Author: Momo Chan

I was the last surviving member of the Immortal Kindred. But after 99 heartbreaks, my immortality would shatter completely, and I would die for good. Falling for Caleb Thorne, the brilliant archaeologist, was my last chance. He once promised we’d grow old together, our love eternal. But everything changed when Lila joined our excavation team. He mocked my immortal fate, sneering, “Don’t sicken me. When I’m gone, won’t you just move on to the next guy? How filthy.” Later, when I was captured for live research, I called him for help. He dismissed it as a pathetic act and hung up to be with Lila instead. My heart broke for the 99th time. I closed my eyes, and my life finally ended. But when he realized I was truly gone, he spiraled into madness. Wind whipped up sand, the sky darkened, and the ancient tomb felt eerily sinister. Our team carefully studied the murals on the walls. Suddenly, a deep rumble echoed from above, and the tomb passage began to shake violently. “Cave-in! Run!” one of the team members yelled. “Lila!” Caleb’s voice was filled with frantic urgency. In that critical moment, my boyfriend was calling out another woman’s name. I turned my head and saw a massive rock hurtling towards Lila. Before I could even react, a shove sent me forward, pushing Lila to safety. The colossal rock, instead, crashed down on me. Excruciating pain ripped through my body. Slowly, I lifted my gaze to the hands that had pushed me—Caleb Thorne’s. He was frantically rushing to Lila, pulling her into his arms, as if terrified she might even get a scratch. When the cave-in subsided, team members rushed to help move the rock off me. Caleb, meanwhile, was still meticulously tending to Lila’s slightly scraped knee. Only after he was done did he finally remember me. By then, I had already been moved onto a stretcher. Caleb’s eyes widened when he saw my state. He looked stunned. “Anya… I…” “Caleb! My foot hurts!” Lila called out from a distance. Caleb immediately rushed back to her. After a few steps, he turned back to me and said: “Anya, it was too dangerous just now. You know Lila’s always been delicate since childhood, she can’t handle any injury.” “Anyway, you won’t die. You won’t blame me, right?” I struggled to speak, but before I could utter a single word, Caleb was already helping Lila up. Right. I wouldn’t die. But I just wouldn’t die. I had all the same emotions and senses as any normal person… I was bedridden for three days. Caleb finally came to see me. He looked at me, lying in the hospital bed, his face full of guilt. “Anya, this is an ancient coin we found during the dig these past two days. It has great meaning, so I had it made into a necklace for you.” The last time Caleb gave me a gift was four years ago, when I hand-knitted him a scarf. The next day, he gifted me a bottle of perfume in return. Even though the top notes of the perfume were an overpowering rose scent, which I didn’t like, I still treasured it for years. Every year after that, he would say: “We’re old married couples now, no need for these extra things. I’ll always love you.” Though I accepted that notion, I was still excited and asked him to put the necklace on me. But after he did, he said, “Lila and I made it together. She said it’s her apology to you.” “She feels really bad about what happened the other day, and she’s been down. When you’re better, why don’t you go apologize to her?” The sudden surge of joy instantly drained away. My heart clenched with a sharp, agonizing pain. I stared at him, confused, and said, “Caleb, you two made it together, fine. But why do I have to apologize?” Caleb frowned, looking at me with dissatisfaction. “Anya, when did you become so petty? It’s just an apology, sweet-talk her a bit. You won’t lose a limb.” I turned away from him. “I won’t go.” Caleb said nothing, then turned and walked out. From start to finish, not a single word of comfort.

The next day, I woke up in a haze. I unexpectedly heard an argument outside my door. “Caleb, Miss Anya’s current condition isn’t suitable for blood drawing. You can’t do this.” Our team’s accompanying doctor said. “She’ll be fine, but Lila needs this blood to save her life! Hurry up and prepare, or you can say goodbye to your medical career.” Caleb’s family was seriously loaded. They pretty much owned half the city. But I never imagined he’d threaten someone like this for Lila. Before, in my mind, he was always kind and dedicated to his work. I stared silently at the door, my eyes hazy. Just then, Caleb walked in. He seemed startled to see me awake and said, “You heard everything?” I nodded weakly. “Anya, yesterday when Lila and I were out on the excavation, she got seriously injured and lost a lot of blood trying to protect me.” “She’s already anemic, I have to save her.” “Your blood never spoils, it’s perfect for a transfusion.” “You wouldn’t just stand by and let her die, would you?” Caleb said, his voice soft and gentle. He didn’t seem to realize that I, too, was a severely injured patient lying in a hospital bed. “What if I don’t?” At my words, Caleb’s expression instantly hardened. He stared at me coldly: “Anya, I don’t know when you became so stingy.” “Yesterday, I let it slide when you refused to apologize. What more do you want?” “You won’t die anyway, so why not save her?” “There’s no discussing this. You *will* donate blood.” With that, he called two people in to hold me down, afraid I’d resist. The doctor came to draw my blood. He looked at me with a pained expression and sighed. After he finished the first draw, Caleb stopped him. “That’s not enough. What if Lila’s afraid of pain and moves, spilling some?” “Keep drawing.” The doctor looked at Caleb in disbelief. “Caleb, if you draw any more from Miss Anya, she might die.” Caleb glanced at me, his voice firm. “Don’t worry, she won’t die.” The secret of me being an Immortal Kindred was known only to Caleb. If others found out, I’d surely be captured for live research. Two streams of tears silently ran down my face. The doctor, left with no choice, continued to draw my blood. Fortunately, he monitored my condition and didn’t take a lethal amount. After everyone left, Caleb saw my pale, bloodless face. He looked like he wanted to say something, but stopped himself. “You’ll heal quickly. It’s fine.” With that, he hurried out. Later, I overheard the little nurses chatting. “Mr. Thorne and Miss Lila are so sweet together.” “I know, right? He stays by Lila’s side day and night, afraid anything bad might happen to her.” “I saw Mr. Thorne at lunch today, he even blew on Lila’s food to cool it down and fed it to her, just in case she burned herself.” “Truly childhood sweethearts, they’re such a perfect match!” “Shh, don’t let Anya hear us. Let’s go talk over there.” I lay alone in the empty hospital room, staring at the ceiling. It had been almost a century. My heart hadn’t ached like this in so long.

The day I could finally get out of bed, I went home first. I mistakenly thought leaving early would grab Caleb’s attention. After all, I used to be the one he cherished most. But I was wrong. Our last contact was a month ago: a message from him informing me that Lila would be joining the archaeological team and asking me to look after her. The next day, I was woken by a commotion. I looked and saw Caleb had returned from the dig. No, Caleb *and* Lila had returned from the dig. Caleb was in the kitchen, making noodles for Lila, while Lila was in the living room, casually playing with Caleb’s most prized antique. I’d once accidentally touched that antique myself. At the time, Caleb had lost his temper with me for the first time: “Do you know how precious this is? It’s a Ming Dynasty antique, the only one in the world!” His voice was laced with suppressed rage, as if I’d almost destroyed his entire world. I stood rooted to the spot, feeling helpless, my heart pricked by something sharp. “I’m sorry…” I whispered. But he didn’t even look at me again, only carefully placed the porcelain vase back in its spot. After that, I never touched anything he loved again. Now, Lila casually balanced the porcelain vase on her lap, her fingertips gently tapping the body, making a clear, crisp sound. Caleb poked his head out from the kitchen, his gaze falling on the vase in her hands, yet there was no displeasure, only a smile as he asked, “Do you like it? If you do, it’s yours.” Lila looked up, blinked, and her voice held a touch of playful charm: “Really? But this is your most treasured possession.” Caleb chuckled, his voice doting: “When have I ever lied to you? Come, the noodles are ready.” I watched it all in silence. The warm scene before me was blindingly painful. Suddenly, Lila accidentally spilled some noodle soup on the table. She casually grabbed a piece of cloth and said, “This is a rag, right? I’ll just wipe it up.” I stared intently, realizing it was the scarf I had personally knitted for Caleb. Caleb probably didn’t remember. He didn’t stop her, only looked at Lila with concern. “Didn’t burn yourself, did you?” Lila shook her head, complimenting Caleb that his noodles were still as delicious as ever. “Caleb, do you remember?” “You couldn’t cook before, but you specifically learned to make tomato and egg noodles for me.” Caleb smiled faintly: “Of course, I remember.” I looked at him in surprise. Before, Caleb had discovered my fondness for tomato and egg noodles. Every morning he was home, he would make a steaming bowl for me. I thought he had learned and made it specifically for me. Turns out, from the very beginning, it was never for me. I gave a self-deprecating laugh, turned, and prepared to go back to my room. But then I heard Lila say: “Oh, right, Caleb, can you come perfume shopping with me this afternoon? Mine’s almost out.” “There’s a new one in the cabinet, just take it. It’s your favorite rose scent.” My steps faltered. Rose scent… Back in my room, I threw the bottle of perfume, treasured for years, into the trash.

Early the next morning, I was jolted awake by a nightmare. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had one. Feeling strange, I decided to go for a walk alone. When I got downstairs, I saw Lila hadn’t left yet. Caleb had actually let another woman stay over. I watched her fiddling with the flowers I’d planted, just about to warn her, when she spoke first: “Anya, you’re awake! Speaking of which, your name really suits an Immortal Kindred, doesn’t it? I never thought the legend was true.” I walked over, gripping her wrist tightly, and stared at her coldly: “Who told you?” “Caleb did, yesterday. He told me.” Lila looked at me smugly. “Be smart, Caleb doesn’t love you anymore. Just give up now.” “You’ve lived for so many years, you don’t need Caleb, do you? Wouldn’t it be better to just let me have him?” She leaned in close, whispering in my ear. I slapped her across the face. The sharp sound drew Caleb’s attention. Lila clutched her cheek, whimpering and looking down, feigning hurt. Caleb saw, rushed to Lila’s side, and then noticed the flower bed next to her. He glared at me.

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My ex-boyfriend was at his poorest when I broke up with him. Years later, he made a fortune, and used every trick in the book to marry me. Everyone said I was his ultimate love, the wife he cherished above all. But then, he started bringing different women home every night, shattering my heart, turning me into the biggest joke in our social circle. Yet, I never cried, never threw a fit. I just lived quietly in the study, never disturbing his little games. He’d get furious, kissing my lips savagely, whispering, “Aren’t you jealous?” He didn’t know I was sick. Every single day he was exacting his crazy revenge on me, I was silently counting down how many days I had left to live. It was the third year of my marriage to Alistair, and he’d taken on a young, beautiful college student as his mistress. Her name was Willow, pretty and pure, exactly Alistair’s type. He’d kept her around for over half a year. Aside from me, she was the woman Alistair kept by his side the longest. My friends warned me to be careful, saying he seemed to be genuinely falling for Willow. The first time I met Willow was on my birthday. I’d been having nosebleeds since morning. After a check-up at the hospital, the doctor told me I probably only had until next spring. I nodded gently, whispering, “It’s okay.” I wasn’t afraid of dying, just a little afraid of pain. I heard there was a really expensive medication that could make my final days more comfortable. My debit card didn’t have enough funds, so I went to Alistair’s office to find him. Coincidentally, Willow was there too. She’d just graduated and was working as Alistair’s secretary. Alistair was in a meeting, so I sat outside and waited. Willow kept staring at me, secretly whispering to her colleagues, “Is that the boss’s wife? She’s so ugly, stick-thin, looks like she’s about to drop dead.” “You all say I look like her, but where? I’m way prettier.” My reflection in the shiny glass showed my messy hair, a bulky puffer jacket. She was right. I didn’t look good. And I was dying. A colleague pulled Willow aside, whispering, “That’s because she’s not wearing makeup. If she put on makeup, ten of you combined wouldn’t be as pretty as her.” “And don’t you dare provoke her just because the boss favors you.” “You have no idea how much the boss loves her. If you make her unhappy, he’ll fire you, just watch.”

Willow scoffed, rolling her eyes at me, clearly not buying that Alistair loved me so much. She brought me a cup of tea, a challenging smirk on her face. “Elara, how could Alistair bear to keep you waiting so long?” “It’s so weird. Whenever I came to see him before, no matter how busy he was, he’d always come out to be with me first. He said I was the most important person.” “I thought he was that considerate with other women too…” Her lips curled into a triumphant smile. When she smiled, she was just like me when I was younger. I thought about it. Alistair *was* different with Willow. He’d had countless lovers, treating them like tools to spite me, bringing different women home every night, testing my reaction again and again. Alistair never got entangled with them for long. Maybe a day or two, maybe ten days or half a month. He’d always get bored quickly. Only Willow. Alistair kept her, took her out to dinner, shopping, to the movies. They were like a normal, loving couple. Alistair gave her money, but he also gave her affection. I looked at Willow and smiled gently. “If you’re so important, why would Alistair keep you hidden away as his mistress?” “You should really try to convince him to divorce me quickly and marry you.” Willow’s face instantly twisted. Infuriated and ashamed, she lowered her voice and snapped, “You’re the mistress! You’re the one who’s extra!” “You’re just banking on the fact you met Alistair a few years before me, right? But now you’re old and ugly. What makes you think you can compete with me…?” Her colleague, probably afraid I’d get angry, quickly grabbed her arm, trying to pull her away. Actually, I was fine. I’d told myself long ago not to get angry or sad over Alistair. And certainly not to fight with other women over him. He wasn’t worth it.

Willow was yanked back, lost her balance, and tumbled to the floor. The teacup in her hand shattered, cutting a deep gash in her palm. Blood pooled on the floor. Through the conference room glass, Alistair saw Willow injured. Everyone watched as he slammed down the files in his hand, pushed open the door, grabbed Willow’s hand, and frowned with concern. He asked in an icy tone, “Who hurt her?” The kind colleague recoiled, her face turning pale with fright. I sneered, “I did it. And she deserved it.” Willow gritted her teeth, glaring at me. “Yes, I deserved it! Who told me to fall in love with the wrong person, to be called a mistress and a slut!” “But Alistair, as long as you love me too, I’ll stay by your side forever. No one can separate us.” She gazed deeply into Alistair’s eyes, and even saying something so absurd sounded brave and determined. Alistair chuckled, reaching out to ruffle her hair, coaxing her, “Be good, don’t be mad. You’ll break my heart.” He really *was* different with her. I lowered my gaze, uninterested in watching any further. I simply said to Alistair, “For my birthday this year, I want half a million.” It was laughable. We were husband and wife, yet we didn’t even have each other’s contact information. Except when I needed money, I never sought him out. Before we got married, we’d had an understanding: he wanted me, and I wanted his money. Alistair always hated my materialism. But before, whenever I asked, no matter how much, he would always give it to me, never less. This time, however, he looked at me and smiled, a chilling smile. He slowly said, “Money? Sure.” “But, Elara, first lower your proud head and apologize to Willow.” Alistair wanted to buy my pride for two hundred thousand dollars, to buy an apology for Willow. This was the first time he’d used money to humiliate me for another woman. I slowly clenched my fists and gave a soft laugh. Fighting back a sudden surge of pain in my body, I turned and walked away. The money, I didn’t want it anymore. I was suddenly very curious, Alistair. If one day, you knew this money could have helped me live longer, if you knew how much I suffered before I died… What expression would be on your face? ***截断点***

I went home alone, curled up in bed, sweating cold from the pain. I took some sleeping pills, lying to myself. Once I fell asleep, it wouldn’t hurt anymore. In a hazy state, I had a dream. I dreamt of when I was twenty, and Alistair was poor, but he loved me so, so much. That year on my birthday, we passed a coffee shop. I saw a couple sitting by the glass window. The girl held a piece of pure white cake in her hand; it looked exquisite, delicious, and expensive. I still remember, it was snowing heavily that day. I scooped up a pile of snow, smiling at Alistair, asking him, “Alistair, doesn’t this pile of snow look like cake?” Alistair clenched his jaw, pulled me into a tight hug, hiding his reddened eyes from me. Three days later, he appeared outside my dorm building with a large cake. A whole cake cost $258. And he, standing in the windy, snowy street, could only earn $100 after distributing three thousand flyers. I looked at the frostbite on his fingers, my eyes welling up with pain. I gritted my teeth and told him, “Alistair, your hands are meant for reading, for writing. They shouldn’t be ruined just to make me happy.” I said I didn’t deserve such an expensive cake at all… Alistair frowned, immediately contradicting me. He said, “Elara, you’re the best girl in the world. You deserve all the good things in this world.” That day, I cried as I ate the entire cake. A long time has passed; I can no longer recall its taste. I only know that after that day, I never seemed to have eaten a cake better than it. I slept for a long time. Drowsily, I heard my phone ringing. I answered and heard Alistair calling my name from the other end. “Elara.” I smiled softly, gently calling him back, “Alistair, it’s snowing heavily. I want cake.” Without waiting for him to reply, I turned over and fell back into a deep sleep.

