Author: Momo Chan

I saw my “dead” husband walk into a restaurant with another woman while I was still grieving and pregnant. The man in the accident was his brother. He chose to stay hidden and let me mourn him. He also caused the event that ruined my life before our marriage. He treated me as a burden and treated the baby as a transaction. I will not stay in this role. I will protect myself and remove him from my life. After my husband’s funeral. I found out I was pregnant. For this child. I tried hard to suppress my pain deep in my heart. Afraid that my emotions would affect the baby. But because my husband Zachary had weak sperm. This pregnancy was particularly difficult. Not only did I need daily injections to keep the baby, but I also vomited until I nearly fainted. In just over a month of pregnancy. I had already lost over 40 pounds. I was almost half dead. Later, my in-laws couldn’t bear to see me like this anymore. They tried to persuade me to terminate the pregnancy. To forget Zachary and start a new life. But I refused all their suggestions. Zachary was so good to me, how could I give up? Actually, when I first got engaged. It wasn’t to Zachary, but to his brother Ethan. But before the wedding, I was kidnapped and abused for three days and nights. Ethan thought I was impure and broke off the engagement to marry Sophia instead. It was Zachary who rescued me from the kidnappers. He was stabbed multiple times but still held me tightly. He knelt firmly in front of my father, saying he had loved me for a long time and wanted to marry me. For years, everyone said he loved me deeply. And under his gentle care. I gradually healed the wounds in my heart. Unfortunately, the good times didn’t last long. Just three years after our marriage. He died in a car accident. My world collapsed, and I even thought about following him. It was this child that gave me the motivation to live on. This was his only bloodline. Even if it cost me my life, I wanted to keep this child. Seeing my insistence, my in-laws stopped trying to persuade me. But the very next day. During lunch. They suggested that Zachary’s twin brother Ethan should take care of both families. To look after me and the child in my womb. I was about to refuse. But sister-in-law Sophia suddenly had an emotional breakdown. She slapped me across the face, crying and cursing me for being shameless. She was already weak, and before I had time to explain. She fainted from the shock. Ethan frowned, looking at me with displeasure. Then he left, holding Sophia lovingly in his arms.

Sophia’s slap caused me to have pregnancy complications again. I had to stay in bed for two days before I barely recovered. I didn’t blame Sophia. After all, I had been engaged to Ethan before, so it was understandable that she had some resentment. Moreover. Not to mention that Zachary and I had a good relationship. Even if we didn’t. The idea of Ethan taking care of both families was absurd. Not only for them as a couple. But I wouldn’t agree to it either. I felt a bit guilty for making my sister-in-law faint. So, when I was able to get out of bed, I went to my in-laws’ room. I wanted to persuade them to give up this idea and never mention it again. I also thought that after convincing my in-laws. I would personally go to apologize to Ethan and Sophia to put their minds at ease. However, just as I reached the door of my in-laws’ room. I heard my mother-in-law’s confused voice from inside. “Zachary, it was clearly your brother who died. Why did you insist it was you?” Zachary, wasn’t that my husband’s name? He didn’t die?! The person who died in the car accident was actually my husband’s older brother Ethan? I was shocked, as if struck by lightning. My eyes widened, and I stood there stunned. How, how could this be possible! I shook my head hard, thinking I must be hallucinating. But the next second, I heard a man’s voice from inside. “Mom, don’t let Sophia know about this. She’s always been weak and sickly, with a bad heart. If she knew it was my brother who passed away, her body definitely couldn’t take it.” Ethan, no, I should call him Zachary. My husband Zachary. He paused, then sighed and said: “Besides, the person I’ve always loved is Sophia. I only married Rachel to let Sophia be with my brother. Now, I’ve given Rachel a child, so I don’t owe her anything anymore. In the future, I’ll take care of Sophia for the rest of my life in place of my brother. Don’t mention taking care of both families again, it’ll only make Sophia sad and upset.”

