Author: Momo Chan

As my stepfather grabbed my hair and slammed my head towards the toilet, Zack appeared out of nowhere and kicked him to the ground. My teenage hero was like a gust of wind, blowing through my entire youth. Later, on the eve of confessing my feelings, I overheard his conversation with his friends. “Zack, I heard that Olivia secretly kissed you last week. Tsk tsk, you actually let that metal-mouth kiss you?” Zack’s nonchalant voice drifted from the private room: “Girls like that who are desperate for love will come running with just a crook of your finger. Besides, you have no idea how thrilling it is to get a blowjob from metal-mouth.” As my stepfather slammed my head towards the toilet, Zachary appeared out of nowhere and kicked him to the ground. My teenage hero was like a gust of fresh wind, blowing through my entire youth. Later, on the eve of confessing my feelings, I overheard his conversation with his friends. “Zach, I heard that Olivia secretly kissed you last week. Tsk tsk, you actually let that metal-mouth kiss you?” Zachary’s nonchalant voice drifted from the private room: “Girls like that who are desperate for love will come running with just a crook of your finger. Besides, you have no idea how thrilling it is to get a blowjob from metal-mouth.” I never imagined Zachary could say such things. In my heart, he was almost a heroic figure. But now, the laughter floating out of the room was so sharp and cruel. This conversation full of insults and mockery continued. Zachary’s voice came through, thick with alcohol: “Do you know how metal-mouth secretly kissed me?” He laughed crudely and lightly touched the corner of his lips: “That day I was napping on my desk, and she suddenly leaned down and kissed me right here.” Amidst the clinking of beer bottles, someone hooted: “Ooh, Olivia’s been secretly in love with you for seven years, she finally couldn’t hold back anymore.” “But Zach, you really let her kiss you?” “It’s all the same with your eyes closed.” He let out a satisfied sigh: “Her neck is sensitive though, she trembles at the slightest touch.” My heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand. I clutched my clothes tightly, afraid my tears would fall. This wasn’t the Zachary I knew. When my stepfather violently grabbed my hair and slammed my head towards the toilet, Zachary had grabbed the back of my stepfather’s neck with one hand and kicked him to the ground. My teenage hero had a thin frame, wearing only a school uniform. But he was left with an eternal scar above his eyebrow. I curled up in the corner, crying and apologizing to him. The setting sun slanted in, but he just raised an eyebrow at me and said carelessly: “You did nothing wrong. You don’t need to apologize to anyone.” Zachary was like a flame ignited in the snow – it only took an instant to burn through a foolish girl’s heart. But now, through the crack in the door, his voice was so clear. “Her parents don’t even want her. Girls like that who are desperate for love will come running with just a crook of your finger.” He chuckled: “Metal-mouth’s blowjobs are really something…especially when she cries and says no…tsk tsk.” The room erupted in raucous laughter. My body suddenly stiffened, and the tears I had been holding back finally fell. That’s right, I had almost forgotten. In the seventh year of my secret love for Zachary, we were still just ordinary friends. But I had kissed him anyway. And he had slept with me anyway.

From our teenage years to working as adults, Zachary had countless admirers over the years. And I was just the most unremarkable one among them all. The only thing worth celebrating was that I was quite persistent. In the seventh year of my secret love, I had at least become his ordinary friend. For me, being friends was enough. Someone as wonderful as Zachary deserved a goddess. My best friend tried to persuade me: “Olivia, are you stupid? Why waste your best years pining after just Zachary?” But she didn’t understand that falling for Zachary was the most natural thing in the world. He accompanied me through dark alleys, and from then on I was no longer afraid of stray dogs barking on the street. He got into fights with those who spread rumors about me, and after that no one in class dared call me “big boobs” or “cow” anymore. He rented an apartment with heating for me, and from then on I no longer feared my father’s fists. There was no one in the world who treated me better than Zachary. Later I would often secretly watch him play basketball in the hallway. I loved the way he tilted his head back to drink water, loved how his sweat dripped down his neck and into his collar. Love was like a raging fire, and I retreated step by step, until I was burned to ashes. Only now do I understand that the fire in a boy’s eyes is not a fixed star. Those scars he got from fighting for me, the hand warmers he secretly slipped into my desk – they were just ashes falling as shooting stars burned out. But in that moment, I truly felt like I had touched the moon. My phone suddenly rang. It was a call from Zachary. I answered, and his voice came through, slurred with alcohol: “Olivia, we agreed you’d come for my birthday today. Why aren’t you here yet?” “Everyone’s waiting for you. If you don’t come, my birthday won’t be any fun.” The drunk man whined at me: “And don’t forget to bring the scarf you knitted for me.” “I don’t care what anyone else gives me, I just want your gift.” I gave a bitter smile. Knitting a scarf as a birthday gift for your boyfriend had become popular on TikTok. At the time, Zachary had tagged me, strongly demanding that I knit one for him. “Come on Olivia, please agree? You know how much I hate the cold.” What cold could a 6-foot-tall man possibly be afraid of? I couldn’t refuse him, and it took me three months to barely manage to knit something resembling a scarf. I used to be best at handicrafts. But it had been so long since I picked up knitting needles, my technique was rusty. But he had forgotten – the video said this was for knitting a scarf for your boyfriend. And Zachary and I were just ordinary friends. I looked at the crooked, misshapen scarf in my hands. “Zachary, I have something to do, so I won’t be able to come celebrate your birthday.” “The scarf turned out really ugly, you probably wouldn’t like it anyway. I’ll just throw it away.” I hung up the phone. I had no home, no family. Back when we took the college entrance exams, I had scored over 30 points higher than him, but I willingly changed my major from fashion design to finance. All these years, I had treated wherever Zachary was as my home. But without love, this city was just too cold. I bought a plane ticket to Paris on my phone. Let’s just say that $1500 bought out my seven years of youth.

Ever since I threw away Zachary’s scarf, he never messaged me again. I knew he was angry with me. In the past, I would have coaxed him at times like this. But this time I didn’t want to bother anymore. Until our mutual friend Jack called me. “Olivia, you absolutely can’t miss this gathering. Listen, Zachary wants to introduce someone to us. As his friend, you can’t refuse to show your face, right?” Friend. Always just a friend. Even though I had secretly loved Zachary for so long, they were still certain that someone like him would never look twice at me. After a while, I reluctantly agreed. Zachary, let this be the last time I see you. I arrived early at the agreed restaurant, but the guest of honor was late to arrive. The restaurant was decorated very elegantly, with cute balloons even stuck to the walls. They had Hello Kitty designs. A shameful flutter of excitement suddenly rose in my heart. All these years, I was the only female friend Zachary had. For holidays and special occasions, he always gave me Hello Kitty gifts. He said I looked just like Hello Kitty, especially cute. But now, his whole group of friends were gathered around, and they had even queued up “Marry Me” to play. I unconsciously clenched my fists. My heart was pounding loudly. Zachary couldn’t be planning to confess to me, could he? “Sorry I’m late, everyone.” A lazy voice drifted over. I instinctively turned to look. The overhead lights shone on Zachary’s neatly trimmed hair as he greeted us, holding a girl’s hand. The girl had a face like a first love – very pretty. She shyly hid behind him. Zachary ruffled her hair and whispered something in her ear. Her face suddenly turned red, and she playfully hit Zachary. “This is my girlfriend, Tessa.” He sat down casually, pulling the girl with him. The private room immediately erupted in teasing shouts. “Ooh, so this is our little sister-in-law? She’s so cute!” I was stunned for a long time, unable to react. Belatedly, a sour feeling welled up in my nose. I was so stupid to think he was going to confess to me. I had thought that the reason Zachary hadn’t dated anyone all these years was at least partly because of me. Even if it was just a tiny part. But I had forgotten – he didn’t like me at all. Jack slammed his beer bottle on the table: “Zach, you’re not being fair! Isn’t this your high school deskmate? Come on, tell the truth, did you have a secret crush on her back then?” The teasing grew even louder. Someone switched the music from “Marry Me” to “Marry You”. Along with the music, Zachary cursed with a red face: “What are you talking about?! If I liked her in high school, why would it take until now to get her?” Someone pushed me. “Olivia, you were closest to Zachary in high school. Tell us, did he like little sis-in-law back then?” The laughter filling the room felt like shards of glass stabbing my ears. I forced my lips into a slight curve: “Is that so? I might not remember clearly. After all, Zachary and I were just ordinary friends.” It felt like a dull knife was cutting into my chest. How could I possibly not remember clearly when it came to Zachary? But back then, it wasn’t Zachary who liked Tessa, it was Tessa who liked Zachary. Unlike me, Tessa was open and direct about liking Zachary. Passing love notes, giving chocolates, causing a stir throughout the class. Zachary found her annoying and warned her off several times. In the end, when he really couldn’t stand her anymore, he used me as a shield. “Tessa, I already like someone.” The boy had one hand in his pocket as he casually put an arm around me. “Olivia isn’t even pretty, what do you like about her?” Zachary’s expression suddenly darkened: “I just like her, okay? It’s none of your business.” Tessa ran back to the classroom crying and never bothered him again after that. In that moment, I thought there must have been a grain of truth in Zachary’s joking words. Otherwise, why use me as a shield instead of someone else? But now it seems that was just thoughtless words spoken in our youth. They could be blown away by the slightest breeze. But I had foolishly taken them to heart. In the private room, they had started playing truth or dare. Zachary had lost several rounds and was drunkenly leaning against Tessa. His eyes were gentle, his expression adoring. He was just like that 17-year-old boy again. He and Tessa were whispering about something, and he leaned down to kiss her cheek. I couldn’t watch anymore and fled the room like a deserter.

I hadn’t gone far from the private room when someone called out to me. “Olivia! Zach says you forgot something!” Zach. She said his name so intimately. I turned around to see Tessa, out of breath from running after me. “Here.” A dirty Hello Kitty keychain lay in her hand. “Zach said to return this to you.” She pouted: “I don’t know why a grown man would have a Hello Kitty keychain on his car keys. It’s so ugly.” She gave me a challenging smile: “But I got him a Hermès keychain instead, and he seems to really like it.” “This one is just too old and tacky.” I stared blankly at the keychain. In high school, when Zachary won an award in the physics competition, he had begged me to make him a little keychain. “Olivia, will you make me a Hello Kitty one?” “That way, when I hang it on my backpack, it’ll be like you’re with me.” Later when his career took off, the keychain moved from his backpack to his car keys. All these years, even as it got worn and damaged, he had never replaced it. But now he had taken it off his car keys. It felt like there was a hole in my heart, with the wind whistling through. I suddenly felt so tired. It was like a reminder – Olivia, your memories with him were just a huge illusion. I pressed my lips together, then suddenly smiled: “It is pretty old. If you don’t want it anymore, just throw it away.” Even though Zachary and I had never actually been together, his home was filled with traces of our life together. My toothbrush, my slippers, my makeup. He said it was more convenient that way, so I could stay over if we hung out late. But now that he had a girlfriend, I should clear out my things completely. As if I had never been part of his life at all. While packing up my things from Zachary’s place, I suddenly found a torn piece of lingerie. Black lace, very sexy. My thoughts drifted back to seven years ago. Puberty had hit me hard, bringing with it pointless mockery and insults. The thin school uniform couldn’t hide my overwhelming insecurity. My mom had run off with someone else long ago, and my so-called father did nothing but yell at me and hit me. I wore my mother’s old bras, hunched over, barely surviving amidst my classmates’ taunts. Until one day Zachary secretly slipped me a box. “I looked it up…you should wear this from now on…” The boy stared at the ground, his face red and uncomfortable. When I got home, I realized what Zachary had given me. It was a training bra. Pink, with Hello Kitty printed on it. Very cute. There was a thoughtful little note attached: “Those guys making crude jokes are disgusting. Olivia, don’t pay any attention to them.” Later when I grew up, I could no longer fit into that training bra. I kept it buried at the bottom of my closet, as if telling me I had finally escaped that damp, miserable adolescence. I grew to love beauty more, got braces, and switched to sexier lingerie. That way I could be a more suitable friend for Zachary. Until that drunken night when I mumbled to him: “Zachary, I really like you so much.” He was asleep, the sunlight shining on the scar above his eyebrow. I gently kissed it. Even now, I still hate that kiss. It broke down some barrier between Zachary and me. Things spiraled out of control after that. Zachary hadn’t actually been asleep at all. He opened his eyes, his gaze dark and intense. My heart dropped. Great, now we couldn’t even be friends anymore. But he suddenly kissed me roughly. That kiss burned away seven years of hurt and resentment, as if trying to make up for all the heartbeats we had missed. Zachary pressed me down, conquering every inch. By the end I could only curl up in his arms, crying softly. He chuckled and stroked my face, saying quietly: “Olivia, you’re so sensitive.” I thought my seven years of unrequited love had finally paid off. Blushing, I asked him: “Zachary, what are we now?” But he just raised an eyebrow carelessly: “Friends, of course.” “Though Olivia, I never realized how soft you were before.”

The memories left a bitter taste. I pressed my lips together and threw the lingerie in the trash. Just as I finished packing, the front door opened. The person who came in was drunk, stumbling towards me. It was Zachary. His face was flushed red as he slurred: “Olivia, why have you been ignoring me lately?” Zachary staggered and crashed into me, dangling a dirty keychain in front of my face. “Look, I picked up the trash you threw away.” It was snowing heavily outside. He had an intricately knit English plaid scarf around his neck. Hand-knitted, very delicate, with a little peach embroidered on it. I suddenly remembered the scarf I had knitted for Zachary. Very crude stitching, hideously ugly. But I had to admit, the scarf Tessa knitted suited him better. Zachary came closer and closer. I could clearly see the scar above his eyebrow. That was a hero’s medal. But only now did I realize that some people’s heroic dreams survive by feeding on others’ sincere hearts. “Tessa was just joking with you. She knows this keychain means a lot to me, since it was the first gift you ever gave me…” He suddenly hugged me, murmuring in my ear: “Sweet Olivia, let me hold you. I’m a bit drunk.” So what was I then? I shoved him away hard, tears falling uncontrollably: “Zachary, you have a girlfriend now. We’ve crossed a line.” He froze, then suddenly gave a mocking smile: “So what if I have a girlfriend? Does that stop you from still liking me?” In that instant, my heart turned upside down. I had always thought my feelings were so quiet and subtle. But it turns out Zachary wasn’t completely oblivious – he knew everything. He just enjoyed my affection for him. Because he knew my love came free of charge. It hurt so much. Too much. “Zachary.” I pried his fingers off one by one: “I don’t want to like you anymore.” I wiped my tears and clutched the boarding pass in my hand. “I won’t be coming back to this so-called home either.”

The boarding gate was crowded. As soon as I turned on my phone, it was flooded with missed calls from Zachary. I closed my eyes for a moment, then turned off my phone. In the past, I was always the one calling Zachary. On the rare occasions when he called me first, I would be overjoyed. Now seeing all these missed calls just irritated me. At 30,000 feet in the air, the light breaking through the clouds stung my eyes. I suddenly remembered altering Zachary’s school uniform when we were 17. He had hit a growth spurt then, and his uniform never quite fit right. After I finished the alterations, he blinked at me, his eyes crinkled with a smile: “Olivia, you were born to be a designer!” Back then he said he wanted me to be his personal designer for life. We let our imaginations run wild, with all of youth ahead of us to paint our dreams. In the blink of an eye, seven years had passed. He was still as carefree and unrestrained as before, but I had lost the courage to keep accompanying him. We had journeyed together for a while, but now I needed to look ahead. I had wanted to go to Paris for a long time. My earliest dreams were buried there. I wanted to create clothing that more girls would love. Designs that wouldn’t make them criticize their own bodies, but help them accept themselves more openly. I spent the happiest month of my life in Paris. The city was vast, with no bitter unrequited love, able to contain all my dreams and ambitions. Practice makes perfect – I quickly got the hang of design and was hired as a junior designer at a company. The design director at the company was very kind to me. Even when my designs weren’t perfect, he would patiently guide me. He was very similar to how Zachary used to be. Equally proud and willful, wild and unrestrained. But Christopher had a gentleness that Zachary lacked. These past few days I had been unsatisfied with the design sketches in my hands. I thought Christopher would make me redo them, but he snatched the sketches from me instead. The mixed-race man leaned against the doorframe, a black turtleneck sweater hugging his long neck: “Narrow this part by two inches.” Christopher’s suggestion hit the nail on the head. I jumped up and grabbed the sketches back from him. “Christopher, you’re amazing!” He snorted with laughter: “Well, the student has to have the talent to understand.” “Sometimes when you’re stuck, don’t force yourself. Want me to help you find some inspiration?” Christopher raised an eyebrow at me. “Sure.” I heard the cheerfulness in my own voice. In an old bookstore by the Seine, he gently turned the pages of a book. A bittersweet feeling welled up inside me. This scene was so beautiful, like being back at age 17 again. At 17, Zachary hated studying but often pestered me to tutor him. But he would always end up falling asleep. Now as Christopher flipped through the book pages, the way the wind ruffled his hair, even the corners of his eyes and brows – it all looked just like 17-year-old Zachary. I pressed my lips together, but Christopher tapped my head with the book. “What are you thinking about so intently?” He suddenly turned his head, his nose almost brushing my ear: “Olivia, all the clothes you design are saying the same thing.” “What’s that?” My voice was a bit hoarse. “You can’t see me.” He smiled and patted my head. An indescribable ache burst in my chest. Just as I was about to say something, my phone rang. I accidentally hit the speakerphone button. A young man’s voice filled the bookstore. “It’s raining in Paris.” It was Zachary. A random statement, but tinged with a hint of grievance. My fingers unconsciously fiddled with the edge of a book page: “How do you know it’s raining in Paris?” Mixed with the sound of rain, his low chuckle came through the receiver: “Turn around.” The stained glass windows reflected a tall figure. Zachary stood in the rain, his voice low on the other end of the phone: “Olivia, you found a new man so quickly?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296360”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic

I had been with Lucas for eight years. Every Valentine’s Day, he would surprise Olivia with a special gift, trying to win her heart. In the eighth year, he finally succeeded. I tore up the wedding invitation he handed me and walked away. Later, when he burst into the office to confront me, I was just leaving with an ultrasound report in hand. He loosened his tie and smirked, “I haven’t touched you in two months! If you’re trying to compete for attention, at least come up with a better excuse.” I slammed the pregnancy test report on the table— Four weeks pregnant, coinciding with the night he was trying on wedding suits with Olivia. He stared at the date on the report, his Adam’s apple suddenly bobbing violently. It was our eighth Valentine’s Day together. As usual, I prepared dinner, waiting for Lucas to return after his failed attempt to win Olivia’s heart. This time was different. He didn’t come back. Because this time, he succeeded. On TV, my boyfriend was holding another woman in his arms, kissing her passionately in public. Gentle, restrained. A side of him I had never seen before. The image was so clear, I could even see his eyes reddening with emotion. In my freshman year, my father became addicted to gambling, losing not only our savings but also our only house. With no other choice, we had to move back to our hometown, and I was forced to transfer schools. One day, I was cornered in an alley by a group of girls. They surrounded me, raining punches and kicks on me while hurling insults like “slut” and “shameless.” I fought back like a trapped animal, but the more I resisted, the harder they hit. Just when I was feeling desperate, a voice suddenly came from the alley entrance: “I don’t hit girls. Don’t make me intervene.” He walked over, stood in front of me, and coldly told them: “Get lost.” That’s how Lucas entered my world, dazzling my entire youth. Snapping back to reality, I stiffly put down the soup bowl in my hand. I took out my phone and opened Instagram. The trending topics already included “Popular actress Olivia and Young CEO Lucas announce happy news!” Olivia had posted a response. 【I used to belong to everyone, now I belong to you. Please sign for the rest of our lives, no returns or exchanges! @Lucas】 With this post, the topic’s popularity skyrocketed. #LucasIndustriesOlivia# #PerfectMatch# Each hashtag mercilessly trampled on my self-esteem. In the comments section, countless people were celebrating. 【Can you share more sweet moments? We want to see your love!】 【I hereby declare today as the first day of my heartbreak!】 【You deserve the best love, we’ll always support you!】 I took a deep breath, my fingertips trembling as I closed the phone. Did I not care? How could I not? But I loved Lucas, loved him to the point of self-deprecation!