I slept until midnight, then woke up hungry. I went to the living room to find something to eat, only to discover Alistair was actually home. He had bought Willow a big house. They lived there together. Willow would cook for him, cheer him up, and wait for him to come home. Alistair was living well; he hadn’t been back in a long time. He leaned lazily against the floor-to-ceiling window, staring intently at me. I walked past him, eyes downcast, but he grabbed my arm. He frowned, quietly asking, “How did you get so thin?” His voice was gentle, as if he still loved me very much. I froze for a moment, then forcefully yanked my hand away, snapping, “Alistair, what the hell is wrong with you?” He looked at his empty palm, his face slowly turning cold. When I walked to the dining table, I saw a cake covered in candles. Only then did I realize that call wasn’t a dream. I’d said I wanted cake, and Alistair had bought it. What was this? An olive branch? But I was already dying. I didn’t need a cake anymore, and I certainly didn’t need Alistair. I grabbed the cake and tossed it into the trash can. Alistair frowned, then shoved me against the wall. He snarled, “Elara, are you effing playing me?” I smiled, admitting, “Alistair, yes, I am playing you. What’s wrong with that?” “I said I wanted cake, and you went and bought it. Are you still as pathetic as before?” I deliberately twisted the knife, watching Alistair’s face completely freeze over. He violently grabbed my collar, dragged me into the bedroom, and slammed me onto the bed. Alistair was probably insane with rage. He kissed my lips savagely, biting them until they bled. I pushed him away, my voice icy, “Alistair, don’t touch me! You’re disgusting!” He lunged back, burying his face in my neck, biting down hard. A sharp gasp of pain escaped me. He whispered in my ear, “Elara, would it kill you to just give in for once?” “Do you know how many years I’ve waited for you to comfort me?” “Do you know how happy I was when you told me you wanted cake?” “And then you treat me like a clown?” He lifted his head, tears in his eyes, staring at me. My eyes were red too, as I glared back. In the dim room, neither of us spoke, neither willing to surrender first. Alistair leaned closer, closer, about to kiss my lips when his phone suddenly rang. It was Willow. Alistair paused, then answered. I heard Willow crying, “Alistair, are you really going to abandon me for Elara? You clearly like me.” “I’m at a bar right now, I’ve had so much to drink, and some guy is hitting on me…” “I hate him so much. Please, come pick me up and take me home, okay?” Alistair didn’t say anything. He just stared at me, a cold smile on his face, and quietly commanded, “Elara, beg me.” “Beg me to stay. If you just beg me, I won’t leave.” He seemed to have forgotten. A long time ago, I too had swallowed my pride and begged him, “Alistair, can we just talk calmly for once?” “Can we stop fighting?” “Can we just be together, properly?” “Can you, just be a little kinder to me?” That day, Alistair had stared at me coldly, smiling as he said, “Elara, you’re not worthy.” Those three words had pierced my heart. Until today, when I could finally return them word for word. I grabbed his collar and said, every word dripping with ice, “Alistair, *you’re* not worthy.” Alistair fell silent for a moment, then suddenly gave a self-deprecating laugh. He put the phone back to his ear and told Willow, “Wait for me. I’m coming to pick you up.” He didn’t spare me another glance. He got up, slammed the door, and left.

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“Nancy, are you really going to divorce Ryan and go abroad for further studies?” In the quiet living room, Nancy Xu looked at Mrs. Sullivan’s surprised face across from her and nodded. “Yes, Aunt Sullivan. And as you know, I wasn’t the one who was supposed to marry him in the first place. For Ryan, I was just an unexpected stand-in, a substitute when the real bride didn’t show up. Now that she’s back, he’s been very happy lately, so it’s time for me to go.” Outside, fine snow was falling gently, creating a beautiful winter scene. Nancy smiled lightly, “Going abroad to study has always been my dream anyway.” Mrs. Sullivan looked at the young woman before her, remembering three years ago when Fiona Quinn, who was supposed to be the bride, ran away abroad on Ryan’s wedding day. Just as Ryan was standing awkwardly at the altar, red-eyed and not knowing what to do, Nancy put on an ill-fitting wedding dress and slowly walked up to the stage. Full of apology, she picked up the microphone and apologized to all the guests: “I’m so sorry, there was traffic on the way, I’m late.” It was this act that saved Ryan’s face and the Sullivan family’s reputation. Mrs. Sullivan sighed deeply and asked uncertainly, “Will Ryan agree to the divorce?” Nancy shook her head with a smile, “I already have the divorce agreement.” After all, she had sent the divorce papers half a month ago. At that time, Ryan was in such a hurry to finish work and go see Fiona that he signed without even looking, and left. Now, she just had to wait seven more days to get the divorce certificate, and then she would be free. After all, the Sullivan family, for three generations, couldn’t go abroad due to the confidential nature of their work. So once she went abroad, she and Ryan would never have to see each other again. Just as Mrs. Sullivan was about to speak, a magnetic male voice suddenly came from behind the two of them. “Nancy, what are you chatting about with Mom?” Nancy turned around and saw Ryan, whom she hadn’t seen for days, in a black suit walking towards them. “…Ryan.” Seeing her son approach, Mrs. Sullivan was about to step forward to scold him. “Why are you here?” With three parts surprise and seven parts reassurance, Nancy stood up and gave Mrs. Sullivan a pleading look, interrupting her at the right moment. “I missed you, so I came to pick you up on the way.” Ryan’s eyes were a bit guilty. Actually, he had come on purpose after learning of Nancy’s whereabouts. After saying goodbye to the worried Mrs. Sullivan, the two took their bags and left the Sullivan family mansion. On the way back, heavy rain beat against the car windows, but inside it was completely silent. Ryan was silent for a long time before he finally spoke. “Nancy.” “Actually, Fiona and I are over. It’s just that she just came back to the country and had heart surgery a few years ago, so her health isn’t good. As an old… friend, I just went to help her settle in, so I hope you can understand.” Nancy looked out at the rain blurring her view through the window and nodded. If only she hadn’t seen how excited Ryan was when he dropped everything to run and meet Fiona the day she returned. If only she hadn’t seen Ryan sell the watch he had used for years and exchange it for a cheap bracelet Fiona had given him. If only… There were too many “if onlys”. Nancy no longer had any expectations or trust. The car was quiet for a moment before Ryan spoke again: “Nancy, what was that document you had me sign half a month ago?” As soon as he finished speaking, Nancy turned to look at Ryan, her eyes three parts surprised and seven parts bitter smile. He only remembered to ask now? But then again, since Fiona came back, how could he care about anything else? Nancy was about to speak when Ryan’s phone suddenly rang. Seeing the name displayed on the car screen, Ryan’s face suddenly became tense. “It’s okay, answer it. Maybe it’s something important?” Nancy looked out the window, appearing unconcerned, which made Ryan suddenly feel afraid. But in the end he still answered the call, with the car’s speakers automatically on. “Ryan, I miss you so much it hurts. Can we meet?” Hearing the coquettish tone on the other end, Ryan’s slender fingers gripping the steering wheel turned slightly white, and his expression suddenly turned cold. “Fiona, I’m married now. I’ve told you many times, don’t talk to me in that tone!” There was silence on the other end for a moment before Fiona said, “But Ryan, I was supposed to be the bride at that wedding back then.” The car suddenly screeched to a halt in the middle of the road, the tires making a huge sound as they skidded on the ground. In three years of marriage, this was the first time Nancy had seen Ryan lose control. He shouted at the screen: “But you left! You left me all alone!” The phone went silent for a moment. A moment later, the voice on the other end became a bit choked up: “I’m sorry. My health wasn’t good at the time and I didn’t want to worry you. I didn’t know it would have such serious consequences.” “Ah! Ryan! My heart hurts so much. It’s okay, just let me die like this. Then I won’t bother you anymore, and you can live happily with that substitute of mine.” Soon, there was no more sound from the other end of the phone. Ryan immediately panicked and looked at Nancy. Nancy spoke first: “It’s fine, I’ll take a taxi back. You go see her, don’t let anything really happen to her.” Ryan still felt somewhat guilty and said softly, “I’m not going to see her, I just remembered there’s an urgent matter at the company, so I’m going there for a bit.” “I’ll come back to be with you after I’m done.” Nancy nodded and opened the car door to get out. Watching his car speed away, Nancy stood in the rain holding an umbrella, her eyes dimming slightly. A moment later, she gave a bitter smile and started walking towards home, over ten miles away. Three years. It was time to end it. Three years ago, she had put on that ill-fitting wedding dress and married a man who couldn’t even remember her name. Relatives and friends privately said Nancy was pitiful, saying she was just a substitute for her husband’s true love. But in the three years since, the two of them had spent time together under the moonlight and stars, dreaming of the future. Nancy thought she was loved. But now, Nancy clearly knew she was wrong. Since that was the case, she chose to let Ryan go. It was also liberating herself. Thunder split the night sky, followed immediately by a downpour that swept over like a tidal wave, Also sweeping away Nancy’s last bit of affection for Ryan.

Nancy slept alone all night, and Ryan still hadn’t returned by noon the next day. When she woke up, it was still raining outside. Nancy stayed at home all day, calmly deleting all the posts about her married life on social media platforms. Just as she finished cleaning up, she saw Fiona, who had threatened to die yesterday, suddenly post on social media: “What’s it like to be pampered by your ex-boyfriend?” She included a grid of nine photos. In the first, the usually cold and indifferent Ryan was feeding her porridge. In the second, the normally aloof Ryan was sitting by her bedside, holding her hand tightly. In the third, the usually arrogant Ryan was kneeling before her, helping her take medicine with eyes full of distress. The fourth was a photo of a pile of luxury goods, each worth at least tens of millions. Fiona had written on it, “Thanks to Ryan’s connections, I’m not angry or upset anymore.” The beautiful woman in the photos smiled sweetly, looking like the happiest princess on a phone call. Many people in the comments section were extremely envious and posted sour remarks. “Left and experienced hardships, returned and still true love. Fiona, did you save the galaxy in your past life?” “Nonsense! This must be at least ten galaxies. Fiona, how did you do it? How can you make your ex still so devoted?” Besides the envy, there were naturally those who wanted to mock Nancy. Nancy just glanced over casually, and a few people’s comments caught her eye. “I wonder what Miss Xu would think if she saw this?” “What could a substitute think? Did she really think that by going up to save face and be the bride, she could truly win the heart of the great Mr. Sullivan? She’s probably dying of jealousy seeing this. How long do you bet before this lapdog shows up?” “I bet 10 minutes!” “I bet 5 minutes!” “I bet 1 minute! She’s probably already downstairs. I’ll bet my new Lamborghini!” Many people followed along excitedly, with the stakes getting higher and higher. But Nancy just smiled resignedly and quickly typed out a few words on her phone: “I bet she’ll never show up in her lifetime.” Her words stirred up a storm, with many people immediately messaging to ask if she was joking. Nancy simply turned off her phone and stopped looking at any messages. Instead, she turned to make herself a bowl of noodles. At that moment, her phone suddenly rang. Nancy didn’t answer, but the phone kept ringing incessantly for five or six minutes before finally stopping. But soon after, the housekeeper Mrs. Zhang came in looking troubled, holding her own phone. “Ma’am, the master wants you to answer the phone.” Only then did Nancy pick up the phone and answer. “Nancy, it’s all a misunderstanding. I’ve already had Fiona delete the post. Don’t overthink it. She wasn’t feeling well yesterday, that’s why I didn’t come back. Nothing happened between us.” Ryan’s anxious voice came through the phone. The moment he saw Nancy’s comment, he had panicked. Nancy looked at the noodles she had made and calmly said, “I made noodles. Are you coming back to eat?” Ryan was stunned on the other end before replying, “I’m glad you’re not angry. You can eat the noodles yourself. Fiona’s heart is hurting again, so I’m taking her to the hospital. Don’t worry, we’re really just frie-” Before he could finish, Fiona’s anxious voice came through from the other end. “Ryan, where are you? I can’t see you. Did I lose you again? My heart feels so uneasy.” The call was hurriedly hung up, leaving only Ryan’s very anxious voice to the other person. “Fiona, I’m here. You didn’t lose me.” Looking at the disconnected call, Nancy sent Ryan a message: “That document you asked about yesterday is in the glove compartment of your passenger seat.” “You can open it and see what it is.” It wasn’t until two hours later that Ryan finally replied with one sentence. “No need. Whatever you had me sign, I’m sure it’s not to harm me.” This meant he wouldn’t look at it. Yes, right now he just wanted to be by Fiona’s side. Why would he look at anything unrelated to Fiona? Even if that divorce agreement was right at his fingertips. In the afternoon, Nancy drove with a truck delivering supplies to the orphanage where she grew up. Nancy had been an orphan since childhood and grew up here. The children were very happy to see Nancy come, and all ran up to cling to her and share their experiences. After spending time with the children, she went to the director’s office to say goodbye. “Mom, I’m going abroad for further studies.” The director was very happy. Nancy had been a top student in physics at Tsinghua University, but had suddenly given up going abroad to get married. The director had regretted it for a long time. “Nancy, that’s wonderful.” The director held Nancy’s hand, smiling with satisfaction. But then she thought of something and looked worried, “But… you going abroad for further studies, doesn’t that mean you and Ryan will be in a long-distance relationship? Long-distance relationships are very difficult.” Nancy looked out the window at a few children playing and running, shaking her head with a light smile. “It’s not a long-distance relationship. I divorced him.” “Because… Fiona came back.” The director was stunned for a moment, then let out a long sigh, feeling both regretful and relieved. “Sure enough, I wasn’t wrong in my initial assessment. Your marriage couldn’t last long. You know, once a person still has someone else in their heart, no matter how loving they seem on the surface, it’s all fake. As soon as that person comes back, the marriage is over! So it’s good that you divorced.” She held Nancy’s hand gently, comforting her softly. Nancy smiled back and hugged the director. Yes, it was good that they divorced.

After returning from the orphanage, Nancy went to a church before going home to pack her luggage. It was then that she realized her clothes filled several closets. Inside were also various expensive bags, sports car keys and other priceless gifts from Ryan. In fact, during their three years of marriage, Ryan had always been good to her, constantly giving her black cards, houses, cars and other gifts. But Nancy had never touched any of them. Because every time Ryan gave her gifts, Nancy could see the shadow of another person in his reddened eyes. To be precise, Ryan’s kindness to her was all stolen from Fiona, who had temporarily left the scene. She used to think that with time, Ryan would be able to see her true heart, but reality proved that what didn’t belong to her would eventually have to be returned. Nancy sorted out some things that belonged to her, and then took all the gifts she had given Ryan over the years to sell as junk. Over the years, in order to make him like her, she had carefully prepared many gifts for him, but he had never even glanced at them. Only that one watch he wore, which had also been replaced by the cheap bracelet Fiona gave him after she returned. Seeing all these gifts thrown aside with a thick layer of dust on them, Nancy smiled bitterly again. If Ryan truly loved her, where did all this dust come from? Watching the junk truck drive away, she was about to return to the villa when a horn sounded behind her. Nancy turned around to see a flashy Ferrari stop in front of her. A girl in a red dress got out of the car – it was Ryan’s sister, Sophie. Sophie frowned at the departing junk truck, then coldly snorted in disdain. “Sure enough, an orphan with no parents, even cardboard boxes have to be sold for money. Making it seem like our Sullivan family is about to go bankrupt.” Nancy didn’t even look at her and turned to leave. Sophie’s mocking smile turned to anger, and she rushed forward to grab Nancy. “Nancy Xu!” Ever since Nancy entered their Sullivan family, she had always been very humble in her attitude, trying to please everyone. She had never given Sophie the cold shoulder like this before. Today she actually dared to turn her back on her, and anger immediately rushed to Sophie’s head. “Xu! Are you deaf? I’m talking to you and you dare to just walk away.” Nancy turned around and pulled Sophie’s hand off her, her eyes flashing with annoyance. Sophie had always disliked her, thinking she came from a poor background. So for three years after the wedding, she had been constantly targeting Nancy, either saying the breakfast she made wasn’t cooked properly, or dirtying the clothes she had washed. But now that she was leaving, she didn’t want to accommodate Sophie anymore. Sophie was about to continue taking advantage of the situation to lash out, but seemed to think of something and the corners of her mouth curled up into a sneer. “People like you should sell more junk. After all, my brother’s true love, Sister Fiona, is back. You, the so-called substitute, can get lost now.” As soon as she finished speaking, another woman in a white dress, looking quite exquisite, stepped out from behind her. This was the first time Nancy had seen Fiona in person. A pair of almond eyes brimming with watery charm, long black hair flowing down, porcelain white skin – just standing there exuded an air of nobility. No wonder Ryan had been unable to forget her for so many years. But this dress, the accessories on it – Nancy found it somewhat familiar. Wasn’t this style of outfit exactly the same as the ones in her own closet? At this moment, Nancy finally understood that she really was just a substitute. Fiona looked Nancy up and down, as if seeing a cheap version of herself, full of disdain and mockery. However, this expression was quickly hidden away when Ryan’s car drove in behind them. She immediately put on a pitiful face and said, “Sophie, don’t talk about Miss Xu like that. She’s your sister-in-law now. What if she gets angry and kicks me out?” As soon as she finished speaking, Ryan’s panicked voice came from behind. “What’s going on? Who’s kicking who out?!”