“But Rachel has already suffered enough. Back then, to break off her engagement with your brother and let your brother be with Sophia, you deliberately had someone kidnap Rachel for three days and nights, causing her to be abused. Now that she’s finally moved on and is carrying your child, it’s only right for you to take care of her…” My mother-in-law wanted to continue persuading him, but Zachary impatiently interrupted her: “Enough, Mom! To make up for her, I married her without caring about others mocking me for accepting a ‘tainted’ woman. Then I took care of her wholeheartedly for three years, helping her move on. Isn’t that enough? Do you want me to spend my whole life repaying her? Mom, I’ve suffered for three years, pretended for three years, I’ve had enough! Living with her is torture for me every day! Now that heaven has given me a chance to be with Sophia again, I don’t want to give up this opportunity…” They said some more things inside. But I couldn’t hear anything anymore. I just felt cold all over. It felt like someone had stabbed me hard in the chest. The pain was unbearable. I stumbled back to my room. Only then did I realize that my whole body was shaking, and my face was already covered in tears. So, the person who died in the car accident wasn’t my husband at all, but his brother Ethan. And Zachary’s deep love and gentle care for me over these three years were all fake. The person he liked, from beginning to end, was the same as his brother. Only Sophia! Even the person who had me kidnapped back then was Zachary. The reason was simply to let Sophia marry Ethan. If they didn’t want to marry me, they could have broken off the engagement openly. But they chose to ruin me instead! What’s more ridiculous is that I actually treated this demon as my salvation. And I was even willing to risk my life to have his child…

Although I had tried hard to calm my emotions. The hatred and anger in my heart. Still made my tears flow uncontrollably. The next day, I came downstairs with swollen red eyes and a pale face. I saw Zachary carefully taking care of Sophia’s meal. The two of them were cuddling together, looking very intimate. From a distance, they really looked like a perfect couple. I clenched my fists. The pain in my palms made my mind clearer. Soon. Sophia noticed that I had come down. Seeing my miserable appearance, her eyes showed a hint of triumph. Then, as if to show off, she buried her head in Zachary’s arms and acted coquettishly. As for Zachary, his heart was completely focused on Sophia. He was dedicated to taking care of her meal. And hadn’t noticed my arrival. I lowered my eyes, looking at his doting smile towards Sophia. My heart was filled with mockery. This kind of doting was something I had never seen in these three years. I touched my belly and calmly sat down in the dining chair. Then I lowered my head and started eating. I picked the nutritious food to eat. Forcing myself to eat more. I would terminate this pregnancy and take care of my own body. Then make those who had hurt me pay the price double! After eating my fill, I wiped my mouth. Opposite me, Zachary had also finished attending to Sophia’s meal. He finally had time to look up at me. When he saw my swollen eyes and pale face, he was slightly stunned. He probably thought I had been crying again because of his “death”, and there was a moment of guilt on his face. But he quickly cooled his expression and said displeased: “Sister-in-law, I know you’re sad about Zachary’s death. But I won’t agree to take care of both families. My heart only has room for your sister-in-law Sophia. It’s impossible for me to give even a bit of my heart to you.” Sophia’s eyes looked at me even more triumphantly. But on the surface, she pretended to be worried and said: “Sister-in-law, you didn’t cry all night because my husband refused to take care of both families, did you? I’m sorry, I was too impulsive yesterday. But… but I really can’t give up the husband I love deeply…” As she spoke, her frail body trembled, and her eyes reddened again. She covered her chest, looking extremely distressed. Zachary was heartbroken. He glared at me warningly. Then he hugged Sophia in his arms comfortingly: “Sophia, don’t worry, I only have you in this life. I would rather die than touch another woman.”

