Author: Momo Chan

Five months pregnant, my husband, David Miller, secured approval for family relocation on base, yet he had no intention of bringing me. “Audrey, Leah’s husband died saving my life. I owe them everything.” “Just wait a little longer. In six months, I promise I’ll come for you and Mom.” I waited year after year. At first, my husband would still send letters, but then, complete radio silence. The local scoundrel, seeing my family’s vulnerability, came to force me into becoming his woman. To protect me, my mother-in-law, Martha, was beaten to death with a wooden club. My daughter was thrown into a well and drowned. David finally came back, only to curse me, calling me a loose woman who had caused our whole family’s demise. He forced me to sign divorce papers, then turned around and held a city-wide sensational wedding with his ‘benefactor’s’ widow. While they feasted in their sprawling mansion, I was left to starve to death. When I opened my eyes again, I was back—the day before that scoundrel showed up. This time, I vow to lead Martha and Daisy to the life that should have been ours!

“Audrey, why don’t you go hide somewhere?” “When Butch comes tomorrow, he’ll see it’s just me and Daisy. He won’t touch us.” Mom, her back stooped, looked at me with a worried expression, pleading. I shook my head, hearing her words. “No, Mom.” In my last life, I listened to Mom and hid in the mountains. Who knew that monster, Butch, would fly into a rage when he didn’t find me? He beat Mom to death with a wooden club. Neighbors said Mom was bleeding all over, and before she closed her eyes, she was still thinking of me: “If I’m gone, how hard will it be for Audrey to take care of the child alone?” And Daisy, for biting Butch, was directly thrown into the well. Her heart-wrenching screams abruptly ceased. Daisy was gone, her body swollen from the water. This time, I would never allow such a tragedy to happen again. I looked at my daughter, gaunt and pale from malnutrition, then at Mom, barely fifty but looking eighty. A decision solidified in my heart! “Mom, we’re going to the base to find David!” “Otherwise, even if Butch doesn’t come for us, we’ll starve to death anyway!” “Alright… alright.” Mom roughly wiped away her tears with her threadbare sleeve. “Since you’ve decided, Mom supports you.” “Are we going to find Dad?” A spark of excitement lit up Daisy’s eyes. “Yes!” I nodded firmly. No sooner said than done. I packed the last three potatoes we had in my pocket and set off with Mom and Daisy. We walked and rested, asking for directions until we finally found Major Miller’s unit, the 211th. Staring at the solemn, imposing gates of the military base, a sarcastic smile touched my lips. So, the 211th Unit’s base was this close. Barely a ten-mile distance, yet David hadn’t come home in three years, not even a single letter. Did he know that, in those three years, our home had run out of everything? Mom and I lived by digging wild vegetables and begging every day. My poor daughter, so young, suffered countless stares and insults alongside us. The entire village bullied us. Butch tried every trick to take advantage of me. And my husband… was ‘serving his country with utmost loyalty’ barely a stone’s throw from home! How… ironic! I held my frail daughter in one arm and supported my limping mother-in-law with the other, walking towards the guard post. “Officer, who can I help you with?” “David Miller.” “Major Miller?” The guard’s eyes flickered with surprise. “Strange, isn’t the Major an orphan?” The guard mumbled softly, then as if something clicked, a look of realization flashed in his eyes. “Ah, I get it! You must be relatives of the Major’s wife!” I froze. The Major’s wife? Then who was I? Just as I was about to ask, a familiar voice suddenly called out from behind me. “Audrey!” I turned to see David Miller. Compared to when he left, he seemed stronger and more handsome. “What are you doing here?” David’s face was filled with shock as he quickly walked towards us. “Major Miller, they’re relatives of your wife.” The guard eagerly explained. Hearing this, David’s face turned grim. He pulled us aside. “This is outrageous! Showing up without a word, acting on your own! What gave you the nerve?!” David looked utterly displeased. Mom was stunned, her face etched with confusion. “Son, who is he talking about? Whose wife?” David’s face stiffened. Daisy, oblivious to the tension, excitedly hugged David’s leg: “Are you my dad?” “Shut up!” David barked, glaring fiercely at Daisy. Just then, the guard not far away suddenly called out, “Mrs. Miller, you have visitors!” David quickly pushed Daisy away. He pushed too hard, and Daisy fell heavily to the ground.

Thud! Daisy’s head hit the ground, and instantly, blood welled up. “It hurts so much! Mom!” Daisy wailed. Watching her forehead swell rapidly, my heart ached. I quickly knelt down, gathered Daisy into my arms, and gently comforted her: “It’s okay, Daisy, Mom will make it feel better.” “David! How could you?! Why would you hit a child so hard?!” Mom’s eyes flashed with resentment. For the past three years, Daisy had been her precious little girl. She’d rather starve than let Daisy go without, always giving her the last potato. Now seeing her granddaughter injured, a flicker of anger ignited towards her son, who hadn’t returned home in so long. “David, who *are* these people?” The woman sashayed over to us, her eyes openly contemptuous. I looked up at her. She wore a designer dress, the form-fitting waistline accentuating her perfect figure. Her makeup was exquisite, her hair fashionably curled, and a faint sweet scent wafted from her. As for the white heels she wore, I’d seen them in town—they cost a fortune, easily twenty dollars. Then I looked at myself: a faded, patched, and worn old dress, my canvas shoes torn at the front, my big toe peeking through. My sun-baked face was covered in burn marks. No wonder… David hadn’t wanted to come home in three years. With a beauty like her by his side, he probably long forgot about his long-suffering wife. “Leah, what are you doing here?” David looked a bit awkward. “I was just heading to the daycare to pick up Leo.” Then, she pointedly glanced at me: “Aren’t you going to introduce us, David?” “This is… my mother, my daughter, and… my wife.” David’s voice grew softer with each word, the last two barely a whisper. Hearing this, Leah’s face stiffened, a flicker of displeasure flashing in her eyes. “Audrey, this is Captain Miller’s widow, whom I’m looking after.” David looked at me. But I didn’t respond. I’d known who she was all along. In my last life, after David forced me to divorce, he turned around and threw a city-wide sensational wedding with Leah Stewart. Leah, adorned in an expensive Western-style wedding gown, dripping in gold rings, earrings, and necklaces, shone like a movie star. Meanwhile, I was barely clothed, collapsing on the street after three days without food. How could I forget her? “Mrs. Miller, why didn’t you notify us you were coming?” Leah spoke politely, as if she were the lady of the house, exchanging pleasantries. A sarcastic smile touched my lips. “Do I need to notify someone to visit my husband?” “And please, don’t call me ‘Mrs. Miller’. What if those guards over there misunderstand?” Hearing this, Leah’s face turned grim. Seeing her expression, David quickly explained: “Audrey, you know military regulations are pretty strict. Only official family members can live on base.” “That’s why I asked Leah to pretend to be my wife. But we’re completely innocent, you have to believe me.” “That’s right, Mrs. Miller. It’s thanks to David’s help all these years. I truly don’t know how to thank your family enough.” Watching their sickening charade, my stomach churned. I was utterly disgusted. I really didn’t want to say another word to Leah. I looked at David, my voice cold: “Daisy’s head is bleeding. Take us to the base clinic to get it bandaged now.” “But…” David looked hesitant. “What’s wrong? You can’t even do this small thing?” I was getting angry. Leah, seeing my frustration, smiled sweetly and pulled David behind her: “Mrs. Miller, let me explain this to you.” **截断点**

“Mrs. Miller, the medical clinic on base has a limited supply of medicine. David’s quota for this month has already been used for my son, Leo.” “So it’s not that he doesn’t want to take you, it’s that there’s no point.” Leah pretended to be helping David, but her eyes were filled with triumph. My anger flared. “Daisy is your own daughter!” I roared at David. “Keep your voice down!” “Come home with me first! We’ll talk there!” With that, David scooped up Daisy and strode forward. Seeing this, I had no choice but to help Mom follow. “Wow! Dad, is this where I’m going to live? It’s so big and beautiful!” As soon as we entered the house, Daisy excitedly exclaimed. I looked around. There was even a black and white television in the living room. Even though I already knew David was living a comfortable life, I was still stunned. Even the wealthiest families in our village didn’t have a TV. After all, it was a luxury money couldn’t always buy. I couldn’t resist reaching out to touch it, but David quickly snapped: “Don’t touch it! If you break it, Leo won’t be able to watch cartoons tonight.” Hearing his words, my heart ached. Leo? He’s so ‘dedicated’ to raising someone else’s son. But what about his own biological daughter? Daisy is three, and she’s barely had a proper meal. Is he even human? I looked at David coldly: “Didn’t we agree that you’d send your military pay and allowance home every month? Why didn’t you do that?” “Audrey, you need to be more understanding.” David frowned. “It’s tough for me on base. I have to take care of Leah and her child, and I also have to spend money to grease the wheels with my superiors. I don’t have any extra.” “Besides… you three don’t really have any expenses in the village anyway!” “You shouldn’t be so demanding!” Hearing this, Mom’s eyes flashed with disbelief: “David, are you even speaking like a human being?” “Do you have any idea how hard Audrey worked? She was out in the fields, working back-breaking hours, even right after giving birth to Daisy, and you call her demanding?” “If we hadn’t come to find you today, the three of us would have starved to death!” Mom’s old tears streamed down her face as she spoke. Just then, Leah returned with her son, Leo. “Who are you? Why are you touching my toy!” Seeing the toy car in Daisy’s hand, Leo yelled unhappily. Daisy flinched, her voice trembling slightly: “Dad let me play with it.” “You little brat, who’s your dad?!” With that, Leo lunged forward, trying to snatch the toy car from Daisy’s hands. I looked at Leah with cold eyes: “Is this how you teach your child?” “Mrs. Miller, kids say the darndest things, don’t take it to heart.” Leah smiled sweetly. Just then, Leo suddenly bit Daisy. Daisy cried out in pain and instinctively pushed Leo. Leo tumbled backward and sat on the floor, wailing aggrievedly. “Dad, Mom, she bullied me!” Leo looked at Leah and David. Their hearts immediately ached. “Daisy! Who told you to hit people?!” David roared. Leah, hugging Leo, looked utterly wronged: “David, since your family is here, Leo and I will just leave. Why would you let your daughter bully Leo like this?” “I… I didn’t.” David stammered, trying to explain. Leah said nothing, just silently let the tears fall. Seeing this, David actually turned his anger towards Daisy. “You brat! Who told you to hit people!” With that, David raised his hand and harshly slapped Daisy across the face. *Smack!* Daisy flew backward, her head hitting the television cabinet with a sickening thud. “Daisy!” I cried out in alarm! “David Miller! You monster! How could you hit your own daughter like that!” I shrieked, rushing towards Daisy.

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It was almost eleven PM when Jaxson Hayes announced he wanted homemade soup. Despite a raging fever, I dragged my exhausted body, carrying the hearty corn and rib soup that had simmered for three hours, to the entrance of the bar. The moment I stepped inside, a bucket of water splashed all over me, chilling me to the bone. “Hahaha, I told you Simp Aubrey would show up! What’s a fever? She even came rushing over like a loyal puppy when she was in the hospital with a broken leg, just because Jaxson called.” “Simp Aubrey, heard you’re running a fever. We’re just helping you cool down, so you really ought to thank us.” Jaxson took the thermos from my hands, then, right in front of me, poured the soup into the trash bin. “Aubrey Miller, what you make is so bad even a dog wouldn’t touch it. You seriously expected *me* to eat it?” Listening to their collective mockery, it finally hit me: this was just another one of his cruel little charades, all to amuse his delicate childhood sweetheart. Seeing my silence, Jaxson tossed our engagement ring into the cheering crowd: “Aubrey Miller, I won’t be showing up to our wedding in three days. Either find some random guy to marry, or get ready for the ultimate public humiliation with your power-hungry dad.” But later, when I truly walked down the aisle, arm-in-arm with my new groom, Jaxson Hayes was on his knees, sobbing, begging me to come back. 0

I knocked on the VIP room door, holding the hearty corn and rib soup that had simmered for three hours. Maybe the music was too loud, or maybe they were intentionally trying to humiliate me, but I had to knock for five minutes before they finally let me in. The moment I stepped inside, a bucket of water splashed all over me, chilling me to the bone. “Hahaha, I told you Simp Aubrey would show up! What’s a fever? She even came rushing over like a loyal puppy when she was in the hospital with a broken leg, just because Jaxson called.” “Simp Aubrey, heard you’re running a fever. We’re just helping you cool down, so you really ought to thank us.” “Simp Aubrey is really something, huh? Always good for a fresh laugh.” Wave after wave of mockery hammered at my ears, making me clench my hand around the insulated container. Water dripped from my dress, and drops from my hair clung to my lashes like unshed tears. I bit back the chattering of my teeth, swallowing the bitter lump in my throat, and said softly, “Jaxson Hayes, your soup.” “Ohh~ Jaxson Hayes, *your* soup~” Listening to their passive-aggressive jabs, Willow Jenkins, Jaxson’s childhood sweetheart, who was practically glowing in the center of their adoration, chose that moment to flash a mocking smile. Jaxson finally stood up from the VIP booth and slowly walked towards me. He casually brushed the damp hair from my cheek, his tone almost too light. “Really, Aubrey, that was too much trouble for you. You’re not mad, are you?” “Look, guys, you went too far with that joke. Aubrey’s sick, and she still dragged herself here to make soup for everyone. We should be thanking her, not this.” I thought he was genuinely realizing he’d gone too far and was about to say it was nothing, when Jaxson, right in front of me, poured every last drop of the soup into the overflowing trash bin. His voice was gentle, but his words felt like a knife twisting in my gut. “But Aubrey, didn’t I tell you? What you make is so bad even a dog wouldn’t touch it. How could *I* possibly eat it?” I silently met Jaxson’s gaze. My fever-addled brain spun, making me stumble two steps back. Jaxson instinctively flinched away, leaving me unsupported. My head slammed hard against the doorframe, a dull thud echoing in the sudden silence. Jaxson’s expression was laced with mockery. “Stop acting all delicate with me, Aubrey. You gave a speech steady as a rock even with a broken leg, and you’d rush to my side after a car crash with just one call. Now you’re just running a fever, so why the sudden damsel-in-distress act?” “If you think this little stunt will grab my attention, you’ve got another thing coming. I’m not feeling any sympathy.” “So, Aubrey, if you know what’s good for you, tell your dad to call off our engagement himself. You’ve been clinging to me, begging me daily. You might not have any shame, but *I* do. Do you have any idea how embarrassing it is to have you following me around all the time?” It felt like a giant hand was squeezing my heart, draining the color from my face. I knew Jaxson resented me because of our arranged engagement. But this was the first time I’d truly realized that the person who stood before me as a child, promising to protect me forever, had vanished into the unforgiving currents of time. I braced myself against the wall, barely managing to stand steady. Before I could even speak, amidst their jeers, Jaxson tossed the ring I had lovingly made for him into the screaming crowd: “Aubrey Miller, I won’t be showing up to our wedding in three days. Either find some random guy to marry, or get ready for the ultimate public humiliation with your power-hungry dad.” I watched his smug grin, and a genuine, almost relieved, laugh bubbled out of me. “Good.” *** 0

