nonsense are you spouting? Apologize to Sera, now!” My chest felt as if it were being ripped open by a sharp blade, cut by cut. The pain was so intense I couldn’t even breathe. The gentle, caring husband I once knew now only showed impatience and anger. I bit my lip hard, my throat dry. Too exhausted to argue, I turned and went back to my room. After the house was sold to Sera, Jaxson had said with a smile: “It wouldn’t be right for us to stay in the master bedroom.” “Why don’t you just stay in the small guest room on the first floor? That way you don’t have to go upstairs. It’s safer.” Back then, I was foolishly grateful for his thoughtfulness, believing he had my best interests at heart. But now, it was clear. All of it was just to make it easier for him and Sera to enjoy their undisturbed life upstairs. He followed me in, sitting on the edge of the bed, putting on that mask of fake tenderness. “Harper, don’t overthink things. Once the babies are born and we’ve paid off the debt, we won’t have to live under anyone’s thumb anymore!” He reached out, gently stroking my hair, his voice as soft as it used to be. “Then, we’ll have a baby of our own, and we’ll be a family, forever!” For a fleeting second, I almost wavered. I wanted to ask him. Had he ever dreamed of the baby who never got to come into this world, like I had? If he loved Sera so much, why didn’t he just marry her a year ago after his brother’s accident? Why had he suddenly proposed to *me* then? But all the words caught in my throat. I watched him reach out, seemingly wanting to touch my belly, but his movement halted when he saw my swollen abdomen and the faint stretch marks already appearing. A flicker of instinctive revulsion crossed his eyes. In that instant, his fake tenderness couldn’t hide the coldness and disdain in his gaze. My heart felt like it had been carved out with an ice pick, completely shattered into pieces. I let out a cold laugh, the corners of my lips curving into a smile that was uglier than a cry. Looks like some questions don’t need asking anymore. Seeing my silence, his face darkened. “I know you’re hormonal during pregnancy, but you chose to be a surrogate to help me pay off my debts. So stop being so passive-aggressive and making things uncomfortable.” I lowered my head, my throat tight, my heart chilling to the core. Yes, I chose all of it. I brought this upon myself. Seeing my expression, he put on his “tender and caring” facade again, gently comforting me. “Alright, don’t be mad. I have to go out for a few days. Sera helped me get a new client.” “I’ll definitely be back to accompany you before your prenatal check-up this weekend. I’ll bring you a gift.” I looked at the extreme hypocrisy in his tender expression, a slow smile spreading on my lips. “Okay. I’ll have a gift for you too, then.”

At the hospital, the doctor frowned. “Ms. Stone, you got pregnant again so soon after your previous miscarriage, and now you’re carrying triplets… If you miscarry again this time, you might never be able to conceive.” I froze, my hand unconsciously stroking my swollen abdomen, my fingertips trembling slightly. “If… if I abort the babies now, what will happen to them?” I asked in a low voice, so hoarse it was almost inaudible. The doctor sighed, then slowly spoke. “Under normal circumstances, the hospital helps arrange cremation and a proper burial, as per family wishes.” “But if the family doesn’t request it, the babies are incinerated collectively.” He paused, a hint of anger in his voice. “However, the most outrageous thing is when some people promise their wives they’ll handle the burial properly, but then just throw the baby into the toilet.” “Later, the cleaning staff found the baby stuck in the toilet drain. They had to be forcibly flushed away. There was no proper send-off at all.” My head snapped up, my throat tight, my voice trembling. “What was the pregnant woman’s name? When did this happen?” The doctor flipped through his records. “I remember, it was about half a year ago. The pregnant woman’s name was…” “Mrs. Hayes.” BOOM— My head spun with a violent ringing, as if something had exploded in my ears. I slowly stood up, my hands clenched so tightly around my clothes that my knuckles turned white and my fingers trembled. That was *my* baby! From the moment I knew I was pregnant, I’d started fantasizing about our family of three after the birth. Imagining the baby growing up, calling me ‘Mommy’… But for Jaxson, I had no choice but to let go. He had held my hand that day, as I went into the operating