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I died twice because the beast-men I trusted loved my cousin more than my life. Reborn again, I break the rules, seize a dangerous creature of unknown power, and forge a contract before anyone can stop me. If they want to repeat the past, they’ll have to survive me first. In my previous life, I chose the leopard-man, while my cousin got the merman. The leopard-man fell deeply in love with my cousin. He watched coldly as I was torn to pieces, then used the crystal earned from my life to curry favor with her. In my last life, I stayed away from the leopard-man and chose the merman instead. Little did I know that the merman would also be attracted to my cousin. He conspired with her to drown me, then threw himself into her arms. Now I’ve been reborn again. Faced with these two beast-men that my mother strongly recommends, I don’t want to choose either of them. Just as I’m struggling with how to choose, a black shadow flashes by my side. Overjoyed, I catch it and declare on the spot: “I want this one!” Then without waiting for anyone’s reaction, I quickly form a contract with it. “Damn it!” As the silver light symbolizing the completed contract flashes, a voice simultaneously echoes in my mind. “Contracting with me, are you trying to die again?” My cousin Liliana is a year younger than me. She should have chosen her beast-man a year later, but she was so favored by the family elders that she persuaded them to let her choose a year early. To choose at the same time as me. Of the two beast-men my mother had carefully selected for me, one would now have to go to my cousin. “Aria, just choose whichever one you want,” my mother said. That’s exactly what I did two lives ago. I chose the leopard-man, who had the strongest speed and power in the family, while my cousin got the merman. But after contracting with me, the leopard-man was always in poor condition. I thought he just needed time to adjust, so I wanted to give him some time. But I never expected that after watching me be torn to pieces by other beast-men, the leopard-man would leap up and quickly kill them with a strength I had never seen before. He looked at my corpse without any remorse: “The biggest mistake you made was choosing me, making me miss out on Liliana.” It turned out the leopard-man had always liked my cousin, and even resented me for it. So in my last life, after being reborn, I chose the merman without hesitation. The merman had a gentle personality, surely he couldn’t do anything to me. But I never imagined that the merman would also fall in love with Liliana. For her sake, the supposedly gentle merman tricked me to the waters where he grew up and conspired with his people to drown me. After my death, he sat by the water, eyes downcast. “I’m sorry, but I really like Liliana. I like her to the point of madness.” This time, I’ve been reborn again. Directly reborn to the moment of choosing a beast-man. Right now, the family elders are impatiently urging me: “Aria, how long are you going to dawdle? Liliana is still waiting behind you!” I looked at the fierce-looking leopard-man, then glanced at the merman who was secretly looking at Liliana, and my head started to ache. I quietly asked my mother if I could not choose. Mother firmly said: “No.” “Aria, are you worried about their strength? These are the ones I personally selected. This leopard-man is the most talented genius in history in terms of speed and strength, while the merman is the prince of their clan, with a high chance of becoming the Merman King in the future.” The situation was urgent, and I had no way to explain to my mother what had happened to me. “Aria, just choose. Liliana can only have the one you don’t pick.” Mother’s eyes swept around, her words full of intimidation. “I know many people in the family look down on me, but they don’t have the power to make decisions over me yet.” But even though mother said this, I couldn’t not choose a beast-man. This was a long-standing rule in our magical family. Every member needed to choose a beast-man at the contract ceremony. If I just left without following the rules, my mother would definitely be harassed by those old geezers using this as an excuse. But these two beast-men wouldn’t stay with me wholeheartedly. As long as they fell in love with Liliana, my life would still be in danger. Just as I was struggling with which beast-man would be easier to deal with. A black shadow flashed by. Long and thin, extremely fast, no one noticed it except me. A small snake of unknown species that couldn’t shapeshift, but with the unique magical fluctuations of a beast-man. Overjoyed, I caught it and announced on the spot: “I want this one!” Then without waiting for anyone’s reaction, I quickly formed a contract with it. “Damn it!” As the silver light symbolizing the completed contract flashed, a voice simultaneously echoed in my mind. “Contracting with me, are you trying to die again?” When