Ryan hurried over. His gaze fell on Fiona, who was standing there fine, and he seemed to breathe a sigh of relief before turning to speak to Nancy on the other side. “Nancy, Fiona’s house hasn’t been lived in for many years and needs to be renovated, so can she stay with us for a few days during this time?” Nancy looked at Ryan without speaking. In the silence, Fiona’s expression became full of unease and a bit of grievance. “Ryan, maybe I should just leave. After all, it’s my fault for not showing up at the wedding. Now you have a new wife, and it seems Miss Xu doesn’t welcome me.” Ryan looked at Nancy, his face hesitating for a moment. Fiona let out a long sigh, her expression dejected as she turned to leave. Sophie immediately reached out to stop her. “Sister Fiona! Why are you leaving?! If anyone should leave, it’s her. The real mistress of this villa should be…” “Shut up! Sophie!” Ryan glared at her angrily and shouted, “Who told you to talk to Nancy like that? She’s my wife, your sister-in-law. Apologize to her right now, or get out!” Sophie’s eyes immediately turned red. Seeing this scene, Nancy finally spoke up, the corners of her mouth curling into a smile. “It’s fine, you don’t need to scold Sophie. I didn’t say I wouldn’t agree. Miss Quinn, please stay here.” With that, Nancy turned and walked into the villa. This was the eighth year she had loved Ryan. She still remembered the first time she saw him on the basketball court and fell in love at first sight. Ryan didn’t know. Until later, when Nancy, as an orphan, saw Ryan red-eyed and at a loss standing at the altar during the wedding, she instinctively went up. That heart had nothing to do with status or interests. She just didn’t want to see the person she liked cry. Seemingly afraid Fiona would still leave, Ryan immediately instructed the servants to move her luggage into the largest guest room. Sophie immediately walked smugly in front of Nancy, her nose in the air: “What are you standing here for? Go make dinner. Oh, and Sister Fiona can’t eat spicy food, so make it bland.” Hearing this, Fiona’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction as she looked Nancy up and down again. “I’ve always heard that Miss Xu’s cooking skills are quite good. So today…” Before she could finish, Ryan came down from the guest room upstairs: “Sophie, that’s enough! How many times have I told you, we have servants in the house. Why do you always make Nancy cook for you?” Fiona’s face fell, and the glance she cast at Nancy was full of jealousy and hatred. But when Ryan walked over, Fiona immediately changed her expression and smiled. “I’ll cook today. I’ve learned a lot of skills abroad these past few years and have always wanted to make something for you all to try.” As she said this, Fiona was looking at Ryan. Ryan’s eyes suddenly had a moment of daze, but when he saw Nancy standing quietly to the side, he still shook his head and said, “No need, your health isn’t good either. Just let the serv-” Sophie clung to him, grabbing Ryan’s hand and saying, “Brother, just let Sister Fiona cook. She worked so hard to learn.” Ryan seemed to think of something and finally nodded. “Alright, but don’t tire yourself out.” Nancy watched all of this without saying a word, just standing by the floor-to-ceiling window looking out at the garden. Ryan looked at Nancy standing so quietly and suddenly felt more and more uneasy. After a long silence, he walked to Nancy’s side, his red lips moving slightly. “Nancy, if you don’t like Fiona staying here, I’ll send her back after we finish this meal.” “No need. Let her stay if she wants.” Nancy turned to look at Ryan: “That document, have you looked at it?” Mentioning the document again, Ryan frowned slightly: “I haven’t looked yet. Didn’t I say I trust you? Do I really need to look at it?” Does he need to or not? Nancy didn’t know. The signature was already there anyway, but thinking of their three years living together day and night. Nancy was about to speak when Fiona suddenly brought over a pot of hot soup. She glanced at Nancy standing beside Ryan like a stranger, her eyes flashing with intense jealousy. Then, she pretended to lose her grip and not hold the pot steady, rushing forward towards Nancy in a panic, spilling the entire pot of hot soup. “Watch out!”

“Watch out!” Seeing the hot soup splashing towards her! Nancy instinctively shielded Ryan in her arms. Then she watched helplessly as a large pot of scalding chicken soup poured all over her. “Ah!” In an instant, Nancy’s body was covered in chicken soup, her skin immediately turning bright red from the scalding. The searing pain almost made her faint. “Nancy!” Ryan pushed Nancy away, his eyes full of panic. “Don’t be afraid, I’ll take you to the hospital right away!” She looked up at him, the pain spreading throughout her body, using all her strength but unable to say a word. Then she looked at Fiona. “I’m so sorry, Miss Xu. Are you alright? Ryan, thank goodness Miss Xu protected you.” Seeing her pretend to be flustered, but unable to hide the satisfaction in her eyes, Nancy immediately realized and said in a trembling voice: “You did this on purpose?” Hearing this, Fiona was stunned for a moment, then tears started falling immediately. “Miss Xu, what are you saying? How could I do this on purpose? I know you feel insecure and have prejudices against me, and it’s my fault for not believing you’d get scalded! But you can’t slander me like this.” Seeing Fiona cry, Sophie resolutely stood in front of her and angrily said: “Nancy Xu! That’s enough! So what if you got scalded a little? Why are you making such a big deal out of it? Sister Fiona worked hard to cook for us, she’s already very tired! Besides…” Sophie looked at Ryan, whose eyes were already filled with doubt and anger, and lifted her chin to continue, “Besides, my brother was right there. Even if Sister Fiona wanted to hurt someone, she wouldn’t hurt my brother, right?” As soon as she finished speaking, the doubt in Ryan’s eyes immediately disappeared. He looked at Nancy with furrowed brows and said disappointedly, “That’s right. Nancy, Fiona wouldn’t hurt anyone, least of all me. Please don’t overthink it, okay?” Hearing these words, Nancy felt countless emotions gather at the top of her head, tears immediately welling up in her eyes. Ryan sighed, his voice becoming calm: “Nancy, let’s go to the hospital first, alright?” Nancy knew that no matter what else she said, Ryan wouldn’t believe her now. Just as she was about to nod. “Oh no, Sister Fiona, you’re hurt so badly!” Ryan heard this and immediately rushed to Fiona’s side in a panic. He saw that her snow-white arm had some small blisters, which did indeed look quite “serious”. Fiona put her hand behind her back, her eyes rimmed with tears as she shook her head. “I’m fine. Miss Xu looks much worse. You should take her to the hospital first.” As soon as she finished speaking, just as Ryan was about to look at Nancy again, Fiona immediately put on a pained expression. She clutched her chest and said, “Ah! Ryan! My heart hurts so much. It’s okay, just let me die like this. Then I won’t bother you anymore, and you can live happily with that substitute of yours.” Fiona collapsed, grabbing Ryan’s hand as he tried to support her. She said weakly, “Ryan, am I going to die? Will I never see you again?” Sophie stomped her foot anxiously: “Brother! Sister Fiona’s heart isn’t good. Let’s hurry and take her to the hospital!” “I, I’m fine…” Fiona looked pitiful and delicate. But this appearance undoubtedly made Ryan’s heart ache. He could no longer care about the disheveled Nancy. He helped Fiona up and headed out. Before leaving, he seemed to remember something and looked at Nancy with guilt. “Fiona’s heart isn’t good. I’m afraid something will happen to her. The hospital isn’t far from here.” “…Nancy, you can take a taxi to the hospital yourself.”

At the hospital, the doctor used cotton swabs to flatten the blistered areas while asking Nancy with concern why she was so badly scalded and had no family accompanying her. Nancy inhaled sharply from the pain. Two doctors passed by the doorway. “Mr. Sullivan really cares for his wife. Just a few small blisters and he booked the entire floor, having all the dermatology experts come for a consultation.” “I know, right? These few blisters would have almost healed if she came a bit later. If only I could have such a caring man who loves me.” “Haha, dream on. Men like that are one in a million.” One in a million? Nancy smiled wryly. Abandoning his seriously injured wife to go take care of someone with minor injuries – he truly was a one-in-a-million good man. Nancy’s injuries were too severe and she needed to stay in the hospital for a few days. It wasn’t until three days later that Nancy, wrapped in bandages, was finally discharged. As soon as she turned on her phone, countless missed calls and messages popped up, filling the screen. They were all from Ryan. This had never happened since Fiona returned. Just as she was in a daze, Sophie’s call came through. As soon as Nancy answered, a harsh voice came from the other end. “Nancy Xu, you’ve got some nerve! Where have you been for three days? This is deliberate, isn’t it?! Can’t compete with Sister Fiona so you’re playing these tricks? Do you know how crazy my brother’s been looking for you?! Don’t think this will get my brother’s attention. Dream on. The position of the Sullivan family’s daughter-in-law will always belong to Sister Fiona!” After finishing her rant, Sophie hung up the phone. Nancy frowned slightly. Ryan had been frantically searching for her? How was that possible? Wasn’t he busy taking care of Fiona? Why would he look for her? But when Nancy looked at the 999 missed calls on her phone, it did indeed show Ryan’s urgency in finding her. With this confusion, Nancy returned home. As soon as she entered the gate, the servants, their faces full of relief after a near-disaster, came to greet her. Several of them were almost crying as they spoke. “Ma’am, you’re finally back. The master has been going crazy looking for you…” As soon as they finished speaking, the sound of hurried footsteps approached. “Nancy!” Ryan anxiously jogged over. After not seeing each other for three days, the usually dapper man looked quite haggard, especially the dark circles under his eyes which were particularly obvious. “I went to the hospital. The same one where you were taking care of Fiona.” Hearing this, Ryan sighed, “About last time, I didn’t mean to abandon you. It’s just that after Fiona’s surgery, the doctor said she needed to stay calm and not get excited, or something could happen. I grew up with her since we were kids, so I’m used to taking care of her. That’s why I took her to the hospital first.” “And you didn’t object at the time either. Since you were at the hospital, why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you answer my calls? You’re my wife, don’t you know I’d be worried? Can you not do this again next time?” By the end, there was a hint of reproach in his tone. But Nancy still looked at him calmly, without answering. Because in two more days, she would be leaving. So there wouldn’t be a next time. For some reason, seeing Nancy’s calmness, Ryan suddenly thought of how Nancy had been these past few days and felt a bit panicked. He stepped forward and took Nancy’s hand, sighing, “Actually, Fiona really didn’t mean to do it last time. Since you don’t want her staying here, I’ve already had her move out. Don’t be upset over this little thing anymore in the future.” After finishing, Ryan looked straight at Nancy, wanting to see a hint of being moved in her eyes. But Nancy had no reaction at all. She removed Ryan’s hand and turned to go upstairs. But as soon as she entered the room, she saw a set of expensive bags placed on the bed. She raised her eyebrows and looked at Ryan questioningly as he followed behind her. Ryan sighed, “Nancy, this is my apology to you. You won’t be angry anymore with these, right?” Nancy looked at the bags in the box, each worth tens of millions, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. Three years. A full three years. They had shared a bed, had happy times together. In his eyes, was she really the kind of person who would pretend to be angry and upset just to get compensation? Suddenly, she thought of the gifts Ryan had carefully prepared for Fiona in his social media posts, and a wave of mockery welled up, but she quickly suppressed it. Forget it. Since he didn’t understand, there was no need to explain anymore. Seeing that Nancy’s face still showed no smile, Ryan didn’t think much of it, just assuming she didn’t like them. “Nancy, if you don’t like these, after I’m done with Fiona’s matters, I’ll take you to an auction to pick out the most expensive one to give you…” Ryan hadn’t finished speaking when Sophie and Fiona’s voices came in from outside the door. “Sister Fiona, I told you, my brother likes you so much, he couldn’t possibly really make you move out. It’s all that Nancy Xu’s fault. I’ll scold her for you in a bit. Why don’t you come back and stay, okay?” As they spoke, the two walked right into Nancy and Ryan’s bedroom. Then upon seeing the set of bags on the bed, Sophie exclaimed excitedly: “Oh my god, brother! Sister Fiona just mentioned to me that she really liked these few bags. I can’t believe you actually bought them!” After saying this, she looked at Fiona beside her, her eyes full of envy. Hearing this, Fiona’s face immediately turned red, then she looked at Nancy smugly. Seeing that Ryan didn’t immediately refute it, but instead showed hesitation in his eyes, Nancy didn’t even think before directly picking up the box and handing it to Fiona. “Since it’s a gift for you, please take it.” With one sentence, she made the choice for Ryan, resolving his dilemma. At this moment, Ryan looked at Nancy in shock. Seeing how generous she was, the discomfort in Ryan’s heart grew stronger and stronger. He wanted to object, but seeing how happy Fiona looked, he still closed his mouth. He was thinking, it’s okay, next week is our wedding anniversary. He could make it up to Nancy then. He must be overthinking things. She was just jealous and throwing a tantrum. Nancy loved Ryan so much. How could she possibly leave?

Another day passed. There was one day left before the divorce cooling-off period ended, and Nancy would receive the divorce certificate. Thinking that she could finally leave, she began mailing her luggage abroad. Halfway through packing, Ryan called from the company, asking her to attend a banquet at the Sullivan family mansion. Nancy wanted to refuse, because in one more day, their legal marriage would be dissolved. But thinking of how Mrs. Sullivan had taken care of her all these years, Plus, it was the last day after all. Nancy wanted to find an opportunity to be alone with Ryan and explain things clearly. Although it was a hasty marriage, Nancy wanted to end it with clarity. In the bustling Sullivan family estate, lights were shining brightly everywhere, with socialites gathered, clinking glasses. But as soon as she went in, Nancy didn’t see Ryan. After asking around, she learned from an old Sullivan family servant that Ryan was in a house on the north side. Nancy immediately walked in that direction. The door of the house was slightly ajar, with some suggestive sounds coming from inside. Nancy suddenly felt a wave of unease. Her body trembling, she slowly peeked through the door crack. Immediately, a shocking scene entered her eyes. On the sofa, Ryan was roughly and urgently undressing Fiona’s evening gown while pinning her tightly to the couch. His large hands gripped Fiona’s waist as he trailed kisses from her collarbone downwards. Fiona arched her head to meet Ryan, saying passionately, “Ryan! Promise me you won’t leave me.” Fiona whispered. Ryan suddenly pushed her away forcefully. “Fiona! Are you crazy?! I’m married! Why have you come back now? What exactly do you take me for? Something you can throw away and pick up again as you please? Do you know how afraid I am of being alone again?!” Ryan was very angry, but Fiona wouldn’t listen. She stubbornly moved forward to hug his waist again, their bodies pressed together. “Ryan! I was wrong!” “Fiona! Get out!” Again and again, endlessly. Finally, Ryan gave in and surrendered. This time he didn’t let Fiona come hug him. He forcefully pulled Fiona close and bit down hard on her lips, then their mouths entangled, inseparable. Several moments later, the two finally moments later, the two finally parted. Fiona wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and smiled smugly, then hooked Ryan’s chin. “So, do you still love me?” Nancy watched from outside, feeling as if countless knives were stabbing her heart over and over. Ryan stood frozen in place. After a moment, he looked up at her with eyes full of restrained love, his tone one of surrender. The next moment, his red lips moved: “I do!” At this, Fiona’s eyes were full of triumph. She kissed him again, then asked, “So, are you willing to divorce that Nancy Xu and marry me?” Ryan’s whole body suddenly stiffened. Abruptly, he remembered that wedding from years ago that he couldn’t bear to recall, remembered the figure who resolutely stood up and walked firmly to his side amidst a crowd of strange looks. “…I.” Ryan turned his head, about to answer. But at that instant, he saw a pair of eyes full of sorrow watching him through the slowly opening door. All of a sudden, darkness appeared in Ryan’s mind. Nancy stood outside, calmly looking at him, tears streaming down her face. “—Nancy!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296684”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