I tossed and turned in bed until dawn. When I went downstairs, I saw Lucas lying on the couch. His hair was a mess, his brows furrowed, probably feeling unwell. I ignored him and went straight to the kitchen to make breakfast for myself. Just as the water in the pot started to bubble, he suddenly pressed against my back, his alcohol-laden breath hot on my neck: “Headache. Make me some hangover soup.” I dodged his chin, “Go wait on the couch.” Instead, he tightened his grip on my waist: “Let me hold you for a while.” “You stink.” I struggled free, “You need a shower.” Lucas laughed and kissed the most sensitive spot behind my ear, “Wait for me.” While he went upstairs, I threw some ginger and brown sugar into the pot. As I stirred, my nose suddenly stung. For eight years, I thought I had warmed his heart. We ate together, went shopping like a normal couple, he remembered to give me birthday gifts, and even brought flowers on Valentine’s Day. Until I saw the live broadcast yesterday—him kneeling with a diamond ring, his hands shaking as he kissed Olivia. Only then did I realize that I was just a substitute all along. “Congratulations,” I put the hangover soup on the dining table. Lucas’s hand paused as he was drying his hair: “What do you mean?” “Congratulations on getting what you wanted.” He picked up the hangover soup, indifferently saying: “You saw the TV? Olivia’s been having some trouble lately, she needs a status to clear up misunderstandings.” I tried hard to control myself, not letting tears fall. “She needs status, but what about me?” Lucas’s voice was hoarse from the hangover, “Haven’t I been good to you all these years? Letting you live in the villa, giving you a credit card to use as you please…” “Lucas, am I just a kept woman in your eyes?” I angrily questioned, “Have I ever used your card?” Lucas was stunned. Before he could reply, I continued. “I buy groceries, cook, do your laundry, clean the house. Isn’t that more than enough to cover the rent?” He paused, the alcohol slowing his reaction: “You know that’s not what I meant. Olivia needs the title of Mrs. Shen to deal with the media, we…” “I don’t want to get involved in your affairs, but we need to clear things up between us. What exactly am I to you?” Lucas drank the hangover soup in one gulp, “What do you think?” “Not a couple! Not lovers!” My voice suddenly raised, “What exactly am I?” “Emmy.” Lucas stepped forward, taking my hand. “It’s just borrowing a status to deal with the media, you know the entertainment industry is complicated…” I pulled my hand away as if burned, “Did you ever consider my feelings?” “Emma. I told you, I’m just lending Olivia a status, we can still be together like before. You’re still my girlfriend.” “Lucas, do you think I’m a fool who’s easy to fool?” His pupils suddenly contracted, the bottom of the bowl hitting the marble countertop hard, “Don’t make a fuss. “When this is over, I promise…” His phone suddenly vibrated on the coffee table, Olivia’s selfie in a bathrobe flashing on the screen the moment it lit up. “Lucas…” A coquettish voice came from the phone, “My stomach hurts so bad…” As Lucas grabbed his suit jacket from the sofa, I suddenly remembered that snowy night three years ago. Before he fell unconscious from a perforated ulcer, he gripped my hand tightly and said: “Emmy, if I die, you’ll be the only beneficiary in my will.” But now his back as he rushed to the entrance, gradually overlapped with that blue figure being pushed into the operating room. “Emmy, Olivia’s pregnant, she needs my care more.” Lucas instructed me as he put on his shoes, “Wait for me to come back…”

The next morning, I had just sat down at my desk. Little Lin from the next table leaned over, lowering her voice mysteriously: “Emmy, did you see yesterday’s trending topics? Young CEO Lucas publicly acknowledged at the press conference that the baby in Olivia’s belly is his!” Before I could speak, Ms. Zhang snorted: “Hmph, who can be sure about things in the entertainment industry? One moment they say it’s movie star Jack’s, the next they say it’s Lucas’s. It’s all a mess.” “It must be Lucas’s!” Little Lin excitedly slapped the table. “Would someone of his status casually claim a child? Lucas has been pursuing Olivia for eight consecutive years, now he’s finally gotten his wish. If you ask me, this is true love!” Ms. Zhang raised an eyebrow, a meaningful smile on her face: “If you ask me, this child could be anyone’s. I heard Olivia was working on a film with Jack recently, and they were very close on set…” “But Lucas publicly acknowledged it…” Little Lin argued unconvincingly. I listened to their discussion, feeling a mix of emotions. Olivia was indeed pregnant, but the child wasn’t Lucas’s. The baby’s father, movie star Jack, was a married man, and his wife’s family was powerful. He wouldn’t, and couldn’t, acknowledge this child. Olivia stubbornly wanted to keep the baby, but was afraid the rumors online would affect her career. Lucas… he was quite willing to be the “fall guy”. I didn’t want to hear anything more about Lucas, so I got up to get coffee. Behind me, I heard Ms. Zhang’s lowered voice: “Hey, have you noticed that every time we mention Lucas, Emmy’s expression seems off…” Just as I had a moment of peace, the manager notified me to go to the meeting room to receive clients. The moment I opened the door, I froze. “Emmy, long time no see.” The woman wore sunglasses and a baseball cap, dressed very discreetly. But I still recognized her at a glance. Olivia, the popular actress. Also the woman Lucas had been proposing to for eight years. Lucas handed water to Olivia, saying softly: “The temperature is just right, drink up.” My heart ached, as if pricked by a needle. The usually carefree Lucas had never been so attentive to me. It turns out he wasn’t incapable of being considerate, his gentleness just never belonged to me. Olivia smiled at me and said: “Emmy, Lucas and I have decided to have the wedding soon. He says if we wait too long, the baby will be too big, and he’s worried I’ll get tired. Plus, it won’t look good in a wedding dress. “We’ll plan the wedding according to Lucas’s preferences, I like whatever he likes. You know Lucas best, so having you plan the wedding will definitely be twice as efficient.” “Oh, congratulations.” I said, then turned to leave without looking back. Lucas chased after me, cornering me at the stairwell, “Olivia is pregnant, can’t you be a little more considerate of her feelings?” “Taking care of her is your business, what does it have to do with me? I’m not her mother.” Lucas frowned, “Emma…” I didn’t want to hear him ramble, so I cut him off directly, “There are so many planning companies, please, find another one, okay?” “Your company has the best reputation in the industry, I want to give Olivia a dream wedding with no regrets. Besides, Olivia is right, you know us best, I feel at ease leaving the wedding to you.” “You’re sick.” I cursed and turned to leave. I was called to the manager’s office, “You know who just came, right?” “Oh, yes.” I replied indifferently. “One is the young master of Lucas Industries, one is a popular actress. Their wedding will not only bring us a lot of profit, but also greatly improve our reputation. “They specifically requested that you plan the wedding.” “I refuse.” “You don’t have the option to refuse. Otherwise, you and your team members can all get lost.” I returned to my seat, my emotions in turmoil. I didn’t understand why Lucas was being so cruel. He didn’t come home all night, and then prepared such a huge “surprise” for me. For eight years I loved him wholeheartedly, was he so confident because he was the one being loved? I couldn’t refuse this job, I could quit and leave. But what about the other team members? Most of them had elderly parents and young children to support. They were burdened with car loans and mortgages, I couldn’t be that selfish.

In the evening, a friend invited us out for their birthday dinner. Just as I was about to enter, I heard Lucas’s cold voice coming from inside the private room: “Every Valentine’s Day she has to make a fuss.” “Ignore her, I bet within two weeks, she’ll be back crying and begging to make up.” I gripped the door handle, not pushing it open. Ryan next to me quickly explained: “Emmy, don’t listen to him, he’s drunk and talking nonsense! I’ll scold him for you!” He was about to push the door open. I held him back, shaking my head. I had loved him for eight years, giving my all, thinking even the coldest heart could be warmed. Ryan was still muttering: “They’re just chatting nonsense, you know they’re never serious…” I took a deep breath, handing the gift to Ryan: “Help me give this to Jason, wish him happy birthday, I won’t go in.” “Okay, hey…” Just as I was about to turn and leave, the door to the private room suddenly opened. Jason stood in the doorway, we both froze for a moment. He didn’t know I had already heard Lucas’s words, and pulled me in: “Emmy’s here, come on in!” This dinner was not only to celebrate Jason’s birthday, but also arranged to persuade Lucas and me to reconcile. Jason made me sit opposite Lucas: “Lucas, Emmy is so good, you’ve been together for so many years, don’t let things get so tense.” Lucas didn’t look at me once, but the veins on the back of his hand gripping the glass were bulging. Ryan quickly gave Jason a look. Before Ryan could pull me up, Lucas finally spoke: “Emma, I’ve said before, I’m just helping Olivia out, giving her the title of Mrs. Shen. We can still be like before.” “I’ll wait for you at home.” I coldly replied: “I came to celebrate Jason’s birthday, not to listen to your nonsense.” Lucas irritably took a sip of wine: “Jason is my friend, why do you need to come celebrate his birthday?” Jason couldn’t stand it anymore and directly confronted him: “Lucas, you’ve gone too far! Emmy is my friend too, I invited her here.” I looked up, meeting his gaze seriously: “Lucas, think it through. Her or me!” With that, I got up to leave. As I closed the door, I heard Ryan say: “Lucas, choose Emmy, otherwise you’ll definitely regret it.” “Shut up.” Lucas’s voice was full of anger. I didn’t look back.

That night, I had insomnia again. By the time I got to the company, the manager was pacing anxiously by my seat, muttering: “Why are you only coming now? I’ve been calling you but you didn’t answer, it’s really nerve-wracking!” I casually replied: “Sorry, my phone was on silent, I didn’t hear it.” The manager quickly pushed me towards the meeting room, not forgetting to remind me: “Young Mr. Lucas and Miss Olivia are both waiting inside, mind your attitude!” As soon as I entered, Olivia said in a coquettish voice: “Emmy, I thought you didn’t want to see me and deliberately didn’t come.” As she spoke, she leaned on Lucas’s shoulder, looking very intimate. I didn’t respond to her words, and asked directly: “Miss Olivia, Mr. Lucas, do you have any specific requirements for the wedding?” Olivia smiled and said: “I don’t have any requirements, I like whatever Lucas likes. You were together for so long, you must know his preferences better than anyone.” I closed my notebook, put down my pen, and nodded: “Indeed. Then for future details, I’ll communicate directly with Mr. Lucas, no need to trouble Miss Olivia to come again.” Olivia was stunned. Lucas frowned, speaking up for Olivia: “Emma, can’t you speak properly?” I replied indifferently: “I’m sorry, Mr. Lucas, this is how I usually speak. If you’re not satisfied, you can request a change of person.” Before Lucas could respond, several reporters suddenly rushed in from outside, holding microphones and cameras, asking a flurry of questions: “Is the news of your marriage true?” “Miss Olivia, didn’t you publicly deny your relationship with Mr. Lucas before? Saying you were just good friends.” “Miss Olivia, what made you decide to marry Mr. Lucas?” “There are rumors online that the child belongs to movie star Jack, is that true?” The reporters crowded together, surging towards Olivia and Lucas. One is pregnant, one is the man I love. I didn’t want anything to happen to them, so I had to stand in front of them, trying to block the reporters. Suddenly, a reporter rushed towards Olivia with a microphone, and Lucas immediately pulled her behind me. I was knocked off balance by the reporter, my waist hitting the corner of the table hard, the pain making me unable to straighten up. In that instant, my heart felt like it was being squeezed tightly, the pain almost making it hard to breathe. Lucas’s first reaction was to protect Olivia, while I became the shield he casually pushed away. It turns out, in his heart, I was no longer the one who needed protection. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I bit my lip hard, not letting them fall. Fortunately, security quickly arrived and chased all the reporters out. Olivia wiped her tears, saying softly to me: “Thank you, Emmy.” No wonder she’s a top actress, just one sentence sounded so pitiful and touching. I forced a smile through the pain in my waist: “You are our VIP clients, this is what I should do.” The bodyguards escorted Olivia out. “Come back to me, I can give you everything except status.” Lucas said before leaving. But that push earlier had already broken my heart. I looked down at my slightly trembling hands, feeling a chill in my heart. So loving someone can be so humbling, yet so clear-headed. His gentleness, his promises, no longer belonged to me. I took a deep breath, silently telling myself: Enough, it’s really enough. I don’t want him anymore, nor do I want this feeling that only brings me pain. Working overtime until midnight, just as I left the company, a heavy rain poured down, drenching me instantly. I didn’t bother to take shelter anymore, letting the rain wash over me. As I walked, my steps gradually became heavy. I crouched down, hugging myself tightly. Amidst the sound of rain, I cried silently, my tears mixing with the raindrops. I don’t know how long it had been, but suddenly the rain above my head stopped. I looked up in confusion to see Ethan standing quietly beside me, holding a black umbrella. “Mr. Lu?” I was a bit surprised. He bent down slightly, his long fingers grasping my arm, gently pulling me up. My thin dress clung to my body, wet and disheveled, outlining a sorry figure. His gaze fell on me without avoiding it. Our eyes met. “Ethan, want to come to my place tonight?” The implications between adults were already very clear. I suddenly remembered the rumors I had heard, saying that Ethan was famously uninterested in women. I was about to explain that I was just joking: “Don’t take it seriously.” Unexpectedly, he agreed. As soon as the elevator doors closed, Ethan pulled me into his arms and kissed me fiercely. His kiss was urgent and fierce, leaving me breathless and dizzy. “There… there are cameras…” I reminded him softly, my face red. He looked up at the security camera, without a word, simply turned me around to face away from the camera, and kissed me again. When we reached the door of my apartment, he swiped the door open, then suddenly stopped his actions and looked down at me: “Emma, it’s not too late to regret now.” “Regret what?” I looked up at him, my fingers hooking his tie, pulling him closer, “Or is it you who regrets?” Ethan smiled, his arm wrapping around my waist, pulling me towards him: “Yes, I regret not making a move earlier.” Our first time, Ethan didn’t even make it to the bedroom. My back was against the wall, rubbed a bit painfully, and I couldn’t help but bite his shoulder: “Ethan, be gentler…” His hand gently stroked my back, his voice hoarse: “Emmy, I can’t hold back anymore…”

The next morning, I woke up with an aching waist. Ethan reached out to help me sit up, handing me a glass of milk. “I made noodles, I don’t know if they suit your taste. Try them later and tell me what you like to eat, I’ll cook for you.” I stared at him blankly, asking: “Why?” “Why what? Girls should be pampered and loved.” This kind of treatment was something I had never experienced in the previous eight years. Ethan handed me a bowl of soup and said: “I heard Lucas wants to give that actress a dream wedding. Have you considered getting married?” “I don’t understand what you mean.” “Let’s get married.” Ethan said directly. “Why?” I asked, puzzled. “Because I think you’re suitable, and we have good chemistry.” I couldn’t help but twitch the corners of my mouth, “Forget it, I don’t want to jump out of one pit only to fall into another deeper one.” I rejected him outright, “Let’s just consider last night as mutually beneficial, Mr. Lu. You don’t need to take it to heart.” Ethan reached out to stop me, “I heard your mother isn’t in good health, she’s always hoped for you to settle down. Do you have a more suitable marriage candidate than me? “In terms of looks, family background, and ability, how am I inferior to Lucas?” I looked up at him seriously. He wasn’t wrong. Ethan was a thousand, no, ten thousand times better than Lucas. Six months ago, I had personally planned the opening ceremony for Ethan’s branch company, and at that time I had seen his detailed profile. A diamond bachelor who had never had any scandals and was extremely capable. Moreover, he had hit my weak spot. A few days ago, my mother was diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer, and her greatest wish was to see me married with children. Half an hour later, Ethan and I walked out of the civil affairs bureau. Looking at the marriage certificate in my hand, I still felt a bit dazed. “Let’s go,” I said. “Where to?” “To earn money for baby formula.” Ethan dropped me off at the company entrance, patting the top of my head, “I’ll pick you up after work tonight.”