I opened my eyes, everyone was looking at me with various expressions. Liliana couldn’t contain her excitement and said loudly: “Cousin, after all that fuss, you just chose a little broken snake?” An elder shouted in dissatisfaction: “Aria, this is the contract ceremony, are you mocking us?” I raised my hand to show them the faint silver mark on my wrist. them “How am I mocking you? Didn’t I contract a beast-man?” Seeing I mocking you? the unique imprint symbolizing the contract between our family and beast-men, they finally believed that the little snake in my hand was really a beast-man. They reluctantly shut up. Next it was Liliana’s turn to choose a beast-man. Only then did I have time to pick up the little snake in an unnoticed place. “Just now you said ‘die again’, what did you mean by that?” “You have the nerve to ask?” The snake didn’t open its mouth, but its voice sounded directly in my mind. A magnetic, deep male voice, gritting his teeth. “My powers have plummeted, and I’m forcibly bound to you, unable to leave a single step.” “In your last life, and the life before that, you died twice, and I died with you twice!” “Each time, it was just when I was about to regain my peak power!” “This time I didn’t want to be manipulated by you anymore and was about to leave first, but you actually caught me and contracted with me?!” 1. “I see, so we have such a deep connection.” Thinking about how someone had been reborn with me twice, it was quite an amazing feeling. “Heh,” the little snake laughed dryly, “I don’t want this kind of connection.” “From now on, we’ll have to fight side by side, you must protect me.” “I’ll be lucky if I don’t kill you.” I looked towards Liliana in the distance, who was looking back and forth between the leopard-man and the merman. “What do you think, who will she choose?” “How would I know?” “Then in your opinion, who is stronger?” The weak snake body twisted in my hand, but his commentary was ruthless. “They’re both weak.” I didn’t bother trying to get an answer from the little snake anymore and focused on Liliana’s situation. But unexpectedly, she turned her head and looked at me. “Cousin, who do you think I should choose?” With these words, everyone in the scene fell silent, waiting for my answer. Whether Liliana followed my advice or not, the one who wasn’t chosen would inevitably hate me to the bone. She was using me to draw hatred. I laughed coldly: “Why don’t you take both, cousin?” “These two beast-men are both so excellent, I’m sure you’d be willing to split your spirit power for them.” Actually, each member of our family could contract more than one beast-man. But contracting a beast-man required occupying spirit power in the mind sea. If one wanted to contract multiple beast-men, they would need to split off a new piece of spirit power from their original mind sea for each contract. Spirit power was similar to mental energy. Even a tiny bit of damage would make one feel their soul trembling, extremely painful. Not to mention forcibly splitting the originally whole spirit power into several pieces. Sure enough, as soon as I finished speaking, Liliana’s face changed. She forcibly suppressed the unwillingness on her face and smiled: “I was just joking. Actually, I’ve already made my choice.” She walked towards the taller and stronger leopard-man, cut her fingertip, and dripped blood onto his lowered forehead. Silver light appeared, and the contract was formed. The leopard-man looked smugly at the dissatisfied merman prince, then knelt on one knee the next second. “I am Zarek. I will protect you, forever and ever.” I sighed, couldn’t help but think of the past. He watched indifferently as I stood in front of him, single-handedly resisting the attacks of other beast-men. At that time, he wasn’t as devoted as he is now. “What a stupid woman,” the little snake said venomously. “If you couldn’t beat them, why didn’t you run?” “And didn’t you know he didn’t care about you and couldn’t wait for you to die?” “How was I supposed to know then!” I angrily retorted. “And once we formed a contract, isn’t it natural to trust your partner with your back?” The little snake fell silent. After a long while, he reluctantly spoke: “I’m called Kieran.” The contract ceremony was over, and I was about to leave. I wanted to explain to my mother why I didn’t choose the beast-men she had prepared for me. But things weren’t over yet. The merman’s face was pale as he held Liliana’s hand, giving her a pleading look. “You really don’t want me?” “I can use sound attacks, I can make people within a mile drop dead instantly.” “I can heal, as long as they’re not dead, I can save them.” Kieran laughed lightly: “That’s not all he’s best at.” I asked him what the merman was best at, but he clammed up again. But no matter how the merman begged, Liliana still heartlessly let go of his hand. “I already have Zarek.” “But you can contract two beast-men!” the merman said urgently. Liliana shot me a hateful