After My Brother Stole My Girlfriend Again, I Fell into the Arms of the Woman He’d Loved for Five Years. He Got Serious. At the dinner table, I dropped my fork. As I bent down to pick it up, I saw my brother’s foot stretched out between my girlfriend’s legs. He said, “Your current girlfriend has pretty slim legs. I approve.” Later, he got together with my girlfriend and told me, “What can I do, Adrian? It seems like none of the women around you can resist me.” I laughed and immediately fell into the arms of the woman he’d loved for five years. My brother Brandon broke up with my ex-girlfriend. “We only dated for a month. Isn’t it normal to break up?” Brandon said casually, as if he was discussing what to have for lunch. “But when you sent me those bedroom photos, you said it was true love and hoped I’d give you my blessing,” I said, taking a sip of coffee. I glanced at Emma, who was still waiting outside in the scorching heat, and clicked my tongue. Emma was the beauty queen of our department. Not only was she gorgeous, but she also excelled in her studies. Her family seemed quite wealthy too. Add to that her cool and aloof demeanor, and she was the quintessential campus goddess. Many guys at our college had fallen for her, including me. Emma was technically my ex-girlfriend, but not really. After all, I was just her fake boyfriend to ward off unwanted suitors. The day after we publicly announced our relationship, Brandon stole her away. That night, Brandon sent me several explicit bedroom photos. “I’m interested in her because you’re interested in her,” Brandon had said. “But your taste is truly garbage. For your first girlfriend, you chose such mediocre goods.” I knew Brandon wasn’t actually into Emma. He just wanted to steal everything I liked, even if he’d discard it later. He didn’t want me to have anything. Since childhood, he’d been jealous that my arrival stole all our parents’ love. So anything I liked, he’d find a way to take it for himself. It was like that with toys when we were little, with nice clothes, and now with the girls I dated. “My taste wasn’t great before, but this time, I’m dating someone high quality,” I said, my eyes filled with infatuation. Brandon looked intrigued by my expression. “Oh really? I find it hard to believe your definition of ‘high quality.’ When can you introduce us?” “She’s coming to meet me soon.” Just as I finished speaking, I saw Olivia appear at the café entrance. I smiled and said, “There, that’s my girlfriend.” She wore a white blouse and had a slender figure. A silver necklace adorned her neck, and she exuded a lazy, carefree aura. Compared to Emma, this kind of woman gave off an uncontrollable vibe. I was obsessed with women like her, and so was Brandon. He loved making all sorts of women fall for him, and he especially loved stealing my girlfriends. I saw Brandon’s eyes noticeably brighten. He looked Olivia up and down several times before finally curling his lips meaningfully. I was all too familiar with that expression of his. It meant he had his sights set on his prey. The more carefree and unrestrained a woman was, the more she aroused a man’s desire to conquer her. When Brandon saw that from the moment Olivia entered, her eyes were only on me, he got even more excited. I frowned in displeasure. The reason I dared to bring Olivia to meet Brandon was because I trusted her character. I’d known her for two years, and she was never the type to be seduced by good looks. Emotionally, she was a very loyal woman. But looking at Brandon’s flirtatious eyes and demeanor, I felt a bit uncertain. Brandon knew exactly how to manipulate women. Take Emma for example – she was so cool and aloof at school, but she became wild and flushed with desire when she was with Brandon. I held Olivia’s hand, and she smiled at me tenderly. I firmly believed I hadn’t misjudged her. Before leaving, Brandon kept his eyes fixed intently on Olivia. I observed Olivia’s expression. She seemed completely oblivious to Brandon, her attention fully focused on me. After we left the café, I accompanied Olivia to the sports field. She had plans to play badminton with some friends, while I sat on the sidelines holding her jacket and watching. Olivia exuded a uniquely feminine charm. Her aura was completely different from Emma’s – she was bold and uninhibited, like the June sun, bringing joy to those around her. Being with Olivia was actually the result of my careful planning. On the first day of college, I had noticed Olivia. At the time, she saw a guy taking advantage of the crowded hallway to grope a girl. Olivia immediately pinned the guy to the ground and beat him up. I still remember she was wearing a black t-shirt that day, with a silver necklace around her neck. She had her jacket slung casually over one shoulder as she walked past me with an indifferent expression. My first impression was that she was carefree and rebellious, with an innate bad girl vibe that deeply attracted me. Brandon had taught me that women like her were usually harder to pursue. Pestering them didn’t work – the key was using the right approach. Throughout freshman year, I didn’t make any aggressive moves. I just tried to become a familiar face to her. Sophomore year, I started messaging her frequently and occasionally asking her to hang out. To understand her likes and interests, I did a lot of research. Gradually, we started chatting more and more, eventually progressing to daily good morning and goodnight texts. The flirting intensified to the extreme, and we were just one step away from a relationship. My agreement to be Emma’s fake boyfriend to ward off other guys was what finally broke through that last barrier. That night when Olivia called me out with red-rimmed eyes, demanding to know why I was with another girl, I knew my strategy of playing hard to get had worked. When Emma was stolen by Brandon, it was the perfect opportunity for Olivia and me to get together. She was an excellent girlfriend. In the month we’d been dating, she fulfilled the role to the utmost. Even my roommates said they never imagined a girl like Olivia could be so devoted when she fell in love. Of course, I believed in Olivia’s feelings for me. But I didn’t know if she could resist the temptation of a mature man like Brandon. A cheer erupted from the crowd – Olivia had scored another winning shot. After spiking the final point, she walked towards me. The sunlight shone on her, giving her smile a golden glow. Olivia grinned and said, “Bored of waiting? I’ll treat you to something delicious later.” I smiled brightly back. “Sounds good.” We held hands as we walked along the edge of the sports field. The warm light shone on us, and I could feel the gentle pressure of her hand in mine. I wished this moment could last forever. As I had expected, Brandon finally made his move. Recently, Brandon had been coming to campus to see me much more frequently than before. Olivia would come to my dorm every day to walk me to breakfast, attend classes together, and go on dates. But lately, several times when I went downstairs, I saw Brandon waiting with Olivia. From a distance, Brandon was smiling brightly. Though Olivia’s expression remained neutral, she occasionally responded to him. Brandon seemed oblivious to his third wheel status, forcibly inserting himself into Olivia and my world. One day, Brandon suddenly invited me to dinner and specifically asked me to bring Olivia. I knew what he was up to, but I still asked Olivia to come with me. When Olivia and I arrived, Brandon was already waiting in the private room. He looked like he had dressed up carefully. Was his intention really that obvious? I brought Olivia because I had my own agenda. I wanted to see if she could resist the temptation of a man like Brandon. “Olivia, I heard you’re amazing at badminton. Could you teach me sometime?” Brandon asked in his magnetic voice. Olivia replied flatly, “If you really want to learn, you should find a coach.” Brandon was clearly dissatisfied with Olivia’s attitude, but it seemed to excite him even more. “Finding a coach is such a hassle. You’re my brother’s girlfriend, so why can’t I just ask you?” I stirred my soup with a spoon, listening to Olivia’s cold voice beside me. “You know very well I’m your brother’s girlfriend. It’s inappropriate.” Seeing Brandon’s visibly paled expression, I could barely hold back my laughter. Brandon rarely struck out with women. Aside from that one time five years ago, this was probably only the second time. I must have been smiling too obviously, because Brandon shot me an annoyed glare. My hand slipped and I said, “Oops, I dropped my fork.” With that, I immediately bent down to pick it up. They clearly didn’t have time to react. In the split second I lowered my head, I still saw Brandon’s foot that he hadn’t managed to pull back in time. Yes, just moments ago when I wasn’t paying attention, Brandon had stretched his foot towards Olivia, even between her legs… Olivia hadn’t refused. Was it because she didn’t have time to, or because she didn’t want to refuse?

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My husband’s mistress set a trap for me, and we both tumbled into the water. Derek didn’t twist the story or blame me. Instead, his fury exploded, and he aggressively pulled off Chloe’s designer jacket, practically forcing her to grovel at my feet. “So, you wanted to cool off because it was too hot, huh? Fine. I’ll make sure you get *really* cool.” But I didn’t feel a shred of gratitude. My heart was aching so much I curled into myself. Derek had long forgotten how he’d sacrificed half of his own heart to save me, years ago. Because of that, his every joy and sorrow vibrated through me. And right now, he was suffering deeply over Chloe’s pitiful state. “It’s fine, I’m just going to take a shower.” I quietly slipped away, leaving them space. I hadn’t gone far when I heard Derek’s tender, soothing voice. “Don’t be mad, babe. I knew you could swim, that’s why I didn’t pull you out. How else could I get Stella off my back and have you all to myself?” “Come here, baby, let me kiss you. Seeing you all wet like that just now, my pants were practically bursting.” I waited for the dull ache in my chest to subside, slowly morphing into a cold excitement. Then, I went up the mountain to find Sage Elias. “Master, is my Ethereal Heart ready?” “Have you thought this through? Once you replace your heart with the Ethereal Heart, you’ll be severed from the mortal world, with no turning back.” “Yes. After all, mortals and immortals are destined to walk different paths.” “Then you must retrieve a strand of hair from his beloved, a tear from their eye, and a drop of blood from their heart. Only then can you return his heart and create space for your own.” I nodded, swearing under my breath: Derek, I don’t want your heart anymore.

“Stella, where were you? Do you know how frantic I was searching for you for ages?” Derek was working on his laptop in bed, his leg injured from pulling me out of the water earlier that morning. The moment he saw me, he immediately dropped everything. He muted his microphone and turned off his camera on the video conference, then spun to face me, stretching out his arms like a child begging for a hug. “Can I have a hug? Tell me, am I sick? A few hours without you and I can barely stand it.” “I should claim workers’ comp! Come here and compensate me!” He completely ignored the screen where “Mr. Thorne” was being urgently called. If I hadn’t felt Derek’s heart thrumming wildly in my chest, I might have actually fallen for his sweet words. This feeling was all too familiar, the kind Derek only had when we were lost in passion. My gaze instinctively flickered to the strange bulge beneath his blanket. Suddenly, I understood his reaction. It was the middle of a scorching June day, and sweat beaded on Derek’s forehead, yet he’d pulled the blanket up to his waist, tucking it in tightly. Noticing my gaze, he gave a pitiful, wounded smile. “It’s a little chilly in the room. Don’t think I’m being delicate.” But Derek’s slightly ragged breathing, his continuously rising and falling chest, and his slightly hoarse voice betrayed him. If I wasn’t mistaken, his mistress, Chloe, was having her “meal” right under that blanket. He’d always been insatiable in bed, a true glutton for pleasure. Doing this right in front of me was just for the thrill of it. I suppressed a wave of nausea rising in my stomach, forced a smile, and a wicked thought formed. “Of course not. Want me to help you work up a sweat?” My uncharacteristic attitude left him momentarily speechless. Before, he’d been glued to my side, wanting to carry me in his pocket even when I just stepped out. Now, my forwardness visibly flustered him. The closer I got, the tighter his heart clenched. Under such violent fluctuations, it felt like I’d been punched in the chest. I let out a muffled groan of pain, finally stopping. Derek gazed at me, full of concern, but made no move to get out of bed. “What’s wrong?” Suddenly, it felt like all the strength had been drained from me. I didn’t want to make things hard for him, or for myself. “Never mind. It’s… dirty. It smells.” Derek didn’t grasp the deeper meaning of my words, thinking I was talking about myself. He subtly let out a sigh of relief. “What? My darling always smells wonderful.” I turned and walked straight out of the room, not looking back. He only managed to call out a perfunctory concern to my retreating back. “Stella, are you really okay? I’ll come be with you as soon as I finish this meeting!”

I hid in the study, gasping for a few breaths to recover, then looked at our wedding photo hanging on the wall and felt a sudden pang of ridiculousness. Memories flooded back, and I seemed to see Derek back then, holding me, his gaze fixed on my face, beaming with pure happiness. As if nothing else in the world mattered to him but me. Even the photographer had been amused by his intense devotion, teasing him, “I’ve been a wedding photographer for years and never seen a groom like this. Relax, your wife isn’t going anywhere. Don’t be like this when you take her out, or you’ll lose your money and not even notice.” Derek, utterly unashamed, boasted, “What could possibly be more precious than my wife? Forget a little money; I wouldn’t trade her for my life. I have to watch her. If she ran off, where would I cry?” Everyone laughed, calling him a soft-hearted wife-slave. Watching Derek come home every day with handfuls of cupcakes, never forgetting to lift his shirt to warm my feet, I also felt it was a bit much. I gently advised him, “You’re acting like a big CEO, you know. You won’t have any credibility. Be careful, all your subordinates might leave.” But he didn’t care. He rubbed against my neck, complaining playfully, “I’m so wronged! I don’t treat anyone else like this, only you. This lifetime, only you.” Derek’s solemn promises back then gave me such a sense of security, filling me with an indescribable satisfaction, the joy of a gamble won. Years ago, I came down from the mountain for training and happened to save Derek when his house caught fire. He escaped the blaze, his parents gone, and followed me every day. Calling me “Immortal Sister,” he launched an intense pursuit. I only saw him as a child, lacking love. Until later, during an accident, I was severely injured, nearly on the verge of fading away completely. It was Derek who, without hesitation, offered half his heart to me. Initially, after becoming linked with Derek, to avoid my own discomfort, I stopped resisting his pursuit. But a young man’s love is sincere and fervent, each tremor unforgettable, slowly swaying my resolve. My Master, learning of my injury, had forged an Ethereal Heart for me, which could restore my divine body, free me from desires, and return my powers. Yet, the thought of forgetting him, of a separation like death, was unbearable. Derek had already quietly drifted into my heart amidst the gentle winds and rain. Master, seeing my thoughts, earnestly advised me, “All things in the world change in an instant. The deep blue sea can turn into mulberry fields; what then of the ethereal human heart?” “If you truly insist on not retrieving your Ethereal Heart, you will only become a mortal.” “The Ethereal Heart can only be preserved for ten years. I can keep it for you. If you change your mind, come find me anytime.” Although Derek gradually lost his memories of that time due to his heaven-defying act of sacrificing his heart, and my powers were stripped away, making my body increasingly frail from the impact, what did it matter? I couldn’t use inner energy to dry my hair; Derek dried it for me. My cold feet, unable to maintain warmth with magic; Derek warmed them for me. I worked alongside him, building from nothing to becoming a rising star in the business world. We survived the seven-year itch. But I never expected that a month before our tenth anniversary, I’d find women’s underwear in the back seat of his car.

I waited until the sun set before the “battle” ended there. Once I was sure Derek had gone to the bathroom to shower, I returned to the bedroom to find the first item Sage Elias had requested: Chloe’s hair. The bed was neatly made, not a single wrinkle. The air freshener scent wafting through the room was my favorite sandalwood. Even the trash cans around the room held no trace of a secret tryst. After all, he’d used the same meticulous care when picking fish bones out for me back then. Only now, that patience was being used to clean up the aftermath of his affair. I was still feeling a pang of regret when I was suddenly embraced from behind by a hot body. “Babe, what are you doing? Come on, dinner’s ready.” Under Derek’s gentle pushing and pulling, I had to put it aside for a moment and follow him to the dining room. He scooped a wonton, blowing on it thoughtfully to test the temperature before bringing it to my lips. “My Queen, please grace me with your acceptance. I just learned to make these today. They might not look perfect, but I promise I’ll do better next time.” All these years, no matter how busy Derek was, he always made me three meals a day. From scrubbing vegetables to mastering gourmet dishes, he always did it all himself. It was only because I’d become mortal and had to bear dual emotions that my body grew exceptionally weak. To keep him from worrying, I lied and said I had a sensitive stomach. So he became extra diligent about my diet, cooking for nearly ten years. Initially, the food lacked color, aroma, and taste, but I still ate contentedly. Now, his cooking skills had improved so much he’d even earned various chef and nutritionist certifications. But I gradually couldn’t taste anything anymore. It was his heart that had changed. I stared into Derek’s eyes, saying nothing. I took the wonton from his spoon and chewed it roughly. However, just as I was about to swallow, I suddenly felt something long and coiled wrap around my tongue. The moment I realized what it was, I sprang up, rushed into the bathroom, and locked the door. Looking in the mirror, I indeed pulled out a tangled strand of long hair from my mouth. It was exactly what I’d been looking for—Chloe’s hair. The belated surge of revulsion made me almost throw up my guts. Derek, locked outside, hammered on the door. “Stella, what’s wrong? Are you okay? Don’t scare me, let me in to see you!” I ignored him. With shaky hands, I finally managed to pull out my phone and open the kitchen surveillance feed. I’d installed it years ago, worried about my pets getting onto the counters and knocking things over. Now, it was serving a different purpose. I pressed play, and the shocking scene on the screen instantly made my head spin.

In the dining room, Derek lifted Chloe by her butt and placed her on the long prep table. Their breathing was ragged, and they entangled themselves passionately, in no time at all, squashing the perfectly round, snowy-white wontons on the table into a crooked mess. “Why did you go to all that trouble, pretending these wontons were homemade when you clearly ordered takeout? What’s the point?” “You don’t understand, babe. Women fall for the effort. I want to make her happy, so Stella doesn’t keep suspecting I don’t love her anymore.” Chloe frowned, then turned her head, refusing his kiss. “She gets to be pampered, and I don’t?” Derek tried to peck her lips several times but failed. Growing impatient, he pulled a black card from his pocket. “Here, baby, take this card. Caviar, foie gras, black truffles – swipe it for whatever you want. Why would you bother with cheap takeout when you have this?” “Besides, I’m doing this so we can spend more time together, you know? You have no idea how much I’ve wanted to try it in the kitchen.” Chloe took the black card with her teeth, finally satisfied. She stopped resisting and instead reached for a jar of peanut butter, smiling meaningfully. “Alright, tit for tat. My turn to treat you. I remember you love peanut butter. I bought this specially for you on the way here.” Then, she generously scooped out a large spoonful and suggestively dabbed it on her intimate areas. Derek instantly became like a hungry wolf, his eyes turning red. He lunged and bit deeply into Chloe’s neck. Under his intense assault, Chloe squirmed uncontrollably. The two of them left various marks all over the food on the table. They were completely oblivious to when hair got mixed into the food. Was this how all the meals I’d eaten all these years were made? With a loud crash, Derek burst through the door, his face going pale the moment he saw my phone screen. “Stella…” “Where does it hurt? Is it serious?!” A second before he burst in, I had already switched the monitor screen to my dialing interface. My nails dug deep into my palms as I forced a smile, despite the discomfort.

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On the day of Skylar Thorne’s and my third anniversary, I waited for her in an icy cable car all night, freezing solid. I called her countless times, but she never picked up. Finally, just as my phone’s battery blinked its last bar, she answered. My heart swelled with hope, but instead of her voice, it was her male assistant, Devin Shaw, who spoke: “Mr. Hayes, we’re at the hot springs. Ms. Thorne said she doesn’t want to be disturbed.” Amidst Devin’s mocking laughter, my phone died completely. It hit me then: I was the only one who remembered our three-year promise. She had forgotten it long ago. As night fell, the temperature in the cable car plummeted. The cold seeped into every bone, and with it, despair clawed at my heart. Memories flashed like a frantic montage, as if these were my last moments on Earth. But fate, it seemed, had a shred of pity. I endured the agonizing cold and didn’t freeze to death. The moment I woke up, the first thing I did was make a call. I dialed that long-uncalled number: “Dad, I’m ready to come home and take over the family business. On one condition: acquire all of Thorne Enterprises.”

