Author: Momo Chan

In my previous life, when I was gravely ill and hospitalized, my wife cut off all contact and vanished for two years. From the moment I fell sick until I passed away, it was my sister who took care of me. But after my death, my absent wife returned to claim my inheritance. In the end, she took away 90% of my estate and went on to live a happy life with her first love. Meanwhile, my sister had to mortgage our family home to pay for my treatment and ended up homeless. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself on the day I was diagnosed with my terminal illness. In this life, I still couldn’t change the fact that I would die. But I was determined not to let my sister suffer the same fate as before, and I certainly wouldn’t let my deceitful wife get a penny! When I opened my eyes, the woman beside me couldn’t contain her tears of joy. “Thank goodness, brother, you’re finally awake!” I was momentarily stunned. The scene before me was all too familiar, and I realized I had been given a second chance at life. My sister, Josephine Parker, held my hand and reassured me, “Don’t be afraid, brother. Even if I have to sell everything we own, I’ll make sure you get treated! You won’t die…” Seeing my sister with her eyes red from crying, my heart ached. In my previous life, my wife, Fiona Brooks, had severed all ties and disappeared without a trace after I became seriously ill. But my sister, Josephine Parker, had mortgaged our only home to ensure I received treatment, ultimately losing everything and ending up homeless. After my death, Fiona returned with a lawyer, and as my “legal wife,” claimed nearly 90% of my estate. She then used the money to live a lavish life with her first love, Ezra Bennett. The hospital room door suddenly opened, pulling me out of my memories. It was Fiona! She walked into the room in high heels, clutching a medical report, her eyes slightly red as if she had just cried. But I noticed a distinct pinch mark on her wrist—she had deliberately hurt herself to aid in her dramatic display of tears. “Honey…” Fiona rushed to my bedside, holding my hand and crying, “Honey, the doctor said you… you have cancer! Boohoo…” She cried convincingly, but the tears never really fell, like a performer failing their role. I ignored her sobs and focused on her carefully applied makeup, reflecting on everything from my previous life. I sighed, realizing how deceptive appearances could be. Who would have thought that such a pretty and gentle wife would leave me after I fell ill? According to the previous life’s events, we’d argue soon, and Fiona would leave, cutting off all contact until I died, only to return and fight for my inheritance. As I pondered, I noticed a dark red mark peeking from her collar. I reached out to reveal it, my face darkening, “What does the tattoo ‘TH&WL’ under your collarbone mean?” Fiona was startled, quickly brushing my hand away and readjusting her top, “Are you hallucinating because you’re so sick? There’s no tattoo.” I sneered inside, playing dumb. “Must have been a hallucination, then.” She still carried the lingering scent of Ezra Bennett. “What’s that smell on you?” I asked, pretending not to know. “What smell? Nolan Parker, you’re sick now; I don’t want to argue with you!” Fiona’s face was displeased. Josephine shot Fiona a disapproving look, “At a time like this, you still want to argue with my brother? Are you trying to make things worse for him?” “Fiona, you should go back to work. I’ll take care of Nolan.” My sister wanted to send Fiona away to avoid any arguments between us. In my previous life, I had caused a huge scene at this point. In this life, I found it unnecessary. So I didn’t have a direct conflict with Fiona. After Fiona left, I finally calmed down to consider my strategy. I needed to transfer all my assets to my sister before I died.

Three days after being discharged, I immediately contacted my classmate Gideon Carter, a highly skilled private lawyer who had handled many difficult cases. “You’re in the late stage of liver cancer? No way?” Gideon was shocked to hear about my cancer diagnosis, but after seeing my diagnosis report, he sighed deeply, “I’m sorry, I didn’t expect…” I shook my head with a smile, “I called you today to draft a will. I want to transfer all my money to my sister.” After reviewing the documents I provided, Gideon shook his head, “That might be difficult. Fiona is your legal wife, and by law, she has rights to half of your assets.” I pushed a thick stack of envelopes toward Gideon, “Don’t tell me about the process; I just want results. Also, here’s a lead: Fiona’s having an affair, and it’s with our college classmate, Ezra Bennett.” “Ezra Bennett??” Gideon was shocked, his mouth agape, “That guy seemed honest… who would’ve thought?” “That’s why I’m asking an old classmate to help me find evidence of Fiona’s affair.” “Alright…” After leaving the law firm, I returned home and was surprised to find Fiona there! “You, why are you home?” I was surprised. Maybe because I didn’t insist on exposing the tattoo under Fiona’s collarbone, the butterfly effect led to her not cutting me off or leaving in this life. Fiona was excited, “Honey, I asked a doctor friend. They said, while domestically they can only prolong life, there have been successful treatments abroad!” I was taken aback, “Terminal liver cancer can be treated?” “Yes, yes, yes! Of course, it can! But the surgery is very expensive…” “How much?” I suddenly became interested. Not because I naively believed the terminal illness could be cured, but because I wanted to know her real intentions. Fiona told me, “The surgery costs about $50,000.” $50,000, which is roughly over 350,000 dollars. Fiona really had a good plan! 350,000 is almost the total of all my assets! She wanted to trick all my money out and then live a happy life with Ezra Bennett! “Forget it. Losing everything for a treatment that might not work isn’t worth it.” Bang! Fiona slammed the chopsticks on the table, anxiously saying, “How can you say that? If there’s a chance to be cured, even if it means losing everything, I’ll do it!” Ha! If I hadn’t lived through two lifetimes, I might have believed your nonsense! “Alright then, you make the arrangements, I want to rest for a while.” Fiona suddenly realized, “Wait, honey, you’re so sick, why aren’t you in the hospital and back home?” Her expression turned sour, as if she thought of something, and quickly came over to pull me, “No, you must go back to the hospital with me now! You need to be hospitalized!” I thought, go to the hospital so you and Ezra can have your secret meetings? But… it wouldn’t be impossible. “I’m just grabbing something, then I’ll head back. The doctor prescribed medicine, and I’m not bedridden yet.” Just as I was about to leave, I heard the sound of the door code being entered, and then Ezra Bennett burst in. “Sweetheart! I’m here! I missed you so much!”

Ezra rushed in and hugged Fiona, completely unaware that I was in the corner. Fiona was terrified, “Let go of me! Don’t touch me!” Ezra looked puzzled, “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” The next second, he could no longer call her sweetheart because he saw me. His face turned pale, “Nolan Parker? Weren’t you in the hospital?” “If I were in the hospital, I wouldn’t have seen such a marvelous scene. Fiona, do you have an explanation for this?” I was so angry I could curse! Not because Fiona and Ezra hugged, but because of Ezra’s stupidity! He didn’t even check the room before hugging my wife! Now I couldn’t pretend not to know about their affair! I didn’t even have the chance to act dumb! So I had to question him, “Ezra Bennett! We’re classmates, right? You just walked in and hugged my wife, what’s up with that? And how do you know my house code?” Ezra was extremely embarrassed, scratching his head, “Well… I, actually I…” He couldn’t get a word out. Fiona was quick to react, explaining to me, “Honey, don’t misunderstand. Didn’t I just tell you about the surgery abroad? Ezra was the one who helped introduce it. He must have some good news, so he got excited and forgot about the boundaries and hugged me!” Fiona’s explanation made Ezra quickly chime in, “Yes, yes, yes! That’s exactly what happened! I was just too excited, and then I was startled to see you, so I got a bit flustered. Old classmate, you don’t mind, right? I’m doing this for your good.” Ha… Of course, I don’t mind. Not only do I not mind, but I also hope you two get together quickly, so I have the chance to carry out my plan! Thinking this, I couldn’t say it out loud: “But you can’t do that, right? Hugging my wife in front of me? Don’t you know you shouldn’t mess with a friend’s wife?” Fortunately, Ezra knew about Fiona’s inheritance transfer plan, so he sat beside me, “Buddy, I’m sorry about your condition, but there’s still hope! The doctor I know abroad is really good in the field of liver surgery!” Heh… Of course, I don’t mind. In fact, I hope you two get together soon so I can finally put my plan into action! That’s what I thought, but I couldn’t say it out loud: “Isn’t this a bit much? Hugging my wife right in front of me? Haven’t you heard you shouldn’t mess with a friend’s wife?” Luckily, Ezra Bennett knew about Fiona Brooks’ plan to transfer her inheritance. He came over and sat next to me. “Hey buddy, I’m really sorry about your illness, but there’s still hope! I know a doctor overseas who’s excellent with liver surgeries!” “Sure, the surgery is expensive, but you only live once. Once you save your life, you can earn back the money!” Seeing Ezra act so concerned made me inwardly seethe with anger. Sell everything to scrape together money, send it abroad, and then let you and Fiona live it up? “Just talk to Fiona about it. I trust her! I’m a bit tired and just grabbing some stuff before heading back to the hospital.” “You guys chat.” I got up and went into the room. The first thing I did was grab the property deed. Then I stuffed it deep into my backpack, along with a few clothes to make it look casual. “I’m off. You guys talk. It’s best if you give me a plan soon. I’m young and don’t want to die.” Standing at the door, I shook Ezra’s hand, pretending as if I couldn’t live without him. Downstairs, into the car. The first thing I did was turn on my phone’s surveillance. The house had cameras originally for watching our pet dog. I never thought I’d use them to keep an eye on my wife now. On the couch, the two sat side by side. Ezra’s hand was getting a bit too familiar, and Fiona slapped it away. “Don’t mess around. This is still Nolan Parker’s home. Don’t go overboard!” Ezra, rubbing his slapped hand, looked a bit upset. “How’s that overboard? It’s not like we haven’t done things here before.” “Nolan’s about to die soon. What are you afraid of? Once we transfer his money abroad, we’ll be free to be together!” “True. Let’s find a place to hide for two years. I don’t want to take care of him every day. We can come back to claim the inheritance once he’s dead.” I’d love to see what she does when she finds out I’m not dead in two years. Fiona Brooks has a strong sixth sense! She actually gave up the plan to take all my assets and decided to take part first, then come back for the inheritance after squandering it and when I’m dead. I tapped the steering wheel, trying hard to come up with a counter-plan. Suddenly, a bright idea struck me—a very feasible plan. In my past life, after being blocked by my wife, I let myself go and didn’t cooperate with the hospital for chemotherapy, so I died within two years. But this time, I’m going to defy her wishes and live as long as I can. And not just live longer, but find a way to fake my death and trick her into coming back for the inheritance! On the third day of my hospital stay, Fiona and Ezra came to see me. “Honey, Ezra and I just discussed, and he’s planning to take me abroad to see that expert doctor.” I frowned, acting like I didn’t know: “You’re going abroad?” Fiona nodded, “Of course, I need to check if that doctor is really skilled. Only then can I trust him to perform surgery on you! Honey, I’m doing this for your own good!” I’ve heard “for your own good” so many times, I’m sick of it. “Alright, then you guys go.” Fiona hesitated and rubbed her thumb and forefinger together: “But honey, I need funds.” I pulled out an international card and handed it to her: “All the funds you need are on this card. There’s definitely enough money for you. Go ahead, I’ll be waiting at home for good news.” This international card was something I arranged through a lawyer friend, spending quite a bit to have a professional set it up. No matter how much is spent, I’ll receive cross-border text messages on my phone. “There’s a million on the card, use it as you wish.” There’s indeed a million on the card, but 900,000 of it is frozen and unusable. Once she spends the ten thousand, and the rest can’t be accessed, she’ll naturally come back. And what I need is her international spending notifications. Then, I’ll hire a private investigator to capture evidence of her and Ezra’s affair abroad. Fiona couldn’t hide her delight when she heard I prepared a million for her. “That’s great, honey~” She hugged me, leaving a kiss on my cheek with a crisp “mwah” sound. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ezra’s lips turn into an unhappy frown. “Come on, you two are practically an old married couple, can you not show off your love in front of me?” Ezra said, pulling Fiona out of my arms. I frowned at Ezra, “What? My wife is going abroad, and I don’t know when she’ll be back. You even have an issue with me kissing her?” Ezra was clearly upset, feeling like his own wife was being encroached upon. But he didn’t dare to get angry, only managing to say coldly, “Once we contact the doctor and cure your illness, you two can get as cozy as you want. The flight will be missed soon, Fiona, we should leave early.” Fiona, after hearing this, reluctantly said goodbye to me, uttered a few polite words, and then left the ward with Ezra. As soon as they left, I called the private investigator: “They’ve left, follow them, don’t lose track.” “Don’t worry, boss. You get what you pay for. Trust me, keep an eye on your phone for updates.” Shortly after Detective Wang hung up, I received real-time tracking short videos on Snapchat. Watching the videos, I couldn’t help but admire Detective Wang’s skills. In the video, although Detective Wang was filming from 20 meters away, Fiona and Ezra’s conversation was clearly captured in the short video. After asking, I learned that Detective Wang had purchased a directional listening device abroad, with a coverage range of nearly 300 meters! I was genuinely impressed. You get what you pay for. Such professional listening devices aren’t something an average private investigator can afford. Or even if they could, they might not have the means to get them. The first place Fiona and Ezra went after leaving the hospital was the nearest international bank. Confirming there was indeed a million in the account, Ezra couldn’t help but say happily: “Nolan Parker really gave you a million? He’s so generous. If he knew you were taking this million not to find a doctor for him but to have fun abroad with me, I wonder how he’d react. I’m so looking forward to it.” Fiona couldn’t help but give him a playful glare, “You’re so bad!” Though it seemed like a complaint, her tone was full of affection. I felt deeply hurt. Fiona had never shown such playful affection towards me. I always thought she wasn’t someone who’d act coy, but it turned out I wasn’t worthy of her tenderness. While I was lost in thought, Fiona took out a watch from her bag, “Ezra, a man needs to have some style abroad. You should wear this watch.” Ezra’s eyes nearly popped out when he saw the watch. “Patek Philippe? This thing starts at 300,000 at the lowest! Let me see this model… Holy crap? A platinum vintage model? This thing starts at a million!” Fiona was stunned, “What? It’s that expensive? This watch was left to Nolan by his father. I saw him take it out occasionally but never wear it, so I snuck it out.” Ezra extended his wrist, and Fiona affectionately helped him put it on, “It’s just a million-dollar watch! To me, you’re the most precious in the world! This watch suits you best!” Listening to their unabashed display of affection made me feel utterly nauseated. Especially that platinum watch, it deeply pierced my heart.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296393”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

Before the wedding, Gideon suffered a relapse of an old injury, resulting in temporary blindness, which made him irritable. He frequently went out late at night to drink with friends and only returned at dawn. On the night of the blizzard, I went to pick him up with my prenatal check-up report, only to find him at the bar entrance, discarding his sunglasses and white cane. “Pretending to be blind is exhausting. I even have to use a special phone to fool Nora… But it’s the only way to spend more time with my sweet Daphne before the wedding.” He wrapped his arm around the girl beside him and kissed her without a care. “Listen, after the wedding, I plan to be a good husband and father. Daphne is getting married abroad, so don’t tell Nora about this. If you ruin my happiness, I’ll hold you accountable!” But he was unaware of his impending leukemia diagnosis. I entered this story world five years ago with the purpose of saving Gideon, and I was pregnant with the child that could save his life. The snowy roads were treacherous, and on my way home, I had an accident, risking a miscarriage.