glance, blaming me for reminding the merman of this. How could she bear to go through the pain of splitting her spirit power? She violently shook off the merman’s hand, but still had to maintain her gentle and lovable image: “I’m sorry, I have enough with just Zarek.” I was planning to make up a reason to explain to my mother why I didn’t choose the beast-men she had prepared for me. After all, rebirth wasn’t something that could be explained clearly in a short time. Not to mention being reborn twice. But she said: “If there’s something difficult to say, then you don’t need to explain. No matter what, I believe in my daughter.” In two rebirths, the only constant was that my mother always believed in me like this. I died inexplicably twice, I can’t imagine how painful it was for her. If only for my mother’s sake, I had to become stronger. Thinking of this, I looked firmly at Kieran. “Now that we’ve contracted, the next step is to train together.” Kieran was still as venomous as ever: “You think I need to train with you?” An incense stick later, he dragged his limp body and, under my coercion, said the words “I’m willing.” I bid farewell to my mother and took Kieran with me into the Trial Spirit Realm. 2. The Trial Spirit Realm was created in ancient times, forming its own small space with many rare magical beasts and treasures. I entered from the outer edges, starting by slaying the first magical beast, gradually moving inward. From initially being chased by magical beasts, to later being able to fight back, and finally being able to take on ten at once. Although Kieran was also busy improving his own cultivation, he didn’t stay with me, going out early and returning late every day, coming and going alone. But after two past lives, my bottom line for contracted beast-men had already dropped very low. As long as he didn’t kill me, it was fine if we weren’t together. Moreover, Kieran’s power increase also greatly benefited me as his contractor. Kieran transformed into human form in the third month. That night he came back earlier than usual. Seeing him appear, I dismissed the magical beasts that were massaging my legs and back, and took out the spirit fruit I had specially picked for him. “Come quickly, this Feather Spirit Fruit is most suitable for your snake clan to cultivate.” As I said this, I tried to stuff the Feather Spirit Fruit into his mouth. But before my hand could reach his mouth, a strange scene suddenly appeared before my eyes. A white mist spread out from nowhere. A hand with distinct knuckles reached out from the mist and grabbed my wrist. “Who told you I’m from the snake clan?” It was still Kieran’s magnetic voice. The difference was that he was now in human form. Dressed in black robes, tall and handsome features. He looked quite good-looking… “Fine, if you don’t want it, I’ll eat it myself.” I ignored the slight flutter in my heart and threw the Feather Spirit Fruit into my mouth. But unexpectedly, Kieran intercepted it halfway and stuffed it into his own mouth. What a fickle snake clan. After that, Kieran changed his attitude and always followed behind me, even when I wanted to use the bathroom… This was not good, because Kieran wouldn’t help me fight against magical beasts together. Under his powerful pressure, no magical beasts would even come near me. I helplessly protested to him. He thought for a moment and agreed to my request. After that, it became Kieran forcing a group of magical beasts to chase me, while I had to fight hard against a large group for self-preservation. In the blink of an eye, half a year had passed. All the magical beasts in the Trial Spirit Realm had been beaten by me and now bowed to me as their master. It was time to leave. On the day we left, I saw my mother’s figure at the entrance of the spirit realm from afar. “Mother!” I ran over excitedly. Mother looked me up and down, a smile of admiration on her lips: “Aria, you’ve improved a lot.” I leaned affectionately on my mother’s shoulder: “Of course, I am mother’s child after all.” The moment was peaceful, but suddenly an unpleasant voice sounded. It was Liliana. “Cousin has indeed improved so quickly, you must have obtained many treasures in the Trial Spirit Realm.” Her eyes were evasive: “But cousin is the daughter of Aunt, the family leader, so these things are rightfully yours.” With Liliana’s words, the eyes of the family members who came to greet me changed. As if my power increase was really due to my mother abusing her authority and giving me many benefits. I shook my head: “It seems cousin really doesn’t understand the Trial Spirit Realm.” “I stayed in the Trial Spirit Realm for half a year, creating the longest record in our family’s history, yet you still think my power increase was due to external objects.” Liliana was used to pretending to be weak and innocent. In the past, I had never embarrassed her in public. Now her face looked very unpleasant, but I wasn’t finished. “Oh, I just remembered, cousin