That evening, Chloe asked me out. I sent Ethan a message. As soon as she sat down, she downed two glasses of wine: “Is Lucas sick? He’s handing out wedding invitations everywhere now, not even sparing the electronic screens on the streets, showing off his love in all sorts of ways. He’s so eager to let everyone know he’s going to be a father.” Lucas becoming an unexpected father was something everyone in our circle knew about. I held my wine glass and calmly spoke up: “I got married.” Chloe’s words came to an abrupt halt, “Are you joking?” She didn’t believe it at first, until she saw the marriage certificate, then exclaimed in surprise: “Ethan? Isn’t he rumored to be uninterested in women? Everyone was even guessing whether he was gay or not.” Remembering his vigorous performance last night, my face immediately turned red. Chloe noticed my unusual reaction, “Emmy, you didn’t…” I didn’t shy away at all, “Isn’t it normal between husband and wife?” She gave me a thumbs up, “Too amazing, you actually conquered the Ice King.” She immediately shook off her previous dejection, “This must be celebrated properly, it’s on me tonight.” On the way, I went to the restroom. I ran into Ryan. “Emmy, you’re here too. Lucas is with us, come over quickly.” I waved my hand, “Lucas and I have no relationship now, we’re strangers. Hope you have a good time.” Ryan thought I was just upset: “I know Lucas went too far with that incident, he regrets it now. When he’s drunk, he unconsciously calls out your name. “Why don’t you give Lucas a chance to apologize face to face?” Saying this, he forcefully pulled me to the door. I heard familiar voices, Jason was trying to persuade Lucas. “That’s enough, aren’t you afraid of going too far? Emmy hasn’t contacted you for so long.” “Yeah, Lucas. Emmy truly loved you. What’s so good about Olivia? She deliberately strung you along before, and now she’s even made you an unexpected father. Everyone’s laughing at you.” “Ryan just sent a message saying he saw Emmy. He’s bringing her over, when she comes, you should apologize and admit your mistake.” Lucas’s expression was cold, “Who told her to come? We’ve already broken up.” Ryan smiled awkwardly at me, I pushed open the door and entered. Everyone’s gaze turned to me at the same time. The hickeys on my neck were too obvious, Lucas stood up abruptly. “What’s that on your neck?” I curled my lips, “Mr. Lucas, we’re all adults, there’s no need to spell it out, is there?” “Emma, you’ve grown bolder, daring to find another man behind my back. Is it still comfortable to wear?” “Which law states that I must remain chaste for an ex-boyfriend who cheated?” I greeted everyone one by one, saying: “Lucas and I have no relationship anymore, and I’m already married. I appreciate your good intentions, but let’s stop here. If we say or do anything more, we can’t even be friends.” With that, I turned to leave. Behind me came the sound of something being smashed. When it was time to leave, Ethan came to pick me up. Chloe waved at me, saying: “Wishing you two an early arrival of a little one!” Ethan smiled, “Thank you.” Chloe looked shocked, whispering in my ear: “Too scary, I actually saw the Ice King smile, this is enough for me to brag about for a lifetime.” On the way back, I teased Ethan, “I’m not incapable of smiling, but I only smile at people I care about.” After saying this, he smiled at me again. I raised my face in response, “Stunningly handsome.” He asked, “With such a handsome husband, don’t you want to post on Facebook to claim your territory?” I was taken aback, “Won’t it cause you trouble?” “You’re my lawful wife, how could you cause me trouble? You bring me surprises and happiness.” After saying this, he gently kissed my forehead, and with a click, he captured this moment. We posted photos of each other on Facebook together, with the caption: 【You and me.】 My phone exploded, everyone was arguing in the comments section of my post. 【Ice King, am I seeing things?】 【Heard you got dumped? No need to Photoshop to save face, right?】 【What Photoshop? This is the real Mr. Lu, are you blind?】 Chloe retorted on my behalf. Ethan’s phone was also constantly ringing with messages and calls. He kept responding. “Yes, I finally won her over, couldn’t wait to make it official.” “We’ve already registered our marriage, the wedding is still being planned, I’ll definitely send you an invitation when the time comes.” “Thank you for your blessings, I’ll do my best.” In the end, he got fed up and simply turned off his phone. Ethan took my hand, “From now on, you’re marked as mine, you can’t run away.”

Lucas also saw my news from his friends, he came faster than I had imagined. A few minutes later, he was already standing at the door, his face looking terribly grim. “Emmy, come back with me.” “Is that how you should address her? This is my wife, you should call her Mrs. Lu.” Ethan blocked him at the door. Only then did Lucas truly look at Ethan. “So you took advantage when we were arguing? Shouldn’t I be the one demanding an explanation from you?” “Explain what? We’re already legally married, she’s my lawful wife.” Lucas laughed coldly, his gaze meeting mine from afar. “Emma, you’ve really grown bolder? You dare to go out and get married behind my back? Come back now, and I’ll pretend nothing happened.” He reached out a hand in my direction. Every time before, as long as he reached out, I would grasp his hand without hesitation. But this time, I didn’t move. “Lucas, we’ve already broken up, we’re strangers now, with no relationship whatsoever.” “Emma, we were together for eight years, you want to sever all ties with just one word? Do you have no heart?” Lucas’s eyes were bloodshot, Ethan momentarily let his guard down and was pushed aside. My hand was grabbed by him, my wrist feeling like it might snap from his grip. “Go get a divorce from him right now, didn’t you want to get married to me? After the divorce, we’ll get married immediately, and you’ll be the rightful Mrs. Shen from now on.” With my free hand, I slapped Lucas hard across the face. It took Lucas a while to react to what I had done. “Lucas, are you sick? Late-coming passion is cheaper than a dog, haven’t you heard that saying? You gave Olivia the title of Mrs. Shen as you wished, what more do you have to make a fuss about, isn’t it better if we both let go?” Ethan stepped forward, shielding me in his arms. “Lucas, if you dare to come and make trouble again, I’ll sue you for harassment. You don’t think I lack the ability to protect my own wife, do you?” I was still a bit shaken. This was a scene I had never imagined before. I thought when I left, Lucas would feel relieved, after all, he had now married his dream girl as he wished. Now putting on this act of deep affection, who was he trying to fool? “Ethan, aren’t you disgusted by the secondhand goods I’ve slept with for eight years? Does it still fit comfortably?” The hand held by Ethan suddenly went stiff and cold. Cold sweat seeped out of my palm, layer by layer. Perhaps seeing my face turn pale, Lucas laughed: “See, such a realistic thing, you two couldn’t have not thought about it, right? “Emma, come home with me. No one else will want you except me.” “Lucas.” Ethan suddenly let go of my hand. “Before, I only thought you were a fickle playboy, not a good person, but not entirely despicable. “But now I realize.” Ethan stepped forward, grabbing Lucas’s collar and slamming him against the wall. “You’re not only despicable but also scum.” With that, Ethan threw the first punch, hitting Lucas squarely. “And a useless piece of trash. I’m not like you, I like Emma for who she is.” “But Emma is no longer pure.” Ethan didn’t let him finish, landing another hard punch on his face. In the end, the scene became chaotic, but fortunately, Ethan won. “This is the first and last time. Next time, we’ll settle this in the business world.” I closed the door, leaving Lucas outside. Ethan held his face, leaning on my shoulder, “It hurts, wife, blow on it for me.” “You know it hurts, why did you fight?” “If I didn’t stop him, what if he took you away?” Ethan looked at me seriously. I stood on tiptoes, kissing his cheek, and looked at him earnestly: “We’re legally married.” Before he could reply, his kiss had already fallen.

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On the day Sophia and I got engaged, her first love committed suicide. To get revenge on me, she had me committed to a psychiatric hospital. Three years later, I escaped. I fear her, hate her, but I will never love her again. In the end, I was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. She knelt before me, crying and begging me to seek treatment. 0 The day I escaped from the psychiatric hospital, it was snowing heavily. I was wearing the standard blue and white striped hospital uniform, which looked like prison clothes. My feet were in worn-out slippers. Shivering uncontrollably, I hugged myself tightly. With a heart full of hope, I ran back home. It had been so long since I’d been back; my parents must have been worried sick. I started running, but as my feet got too cold, I had to slow down to a walk. If it weren’t for a kind stranger who gave me a ride part of the way, I might have frozen to death. When I arrived home, there wasn’t a single light on. A sense of unease slowly crept over me. But I reassured myself that it was late, and my parents and brother must be asleep. However, after knocking for a long time, there was still no answer. I finally panicked. I started shouting with my hoarse voice, “Mom, Dad, it’s me, Liam! I’m back!” Remembering that the last time I saw them was during an argument, I felt a pang of guilt. That’s right, my parents had tried to convince me not to marry Sophia. “She never loved you, can’t you see that? And she’s a rich heiress. Liam, it’s not that we don’t approve of her, we’re just afraid she’s playing with your feelings.” How could I have believed them? I had a huge fight with them and left, declaring, “From now on, I’m not your son anymore.” Could it be that my parents were still angry? Just as I was thinking this, the door next to me opened. It was Mrs. Lin. She rubbed her sleepy eyes, and the moment she saw me, tears welled up in her eyes. “Liam, why are you only back now? Your parents and your brother…” Seeing her hesitation, my head started pounding as if it had been struck, and I gradually lost my senses. Everything went black, and I passed out. 0

When I woke up, a familiar face appeared before me. It was her! It was Sophia. The one I couldn’t escape from in my dreams and thoughts. She was still as beautiful as ever, even more so than before. Her wavy hair, enchanting eyes, and that beauty mark under her eye that I once loved so desperately. But I was so frightened that I immediately shrank to the edge of the bed. I tightly closed my eyes, not daring to look at her. This face that I once loved more than life itself now terrified me to the core. “Hmph, what’s wrong? Not happy to see me?” Her voice was hoarse and alluring, with a hint of contempt. Of course. In the past, when I missed her, I would climb over the school wall just to find her. I would walk ten miles in the middle of the night just to see her face. I wasn’t afraid of pouring rain. As soon as she opened the door, I would hold her tightly. “I miss you so much.” “I just wanted to see you right away.” I used to love her to the point of madness. So now she thought I had come out just to see her. “Why aren’t you saying anything?” “Why did you escape?” I lowered my head and said cautiously, “I missed…” My voice was harsh from not speaking for so long. “You missed me, right?” “Three years, and you still haven’t learned anything.” Her tone was still as mocking as ever. I knew without looking that her brows were furrowed. I quickly shook my head. “No, no, I missed my parents and brother too much.” I looked up, my face covered in tears. “Can you tell me where they are?” Sophia was stunned. Her expression became a bit unnatural. “You should rest for now. After you’ve rested, I’ll send you back.” Back? To that hellish place. Where there were many men who would sneak onto my bed every night to molest and violate me. A mental patient who would throw hot soup in my face and call me a scumbag at the drop of a hat. And a group of people who would drag me in and beat me up from time to time. Too many to count. The horrifying memories from my mind suddenly overwhelmed me. I screamed, “No, I don’t want to go back, I don’t want to!” As I spoke, I retreated to the window. I looked at Sophia with pleading eyes. “Please, don’t send me back there, I’m begging you.” Sophia looked at me with some disgust. “Look at you now, not a bit of the obedient and sensible person you used to be.” Obedient and sensible? I used to be obedient too. But what did I get in return? When she told me to go west, I never went east. When she went to take care of her first love, Garrett, in the middle of the night, I didn’t say a word. But I endured it all, thinking I could finally get engaged to her. In the end, Garrett committed suicide. And I was the one who got hurt. I fell to my knees in front of her with a thud. “Please, Sophia, don’t send me back.” “I swear, I’ll never appear in your and Garrett’s world again to bother you.” She raised an eyebrow and looked at me, seeming to consider the sincerity of my words. But I had no reason to lie. Now, I truly didn’t love her anymore. What I had was fear, resentment, but never love again. 0

I don’t know why, but hearing me say this, Sophia seemed somewhat displeased. She waved her hand. “You should have learned your lesson after three years.” “If it weren’t for your provocation, Garrett wouldn’t have committed suicide due to depression.” “Three years was too lenient for you.” I nodded repeatedly. I was too tired to argue. At our engagement party back then, Sophia was indecisive, and after receiving Garrett’s farewell call, she broke down and left immediately. Before leaving, she slapped me hard. She angrily questioned me: “What exactly did you say to him? If it weren’t for our years of friendship, do you think you’d have a chance? Did you really think you were my husband? Let me tell you, if anything happens to Garrett, I won’t let you off!” But I didn’t do anything. Later, Garrett was rescued after a suicide attempt by slitting his wrists, and Sophia found screenshots of my provocative text messages on his phone. With those screenshots, she had me committed to a psychiatric hospital without a second thought. Even though I said a hundred times that I didn’t do it. She still looked at me with that expression of extreme disgust. “Not sending you to prison is already my mercy to you.” Her eyes were like knives, stabbing my heart again and again. She used to like me before. Before she met Garrett. She used to hate her father for having an affair and causing her mother’s death. She hated even more how her father was so good to that mistress’s child. But the moment she saw him, Sophia said to me, “I like him so much, Liam. Do you know what it feels like to have your heart skip a beat?” How could I not know? Every time I looked at her, my heart skipped a beat. Those words were enough to make me give up. But how could I let go? We had beautiful memories together and made firm promises. Not to mention that Garrett was her nominal brother. They couldn’t be together in the first place. So Garrett, who couldn’t marry her himself, wouldn’t let Sophia marry me either. Before that, Sophia had dragged me by the collar to Garrett’s hospital bed. She wanted me to kneel before him and apologize. I refused. I loved her, but as a man, I had my own dignity. This angered her. Garrett took advantage of Sophia’s absence when she went to buy porridge for him, and spoke to me with an arrogant expression. “She only loves me.” “Even if I can’t marry her, you can’t either. I’ll always be the only one in her heart. With just a crook of my finger, she’ll come running like a dog. You’re nothing but a pathetic substitute.” “You disgust me.” I was furious, and felt that Sophia’s true feelings were not worth it. “Is being the other man something to be proud of? You’re just like your mother. She stole Sophia’s father and destroyed their family. And you, having inappropriate feelings for your sister, happy to be the third wheel.” He glared at me fiercely, but suddenly changed his expression. Covering his face, he sobbed. “I know you don’t like me, Liam. I’ve wronged you. I’ll just go and die, so I won’t be an eyesore to you anymore.” I was sick of his act. He was better at pretending than any woman I’d ever met. “Then go ahead and die. This time, make sure to cut deeper.” I knew he didn’t really want to die; this was just another act. How could he give up the wealth and status he had now? But as I turned around, I met a pair of cold eyes. It was Sophia, who had returned with the porridge. She threw the porridge in my face. The scalding porridge burned my skin, causing blisters. But she didn’t care at all. “You’re so vicious, it makes me sick.” “It seems I’ve been too lenient with you before. Someone like you deserves to be sent to a psychiatric hospital.” Yes, I was sent there. Those three years not only cured my love sickness, But also gave me severe depression and insomnia. Now, just thinking about Sophia, seeing her, or having any contact with her would make me tremble uncontrollably. In severe cases, I would even pass out. 0

Sophia went to the company. I quickly found a phone and called my parents. But all that awaited me was the message that no one was answering. What had happened to my parents? Why did Mrs. Lin, the neighbor, cry? And why did Sophia seem hesitant to speak? I called my best friend next. “Hello, who is this?” Hearing his voice, I felt so moved I wanted to cry. When Sophia forcibly sent me to the psychiatric hospital, my phone was taken away. I tried to escape from that place countless times, but each time I was caught and brought back. Then they would give me stronger doses of medication. I would be in a daze for a long time before gradually regaining consciousness. I used to fantasize that Sophia would come to see me and take me out. As long as she could take me out, I would do anything she wanted, be her dog, or completely disappear from her sight. I had been tortured to the point of completely losing my sense of self. But I waited and waited, until I couldn’t wait anymore. My nose stung, and tears suddenly welled up in my eyes. My best friend Ryan was the person I missed most after my parents. “It’s me, Ryan. It’s me, Liam.” “Oh my God, Liam, you’ve finally shown up. Where have you been these three years? You don’t know how crazy your parents went looking for you.” “Later, they went to find Sophia, I don’t know what happened. When they came back, they were in a daze. Not long after, there was an accident… your whole family, your parents and your brother, they all died in that car crash.” “What?!” By the end, Ryan was choking up and could barely speak. It was like a bolt from the blue. Although I had a premonition, when the real news came, I still couldn’t accept it. Seeing that I remained silent for a long time, Ryan anxiously called my name. “Liam, don’t scare me. Where are you? What exactly happened to you?” The pain in my heart made it difficult to breathe, but at this moment, I couldn’t shed a single tear. I raised my hand and mechanically slapped my own face. Again and again. Until it was swollen and numb. “It’s all my fault. I killed my parents and brother.” I said mechanically. Endless regret overwhelmed me like a tide. But I could never bring my parents back. The one who should have died was me, so why did the retribution fall on my loved ones? Ryan said he was on a business trip out of town and told me to stay at Sophia’s house for one night. He would come to pick me up tomorrow. I agreed. I sat with my arms wrapped around myself from day to night. Not eating or drinking anything, feeling nothing. When Sophia came back, the sudden light hurt my eyes. “Why aren’t you resting? Were you waiting for me?” she asked. Her expression was unusually gentle. Sophia’s attitude towards me had never been good after that incident, and it only got worse. Only occasionally, when she was in the mood, would she show me a bit of kindness. I always gave her whatever she wanted, and even when she was in a bad mood and took it out on me, I didn’t mind. And the few times we shared a bed, she never faced me. I thought she was tired. Later, I found out that she simply didn’t want to look at my face. She would get up in the middle of the night to call Garrett. Comforting him when he was jealous. “You know I treat him as if he were you. When I’m with him, I never look at him directly.” At that moment, my heart felt like it had fallen into an ice pit. But I still believed that people’s hearts were made of flesh, and that over time, she would remember my kindness and fall in love with me again. But it was all just my wishful thinking. Sophia came closer, her breath on my face. Her voice was low in my ear, making my whole body tingle. “I’ve had a bit to drink.” She lowered her head, about to kiss me. But I quickly dodged. A flash of displeasure crossed her face. Her slender fingers gripped my chin. Forcing me to face her. “Playing hard to get, huh? Didn’t you used to beg me to kiss you?” I couldn’t bear to listen anymore. My stomach churned. I pushed her away and started dry heaving. She walked away, disappointed. “What are you pretending for? You used to do everything you could to seduce me into your bed, and now you’re rejecting me.” I smiled. “That’s right.” “But when you were with me, weren’t you always thinking of Garrett’s face?” Hearing this, her expression changed. First, she hurriedly explained, “That’s not what I meant, Liam.” Then, realizing she had misspoken, she coldened her face, “You eavesdropped on my phone call?” I patted my chest. Changing the subject. “What did you tell my parents when they came to find you back then? It led to them being in a daze and getting into a car accident.” I stared at her intently. She turned her head away. Speaking unnaturally, “I just told them you were sick and went to the hospital for treatment.” “Is that so? If that’s all, then why didn’t you let them visit me? Moreover, you knew very well that I wasn’t sick! Sophia, I loved you for ten years, starting from your freshman speech in high school. You know very well how I treated you during these ten years. If you were tired of me, I could have stopped pursuing you, but why did you have to kill my parents and my brother? He was still so young.” “If you hated me, you could have taken revenge on me. Why did you have to hurt them!” I cried out these words to her. My mind was on the verge of collapse. “I didn’t kill them! It was an accident! I know you’re heartbroken, but that’s no reason for you to go crazy at me.” “Just stay here and calm down.” “I’ll sleep in the guest room tonight.” Sophia threw out these cold words and left. What did she mean? Was she planning to sleep with me tomorrow? I let out a cold laugh. “Sophia, it’s been three years. You love Garrett so much, why haven’t you married him?” “Don’t tell me you’re still waiting for me.” “Or could it be that you actually have some feelings for me?” Sophia was stunned for a moment. She quickly denied it with a cold laugh. “Like you? How is that possible? Don’t dream on.” “It’s just that you’re not as clingy anymore, so I’m a bit less disgusted with you.” “As for you, having loved me for so long, I’m afraid getting over me won’t be so easy, will it?” I nodded, not answering. Indeed, it wasn’t easy. It was like being skinned alive. Seeing this, her expression showed a hint of satisfaction. Convinced that I still loved her. Pleased with my obedience and understanding, she nodded. She reached out her hand, patting my head as if rewarding a dog that comes when called. “If you had been this sensible earlier, I wouldn’t have sent you to the psychiatric hospital.” “If you can know your place and stop causing trouble for Garrett, I might consider keeping you by my side.” As if bestowing a favor. For the past me, staying by her side was my greatest dream. But now, it was the most terrifying curse.

