Author: Momo Chan

My fiancée is pregnant with a male colleague’s child, and she’s due soon. When she returned from her business trip, visibly pregnant, I was setting up our wedding room. I confronted her, my voice raw from disbelief. She looked at me innocently and said, “He just donated sperm. I have nothing to hide from you.” With that, she left with the colleague to pick out a gift for the baby. I immediately shared the news with the family group chat and called off the wedding. But everyone thought I was overreacting. Adeline’s mother said, “Adeline is beautiful and well-educated. Her genes deserve to be passed on. It’s for the greater good.” Adeline’s father added, “She didn’t cheat. Why are you making this a big deal?” My father was so furious he had a heart attack, “You stubborn fool! How could you back out of such a good marriage?” My mother lamented, “If you call off the wedding, no one will ever marry you!” With tears, I replied, “Then I won’t marry at all!” Yet someone sent a message: “Jasper, when will you let me step up?”

That evening, Adeline walked in carefully with Asher by her side. They had brought a box full of toys for the unborn baby. Adeline gently touched her belly, and they shared a smile filled with the joy of impending parenthood. Seeing me, Asher handed me a small gift box with a smile, “Jasper, I picked this especially for you. I only realized today how much this means to you. Consider it… a small apology.” Without looking, I tossed the gift box into the trash. Asher’s smile vanished, tears falling like broken pearls, “Jasper, I… I’m sorry.” He choked up and hid behind Adeline. Adeline immediately shielded him, looking at me helplessly, “Jasper, don’t be like this.” “Asher just responded to the workplace’s call for quality gene donation. Plus, his mom has lung cancer and wanted a grandchild before she dies… I just wanted a child as excellent as him.” “We’re just ordinary colleagues; there’s really nothing between us.” “Ordinary colleagues?” My voice trembled, “Saying good morning and good night every day is ordinary? Sharing music playlists is ordinary? Covering for him at dinners and driving him home after overtime is ordinary?” She rubbed her temples tiredly, “Here you go again. Haven’t I explained all this? You’re always overthinking and suspicious.” I laughed coldly. Her explanations were flimsy, talk of normal colleague interactions and mentoring. Full of holes, yet I chose to believe them time and again. But five years of feelings, I couldn’t just let them end like this. Clenching my teeth, I pointed at her belly, testing her on purpose, “Fine, let’s say I overthought it, I misunderstood you!” “Abort the child, and I’ll act like nothing happened. The wedding will go on.” “Impossible!” Adeline raised her voice, suppressing her anger, “The child is Asher’s; I have no right to decide.” Asher’s face went pale, and he suddenly knelt before me. He tightly protected Adeline’s belly with his hands, voice choked, “Jasper, there’s really nothing between me and Adeline. The baby is already eight months old, kicking my hand in her belly. I can’t, I can’t…” He cried his heart out, shaking all over. Adeline’s face tensed, struggling for a few seconds before softening. She helped him up, showing a helpless smile: “Jasper, asking me to abort the child now is no different from cutting out his heart.” I stared at her, a cold smile on my lips, “What, feeling pity now?” Adeline was visibly stunned, then showed a pained expression, “I didn’t expect you to be so heartless. If that’s the condition for marriage, then we’re really not the same kind of people… Let’s break up.” “Jasper, Adeline is innocent. Don’t take it out on her!” Asher suddenly cried out, “If you want to blame someone, blame me. I can’t bear to lose the child… But I’ll prove our innocence with my life!” Before I could react, he rushed toward the balcony, acting like he was about to jump. My heart leapt to my throat, and I instinctively moved to stop him. But Adeline was quicker, rushing over in a panic. Before we could get close, Asher collapsed on the floor, crying uncontrollably. Adeline pulled him into her arms, shaking all over. After a while, she raised her head, her eyes cold as she looked at me still standing there, “Jasper! Your baseless accusations almost killed Asher!” Her gaze was cold, like she was looking at a stranger. “Asher’s mom is dying! Do you want to drive him to death too? You can be indifferent, but I can’t.” Her voice trembled. She helped Asher up gently, facing me with a stern voice, “Move!” I stood frozen, trying to speak, “I didn’t mean…” “Asher, the baby… seems to be coming.” Adeline suddenly let out a weak moan and then fainted. “Adeline!” Asher’s face turned ghostly pale, shoving me aside to carry Adeline out the door.

I collapsed to the floor, biting my lip hard, unable to suppress the coldness surging in my heart. I stayed awake until dawn, and finally, my phone lit up with a message from Adeline: “I was too anxious last night and spoke harshly.” “Jasper, I’m sorry.” My nose tingled, and tears welled up instantly. All these years, she was always the first to apologize after a fight, and I’d forgive her down the steps she offered. But this time was different. I could never get over this. Before I could reply, she sent a photo. It was a picture of her with the newborn. The tiny baby was cradled in her arms, her gaze tender as spring water. “I gave birth early, naturally, but luckily the baby is healthy.” “The baby looks a lot like Asher.” “I need to stay in the hospital for three days.” “Let’s postpone the wedding for a week; I can’t handle much right now.” These seemingly ordinary words, each one pierced my heart. I numbly stood up, tearing off the wedding decorations from the wall, and took scissors to shred her wedding dress. As I packed, my fingers trembled uncontrollably. Just as I zipped my suitcase, Adeline’s mother entered, her face unable to hide the joy. “Adeline asked me to bring some clothes for her to the hospital. As her future grandma, I’m anxious to see my granddaughter too.” Seeing me silent, she warmly took my arm, “Jasper, Adeline was wrong to hide it from you and hurt your pride. But it’s not an unforgivable thing, right?” “Auntie knows you two have deep feelings; how can it end over such a small thing? What we said in the group chat was just in anger, let’s not take it seriously.” “Come, go to the hospital with me to see the baby. Give Adeline a way out, and let’s move past this.” Like a walking corpse, I let her lead me, and before I knew it, I was standing at the hospital room door. Asher lay weakly on the bed, his pale face still streaked with tears, clearly terrified during Adeline’s delivery. Adeline was gently holding the baby, softly humming a lullaby. Adeline’s father rarely smiled, “Adeline is a flight attendant, so let’s name the child Yang Jihang, to carry on the aviation career!” “What nonsense!” Adeline’s mother scolded, “How can a girl have such a name?” Eagerly, she reached to hold the baby. But Adeline turned away, “Mom, you don’t know how to hold her, don’t hurt her.” She glanced at me, her eyes lighting up, “Jasper, come look at her. Her tiny hands and feet, aren’t they adorable?” She leaned down to kiss the baby, but suddenly stopped, like a child caught doing something wrong, “No, no, Mommy can’t pass germs to you.” I had never seen this side of her, clumsy yet tender as a new mother. She was eager to show off this joy to the world, but I shouldn’t be part of it. I forced a stiff smile, turning to leave. Adeline caught my arm, carefully presenting the baby to me, “Jasper, look, her nose and mouth, don’t they look just like Asher’s?” I glanced down; the small face was indeed a spitting image of Asher, like they were carved from the same mold. The resemblance stung my eyes, my throat suddenly tight with pain. I coldly pushed the swaddle away, seeing Adeline’s hopeful eyes, suddenly not wanting to oblige her, “Take it away, looks so annoying, it’s irritating just to look at.” The baby wailed out loud. Adeline’s eyes turned cold, soothing the baby gently. Adeline’s mother’s gaze cut like a knife, “You’re the most annoying one!” Adeline’s father pointed to the door, “You’re not welcome here, get out!” Asher had woken up at some point. “Jasper…” he pleaded with Adeline’s family, “I want to speak to Jasper alone.” Once the room door closed, Asher wore an apologetic look, “Jasper, I don’t want to break you and Adeline up; she really loves you. Actually, that night, Adeline was drunk, and we just…” My mind buzzed, “It wasn’t a sperm donation?” He turned his face away, “Adeline said to hide it from you, afraid you’d be hurt.” Adeline’s father pointed sharply at the door. “You’re not welcome here. Get out!” Asher had woken up at some point. “Jasper…” he implored, looking at Adeline’s family, “I need to speak with Jasper alone for a moment.” Once the hospital room door closed, Asher looked apologetic. “Jasper, I don’t want to come between you and Adeline. She truly cares about you. That night, Adeline was drunk, and we just…” My mind reeled. “It wasn’t about sperm donation?” He looked away. “Adeline wanted to keep it from you because she was afraid you’d be upset.” “By the time she found out she was pregnant, three months had already passed. She was furious and wanted to terminate the pregnancy. But my mom’s health was deteriorating, and she really wanted to see me have a child. Adeline felt sorry for me and agreed to keep the baby.” “Why are you telling me this now?” I asked coldly. “Why not keep it a secret forever?” He didn’t expect me to confront him so directly. His expression changed several times before he pressed his lips together and said nothing. I let out a bitter laugh. “Now that Adeline and I have broken up and your child is born, you three can live happily ever after. What else are you worried about?” He suddenly glared at me, his lips curling into a strange smile. The next moment, unexpectedly, he rolled off the hospital bed right in front of me, hitting the ground with a thud, then screamed in terror, “Jasper, I know I was wrong, please don’t hit me!”

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Married to the Boston Monk for three years, he has always been gentle and considerate, but he won’t break his vows to consummate our marriage. Until his adopted daughter, Annie, ten years younger than him, fell seriously ill and urgently needed a kidney transplant. The usually aloof and proud man knelt before me, pleading. “As long as you’re willing to donate a kidney to Annie, I’ll agree to anything you want!” My heart felt like it was being torn apart, yet I smiled and pinched his chin. “I’ll give you the kidney you need, but what will you give me in return?” He stood up, embraced me, and pushed me onto the bed, closing his eyes as if he were making a noble sacrifice, and kissed my lips. What I had longed for was now within reach, yet I found it utterly uninteresting. I pushed away his strong chest. “Gideon, who are you doing this for? I’m not that desperate!” I irritably lit a cigarette, adjusted my slipping lace strap, and parted my red lips slightly: “Let’s get a divorce, Gideon. I’m tired.” “And honestly, your kissing skills are terrible. I’m not satisfied at all!” Gideon looked at me, speechless and shocked. Just then, I received a message from my nemesis, Phoenix, on my phone. “How did it go? Did you succeed?” “You win. Once I’m divorced, I’ll go abroad with you!” 0

A week ago, Gideon’s adopted daughter, Cora, fainted from heatstroke after surfing and urgently needed a kidney transplant. The little girl clung to Gideon, tearfully pleading: “Uncle, please let me have the surgery right away. I don’t want to become ugly. If I do, I’d rather die immediately!” The usually composed Gideon was shaken, almost losing his balance: “What nonsense are you talking about? As long as I’m here, nothing will happen to you. Don’t say such things again.” But Cora has an extremely rare blood type, making it nearly impossible to find a suitable kidney donor. Cora’s eyes turned to me, scheming: “Auntie, aren’t you also a rare blood type? Can’t you give me a kidney?” She said it so lightly, as if she were asking for a common toy. I looked up at Gideon, expecting him to dissuade her from making such an unreasonable request. But he didn’t even glance at me; he just gently caressed Cora’s head with gentle eyes. “Don’t worry, leave everything to me.” I never expected he would get me drunk and forcibly conduct a compatibility test. That day was my birthday, and Cora dragged him to Disneyland early in the morning for a Halloween event. I didn’t expect Gideon to come back to celebrate my birthday with me. Just because Annie loves Halloween the most, I lost the right to celebrate my birthday. But who knew he would come home early and even brought me a pair of diamond earrings. He took the wine glass from my hand, opened a bottle of red wine with a pop, and under the light, the man looked as gentle as jade, his deep eyes filled with tenderness. He poured another glass of wine, drank it from where my lip print was on the glass. “Happy birthday, Lydia!” My heart pounded, staring at his lips and the movement of his Adam’s apple, my thoughts scattered. Then his warm hand touched my earlobe, putting the diamond earrings on me. He looked at me seriously, “Lydia, you’re really beautiful!” I don’t remember much of what happened after that. I only remember that although I could drink a lot without getting drunk, I passed out after just two with him. When I woke up again, I was in the hospital, and the stark white surroundings filled me with panic. I remembered Cora’s covetous eyes and her words, “Can’t you give me a kidney?” With trembling fingers, I touched my abdomen, and only when I felt my smooth skin did my heart settle back into my chest. Gideon was at my bedside, gently touching my head when he saw I was awake. “Thank goodness, you’re awake.” “I made you some hangover soup and pork congee with century egg. Alcohol is hard on the stomach, you need to take care of your body for Annie.” I lowered my eyes to the congee, which didn’t even have a shred of ginger, feeling more and more irritated. He remembered all my preferences, but only for Annie! He picked up the bowl to feed me, as if he hadn’t been the one to drug me. I pushed the bowl away, smashing it, and removed the earrings, tossing them aside. With red eyes, I questioned the man before me, “Isn’t there anything you want to say to me? Is this your birthday gift to me?” He looked down guiltily, avoiding my gaze. “You know I can’t refuse Annie.” “Her mother saved my life, Annie only has me.” So, you can’t refuse Annie, and you’re prepared to sacrifice me? My voice trembled, unwilling to give in as I pressed on, “Don’t I have any life-saving grace for you?” I touched a scar on my arm, “Did you forget? When the Wesley Family home caught fire, it was me who saved you!” “Annie only has you, but don’t I also only have you?” Last year, when my mother passed away, he made a vow in front of her shrine, promising never to let me down. But now? I trembled as I walked towards Gideon. “What next? If the match is successful, are you going to take my kidney without my consent?” “Gideon, what do you take me for?” 0