When they found me, my limbs were stiff with cold. My body had long gone numb, and I lay in the cable car, barely clinging to life. With the staff’s help, I was rushed to the emergency room. Skylar was listed as my emergency contact. When the doctor called her, her languid voice filled the phone. “So what if he froze all night? He’s not dead. Tell him I’ll come after I’ve had my sleep.” After she hung up, the nurse looked at me with profound pity. I lay silently on the bed, my thoughts replaying. Last night, I’d foolishly thought Devin was deliberately blocking Skylar’s calls. But hearing Skylar’s callous indifference to my near-death experience, my heart hardened. There was nothing left to give her. My life, it seemed, meant so little to her. I pulled out my phone and dialed that long-uncalled number again: “Dad, I’m ready to come home and take over the family business. On one condition: acquire all of Thorne Enterprises.” My father’s relieved voice came through the line. “Son, you’ve finally come to your senses. Three days, max. I’ll personally come pick you up.” It wasn’t until the afternoon that Skylar finally showed up, with Devin in tow. The moment she stepped through the door, she wrinkled her nose in disgust. “What is that awful smell?” I’d been unconscious from the cold all night, and I’d had an accident. I hadn’t had a chance to change my clothes after waking up. Devin, standing behind her, looked at me with feigned concern. “Mr. Hayes, we were indeed with a crucial client at the hot springs last night. That contract was extremely important, which is why we couldn’t answer your calls.” Skylar looked at me with blatant disdain. “Why bother explaining to him? Thanks to you, we secured that big deal last night.” So, in Skylar’s eyes, I was worth less than a contract. That contract, the very one they were celebrating, was only secured because of my connections. If I hadn’t specifically brokered the partnership with Mr. Stone, how else would they have landed such a massive deal? Yet, at this moment, Skylar was crediting all the success to Devin. The irony was sickening. Devin, hearing Skylar’s praise, shot me a triumphant look. Before Devin joined the company, Skylar and I always treated each other with respect, like a perfectly polite couple. But ever since he appeared, everything changed. Skylar had no patience for incompetence. If an employee made a mistake, she’d never give them a second chance. Even I, when I made errors, faced her harsh criticism. But Devin? Every time he made a rookie mistake, she’d just laugh it off, always finding excuses for him. She’d claim it was “to give new hires more opportunities to learn from their mistakes.” Initially, I didn’t think much of it, until I accidentally overheard their conversation one day. “Devin, it’s great to be young and full of vitality. Not like Owen, so lifeless these days.” “He just walks around with a long face all the time.” It turned out Skylar was just bored with me and had found someone new. Her heart had already shifted towards Devin. Skylar and I built this company from the ground up right after college. I even gave up my family’s inheritance for her. In the early days, it was my connections and background that got the company off the ground. I thought we’d walk this path together until the end, but I never imagined I was planning for a future that only included me. Skylar had already kicked me out of the game. Just as I was lost in thought, Skylar’s cold words sharply cut through my reverie. “When we get back to the office, I plan to give Devin ten percent of the shares.” “And your Vice President position? That’s going to Devin too. Consider it a reward for securing that big deal.” If I’d heard these words before, I would have erupted in a furious rage. But now, my heart was eerily calm. When you’ve been disappointed beyond measure, there’s no hope left to crush. I simply replied, my voice flat, “Fine.” She didn’t expect me to agree so readily. A flicker of surprise crossed Skylar’s face, but it was quickly overshadowed by glee. “Smart move.” With that, she took Devin and left. In three days, I’d be gone for good. Nothing here mattered to me anymore.

The day I was discharged from the hospital, I was alone. Skylar had already left with Devin, a step ahead of me. When I received the SnapChat group message, I saw Skylar had thrown a huge celebration for Devin. She even ordered a special banner to hang on the wall, emblazoned with golden letters: “CONGRATULATIONS, DEVIN SHAW, ON YOUR PROMOTION TO VICE PRESIDENT!” I remembered the early days when Skylar and I first started the company. When we secured our first big order, we celebrated with just a bowl of instant ramen. Skylar ate the noodles, and I had the broth. Those times were tough, but our hearts were full. Now, we had plenty of money, but our spirits were empty. We had long grown apart, together in name only. My phone suddenly rang, pulling me from my thoughts. I answered to Skylar’s furious voice: “Owen Hayes, why aren’t you here yet? What airs are you putting on?” “If it weren’t for needing your signature on the company share transfer agreement, I wouldn’t bother calling you.” “Get over here now. We’re waiting only for you.” She didn’t give me a chance to say a single word before she hung up. When I pushed open the private room door, everyone was gathered around Devin, showering him with sycophantic praise. The moment they saw me, the cheerful atmosphere instantly died. It was as if I was an unwelcome intruder. Devin walked towards me, holding a bottle of red wine, his eyes glinting with challenge. “Mr. Hayes… Oh, no, I mean, Mr. Hayes, you’re just a team leader now.” “You’re late. You owe us three drinks.” He handed me the bottle of red wine. I glanced at Skylar, who stood behind Devin. Her face was impassive, silently endorsing everything. Yet, she knew perfectly well I was on medication and couldn’t drink. Seeing my lack of response, Devin directly shoved the entire bottle into my arms. In an instant, the red wine splattered all over me. My bespoke white suit was immediately stained crimson. That suit was a reward from Skylar when I secured our first major deal. Devin put on a show of apology, “My bad, Mr. Hayes, I didn’t mean to do that.” I was about to erupt, but Skylar walked up behind me. “It’s just a suit, why apologize to him? That white thing is yellowed anyway; it should have been thrown out ages ago.” I scoffed internally. She was right, it should have been thrown out. Not just the suit, but the person wearing it, too.

I turned to leave; I shouldn’t have come to this event in the first place. Before I could step out the door, Skylar’s voice stopped me. “Wait, Owen. Sign this share transfer agreement before you go.” Skylar rushed towards me, holding a contract and a pen. Devin followed closely, as if afraid I might escape. I picked up the pen and signed my name on the contract without even glancing at it. As surprise flashed across their faces, I asked, “Can I go now?” Devin looked at the contract, his excitement barely contained, and nodded at Skylar. They seemed shocked by how easily I’d agreed. The process was far simpler than they’d imagined. After I left, the sound of joyous laughter erupted from the private room once more. “Congratulations, Devin Shaw, on your promotion to Vice President!” A cold smirk played on my lips as I walked away. Devin, your tenure as Vice President will be the shortest in history. Because you won’t last more than three days. While they were celebrating in the private room, I returned to the office and meticulously organized all my client lists, preparing for what was to come. Before I knew it, night had fallen. When I arrived home with my laptop, Skylar was already back. But there was also another unwelcome guest in the house. Devin was busily preparing a hangover remedy for Skylar in the kitchen. He didn’t show an ounce of panic when he saw me, remaining perfectly composed. It was as if this was his own home. He was wearing my house slippers, and I was standing barefoot on the cold floor. The chill crept up from my feet, reaching deep into my heart. Skylar, sprawled on the sofa, was completely drunk, slurring, “Devin, let’s keep drinking. We won’t stop until we’re wasted!” “To your promotion to Vice President!” Devin then solicitously brought a bowl of the hangover remedy to Skylar. They treated me as if I didn’t exist, as if I were thin air. Devin intimately helped Skylar up from the sofa and carefully placed a cushion behind her. His actions were so practiced, so tender, it was as if he were Skylar’s legitimate boyfriend. After feeding Skylar the remedy, Devin finally seemed to notice me. He approached, a cold sneer on his face. “Owen, Ms. Thorne just wouldn’t let me leave. She insisted I escort her home. What could I do?” At this point, calling Devin manipulative wouldn’t be an exaggeration. His petty triumph was sickeningly evident. Before, every time he came to our house under the pretense of delivering documents, I’d get jealous and angry, even having huge fights with Skylar. But now, I felt absolutely nothing. He tried to provoke me, searching for an outburst or a flicker of jealousy on my face. But I didn’t give him the satisfaction this time. I simply turned and walked towards my study, laptop in hand. I closed the study door, shutting them out. I thought Devin would leave after Skylar finished her hangover remedy. But to my shock, he was bold enough to stay the night.

Late at night, as I was organizing files in my study, I heard some utterly sickening sounds from the living room. At first, I thought it was Skylar, throwing up from being drunk. But the moment I opened my study door, I witnessed the full extent of their shamelessness. Two naked figures, illuminated by the moonlight, were intertwined on the sofa. My blood ran cold, freezing in my veins. My clenched fists dug my nails deep into my palms. Staring at the two of them in the living room, a surge of rage coursed through me, with nowhere to go. Skylar, emboldened by the alcohol, mockingly taunted me, shamelessly trampling my dignity as a man. “Devin, it’s great to be young! So many tricks, unlike Owen. He’s so rigid, only knows one position.” Devin’s voice dropped, a playful whine. “So, who’s better? Me, or that old stick-in-the-mud?” Skylar hooked her arm around Devin’s neck, laughing sensuously. “What do you even need to ask? Of course, you’re better.” Their entangled forms moved from the sofa to the floor. Lurid sounds filled the air. They seemed to have completely forgotten I was still in the study. Their audacity was astounding. I forced myself to suppress my rage and dialed the police. I would ruin them completely. As the living room lights flickered on, their naked bodies were exposed from the darkness. In their panic, Skylar grabbed a throw pillow from the sofa, trying to cover herself, her face contorted with terror as she stared at me. “Owen, what are you doing here?” I spoke coldly, “This is my home. Why shouldn’t I be here?” Devin quickly pulled on his boxers, then walked towards me, a sneer on his face. “Ms. Thorne, don’t be afraid of him. He’s just a lowly team leader now anyway.” “You’re the CEO of this company. And with my ten percent shares, we run this company, not him.” Skylar, who had been panicking, suddenly regained her composure after hearing Devin’s words. She picked up her clothes, dressed, and then glared at me. “That’s right, Owen. I run this company now. Get out, immediately!” For three years, through thick and thin, I had poured my heart and soul into this company. All my efforts, all my contributions, were dismissed with a single, dismissive sentence from Skylar. I pulled out the resignation letter I’d prepared earlier and tossed it onto the floor. “Perfect. I’ve wanted to resign for a long time.” Devin picked up the letter, confirming its contents with a glance. Then he laughed. “Owen, since you’re voluntarily resigning, all the shares under your name will now belong to us.” “You’re such a fool, handing over the company like this!” With that, Devin mocked me to my face, his laughter sharp and cruel. The moment I caught them in their betrayal, my heart had completely withered. Skylar, I ask you, honestly, in these past three years, from building this company from scratch to achieving some success, when did I not help you overcome every company crisis? When did I not provide the connections and background for every major deal? Even that time the company faced a financial crisis, it was my father’s assets that served as collateral for the bank loan. And you, for a male assistant, fired me and told me to get lost. You didn’t hesitate to become my enemy. Not only did you negate three years of my effort and dedication, but you also shattered three years of my genuine love for you. I wanted to see how this company would function without me. I sneered at Skylar: “You want the company’s shares? That’s a pipe dream. I’ll make sure you walk away penniless.” Just then, a frantic knock echoed from the door. The moment it opened, two police officers rushed in. “We received a report of suspected solicitation here.” The moment the police burst through the door, Devin was wearing only his boxers, his upper body bare. Skylar’s dress barely covered her private parts.

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My Love, My Punishment My birthday. My childhood sweetheart, Liam, kissed his first love, Serena, during a game of Truth or Dare. Humiliated and furious, I stormed out of the house. Liam’s parents and my parents rushed to find me, worried sick. They died in a tragic car accident on the way. From that day on, Liam hated me. He forced me to drink until my stomach bled, made me kneel before his first love, and even abandoned me after a car crash to go comfort his first love’s sick puppy… When I died in that cold operating room, Liam was busy picking out a wedding ring for his new bride. It took him three days to find my body. He stared, eyes bloodshot, begging me to come back like a madman. “Riley, you still owe me. You’re not allowed to leave me.” But Liam, your family wasn’t the only one who died in that accident. “Ms. Hayes, are you really sure you want to leave all your assets to Mr. Harrison?” I clutched the stomach cancer diagnosis papers, feeling a massive weight lift from my chest. “Yes. It’s what I owe him.” The clerk looked at me with a hint of pity. “Perhaps if you underwent treatment, you could get better. You’re still so young.” I lowered my head, a bitter smile playing on my lips. “This is something I’ve longed for. I should have died ages ago.” Just then, Liam called. His voice was cold, indifferent, laced with a familiar hatred. “Did you take the day off to fool around?” Before I could explain, his tone grew even colder. “You killed my parents, Riley. You’re a sinner! You don’t deserve a single moment of peace.” My heart squeezed tight, as if a giant hand had grabbed it, the pain unbearable. “Liam, I’m…” dying. He didn’t care what I was about to say, cutting me off abruptly. “Bar 177. Serena wants cake from that fancy bakery downtown. Go buy it and bring it over.” “And walk there.” I agreed, plunging headfirst into the pouring rain. The bakery across town was on a remote street, but its business was booming. I stood in line for four hours in my soaking wet clothes. When I finally walked into the private room, the boisterous atmosphere instantly froze. One of Liam’s friends glared at me, shoving me hard onto the cold floor. A deliberately humiliating splash of wine poured from my hair all the way down my clothes. I shivered, bone-chilled. “How dare you show your face in front of Liam, you murderer!” The cake I’d brought lay splattered on the floor. I anxiously looked towards Liam, who was shrouded in the dim light. His first love, Serena, nestled against him, glanced at me like I was a joke. She whined softly into his ear, “Liam, my cake’s gone.” “Go buy another one,” his icy voice cut through the air, drilling into my ears. I stifled the throbbing pain from the blisters on my feet and forced a smile. “Alright.” “No need, Liam, my love, for being late, why don’t we make her drink all hundred glasses of wine on the table?” Serena’s smile was sickeningly sweet. I remembered my diagnosis from today. “Can I… can I do something else?” A gaze like a blade landed on me. Liam’s lips curved into a faint, mocking smile. “What right do you have to bargain?” Even though I’d long known Liam no longer loved me, my heart still twisted with a sharp pang. I stopped protesting, grabbed a glass, and chugged it down. The burning sensation in my stomach made me dizzy. Around me, I heard their jeers and cheers. “Liam’s really protecting his lady, huh?” “Kiss her, Liam! Kiss her!” By the ninety-ninth glass, my face was pale, and my hands trembled uncontrollably from the pain. In my peripheral vision, I saw Liam shielding Serena from drinks, gently coaxing her. “Well, well, what do we have here? A wet T-shirt contest? I like it.” Brett, one of Liam’s sleazy acquaintances, walked in, his gaze greedily raking over me. His fat hand groped my shoulder, making me gag. “Come with me, pretty thing. I promise I’ll treat you right, hehe.” Liam watched me being harassed, watched my humiliation, with cold indifference the entire time. I dodged his hand as it tried to wander lower. “Brett, I belong to Liam.” Perhaps it was just my imagination, but his gaze seemed to turn even colder.