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I tutored Adam, a low-income student, and his grades improved. But his mother immediately fired me. “Miss Lily, my child has been taking lessons for so long and still hasn’t gotten first place. This shows your teaching skills are inadequate,” she said. “And you charge so much! I see Jessica only asks for $6 a day. How dare you make money off us poor people?” The Jessica she mentioned is my roommate, who has never gotten along with me. Jessica is willing to tutor at such a low price only to win the school’s “Top 10 Outstanding Students” award. Adam’s mother eagerly drove me away, not knowing that once Jessica’s dream of winning the award shatters, she won’t care about them anymore. I’d like to see if Adam can get into high school without my tailored study plan. [Lily, you don’t need to come to our house anymore.] [We can’t afford such a big shot like you!] After finishing this week’s review with Adam, I was exhausted. As soon as I squeezed onto the subway after leaving his house, I received these messages from Mrs. Wilson, Adam’s mom. I almost thought I had misread it. I rubbed my eyes and read it carefully again. No mistake, Mrs. Wilson had unilaterally fired me! Why? I was utterly confused. Since I started tutoring Adam, I had broken down the knowledge points and spoon-fed them to him, helping him sort out concepts he didn’t understand before, cultivating good study habits, and tailoring a study plan for him. Adam’s grades had improved significantly. Previously, he was at the bottom of his class, but in the recent monthly exam, he had leaped to ninth place! Today, when I saw his report card, I was genuinely happy for Adam. But his mom had been frowning the whole time, apparently having already decided to fire me. [Why, Mrs. Wilson? You should at least give me a reason.] I asked, not understanding. I had been diligent and conscientious, and Adam’s progress was evident. Moreover, I knew their family was struggling financially, so my fee was already very low, only charging $10 for a whole day of tutoring. Before each tutoring session, I would spend a lot of time preparing exercises and content, just to truly help Adam improve. I knew that in such an impoverished family, education was the only way out. So I did my best, wanting to help Adam change his life. [You have the nerve to ask?] [You’re not serious in your teaching, what’s with all this heart-to-heart talk with Adam? Isn’t that just wasting lesson time?] [And my Adam is so smart, but he still hasn’t gotten first in his grade. Are you not teaching wholeheartedly? Are you afraid that if Adam gets first in the school, we won’t need you anymore?] [And your price is so expensive. Others only charge $6 a day. How dare you make money off us poor people? I thought you were the cheapest before, but it turns out you’re still profiting. College students are so scheming!] [I’m telling you, people like you with bad intentions will face karma!] I only sent one question, but Mrs. Wilson bombarded me with several 60-second voice messages, like a flood gate opening. Her tone was very hostile. I could almost imagine her furrowed brows and angry glare. I hadn’t done anything wrong, but now I was being misunderstood and even having the results of my teaching denied. During the time I tutored Adam, I would buy some milk and fruit to bring over every time I went to his house. It was because he was from a single-parent family, living in poverty, and always looked thin and malnourished. “Teacher, I don’t want these. I’m just happy you’re tutoring me,” Adam would refuse, pushing the food away. “Your money doesn’t grow on trees either.” “It’s okay, teacher has enough money. Take these to supplement your nutrition. You’re at a critical stage of growth,” I would say. I felt warm inside, feeling that all my efforts were meaningful. I was proud that I could help a good kid. Although Mrs. Wilson often dragged her feet on paying the tutoring fee, I didn’t rush to ask for it. After all, for me, this was preparation for becoming a formal teacher after college graduation, and it was also my initiative to help someone in need. I never expected that now I would be used and discarded, directly fired. [Every child has their limit. Adam and I both tried our best in this exam.] [During the learning process, psychological counseling and encouragement are necessary. This isn’t so-called wasting time.] [Adam’s improvement over this period is evident. Saying I’m not serious in my teaching is simply slander. And about the price, I dare say no teacher charges less than me for tutoring! I even bring milk and fruit for Adam every time, the tutoring fee isn’t even enough to cover that. How am I making money off you?] My hands were shaking with anger as I typed. This was blatant slander. I couldn’t let Mrs. Wilson casually smear me like this. I argued based on reason, but I didn’t expect Mrs. Wilson to hit me with a bombshell— [You’re still denying it? Adam said you don’t teach during lessons. Can a child lie?]

At this point, I was stunned. My first reaction was that Mrs. Wilson was making it up. In my eyes, Adam was a good kid who was poor but ambitious. He studied hard, wanting to change his fate. He was also very respectful to me, always politely calling me “Miss Lily” whenever I came to tutor. He wasn’t one to just take without giving back. Every time I brought him milk and fruit, he would blush and refuse, even washing them clean and insisting I eat some too. Adam and I got along very well. Otherwise, given how often Mrs. Wilson delayed paying the tutoring fee, I wouldn’t have stayed on. Or you could say, the reason I persisted in tutoring him all this time was entirely for Adam’s sake. [Don’t use the child as an excuse. I want to talk to Adam.] I replied to Mrs. Wilson like this, and the next second, a video call came through from the other side. Adam’s face appeared on the screen. “Adam, is what your mom said true?” I asked. “Do you think I’m not teaching seriously and just wasting time?” Even at this moment, I believed Mrs. Wilson was making things up. I couldn’t believe this would be Adam’s thoughts. But to my surprise, Adam nodded. “I said it. There’s no point in holding back anymore,” he said. “I only ranked ninth in the class this time. My deskmate also has a tutor, so how come he can get first place?” “My grades are improving so slowly, you must not be teaching wholeheartedly. The fact that I could go from the bottom to the top ten in the class shows that my IQ is high, so it must be a problem with your teaching method.” “And your fee is so expensive, but the results are so poor. Luckily I’ve found someone cheaper now, otherwise I would have been fooled by you and had to endure who knows how long?” Adam’s eyes were full of complaints and contempt, as if I were some unforgivable criminal. I couldn’t believe it. “Adam, what are you talking about? You know very well that every time I tutor you, I bring you good food – bread, milk, fruit. When have I ever missed a time?” “The things I buy already exceed $10, more than the daily tutoring fee! I’m practically paying to tutor you. How can you say this about me?” Adam raised his eyelids slightly, very dismissive of what I said. “Who’s the fool in this world? If you were really losing money, would you be willing to teach me?” “You bring me milk and fruit just because you want to make money from my family for a long time. You want to see me every day, so you’re nice to me and treat me well.” “You think I can’t see through your tricks?” Hearing him say this, my heart went completely cold. If Mrs. Wilson had misunderstood me, I could still tolerate it. But Adam’s words completely pierced my heart. I tutored him without wanting anything in return. I just wanted to help him. Because I had once suffered from poverty, and it was kind people who helped me successfully get into college. I know how important education is, and now that my family’s situation has improved a lot, I wanted to pass on that kindness. But this is the questioning I face. It turns out that the obedient and polite Adam from before was just “enduring humiliation.” It turns out that my kindness to him, in his eyes, was seen as a way to make money. My lips trembled with anger. The young man in front of me seemed so unfamiliar, I could hardly recognize him. “Oh my, you just had to push it,” came a familiar voice from the phone, mocking and arrogant. “Just admit you’re making dirty money. You had to confront Adam, and now look, you’re the one who’s embarrassed.” “You have no self-awareness at all.” I couldn’t mistake that voice— It was my roommate, Jessica. How could she be at Adam’s house? I suddenly remembered that not long ago, Jessica had repeatedly asked me which family I was tutoring. “What’s there to be so secretive about? Just tell me. If there’s one student in that neighborhood, there must be others who need tutoring. Let’s go teach students together.” “Hey, how much do you charge per day for tutoring? Tell me for reference.” I didn’t want others to know about Adam’s status as a low-income student, so I didn’t answer. But unable to resist Jessica’s persistent questioning, I only told her the neighborhood where Adam’s family lived. “There are indeed quite a few middle and elementary school students in this neighborhood. You can ask around if any other families need tutoring.” Tutoring at Adam’s house was by no means a lucrative job. It meant going out early and returning late every weekend, and not making a penny in the end. It was all out of the goodness of my heart. But Jessica kept asking about it with great interest. Just two days ago, she suddenly stopped asking. I had just thought things had quieted down, but I didn’t expect she was waiting for me here. “So the cheaper tutor you mentioned, who only charges $6 a day, is her?” I asked directly. There was a moment of silence on the other end, then Mrs. Wilson spoke up righteously, “Yes, it’s her. What about it?” “She’s $4 cheaper than you! That’s several meals for us! Only you, this black-hearted student, would make so much money off us.” “Miss Jessica is truly kind-hearted, serving us!” In the video frame, Jessica waved at me smugly. I didn’t understand where her hostility towards me came from. This was a completely unprofitable job. Even $6 wasn’t enough for round-trip transportation and meals for the day. That’s right, Adam’s family lived in a rather remote area, and tutoring for a whole day didn’t include meals. Every time, I had to find a snack stand at the entrance of the neighborhood to grab a quick bite. Since Jessica liked it so much, she could have this “lucrative job.” I wanted to see how much money Jessica could make after all this trouble. I also wanted to see how much of a breakthrough Adam could achieve with Jessica’s tutoring, without my tailored study plan!

I tutored Adam solely because he approached me himself. At the time, I had just started doing part-time work and asked in a tutoring group chat if any families needed tutoring. Soon, someone added me as a friend. [Teacher, can you tutor me?] [I see your profile says it’s your first time tutoring. I don’t mind that you don’t have experience.] Because it was my first time tutoring, I didn’t quote a high price. I was very happy that someone was willing to trust me. So that weekend, I went to the address Adam gave me. After wandering around, I finally found his home, only to discover that this so-called home was just a garage rented out by someone else. Adam and his mother lived in this dark and narrow garage, filled with the damp smell of mold. I gave Adam a trial lesson. When I asked him afterwards how he felt and if he needed me to tutor him, this thin boy’s eyes welled up with tears. “Teacher, you taught very well…” “I’m sorry, I lied to you. I don’t have money to hire you at the hourly rate in your profile.” He cried as he told me about his family’s tragic situation. It turned out that Adam’s father had died in a crash with a large truck while trying to evade creditors. The compensation was all taken by the creditors, and now he was in a single-parent family, living only with his mother. His mother had no education and could only find a job as a community cleaner, but she earned very little, barely enough to keep them fed. All their relatives and friends looked down on them, so Adam wanted to study hard, get into a good high school, then a good university, so he could help his mother. But after transferring from a rural school to this one, he couldn’t keep up with his studies and was only third from the bottom in his class. He wanted to improve himself, so he joined the group chat hoping to find a tutor. But he didn’t expect the hourly rate to be so high. Others were charging $20 an hour, which he couldn’t afford at all. “Teacher, I don’t mind that you’re new. I’m willing to be your practice student. Please teach me.” “I can’t pay too much. Can you lower your price a bit more?” I’m a normal school student from a top-tier university. Even if it was my first time tutoring, there were plenty of parents who wanted to hire me at $20 an hour, let alone the $16 an hour I had quoted. During the time I was talking with Adam, many more parents sent me friend requests. Looking at Adam’s tear-reddened eyes and his mother silently wiping away tears beside him, I couldn’t help but think of my own middle school years. My grandmother had fallen seriously ill, and we spent all our savings to save her, nearly causing me to drop out of school. It was kind-hearted people and my homeroom teacher who helped me then, allowing me to successfully go to college. Fortunately, in my sophomore year, my father made some money in business, and our family’s situation finally improved. We had weathered the storm. I empathized with Adam’s situation and couldn’t help but soften my stance. “Alright… I’ll teach you. How much can you pay for tutoring?” Hearing me say this, Mrs. Wilson immediately looked up, her eyes shining. “Ten dollars. We can’t pay any more than that. What do you think?” I thought she meant $10 per hour, which I could accept, so I agreed. So the next week, I officially started tutoring Adam at his home. But when it came time to settle the payment, Mrs. Wilson only sent me $10. [Mrs. Wilson, I tutored for a total of 8 hours today. It should be $80.] [What $80? Didn’t we agree on $10 per session? Are you trying to kill me?] That was the first time we had a disagreement. Tutoring fees are generally charged by the hour. I had assumed it was $10 per hour, but Mrs. Wilson seized on this point and wouldn’t let go. [I never said it was $10 per hour. $10 is for a whole day, no more.] Her behavior left me feeling helpless, with a lump in my throat that I couldn’t express. [Miss Lily, I’m sorry. My mom’s words misled you. If $10 isn’t enough, you don’t have to teach me anymore. I won’t force you. Thank you for what you taught me today. I benefited a lot.] Adam sent me a message. Such sensible content made me waver. Although Mrs. Wilson was unreasonable, Adam was innocent. He wanted so badly to get into a good high school, and he was in the crucial final year of middle school, preparing for the high school entrance exam. He wanted to change his fate, just like me a few years ago, studying for the college entrance exam with tears in my eyes, hoping for a bright future. My heart softened, and I chose to compromise. I told my parents about tutoring Adam. They were very supportive of me helping out. “Daughter, now that our family is doing better, it’s time to give back to society. Help if we can. They can just pay a token amount for the tutoring fee.” My parents were kind-hearted. They even sent me local specialties from home to help boost Adam’s health. But I never expected the boomerang to come back and hit me so quickly. Like father, like son. Perhaps this mother and son were playing good cop, bad cop from the beginning, fooling me into compromising! The $10 tutoring fee was already something they shamelessly begged for. Now they were turning the tables, accusing me of making dirty money!

After this incident, I was in a bad mood and simply fell asleep as soon as I got back to the dorm. I had just dozed off when I heard a loud door slam. “Sigh… tutoring is so tiring. Not like some people who lost their job and are having a great time in the dorm.” I opened my eyes to see Jessica looking at me smugly. “What’s so interesting? Is there some treasure at Adam’s house that you had to push me out to be happy?” I asked pointedly. “Tutoring for $6 a day? I’ve never seen you be so generous before. You just have to compete with me on everything, don’t you?” I got straight to the point. Jessica and I hadn’t been on good terms for a long time. She always thought I studied too seriously. Whenever she saw me studying, she would make sarcastic comments and lament how she underperformed on the college entrance exam. If she hadn’t slacked off usually, she would have gotten into a top university like Harvard or Yale. She always tried to compete with me for awards and honors, and when she couldn’t win, she would maliciously report me, though it never succeeded. “What are you pretending for, Lily? $10 a day, would you be willing to do it without an award?” Jessica said aggressively. “Acting like a saint here, you’d almost move people who don’t know better!” Jessica’s tone was confrontational, but I was stunned. What award? I had no idea what she was talking about. I listened in confusion as Jessica accused me of being hypocritical, and only then did I learn that the school and city government had organized a “Top 10 Outstanding Students” competition. It aimed to find excellent college students in both character and academics. It was a city-level award with quite a bit of prestige, and there was also a generous cash prize. Having this award would give more weight when becoming a teacher and advancing in one’s career in the future. “I don’t know how you promoted yourself, but even the principal knows you’re tutoring a low-income student at a low price. Appearing to not seek returns, but actually being purely profit-driven. Hypocrites like you make me sick just looking at you.” Jessica’s tone was extremely disdainful. The fact that I was tutoring Adam at a low price was something Mrs. Wilson often boasted about to the uncles and aunties in the neighborhood. “I think she just knows my son is smart, a genius, so she’s trying to get in our good graces early,” Mrs. Wilson would say rudely. The old lady next door couldn’t stand it and had told me about this several times. But I didn’t want to pay attention to it. I was willing to come tutor purely for Adam’s sake. I basically didn’t like interacting with Mrs. Wilson. As time went on, all the elderly people in that area knew me as a kind-hearted child helping Adam. Coincidentally, the principal’s mother was retiring in that neighborhood. She was a gentle old lady who, when she caught me to chat, asked which school I was from. I honestly told her my school, and the old lady nodded repeatedly on the spot. “No wonder, so you’re from N University. I knew it, such a good child must be excellent in studies too.” Opportunities come just that coincidentally. I became a candidate in the principal’s eyes, and this award was basically a sure thing for me. “If I hadn’t passed by the office and overheard the teachers chatting, I wouldn’t have known you were so scheming. I didn’t even know about this award, but you were already about to win it!” Jessica said smugly. “But what use is that now? Adam’s family has already fired you!” “I’m the one helping them now. Even if the school still chooses you in the end, I’ll report you, saying you never actually tutored. I believe Mrs. Wilson will definitely cooperate.” I finally understood why Jessica was willing to tutor for as little as $6, just to push me out. She always had to compete with me, but I had always gone with the flow, never intending to go against her. I didn’t expect that in Jessica’s eyes, I had long become her arch-enemy.

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My best friend tricked me into appearing on a reality TV relationship counseling show. Her male friend pointed at me, crying and shouting that I was stringing him along despite not liking him, calling me a gold-digger. “I’m not from a wealthy family. I saved up every penny. I’ve been pursuing her for two years – two years! Every time I sent her money, she accepted it quickly. But it took her three days to reply to my messages!” The host’s words dripped with sarcasm: “You’re not getting any younger. If you don’t like him, just say so. Why string him along? This is how good men get worn down.” I looked to my best friend. She turned away, muttering: “Jiaojiao, this really isn’t right. Either be with him or return the money. You can’t have it both ways.” The audience was ready to pelt me with eggs. But when I revealed the truth, their expressions changed in an instant. I was an avid follower of the top-rated relationship advice show that aired every week. So when my best friend Sophia handed me a ticket, I was so excited I hugged her and planted two kisses on her cheek. Sophia gently pushed me away with an awkward smile. “Make sure you get there on time, okay? These tickets were really hard to get. And dress up nicely!” I held up four fingers in a solemn vow: “I promise I’ll be there on time!” On the day of filming, I put on my best makeup, practiced my expressions in the mirror dozens of times, and chose a light blue dress for the occasion. I arrived early at the entrance, where a staff member checked a list and said curtly: “Follow me.” She led me to a waiting room and told me: “Wait here. We’ll call you when it’s time.” I didn’t think much of it, assuming Sophia’s connections had gotten me VIP treatment. I contentedly poured myself a glass of water and settled in. A short while later, a staff member came to get me. As we walked, I grew confused: “Are you sure this is the right way? Isn’t there another entrance?” The staff member gave me a little push forward, muttering: “Stop playing innocent. You weren’t so innocent when you were scamming people out of money!” I was completely baffled. Bright lights suddenly shone on me as all eyes in the room turned my way. I instinctively wanted to turn back. The host’s voice boomed: “Please welcome our next guest, Chloe!” Through the glare of the lights, I finally noticed Sophia and Gregory sitting on the other side of the stage. I walked over to her, confused: “Sophia, what’s going on? Why are you here too?” Sophia avoided my gaze as the host barked: “Chloe, please sit on the opposite side.” In that moment, I realized I was today’s main guest on the show. The host quickly changed his demeanor, addressing the others in a coaxing tone: “Mr. Gregory, our show aims to resolve relationship conflicts fairly and justly. Please share your concerns – I’m sure everyone will give you a fair hearing.” Gregory lowered his eyes and heaved a deep sigh, the picture of an honest man wronged. His demeanor instantly elicited sympathy from the audience. Audience members called out encouragement: “Speak up, brother! How long are you going to let this woman string you along? Nice guys always get taken advantage of!” I narrowed my eyes at the man in the audience egging things on, then calmly studied Gregory. In all our previous meetings, he had dressed like a millionaire – suit, tie, leather shoes, slicked back hair, the works. Now he wore a cheap, wrinkled t-shirt. He pursed his lips, his eyes instantly reddening. “At this point, I just want the money I spent on her back. I’ve given up on love. Chloe, if you didn’t like me, why did you keep stringing me along?” His words caused an uproar in the audience. “Look how nicely she’s dressed! I saw that dress in a store last week – it costs over $300. I could never afford that.” “Gold digger, for sure. This guy probably isn’t her first victim. She must have scammed a lot of money by now.” “I can’t stand women like this!” I opened my mouth to explain, but the host cut me off: “It’s not your turn to speak yet. You’ll have a chance to respond later.” Gregory continued his tearful accusations, pointing at me: “I don’t come from a wealthy family. I saved up that money bit by bit. I pursued her for two years – two years! Every time I sent her money, she accepted it quickly. But it would take her three days to reply to my messages! “I’ve sent her money over 30 times!” The host’s eyes flashed coldly: “Ms. Chloe, is this true?” I shook my head: “He did send money many times, but-” The host impatiently cut me off again, his words dripping with sarcasm: “So Mr. Gregory’s account is accurate. You’re not so young anymore – if you weren’t interested, you should have said so directly. Why string him along? This is how good men get worn down and used up.” I looked to Sophia, but she turned away, muttering: “Chloe, this really isn’t right. Either be with him or return the money. You can’t have it both ways.” I could feel the hostility radiating from the audience – contempt, anger, like they wanted to pelt me with rotten eggs. I never imagined I’d find myself in a situation like this. Gregory, emboldened by the audience’s support, wiped away his tears and sat up straighter. He made an impassioned plea, his eyes full of sorrow: “Chloe, I still have feelings for you. Can you give me a chance? If you’re willing to be with me, I’ll forgive everything. What’s mine is yours – both my money and myself. I’ll give you control of all my future earnings too.”