He clutched his prayer beads tightly, a flicker of guilt crossing his eyes before returning to normal. “Your match with Annie is perfect, the transplant can be done immediately, Annie can’t wait any longer.” “I’ll hire the best doctors, you won’t feel any pain.” “I know this is cruel to you, tell me, what do you want? I’ll give you anything, just agree to give Annie a kidney…” “I’ll compensate you for your kindness to me.” He seemed to realize how excessive his request was, lowering his head, his voice getting softer. I let out a bitter laugh, Annie, it’s always Annie. Out of spite, I said, “Alright, if you’re willing to go to such lengths for your little adopted daughter, will you also agree to spend a night with me?” Hearing my words, his chest heaved violently, his previously emotionless eyes filled with shock. He sighed helplessly, “Lydia, don’t be unreasonable. The three-year vow isn’t up yet, I can’t break it. I’ll give you three days to think it over.” He turned and walked away, hesitating at the door: “Except for that, I can give you anything else.” But, Gideon, I don’t want anything else. I just want your love. Don’t you really know that? With a bang, the door closed, separating Gideon and me into two worlds. Like this three-year marriage, always respectful but never close, I never entered his heart. After leaving the hospital, I had nowhere to go, so I called some girlfriends to go to a bar. Since marrying Gideon, he said he was devoted to Buddhism, promising his mentor to return to secular life in three years. So everything at home followed the monastery’s rules, and I too followed a vegetarian diet for three years, never stepping into a place of entertainment, just to make him happy. But now, I feel like none of it matters anymore, I took off the light purple linen dress that suited Gideon’s taste. I changed into a wine-red sequin dress, painted on my favorite bright red lipstick, like a red rose blooming in the dark. My girlfriends surrounded me, teasing: “Oh, isn’t this our darling Lydia? How do you have time to join us today?” “Is Wesley letting you off the hook?” “It’s been ages since we last met, you better treat us today!” … I laughed and agreed, but inside, there was a bitter taste. Back then, I pursued Gideon passionately, finally marrying him, living a secluded life with him after marriage. Outsiders thought we were deeply in love, but little did they know he never touched me, and now he wants to forcibly take my kidney for his adopted daughter. I bitterly downed the whiskey in my glass, the alcohol burning my throat as past scenes replayed in my mind. When did I start liking Gideon? Maybe it was when I was 18, when the Nelson Family and Wesley Family elders planned a lake outing together. Phoenix and I were playfully fighting on the boat and accidentally fell into the water, he saved me in his white clothes. When my mother scolded me, he stood up for me, “Kids are bound to be playful, don’t scold her.” Or maybe it was when he happened to pass by and saved my little cat, Buddy, carefully wiping its blood with a handkerchief. Or maybe because every time he saw me, he would smile and call me Lydia with the gentlest eyes… I lost my father young, and my mother became more and more fierce and aggressive to support the vast Nelson Corporation, being very strict with me too. In my life, I had never met someone so gentle. But this gentle and respectful Gideon would become unprincipled and ruthless when it came to Cora. Even I wouldn’t be an exception. At this moment, my phone chimed with a message from Gideon, repeatedly asking where I was. As if he really cared about me. Does he care about me, or is he caring about my kidney for Cora? 0 Feeling restless, I grabbed a friend’s hand and headed to the center of the dance floor. The lights shone on my red dress as I danced, and for a moment, I became the center of attention. Many eyes watched me, exclamations echoing around. Voices shouted enthusiastically, “Sister, look at me!” “Sister, look at me!” … Just then, my gaze was drawn to a man in black casual wear not far away. He was wearing sunglasses and a mask, looking towards the dance floor. After three years of living together, I recognized him instantly, it was Gideon. But why would he, who always preferred quiet, come to a place like this? I thought of the concerned messages on my phone, a hint of joy in my heart, and was about to call his name. But then I saw him walk straight to a spot behind me. There, in the booth, dressed provocatively, Cora was with three male models. “Sis, look at me!”

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When the richest man in the country—my dad—placed four photographs before me, my mind uncontrollably drifted back to the tragic events of my past life. I was once my father’s only heir, unaware of the malice in people’s hearts due to my sheltered upbringing. I treated these four people as true friends, even sharing my jewelry and wealth with them. Declan, however, was a devout Christian who never accepted my generosity; he was always locked away in church, praying, never sparing me a glance. I thought he didn’t love me until I inadvertently opened the church door one day and found him kneeling before a poor female student, kissing her feet with devotion: “Luna, you are my only faith, greater than even the Lord.” Now that I’ve been reborn, I refuse to give them a good life again. Looking at my dad, I said firmly, “Dad, forgive me, but I want the one from the Johnson Family!” Dad was shocked, his eyes wide. “You must be kidding. Everyone knows he’s a complete scoundrel! Plus, he supposedly has some unsavory habits. Are you sure you want someone like that?” Of course, since I’ve been reborn, I must make the best choice for myself. But not long after, this man cornered me, and that’s when I realized he… had also been reborn.

On my twentieth birthday, it was time to choose my new fiancé. In my past life, I joyfully chose Declan, oblivious to the conflict and pain in his eyes. When I opened my eyes again, it was my turn to announce my fiancé. But Declan, holding Luna, sternly warned me, “I will not marry a vile woman like you! Just seeing you makes me sick!” “Adeline, in this life, don’t even think about breaking me and Luna apart!” Everyone watched us. They all knew I had been trailing after Declan, a humble suitor. Now, being publicly ridiculed, everyone was waiting to laugh at me. I clenched my trembling hands, the pain of my past haunting me, and forced a smile. “Rest assured, even if I choose a dog, I won’t settle for you.” Declan’s expression changed, and he looked smugly at me with Luna in his arms. “Sorry, Miss Lin, Declan isn’t the kind of person you can buy with money!” Declan held her tightly and commanded me, “Luna isn’t well. Go serve her well at Seaview Villa.” “Whenever you see her, you should kneel on the ground like a dog! Otherwise, I won’t take over Lin Corporation and work for you!” With that, he left with Luna in tow. Watching his back, a cold smile crept onto my lips. It seems Declan forgot that he isn’t the richest man yet, just a worthless orphan. The banquet ended unpleasantly. My parents, delayed by traffic, were furious after hearing about Declan’s humiliation towards me, ready to confront him. But I held them back. “Mom, Dad, I’m willing to marry Wesley.” My parents were surprised, hesitantly looking at me, “But don’t you like Declan?” I lowered my eyes, hiding my hatred. “Our Lin family is so wealthy, he’s just an orphan, not worthy of me.” My mom wasn’t well, so my parents adopted four boys as candidates for my fiancé to prevent my loneliness. Yet, they felt my adoption severed their hope of finding their real families, treating me with cold sarcasm behind my back. I pitied them, always compromising, which made them see me as weak and easy to manipulate, leading to a tragic end for my entire family. Mom gently advised me, “Adeline, we just want you to be happy.” I held my mom’s warm hand to my face. “Though Wesley is a womanizer, marrying into the Wesley family can still elevate our Lin family.” “Declan is poor and will only be a burden to our Lin family!” My parents exchanged a glance, sighing in the end. “But I heard that Wesley is quite the womanizer and might even have some disease. Are you sure you want to marry him?” Seeing mom’s reluctance, I acted spoiled in her arms. “Any disease can be treated. Besides, if it can’t, I just need his sperm.” “After all, having a child doesn’t necessarily require any contact with him.” Seeing my determination, my parents stopped advising me. They were just inevitably disappointed in Declan. They had already graduated from college, and technically, the Lin family didn’t need to support them anymore. Yet, under the guise of being my future husband, he continued to leech off the Lin family shamelessly. I just asked my parents to cut off their cards. Unexpectedly, they stormed into my house that night, furious.

As soon as the door opened, I was pushed hard, crashing against the shoe cabinet. Declan looked grim, “Adeline, besides using money to control others, what else can you do?” Following him, the three others looked at me with contempt. Griffin openly showed his disdain, “Everyone knows you’re desperate, can’t live without a man since you were young.” Asher rolled his eyes, “Miss Lin, is this another round of your four-choice game? Geez, if you’re itchy, find a tree branch to scratch against. Don’t stick to us, I find it dirty!” Finn, always the most hot-tempered, looked at me with disdain, “Causing us to be burdened by you, not only can we not find our real parents, but we’re also ridiculed for spending a woman’s money!” It seemed, in their eyes, I was despicable and shameless. But they willingly got adopted back then. I fought back tears, “Then why did you come today?” All four of them changed their expressions, looking at me with resentment and anger. Finn clenched his fists, growling at me in discontent, “That’s what the Lin family owes us! If we find our real parents, why would we need to endure the Lin family?” Declan, looking at the other three, warned me in a low voice as if granting charity. “If you don’t want Lin Corporation to go bankrupt, be good.” “Unlock the cards, and maybe I’ll allow you to be a hidden lover if I’m happy.” I just couldn’t understand. If my family hadn’t adopted them, they wouldn’t have even left that orphanage. My parents never stopped them from finding their families. It was their choice not to give up the affluent life with the Lin family. But why do they hate me so much? I was about to tell them the engagement was canceled when I was pushed hard to the ground again. “Miss Lin, sorry, I didn’t mean it. Please, don’t blame me!” Even though I was the one who got hurt, Declan immediately embraced Luna. “Adeline, if you’re angry, direct it at me. Stop bullying Luna.” He glared at me as if I had committed some heinous crime. But I hadn’t done anything. Luna was also a poor student sponsored by the Lin family, transferred to my school three years ago by my parents. To show gratitude, she offered to be my sidekick. I thought she wasn’t adjusting well and transferred her a thousand dollars to buy something for herself. But Declan, gritting his teeth, grabbed me, demanding with red eyes, “In your eyes, do poor people have no dignity?” I never did such a thing. I wanted to clear the misunderstanding with Luna. But as soon as she saw me, she knelt and kowtowed, “It’s all my fault. Miss Lin never forced me to be her toy.” The four of them immediately recalled the label of spending a woman’s money, looking at me with even more hatred. “Take your dirty money and get out!” “Luna is pure and hardworking. Don’t use your tricks to insult her. If you have issues, come at us!” “Besides using money to insult people, what else can you do? Adeline, you’re really disgusting!” I couldn’t bear the false accusations anymore, shouting that Luna was lying. But Luna, in front of everyone, rushed to the rooftop, crying. “Miss Lin, if I jump, can I prove my innocence?” In the end, Declan brought her down from the rooftop. He looked at me coldly, “Adeline, you really disappoint me. Apologize, or I won’t care about Lin Corporation anymore!” Finally, unable to bear Declan’s cold treatment, I tearfully admitted to mistakes that weren’t mine. I thought it would end things. But I didn’t know Luna would use this incident repeatedly to demand my concessions. A recommendation spot, competition eligibility, even a coming-of-age ceremony my parents meticulously prepared for me. As long as she shed tears silently, he would lead the three to isolate me. In this life, I finally understand. I was never the one in the wrong. I retorted angrily, “I’ve never seen beggars with such arrogance. You want money? Fine, kneel and beg me!” Declan sneered, locking onto me like a venomous snake. “Transfer Lin Corporation’s shares to Luna, and I might give you a chance to stay by my side.” I looked at him incredulously, “Are you crazy? Why should I give her shares?” Declan looked at me coldly, “It’s what you owe her, Adeline. If you want to save Lin Corporation, do as I say!”