room, promising me he would take care of our baby. He had even taken me to see that small grave mound after that day. But I never, ever imagined that little life, who never got to enter this world, would end up like *that*. Thrown away like trash by his own hands! I bit down hard on my lip, tears streaming down my face. My chest felt hollowed out, the pain so intense I could barely stand. I retreated inch by inch until my back hit the cold wall, a suppressed sob escaping my throat. The last shred of hesitation in my heart was utterly broken. I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my palms. I looked up at the doctor. “I’ve decided. I want the surgery immediately.” After the surgery, I lay on the hospital bed, gathering my strength. I dialed a number. “Damian, I’m ready. Come pick me up tonight.” That evening, Jaxson returned home, his face etched with impatience. The moment he pushed open the door, he roared. “Harper, why did the clinic call me today saying you missed your prenatal check-up?!” “Are you kidding me?! I already explained to you, Sera and I were meeting a client, that’s why we couldn’t make it back!” Sera followed behind him, clutching his arm, feigning comfort. “Harper, don’t be mad. Jaxson and I were working. Don’t think too much, okay?” I sat pale on the sofa, my gaze coldly fixed on her arm wrapped around Jaxson’s. A faint, scornful smile touched my lips. Sera’s smile stiffened. She shrank her hand back. Jaxson’s face instantly darkened, anger churning in his eyes. He threw his jacket violently onto the sofa. “What exactly do you want?! Don’t you dare act out just because you’re pregnant!” His voice suddenly rose, rage practically spewing from him. “Haven’t I been working this hard for *you*?! Are you trying to use the baby to vent your anger and threaten me now?!” With that, he kicked the sofa, with so much force that the cushion almost flew off. Just then, my phone buzzed. I slowly stood up and walked towards the door. Jaxson instinctively reached out to grab me, but I shifted, avoiding his hand. He turned livid, his voice laced with threat. “Fine, Harper. If you don’t explain yourself today, don’t expect me to tolerate you anymore!” I glanced back at him from the doorway, a cold smile slowly curving on my lips. “You’re right. Nothing can happen to the babies. I’m going to get checked right now.” Jaxson seemed to sense something different. His eyes froze on me for a moment. Then, his gaze dropped, landing on my slightly slimmer belly. His face changed instantly. Just as he was about to say something, I cut him off coldly. “Your gift is right by the sofa. Hope you both like it.” By now, Sera had already torn open the express box. A nauseating stench washed over us. She looked inside, her face instantly turning ashen. She shrieked, recoiling sharply, almost stumbling. Jaxson turned at her scream, his face stiffening. He froze, pupils wildly dilating, the shock and fear in his eyes instantly devouring all his anger.

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While expanding my business overseas, I unexpectedly stumbled upon my brother-in-law Mark’s SnapChat story. “Happy birthday to my wife today. Helping her become the CEO of Sterling Group.” My brows instantly furrowed. Because the woman in the photo, intimately close with my brother-in-law, wasn’t my sister. Yet, she was wearing my sister’s clothes and jewelry, sitting on my sister’s husband, and even living in our family’s mansion. Scrolling further down, I realized Mark had blocked my main account on SnapChat. “Today, we got a new pet at home. My wife doesn’t like it, so I can only let the dog stay outside.” In the photo, my sister Clara was covered in bruises, barely clothed, her hair completely shaved off. She was chained like a dog in a small doghouse by the entrance, looking utterly miserable. Rage burned through me. How dare that good-for-nothing leech who married into our family turn my sister into a dog?! … I rushed back home. My car pulled up to the Sterling family mansion, and the sight before me made my breath catch. The once meticulously maintained garden was now overgrown with weeds, the villa’s exterior walls were peeling, and the yard was littered with trash. What truly chilled me to the bone was the tiny figure chained next to the doghouse by the entrance. “Clara?” I rushed closer, unable to believe my eyes. The figure huddled by the doghouse was my sister, the one I had cherished and protected like a precious gem. She looked up, her eyes vacant and lifeless, her face covered in