“What?” “I said, ‘Good.’ I’ll find a new groom.” Everyone immediately burst into laughter. “Aubrey Miller, everyone knows you’ve been so obsessed with Jaxson, you haven’t even had a male mosquito buzz near you! And you think *now* you’ll find a new groom? What, do you think this will make Jaxson regret it?” “I think she’s been reading too many romance novels, her brain’s fried. Seriously, you think if you just marry some random guy, Jaxson will suddenly regret it and chase you down like in those ‘chase-the-wife-to-the-crematorium’ plots? Is that it? You actually believe there are that many ‘gonna-regret-it-and-grovel’ storylines in real life?” “Seriously! You think this will threaten Jaxson? Aubrey, don’t flatter yourself.” Jaxson paused for a second, then, hearing everyone’s comments, he too started laughing. “Aubrey Miller, you actually *said* that fake nonsense? Fine, go find a groom. I’d like to see who in high society would dare marry you. Or are you planning to hire some actor to put on a show so your family doesn’t look too bad? No way, no way, the supposedly most brilliant socialite of the city, Aubrey Miller, can’t even find a man willing to marry her?” Amidst their rising tide of mockery, Willow Jenkins lightly coughed twice and walked to Jaxson’s side. “Jaxson, how can you talk to a girl like that? Aubrey is still a girl, after all. Aubrey, I’m so sorry, Jaxson just isn’t very good with words. Please don’t hold it against him. Your families’ engagement was decided by your parents, so no matter how upset you are, you can’t joke about something like this.” “Aubrey, honestly, what happened today… it’s partly my fault too. I didn’t know you had a fever. I thought you just didn’t want to see me, and Jaxson and the others were just trying to defend me. I’m so sorry. Can you please not blame them?” I watched Willow’s eyes well up before I’d even said a word, and I just found her hypocrisy utterly laughable. She was the one who orchestrated this entire scene, yet now she was pretending to apologize to me. Before Willow Jenkins came back, I was still Jaxson’s fiancée, someone he needed to cherish and protect. He used to brave three hours in a freezing winter storm to buy me that artisanal pastry I’d casually mentioned wanting. He used to drive five hours, exhausted, just to be by my side and meticulously care for me when he knew I was sick. He used to unwaveringly stand in front of me, declaring to everyone that hurting me meant hurting him. It was his consistent kindness, day after day, that made me accept his proposal. Yes, our marriage wasn’t some arranged alliance, as the rumors claimed. Jaxson actually had to work hard to earn my parents’ approval before he even *dared* to propose. But ever since Willow Jenkins returned, everything changed. Honestly, at first, I even wanted to get along with Willow. I even rushed around, getting her appointments with the best doctors when I heard she was sickly. But all my good intentions were shattered by one of Willow’s dramatic outbursts: “Just because I’m not strong, does that mean I don’t deserve to hang out with you all?” After that, Jaxson and I somehow reached a point of mutual disgust. I can’t even count how many times we argued over Willow this past year, or how many times I watched Jaxson’s retreating back, filled with absolute resolve. At first, I even thought Jaxson had suddenly gotten amnesia, like some cheap plot twist in a bad romance novel, which was why his attitude towards me had plummeted. So, I had indulged his every whim during this time, just to keep our shaky relationship afloat. But then, yesterday, I overheard Jaxson complaining to his friends: “Aubrey Miller’s fine, I guess, but constantly doting on her? It’s exhausting. And we’re engaged, but she still won’t let me touch her, like I was from the 18th century. What if she’s a dead fish in bed once we’re married?” “Besides, I’ve been spoiling her for so long, it’s about time I broke her a little, taught her who wears the pants in this relationship. Wouldn’t want her walking all over me once we’re married.” I don’t remember how I left the Hayes’ mansion that day. All I remember is regaining consciousness to find myself getting an IV drip. Coming to the bar with the insulated container was purely out of habit, pure instinct. But that bucket of water just now splashed my dazed brain awake. Jaxson can already openly use my humiliation as entertainment for Willow Jenkins. What about the future? Maybe when you hurt enough, the pain just goes numb. My hand drifted to my slowly beating heart. The water dripping from my dress, like my love for Jaxson, slowly pooled on the floor, then vanished completely. 0

Unlike his passive-aggressive jabs at me, Jaxson’s gaze towards Willow Jenkins was laced with genuine concern. He draped his jacket over Willow’s shoulders. “Why are you apologizing to her? She brought this on herself, didn’t she? If she wasn’t so utterly intolerant, how could your health, which was already improving, have deteriorated so badly?” “But since Willow’s pleading for you, I’ll begrudgingly forgive your rudeness towards her. Just kneel down and apologize to Willow right now, and maybe I’ll even consider showing up at the wedding…” “I won’t kneel.” I calmly ran a hand through my wet hair, trying to look less like a drowned rat. “Jaxson Hayes, I won’t kneel, and I won’t marry you. Don’t show up at my wedding in three days. I don’t want to cause any trouble for myself or my husband. Since neither of us intends to honor the engagement, I hope we can both inform our families.” “From now on, the Millers and the Hayes are officially done. We go our separate ways.” Jaxson frowned, his arm, wrapped around Willow Jenkins, suddenly tightened. “Aubrey Miller, what do you mean? I’m telling you, my patience has limits. You better not test me. This is your last chance. Are you sure you want to talk to me with such attitude?” I pulled my gaze from his hand, scoffing softly. “Jaxson Hayes, though nothing but poison has come out of your mouth this past year, you did say one thing right.” “As the city’s most sought-after woman, I’ve never lacked for suitors.” So, Jaxson, do you understand? I was never indispensable to you. I took one last look at the varying expressions on the faces in the private room, then turned and walked towards the bar exit. “Aubrey Miller, if you leave, we’re really over!” My steps never faltered as I left the bar, leaving Jaxson’s infuriated barks behind me. Back home, the adrenaline that had kept me upright finally crashed. My body, which hadn’t fully recovered, had been doused with cold water and then walked for so long in the night. I burned with fever for two days straight before I barely felt human again. When I finally woke up, I saw my dad, a hesitant, almost uncomfortable look on his face. I propped myself up, took a sip from the water a housemaid handed me. “Dad, is there something you want to say?” My dad silently watched me, then, fingering the pack of cigarettes for a moment. “Your engagement with that Hayes boy…” I finally remembered what I had forgotten. My gaze fixed on him, unwavering. “Dad, I don’t want to marry Jaxson Hayes.” My dad looked at me in astonishment. His favorite cigarette pack slipped from his grasp, clattering to the floor. “Aubrey, are you serious?” I nodded, then handed him the marriage certificate from my bedside table. “Dad, I’m not throwing a tantrum. I’ve truly moved on from Jaxson. Sorry, I was afraid you wouldn’t agree, so I acted first and asked for forgiveness later.” My dad looked at the man’s name on the marriage certificate, falling silent for a moment. “Aubrey, you still say you’re not throwing a tantrum. If you wanted to Photoshop something to piss off that Hayes boy, you should have found someone believable! It’s not that I’m looking down on you, but the chances of Darian Thorne from Thorne Industries marrying you are lower than the Earth exploding tomorrow.” I watched him in silence. Okay, if I wasn’t the one involved, I probably wouldn’t believe it either. After all, who would have thought that Darian Thorne, a titan in the business world, secretly loved reading alpha billionaire romance novels? And even more surprisingly, he loved the ones written by an obscure writer like me. But before I could explain, a mocking voice interrupted me. “Darian Thorne? Aubrey Miller, you’re not saying your new groom is Darian Thorne, the CEO of Thorne Industries, are you?” 0Jaxson Hayes held the marriage certificate, scrutinizing it for a moment, then carelessly tossed it aside. “Aubrey Miller, if you’re going to lie, at least come up with something more convincing. You seriously expect me to believe this level of nonsense? Who is Darian Thorne? He’s someone you could ever hope to ‘climb up’ to?”

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Married for six years. It was a union between our families, but also a love story that began in childhood. Watching him now, holding a girl who looked somewhat like me, but was so much younger, so much more innocent. Tears streamed down my face. Childhood sweethearts, it seems, aren’t always meant to last a lifetime. The divorce papers were the last gift I left for him. Outside the car window, rain lashed against the body of the car. Through the glass, I watched the two of them by the dorm entrance. Julian, in a black trench coat, held a young, beautiful girl in his arms, who was playfully snuggling into him. He raised his hand and gently stroked her head, a gesture full of comfort. The streetlights beside the dorm cast their glow into the rain, making the scene look like something out of a romantic drama. Seeing this, I had no desire to wait for their lingering goodbyes. I spun the steering wheel and drove straight off. On the way back, a drop of rain landed on my arm. I blinked, realizing it was a tear. I wiped my face haphazardly, feeling utterly numb. Back in college, when we were dating, Julian often walked me to my dorm like this. Once, during a heavy rain, I casually mentioned I craved those street noodles near the campus gate. Half an hour later, Julian appeared downstairs from my dorm. His coat was a little damp, but those noodles were still piping hot. My tears fell uncontrollably onto my hands, burning just like those noodles did back then.

As soon as I got home, I quickly got ready for bed and burrowed under the covers. Julian tiptoed into the room, a bouquet of flowers in his arms, which he gently placed on the table. He walked to the bedside, resting an arm on my shoulder, his voice full of apology, tinged with a hint of playful cajolery. “Honey, I’m so sorry. I had some business to discuss today and couldn’t make it for dinner with you.” I looked at him, saying nothing. His routine was exactly the same as before, only then it was for work engagements; now, it was for his young girlfriend. He then opened a gift box, revealing a necklace from a brand I often wore. It was indeed a style I liked. “Honey, do you like it? Let me put it on for you.” I stared into his eyes. “No need. I really like the one you gave me before. I’m not that greedy.” Julian paused, then grinned. “Honey, that’s not greedy at all! The old one’s beautiful, but with a new one, it’s nice to switch them up. My wife is so gorgeous, everything looks good on you.” As he spoke, he reached out, cupped the back of my head, and leaned in to kiss me. I fought down the surge of nausea and turned my head, avoiding his lips. I managed to compose myself, unwilling to waste another word on him. “Just wash up and go to bed. I’m a bit tired from today. I want to sleep.” Julian, just like always, affectionately stroked my head. “Alright, honey. Get your rest. Beautiful people need their beauty sleep, you know.”

When I woke up the next day, it was almost noon. I barely slept last night, only drifting off in the dead of night. I opened SnapChat, found Madison’s chat, and scrolled, stopping at our conversation from two days ago. “Girl, is this Julian? My brother’s doing his grad studies at this university, and I dropped him off today. Thought I’d check out some hot guys, and guess what? I saw your husband!” “Why is your husband downstairs from the girls’ dorm? Does he have a sister studying here?” Ten minutes later. “Did I see that right? Your husband is hugging that girl? Is that a sister? That’s clearly a *girlfriend*!” I tapped on the first picture. It was identical to what I saw yesterday: the two of them, flirting outside the dorm, just like a newly infatuated couple. “I think I stumbled upon a huge secret.” Below the photo was a video. In the video, Julian opened the car door for the girl, shielded her head, then got into the car himself, and sped away. My thoughts drifted, back to the past. A girl’s playful voice echoed. “Julian! Is that you? Where’s Mr. Lim?” Julian rested one hand on the sports car window, slowly turning his head, his tone lazy. “Our houses are close. You can just ride with me, it’s on the way. No need to trouble Mr. Lim.” He walked up to me, took my small backpack, opened the passenger door, and made a “please” gesture. “Get in, my princess?” I gave a small huff, as if granting a favor, and stepped into the car in my cute leather shoes. “You don’t have to flatter me like this. Don’t worry, I’ll still give you the courtesy of riding with you.” Julian fastened my seatbelt, then grinned, his eyes blinking at me. “So, does this mean we’re good? You’re so generous; don’t be mad at me anymore.” Mad? Why was I mad? I couldn’t remember. We were about the same age; little squabbles were common, but from childhood on, Julian always made it up to me. I didn’t understand why Julian would fall for someone else. I reached for something, wanting to tidy up, but I didn’t know what to organize. It felt like there was nothing I absolutely had to take with me. I just felt like a jumbled program, emotions running wild. I needed to grip something, anything, to keep myself from unraveling. Then, a photo album appeared in my hands. Inside were photos of Julian and me. I flipped through them, page by page, each picture seemingly telling me that Julian loved me. Tucked deepest inside was a high school yearbook photo of us. I was in my school uniform, white shirt, blue blazer skirt, hair in a high ponytail, leaning my head against the person beside me, smiling and giving a peace sign to the camera. Beside me was Julian, his hair closely cropped, holding two bunny ears above my head, his smile exceptionally bright. I looked into the eyes of my 18-year-old self in the photo, tears blurring the image. I couldn’t control my tears, and I couldn’t control the 28-year-old Julian falling in love with someone else. I took a deep breath, deciding to go find him. Julian, the 18-year-old you, please save me one more time.