I remained silent. He gave a bitter laugh: “I knew it. You look down on me. Those occasional replies were just to string me along for my money. But Chloe, I’m not being materialistic. For people from humble backgrounds like me, we can’t afford to make mistakes in love. I only want to spend my money on my future wife. “I didn’t want to make a scene like this, but I’m so hurt. If you had just kept talking to me these past two years, I would have considered the money spent on emotional fulfillment. Or if you had said directly that you weren’t interested, I would have gracefully backed off. But you said nothing, letting me make a fool of myself!” I felt a lump in my throat, hardly able to breathe. I had met Gregory at Sophia’s birthday party. He got my contact info through Sophia and immediately started messaging me with greetings and small talk. Good morning, good afternoon, good night – he never missed a beat. At first, I wasn’t sure of his intentions and didn’t want to assume, so I politely replied to his messages. After a week, he confessed: “Chloe, I fell for you the moment I saw you. I never believed in love at first sight before, but meeting you changed that. Will you give me a chance to spend our lives together?” When I saw that message, I carefully considered my response before replying without hesitation: “I’m flattered by your interest, but I’m sorry – we’re not compatible. I hope you find a better match.” That night, Sophia called me: “Chloe, did you reject Gregory?” I answered while watching TV: “Yeah, I don’t like the guy. No point in stringing him along, right? That wouldn’t be fair.” Sophia sighed: “Chloe, how do you know you’re not compatible if you haven’t gotten to know him? Even if you want to reject him, you shouldn’t be so blunt. He’s been hurt before and struggles with depression. He’s drunk right now and threatening suicide, saying he’s worthless and no one will ever love him.” I was shocked that my rejection could drive someone to suicide. “What should I do?” I asked anxiously. She advised me: “You could reject him more gently. Reply to his messages occasionally, but be a bit cold. After a while, he’ll get the hint and give up on his own.” After thinking it over, I agreed to her suggestion. My main concern was Gregory doing something drastic. From then on, Gregory often messaged me about his life. I would occasionally reply with short messages or emojis. Later, he started sending me money and red envelopes. I ignored them and never accepted the transfers. The audience was outraged on Gregory’s behalf. “My god, this guy is such a doormat! Have some self-respect, man! This woman will bleed you and your whole family dry if you marry her!” “The world is so unfair. Good men always get jerked around by awful women. I’m single too – maybe I should give you a chance?” “If you like someone or not, just say it directly! Rip the bandaid off. I had a crush on a guy before, so I totally get how this feels.” “If she said it directly, how would she keep scamming money? Use your brain…” I picked up the microphone to defend myself, only to find it had been muted. I shook my head vigorously in frustration. The host calmly said: “Ms. Chloe, please control your emotions. There’s no need to get so agitated.” Gregory’s lips trembled as he fought to control his emotions. He continued: “Do you know what it’s like to come home exhausted from work, only to wait desperately for a message from the girl you like? “I know girls love bubble tea, so I’d scrimp and save to buy her drinks and send her money for gifts. But from morning till night, I’d wait and wait with no response. If my phone buzzed at midnight, I’d jump up hoping it was her message.” Then Gregory dropped another bombshell. “Actually…we were at the point of getting to know each other seriously, almost ready to discuss marriage. But after she visited my home once, she became even colder towards me. I guess she looked down on how poor my family is.”

Across from me, Sophia comforted Gregory in a low voice. She seemed to have forgotten our years of friendship, launching into criticism without hesitation. “Even though I’ve known Chloe longer, the depth of a relationship isn’t measured by time. I can confirm what Gregory is saying is true. I was there when Chloe visited his home. “When Gregory found out Chloe was coming over, he messaged me the night before saying he was too excited to sleep. He asked me about all of Chloe’s preferences. His mom went to the market early in the morning, not wanting Chloe to feel unwelcome.” She concluded: “Chloe, I don’t even recognize you anymore. Gregory has done so much for you. You’re both my friends – do you know how awkward this puts me in the middle?” I blinked in confusion, wondering when they had taken acting classes behind my back. They were masters at twisting the truth. The events were true, but coming from their mouths, the story was unrecognizable. I shouted: “They’re lying! I never accepted any of his money!” The audience nearly drowned me out with their angry shouts. They looked down on me from their high horses. “Look how defensive she’s getting, raising her voice to intimidate us. Classic guilty behavior.” “Gregory’s story is logical and backed up with evidence. We saw the transfer records – he sent money 25 times in one month.” A child’s voice piped up: “But this lady doesn’t seem like someone who would lie…” An audience member retorted: “Little girl, you’re too young to understand. You can’t judge a book by its cover. The ones who look the most innocent often have the deepest schemes!” The host didn’t bother hiding his disdain: “Since Ms. Chloe claims she’s been wronged, let’s turn to our on-site reporter.” The camera cut to a seven-story apartment building. “Hello everyone, I’m the on-site reporter for the show. I’m now at the entrance of Mr. Gregory’s home. We’ll be interviewing his mother next.” After a few knocks, a woman with graying hair and a wrinkled face opened the door. As she poured tea, the reporter’s camera panned around the room. I would recognize this place anywhere – it was Gregory’s home! The reporter accepted the tea politely and asked: “Ma’am, did you know your son is participating in our relationship advice show today?” The woman nodded: “Yes, he told me before going. It was a difficult decision for him. As you can see, we live in a small apartment and still have a mortgage to pay. We need to save up for his future wife’s dowry too. It’s so hard for ordinary people to save money these days. He really had no choice.” The reporter got straight to the point: “Ma’am, did Chloe ever visit your home? How did you treat her?” The woman’s face fell as she shakily stood up, pointing at a calendar: “Yes, I even marked the date. It was the first time my son brought a girl home – how could I not take it seriously?” On the desk was a Crayon Shin-chan calendar with March 12th circled in red. My heart sank. That circle definitely wasn’t there when I visited… They were putting on quite a show. Gregory’s mother perfectly embodied the image of a self-sacrificing, devoted parent. “I went to the market at 5 AM to buy ingredients for soup, crab, oysters, shrimp, fish, snails – you name it. To be honest, we don’t eat this well even during Chinese New Year. “My son was hurt badly in a previous relationship. It took him a long time to move on. If Chloe was serious about dating my son, we wouldn’t mind the money spent. We’re not stingy people. I may be old, but I’m not old-fashioned. It’s normal for men to spend money on their girlfriends. “But they weren’t even officially together! She didn’t reject him but didn’t accept him either. What kind of behavior is that?” Across from me, Gregory fell to his knees, his voice filled with anguish: “Mom, I’m sorry for being so foolish. I’m a grown man but still causing you worry.” The audience was moved to tears by this scene. Even the host discreetly wiped his eyes. “A parent’s love knows no bounds. No matter how old we get, we’re always our parents’ babies. Let’s continue watching.” The next segment showed the reporter interviewing neighbors downstairs. The older residents gossiped amongst themselves. “Gregory? He’s a good kid. Whenever anyone in the building needs something fixed, he’s always there to help.” “You’re right, it’s rare to find such an honest young man these days. He doesn’t gamble or chase women. I wanted to introduce my niece to him, but he wasn’t interested.” “He’s very hardworking too. Sometimes I see him coming home late from overtime. He really earns every penny.” I stood on stage, utterly bewildered. When I had visited Gregory’s home, I overheard neighbors complaining about his family being stingy and inconsiderate… How had public opinion shifted so drastically? A water bottle suddenly smashed against my head. The pain snapped me back to reality. An audience member shouted: “I knew you were a bad woman from the start. Gold diggers like you should die!” Everyone else remained silent. I could read schadenfreude written all over their faces. After the audience member finished venting, the host waved security over to escort him out. “Just a small interruption, folks. Let’s all stay calm and continue following the reporter’s investigation. We’ll let the facts speak for themselves.”

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That day, I got into an argument with my lawyer wife’s male best friend. To get revenge for her best friend, she had me thrown into a detention center. After I was released, I decided to let go. I left divorce papers and walked away, even posting my well-wishes on Twitter before I left. Ten minutes later, she called and cursed me to die. But when her wish came true, she broke down completely. The day I was released from the detention center, I found dozens of unread messages on my phone. They were all photos of my wife with other men. In the pictures, she was wearing a swimsuit, playfully splashing water with a man. I met Isabella during a court case where she appeared as a legal assistant. Her crisp, professional attire in the courtroom caught my eye, and after the case ended, I began pursuing her relentlessly. For two years, my efforts were in vain. Just when I was about to give up, she suddenly appeared before me one day, looking lost and agreeing to my pursuit. She even insisted on getting married right away. It wasn’t until after we were married that I realized some people’s hearts can never be warmed. Before I got together with her, I knew she had a male best friend. She said they were just friends, so I didn’t think much of it. Looking back now, the day she agreed to my pursuit was the same day Liam left the country. And the day we got married coincided with Liam’s wedding day. When I got home, I couldn’t help but call her, but there was no response. Just as I was getting impatient, Liam sent me a video. In the frame, Isabella was sitting opposite him in a stunning evening gown. She took a glass of wine from the man’s hand, took a sip, and flashed a sweet smile. When was the last time I saw her smile like that? Three years ago? Five? Maybe even earlier. Ever since Liam returned to the country, she had grown increasingly cold towards me. At first, I was anxious and tried to communicate calmly with her, but she seemed impatient, thinking I was making a big deal out of nothing. “Jack, I have my own dreams. I can’t be by your side all the time. Don’t be so sensitive,” she would say. But when I saw intimate photos of her with other men on her private Twitter account, I couldn’t help but confront her. Her response was even crueler cold treatment. She blocked me and ignored me for two weeks, showing me through her actions that I shouldn’t lack trust in her on this matter. After that, I never asked her about it again. But I secretly vowed that when I received a hundred such photos, I would leave. It hasn’t reached a hundred yet, but I can’t bear it anymore. Each photo feels like a death warrant, making me more mentally exhausted. At midnight, there was still no reply from her, but I received another video from Liam. The stars were him and Isabella. This video tore my heart to shreds. I packed my bags, left divorce papers, and turned to leave without hesitation. Some things, if not done now, there might never be another chance. The next day, I boarded the first flight to North City. Besides traveling, there was one more crucial thing to do.

I had been diagnosed with intracranial hypertension for some time now, relying on medication to manage it. During my time in detention, the episodes became more frequent, with severe headaches feeling like thousands of needles piercing my brain. The doctor suggested I go to the neurosurgery department at North City Hospital when I had time. It gathered the most renowned neurologists in the country, and there might still be a chance. I had originally decided to accompany Isabella on her birthday before going for the check-up. But on her birthday, I gave up a multi-million dollar order to personally go to the mall to pick out a gift for her, only to find her arm in arm with Liam, shopping. That morning before leaving, she had clearly told me to keep everything simple as she had work and would be busy late into the night. I tried to suppress my anger and calmly inquire, but she accused me of shamelessly stalking her. Seeing Liam’s provocative smile behind her, I could no longer control myself and punched him. Isabella immediately pushed me away as if I had touched her reverse scale, and crouched down to gently caress his cheek. Afterwards, to get revenge for Liam, she actually accused me of intentional assault and sent me to the detention center. My condition was also delayed for a long time because of this incident, and it wasn’t until today that I could come to North City for the check-up. As soon as I got off the plane, Isabella’s call came in. “Jack, congratulations on your release. I hope this detention has made you more mature. I don’t want to see you act like a barbarian again.” Her voice was as cold as an emotionless machine, completely different from the smile that could melt winter in yesterday’s video. I raised an eyebrow and looked at the sky. It was clear and sunny, and my mood improved along with it. “Isabella, let’s get a divorce.” At this moment, my mood was calm, as if I was talking about an insignificant matter. There was a pause on the other end of the phone, followed by an angry voice. “Jack, I’m very busy here and don’t have time to entertain your childish behavior. It seems this detention hasn’t made you grow up at all. What a waste of my good intentions.” With that, she hung up before I could respond. If it had been before, hearing her rebuke would have kept me awake for days. Now, there wasn’t even a ripple in my heart. Perhaps I had understood long ago, but still harbored unrealistic fantasies. Now that I’ve let go, I only feel a sense of relief. It’s just a pity that I realized too late, and there’s not much time left. After taking care of the hospital procedures, I began to walk along the path of memories. At first, we met in a coffee shop near the law firm to discuss business. At that time, her shoulder-length hair gave me the first impression of being capable and efficient. Not long after, I started inviting her to stroll in the nearby park. There was a popular dating spot for young people in the park. Every time, I would pretend to get lost and lead her through it, while she would lower her head with a slight blush, holding onto the hem of my clothes the whole time, not daring to look around. Later, I found her drinking herself into a stupor at a bar. During that period, I gave up on business and devoted myself wholeheartedly to being by her side, comforting her. I even taught myself how to cook and made her favorite sweet and sour fish. My sincerity finally conquered her. We confirmed our relationship at the dinner table when she wiped her mouth and said to me, “Want to give it a try?” A sharp pain shot through my head, and I suddenly sat down on the ground. The pain spread from my head, and my vision went black again. I frantically took out the pill bottle from my pocket, but my hand wasn’t steady, and it fell to the ground. I panicked, and my head hurt even more. I curled up on the ground, holding my head with both hands. A kind passerby handed me the pill bottle, and I quickly swallowed two pills. It took quite a while before I felt better. Seeing that my complexion had improved, he walked away reassured. From this stranger, I felt a long-lost concern. I had never hidden my illness from Isabella. The medical records were neatly placed on the table, and so were the purchased medications. If she had paid even a little attention, she would have noticed that something was wrong with my condition. I had also had episodes in front of her more than once, but she never gave me a second glance, only focused on grinning at her phone screen. “Jack, you’ve really disappointed Isabella. Do you want her to ignore you forever?” Liam sent me a message. It seems he was right beside her during the phone call. I promptly blocked him. Now, even if she wants to care, I don’t want it anymore. Back at the hospital, the admission procedures had been completed. Lying on the hospital bed, I received a message from an unknown number. “Give up, you’re not good enough for her!” Funny, I’ve already given up, but you think I’m acting. Well, you’re convinced that I love her so much that I wouldn’t give up, and even if it’s true, you don’t want to believe it. Isabella could become a legal consultant for big companies and the star of a top-tier law firm all thanks to my connections. Without me pulling strings to help her gain experience, with her skills, she might have just become a regular employee by now. Moreover, the news of being cheated on would affect my public image more than theirs. My losses would be far greater than theirs. They thought I would choose to keep quiet rather than go public, so they acted without restraint. Clowns! I didn’t bother responding and blocked this number as well.

When Isabella called me, my phone once again popped up with a payment notification for tens of thousands of dollars. From my release until now, adding up all the big and small expenses, it must have been several hundred thousand dollars, all with the memo “Hawaii xxx”. This credit card was Isabella’s own, but to make it easier to pay, I had also linked it to my phone. However, I’m about to be gone, so to remind her, I called her again. “Isabella, you’ve spent so much money, are you feeling better?” I could hear the tour guide’s voice through the phone. “What, are you feeling the pinch?” she said impatiently, “This is all necessary for client relations. And Jack, let me remind you, I allowed you to link my credit card only for the obligation of paying the bills, who gave you the right to monitor my account!” I was about to explain when the nurse’s voice came through, “Bed No. 3, time for blood draw.” “You’re in the hospital? What trick are you playing now?” Isabella’s words made me laugh. Even the old doctor helping me with my illness knew to show some concern, but my own wife’s first reaction was that I was putting on an act. “I’m really sick, feeling unwell, came for a check-up. Isabella, about the divorce I mentioned last time.” Isabella flew into a rage: “Haven’t you had enough, Jack? That’s quite enough, I’m busy as hell here, I don’t have time to deal with your childish temper.” Busy being intimate with Liam? Or busy flirting with him? If the three of us stood together, they might look more like a couple, and I might not even compare to a stranger. I sighed, why is getting a divorce so troublesome? I was about to hang up when Liam’s voice came through from the other end: “Jack, Isabella hasn’t slept well for days worrying about you. I’m accompanying her to meet clients, she’s been absent-minded all day. Isabella, I couldn’t bear to hear him speak like that, so I said a few words. You won’t blame me, will you?” “You’re doing it for his own good. It’s good to have you by my side these past few days.” I didn’t hear what was said after that, I just hung up the phone. A wave of dizziness came over me, and I struggled to endure the pain as I posted their intimate photos on Twitter, with the caption “Wishing you both happiness.” Less than a minute after the message was posted, a news alert popped up about Golden City Group unilaterally terminating their legal contract with Isabella. Immediately after, the phone rang, and cursing came through from Isabella’s end. “Jack, are you determined to ruin me? You’re so disgusting, why don’t you just die!” Hearing such venomous words, I was momentarily stunned, feeling as if the memories of the past had shattered like a mirror dropped on the ground, never to be whole again. Then, I heard someone calling for a doctor, along with Isabella’s impatient voice: “Jack, haven’t you had enough of this act? If you were even half as good as Liam, I would have less to worry about.” When I opened my eyes again, I was lying on the hospital bed with a respirator on, and the throbbing in my head had subsided a bit. I felt there might still be hope, but the old doctor’s subsequent words made my mood plummet.