wounds. Even more terrifying, she didn’t show any surprise or joy at seeing me. Instead, she cowered back, a low whimper, like a dog’s bark, escaping her throat. “Clara, it’s me, your brother, Alex!” My voice trembled as I knelt before her. But she grew even more terrified, desperately trying to burrow into the doghouse, crawling with all fours. “Don’t hit me… please… I’ll be good…” She whimpered softly, her voice so hoarse it was barely recognizable. I saw her exposed arms and ankles were covered in bruises and scars. Some even looked like cigarette burns. My sanity instantly shattered, consumed by fury. “Who! Who did this!” I roared, standing up. Just then, the mansion door opened. My brother-in-law Mark and his mother, Brenda, stepped out. “Alex, you’re back?” Mark wore a smile, but his tone was nonchalant. I stared at them coldly: “What happened to my sister? Why is she chained out here?” Mark’s face changed, then twisted into a sorrowful expression: “Alex, Clara… she’s developed a mental illness.” Brenda chimed in, adding fuel to the fire: “Lately, Clara suddenly became unstable, going crazy all day, even trying to bite people! We had no choice but to…” “Shut up!” I cut her off. “Don’t you think I know what Clara is like? What exactly did you do to her?!” Seeing my fury, Mark’s expression immediately hardened: “Since you don’t believe me, then I’ll tell you the truth.” He pulled out his phone and played a video: “Take a look, this is what your sister is really like!” In the video, a figure resembling my sister was entangled with several men in a hotel room. “What is this?” I demanded, my voice icy. Mark sneered: “That’s your sister’s true face! A chaotic private life, seducing men everywhere!” “As her husband, I’ve been tolerant enough. Anyone else would have divorced her long ago!” “Ever since I found out about this and proposed a divorce, she couldn’t handle it herself and went insane.” Brenda, ever the instigator, added: “Our family is respectable! How can we tolerate a woman who tarnishes our good name?!” “Your family?” I scoffed. “Your son married into the Sterling family, he even changed his surname, and you’re still talking about your family’s good name here?” I knew my own sister. If Clara had ever done anything like that, I’d drop dead on the spot. Just then, Clara finally spoke. She cautiously tugged at my pants. Her voice was so weak it was almost inaudible: “Brother… they… they drugged me… it wasn’t willing…” “You little tramp, shut your mouth!” Mark lunged forward to hit her, but I blocked him instantly. “Dare to touch her? Just try me.” My eyes blazed with murderous intent. Mark recoiled, intimidated by my glare, but his words remained venomous: “Alex, don’t let her fool you! She acted just like this when I caught her red-handed at the hotel that day!” “Everyone at the company knows she’s mentally unstable. The board has already voted to remove her from her position!” I ignored him, kneeling to embrace my trembling sister, carefully examining her arms. A multitude of needle marks and old scars were clearly visible. “What are these?” I pointed to the needle marks. Mark stammered: “Those are… those are sedatives the doctor gave her…” “Doctor? Which doctor?” I pressed. “Just… the community clinic’s…” My rationality completely snapped. I waved my hand towards the car outside the mansion. A dozen black-clad bodyguards immediately stormed in, apprehending Mark and Brenda. “What are you doing! Let me go!” Mark struggled violently. Brenda shrieked: “Help! Someone’s attacking us!” “Search the place! Turn this house upside down and find all the evidence!” I commanded coldly. Mark thrashed: “How dare you! This is my house! Let me go!” I punched him in the face: “You married into the Sterling family, live in the Sterling family’s house, and abuse the Sterling family’s heiress, and you have the nerve to call this your house?!” Mark’s nose bled profusely, but he still yelled: “Alex Sterling, don’t go too far! Let me tell you, the Sterling Group isn’t yours to command anymore!” “The company has a new CEO, and your sister is nothing now!” I sneered: “Oh really? Then I’d like to see who’s audacious enough to snatch my sister’s position.” The bodyguards moved swiftly, thoroughly searching the entire mansion. I, meanwhile, held my sister, light as a scarecrow, and gently comforted her: “Clara, brother’s back. It’s okay now, everything will be alright.” Clara trembled in my arms: “Brother… they’ll kill me… they said… if I told you the truth…” “No one can hurt you, I promise.” I said firmly. I