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After the game, my boyfriend held the championship trophy and publicly declared his love. The girl? My rival roommate. Seeing my face turn ashen, Liam Harrison didn’t even bat an eye. “It was just a bet. What’s the big deal?” “Worst case, you can just have someone declare their love for you, too. We’ll call it even?” He was so sure I’d never do something like that, and no one around dared to cross him by showing me any interest. But then, his sworn enemy walked towards me. He held his individual achievement trophy out to me, a slight smirk playing on his lips. “Daisy Miller, I’ve always liked you.” “Would you be willing to finally look at me, and be my girlfriend?” I finally took the trophy, nodding emphatically. That night, Liam Harrison went absolutely insane trying to find me. The whistle blew. The host excitedly announced, “Congratulations to the Engineering team for defeating the Athletics team 4-3 and winning this year’s championship!” During the awards ceremony, the stands erupted in cheers. I unclenched my clasped hands. Our university had sent two powerhouse teams to the state championships, and they swept both the championship and runner-up titles. For us, the state tournament practically felt like an internal practice match, a given. Normally, the Athletics team was way ahead. This time, the Engineering team finally held their heads high, and their captain, Liam Harrison, was openly weeping tears of joy. Then, he walked towards the stands, holding the trophy high. Sitting in the front row, my heart began to pound rapidly. “Daisy,” “I’ll propose to you when I lift the trophy.” Liam’s promise, made over dinner with both our families during the holidays, still echoed in my ears. I’d asked him why he thought of that, and he’d answered candidly. “My desire to win this trophy is as strong as my desire to marry you. It means everything.” Indeed, the Athletics team captain, Cole Sterling, had been his sworn enemy since childhood. They were equally matched in family background and looks, but while Liam was more well-known in social circles, when it came to actual skill and campus popularity, Cole was superior. At that moment, a rush of warmth surged through me, and tiny beads of sweat formed on my palms. Nervousness, anticipation, and excitement intertwined, making my heart feel like it would burst from my chest. Clutching my skirt, I even felt a little grateful. I looked pretty today. Every time Liam had a game, I’d dress up carefully to watch, wishing from the stands for him to win. I didn’t dare stare too openly, so I just sat quietly in the stands, waiting. His tall figure knelt down, poised for what I’d hoped would be a proposal. I awkwardly lowered my head, waiting for one of the most important moments of my life to arrive. But his voice came from beside me instead: “Chloe, I like you. Will you be my girlfriend?” It wasn’t me… It was Chloe Davis. My roommate, the one I never got along with. How could it be her? My heart instantly ripped open. A sudden blow landed squarely on my head. My mind was filled with static, and my vision blurred. I felt like I’d been slapped in public. All my anticipation shattered, my body trembled uncontrollably, and my spirits plummeted into an icy abyss. My broken heart bled, making it impossible to maintain even basic composure. “Say yes…” Cheers and catcalls erupted around us, non-stop. Chloe feigned surprise as she took the trophy, glancing at me. But I caught the quick, undeniable glint of triumph in her eyes. Liam slowly stood up, clicking his tongue. “Alright, that’s enough. Doesn’t a girl need some face? Stop all this shouting.” You cared about her reputation. What about mine? My heart pulsed, bleeding in rhythmic throbs, and I couldn’t stop shivering. “Daisy?” Finally noticing me standing beside him, Liam frowned in displeasure. “Are you crying?” “It was just a bet. What’s the big deal?” Chloe, on one side, pretended to turn and look at me. “Oh, Daisy, I’m so sorry. Please don’t be mad. I was going to tell you tonight… but it was hard to bring up, since it was just their team’s bet. Liam will explain it to you later, okay? Please don’t let this affect your relationship with him.” I searched her face for a hint of guilt. There was none. My lips twitched, my voice trembling. “Really?” Liam shrugged carelessly. “Anyway, I told you it was just a bet.” I suddenly remembered Chloe’s deliberate effort to dress up today, and how, for the first time, she’d been nice to me, coming to the game together. That was it. It was a bet designed to humiliate me, and everyone was waiting to watch the show. What was there to explain? Liam’s indifferent attitude made everyone around him look down on me, too. One of his teammates couldn’t help but say, “It really was just a bet, Daisy. Don’t be a sore loser.” Others quickly chimed in. “Come on, Daisy, don’t ruin the fun for everyone.” “We finally won for once. It’s just a joke, let’s have some fun.” It was as if my not agreeing with them now would make me a huge party pooper. But did I deserve to endure their cruel games? Chloe hurriedly handed the trophy to me. Its golden, shiny surface reflected my humiliated face. She pretended to comfort me, “Daisy, don’t be mad. You can hold the trophy.” Then she gave Liam a coy look, softly complaining, “How could you be like this…?” Their interaction was clearly familiar and close. Liam knew perfectly well that Chloe and I didn’t get along. Yet he was secretly interacting with her behind my back. This time, it truly disgusted me. I threw the trophy away, my voice choked, but my chin held high. “Liam Harrison, we’re over.” **截断点** Chapter

My self-respect had been trampled enough. Liam and I had no future. “Daisy, stop being so dramatic. Just apologize to me, and I can pretend I didn’t hear any of that.” “You heard me clearly. I said, we’re breaking up.” Liam, rarely offering an olive branch, saw that I wasn’t taking it, and his face darkened. Then he let out a ridiculous laugh, a thin layer of anger mixed with confusion. “It was just a bet I lost. How far do you need to take this?” “Worst case, you can just have someone declare their love for you, too. We’ll call it even?” He was certain that I only ever liked him and wouldn’t be able to do something like that. The people around were pretty much all of Captain Liam’s teammates, his hangers-on, or his fair-weather friends. And absolutely no one would dare to meddle in his personal affairs. For a moment, the atmosphere grew tense. “Go on, tell me. Who do you want to declare their love for you?” Liam snapped his fingers, his gaze, sharp as a knife, sweeping across the men present. The meaning was unspoken. Everyone’s eyes on me immediately took on a playful, taunting look. Chloe then spoke up, seemingly innocent. “Liam, don’t be like that. Daisy’s used to being a pampered princess. How could she possibly handle a joke like this?” A joke had its limits, and they had completely overstepped them. And now they were twisting the narrative, making it sound like I couldn’t take a joke? She was really good at chiming in. I didn’t want to say anything more to them; I just felt sick staying there another second. However, just as I was about to stand up, a deep male voice spoke from a nearby section. “Daisy, I’ll declare my love for you.” I looked up, seeing the man walking towards me clearly. Cole… The two teams’ resting areas were separated. The commotion on our side couldn’t be fully heard by the other team. So I had completely forgotten that the Athletics team members hadn’t left yet. Everyone else was also startled by his sudden move. After all, the rumor was that this guy was a complete sports fanatic; nothing else ever caught his eye. More importantly, he had always been Liam Harrison’s sworn enemy. Why would he… While my mind raced, Cole had already held his Best Scorer individual trophy out to me, a smirk playing on his lips. “We’ve known each other for years, and everyone knows I’m a sports fanatic, but they don’t know that the one I’ve always been most obsessed with is you.” “Would you be willing to finally look at me, and be with me?” Liam’s face changed slightly, but he still sounded casual, a sneer in his voice. “Cole, you’re a sore loser, so you’re using a woman to get back at me?” But Cole didn’t look at him, his gaze still fixed on me. Seeing this, Chloe subtly hinted, “Daisy, you can’t possibly not know that Cole and Liam have always been at odds, right…?” I scoffed, my voice dripping with anger. “Liam knew *you* and I didn’t get along, but he still declared his love for you, didn’t he?” As if seeking revenge, I took the trophy and nodded emphatically. “Daisy, put his trophy down.” Liam immediately tried to grab me, but Cole blocked him. “Be a little more gracious, Liam. It’s just a declaration of love.” “Captain Liam, don’t be a sore loser.” Liam was enraged. He wrapped an arm around Chloe, scoffing. “You think I can’t handle it?” “Fine then. Whoever declared their love for someone, that person goes home with them tonight.” Cole raised an eyebrow. “As you wish.” Without hesitation, Cole smoothly took my free hand and led me directly towards the Athletics team’s area. He asserted his dominance. “Alright, guys! Our captain just got a girlfriend tonight! Let’s celebrate! Anywhere you want to go for the party, I’m treating!” “Go, Captain!” “Welcome, Captain Cole’s lady!” The Athletics team erupted in cheers, everyone packing their things and heading out. They left the Engineering team with their jaws dropped. “Is that really Cole? I heard he never even looked at women.” Chapter

The first time I sat in Cole’s car, it still felt like a dream. It wasn’t until he leaned over to help me fasten my seatbelt that I snapped back to reality. My face felt slightly awkward. “Just now… I didn’t expect you to bail me out.” “Thank you, Captain Cole.” Because I had grown up with Liam, I had secretly helped him badmouth Cole plenty of times. I never imagined Cole would actually protect me, saving me from utter humiliation in front of everyone. Cole started the car, eyes on the road, and simply murmured, “Mm.” He sounded a little unhappy. Did I say something wrong? I quickly added, “No need to trouble you, Captain Cole. You still have a celebration to go to. You can just drop me off at the curb up ahead.” “I’ll take a cab home myself.” Cole suddenly stomped on the brake, looking at me. “What? You’re not coming to the celebration with me?” I froze, then suddenly remembered the scene earlier. I didn’t expect Captain Cole to take the joke seriously… He was Liam Harrison’s sworn enemy, after all. Now, I didn’t want any involvement with either of them. It was better to keep my distance. I said sincerely, “Thank you so much for what you did tonight, Captain Cole.” I couldn’t help but recall the rumors about him. People said he was a sports fanatic who wasn’t interested in women. He’d never had a woman around him, and his greatest hobby was playing football with his team. Many even said there was a 100% chance he was gay. “Besides ‘thank you,’ don’t you have anything else to say?” “Huh…?” I racked my brain, wondering what I might have said that was inappropriate. After thinking it over, it hit me. There must be a guy Cole liked on the Athletics team. He was being a good friend, helping me out, and I couldn’t let his crush misunderstand… So, feeling quite righteous, I patted my chest and declared, “Don’t worry, Captain Cole. What happened between us was a complete misunderstanding. I’ll definitely explain it to the teammate you like.” A confused Cole said, “The teammate I like?” “Oh, is the person you like not on your team?” *Crack!* I thought I heard Cole’s knuckles crackle. “You think I like men?” Cole practically gritted through his teeth. Maybe I was too blunt, making him uncomfortable in front of someone he didn’t know well. But there was nothing wrong with liking someone. I chuckled awkwardly, trying to explain. “Captain Cole, love knows no gender. Don’t be embarrassed.” “I totally understand…” My voice trailed off as I watched Cole’s face grow darker and darker. Finally, I timidly mumbled, “Really, I don’t discriminate against gay people…” Then I shut my mouth. Cole focused on driving, no longer bothering to speak to me. What a weird atmosphere. For a while, all I could do was pull out my phone and constantly refresh Ins. People always pretend to be busy when they’re awkward… Suddenly, my scrolling finger stopped. Two minutes ago, Chloe Davis had just posted something on Ins. “I accept Captain Liam’s declaration of love.” Below it were two selfies: her holding the trophy, and her and Liam intimately cheek-to-cheek. My roommate Mia Rodriguez commented: *Oh, so Captain Liam actually likes you, huh? Ugh, Daisy went to all his games every day. She must be furious now.* Chloe replied: *Don’t say that, Daisy will be unhappy.* My hand, clutching the phone, trembled slightly from how hard I was gripping it. My vision went black. What a load of crap, that bet was just a cover-up. These two had probably already been secretly involved. That’s why Liam declared his love for her, even knowing she and I didn’t get along. Just then, my phone suddenly rang, snapping me back to reality. “Hello, Daisy, are you and Captain Cole really still together?” It was the teammate who had called me a sore loser earlier. “We’re playing truth or dare at the celebration, and they forced me to call and ask.” “Daisy, come on, tell us. Is Captain Cole’s boyfriend mad at you?” “Hahaha…” A burst of laughter came from the other end of the phone, likely a group gathered to hear my humiliation. Before I could even speak, Liam Harrison’s voice cut in. “Ask her if Cole just abandoned her halfway there.” “Tell her to apologize and beg a little, and I don’t mind picking her up.” Liam’s voice was mocking and crude. My blood rushed to my head. “None of your business! And even if he ‘can’t perform,’ he’s still way more impressive than you are!” There was a brief silence on the other end, then Liam’s furious roar: “What did you say? Daisy! Are you and Cole…?”