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Nora was sixteen when she could no longer endure my mom’s torment and decided to take me with her to run away from home. When my mom found out, she grabbed me by the neck and sneered, “Want to leave? Pay up! I’ll just pretend I never gave birth to you two worthless brats. Otherwise, I’ll strangle her!” So, Nora scraped together three thousand yuan to “buy” me out. Later, when Nora and I opened a branch overseas, Mom appeared at my door with a bag of fried fish: “Sweet daughters, let Mommy in. I’ve come to see you!” Nora looked shocked, “Auntie, you’ve got the wrong people. We’ve been orphans since we were kids. How could we have a mom?” When we were kids, our family was very poor. How poor were we? Before I was seven, I had only seen what a watermelon looked like. I never knew how it tasted. When someone in the village threw watermelon rinds into the pig slop bucket, Nora and I would wait until they left to fish them out. Even if there were unknown things stuck to them, I still thought the crunchy stuff was delicious. When I got burned by hot water, we couldn’t find any ointment, so I used shoe polish instead. The next day, the skin and flesh on my foot were rotting. My mom slapped me six times, blaming me for wasting the shoe polish, and I still had to limp and weed the field. Nora started maturing at twelve and saved money for half a month to buy a vest. My mom went crazy, beat her until her eardrum ruptured, and called her a slut, kicking me a couple of times too. In such harsh conditions, my brother lived quite comfortably at home. My name is Nora, and my sister’s name is Phoebe. My mom often said if her first child were a son, we wouldn’t have been born, so we should thank our brother. Meat and vegetables were luxuries, but my brother got to eat drumsticks every day. When he ate, my mom would poke my shoulder with chopsticks. “What are you looking at? Isn’t there rice in your bowl? You hungry ghost, if you keep looking, I’ll gouge out your eyes!” The pickled vegetables in front of me had been there for years. I could even see little bugs wriggling inside, and I couldn’t swallow it. I wasn’t convinced. I knew my brother had a lot of snacks, like Taffy and instant noodles, and I wanted to eat those too. So, I sneaked a seasoning packet from the instant noodles when no one was looking. My mom caught me and grabbed a bamboo stick to beat me. The bamboo stick was of excellent quality, and it whizzed through the air. That day, I fainted and woke up multiple times. My back and arms were covered in blood. I cried and kowtowed to my mom, saying I wouldn’t dare to steal from my brother again. Only then did she show mercy, letting me kneel until dawn before going back to sleep. After that, I had a psychological scar, obediently eating my pickles with stale buns. But Nora didn’t accept it. Like me, she had rebellious genes in her bones. She slammed the table and shouted, “I want meat!” My mom quickly moved the plate away: “Boys eat meat to grow strong and help at home. What does a jinx like you need meat for? Get lost!” “I’m the one hoeing the fields, pulling the weeds. I do all the housework. My brother does nothing, but I want meat!” “You ungrateful girl still dare to talk back! Your brother is still young, so what if he eats more meat? Would it kill you to let him have it?” Nora exploded, picking up the plate and pouring it into her mouth. My mom rushed over and kicked her in the stomach, following with a feather duster. “Try to grab it! You dare to challenge me with your wings not fully grown. Do you not remember who gave you this worthless life?” Nora didn’t cry but jumped up and fought my mom fiercely. “I want meat!!!” In the chaos, the table was overturned. I crawled on the ground, quickly stuffing rice into my mouth. Nora scolded me, “You coward! Spineless!” I looked at her impatiently, “Are you eating or not? If you want some, I’ll save you a bit, otherwise, there won’t be any rice left.” My brother sat there calmly, watching us fight over a piece of meat, then casually tossed a few drumsticks to the family dog. You see, when people are degraded to a certain point, even a dog lives better. In the end, Nora lost. I dragged her back to the room, and suddenly, she silently rushed out. I shouted after her: “Hey, are you not eating the rice? If not, it’s all mine!” I vaguely heard a roar from outside. Moments later, Nora returned, showing me the drumsticks in her arms. I swallowed hard, “Impressive, where’d you get them?” “Snatched from the dog’s bowl.” “You killed the dog?” “No, I knocked it out with a stick.” Alright, I admit I was a bit wicked. My first thought was actually about eating dog meat. Moonlight shone on our faces, illuminating the wounds on Nora’s face. She stared at the moon outside, lost in thought. “Sooner or later, I’m getting out of here.”

This vow was realized quickly. When Nora was sixteen, she finally couldn’t take it anymore. One time, while on duty at school, she accidentally fell off a table and twisted her ankle, so the teacher sent the class president to escort her home. What should have been a normal scene took on a whole different flavor in my mom’s eyes. As soon as the person left, my mom grabbed Nora by the collar and started slapping her. “You little tramp, grown up and learning to seduce men, huh?” “Was that guy just now a customer? How much do you charge per night? Tell me, if you earn a lot, just drop out. It’s not like you’re learning anything useful anyway.” “Speak up! Weren’t you full of words before? I knew you’d be no good when you bought that bra years ago. Now, look at your fox tail sticking out!” Blood trickled from the corner of Nora’s mouth as she grinned, revealing red-stained teeth. “Mom, are you lacking men so much that you’re jealous of me?” My mom froze for a moment, then flew into a rage, grabbing Nora’s hair with one hand and smashing a glass on her with the other. “Damn it! Mom feeds you and clothes you, gives you life, and you have no gratitude, you heartless ingrate. I’ll beat you to death, just die already!” Screams echoed, and I couldn’t find a chance to help. Nora struggled desperately while my mom struggled to control her. My brother silently kicked from behind, and Nora fell heavily to the ground. My mom laughed. “Still, it’s the son who’s useful. No wonder he’s Mommy’s treasure!” Nora shrank into the corner, her body trembling with pain, letting my mom pin inexplicable crimes on her. My mom called her a slut, said she was a whore, born to be sold. When she ran out of insults, she focused on Nora’s hair. “I was wondering why you’ve been slacking off at work lately, spending all your energy on your hair. Braiding it, who are you trying to seduce? Shameless thing!” My mom grabbed a pair of scissors. I rushed over, hugging her leg, begging her to spare Nora. She kicked me away, forcing Nora to lift her head, cutting large chunks of her hair. Nora howled as my mom and my brother laughed. Her once proud long hair was now like it had been chewed by a dog. “Hahahahaha! Look at her now, like a rough old man. I’d like to see her try to seduce anyone now!” Nora collapsed to the ground, covering her face in silent tears. Dressed in rags, malnourished, thin as paper, in an age where beauty mattered, her thick, dark hair was her only pride. My mom’s malicious gaze turned to me, and I shivered. “This little tramp will definitely be a vixen too!” My mom called someone to sell our hair. There was no tenderness or care. I felt like a broken doll, my scalp in severe pain, being torn apart. Through the glass, I saw my ridiculous new hairstyle. “A flat fee, three hundred fifty. Take it!” My mom took the money, her face beaming. My brother laughed too. “Son, tonight Mom will take you to KFC, make these two burdens drool!” My hair, my treasured hair, turned out to be just a meal for my mom and brother. The hair buyer muttered, “What are these adults thinking, making two girls go out looking like this!” Everyone was happy except Nora and me. In the dark, illuminated by the moonlight, I shaved Nora’s hair to the scalp. I wanted to turn on the light, but Nora refused. She said she didn’t want to see how ugly she’d become. There was no choice, the hair was ruined, so we had to shave it all off. After I finished shaving hers, she shaved mine. Near the window, we looked at each other, saw our appearances clearly, and spoke simultaneously: “You’re so ugly.” “Shut up, you are too.” We laughed silently. Nora touched her bald head, her gaze becoming determined: “Nora, I’m going to leave.”

Nora meant what she said. The next day, when I woke up, she was already gone. She’d planned this escape for three whole years. She wanted to take me with her. I refused, knowing I would only be a burden. When my mom found out, she was furious. She strangled me, slapped me, even tried to choke me with a rope. Yet, she spared my life because I could still be exchanged for a bridal price in the future. Lying on the ground, gasping for breath, I prayed for Nora to run far away and never come back. But she did. She didn’t have her ID, making it hard to get anywhere. I helped her find the ID, dragging a big package from under the bed, stuffing things into her hands. “These are what I saved secretly. This biscuit will keep you full, take more. Don’t let the apple rot, eat it early, and this…” “Could you just say something? I went through a lot to steal this from my brother, and I haven’t even eaten it myself!” Nora spoke up, “Nora, I want to take you with me.” I paused, too afraid to answer. I lay on the ground, gasping for breath, praying that Phoebe would run far away and never come back. But she did come back. She didn’t have her ID card, which made it hard to go anywhere. I helped her find her ID card and pulled out a big package from under the bed, pressing things into her hands. “I’ve been secretly saving these. This biscuit will keep you full, take more of it. Don’t let the apples spoil, eat them soon, and here’s this too…” “Could you at least say something? I barely managed to steal this from my brother, and I haven’t even eaten it myself!” Phoebe said, “Nora, I want to take you with me.” I paused, afraid to answer. “Staying here leads nowhere. That woman only cares about her son. When has she ever treated us like human beings? If we don’t run, we’re just waiting to die!” However, just as Phoebe and I were about to leave, the door opposite suddenly opened. My brother shouted at the top of his lungs: “Mom, the two burdens are trying to run away!” Mom rushed out and easily dragged me away from Phoebe, grabbing me by the neck. “Run? Where to? If I wasn’t afraid you wouldn’t fetch a good price, I’d break your legs!” I trembled, but Phoebe was surprisingly calm. She negotiated with Mom, speaking with reason. Mom’s eyes darted around, clearly scheming. “You want to run, huh? Pay up! I’ll pretend I never gave birth to you two brats. Go wherever you want!” Mom demanded three thousand dollars, which was a considerable sum back then. Her plan was clear: I was young and staying would only waste food. She might as well make a hefty profit off me and lie to others that her two daughters ran off, gaining sympathy in the process. Phoebe didn’t hesitate to pay her. I knew it was all her savings. Mom, with saliva on her fingers, carefully counted each bill, grinning wider with each one. She slapped the cash into her hand and pointed outside: “Alright, off you go! Didn’t steal anything from us, did you?” Phoebe spread out the luggage. Besides a few worn-out clothes and books, there was nothing else. Phoebe wrote a note saying Mom voluntarily “sold” me to her, marked the amount, then signed and stamped it. While signing, Mom pretended to wipe her tears: “Why are you being so distant with me? If you miss home, come back…” Phoebe took my hand and left without looking back, with a sense of finality. That year, Phoebe was sixteen, and I was twelve. With the few dozen dollars we had left, we bought two southbound train tickets, never to return.

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On the wedding day, I was rear-ended by an influencer with millions of followers. My lawyer husband arrived at the scene and insisted I apologize. He even transferred a million from our wedding fund to compensate the influencer. Even more absurd, he left all the guests, canceled the wedding, and personally accompanied the influencer for a medical checkup. He even became her lawyer and countersued me for “hit and run.” This obvious manipulation by the other woman made me a laughingstock online. Until that night, the influencer live-streamed herself flaunting a wedding ring and dress identical to mine—three years earlier. Turns out, I was the one intruding on someone else’s relationship. But I was wrong again. The truth was even more appalling: the influencer was my husband’s brother’s true love. And my husband, who idolized his brother, had agreed to fulfill his late brother’s last wish by supporting both households. After learning the truth, I took off my wedding ring and held a “bachelor ceremony” for this so-called “romantic saint.” Since we’re going to shock people, why not let all the influencers his brother knew experience this “harem-like bliss”?

On the wedding day, I was driving the bridal car alone and got hit. My forehead slammed into the front seat, causing sharp pain. Before I could react, a woman with a phone rushed in front of my car, pointing the camera right at my face. “Fam, look! The Rolls Royce lady hit someone and wants to run!” I recognized her, the influencer Nora, with over ten million followers, the “epitome of allure.” The comments exploded immediately. “Does having money make you superior?” “That bride’s makeup can’t hide her scheming vibe!” I clenched my wedding dress, about to explain when she suddenly screamed and fell: “She pushed me! My leg is broken!” The live stream viewers shot up to 300,000. Declan’s call came faster than 911. Seeing the call from my so-called “undefeated reputation” lawyer husband calmed my frantic emotions a bit. Just as I wanted to ask him for help with this mess, the first thing he said was, “Apologize to her immediately.” “But she clearly…” “Lydia!” His voice was gentle, as if coaxing a child. “Don’t make it hard for me.” Five minutes later, his Mercedes screeched to a halt at the scene. Ignoring the swelling on my forehead, Declan knelt to wipe Nora’s tears. He turned to me and coldly ordered, “Apologize in public!” I was stunned: “Declan, aren’t you going to ask what happened?” He enunciated each word: “I said, apologize.” Nora suddenly added, “Besides an apology, I want 100,000 for medical and emotional distress.” Immediately, I heard him call the finance department: “Transfer 150,000 from the wedding fund to Miss Lin.” I stood there, too angry to think straight. Nora smugly waved her phone: “Attorney Declan, you’re really sensible.” “But just an apology and compensation won’t do; my leg seems injured and needs an examination.” Then Declan turned to me: “Today’s wedding is canceled and will be rescheduled.” “I’ll take her to the hospital for a thorough checkup.” “What?!” I almost shouted: “All the guests are waiting at the hotel!” “I said, postponed.” Declan’s look brooked no argument. The man supported Nora into the car, not even giving me an explanatory glance. The whole internet watched my abandonment live, with a trending hashtag #SchemingBrideFails. It wasn’t until late at night that Declan messaged: “She has a concussion. You should prepare the guest room in the bridal suite and take care of her for a few days.” The bridesmaid who stayed with me all night smashed her phone in anger. “That woman’s knee bruise is drawn with concealer! The live replay shows she peeked at the camera before falling!” She hesitated before warning me: “Declan’s behavior is too abnormal.” “They don’t seem like they’re meeting for the first time.” I sneered; it’s obvious from Declan’s previous concern for Nora. Even a blind person could tell what their relationship was. But really, when did the cliché plot of a mistress power struggle become so blatant?