At three in the morning, the tormenting farce finally ended. I sighed in relief. Liam’s smile was casual, almost dismissive. “I don’t trust Serena to go home alone. I’ll take her. You can walk back.” I didn’t argue. I just turned and started to leave. A hand suddenly grabbed my neck, slamming me against the couch. The multicolored lights of the room flickered across Liam’s profile. The next second, he kissed me fiercely. It was a savage kiss, one that left me gasping for air. After a long moment, he pulled away, gently wiping a trace of blood from the corner of my mouth. He was the one tormenting me, yet his eyes were red-rimmed, his lashes trembling. “Riley, were you trying to die drinking all that? Don’t you know you have a stomach condition?! Are you trying to make me feel bad?” “Brett wanted you, why didn’t you just go with him?! Riley, what makes you think you can call yourself ‘mine’?!” I swallowed the bitter tears, turning my head away to calm myself. “I haven’t paid you back yet.” In that instant, his eyes filled with hatred. He slammed his fist into the sofa. His words were sharp, like razor blades, wishing to slice me apart instantly. “Why wasn’t it you who died?! Why?! Why don’t you just die?!” I smiled bitterly, watching him calmly. “If I died, would that be enough?” He answered without hesitation. “Yes. Only by dying in atonement will it be enough.” As you wish. I’m going to die very soon. My phone rang, shattering the atmosphere thick with hatred. It was Serena. “Liam, it’s thundering outside! I’m so scared!” Liam suppressed his rage. His voice instantly softened, like he was comforting a small child. “Don’t be scared, Serena. Liam’s coming right away.” Without a backward glance, he slammed the door shut and stormed out. It wasn’t until his figure disappeared that I finally broke, violently vomiting into a nearby trash can. It was all blood, mouthful after mouthful. The shocking red oddly brought a fleeting sense of relief. My body was burning hot. I tried to stand up, but my legs gave out, and I stumbled, hitting my head on the corner of a table before blacking out completely. I dreamt of the past. Liam and I were childhood sweethearts. From a young age, he only protected me. Liam’s parents treated me like their own daughter. I dreamt of them smiling, holding my hand, and slipping me some cash. “Riley, you’re truly our sweet girl.” Liam’s face beside them darkened slightly, and he leaned closer to me. “Mom, Dad! I don’t want to be Riley’s brother!” “Hahaha, Liam’s jealous! Alright, alright, you’re not her brother, you’re her sweetheart.” Liam and I exchanged glances, both blushing fiercely. Tears unconsciously streamed down my face. I dreamt of seventeen-year-old Liam, when nasty rumors about me started circulating. He’d single-handedly fought those thugs, coming back with a bruised face, whining in my arms. “It hurts so much, Riley.” My heart ached as I disinfected his wounds, sighing resignedly. “Don’t get into fights anymore.” But the young boy just smiled, tugging at my long face. “Riley, don’t be scared. Liam will always be here. No one will ever bully you!” Seeing my distress, he made a funny face to cheer me up. “Riley, it hurts here. I want a kiss.” Seventeen-year-old Riley and Liam shared a solemn kiss in the romantic sunset. What a beautiful youth it was. Until four years ago, on my birthday. I received a video. Liam had lost a game of Truth or Dare and had to passionately kiss his first love, Serena, for ten minutes. I couldn’t believe it was him, but he wouldn’t reply to my messages or answer my calls. I stormed out of the house, hoping he’d come after me and coax me back. Liam’s parents and my parents, worried something might happen to me outside, rushed to find me. They got into a car accident on the way. When I arrived, Mom and Dad had already passed. Liam’s mom, her face covered in blood, used her last ounce of strength to gently hug me. “Riley… don’t… don’t be scared… Mom and Dad are gone, but you still have Liam. He’ll always protect you.” “Your moms and dads love you…” “Don’t… blame yourself, Riley, be hap…” Liam’s mom, who had always been so good to me, took her last breath in my arms. I cried until my voice was hoarse. When Liam arrived, what he saw were the cold bodies of his parents. His eyes were bloodshot. He tightly clutched my hand, in too much agony and despair to speak. Tears streamed down my face like an endless river. I threw myself into his arms, repeatedly whispering, “I’m sorry.” “I’m so sorry, Liam. If I hadn’t been so stubborn, if I hadn’t run off in a fit of pique, our parents wouldn’t have died.” “I’m so sorry, I…” I choked on my sobs, hearing Liam’s desperate voice say, “Riley, you’re a sinner.” I knew. My sins were profound. That’s why every night, I would self-harm to find peace enough to sleep, staying by Liam’s side to suffer as my atonement, refusing medication to endure the stomach cancer pain. That day, I lost the people who loved me most, and I lost the person I loved most. Everything became an impossible dream. Thankfully, I’m dying soon. I can finally go be with Mom and Dad. And Liam can finally stop tormenting me, and I him.

“Mom, Dad, I won’t be stubborn anymore. Can you please come back?” I didn’t want to wake up, my tears soaking the pillowcase. Familiar footsteps approached the hospital room door. “Riley, you don’t have to make yourself look so pathetic. It won’t make me feel sorry for you.” Seeing the scar on my forehead, his voice inexplicably deepened a few shades. Serena, clinging to his arm, wore the smile of a victor. “Riley, if you’re sick, who’s going to design Liam’s and my wedding house?” “I’ve been sleeping in Liam’s room these past few days. You really do have good taste, the mattress you picked out is so soft.” I swallowed the bitterness in my heart, speaking calmly. “I’ll stay up all night to get your wedding house ready.” At my words, the triumph in Serena’s eyes became even more evident. Liam’s throat bobbed, his expression darkening slightly. “Take good care of yourself. Otherwise, how will you pay off your debt?” His eyes were devoid of any warmth, leaving me unsure if he was genuinely concerned or just wanted me to get better to suffer more. I smiled bitterly. It had to be the latter. He hated me so much. He stepped out to get some medication. Serena’s voice then grew smug. “What kind of man would sacrifice his pride to personally get period pain medication for a woman? Liam spoils me too much; he just can’t bear for me to be uncomfortable.” “He even has a notebook full of prescription formulas. Liam really does love me deeply.” I froze, remembering when I used to have period cramps. He’d drive to the pharmacy in the dead of night to get my meds, then warm my stomach with his hands all night, barely sleeping just so he could make me a hot drink as soon as I stirred. I’d once asked him if he felt embarrassed, a grown man personally going to the hospital for period meds. Liam’s tears had fallen onto my neck, searing me to the core. “Riley, don’t scare me. I thought you were seriously ill. I was so afraid, so afraid you’d leave me.” “I wish it were me who was hurting instead.” Only then did I realize that loving someone could make you shed tears before they did. Seeing my blank expression, a flicker of anger crossed Serena’s eyes. She approached me with a smirk, then covered her face and stumbled back a few steps, tearfully complaining to Liam as he entered. “Oh! Liam, Riley just hit me!” I instinctively retorted, “I have a fever, I’m so weak, I couldn’t possibly hit her…” “Riley, I know you don’t like me, but you can’t ruin my face!” Serena’s eyes welled up as she looked at Liam. “Liam, it’s okay, I can put up with a little hardship for you.” Liam’s gaze fell on my fever-flushed face. He watched me for what felt like an eternity before his voice deepened. “Don’t play the victim. Get down on your knees and apologize.” Her face was smooth and unblemished, yet Liam had directly condemned me. My pride made me stiffen my spine, looking up to meet his mocking eyes. In that single moment, I crumbled. “Riley, you claim you want to atone, but you won’t even do this small thing?” I glanced at the floor. There were thumbtacks Serena had just scattered. But I still knelt down without hesitation. The sharp thumbtacks dug deep into my knees. Every movement was like a knife twisting. Blood seeped from my numb legs. I almost couldn’t hold myself up, wanting to collapse. After a long while, Liam tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and left with Serena in his arms. “Stay kneeling all day. Come back and apologize to Serena when you understand your mistake.”

The last rays of the sun kissed my haggard face. I swayed, then slowly stood up. Without even putting on ointment for my wounds, I swallowed two fever reducers and went to buy an apology gift. When Serena saw the gift I humbly offered, her smile grew even more innocent, and she enthusiastically pulled me inside. “Riley, Liam cooked for me personally. You should join us.” With that, she darted into the kitchen, playfully wrapping her arms around Liam. Liam smiled indulgently, tapping her forehead. I pulled my gaze away, a sharp pang in my heart, and began to observe the home Liam and I once shared. All the pink decorations I loved were replaced with Serena’s preferred purple. Even the family photos in the living room had been swapped out for their wedding portraits. My bedroom was knocked down and turned into Serena’s walk-in closet. I lowered my head, afraid to look around any more, but then I noticed that every dish on the dining table contained ingredients I was allergic to. I shot a look at Liam. He treated me like I was invisible, meticulously attending to Serena, serving her food, pouring her drinks, getting her tissues. I’m highly allergic. Liam used to be so worried about me, often taking me for check-ups. He’d pull the doctor aside to take notes on all the things I was allergic to. But now, it seemed he had forgotten. Serena gave me a defiant look, then placed a chili pepper on my plate. “Riley, have you still not forgiven me?” Liam glanced at me, his voice chilling. “If you’re not eating, get out!” My body stiffened as I ate the dishes. Within minutes, a rash broke out on my face. “Oh no, Riley, you look terrible! You scared me!” Serena picked up a glass of water and splashed it on my face, then cowered into Liam’s arms, her eyes glinting with malice. I frantically covered my face, drenched and humiliated. “I’m sorry…” “Get out!” Liam’s voice seemed to hold a trace of heartbreak, yet it was as cold as winter snow. Outside the villa, there was no heating. Snow fell on my shoulders, and my teeth chattered from the cold. My stomach churned with agonizing pain. In a blur, I saw Mom and Dad. They were smiling at me. I was finally going to die. Was I finally going to be with Mom and Dad? I actually felt a flicker of happiness. I staggered towards them… A rough force yanked me back into an embrace. “Are you trying to die, Riley?!” Coming back to my senses, I realized I was standing in the middle of the road, a car speeding past just inches from me. The warmth of Liam’s embrace made me feel disoriented.

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Seven days before my daughter’s wedding, Evelyn, my wife, suddenly turned to me. 　　”Richard,” she said, “Chloe’s wedding day, maybe you shouldn’t go.” I was holding the speech I’d painstakingly copied from the internet, getting ready to practice it for the reception. Now, I was being told I couldn’t even attend my own daughter’s wedding. 　　”Why?” I asked, my voice laced with disbelief. 　　Evelyn replied, “Marcus is back in the States. He says he wants to walk his biological daughter down the aisle.” Just then, Chloe walked over, chiming in. “Uncle Richard, he *is* my biological father, after all. A blood relative. I want my dad to walk me down the aisle.” I looked at the mother and daughter before me. Fifteen years of my kindness had been thrown to the dogs. 　　A pair of ungrateful wretches. In my bitter disappointment, I picked up my phone and called the hotel. “Hello,” I said, “cancel the wedding banquet for seven days from now. Change it to my sixtieth birthday celebration instead.”

　　I was holding the speech I’d painstakingly copied from the internet, planning to memorize it for Chloe’s wedding day. Just then, Evelyn pushed open the door and sat beside me, a cup of tea in her hand. She hesitated, then finally spoke. 　　”Richard, it’s probably best if you don’t go to Chloe’s wedding. Maybe you should go somewhere else.” The speech slid from my trembling fingers. I stared at Evelyn, utterly bewildered. 　　”What did you say? Why?” Evelyn frowned, looking at me. “Marcus is back in the States. He said he wants to attend his biological daughter’s wedding. Chloe also said she wants her biological father to walk her down the aisle.” 　　*Biological*. That single word plunged me into an ice bath. My heart felt squeezed tight in a vice, stealing my breath. Seeing my hesitation, Chloe, who had been hiding at the doorway, pushed the door open and walked over, trying to persuade me. 　　”Uncle Richard, he *is* my biological father, after all. A blood relative. I want my dad to walk me down the aisle.” 　　*Uncle Richard?* Before Marcus came back, she always affectionately called me “Dad Richard.” 　　What, now that her biological father is back, I’m just “Uncle”? 　　It was utterly ironic. 　　I sat there on the bed, dazed. I remembered when Marcus abandoned them, mother and daughter, to go develop his business overseas. 　　If I hadn’t been soft-hearted enough to take them in, would they be where they are today? To make things official, I married Evelyn for my first marriage. For these fifteen years, I treated Chloe with absolute devotion, just like my own flesh and blood. 　　Fearing Chloe might feel neglected, Evelyn and I never had our own children all these years. 　　But what did I get for all my sacrifices? Just one phrase – “blood relative” – and all my fifteen years of effort were completely negated. My heart was filled with unbearable bitterness, like I’d swallowed pure gall. 　　As I fell deeper into thought, Evelyn’s next words instantly enveloped me in a bone-chilling cold that penetrated my skin and sank deep into my bones. 　　”Richard, what about that designer suit you bought for Chloe’s wedding? Why don’t you give it to Marcus? You won’t need it anyway, right?” 　　”He can wear it to Chloe’s wedding.” 　　Chloe, standing by, seemed to suddenly remember something. She rushed to my closet and began rummaging through it. 　　She carelessly tossed my clothes and shoes all over the floor. “Uncle Richard, what about those black leather shoes I gave you? Give them to my dad too. They’ll go perfectly with the black suit.” 　　”My dad will look so good in them. He’ll have some face at my wedding.” I stared at the mess on the floor, my clothes scattered and trampled underfoot by my daughter and wife. It felt like my fifteen years of effort were being crushed, carelessly discarded. Fifteen whole years, and I still hadn’t managed to warm the hearts of these two. My heart felt like it had been stabbed, then twisted violently, a gut-wrenching agony. 　　Fifteen years ago, Marcus abandoned them, mother and daughter, to venture into business, vanishing into thin air. 　　Now he was back, and I, their free ATM and laborer, was expected to step aside immediately. They really had it all figured out. 　　I picked up the crumpled speech from the floor, balled it up, and tossed it into the trash. 　　Smiling, I said to them, “Alright, I’ll leave when the time comes. Don’t worry.” 　　Seeing me agree, the mother and daughter beamed with joy and walked away. 　　But I wasn’t just leaving; I was abandoning them completely. 　　I pulled out my phone and called the hotel. “Cancel the wedding banquet for seven days from now,” I said. “Change it to my sixtieth birthday celebration instead.”

　　The next day, I woke up to a silent house. I pushed open my bedroom door; Chloe and Evelyn were already gone. 　　I tapped my phone screen, and it showed I’d been removed from the family SnapChat group. The last message read: “Welcome Marcus to the group.” 　　I opened SnapChat stories. Chloe and Evelyn were standing with Marcus, arms wrapped around him, the caption reading: 　　”Our family is finally reunited!” 　　For fifteen years, my face had never appeared in Evelyn or Chloe’s SnapChat stories. 　　But the moment Marcus returned, they couldn’t wait to make it public. 　　As if they were afraid everyone wouldn’t know they were a *real* family. 　　I used to think they just weren’t good at expressing their feelings. Now, I realized I just wasn’t worthy. 　　Smiling, I hit ‘like’ on Evelyn’s post. A few seconds later, the post was gone. 　　Suddenly, my phone rang. The moment I answered, Evelyn’s angry voice erupted. 　　”Richard, why did you like that post? What if Marcus sees it and gets mad?” 　　”You’d better not show your face around us until Chloe’s wedding, got it?” 　　”Can’t you even hold out for a few days?” 　　Before I could say a word, Evelyn hung up. 　　It was as if I’d committed some unforgivable crime. 　　Seething and hungry all morning, I went to a restaurant downstairs for lunch and unexpectedly ran into Chloe and Evelyn. 　　And, of course, that infuriating Marcus. 　　The moment they saw me, their faces were full of disdain. The silence was suffocating, even my breathing felt heavy. 　　When Evelyn and I locked eyes, I saw nothing but disgust in hers. 　　Chloe’s gaze, too, held a hint of impatience. 　　Then, Marcus approached me, holding a shot of whiskey, a provocative smirk on his face. 　　”You must be Richard,” he said. “Thanks for taking care of my wife and kid all these years.” 　　”This drink is for you, from me.” 　　He held the glass out to me. When I didn’t take it, he suddenly flashed a strange smile. 　　Then, he poured the entire drink onto his own chest. Since his back was to Evelyn and Chloe, they didn’t see it. Marcus then, the villain, played the victim first. 　　”Brother Richard, I offered you a drink out of goodwill to show my gratitude, and not only do you not appreciate it, but you throw a drink on me?” 　　Hearing that, Chloe and Evelyn rushed towards me almost simultaneously. 　　”Richard, I never thought you’d be so petty! What kind of trick is this?” Evelyn fumed. 　　Chloe glared at me, her face flushed with anger. “Uncle Richard, why are you acting like some common thug? Resorting to such low-class tactics!” 　　”Look what you did! You ruined the new shirt I bought for my dad!” 　　Marcus looked at me, a triumphant smirk plastered across his face, like the victor he saw himself as. 　　I watched the scene unfold, and it was nothing but pure irony. 　　Their words, at that moment, felt like slow torture, each one a knife twisting in my heart. I was truly experiencing an unprecedented torment. 　　They should have known what kind of person I was. Now, being falsely accused, all I could do was offer a self-deprecating smile. 　　A smile that mocked my inability to judge character. I had no intention of disturbing their happy family reunion and turned to leave. 　　But as I took my first step, Evelyn grabbed my left arm and Chloe grabbed my right, both holding me in place. They spoke in unison: 　　”Apologize to Marcus!” 　　”Apologize to my dad!”