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I found a pair of battered-up lingerie stockings in my girlfriend’s bag. My gaze locked on the irregular yellowish stains on them, and I froze. I stayed silent, doing nothing but secretly pouring some fiery hot chili oil into the lube. From that day on, I became a regular at the hospital. Not for me, though. It was for the genes of a Black man. The day she gave birth, she clutched the newborn Black baby, her expression manic, as if struck by lightning. “No, wait, who put this in my belly?!” Chloe and I had been together for almost two years, but things had never gotten truly intimate. She swore she was old-fashioned, that she was saving herself for our wedding night. I chuckled and nodded, trusting her completely. Until yesterday night, when I found a pair of heavily used lace stockings in her pocket. The yellowish stains on the stockings were crystal clear. I didn’t even need to lean in to smell it. That sickening, acrid odor… any man would know exactly what had happened. My vision blurred. It felt like a physical blow. We weren’t young anymore, and both our families were pushing us to get married. So, a couple of days ago, I suggested we go for pre-marital health screenings. But Chloe seemed hesitant. “Liam, I think that’s a bit too soon…” I just thought she was shy and didn’t suspect a thing. “Chloe, it’s not too soon. We’re getting married soon anyway. Besides, with the screenings, we can get extra vacation days for our honeymoon! You’ve always wanted to go to Hawaii and Europe, right? We can get it all done at once.” Memories flooded my mind, and my blood ran cold. The sound of rushing water from the bathroom was fading. Chloe was almost done with her shower. I quickly put the stockings back where I found them. But my mind was already racing, unable to stop. When did she betray me? Two months ago, Chloe, who never wore stockings, suddenly, inexplicably, bought two pairs. She complained to me, saying the faculty really valued her and would often send her to academic conferences. She was too junior, so she’d just be there as a formality, standing all day. She said she read online that wearing stockings could effectively protect her calves, and told me not to overthink it. I didn’t sense anything was wrong; I just felt bad for her. But now, who could tell me what kind of standing position could turn a pair of stockings into *this*? I was dazed, feeling like I’d fallen into an ice abyss. Just then, Chloe emerged from the bathroom. I walked towards her, my hand barely touching her waist before she slapped it away. “Liam, please respect me! I told you I’m traditional. Can you just respect that?!” *Slam!* The bedroom door was violently shut. I gritted my teeth, rage churning inside me. I don’t respect you? Touching my own girlfriend is disrespectful, huh? Then what the hell is *this* ‘battle-damaged’ stocking from your academic conference?! I clamped down on my fury, refusing to explode right then and there. That night, I stayed awake on the balcony, not sleeping a wink. I’d heard grad students could be pretty wild. Had she hooked up with some younger guy? I suppressed my anger and secretly followed her for several days, but found nothing suspicious. The next day, I staked out her university entrance early. At six in the evening, she appeared near the gate. She was alone, but she kept looking around, a clear sign she was waiting for someone. I pulled my hat lower and moved to a higher vantage point. Almost simultaneously, a smile suddenly bloomed on Chloe’s face. She raised her arm, waving in a certain direction. I clenched my fists, staring intently. At the edge of my vision, a figure appeared. I didn’t rush out blindly to beat him senseless, as I’d imagined I would. Instead, I stood frozen, bewildered. It was indeed a man. And I knew him. He was Chloe’s mentor, Dr. Marcus Thorne, in his late fifties. Chloe had told me before that he’d pulled a lot of strings to help her attend those academic conferences. The two exchanged polite greetings and walked out of the university gate. Everything seemed perfectly normal. I felt a mix of bewilderment and relief. Maybe it was just my remaining fondness for her, acting up because I hadn’t caught her red-handed. But the next moment, I felt like I’d plunged into an ice abyss again. As Chloe got into the car, the man, in a gentlemanly gesture, used his left hand to shield the car door, while his right hand slipped into Chloe’s chest. Chloe shyly pulled back, but quickly pushed her chest out again, provocatively flashing her cleavage.

I couldn’t believe my eyes. Chloe… and her mentor? A man old enough to be her grandfather! I don’t know how I made it home that day. Her tablet was on the console table in the hallway. She must have rushed off and forgotten it. I took a deep breath and opened their chat logs. “But my stockings were brand new, barely worn for half a day.” “You little vixen, you’re just too captivating. I can’t resist. I bought you other styles. Come get them tomorrow, and put them on right then and there.” “You need to be more careful. What if my boyfriend finds out?” “You’re too tempting. I just can’t hold back.” “Hmph, so between me and your wife, who has a better body, who’s prettier?” “That old hag can’t even compare to you. You’re a siren, the kind that makes me lose all control.” “Oh, stop it~ But we can’t always be in your office. What if someone hears us?” “We get so few chances to be alone. The office is the only place we can be open. And you’re too timid, you don’t even dare to make a sound. It’s much more exciting outside.” “Next academic conference, Daddy will make you feel like you’re flying.” “So embarrassing, don’t say that…” My face was ashen, my neck flushed with anger. The chat logs weren’t just filled with obscene words; there were countless indecent photos and videos. I couldn’t believe Chloe, who always presented herself as conservative and traditional, was truly this person. They had even talked about me. “Why are you still with that boyfriend of yours? What do you see in him? He knows nothing about passion.” “He doesn’t know passion, but he’s really generous with money. Besides, I’m so pretty, it feels good to have him dote on me.” “Dote on you? Can he dote on you like I can? Hmph, I’m jealous.” “Oh, you’re jealous? I haven’t even said I’m jealous yet! If you divorce your wife, I’ll break up with him immediately, and then I’ll give you two healthy baby boys. How about that?” “Baby, enough about that. Kiss me, mua~” That single “Baby” made me want to gag. I would have never in a million years thought that my girlfriend of almost two years, after such a long-term relationship, was this kind of person! In their eyes, I was just a cuckold, a walking ATM, and a personal servant? I thought back to these past two years. As her rightful boyfriend, I had to wait for her mood to even kiss her. Let alone any further intimacy. I even thought I’d found a good girl. That’s why I always respected her so much. But now, reality had slapped me hard across the face. This supposedly virtuous lady was, in fact, a backstabbing slut! I was worse than a simp! My lips trembled with rage. Dr. Marcus Thorne. This old creep was truly something. He’d published articles in numerous top-tier journals, a renowned figure in his field. In his late fifties, yet he showed no signs of aging; his posture was upright, he was refined and elegant, with an air of scholarly sophistication. His wife came from a prominent family, his two daughters attended top universities, and his own academic reputation was well-known in his circle. He probably thought his life was perfect. My face contorted into a grotesque grimace. Damn it! Cuckold me and make him a cripple? And I’d have to pay for that? That’s too easy on him. I’m going to destroy his reputation! I’m going to ruin him forever! I saved all the evidence, then put the tablet back in its original spot. Just as I finished, Chloe came back. Chloe usually came home after nine, but today she was back early, before eight. As soon as she opened the door, she asked if I’d seen her tablet. I pretended to be oblivious, and we “found” it together near the console table. Chloe grabbed the tablet and subtly let out a sigh of relief. “You scared me! I thought I’d lost my tablet.” Then, she took the tablet and went straight to her bedroom. I watched it all unfold with a calm gaze. She’d only left at six to have dinner with the old creep, and now she was rushing back so urgently. Wasn’t it just to delete evidence? When Chloe emerged from her bedroom, the slight heaviness on her face was gone. Right in front of me, she cheerfully answered a call. “Dr. Thorne, I’m back. Everything went smoothly.” “Thank you for worrying. Understood.” “I know. I’ll come to your office first thing tomorrow morning when I get to school.” Chloe covered the mouthpiece, naturally whispering a complaint: “These grad students are just slaves. Mentors aren’t teachers, they’re bosses. They make me do personal favors all day, I’m exhausted.” Personal favors? I scoffed internally. Yes, those were definitely personal favors. She lazily stretched out her legs and said softly, “Honey, I was standing all day at that academic conference yesterday, my legs are so weak. Could you give me a rub?” My lower lip bore the imprint of my teeth. Why were they weak? How dare she spout such trash? Did she really think I was a complete fool?! I excused myself, claiming I needed to use the restroom, and blew her off. Three days ago, I would have eagerly rushed over to rub her legs. But now, I saw it clearly. These two were deliberately seeking cheap thrills. You want thrills, huh? I’ll give you a thrill you won’t forget!

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In my past life, I was the one he chose, becoming the most humiliated bride at the wedding. Everyone thought I’d struck gold, that my luck was beyond belief. Only I knew it was a complete and utter nightmare. The night before the wedding, his ‘white moonlight’ had drunk herself to death, overwhelmed by grief. The next day, his eyes blazing red, he accused me of “killing her” and personally dragged me to hell. In the bridal suite, he whipped my back, lash after lash, screaming another woman’s name. “You stole her place, now you’ll feel her pain.” He publicly tore my dress, then locked me in a dog cage for three days and three nights, all because I wore the wedding gown she loved before she died. He even turned her ashes into perfume, forcing me to wear it daily, claiming it was so she could watch me atone. Finally, I died on the jagged rocks by the ocean, still wearing that blood-stained wedding dress. He said I owed her a funeral. This time, I swapped the selection number in advance. But then, he came at me, eyes red, gripping me like a madman: “Chloe, this time, I only want you.”

Late at night, in the Sterling family’s Heirloom Selection Chamber. I walked in, mop in hand, pretending to clean. In reality, my fingers were already clutching a tiny, folded number card. Number 47, Chloe Sterling. I squeezed it tight, tucking it under the mop head. With a swift, practiced movement, I pulled out another card and slipped it into the numbered slot. That card read – Vivian Thorne. The day of the selection ceremony, the Sterling family’s main mansion glittered with gold. Nine hundred and ninety-nine women arrived, dressed to the nines. Each one was like a peacock in full display, desperate to show off every ounce of their refined elegance to Alexander Sterling. “I heard the hot pick this year is Chloe Sterling?” “That cold face of hers? Does she even *deserve* to be a Sterling wife?” “Are you blind? Doesn’t she look *exactly* like… *her*?” I stood in the furthest corner, lowering my head, slowly tearing the number card from my collar into tiny pieces. When the host called out the number, the entire hall fell silent. “Number 47, Vivian Thorne.” The next second, applause erupted. Alexander Sterling stormed down the stage, his eyes bloodshot, looking utterly insane. He yanked Vivian into his arms, holding her so tightly it looked like he wanted to embed her into his very bones. “Vivian.” His voice trembled. “This time… it’s finally you.” The entire hall gasped. Alexander lowered his head to look at Vivian, his gaze tender to the point of madness, a smile uncontrollably spreading across his lips. “You’re back. You finally came back.” Vivian leaned against him gently, her cheek pressed to his chest, as if confirming his heartbeat. But her eyes, subtly, swept across the crowd and settled squarely on me. I gave a small, knowing smile, as if seeing through her, and through this entire charade. Alexander Sterling finally looked up at me. He had surely anticipated my breakdown, my tears, my angry questions. He’d probably even prepared a speech, ready to comfort me, to offer a sliver of false pity. Too bad. I didn’t give him the chance. In my previous life, when “Number 47, Chloe Sterling” was called, my eyes had welled up with tears of激动. I stood beneath the crystal chandeliers, my face flushed, my voice trembling as I called his name. But Alexander Sterling, seated below the stage, looked terrifyingly cold. He stared at the shadow at his feet, as if my selection was a personal insult to him. I raised my hand, calmly applauding them. *Clap. Clap. Clap.* The sharp sound echoed, and the entire hall fell silent again. His expression froze. His throat moved, but no words came out. I smiled and nodded, my eyes devoid of emotion. “Lord Sterling, you’re truly fortunate.” “I wish you both a happy ever after.” His brow furrowed fiercely, his eyes so dark they seemed to bleed. “Chloe Sterling, what do you mean?” “I mean nothing.” I smiled, turning to walk away. “You two are perfectly matched.”

The moment I left the ballroom, my step-mom dragged me into a side room and slapped me across the face. “Chloe Sterling, who are you trying to fool, playing all high and mighty?!” “This opportunity, I spent months begging Uncle Arthur for!” “And what do you do? You just hand it over to someone else?! Do you want me dead?!” I sneered. “The Sterling family gives me ten million a year, and I give you seven million for your retirement. And you spent it all on plastic surgery!” “What did Uncle Arthur even see in that worn-out face of yours?!” Her face darkened. She gnashed her teeth and hissed, “If you don’t marry Alexander, the Sterling family will cut you off! What about your sister?!” I straightened my collar. “Didn’t you insist on shoving me into the Sterling family? Fine. Let’s try a different direction.” “Have Uncle Arthur arrange the next selection for me. Throw my name into the hat for Julian Sterling.” Her face changed. “Are you insane?! You’d dare mess with *that* man?” “A Sterling is a Sterling. He throws around just as much cash as Alexander does.” I didn’t bother to explain further. She looked stunned. Julian Sterling, a distant cousin of the Sterling family, nicknamed “The Wild Card.” Rumors said he was quite the player, dabbling in both circles, with whispers of past affairs with rising stars and influential figures across the city’s elite. But I knew better. The year my sister was sick, he’d visited her in the hospital once, bringing her a soft bunny toy – a small, quiet act of kindness that stood out. He wasn’t inherently bad. I stopped at my room door, pausing for a few seconds. The lock had been changed, and a new plaque was affixed to the door— [Ms. Vivian Thorne’s Private Quarters] This room was designed by Alexander Sterling himself, just for me. He’d said, “With you sleeping here, I feel at peace.” Now, he was peaceful enough to give it to someone else. Just as I turned to leave, a maid hurried after me, whispering, “Miss Chloe, Lord Sterling wishes you to move to the West Wing. He says it’s quieter there.” The West Wing was an old guesthouse, damp and isolated, without even hot water. I murmured “Mm-hm,” saying nothing else. I picked up my bag and quietly went to pack my things. At dinner, the moment I entered the dining hall, I saw Vivian. Vivian was seated to Alexander’s left, her entire being nestled against his side. She said, “My appetite hasn’t been good lately. I can only eat porridge.” He immediately rose, personally serving her a bowl, his voice gentle: “The kitchen changed the rice. It’s the texture you used to like.” I stared down at the plate in front of me, my stomach clenching. I hesitated, then quietly signaled to a maid nearby. “Could I have a bowl of porridge too?” My stomach had always been sensitive. It started when he was in a car accident years ago, and I stayed up for half a month, nursing him sleeplessly. He knew that. Before the maid could move, a cold voice spoke from nearby: “Miss Chloe, that porridge is exclusively for Miss Thorne.” My spoon paused in mid-air. A second later, I heard his icy voice: “If you want to drink it, drink it. Then get out of here. Don’t be an eyesore.” I looked up at him. His eyes lingered on me for half a second. Something flickered in their depths. But it quickly turned cold again. I smiled, put down my spoon, and wiped my fingers. “On second thought, I’ll pass.” I stood up and walked towards the drinks bar, casually picking up a glass of red wine. Just as I raised it to my lips, Vivian walked over, smiling. Her voice was soft. “Oh, sister, drinking alone? How pathetic.” I couldn’t be bothered with her. I replied coolly, “Whether I drink or not, how is that any of your business?” She suddenly swayed, directly bumping into me. The red wine instantly splashed all over me, and the glass shattered into pieces on the floor. I took a step back, my dress soaked. But she dramatically stumbled to the ground, her arms and wrists reddening in splotches, a dense rash breaking out. “Ah, it’s so itchy… Did I have an alcohol allergy again…?” Before I could even react, Alexander Sterling had rushed over, immediately scooping her into his arms. Then, he glared at me, his voice a low, furious growl: “Are you insane? You know she has an alcohol allergy, and you still threw wine on her?” I opened my mouth, but before I could explain, he already issued an order: “Someone, hold her down!” “Make her kneel on these glass shards for half an hour, then have her clean the floor!”