When I was brought to the emergency room, I was already unconscious. The doctor administered epinephrine. “Ma’am, can you hear me?” a worried voice asked near my ear. “You were in a car accident with severe bleeding. We’re urgently sourcing Type P blood. Without an immediate transfusion, the fetus might not survive.” I weakly nodded. “Do you need to call a family member?” I slowly opened my eyes, my mind replaying the scene at the bar. I had been in this book’s world for five years, just to save Gideon, the tragic second male lead. He was young, successful, and ambitious but was abandoned by his childhood sweetheart, the heroine. He worked tirelessly to create a designer brand, only to be diagnosed with leukemia a few years later. He eventually died because a matching bone marrow donor could not be found. When I arrived in the story, it was near the end. I fell in love with him and tried hard to conceive, hoping to give birth to the child that could save him. When I saw the blood test report showing the fetus had the same blood type as Gideon, I was overjoyed. Especially after Gideon “lost his sight,” I was extra cautious, fearing anything might trigger his leukemia. I bought him an accessible smartphone, which he used to meet women. He threw tantrums and went out drinking at night, while I stayed up waiting for him to return. Keeping this child alive was the only way Gideon could survive; otherwise, he would surely die. Thinking about this, I dialed the phone. Before I could speak, Gideon’s voice came through, indifferent, “I’ll be home later. You don’t need to wait up. Just go to sleep.” “By the way, there’s a blizzard tonight. Remember to lock the windows and turn on the heat. You just recovered from a cold, don’t catch another one.” “I’m at the hospital,” I replied. There was a pause on the other end, “What?” I heard the rustling of clothes and a woman’s soft moan. Gideon groaned, suppressing his desire, “What’s wrong? Do you need me to come now… but the roads are slippery, and I can’t see. If something happens on the way, you’ll have to take care of me…” My heart sank, “It’s nothing, just heavy bleeding from my period. I came to get it checked.” Gideon sighed with relief. “Nora, I don’t want to affect next week’s wedding… Rest well in the hospital, and I’ll pick you up tomorrow…” I swallowed my reply, and the call ended abruptly. Fortunately, the nearby hospital had a few bags of Type P blood left, just enough to save the pregnancy. Unfortunately, the OB-GYN ward was full, so I had to stay in the ER temporarily. “It’s okay,” the nurse reassured me gently, “We’ll do our best to save the fetus. As long as we get these few bags of blood in…” Before she could finish, a man’s voice shouted outside the ER. “What? No Type P blood?” I immediately recognized it was Gideon. “My friend got cut by glass and needs a transfusion… What do you mean it’s already used? Where’s the person? I’ll negotiate…” The ER curtain was suddenly pulled open. I struggled to lift my head, and Gideon stared blankly at the blood-stained white cloth beneath me. “It’s you?” Worry flickered in his eyes, “How did you end up in the ER?” “Aren’t you blind? How do you know it’s me?” Gideon shrugged, “We’ve been together for so long, I can recognize your scent… The blood smell here is strong, are you okay?” I was about to tell him the truth. Then his next words hit me like a brick. “If you’re okay, can you let my friend have the Type P blood? She seems to need it more than you.”

The nurse was about to speak, but Gideon left. I didn’t know if he was afraid of exposing his fake blindness or if he couldn’t stand the strong smell of blood. The nurse wanted to speak but I stopped her. Through the transparent curtain, I could see Gideon’s concern for Daphne. Daphne sat in a wheelchair, her bare leg bleeding from a glass cut—no need to imagine the scene. Gideon comforted her while urging me to give up the blood bags. “What if I said I’d die without these blood bags?” Gideon paused outside the curtain, then his face darkened. “Don’t joke around. You naturally have a cold constitution, a heavy period is no big deal. At worst, I’ll make you black sugar red date tea for a month.” “I’m joking,” I lowered my eyes and chuckled, “You take them to save your friend.” Daphne was his first love. They separated due to a misunderstanding, and now both are about to get married, enjoying their last fling. The nurse looked troubled, “But your baby…” I smiled bitterly, watching the blood keep flowing from me, and before I passed out, I left one last instruction. “Save the mother.” When I woke up again, I couldn’t feel the baby’s heartbeat anymore. The extracted fetal tissue was sealed in a box, and the nurse was preparing to transfer me to the OB-GYN ward that had just opened up. When I first confirmed the pregnancy, I signed an agreement. If the fetus couldn’t be saved, the cord blood and stem cells would be extracted as a precaution. I gave everything to save Gideon’s life. “The equipment can’t be moved, we need to get to the OB-GYN ward immediately.” Two nurses pushed me out of the ER. Under the cover of the white cloth, the sealed box held the blood mass. Gideon suddenly pushed Daphne in front of me. “Nora, the hospital is out of beds everywhere. Can you let Daphne have your bed?” I stared at him. Finally, the nurse couldn’t hold back, “You’re Nora’s family, shouldn’t you care more about your girlfriend? Why does she have to make all the sacrifices?” “Gideon, I really need to get into the OB-GYN ward right away. If this is delayed…” Daphne moaned in pain, clutching her bandaged wound. Gideon frowned, looking conflicted, “I’m begging you, okay?” “I accidentally broke a bottle at the bar, and Daphne got hurt because of me. You wouldn’t want me to feel guilty, right?” “Nora…” He put on his sunglasses, reaching to grab my hand, “She’s about to get married, and you’re going to be a bride soon too. Wouldn’t you be upset with a big scar on your leg?” I quietly watched his lips move, the scent of women’s perfume making my head spin. “Okay,” I compromised once more. Gideon was overjoyed, giving me a deep kiss on the forehead. Watching him leave, I wiped the nausea off my forehead. He had cut off the last path to life with his own hands. “What about the embryo…” I closed my eyes, “Burn it.” If Gideon doesn’t want to live, then let him be.

It wasn’t long before another room opened up. The nurses moved me next to Daphne’s room. Lying in bed, I idly browsed my phone, seeing friends’ wedding congratulations, feeling a mix of emotions. A year ago, Gideon proposed to me. He spent half a year preparing the wedding, handling everything from the bouquet to the wedding dress and ring selection. Even the invitations sent to guests were designed and handwritten by him, delivered in person. Everyone envied me for marrying a man like Gideon, successful and loving. Before Daphne returned to visit, I believed in it completely. But since her return, my relationship with Gideon subtly changed. He was always called away for various reasons when we were together. Later, he even had an old injury relapse, going blind. Suddenly, I saw a question on a social platform. “Did you marry your first love?” “The first love is to relive old dreams. The one you marry may not be the one you love most, but is the most suitable.” The answer was from Gideon’s profile picture. I smiled and turned off the screen. Outside the room, I heard the tap of a white cane. Gideon feared the medical staff would notice his act. The footsteps stopped at the door. From the next room, I heard a playful reprimand. Moments later, Gideon entered with a bag. “I specially bought you some blood-replenishing soup. Drink it while it’s hot.” He fumbled to place it on the bedside table. I noticed the plastic bag’s store name was from miles away. “Went that far?” Gideon’s breathing hitched, “I took a cab. It’s near our old place. You know that store’s soup works best…” Yes, every time I had my period, Gideon would buy it to nourish me. But now, the plastic lid had been opened, clearly meant for someone else, not me. “Leave it, I’m not hungry.” I looked up indifferently, “Why not give it to Daphne? She bled too, didn’t she?” “She won’t drink it…” Before he could finish, Gideon noticed my scrutinizing gaze with a smile, hastily closing his mouth. “I mean…” “It’s okay,” I interrupted, “Daphne is your friend. It’s only right I give way to her. All good.” Yes, every time I was on my period, Gideon made sure to get me something nourishing. But now, the plastic box is already open, and I can tell it wasn’t for me—he must have taken a cab to get it for someone else. “Just leave it there, I’m not hungry,” I said, glancing up nonchalantly. “Why not give it to Daphne? She’s bleeding too, isn’t she?” “She doesn’t drink it…” Gideon trailed off, catching the amused look in my eyes and quickly clamming up. “What I mean is…” “It’s okay,” I cut him off, “Daphne’s your friend, it’s only fair I step aside. It’s all fine.” Gideon froze, a wave of unease washing over him. He thought Nora was eerily calm today, a kind of calm that was unsettling. It seemed like she was slipping away from him. “What do you want to eat? I’ll order something in.” I shook my head, staying silent. “That won’t do…” Gideon sat on the bed, gently caressing my cheek. “You’ve lost weight. How will you fit into the wedding dress next week… and I don’t want the engagement ring slipping off your finger during the ceremony…” Thinking of the wedding dress and ring Gideon had personally designed and helped create, the bitterness in my heart wasn’t as intense as I’d imagined. Just a pity. Five years of love and effort couldn’t change his fate of dying young. “I don’t know if it’s pre-wedding jitters or what, but I’ve been feeling dizzy and anemic these past few days, my body feels hot…” Anemia and fever are early signs of leukemia. According to the timeline, Gideon would be diagnosed in just over half a year. “Gideon.” I suddenly spoke seriously, “How about we cancel the wedding next week?” He was startled, almost forgetting he was pretending to be blind. “What’s wrong? Don’t scare me… Did I do something to upset you?” “No,” I pouted, “Didn’t you suddenly go blind? I’m worried about how that’ll affect the wedding…” “No way, I will definitely get better.” Gideon stammered anxiously, “Even if I have to crawl, I’ll make it to the stage… Lately, I’ve been irritable because of the blindness, spending days away from home drinking with friends, I know it makes you uncomfortable…” “But you have to understand me, Nora… I promise I won’t do it again after we get married, so please stop worrying, okay?” I nodded and agreed, “Alright.” Gideon coaxed me to sleep, thoughtfully tucking me in. Thinking I was asleep, he got up and went to the next room to be with Daphne. A nurse came in holding a small bottle. “This is the embryo’s ashes, we return it to the family as per regulations.” I tucked the bottle into the drawer, “If my boyfriend asks, please tell him the truth.” “And then, please help me with the discharge procedures.”

I went home. Placing the prenatal check-up report on the bedroom vanity, I started packing to move out. This was the first villa Gideon bought after his startup success. It was also our home. Since his old injury relapse led to “blindness”, I called in renovation workers to lay down tactile tiles. Hung wind chimes in places prone to bumps, ensuring safety measures. Every day, I made different dishes to improve Gideon’s vision, hoping he’d recover soon with massage therapy. In the end, everything I did seemed like a joke. I took down the wind chimes and threw them away with last night’s cold meal. Gideon’s call suddenly came through. “Nora, you’re discharged?” “Yeah, I don’t like the hospital smell,” I replied coldly, “After all, it’s just my period. You must be exhausted running back and forth taking care of Daphne.” “Actually, I…” Gideon hesitated, “Don’t misunderstand, since Daphne’s husband is overseas, it’s only right for me, as a friend, to take care of her…” “You don’t need to explain, I understand.” “Okay…” He was at a loss for words, “Then take care, I’ll have food delivered to your home, eat more.” “Don’t worry about the wedding, everything is arranged, just eat well, sleep well, and get ready to be a beautiful bride!” After hanging up, I dragged my suitcase and locked the door. I took the next ferry to Nora-Gideon Island. This was where Gideon and I solidified our relationship. He bought it for me at a high price and named it after us. Right now, the island staff was doing the final cleanup, preparing to set up the wedding venue. Gideon kept it a secret, intending to surprise me. But I guessed it right away; he planned the wedding venue on the island. The person in charge recognized me from the wedding dress poster. “Miss Qin, you…” “Go about your business, don’t mind me. I’m just here to check things out… Don’t worry, Gideon doesn’t know I’m here, and I won’t make things difficult for you.” Only then did the person in charge leave at ease. Following the sound of the waves, I walked to the beach, where the tide had receded, exposing the rocks. I bent down, brushing off the sand. I saw the heart-shaped stone with Gideon’s and my names carved on it, now eroded beyond recognition. On another stone, Daphne’s crooked name appeared. The staff was preparing to clear the used tents and hammocks. Tangled in the corners were strands of gray-brown hair and the strong perfume unique to Daphne. “Where’s the ring?” I asked the person in charge, “I want to see it.” “It just arrived today, locked in the glass case!” The person in charge led me over, teaching me how to unlock it with my fingerprint. The three-carat heart-shaped engagement ring, I’m the only one who can unlock it and has the right to wear it. But unfortunately, this sea and Gideon’s heart are no longer pure. I held the ring in my palm, examining it closely, then suddenly ran to the sea and threw it with all my might. The person in charge was shocked and quickly called for someone to retrieve it. “No need,” I shouted, “Tell Gideon the wedding is canceled, and you don’t need to continue with the preparations.” Before the person in charge could catch up, I turned and boarded the ship to leave. Gideon’s call came through. His voice was trembling, sounding extremely anxious. “Nora, what’s in that bottle… they said it was our child?” “It’s my child,” I coldly corrected him, “We haven’t married, and we won’t.” “Stop joking, Nora, you’re just emotional because of your period. There’s no need to joke about this…” It was clear Gideon didn’t quite believe the nurse’s words.