　　My left arm was held by Evelyn, my right by Chloe. I couldn’t move. 　　It was clear they wouldn’t let me leave without an apology. 　　Behind me, Marcus looked on triumphantly. “It’s fine,” he said, emphasizing the words “our family.” “Let’s just get back to eating, our family.” 　　Only then did Evelyn and Chloe release me. The mother and daughter gave me a dirty look and followed Marcus back to their table. 　　As they walked away, I heard Evelyn mutter a sarcastic jab: “He really is getting more petty in his old age.” 　　Chloe chimed in, “Yeah, my dad’s so generous and big-hearted, unlike some people who are so narrow-minded.” 　　After I left the restaurant, I could hear their cheerful voices again: “Cheers to Dad, to my husband, for a successful return from overseas!” 　　And Marcus’s laughter: “To my daughter’s happy wedding!” 　　A cold smile touched my lips as I left. Happy wedding? I doubted if that wedding would even happen. 　　After all, I’d already prepared a surprise for their family. I just wondered if they could handle it. 　　While they were celebrating at the restaurant, I returned home and sorted through my belongings. I packed all my valuable items into a suitcase. 　　Before I knew it, night had fallen. 　　As I slid the packed suitcase under my bed, Evelyn and Chloe returned. 　　But there was an uninvited guest with them. 　　The mother and daughter were supporting a heavily intoxicated Marcus. 　　The moment they saw me, they ignored me like I was invisible. 　　They helped Marcus directly into my bedroom. 　　Chloe even thoughtfully brought a basin of water, took off Marcus’s shoes and socks, and began washing his feet. 　　Evelyn wasn’t idle either. She pulled out my brand-new pajamas from my closet and changed Marcus into them. 　　Watching the overly solicitous mother and daughter, a chill seeped into my bones, making me feel like I was in a freezer. 　　All these years, I’d worked myself to the bone, and I never received such treatment. 　　Once, when I heard Chloe was getting married, I got so happy and drank too much. They just left me at the front door. 　　That was in the dead of winter. I woke up with ice-cold hands and feet, only to realize I’d slept on the ground all night. 　　At that moment, Marcus, lying on the bed, suddenly sat up and vomited directly onto the floor. 　　Chloe quickly held the foot basin in front of him to catch his vomit. 　　Evelyn gently rubbed his back, her face full of tenderness. 　　I watched the scene unfold, and a wave of sorrow washed over me. I finally understood. 　　All this time, I had simply been unworthy. In their eyes, I was merely the lowest-ranking laborer in this household. 　　After they finished cleaning up, Evelyn turned to me, her face stern. 　　”You should stay at a hotel tonight,” she said. “Or, if you don’t mind, you can sleep on the living room sofa.” Chloe, carrying the basin, quickly added,”No, Mom! What if he snores and wakes up Dad?” 　　The moment she spoke, Marcus’s thunderous snoring echoed from the bedroom. 　　Chloe’s face flushed with a flicker of embarrassment. 　　”Fine,” she conceded. “Uncle Richard, you can sleep on the sofa.” 　　That night, I tossed and turned on the sofa until I heard the bedroom door open. 　　Marcus, sobered up, staggered out of the bedroom. Unable to find the bathroom, he simply peed directly onto the floor. 　　My blood boiled. 　　”Are you insane?” I yelled. “Throwing a drunken tantrum at your age? You can’t even control your bladder!” 　　Hearing the commotion, Evelyn was the first to turn on the lights. Chloe, in her pajamas, rushed out as well. 　　They saw the puddle on the floor, and a flicker of embarrassment crossed their faces, but it quickly vanished. 　　Evelyn helped Marcus back into the room, and Chloe grabbed a mop and cleaned up the urine without a single complaint. 　　I remembered how they used to scold me for ages just because a little cigarette ash accidentally fell on the floor. 　　Chloe and Evelyn were both germaphobes. Yet, when Marcus did something so outrageous, they didn’t say a word. Ultimately, their tolerance was born of love. At that moment, my heart completely despaired, as if an invisible noose tightened around my throat. The more I struggled, the more suffocated I felt. 　　But after seeing the true colors of these two, I finally let go. 　　In a few days, I wouldn’t have to endure this humiliation anymore. 　　What I didn’t know was how truly malicious they were, to scheme against me to this extent.

　　When I woke up on the sofa, their family of three had already left. 　　In their eyes, I had become invisible. 　　My phone buzzed. It was my special notification for Chloe; I knew the moment she posted anything. 　　Her SnapChat story showed wedding photos of Evelyn and Marcus. 　　For fifteen years, wedding photos had been a thorn in my side. We’d been in a hurry back then and never got around to taking any. 　　Every year after that, when I brought it up, Evelyn refused, saying we were too old for such “young people’s antics.” 　　But now, she was leaning into Marcus’s embrace like a young girl, a picture of pure bliss. 　　It wasn’t that she didn’t want to take them; she just didn’t want to take them with me. 　　When I swiped to the second photo, I froze in shock. It was Marcus and Evelyn’s marriage certificate. 　　Two bright red documents stung my eyes. The marriage date was two years ago. 　　Chloe had commented: “So fortunate to witness my parents’ love.” 　　For fifteen years, every anniversary, I had suggested we get a marriage certificate, but Evelyn had always gracefully declined. 　　Turns out, she and Marcus had already remarried, keeping me completely in the dark. 　　I had been a complete fool, a free laborer for the mother and daughter. 　　Now that Marcus was back, they planned to kick me out. 　　My rage exploded at that moment. The indignation in my heart couldn’t be quelled. I had to go demand an explanation. 　　I arrived at the bridal shop. Evelyn and Chloe were still inside, changing clothes. 　　Marcus sat in his car, a cigarette dangling from his lips. The moment he saw me, a flicker of malice appeared in his eyes. 　　He pressed the gas and charged toward me. Just as the car was about to hit me, in the nick of time, he slammed on the brakes. 　　He stuck his head out and sneered: 　　”Consider this a warning. I’m back. If you’re smart, you’ll leave them and vanish from their lives immediately.” 　　”Otherwise, I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to stop the car next time.” 　　”And if you dare show up at Chloe’s wedding, I’ll make sure you regret it.” 　　With that, Marcus sped off, leaving a cloud of exhaust in his wake. 　　I was drenched in cold sweat, collapsing to the ground. 　　The moment I thought I was going to be hit, my blood pressure shot up, and my head swam. Now, I felt the relief of a narrow escape. I lay on the ground, gasping for breath. That was the closest I’d come to death. I quickly pulled out my emergency heart medication and swallowed it. 　　Marcus’s threats replayed in my mind, making my heart pound, refusing to calm down. 　　After that near-death experience, I had completely lost all last hope for that mother and daughter. 　　Back home, I pulled out the suitcase I’d already packed from under the bed and left that very night. 　　As the car drove towards the mansion, I finally pulled up to a large estate and knocked on the door. 　　The moment the door opened, a surprised cry rang out: “Dad, what are you doing here?” 　　”It’s a long story, son.” 　　Daniel took my suitcase and brought it inside, warmly inviting me into his home. 　　Seeing me looking weary from travel, he naturally knew I’d been wronged and gently comforted me:

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296679”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

Julian, my husband, was ridiculously frugal. He’d kept his phone for five years and refused to get a new one. To surprise him, I secretly bought him a new phone. But while transferring data, I stumbled upon something horrifying: he had meticulously saved every single chat record with Celeste, the woman he’d lost, his first love. I intended to hide the chat thread, but my finger slipped, and I accidentally hit ‘delete.’ That’s when Julian walked in. He’d never shown a hint of anger before, but he snatched the phone back from me. When he realized the chat history was gone, unrecoverable, he shoved me, *hard*, then stormed out. My head slammed against the sharp edge of the table. As life drained from me, I frantically dialed his number, again and again. Every call was ruthlessly rejected. The last time I managed to dial, he finally picked up, his voice seething with irritation. “Vera, are you ever going to stop?” He didn’t know. He didn’t know that the moment he chose those chat records over my life, *I* was already stopped. Forever.

When I opened my eyes again, bleeding out, I found myself in the passenger seat of Julian’s car. He was just hanging up the phone, furious, then slammed his fist against the steering wheel in frustration. He didn’t even notice me there. That’s when it hit me: I was dead. My soul was now tethered to Julian. It was the first time I’d ever seen him so completely lose his composure. Julian, who’d remained calm even after his company was sabotaged and he was left bankrupt, was now red-eyed with rage because I’d accidentally deleted Celeste’s chat history. All because Celeste was the love of his life, his first love who’d died young. If Julian knew I died because of those chat records, would he still be this frantic? He sped through the streets, blowing past red lights, until he finally found a phone repair shop that was still open. “I accidentally deleted some really important chat records. Is there any way to get them back?” Julian carefully handed his phone to the young man behind the counter. The ‘guy’ took the phone, but didn’t say a word for a long time. “Well? Is it difficult? Name your price, I’ll pay whatever it takes to get them back.” Julian asked anxiously, but then he froze, staring at the repair ‘guy.’ The ‘guy’ awkwardly pulled their cap low, handing the phone back. “I can’t recover them here. You should try somewhere else.” “Celeste…?” Julian stared, dumbfounded, then his trembling hand reached out and yanked the cap off. Long hair cascaded down. The ‘guy’ turned their face away, burying it behind the curtain of hair, their voice muffled and cold. “Sir, you’ve got the wrong person.” But their trembling voice betrayed them. Julian couldn’t hold back anymore. He lunged over the counter and pulled Celeste tightly into his arms. “Celeste… it’s really you… This is amazing, you’re alive! Where have you been all these years?” Even though no one could see me, witnessing my husband embrace another woman as if she were the most precious treasure made my ethereal presence feel utterly pathetic. But I couldn’t move more than a foot and a half away from Julian. I was trapped, forced to watch this agonizing scene. A flicker of surprise crossed Celeste’s eyes. She didn’t answer, nor did she try to break free from Julian’s embrace. A moment later, she tentatively replied, “Mr. Lawson, you’re wearing a wedding ring. Does it really matter where I’ve been all these years? Did you accidentally delete your wife’s chat records? If her records are still there, they can be recovered.” At her words, Julian released Celeste. Celeste offered a knowing, bittersweet smile. The next second, Julian roughly yanked the wedding ring from his ring finger and, without a second thought, threw it out the door. Under Celeste’s stunned gaze, Julian gravely took her by the shoulders, looking into her eyes as he said slowly, every word punctuated with gravity: “Celeste, you’re the only woman I’ve ever wanted to marry. But back then, my project secrets were leaked, and I ended up in massive debt. Then I suddenly heard about your death. Vera was the one who came up with the money to help me through. She’d been secretly in love with me for years, and I had no way to repay her… Now, my company is thriving. If you’re willing, I can divorce Vera anytime. I don’t care if everyone curses me. I can’t lose you again!” My gaze followed the ring. My non-existent body instinctively chased after it, trying to catch it outside the door. But I had no physical form. I could only watch helplessly as the ring passed right through my hand, plunging directly into the street drain, instantly washed away by the sewage. I’d always known Julian had no real affection for me, that he was only with me for the money I’d provided. But seeing him toss that ring away with such utter indifference, my heart ached so intensely I could barely breathe. I sank to the ground, powerless. The next second, my body was forcibly pulled back, closer to Julian, as I had drifted too far. I was then forced to witness Julian, overcome with emotion, leaning in to kiss Celeste. “The chat records I want to restore today are also with you. Do you still have them on your phone?”

“I can’t believe you’re still using the phone I bought you.” Celeste connected her phone to the computer, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on her lips. “Of course,” Julian said, wrapping his arms around Celeste from behind, resting his chin on her neck as he watched her work. “It was the first gift you ever gave me. Not long after that, you… how could I ever bring myself to replace it?” No wonder Julian refused to get a new phone. I curved my lips into a self-deprecating smile, but tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. That old phone often acted up, dying suddenly. Once, Julian was on a FaceTime call with me while driving, and it abruptly cut out. When I tried to call back, his phone was off. Julian never let his phone run out of battery. I immediately thought he’d been in an accident. My world crumbled. I trembled as I drove to his usual route to find him. In my panic, I rear-ended another car. My leg was broken, but I didn’t even care. I cried, crawling out of the car, desperate to find Julian. It was only when his assistant called to tell me he’d safely arrived at work that I finally calmed down. When he heard I’d been in an accident trying to find him, he didn’t even come to see me. He just said, “You’re overreacting.” That old phone had caused so many problems, yet Julian never once thought about replacing it. I thought it was because he’d gotten into the habit of being frugal over the years. I never imagined that the phone held such significant meaning for him. After all, his tolerance for that phone far exceeded his tolerance for me. Halfway through the data transfer, Celeste mumbled, “You still need to replace it. The memory is full. Transfer failed.” “How can that be?” Julian frowned. After a quick check, he simply deleted all his chat records with me. “There. Plenty of space now.” Celeste’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “Is that okay? Aren’t you afraid your wife will be mad?” Julian shrugged indifferently. “They’re just unimportant messages anyway. Doesn’t matter.” Though it was only for a moment, I saw that Julian had set my messages to ‘Do Not Disturb.’ Unimportant messages, indeed. After all, the entire chat thread was just me harassing Julian with one-sided messages. He had never replied once. I used to think he just didn’t reply. Now I realized he hadn’t even looked. The message count on the right side of the chat box was a red half-ellipsis, indicating countless unread messages. The pain in my heart was no less agonizing than the fatal blow to my head. I crouched down, burying my head between my knees, unwilling to watch their intimacy any longer. Once the data transfer was complete, Julian carefully put away his phone, then spoke with a serious tone: “What exactly happened that year? Your brother told me you had a sudden heart attack. By the time I rushed back to your apartment, all your personal belongings had been taken by your family. They didn’t even let me attend your funeral, and I didn’t know where your hometown was…” Recalling the past, Julian shuddered, the memory still haunting him. He pulled Celeste into another tight embrace. “All these years, I’ve blamed myself for not becoming successful sooner, for letting you suffer so much, which led to you overworking and having a heart attack. Your family wouldn’t even let me see you one last time.” Celeste’s gaze darted away, and she lowered her head. “It doesn’t matter anymore, Julian. Since you’re already married to Ms. Vera, and your career is back on track with her help, you should focus on your life with her. Pretend you never saw me today. I won’t interfere with your life.” They were perfectly normal words, yet Julian’s face instantly darkened. “Vera threatened you, forced you to fake your death, didn’t she? She’d always wanted to be with me. I never imagined she’d resort to such despicable tactics to get me! My company’s bankruptcy back then was orchestrated by someone. I’ve been investigating who leaked the project’s confidential data, but I never once suspected her!” Celeste was stunned. I was stunned too. But she didn’t say a word in rebuttal, and I couldn’t say a word in rebuttal. Julian’s large hand gently caressed the back of Celeste’s head. “Celeste, it must have been so hard for you all these years. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure Vera pays double for all the suffering you’ve endured!” I touched the back of my own head, thinking, *You’ve already made her pay. Celeste’s faked death has nothing to do with me, but I truly died because of her.*

Julian had been struggling with how to approach me about a divorce without me clinging to him. But with just one ambiguous sentence from Celeste, he immediately concluded that his bankruptcy and the death of his first love were all part of a scheme I orchestrated to get him. Julian instantly shed any moral burden. All he felt for me was an even more intense fury and disgust. He couldn’t wait to bring Celeste home, eager to expose “my” plot from years ago and force me to leave with nothing. I quietly sat in the back seat of the car, listening to Julian’s baseless accusations against me, my heart slowly growing numb. Back then, I’d selflessly transferred ninety percent of my parents’ inheritance into his name, all to help him get back on his feet. Turns out, in the eyes of someone who doesn’t love you, every sacrifice you make can be twisted into a selfish motive. Opening the door, Julian’s muscle memory made him hang his keys on the hook by the entryway. It was a heart-shaped key holder I’d specially bought, part of a set with our heart-shaped keychains. Julian’s was the left half of the heart, mine was the right. When we were both home, the keychains would connect to form a whole heart on the holder. Celeste glanced at it and gave a bitter laugh. “Looks like you and Vera were quite loving all these years I was gone.” Julian saw the complete heart on the wall and realized. He yanked his keys off, the force so strong that the plastic holder ripped right off the wall. The holder shattered on the floor. My keychain, with its right half of the heart, lay forlornly amidst the scattered pieces. Julian looked at it, annoyed. He kicked my keychain away. “Vera! Get out here!” I didn’t come out. Buddy, our beloved Bichon Frise, pattered out of the bedroom. Buddy saw Celeste and immediately bounded towards her, wagging his tail. Celeste delightedly picked Buddy up. “You’re still keeping Buddy? I thought he’d be long gone…” “He’s our little treasure, we adopted him together. He’s like half our son. How could I ever abandon him?” Julian said, a doting smile on his face. Buddy was a dog Julian and Celeste had shared. Years ago, when Julian brought him home, I took care of him every day, even taking allergy meds for my dog fur allergy. Back then, Buddy’s eyes were crusted over with discharge, his fur was a tangled mess of knots, and he’d even contracted parvo. He was wary of everyone, biting anyone who touched him. Even the pet store refused to bathe him. In the end, I put on several layers of rubber gloves, and my hands were bleeding from his bites by the time I finally cleaned him. His illness too was something I cured myself, after running to countless pet hospitals and researching tirelessly online until I was practically an expert. The Buddy I’d cared for, now fluffy and healthy, was a completely different dog from before. “Why are Buddy’s paws and fur covered in blood?” Celeste shrieked. My heart jumped. Only then did I notice the trail of bloody paw prints leading from the master bedroom to the front door. He must have stepped in the blood from the back of my head. Imagining Buddy whimpering around my corpse, tears streamed down my face again. Buddy barked twice at Julian, then tugged at his pants, whimpering, trying to lead him to the master bedroom. Julian didn’t understand what Buddy meant. He just picked the dog up to check for injuries on its fur. Buddy struggled to get down, but Julian mistakenly thought he’d touched a wound and hurt him. “That cruel woman, taking her anger out on the dog.” He cursed through clenched teeth. “Let’s take Buddy to the vet first. We’ll settle things with her later!”