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To save my husband, I sacrificed the leg I, a dancer, was most proud of, and the child in my womb. Liam worried I hadn’t fully recovered, so he never slept with me again. That was until I was on a FaceTime call with my best friend abroad and caught sight of him, intimate and affectionate, with the dance academy’s former belle. The girl asked, curious: “She’s lost a leg. Would you still sleep with her?” “Is she as soft as me?” He said, “The thought of her missing leg just kills my desire.” “You’re the softest. I only want to be with you.” My heart hammered with a desperate, sorrowful rhythm in my chest. A sharp sting radiated from my eyes, and tears, utterly defiant, streamed down my face, landing on my hand as I scrolled through the video again and again. “You’re the softest. I only want to be with you.” Listening to Liam’s distinctive, honeyed voice, I watched the recorded video over and over. On a Parisian street, Liam and a beautiful girl walked hand-in-hand under the dappled shade, looking every inch a couple deeply in love. Suddenly, Liam’s phone chimed. It was a text from a contact labeled ‘Transient,’ asking if he was there. I glanced at Liam. He was on the balcony, his back to me, smoking. He knew I hated the smell of smoke. So, he always went to the balcony to smoke. Picking up his phone, I opened the chat. The history was meticulously wiped clean. Only one message remained: “Liam, I miss you.” Just those five words, and my heart clenched painfully. I guessed Liam had, most likely, truly cheated. The hand holding the phone suddenly felt weak and numb. I wiped away the tears that had once again fallen onto the screen. I tapped into the girl’s Ins profile and saw it was indeed the woman from the video. Young and beautiful, with long, fair legs, she looked captivating as she danced gracefully. Seeing her face, I finally remembered. She was Brittany Taylor, a few years younger than me from my old dance academy. After losing my right leg three years ago, I occasionally followed my alma mater’s news when I had nothing to do. Brittany had been named the school belle, praised for her exquisite dance moves, and had represented the school in numerous competitions, winning many awards. I checked her Ins post from two days ago. It was a Chanel bag, captioned: “My Prince Charming just *gets* me. So happy!” I didn’t scrutinize it, just took a quick photo with my own phone. Brittany’s Ins feed had a lot of posts. I scrolled through them quickly, finally stopping on one that left my heart aching for a long time. She said, “I only want $11.99 for the transfer, not a cent more.” Below it was a screenshot of her chat with Liam. Labeled: My Knight In the screenshot, she asked Liam, “Can you transfer me $11.99?” Liam transferred $10,000. She declined it, sending it back. “I only want $11.99, not a cent more.” Liam didn’t say anything, just directly transferred $11.99. Brittany sent a cute emoji and said, “$11.99, because ‘1199’ sounds like ‘forever and ever’ in some online circles. It means I want us to be together for a long, long time, endlessly.” Perhaps my heart was numb from the pain, because at that moment, my face was blank. I simply added Brittany as a friend, then took Liam’s phone and checked his Amazon purchases. I found that over the past two years, he had bought dozens of women’s items. From clothes and shoes to luxury cosmetics and handbags, even women’s lingerie – everything was there. The default shipping address was my old dance academy, and the recipient was, naturally, Brittany. They say it takes a lifetime to find your true partner, to share a bed and a soul. But while I lay in his arms, he was wide awake, his eyes fixed on someone else. The sound of the shower stopped. Wiping away my tears, I took photos of every single order. Even as I exited, I remembered to mark her messages as unread. Then I started packing my luggage. As the bathroom door opened, I looked up. My eyes met Liam’s. SECOND CHAPTER “What’s wrong?” Liam asked, wiping his hair, a puzzled look on his face. Then he saw my half-packed suitcase, and his eyes widened. Snapping out of his shock, Liam quickly came to my side, a strange look on his face. “Scarlett, what are you doing?” “Going home.” He knelt down, taking my hand. “Is it because we haven’t gone to see your mom in a while? Are you upset about that?” “I’m sorry, babe. It’s my fault. I’ve been so busy lately, I completely overlooked it.” “I’ll call the office right away, sort out my schedule for the next few days, and then we can go see your mom together. How about that?” From dating to marriage, Liam had always been meticulously attentive to me, and incredibly devoted to my mom. My friends used to say I’d never find another man as good as him. So, hearing him say “your mom”—that familiar, warm term—my heart softened, and my hands instinctively paused from packing. But then I remembered him saying he was “too busy,” and the image of him strolling through Paris with Brittany flashed in my mind. Until today, I truly believed Liam was devoted only to me. Now, it seemed, it was just wishful thinking on my part. He reached for his phone, preparing to make the call. I didn’t expose his lie. I placed my hand over his. “No need. Your work is more important.” The air hung silent for two seconds. Liam suddenly seemed to remember something. He gently stroked my head, smiling. “I almost forgot something really important.” He stood up and pulled a pair of high heels from his suitcase. I paused, surprised. I’d loved those heels for ages, always wanted to buy them, but could never find a way to get my hands on them. Liam helped me sit on the edge of the bed, then knelt before me, placing my foot on his lap, and personally helped me put them on. My other leg was a prosthetic, and he patiently helped me put that shoe on too, without a trace of annoyance. “Do you like them?” He smiled, a satisfied expression on his face. “When I went abroad, the first thing I did was figure out how to buy these heels. Thankfully, persistence paid off; I finally got them.” I didn’t answer. Instead, I stared at him intently and asked, “Liam, do you remember how we lost our baby?” He froze instantly. His gaze slowly dropped, his eyes gradually turning red. When he looked up again, Liam gently embraced me, his voice thick with tears. “Scarlett, I’m so sorry. It was all my fault.” Three years ago, a truck barreled straight towards Liam. In that critical, heart-stopping moment, I, pregnant and terrified, instinctively lunged forward, shoving him out of harm’s way. When I regained consciousness, I gripped his hand, my first words being, “Liam, promise me, you’ll save our baby…” Liam looked at the stark, horrifying red staining the ground beneath my leg. He clutched his pants tightly, his eyes red-rimmed, bowing his head and sobbing uncontrollably. Just like that, my right leg, and the child Liam and I were going to have, were gone. Escaping from the painful memories, I broke free from Liam’s embrace, speaking in a pleading tone. “Liam, can we try for another baby? Please?” Liam gently wiped away the tears welling in my eyes. “Your body hasn’t fully recovered yet. Let’s wait a little longer.” Though I had guessed this might be his answer, hearing him say it aloud still sent a fresh pang of pain through my chest. Lying on my side, my back to Liam, I was too heartbroken to close my eyes. My phone vibrated, and in the next second, Liam cut the call. But quickly, it vibrated again. Liam gently called out, “Scarlett, are you asleep?” THIRD CHAPTER I kept my eyes closed, not making a sound. Only then did he tiptoe out of bed, open the door, and leave. I opened my eyes, grabbed my phone, and checked the house’s security footage. Outside the front door, the rain was coming down in sheets. A girl stood in the downpour, drenched to the bone. Her delicate frame shivered violently, stimulated by the cold rain, looking utterly pathetic. It was Brittany Taylor? The front door opened. Brittany excitedly stepped forward, calling out joyfully, “Mr. Dawson!” On the monitor, Liam looked utterly shocked. He glanced behind him, his brow furrowed with a mix of anxiety and furious anger. “Who gave you permission to come to my house? Didn’t I tell you not to come here?” “Get out! Don’t let my wife see you. Go now!” His ruthless dismissal, like a bucket of ice water dumped over Brittany’s head, landed squarely on her face. But Brittany seemed completely unfazed. She lunged into Liam’s arms, desperate. “I… I missed you. I’d go crazy if I spent another moment without you.” Liam forcefully pushed her away. “What are you doing?” He said, instinctively glancing back towards the upstairs, his eyes wide with panic. Seeing that I hadn’t appeared, Liam again tried to drive Brittany away. “My wife could wake up any minute. Get out of here, or don’t blame me for getting rough!” Brittany clung to Liam again, then kissed him again. I clenched my teeth, my fingers digging into the comforter. My heart screamed. Liam! Push her away. Push her away. You have a wife! Liam grabbed Brittany’s arm, as if he wanted to push her away. But Brittany wrapped her arms around Liam’s neck, her legs clamping around his waist. She hung onto him, her movements incredibly skilled. Finally, Liam’s expression softened, losing its resistance. He closed his eyes, melting into her embrace, no longer refusing her. He even cradled Brittany’s face, passionately returning the kiss, actively taking control. He reached out and closed the door, then began to pull at her clothes, lifting her in his arms as they tumbled onto the sofa, entwining themselves shamelessly, like two pieces of sticky candy. My phone slipped from my grasp, falling onto the bed. I clapped my hands over my mouth, sobbing uncontrollably in the room. *Boom!* A low rumble of thunder echoed outside the window. Watching Liam take Brittany again and again, my heart felt like it was being repeatedly stabbed, again and again. A tidal wave of pain washed over me, engulfing my entire being. All his past care and tenderness towards me now transformed into blades of betrayal that meticulously shredded my heart into a thousand pieces, leaving me wishing I were dead. I don’t know how much time passed. Suddenly, Liam’s voice came from the phone, cold and distant. “You should go. Remember, don’t let this happen again. Don’t ever come to my house. Otherwise, everything I’ve given you, I can take it all back.” I picked up my phone and saw Liam getting dressed. Brittany was kneeling on the sofa, hugging Liam from behind, her face resting on his shoulder, her expression tender and affectionate. “I want to stay with you a little longer, can’t I?” Liam pulled her hands away, then turned and slapped her across the face. Brittany fell back onto the sofa, clutching her face, her eyes wide with shock as she stared at Liam. He pointed at Brittany, his voice sharp with anger. “I’m warning you, don’t you dare scheme any dirty tricks. Scarlett and I are childhood sweethearts; we’ve shared thick and thin for five years. She’s the woman I love most.” “Three years ago, she even lost her right leg and our child to save me. She’s still my wife, Liam Dawson’s only wife for life. No one will ever replace her!” “Not even you!” Seeing Brittany’s face filled with disbelief, I couldn’t help but let a bitter, mocking smile play on my lips. I looked at our wedding photo on the wall. The more I looked, the more ridiculous it seemed. Liam claimed I was his wife, the woman he loved most, yet he was entangled with Brittany right here in our home. What was I to him? What did our past mean to him? And what was this pathetic attempt to feign remorse after getting what he wanted? I exited the security footage, no longer wanting to watch them. Memories of our past flashed in my mind, keeping me awake all night. Around 4 AM, I finally drifted into a hazy sleep. In my dream, fireworks exploded one after another across the sky, showering it with glittering light. Liam walked towards me, holding a large bouquet of red roses, then knelt on one knee, gazing at me with deep affection. “Scarlett, thank you for being by my side all these years.” “Without your companionship and encouragement, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I swear, not just in this life, but in the next, and the one after that, I will love you endlessly, until death do us part.” “Will you marry me?” I covered my mouth, tears streaming down my face from emotion. Just as I was about to nod. A patch of black suddenly welled up from Liam’s chest. Ink-like liquid spread wildly, quickly staining his entire body black. The sincerity on Liam’s face remained unchanged, but the vibrant red roses in his hand visibly turned black, rapidly shriveling. The petals withered and fell to the ground, emitting a putrid, sickening smell. Liam was no longer the radiant boy he once was. His love for me had festered, turned rotten. From this moment on, I didn’t need it anymore. FOURTH CHAPTER Waking up, I found Liam sitting by my bedside, his face soft and gentle. “Sleepyhead, time to get up. I made you your favorite millet porridge.” He took my hand without a word, leading me downstairs. Helping me into a dining chair, Liam thoughtfully served me a small bowl. He gently blew on a spoonful, then brought it to my lips. I turned my head away. Liam didn’t get angry. He put the spoon down and asked considerately, “Scarlett, you’ve seemed a little down since last night. Can you tell me what happened?” He mused, “Is it because I said we should hold off on having a baby for now? Is that why you’re sad?” Before I could speak. He took my hand in his. “Your body is like this because of me. If I rushed to have a baby before your body was fully recovered, what kind of man would I be?” “Babe, you know I love kids the most. Once you’re fully recovered, and the doctors say it’s okay, we’ll try right away, alright?” Liam hugged me. He gently stroked the back of my head. “I’ll go get the car now. We’ll head to the hospital for your leg check-up in a bit. Wait here for me.” He got up to get the car. I also stood up, noticing that the cloud security footage had been deleted. Then I turned and poured the bowl of porridge into the trash. Liam took me to the hospital for my check-up. While he went to pay the bill, I sat alone on a bench. Suddenly, I saw Brittany Taylor walk past, heading straight for the OB-GYN department. A surge of curiosity washed over me, and I quickly followed. She was arm-in-arm with her friend, chatting about Liam. Her friend looked worried. “I heard Mr. Dawson really loves his wife. Now that you’re pregnant with his baby, are you okay?” Brittany chuckled mockingly. “Mr. Dawson has no love for Scarlett Hayes at all. Otherwise, why wouldn’t he want to touch her? Why wouldn’t he want her to have his child?” “I’m different. Mr. Dawson not only loves me, he comes to see me all the time. If he knew I was carrying his flesh and blood, he’d be thrilled.” Hearing that, I froze on the spot. I couldn’t believe Liam and Brittany already had a child?! Her friend seemed puzzled. “If Mr. Dawson and Scarlett Hayes don’t love each other anymore, why don’t they just get a divorce?” Brittany’s eyes flared with anger, yet also helplessness. “Because Mr. Dawson is still clinging to old memories, burdened by guilt. But those things will fade with time.” “Once the old flame dies and his patience wears thin, do you really think Mr. Dawson will stay with her? Mr. Dawson is so handsome, a multi-millionaire, and the esteemed CEO of a massive corporation. Why would he spend his life with a disabled woman?” She suddenly stopped, smiling as she turned to her friend. “Do you know how many times Liam and I have been together behind Scarlett Hayes’s back? Even on their own bed, Liam and I…” “Ew, you’re so… gross.” Her friend blushed, looking a little disgusted. But Brittany laughed happily. “You don’t understand. Liam loves that. Scarlett Hayes is just a stuffy, disabled old woman who knows nothing. How could she possibly win Liam’s heart?” “So, Liam will definitely abandon her and marry me!” Turning my back on Brittany, I walked away, a self-deprecating smile on my face. Brittany was still lost in her fantasy. How ridiculous. It seemed Liam’s slap hadn’t woken her up yet. I used to believe Liam was a responsible, good man, and I poured my whole heart into him. But what I got in return was ruthless betrayal. Thankfully, my dream was over now. I wouldn’t cling to him for another second. Because, we were done. FIFTH CHAPTER Returning home alone, I started packing my suitcase. The housekeeper, Brenda, saw me dragging my luggage and came over to help, smiling warmly. “Madam, are you going on a trip?”

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The day I was announced as the heir to the family empire, someone stormed the stage, brandishing fabricated leaked documents. They claimed I’d embezzled project funds and colluded with competitors. My father, right there on the spot, tore up the succession agreement and disowned me. On the grand hall’s screens, photos of Blair Sutton, the new heir, cycled endlessly. I stumbled out of the skyscraper, my vision blurring, when a black sedan suddenly lost control and slammed into me. The searing pain brought me to my knees as I collapsed into a pool of my own blood. While I lay unconscious, I overheard a conversation between Liam and his assistant. “Mr. Kincaid, Mrs. Monroe has been completely removed. Why go for the absolute kill?” “She’s too brilliant. Only by rendering her crippled can we ensure she’d never be a threat again.” “Blair saved me from a fire five years ago. She wants the inheritance, so naturally, I have to clear the path for her.” I stared at the burn scar beneath my collarbone, a mark left three years ago when I rushed into that burning building to save *her*. Later, clutching the Medal of Valor from the Fire Department, I burst into the Monroe Holdings press conference. My husband was there, adjusting Blair Sutton’s skirt, tending to his supposed “savior.” I ripped open my dress, exposing the jagged scar. My voice was hoarse, but every word cut through the air, clear as a bell. “Liam Kincaid, you said you’d spend your life with your savior once she recovered—” “But your savior is right here. And you? You’re the one who set the fire.”

Ms. Davies glanced at me, her voice laced with helplessness. “Mr. Kincaid, you already had someone hit Mrs. Monroe. The impact was enough to cripple her legs. Why did you then instruct the driver to repeatedly run over her? Now, her legs are just a mangled mess, requiring immediate amputation.” Liam Kincaid’s eyes were glacial, his tone chillingly indifferent. “I did it to ensure there were no loose ends. What if those guys hadn’t crippled her enough? Skylar Monroe has always been exceptionally capable; it’s not impossible for her to find top doctors across the country to fix those legs.” “If her legs are amputated, she’ll be a cripple forever. She’s headstrong and fiercely proud. Living a lifetime in the agony of her severed legs, she won’t even think about competing with Blair for the inheritance.” Ms. Davies’s pupils constricted, her gaze falling on my bandaged, amputated legs. “But what if Mrs. Monroe finds out? You were at the accident scene yourself. Who knows if she saw you. Even the ambulance was called by a bystander. What if she finds out and blames you for the rest of her life?” Liam took a step closer to me, his slender, well-defined fingers gently caressing the wound on my forehead. “Then we simply won’t let her remember what happened that night. Don’t some shady clinics have nerve inhibitors that can mess with a person’s memory?” “Use it on her. If she forgets, all the better. If not, increase the dosage. It would be best if she can’t even remember who she is.” Ms. Davies clearly felt a pang of conscience, her voice trembling. “Those drugs do exist, but this specific one hasn’t passed clinical trials. It could lead to permanent cognitive impairment, and in severe cases, even incontinence, rendering her completely helpless…” Liam’s impatience was palpable as he listened to his assistant. His eyes suddenly turned bloodshot. “So what? Sacrificing her means securing Blair’s future. It’s all worth it.” “From the moment Blair saved me from the fire five years ago, I haven’t been able to love anyone else. If it weren’t for an arranged marriage for our families’ benefit, why would I have married Skylar Monroe?” “If Blair hadn’t risked her life to save me back then, I might have died in that fire. Now, finally, I have the chance to repay her.” I clenched my wrists so tightly that my palms bled, yet I felt no pain. The man who had been my husband for five years felt like a complete stranger. Five years ago, I risked my life to save Liam Kincaid. The burn scar beneath my collarbone was still there. In five years of marriage, I had never once brought it up. I thought he knew I was the one who saved him. After all, when our families arranged the marriage, he agreed without a second thought. I never explicitly mentioned it, fearing I might trigger painful memories for him. I never imagined that, from start to finish, he had always believed Blair Sutton was his savior. Ms. Davies handed Liam a watch, her fingers trembling. “Mrs. Monroe was clutching this tightly during the accident. Her secretary said it was supposed to be your birthday gift.” Liam stared at the blood-stained watch, gazing blankly for a few seconds. I had specifically spent a fortune at an auction in Italy to buy it. Just because he’d mentioned he liked it, I spared no expense to get it for her, all to make him happy. In the instant of the accident, my mind was consumed only by him. He stroked the chain around his neck with one finger, while his other hand caressed my face. “As long as she’s obedient, not competing or fighting, I can spend my whole life with her. She’ll still be my Mrs. Kincaid, and I’ll still be her Mr. Kincaid.” “Oh, and Blair just took over as heir. We need to celebrate properly. Help me send her that family heirloom jade bracelet.” Ms. Davies’s eyes widened, her voice rising in intensity. “But that’s a Kincaid family heirloom! It should, by rights, go to your wife. After all, she’s your wife, how can you give it to…” Liam immediately cut her off. “Stop with the nonsense. Just go! Blair deserves something this exquisite.” His words sliced me to the bone. Five years, Liam Kincaid, did you have no love for me at all?

After Ms. Davies left, Liam stayed by my bedside. One moment, he was gently wiping my body, the next he was whispering stories of our past into my ear. Every gesture was so tender. If I hadn’t just overheard the cruel truth, I would have believed he loved me so deeply. A short while later, a male doctor, Dr. Alex Reed, whom I recognized as Liam’s close friend, walked in with two reports. Liam glanced at him coolly. “Well? Are the results in?” Dr. Reed handed one of the reports to Liam. He opened it, and his eyes instantly brightened. Even his voice suddenly became cheerful. “I knew it would work! They’re half-sisters, so their kidneys must be a match.” “Prepare for the surgery. The sooner, the better.” Dr. Reed’s face darkened, and he tremblingly grabbed Liam’s hand. “Liam, do you really have to do this? Look at Skylar, she’s already like this. And you still want to take her kidney? Besides, Blair’s kidney isn’t even that problematic. Last time you brought her in for a check-up, it was just a mild infection. A few medications would have fixed it.” Liam pried his hand away, his gaze fixed on my pale face. “You don’t understand. Blair has expended so much energy preparing for the heir position lately. She hasn’t eaten or slept well.” “I saw online that stressing your body like this can cause kidney problems. I can’t gamble with Blair’s health. Only this way can I ensure absolute certainty.” “No matter what, take advantage of this car accident to remove her kidney. When she wakes up, we’ll tell her the crash damaged her kidney and it had to be removed. She won’t suspect a thing.” Dr. Reed tried to reason with him, grabbing his hand again. “But Skylar’s current condition makes her completely unsuitable for this surgery. This car accident caused a blood clotting disorder. Forcibly removing one of her kidneys could lead to shock, even endangering her life.” Liam, however, turned his gaze squarely on Dr. Reed. “Alex, aren’t you the most professional doctor in your hospital? I’m sure you can handle this minor surgery.” Dr. Reed bit his lip, remaining silent, only a series of sighs escaping him. And my tears streamed down my face like a broken string of pearls. My legs had already been amputated, and now, unbelievably, my husband was going to take one of my kidneys for my half-sister. I wanted so badly to rise from the bed and fiercely demand to know why he was doing this to me. But my limbs felt as if they were encased in concrete, rooted to the spot. Dr. Reed handed Liam the other report. “Liam, your physical exam results from last week are also in. Your sperm count and quality are fine. You can try to have children now.” Liam froze, staring at those words on the report for a long time. But the only words I heard from him were a cold, dismissive sentence. “Help me schedule an appointment. I want a contraceptive injection.” Dr. Reed was visibly surprised, his voice laced with confusion. “Liam, you’ve been married for five years, and your family is pressuring you. Don’t you want children yet? Skylar is already like this; without children, she’ll truly lose all hope for living. And you’ve given her so many birth control pills already, her body is damaged. Now you’re getting a contraceptive injection yourself? Do you want to end your family’s legacy?” Liam’s cold hand again gripped mine. With the proximity, his voice pierced me even more. “I never intended to have children when I married her. You know I’ve always loved Blair. If there absolutely has to be a child, that child can only be born from Blair.” He suddenly leaned down and placed a kiss on my forehead, his voice laced with a tremor. “As for Skylar, I’ll compensate her in hundreds of ways.” All the moments of our past flashed through my mind like a movie. For five years of marriage, I had desperately wanted a child, a symbol of our love, but it never came true. I thought there was something wrong with me, so I sought doctors everywhere, drinking countless bitter herbal remedies. Liam had once consoled me, “No rush, we’ll have children eventually.” The truth was, he never wanted children at all.

Dr. Reed had barely left when a nurse walked into the room with a syringe. She inserted the needle into my skin. The little strength I had managed to regain drained away. Liam’s voice beside me was clear, soothing me. “Skylar, it’s okay. It’ll be over soon.” “I’ll wait for you outside. You just have to hold on.” Then, I felt as if I was being pushed into an operating room. Several people in white coats were working with cold surgical instruments. The sensation of my kidney being surgically removed from my body was agonizingly clear, yet I was powerless to stop it. Only bitter tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. I don’t know how long I was in the operating room. When I woke again, Liam’s strikingly handsome face was there, right in front of me. Before, seeing his face would fill me with immense joy, but now, only an icy chill remained. Seeing me awake, he seemed to brighten, pulling me into a tight embrace. “Skylar, you’re finally awake! You don’t know how worried I’ve been about you.” “The heir status is gone, who cares. I just want you to be well forever.” Watching the red rimming his eyes, my heart ached. Liam, I could have been well, but now I’m like this, isn’t it all thanks to you? I instinctively looked down at my legs—amputated completely below the knee. The 20-centimeter-long incision on my abdomen still throbbed. I didn’t need to guess; this surgery was for the removal of my kidney. Liam, did you truly not care about me at all? How could you be so cruel? Seeing my indifferent expression, he tentatively asked, “Skylar, do you remember what happened?” I shook my head, saying nothing, but everything that happened that day was already seared into my bones. Hearing my response, he softened his voice, feigning comfort. “Skylar, that day, you were heartbroken after losing your heir status, so you drank too much and got into a severe car accident… your legs were amputated, and one of your kidneys ruptured, which is why it was removed.” “Don’t worry, no matter what you become, I’ll stay by your side. I don’t care about the inheritance or anything else. I only want you.” He dared to say this, probably because he thought the memory-altering drugs had worked, which is why he twisted the facts so brazenly. Listening to his lies, my heart felt squeezed by a giant hand, and even breathing became painful. He didn’t suspect my lack of enthusiasm at all. He just thought it was because I had just been through a car accident and hadn’t fully recovered. He bustled around my hospital bed, a picture of a perfect husband.

A short while later, someone delivered a wheelchair. He quickly put down the fruit he was cutting for me and diligently pushed the wheelchair in front of me. “Blair, try this. I had it custom-made for you. I’m sure it’ll make things much easier for you from now on.” His peach blossom eyes gazed at me, filled with innocence and expectation. Thinking of a lifetime spent in a wheelchair, I hated the woman before me. But I loved her so much that I couldn’t even bring myself to say a harsh word to her. I wanted to open my mouth and demand, *Liam Kincaid, why are you so cruel to me?* I even found myself trying to rationalize it, telling myself he still loved me. That what I’d heard was just an illusion. But the words caught in my throat, eventually reduced to a single word: “Okay.” Perhaps, I really needed to adapt. He pushed me outside to sunbathe, just like our old promises—that when we grew old, we’d push each other to stroll into the sunset. The early autumn breeze carried a chill, making me cough involuntarily. He immediately stopped, crouching down to ask, “What’s wrong? Are you uncomfortable somewhere? Do you need me to call the doctor?” He quickly stood up, but I grabbed his hand. “No need. It’s just a seasonal cough, an old problem.” He stroked my head, then playfully kissed my forehead. “Skylar, you don’t have to pretend to be strong in front of me. I know everything that’s happened recently has hit you hard.” “You haven’t shed a single tear since it all began. If you want to cry, just cry. Keeping too much sadness inside will break you.” His words showed no hint of pretense; every syllable was concern. In five years together, I had never doubted him. But how could two people who supposedly loved each other so much end up with him becoming the devil who dragged me into the abyss? I tried my best to suppress the pain inside, simply stating, “I want to go home.” He paused, then began to reason with me. “Skylar, you’ve just had surgery. I’m really worried about your health if you go back now.” “How about we wait until you’re a little better before we go home?” Of course, I had to go back. The Monroe Holdings new product launch was in two days. I wanted to give them a big present. I forced a smile, the corners of my mouth tasting bitter. “Don’t worry. Didn’t you say you’d always be with me? You’re my best medicine; with you here, nothing will happen.” “Besides, I really can’t stand the smell of disinfectant in the hospital.” After my repeated insistence, Liam finally relented. Having reached an agreement, he pushed me back towards the ward. Suddenly, his phone rang in his pocket. Blair Sutton’s voice drifted from the receiver. He deliberately stepped away from me to take the call. A moment later, he rushed back to my side. “Skylar, I’m sorry, I have an urgent matter and need to leave. Can you get used to this wheelchair and make your way back to the ward by yourself, please?” He released his grip without hesitation, leaving me alone in the empty hallway. In that moment he turned away, my heart felt like it was bleeding. I suddenly remembered all the times over the years he’d suddenly taken a call and left. Now, it all clicked. Every single time he’d abruptly left, he had been going to see Blair Sutton.

After Liam left, I awkwardly maneuvered the wheelchair, hailed a cab, and went home. I carefully surveyed the house we had shared for five years. Traces of our love were everywhere, but now they seemed incredibly ironic. I went to the study, intending to retrieve the Medal of Valor I’d received for saving him. Instead, in a nearby drawer, I discovered a diary. I opened the cover, and it was filled with his cramped handwriting. “October 2020: Someone rushed into the fire to save me. She was a beacon of light in my life. She gave me my life. In the future, I will marry her.” “July 2016: I finally found my savior. She looks just as I remember, just as gentle and beautiful. I need to find the right opportunity to tell her how I feel.” “October 2016: I can only keep that love hidden in my heart. Because of the arranged marriage for our families’ benefit, I had no choice but to marry her older sister, but the person I truly love is still her.” The diary was filled with Blair Sutton’s photos, and every word expressed his profound love for her. I clutched the book, tears falling onto the pages. Liam Kincaid, I was the one who saved you that day. If you knew the truth, would you feel guilty or regretful? Just then, a message popped up on my phone. It was from Liam. “Skylar, I won’t be home for dinner tonight. Get some good rest.” “Oh, and tomorrow is the Monroe Holdings new product launch. I’d like you to attend. Someone will pick you up tomorrow.”

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The instant a five-million-dollar transfer hit my bank account, my mind went blank. The note on the transfer read: “Leave my husband.” I thought it was some kind of mistake, a wrong transfer, and my first instinct was to tell Landon. Just as I turned, a text message popped up on my phone: “Mia, this is Landon’s wife. Do the smart thing and take the money. Get away from my husband.” My world shattered, plummeting from heaven to hell. He had a wife? What did that make me? After everything blew up, our mess became public, known across the entire internet. Heartbroken and disillusioned, I left the city. But then, Landon, against all odds, chased me to this quiet, secluded town. He cornered me, tears dripping onto my collarbone, begging me to come back to him. After a passionate night, an endless emptiness gnawed at my stomach. I snuggled closer to Landon, teasing, “Can we grab some late-night takeout?” Landon lowered his head, licking my lips again, his voice husky, “Of course, sweetheart. Whatever you want, I’ll pay.” Gasping after a breathless kiss, I picked up my phone, ready to open the food delivery app, only to see a transfer notification pop up. I stared at the unexplained five million dollars in my account, utterly bewildered. Then, a text message followed. “Mia, hello. I’m Landon’s wife. I hope you’ll be sensible and take the money to leave Landon.” My fingers instantly went numb, a cold dread creeping down my spine. Landon and I started a business together. For six years, we worked side-by-side, day in and day out, pouring our blood, sweat, and tears into building it, turning him into a top-tier online personality. But he was married? And I had no idea when? What did that make me? Noticing my silence, Landon reached out and pulled me into his arms again. He turned his head to kiss me. “Mia, what’s wrong?” I twisted away from his embrace, pushing my phone into his view. “Your wife sent me five million dollars, telling me to leave you.” Landon frowned, took my phone, glanced at the text, and without a moment’s hesitation, he pushed me away, swinging himself out of bed. Then, in the dead of night, he just turned and walked away, disappearing into the darkness. I lay awake all night, tears streaming down my face, but I never got a single explanation from him. It used to be that no matter where he went, he’d text me, send me his location, even FaceTime me every half hour, checking in constantly. When Landon and I first met, he was a small-time streamer nobody had heard of. He had big dreams, and I stayed by his side, helping him. Eventually, he made it big, becoming a recognizable name in the influencer world. He hugged me, crying hysterically, sobbing that he finally had the courage to confess his feelings and ask if I would be with him. I was so touched, tears streaming down my face, and I responded with a kiss right then and there. As his fame and fortune grew, I became more and more anxious. Sometimes, I’d suddenly start crying, feeling insecure, like I didn’t deserve him. But he brought me into his streams, into the eyes of all his followers, right there beside him in the spotlight, showing me through his actions that I was his greatest love. I believed him completely. We were inseparable for six years, never once fighting. I even started making plans for us to get married. The love he gave me was so openly displayed, for the whole world to witness. That’s why, when he left without hesitation, it left me gasping for air, my heart aching. For six years, our lives and work were so intertwined. When did he get married? I never even noticed. A sleepless night later, I dragged myself to the office, feeling like a soulless shell. Landon placed a cup of coffee on my desk and casually reached to hug me. “Mia, look at those dark circles! Didn’t get any sleep last night?” I looked up, tears spilling from my eyes, and forcefully shoved him away, screaming, “Get lost! Go find your wife!” Landon smiled gently, completely ignoring my outburst, and pulled me into his arms. “Come on, Mia, she’s my wife, you’re *you*.” “Please, stop saying things that try to separate us, pushing me towards another woman.” With that, he leaned in to kiss me. I opened my mouth and bit him hard. The metallic taste of blood instantly filled my mouth. He finally dropped his carefree facade, his face darkening as he asked, “Mia! How long are you going to keep this up?” “Landon, are you serious?! You’re disgusting! If you’re done being a pathetic creep, then get lost!” Landon didn’t say anything. Instead, he grabbed my arm and dragged me outside. He pointed down at the street. “Mia, look. This whole building, all this height, we built it all from the ground up! This is *our* shared business. I can’t leave you, and you can’t leave me. Isn’t it great for us to just stay like this?” From up here, the people on the ground looked like tiny, indistinguishable specks. This was *our* business. But no one knew better than Landon how desperately I wanted a home of my own. Yet he ignored it, insisting I stay in this hidden, secret relationship with him. Tears streamed down my face. I violently shook off Landon’s hand, unable to stop myself from yelling, “What about me, then?! You have a warm home now, but what about *me*?!” Landon fell silent, then walked over and gently wiped away my tears. “Mia, you love me so much. I have a family now, and that’s like you having one too. And…” He leaned in close, whispering in my ear, “If you want to leave, don’t forget the one hundred million dollar penalty clause in our influencer contract.” In that moment, our eyes met. I saw pure manipulation in his gaze. In that moment, I felt a suffocating helplessness. My expression must have satisfied him. Landon shrugged, chuckling softly, and pulled me up. “Alright, just kidding. I love you too much to let you go, you know?” “Just be good, and we’ll be exactly like before. Whatever you want, I’ll give you.” Looking at Landon’s smile, countless sharp thorns pierced my heart, making me double over just to breathe. I finally couldn’t take it anymore and fled, running as fast as I could. Landon, he always knew how to control me, and he always knew exactly what to say to hurt me the most. Six years of ‘love,’ and finally, his true colors showed. The next few days were relatively calm. Landon didn’t appear. But then, one day as I walked into the company building, an unwelcome visitor stood in the lobby downstairs. Camilla stood in front of me, clutching her bag. “Mia, I told you to take the five million and leave.” Camilla showed up, asserting her status as the rightful wife. Her condescending smirk stung my eyes. “I’ve already broken up with him,” I said. But Camilla still wore that superior expression. “When I said ‘leave,’ I meant you need to leave this company, this city, and never come back.” I was speechless, my lips pressed into a tight line. “Ms. Camilla, I wouldn’t stay involved with Landon, knowing he was married. But I also have my own career.” Camilla looked at me, then suddenly laughed. “Ms. Mia, you’re smart, you know money’s great, but I’m not stupid. What I mean is, both the money *and* the man are mine.” She made no effort to hide her ambition. I pursed my lips, coldly refusing. “I told you, what’s mine, I won’t let go of.” “As for Landon, I’ll reduce our work interactions. I’m quite well-off, you know. I’m not so desperate as to cling to a two-timing jerk.” Camilla’s eyes widened, clearly shocked I’d talk about Landon like that. She bit her lip, a flash of malice flickering in her eyes. “Since you won’t leave, then just wait.” With that, she turned and walked away. At the time, I just thought she was making empty threats. I never imagined she’d be so utterly insane. In the early hours of the morning, my assistant, Chloe, blew up my phone. “Mia, check the trending topics!” I opened Ins, clicked on the trending list. Camilla had posted photos of Landon and me, along with our chat logs. Every single word accused me of seducing Landon. She was clever, alright. The photos she released included one of Landon and me when he was angry, his face cold, and me standing on tiptoes to kiss him. I didn’t even know who took that picture. I rushed to the company that night, where the senior management was already gathered. Their gazes all landed on me. “Mia, Landon isn’t just our company’s biggest shareholder, he’s also an incredibly influential top influencer. He can’t afford to have anything happen to him, do you understand?” I understood. Which meant I was the one who deserved to be sacrificed. A tidal wave of nasty accusations came crashing down on me from across the internet. Third Chapter Completely devastated, I returned home, only to find the front door blocked by countless media reporters. I covered my face, scared senseless, and fled. I ran to a twenty-four-hour drugstore, bought a mask, and then checked out of the hotel, feeling the judgment from the front desk. I’d barely laid down and sighed in relief when my phone rang, relentlessly ringing like a death knell. Unknown numbers—I ignored them all. Until I was added to a SnapChat group chat, and a video call started ringing. I hesitated, then answered. My parents, divorced for over ten years, appeared on the screen together for the first time in ages. It was a scene I’d always dreamed of, but they both glowered at me, then started tearing into each other. “Look at the daughter *you* raised! A homewrecker, seducing married men!” My mom immediately shot back, “She’s just like *you*, isn’t she? Cheating and keeping a mistress!” I just sat there, stunned, as they ripped each other apart, wave after wave of bitter ache swelling in my chest. Their insults grew nastier and nastier until I finally couldn’t take it anymore and roared, “What do you two even want?!” They finally looked at me. “Mia, it’s all because of you! My house is swarming with reporters!” “Mine too!” Then my mom decreed, imperiously, “You go clarify right now! Tell them you left with your dad years ago, that we cut ties, and nothing you do has anything to do with me!” My dad chimed in with the same demands. Just like the year they divorced, they both just wanted to shake off the ‘problem’ that was me. I hung up, feeling their eyes burn into me like I was their worst enemy. Instantly, tears streamed down my face like rain. I don’t know how long I cried. Trembling, I logged onto Ins and recorded a video, stating that I had long since cut ties with my parents, then posted it. It only brought on another wave of public condemnation. I thought if I just hid in the hotel for a few days, the whole thing would blow over. But to my surprise, a few days later, my parents, who had just claimed to cut ties with me, sought me out again. This time, their eyes weren’t filled with disgust anymore, but pure, unadulterated greed. “Mia, honey, we heard you got a huge sum of money after being kicked out of the company.” “It wasn’t easy raising you, your dad and I. You owe us something, right?” My dad nodded vigorously, giving me a look that said, ‘Your mom’s right, just listen to her.’ A wave of bitter sadness washed over me. They hadn’t gotten along in twenty years, yet here they were, peacefully discussing how to squeeze money out of their daughter. I forced a stiff smile. “Where did you hear I had money?” Their eyes darted nervously, and they mumbled evasively, “Oh, well… someone sent us a text, you know.” I pulled out Camilla’s phone number and read it aloud. “Was it her? Tell me the truth, and then I’ll give you the money.” As soon as they heard that, they both nodded emphatically. “Yes! It was her!” A bitter taste filled my mouth. I buried my head in my knees, quietly sobbing. My mom named a number, and then they hung up. It was the exact amount the company paid me for my shares, no more, no less. I wiped away my tears, transferred the money, and severed the already fragile ties between us. I pulled the covers completely over my head. The stale air under the covers suffocated me; each time I threw them off, it felt like being reborn. After a few times, I finally managed to calm myself. Just then, my phone started ringing relentlessly again. All unknown numbers. As soon as I blocked one, another would call right back. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore and picked up. “I am NOT a homewrecker! Stop harassing me!” Landon chuckled on the other end, his voice soft and coaxing. “I know you’re not, honey. In a few days, no one will even care. Did you miss me?” All this mess was his wife’s doing. How did he even have the nerve to call me? I screamed into the phone, “You pathetic loser, get lost!” I hung up decisively. I organized all the major and minor details of my six years with Landon, complete with a timeline and photos, into a document. I made it into a presentation and gave it a catchy, attention-grabbing title. Without hesitation, I posted it online.