I stared at my phone screen, my fingernails digging into my palm. Back at the bridal suite, before I could calm down, the doorbell rang. Two police officers stood outside. “Are you Miss Genevieve? Someone reported you for a hit and run, please cooperate with the investigation.” I was stunned: “What? It was clearly Nora who rear-ended me!” The police handed over a document expressionlessly. “Your dashcam shows your car indeed collided with another car and left after the accident.” My dashcam? Right after the incident, Declan took it, saying he needed to investigate the real situation. At the police station, sure enough, there sat Declan and Nora side by side. The woman showed her bruised thigh, letting Declan check it. The comments flooded the screen: “So disgusting, hit someone and still wants to run!” “Attorney Declan, hurry up and dump her.” “Honestly, Attorney Declan and our sister Nora look good together.” Then the police said, “Miss Genevieve, Miss Lin provided new evidence showing you indeed had the intention to flee after the collision.” I saw a heavily edited video, only showing me getting out of the car to “push” someone and turning my head. There was no context of Nora deliberately faking the accident, making me look like an arrogant rich girl. “This is not complete.” Even then, I hadn’t grasped the situation, pointing at Declan. “Just as well, my husband is right there.” “He’s a lawyer; he’ll represent me.” Declan walked over and suddenly said, “Nora is a friend of an old acquaintance, entrusted to my care.” “I’m now her attorney.” “My client has suffered severe emotional distress and demands you be held fully accountable.” I looked up, almost unable to believe my ears. I slammed the table: “Declan, what acquaintance, give me a break!” “You’re treating your wife like this for some influencer, what do you take me for!” “And you, Nora, aren’t you tired of this self-directed drama?” Declan remained unmoved, sternly saying, “Lydia, don’t be ridiculous.” “Watch your words, or Miss Lin will add defamation charges.” The police awkwardly coughed: “Given the lack of evidence, we suggest mediation.” Just then, my attorney, whom I contacted after failing to reach Declan, rushed in. During the mediation, Nora live-streamed the whole time. Declan kept proposing harsh conditions: a public apology across the internet, compensation for medical expenses, deletion of all related comments… Nora suddenly interjected: “The place I’m staying now is too far from the hospital, inconvenient for follow-ups…” “You just said she’d take care of me for a few days, but I’m not used to living with others.” Declan immediately continued, “Lydia, then please move out of the bridal suite until she recovers.” Ha, at this point, nothing he says surprises me anymore. “Don’t worry, I’ll divorce you and move out of the bridal suite.” But I just want to ask one question, even if I die, I want to die knowing the truth. I looked Declan in the eyes: “Did you really cheat with someone like her?” The man frowned and said, “Genevieve, speaking objectively, you hurt someone, and it’s only right to apologize and make amends.” “Don’t spread rumors; Nora and I are innocent.” “If I, Declan, have done anything to betray you, I’ll leave the legal profession and die a horrible death!” I was stunned. He dared to curse himself like this; could it be that I’ve misunderstood? But then what does all this happening before me mean? Am I having a mental breakdown?

Leaving the police station, I immediately contacted my best friend, Yara. Since lawyers rely on evidence, I’ll get you evidence. Sure enough, I found records of his frequent contacts with Nora over the past six years. Declan transferred money to Nora every month, ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands. The most laughable was the record from Christmas five years ago. It was our first holiday after getting together, yet he said he had an urgent case. At that time, I was starting my business and was struggling. He left me alone in a shabby rental eating instant noodles. But that day he transferred 200,000 to Nora. There was also another document showing he owned an apartment where Nora had been living for the past year. I remember this apartment; he bought it a year ago, and back then, he told me he was on a business trip. So every time he said he was “working late” or “on a business trip,” he was with her? I clutched these documents but didn’t know where to start, finding it odd. All the transfer details were noted as “medical expenses.” Does this prove infidelity? It doesn’t seem like concrete evidence of cheating. I also asked someone to check Declan’s phone and email but found no hotel reservations or intimate photos. This was too unusual. Just when I was at a loss, I found a recording of one of Nora’s live streams. Just a few days ago, she wore a diamond ring on her left ring finger, glaringly obvious. It was identical to the engagement ring Declan gave me. The comments scrolled wildly: “Is Nora getting married?” “That ring’s at least five carats!” Nora covered her mouth with a coy smile, turned, and opened a wardrobe, pulling out an ivory-white wedding dress. The dress was just like mine, even with the same embroidered rose pattern Declan suggested. These images stabbed at my eyes, surely Declan got what he deserved! I forwarded this evidence to him, but after three hours, still no explanation came. Yet, I saw Declan in another of Nora’s live streams. The woman sat in an upscale restaurant, the background familiar with floor-to-ceiling windows and a piano performance area. That was “Starlight Bay,” where Declan and I confirmed our relationship. The background music was playing “Dream Wedding.” It was the song Declan used when he confessed to me. Suddenly, I remembered today was our five-year dating anniversary. The man opposite Nora didn’t appear on screen, but the hand with distinct joints wore the Rolex watch I gave him. I forwarded the evidence to the man and waited for three hours without receiving any explanation. Then I saw Declan again in another of Nora’s live streams. She was sitting in an upscale restaurant, with the familiar floor-to-ceiling window and piano area in the background. It was Starlight Bay, where Declan and I had solidified our relationship. The background music was playing “Dream Wedding,” the song Declan used to confess his love to me. Suddenly, I remembered that today was our 5th anniversary. The man sitting across from Nora wasn’t in the frame, but his hand, distinct with its pronounced joints, wore the Rolex watch I had given him. The comments asked, “How long have you been together?” Nora replied, “Seven years today.” I froze instantly. So, all these years, except for last year when he was with me, he always had excuses to be absent: overtime the year before, business trips, friends’ weddings before that. It turns out I was the other woman all along. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. Then Adeline sent me another link, leading me to Declan’s private social media account. The latest update was from ten minutes ago, showing a candlelight dinner identical to Nora’s. But the caption read, “Seventh year, #fulfilling my brother’s life#.” My mind raced. A brother Declan never mentioned, fulfilling… What does this mean? Declan, what exactly are you hiding?

I clicked into this tag and immediately froze. It was filled with Declan and Nora’s “daily love life.” The most shocking was a post from four years ago: Today is my brother’s death anniversary, and Nora had a breakdown. She mistook me for you and instinctively called me “husband.” But I stayed silent, couldn’t agree. Because I met another girl whom I love dearly and want to marry. But don’t worry, brother. Whatever my wife has, Nora will surely have too. So, he gave her a matching ring, ordered a similar wedding gown, and even the proposal was ceremonious. Anniversaries were fair too; last year he spent with me, this year was Nora’s turn. He managed the balance skillfully. Not long after, my phone buzzed with a message from Declan: “The wedding continues tomorrow, please be understanding.” I stared at the screen, laughed coldly, and replied: “Okay.” Then pocketed my phone. Since Declan wanted to keep acting, I had to end this charade myself. The next day, the wedding venue was packed with guests. I walked arm in arm with Declan, step by step toward the stage. Suddenly, the doors swung open. As expected, Nora walked in wearing the same wedding gown as mine. At this moment, the banquet hall’s big screen suddenly lit up. Instead of displaying our wedding photos, it showed Declan and Nora embracing in the bridal suite. He was gently putting on a wedding ring identical to mine for Nora. He said, “Nora, I’ll take care of you for life.” The timestamp was from six years ago. The whole room gasped. Nora’s face was tear-streaked, looking like a tragic lover harshly separated by me. But she didn’t forget to hold up her phone to live-stream, and flashlights instantly focused on me. “Everyone, judge for yourselves. Declan and I have been in love for years, Genevieve is the mistress!” The comments exploded. “Whoa! Mistress caught at a high-profile wedding?!” “The bride doesn’t look like a good person!” “Poor girl! Bravely pursuing love.” “Original partner turned mistress, drama of the year!” Declan quickly turned to look at me. I gritted my teeth and said, “Declan, our wedding, why is there another leading lady?” Looking at Nora’s convincingly fake face, I couldn’t take this humiliation. I raised my hand to slap Nora, but Declan grabbed my hand. “Don’t be impulsive, Nora is just emotionally unstable.” I ignored him, grabbed a wine glass, and hurled it at her. Declan turned without hesitation, and red wine splashed all over his suit. Yet he shielded Nora, glaring at me, “Don’t go crazy!” I shook off Declan’s hand, stepped onto the stage, and grabbed the host’s microphone. Then I displayed screenshots from Declan’s private social media on the big screen. “Don’t worry, brother, I’ll take good care of Nora for you.” “Everything my wife has, she’ll have too.” Most glaring was a wedding photo with Nora. Below it read: “The wedding photo she wanted, I took for you too. I’ll also figure out a way to fulfill the honeymoon for you and her.” As soon as this image appeared, the whole room gasped again. Suddenly, the wedding door was pushed open once more. A group of influencers with faces similar to Nora’s rushed into the wedding venue holding signs saying “Share the love.” I tore off my veil, revealing a bright red smile, and said, “Welcome to Declan’s bachelor ceremony!” “Declan, these are all the influencers your brother had contact with.” “Since you’re so devoted, why not let them share the love too?”

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I’m no longer alive. But no one has noticed. My body is curled up in a corner of the street. My family probably thinks I’m just throwing another fit, hiding away on purpose. But this time, it’s different. I’m truly gone. My sisters, Phoebe Johnson and Lydia Johnson, are watching TV with Mom and Dad. The coffee table is filled with sliced fruit, and Mom is gently feeding them strawberries. How idyllic. If I weren’t already a ghost, I might have thought this family was happy too. I drift outside the window. In the living room, Phoebe is leaning playfully on Mom’s shoulder, and Mom’s fingers gently stroke her hair. “Mom, I want the biggest strawberry,” Phoebe points to the fruit plate. “Alright, alright, they’re all yours.” Mom smiles, her eyes crinkling as she hands the strawberry to her. Such a familiar scene. Ten years ago, Esme Johnson used to act like this, while I could only sit on the little stool in the corner, longing. Back then, though I was alive, I lived as if I were invisible. Dad suddenly looks up at the window, and I instinctively shrink back. His gaze passes through my body, landing on the distant streetlight. “Johnson, what are you looking at?” Mom asks. “Nothing.” Dad turns back and pats Lydia on the head, “Lydia, do you want some cherries? Dad will buy you some after work tomorrow.” Lydia smiles sweetly, “Thanks, Dad! You’re so good to me.” A smile appears on Dad’s face, a smile I’ve never seen before: “Our Lydia is so good, unlike…” Unlike who? I know what he wants to say. Unlike Nora Johnson, who is awkward and foolish. “If only Esme were still here…” Mom suddenly says, her voice choking. Phoebe immediately hugs her, “Mom, don’t be sad. Lydia and I will always love you for her.” What a charmer. I drift by the window, watching their happy scene, and suddenly feel like laughing. In my parents’ eyes, Esme was an angel fallen from the heavens, while I was trash picked up from the ground. Indeed, Mom always loved my sweet-talking sister more. My sister died ten years ago. In a car accident. Our family was on a trip, and on the way back, she insisted on ice cream. Dad stopped to buy some, and Mom stayed in the car with us. Esme suddenly ran out, saying she wanted to buy a hairpin across the street. Mom didn’t stop her. When the truck ran over her, she was still clutching that shiny butterfly hairpin. After that day, my parents changed. They began to resent me. Mom often screamed at me, tearing her heart out. She said, “Why is it you who’s alive, Nora Johnson? Why did Esme have to leave? Why wasn’t it you who died?” They shifted all their bad emotions onto me. I know they hate me. They hate that it wasn’t me who died.

A year after Esme’s death, my parents started frequently browsing adoption websites. I hid behind the door, listening to their hushed discussions. Mom pointed at the computer screen: “This one’s eyes look like Esme’s.” “The chin doesn’t quite match,” Dad leaned in for a closer look, “Keep looking.” They went through hundreds of photos and finally chose Phoebe and Lydia. The day the two girls were brought home, Mom hugged them and cried her heart out. I stood awkwardly at the stairway corner, unsure of what to do. “Call them older sisters,” Mom nudged my shoulder. Phoebe and Lydia were both two years older than me, born the same year as Esme. They looked at me timidly, with a hint of appeasement in their eyes. I opened my mouth but couldn’t make a sound. “Are you mute?” Mom suddenly raised her voice, “I told you to call them older sisters!” My nails dug into my palms. Phoebe hurriedly took Mom’s hand, “Aunt, don’t be mad. It’s normal for Nora to not accept it right away. Give it time.” Mom immediately changed her tone, gently stroking her hair, “Phoebe is so understanding.” That night, I heard Phoebe and Lydia whispering in the guest room. “This family is so strange,” Phoebe said, “They’re so harsh to their biological daughter.” “I heard their daughter died,” Lydia lowered her voice, “We look like the deceased one.” “Who cares, as long as we have food, drinks, and money.”

Phoebe and Lydia quickly figured out the rules of this house. They imitated how Esme used to act cute, wore her favorite colors, and even mimicked her way of speaking. Phoebe and Lydia quickly blended into the family. For their first birthday at the house, Mom prepared two beautiful princess dresses, the style Esme loved when she was alive. “My dear daughters, try them on. You’ll look beautiful.” The two girls looked thrilled, “Thank you, Mom!” The word “Mom” pierced my ears like a knife. I bit my lip hard, my throat tight. “Nora, go mop the floor,” Mom said without looking up. I didn’t move. “Are you deaf?!” She suddenly raised her voice and threw the remote at me. I dodged, and the remote grazed my forehead, hitting the wall. “How dare you dodge?” She rushed over and grabbed my hair, “You killed your own sister, and you don’t even feel guilty? Always with that dead face, it’s bad luck!” My scalp burned with pain, but I stayed silent. Lydia stood by, a slight smirk on her lips. “Aunt, don’t be mad,” she said hypocritically, “Maybe my sister is just in a bad mood.” “In a bad mood?” Mom sneered, “What right does she have to be in a bad mood? She’s not the one who died!” My nails dug into my flesh, but I didn’t dare cry. Crying would make things worse. At night, I was locked in the storage room and made to kneel as punishment. “Reflect on yourself!” Mom said before locking the door, “Think about your sister!” In the dark, I curled up in the corner, my knees pressing against the cold floor. Laughter came from outside the door. “Mom, this cake is delicious!” Lydia’s voice drifted in. “Eat more if you like it,” Mom’s voice was unbelievably gentle. I closed my eyes, and finally, the tears fell.

The next morning, Phoebe and Lydia wore their new dresses to school. Mom personally did their hair. “Our Phoebe is so pretty.” She touched Phoebe’s face, lost in thought, as if looking at someone else. Phoebe smiled sweetly, “It’s all because of Mom’s good taste, making us look so nice.” Dad came over and handed them each a gift card, “Pocket money. If it’s not enough, just ask Dad.” I stood at the top of the stairs with my old backpack, unnoticed by anyone. “Nora,” Mom suddenly called me, “After school, pull out the weeds in the garden. Don’t be lazy.” “Got it, Mom,” I replied hoarsely. Phoebe passed by me, deliberately bumping into me, and whispered, “What a pity.” After school, I walked home slowly, not wanting to face that house. When I opened the door, Phoebe and Lydia were on the sofa eating fruit, and Mom was peeling grapes for them, not even glancing at me. I put down my backpack and silently went to the backyard. The garden was overgrown with weeds, and I squatted down, pulling them out one by one. My fingers got scratched and bled, but I didn’t stop. “Nora!” Dad suddenly shouted behind me. I flinched and turned around. “You’re pulling out the flowers!” He stormed over and slapped me across the face. My vision went dark, and I fell to the ground. “Useless! You can’t even do this right!” He grabbed my collar and dragged me up, “If your sister were alive, she’d never be as worthless as you!” My face burned with pain, but I didn’t cry. Phoebe stood in the doorway, holding an ice cream, a smile on her lips. “Dad, don’t be mad.” She walked over and held his arm, “Maybe my sister didn’t mean to.” “Didn’t mean to?” Dad snorted, “She did it on purpose! She’s been jealous of Esme since childhood, and now she won’t even spare the flowers!” I opened my mouth to explain but ended up saying nothing. What’s the point of explaining? They never believe me. In this house, I live worse than an outsider.

At dinner, I was punished and not allowed to eat. The aroma of food wafted from the kitchen, and my stomach twisted painfully. Lydia “accidentally” spilled a bowl of soup at my feet. “Oh dear, sorry.” She blinked, her tone devoid of apology. Mom frowned, “Nora, clean it up.” I knelt on the floor, wiping up the soup with a cloth, listening to them chat and laugh at the dining table. “Mom, can you come to the parent-teacher meeting next week?” Phoebe asked. “Of course,” Mom agreed with a smile, “Our Phoebe is so outstanding; of course, Mom wants to go.” “Dad will go too!” Dad chimed in. They were all so happy, while I was like a ghost. I wanted to say that I also have a parent-teacher meeting. The teacher praised my progress this time. Could Mom and Dad attend my parent-teacher meeting just once? Even once would be enough. But I didn’t dare to say it. At night, I curled up in bed, my stomach hurting from hunger. Footsteps came from outside, and Phoebe pushed the door open, holding half a piece of bread. “Hungry?” She tossed the bread on my bed, a malicious smile on her face, “Beg me, and I’ll give it to you.” I stared at her, unmoving. “Dad’s going too!” he chimed in. They were having such a wonderful time together, and I felt like I was invisible. I wanted to speak up, to say that my parent-teacher meeting was coming up too. The teacher had praised my progress this time. Couldn’t Mom and Dad attend just once? Just once would be enough. But I couldn’t bring myself to say it. At night, I curled up in bed, my stomach aching with hunger. I heard footsteps in the hallway, and Phoebe Johnson pushed the door open, holding half a slice of bread. “Hungry?” she tossed the bread onto my bed with a malicious grin, “Beg me, and I’ll give it to you.” I stared at her, unmoving. “Why are you acting all high and mighty?” she sneered, “Who do you think you are? In this house, you’re not even worth as much as a dog.” I grabbed the bread and threw it at her face. She screamed, and Mom rushed in immediately. “Nora Johnson! What are you doing?!” She slapped me hard across the face. I bit my lip, remaining silent. “Go kneel in the storage room!” She dragged me out by my hair. Phoebe hid behind Mom, smirking at me triumphantly. The door to the storage room locked again. In the dark, I hugged my knees and finally cried. Why… why wasn’t it me who died? If it had been me, would it not hurt this much? Ever since my sister left, I’ve been asking myself this question. Now I’ve finally gotten my wish. All night, I wandered aimlessly on the roof. The next morning, a call came in. Mom frowned, glancing impatiently at the phone screen. Seeing Adeline Sun’s name, her mouth twisted. “Hello?” She answered, her voice as cold as ice. Adeline’s voice was anxious: “Aunt, it’s Adeline Sun. Is Nora home? I’ve been calling her, and she hasn’t picked up. She hasn’t replied to my messages either, and I’m a bit worried…” Mom let out a cold laugh: “She can go wherever she wants. What does it matter to me?” There was a brief silence on the other end. “Aunt, Nora hasn’t responded to me for two days. She never does this. Could you please check if she’s home?” “Check for what?” Mom’s voice suddenly rose, “That useless thing, no one would notice if she died! Always with that dead look on her face, it’s just bad luck!” My chest tightened sharply. Even though I was already dead, hearing those words felt like a knife to the heart. I floated beside Mom, staring at her face, trying to find even a hint of concern. But she didn’t even blink. “Aunt!” Adeline’s voice rose too, “How can you say that about Nora? She’s your daughter!” “Daughter?” Mom scoffed, “My daughter Esme Johnson died ten years ago. Now my daughters are Phoebe Johnson and Lydia Johnson. What is Nora? She’s always so gloomy, it’s annoying. You friends should avoid her too, or she’ll lead you astray!” My fingers trembled, wanting to grasp something, but they only passed through the air. I’ve heard these words for ten years, but every time I hear them, my heart still clenches. “Aunt, you’re so biased!” Adeline’s voice was filled with anger, “Nora is so good. How can you treat her this way? She’s your real daughter. Why is she less than…” “Enough!” Mom sharply interrupted, “My family matters are none of your business! Don’t call again, it’s bad luck!” With that, she hung up the phone and tossed it onto the couch as if it were something dirty. Phoebe leaned in, holding Mom’s arm: “Mom, don’t be angry. She’s not worth it.” Mom patted her head, her tone instantly softening: “You and Lydia are the sensible ones.” I stood aside, watching this scene, and suddenly found it laughable. The dead from ten years ago are treasured, while the living are trampled into the mud. Even now, dead, no one cares. I wanted to tell Adeline, don’t look anymore, I’m already dead. Dead in the shadows of a street corner, with not even a stray dog finding my body. But I couldn’t. On the fifth day, Adeline reported me missing to the police. When the police found me, my body was already unrecognizable.

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Jasper won the MMA championship on the same date as our five-year wedding anniversary. That day, I received a gift he had prepared for me: Phoebe’s pregnancy test report, the secretary of the MMA Club. Seeing my devastation, he spoke with indifference, “Adeline, Phoebe’s health is poor. I’m planning to let her move in with us. You’re a doctor, so it would be convenient for you to take care of her.” I hid my own pregnancy test report and called Finn, my Declan, agreeing to go to the USA for further studies with him. But just a few days before leaving, I saw the chat records between Declan and Phoebe on his phone. 【Are you really going to the USA with that woman to fulfill my relationship with Jasper?】 【What if she finds out that it was you who hired those people to break her right hand so she can never hold a scalpel again?】 I wiped away my tears and changed my flight ticket, deciding to head to the UK instead. I looked up at Jasper in his sleek outfit, a far cry from the boy I met eight years ago in the emergency room, who couldn’t even afford a few bucks for medicine and nervously tugged at his tattered clothes. Then I heard Jasper’s voice, deeper and more magnetic after eight years, with a hint of hesitation. “Also, she wants that ring…” I glanced at the simple ring on my left ring finger. Jasper bought me this ring with his first prize money after winning second place in a fight. At the time, seeing the ring in the box and his bruised face, I couldn’t hold back my tears. Seeing me cry, he panicked immediately. “Adeline, don’t cry. I know I’ve wronged you… This ring may be the cheapest in the store, but once I win more fights, I’ll definitely get you the best one!” But even after he won more fights, eight years later, I still only had this simple ring. And today, he wanted me to give even this ring to Phoebe. Seeing my hesitation, Phoebe clung to his arm, speaking with a hint of grievance. “Jasper, if Adeline really doesn’t want to, then forget it… I just really like this ring. You know I’m not with you for money or status…” Jasper, seeing her like this, felt heartbroken. He turned to me with impatience, forcibly took the ring off my hand, and handed it to Phoebe. Then they left without saying another word to me. I looked at the bruises on my hand, and tears finally started flowing from my eyes. When Jasper and I first got married, I once cut my hand while slicing fruit. It was just a shallow cut, but it pained Jasper immensely. “Adeline, your hands are meant for holding a scalpel and saving lives. You can’t get hurt. Let me handle these chores.” But after just five years of marriage, things had changed so drastically. I gathered myself and went downstairs to throw out the trash, only to run into Phoebe coming back alone. She looked at my swollen eyes and couldn’t help but laugh. “Did you really think I wanted that cheap ring? Jasper already bought me something much more expensive.” She said, raising her hand and tossing the simple ring into the community’s pond. The diamond on her ring finger dazzled my eyes. Back home, I hid the pregnancy test report I had planned to give Jasper as an anniversary gift and called my Declan, Finn. Before meeting Jasper, Finn had been interested in me. To be honest, if I hadn’t met Jasper, I might have really married Finn. Even after my marriage, Finn supported me a lot in my work and studies. A year ago, Finn asked me to go to the USA for a three-year study, but since Jasper had just started the MMA Club, I declined. However, he said he would always keep that opportunity open for me. “Declan, I’m willing to go to the USA with you for further studies.” “Adeline, are you sure? It’s a three-year trip. Are you really willing to leave Jasper?” “I’ve made up my mind, Declan. I’ve already decided to divorce Jasper.”

Finn booked the flight for a month later. On the day I went to the lawyer to draft the divorce papers, I passed by Jasper’s MMA Club. Thinking about the effort I put into it, I decided to take a look and say goodbye to the members. Unexpectedly, I saw two figures entangled in the stairwell and heard Jasper and Phoebe’s voices. “Jasper, be gentle~ Don’t bite there~” “Phoebe, you’re so soft and smooth…” “Hmph, did you say the same to Adeline? I heard she even took a stab for you. Such deep love…” I stood there, feeling as if I had fallen into an ice pit. That’s when Phoebe noticed me, quickly pushed Jasper away, and came over while adjusting her clothes. “Adeline, don’t mind us. I just needed Jasper to help me with my bra clasp~” She said, but secretly pinched the bruises on my hand. In pain, I reflexively tried to pull my hand back, causing Phoebe to fall down the stairs. Jasper pushed me aside and rushed to carry Phoebe to the hospital. I sat frozen in the club’s office, and hours later, Jasper finally returned. “Phoebe lost the baby. I saw you push her down the stairs.” “Adeline, when did you become so vicious?” “Even if Phoebe did something wrong, couldn’t you forgive her for the child’s sake?” I looked at his face, full of undisguised contempt, and let out a cold laugh. “Are you referring to her mistake of seducing a married man?” Jasper’s face darkened. “I fell in love with Phoebe first! Blame me if you want!” “To compensate Phoebe, I’ve decided to transfer your shares in the club to her for free.” I looked at his still handsome and resolute face in shock, feeling like he was a stranger. Years ago, he used my payment of his medical bills as an excuse to repay me by picking me up from work every day. Spending time together every day, I eventually fell for this resilient boy when he blocked a punch from a hospital troublemaker for me. Upon learning about his tragic past, I worked part-time delivering food while interning at the hospital, using the money I earned to support his MMA dreams. Once, an opponent dissatisfied with losing a fight stopped us in an alley after a match. In the confrontation, I saw a flash of a knife aimed at Jasper. My body reacted faster than my mind, and I shielded him. When I came to, the knife was already in my chest. Jasper was terrified, trembling as he held me, begging the attackers to help get me to a hospital. The knife missed my heart’s aorta by just a centimeter, and I nearly met the Grim Reaper. When I woke up, the first thing I saw was Jasper, red-eyed and haggard, by my bedside. He held my hand tightly, promising, “Adeline, I, Jasper, will never let you down in this lifetime!” During my recovery, staring dazedly at the scar on my chest in the mirror, Jasper hugged me from behind. “Adeline, no matter how you change, you’re always the most beautiful to me. And this scar, it’s a testament to our love.” Remembering this, I looked at Jasper with tear-filled eyes, then unbuttoned my shirt to reveal the scar on my chest. My tears fell, landing on the ugly scar. “Jasper… have you forgotten your own words…” He shuddered, unable to meet my eyes or look at my scar, fleeing the office.

After that day, Jasper didn’t return home for several days. One night, after being called in for extra surgeries, I was heading home late when I felt someone following me. I ran in panic, ending up in a dead-end alley. When I tried to return the way I came, the group following me surrounded me. A man with a scarred face spoke up first. “Miss, don’t blame us for being rough. Someone paid a lot to teach you a lesson.” I tried to escape but was pushed to the ground. That’s when I saw a familiar figure at the alley’s entrance. “Jasper! Help me!” I saw him walking toward me, but the thugs parted to let him through. Jasper stopped in front of me and spoke softly. “Adeline, I know I’ve wronged you and Phoebe, but after the miscarriage, Phoebe’s been unwell. She’s been saying she wants to join the child.” “I’ve arranged for them to just break your right hand, to give Phoebe some peace.” “I promise I won’t divorce you. You’ll still be my Mrs. Jasper.” Stunned, I looked at the man before me, disbelief in my voice. “Jasper! Help me!” I saw him walking toward me, and to my surprise, the thugs parted to let him through. Jasper stood before me and spoke in a low voice. “Adeline, I’ve wronged both you and Phoebe. But since Phoebe’s miscarriage, she’s been unwell. She’s been insisting on leaving with the child.” “I’ve talked to them. They’ll only break your right hand to give Phoebe some closure.” “I promise I won’t divorce you. You’ll remain my wife.” I stared at him in disbelief and said, “Jasper, you know if my right hand is injured, I won’t be able to perform surgery again.” “Don’t worry, Adeline. Even if you can’t be a doctor anymore, I’ll always take care of you.” With that, as if he couldn’t bear to witness what would happen next, he turned and walked away without looking back. I screamed loudly in the alley, hoping for help, but they quickly covered my mouth. They held me down and broke my right hand. But they didn’t stop there. After breaking my hand, they continued to beat me until I felt a wetness below. Seeing the blood pooling around me, they panicked and fled. I lay in the dark, damp alley, using the last of my strength to call Finn. When I awoke, Finn was by my bedside, his eyes red. He spoke, his voice catching. “Adeline, don’t be too upset. There will be other chances for children…” “And your right hand… the tendon and nerve damage is irreversible. It will be difficult for you to hold a scalpel again.” “But it’s okay. You’re still young. You can explore other fields in medicine…” Finn’s comforting words were interrupted by Phoebe’s sudden arrival. “Adeline! How did you get hurt like this?” I made up an excuse to send Finn away. Before leaving, he turned and gave Phoebe a lingering look. With my hand hidden under the blanket, I discreetly activated the recording on my phone. Once Finn was gone, she dropped the pretense. “Adeline, you’re prettier and more educated than me, but what does that matter?” “Jasper still broke your right hand for me. To tell you the truth, that child wasn’t even Jasper’s.” “See how much I love him? I won’t have a child that’s not his~” Hearing footsteps approaching, she quickly changed her tone and put on an innocent face. “Adeline, even though you caused my child’s death, I don’t blame you…” Jasper came over and put an arm around her shoulder, speaking softly. “You’re always so kind, willing to give others a chance…” Then he coaxed her to leave first. After Phoebe left, he gently touched my casted right arm. “Adeline, Phoebe just lost the baby. She needs my comfort.” “Once this is over, I’ll break it off with her. We can live well together.” Looking at his shameless face, I suddenly burst into laughter, tears streaming down. “Jasper, I don’t want to be with you anymore.” Seeing me like this, he suddenly panicked. Just as he was about to explain, Phoebe’s voice echoed from the hallway. “Jasper! My stomach hurts!” That day, Jasper hurriedly carried Phoebe away, leaving only a brief remark. “Adeline, don’t overthink. I’ll explain everything when I get back.” But just like countless times waiting for him to return from socializing, I sat on the hospital bed until late at night, and he never came back. He didn’t even know that on that very night, I lost not only my right hand but also the last bond between us. As the first rays of morning light touched my face, I took out my phone and made plans with Finn to leave in a week. When Finn came to change my dressing, he accidentally left his phone in my room. I was about to return it to him when I saw his phone wallpaper: a photo of him with Phoebe. “Do they know each other?” On an impulse, I used Phoebe’s birthday as a password and unlocked Finn’s phone. At the top of Snapchat was his chat with Phoebe. [Are you really going to the USA with that woman for me and Jasper?] [What if she finds out you hired the guys who broke her right hand, making her unable to hold a scalpel?] [I’m sorry to Adeline. I’ll accompany her to the USA for rehab. I’ll spend my life making it up to her!] [The life-saving debt you owed me as a child, I’ve repaid you now.] [You and Jasper can be together. Adeline and I will never return.] [Finn, but I’m still scared. After all, I lost her mother’s liver donor years ago.] [Don’t worry. I covered it up well back then. Adeline won’t find out.] … Standing there with the phone, I felt cold all over, a chill spreading in my heart. In my junior year, my mother died of liver failure. Before she died, the hospital said a liver donor had been found. But just before my mom entered the operating room, Finn told me there was a system error, and there was no matching liver donor. I didn’t doubt him then. I collapsed in his arms, crying. Now, looking at the chat, I wiped my tears, prepared two gift boxes, and changed my flight. A week later, at the time Finn and I had planned to meet, I didn’t show up at the airport. He called several times, but I didn’t answer. In the end, Finn only found a similarly anxious Jasper. Having finally calmed Phoebe, he was both physically and mentally exhausted, hoping to find comfort in me, only to discover I was long gone. Jasper rushed over, grabbing Finn by the collar. “Where’s Adeline! Where did you take her?” Finn just laughed coldly, his attitude enraging Jasper, who then punched him repeatedly until Phoebe arrived and pulled them apart. They didn’t know that three days ago, I had already landed in the UK. 5 After Jasper and Finn returned home, each received a gift from Adeline. Jasper opened the box to find a signed divorce agreement from Adeline and a pregnancy test report. He was dumbfounded as he looked at what was inside, finally realizing that Adeline was serious about leaving him this time.

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Just after class ended, news spread like wildfire—everyone knew I was diagnosed with AIDS. The test results were positive, and I was left speechless. In the span of a single day, I had gone from being a respected teacher to being branded as morally corrupt. When I sought my husband’s help to clear my name, his family mocked me: “Lydia, how can you even show your face outside? Every place you’ve been needs to be disinfected. No one dares to step there.” “Who knows what you’ve been up to to catch such a disease? It’s disgusting.” “What else could it be? A chaotic private life, perhaps. Who would’ve thought Lydia had such habits, not even settling down after marriage.” Behind the door, Asher quickly posted several more messages using a fake account, muttering, “Vera finally got a chance to substitute, but she insists on teaching herself. She’s showing off and needs to learn a lesson.” Only now do I realize that the man who claimed to love only me had long since changed his heart. I touched my abdomen, realizing this child had come at the worst possible time. — “Our store strictly refuses service to AIDS patients. If you’re sick, stay away of your own accord, have some decency, and don’t harm others!” “If she accidentally cuts herself and touches something, others might get infected too. Oh my God, people like her shouldn’t even leave their homes!” The most liked comment read: “She’s a teacher—anyone with kids at that school should be cautious!” I knew this was posted by Asher. His intentions were clear—he wanted me out of the school to appease Vera’s anger. The overwhelming online insults and accusations left me numb. I couldn’t even cry. In despair, I looked up at the sky, contemplating scheduling an abortion at the hospital. But as soon as I stepped out of the school gates, a group of parents rushed toward me, pelting me with stones. “Does someone like you deserve to be a teacher? Teaching with AIDS?” “Everyone knows how you got this disease. Don’t corrupt my kids. If anything happens to them, I’ll kill you!” Already in a daze, a parent slapped me across the face. Unable to dodge, her long nails scratched my face, drawing blood. “Oh my God, I’ve made her bleed! It’s transmitted through blood; am I infected?” “Panic ensued as people shouted, ‘Go get a blocking shot at the hospital!’” Despite the chaos, I tried to stay calm and shouted, “Those are all rumors online. I don’t have the disease; someone framed me.” But no one believed me. The attacks grew more intense. “If you claim it’s slander, why aren’t they slandering others but you?” “Exactly, with the diagnosis out, you’re still lying. You’re really twisted, trying to make others suffer because you’re sick, deliberately retaliating against society!” The woman who scratched me fainted from fear. Her husband dialed emergency services while hurling a brick at me. “I swear, if my wife gets infected, I’ll kill you, you scum, to avenge her!” His words resonated with everyone. They threw more things at me, and I struggled to fend them off. “If you don’t leave the school, I’ll complain to the Principal, to the Department of Education. We’ll sue you for malicious virus spreading!” I curled up in a corner, holding my head, too scared to make a sound. The physical and emotional pain intertwined, leaving me a mess. Just then, Asher rushed over, shielding me behind him. “You’re pregnant and still running around. If anything happens to you or the baby, what am I supposed to do?” Vera appeared behind him, intentionally unbuttoning two buttons on her blouse. The red kiss marks were clearly visible. “Lydia, are you okay? Asher is worried about your health. I’ll take over your classes, so you can rest at home.” Due to this incident, my classes were already suspended, and I didn’t expect Vera to take over. Since they dislike me and like to take my things, I’ll just disappear completely and not show up in front of them. Looking at Vera’s meticulously made-up face, while I was covered in blood and dirt, I felt pathetic and ugly. I was about to leave, but Asher grabbed me, then disgustedly released his hand when he saw how dirty I was. “Vera’s lesson plan isn’t ready. You should guide her.” Seeing Vera’s fake smile, my chest felt heavy with anger. “I’m suspended. It’s not my job.” Asher’s concern vanished, and he frowned impatiently. “You’re more experienced than her. What’s wrong with helping out? It’s decided.” He wasn’t asking for my opinion; he just made the decision for me. He dragged me to an abandoned classroom, pushing me inside and locking the door before I could react. — The students had left, and the teachers were off work. Even in the daytime, no one would come to this abandoned classroom. I sensed danger and tried to escape, but a force grabbed my collar. I turned to see a man reeking of stench, drooling as he approached. “What are you doing? This is a school!” He sneered at me, his eyes full of mockery. “You’re the woman with AIDS, right? You look cheap. Did you catch it from too many men outside?” “But I don’t mind. I have AIDS too. Infected ten people this month. Since you’re already sick, let’s have some fun.” He reached out with his filthy hand. I kept banging on the door, hoping someone would hear and save me. Outside, I heard Vera’s coy voice. “Asher, how long are you going to stay with this cheap woman? It makes me uncomfortable knowing she’s your wife. And a backbone teacher? Does she deserve it?” Asher chuckled lightly. “After this, she’s nothing. Just a rat everyone beats. She’ll lose her job for sure.” “She has nothing on you. She’s ugly. Best if she never leaves the house again, saves everyone the embarrassment.” Behind the door, I felt his disdain. Suddenly, the man behind me yanked my hair, forcing me to look up. His stinking mouth approached my face. “Help!” I shouted, but he covered my mouth, his other hand pulling at my pants. Just as he was about to succeed, the door flew open. I ran out with all my strength, trying to call for help, but people already crowded the doorway. The man immediately pointed at me in panic, cursing. “This cheap woman seduced me, trying to infect me. She blocked the door so I couldn’t escape!” He twisted the truth, and everyone believed him, glaring at me. An old woman rushed over, slapping my face repeatedly. “You shameless slut, seducing my son with AIDS! My son isn’t even married. Do you want us to be childless?” “People like you should be arrested. I’m calling the police! Police!” The Principal rushed over, seeing the scene, felt ashamed, and coldly issued an ultimatum. “Lydia, you’re fired. Leave our school immediately!” After the Principal left, Asher’s friends gave me disdainful looks. “Lydia, really? Catching a disease and wanting revenge on society? You’d even go for a beggar or homeless man?” “Seriously, just go to the hospital for isolation or stay home. You’re already affecting our normal lives.” Asher pretended to arrive just then, pulling me out of the crowd. “You…” He pointed at me, speechless, looking pained and pitiful, earning sympathy. “Wife, I’ve been busy with work and haven’t been with you. But that’s no excuse for your behavior! What have you done?” He acted convincingly, playing the clueless, heartbroken good husband. His words made everyone understand one thing. I’m a restless woman fooling around, and my husband knew nothing. It also subtly explained that he never touched me, so he’s not sick. What great acting and plotting. Asher tried to hug me but seemed repulsed, struggling to touch me. “Wife, no matter what, we’ve been married. I’m on your side. We’ll solve this together.” He spoke nicely. But he’d just used his small account to post everything online. Letting everyone know I was a promiscuous woman who caught AIDS. And now, I was retaliating against society, trying to infect more people. I never knew, the seemingly dull Asher had such a sharp mind. Everyone’s accusations made him a bit embarrassed, so he awkwardly looked at me. “Wife, there’s a party tonight for Vera’s new job. It’s all familiar faces. Why not use this chance to apologize on video, and it’ll be over.” I looked at him in disbelief, wondering why I had to apologize when I did nothing wrong. And attending this party would make me a bigger target. “No, I’m going home.” “Lydia!” Asher called out, his eyes full of reproach, all his words defending Vera. “Don’t overthink. Vera got the job because of her real talent. I just want the school to do better.” “Honey, we’re celebrating Vera joining tonight. It’s just people we know, so why not take this opportunity to apologize in a Snapchat message and let this whole thing blow over?” I looked at him in surprise, not understanding why I should apologize when I did nothing wrong. If I went to this gathering, I’d just be setting myself up for more scrutiny. “No, I’m going home.” “Lydia!” Asher called after me, his eyes full of reproach, and his words all in defense of Vera. “Stop imagining things. Vera got the substitute teacher position because she’s genuinely talented. I’m doing this for the School’s benefit.” I hadn’t said a word, yet he was assuming all sorts of things. Every word was defending Vera, making me out to be petty. But I lost my job due to all the overwhelming slander and was exhausted, both mentally and physically. He acted as if nothing happened, even wanting to push me further into despair. In the end, Asher dragged me to the gathering by force. As soon as everyone saw me, they acted as if they’d seen a ghost, avoiding me as if I were contagious. It was like being near me was a threat to their lives. “I heard AIDS doesn’t spread through the air or saliva?” “Can you guarantee she doesn’t have any mouth ulcers? I heard people with AIDS have their whole body rot!” “Then stay far away; it’s really scary.” Hearing their words, I saw a smug glint in Vera’s eyes. Then she pouted, “We’re all friends here, don’t be so harsh. She’s still here, give her some dignity.” With that, she pretended to offer me some food. But Asher immediately blocked her chopsticks, keeping her away from me. His protectiveness over Vera was truly something else. To outsiders, this move made it seem like even serving me food could lead to infection, and Asher was protecting Vera. Then, a waiter, wearing gloves and a mask, brought me a bowl of some unknown concoction on a tray. 3 “Phoebe, please try to understand. Once you catch a disease like this, it’s incurable. It’s better if you eat somewhere else so that others can dine without worry.”

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Mother’s Day of Remembrance. My husband slammed my head against the tombstone, and agony swept through my entire body. With his beloved assistant in his arms, he mocked me. “Do you think a ten-million-dollar sales order will make me forgive your mother? That’s like giving charity to beggars.” He squinted and sneered, then kicked and shattered my mother’s tombstone. “Your snobbish mother died too comfortably, so I’ll make you a living widow, ensuring she can’t rest in peace.” Tears and blood blurred my vision. I got up to fight back against my husband, but the assistant tripped me. My abdomen struck the broken tombstone, and the intense pain made me pass out. He kissed the assistant as a reward and flew to the Island overnight to celebrate her birthday. When I woke up, I had lost the ability to have children, and my mother’s grave was reduced to ruins by a fire. Declan, our marriage ends here. Don’t blame me for my ruthlessness! Fueled by hatred, I went to the company to resign to Declan, only to find out he was on the Island celebrating Lydia’s birthday. So, I submitted my resignation online. Within seconds, the assistant approved it on Declan’s behalf. The legitimate wife was openly replaced by the mistress, and my colleagues mocked me behind my back. “How embarrassing, President Declan has disliked her for a long time. She clung to the company and wouldn’t leave.” “Exactly, she always opposed President Declan and bullied the assistant. It’s karma that came too late.” “I bet our boss’s wife will be replaced soon, and someone will leave with nothing.” I smirked inwardly, having seen them suck up to the powerful too often. Declan targeted me in everything, but he only favored the assistant, Lydia. When Lydia made mistakes, I reprimanded her officially, but Declan protected her and turned the tables, humiliating me for abusing power. Those two-faced colleagues constantly humiliated me with words to curry favor with Declan and Lydia. After I left, they wouldn’t have a good time. “I left the company of my own accord to become the vice president at a rival company. Without me, this company will soon go bankrupt. Your good days are coming to an end.” They didn’t know I took all the sales orders under my name, which accounted for 80% of the company’s business. Everyone looked at me in confusion. I ignored their questions and left the company with my box. As soon as I stepped out of the building, Declan called. “What are you doing? Didn’t you see the document I sent? The client needs it urgently. Send it to me in half an hour, or you’ll regret it when I get back.” He didn’t know I had resigned. Still as overbearing as ever, treating me like a slave, even threatening me with violence. But I wouldn’t tolerate him anymore. I casually opened the document. It was the ten-million-dollar order I secured with great effort. I had tried to use it to negotiate with Declan, but he dismissed it and gave it to Lydia as a birthday present. As always, I was the workhorse, taking on overtime and blame. While Lydia only had to flatter and slack off to enjoy the benefits. When Declan started treating me this way, I resisted. But he expertly manipulated me, intentionally neglecting me and threatening divorce. I loved him and didn’t want a divorce, so I agreed to his unreasonable demands. I naively believed Declan would be moved by me and fall in love. But what did I get in return? It wasn’t until I lost the ability to have children and my mother’s grave was burned that I realized how wrong I was. “I’m busy.” “Do you dare refuse my orders?” Declan frowned displeased, his tone suddenly cold. “Adeline, listen to me. No matter what you’re doing, drop it and get it done now, or I’ll fire you.” “I already…” I was about to explain my resignation when Lydia spoke softly. “Declan, I didn’t expect Adeline to be so petty, still blaming me for tripping her. Maybe I should handle it myself.” “Adeline wouldn’t dare hold a grudge against you. Today’s your birthday, and you were exhausted last night. Let her handle these trivial tasks.” Declan’s gentle tone towards her left me dazed. He doted on her so much. Lydia, basking in her triumph, subtly sowed discord, making Declan even more disgusted with me. Declan shouted at me, “Adeline, I’m the boss, and you’re the employee. You have no right to say no. Get it done now.” Lydia played the good person, “Declan, maybe I should do it. Adeline just got out of the hospital and isn’t well.” “She only went to the hospital, she’s not dead. You were almost exhausted last night.” “As the boss’s wife, Adeline should contribute more to the company.” With a few dismissive words, Declan belittled my pain and morally coerced me. If someone doesn’t love you, even if you die, they’d think you’re pretending to sleep. I trembled, touching my abdomen, my eyes bloodshot, wishing I could tear Lydia and Declan apart. But I had to endure, to ensure they got what they deserved. Seeing my silence, Declan assumed I was complying, and his tone softened. “Adeline, this is a chance to atone for your mother’s sins. What a great opportunity. As the hostess, you should have a broader perspective.” “Sometimes you’re not even as good as Lydia. She’s so dedicated to the company. She worked until she had a fever yesterday, while you just sit and enjoy. You should learn from her.” Lydia giggled, “Declan, you’re so mean. Adeline has done a lot for you and the company.” On the surface, she defended me, but she was really mocking me, laughing at Declan for not touching me. Declan didn’t catch the sarcasm and mocked me with her. “What Adeline has done is nothing to me. It can’t be considered a contribution. The company’s performance relies on you, our sales elite.” I was shaking with anger, my blood boiling, struggling to breathe. Regretting blindly loving Declan. Declan feigned ignorance. All of Lydia’s sales orders were taken from me. And the one who gave her the power was Declan himself. He squandered my love, thinking I couldn’t live without him, thinking I wouldn’t divorce him. “I have to deliver gifts to a major client. I’m hanging up. Send the document to my email immediately.” Ten minutes later, my phone buzzed. Lydia sent a provocative photo. In a five-star hotel restaurant, Declan cut steak to feed her, with cake, wine, and flowers beside them, stabbing my heart like a knife. The limited edition Chanel bag by her side was the one I’d longed for but couldn’t afford. I couldn’t help but look at Lydia’s Facebook. Last night, she took a selfie in a hotel robe, with Declan’s reflection in the window glass. Love and lack thereof are clear at a glance. Tears streamed down my face, and I clenched my fists in fury. Turns out, Lydia’s fever was from serving Declan too “diligently.” The so-called gift for a major client was actually Declan’s birthday gift to the assistant. “Adeline, you can’t get your husband’s love and lost your job. If I were you, I’d have jumped in the river out of shame.” I didn’t reply to Lydia, saving the photo instead. I opened my phone, adjusted the document Declan sent, and directly sent it to his email, waiting for the crisis to unfold. Just as I got in a cab home, my phone chimed. The bank deducted fifty thousand for five-star hotel dining and lodging, leaving a balance of one thousand. Declan spent my money celebrating Lydia’s birthday.

Everyone said I put up with Declan for his money. But no one knew he controlled the finances. I didn’t get a cent of his money. My salary covered daily expenses, while his money managed the company and investments. I never complained, but when I wanted to buy a limited edition Chanel bag, I found my money was almost gone. For household expenses, I gave up on buying the bag and checked my spending at the bank. Turns out my salary was almost spent by Declan. He used my money to buy Lydia a gold necklace, luxury skincare, and dresses worth thousands. But I never thought he’d use our meager remaining balance to buy Lydia birthday gifts and book a presidential suite. For me, he was incredibly stingy. He made me order meal kits, patch up clothes at the tailor, use cabs for work, and gave me gifts from street promotions for my birthday. Whenever I was dissatisfied, he’d accuse me of being wasteful and a spendthrift. When I fought with him about Lydia, he said I slandered him, claiming the things were for clients and told me not to be a jealous woman. After finding just a thousand left in the bank, I called him, wanting my money back. But he didn’t answer for a long time, so I told the driver to head to the bank. I withdrew the remaining money, quickly canceled the account, and cut off our financial ties. Just after finishing, Declan called. “My phone was on silent. What’s up?” “Pay me back. The money you spent on Lydia’s bag and hotel, give it back.” Declan didn’t expect me to demand the money, and he was speechless. “That’s marital property. Why can’t I use it? You’re being petty.” I spoke coldly, confronting him, “The money in the account was my salary. You shamelessly used it on your mistress. If you don’t pay back, I’ll sue you.” Declan was speechless, knowing he was in the wrong. We built the business from scratch. During the toughest times, we asked Mother for money. She refused and told friends and family not to lend us any. Mother called him a pauper, saying lending him money was like throwing buns to a dog, never to return. Declan became gaunt and depressed. I secretly mortgaged our marital home and took a high-interest loan to solve the crisis. When we overcame the difficulty, Declan found out and was furious, demanding I redeem the house quickly. Declan was rendered speechless, fully aware of his own fault. We built everything from the ground up. During the most challenging times of our startup, we turned to my mother for financial help, but she refused and even warned our friends and family against lending money to Declan. She called him a poor man, saying lending him money was as good as throwing it away. Declan became more withdrawn and despondent by the day. Without his knowledge, I used our home as collateral for a high-interest loan to tide us over. Later, when we overcame the crisis, Declan found out and was furious, insisting that I redeem the home immediately. But I had no money, so I had to ask my mother-in-law for help. She used the funds meant for her cancer treatment to reclaim our home. Not long after, she passed away due to lack of treatment. Declan blamed my mother, claiming her snobbery was responsible for his mother’s death. On the phone, Declan was silent for a few seconds before sighing. “Adeline, I know you’re not asking me to repay the money; you’re just upset with me. But remember, your mother caused my mother’s death. Spending a little on my assistant isn’t asking too much.” “I’m just venting my anger at your mother’s grave, so don’t be so petty.” “I urgently need to send gifts to clients. Transfer the money to me right away. Stop sulking, or you’ll ruin a big business deal.” “You have one minute, or I’ll divorce you.” Declan feared I’d refuse, so he threatened divorce. This threat always worked on me. Whenever he mentioned divorce, I would comply obediently. He took advantage of this and kept using it against me. In the past, I didn’t want to lose him and felt guilty about his mother, so I swallowed my pride repeatedly. Now I finally understand. He would never appreciate my efforts; he would only demand more, always thinking I owed him. Over the years, I’ve sacrificed for him and even lost my ability to have children. Whatever debt there was, I’ve long repaid it. His future struggles are no longer my concern. “I don’t have any money left. You can ask the bank for a loan or use an online loan. Lydia can also pay for you first.” “You have a week to return the money to me.” I turned off my phone and took a taxi back to our home to pack my things. The house was a gift from my mother, decorated in a style Declan liked, and he was very pleased with it. I wanted to add Declan’s name to the property title, but my mother strongly opposed it, saying that men were unreliable and that the house was my only security. Because of this, my mother and I didn’t speak for a month until Declan said he wouldn’t insist on it, and we proceeded with the wedding. Declan’s resentment towards my mother had already started back then, but my love-blinded mind didn’t notice. I packed my belongings and listed the house for sale online. That afternoon, I went to City Hall to submit the divorce papers. Declan had already signed his name. Ever since I discovered Lydia’s existence, I had secretly prepared a divorce agreement. When I asked Declan to sign the sales contract, I slipped the divorce agreement inside. He didn’t even look before signing. Due to his trust in my abilities, he never scrutinized contracts, giving me an opportunity. When I asked him to review the contract again, Lydia waved at him from a distance, and he was immediately distracted. He patted my shoulder and said, “I trust you. A contract you’ve reviewed is surely fine.” I watched his hurried back, tears welling up in my eyes. He didn’t trust me; he was just in a rush to meet his mistress and had no time for me. The staff at City Hall shook their head, saying the divorce needed personal confirmation from both parties. I showed them the provocative photos Lydia sent, the spending records Declan had with her, and the recordings of him threatening me with divorce, but they were all rejected. Why is getting a divorce so difficult? “I’m about to clock out. Are you going to proceed or not?” I grabbed her hand and pleaded, “Of course, I will. I’ll call him right away, please wait for me.” I turned on my phone and quickly dialed Declan’s number. The emergency call went unanswered, and I knew he had blocked me. I borrowed someone else’s phone to call him, and he answered immediately. “Declan…” “Adeline? How dare you turn off your phone and contact me? This marriage is definitely over.” I hung up and asked, “Can I proceed now?” The staff looked at me with sympathy, asking if Declan was abusive. I thought for a moment and nodded. She sighed and didn’t make it difficult for me, telling me to collect the certificate in a month.

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Finn’s beloved Adeline has returned from studying abroad. Her return immediately put her on the same level as me, who has been working tirelessly to climb the company ladder for the past five years. But I’ve reached my limit; I comply with Finn’s wishes and act as the compliant puppet he desires. Everyone in the company knows I’m just a stand-in for Finn’s beloved Adeline. The foundation I’ve built with years of hard work has become their playground. With a simple nod from Adeline, I pack up my things and hand over the office I’ve occupied for two years. If she so much as frowns, Finn will do anything for her, even if it means stepping over me. Finn doesn’t understand why I’ve stopped crying and fighting, or why I no longer call him heartless. With Adeline perched on his lap, she giggles “Finn, you really know how to keep things in order; even the sister knows her place.” I smile faintly; they’ve forgotten that Finn has already signed the divorce agreement. I will leave this company and never see them again. 0

“Tonight, you meet with Mr. Johnson. Adeline and I have other plans,” Finn said, tossing the prepared meeting notes back to me as he left the meeting room with Adeline. This left me with a half-finished presentation on the screen and unfinished words. The room was so quiet I could hear the click of the lock. “Oh, poor Lydia has to work overtime again tonight.” “We really aren’t familiar with the project; it’s best if Lydia handles it.” “Finn trusts you, that’s why he gave you this task.” Adeline’s team members packed their things and offered me empty words of comfort as they passed. I knew they were just flaunting their favor with Finn in front of me. Finn’s favoritism towards Adeline is obvious to everyone, even though I am his legal wife. For a whole month, I’ve been putting in extra hours on the project with Mr. Johnson. When I handed it to Finn, he barely glanced at the proposal before telling me to pass it to Adeline’s team. I argued for my team’s hard work and had a huge fight with Finn in the office. Everyone outside could hear my hysteria, but no one spoke up for me, even though we’ve shared hardships for five years. That was the last time I argued with him. It wasn’t for me or because of Adeline, but for my team’s dedication. In the end, I paid out of my own pocket to take the team out for dinner to soothe their frustration, then stayed late to reorganize the project details for Adeline. She tugged Finn’s sleeve and pouted, “Taking over the sister’s project, she won’t get mad, will she? Besides, I don’t even know this project yet.” So, Finn waved his hand and told me to organize a meeting to hand over the project details. Standing in front of the two of them, the air was tense. They seemed to be waiting for me to get angry or break down. But I calmly gathered my documents and agreed coolly. Today’s scene repeated itself; Finn seemed determined to use humiliating me as his way to win over Adeline. It seemed the crueler he was to me, the more sincere his feelings for his first love, Adeline, appeared. I should have realized sooner that I could never replace Adeline, even though I am his wife. Finn and Adeline’s story is clichéd, like a Prince and his Cinderella. Adeline is an only child from a regular family, not poor but not a match for Finn’s high-status parents. Finn was set on Adeline, declaring he’d marry no one else, and fought with his family over it. His parents resorted to the oldest drama trick—a half a million dollars to leave their son. Actually, they arranged for her to study at her dream school abroad, covering all expenses. Adeline agreed, somehow convincing Finn to accept it too. While Adeline was abroad, Finn’s parents approached me. They promised that if I agreed to marry Finn, they would revive my family’s fortunes. It was a windfall for me. Finn and I knew each other from childhood, attending the same schools since elementary. My feelings for him grew wildly during my teenage years; I secretly loved him for seven years. I asked why me, and they said I looked like Adeline, and they knew me better since they’d watched me grow up. “Besides, we can revive your family, or crush it like an ant if we wish,” Finn’s mother said with a smile that had the sharpness of a sugar-coated blade. Despite knowing the dangers, I accepted it naively, dreaming that love would grow over time, like kids playing house. Until one day, I accidentally saw his chat history with Adeline on his smartphone during a meeting and confronted him. Finn turned it on me, telling me to know my place, and brought Adeline into the company, raising her to my level. He wanted revenge, so he publicly favored Adeline, leaving me embarrassed. He took Adeline to social events, and even at company dinners, held her hand and doted on her publicly. I got angry, but he didn’t care, turning it into my one-sided cold war. If I apologized, he would lecture me in front of everyone, calling me a stand-in who couldn’t compare to a hair on Adeline’s head. Luckily, I woke up from this five-year dream long ago. This unhappy marriage should have ended sooner. 0

It was late at night when I finished discussing the project with Mr. Johnson. He’s notoriously difficult—hard to crack, hard to get a signature, hard to please. Even though my proposal covered all his needs, he dragged it out until he finally signed. In the freezing winter night, not even taxi drivers wanted to pick me up. Finally, shivering with cold, I got into a taxi and came back to life with the warm air from the heater. I numbly scrolled through my smartphone, and my Facebook Feed was flooded with Adeline’s posts. In the pictures, she and Finn were holding hands, sweetly nestled in a Ferris wheel cabin. She smiled brightly at the camera, while Finn’s eyes were tenderly fixed on her face, a faint smile on his lips. When the amusement park opened, I had asked Finn to go with me. At that time, Adeline hadn’t returned, and Finn and I were getting along. But he said it was childish and crowded, and asked me if I wasn’t embarrassed to go. So, I pouted but said nothing, unable to imagine him in a cartoon headband on a Ferris wheel. It wasn’t his style. I thought so and shelved the plan, passing the park countless times but never entering. Now, I realize childishness and crowds were never the issue. It was about who you went with. Like Finn’s gaze in the photo, I’d never seen that look from him. The comments were full of colleagues fawning: “Oh my, so sweet, I’m dying!” “Why call her Ms. Adeline? She’s Mrs. Finn~” “Adeline returns, and Finn dotes on her deeply.” Adeline chimed in, sharing how she had begged Finn to wear matching headbands: “Isn’t it cute, our Finn~” The comments buzzed with speculation, but Finn and Adeline only said they were just out relaxing. A new employee, clueless, asked when they could drink at their wedding. Finn replied with a question mark, and Adeline sent a “shush” emoji. I didn’t react like before, getting angry at their relationship and calling Finn. Instead, I messaged him about successfully closing the project with Mr. Johnson and that I’d leave the documents in his office for signing tomorrow. The bumpy road made me turn off my smartphone, lean against the car door, and close my eyes in exhaustion. Back home, I saw a message from Adeline using Finn’s account: “Lydia, it’s Adeline. Thanks so much for handling the project with Mr. Johnson. Finn didn’t want me to be too tired right after arriving, so he wouldn’t let me do anything! I owe you a meal to thank you~” Finn’s smartphone was off-limits to everyone, even if I accidentally picked it up. He would accuse me of disrespect and invasion of privacy. Yet, Adeline could freely use it, see our chats, and expose everything to her. I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Lydia, it’s Adeline. Thank you so much for your hard work on the project with Mr. Johnson. Finn doesn’t want me to be worn out right after I arrive, so he hasn’t let me do anything! I’ll treat you to a meal someday as a reward~” Finn never lets anyone touch or look at his smartphone. Even when I picked it up from the coffee table by mistake, thinking it was mine, he got upset, saying I was invading his privacy. Yet, he lets Adeline use it freely to reply to messages, exposing all our chats to her without any privacy concerns. I couldn’t help but chuckle. Is this what they call the power of “Adeline”? The importance placed on someone in one’s heart dictates how they are treated. However, I felt unusually calm and even gave her a like on her Facebook Feed. What once seemed like the end of the world now feels trivial. I’ve wasted too much time on them. From now on, I’ll live for myself. I pulled up the data I compiled recently and called my dad: “Yes, I’ll handle those companies abroad. We’re divorced now.” 0

Finn didn’t come home all night, and I didn’t leave the entryway light on for him or wait up in the living room like before. He might still be out enjoying himself while his parents are probably worrying about the company deficit. Finn’s company was initially started to impress his parents. His father and mother saw it as a chance for him to gain experience, so they secretly helped a lot, investing much money. Otherwise, the company wouldn’t have taken off so quickly. Did Finn, who used to skip class to hang out with friends, and I, who only had a bunch of theoretical knowledge from university professors, really think we could run a company? Finn thought he was some business prodigy, always getting new project collaborations whenever there were signs of losses. But it was all his parents and I handling things behind the scenes. While I was learning how to run a company day and night, the Aiden family’s money wasn’t just filling the void for their playboy son. I used the company as a transit hub to support our own industry. The way Finn’s mother looked down on me back then still feels like a splinter lodged in my skin. It doesn’t hurt anymore, but it always bothers me when I think of it. Now, our industry, with my help, has risen from decline to become a leading enterprise. Finn doesn’t know or care about any of this. Since he reconnected with Adeline, every time I share my success excitedly, he can’t take his eyes off his smartphone. In front of him, even when I dress according to his preferences, I feel like I’m acting foolish. But it doesn’t matter anymore. These years have just been me working here. I’ve spent five years in this company, understanding every level and experiencing every process firsthand. This experience will be my capital to build my own world. Suddenly, Finn called: “There’s a company annual party tonight, remember to come and wear the dress I sent over.” I agreed calmly, not saying much. He seemed surprised I didn’t ask about the dress design this time, realizing it was Adeline’s favorite style and causing a scene. In the past, it always ended with us fighting, me tearfully wearing the dress to make peace, and seeing a hint of admiration in his eyes. But nothing would change. I politely said, “I understand. Is there anything else?” “You…” He started but couldn’t finish, ending the call with a busy signal. The divorce agreement has taken effect, and now we’re just boss and employee. The procedures to go abroad are almost complete. By this time tomorrow, I’ll be at my own company, sitting at the main seat, holding the first shareholders meeting. I’ll still attend tonight’s annual party, as a farewell to my youth. But when I walked in wearing the dress Finn sent, I saw Adeline clinging to his arm, wearing the exact same dress. 0

I paused at the entrance of the banquet hall, standing opposite them across the crowd. People were starting to notice, whispering around me. “Wow, how awkward. The replacement and the original.” “A replica can never be as good as the original. One’s by his side; the other’s entering alone.” “Such a rich family’s drama, and I’m seeing it live.” I was considering leaving to save face, but Adeline spotted me through the crowd. “What a coincidence, dear Lydia! You like this design too? Finn said it was custom-made for me. I thought there was only one.” Up close, I noticed differences. Her dress had gemstones on the skirt hem, sparkling like a starry river under the banquet hall lights. Finn looked flustered, avoiding my eyes. Was he embarrassed for making a scene or surprised the dress matched his Adeline’s exactly? Whatever the reason, it wasn’t my concern anymore. I raised my wine glass with a graceful smile: “What a coincidence. Mr. Finn likes it, but I think it’s just okay.” Before I could take a sip, Adeline suddenly stumbled, spilling all her red wine on my skirt. The wine glass shattered, cutting my skin. My white skirt bloomed with dark red stains, whether from wine or blood, I couldn’t tell. The culprit collapsed tearfully into Finn’s arms: “I’m sorry, sister. I must have stepped on something and twisted my ankle. I’m really sorry. Do you have another dress?” I lifted my skirt to avoid the wet fabric sticking to my legs. I have a cleanliness habit, and the dress clinging to me was uncomfortable. I said coldly: “Adeline, is this necessary? “I hadn’t even seen this dress before wearing it. “No one’s competing with you for anything.” Perhaps my rare cold attitude caught her off guard. She paused, a barely noticeable smug smile on her lips: “Today’s the company’s annual party. Calm down, don’t make a scene. It’s about the company reputation. After the party, you can hit or scold me all you want! I’m just clumsy. Sister, why don’t you hit me?” She closed her eyes, grabbing my hand to slap herself with. She held on so tight I couldn’t break free. Before my hand could reach her face, Finn’s hand grabbed my wrist. “Lydia, enough! Don’t be so harsh. Adeline didn’t do it on purpose. Learn to consider the bigger picture like Adeline. Think about the company. She’s apologized; let’s end it here. I’ll send ten more dresses to your house tomorrow for you to choose from!” I laughed in frustration, pulling my hand free with all my strength, slashing my skirt with a wine glass shard. Rip— The dirty fabric tore off cleanly, transforming the cumbersome long skirt into a brand-new short one. “Hopefully, you two can think more about the company.” I tossed the dirty fabric at their faces and turned to leave. “Enough, stop being stubborn. I know what you’re up to. Don’t worry, with my parents backing you, your position is secure for now. They want me to bring you home tomorrow. Ask for whatever compensation you want.” He rambled on, oblivious to Adeline’s increasingly displeased expression. “But we’re already divorced.” Every tear on my skirt was my creation. On me, it’s the original. Under the torn dress, my leg bled from the glass cuts. It hurt, but I stood tall. I’ll never bow to Finn again. “Finn, whether as legal spouses or work colleagues, we have no connection anymore. “You should call me boss now.” 0 Adeline’s eyes sparkled at the words, and she gripped Finn’s arm more tightly, though she quickly masked her excitement: “Please, don’t be upset with Finn…”

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