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All my friends say Nolan loves me as if his life depended on it. And it’s true. He once took a knife for me. He chose to marry me even after learning I couldn’t have children, despite his family’s disapproval. I thought he would love me forever. Until just now, when I saw him at the hospital, gently carrying a woman into the maternity ward. “Be careful, this is our first child.” 0 I pulled out my phone and called him, my voice trembling. He answered quickly. “Nolan, where are you?” His voice was as gentle as ever. “Lydia, I’m at the office in a meeting, very busy. I’ll call you back later.” The call ended, and Nolan spent a long time soothing the upset woman he was with. I hid nearby, watching them. I was flooded with memories of the day Nolan found out I couldn’t have children. He cried until his eyes were red and knelt before me. “Lydia, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault.” Yes, he should be sorry. Back then, I was pregnant, but he was so busy with work that he forgot to check in with me. A snowstorm blanketed the city, and worried about him, I went out to find him. I was hit by a car that ran a red light. I lost the baby. The doctor said I could never be pregnant again. Nolan said, “Lydia, I love you, and that includes the love I had for the child.” “It doesn’t matter if we don’t have kids. I just want you.” Young love is intense. So intense that it made me forget my pain. But young love is also fleeting. In just five years, he had a child. With another woman. 0

I sat in silence all night. At dawn, I heard the door. Nolan was the same as always. The first thing he did was hug me. “Why are you up so early?” “Sorry, I was so busy yesterday that I couldn’t come home.” “When this project ends, I’ll spend more time with you.” I felt the warmth from his body and suddenly hugged him tight. But I smelled another woman’s perfume. I felt sick. I leaned over the bed and retched. His expression changed. He quickly patted my back. “Lydia, what’s wrong?” “Are you feeling unwell? Let me take you to the hospital.” I shook my head. “I ate something bad last night.” I closed my eyes. My mind was in chaos. Should I confront him? Could I let go? This relationship of nearly ten years. It’s become part of me. I suddenly opened my eyes and stared at Nolan. “Nolan, if you ever get tired of me, please tell me.” “I’ll let you go.” “You know, I only hate lies.” I tried to find any proof on his face. But Nolan is an excellent actor. He quickly held my hand, placing it over his heart. “Lydia, don’t overthink. It’s my fault for being too busy and neglecting you, but my love for you won’t change.” “Really? Do you still love me?” He answered without hesitation: “Of course.” “Only me?” He hesitated for just a moment. But I already knew the answer. “You probably haven’t eaten. I’ll make you something.” He smiled and put the breakfast he bought in front of me. It was still my favorite. Dumplings from the Westside shop, and my favorite red date soy milk. It was the affordable breakfast we had when we lived in a small twenty-square-meter rental. I was dazed. I began to wonder why a heart could be divided into so many pieces. Why could Nolan be as gentle and considerate as before, yet give that same gentleness to someone else? Nolan only relaxed and slept beside me after I finished breakfast. Soon, his breathing was even and calm. He was obviously exhausted. I started looking through his phone. The password was still my birthday, unchanged. SnapChat was the same, nothing there. Everything I saw at the hospital last night seemed like a dream. But I knew it was just a façade. I started searching his car. Finally, I found another phone in a hidden compartment. I tried the password many times without success. I had to use Nolan’s fingerprint to unlock it. The content inside pierced my heart. It was full of their photos together. He saved her contact as “Sweetheart.” The only contact on SnapChat was her. Going back to the beginning, the chat history started three years ago. An intern asking a senior for advice. Six months later, she confessed to him. Nolan rejected her without hesitation. “I’m married, and I love my wife very much.” “Don’t say things that could be misunderstood.” But he didn’t delete her from SnapChat. He let her slowly infiltrate. “It’s snowing today, guess who I thought of.” “I’m on a business trip, and I encountered a creepy guy. I was so scared, but I really miss you.” “Today’s my birthday, I’m so lonely. Can you talk to me, please?” “Is it wrong to love someone? I was just a few years late. But I love you too.” Finally, on her birthday the following year. “If you still hate me, just delete me. I’m tired of sending messages into the void. I want to let you go and myself too.” Nolan initiated a message: “Happy Birthday.” Reading this, I vomited up the breakfast I had just eaten. I stood up, looking in the bathroom mirror at the pale, disheveled woman with dark circles under her eyes. So old and ugly. No wonder Nolan fell for someone else. 0

I thought about the past. Nolan was an orphan. When he was a baby, he was almost frozen to death by a garbage dump. Luckily, a kind old man collecting trash found him, saving his life. Unfortunately, the old man passed away when Nolan was in elementary school. So, Nolan was often bullied in the alley. It was my mom and I who provided him shelter. Mom always said he was a poor child, with no parents, and that I should treat him well. Back then, Nolan was not as mild-mannered as he is now. He was fierce to everyone. His eyes were like a cub eyeing a hunter. The first time I approached him, he pushed me down, scraping my elbow. “Go away, I hate all of you.” I heard the last person who tried to befriend him spread the word at school that he was an orphan. So, he despised the word “friend.” It took me a long time to barely become his friend. To let him come to my house for meals without hesitation. To let him walk proudly by my side. To let the light return to the boy’s eyes. Rumors spread in the alley, saying that Nolan the orphan liked me. They also said I, a fatherless child, was well-matched with him, who had no parents. When Nolan found out, he beat the culprit to a pulp. I had to stop him. His fists were bloody. But his eyes were clear when he looked at me. “They can insult me, but not you.” That’s how Nolan was, openly good to me. After the exams in ninth grade, Nolan asked where I was going for high school. The boy blushed. By then, he was already over six feet tall, towering over me. I looked up at him but was blinded by the sun. “Not telling you.” He panicked, “Are you leaving me?” He sounded like a wronged wife. I chuckled. “Do you like me, Nolan?” He lowered his head. His tears were like a mist after spring rain, barely there, tugging at my heart. “Sorry, I know I’m not worthy of liking you.” I laughed and took his hand. It was the first time I held Nolan’s hand. It wasn’t smooth or fair, but solid and warm. “Nolan, if you like someone, you like them. There’s no ‘worthy’ or ‘unworthy.’” Nolan wasn’t good at academics. He went to a much worse high school than I did. But he still worked hard to move to the provincial capital with me. We promised to go to the same university. On his eighteenth birthday, I told him, “Nolan, if we go to the same university, I’ll be your girlfriend.” Nolan’s eyes were full of me. “Really, Lydia?” “Really.” Later, before my college entrance exams, someone stalked me and almost attacked me. Nolan found out. He went crazy and beat the guy until he ended up in the hospital. Even though he got timely treatment, he was left disabled. His family was rich. When he woke up, he vowed to ruin Nolan and me. Nolan and I were cornered in an alley. Nolan somehow found the strength to hold them off and told me to run. “Run and don’t look back.” I ran out and the first thing I did was call the police. But when I got back with them, Nolan was already lying in a pool of blood. He almost died.

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Ever since I became pregnant, my health hasn’t been the best. Once my mother-in-law found out, she moved into our marital home, under the guise of taking care of me, along with my younger brother-in-law’s wife. Her demeanor changed drastically from her usual kindness, and she started saying absurd things: “My son is the eldest, so he has the duty to support his younger brother and sister-in-law.” “Besides, he’s a high achiever, so he should be in charge. Always listening to women won’t get him anywhere.” “Declan is no longer with us, and it’s Jasper’s responsibility to continue the family line. Since you’re pregnant and can’t look after him properly, let Declan’s wife do it.” My anger rose to my throat, but just then, Jasper came in and refused her. “I’ve already promised Nora that she is the only one for me, no exceptions.” Seeing my husband stand firmly by my side, I felt reassured that I had chosen the right partner. I gritted my teeth, working overtime to save for baby supplies, while drinking the special nourishing soup Jasper made for me. However, I discovered that the soup was drugged, and my husband was having an affair with his sister-in-law right under my nose.

I’m 37 this year, and it took two years of marriage with Jasper Thompson before I got pregnant. As soon as we confirmed the pregnancy, Jasper shared the good news widely. When my mother-in-law heard about it, she moved in with my younger brother-in-law Declan Thompson’s wife and child, under the pretense of taking care of me. Declan was a son-in-law my father found for me, but he had a strong sense of pride, and I never refused any of his harmless requests. The marital home, a spacious 300 square meters, was bought by my father, so there was no sense of overcrowding with them living there. Seeing Jasper trying to please everyone, I eventually softened and allowed them to stay. I never expected my mother-in-law, who appeared so kind before the wedding, to change so drastically, forgetting her son was a live-in son-in-law, and started acting domineering in my home. On their first night, I symbolically had the housekeeper prepare a table full of dishes. But I didn’t expect my mother-in-law to say something utterly absurd at the dinner table. “Jasper, Declan died young, so I arranged a posthumous marriage for him. This is your sister-in-law, Adeline Carter.” “Adeline is divorced and has a child, making it difficult for her to remarry. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have agreed to a posthumous marriage with Declan.” “You married into the Thompson family, and your children won’t carry the Thompson name. Why don’t you and Adeline have a child, as if it were Declan’s, to continue the Thompson lineage?” “This won’t affect your marriage; it’s a win-win.” Hearing this, the cup in my hand fell to the ground with a “crack.” I knew my mother-in-law was uneducated, but I didn’t expect her to be so absurd. Not only did she arrange a posthumous marriage for my deceased brother-in-law, but she also wanted my husband to father children for both families. I, Nora Thompson, the only daughter of the Thompson Corporation, cannot accept sharing my husband with another woman. With displeasure, I tapped the dining table with my hand. “Jasper, what do you think?” He hesitated for a long time, “Mom, I can’t do that.” I breathed a sigh of relief, not noticing the flirtatious glances between him and that woman. “Why not? You’re the eldest son of the Thompson family, and you have a responsibility to continue the family line.” “Besides, you’re a high achiever. Your children will be smart and bring honor to the Thompson family.” “If you hadn’t married into the Thompson family, why would I have to beg her?” She tried to persuade Jasper with bitter words and lectured me. “Nora, you should be more generous. You’re an only child, aren’t you lonely? When you and Adeline’s child are born, they’ll be siblings, and it’ll be lively.” “Also, I think this house is nice, big, and well-located. Adeline can stay here and keep you company.” “What?” I felt a surge of anger, raising my voice. Seeing me upset, Jasper quickly tried to smooth things over. “Mom, what are you talking about? Nora just got pregnant, and the baby isn’t stable. She can’t get upset.” Jasper signaled Declan to pull the excited mother-in-law aside and held my hand to comfort me. “I’ve always said, I only love Nora in this lifetime. I can’t agree to this.” Some of my anger dissipated, thankful that even Jasper couldn’t accept such a ridiculous idea. Otherwise, the Thompson Corporation wouldn’t stand for it. I left a note saying, “It better be that way.” Slamming the door shut. Jasper still followed me, explaining nonstop. “Mom is just like that, uneducated, doesn’t understand anything. Don’t take it to heart.” “You’re pregnant, getting angry affects our baby, it’s not worth it.” “I absolutely won’t agree to mom’s idea of fathering children for both families.”

For the sake of giving the child a complete family, I eventually softened my stance. I didn’t delve into their wrongdoings, focusing on my work instead. In the two years of marriage with Jasper, my mother-in-law never urged us to have children, so I thought she was understanding and cared for her deeply. I never thought that once I got pregnant, she’d show such a different side, making it unbearable. Fortunately, Jasper was still clear-headed, always standing by me. But I didn’t expect that I was still wrong. Pregnant women get hungry easily, so Jasper learned a few of my favorite dishes from a chef and made nourishing soup for me every day. One night, after dinner, I got hungry again. Jasper brought a bowl of soup to the bedroom as usual. I drank it without suspecting anything. Soon after, I felt sleepy and went to bed early. In the middle of the night, I woke up thirsty. The other side of the bed was empty. Jasper still wasn’t sleeping this late? I put on my shoes, planning to go to the kitchen for water. Unexpectedly, as soon as I stepped out of the bedroom, the sounds from the sister-in-law’s room stopped me in my tracks. Their door was wide open, and I saw Jasper and the sister-in-law in a compromising embrace. I swayed, ready to confront them, when I overheard their malicious conversation. “Jasper, I thought you had forgotten about me.” “How could I? You were my first. Nora Thompson can’t compare to you.” “Stop it. Don’t forget about us, Little Rain still doesn’t have a father. If not for you, why would I agree to a posthumous marriage with your deceased brother?” “I feel for you, Adeline. Little Rain is my son, I won’t mistreat him.” “Who believes you? That woman is pregnant with your child.” “Don’t worry about that. Her child won’t be born. At the hospital, I’m her husband. If I don’t sign, who dares to deliver her baby? Childbirth is like walking through death’s door. One wrong move, and it’s all over…” “Then, won’t her house, car, and savings all be mine?” These words struck me like a lightning bolt, destroying any hope I had left. Jasper, how dare he!? I wanted to barge in and expose their scheme, but I held back. Now wasn’t the time; there was no evidence. I clenched my fists, desperately suppressing my emotions. I don’t know how I got back to the bedroom last night. When I woke up the next day, the bed was still empty. I got up and went to the kitchen, finding Jasper there. Watching him busily preparing breakfast, I couldn’t help but gag. “What’s wrong, Nora? Feeling unwell? Are you too tired?” “Why not take a break from work today, rest for a few days.” His caring words came one after another, leaving me unable to distinguish which was the real him. Was the man in the sister-in-law’s room last night really this seemingly devoted man? The vile plots and sickening sweet talk were warning me not to be deceived by the high-acting man before me.

I looked at him, saying nothing. He tried to reach out and support me, but I sidestepped away. “Oh, sister-in-law is back.” My mother-in-law and Adeline Carter were already up, sitting at the table ready to eat. That woman wore an emerald green dress and an expensive jade necklace, giving her an air of elegance. “Who told you to wear my clothes, to go through my jewelry box?” I was furious, slapping her across the face. This was my favorite dress before I got pregnant. That jade necklace was a birthday gift from my dad, truly priceless. “Take it off immediately, or I’ll call the police for theft!” I’ve never flaunted my status as the Thompson Corporation’s heiress in front of them, letting them think I’m easy to bully. Adeline was startled, hiding behind Jasper, explaining pitifully. “I came in a rush, didn’t bring clothes. Just borrowing yours, I’ll return them…” Her pitiful look made it seem like I was the one at fault. When she moved in, she brought plenty of things, so it’s impossible she didn’t bring clothes. She just wanted to disgust me. My mother-in-law came over upon hearing the commotion, seeing Adeline looking like I’d bullied her terribly. “It’s just a dress, why make such a fuss?” “Your clothes and jewelry could open a store. One more or less doesn’t matter.” “Just pity her, let her wear it.” “Besides, she’s your sister-in-law, don’t be so petty.” Before, to respect his pride, I would always compromise on what he said. Now I realize I’ve been too accommodating. Just trying to make me sick. My mother-in-law rushed over when she heard the commotion, seeing Adeline Carter putting on an act as if I had severely bullied her. “It’s just a piece of clothing, why make a fuss?” “You have enough clothes and jewelry to fill a store. One more or less doesn’t make a difference.” “Show some compassion and let her wear it.” “Besides, she’s your sister-in-law. Don’t be so stingy.” In the past, to save his pride, I would always give in a little. Looking back now, I realize I was letting him walk all over me. I ignored his words and turned to him, saying, “I’ve been sleeping deeply these days, but last night I didn’t sleep well. I woke up and didn’t see you in the bedroom. Today, you’re defending her so generously. Did you actually do something behind my back, like your mom suggested?” My words clearly rattled the three of them. My mother-in-law, who’s not accustomed to such situations, couldn’t hide her panic. Adeline Carter, who acts high and mighty thanks to my mother-in-law, even wrinkled my expensive dress. Jasper Thompson was the quickest to recover. He was only caught off-guard for a moment before he replied smoothly. “That’s ridiculous, Nora. How could I do anything against you?” “Last night, Mom had terrible back pain. I was giving her a massage for a while. You seemed to be sleeping soundly, so I didn’t wake you.” “Isn’t that right, Mom?” Jasper even shot a glance at his mother to back him up. “Yes, yes, maybe I’ve been too tired from taking care of you lately. My back has been hurting.” What a joke. During their stay, the housekeeper has been preparing meals for their entire family, truly wearing herself out. As for my mother-in-law, she wouldn’t lift a finger if she saw a bottle of oil toppled over. I coldly watched their poor performance, feeling a wave of disgust rising up. I quickly walked to the bathroom, unwilling to see their hypocritical faces any longer. I had just finished a project and was ordered by my dad to rest at home. As lunchtime approached, my mother-in-law insisted on going out to eat. “Nora, eating this bland food with you every day is making me sick. Today, we’re going out to eat.” “Jasper, take me and Adeline shopping at the mall. Buy more clothes and jewelry so others won’t think we’re poor.” She even made a point to look my way as she said this. I really didn’t want to stay with them, seeing their ugly faces. Jasper looked at me, then at them, and finally spoke up. “Nora, rest well at home. With the housekeeper taking care of you, I’m at ease.” Jasper ultimately chose them. “Go if you want. Stop pretending here.” “Buy a few more clothes to change into. Don’t keep taking others’ clothes. That’s what thieves do.” I retorted mercilessly. My mother-in-law and Adeline Carter looked humiliated at my words, leaving with Little Rain without looking back. Jasper raised his hand, but before he could speak, my mother-in-law pulled him out the door. I watched them from the window. Jasper was sandwiched between two women, holding a child’s hand, chatting warmly, as if they were the real family. Ever since I got pregnant, everything seemed to change. Did Jasper think that just because I was pregnant, he could easily control me? He’s sorely mistaken. Since he dared to provoke me, the entire Thompson family shouldn’t expect an easy time! Since marrying Jasper Thompson, he had always treated me well. Pregnant women are naturally sensitive. I easily noticed even the slightest change. Today was supposed to be my prenatal check-up day. I waited all morning for Jasper to bring it up. As expected yet unexpected, he forgot. Watching their car drive away, I called the housekeeper to go to the hospital. The hospital wasn’t far. My primary doctor was a student of my dad’s, and also my old friend, Finn.

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When I was young, I lost a leg saving Jasper. Later, because of that leg, I was bullied and lost my hearing. Jasper rushed back from thousands of miles away and promised with tears in his eyes to take care of me for life. But ten years later, the first words I heard after regaining my hearing were from Jasper’s friend asking him. “Hey, between Nora and Celeste, who do you prefer?” Jasper laughed softly, “Of course, it’s Celeste. Nora’s missing a leg, such a downer.” He seemed to forget that Celeste was the one who caused my hearing loss. “Nora’s missing a leg, such a downer.” When I heard this, I was holding carefully baked desserts, eager to share the good news with Jasper about my regained hearing. But in that moment, I froze, unable to believe what he said. “Nora?” Jasper turned and saw me, quickly taking the plate from my hands, communicating gently in sign language: “Why are you standing there? Come sit.” He always made sure I didn’t stand too long, worried that the prosthetic leg might cause me pain. But the next moment, with the same gentle look, he spoke to his friend in an irritated tone: “If she stands for too long, her leg hurts at night, and I have to massage it. Ugh, sometimes I still can’t get used to seeing her leg.” It was the first time I heard him speak with such disdain, and I almost couldn’t hold back my tears. “I have something to do, you guys chat.” Holding back tears, I returned to my room as calmly as usual. But as I entered the room, I heard Jasper say, “She can’t hear, what are you afraid of?” Tears suddenly flowed, and I wiped my face hard. My eyes fell on the photo on the bedside table. It was a picture of seventeen-year-old me and eighteen-year-old Jasper. Before the accident that year, we took this photo, full of unspoken feelings and hopes for a bright future together. But two months after the photo was taken, during a chain car accident on an overpass, I threw myself on Jasper to save him, losing my left leg, the one I danced with. Eighteen-year-old Jasper knelt by my hospital bed, choked with emotion, promising to take care of me for a lifetime. At twenty-eight, Jasper and I were seen by friends as the epitome of a loving couple. But it turned out, aside from me, everyone knew Jasper was disgusted by my leg and tired of it. He even cheated with the woman who bullied me. When I came out of the room, Jasper’s friend was gone, and I heard Jasper talking on the phone by the window. “Celeste, don’t be afraid, I’m coming home.” A charming female voice gently came through from the other end, and my body stiffened instantly. That voice haunted many of my nightmares. Jasper, with a warm expression, noticed me and calmly hung up the phone. “Nora, there’s something at the company, I need to go. Don’t wait for me for dinner.” I thought of the “home” he mentioned just now. After marrying Jasper, he bought this spacious penthouse, telling me it was our home. Now, which home was he going to? “Okay,” I said with difficulty, trying to remain calm, “You go ahead.” With my agreement, Jasper hugged me and then instructed Mrs. Jenkins, “Don’t forget to make pigeon soup for the lady.” Mrs. Jenkins acknowledged. After he left, Mrs. Jenkins typed on her phone to ask about my dinner preference. After answering, she glanced at the door, then at me, with a hint of sympathy in her eyes, muttering, “Poor lady…” Am I pitiful? I took the health tea she handed me and returned to the room. Sitting quietly by the window for over an hour, I impulsively opened my phone and logged into my long-unused Twitter. I found a few new bot followers. But when I clicked on one of their profiles, I saw a tweet posted just ten minutes ago. “A cockroach appeared at home, luckily my brother came in time, scared me to death — my brother also gave me a new ring, telling me that our love is as eternal and sincere as the ring’s meaning —” The photo showed a slender hand wearing a six-carat pink diamond ring, and when I saw the butterfly tattoo on the thumb, my eyes narrowed. It was Celeste… I’ll never forget the vivid black butterfly on her hand when she burned me with a curling iron.

Jasper didn’t come home all night. When he returned the next evening, he had changed clothes. He walked to me with a bouquet of jasmine, arranging them in a vase one by one. “Jasper,” I called his name, “Have you gathered all the evidence? About Celeste.” Hearing Celeste’s name, Jasper’s hand paused, a hint of guilt in his eyes, but he quickly said, “Not yet. Those people took hush money from the Liang family and are tight-lipped, afraid of retaliation.” At seventeen, Jasper went to study in the U.S., and I stayed home to accompany my grandmother. Because I helped a classmate, Celeste and her group targeted me. Dirty water poured over my head, centipedes in my water cup, dead mice in my pencil case… shards of glass in my knee, cigarette burns on my shoulder, and a curling iron burn on my arm. I sought help, but the Liang family had connections, and no one assisted me. Until one time, I stumbled upon Celeste dating some thugs, and she called me, “Hey, cripple.” She had the thugs drag me away, and I fought hard, biting a piece of flesh off her arm. She went mad, slapped me dozens of times, and slammed my head into the wall. When I woke up, I saw Jasper, who had rushed back to the country, holding my hand, his eyes red, repeating the same sentence. I could only understand through lip-reading, he was saying: “I’ll kill them.” To my horror, I realized I couldn’t hear. The thugs and those who bullied me ended up in jail thanks to the Shen family’s influence, except Celeste, who was sent out of the province the next day. Five years ago, the Liang family had a scandal involving a real and fake daughter, and Celeste, the fake, was kicked out. Two years ago, I saw her again, kneeling on glass, apologizing with tears: “I’m sorry.” But I wanted more than an apology; I wanted legal justice. “I want to see her tomorrow,” I told Jasper. Jasper agreed. Celeste seemed to have something on Jasper, and he made her apologize to me on her knees every month. She complied, month after month. He said it would continue until she atoned for her sins, and I forgave her. But as I returned to the room, he made a call, seemingly instructing someone, “Give those people more money, keep them quiet.” “Ugh, it’s because Nora somehow brought up Celeste again. It’s been so long, and she still can’t let it go, so troublesome.” The tone was clear annoyance, and I clutched the doorframe, heading back to my room. At that moment, my heart shattered into pieces. It wasn’t that Jasper hadn’t gathered evidence; he didn’t want to hurt Celeste, so he pretended he hadn’t. When did Jasper change? I leaned against the door, hearing him make another call, this time speaking softly and intimately to the other end: “Go back to where you were, Nora wants to see you. Don’t be scared, she won’t do anything to you.”

After being kicked out by the Liang family, Celeste lived in a rundown neighborhood. When I arrived, she came shortly after. She wore a cheap, worn-out coat, and her manicures in the photos were gone, even her complexion looked poor. But I didn’t miss her smooth, well-maintained hair, her well-cared-for skin, and the possessive hickeys on her neck. I clenched my fingers, looking at her meek demeanor but harsh words, and said, “Celeste, I’ve found a lawyer. You will go to jail.” Celeste looked up, a sneer flashing quickly in her eyes, then she lowered her head, kneeling before me. But her mouth was full of malice, “I won’t go to jail, you’ll never see that day.” She muttered softly, “Cripple.” Just then, Jasper arrived, passing Celeste like a stranger, sitting next to me, asking, “It’s getting cold, Mrs. Jenkins made you soup, go home and drink it?” He glanced at Celeste as he spoke. I bit my lip; it was only ten minutes, and Jasper couldn’t wait to rescue her. “She just said something to me, I recorded it.” I struggled to keep my emotions in check, took out a recorder from my bag, and handed it to Jasper. For a moment, Celeste’s face turned pale. Jasper frowned slightly, playing the recording, and when it reached the “cripple” part, his brows furrowed, glaring at Celeste. “What did she say?” I looked at him, eyes hopeful. Jasper put away the recorder, his Adam’s apple moved—a sign he was about to lie. Then he signed, “She said she knows her mistake, sorry.” I stood up, my gaze lingering on Celeste, then unexpectedly slapped her across the face! Celeste’s head was knocked to the side, I used so much force that my palm tingled. “What’s the use of knowing your mistake? Going to prison is how you atone.” I said coldly. Celeste’s tears fell instantly, she looked at Jasper with grievance, but Jasper ignored her. “What did she say?” I asked him eagerly, my eyes full of anticipation. Jasper put the recorder away, swallowing hard—a subtle sign that he might not be telling the truth. In sign language, he replied, “She said she realized her mistake and apologized.” I stood up, my gaze lingering on Celeste before I suddenly slapped her across the face. The force of the slap made her head snap to the side. My hand stung from the impact. “Realizing your mistake is pointless. You need to pay for it in prison,” I said icily. Celeste’s tears fell immediately. She glanced at Jasper, seeking some sympathy, but he ignored her. Instead, he took my hand, gently massaging it, and signed, “Don’t get your hands dirty.” Jasper led me out of Celeste’s place, put me in the car, and then seemed to remember something. “I have a meeting with a client around noon. Can you head back first?” The driver was already in the seat. I nodded, and Jasper kissed my cheek before seeing me off. Once home, I put on my headphones and opened the surveillance app on my phone. The sounds of intimacy filled my ears. “She started it. Besides, she can’t hear, so what’s wrong with me saying a few things about her…” Celeste sat stubbornly on the couch in a suggestive maid outfit, her eyes red and on the verge of tears. “I know you’re in love with her. So, don’t come to me anymore. I shouldn’t be alive; dying would be better!” “Why don’t you just send me to prison then?” Jasper had already taken off his shirt and kissed Celeste hard, trying to act tough. “Two years ago, your life was mine. I won’t let you die, so don’t even think about it.” Seeing Celeste about to cry, he quickly wiped her tears away and sighed, “Don’t cry, sweetheart. Why say such things? How could I bear to send you to prison?” Jasper always believed I would eventually forgive Celeste. But that’s impossible. After I finished speaking with the private investigator, Jasper came home. I noticed the Twitter account following me had posted something new. A maid hiding her face, with a Rococo wallpaper background, clearly not the decor of that inner-city neighborhood.

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Just as I was about to smash the ashtray over my sister’s head, a string of comments flashed before my eyes. [Seriously? Plot-induced stupidity? Why would anyone treat a fake sister better than their real one?] [Right? And isn’t she supposed to be a badass CEO? Can’t even spot this basic setup?] [There’s literally surveillance footage. Just pull it up.] My hand slowly loosened around the ashtray. It was like a veil in my brain had been ripped away, and everything suddenly clicked into place. Of course. The girl in front of me, Christie Ferguson, was my real sister. She had been switched at birth and raised in hardship. And yet, not once had she blamed anyone. Ever since she came home, she’d gone out of her way to treat everyone with kindness. And what had we done? Showered a fake heiress with love while treating the real one like dirt. “Don’t be mad, sis,” the imposter sniffled prettily, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Christie didn’t mean to steal my designs…” I slapped her hard, and the room fell silent in shock. “Well, I didn’t mean for my hand to land on your face either,” I said calmly.

“Tania, have you lost your mind?” Lionel Ferguson’s voice was sharp, his expression darker than ever. He was the eldest son and the golden child, the one I used to measure myself against. “What the hell was that for?” he snapped. “Why’d you hit Betty?” I pointed to the security camera above us. “You’re all accusing Christie of stealing the designs, right? So why don’t we check the footage and find out?” Silence filled the room in an instant. Betty Ferguson was the first to panic. “It’s just a misunderstanding! I swear I never thought Christie took them!” Lionel tried to sweep it under the rug, his voice stiff with authority. “Enough. We’re not making a scene over something so trivial. No one brings this up again. Got it?” Then he turned to Christie, all condescension and control. “You should be thanking Betty. Without her, you wouldn’t be back in this house.” Christie stood her ground, though her voice trembled. “Shouldn’t she be thanking me? She stole twenty years of my life. “She’s living a life that was supposed to be mine.” Lionel wasn’t used to being challenged. He saw Christie’s defiance as insolence. Even though she was right, Lionel still believed she was unreasonable. Thus, he became furious. “You’re out of line. Typical backwater mentality. Tonight, no dinner. You’ll stay in the basement until you’ve reflected properly.” Christie went pale. She stumbled back in terror. “No, please! I’m sorry! I’ll apologize to Betty! Just don’t send me there!” She dropped to her knees, trembling, forehead to the floor. I looked at her, feeling heartbroken. It hit me then: whatever had happened in that basement, it had broken her. And now, she would beg for mercy even at the mention of the basement. Just then, I thought of the stories I had once read. This felt like one of those “break the heroine until she’s obedient” torture arcs. In the end, the heroine, who had once tried her best to resist and seek freedom, turned into something without a soul. I hated Lionel in that moment, but I hated the old me even more. If I’d opened my eyes sooner, maybe I could’ve saved her from all those nightmares. “Punishment fits the crime,” Lionel said coldly. “This isn’t something a few tears can fix. Guards!” At his command, the Ferguson family’s bodyguards lined up, well-trained and ruthless. “Take Christie to the basement. No one lets her out without my say-so.” Lionel was always domineering and tough, and his words were law.

“No, please!” Christie scrambled to his feet and grabbed Lionel’s pant leg. “I’ll bark like a dog, Lionel! Just don’t send me down there!” She lifted a leg, mimicking a dog marking its territory. My chest seized. I could barely breathe. Every bit of air came into my lungs with unbearable pain, as if someone was squeezing my heart. “Don’t touch her!” My voice cracked through the room. I rushed to her side, helping her up. “If anyone lays a hand on her, they’ll have to go through me first.” The room froze. [Queen move! Tania is finally standing up for Christie!] [Lionel is disgusting. He can hear Betty’s inner thoughts! He knows Betty framed her and still sides with the fake.] [I really don’t get him. Is he trying to wife his fake sister?] That last one made me choke. I thought Lionel was just as blind and stupid as I was. However, he was trying to marry Betty? “Then punish me too,” Betty said softly, stepping between us. She trembled slightly, tears in her eyes. Clearly afraid, she was still playing the victim to the hilt. As expected, Lionel softened immediately. He pulled her over, cupped her face, and wiped her tears. “You’re too kind, sweetheart. My little fool.” I wanted to throw up. Betty whimpered. I clenched my fists. “This is over. We’re leaving,” I said, patting Christie’s hand. “Come on.” She was still in shock, barely moving. I didn’t wait for Lionel; I just pulled her out of there. This house was a nightmare. I wasn’t letting her stay here another night. I’d take her to my place in the city. When I told her, she looked stunned. “Tania… are you okay?” she asked, touching my forehead. I batted her hand away, awkward. “Don’t get used to it. I messed up, okay? I always sided with Betty without thinking. “But you’re my sister, Christie. My real one.” She burst into tears and threw her arms around me. I held her tightly, gently rubbing her back. After she finally cried herself to sleep, I started digging. I spoke with the housekeeper and the staff responsible for Christie’s daily care. Soon, I learned about the basement’s secrets. Lionel, that monster! He’d forced her to watch videos of herself being harassed by thugs, made her set her own screams as her alarm tone, and pasted their faces all over her room so they were the first and last thing she saw every day. He turned that basement into her personal hell, torturing Christie for eternity. It had only been two weeks since she returned. No wonder she looked like a ghost: gaunt, fragile, hollow beneath her clothes. And standing next to Betty, who always looked pampered and radiant, Christie looked like she’d been dragged out of a war zone. No trace of the heiress she was born to be.

“No, don’t hit me! I’ll be good. I’ll take it off…” Christie was crying in her sleep, whimpering like a frightened animal. Hearing her muttered dream-talk felt like someone had carved a hole straight through my chest. I still remember the day Mom told me I was going to have a little sister named Christie. From that moment on, I couldn’t stop imagining her. Every morning before school, I’d whisper to Mom’s belly. And after school, while other kids ran off to play, I always rushed home, hoping to feel her kick. I waited ten long months. And when I finally held her, I made a silent vow: I would be the best big sister in the world. Anything she wanted, I’d make it happen, no matter what it cost me. But I never got the chance. She was swapped before I could watch her grow. And the one I protected, pampered, and loved for over twenty years was a fake. Worse, after Christie came back, I still helped that imposter bully her. The more I thought about it, the sicker I felt. I slapped myself hard a few times. [Wait, is Tania’s character breaking? What’s with the sudden switch?] [No, this isn’t a breakdown. It’s a breakthrough.] [Breakthrough or not, a few slaps won’t make up for years of abuse.] The comments rolled in like Judgment Day. My face burned as I read them. They were right. What mattered now was figuring out how to make it right. If the bullet points were anything to go by, Betty wasn’t done scheming. And with Lionel still firmly on her side, even my help might not be enough to keep Christie safe. She needed to protect herself. I spent the night weighing my options. And finally, I made a decision: I’d help her train to build her strength, confidence, and independence. When I explained it to her, she didn’t hesitate for a second. “You know it’s going to be hard, right? Like, really hard,” I warned. “You sure you’re ready?” Christie nodded, eyes blazing with something I’d never seen in her before. “I’ve never been more sure of anything. I’ve learned the hard way; no one’s coming to save me. I have to save myself. “I’ve always wanted to learn many things. My adoptive parents tried their best. “But they could barely afford my schooling, let alone anything extra. I never dared ask for more. “Now that I finally have a chance, I’ll take it. Even if it kills me.”

After hearing that, I didn’t hold back. The first step was securing her peace. I used a carefully laid trap to get Lionel out of the country on business. It was risky, but after years of working behind the scenes in the family company, I knew how to cover my tracks. Even if he got suspicious, he wouldn’t act against me easily. With him out of the way, operation Rebuild Christie began. I hired a top-tier martial arts master, sparing no expense. Whenever I had free time, I trained with her. And she didn’t disappoint me. Christie was a natural: resilient, fast, laser-focused. The master even joked that if she’d started earlier, she could’ve swept national tournaments and brought home gold for the country. I brought in private tutors, too. While Betty paraded herself at charity balls and flirted her way through cocktail parties, Christie soaked up knowledge like a sponge. Languages, finance, etiquette, tech…she dove into it all. And slowly, as the fake bathed in shallow applause, the real heiress began to rise. Betty stayed busy collecting admirers. One day, two heirs of powerful families brawled over her. Next, she was orchestrating a public showdown between a chart-topping idol and a Grammy-winning singer, both of whom were fighting for a dinner date with her. And she was proud of it. Time passed. Lionel eventually returned. For reasons I couldn’t comprehend, he suddenly decided to host a party for Christie. The moment I heard, I took Christie to get dolled up. She was nervous. Of course, she was. This was her very first banquet. “Hey,” I said, gently squeezing her hand, “I’ll be right there the whole time.” She smiled, flashing those tiny tiger teeth I’d missed so much. I’d managed to put some weight back on her; her skin looked healthier, and her eyes brighter. Even without makeup, there was a quiet beauty forming in her face, one that outshone the fake by miles. Now, with grace, knowledge, and steel beneath her softness, Christie didn’t just look like an heiress. She was one. “I’m not scared anymore,” she said, squeezing back. We entered the party together. Of course, Betty came rushing over with her usual entourage. “Tania! Christie!” she chirped, overly sweet. I didn’t even hesitate and shoved her back. “Not interested. Back off.” Betty stumbled, clearly not expecting that. Her eyes welled with tears on command. “Tania, weren’t you always so kind to Betty?” one of her lapdogs piped up. “If your brother sees you make Betty cry, he won’t be happy.” I narrowed my eyes. Before I could speak, Christie stepped forward. “She’s crying, and no one even touched her. Can we please stop pretending she’s anything but a walking green flag parade?” Her voice trembled, but her words landed. One of the girls sneered, “Look who thinks she’s a real debutante now.” Another leaned in and sniffed dramatically. “You guys smell that? Smells like… bumpkin.” “Hahaha…” Laughter exploded around them like fireworks. They sounded like chickens squawking in a gold-plated coop, and they thought they were royalty. “I don’t argue with idiots,” I said coldly, pulling Christie behind me.

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In order to pay off the debts of my husband, Scott Moore, who had failed in his investment, and also to treat my daughter, Laura Moore, I worked as a waitress during the day, delivered food on takeout orders at night, and even sold one of my kidneys on the black market. Right after getting off the operating table in that illegal clinic, I insisted on hurrying to the wealthy villa area to do the cleaning job. My colleague said enviously, “Be careful when you’re washing this precious floor. This villa, worth fifty million dollars, was given by Mr. Moore to his fiancée. That woman is so lucky. I heard that just because she threw a tantrum once, Mr. Moore bought her a luxury car worth over ten million dollars in full payment.” I clenched my fists tightly and felt an icy chill all over my body. There was a photo of them on the bedside table. On the messy big bed were black silk stockings stained with some white substance. The man who was smiling gently in the photo, the one my colleague had just mentioned, turned out to be my husband, who had already gone bankrupt.

Laura’s heart disease suddenly got worse. The doctor called me in a hurry and said that a suitable heart donor that matched her had been found. I cried and begged the doctor to give me more time to raise the money, but all the money in our family was with Scott. I called him several times, and he hung up on me again and again. When I finally managed to get the call through, he roared impatiently, “Angela! I’m talking about cooperation with the investor! Can you stop bothering me?” As soon as he finished speaking, he hung up the phone. In a desperate situation, I could only clutch that advertisement for selling a kidney on the utility pole. Just coming out of that small clinic, I didn’t care about the wound on my waist that was still bleeding, and I stumbled back to the hospital. After signing my name on the operation consent form, I finally felt at ease. Laura looked at me with tears and said, “Mom, is my illness never going to get better? Don’t spend any more money on me…” I stroked her pale face and comforted her, “Don’t worry. I’ve raised the money. You’ll get better right after the operation tomorrow!” But thinking of the huge debts Scott owed, the medical expenses and the money for nutritional supplements after Laura’s operation, I endured the sharp pain of the wound on my waist and went to the housekeeping company to do the cleaning job again. I could earn one hundred dollars for doing a cleaning job, and then I could buy some nutritional products for them at night. I was working in the wealthy villa area, and maybe I could get more tips. When I got to the door of the villa, there was still a bit of hope in my heart. But when I saw that couple photo with dazzling crystals on the bedside table, I froze. In the photo, Scott was dressed in a suit, wearing an expensive watch that I had never seen before. He was so different from the husband I remembered, who claimed to be bankrupt and lived a thrifty life. The beautiful woman snuggling closely beside him was exactly the investor he had mentioned every day, Sarah Jensen! The mop in my hand dropped to the ground. I took out my phone with trembling hands. The screensaver of my phone was a photo of him and me smiling. I thought, “Could he have a twin brother?” But I quickly dismissed this absurd idea. I was too familiar with that small mole at the corner of his eye in the photo. I stood there stiffly, not even having the courage to call and question him. My colleague pushed me and said, “Angela, what are you doing? The house owner, Ms. Jensen, will come to check soon!” I quickly pulled up my mask and covered my face with the brim of my hat, only daring to look around with the corner of my eyes. Scott walked in confidently, wearing a neat and high-class suit with one hand in his pocket. My eyes were bloodshot. I forced myself to start mopping the floor. When I was cleaning the living room, my fingertips hooked out a small ball of used tissue from the gap in the sofa. It was stained with glaring lipstick marks, and there were also several obviously used condoms beside it. Feeling a sharp pain in my chest, I forced myself to hold back my nausea and threw those dirty things into the trash can. My colleague leaned over and whispered with a sigh, “Rich people know how to have fun! Mr. Moore is so generous that he must have spoiled Ms. Jensen!” Another colleague said, “Yeah. He’s rich and handsome. Ms. Jensen is lucky!” Those harsh words cut into my heart like knives. I covered my mouth tightly to keep myself from vomiting. “Scott, I’ve brought Kelly back.” Sarah walked in holding the hand of a pretty little girl. Sarah’s niece smiled and jumped into Scott’s arms, saying, “Mr. Moore! My aunt said we’re going to have a big dinner tonight!” He stroked Kelly’s head affectionately and said, “I’ve booked an entire cruise ship tonight. Kelly, you will like it!” Sarah giggled and leaned close to Scott, standing on tiptoe and saying, “Honey, where’s my kiss for greeting today?” He smiled and kissed her on the lips, asking, “Didn’t I satisfy you yesterday?”

Sarah playfully punched Scott’s chest, looking a bit shy. When he saw that the villa had been tidied up, he waved at me and stuffed a thick stack of banknotes into my hand, not even glancing at me. Holding this tip of nearly ten thousand dollars, I was stunned. The money he gave so casually was enough for me to work hard for a whole month. The money he spent on booking that cruise ship was enough to pay for Laura’s heart transplant. Seeing me standing there without moving, Sarah looked at my old, pilling and faded clothes with contempt and said, “Bumpkin, leave here. Do you think this tip is too little?” Her mockery made my heart ache, and I felt like crying. But Scott looked at me in surprise and said, “Why are you…” I was surprised and was afraid that he would call out my name the next second. “There’s blood on your clothes. It’s so disgusting. Don’t scare Kelly.” As he said this, he looked away in disgust and pulled them upstairs. I smiled bitterly. My wound had opened up, staining a large patch of my white clothes red. Sarah, who was standing beside him, was tall and beautiful, wearing an exquisite suit, while I was like a clown, clutching the tip he had given me in a sorry state. I thought we were husband and wife who shared both good and bad times, but he had turned into a rich president. My efforts over the past few years must be just a joke in his eyes. My colleague handed me an envelope out of a bit of curiosity and said, “Do you know Ms. Jensen before? She asked me to give this to you.” I frowned and took it. I found an acquaintance in a nearby grocery store and borrowed the computer in the store. I inserted the USB drive in the envelope into the computer. Dozens of videos immediately popped up on the screen. There were videos of Sarah and Scott celebrating Kelly’s birthday. In front of them was a huge cake that was over a dozen layers high, and beside it were piled up expensive toys that Laura had always dreamed of having. Scott accompanied them to the parent-child sports meeting in the kindergarten, with a big smile on his face. His laughter mixed with Kelly’s sweet laughter. This warm and happy scene made my heart ache. They were wearing matching family outfits, looking like a happy family. I stared blankly at the screen until the last video popped up. Scott was lying naked in Sarah’s arms and said, “How is Laura? When are you going to let her return to the Moore family? I’m tired of testing them for seven years. It’s all your fault for making that bet with me in the first place. That bumpkin’s daughter is still waiting for a heart transplant. If we bring her back now and she sees our family’s wealth and power, she will be jealous.” It seemed as if Laura wasn’t his daughter at all. The way he talked about Laura made my heart ache so much that I could hardly breathe. He knew she was waiting for help. He could find the best doctors, easily afford the operation fees, and even find a suitable heart, but he chose to do nothing. He was just so heartless, watching me risk my life to earn money and watching Laura suffer from the illness. Scott and I met in an orphanage. I was an orphan. After growing up, I often went back to visit the director and those children. That was where I met Scott, who came to be a volunteer. He said he was also an orphan and wanted to help the children have a better life. We got to know each other, fell in love, and finally got married. Because I refused to accept those unspoken rules and offended a big boss, I was blacklisted by the whole industry. I could only do odd jobs, and our life became tough. Scott had always accompanied me through those hard times and never complained until the year Laura was born, when Scott said he had failed in an investment, gone bankrupt, and owed debts. I sold my house to pay off his debts. We moved into a shabby shed in the suburbs. At that time, Scott held me and cried, vowing to be good to me and Laura for the rest of his life. But in the end, he didn’t keep his promise.

Just because of that mean joke between him and Sarah, I and Laura became the victims. I couldn’t let out a scream. My mouth was full of the taste of blood. I wiped the tears off my face randomly and forced a smile as I pushed open the door of Laura’s ward and said, “Laura, I bought you some chicken soup. Do you feel better now?” Laura’s face was pale, and she said helplessly, “Mom, I’m going to have an operation tomorrow, and I have to fast today.” I was stunned for a moment. I was so stimulated by Scott that my mind was all messed up. I was angry at myself for forgetting about this and picked up a cotton swab to wet Laura’s chapped lips with water. She held my hand tightly and asked gently, “Mom, is Dad still busy? I miss him so much.” Looking at her, I couldn’t tell her the truth. I stroked Laura’s head lovingly and said, “You’ll see Dad before your operation tomorrow.” I planned to beg Scott to come and stay with her. After being a clown in their rich people’s game for seven years, my dignity seemed to be worth nothing. After Laura fell asleep, I went to find the doctor to confirm the specific time of tomorrow’s operation. I squatted on the floor of the corridor with my back against the cold wall, and only then did I become a bit more clear-headed. Taking out my phone, I called Scott. This time, he picked up the phone quickly. “Angela, what’s up? I’m accompanying the investor right now. If we can seal this deal, we can get out of our current tough situation!” Over these seven years, he had always used such words to deceive me, and every time I had believed him. At first, Scott pretended to have found a job of moving bricks on a construction site. Seeing that his hands were red and swollen, I told him to focus on finding investors and that I would earn the money. But he just had fun all day long and left us at home to suffer. The music on the phone was loud. I guessed that he was probably still on the cruise ship with Kelly. I controlled my emotions, took a deep breath, and then said, “Scott, Laura is going to have an operation tomorrow. Can you come and stay with her? You know she misses you a lot…” My words were coldly interrupted by Scott before I could finish, “Angela, what on earth has been wrong with you recently? You know I’m busy, yet you keep bothering me! I’m working so hard just to make sure you can live a good life!” Listening to him yelling at me so confidently, I gave a bitter smile. After calming down, I said in a hoarse voice, “Scott, it doesn’t matter if you think I’m silly and unsophisticated. But Laura is your daughter. Do you really not care about her at all?” Scott paused for a moment and said in a flustered manner, “Angela, what nonsense are you talking about? I’ll go to the hospital as soon as I’m done here.” I looked at Laura through the glass of the ward, and my whole body trembled. She was curled up under the thick quilt, looking so weak. When she was just born, she couldn’t even open her eyes and would hold my finger with her soft little hand. Laura had poor health and had never been to kindergarten, even for a day. She only knew me and Scott. But the father she relied on had never really cared about her. I couldn’t hold on any longer and started crying. I didn’t expect that Scott would actually come. Maybe in his heart, he still cared about Laura. The red marks on his neck hadn’t faded yet, and he rushed into the ward wearing those old patched-up clothes. Looking at the sweat beads still dripping down from his forehead, I had mixed feelings. For a moment, I almost thought that we were still a poor but loving family. I thought that suffering wasn’t a big deal. As long as we loved each other, we could get through any difficulties together, until a flash of gold on his wrist caught my attention. That expensive watch brought me back to reality.

When Laura saw Scott coming, she said happily, “Dad, you haven’t come to see me for a long time. I miss you so much.” He smiled awkwardly and said, “Sorry, I’ve been really busy recently. Laura, when you open your eyes after the operation, we’ll be here with you.” Before the operation, Laura looked at me nervously and asked expectantly, “Mom, can I have a doll as a reward?” I almost burst into tears. The birthday gift Scott bought for Kelly was a truckload of expensive imported dolls, while Laura’s dolls were all handmade by me. I quickly nodded and agreed, “Laura, I’ll go and buy it for you right now!” I immediately ran out. Worrying about Laura, I just wanted to come back quickly. But the doll that Laura wanted had already been out of production. I ran to several stores and finally managed to contact a toy merchant to buy it. Holding the doll excitedly, I rushed back to the hospital. But suddenly, the phone in my pocket rang loudly. It was a call from the nurse. Her voice was trembling as she said, “Ms. Turner! Something terrible has happened. That heart has been snatched away! Laura is still on the operating table. Come back quickly!” My face turned pale, and I almost couldn’t stand up. A kind passerby saw my pale face and sent me back to the hospital. By then, I was soaked in cold sweat all over. I stumbled to the door of the operating room. The nurse waiting there sighed, “Your husband has already gone to the transplant bank and taken the heart away.” These words shattered all my hopes. I took out my phone with trembling hands, wanting to call Scott, but my fingers were shaking so badly that I couldn’t even press the dial button. The nurse reached out pityingly and took the phone that I could hardly hold. The call actually got through quickly. He said, “Honey, I have something urgent…” I didn’t want to listen to his lies anymore. I roared at him in a hoarse voice, “Where is Laura’s heart?” He paused for a moment and quickly explained, “Angela, the niece of my investor has also matched the heart. Laura can wait a little longer. This time, we’ll just let…” I was so angry that my voice was shaking as I interrupted him, “Laura is on the operating table waiting for the heart to save her life! Hurry up and bring the heart back! The operation is already halfway through! How could you do this?” Scott sighed impatiently, “You’re usually so generous. What’s wrong with you today? Laura will still have a chance in the future. I took the heart all for you! As long as Sarah is happy and she makes an investment, there will be money for Laura’s treatment, and you can live a good life too! I’m doing this for your own good!” Before I could reply, he hung up the phone. I called him like crazy one after another. He just turned off his phone. Thinking of Laura, who was still waiting for the heart in the operating room, my heart ached so much that I couldn’t breathe, and I knelt on the ground. I stared blankly at the still-lit red light of the operating room and thought, “Scott made Laura lose the chance to live. His love is like this.” The nurse beside me sighed, “You can go and ask in other hospitals. My friend said that their hospital also has a heart transplant operation today, and they just got a heart donor. Laura’s operation has already started and can’t be delayed any longer.” My shoes had already worn out. My soles hurt and were bleeding. But I couldn’t feel the pain and ran like crazy towards the hospital that the nurse mentioned. Stumbling and rushing to the VIP passage, I was stopped by the bodyguards.

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My husband, Declan Mercer, and I had been married for three years. Because his pregnant new lover, Tessa Ralston, wasn’t satisfied with the pressure I used while massaging her feet, Declan crushed my wrist under his foot. The fracture damaged my nerves. As a violinist, I could barely lift my phone anymore. Declan, however, dismissed it nonchalantly. “Stop acting spoiled. As the sister of a murderer, your only purpose is to serve us and atone.” Three years ago, Declan’s sister, June Mercer, had no chance of survival after a car accident. My younger brother, Jasper Granger, had a congenital heart defect and needed a heart transplant. To get the family’s signature for the organ donation, I married Declan, bringing a wedding gift worth over a million dollars, and became completely obedient to him. However, ignoring my injured hand, Declan still wanted me to make nourishing soup for his new lover. Then I got a message from my mom. [Jasper committed suicide. Come home quickly!] Instantly, I could no longer hold my phone steady. The debts had all been paid. It was time for me to leave.

“If it weren’t for the fact that you need to take care of Tessa later, I would’ve completely ruined your hand for what you did to her.” Declan’s new lover, Tessa, knew I was a violinist and thought my nimble fingers would be perfect for massaging her feet. I was unwilling, but Declan threatened to go to my brother’s school and spread the word that he was a murderer’s sibling. Stifling my disgust, I massaged Tessa’s feet. Her sudden shriek made Declan think I was intentionally hurting her. Afraid I would bully Tessa in the future, Declan directly stomped on my hand, breaking it as a lesson. My husband Declan was reprimanding me while talking to Tessa on the phone, completely oblivious that my injured hand could no longer hold the water glass steady. “Declan, you sound so fierce. You’re going to scare the baby in my belly,” Tessa cooed over the phone. Declan immediately softened his voice as if protecting something fragile. “Sorry, I lost my temper again. I’ve got to work on that. For you, I will.” Then he turned and ordered me, “What are you spacing out for? Go make Tessa her tonic soup!” At this, the hand that I had been gripping tighter and tighter suddenly lost its strength. The exact words Declan once said to me were now being directed at Tessa. Every time we argued and got heated, Declan would quickly apologize, reflecting on his own quick temper. Declan had told me to voice any dissatisfaction. He promised he would change. He had sworn that regardless of the reason, he wouldn’t let me suffer as long as I married him. But the promise remained unfulfilled. Influenced by his mother, Declan came to believe that my family orchestrated June’s car accident to get the heart for my brother. He started treating me like a servant, stayed out all night, and openly brought other women home. He even brazenly told me his mistress was pregnant. Declan casually gave to someone else the affection that once belonged only to me. The way Declan looked like he wanted to crawl through the screen to comfort Tessa absolutely tore my heart apart. Seeing I didn’t react, Declan snatched my phone away. The sudden jolt made me drop the glass I could barely hold, and it shattered at Declan’s feet. His shoes were soaked. Declan roared furiously, “It’s just a hand injury! Can’t even hold a cup? Are you useless now?” Declan grabbed my wrist, ready to continue his tirade, but then he saw the faint bloodstains seeping through the gauze. He hesitated for a second, then his brow furrowed, his voice softening considerably. “Is it that serious? Why didn’t you say so?” I had told him many times, but Declan just thought I was being dramatic. I wanted to explain, but the pain in my hand made it difficult to speak. I dug my fingernails into my palm, trying to distract myself from the throbbing ache when Declan’s hand suddenly covered mine. A ripple disturbed the stagnant water of my heart, and I couldn’t help but recall fleeting moments of warmth with Declan. Before Declan could speak, Tessa’s voice came through the phone again. “Declan, I think the heating is broken. I’m so cold.” Declan sprang up like he’d been electrocuted. Even as I held his hand tightly, he slipped away without hesitation. Looking at the blood steadily seeping out, I finally understood. The Declan I once knew was gone forever. Jasper had killed himself. I didn’t owe them anything anymore. It was time for me to leave.

I booked my ticket for the next day. When Declan returned the following day, I was preparing to send the cat away for transport. Declan frowned slightly, “Didn’t you love that cat? Why are you sending it away?” This cat was originally a gift from Declan, and he had adored it at first, too. But one time, Tessa came over, stepped on the cat’s tail, and got startled. After that, the cat became a thorn in Declan’s side. To prevent the cat from ending up in a pot, I had knelt outside in the snow one night, apologizing over and over. Inside the room, the sounds of their panting occasionally escaped while I held the cat, going from screaming apologies to passing out from hypothermia. I also got sick and missed an important competition I had been preparing for for half a year. The memory made my throat tighten. I cleared my throat several times before my voice sounded normal again. But before I could answer, Declan changed the subject. “Good riddance, anyway. Tessa’s heating is broken, so she’s moving in with us. Better to get this beast out of the way before it hurts someone.” My hand grooming the cat faltered at this, and the little cat let out a pitiful meow. I stroked the cat’s head, steadying my emotions, and said, “We should probably throw away those photos of us together, too, so Tessa doesn’t get upset seeing them.” Since I was leaving anyway, these things needed to be dealt with. I acted understanding, but Declan’s expression darkened. He stared intently at me, unable to read my thoughts, so he changed the subject again. “These junk trophies of yours might not even be worth selling for scrap!” I looked up and saw Declan pointing at my trophies. I had learned violin since the first grade, all for these honors. This display cabinet was even designed by someone Declan hired, and he had assembled it himself. He once said having such a talented wife was his pride. After Tessa appeared, everything changed. My heart felt brutally crushed. Seeing Declan reach for the trophies, I immediately stood in front of the cabinet. Declan shoved me aside irritably. “What if these scratch Tessa? “Your family already took a life. You won’t even spare an unborn baby?” I explained to Declan, for what felt like the hundredth time, that June’s death was purely an accident. Declan completely ignored my explanations, only accusing me and my family of being lowly and guilty, insisting I should toil to atone. During the argument, I was hit on the head by a trophy. Declan cursed that I deserved it, but his hands stopped moving. He had just reached out to wipe the blood from my forehead when he saw me squat down to check if the trophy was damaged. Declan irritably pulled his hand back and turned away, planning aloud as if nothing happened. “We need to put more flowers here. Tessa likes them.” Declan forgot I was allergic to pollen. I wiped the dust off the trophy without a word. The next second, Declan remembered himself but snapped back viciously, “Don’t you know you’re allergic to pollen? Why didn’t you say anything? Gonna wait until everything’s set up just to cause a scene?” I had become immune to Declan’s volatile moods. Wiping away the blood, blurring my vision, I said coldly, “It doesn’t matter. Do whatever you want. I won’t be living here anymore.”

Declan paused for a moment, then sneered, “Don’t want to take care of Tessa, so you’re trying to run away? “Don’t even think about it. This is what you owe our family. You’re supposed to slave away for me!” I retorted, “No, I’m going home…” Declan’s phone suddenly rang. He gave me a long, unreadable look, then walked away without hearing me out. A few minutes later, I received a transfer notification from him. The note said: [If you’re that bored, go buy some new clothes. Tired of seeing the same two outfits. And if you don’t want your brother getting isolated at school, don’t even think about running home.] I wanted to explain to Declan, but remembering I needed to request leave from the orchestra, I put my phone away. Then, I saw Tessa’s new social media post. [So what if I’m a little moody during pregnancy? He still has to spoil me.] The accompanying picture showed Tessa telling Declan she wanted grape-flavored oranges. Declan expressed his shock, but instead of finding her request unreasonable, he just told her to wait patiently. The next picture showed a large plate piled high with orange peels filled entirely with grape pulp. Then Tessa said she suddenly didn’t feel like eating them, and Declan praised her for knowing not to eat cold things, calling her sensible. My stomach churned as I looked at the screen. Once, before a performance, when I was hit with sudden, unbearable abdominal pain, I asked Declan to help me buy medicine. He had said dropping me off was already enough trouble and told me to stop being dramatic and just endure it. He left me pale-faced and went to play pool with his friends. My performance suffered greatly, and the collaborators were furious, almost terminating the contract. It was only through my desperate pleading, citing my previously excellent performances, that they let me stay. Arriving at the orchestra hall, I ran into Declan and Tessa, who were passing by. Declan casually asked, “Didn’t you say you had no concerts? Why are you here?” I told him truthfully I was requesting leave. Declan smiled with satisfaction. “Good. You know you need to take leave to care for Tessa. It seems you haven’t forgotten your duty.” I couldn’t be bothered to explain. I tried to walk away but was blocked by Tessa. “Hollis, you are so nice! But I’ve never heard music in a place like this before. Can your coworkers play something for me?” I wondered, “Everyone is busy. Who has time to entertain her?” I reached for the other door, trying to go around them. Declan thought I was going to attack Tessa and shoved me straight down the stairs. “Tessa’s pregnant! How can you be so vicious?!” I fell to the ground, touching the dull ache at the back of my head. The image of Declan’s expected hateful glare stole my breath. He could abandon all trust in me for someone he’d known less than half a year! Tessa immediately feigned shock, shrinking into Declan’s arms. “No wonder you’re a murderer, attacking even an unborn child.” Declan suddenly realized he’d pushed me too hard. He wanted to help me up but couldn’t bring himself to push Tessa away. In the end, he just stared at me without saying or doing anything. A passing colleague stopped in shock. Tessa immediately added, “Didn’t you know? She deliberately ran someone over to dig out their heart!” A colleague I wasn’t on good terms with immediately seized the opportunity. “Money really lets you do whatever you want, huh? No wonder her skills have slipped so badly, yet she still gets to stay in the orchestra.” I couldn’t take it when they insulted my family. Staggering to my feet, my vision blurry, I grabbed Tessa’s collar. My voice was hoarse as I tried to explain. Amidst Tessa’s terrified screams, Declan grabbed my hand but didn’t push me away this time. “You lunatic, calm down! Or else I’ll make sure your brother…” Declan lost his patience, resorting to his usual threats. He yanked my arm and slammed me against the wall. Unable to bear the false accusations any longer, I raised my voice, interrupting Declan, “Make my brother what? Let the whole world know what he did. Ask him why he wasn’t the one who died?! Well, now he’s dead! He’s dead. Are you satisfied now?!” Silence fell after my words. Declan’s mouth hung open, unable to form a single word. He stared blankly for a long time before speaking, “Are you serious…”

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I, Olivia Winchester, was abducted and sold when I was a little kid. After I managed to escape with great difficulty, I found out that I was actually the real daughter of the Winchester family. But my biological parents didn’t love me. Instead, they doted on their fake daughter, Shirley Winchester. During an emergency surgery, my mom and dad had put on their protective suits. And my brother, Isaac Winchester, clung tightly to Shirley, shielding her and insisting that she shouldn’t be the one to do this surgery. Yet, not a single person bothered to tell me that the patient had AIDS and that the doctor performing the operation needed to wear protective gear. Just like that, I was left exposed to the patient with my wounds out in the open. After going through such a life-and-death ordeal, what little affection I had for my family was completely drained, and I finally gave up on them. After the surgery was over, I calmly picked up the phone and made an anonymous tip. “I want to report a colleague for deliberately concealing the patient’s medical history, which put me at risk of being exposed to AIDS.”

“Why aren’t you wearing protective gear, Olivia?!” The shocked voice of my colleague, Jeana Louis, came from the doorway, with a hint of terror hidden in her eyes. I didn’t know what she meant at first. I was stunned for a moment and asked instinctively, “Why say so?” I hadn’t heard that the patient had a history of infectious diseases. But Jeana backed away repeatedly as if she was avoiding the plague. Standing as far away from me as possible, she said in a hurried tone, “This patient has AIDS and syphilis. You can’t come into contact with him. Didn’t Mr. Nathan Winchester tell you that? “Oh my goodness, are you crazy? How could you perform the surgery without any protective measures at all? “How old are you? Do you want to get infected with such a disease? Didn’t your teacher remind you during your internship?” Looking at my parents in their thick protective suits and Shirley being shielded by Isaac, I was dazed for a moment. AIDS couldn’t be cured in the medical field for the time being. Once I was infected, I would carry the virus for life. After my heart skipped a beat, I stiffly turned my head and looked at Isaac, who was keeping Shirley behind him. He was the best anesthesiologist in the hospital, and it was his responsibility to check the patient’s medical history before the operation. Words of accusation were on the tip of my tongue, but in the end, I joked, “Isaac, Jeana is just kidding, right? I didn’t hear about any infectious diseases before I came in…” “The patient does have AIDS. This emergency rescue was unexpected, and I didn’t have time to tell you,” he said. The smile on my face froze. My own brother just dismissed me with those few casual words. “Olivia, you’ve always been in good health, so it’s okay. Shirley is in poor health, so that’s why I didn’t let her assist with this surgery. Weren’t you always complaining that we were biased? Now that you’ve participated in this operation, you should be happy,” Isaac said. I couldn’t hear what he said next. My head was buzzing, my face turned pale, my hands were shaking uncontrollably, and tears were gradually welling up in my eyes. In the silence, I let out a scream. “Why didn’t you tell me!” This was an infectious disease. Even if I wasn’t their sister or daughter, but just an ordinary colleague, they should have told me the patient’s past medical history. My heart turned completely cold, but then I heard my mother, Cara Winchester, complaining impatiently, “Olivia, can you stop ruining the mood? “Your father and I guessed that you would put on this affected act, so we decided not to tell you. Besides, you’re just a junior nurse. It doesn’t matter whether you know the patient’s medical history or not. Shirley already knew about it, but she didn’t back down either.” I laughed self-deprecatingly. “She’s the furthest away from the patient and has the most comprehensive protective measures. Dad, Mom, Isaac, she’s the apple of your eyes, but aren’t I your family member too? Why didn’t you tell me about this?” In the silence, the operation went on in an orderly manner. My father, Nathan Winchester, didn’t even bother to spare me a glance. It wasn’t until the stitches were done that he snapped, “Olivia, you’re being so unreasonable! Your mother and I clearly taught you that family scandals should not be made public.”

There was nothing but blame in his tone. No one could remain calm when they learned that they might be infected with AIDS. What’s more, I had a wound on my hand. I stared at them blankly and finally realized that since I entered the operating room, they had been wrapped up tightly, wearing masks, goggles, and even double-layered rubber gloves. Throughout the operation, Isaac had seriously shielded Shirley behind him, preventing her from getting close to the operating table. I had thought that Shirley was scared, and because my parents had been constantly ordering me to assist them, I was so busy that I was sweating all over and didn’t have the time to pay attention to their strange attire. It turned out that they were so afraid that Shirley might be in danger that they gave this opportunity to me. My hands were shaking more and more, and I couldn’t help but think about how painful it would be if I were infected and had to go through the treatment in the future. But Cara was still scolding me. “The operation is done, and you didn’t have any accidents. I think you’re just being overly sensitive.” But this disease has an incubation period. I felt as if all the blood in my body had turned cold at that moment. Once I came to my senses, I immediately left the operating room, disinfected myself, took the anti-retroviral drugs, and washed my hands countless times. In the end, I lost my strength and leaned against the wall, tears streaming down my face uncontrollably. Isaac never ate on time. Yesterday, I was worried that he would be hungry during his shift at the hospital, so I cooked his favorite steak sandwich myself. However, when I was cutting the meat, I accidentally cut my index finger. At that time, when I was holding the lunch box and casually mentioned that I had accidentally cut my hand and it hurt a bit, Isaac even took the first aid kit to put medicine on my wound and told me to have a good rest. He was the most outstanding graduate of his class. He definitely couldn’t have been unaware that AIDS was more likely to be transmitted when there was a wound, not to mention that the patient was constantly spitting up blood. I couldn’t help but wonder if Isaac really wanted me to die. ***** While waiting for the test results, my heart was pounding wildly. On the other hand, my parents, who had finished the operation, didn’t care at all where I had gone. When they passed by me, they didn’t even glance at me. Holding Shirley’s hands on both sides, they asked gently with soft expressions, “Shirley, you’ve worked hard during this operation. What would you like to have for dinner? That new French restaurant? Okay, it’s on us. We’ll take you there.” I opened my mouth, but I didn’t know what to say. I just stared blankly as they walked away. Ever since I was found by my family, my parents had never called me like that. They were not even willing to say one more word to me. “Olivia, come here.” “Olivia, time for dinner.” “Olivia, Shirley has a math problem she can’t solve. Teach her.” After I joined the hospital, their tone towards me was nothing but commands. At this moment, Isaac said, “What are you standing there for? Didn’t you hear that we’re having a family dinner? Hurry up.” These words instantly woke me up, and I instinctively looked up at Isaac. He frowned, still looking as unapproachable as ever, making people reluctant to get close to him casually. Perhaps seeing the tears that hadn’t dried on my face yet, he rarely softened his tone and said, “It was indeed my oversight not to tell you the patient’s past medical history. I’m sorry. But Dad is about to be promoted to vice president of the hospital, and you’ll benefit more when you work here in the future. So, stop making a fuss, okay? The hospital is really busy.” Finally, after thinking for a while, he added, “Also, Shirley has already gotten off work. You can help her write the report. I’ll send you the location of the family dinner on your phone later. You made a scene just now, and Mom and Dad are very unhappy. Apologize to them later.” He still spoke to me in a commanding tone, sounding cold and distant, as if he was just giving orders to a subordinate.