took clean clothes from the car and helped her change, my heart aching. Her body was covered in injuries, some scabbed over, others fresh. Even more terrifying, her eyes were filled with pure dread. Even my softest words made her tremble. “Clara, don’t be afraid. Brother will take you to the company and see who dared to bully you!” I whispered gently. A flicker of confusion crossed her eyes, then she nodded slightly. I instructed my head bodyguard: “Keep a close eye on them. I’ll deal with them when I get back!” The bodyguard nodded: “Don’t worry, Mr. Sterling, they won’t get away.” “Also, organize all the evidence you find, especially those drugs and surveillance footage.” Taking Clara to the Sterling Group headquarters building, I found the situation worse than I’d imagined. The receptionist looked at us with disdain: “Do you have an appointment? No appointment, no entry.” I scoffed: “I am Alex Sterling, and this is Clara Sterling, the CEO of Sterling Group.” The receptionist displayed a look of contempt: “I’m sorry, our company’s CEO is Ms. Victoria. I haven’t heard of anyone named Clara Sterling.” Ms. Victoria? My brows furrowed instantly. I could understand if Mark, that bastard, wanted to usurp power and become CEO himself. But who was this Ms. Victoria, and where did she come from? Several employees nearby were already whispering: “Look, isn’t that the boss’s husband’s mistress? I heard she’s a real party animal, went crazy from all the fun, and then her family locked her up.” “CEO? She’s really trying to flatter herself!” “Who’s that guy? Her brother? Daring to cause trouble?” “Oh, what do you even know? At the end of the day, isn’t being a mistress just for money? This might be just a new client she’s picked up.” I glared at those employees, “Are your mouths filled with absolute garbage?!” A security guard approached, blocking our way: “Sir, please don’t cause a disturbance here, or we’ll call the police.” I took a deep breath, suppressing my anger, and told the receptionist: “Take me to the CEO’s office.” The receptionist hesitated, perhaps seeing my strong aura, not daring to confront me directly. She made a phone call. “Ms. Victoria, two people claiming to be Alex Sterling and Clara Sterling want to see you… Alright, I’ll take them up now.” Upon receiving the instructions, she gave a strange smile: “Very well, please follow me.” The elevator went straight to the top floor. On what used to be my sister’s office door, a nameplate conspicuously displayed “CEO Victoria.” The office door opened, and a glamorous woman walked out, followed by a panting Mark, who must have escaped my bodyguards at home. Victoria sized us up, a sneer playing on her lips: “You must be Alex Sterling, right? I’ve heard so much about you.” I didn’t know how Mark had managed to get away from the bodyguards, but he now stood beside Victoria, looking utterly confident of victory. “Who are you? Why are you in my sister’s office?” I demanded coldly. Victoria’s smile grew more smug: “I am Victoria, the CEO of Sterling Group, and this is a legitimate appointment.” She pulled a stack of documents from a drawer: “This is the appointment letter, unanimously passed by the board of directors. Your sister was dismissed due to mental issues, and now I’m managing Sterling Group.” I scoffed: “Legitimate? Are you sure?” Victoria raised an eyebrow: “Of course, all procedures were legal and compliant.” “Clara Sterling became mentally unstable and couldn’t perform her CEO duties, so the board voted for me to take over.” “These are legally binding documents. You can have your lawyer verify them.” Clara hid behind me, trembling constantly, murmuring softly: “No… it’s not like that… they’re lying…” Mark sneered: “Clara, stop pretending. We have all your psychiatric diagnostic reports.” “Everyone in the company saw you having your fits.” Victoria chimed in too: “Mr. Sterling, I understand your feelings as a brother, but facts are facts.” “Your sister needs treatment, not to continue in a position she can’t handle.” I gently patted my sister’s hand, calming her, then pulled out my phone and dialed a number. “Immediately gather all Sterling Group board members. They must be here within five minutes, not a single one missing!” Victoria and Mark exchanged a glance, their faces subtly changing. “Mr. Sterling, what is the meaning of this?” Victoria tried to maintain her composure. I sneered: “Meaning? You’ll find out soon enough.” Mark interjected: “Alex, don’t cause trouble. It will only make things more embarrassing for you.” “The board is all on our side. You can’t win.” I ignored him, just staring at him coldly: “Mark, do you really think that just because I wasn’t here for three years, you could do whatever you wanted?” “You overestimate yourself.” In less than five minutes, the board members arrived one by one. Seeing my sister and me, their eyes held clear hostility. Director Mr. Peterson was the first to speak: “Alex, you returned without warning. What’s the meaning of suddenly barging into the company?” Another director chimed in: “That’s right. Sterling Group is running very well now. We don’t need you telling us what to do.” I looked around the room. These people had all been my father’s trusted subordinates, yet now they had all betrayed us. “I want to know, why did you betray my sister? She is the legitimate heir of Sterling Group. By what right did you put this woman in the CEO’s position?” I demanded coldly. The board members exchanged glances, finally, the most senior, Director Mr. Miller, spoke: “Clara Sterling is mentally unstable and no longer suitable to be CEO. This was a unanimous decision by the board.” “We have hospital diagnostic certificates and video recordings of her fits.” “As the board, we have a responsibility to protect the company’s interests and cannot let a mentally ill person continue to lead Sterling Group.” Brenda, who had arrived at some point, stood by, fanning the flames: “See? Even the company staff know Clara’s gone crazy! It’s a fact, no one can change it!” Mark seized the opportunity to attack: “Alex, you don’t understand company rules, so don’t come here to cause trouble. Sterling Group is now controlled by the board and Director Victoria. Everything is legal and compliant.” Victoria pressed her advantage: “Mr. Sterling, I suggest you take your sister and leave. She needs proper rest, not to cause more disruption here.” “Look at her now, does she look like a normal person?” My sister, the CEO of the prestigious Sterling Group, was being humiliated by these people! Clara trembled behind me, her eyes filled with dread. “I’ll ask one last time: are you sure you want to side with them?” My voice was colder than ice. Director Mr. Peterson sneered: “Alex, who do you think you are? You’re just an expatriate who returned from overseas. Sterling Group has already changed hands. Do you really think you’re still the undisputed ruler around here?” “Sterling Group is ours to command now. You’d better be sensible and leave with your crazy sister.” “If that’s too hard, I can even send you a two-hundred-dollar PayPal payment. Get your crazy sister some more male escorts, isn’t she into that kind of thing?” Mr. Hayes also added: “Exactly. Don’t think that just because you had some success overseas, you can come back and boss us around.” “We’ve been working with your father for many years. How the company should operate is not for you to teach.” “I just never thought your father, such a respected figure, could raise two utterly disgraceful individuals like you.” Director Mr. Miller was even more direct: “Security, get these troublemakers out of here!” Just then, the conference room door was pushed open, and a middle-aged man walked in with several assistants. “Mr. Thompson!” The directors immediately stood up, their faces beaming with fawning smiles. Director Mr. Miller hastily introduced: “Alex, you probably haven’t met him, right? This is Mr. Thompson, the East Coast Regional President of Titan Enterprises. Thanks to Ms. Victoria, we’re discussing a major project with Titan.” “If your sister were still CEO, we probably wouldn’t have met Mr. Thompson in our lifetime.” “Mr. Thompson, I’m truly sorry you had to see this.” Mr. Thompson surveyed the scene, frowning slightly. Mark, seeing this, quickly stepped forward: “Mr. Thompson, this is my brother-in-law. He just returned from overseas, doesn’t understand the company situation, and is causing trouble here.” Victoria also chimed in: “That’s right, Mr. Thompson, he even wants to interfere with our cooperation with Titan. It’s truly outrageous.” Director Mr. Hayes added fuel to the fire: “Mr. Thompson, we hope you can help us uphold justice. If this kind of person continues to cause trouble, it will be detrimental to the entire business community.” “The contract we’re about to sign with you, it concerns hundreds of millions in profit.” Mr. Thompson’s gaze swept across the room, finally landing on me, his expression complex. Then, to everyone’s surprise, he walked directly up to me and bowed ninety degrees: “Mr. Sterling, you’re back! Titan Enterprises is at your disposal anytime!” The entire conference room fell silent. Everyone’s faces shifted from smugness to shock, then to utter dread. I scoffed softly: “Mr. Thompson, thank you for your hard work. It seems you’ve done a great job expanding Titan’s business in the East Coast region.” Mr. Thompson respectfully replied: “It’s all thanks to your guidance, Mr. Sterling. I only came to discuss this cooperation today because I knew Sterling Group was your family company.” At his words, the entire room was even more stunned. Mr. Hayes stammered: “Mr. Thompson, you… you know Alex Sterling?” Mr. Thompson gave him a contemptuous look: “Titan Enterprises is Mr. Sterling’s property. I’m just an employee.” “In the three years Mr. Sterling was overseas, he acquired seventeen multinational corporations, quadrupling his assets.” “Titan is just one of many subsidiaries Mr. Sterling owns.” This news dropped like a bomb, stunning everyone present. Titan Enterprises was a giant in the domestic business world, with a market value of hundreds of billions. And it belonged to Alex Sterling? They had thought Alex Sterling had lost real power after passing on Sterling Group to Clara. But who would have thought that he didn’t care about Sterling Group at all; it was just a place for his sister to work and have fun! Victoria’s face turned pale, her legs weak, barely able to stand. Mark was too terrified to speak, cold sweat beading on his forehead. The directors exchanged bewildered glances, finally realizing the immense trouble they had caused. I looked around, speaking calmly: “Today, I announce the termination of all of Victoria’s positions within Sterling Group and the freezing of all assets held by Mark and Victoria that are related to Sterling Group.” “All employees hired by Victoria and Mark will go through standard dismissal procedures!” “Furthermore, the board of directors is hereby dissolved and will be re-formed. Everyone involved in this incident will pay for their actions.” The directors snapped out of their daze, falling to their knees, begging for mercy: “Mr. Sterling, we were forced!” “Mark threatened us, saying he’d cut off our financial resources if we didn’t cooperate!” “He had videos of your sister and hospital certificates! We truly believed she had mental problems!” “We were also thinking about the company. Ms. Clara’s condition really wasn’t good…” Mr. Thompson scoffed: “What a bunch of spineless opportunists, just swaying whichever way the wind blows.” “Mr. Sterling was so good to you all. If he hadn’t protected you back then, you would have been purged from the board long ago.” “Now, you repay kindness with betrayal, and aided and abetted these wrongdoers!” I looked at those spineless opportunists with cold eyes, no longer bothering with them. Just then, several bodyguards entered the conference room with police officers and investigators. The investigators held a stack of documents and several USB drives: “Mr. Sterling, we found these in the mansion.” “Surveillance footage shows Mark and Brenda routinely abusing Ms. Sterling, injecting her with unknown drugs, and the original fake video files.” “This is the list of drugs they injected into Ms. Sterling; most are psychiatric medications and sedatives. Long-term use can lead to mental confusion and cognitive impairment.” “Additionally, we found extensive evidence of company asset embezzlement. Mark transferred most of Sterling Group’s funds into private accounts.” “These are the forged hospital diagnostic reports. We’ve already contacted the hospital and confirmed they are fake.” With overwhelming evidence, Mark, Victoria, and Brenda’s faces were beyond pale. Victoria was the first to break down. She knelt on the floor, crying out: “It’s not my fault! It’s all Mark! He was the one who promised me the CEO position! He was the one who said he’d marry me!” “He said as long as I cooperated with him, once he controlled Sterling Group, he’d divorce Clara and marry me!” “I just followed his instructions; all decisions were controlled by him behind the scenes!” Brenda, hearing this, immediately cursed: “You tramp! You vixen! Seducing my son wasn’t enough, now you want to blame him too?!” “Do you think I don’t know all the dirty things you two were doing behind our backs?” “My son wouldn’t have done such things if you hadn’t charmed him!” Mark’s face turned ashen as he faced accusations from both sides. Suddenly, he lunged at me: “Alex Sterling, don’t you get cocky! I’ll kill you!”

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