The vet examined Buddy thoroughly, a worried expression on his face. “The dog isn’t hurt, and he’s perfectly healthy. The blood on him isn’t dog blood either. In fact, it looks like… human blood.” He carefully observed Julian’s reaction. “Did someone in your household get hurt? This amount of bleeding doesn’t look like a minor injury. You really need to get immediate medical attention.” Julian froze, and his face instantly darkened. “Crazy woman, trying to get me to give in by self-harming.” At the word “self-harm,” Celeste’s eyes flickered. “Does Vera have a history of self-harm?” As if recalling unpleasant memories, a flicker of disgust crossed Julian’s face. “History? She used to carve my name into her arm with a knife when she self-harmed!” I instinctively looked at my arm. I never thought the old wounds would leave a mark on my soul too. If Julian had cared about me just a little more, he would have noticed that his name was carved facing his direction. Meaning, his name wasn’t carved by me, for myself. It was carved by someone else, holding my arm down. That person was Celeste. Years ago, after my parents died unexpectedly, I transferred from a private school to a public high school to cut costs. On my first day, from the front of the classroom, I saw Julian, whom my parents and I had helped at the orphanage when I was a child. Julian didn’t recognize me. I had no intention of revealing myself. After all, no one wants their new classmate to know embarrassing childhood memories. But that one glance was enough. At lunchtime, when I returned to my dorm, I found myself locked inside. Celeste entered the room, shoved me to the ground, and I saw stars. I tried to get up, but she kicked me in the shoulder. “You slut, transferred here and eyeing my man already?” I quickly shook my head. “No, I just thought he looked familiar. Like I’d seen him somewhere before.” Clearly, Celeste was annoyed by more than just that. She lifted her chin, and the other two roommates rushed forward, roughly tearing open my suitcase. They started dividing my slightly more expensive clothes and jewelry like vultures dividing their spoils. When I saw them pull out the little white pipe cleaner dog Julian had twisted for me years ago, I couldn’t sit still. “Can you please not take that?” I pleaded, looking at Celeste. She just let out a malicious laugh. “This, or the photo? Which do you choose?” Celeste pulled out my family photo from my wallet’s hidden compartment. “Please, these aren’t valuable items. They’re useless to you.” I knelt, begging her. Celeste immediately made a motion to tear it. “The photo! The photo!” I shrieked. “Why are you suddenly so loud?!” Celeste tossed the photo back to me. I quickly pounced on it, carefully putting it away. “What’s the point of this stupid dog? Treating it like a treasure.” Celeste didn’t understand. She tucked the dog away and went to class. That morning, Julian hadn’t recognized me, but that afternoon, he immediately recognized the little dog. “Celeste, is this yours?” Julian tentatively stepped forward, asking, his gaze searching her face. Celeste’s face instantly flushed, and she became flustered and coy. “Y-yes, it is. Why?” Hearing Celeste’s answer, Julian’s gaze softened. “Do you remember how you got it?” Celeste panicked, clearly not expecting that question. “It’s okay, I was just asking.” Julian gently returned the little dog to Celeste, casually ruffling her hair. I stood by, watching it all unfold, saying nothing. That night, Celeste forced me to explain how I got the little dog. I remained silent, unwilling to reveal Julian’s past at the orphanage. “You’re still denying you’re trying to hook him!” Celeste raged, grabbing a utility knife and slashing at my arm. The other two roommates came forward and held me down tightly. “Since you like him so much, I’ll just carve his name onto you. Let him see how sick your obsession is!” Celeste viciously carved Julian’s name into my arm. Years later, Julian finally agreed to be with me. To remove the scars on my arm, the best way was to re-injure the wounds and give them a chance to heal anew. I couldn’t bring myself to go to the hospital, so I had to treat them myself at home. Just once, Julian walked in on me. I thought he’d be worried, concerned. Instead, he just frowned, a look of disgust on his face. “Why are you self-harming?”

Because of my blood, Julian completely lost interest in confronting me face-to-face. He decided to divorce me via SnapChat. Since he’d deleted my chat thread when transferring data, he typed my name into the SnapChat search bar, only to find “no user found.” It was then he realized he’d never even saved me as a contact. Julian froze, unable to recall what my SnapChat username was. He then opened his phone book, intending to search for my account by number, but discovered he hadn’t even saved my phone number. *Check recent calls, you idiot!* I wanted to sigh. *He probably forgot I called him so many times.* He opened his SnapChat contacts and started scrolling through, one by one. This was the first time he’d ever paid this much attention to me, all just to find my SnapChat so he could divorce me. I didn’t make him work too hard. My profile picture was Buddy, and my username was “Spring and Sunshine,” starting with ‘S’, so he found it quickly. He even noticed the clever touch in my username. “Gross,” he muttered. He drafted the message and, the moment he hit send, Julian let out a long, slow breath, then leaned back, casually draping an arm around Celeste’s shoulders, looking utterly relaxed. Celeste stroked Buddy, her face etched with lingering fear. “I was so scared earlier. Seeing Buddy’s fur covered in bright red blood almost made me faint.” Julian’s arm dropped. “You’re afraid of blood?” “Yeah, sometimes I even faint at the sight of red liquids that look like blood.” Noticing Julian’s darkening expression, Celeste cautiously asked, “What’s wrong?” “How can someone with red-green colorblindness be afraid of blood?” “I’m not red-green colorblind,” Celeste replied, utterly confused. “Why are you suddenly asking that?” Julian’s breathing quickened. “You’re not red-green colorblind? Then how did you get that little white pipe cleaner dog?”

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On New Year’s Eve, my girlfriend, Chloe, wanted me to go ice fishing on the lake, just because her childhood friend, Jake, said he wanted fresh fish soup. I accidentally fell into the icy lake. As I struggled, dying, I called her countless times. She finally picked up when I was about to drown. My heart was filled with hopeful anticipation, but then Jake’s voice came through: “Chloe said if you don’t catch any fish, don’t even bother coming back, you pathetic loser.” Amidst Jake’s mocking laughter, my phone sank to the bottom of the lake. The freezing water filled my nostrils. The moment my body was engulfed by the icy embrace, my heart seemed to stop. My hope died right then. Luckily, fate intervened, and a passing fisherman pulled me out. The first thing I did when I woke up was to make a call. “Mr. Sterling,” I asked, “is that remote development project still looking for people?” I was barely clinging to life when the kind fisherman rescued me. My body had already lost all sensation. The icy snow water clung to me, freezing instantly, making me shiver uncontrollably as if I were in an ice cellar. The good Samaritan called 911 and had me rushed to the hospital. My emergency contact on my phone was Chloe. The doctor called her, and her voice came through, dripping with indifference: “He’s a grown man, how could he fall into the lake fishing? It’s New Year’s Eve, I’m busy celebrating. I’ll see him in a couple of days. What a hassle.” After she hung up, the nurse looked at me with profound sympathy. Outside, families were celebrating together. The TV in the lounge was playing holiday specials, and I could smell people eating warm food down the hall. But I was alone in a hospital room, far from home. Last night, I thought Jake was deliberately blocking Chloe from answering my calls. But the nurse had put her on speaker just now, and I heard everything crystal clear. I almost died, and she was still so cold to me. If she hadn’t insisted on having fresh fish soup, and live fish at that, I wouldn’t have risked going ice fishing. It was at that moment I realized my life meant absolutely nothing to her. I pulled out my phone and dialed my boss’s number. “Mr. Sterling, is that remote development project still looking for people?” On the other end, I heard his relieved voice. “Of course! We’re short on technical talent like you. It would be a godsend.” “But this assignment is for five years. Aren’t you and your girlfriend getting married? Does she agree?” “I’m not getting married.” A silence fell on the other end of the line. After a moment, Mr. Sterling said, “Young man, it’s good to be able to move on.” “Alex, I’ll help you apply. There’s only one spot left, but time is tight – you’d need to leave in five days.” “Okay, thank you, Mr. Sterling.” I stayed alone in the hospital from New Year’s Eve until two days after New Year’s Day. Chloe and Jake finally showed up, fashionably late. As soon as she walked in, she looked at me with disdain. “You’re such a grown man, and you fall into a lake while fishing? So useless. I was supposed to play cards today, and you ruined it.” For the past few days, I’d been eating nothing but bread and instant noodles in the hospital, while she was out feasting on lavish meals and playing cards. My heart instantly turned cold. Jake, standing behind her, looked at me with feigned concern. “Alex, that night, I thought you just slipped. I didn’t realize you actually fell into the lake. I thought you were fine.” He then chuckled, openly mocking me. Chloe looked at me with a sneer. “You messed up our whole New Year’s. Hurry up and get discharged. Our whole family is waiting for you to cook for us.” So they only came to pick me up so I could go back and cook for them. Every New Year before this, I’d gone to Chloe’s hometown to wait on her entire family, old and young. I hadn’t seen my own parents even once during the holidays. This year, we’d agreed to spend New Year’s at my house, but on the day we were supposed to buy tickets, Chloe changed her mind. She said her mom, being her only daughter, couldn’t be left alone for the holidays. But I’m my mom’s only son too, and I hadn’t been home to see her in five years because of Chloe. Jake chimed in from beside her, “Yeah, hurry up and get out of here. There’s a ton of work waiting for you at home.” I looked at the two of them, feeling a strange sense of irony. So, the only reason they wanted me to come home with her was to make me work for their family. Seeing Chloe roll her eyes at me, Jake’s lips curled into an involuntary smirk, like a victor’s provocation. Chloe and I had a stable relationship for years, but everything changed after he appeared. Ever since Jake’s business failed and he moved back home, they hit it off instantly. Whenever Jake was around, Chloe would unconsciously side with him. If I showed even a hint of jealousy or anger, she’d bring up how they were just childhood friends and say I was overthinking things. She insisted their relationship was purely platonic. At first, I didn’t think much of it, until I accidentally overheard their conversation. “Chloe, you know I’ve never forgotten you.” “I specifically came back from the big city for you this time.” They were just using the excuse of friendship to openly carry on an affair. Chloe and I started dating after college. I even moved away from my parents and came to this unfamiliar city alone for her. My family and friends all warned me to think carefully, but I was willing to do anything for love. I thought we’d be together forever, but it was just wishful thinking on my part. Lying in bed, I replayed every little moment from the past. Chloe’s cold words suddenly echoed in my mind. “I’ve decided, we’ll have Jake be the best man at our wedding.” “And you can let Jake wear your suit first. You can buy a new one for yourself later.” Normally, if I heard those words, I’d be furious. But at that moment, my heart was perfectly calm. Once you’re utterly disappointed in someone, there’s no hope left. I replied calmly, “Okay.” She didn’t expect me to agree so readily. A flicker of confusion crossed Chloe’s face, but mostly, it was delight. “Good. At least you’re sensible.” With that, she left with Jake. Anyway, in five days, I’d be leaving this place for good. I wasn’t planning on getting married to her. Forget giving him my suit, I wouldn’t even mind giving him the groom’s spot.

I handled the discharge paperwork myself, because Chloe and Jake had already gone back to play cards. When I got home, the house was a mess. Chicken, duck, and fish were scattered everywhere in the kitchen. The moment Mrs. Miller saw me, her face fell. “Alex, you’re finally back. See the kitchen? Hurry up and clean it. Our whole family is waiting to eat tonight.” I turned and saw Jake and Chloe sitting at the card table, sipping tea and eating melon seeds. Resentment welled up inside me. “Mrs. Miller, how can I manage all these dishes by myself? Can you get a few people to help me?” My eyes were fixed on Jake, but Mrs. Miller said, “Didn’t you cook every year before? Why can’t you do it this year?” “Don’t look at Jake. He’s a guest in our home. How can we let him cook?” With that, she took the freshly brewed tea she was holding and handed it to him. “Jake, it’s rare for you to be back. Have some more tea.” The aftermath of falling into the icy water still lingered. Now, my hands would ache whenever they touched cold water. I picked up the kettle, planning to boil some hot water, but Jake snatched it away. “Such a crybaby. You need hot water just to wash vegetables?” Chloe watched everything with cold indifference, silently approving. The moment my frostbitten hands entered the water, a biting cold spread through my entire body, making me shiver. But Chloe just ignored it, pulling Jake back to play cards. I spent the entire afternoon alone, busy in the kitchen, finally finishing all the dishes by evening. My frostbitten hands, still not fully recovered, trembled after preparing such a feast. When I carried the last dish to the table, I found there was no seat for me. I finally managed to squeeze into a spot, only to find the dishes were almost all eaten, leaving only scraps. But before I could even pick up a few bites with my forks, Mrs. Miller’s complaining voice chimed in. “Eat quickly. The dishes in the kitchen are waiting for you to wash.” I looked at Jake and Chloe on the couch, peeling oranges and watching holiday specials, and a surge of anger flared up. They were perfectly fine, yet they expected me, an injured man, to wait on them. My eyes instantly turned cold. “I have something to do; I’m going out for a bit.” With that, I walked out without looking back. As I closed the door, I heard Mrs. Miller’s curses. Outside, heavy snow fell. Inside, there was warmth and harmony, but that warmth didn’t belong to me. My phone rang the moment I got into a taxi. “Alex, what’s with the tantrum on New Year’s? It’s just a few dishes to wash, is it really worth it?” “My mom already has high blood pressure, and you’ve made her so angry. Can you afford it if she gets sick?” I could faintly hear Jake’s voice in the background: “Mrs. Miller, take a deep breath. Don’t let someone irrelevant upset you.” I hung up immediately. Some people truly are two-faced. I, Chloe’s fiancé, was now “someone irrelevant” in his mouth. Before, I went out of my way to please her family for Chloe’s sake, but now, I didn’t want to anymore. Anyway, in a few days, I’d be gone for good, and these people would have nothing to do with me.

Having been out in the cold last night, coupled with the lingering effects of falling into the lake, I woke up with a high fever. In this unfamiliar place, I reluctantly called Chloe. Her voice came through, full of annoyance. “It’s the middle of the night, are you trying to kill me? Why are you calling?” My throat felt like I was swallowing razor blades. I managed to croak out in a hoarse voice, “Chloe, I think I have a fever. I’m too weak. Can you bring me some medicine?” The other end of the line was silent for a moment, then I heard her even breathing. I laughed bitterly at myself. Chloe didn’t care even when I almost drowned in the lake. It was just wishful thinking that she’d bring me medicine now. I felt ridiculous. I forced myself to the hotel lobby. With the help of the night staff, I managed to get some medicine. “It’s the holidays, your parents must be worried about you. Take care of yourself, young man,” one of the staff said. The staff even thoughtfully handed me a hot water bottle and a bowl of plain rice porridge. My cold heart found a sliver of warmth at that moment. Chloe, you couldn’t even compare to the kindness of strangers. All these years, I poured my heart out for nothing. After a night of tossing and turning, my fever finally broke. My phone vibrated, and Chloe’s voice came through when I answered. “Alex, what happened yesterday when you called? I was asleep.” I said coldly, “It’s nothing now.” Jake snatched the phone. “Alex, why aren’t you back yet? Chloe has a surprise for you.” Chloe immediately grabbed the phone back. “Alex, hurry back. I have good news for you.”

When I got home, the house was filled with Chloe’s relatives. Chloe, looking shy, handed me a small box and looked at me with expectant eyes. The moment I opened the box, I was utterly shocked. Inside, the pregnancy test clearly showed two lines. Chloe was pregnant. A soft spot in my heart slowly began to blossom. I looked at Chloe’s belly, where my own flesh and blood was now growing. Chloe’s entire family was overjoyed, and even Jake struggled to hide his smile. Dinner that night was exceptionally lively. Mrs. Miller even cooked personally, and Jake went over to help her. After a few rounds of drinks, I couldn’t resist everyone’s enthusiasm and went outside for some fresh air. I stared blankly at my phone, hesitating to make the call. Now that Chloe was pregnant, it seemed the wedding was definitely on. I quietly lit a cigarette. Just as I finally made up my mind to call Mr. Sterling, I saw Chloe sneaking into the backyard. I followed closely. Chloe entered the backyard shed and pushed open the door, and a dark figure immediately pulled her inside. Suspicious, I pressed my ear to the door. A familiar voice came from inside. “Chloe, I’m so happy you’re pregnant. Is the baby in your belly mine?” My grip on my phone tightened until my knuckles turned white. I held my breath, waiting for Chloe’s answer. “Jake, I counted the days. This baby must be yours because Alex wasn’t home during that time.” My suspended heart plummeted to the ground. My heart felt as if it were being squeezed tightly by a rope until I couldn’t breathe. This child wasn’t mine; it was Jake’s. They had been carrying on an affair behind my back all along. I slumped against the door, feeling all the strength drain from my body. Inside, I heard the sounds of passionate kissing. Chloe panted, “Jake, be careful. It’s still the first trimester, it’s not stable yet.” Jake laughed slyly. “Just thinking about Alex, that big idiot, being tricked into being a father makes me so happy.” Chloe quickly replied, “You need to stay calm and make sure no one finds out. Wait until I get the wedding money from him and marry him, okay?” “Chloe, you’re always so thoughtful. He’ll even cover the child’s future support.” I don’t know how I left the yard. At that moment, my heart felt more desperate than when I fell into the lake that day. Every word they uttered twisted a knife in my gut, like a thousand tiny cuts. Chloe, I treated you well these past few years. But you bit the hand that fed you, toying with me like this. I stood amidst the falling snow, behind me the scene of their family’s joyous reunion. Even I, a grown man, felt my eyes well up. At that moment, my phone vibrated. “Alex, your deployment papers came through. We leave tomorrow, remember to report on time.” I sniffled hard, trying to keep my emotions steady, and replied, “Understood, Mr. Sterling. I’ll be on time.” In the middle of the night, after Chloe’s family had fallen asleep, I took my pre-packed suitcase and headed downstairs. Snow was falling heavily as I got into a taxi and drove toward the station.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296677”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic