Author: Momo Chan

My wife is a flight attendant, currently undergoing training at Qatar Airways. I’m the one bearing all the expenses. But I’ve heard various unsettling rumors. To get to the bottom of it, I went straight to Qatar during the World Cup. To my utter disbelief, I discovered my wife was involved with a Black man! After witnessing the truth, I quickly divorced her. She went to Africa with him. Yet, unexpectedly, she called me in the middle of the night, crying for help… My wife, Chloe, is a flight attendant. To further her career, I sent her to train at Qatar Airways. Recognized as the best airline globally, experience there would mean a promotion and salary increase back home. Qatar is a land of affluence, with high living expenses. Chloe’s monthly costs are between 40,000 to 50,000, forcing me to save every penny to support her. My monthly expenses are only 1,000, and I’ve even sold my car, riding shared bikes to and from work daily. One evening, Chloe’s cousin, Emily, came to see me. “Brother-in-law, there’s something I’ve wanted to tell you. My sister is a cheating woman, and she’s been unfaithful countless times! You’re such a good man; it’s unfair for you to be married to someone like my cousin. You’ve sacrificed so much for her, always scrimping, yet she’s never stopped cheating on you!” Emily was visibly upset. To be honest, Emily is stunning, even more attractive than my flight attendant wife. At the moment, she’s wearing a beige trench coat over a light blue dress, looking captivating despite the cold weather. Her long legs, wrapped in black stockings, are alluring, her calves slim and elegant, standing tall in red high heels. Her usual work involves modeling products like stockings and lingerie, with her ads showcased on various e-commerce websites. Men are drawn to beautiful women. If I weren’t already married to Chloe, I’d likely be attracted to Emily too. However, I sternly told Emily, “Emily, how can you speak about your cousin like that? I know you have feelings for me, but I’m your brother-in-law. I’m not a man who takes things lightly, and our relationship is strong. Please don’t come between us!” I’m not conceited, but I’ve long noticed Emily’s interest in me. She often gives me flirtatious looks. Especially after Chloe went abroad, Emily frequently visited, using the excuse that no woman was taking care of me. She’d do my laundry, clean the house, and manage chores, even washing my underwear by hand without complaint and cooking meals for me, saying my diet was lacking. There’s no way I, Ethan, would let anything happen with Emily in reality. I won’t do anything immoral! Chloe is a virtuous woman, and I can’t betray our relationship. She said she went to train with Qatar Airways for career development, to contribute to our family. Hearing my blunt words, Emily blushed, looking a bit hurt. She bit her lip, “Brother-in-law, to be honest, I do like you. I had feelings for you before my cousin did, but she acted faster. But I’m not an immoral homewrecker! If you and my cousin are happy, I’ll only wish you well and not destroy your family. But that’s not the case! My cousin’s been playing with your emotions! Spending your money while making a fool of you! I can’t bear to watch! I feel you’re being mistreated, and it’s not worth it!” Emily’s voice was loud. Fearing I wouldn’t believe her, she handed me her phone. “This is their internal group chat. Besides the flight attendants, it’s filled with VIP guests they’ve targeted! Some guest leaked the chat records! Look at what my cousin said in there!” I was dumbfounded when I saw the screenshots. It was a conversation between Emily and a first-class passenger! They were flirting, and it was explicit!

“Brother-in-law, do you remember the morning you went to pick up my cousin and found two pairs of shoes?” Emily asked. I was taken aback. That did happen! We have a wedding tradition where the bride’s friends and family hide her shoes for the groom to find. To get the shoes, the groom must give the bride a red envelope. That day, when I went to pick up Chloe, I found two pairs of shoes! I handed out two extra red envelopes! At the time, I thought Chloe’s family wanted more red envelopes, so they put in an extra pair of shoes. Is there another hidden truth here? Emily’s next words made my eyes nearly pop out of my head! She said they have another tradition. If a woman known as unfaithful gets married, her lover gives her a new pair of shoes. It signifies a double blessing. So, one of the pairs of shoes I found that morning was from Chloe’s lover! What a humiliation! I married a cheating woman with fanfare! “Brother-in-law, I know you’re angry, but it’s not worth it for such a woman. I’ve always been single, waiting for you! I know you have a fire burning inside, and it’s hard to hold back.” Emily gently took my hand. I looked at the charming Emily and gritted my teeth, “Seeing is believing! A chat record alone doesn’t prove anything. What if it was faked with Photoshop? I want to confront her! If it’s true, I’ll divorce her! But if it’s fake, then we shouldn’t contact each other anymore!” Even then, I didn’t want to believe my gentle and virtuous wife was so awful! It happened to be during the Qatar World Cup. The TV was showing halftime, and the cameras were sweeping over the stands. Fans caught on camera would be shown on the big screen at the stadium. People are open; if they see themselves on camera, they’ll wave and dance, and if they’re a couple, they’ll kiss publicly. I saw Emily on TV! Emily was at the game with a Black man! They were caught on camera! They kissed in public! “Brother-in-law, did you see that? My cousin is like a public bus! Entertaining foreign friends too!” Emily continued to provoke me! “Enough!” I stopped Emily’s taunts and called Chloe! The chat records might be fake, but kissing a Black man in public isn’t! I called Chloe dozens of times and finally got through in the middle of the night, Qatar time! “Where are you?” “I’m at the hotel!” “I saw the TV broadcast. What’s with the kiss with that Black man?” I asked, suppressing my anger. “Oh, that? That Black man is just a VIP client of our airline. We’re innocent… As for the kiss, it’s just a foreign tradition, okay? Don’t be so old-fashioned!” Chloe mocked my outdated views. I was about to say more, but she hung up in a hurry. Though I didn’t hear clearly, my instincts told me Chloe was definitely up to something!

I know there’s a popular story online recently. It talks about a man who, upon learning his wife was having an affair at school, couldn’t accept it and biked to the school to get the truth. For three days and nights, he rode a bike from Qingdao to Tai’an, covering 300 kilometers! Riding day and night, scaling tall gates alone. Fighting for love, facing five enemies alone. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a hoax. But now, I’m rushing to Qatar for love too! I used PayPal credit card to buy the next available flight, heading straight to Doha, Qatar. To catch her off guard, I didn’t call Chloe. I first went to her company dorm, only to find out a frustrating truth! Chloe never stayed at the dorm! So where has she been living for the past six months? I asked her colleagues where Chloe was. Those glamorous flight attendants claimed they didn’t know, but I could see in their eyes they pitied me. They must think I’m a poor fool, a cuckold! I could hear their mocking behind my back as I left. “Well, Chloe’s going to get it now!” “Yeah, serves her right for always trying to show off!” “Right, always flirting with the Indian instructor.” In the end, a security guard, an Indian guy, took pity on me and secretly told me. During the Qatar World Cup, if they had free time, Chloe and many flight attendants liked to visit bars near the athlete’s village. Their intentions weren’t just for drinks. Many World Cup players, coaches, family members, and FIFA officials frequented those bars. Although their skin colors and nationalities varied, they shared one common trait—they were all rich. Especially the players, all strong and athletic, were the favorites of these gold digger women! They could earn money and enjoy themselves! I was furious and took a cab to the bar area they mentioned! At the bar entrance, I tried to get in, but the bouncer asked for my ID. He said this was a leisure spot for World Cup personnel, and outsiders weren’t allowed. I pointed to a few blonde beauties heading inside, “Why aren’t you stopping them? Do they need IDs too?” These individuals, regardless of their skin color or nationality, have one thing in common: they’re all wealthy. Especially those athletes, each one strong and fit. They’re the favorites of these gold-digging women! They earn money and enjoy life! When I heard this, I was furious and immediately took a cab to the bar district they mentioned! Upon arriving at the bar entrance, I tried to go in, but the security guard asked for my ID. They explained that this was a leisure spot for World Cup personnel, and outsiders weren’t allowed. I pointed to a few blonde beauties walking in and asked, “Then why don’t you stop them? Do they need IDs too?” The security guard gave me a knowing look. “Heh, heh, men aren’t allowed, but women can go in freely.” I had no choice but to wait outside. An hour later, I saw my wife walking out of the bar, arm in arm with a black man, heading into a small alley! It was clear they weren’t up to anything good! I clenched my teeth and followed them. Once in the alley, I looked around and finally found them behind a trash can, exchanging flirtatious banter. I couldn’t hold back anymore. I picked up a brick from the ground and rushed forward, striking the man on the head with it! He fell forward, taking Chloe down with him. When the cheating woman turned around, she finally noticed me! “Ethan, why are you here?” Chloe asked in surprise. I was shaking with anger. “How dare you ask me that? Look at what you’ve been doing! Aren’t you afraid of getting AIDS with these black men?” Chloe’s face turned cold. “Watch your mouth! What do you mean by ‘black men’? He’s a VIP client of our company! I’m working hard for our family, you know. Times have changed, and everyone is more open-minded now. Don’t be so unsophisticated, okay?” “VIP? You’re a flight attendant, not a hooker! I’m so disappointed in you! Let’s get a divorce!” When she heard me mention divorce, Chloe laughed. “Divorce? Sure! I was planning to keep milking you for living expenses! Now that you know everything, I won’t hide it anymore! Let me tell you, from the day I left the country, I never planned to come back! My dream is to immigrate abroad! Marrying you was just a temporary plan to settle for now! You fool, supporting me, working tirelessly for me! Luckily, I met Jack in Qatar! Jack is not only the younger brother of the captain of the Cameroon national team, but he’s also a professional player. His father is a tribe chief! Do you know he’s an African prince? He’s already proposed to me! You’re of no use to me anymore! Remember, I’m the one dumping you!” “Hehe, I was tired of playing the dutiful wife and mother in front of you. I’m done pretending, I’m free now!” I’m sorry, it seems that the text you wanted translated is missing. Could you provide the text you’d like me to translate?

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Husband lied about being able to see everyone’s lifespan to make up for missed opportunities with Adeline. He claimed I had sixty years left, but his idealized love from the past had only seven days. So, during those seven days, he wanted to fulfill the promises he made to her in their youth. He brought her to our home to personally care for her, and they revisited their young love, rekindling their romance. I didn’t make a fuss. He professed his love to Adeline and then organized an extravagant wedding to marry her, making me the bridesmaid. I didn’t argue. Until he decided to break the ultimate barrier with her in our marital home. With guilt in his eyes, he asked me to move out of our house. The maids laughed at me, but I simply smiled and agreed. I then packed my belongings and moved into the guest room next door with my child. Seeing me as compliant as ever, my husband teared up: “I promise, this is the last time I’ll wrong you. Once Addie passes away, I’ll make it up to you.” He didn’t know I had seen through his lies. Nor did he know that it was actually me with cancer, with only seven days left. In three days, I’ll be gone.

“She just moved next door without a fuss? Wouldn’t she be heartbroken, listening in at night?” “What? You want to help? Didn’t you see how much he dotes on Miss Adeline? She’s just a nobody now; you don’t know whom to flatter.” “Indeed, Mr. Lachlan and Miss Adeline are a better match.” I held my child, pushing boxes from our home, moving things next door trip by trip. I looked around for help, but no one responded. On the fifth day after my terminal diagnosis, my husband wanted to share our new home with his romanticized past love. The maids removed our photos, the bedding, and replaced them with red lovebird sheets, Adeline’s personal items, and their wedding photos. Lachlan glanced coldly over everything, not sparing me a look. He knelt by the sofa, feeding Adeline strawberries, full of indulgence: “I promised you everything a bride should have, you won’t lack anything, don’t let yourself suffer, be good, open your mouth…” My daughter sensed something wrong and whimpered, but Lachlan pretended not to hear. His heart and mind focused only on his first love, leaving me and our daughter to be ridiculed. I gently rocked my child, feeling a bitter ache in my heart. I had no choice; I was dying. After dealing with everything, I didn’t want to talk and planned to return to my room. But as I passed the living room, Adeline wouldn’t let me leave. Lachlan coaxed her for a long time before she shyly spoke: “I don’t have many days left and can’t have kids. I just want to borrow the baby for a few days to see what it’s like to be a mom, but I’m afraid of offending you, sister…” Instantly, everyone’s eyes were on me. I stared firmly at Lachlan. He let his mistress enter the house, making me the maids’ joke. Would he really take my child away, not letting me see her one last time before I die? Seeing Adeline’s face full of melancholy, Lachlan felt pity and looked at me earnestly: “Nora, since you can let go of our home, you won’t mind letting Addie take care of the baby, will you?” I almost forgot; Adeline was the one he vowed to marry when he was young. If Lachlan hadn’t loved her so much, willing to break up rather than hinder her future, they would have been married long ago, and I wouldn’t have picked up the pieces. I only became his wife because I was suitable. Besides responsibility, he had nothing left for me. I forcibly held back the dull pain in my head and asked him: “What if I mind? She’s our daughter, only a month old.” Lachlan paused his fruit-cutting, turned back coldly: “I said, just borrowing the child for three days. Addie’s dying and has never been a mom, what’s wrong with that?” “Anyway, you can live so long, you have plenty of time to see her.” “She’s my daughter! Without my consent, no one can take her.” My voice was resolute. I bled heavily for a whole day to barely give birth to her. And I only have three days left. If I don’t see her more now, I never will. “Nora, I didn’t think you’d be so selfish, can’t you wait just three days?” Lachlan frowned, his tone somber. “I really can’t…” But before I finished, he ordered the maids to restrain me and snatched my daughter, handing her to Adeline. I bit my lip, red-eyed, glaring at him, my heart feeling slashed and bleeding. Yet Adeline smiled triumphantly, her gaze full of pride. The pain in my body couldn’t compare to the pain in my heart. I broke free from the maids, pouncing to grab my daughter back. As I grasped the edge of the swaddle, I felt joy, but then saw Adeline’s sinister smile. I was puzzled when she suddenly fell back, loosening her grip. Seeing my daughter about to fall, I quickly reached out, holding her tight. I fell to the floor from inertia, my elbow throbbing with pain. Gasps surrounded me. But Lachlan caught Adeline, and she nestled in his arms, frightened and wronged: “Sister, if you didn’t want to lend me the child, just say so. No need to use her as a shield to push and bully me…” A maid also stepped up to defend her: “Ma’am, you overreacted. Little Miss is so small. If she hit her head on the ground, she couldn’t be saved!” Lachlan was initially moved by my willingness to protect our child, but after hearing this, his eyes filled with disappointment and anger: “Nora, I can’t believe you’re so cruel to use our child as leverage to bully Addie. You don’t deserve to be a mom!” He said, snatching my daughter from the floor. “For these few days, go stay in the maids’ quarters and serve Addie well.” After speaking, Lachlan saw my tears, curled on the ground, hesitating, a hint of concern in his eyes: “Are you unwell?” To the side, Adeline shrugged: “Sister, you didn’t hit your head. Why act like you have a concussion, trying to gain Lachlan’s sympathy?” “The child isn’t crying, but you, an adult, are. That’s not right.” Lachlan’s concern vanished, replaced by disgust: “Don’t act like you’re dying. Your bright sixty-year lifespan is clear. You can’t fool me.” My heart ached with countless pains. He’d been lying to me all along. Thinking of the time after our whirlwind wedding, the close moments with Lachlan, felt like a dream. In the later stages of my pregnancy, he pushed away work, cooked for me daily, and applied oil to prevent stretch marks. He didn’t mind my swollen, unattractive appearance, still hugging and kissing me… But in just five days after Adeline’s return, everything changed. Lachlan protected Adeline, even the maids sided with her. I was isolated, with no support. When the pain subsided, I sat up from the floor, finding the living room empty. Lachlan ordered I shouldn’t see my daughter for these days, even throwing my luggage from the guest room into the maids’ quarters. With my body unwell, I planned to return to my room but was stopped by Adeline. “Sister, I plan to let my Bichon Frise stay here. Maybe you can make do in the basement for a few days.” I gritted my teeth, glaring at Lachlan behind her. Lachlan pursed his lips, finally stopping her from moving me again: “Alright, the guest room next door is for your dog. The maids’ quarters suit her.” Hearing this, Adeline cheerfully ran upstairs to arrange the doghouse, and Lachlan comforted me: “Nora, I just want to make up for her dying regrets. I promise to stay with Addie for three days.” “After three days, we can spend sixty years together. She’s just passing through, you’re still my legal wife, nothing will change.” Lachlan touched my head. “Be good, be generous, and I promise you won’t be wronged again.” He said and walked away. But he didn’t know I had no time to be generous. We had no future. 2 Five days ago, I was diagnosed with brain cancer, only seven days to live. I told Lachlan about the cancer, but he didn’t believe me, saying I was pretending to be pitiful like Adeline. Since he didn’t believe me, I stopped explaining. The pain in my brain left me weak and limp. Dazed, I heard a knock on the door. Opening it, I found Mrs. Chen, sent by Lachlan with a gift for me—a bouquet of eternal gold roses. He also had Mrs. Chen convey that it was compensation for giving up the new house and my daughter. Mrs. Chen was the only one in the villa who truly cared for me now. She smiled, suppressing her distaste for Adeline, and advised me: “Mr. Lachlan is just temporarily blinded by a vixen. Sending an expensive gift shows he still cares for you.” “Maybe it’ll be better in a few days. Ma’am, just bear with it.” I placed the roses in the corner without expression. There were already four identical bouquets of eternal roses there. I nodded perfunctorily. Since Lachlan lied to me, he sent Mrs. Chen with such a bouquet every day. Mrs. Chen couldn’t see, but after three years of sharing a bed, how could I not know? He was just trying to ease his guilt, deceiving himself. Even sending flowers was done secretly; he didn’t think he was wrong. Looking at the eternal flowers in the corner, only two bouquets left. Once they’re gone, I’ll likely be gone too. There’s no eternity for me… Brain cancer is truly torturous. After a night of splitting headaches, I barely slept at dawn. Suddenly, my phone rang abruptly, pulling me from sleep. I pressed my temples hard, answering the call from my attending doctor. Dr. Xavier’s excited voice rang out: Mrs. Chen might not notice, but after spending three years by his side, how could I not see through him? He’s just trying to ease his guilt, fooling himself. Even when he gives flowers, he does it in secret. He doesn’t think he’s in the wrong at all. Looking at the Eternal Flowers in the corner, only two bouquets remain. Once they’re gone, so might I be. Where’s the eternity in that… Brain cancer is truly relentless. After an entire night of a splitting headache, I finally managed to catch some sleep at dawn. Suddenly, my phone rang, startling me awake. Pressing hard on my temples, I answered the call from my physician. Dr. Xavier’s excited voice came through: “Ms. Nora, a new drug that can inhibit brain cancer cells has just been released abroad. Supplies are limited, but I managed to get a bottle through some connections.” “It might help extend your life a bit. If you’d like, come to the hospital to pick it up.” Hearing this, I was overwhelmed with joy. Even if it’s just for my daughter, I need to live a few more days. So I agreed immediately and rushed to the hospital to get the new medicine. Dr. Xavier specifically reminded me that the new drug is precious and needs to be kept safe. He said it could help me survive the next two days and maybe extend my life until the next batch is produced. With tears in my eyes, I paid for the medicine and held it tightly in my hand. But as soon as I left the pharmacy, I ran into Lachlan and Adeline, who were there to pick up medicine too. Seeing the medicine in my hand, Lachlan immediately approached me, nervously asking: “Are you sick? Why are you at the hospital getting medicine?” Lachlan kept turning me around, trying to figure out what illness I had. These days, he’s been wavering between me and Adeline, making me think he still cares about me. I couldn’t help but find it amusing and casually told the truth: “Yeah, cancer, only a few days left to live.” Lachlan froze for a moment, but Adeline reacted first, bursting into tears: “Sister, you know I have cancer and live in pain every day, yet you joke about it with me.” “Yeah, if I die sooner, I won’t burden Brother Lachlan with taking care of me. I’m just a wretched short-lived ghost! Let me die!” She said this and tried to climb out of the corridor window, but Lachlan stopped her instantly. Lachlan was both angry and heartbroken, turning to scold me harshly: “Nora, why do you keep using cancer to provoke Addie? You’re living just fine. Do you know how tormenting illness is?” “You’re so selfish, acting like you’re dying all the time. Even the King of the Underworld wouldn’t take someone like you! You’re blind!” With that, he grabbed the medicine from my hand, speaking angrily: “I want to see what kind of life-threatening disease you really have!” “Don’t touch my medicine!” Knowing how precious the new drug is, I panicked and rushed to get it back. But Lachlan pushed me away, seeing the blank label on the bottle. The drug is still in the trial phase, so there’s no label on the bottle. Adeline sneered at me: “Sister, if you’re faking cancer, at least write something on the prop bottle. How crude. How can Brother Lachlan believe you?” “Brother Lachlan, who knows what’s in there. We can’t let her take it. What if it kills her?” I shot her a cold glance, gritting my teeth: “If I die from it, what… does it matter to you…” Before I could finish, Lachlan had already tossed the bottle out the window with a wave of his hand. Outside the window was the artificial lake!

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I was a rehabilitation therapist hired by a wealthy family, but I ended up posing as the groom to marry into the Mason Family. The CEO’s wife despised me for wrecking the grand wedding she had meticulously planned for her childhood friend. Disregarding the heavy snowfall outside, she dumped cold water over me and punished me by making me kneel outside the front gate for three days and nights. While I was freezing and bruised, she spent her days drinking and partying with her male companion inside. To entertain him, she even ordered the removal of my sister’s oxygen tube, resulting in her suffocation and death. Afterward, she casually tossed me a check: “Didn’t you claim to love your sister the most? Now that she’s gone, I don’t see you shedding a single tear.” “Fill in the amount yourself, and don’t go around saying the Mason Family is stingy with their sister-in-law.” I turned away, tore up the check, and began arranging my sister’s funeral. What she didn’t know was that before the wedding, her childhood friend had taken the money and fled the country. I was merely a tool her family used to save her reputation. Now, my sister is gone, and the debt to the Mason Family is repaid. It’s time for me to leave.

“Asher! I’ve told you, no funeral for your sister. If people find out I have such a sickly sister-in-law, where would that leave my reputation?” “Get back here immediately! Caspian’s legs are sore. Aren’t you a top-tier rehabilitation therapist? Hurry back and give him a massage.” As soon as I hung up, Amanda’s furious voice echoed for everyone to hear. Caspian, as she mentioned, is her new boyfriend, who bears a striking resemblance to her childhood friend. I glanced down at the urn in my arms and said, “I didn’t…” hold a funeral for my sister; it was a direct burial. Before I could finish, she hung up. Just then, Mrs. Mason arrived hastily after hearing the news. Mrs. Mason frowned at the surroundings and turned to the butler, “Why isn’t Amanda here? Doesn’t she know today is her sister-in-law’s burial?” The butler, wiping his forehead, replied softly, “Madam, I can’t reach the young master…” Mrs. Mason called Amanda several times before she answered. “Amanda! You’ve been causing enough trouble daily, but do you even know what today is…” Mrs. Mason was impatiently interrupted. “Mom, is Asher spinning tales for you again? Ignore him; he’s nothing but a lying fraud.” “You…” All Mrs. Mason was left with was a busy tone. Mrs. Mason looked at me apologetically: “Asher, I’m sorry. Amanda is spoiled by me.” I shook my head. She wouldn’t even arrange my sister’s funeral, so why would she come to the cemetery for the burial? I’ve long been used to it. For seven years, Amanda detested me, believing I ruined the grand wedding she planned for her childhood friend. She treated me coldly, allowed the staff to bully me, and looked down on my background. Later, for Declan, she aborted our barely two-month-old child and sent me the video to boast. I still remember the icy look in her eyes that day: “Asher, you’re not fit to be my child’s father!” She even pointed at my sister with hatred: “Asher, you and your sister are the disgrace of my life!” Thinking of this, I looked at my sister’s smiling photo on the tombstone and silently said, “Mom, the seven-year promise is up.” Mom, upon hearing this, looked flustered for a moment. I agreed to marry into the Mason Family to repay them for the medical expenses they covered for my sister, setting a seven-year term with Mrs. Mason. Now, my sister is gone, and the term is up. It’s time for me to go. Mrs. Mason dismissed the butler and others, her voice hoarse: “Asher, I know you don’t want to stay with the Mason Family. I can let you go, but…” Her expression changed, turning stern: “You must always keep the wedding secret and never mention a word to Amanda until the day you die!” With that, she handed me a black card: “Consider it a token of my appreciation. The money inside is enough to secure your life after this. Take it.” It wasn’t appreciation; it was hush money. If I didn’t take it, Mrs. Mason probably wouldn’t let me leave easily. Seeing me accept the black card, her tense expression relaxed a bit, and she said quietly: “There are still seven days until the end of the seven-year term. Leave after seven days. The Mason Family also needs a legitimate reason for the announcement.” I nodded. The purpose of marrying me into the family was for the Mason Family’s reputation and Amanda’s public image. Waiting seven more days was nothing to me. Mrs. Mason took the flowers from the butler and placed them in front of the tombstone, regretfully saying: “We’ve received news from abroad that they’ve found medicine to treat your sister. We just needed a few more days…” She sighed deeply: “I should never have softened and agreed to let her leave the hospital. If only…” My sister’s condition originally didn’t allow her to be discharged, but her health suddenly improved, and she insisted on leaving the hospital, not wanting to stay there. That’s why I agreed for her to come home to recuperate. I placed my sister’s favorite toy in front of the tombstone and said softly: “Perhaps this way, she won’t suffer from illness anymore.” For her, it was a form of release. After offering some comfort, Mrs. Mason left with the butler. But soon after, a few familiar-faced bodyguards barged into the cemetery, raising hammers to destroy my sister’s tombstone. I stepped forward to stop them: “What are you doing!” The lead bodyguard signaled to stop, speaking coldly: “Son-in-law, please don’t make it difficult for us. These are the lady’s orders. She also asked us to deliver a message.” I clutched the hammer tightly and asked: “What message?” The bodyguard hesitated: “This is the consequence of being late. From now on, for every second you’re late, you’ll kneel in the ancestral hall for another minute.”

I then remembered Amanda wanted me back to massage Declan. As soon as they spoke, the bodyguards pulled me away, raising the hammer and smashing the tombstone into pieces. I tried to stop them, but my hands were held tightly, unable to move. “No! Stop! I’ll go back with you!” I shouted desperately, urging them to stop. Hearing this, they immediately put down the hammers, turned, and gestured for me to follow. Upon returning, I didn’t see Amanda. The bodyguard beside me put away a stopwatch and said: “Son-in-law, you’re late. The young master wants you to kneel and pay respects around the ancestral hall a hundred times.” Kneeling in the ancestral hall was a usual punishment Amanda used on me. She hated me deeply but was concerned about rumors of the Mason Family abusing their son-in-law. She came up with the idea of making me kneel and pay respects daily, which could be seen as strict family tradition and filial piety of the son-in-law. I didn’t want to stir up trouble in these last ten days, so I endured it, kneeling and paying respects to the Mason Family ancestors with every step. On my 99th round, Amanda returned, accompanied by Declan. Feigning surprise, Declan pointed at me and said: “They say kneeling sincerely is the only way it works. But Brother Asher is so perfunctory. Besides, he’s the Mason Family’s son-in-law. If word gets out that he’s disrespectful to ancestors, it could implicate you, Sister Amanda.” Hearing this, Amanda frowned: “Do it again, kneel properly. Don’t disgrace the Mason Family.” Following her words, I saw the smug look on Declan’s face as his long fingers pointed. “What are you looking at? Hurry and kneel again!” Amanda took the teacup from a servant and threw it in front of me. Enduring the sharp pain, I knelt, allowing the broken fragments to pierce my knees. I silently recited, only seven days left. Once the debt is repaid, I can leave the Mason Family forever. If I hadn’t signed an agreement not to tarnish the Mason Family’s reputation or bring shame to their name, I wouldn’t have endured Amanda’s abuse for seven years. Initially, I thought this would be temporary. After some time, she’d let go of the impersonation incident. I never imagined kneeling would last seven long years. Amanda’s resentment not only remained but turned into hatred. She blamed me for ruining her future. A month after our wedding, she told me: “If I’m unhappy, you shouldn’t be happy either.” She thought I married into the Mason Family for their wealth and public admiration, which made her despise me even more. Moreover, she ordered everyone in the Mason household not to show me any respect or sympathy, letting others treat me like a slave. Over the years, I’ve been worn down, living worse than stray dogs passing by the Mason home. Amanda’s male companions came and went, each bearing some resemblance to her childhood friend. I knew she was reminding me of the impersonation incident. Declan brought a bowl of rice dumplings to Amanda, and she affectionately said: “It’s so cold, yet you still cook. What if you catch a cold?” Declan brushed the snow off her coat, smiling: “It’s not that cold. Try it and see if it’s sweet.” As they moved, I saw Amanda’s face light up with a smile, saying it was sweet. But she always hated sweet food, especially rice dumplings. Once, to mend our relationship, I made her a bowl of rice dumplings. Without a word, she knocked over the boiling ceramic bowl. Coldly, she said: “Asher, don’t assume you know my preferences. Remember your identity as an imposter!” “Don’t let such cheap things appear in the Mason Family again; I find them dirty.” Since then, no rice dumplings have appeared in the Mason Family kitchen. After finishing my kneeling, I stood up, feeling the snow falling again. This time, it was colder and more piercing than ever. My consciousness was slipping. When I woke up, Amanda stood by the bed, her voice cold: “Asher, you’ve grown bold, using self-harm as a tactic. Do you think I’ll let you off because of this? Keep dreaming.” “It’s just kneeling in the ancestral hall; at most, your knees are injured. The wounds on your back and arms are unnecessary. Next time, make it more convincing.” “I don’t want to see this cheap stuff in the Mason Family ever again. It’s beneath us.” After that, not a single Rice Dumpling showed up in the Mason Family kitchen. Once I rose from kneeling, I felt the snow falling again, colder and more biting than ever before. My consciousness began to fade. When I came to, Amanda stood by my bed, her voice icy, “Asher, you’ve really gotten bold, haven’t you? Playing the victim card now? You think that’ll make me go easy on you? Keep dreaming.” “Kneeling in the Ancestral Hall might hurt your knees, but the wounds on your back and arms are excessive. Next time, make it more convincing.” All my injuries were because of her. If it weren’t for her orders, I wouldn’t have been beaten and scolded by other members of the Mason Family. Old wounds never healed before new ones appeared. It’s been like this for seven years, and yet she has the nerve to question me. She thought she’d seen through my facade and sneered, “Asher, if you help me with something, I won’t make you kneel in the Ancestral Hall today.” I looked up at her. With a smile, she said, “The roads are slippery from the snow. Caspian accidentally hit someone. You need to take the blame for him. Just like before. You’ll be back in two days.” I immediately thought of the day my sister died. I missed her last moments because I was covering for Declan. And now she wants me to be Declan’s scapegoat again. It’s laughable. I looked at her and said, “I’m not going.” Amanda’s expression changed, and she said coldly, “Asher, this isn’t a discussion. I’m informing you. You owe me. Do you think being the Mason Family’s live-in son-in-law is an easy position?” “I’ve already spread the news. Do you want the Mason Family to bear the stigma of covering up a crime? Asher, aren’t you always concerned about the Mason Family’s reputation?” She said this and then walked out with her phone to make a call. She always uses this pretext to make me take the fall for others, constantly threatening me with the Mason Family’s reputation. Before long, Declan came in, smirking, “Who would’ve thought, the Mason Family’s son-in-law, looking so polished on the outside, is actually a miserable wretch behind closed doors.” “You’re wasting this status. Why not give it to me? Amanda never loved you anyway. Why hold on?” “I heard you’ve lived worse than a dog in the Mason Family these years. Kneeling in the Ancestral Hall daily is one thing, but even at night, you have to fight for a place to sleep. You’ve covered for her for so many years. Has she ever smiled at you?” Declan wasn’t wrong; my life in the Mason Family was indeed worse than a dog’s. Though I carried the title of son-in-law, no one in the Mason Family recognized me as such. Behind my back, they spoke ill of me and even cursed me to die miserably. They all said I was a parasite, one you couldn’t shake off once attached. They believed that even being under the same roof with me would bring bad luck, so they didn’t even want to say a word to me. Often, they preferred to call Declan the son-in-law. Declan saw my silence as agreement and laughed, “Asher, you should thank me. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have gotten rid of your sickly sister.” I grabbed him and asked, “What do you mean?” He laughed, “Asher, you think your sister died because her illness worsened? That’s not it.” I lost control and grabbed his collar, scaring him into screaming, which alerted Amanda outside. She came in and slapped me hard. She pushed me heavily to the ground, and I felt a sharp pain in my waist. But the residual anesthesia numbed my senses. Declan deliberately fell and shouted, “Amanda, don’t blame him. It’s all my fault. If it weren’t for my face, he wouldn’t have done this…” I struggled to get up, wanting to explain, but the pain in my back overwhelmed me, leaving me speechless. Amanda carefully helped Declan up, looking at the red marks on his neck. She called the bodyguards outside with a stern face. She knelt down in front of me and said coldly, “Didn’t the Butler tell you? The Mason Family tradition forbids jealousy.” “Seems like you’ve forgotten the Mason Family rules. Let me help you remember.” She signaled, and four bodyguards stood in line. Amanda left the hospital room with Declan, throwing back a command at the door, “Break the hand that grabbed.” I curled up in pain on the ground. The pain in my wrist was nothing compared to the pain in my heart. I tried to get up, but a bodyguard stomped me down. In an instant, I heard the sound of bones breaking inside me. Mrs. Mason burst in, yelling, “What are you doing! Stop it! Do you want to kill someone!” But the bodyguards didn’t stop until my left hand was deformed, unrecognizable. Mrs. Mason cradled me with a look of heartache and shouted at the Butler, “Where’s the doctor? Call a doctor!” Seeing my body covered in bandages, with not a single unscathed spot, she couldn’t bear to look any longer. She turned away and said, “Amanda went too far this time. How could she do this to you? You’re her husband…” Moments later, her expression changed. She looked at me and said, “Asher, you should go. There’s no need to wait for the remaining five days…” As soon as those words left her mouth, the Butler placed my luggage in front of me. I took the plane ticket Mrs. Mason handed me, and she advised, “I’ve packed a few things of your sister’s from when she was alive. Keep them as a memento.” “I’ll explain to Amanda. Don’t worry about it. Just promise me you’ll take care of yourself.” I nodded as the professional medical staff took me away overnight. Watching my departing figure, Mrs. Mason asked with regret, “Did I make a mistake? I shouldn’t have orchestrated this marriage.” “Otherwise, Asher and Amanda wouldn’t have turned out this way…” The Butler handed her a tissue, comforting her, “Madam, it’s not your fault. If you hadn’t been forced back then, I believe you wouldn’t have done this.” Years ago, when Mrs. Mason lost her husband, just after the funeral, rumors of the Mason Group’s collapse spread. With only the mother and daughter left in the Mason Family, everyone was watching them, waiting for their downfall. Just when Amanda was establishing herself as the leader, her fiancé ran off with money. How could Mrs. Mason just watch this happen? So, she devised a plan to switch grooms. The Mason Family couldn’t become a laughingstock, so Mrs. Mason chose the newly arrived rehabilitation therapist, Asher. In one night, Asher went from being a poor therapist to a wealthy family’s son-in-law. Thinking of this, Mrs. Mason couldn’t help but regret, “I wronged Asher…” A few days after Amanda disappeared, she looked at her phone’s empty notification bar. She refreshed it repeatedly, but there were no new messages from me. In the past, after I got beaten, I’d always come to her to agree to her demands. But now, I hadn’t shown up. She only asked me to cover for Declan. It wasn’t the first time. I couldn’t be avoiding her. The thought made Amanda even more frustrated, and the bodyguards sent out to find me hadn’t reported back. Declan, noticing her frustration, handed her a glass of her favorite wine, but she pushed it aside without a glance. With no messages from me, her mind was restless, and this made her uneasy. Unable to bear it any longer, she finally called me. After a long wait, the cold voice from the receiver said the line was disconnected. Frustrated, she smashed the wine glass on the table and headed back to the Mason Family. Once there, she hurried upstairs. Seeing the familiar room decor, she sighed in relief. She thought I was just playing my usual disappearing act. In the past, my resistance to Amanda was to cut off contact, turn off my phone, and stay elsewhere for a few days before returning. She assumed this time was no different. Declan, worried, asked, “If he’s not here, what about the accident I caused?” Amanda reassured him from the sofa, “Don’t worry. With Asher taking the fall, I’ll make sure you’re fine.” “He can’t hide for long. Maybe he’ll come back on his own tomorrow, and then I’ll make him apologize to you.” Just then, the Butler came in, casually dumping my belongings on the floor like trash. At first, she didn’t care, thinking it was just some old clothes being discarded. But when the Butler pulled out a toy bunny, the disdain in her eyes faded. She frowned, “He’s giving up all this?” The Butler nodded. She sensed something was off. That toy was my most cherished item, caught by my sister herself. I never let anyone touch it, so how could I abandon it? Doubt rose in Amanda’s mind, but she quickly suppressed it. She frowned and asked, “Where did Asher go?” Before the Butler could reply, Mrs. Mason came downstairs, holding a document. Amanda’s unease intensified, though she didn’t realize she was holding her breath. When Mrs. Mason handed her the divorce papers, she finally understood the source of her frustration. Mrs. Mason said quietly, “These are the divorce papers Asher left you. He’s left the Mason Family for good.” Could you provide the specific text you need translated? I’ll be happy to help once I have it.

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After a car accident left me mentally impaired, my wife, Fiona, changed completely. Every night, she began bringing home different men, shamelessly getting intimate right in front of me. She even allowed these men to humiliate and beat me without resistance. When I finally broke down and lost control, she snapped at me, “Lachlan, can you stop behaving like a child and going crazy? I’m a person too, I get tired, I need love, and I have my own needs! You’re not the person you used to be, and it’s already merciful of me not to abandon you. Do you expect me to remain loyal forever?” What she didn’t know was that when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, I willingly traded my intelligence for her health. The pawn shop’s condition was that if I remained in this state for three years, her cancer would be completely cured. Now there are only three days left. But I regret it. I want back what I lost. Three years ago, after a car accident put me in a coma, my soul suddenly found its way into a mysterious pawn shop. The owner asked if I was willing to trade my intelligence. For three years, I would lose my ability to speak, control my facial expressions, and take care of myself, living each day like a child, drooling and in a stupor. In return, Fiona’s breast cancer would be completely healed. For Fiona’s sake, I agreed without hesitation. When I woke up, Fiona’s cancer was miraculously gone. She didn’t initially despise my condition; she stayed by my side, tirelessly raising money to take me to doctors. But by the second year, she changed. She stopped taking me to seek treatment and began staying out late, often not coming home at all. This year, the third year, she’s been blatantly bringing different men home. As I was lost in thought, the door clicked open. Fiona returned with a new man. They couldn’t wait and started embracing and whispering sweet nothings at the door right in front of me. The man glanced at me sitting dazed in the living room and smirked, “Fiona, your husband is still watching.” “Ignore him!” Fiona said dismissively, “He’s a fool, he doesn’t understand anything. Let him watch!” I stared at them blankly, feeling as if needles were piercing my heart. Yes, I’m a fool. Even though my mind is clear, I can’t speak or control my expressions. Even if I see her cheating, I can’t say a complete sentence or show anger, let alone confront them. I can only watch them foolishly like a child. I clenched my fists tightly, my eyes turning red with intense anger. The man frowned, “Fiona, your husband is crying. Are you sure he doesn’t understand?” “He’s been like a child since he became like this, crying often. I’m used to it.” Fiona was indifferent. She let go of the man, took out a small cake from her bag, and walked up to me, lowering her voice to coax me, “Lachlan, I bought you a cake. Go to the room and eat the cake.” When I first became impaired, Fiona often used cake to cheer me up. Even though I couldn’t express my pain, her company made life feel sweet. But now, looking at the cake in front of me, it just felt incredibly ironic. I couldn’t accept her betrayal. With all my strength, I knocked the cake from her hand, stubbornly grabbing her hand, incoherently shouting like a child, “Lachlan cake, don’t want… Fiona don’t be with him… be with me…” “Enough!” Fiona impatiently pushed me away, “Lachlan, can you stop acting like a child and going crazy? I’m really fed up! I’m a person too, I get tired, I need love, and I have my own needs! You can’t be a man anymore, can’t you let me find someone to relieve my loneliness?” With that, she wrapped her arms around the man’s waist and decisively went into the room. And I stumbled, falling to the ground. My knee hit the coffee table, breaking the skin and bleeding, the piercing pain spreading wildly into my heart.

Not long after, ambiguous and shameful gasps came from the room. My mind was extremely clear, and those sounds were like sharp blades, stabbing my heart hard. I’ve experienced this scene many times. Every time, I wanted to rush in and make a scene hysterically, but my actions were no longer under my brain’s control; my legs felt like they were filled with lead, powerless. I could only foolishly guard the door all night, unable to sleep. Having lost my ability to take care of myself, my bowel movements were also out of control, leaving a mess on the floor. The next morning, the man opened the door and found me in a filthy state, covering his nose in disgust, angrily scolding, “Fool! If you need to go, go to the toilet, doing it at the door is disgusting!” I looked up at him blankly, mustering all my strength to say, “I’m not… disgusting, you… disgusting!” The man flew into a rage and kicked me hard. “How dare you, a fool, curse me, are you tired of living?” He punched and kicked me viciously. I had no strength to resist and could only endure it. Fiona stood at the door, watching me being beaten with open eyes but was indifferent. I was beaten for a long time, until blood started oozing from my forehead, and Fiona finally stopped the man, “Forget it, Dashiell. He’s just a fool, he doesn’t understand anything, don’t bother with a fool.” The two of them left. Leaving me, bruised and filthy, lying on the ground. The pain in my heart, like waves, almost swallowed me whole. At that moment, I started to regret my decision. Was my selfless sacrifice really worth it? Just then, the voice of the pawn shop owner suddenly appeared in my ear. “Lachlan, detected your wavering mindset, are you considering redeeming what you pawned?” I was stunned, hoarsely asking her, “If I redeem it, what will happen?” “Your wife’s breast cancer will relapse and be completely incurable.” I hesitated for a long time. In the end, I still shook my head, “Don’t redeem.” Fiona and I have been together for ten years since college. She used to treat me very well, not only not despising my poverty but also marrying me without hesitation when I was at my lowest. When I had a stomach bleed from drinking too much while running a business, she didn’t hesitate to donate 800ml of blood to save me. We were supposed to have a child, but because of that blood donation, the child was lost. Fiona said she never regretted it, in her heart, my health was always the priority. She used to love me very much. But love can’t withstand tests. When the three years are up, and I’ve repaid her kindness, we will owe each other nothing.

Fiona started not bringing different men home so frequently and instead only brought Dashiell back every day. It seemed they had developed feelings, and it wasn’t just about relieving loneliness anymore. They often got intimate and flirted openly in front of me. At first, I would break down and get angry. But after many times, I gradually became numb. Even when Dashiell mocked me repeatedly, I became indifferent. There were only two weeks left until the three years were up. I slowly counted the days, looking forward to getting out of this situation soon. But in the end, I wavered again. On Fiona’s 28th birthday, she brought Dashiell home again. Dashiell personally cooked for her. When he opened the fridge, he found a box of frozen meat. This frozen meat was the three-month-old embryo of the child Fiona lost. At that time, we couldn’t bear to part with it, so we carefully preserved it. But now, Dashiell put that embryo into the frying pan. By the time I sluggishly walked into the kitchen, the embryo had already been cooked into “spicy fried meat.” I couldn’t accept it, I broke down completely, eyes red as I swung my fist, hysterically charging at him! “Bast…ard!” But I was slow, no match for Dashiell. Before my fist could reach him, he kicked me hard to the ground. Fiona heard the commotion and ran into the kitchen. “Dashiell, what’s wrong?” Dashiell kicked me again, cursing, “Fiona, your husband is not just a fool, why does he keep going crazy for no reason!” Fiona turned and scolded me, “Lachlan, if you keep this up, I won’t care for you anymore!” I lay on the ground, eyes red, chest heaving with anger. I glared at Dashiell, trembling as I pointed at the bowl of fried meat, struggling to speak, “Why… did you fry it! Do you know… do you know, this is my… child!” Fiona couldn’t believe what I said, her pupils shook, “Lachlan, you…” Her shock was interrupted by Dashiell. “I know, so what? Fiona agreed to let me fry it, I heard it’s very nutritious!” Dashiell looked proud, his tone full of mockery. I looked at Fiona in disbelief, my heart felt like it was being torn apart, the piercing pain hit me. Once, she shed many tears for this child, now, she could be so ruthless! I opened my mouth in grief, using all my strength, but I couldn’t say another word, only making sobbing sounds. Dashiell glanced at me mockingly, suddenly picked up the bowl of food from the stove, squatted down, and grabbed my hair. “Fool, since you care so much about this dish, eat it all! Maybe after eating it, you won’t be a fool anymore!” I looked at Fiona in disbelief, feeling as if my heart were being ripped apart, a sharp pain overwhelming me. She had once cried so much for this child, yet now she could be so heartless! I opened my mouth in despair, struggling to speak, but no words came out, only a pitiful “uh-uh” sound. Dashiell glared at me with contempt, grabbed a bowl of food from the stove, squatted down, and yanked my hair. “You fool, if you care so much about this meat, then eat it all! Maybe it’ll make you smarter!” He shoved all the meat from the bowl into my mouth forcefully. Fiona just stood there, watching without intervening. After he was done, Dashiell let go of me in disgust. “What a killjoy! Fiona, let’s go out to eat and leave this fool behind!” Fiona followed him without a second thought. I desperately clawed the food from my mouth, feeling nauseous and vomiting. I lay on the ground in a mess, tears streaming down my face. Fiona’s coldness filled me with despair. I couldn’t go on. Suddenly, the voice of the pawn shop owner echoed in my ears: “Lachlan, we’ve detected a shift in your mindset. Do you want to reclaim your pawned item?” I hesitated for a moment and replied hoarsely, “Yes, I want to reclaim it.” The pawn shop owner sighed, “You only have three days left. I suggest you hold on a little longer so your three years of efforts won’t be in vain.” I clenched my fists tightly, biting my lip until it bled. The blood was bright red and stark against my skin. In the end, I chose to compromise. That night, Fiona returned home satisfied after her meal. Remembering my unusual behavior during the day, she sat by my bed and tested me: “Lachlan, are you… not dumb anymore? Have you recovered?” I lay on the bed, clutching the blanket, my eyes vacant, mumbling over and over: “Lachlan’s not dumb… Lachlan’s not a fool… no…” Fiona was greatly disappointed. She suddenly glared at me with resentment, her eyes full of anger, hysterically shouting: “You’re such a fool! Lachlan, you idiot, you’ve wasted my youth, ruined my life. How will you ever make it up to me?” I stared at her blankly, my heart aching immensely. I had saved her life, but in her eyes, I was the one who ruined it. How laughable. Three years of self-sacrifice, and this is my reward. The next morning, Fiona left early. After she left, the house felt empty and suffocating. Since becoming foolish, I’ve stayed home alone and never ventured out. But today, I suddenly wanted to take a walk. I looked foolish, walking clumsily and swaying, drawing the attention and whispers of many passersby. But I ignored them. Passing by a secluded stream, I unexpectedly saw two familiar figures. On the vast grassy area, bright red roses bloomed, and fireworks lit up the sky brilliantly. Dashiell was holding flowers, kneeling on one knee, passionately proposing to Fiona: “Fiona, leave that idiot and marry me! I’ll protect you forever!” Fiona, with tears in her eyes, nodded full of emotion: “Dashiell, I will!” The scene pierced my heart fiercely. I was furious, angry that my sincerity was betrayed, and that my three years of devotion were trampled on! Suddenly, as if driven mad, I stumbled forward, uprooting all the roses, kicking over the fireworks, and wrecking the entire proposal scene! Dashiell flew into a rage, grabbing my collar and hitting me. “Lachlan, you fool! How dare you ruin my carefully arranged proposal! Do you have a death wish!” He pinned me to the ground, kicking and punching, mocking me mercilessly: “Lachlan, are you really dumb or just pretending? Can a fool not accept being betrayed? But what good is your anger? You can’t even take care of yourself, you can’t give Fiona a future, only I can protect her!” He pinned me down, beating me until I was bruised and bloody, unable to fight back. Fiona watched me being beaten, not stopping it, her eyes full of disdain. Finally, Dashiell tied me up and threw me by the riverside. “Fiona, push this fool in.” Fiona was shocked, her eyes wide: “Dashiell, are you crazy?” Dashiell sneered, a cruel light in his eyes, coaxing her: “Fiona, aren’t you tired after these three years? If he dies, you can be completely free. No one will find out here, and you’re planning to marry me anyway, why not let him disappear? “He can’t take care of himself, living is suffering, he’s better off dead.” Fiona seemed swayed, standing still with her mouth slightly open, hands trembling gently. After a while, she slowly walked towards me lying by the river. Her eyes were filled with hesitation and doubt. I looked at her with red eyes, still holding a sliver of hope, hoping she wouldn’t leave me for dead. But in the end, she closed her eyes and reached out to me. “Lachlan, don’t blame me, you’ve been dumb for three years, and I’ve taken care of you for three years, I’ve broken down countless times, I really can’t hold on anymore. Maybe death is a relief for you too.” With that, she ruthlessly pushed me into the bottomless river. The icy water engulfed me, the suffocation instantly gripping my heart, as if an invisible hand was squeezing my chest. An all-consuming pain overwhelmed me, filling me with despair. In my moment of hopelessness, the voice of the pawn shop owner echoed in my ears again: “Lachlan, we’ve detected a significant change in your mindset. Do you want to reclaim your item?” I regretted it. She was no longer the woman who once loved me dearly. In just three years, I saw her true nature clearly. I had no reason to hold on anymore. “Yes, I want to reclaim my item.” “Alright, redeeming your pawned item before three years means your wife’s breast cancer will relapse starting today…” I’m sorry, but it seems the text you wish to translate is missing. Could you please provide the text you would like to have translated?

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Five years ago, on Mother’s Day, my son gave me the most unforgettable gift of my life—a debt of five million. As a designer, I worked tirelessly by day and took on part-time jobs at night. Eventually, I managed to gather the money and returned it to the creditor, feeling utterly exhausted. But then I saw my son Jasper and my ex-husband Griffin, looking sharp in suits, sitting comfortably in a private room while the creditor was humbly toasting them and offering smiles. The father and son projected an air of authority. “Mr. Carter, I really tried my best. Who would have thought your wife would be so stubborn, working herself to the bone rather than asking you for help?” Jasper reassured his father, “Dad, don’t worry. If I incur another debt of twenty million, this time there’s no way Mom can escape!” Griffin put down his cigar, stood up, and patted his son on the shoulder. “Dad, I’ve got my eye on a sports car. Look.” “Go to the finance department tomorrow and get the money. It’s just a car. Remember, Jasper, you’re the heir to the Carter Corporation.” The Carter Corporation has been making waves in the business world, dominating all industries in City A for the past decade. Even the fashion company I work for is a subsidiary of Carter Corporation. When my son graduated from college, he envied others, wondering why he didn’t have such wealth despite having the same last name. “My son is so outstanding; he’ll definitely reach the top of the pyramid in the future.” He smiled and nodded. Perhaps even then, Jasper had already reconnected with Griffin. The noise in the club was deafening, and I felt a cold sweat break out, a sense of bitterness welling up inside me. But what came next plunged me into despair. “It’s all my mom’s fault. You just had a few affairs outside—did she really need to divorce you and ruin my good life?” “My mom is so unreasonable. If it weren’t for your social engagements back then, there wouldn’t be a business empire now. Women are just petty.” I’ll never forget the day I discovered Griffin’s affair, catching him in bed with another woman at a hotel. He never paid a dime in child support after our divorce, and I raised our son through hardship. Back then, he was understanding, knowing how hard I worked and wanting to help share the burden. He started his own business right after college. But then, on Mother’s Day, he told me his business failed, and his partner ran off, leaving him in debt. I watched as the creditors came to our door, vandalizing and threatening to harm Jasper if he didn’t repay the money. I stood resolutely in front of my son, taking on the debt myself. As a seasoned designer, I shouldn’t have had to work so hard on designs anymore, but the debt was enormous. I had no choice but to take on freelance work in secret. Unfortunately, the company found out, and because I violated industry rules, my bosses, out of respect for my years of service, demoted me to a design assistant. With even less money, I had to work during the day, wait tables at a hot pot restaurant at night, and clean at a fast-food restaurant until the early hours. I lived like this for five years, but the debt just snowballed, getting bigger and bigger. Jasper disappeared, leaving me with no choice but to beg the creditors for a few more days. But they were unmoved; debts had to be repaid. I had no right to ask for leniency. Yet, thinking of my son’s future, I knelt and banged my head on the ground until it bled. The debt collectors were afraid of causing a death and agreed to let me pay in installments. I’m not someone who gives up easily. For my son, I became stronger, perhaps the power of a mother’s love. But what I didn’t expect was that this was all a scam. I lost completely in love and money. Disappointment overwhelmed me, and I called an old friend. “Imogen, you once said you hoped I’d become the head of your company’s design department. Do you still need me?” There was silence on the other end. Just as I was about to speak, Imogen burst into tears of joy. “Hurry and come over. With your talent, you can easily be the design director or even the general manager.” “Back then, you gave up your career for marriage and children, and after the divorce, you returned to the design industry, all for that kid.” “You even turned down an offer from Milan’s renowned design college.” “We’re preparing for a big show at the end of the year, and the design team is working in isolation. Think about it.” I raised my trembling right hand, looking at my rundown self in the mirror. “I don’t need to think about it, but my age…” “Don’t worry about that. Your design concepts and abilities are well recognized.” “The clothes you designed back in the day are still classics for C Brand. Once you settle things in City A, I’ll send someone to pick you up next Monday.” I hung up and decided to settle things with them. I opened the private room door, and Jasper froze, then quickly walked over to my side. “Mom, you’re here. You. Why did you come so late? I almost got beaten to death.” The creditor stood up and slapped Jasper. “Have you prepared the money? We agreed on the deadline today. If you don’t have enough, I’ll cut off one of your son’s fingers.” Griffin squinted at me. “Cora, is this how you educate your son? Or you could beg me, return to my side, and I’ll find a way to help you out.” “After all, you wouldn’t want to see your son’s future ruined, right?” “If you really don’t want to beg me, I have a quick-money job for you.” “You’ve kept yourself well all these years. I know a place that loves women like you. How about it?” The men in the room burst into laughter, and Jasper was deeply ashamed. “Mom, did you bring enough money? If so, hand it over.” “What do you mean, watching me get my fingers cut off?” I trembled all over, not wanting to argue with them. I produced a bank card from my pocket. “This is one million. Starting today, we owe nothing.” I was about to leave. “Hold on, who said one million was enough?” “Lady, your son borrowed a million. We’re not a charity; there has to be some interest.” The creditor gripped my hand tightly, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Griffin’s gaze. He instantly let go of my hand. “Mom, I didn’t tell you, but they… They want interest too. If I don’t pay, they’ll break my legs.” “Mom, I’m your only son. You can’t just watch me die, right?” Jasper knelt on the ground, pleading. “Mom, you have to help me. You have to.” “Why don’t you beg Dad? Apologize to him, and the three of us can live happily together. Wouldn’t that be nice?” “Why must you insist on suffering so much? Kneel and apologize to Dad. If you do, he’ll forgive you.” Griffin sneered. “Your mom is a college graduate and a famous designer. I’m just a nouveau riche; I can’t handle it.” The creditor picked up a wine bottle from the table, ready to smash it against Jasper’s leg. They were all acting out a charade for me. My son, my son, would let his own mother suffer such humiliation for money. Where did the boy who brought me foot baths, massaged my shoulders, and promised to make lots of money to support me go? Griffin and I were in love once. In those days, I got pregnant with Jasper out of wedlock, and we later married. I had severe morning sickness, and Griffin canceled his business trips, even losing some big deals to stay by my side. Those were truly hard times. I had a falling out with my family, and the childbirth expenses were cobbled together. Griffin worked three jobs a day to ensure I had proper nutrition. Later, when he cheated, we divorced. When I make a choice, I never look back. I raised our child alone. Being a single mom was never easy. I struggled to raise him. Later, with my illness and his college expenses, we couldn’t afford his private university tuition. Griffin appeared during this time, flaunting his success. I knew he made some money and that his reappearance was to force me to return. Even my son sided with him because I had no money. During our arguments, he belittled me to nothing. I thought about having a serious talk with my son, inviting him out for a meal. But Griffin’s words made him kick me out of the car. That day, it was pouring rain, drenching me as my heart ached. Years of nurturing and love couldn’t compare to Griffin’s money. When I returned home, my son saw my sorry state and only said, “Mom, after all these years apart from Dad, we can eat together anytime. You don’t mind, do you?” “Of course not.” I knew he was under a lot of pressure about his future. If Griffin had the means, I wouldn’t stop him. After all, he was Jasper’s biological father. I had no reason to stop their meetings. Perhaps because I gave way, it awakened Jasper’s love for me. He was obedient and filial for a while. On Mother’s Day, he promised me a surprise. Who knew it would be a million-dollar debt? I can’t forget Jasper kneeling in front of me, tearfully repenting. It seems to echo with the current scene. “Mom, I’m begging you. Please ask Dad for help. He surely has a way to get us through this.” “You’re not young anymore. Physical labor won’t earn you much. Wouldn’t it be great for the three of us to live happily together?” — Perhaps my stepping back reignited Jasper’s affection for me, because for a while afterward, he was both obedient and respectful. On Mother’s Day, he mentioned he had a surprise for me. Little did I know it would be the burden of a million-dollar debt. I can never forget Jasper kneeling before me, tears streaming down his face as he expressed his remorse. It all seems to blur with the scene unfolding now. “Mom, I’m begging you, please talk to Dad. He must have a solution. He’ll help us get through this tough time.” “You’re already an adult. You can’t earn much through manual labor. Can’t we just live peacefully as a family of three?” This wasn’t the life I envisioned for myself. Step by step, father and son drove me into despair, pretending as if they were forcing me to reconsider. I couldn’t bear it any longer. “Jasper, he’s your father. It’s his responsibility to support you financially. Don’t pressure me to come up with a solution!” I pushed him away and turned to leave. On my way home, tears fell despite myself. For eighteen years, I’ve raised Jasper with great effort. The reflection in the mirror shows a face weathered by time, and even my hands have grown rough. To save money, I live in a rental apartment that’s cold in winter and hot in summer. To earn more to repay our debts, my hands are covered with chilblains in winter, and in summer, heat rashes spread all over. My son always uses schoolwork as an excuse to stay away year-round. Looking back, what busy work was there? Why would Mr. Carter Jr. live in a place like this with me? The thought is almost laughable now. A neighbor saw me and remarked with a smile, “Hasn’t your Jasper come back yet? You raised him so well—he’s achieved so much at such a young age. I saw him in that downtown office building a few days ago, looking so impressive.” I could only manage a bitter smile before opening the door. Everyone knows Jasper’s career success is largely due to the backing of Carter Corporation. It seems I’m the only fool here. As I looked around our home, I began to gather my things, but there wasn’t much to pack. Just then, Jasper entered, covering his nose as if there was an unpleasant odor. “Mom, what are you doing? Where are you planning to go?” “Surely you wouldn’t just let your own son die, right? Mom, if you couldn’t support me, why fight for custody? What does this mean now?” “I’m your real son. Are you trying to evade responsibility? Are you planning to run away?” I sat on the couch, regarding him with a cold stare. “Mr. Carter Jr., how long will you keep pretending in front of your own mother?” “Mom. You knew all along?” I’m sorry, it looks like the text you want translated is not available. Could you please provide the Chinese text you’re referring to?

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Married for five years, Finn has been having an affair with his sister’s best friend throughout our marriage. He holds a deep-seated hatred for me and keeps me around to make my life miserable. Every year on my birthday, he brings that woman to the Finn Family villa, forcing me to leave. My younger brother is battling ALS, and only the new drug from Finn Corporation offers any hope. So, every year, I quietly step aside for them. But this year, he made me sit outside their bedroom and listen to their intimate moments. The woman’s ecstatic moans finally pushed me over the edge, and I fainted. By the time the butler got me to the hospital, I had lost the baby. “Can’t handle a little stress?” Finn sneered at me, his arm draped around the woman. Later, a nurse told me that my brother had visited after they left. “Sister, I don’t want to continue treatment anymore. Promise me you’ll be happy.” That was the last message he left for me. He probably thought I was suffering because of him and felt guilty. Ten years of madness, and suddenly I woke up. The harshest revenge for the weak is making someone lose the power to hurt you forever. 0

When Finn arrived, I was downstairs, clutching my brother’s lifeless body, sobbing uncontrollably. I noticed the fresh kiss marks on his neck, and my stomach turned. “What’s this? Is he trying to cause more trouble for the Finn Family?” “Wasn’t it Finn Corporation’s drug that saved him when he was at death’s door? And now he’s gone and done this?” “Cora, you and your brother are nothing but ungrateful.” With that, he skeptically kicked my brother’s foot. Confirming he was dead, a flicker of panic crossed his face. But he quickly straightened his tie and lowered his voice: “Dead is dead, after all, he wasn’t my real brother.” “Get out!” I shouted, glaring at him fiercely, my eyes filled with anger and grief. He seemed taken aback by my stare but maintained his usual superior demeanor. “Cora! Don’t take my kindness for granted! If it wasn’t for me giving him the drugs, he wouldn’t have lasted this long!” “I paid for every single pill,” I said, holding my ground. Then he turned and slammed the door shut. I dragged my weary body to bury Jasper. That little boy had only a few years of happiness in his life. We met at the orphanage, fifteen years apart in age. We relied on each other there. After I was adopted, I persuaded my adoptive parents, who loved children, to adopt him too. But fate was cruel, and good people don’t live long. My adoptive parents died in an accident while doing business overseas. Jasper was the only family I had left. I did everything I could to save him, to keep him, but in the end, he gave up his life because he couldn’t bear to see me suffer. When I returned to the Finn Family villa, Finn was shamelessly kissing Adeline. Upon seeing me, he kissed her even more passionately. They both glanced at me from the corners of their eyes. I pretended not to see and walked straight upstairs to the bedroom. “Stop!” Finn interrupted his actions and shouted at me. I paused but didn’t stop. “Who are you trying to impress with that ‘woe is me’ act?” “With his frail body, it was only a matter of time before he died.” “The sooner he dies, the sooner he can be reincarnated. All those drugs he took, and there was no improvement.” I stopped on the stairs and turned to look at him. “I had a miscarriage.” “You can blame your sister’s death on me, life for a life, and now we’re even.” Finn took a deep breath and pushed Adeline aside. “Why? You don’t get to decide that!” “Comparing an unborn child to the precious daughter of Finn Corporation? How dare you think to negotiate terms with me?” He then pulled out a stack of papers from the sofa and threw them on the table. “Harmony Haven Orphanage acquisition agreement.” “You know what I’ll do.” “A big fire? Do you want to watch?” he said, teasing Adeline’s chin. She playfully hit his chest, pretending to be shy. 0

My fingers trembled uncontrollably on the railing, leaving bloodstains on the wooden handrail. I knew he was ruthless, but I didn’t expect him to threaten me with the lives of 123 children. Ever since his sister Lydia died, he has found new ways to torment me every day. Occasionally, when slightly drunk at night, he’d hold me tenderly, but seeing his sister’s photo the next day, he’d feel guilty and become even more cruel. For five years, his words were filled with insults and abuse. He mingled with “witnesses” who accused me of causing his sister’s death. My unborn child became nothing more than “unworthy” in his words. But now I understand that what I thought was the “most painful” was just the beginning. Someone like Finn, who has no boundaries, is capable of anything. In a daze, I saw my brother jump from the 27th floor. His body shuddered and fell lifeless in a pool of blood. He must have thought that with his death, his sister would be free. I also saw the scenes of my adoptive parents taking me and Jasper to volunteer at the orphanage. He knew I grew up there and had feelings for the place. So, when I was all alone, he thought of using them to threaten me. With Finn’s Family’s influence, they could easily manipulate public opinion. “What? Didn’t you hear me, or are you scared?” Finn’s devilish voice rang out. “She doesn’t think she still has a choice, does she? Don’t be fooled by her; she’s a master at acting.” Adeline’s fingers lightly traced his chest, her eyes taunting me. Finn sneered and kissed her on the chin: “You’re right, she’s a master at acting.” I clenched my fists tightly and slowly walked down the stairs, each step feeling like a descent into hell. The orphanage can’t suffer; there are too many kids like Jasper and me there. They shouldn’t become Finn’s pawn in his revenge against me. “What do you want me to do?” Seeing his goal achieved, he extinguished his cigarette: “I want you to admit you killed Lydia.” “She wasn’t killed by me…” Before I could finish, just like every time in the past five years when I tried to defend myself, he’d become furious and violent. He only believed Adeline and himself. “Cora, I’m not in the mood to play with you here. Whether the orphanage kids live or die is up to you.” I closed my eyes, thought for a moment, and then slowly opened them. “I killed Lydia.” “Louder!” He smashed a cup against the wall, causing Adeline to flinch in his arms. “I killed Lydia!” I almost shouted. Adeline exaggeratedly said, “See, Finn? I wasn’t lying to you; it really was her.” He suddenly stood up, grabbed my hair, and dragged me to Adeline’s feet. “Now lick her shoes clean, and say you killed Lydia while doing it.” I struggled desperately, but he grabbed my hair and pressed me hard against the ground. At this moment, I was kneeling at Adeline’s feet, utterly humiliated. He pulled out his phone: “I’ll count to three, two, one. If you don’t start, then the fire will.” “Three…” “Two…” His voice was like a devil’s whisper, guiding me step by step toward death. “I killed Lydia!” “Lick! What did I tell you to do?” he shouted angrily, sending chills down my spine. Adeline lifted her high heel at the right moment. My lips trembled, and as my tongue touched the sole, a wave of nausea surged through me. My stomach churned again, but I endured it, licking over and over. Adeline was full of delight, deliberately brushing her high heel against my face. Finn leaned on the sofa, smoking, his eyes filled with coldness and mockery. When I finally completed this humiliating task, I looked up. What I saw was Adeline’s disdainful face and Finn’s extreme disgust. “Cora, you’re truly despicable. You should have swapped your life for my sister’s.” 0

I used all my savings to give my brother a decent funeral. As I knelt there, expressing my grief, the door to the mourning hall was slammed open. Finn and Adeline stormed in aggressively. “Has Finn’s Family fallen so low? The funeral is so shabby. You may not care about your reputation, but Finn’s Family does.” It was his usual condescending accusation. “Jasper liked it simple.” I wanted them gone quickly, so I explained, holding back my nausea. “He’s at peace now, but what will outsiders think of Finn? They might think Finn’s Family is bankrupt and can’t afford a funeral.” Adeline looked around the mourning hall with disdain. The chrysanthemums on the floor were crushed under her high heels: “What cheap flowers? It’s embarrassing.” My knees were numb from kneeling, but I straightened my back and wiped my tears: “Are you done? Please leave.” Finn sneered, pulling out a document from his suit jacket and tossing it in front of me. “Sign it.” The bold letters on the document, “Body Donation Agreement,” stabbed my eyes. The terms stated that Jasper’s body would be donated to Finn Corporation for research. “No way!” I lunged forward, flinging the document far away. Finn frowned, pulled his hands from his pockets, and pinned me down. “Cora, don’t push your luck. You’re here to atone. What right do you have to refuse?” I struggled: “He’s just a child, only 12. He never had a good life. Let him rest in peace, please?” “Sign it.” The title “Body Donation Agreement” leaped out at me, piercing my heart. The terms dictated that Jasper’s body was to be donated to Finn Corporation for research. “Over my dead body!” I surged forward, knocking the document away. Finn frowned, pulling his hand from his pocket to restrain me firmly. “Cora, don’t be ungrateful. You’re here to make amends. What right do you have to refuse?” I struggled, “He’s just a child, only 12 years old. He’s never had a chance to live fully. Can’t you let him rest in peace?” I pleaded, tears falling like a broken string of beads. “Lydia was only eighteen when you caused her death.” “It wasn’t me,” I sobbed. “Cora,” Adeline’s tone shifted from provocative to persuasive. “The spinal fluid of ALS patients is incredibly valuable. Jasper is contributing to medical research, and Finn Corporation stands to gain significantly.” A chill ran through my veins. Finn spared neither me nor my brother. My brother believed his death would save me, yet he died without peace, and I continued to live in torment. Finn tightened his grip. “Will you sign?” He raised his phone, displaying children playing joyfully at Harmony Haven Orphanage. “I’ll sign.” Tears blotched the agreement, and only then did Finn release his hold. I signed my name on every line, feeling as though I was consigning my brother to hell once more. After everyone left, I knelt again before the altar. Tears flowed freely as memories surged like a tide. Five years ago, Finn treated me with gentle kindness. My adoptive father and Finn’s family were long-time friends. After adopting me, they arranged a marriage with Finn’s family. Finn and I fell in love and agreed readily. We had ten years of beautiful memories as a couple. Until the day five years ago when Lydia and I went on a yacht trip, and she accidentally fell into the sea. Adeline was there too, the so-called “false witness,” Lydia’s best friend. She claimed she saw everything—that I pushed Lydia during an argument. But the police found no evidence of foul play by me. Finn married me as planned. I thought he believed me, not realizing it marked the beginning of a life in hell. Thunder rolled outside the funeral parlor. I caressed my brother’s photo. In the picture, he was forever the smiling twelve-year-old. “Dear brother, you never burdened your sister. Your existence gave me the will to live…” Suddenly, footsteps approached. I turned quickly. Finn had returned. “Cora! Do you think signing the agreement is the end?” He walked closer, his tone still condescending. “What more do you want?” I asked warily. “If you die, these children will accompany you to the grave.” He pulled out a USB drive. The computer screen showed the orphanage managing a small fire, quickly brought under control. “This is just the beginning.” “You can’t repay what you owe Lydia. If you dare to die, go ahead and try.” I froze, questioning if the person before me was human or a demon. He blocked my last escape route. I laughed bitterly, “Finn, you keep saying I killed Lydia. What was my motive?” He hesitated, unable to fathom why I would harm my innocent sister-in-law when I was about to marry into his family. He hadn’t considered this in five years. “You’re just vile. Evil needs no reason.” His voice rose, as if to convince himself. “Do you want to know what she said to me before she died?” Finn’s eyes turned cold. “What did Lydia say?” I closed my eyes. “I’ll exchange that information for my brother’s body.” He suddenly grabbed my collar with malice. “You dare negotiate with me?” “Do as you like. I don’t care if I die. But… you’ll never hear it again.” I slowly closed my eyes, as if ready to face death. “Fine.” Seeing me in such a state, he finally let go. Then he dusted his hands, as if fearing I might soil him. It seems like you haven’t provided the Chinese text for translation. Could you please share it so I can assist you further?

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On Mother’s Day, my husband, who is the chief designer of extreme sports projects, was celebrating the completion of a new venture. His childhood friend, Emily, suggested I try the newly opened extreme zip line across the canyon to “bless the project with good fortune.” Being nine months pregnant, I firmly declined for the safety of our child, but Emily only laughed. “The new project is exceptionally safe. As Ethan’s wife, you should support his career. If you refuse, aren’t you undermining him?” Ethan, shockingly, agreed with her and dismissed my fears and pleas. “The whole project is my design—it’s absolutely safe. Think of it as a unique prenatal experience for our ‘child.’” The stress from the extreme activity caused me to bleed. Emily dismissively remarked that I was merely on my period and at my age, it was disgraceful. While I hung suspended in agony, he was in the control room laughing and chatting with Emily. Eventually, I lost the child, and he lost his mind. “I’m sorry, ma’am!” the waiter said, flustered. “It’s okay,” I forced a smile, but when I looked up, Ethan was frowning at me. He was holding Emily at “Emily Canyon,” engaging with a group of investors. He turned and scolded me. “Sophie, can’t you be more careful?” I opened my mouth but couldn’t muster a response. Emily took Ethan’s arm and handed me a tissue with her other hand. “Don’t worry, sister-in-law.” “Today is a big day for ‘Emily Canyon.’ Ethan has a surprise planned for you!” “What kind of surprise?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly with tension. Emily led me to the viewing platform, pointing to the silver cable stretched above the canyon. “Ethan said, as the founder’s wife, you should be the first to experience our flagship project, the extreme zip line, to bring good fortune to it.” I instinctively withdrew my hand, staring at Ethan in disbelief. “Are you crazy? I’m nine months pregnant!” He frowned, his gaze shifting nervously between me and the investors. “Sophie, don’t make a scene.” “The doctor advised against any high-risk activities!” My voice quivered with fear. “Are you saying you don’t trust our safety measures?” Emily’s voice suddenly took on an emotional tone, “Or do you think the project named after me is cursed?” Ethan’s expression darkened, his fingers clenched into a fist. “Sophie, don’t ruin this.” “I’m not unsupportive,” I explained desperately, “but you know my situation…” “Today is Mother’s Day. Isn’t it the perfect time to experience motherhood? Emily means well,” he smiled. He wasn’t talking about our unborn child, but about “Emily Canyon.” “No, I won’t take that risk!” I instinctively stepped back. Ethan’s smile vanished as he grabbed my wrist. “Sophie, don’t make me look bad.” He lowered his voice, threatening. “Are you insane? This is our child!” I struggled to pull away. He pulled me closer, whispering in my ear, “If you keep this up, I’ll make you regret it later.” Emily gently pushed me from behind. “Don’t be afraid, sister-in-law. I’ll ensure the staff gives you the safest double protection.” Her hand pressed lightly against my waist. I was half-dragged, half-carried to the zip line platform. Tears blurred my vision as the staff approached to strap me into safety gear. “Ethan, please don’t do this to me…” My voice choked. He just looked at me coldly. “Stop pretending. It’s all for work.” Emily smiled sweetly beside me. “Sister-in-law, you’re so brave. You’ll bring good fortune to our project.” My legs shook. The sound of the safety belt locking felt like a countdown to disaster. I looked down at my swollen belly, overwhelmed with unprecedented fear and despair. “I’ve carried this child for nine months, I’m about to give birth… Please don’t…” Ethan turned and walked to the control room without a glance back. Emily whispered in my ear, “Don’t worry, sister-in-law, you’ll be free soon.”

The staff secured me at the zip line’s starting point, the tightening belt pressed painfully against my belly, making it hard to breathe. My hands and feet were cold, trembling almost uncontrollably. “Ethan, please, don’t do this. Think of our child…” I tried one last time, my voice barely audible through the tears. “Xixi is still so small, he can feel my fear, it will harm him.” I gently rubbed my high belly, hoping the name Xixi would awaken some sense of fatherly responsibility in him. Ethan frowned. “Don’t use the child as an excuse.” “Think of it as a special prenatal lesson for ‘Xixi,’ letting him feel the thrill of the world early.” My heart constricted painfully; this man was a stranger now, and my last hope crumbled. Emily came over, her smile sweet as she adjusted my clothes. “Sister-in-law, don’t be afraid. We’re all here watching.” “Enjoy this ‘special’ love.” A wave of dizziness hit me, and a dull ache began in my stomach, a foreboding sense rising within me. Ethan impatiently checked his watch, loudly ordering the staff. “Hurry up, don’t waste time. The investors are waiting for the demonstration!” Emily stood next to me, “accidentally” bumping my pocket. The bottle of prenatal medication I carried fell, the white pills scattering everywhere. “No!” Ethan heard the noise but only shot me a cold glare. “What’s all this fuss now?” His tone was full of irritation. “The medicine… my prenatal medication…” My voice trembled, pointing to the ground. “Don’t worry, sister-in-law, I’ll help you pick it up.” Emily pretended to squat down but deliberately kicked the bottle further away. It rolled to the platform’s edge, precariously close to falling off. “Oh, sorry.” She leaned close to my ear, ensuring only I could hear. “Sister-in-law, these are useless now.” Suddenly, a sharp pain twisted in my belly. “Ethan, my stomach hurts, something’s wrong, we need to go to the hospital…” Ethan waved dismissively. “Stop pretending, it’s always the same. Do you think I’m stupid?” He didn’t believe me at all, turning to comfort Emily with a smile. “Ignore her, she’s just being dramatic.” Emily nodded with feigned grievance, her hand subtly supporting Ethan’s arm. The staff smirked, continuing to adjust the equipment, ignoring my cries for help. The investors watched as if it were a show; no one spoke up for me. I watched Ethan’s back, the man who once said he would give up everything for me. The man who proposed to me that night, swearing to give me the world. Somewhere along the way, his eyes no longer held room for me or our child. Ironically, our child is named Xixi, while the project is called “Emily Canyon.” Even the names are so similar, yet he carelessly divided them between two different “children.” The staff signaled to Ethan that everything was ready. Ethan nodded and walked to the control room. Emily waved at me cheerfully, as if bidding farewell. “Sister-in-law, enjoy yourself. Ethan and I will watch you from the control room.” The timer started counting down, and my fear reached its peak. “Ten, nine, eight…” I closed my eyes, the pain in my belly growing more intense. “Three, two, one!” The zip line launched, propelling me into the void above the canyon. As the weightlessness hit, a warm sensation flowed down my leg. I looked down to see a streak of red staining my dress.

As I sped through the air, I clutched my belly, tears whipped away by the wind. “Help! My child!” I screamed, my voice torn by the wind. A searing pain tore through my abdomen, and I was horrified to feel a warm flow between my legs. Looking down, my white dress was stained with shocking red. My water had broken. Suspended mid-air, I continued flying at high speed, the violent jostling making it hard to breathe. Through teary eyes, I saw Emily nestled in Ethan’s arms in the control room. They watched the screen showing my struggle, Emily whispering something. Ethan actually smiled, raising a champagne glass with the investors. My voice screamed hoarsely, “Ethan! Save the child!” No one responded. The blood flowed more, dizziness sweeping over me. Below, tourists gathered, some pointing, noticing something wrong. My mind began to blur, the pain in my abdomen like a thousand arrows. The zip line slowly reached the end, I had no strength to move. But no one came to receive me. The zip line automatically returned, dragging me back to the start, pushing me into the air again. Second round. My blood fell mid-air like red raindrops. In the control room, Emily feigned surprise, “Oh, is sister-in-law on her period?” Ethan frowned, disgusted, “So careless at this age, so dirty.” Saying that, he held Emily’s waist, leaving with the investors. They went to celebrate the successful launch of “Emily Canyon.” I wasn’t discovered by the staff until the ninety-ninth round.

“Awake?” A nurse, a stranger, approached the bed cautiously. Her eyes avoided mine, not daring to look directly. I knew. “The child wasn’t saved,” the doctor entered, his voice low. “It was a boy, fully formed, but…” “I don’t want to hear the details,” I interrupted him. Ethan frowned in disgust and commented, “A grown adult should know better; that’s just messy.” With that, he wrapped his arm around Emily’s waist and left the control room with the investors, heading off to celebrate the successful launch of “Emily Canyon.” I wasn’t found by the staff until the ninety-ninth lap. 4 “You’re awake?” a nurse approached the hospital bed cautiously, avoiding eye contact. I understood. “The baby didn’t survive,” the doctor entered with a somber tone. “It was a boy, fully developed, but…” “I don’t want to hear the details,” I interrupted, my voice eerily calm, even to myself. “About the body…” the doctor hesitated. “Just take care of it,” I said. He paused, “And your husband…” “I said, take care of it.” “Alright, I’ll need you to sign this.” He handed me a document. My hand was steady as I signed. “Sophie!” Ethan burst through the door, eyes red. I turned my head to look at him silently. “How could this happen?” His voice shook, “Weren’t you always healthy?” I didn’t answer. “Did you never want this child?” he suddenly raised his voice. I felt numb. “Sophie, say something!” He paced anxiously. Emily followed closely, her eyes red and swollen, as if she’d been crying. “Sister-in-law, I’m so sorry…” she choked. “It’s all my fault for suggesting the zip line. I never imagined this would happen…” Her tears fell, quite the performance. “Ethan, I feel so guilty…” she collapsed into Ethan’s arms. He instinctively held her, then quickly let go, realizing it was inappropriate. “Sophie, don’t be like this,” Ethan approached the bedside, “We can have another child. The important thing is not to damage the company’s image.” I finally looked at him. “Ethan,” my voice was hoarse, “You killed your own child.” His face turned pale. “What nonsense is this?” I slowly pulled a USB drive from under the pillow. “This contains the entire zip line footage, including what you did in the control room.” Ethan’s expression changed, “What footage?” “Did you forget? Every corner of ‘Emily Canyon’ is monitored, including the control room.” Seeing his panic-stricken eyes, I felt a small sense of satisfaction for the first time. “You claimed to want the best for me and the baby, naming the canyon after your lover, while our child was named Xixi.” “You let a woman nine months pregnant go on an extreme zip line. When my water broke and I was bleeding uncontrollably, you were in the control room celebrating with champagne.” Ethan’s face turned ashen, “You’re defaming me!” Emily backed away in panic, “Sister-in-law, you can’t do this…” I took a document from the bedside table and threw it at Ethan with all my strength. “Before you worry about the company’s image, take a look at this!” Ethan impatiently bent down to pick it up, his expression shifting from disdain to shock in just three seconds. “What is this?” “We’ve been married for three years with no children.”

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Asher’s grandmother left a wish before she passed, hoping Asher would marry me. So even though he fell in love with his Thea, Asher insisted on marrying me. It wasn’t until Thea killed the puppy I had raised since childhood that Asher chose to protect Thea again. This time, I didn’t argue. Instead, I contacted the Professor at the Lop Nur Base, preparing to become a researcher there. Before I left, I gave myself seven days to wrap things up. On the first day, I took off the engagement ring symbolizing “the only one.” On the third day, I submitted my resignation at the company. On the day I was leaving, Asher suddenly remembered the puppy and promised to accompany me to buy a new one tomorrow. Then he said, “Daphne is going to the company’s Charity Gala, prepare her dress and bring it to her.” I agreed with a smile and disappeared from his world forever. Later, whenever Asher heard about me, he would stare at our engagement ring in a daze. That was the lover he couldn’t win back and the puppy he couldn’t replace…

Looking at the NDA in my hand, I signed my name without hesitation. “Professor, I am willing to join the Rocket Development Program.” The Professor looked at me with some regret. “You should know this task is top secret. Once you join, you will have to remain anonymous for ten years. No one will be able to find you.” “Aren’t you getting married? At least discuss it with your partner.” Thinking of Asher’s cold and resolute face, I smiled bitterly and shook my head. “No need.” The Professor was silent for a moment, then spoke, “Alright, go get ready. We leave in seven days.” It was raining as I left the Professor’s office, and I walked home in the rain. Unsurprisingly, Asher still hadn’t come back. Daphne had taken away Buddy, the dog I had raised since childhood. When I tried to reason with Asher, he blamed me instead, and then he didn’t come home for three days. I took off the ring on my hand and threw it into the drawer. It was a ring Asher made for me by hand, symbolizing our lifelong love, meant never to be removed, even in death. I naively thought we would grow old together. But everything changed when Daphne returned from abroad. Asher no longer remembered my birthday or cared about my feelings. I became the most invisible person in the house. I was about to take off my soaked clothes when the door sounded. Opening it, I saw Daphne with a spiteful look, disdainfully kicking something at her feet. “This beast wouldn’t listen and got hit by a car.” I looked in disbelief at Buddy’s small body lying there, his fur soaked with mud and blood. My heart twisted painfully, and my eyes instantly filled with tears. Seeing this, Daphne’s sneer deepened, shrugging indifferently. “It’s just a dog. Do you have to cry like your mother died?” I couldn’t hold back anymore and pushed Daphne hard. She screamed and fell into Asher’s arms, who had rushed over when he heard the noise. Instantly, she was in tears, “Asher, the dog ran out and got hit by a car on its own. Why blame me?” Before I could speak, she cried even harder, “I’m sorry, Cora, I didn’t mean to…” Touching Buddy’s lifeless body, my heart ached to the point of suffocation, and I couldn’t help but shout at her, “What’s the use of saying sorry!” She immediately acted as if she had been greatly wronged. “Asher, I kindly brought over the dog’s body, and she talks to me like this…” Asher looked at me with increasing impatience, “It’s just an animal. It’s dead, so what? My grandma left you so much money, don’t you know how many dogs you can buy with it?” With someone defending her, Daphne cried even harder, soaking a large patch of Asher’s chest with her tears. Perhaps thinking it wasn’t enough, he continued, “Cora, when did you become so petty and unreasonable?” Animal? I looked at him, almost unable to breathe from the pain. He knew how important Buddy was to me. It was the only gift my mother left me before she died. He had once promised at my mother’s bedside to take care of me and Buddy. But now, for Daphne, he called Buddy an animal. It turns out Asher’s heart had strayed too far. I was also tired and didn’t want to fight anymore. Thinking of my decision to leave, I felt relieved. Asher gently patted Daphne’s back and glared at me, “Are you satisfied now?” Then, he gently patted Daphne’s head, affectionately saying, “It’s raining outside. Shall I take you home?” Daphne snuggled into his arms, giving me a challenging smile from an angle he couldn’t see. Watching his hurried steps, I gave a bitter smile. The Asher who once claimed to have fallen in love with me at first sight and pursued me passionately never truly loved me. I was just a distraction in his loneliness, and Daphne was his true love. Now the rightful owner was back, and I, the substitute, should step down. But it didn’t matter anymore. I hid the ring and the unsigned prenuptial agreement in the drawer. Asher would never know that the agreement his grandmother forced him to sign, granting me half of his assets, was never notarized, nor did I sign it. Chapter Two After cremating Buddy, I buried him next to my mother’s grave. On the third morning, the Professor sent me the exact departure time. I replied with an “okay” and then walked into the HR office. I formally submitted my resignation. They must have disliked me for a long time, as the process went smoothly. Just as I closed the door of the HR office, I heard them gossiping. “She just up and resigned. Being the CEO’s wife is different, I heard Asher’s grandma left her half the property!” “What CEO’s wife? It’s not even official. I think she resigned because Asher gave her project to Miss Daphne.” “Wasn’t that the project she was working on? It’s almost finished. Giving it to Miss Daphne now is like letting her reap the rewards.” “So what? Miss Daphne is Asher’s true love.” It’s not surprising they thought that way. As soon as Daphne returned, Asher gave her the General Manager position. Even if Daphne knew nothing, Asher would hand the project to her himself. He even had me work overtime to revise Daphne’s proposals and entertain her clients. Even when I ended up hospitalized with a bleeding stomach, he said I owed it to Daphne. Listening to the occasional mocking laughter, I felt no waves in my heart. I just hoped the coming days would pass quickly. With everything settled, it was time for me to pack up. I returned home with my things, only to see Asher and Daphne having breakfast together, laughing and chatting. Watching them feed each other, my hands started to tremble. Once, I mistakenly used Asher’s cup, and he hired a dozen cleaners to sanitize the house, warning me not to have physical contact with him. Turns out Asher didn’t have a cleanliness obsession. He just didn’t want to be intimate with me. Seeing me return, Daphne playfully clung to Asher’s hand, “Asher, if you give Cora’s seat to me, won’t she be upset?” Asher sneered, “I’m the company’s CEO. Do I need her approval for my decisions?” “But Cora hasn’t been home for days.” “She’s waiting for me to coax her. Don’t mind her.” Hearing this, Daphne’s eyes were full of triumphant pride. She leaned into Asher’s embrace, wrapping her arms around his neck coquettishly. I said nothing and headed upstairs. That’s when Asher noticed me. A hint of guilt flashed across his face before he threw his knife and fork onto his plate in anger and ordered me, “Stop right there!” I kept walking, but he rushed over and grabbed my arm. “Cora, what’s your problem? Do you even remember you have a home?” He reached to take the box from my arms, but I turned away. “No need, you go ahead with your work.” Asher looked even more impatient, about to say something when Daphne called him, “Asher, I want another fried egg. Can you make one for me?” “Sure,” Asher replied and headed to the kitchen. I stepped forward to go back to my room, but Daphne blocked my way. “What do you want?” Daphne glanced toward the kitchen, and her gentle facade faded, revealing jealousy and resentment. “Cora, you heard it all, didn’t you? Asher only has me in his heart. If it weren’t for his grandmother forcing him, he wouldn’t marry you.” “I heard his grandma left you half the property. Don’t delude yourself into thinking any of it is yours!” “I advise you to be sensible and hand over the property agreement. After all, just one word from me, and he would kick you out.” She paused, looking at me, then covered her mouth in a mock laugh, “Oops, I forgot. All your family is dead. You’re like a stray dog no one wants.” “No wonder you cling to Asher like a leech.” Her tone was contemptuous, her eyes filled with mockery. No matter how she insulted me, I didn’t care. But she shouldn’t have mocked my family. In an instant, my blood froze, and I couldn’t help but yell at her, “Daphne, say one more word, and I’ll tear your mouth apart!” “Asher! What are you doing!?” She paused, looked at me, then covered her mouth in a mocking laugh. “Oops, I forgot. Your whole family’s gone now. You’re just like an unwanted stray.” “No wonder you’re stuck to Asher like glue.” Her voice dripped with disdain, her eyes gleaming with amusement. I could endure any insult she hurled at me, but mocking my family was crossing the line. My blood ran cold, and I couldn’t help but shout, “Daphne! Say one more word and I’ll make you regret it!” “Cora! What’s gotten into you?!” Asher happened to overhear, worried I might harm Daphne, and immediately intervened. I paused, noticing Daphne’s raised eyebrow as she subtly pushed me. The next second, I lost my balance and tumbled down the stairs. Pain shot through me as I hit the ground. “Cora!” Asher dropped everything and rushed over to help me up. Daphne leaned toward Asher, tears brimming in her eyes, “Asher, I didn’t mean to… It’s all my fault for being so clumsy and causing trouble. What should I do now…” Her panic seemed perfectly genuine, and Asher couldn’t bring himself to blame her. He frowned, looking at me, “Are you okay? Do you need to go to the hospital? Daphne didn’t mean it, don’t hold it against her.” I shook my head, bitterness seeping in as I looked away, noticing the scattered items. The resignation letter and confidential documents were right on top. Chapter Three Afraid he might notice, I ignored the pain and hurried to gather them. “I’ll do it.” Asher crouched down, picking up the resignation letter with a frown. I held my breath, hoping he wouldn’t notice the confidential documents. Luckily, Asher’s attention was on the resignation letter, allowing me to hide the documents among other items. “You quit?” Asher sounded surprised. “Yeah.” I shoved everything into the box. He sounded displeased, “Why didn’t you say so earlier? Before, when I asked you to hand over the project, you refused. Why the change of heart now?” Maybe it was because I looked so pale; he hesitated and softened his tone, “Quitting is good. Saves me some effort. Grandma gave you so much money, you should be content.” “You should focus on being Mrs. Asher and stop competing with Daphne.” “She’s kind-hearted and doesn’t understand your scheming.” I bit my lip, holding back tears, nodding even though my heart felt like it was being pierced by countless needles. I struggled to stand despite the pain. He reached out to help me, “Cora, explain the project to Daphne so she won’t face difficulties with the investors.” “She’s not like you, able to charm people and even get half the property.” Not wanting to waste more time on them, I nodded to Asher, “Okay.” Asher seemed pleased with my compliance, smiling at me, “That’s better. Sorry for neglecting you lately. Once Daphne fully takes over your work, I’ll make it up to you.” “After the mourning period for Grandma, we can get married. It’ll give her peace.” I bit my lip hard, my heart aching. That day would never come. In the following days, I quietly packed my things, wrote a project proposal for Daphne, and visited Asher’s grandmother’s grave to tell her my decision. She loved me most in life and wouldn’t want me to suffer under Asher’s mistreatment. On the last day, Asher stayed home. I felt anxious, trying to find reasons to leave smoothly. Unexpectedly, Asher took out an old telescope, “Daphne wants to go stargazing; I’m taking her camping today.” “Alright.” I sighed in relief. Leaving early would let me avoid running into him. He added, “There’s a Charity Gala tonight. Get a dress ready for Daphne.” I thought for a moment. By then, I’d be on the way to my new life. Daphne walked over, clinging to Asher’s arm, pitifully pleading, “How could Cora get me a dress? Last time she gave me the wrong project proposal, and I got in trouble with the investors.” “Asher, I can wear anything. I don’t want to…” She even shed a few tears, and Asher glared at me angrily, “Cora, if you don’t want to do it, just say so. How could you do this? You’ve really disappointed me!” I was about to leave and didn’t want any more conflict. I calmly apologized to Daphne, “Sorry, my bad. It won’t happen again.” Then I looked at Asher, “Don’t worry, I’ll prepare the dress for her.” A hint of guilt flashed across Asher’s face. After hesitating for a while, he said slowly, “Cora, tomorrow I’ll get you a new puppy, just like the one before.” Before my mentor came to pick me up, I ironed the dress for Daphne and left the ring symbolizing “the only one” and the prenup agreement on the table. With my suitcase in hand, I headed downstairs. The Professor looked at my expressionless face and sighed helplessly. “Since you’ve decided to go, work hard over there and achieve results soon!” “Okay!” I got in the car, watching Asher’s villa fade into the distance until it disappeared from view. In the early morning, Asher returned home, slightly tipsy, with Daphne. The house was silent, with no lights on. Asher was instinctively displeased. After all, no matter how late it was, I would always wait for him on the sofa. “Cora! Come out and make some hangover soup.” But the empty house remained silent, with no response. Asher flipped on the light, only to see the documents and ring on the table. He immediately yelled, “Cora! Who allowed you to take off the ring?!” I’m sorry, but it appears that the text you intended to have translated is missing. Could you please provide the specific text for translation? Chapter 4

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I hid my true identity from my boyfriend, driven by a desire to rebel against my family. But then I overheard him say, “Ever since I found out she comes from such a poor background, I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something about her. To marry, it should be someone like Adeline, a wealthy heiress.” I was taken aback. “So do rich guys smell better and feel softer too?” Just then, my phone pinged with a message from Jasper, the ‘Capital Prince’: “Hello, sister. Grandpa asked me to fulfill our marriage contract.” I had missed out on a truly wealthy family, and my ex was left in tears. I returned from freshening up in the bathroom to find a new topic buzzing in the private room. “Ever since I learned Fiona has a humble background, she always seems a bit off to me.” It was Declan’s voice. I hesitated, my hand pausing mid-air on the door. “Have you ever been to a really poor area? Girls from places like that always seem to carry something with them.” Instinctively, I sniffed myself. It was the fresh scent of jasmine. I couldn’t comprehend his mindset. Was he looking down on me because of my background? “No way,” another male voice chimed in, “She always dresses pretty nicely.” “Ha,” the man scoffed, “She buys everything from cheap sites, reeks of low quality.” “These bargain girls are just for fun. For marriage, it’s someone like Adeline, a true gentle and charming rich girl.” Adeline is a freshman this year. On her first day, she arrived in a limited-edition sports car, a perfect match for Declan. She was there today too, wearing a designer mini-skirt and carrying an expensive bag. When I opened the door, Adeline had somehow already taken my original seat, her smooth thigh pressed closely against Declan’s pants. Seeing me return, Declan subtly distanced himself from Adeline and called me over to sit next to him. “Fiona, come here. I lost a game, and now you have to drink this for me?” Declan’s stomach has always been fragile. Every time this happened, he would cutely ask me to drink for him. But he doesn’t know, every time I drink, I feel awful, unable to sleep the whole night. Just moments ago, Declan drank Adeline’s wine for her, saying girls tend to have cold constitutions and drinking too much was unhealthy. So in his mind, I don’t even register as a girl. Everyone else was using small, delicate glasses. But mysteriously, in front of me was a large mug of draft beer. Over a dozen eyes in the room were on me, teasingly watching how I would “make a sacrifice for love.” Declan put on an innocent, pitiful look, staring at me expectantly. In the past, I would have definitely drunk it for him out of pity. But now— I boldly lifted the mug, smiling as I responded, “Good thing it’s a big mug. If it were one of those small ones, I’d be worried it wouldn’t be enough!” With that, I poured the entire mug over Declan’s head, soaking him to the bone.

“Fiona, are you out of your mind?” Declan snapped. I shrugged. “Yeah, I’m from a poor background, that’s just how we girls from humble origins are.” Declan seemed to realize something and quickly explained. “Fiona, it’s not what you think.” I gestured with my chin at his legs. Declan then noticed Adeline’s stockings caught in his zipper, already torn. I can’t imagine what intimate things they did when I wasn’t there. “So only those who wear Chanel and carry Hermès deserve all your love?” I shook my head regretfully. Declan massaged his temples. “It was just a joke, do you have to take it so seriously, Fiona?” “Can you say you wouldn’t choose someone wealthier?” “Isn’t that just human nature?” I blinked, “Is that so?” Adeline chimed in, “Of course, if you compare the two of us, it’s obvious who anyone would choose, right?” She interlocked fingers with Declan, the shiny diamonds on her manicured nails dazzling my eyes. I was stunned for a moment, then looked thoughtfully at my phone. It was a new friend request from Jasper, with a straightforward note: “Hello, sister. Grandpa asked me to fulfill our marriage contract.” Jasper, known as the Capital Prince, is also a freshman this year, recognized as one of the wealthiest students on campus. But he’s usually low-key, always saying he has a marriage contract and doesn’t interact much with girls. So I only heard about him. But why did he suddenly add me? Could it be the person with a marriage contract with him is actually… Hesitating, my phone kept vibrating. Jasper: “Why is sister silent, still with the ex-boyfriend?” “I have plenty of money, sister, won’t you consider?” “Sister, give me a chance?” The usually cold Jasper called me sister repeatedly, completely unlike his cool image. My face turned red, inexplicably imagining him calling me that in a more intimate setting. Looking up again, I had made up my mind. “Let’s break up then.” “I choose the rich one too.” Declan laughed first, and others followed suit. Everyone knows the Declan family is connected to the Aiden family, and it’s hard to find someone richer than Declan in the whole school. “Don’t be ridiculous, Fiona. Richer people won’t look at you.” “Come back and sit, I’ll pretend you didn’t say anything.” Looking at the dark water stain on the leather sofa next to him, I suddenly felt disgusted. “No, thanks.” I took a step back, Declan’s words about “gentle and soft” echoing in my mind. If that’s the case, rich guys should be even more fragrant and tender, right? Before I knew it, I had already sent a reply to Jasper. “Can you come pick me up, charming little prince?”

They were right; initially, I chose to be with Declan for the money. But they don’t know, I’m not actually poor, but the only daughter of the Foster family. My dad worked his way up from humble beginnings, always saying: “Kids these days have it too good, don’t even know the price of rice.” “How can I trust you with the Foster Corporation in the future?” So after I got into college, my family cut off my access to unlimited funds and only gave me $1000 a month for living expenses. In college, I would buy two starch sausages for a dollar, cancel subscriptions right after getting a discount, wait for special deals at fast food places, and look for coupons before entering a restaurant. I never had much luck with winning anything. Except once. It was a rainy day, and I was trying my luck at the lottery booth by the school gate. A long hand blocked my view. The owner of the hand wore a black shirt, sleeves rolled up, revealing a strong forearm. He flipped through a stack of lottery tickets, picked one from the back, and handed it to me. “Try this one.” Skeptically, I scratched it off and won $500. Before I could claim the prize, the man opened his umbrella and walked into the rain. Watching his back, I thought he was quite lucky. My mom says, being with a lucky man makes life smoother. I regretted not getting his contact, he could’ve helped me pick more winning tickets. Who would’ve thought, at the freshman mixer later, a boy named Declan confessed to me. Seeing his somewhat familiar face, I agreed without thinking. Fate brought us together again, but it ended in such an embarrassing way.

The car was warm, and the comfortable environment made me completely relax. Jasper didn’t greet me with the warmth I imagined. He reverted to his usual demeanor, high and aloof. Was he shy, or… angry? Well, as strangers with no prior interaction, asking him to pick me up was indeed abrupt. “Sorry, the place they chose for the gathering is a bit remote. If it’s inconvenient, you can drop me off in the city ahead.” The car smoothly pulled over, without hesitation. As expected, I was troubling someone again. Reaching for the door, I couldn’t open it. Turning back, I found the man who was far away now close. For the first time, I looked closely at his features, noticing how he resembled Declan a bit. But his skin was paler, and he looked more refined. Unlike Declan, who always had his hair perfectly styled, Jasper’s bangs casually fell over his forehead, adding a youthful vibe. “Is sister seeing someone irrelevant through me?” The little prince gritted his teeth. His thin lips opened and closed, looking very kissable. I couldn’t resist reaching out, brushing my finger across them. “So soft.” I didn’t notice his face darkened even more. “Sister, don’t confuse me with my cousin from the Declan family. I’m different.” “In our relationship, I hope we can trust each other.” He suddenly blushed, stubbornly adding: “If sister doesn’t trust me, you can inspect in advance. I’m willing to cooperate…” My mom was right. I’m still young, haven’t experienced the best. Otherwise, why would I be so mesmerized by his stunning looks? What did he just say, he’s willing to cooperate? I also want to… have a taste. Lost in thought, I leaned up to kiss him. His eyes turned deep, raven-like lashes trembling with restraint. In a moment, he fiercely claimed me, like a flood breaking its dam. No one noticed my phone buzzing in the gap, over and over.

After Fiona left, Declan felt uneasy. So late, in the suburbs, how would she get back? Oh well, let her learn a lesson. Their upper-class circle is like this, profit above all. She has to learn to adapt. He just said what? He’s willing to cooperate? I really want to try it. Lost in thought, I tilted my head and kissed him. My brother’s eyes suddenly deepened, his long lashes trembling with restraint. After a moment, he passionately captured my lips like a flood breaking through a dam. No one noticed my phone ringing repeatedly from its hidden spot. 5 After Fiona left, Declan felt uneasy. It was so late, and she was in the suburbs. How would a girl like her get home? Oh well, perhaps it’s a lesson she needs to learn. That’s how it is in the upper circles, where interests come first. She has to learn to adapt. Deep down, he admitted he liked Fiona. At the freshman orientation party, she wore a cream-colored cotton dress, looking as beautiful as a fairy. Countless guys were eager to dance with her. But her gaze drifted through the crowd and gently landed on him. In that moment, the world quieted down to just breaths and heartbeats. But from the moment Adeline appeared, everything seemed to change. Adeline always wore exquisite brand-name outfits and carried the scent of high-end perfume. Unlike Fiona, who carried a canvas bag from Amazon and occasionally asked him to help “cut a deal.” Until his mother told him that the family had chosen Adeline as his future wife. He felt this was the right choice. Only a girl like Adeline seemed suitable for him. But tonight, with Adeline sitting astride him, it felt wrong. Closing his eyes, all he could see was Fiona’s stubborn eyes. He couldn’t help but call her. No answer. Forget it, let her cool off for a few days. After all, she loves money so much. In a few days, he’s sure she’ll come back.

Back at the dorm, I found my phone flooded with calls from Declan. I thought I had made the breakup clear. Reflecting on recent events, I replied: “Your cousin is not only more handsome but also richer than you. When he calls me ‘sister,’ I feel like giving him my whole life.” Almost instantly, the phone rang. “Fiona, which cousin? Who are you giving your life to?” I hung up, blocked the number, all in one go. Exhaling deeply, I realized there was still a shadow outside the window. Jasper? I played the voice message he just sent. His slightly hoarse voice scratched at my heart like rough sandpaper. “Sister, come out.” He somehow got a cup of honey water. The warm, smooth liquid carried the warmth of his chest. “You drank tonight. Have some honey water; it will make you feel better.” I was surprised. How did he know… Then I remembered the kiss with a hint of alcohol in the car. The air around me heated up again, and my face must have been bright red. The phone rang at just the right moment. It was Declan. Jasper answered it right in front of me. “Jasper, where are you?” Jasper looked at me. Even though we had broken up. Why did it feel like I was caught cheating? I could only bury my face in the cup. Let the steam from the cup shield me. “I’m with my fiancée.” Jasper replied naturally. “Well, congratulations, you finally got what you wanted.” The person on the other end didn’t say much more and hung up directly. Jasper showed that enticing expression again. The corners of his eyes were reddened, like a captivating demon. His fingers intertwined with mine, holding tightly, his eyes pleading: “Can we go public, Fiona?”

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Three years after leaving the country, I arrived at Capital Airport with my twin children. The always cold CEO sent a message: “Returned?” Without hesitation, I lied, “No, I’m still in the U.S., about to go to bed.” But in the blink of an eye, he was standing right in front of me, his gaze fixed intently on my two kids. “Is this why you disappeared?” “Do you realize I never agreed to the divorce? What you’ve done is betrayal!” I let out a cold laugh and touched the prayer beads on his wrist. “You didn’t want to have children with me, so I found someone who did.” When we got married, Asher promised he loved me deeply. He said he’d do anything for me, except break his vows. But then, his first love returned. She claimed that if she could make Asher break his vows nine times, I should willingly leave him. I lost that challenge, utterly defeated. After Beatrix returned, she challenged me, suggesting we see who could make Asher break his vows nine times first. I smirked and wrote down the terms of the bet on the spot: “If you win, I’ll bow out. But if you lose, I’ll make it impossible for you to stay in Beijing City.” But only I knew how uncertain I truly felt. In our three years of marriage, Asher would do anything I asked, except break his vows. Within a week, he started coming home less frequently. Determined, I put on the new lingerie I bought and walked into his quiet room. I took his hand and guided it down my body… I could feel his breath becoming heavier, his eyes filled with a new desire. But then his phone rang, and he snapped out of it, pushing me away and storming out. He didn’t return for three hours. I stood there, feeling the warmth drain from my body, unable to think. Until Beatrix appeared, flaunting a used strawberry-flavored item, showing me the sticky substance inside. “Adeline, this marks the ninth time.” “I told you, Asher loves me. Why don’t you believe it?” “A bet is a bet.” Looking at her smug expression, I thought of how I had just humiliated myself, begging Asher for attention. A wave of dizziness hit me. Why was I degrading myself like this? Before I married, I was the prized daughter of the Beijing Circle. Why was I now reduced to competing with Beatrix for a place in bed? Feigning indifference, I took out the signed divorce papers from the bedside drawer. “Take it and leave.” Beatrix raised an eyebrow in surprise. “You confronted Asher?” I shrugged nonchalantly. “No, Asher said I could decide about the divorce on my own.” “He’s just a man. If you want him, he’s yours.” But seeing Asher’s name on the papers… My heart felt pierced. This was Asher’s wedding gift to me. Asher always kept his promises. He stopped my hands from undoing his buttons, saying he had to keep his vows for three years and asked me to wait for him. But if I ever grew tired… I could sign my name on the divorce papers anytime, and he would accept my decision. At that time, I was overjoyed, thinking I had him for life. Now I realized how foolish I was. Was he setting me free or just making it easy for him to escape anytime? Beatrix reviewed the papers twice, showing a satisfied smile. “Miss Adeline, as decisive as ever.” “Everyone in Beijing City knows you spent five years pursuing Asher. I thought you’d cry.” “How about this, in a week, when Asher fully leaves his vows behind, I’ll give him these papers as a gift.” “You both won’t have to torment each other anymore.” I coldly showed her out. But I had to admit Beatrix was right. Keeping someone who doesn’t love me by my side for five years, if not torture, then what is it? I opened my phone and found the tickets to Iceland for Asher and me next week. Asher doesn’t like traveling abroad, but I insisted. Was he thinking how troublesome I was, always asking for so much, when he agreed? I used my finger to cancel Asher’s ticket. If that’s the case, I’ll let him go. This mistake shouldn’t continue.

Not long after Beatrix left, I went to bed. In a daze, someone lay beside me, wrapping their arm around my waist from behind. I irritably pushed his hand away. “Why aren’t you in your quiet room? What are you doing here?” His breath was warm on my neck, and after a long silence, he asked, “Why did you cancel the Iceland tickets?” My heart grew even more annoyed and frustrated. I replied, “Can’t I just not want to go?” while pushing his body away: “Stay away from me.” But when my hand pressed on his chest, Asher let out a muffled groan, as if in great pain. I felt something odd on his chest and lifted his shirt. At that moment, I felt the world spin. A piercing was right on his chest! And next to it, two small letters were tattooed: QZ. I didn’t know if my eyes were red, just felt like tears were about to overflow, my voice trembling uncontrollably. “What is this?” Does Asher like Beatrix so much that he’d do anything for her? Back when Asher’s parents died, and his relatives took everything, even hiring thugs to bully him, it was me who smashed heads with a beer bottle to ensure he wasn’t humiliated. Asher said he wanted to become a monk. I stayed by his side, never forcing him to do anything, loving him with all I had. Until he opened his heart and agreed to marry me. How laughable. He wouldn’t break his vows for me. But he could pierce his body for another woman, like a pet marked by its owner? If Asher was unwilling, who could force him? Was this their idea of fun? Or did Beatrix want me to see how low Asher could stoop for her? Asher frowned, pulling down his shirt. “No need to make a fuss, it’s just something strung. If you don’t like it, I won’t wear it.” “As for the letters, Adeline, I’ll explain them to you later.” Then he hesitated and walked out of the bedroom. “I’m going to copy Buddhist Scriptures, you should sleep early.” I noticed his prayer beads had been replaced with a string of white Bodhi beads—not the Rosewood beads I climbed thousands of steps to get for him. I gritted my teeth and called the butler. “Find out where Asher went today and who he was with.” “And where his bracelet went.” Soon after, a surveillance video was sent to me. In the video, Asher was taking drink after drink from Beatrix’s hand, looking utterly drunk. Several friends at the table were amazed. “I heard Asher is a Buddhist, doesn’t drink a drop. Beatrix, you’re quite something.” “Right, back in school, Asher only treated Beatrix well. Seems her going abroad didn’t change a thing.” “I heard Asher’s married now, his wife at home is quite something.” Beatrix laughed, holding Asher’s hand. “If I hadn’t gone abroad, how could Adeline have married Asher?” “And I told Asher not to touch Adeline, and he really didn’t. What kind of love is that, need I say more?” My heart took a hard hit. What does Asher take me for? He climbed out of life’s muck with my help, yet he faithfully obeyed the so-called true love’s command, keeping absurd chastity for her? Beatrix patted Asher’s face, waking him from his daze. “Throw this bracelet away, I bought you a new one, you can only wear mine from now on.” The man seemed hesitant. But under Beatrix’s prodding, he took off the bracelet and tossed it on the ground. Perhaps even the heavens couldn’t bear it. The moment it hit the ground, the string snapped, beads scattering everywhere. Just like my heart, shattered into pieces. The butler handed me two of the beads. “Miss, the rest of the beads were taken by cleaning staff, should I retrieve them?” I laughed bitterly. “No need.” “What’s the point of retrieving a few beads.” Asher, like these prayer beads. Once a treasured jewel I painstakingly sought and held dear. Now fallen to the ground, dirtied—it’s nothing.

I ordered Asher’s belongings to be packed and sent back to his own home. Asher entered with breakfast, brushing past the movers. Seeing his incense burner, Buddhist Scriptures, and meditation mat being carried out, he was bewildered. “What’s going on?” “Adeline, are you moving?” I gave him a big smile. “Yes, I’ve lived here too long, it’s annoying now.” Then I glanced at the tray in his hand. A dish of pickles, a bowl of white porridge, and a few slices of bread. Not even an egg. Asher doesn’t eat meat, so I’ve also eaten vegetarian for years. So I grabbed my bag and headed out. “You keep it for yourself.” Ignoring his surprised look completely. I no longer cared what Asher thought. That night, I gathered with some Beijing Circle sisters at a bar for drinks, also planning to say goodbye. My friends teased me non-stop. “Miss Adeline out drinking, aren’t you afraid your precious, fastidious husband will be mad?” “Yeah, the little princess has been so virtuous since marriage, what changed today?” I sneered. “Being virtuous should be for someone worthy.” Just then, a commotion erupted in a corner of the bar. Two people were having a drinking contest. Whoever downed twelve cocktails first could take a woman home that night. I ignored his look of surprise entirely. I don’t care what Asher thinks now. That evening, I gathered a few friends from the Beijing social circle for a farewell at a bar. My friends teased me relentlessly. “Miss Adeline is out drinking. Aren’t you worried that your fussy, neat-freak husband will get upset?” “Yeah, the darling of the Beijing Circle has been the perfect wife since getting married. What’s changed today?” I let out a cold laugh. “Being faithful should be reserved for someone who deserves it.” At that moment, a commotion erupted in the corner of the bar. People were saying that two individuals were about to have a drinking contest. Whoever finishes twelve cocktails first gets to take a woman home tonight. My friends went to check it out, but they returned looking troubled. “Adeline, you should go see. It’s your husband, Asher.” I didn’t react. I knew I should be surprised—that a husband who never drinks would go to such lengths for another woman. But inside, I felt nothing. It was as if my love for Asher had died yesterday. I even led everyone over with a sense of amusement. “Let’s go watch the spectacle.” Asher stood at the long table lined with drinks, visibly shocked to see me. But as soon as he took a step, the bartender reminded him. “Sir, leaving now means forfeiting. Are you sure you want to give up?” He glanced at me, then at Beatrix, hesitated, and turned away. “No forfeiting.” Beatrix leaned in, speaking maliciously under the cover of the loud bar music. “Adeline, maybe you should try to talk to Asher?” “After all, you won’t be husband and wife much longer. You can still ask him a few more times.” “But then again, if Asher doesn’t listen to you even once, that’s pretty sad, isn’t it?” I ignored Beatrix and just stared at Asher’s face. His eyes never met mine, intentionally avoiding me. He kept fiddling with his Prayer Beads. I know him; it’s a sign he’s nervous and guilty. The onlookers were moved by his and Beatrix’s supposed love. “Drinking all twelve would definitely land you in the hospital. This guy must really love his girlfriend.” “True love indeed, wish them eternal happiness.” The veins on Asher’s forehead pulsed. He shouted, “Shut up.” Then, turning to me, he whispered, “Adeline, I have my reasons. I’ll explain everything when we get home.” I smiled. I gently reminded him. “Asher, you promised to keep your vows for three years. Just three more days.” “If you drink this, our agreement means nothing.” His expression froze. He was silent for a long time before nodding. “Then it means nothing. Let’s go home tonight. I’ll make it up to you.” I knew he meant consummating our marriage. But now, I just wanted to laugh. He finally chose to break his vow for me, after having done everything he shouldn’t for another woman. I took off my wedding ring. Dropped it into his drink, then turned to leave. But with so many people around, I accidentally knocked over a champagne tower. Countless glasses crashed down. I heard Asher shouting my name. But in the crucial moment, he protected Beatrix instead. Glasses shattered on the ground, and as my vision faded to black, I saw Asher running toward me. I knew he picked me up, his hands trembling. He whispered in my ear over and over that he loved me. But the words made me sick. When I woke, it was three days later. My friends said that after I was rushed to the emergency room, Asher stayed outside the whole time, refusing to bandage his own bleeding injuries. They said Asher stayed by my bedside these past few days, doing everything himself, not letting anyone else even wipe my face. They also said Asher prepared a huge banquet hall filled with my favorite cornflowers, though they didn’t know what for. I called the butler: “Take me to the airport.” As the car left the hospital, I saw Asher’s car arriving. When our cars passed, I rolled up the window. Asher was genuinely happy. He had owed Beatrix twelve wishes, and the drinking contest was the last one. Asher thought he could finally let Beatrix go and wholeheartedly love his wife. But when he entered the hospital room. The bed was empty. Every inch of the sheets was perfectly smooth, with no sign of wrinkles. In that moment, his face showed confusion, doubt, and finally, indescribable panic. Beatrix handed him a document with a bright smile. “Asher, you’re finally free!” “This is the divorce agreement Adeline signed. We can finally be together again!” It appears the text you provided is incomplete or missing. Could you please share the specific text you need translated? ### Chapter 2

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