“Young man, your condition has reached a critical point and can’t be delayed any longer. The surgery must be done as soon as possible, but the success rate isn’t optimistic. If you have any unfulfilled wishes, you should seize the time to complete them.” The doctor’s words left me stunned, a strange chill rising in my heart. I realized that this probably meant the success rate of the surgery wasn’t promising, and the doctor’s words seemed more like a hint for me to arrange my affairs early. However, faced with this sudden “death sentence,” my heart was strangely calm. After experiencing all kinds of mental torture, death had become a longed-for release for me. I slowly picked up my phone, my fingertips hovering over the screen for a long time before finally pressing that all-too-familiar number – Isabella’s phone. At the end of my life, I realized that the one I couldn’t let go of was still her. My parents passed away early, and I was raised by my grandmother. After my grandmother passed away, Isabella became the longest-lasting companion in my life. However, this companionship was full of twists and bitterness. On the other end of the phone, it was still the cold “The number you have dialed is temporarily unavailable.” I put down the phone helplessly, understanding that Isabella had blocked me again. This was her usual tactic. Whenever I did something slightly against her wishes, I would suffer this treatment. She never gave me a chance to explain, unless I knelt down to apologize, her expression would only then improve slightly. Since I couldn’t get through on the phone, I could only try to contact her through Twitter. However, when I opened Twitter, an overwhelming flood of abuse and accusations popped up in my private messages, almost making it hard to breathe. Isabella had accused me on Twitter of long-term cold violence towards her, portraying herself as a victim who had endured humiliation for the sake of the family. She claimed that she had taught herself to cook to please me, leaving countless knife scars on her fingers, but her efforts received not a shred of care or understanding from me. She even said that once, when she accidentally broke a cup, I yelled at her loudly. She even slandered me, saying I often didn’t come home at night and always had other women’s hair on me. Whenever she asked about this, I would hit her and then ruthlessly block her. Reading this tweet that turned black into white, I felt dead inside. These things did indeed happen, but the victim was me, not her, Isabella. Her private message was even more heartbreaking: “Jack, even if I did cheat, what can you do about it? Now everyone is on my side, and you’re just like a clown, losing miserably.” These words undoubtedly stimulated my fragile nerves, and my head felt like it was about to split open. I rolled and struggled on the hospital bed until I fell to the floor, my head continuously hitting the ground. The thudding sound attracted the attention of the nurse. With her help, I gradually eased out of the pain. “Mr. Jack, why do you get a headache every time you look at your phone?” The nurse gently massaged my scalp, asking curiously. I smiled bitterly and mocked myself, “Perhaps this is the obsession before death.” Then, I recounted my story. By the time the story ended, the nurse was crying uncontrollably, tears rolling down like broken strings of pearls. Just then, the phone rang suddenly, and I answered with a glimmer of hope.

“Mr. Jack, in light of your recent lifestyle issues, we have decided to terminate our cooperation with you and withdraw all investments. At the same time, we will pursue legal action for the negative impact you have brought to the company. Please be aware of this.” I hung up the phone dejectedly, not because of the legal action against me, but because that glimmer of hope had been shattered once again. Over the next few days, investors called one after another to withdraw their funds, the company’s stock price plummeted, and my reputation hit rock bottom. Unfortunately, I didn’t care about any of this. What was more terrifying than death was dying alone. Recently, my episodes have become more and more frequent, from initial dizziness to now relying on machines to maintain life. I knew time was running out. During the intervals of consciousness, I signed the surgery consent form, and inadvertently saw the private messages in the backend again. I clicked in, and the image showed Isabella and Liam naked, embracing each other, passionately kissing. The next second, a sharp pain pierced my brain like a needle tip. I bent over in agony, my whole body twisted like a tightly wrung towel, cold sweat pouring down. Using all my strength, I replied to that private message, “Let’s get divorced.” Then, I could no longer hold on and fell into a coma. When I woke up, the ward was quiet. I looked up and found everything pitch black before me, unable to sense any light. I quickly called for the doctor. “Mr. Jack, your condition has become very serious. The intracranial pressure continues to stimulate, causing severe lesions. If you don’t have surgery now, I’m afraid…” The doctor’s words hit my heart like a heavy hammer. I realized that this probably meant the success rate of the surgery was not optimistic. The doctor’s words seemed more like a hint for me to arrange my affairs early. I remained silent for a moment, then nodded firmly: “Let’s begin.” No matter the outcome, I no longer want to live on in such a state of suffering. The surgery process was long and painful. I felt as if I had been drifting in darkness for countless centuries. When I woke up again, I found myself back home. I was stunned when I saw Isabella. How did I come back? Was the surgery successful? However, when I tried to approach her, I found my body seemed to have become transparent. I passed through her body as if passing through a patch of empty air. My gaze fell on the window beside Isabella, where only her reflection was visible. At that moment, I was dumbfounded. No miracle had occurred. My illness had been delayed for too long; if I had had the surgery earlier, there might have been some hope. At this time, the bedroom door was pushed open, and Liam walked out from inside. An ambiguous atmosphere permeated the air, making me feel nauseous. I was clearly dead, but seeing this scene, I could still feel a splitting headache. Do you two dogs have to torment me even after death? Isabella looked at Liam as he approached, her eyes full of tenderness. I was about to leave when Isabella’s voice came, carrying a hint of questioning and confusion. “Liam, why didn’t you agree to let me divorce him?” So it was Liam who didn’t let Isabella divorce me! And I was very curious, from the start, I hadn’t seen the diagnosis report left on the table. Looking around, I couldn’t see that paper, but I clearly remember leaving it on the table when I left. Liam walked to Isabella’s side and held her tightly: “Isabella, trust me, before long, everything of his will be yours.” Isabella opened her eyes wide, looking at him in disbelief. Then, she seemed to think of something and broke free from Liam’s embrace, picking up her phone and repeatedly trying to call me. However, the phone remained powered off. Right, I’m dead, who would charge my phone now. Isabella’s face grew increasingly grim, and she couldn’t help but smash the phone! “Liam, what do you mean by saying this? And why haven’t you let me come back all this time? Are you hiding something from me?” Liam’s face darkened, “Isabella, everything I’ve done is for you. Don’t tell me you’ve really fallen in love with him? You only married him to climb the social ladder using his connections!” I was suddenly stunned, followed by a bitter laugh. Yes, I might have always known. I pursued Isabella for three years, and it wasn’t until Liam went abroad with his mistress that she accepted me. I foolishly believed that sincerity could win someone’s true heart. She liked watching fireworks, so I spent a fortune arranging fireworks shows for her birthday every year. When she felt her work wasn’t going well, I would beg people and send gifts to arrange comfortable positions for her. However, some people’s blood might just be naturally cold. After Liam returned to the country, Isabella began to gradually distance herself from me, and her feelings grew increasingly cold. Having it pointed out bluntly by Liam, Isabella’s face couldn’t hide her discomfort. A crisp sound rang out, and a clear handprint appeared on Liam’s face. Watching these two in conflict made me happier than if I had earned millions. “Isabella, you need to calm down.” Liam left, covering his face. I told him to get lost from behind, and kept slapping my palm on the handprint on his face. Although this couldn’t make him feel humiliated, it certainly made me feel happy. Looking at Liam’s retreating figure, Isabella showed a dejected expression. I had only seen this expression on her face when Liam went abroad. She was already regretting her impulsive action right after slapping him? As soon as Liam left, the phone on the table rang. I looked, and the contact name was mine! Wait, I’m dead, how could I be calling her? After answering, Isabella vented the anger from earlier on me, “Jack, haven’t you had enough!”

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A gold digger owes my family money, but she’s trying to seduce my brother to write off her debt. She even wants me to hand over my salary card for her to manage. “Sis, you’re such a big spender. Don’t you want to save up for your dowry? You can’t expect to use my future husband’s money to support yourself, can you?” she says with a sickly sweet smile. What an idiot. She has no idea that the money is mine, and so is the company. I’m actually her creditor, her sugar mama. Come on, let mama teach you how to be a decent human being! That afternoon in our family SnapChat group, my brother announced he was bringing his girlfriend home. Everyone was excited. My brother is short and has always been a bit of a dreamer, spending most of his time playing video games at home. He’s never had a girlfriend before. Now that he’s bringing someone home, and apparently a pretty girl at that, everyone in the group chat is over the moon. I’m happy for him too. Mom prepared a huge feast and told me to come home early. I rescheduled a few meetings, made arrangements at the company, and headed home with a hastily purchased gift for the girlfriend. As soon as I stepped through the door, I heard a sickeningly sweet voice. It was my future sister-in-law, Amber. “What’s the deal with your family? They knew we were coming, so why didn’t your sister come home early to help cook? Look how your mom is sweating from all the work.” My brother quickly tried to appease her, “My sister isn’t very good at cooking, and she’s usually busy with work.” Amber let out an exaggerated sigh, “Why would a woman be so busy? The bosses at her company are all men, how busy could she really be? If she can’t even cook, it’ll be hard for her to find a husband. No wonder your sister isn’t married yet.” My mom’s voice came through, flat and emotionless, “Amber, can you cook?” Amber immediately snuggled up to my brother, acting coy, “If Lucas wants me to, I’ll learn. Lucas, do you want me to?” My brother, clearly under her spell, replied, “I couldn’t bear to see you work so hard.” Amber tsked, “You know, whether a woman cooks or not depends on how much her man cherishes her. If she can get her man wrapped around her finger without cooking, why would she need to?” My mom’s expression darkened even more. At this point, my brother quickly tried to smooth things over, “Mom, Amber didn’t mean it like that. She’s still young, don’t take it to heart.” Amber, trying to change the subject, asked, “Why isn’t your sister back yet?” She shook her head, “You really spoil her. The whole family waiting for dinner just because of one daughter. This would never happen in our family.” Hearing this, I had a pretty good idea of what kind of person this girl was. I pushed open the door, glancing at my embarrassed brother. I unceremoniously tore off the packaging of the new handbag I’d bought as a gift and tossed it on the sofa. This gold digger didn’t deserve such a carefully chosen present.

To my surprise, Amber’s eyes lit up when she saw the handbag on the sofa. She then gave me a once-over, noting my casual, unbranded clothes with a hint of disdain in her eyes. I looked at her too. There was something familiar about this Amber. Before I could place where I’d seen her before, Amber started her act again. She deliberately placed her own handbag on her lap, pretending to reach for a tissue. That’s when I realized that her bag was the same model as the one I’d just bought. Wait a minute, mine was a limited edition that was hard to get. There was only one in our city. Looking closer, I noticed that the hardware on her bag looked dull. Suddenly, it all made sense. It was a knockoff, and not even a good one. She patted her bag, “You know, women should treat themselves well. When buying things, always go for the authentic items. It’s so embarrassing to be caught with a fake.” Then she turned to me, “Sis, where did you buy this bag? Let me check if it’s real. I have an app for that.” My mom, maintaining what little composure she had left, put down a bowl and called to my brother, “Lucas, serve the food.” Amber, hearing this, immediately jumped to “protect” her man, “Sis, you’re closer. Why don’t you do it? I’ll help you check if your bag is authentic.” She opened her phone, navigating through several pages before landing on a QR code scanner. “It’s not showing up. Sis, did you get scammed? Where did you buy this online? Mine is from a professional buyer. I can introduce you if you’d like. If you mention my name, you’ll get a discount.” I looked at my brother, who gave me a pleading look. Giving him a bit of face, I replied, “I bought it from the store.” Just then, the doorbell rang. It was my secretary, who had come specially. As soon as she saw me, she apologized, “Ms. Tang, you forgot to take the warranty card and the complimentary silk scarf when you left earlier.” Amber’s expression changed. She stared at the elegantly packaged items, then at her own bag, speechless. By this time, my dad had finished setting the table and sternly told my brother to invite the “guest” to eat. From the initial smiles to now referring to her as a “guest”, it was clear that my parents had already written Amber off.

Well, this would probably be the last meal we’d have with her anyway. I didn’t pay much attention to her, only feeling sorry for all the dishes my mom had prepared. Except for her annoying smacking while eating, everything else was tolerable. But apparently, even a table full of food couldn’t keep her mouth shut. “Sis, that bag must have been expensive, right?” “It was okay.” “Wow, you’re so generous. ‘Okay’ for such an expensive bag? I guess it’s easy to spend when it’s not your own money, huh?” Her tone was dripping with sarcasm. My dad immediately frowned. I casually picked up a couple of shrimp and put them on their plates. I wanted her to say more, to expose more of herself, so my brother could see clearly what kind of person she really was. My parents understood my hint and kept quiet. I raised an eyebrow at her and smiled, “I’m not sure I understand what you mean.” Amber pursed her lips in a smile, “Oh, sis, don’t play dumb. There’s only so much money in this family. If you spend a lot, naturally someone else has to spend less. And you’re a woman, you’ll be married off eventually. So, in the end, aren’t you just spending our money?” So, she was here to grab the family fortune. I looked at my brother. He just kept his head down, saying nothing. A chill ran through my heart. Our parents were always busy with work when we were young, so I was the one who took care of him. From childhood to adulthood, I always gave in to him, and because of his weak health, I almost never refused him anything. I never thought all of that would be worth less than a gold digger he’d only known for half a month. I said slowly, “How we spend our family’s money is our business. If I remember correctly, doesn’t the Ye family still owe our company a large sum of money?” Amber’s eyes immediately welled up with tears as she leaned towards my brother, “Lucas said it was fine. We’re all going to be family soon. Why should family talk about who owes what? The money was used by family, so it should be written off.” I couldn’t help but laugh. My brother immediately tried to comfort her, then turned to me for help, “Sis, can we not talk about this now? Let’s just eat.” Amber immediately put on a pitiful yet insistent face, “Lucas, you can’t spoil your sister like this. You’ll end up ruining her. We need to clear things up. I heard she makes tens of thousands a month at the company. Sis, you’ve got it all figured out, huh? You’ll eventually get married and leave, and all that money will go to your husband’s family. You’re just benefiting outsiders!” It was clear she had rehearsed these words, speaking with such conviction and fluency. My mom couldn’t hold back anymore, “Since when does an outsider get to worry about our family’s affairs?” Amber looked hurt, “Mom, Lucas and I are getting married next week. How am I an outsider?” My dad suddenly looked up at my brother. This time, my brother gritted his teeth and nodded silently, “Amber has given me everything. I… I can’t let her down.” Amber seized the opportunity, “Since we’re getting married anyway, I’ll be the woman of the house soon. I think not only should Lucas give me his card, but sis should hand over her salary card to me too. I’ll manage it to prevent her from overspending. Otherwise, she might end up with no dowry at all.” I looked at her greedy face and smiled slightly. “Just managing the house isn’t enough. How about we register a company and make you the legal representative?” Amber’s face lit up with joy, “That would be perfect!” Looks like she had no idea she was about to get into big trouble.

Amber left, but she kept sending messages on SnapChat, trying to control everything remotely. My mom had barely said two words before my brother jumped to Amber’s defense, saying she was the most pure-hearted and kind girl he’d ever met. “She’s not like other girls on the internet who just want my money. She said she fell in love with me at first sight and only wants to marry me and have my children.” I couldn’t help but laugh, “They say don’t judge a book by its cover. But you’ve seen her true colors, and you still think she’s innocent?” When you’re head over heels in love, you don’t listen to reason. The more you try to discourage it, the more they think it’s true love. My dad, furious, slapped him, “You brainless fool! What does this girl see in you? Your lack of a real job? The fact that you’re still living off us? She comes in demanding we write off over ten million in debt her family owes, and wants to control your sister’s salary. What kind of person does that?” My brother gritted his teeth, “Amber is just thinking about our future.” Just then, Amber’s voice came through my brother’s phone. “Your sister has too much control. She manages everything, so of course Lucas doesn’t get a chance. Does she not want to see us happy? Besides, Lucas is the son. You’ll eventually marry out of the family. Don’t tell me you want to take the Tang family’s assets to benefit outsiders? That would be so shameless…” He had been livestreaming our entire conversation to Amber. My mom clutched her chest, too angry to speak. I quickly poured her a glass of water and asked my dad to help her sit down and calm her. Alright, at this point, I knew that unless we gave him a harsh wake-up call, he wouldn’t realize how foolish he was being. Amber’s voice continued through the phone, sharp and aggressive, “Your sister said she wants to open a company for me? I hope she’s not just trying to fool me like she’s fooling Lucas. Lucas is too nice, always giving in to you, but I’m not a pushover.” I looked at my brother. His expression was indifferent, clearly agreeing with her. Looking at this brother I had cared for so many years, who now seemed like a stranger, I smiled, “As it happens, the company is planning to set up a new subsidiary to handle a batch of auction items. Amber seems to know a lot about luxury goods. Why doesn’t she become the legal representative and director?” Amber was overjoyed, “Now that’s more like it. This is just the beginning. Everything that belongs to us, I’ll take back one by one!” Yes, everything that belongs to you – the debt and the consequences of your greed and incompetence – will all come back to you, one by one.

Under their urging, the sole proprietorship company under Amber’s name was quickly set up. Amber wanted money. I had my boyfriend’s company transfer one million dollars to her company under the guise of purchasing a custom-made painting. Of course, no antique was actually given. But the money was indeed transferred to her account. Amber quieted down for a few days, even putting off the matter of marrying my brother. Soon after, I ran into Amber at a cocktail party. She was carrying a lambskin Hermès bag, not minding how odd it looked in the sweltering heat. The hundred-thousand-dollar price tag of the bag seemed to have given her a sense of belonging in this setting. When she saw me, she seemed a bit flustered. I immediately understood. This kind of event was a great opportunity to network and expand resources. Now that Amber had upgraded her status, wasn’t she eager to find an even better catch? Now that I was here, she must be feeling guilty and probably thinking of ways to make me leave quickly. Sure enough, as I was chatting with two business partners, she walked over with a glass of wine. “Sis,” she said with a sickeningly sweet smile, “You’re so dedicated. At your age, you’re still working on weekends instead of resting. If all employees were like you, the bosses would be able to buy new cars!” I smiled, “Nice bag.” Amber shifted her bag to a different angle. Her Twitter was already full of photos of this bag from every possible angle. She turned to look at my business partners, proudly handing out her business card with an oversized title: CEO. I couldn’t help but smirk. Amber grinned, “Sis, no need to be envious. If you work hard enough, you might have your own company someday.” I smiled, “Ms. Ye, there’s no need to call me ‘sis’. Come to think of it, I’m actually younger than you. By exactly one year.” Amber let out a surprised “Oh,” her face turning a bit awkward. My two business partners looked at me in surprise. Amber clearly misunderstood their surprise and became more animated, “Let me introduce you. This is the assistant general manager of Tang Corporation. Just an employee. If you want to talk business, you should find someone who can actually make decisions. I’d advise you two gentlemen not to back the wrong horse.” One of my partners coldly said, “We don’t care if Ms. Tang is a general manager or the boss. We trust Ms. Tang as a person. And who are you? You look familiar… Oh right, weren’t you the one handing out business cards and trying to add everyone on SnapChat earlier?” The other partner chimed in, “Amber Ye? Isn’t that the name of the local deadbeat distributor who owes Tang Corporation millions?” Everyone around turned to look at Amber. Whispers and murmurs filled the air. Amber’s face darkened, and she turned away in shame and anger. By the end of the party, Amber hadn’t left. She was huddled in a corner. When I wasn’t looking, she had collected countless business cards. I shook my head. There wasn’t a single man here as naive and foolish as my brother. But there might be quite a few con artists.