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I was the only biological sister of Ryan, the CEO of Sterling Corporation, yet I was also the person he despised the most. He had cursed me countless times in front of everyone, “She’s a menace! She doesn’t deserve to live! If she wants my forgiveness, she’d better go to hell and apologize to Lily!” I quietly listened to his venomous words, never uttering a sound. Only this time, my soul floated in the air, silently nodding. Okay, brother. As you wish. The day I died was a dreary, rainy day. Ms. Brenda, who had raised me, knelt by my bed, her face streaked with tears. “Anya, don’t be scared. I’ve already called Ryan. He’s coming, I promise.” I shook my head, my lips parting as I tried to speak. But before I could form a complete sentence, my body seemed to be liberated in that instant. My consciousness gradually faded, yet my lingering soul, before it could even touch the eaves, drifted gently back into the room. I watched Ms. Brenda sobbing hysterically over me, watched her frantically trying to open the door and rush out. But two bodyguards stood outside, holding her shoulders firmly, refusing to let her leave. “Ms. Vivian Hayes ordered that Mr. Sterling is very busy right now. No matter how big or small the matter, he is not to be disturbed.” Vivian Hayes, Lily’s distant cousin. Someone who had no relation whatsoever to the Sterling family, yet she effortlessly managed to keep me trapped within our own home. “I can’t hold on! Please, let me go find Ryan. Any later, and it might be too late…” Ms. Brenda collapsed onto the ground. She was over fifty, her hair streaked with gray. She mechanically kept bowing her head, her forehead nearly bleeding. I rushed over, wanting to stop the bodyguards, but I could only watch helplessly as they knocked her unconscious and moved her to another guest room. The tears I’d held back for so long finally broke free. I wiped my eyes. So, even when you’re dead, you can still cry… I turned back to look at the bedroom, which hadn’t seen sunlight in ages. On the cold, damp bed lay my emaciated corpse, covered in bruises. Bright red liquid stained my old clothes, my face was gaunt, and I looked utterly miserable. See? How unsightly I died. If Ryan saw this, would he finally be satisfied? … Ryan, the sole heir to Sterling Corporation, had everything handed to him since childhood. He displayed impressive business acumen at a young age, and within less than three years of taking over Blackwood Corp., he doubled its scale. But Ryan, despite his talent, good looks, and amiable demeanor, held an extreme aversion for his only sister—me. The outside world constantly speculated about our relationship, but it wasn’t always like this. When we were very young, we lost our parents. Sterling Corporation was seized by distant relatives, and we became unwanted baggage, almost kicked out of our own home. It was then that Lily, who had grown up as Ryan’s childhood sweetheart, convinced her father to adopt us. “Just stay at my place. One day, I’ll help you reclaim Sterling Corporation.” She said it, and she did it. Mr. Blackwood used his family’s influence to pressure our relatives, and Ryan worked tirelessly, getting into the country’s top university. He and Lily promised to get married as soon as they graduated. But when Ryan traveled abroad for a competition, taking Lily and me with him, an accident happened. Lily and I went out for dinner and got into an argument with customers at the next table. I was young and stubborn then, completely disregarding that we were on their turf. The other party, taking us by surprise, grabbed a glass bottle and aimed it at me. Seeing this, Lily quickly stepped in front of me, but she was struck. She collapsed instantly. Red liquid flowed from the back of her head. The scene erupted into chaos, and the culprits managed to escape… Ryan had just won his championship title. They had planned to get engaged once they returned home, but all he saw now was Lily’s lifeless body. Their beautiful dreams and future shattered in an instant. When Ryan arrived, he went berserk, clutching Lily’s body and refusing to let go. The police officers eventually had to forcefully pull him away. We returned home. The Blackwood family insisted on burying Lily in their family plot, but Ryan refused. His eyes bloodshot, he roared, “Lily is mine! Even in death, she must be laid to rest in my Sterling family cemetery!” But the Sterling family was not yet under his control. I cried, begging him to let Lily be laid to rest first. But he shoved me away, glaring at me with utter hatred. “If you hadn’t gotten into an argument with someone, how could Lily have died?” “Anya, you should have died with Lily!”

Ryan’s words were like venomous insects gnawing at my flesh, threatening to devour me whole. I stood frozen, staring blankly at his grief-stricken face, only able to mumble, “I’m sorry.” But no amount of regret, apology, or guilt could bring Lily back from the underworld. Ryan locked me in my room. It wasn’t until a month later that I learned he had bought a double plot. He decided to hold a symbolic wedding, welcoming Lily into our home as his wife… I was finally released after all the ceremonies were complete. That was also the first time I met Lily’s distant cousin, Vivian Hayes. She only bore a slight resemblance to Lily, but her eyes and demeanor were uncannily similar. I wasn’t sure why Ryan brought her home. Perhaps he intended to use her as a constant reminder of my mistake. Every time I slightly defied him, or if my behavior was in any way improper, He would say in that familiar tone, “Anya, when will you be as obedient as Vivian?” “Stop causing me trouble. Look at Vivian.” Days turned into weeks, then months. Ryan finally took full control of Sterling Corporation, and with each scolding, I became more and more like Vivian. But no matter how hard I tried, I still only ever received Ryan’s reprimands. It wasn’t until my graduation ceremony with Vivian that I realized Ryan had always wished I would die. Now, this wicked person—me—had finally disappeared from this world four years later, just as he wished. He must be satisfied now, I thought. Time ticked by, second by second, with no one discovering my lifeless body. The gloomy rain outside the window finally stopped, though the air remained damp and cold. I watched Ms. Brenda, trapped in the guest room, crying hysterically, and a wave of sorrow welled up inside me. Ever since returning to the Sterling residence, Ryan had hired many people to work, but everyone knew he didn’t care for me. So, aside from Ms. Brenda, neither the bodyguards nor the maids paid any attention to me. Vivian Hayes, on the other hand, was different. Because she was Lily’s cousin, and because she bore a slight resemblance to Lily, Ryan lavished her with affection. She was seen everywhere, at every event. Many even rumored that Ryan might marry her. Because of this, everyone in the Sterling household, besides obeying Ryan, only listened to Vivian Hayes. She deliberately assigned me to the darkest, dampest room in the entire mansion. Aside from Ms. Brenda, no one else was allowed to interact with me. Those bodyguards dared not lay a hand on Ms. Brenda, but if they didn’t let her out, who would ever discover my body and announce my death? Perhaps this was my retribution. I suddenly remembered when Lily died, Ryan had held her body, weeping uncontrollably. He told me over and over again that I would die a terrible death and come to no good end. When Lily died, everyone grieved for her, but I could only gasp my last breath alone in a cold, dark bedroom. I watched the last remaining leaf on a bare tree outside the window drift down, and my heart inexplicably ached. My soul and body were slowly separating, and our connection grew weaker. I could finally leave the room, wandering freely within the mansion grounds, though I still couldn’t leave entirely. … I floated into the yard, where several housekeepers were trimming branches. It was deep autumn, yet a few flower species in the garden were still visible, vying for beauty as if unaffected by the season. “Mr. Sterling is just too good to Ms. Vivian Hayes,” I heard one of the housekeepers remark. “Yes, Ms. Vivian Hayes only mentioned wanting to see flowers, and Mr. Sterling had people specially cultivate flowers that aren’t affected by the season.” “Sounds like it must have cost a fortune, right?” “Definitely. Worth millions, and they only bloom for two seasons. Mr. Sterling is so generous!” The gardener, who was calmly trimming branches nearby, chuckled. “For anything Ms. Vivian Hayes desires, what are a few millions?” “After all, everyone knows Ms. Vivian Hayes is the true mistress of Sterling Mansion.” The few women covered their mouths and laughed. Of course, I knew what they were laughing about. They were mocking me, the true daughter of the Sterling family, for being incomparable to Vivian Hayes, a relative who just appeared.

I looked at the fresh flowers and suddenly remembered a long time ago, Ryan had made me a similar promise. He was preparing for a math competition then, and I worried he’d strain his eyes staring at books all day. So I wanted to buy him an eye-care device with my own hands. I picked many flowers then, made them into dried flower bookmarks, and sold them at school. But I inadvertently affected the small vendors’ profits. They found some thugs to harass me, not only badmouthing me around the school, saying my dried flowers caused allergies, but also cornering me at the school’s side gate, threatening to teach me a lesson. At a crucial moment, Ryan saved me. He chased away the thugs. Seeing me still shaken, he comforted me, “Don’t worry, when I have money, I’ll buy you lots and lots of saplings.” “When the flowers bloom in spring, you can make a huge batch of dried flowers, and I’ll buy them all to give to all discerning individuals who appreciate them.” But that confident promise had long since vanished with the wind. Now, this entire garden of flowers belonged to Vivian Hayes. She even said, “Flowers are flowers. Turning them into dried flowers is ruining their beauty.” She forbade me from approaching the garden, even a little bit… Thinking of this, I couldn’t help but lower my head and give a self-deprecating laugh. Right, she was Lily’s cousin, and I was just the sinner who caused Lily’s death. How could I compare to her? As if hearing my thoughts, the sound of a car horn came from outside the gate. I couldn’t help but float to the courtyard entrance and immediately saw Ryan and Vivian Hayes stepping out of the car. Vivian Hayes wore a white business suit, a popular main style from a current luxury brand’s seasonal collection. It made her appear even more poised and transcendent, with an extraordinary aura. “I heard Ms. Vivian Hayes has a party today.” A housekeeper nearest to me looked at Vivian Hayes with envy. “No wonder. Mr. Sterling must have picked her up right after finishing work.” Another housekeeper chimed in. “Of course. No matter where Ms. Hayes goes, Mr. Sterling always personally drives her.” “Ms. Vivian Hayes is so beautiful. No wonder everyone likes her.” I stood inside the doorway, listening to the housekeepers’ praises for Vivian Hayes, and watched Ryan and Vivian Hayes enter the house together. Just inside the house, Vivian Hayes was still chattering to Ryan about the party when Ryan looked around and suddenly asked, “At the party just now, what was your impression of Brandon Miller, the young master of the Miller family?” Vivian Hayes looked surprised and couldn’t help but ask, “Ryan, why do you ask me that?” Then she lowered her head and murmured, “What good is it if *I* like him? He has to like *me*.” In terms of power and wealth, the Miller family was one of the top families in the entire capital city. Ryan had only recently taken over Sterling Corporation, and his foundation wasn’t stable. And no matter how favored Vivian Hayes was, she wasn’t a legitimate daughter of the Sterling family. A distant cousin of the Blackwood family, she was not a suitable match and could never marry into the Miller family. This was also why Vivian Hayes had secretly liked Brandon Miller for years but never confessed. I watched Ryan slowly lift his head, gazing at the countless flowers in the mansion’s courtyard, and he spoke softly, “Lily was my wife. Since you are her cousin, I should take good care of you, too.” “If you like him, why don’t I officially adopt you as my sister? Then you’ll be a daughter of the Sterling family, and it will be easier for you to discuss marriage with him.” I stared at Ryan blankly, never dreaming he would say such a thing. Although Ryan had proposed to Lily and even held a symbolic wedding, legally, they were not married. After Lily’s parents passed away last year, Vivian Hayes had hinted to Ryan that she wanted him to adopt her as his sister so she wouldn’t be looked down upon by the upper-class families in the capital. But Ryan had always insisted that he and Lily were already married and refused to agree to her request. Now, Ryan was actively bringing up this matter, all for the sake of fulfilling Vivian Hayes’s wish to marry the man she loved. I couldn’t help but take a few steps back, a strange panic stirring within me. Even though Ryan didn’t care for me, I was still a Sterling, still shared his blood. I still held a tiny hope that Ryan felt some familial affection for me. That’s why he had never suggested adopting Vivian Hayes as his sister. But now, he was willing to admit that he and Lily weren’t legally married, just to give Vivian Hayes a higher status and help her marry into the Miller family. I couldn’t help but shed tears. Ryan, was there no place for me in your heart anymore? All those promises made years ago couldn’t compare to the care you showed Vivian Hayes. Vivian Hayes’s face was filled with excitement and joy. She cautiously said, “Really? Does that mean I can openly call you brother from now on?” At that, a flicker of hesitation crossed Ryan’s face. “Let’s keep things as they were. Changing it would make me uncomfortable.” Before she could speak, Ryan glanced at a nearby housekeeper. “Where’s Anya?” “Is she still sulking because I confined her, refusing to come out?” Ryan walked towards the mansion. “Nonsense. I’ll go see her.” Hearing this, Vivian Hayes’s eyes flashed with a hint of panic. “Ryan, don’t go yet.”

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