When I heard Isaac say that I would benefit from it, I laughed. But as I laughed, I couldn’t hold back a few tears. Ever since I started working in the hospital, I had been doing the toughest jobs, while Shirley always got the easiest ones. My parents were so afraid that she would get tired that they told all our colleagues that Shirley was too young to endure hardship. Once, I accidentally overheard Cara saying, “Don’t let Shirley get too tired. But you can ask Olivia to do the odd jobs. She wasn’t with us when she was a kid, so she can take the hardship.” She evaded the important facts and ignored the truth that I had been abducted when I was a child. She just said that I could endure hardship, while Shirley, who was showered with all the love, couldn’t. Even though Shirley’s grades were so poor that no hospital was willing to hire her, it was my parents who pulled some strings to get her in. During my internship, I was busy doing the work of two people all by myself. I had to write two reports. Most of the time, I didn’t even have time to eat. I was so exhausted that I would fall asleep as soon as I fell onto the bed. This was what Isaac meant by me benefiting from it. I forcefully held back my sobs and asked sharply, “Isaac, isn’t my life and safety important? It’s AIDS we’re talking about! Once infected, I’ll carry it for life. I’m only twenty years old! If I’m really infected, the consequences will be unimaginable…” Before I could finish speaking, I was interrupted. Isaac frowned even more. He sneered and scolded me in a mean tone, “Are you done? You’re fine now, aren’t you? You’re already a nurse. Can’t you stop being so delicate? I thought you had become independent and strong-willed since you were found…” He shook his head in disappointment as if he had sentenced me to death. “You’re totally hopeless now.” These words were so ironic. My heart, which had been filled with negative emotions, now deflated like a punctured balloon. I felt weak and defeated, and suddenly I thought of the day I was first found and brought back home. I was led by Isaac, tightly clutching the hem of my washed-out white dress, and my heart was pounding. I told myself in my heart that I had to stay calm, that I had to make my family like me and not drive me away. Then, I saw Shirley wearing an expensive little dress, walking down the magnificent spiral staircase step by step. She came up to me, took a good look at me, and then asked innocently, “Isaac, who is she? Is she the new servant in our house?” Isaac’s mouth was set in a tight line. He squeezed my hand a little harder, but he never denied what she said. He just said, “From now on, she’ll be your elder sister.” ***** At first, I was a bit resentful. Due to my parents’ negligence, I got lost and after going through a lot of twists and turns, I was finally sold to a poor rural area. I had been missing for five years. There, not only did I have to do the laundry and cooking, take care of an elderly person who couldn’t get out of bed, and even had to deal with her excrement right on the bed, but I also had to endure hunger. I refused to give up and studied hard. It was not until the family relaxed their vigilance that I walked for three days and three nights to the town and reported to the police. I thought that after being rescued, I could finally return to my happy home. However, by then, there was no place for me in the family anymore. Shirley had already become the apple of the whole family’s eye. After I got lost, my parents transferred all their guilt towards me onto Shirley, who bore some resemblance to me. Most of the time, they even instinctively showed favoritism towards her. Even if I just ate a piece of beef, they would scold me, “Shirley likes this. Can’t you wait until she’s finished eating? Why are you so gluttonous? It’s not like you’ve never eaten it before.” But I really hadn’t had meat for a long time. So I silently put down my fork, held back my grievances and sadness, and placed the plate of beef in front of Shirley, fearing that if I did something wrong, they might abandon me and I would be sent back to that rural area again. I gave in a great deal. Even three years ago, I gave up my secret crush. I wondered, “Haven’t I done enough? Why won’t my family fully accept me?” ***** A long time passed, so long that my colleagues all left work. Isaac glanced at his phone and said impatiently, “Stop playing the victim. Jeana just told me you’ve already taken the meds, so you’ll be fine!” Another message popped up on his phone. He took a look and then sneered at me, “Shirley was worried you’d have a meltdown and asked me to comfort you. So cut out that fake act of yours.” I came back to myself, licked my dry lips, and after a moment’s hesitation, said, “Thank her for me.” In truth, my heart was breaking. After being treated so unfairly by their own flesh and blood, no one could pretend nothing had happened. But I knew that even if I was suffering to the point of collapse, no one would care. My parents would just think I was being dramatic, and Shirley would just wipe her tears, hold my hand, and say in a weepy voice, “Olivia, I wish it had been me who got abducted instead…” Seemingly caught off guard by my response, Isaac froze for a moment before snapping, “Look at the mess you’ve made of yourself!” Before I could reply, he rushed off, no doubt to join the family dinner. After Isaac left, I stood there, rooted to the spot. The words my family had said echoed in my ears, each one twisting the knife in my heart. “When will you be as sensible as Shirley?” “Can’t you stop looking so gloomy all the time?” “If you make Shirley cry again, get out of this house!” These heartless words were like a sharp blade, severing the last thread of warmth between me and this family. I was abducted at eleven and found at sixteen, and I’d tiptoed around them ever since. Now, at twenty-one, I finally realized that my own flesh and blood truly didn’t give a damn whether I lived or died. I suddenly burst into laughter. It was as if a part of my heart reserved for family was cracking open, and a knife was slowly cutting away every bit of affection I’d held for them. As the wounds began to heal, I placed my hand over my beating heart and was surprised to find that I really didn’t care anymore. I no longer cared about my parents’ love, Isaac’s disdain, or Shirley’s constant provocation. Clumsily, I took out my phone and dialed the local health department’s number. I poured out all the words I’d been holding back for so long. “I want to report my colleagues for concealing a patient’s AIDS history and putting me at risk of infection.” Free Point After I finally saw things clearly, it was like a heavy cloud that had been weighing me down for ages suddenly lifted.

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I thought Hudson Marshall was the love of my life, so I fought hard within the family to win a perfect wedding with him. My parents also decided to launch the billion-dollar “True Love” jewelry collection on our wedding day. But seven days before the wedding, Hudson said he wanted to marry Emilia Bell, his first love, to fulfill her mother’s last wish before he married me. He looked impatient, saying, “For Emilia’s filial piety, all these can be sacrificed. If you can’t spare that little money, go find someone else to marry now.” It turned out that in his world, I, and my career, could make way for Emilia at any time. I turned around and called my brother, Adam Macleod, directly, saying, “Adam, the wedding is as usual, but please help me find a new groom.” On the day of my wedding dress fitting, I waited downstairs at Hudson Marshall’s company for a long time before he came downstairs slowly. As soon as he got in the car, he tossed me a necklace. “Emilia asked me to give it to you. You embarrassed her at the funeral yesterday, so take the time to apologize to her.” The necklace was clearly a freebie that came with a genuine purchase. I had seen it in Hudson’s shopping cart a couple of days ago. “I don’t want it,” I said flatly. Hudson frowned. “What are you getting at again? You’re the one who rushed to the funeral and embarrassed her by saying I wasn’t her fiancé. She didn’t even count it and wanted to bring you a gift, and you’re so ungrateful?” The man who had once protected me was no longer there, and now he cherished someone else. Hudson annoyingly opened the window and blew out the air. After a long time, seeing that I wasn’t coaxing him, he said, “Forget it. I’m going to accompany you to your wedding dress fitting today, so I won’t bother with you.” It was the first time he had gone soft this year. We arrived at the bridal store and were greeted by the clerk. “Mr. Marshall, Ms. Macleod, your specially customized twenty wedding dresses and suits are ready.” Hudson, however, wasn’t looking at the clothes but instead was looking down at his cell phone with a bit of urgency on his face. After noticing my gaze, he hastily put away his phone with a hint of apology on his face. “Sienna, something happened to Emilia, so I have to rush over right away. Try on the wedding dress yourself, and pick out a suit for me. I trust your taste.” After that, he hastily beckoned a cab and left, leaving me alone. The clerk rushed up and said tentatively, “Ms. Macleod, would you like to choose the suit yourself?” I withdrew my gaze and nodded. I’d pick the suit, of course, just not for Hudson. After all, the groom had changed. I called my brother, Adam Macleod, directly, saying, “Adam, the wedding is as usual, but please help me find a new groom.” Adam said incredulously, “Are you going to repudiate the marriage?” “No, it’s that he’s marrying someone else,” I smiled bitterly. I had worked very hard in my family to get my parents’ approval to be with Hudson, and to have the “True Love” jewelry collection released on the day of the wedding. Now, it was all for nothing. Adam was silent for a long time before saying, “Then, there’s only Finley Henderson. His family’s been pushing hard, and he’s been looking for a marriage partner lately.” My brows furrowed. Finley was my sworn rival. On my engagement day, he’d cursed that my marriage would shatter. And now his words had come true. With time pressing, I said, “Fine, choose him then. Ask him if he’s interested. If not, I’ll find someone else.” Adam blurted out, “No need to ask. He’ll definitely agree.” “What?” I was shocked. Before I could press him, Adam mumbled something and hung up. After picking out the dress, I headed home. I’d expected Hudson to stay out all night, but he showed up before dinner. He strode over to me, carrying a takeout box. “I went all over the city to buy you late-night snacks.” I looked at the pizza inside. There were three pieces fewer than usual, and one of them with a bite mark. Clearly, someone had taken a bite. Half an hour earlier, I’d seen Emilia Bell’s Instagram post, which showed the exact same food in my hand, with the caption: [My husband went out late at night to buy me snacks. Thanks, honey. I love you!] I put down my fork with a self-mocking smile, suddenly losing my appetite. I said, “I’m not hungry. Throw it away.” Hudson frowned at me but held back his anger, sitting down beside me to complain, “You have no idea how pitiful Emilia was today. My parents went to her place and insulted her family for being poor, saying they couldn’t even afford a decent wedding gift. She almost cried her eyes out. “Emilia just got back to the country and doesn’t have much money. I was thinking of giving her your wedding gift first.” His domineering tone made me sick. I sneered, “So, I should give my wedding gift to your wife?”

Back then, I cared about Hudson. If he asked, I would give him anything and do anything for him. But now, he slapped me awake himself. Thinking back, I found that since Emilia came back from overseas, everything Hudson had done had been for her. He had forgotten I was the one who was supposed to spend the rest of his life with him. My reply annoyed Hudson. “What do you mean by that? You don’t want to? You better get it straight. Emilia’s my best friend. You better make her happy, or I won’t marry you.” With that, he slammed the door and left. Feeling all stirred up inside, I went downstairs and went for a run in the park. I’d barely finished one lap when Finley called. Thinking of Finley, who always had that poker face, I hesitated for two seconds before answering. “Once you’re on my boat, you’re my person. Try to run, and I’ll tie you back,” said Finley directly. I stayed silent, and he continued, “Send me your valid passport first. Let’s get the paperwork done. I’m scared you’ll back out.” I thought, “Finley, something’s up with you.” I’d already imagined a million scenarios of him using marriage to mess with me. In the end, I could only say, “See you at the wedding, Mr. Henderson.” As soon as I finished speaking, Hudson showed up behind me. “You’re inviting Finley to our wedding? I won’t allow it.” He looked at me like I was the enemy. “Sienna, I told you not to talk with Finley. He’s got a thing for you. If you insist on inviting him to our wedding, I won’t marry you.” Before I could say a word, he’d already laid down the law. Hudson had always disliked Finley for no good reason, just full-on hostility. When we first got together, he’d get jealous over me and Finley talking on WhatsApp. Later, I gradually cut ties with Finley. But now, he actually said Finley had gotten a thing for me. I was about to press him for answers when Emilia suddenly slumped against Hudson’s neck. “Hudson, you’re hurting me.” Only then did I notice that they were walking hand in hand. Hudson coughed awkwardly but didn’t let go of her hand. Emilia looked at Hudson with tenderness and “apologized” to me with feigned helplessness. She said, “Sienna, sorry. Hudson and I were just getting familiar with the wedding flow. I won’t spill the beans about you beating me up or messing with my mom’s grave. But don’t hurt Hudson. True feelings can’t stand tests.” I didn’t want to watch her act and turned to leave. “Since you’re so into it, I’ll have someone beat you up tonight and dig up your mom’s grave.” Suddenly, Hudson slapped me hard. “Sienna, how could you be so evil?” he frowned angrily, his chest heaving. Was I evil? He believed someone else’s gossip with a single word, but our five-year friendship couldn’t earn him a smidge of trust. A sudden anger flared up in me. I was about to grill Hudson when Emilia stepped in front of him. She begged me, “Sienna, please. After the wedding, I’ll give Hudson back to you. Please spare my people and Hudson. Don’t hurt him.” Hudson quickly grabbed her waist to stop her, glaring at me. “Sienna, stop bullying others. You know I hate that. If you still wanna marry me, stop it.” With that, he warned me not to show up in front of them before the wedding. But the next day, Hudson took the initiative to contact me. He shouted, scolding me, “Sienna, did you really dig up Mrs. Bell’s grave? I never thought you’d be that type.” Full of doubts, I called my assistant, Luna Young, to investigate and found out something jaw-dropping. Emilia’s mom was still alive!

No wonder Emilia was crazy enough to dig up her mother’s grave to frame me. It turned out that the whole “death” thing was a scam. I texted Hudson: [Emilia’s mom’s not dead. The truth’s in the email I sent you.] Whether he read it or not, it was not my problem. Finley booked me the flight for three days later in person. When Hudson got back, he saw me packing. Half my clothes were in the trash, and I would send a few things to Southwild. “What’s with the packing?” Hudson looked puzzled. I replied casually, “Moving.” He paused, didn’t catch the vibe, and continued, “The Macleod family’s company’s in Southwild. We’re moving there after the wedding. You’re right. We should pack early.” Then, he gave me a mean look. “Apologize to Emilia for her mom. Don’t make me embarrassed. Do it at the wedding. Okay?” Hudson tossed his phone aside to find his valid passport. Today was the day he and Emilia were getting their marriage license. He didn’t come back till night. I checked my phone, and Emilia’s text popped up. The picture showed Hudson and her in matching outfits and in bed together. I closed my eyes, but my heart still stung. I swallowed the pain and turned off my phone. Deep into the night, my phone buzzed every hour, Emilia taunting me with videos of her and Hudson. Till morning, Finley texted me: [Ms. Macleod, everything is ready. Take your time coming back.] It was attached to a marriage license and a pot of vibrant red roses. I never thought he’d still have that plant I gave him years ago. A strange feeling welled up in me, and I replied: [Okay.] I put my phone down to pack my work files, not noticing Hudson had returned. He packed his everyday stuff, saying, “I’m moving in with Emilia for a few days. She’s swamped with wedding preparations. Don’t be late to the wedding the day after tomorrow.” Then, he went on and on, justifying it, telling me not to make trouble again. “Yeah, I won’t,” I said, looking down. After last night, any feelings I had for him were gone. Hudson saw how calm I was and got a weird panic. He hesitated. But then, he thought of Emilia, and his grip on his phone loosened. He thought, “Sienna loves me so much. Nothing will go wrong.” Relieved, he stopped arguing and left. I watched him leave, then called a number. That night, a helicopter landed in the square. A guy walked up, saying, “Ms. Macleod, your chopper’s here. It’ll take you to Southwild safely in half an hour.” I nodded and handed him a file. “Take this to the wedding tomorrow. It’s my wedding gift for the bride and groom.” Free Point The next day, I sent Hudson a text right on time: [Happy wedding day!]

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