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I married the man who had assaulted me three years ago. He looked impeccable in his suit, with piercing eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses. Now, he lay behind me, his strong arms wrapped around my waist, trapping me in his embrace. He leaned close to my neck, his low, husky voice whispering in my ear, “Winter, you’ll always be mine.” In the darkness, the other side of the bed suddenly dipped. An icy chill crept up my back. I instantly snapped awake. A man’s hand slid under my nightgown, moving up from my stomach. His hand was dry and cold, and my body immediately tensed up, fear gripping my heart. It was that psychopath, Jasper Gray. After running for so long, he had finally found me. Despair washed over me. I sighed, “So you found me after all.” Jasper hugged me from behind and chuckled, “Winter, I told you, you’re mine. You’ll never escape me.” He propped himself up on one elbow and used his other hand to turn me over to face him. “Winter, it’s been three years. I’ve missed you.” Missed me? I couldn’t help but sneer. What did he miss? My body, or the chance to kill me? Forced to face Jasper, I saw him clearly for the first time in three years. He hadn’t changed much. His face was still handsome, looking every bit the gentleman, but his eyes were filled with the same evil as before. I studied him carefully, my gaze moving from top to bottom. He was shirtless, and there was a long scar over his heart. The scar was long and ugly, clearly from a knife. I placed my hand on the scar and laughed coldly, “What a pity I couldn’t stab you to death back then.” It was my fault. I had the chance right in front of me, but I couldn’t seize it. Jasper stared at me and smiled, “Winter, you really have a cruel heart.” Cruel? For a murderer and rapist like him, I wished I could cut him into a thousand pieces. This was just the first cut. Even after all these years, I could still vividly recall the scene of charging at him with a knife. I plunged the knife into his body, and the gushing blood stained my cheeks. At that moment, I was excited, elated. What a pity. Just a little more, just a little more, and I could have been rid of him for good. “Winter, I gave you a chance.” Jasper grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at him. Then, with a cruel smile, his lips fell on my hair, my face, my neck, and finally spread to various parts of my body. “Winter, be a good girl. If you behave, I might let you go.” Three years ago, he had let me have a chance to escape, playing with me like a cat with a mouse. Now, I knew he would never make such a mistake again.

The next day, I was tied up and taken back to New York. On the way, I sat in the back seat with Jasper, my hands and feet bound. The car sped along as I stared out the window, lost in thought. Jasper turned to look at me, a cold smile on his lips, “I never imagined that after searching high and low for you, you’d be right under my nose.” The city where I had been staying, Boston, was only a 30-minute drive from New York. To hide from him these past few years, I had moved through many cities. In the end, I decided to settle in Boston, thinking the most dangerous place might also be the safest. Jasper continued to watch me, still smiling, but his eyes were like a cold pond. “Winter, you’re very clever.” He raised an eyebrow, his face taking on that cat-and-mouse expression again. I hated that look of his. He thought he would always be the winner, but I knew the outcome was far from decided. I couldn’t provoke him, at least not now. I smiled self-mockingly, “But I still ended up in your hands.” Jasper seemed pleased with this response. He smiled faintly, “Winter, trying to like me isn’t such a bad idea.” Like? How dare he even mention that word? Those two words touched a nerve. My anger surged, and I spat at him. “Make me like a rapist? You’re dreaming. Besides, you killed my parents!” “Winter, I’ve told you it’s not what you think. I was just loving you,” Jasper said in a low voice, anger hidden beneath his words. Jasper didn’t like me calling him a rapist. After it happened, he told me he was just caught up in the moment, that it wasn’t intentional. Not intentional? But I clearly expressed my refusal, and he still continued to assault me, ignoring my cries and pleas for help. I laughed coldly. How many men have told girls, “I just loved you too much,” knowing full well they were breaking the law, still trying to deceive and test? It was disgusting, truly disgusting. I felt my stomach churning, and I glared fiercely at Jasper. Jasper curled his lip, gave me a cold look, and in the next second, he pinned me against the seat with one hand on my throat. “Winter, out of bed, you’re nothing. How dare you speak to me like that? You think too highly of yourself.” As he spoke, he increased the pressure on my throat. I found it increasingly difficult to breathe, my face turning red from lack of oxygen. At that moment, I thought I might die right there. But it didn’t matter. Aren’t men all the same? They call you baby in bed, then show their true colors once you’re out of it. Especially given the relationship between me and the man before me – it was either him or me. But at the last moment, Jasper released his grip. I gasped for air beside him. The struggle to breathe had forced tears from my eyes. Laughing through my tears, I said, “Jasper, you’ll regret keeping me by your side.” Jasper laughed too. He pushed his glasses up his nose and looked at me, “I look forward to it.” His appearance reminded me of a term young girls often use these days – the “cold and aloof type,” or perhaps “gentleman villain.” It was indeed quite alluring. If he wasn’t Jasper Gray, I might have been fascinated at that moment. But he was Jasper Gray. He was too good at pretending. Back then, it was this image that made me think he was a good person. It wasn’t until later that I realized even handsome, clean-cut men could be villains. Especially someone like Jasper – he was rotten to the core. I lay back in my seat, thinking to myself, Jasper, I’m looking forward to it too. After all, I’ve been preparing for so long. This time, I will definitely kill you.

Jasper locked me in the basement. The basement was surrounded by welded iron bars, looking a bit like a prison cell from TV. I sat down in a clean spot and looked at the wall not far away. The word “hate” was carved there. I had carved it. Three years ago, after Jasper assaulted me, he imprisoned me here, afraid I would run away. Click. Jasper unlocked the door and walked in from outside. He bent down slightly, examining me, “Winter, how does it feel to be back in this familiar old place?” “Just like you – nothing fresh about the experience,” I said carelessly, playing with my fingers. Jasper, I wasn’t afraid of you before, and I’m even less afraid now. Faced with my provocation, Jasper’s expression remained unchanged. He bent down to look at me, “Winter, don’t think about leaving me. You’re the woman I’ve slept with. No one else will want you except me.” I looked at Jasper for a long time, then sneered, “Jasper, I didn’t expect you to still be so old-fashioned at heart. Men, emotions, bodies – these things have never been shackles holding me back.” “Winter, you really are cheap,” he said through gritted teeth, as if I were the one who had done something wrong. I looked up, smiling as I met his gaze, “It was men who first treated women as playthings. Why is it that when women also become indifferent to love, they’re considered cheap?” “Men and women are different,” he said slowly, enunciating each word. I chuckled and asked, “What’s the difference? Aren’t men human? Men can sleep around and walk away, but the women left behind should be shamed and despised?” Jasper’s eyes darkened, but after a moment, his lips curled up slightly, “Winter, you always know how to anger me, but I like you this way. One day, I’ll make you submit.” “Going to sleep here again?” I looked up at him. Jasper stood up straight, folding his arms as he watched me. I smiled indifferently, “Don’t men always want to take revenge on women’s bodies?” Jasper smiled, “Winter, one day both your body and heart will be mine.” I curled my lips in a sneer, “Then I wish you success.” I even clapped for him, because I knew he would never succeed. As long as I lived, I would never submit to him.

For several days, Jasper didn’t come again. Occasionally, Mrs. Wilson would come to bring me food and change of clothes, giving me some rare peace. Mrs. Wilson was Jasper’s housekeeper, who had been taking care of him since he was ten years old. That was the first time I heard Jasper’s story. Mrs. Wilson took me out of the basement to a guest room upstairs. She had drugged my food, and as the effects slowly set in, I felt dizzy. She pulled me onto the bed and started wiping my body while explaining, “Miss Winter, I’m sorry. I can’t let you bathe alone. I can’t let anything happen to you. Please forgive me.” I thought to myself, it doesn’t matter. Being clean is better than being dirty in the basement. I lay on the bed like an immobile plant as Mrs. Wilson wiped my body and began to tell me about Jasper’s childhood. “I found him when he was ten. He was so small, curled up in the rain. He had just managed to find a piece of bread in a trash can, but before he could eat it, a homeless man came from behind and snatched it away. His eyes were lost and helpless in the rain.” I forced my eyes open, trying to stay as awake as possible because I wanted to learn as much as I could about Jasper. The more I knew, the better I could find ways to deal with him. Mrs. Wilson turned me over and continued her story. Later, she took Jasper home. The name “Jasper” was given by Mrs. Wilson because she felt the northwestern region had a harsh living environment, and she hoped Jasper could survive even in adverse conditions. At that time, Mrs. Wilson was in her forties with no children, working as a cleaner and living in the poorest alley. Her monthly salary of just over a thousand dollars wasn’t enough for two people to live on. Mrs. Wilson was getting older and occasionally needed medication. Because of the lack of money, and being bullied as a widow with an orphan, Jasper became a thug. He did all sorts of things, legal or not. Mrs. Wilson suddenly stopped and looked at me, “Miss Winter, a child from a happy family like you wouldn’t understand, but I understand Jasper. We were just trying to survive.” Later, when Jasper was sixteen, he was found by the Gray family and became their heir. At sixteen, the best age, he spent all his time working. For those years, he worked day and night, and in his spare time, he had to study to make up for the education he had missed. “Miss Winter, Jasper has had a hard life. He never got what he wanted. When he was little, all he wanted was a piece of bread, but he didn’t get it. After sixteen, what he wanted was freedom, but he never got that either. Later, he just wanted you, Miss Winter. Please have mercy on him, pity him a little.” I laughed coldly. Mrs. Wilson said Jasper was pitiful, but what about me? I had a happy family, had just graduated from college, and I was supposed to have a bright future. But just because of one glance from Jasper, I was abducted by him. This thug ruined my life. Moreover, there were lives between us. Jasper was in darkness, wanting to drag me into hell to save him. But he overestimated himself. No one could save someone like him. He needed a light, but he couldn’t force me to be that light. I closed my eyes, and a tear rolled down from the corner of my eye. Jasper might be pitiful, but pity was never an excuse for crime.

When Jasper returned, I had just woken up in the room. The drugs hadn’t worn off yet, and I was limp on the bed. He smelled of alcohol, which made me feel a bit nauseous. I turned my head slightly, trying to get away from him. Perhaps this movement made him uncomfortable, because he grabbed me and carried me towards the door. I knew he was taking me back to the basement. Mrs. Wilson heard the commotion and ran in from outside. Seeing it was Jasper, she was stunned for a moment, then started to persuade him, “Jasper, let Miss Winter sleep here. There are security guards inside and outside the villa. She can’t run away.” Jasper glanced at me, curling his lips slightly, “Mrs. Wilson, don’t interfere with this. She’s very cunning.” I raised my eyelids, looking at him. Cunning? Huh, Jasper, is it me being cunning or you being afraid? You’ll never admit that beneath your exquisitely beautiful exterior, your rotten core is filled with cowardice and fear. Jasper, you’re far from being as strong as me. Thinking of this, my mood improved a little. Jasper carried me back to the basement. This time, the ground had been covered with a thick layer of blankets, probably prepared by Mrs. Wilson. Jasper held me and sat down on the blankets with me. He looked very tired. He rested his head on my neck, his thick black hair tickling my skin. He didn’t care about my feelings at all. He just held me like this and slept for a while. When he woke up, the drug effects had just worn off, but half of my body was numb from his weight. I used my free hand to massage my body while trying to distance myself from Jasper. Jasper watched silently as I moved further and further away from him, as if enjoying the show. When I finally stopped moving, he got up, dusted himself off, and smiled, “Winter, next time don’t try to use Mrs. Wilson.” My heart skipped a beat. Did he know? But I kept my face calm, knowing that this was the moment I couldn’t lose my composure. Jasper looked me up and down and continued, “I received the text message.” He held up a phone with a blue case – it was Lily’s phone. I recognized it immediately because the blue case had Lily’s photo on it. Lily was my best friend. I couldn’t let anything happen to her. In an instant, I lunged at him, using all my strength to scratch and bite him. “Jasper, you psycho, what have you done to her?” I had indeed used Mrs. Wilson. I had stolen her phone when she wasn’t paying attention and sent a message to Lily. Jasper didn’t say anything. He threw me to the side, and the force made me lose my balance and fall to the ground. He slowly crouched down to my level, then forcefully grabbed the collar of my shirt, his eyes full of threat, “Winter, so you need to behave. If you don’t, I can’t guarantee Lily’s safety.” I felt my body go cold, my limbs numb, with an indescribable pain. Jasper left, locking the door behind him. Before he disappeared around the corner, he warned me, “Don’t think about escaping again. No one can save you.” Watching Jasper disappear, I curled my lips. I never thought about being saved by others. I’ve always known that the only one who could save me was myself.

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I was Lucas’s first love, standing by his side through those difficult years. He swore he’d love me forever, even if we were apart. He promised his love for me would never change. Later, when I finally returned, we got together as we had always planned. But something seemed different. “Lucas, help me, please… please help me…” A soft, sobbing voice came through the phone, sounding like a mewling kitten. Lucas’s hand tightened on his phone. He glanced at me instinctively. Our eyes met, and I saw a flash of panic in his. He took a deep breath and spoke coldly into the phone, “I’m busy right now.” Then he hung up. I watched him put down the phone and pick up his pen again, but his writing was rushed and messy. Just like his inner turmoil at that moment. I sighed, “What’s wrong?” “Nothing!” Our voices rang out simultaneously. Once again, I saw the panic in his eyes, followed by worry. I suddenly felt like laughing. But before I could, his phone buzzed again. It was a SnapChat message. As he picked it up to look, I caught a glimpse of the screen. I couldn’t see clearly, but it seemed to be an arm covered in bruises. Lucas couldn’t sit still any longer. He stood up abruptly. “Hazel, I… I have something urgent at work. Can I…” “If it’s urgent, go ahead.” I might have agreed too quickly. Lucas was visibly taken aback. He looked at me, hesitating. I smiled slightly, “What’s wrong? Don’t you have something urgent?” “Oh, right. I’ll… I’ll go then.” Lucas glanced at the wedding invitations spread out on the table, bit his lip, but still turned to leave. As the door closed, I let out a long sigh. I felt like all the bones had been sucked out of my body. I collapsed onto the sofa, feeling utterly drained. Everywhere I looked, there were unfinished wedding invitations. I picked up the one he had been working on and looked at it. Suddenly, I laughed out loud. “We joyfully invite you to celebrate our wedding…” At the bottom, the names — Groom: Lucas. Bride… Natalie.

I’m Hazel, Lucas’s first love, his ideal love, the person he cherished for many years. And Natalie? She’s his ex-girlfriend. Complicated, isn’t it? When I first found out, I was quite shocked too. Later, I learned that when I wasn’t around, Natalie had been there for him, accompanying him through those sad and difficult times. She shielded him from the wind and rain, cared for him, and never backed down even when faced with his cold sarcasm. She stubbornly stayed by his side. When I heard this, I was quite moved. I almost teared up. If only it wasn’t about my boyfriend. When I found out Lucas had a new girlfriend, I was genuinely stunned. How could the boy who had sworn and promised to wait for me when I left have someone else by his side? Later, Lucas explained to me that he had missed me so much that he drank to numb the pain, even drinking until he had a stomach ulcer. It was Natalie who took care of him tirelessly, working herself to exhaustion without complaint. Until she fainted in front of him, he finally felt sympathy. He agreed to her request. “Hazel, I didn’t change my heart. I just felt sorry for her, so… We agreed that when you came back, she would leave.” Lucas held my hand, his eyes red, begging desperately, “I didn’t betray you. It’s just that the days without you were really hard to bear.” “When I was sick in the hospital, I wished so much that it was you by my side.” Hearing these words, my heart was immediately filled with guilt. Seeing the caution in his eyes as he looked at me, I finally couldn’t bear it. This was the boy I had loved since I was young. During my six years abroad, I thought about him constantly. To be able to return and be with him sooner, I put in so much effort. This relationship had lasted for over a decade. Even if his heart had strayed momentarily, I should forgive him. Yes, I should forgive him. At least when I came back, he had ended things cleanly with Natalie. He only had me in his heart. That’s what I always believed. But reality seemed to always go against me, pouring cold water on me when I was full of joy.

I sighed and put away all the unfinished invitations. Originally, we had agreed to spend the weekend doing nothing but writing invitations. I didn’t expect an emergency to come up. He left, and I couldn’t continue writing either. As for whether we would write them in the future, I wasn’t sure. The invitation with “Natalie” written as the bride’s name, I packed separately. I don’t know why I did that. Such an eyesore should have been thrown away. After tidying up, I went back to my parents’ home. My mom was surprised to see me when she opened the door: “Why are you suddenly back?” Then she looked behind me expectantly. I knew who she was looking for and smiled, “Lucas is busy with work. I came back alone.” “About to get married and still so busy all the time.” Although she sounded disapproving, the smile on my mom’s face was undeniable. She was very satisfied with Lucas. Or rather, she was very satisfied now. Initially, she was the one most opposed to us being together. She said, “Children from unhappy families often have character flaws. And with his family being so chaotic, you’ll have a lot to deal with in the future.” But I didn’t care. I didn’t care that his parents had divorced early due to a bad relationship, nor did I care that his dad often caused trouble when drunk and had a bad reputation. In my eyes, Lucas would always be that young hero who would stand up for me when I was in danger. A hero who belonged only to me. During the years I was away, Lucas worked hard to improve himself. He got a good and respectable job, and even bought a house and a car with his own efforts. In my parents’ eyes, he became someone worthy of entrusting their daughter to. So my mom no longer opposed our relationship. She even urged us to get married soon. “You left for abroad right after college graduation. It’s been six years since you came back. You’re already thirty now. If you don’t get married soon, you’ll become an old maid.” I had just returned not long ago when I heard this. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I told Lucas about it as a joke. But he took it seriously. The next day, he went to buy a ring and proposed to me. In front of everyone, including Natalie. Lucas knelt on one knee: “Hazel, will you marry me?” I was in tears, nodding and saying “I do.” As he put the ring on my finger, I caught a glimpse of Natalie from the corner of my eye. She was in tears too. Seeming to notice my gaze, she paused for a moment, then turned and left. She left quite noisily, catching Lucas’s attention. He seemed to want to go after her. I instinctively held him back. Lucas suddenly came to his senses and quickly explained, “I must have seen wrong.” I nodded, not saying anything. But the panic I felt at that moment was real.

After the proposal, meeting the parents, getting engaged, planning the wedding… everything proceeded step by step, as usual. Lucas, as he said, cut off all contact with Natalie. Never contacted her again. At least that’s what I thought. If I hadn’t woken up in the middle of the night and heard him talking on the phone in the bathroom, I would have believed it. “Alright, alright, stop crying. Where are you? I’ll come find you now.” “It’s okay, I’m here. No one can bully you.” “Ten minutes, I’ll be right there!” Listening to that anxious voice from the bathroom, I could imagine his expression at that moment. His brows must have been furrowed, his face tense. One hand holding the phone, the other gesturing in the air as if comforting someone. He once said, “Even if I’m not by your side, at least I can comfort you this way.” I was lost in memories when I heard the door open. Instinctively, I grabbed the doorknob, pretending I was about to push the door open. I ran into Lucas unexpectedly. “Hazel, why are you…” The fleeting panic on Lucas’s face was clear as day to me. But I still pretended not to know, squinting my eyes, “I need to use the bathroom.” Then I yawned, as if just realizing, “Oh, why are you in here?” As soon as I finished speaking, I saw him let out a relieved sigh. His whole demeanor relaxed. “I just finished too. Go ahead.” He reached out to ruffle my hair. I avoided it by lowering my head and rubbing my eyes. Lucas didn’t seem to mind. Before I closed the door, he said, “Sam just called me. He has some urgent business. I’m going to check it out.” I kept my head down, my hand on the door tightening secretly. Taking a deep breath, I looked up at him: “It’s so late. Can you not go?” Lucas’s face showed a hint of difficulty: “From his tone, it seems he’s in trouble. He’s my buddy, I can’t ignore him.” “Don’t worry, I’ll be back as soon as I deal with it. Nothing will happen.” I took another deep breath: “Then let me go with you. Two people are safer than one.” Not surprisingly, Lucas refused. “It’s late at night. It’s not safe for a girl like you.” “Don’t worry, don’t you trust me to handle things?” With that, he turned and left. I heard the sound of the door closing and suddenly felt like my whole body had gone limp. I leaned against the door and slowly crouched down. Staring at the floor in front of me, everything looked blurry. He seemed to be by my side, but why did I always feel like I couldn’t hold onto him?

That night, Lucas didn’t come back. The next day, Sam called to apologize: “Hazel, I’m sorry. Lucas helped me deal with something last night. It was too late, so I didn’t let him go back. Don’t be angry. I’ll treat you to a meal another day to make up for it.” I smiled, “You better not go back on your word.” “Don’t worry, I definitely won’t.” After hanging up the phone, the smile on my face gradually disappeared. I wasn’t surprised that Sam would lie for him. They were best friends, close enough to share everything. The tacit understanding between them didn’t need excessive words. A single glance was enough to understand each other’s meaning. Helping a buddy deal with his girlfriend’s interrogation was second nature to him. Later, Lucas came back, specially bringing me a small cake. “I’m sorry. I said I’d be back early, but I didn’t expect things to be so complicated. By the time it was dealt with, it was already dawn. I couldn’t hold on, so I slept at Sam’s place.” Lucas explained with an apologetic smile. He presented the cake to me like a peace offering: “Don’t be angry. Eat something sweet, it’ll make you feel better.” I looked at the cake, then at him. Suddenly, I smiled. “It’s good that you’re okay.” Seeing me smile, Lucas also breathed a sigh of relief. “Shall I cut the cake for you?” I shook my head: “I’m on a diet. I can’t eat it.” “What diet? My wife is the most beautiful.” The usual sweet talk, but I felt a bit nauseated hearing it. I shook my head again: “No, I have to maintain my figure. Otherwise, I won’t fit into the wedding dress.” Hearing this, he had no choice but to give up and ate the small cake himself. Actually, I didn’t need to diet. I could have eaten it. But the store that sold that cake was unique in the city. It was right near Natalie’s house. Miles away from Sam’s place. Lucas thought I didn’t know, but I knew everything. But I didn’t say anything.

On the day of trying on wedding dresses, Lucas cleared his schedule in advance. He arranged all his work. He said, “Nothing and no one can disturb me when I witness my wife at her most beautiful moment.” Seeing his serious expression, I felt a surge of sweetness in my heart, diluting some of the previous bitterness. I thought, maybe it’s not so bad after all. Even if they were just ordinary friends, he couldn’t stand by and do nothing. He had always been a brave person. That’s why I fell for him in the first place. We were in the bridal shop, trying on dress after dress, selecting the most suitable one. Lucas gave his opinions seriously, showing no dissatisfaction despite the tedious process. Even the shop assistant praised him. My mood was getting better and better. I once again felt the joy of getting married. Until his phone rang. I watched him take out his phone and walk to the side to answer the call. He came back soon after, stuttering a bit: “A friend is nearby. She heard we’re choosing wedding dresses and wants to come take a look.” I lowered my head, fiddling with the tassels on the wedding dress. After a moment, I looked up at him and smiled: “Sure, the more opinions, the better.” Seeing that I wasn’t upset, Lucas secretly breathed a sigh of relief and turned to run out. As soon as he left, the smile on my face vanished. I turned to look at myself in the mirror. The smile frozen on my face looked like it had been drawn on. Like a clown.

Lucas came back quickly. Natalie was following behind him. As usual, she was shy and timid, hiding behind Lucas, peeking out timidly. She glanced at me quickly, then hurriedly lowered her head. When she greeted me, her voice was as quiet as a mosquito’s hum: “Sister Hazel, hello.” I looked at her and suddenly understood why Lucas would be moved. Such a delicate flower, fragile and pitiful, in need of love and care. And yet she could bear the pressure and stay by Lucas’s side without complaint. A weak girl gritting her teeth and putting on a brave face – how could a man not be moved? Lucas had always been somewhat macho. He liked submission, not assertiveness. I often had my own opinions, which he found somewhat objectionable. And I would never hide behind him like Natalie did. As if he was her safe harbor, her whole world. Seeing that I hadn’t spoken for a long time, just staring at her, she became a bit flustered. She tugged gently at Lucas’s clothes, swaying slightly, seeking help. Lucas turned his head and gave her a reassuring look. He then turned to me: “Hazel, Natalie is greeting you.” I watched their little interaction and suddenly felt like laughing. But I held it in. I nodded, considering it as having returned the greeting. I turned to face the mirror, admiring my wedding dress. Through the mirror, I saw a flash of anger cross Lucas’s face, gone in an instant. At that moment, my heart felt blocked, as if a stone was pressing on it, making it hard to breathe. I took a deep breath, trying hard not to show it. But I still failed. Because I heard Natalie say: “Sister Hazel looks so beautiful in the wedding dress. I want to try one too. I wonder if that’s okay.” And Lucas, my fiancé, said: “Of course.” “If you like it, try it on. It’s fine.” Then he took a wedding dress and handed it to Natalie. As luck would have it, it was one of the dresses we had decided to keep for final selection earlier. At that moment, the anger in my heart suddenly couldn’t be contained anymore—

“That’s my wedding dress. Put it down.” Natalie’s hand trembled, and the wedding dress fell to the ground. Lucas’s smile also froze instantly. He frowned at me, looking displeased. The accusation in his eyes almost made me lose my balance. I clenched my fists, the pain in my palms making me more clear-headed. “If you want to try on a wedding dress, there are plenty over there. This is one I’ve chosen, and I don’t want anyone else taking it.” I emphasized the words “taking it” heavily. Natalie’s little face instantly turned pale. Her body swayed, as if she was about to collapse. Seeing this, Lucas hurriedly supported her, letting her lean against his chest. “Natalie, are you okay?” Natalie shook her head, glanced at me, then quickly lowered her head again. Her weak and pitiful appearance really made people feel sorry for her. Lucas felt sorry for her. He held Natalie and shouted at me: “Hazel, it’s just a wedding dress, do you have to be so aggressive? Natalie is timid, why are you bullying her!” Bullying her? Hearing this, I couldn’t help but laugh. I felt particularly confused and didn’t understand. “How am I bullying her?” I walked forward and picked up the wedding dress from the ground. “This dress, you just said I looked good in it and that it could be the main dress for the wedding. Then you want to give the dress chosen for me to your ex-girlfriend to wear.” I looked at the two of them embracing, the smile on my face growing wider. “Lucas, how many years has it been since the Qing Dynasty fell? Are you still dreaming of having a harem?” “Hazel, I…” Lucas seemed to finally realize his behavior was inappropriate and instinctively pushed Natalie away. I watched her stumble, almost falling, yet staring at Lucas with big eyes full of hurt. It seemed Lucas’s letting go hurt her more. But Lucas only looked at me, wanting to explain something but at a loss for words. I didn’t want to listen. “Lucas, when she’s wronged, you comfort her. When I’m wronged, you yell at me.” “If you can’t tell who your girlfriend is, then there’s no need for this wedding.” With that, I turned and went into the changing room, taking off the wedding dress. When I came out, I found that Lucas and Natalie were gone. At that moment, it felt like I had been slapped out of nowhere. My face hurt, and so did my heart.

The shop assistant was a gentle girl. Seeing me looking lost, she came forward to explain: “Just after you went in, that girl fainted. Your… boyfriend carried her away. They probably went to the hospital.” Fainted? What a coincidence. I smiled, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. “Then the wedding dress…” “Just that one.” I pointed to the one that had fallen on the ground earlier. “Please pack it up for me, thank you.” The shop assistant seemed to want to say something but ultimately said nothing and went to process the bill. As she saw me out, she suddenly comforted me: “Marriage isn’t the destination of love. If you feel confused, why not stop and think it over carefully?” I was stunned for a moment, then smiled and nodded. But in my heart, it felt like a wasteland, overgrown with weeds, lifeless. Something that outsiders could see through at a glance, I was still unwilling to let go. When I got home, I took out the wedding dress, hung it up, and carefully smoothed it out. As white as snow, adorned with exquisite rhinestones, sparkling under the light. It really was beautiful. No wonder Natalie liked it too. I heard the door open but ignored it, continuing to smooth out the small wrinkles in the skirt. Until someone came up behind me and hugged me tightly. “Hazel…” His voice was full of longing and dependence. As if I was his whole world. Every time he called me like this, my heart would tremble. “Hazel, I’m sorry. I didn’t think it through today.” “Natalie’s parents favor boys over girls and treat her badly. When I was there to protect her, things were a bit better. Now that we’ve separated, her parents have become even worse. They found her a man twenty years older than her, and disabled, just because he could give a $20,000 bride price. She was scared, that’s why she came to me for help.” “I won’t let her appear in front of you again, okay? Don’t be angry. Forgive me, please.” I listened to him explaining and apologizing humbly, but my heart felt nothing. Strangely, it was as if it had nothing to do with me.

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I’m the fake heiress, and Natalie Young is the real one. This is what my mom told me herself. But what she doesn’t know is that the DNA test Natalie showed her was actually forged by my dad. My name is Sophia Evans, and I was originally the sole heir to the Evans Group. But in the year I turned fifteen, my mom suddenly brought home a girl about my age. She said, “Sophia, this is Natalie. Do you know? She’s my biological daughter. I’ve been waiting for so long, and she’s finally come home!” My mom, with tears in her eyes, looked at Natalie with immense guilt. “Natalie, it’s all my fault. I let you suffer for fifteen years out there.” “Don’t worry, I’ll make it up to you from now on.” Natalie was wearing high-end designer clothes, but her face was expressionless. She wasn’t even wearing lipstick. Her bare face made her small, delicate features look even more pitiful. I, on the other hand, was wearing an ordinary T-shirt and jeans, also without makeup. From a young age, my parents had always taught me to keep a low profile and not reveal our family’s circumstances to others. So, for fifteen years, even though I was the only daughter of the Evans Group, I lived no differently from ordinary people. None of my classmates knew about my background. Unlike Natalie, who had a father who spoiled her unconditionally. Whatever was fun, pretty, or useful, as long as she wanted it and he could afford it, she got it! I didn’t understand it before, but later I figured it out!

This wasn’t the first time I’d seen Natalie. Because, like me, she attended the same prestigious private school. I got in on my own merit. She got in on someone else’s. We were in the same class, but our relationship was like fire and water. Because the top student she had her eye on didn’t like her. And that top student had come to me several times for help with his studies. Seeing all this, Natalie couldn’t stand me even more. At school, rumors about me spread like wildfire. Ridiculous things like a high school girl picking up garbage and collecting recyclables! Or a high school girl trying to hook up with rich men but getting mocked instead! There was even a rumor about a high school girl from a family that favored boys over girls, getting beaten black and blue by her parents every day! In short, there wasn’t a single rumor that was even remotely credible. However, these fabricated rumors were deeply believed by most of the students. Natalie had always given off the impression of being a rich heiress. She came to school every day with exquisite makeup, wearing expensive jewelry on her wrists and fingers. Everyone thought, how could someone as rich as Natalie casually belittle a girl from an ordinary family? But I knew these rumors were all spread by Natalie. I also knew she had always disliked me. However, I never imagined she would have the audacity to brazenly walk into my home. Especially now, as she’s cuddling up to my mom and giving me a provocative smile. Very well! I smiled back at her, silently saying, “Since you want to play, let’s play this game to the end!” Then, I calmly got up and returned to my room.

Under the mattress in my room, there was a little secret that no one knew about. I locked the door and lifted the mattress directly. It was a photo from five years ago. In it were my dad, Natalie, and a woman I had never seen before. My dad and that woman stood on either side of Natalie. All three had the same smile, radiating happiness. It made people believe without a doubt that this was a real family. Among them, Natalie and my dad’s smiles were strikingly similar. Even the upward curve of their mouths was at the same angle. It made their blood relation undeniable. I thought, perhaps it was because Natalie looked so much like my dad that my mom believed her so easily! Bang bang bang! “Sophia, open the door!” my mom called from outside. I instinctively hid the photo back in its place, making sure there was no trace of disturbance before opening the door. “Mom, what’s wrong?” Outside, my mom was holding Natalie’s hand, looking at me with a troubled expression. Seeing my mom hesitate to speak, Natalie pretended to be hesitant and tugged at my mom’s sleeve, saying in a pitiful voice: “Mom, why don’t I just go back to my previous home? This way, big sister won’t be angry!” ??? I was full of question marks. What was Natalie up to now? “Go back where?” My mom patted Natalie’s hand, indicating that she should rest assured. “Natalie, your home is here. Don’t worry, as long as I’m around, no one will drive you away!” “As for Sophia, you’re the older sister. I haven’t mistreated you in these fifteen years. It’s just that now that Natalie is back, you should pack up your things and move to the guest room!” “This room will be kept for Natalie from now on!” After rattling off all this, my mom didn’t even look at me before turning and leaving with Natalie! Huh! So they’re already starting to squeeze me out? This is getting more and more interesting! Looking at their retreating figures, I started to feel strangely excited and expectant. I wonder what kind of reactions everyone will have when the truth comes out!

I didn’t want to announce everything to the world so quickly. After all, I hadn’t yet accumulated my own strength. So, before I had enough power, it wasn’t time to reveal all the cards. I took one last look at this room. From now on, it wouldn’t belong to me anymore! After packing my luggage, I carefully placed that photo at the very bottom of my suitcase. Dragging my suitcase to the living room, I saw Natalie still cuddling up to my mom. Mother and daughter both had red-rimmed eyes. I directly interrupted their heart-to-heart. “Mom, I’ve packed my things. Natalie can move in anytime.” Seeing me come out so readily with my suitcase, my mom looked a bit embarrassed, but still said: “Sophia, don’t blame mom. You were originally from an ordinary family. You’ve enjoyed the good life in our family for so long, and your dad and I have never treated you like an outsider.” “Now that Natalie is back, mom hopes you can give way to her more. After all, she just came back and hasn’t had an easy life like you have.” The way she said it, it was as if I had lived such a good life and Natalie had suffered so much! “Mom, don’t worry! I’ll definitely take good care of Natalie.” I agreed directly, and my lack of crying or fuss actually made my mom’s expression a bit stunned. “Sophia, mom knows you’re a good child. Don’t worry, in the future, mom will still treat you like her own child.” I nodded noncommittally, ignoring Natalie’s smug expression, and directly dragged my suitcase into the guest room. A child without a mother is like a blade of grass! In my previous life, I had seen this clearly early on. That’s right! I’ve been reborn! In my previous life, I lived to be twenty years old. I always thought I died accidentally, but during the years my soul was wandering, I discovered that my living self was just a joke. Because I wasn’t their biological daughter at all. My biological mother was the daughter of the richest man in City B. Under someone else’s instigation, she eloped with my biological father. Both my parents were very capable, building up a business empire in City C from scratch in just a year or two. Because of this, they incurred the jealousy of others. The year I was born, my parents were overjoyed. To ensure I would be provided for all my life, they planned all their assets early on and even made a will stating that I would inherit 80% of their property when I turned eighteen. But who would have thought that on my first birthday, they would all be killed, leaving only me to mistake the enemy for my father. Later, somehow, one day while wandering, I accidentally fell asleep, and when I opened my eyes again, I had returned to when I was ten years old. So, not long after I was reborn, I found ways to take that photo I now treasured. It’s just a pity that it’s not yet time for this photo to appear. I couldn’t help but smile ruefully.

Natalie and I were both in our first year of high school. In the school bathroom, Natalie cornered me with her two little followers. “Sophia Evans, I didn’t expect you to be so thick-skinned!” Natalie signaled her two followers to grab my arms, then strutted up to me arrogantly. She patted my cheeks. “I wonder if your skin is as thick as the city walls?” “Why don’t I cut it open and see?” Natalie mischievously scraped my skin with her long fingernails. I turned my head and looked at her contemptuously. “Natalie Young, do you have the guts?” Natalie’s hand paused, and her expression suddenly became interesting. “What wouldn’t I dare to do?” As if to prove it, Natalie immediately pulled out a small knife used for sharpening pencils from her pocket and waved it threateningly near my face. “Sophia Evans, tell me, if I cut up your pretty little face that seduces people, will Chris Thompson still favor you?” Chris Thompson was the top student in our class. I knew Natalie had always had a crush on him. However, Chris was only focused on his studies and didn’t pay any attention to Natalie, who had poor grades and didn’t like studying. The cold touch of the blade was pressed against my delicate facial skin, but I remained expressionless and stretched my neck to whisper in Natalie’s ear. “Natalie Young, if you don’t want me to expose your true identity right now, you’d better not provoke me!” “What exactly do you know?” After all, she was still young. Natalie’s face changed dramatically, and she unconsciously took two steps back. “Are you sure you want me to say it here?” I chuckled softly. Natalie hesitated, not daring to answer me. Her two followers looked at each other, unconsciously loosening their grip on me. I easily broke free. Walking to Natalie’s side, I whispered in her ear. “Isn’t your true identity that you’re the daughter of the mistress?” “What?” “Or did you think only your real family knew this secret?”

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