hasn’t entered the Trial Spirit Realm for training yet, right?” “Although our family has always had the rule of going for trials after completing the contract with a beast-man, you contracted your beast-man early, which was already an exception.” “Understandable.” Liliana just wanted to say that I had a family leader as a mother and received preferential treatment. But I wanted to tell everyone that she, Liliana, was the one who was the exception again and again. “Yeah, Liliana has already contracted a beast-man, why hasn’t she participated in the trials?” Some dissatisfied peers began to speak loudly, “We all went through life and death to come out of the Trial Spirit Realm, why does she get to be so special?” Liliana also heard these words and became a bit guilty. “My beast-man and I are of one heart and mind, we don’t need to cultivate our rapport anymore.” As soon as these words came out, many people laughed. “You don’t think the trials are just to hone the rapport between you and your beast-man, do you? The trials are also a way to improve your strength!” Just as Liliana didn’t know how to answer. Suddenly a figure appeared in the distance, flashing past the blocking crowd in the blink of an eye, arriving at Liliana’s side. This terrifying speed made most people present exclaim in admiration. This was Zarek, Liliana’s leopard-man. He held Liliana tightly in his arms, raising his head slightly: “Do you think my strength is not enough, and Liliana needs to suffer extra hardships?” No one spoke, all acknowledging Zarek’s strength. “Liliana’s special treatment is backed by me.” Zarek made such a statement, then left with Liliana in his arms. Before leaving, he glanced in our direction. But he seemed to not notice Kieran behind me at all, only looking at me. A sinister glance, full of warning. 3. I frowned imperceptibly. It seemed that no matter what, Zarek was very hostile towards me. I still couldn’t let my guard down. Soon came the day of the family’s grand competition. According to family rules, every young member who had a contracted beast-man needed to participate in the family’s grand competition. The winner would receive rewards of top-grade magical tools and pills. They could also exchange this opportunity to obtain magical tools and pills for a wish. If it wasn’t too excessive, the family elders would allow and help fulfill it. Liliana came specially to tell me that she was also going to participate in this competition. “Cousin, I drew you as my opponent. But my beast-man is very powerful, you don’t mind, do you?” “I do mind.” Two lives ago, I was called away by Zarek on the eve of the competition, and encountered a group of out-of-control beast-men on the way back. After I died, Zarek dealt with these beast-men and offered the crystals from their bodies to Liliana. Liliana’s cultivation increased greatly because of this, and she became the winner of the competition. And the wish she made was to receive Zarek, this beast-man who had lost his contracted master. With the help of the elders and magical tools, Liliana didn’t suffer any pain from splitting her spirit power, and got two beast-men. And my soul was completely scattered, reborn into my last life… Not expecting me to actually answer that I minded, Liliana’s face froze. “Cousin, winning this competition, I have something very important to do. So, I must participate.” I smiled faintly: “Then why are you asking why?” “I…” Liliana stammered until Zarek came and held her in his arms. “Aria Frost.” He narrowed his eyes at me, “If you had been a little nicer to Liliana, I might have considered letting you lose gracefully.” “But with you treating her like this, I have no choice.” At this time, Kieran silently exerted his pressure beside me. Zarek was caught off guard and instantly fell to his knees. “Someone as weak as you,” Kieran slowly walked in front of Zarek and squatted down: “Tell me specifically, how were you planning to make her lose?” Zarek used all his strength but still couldn’t break free from Kieran’s pressure. In the end, it was Liliana who actively apologized to me before Kieran let them go. As they left, their conversation clearly reached Kieran’s and my ears. “Liliana, I’m sorry…” “No, Zarek, you didn’t do anything wrong. It’s my fault, I’m too weak.” “Liliana, I will definitely protect you, I will!” From that day on, Liliana and Zarek never appeared in front of me again. Until the day of the family competition. Liliana stood opposite me, but showed no panic at all. I took the initiative to attack, and Liliana was injured after just a few moves. Now it was time for our respective beast-men to take the stage. “Aria Frost, I hate that arrogant look of yours the most. Just because you have a family leader as a mother, what’s there to be so proud of.” Liliana smiled strangely: “Everything you possess, from today onwards, will be taken by me.” As soon as I saw Zarek appear, I roughly understood what was going on. Zarek had taken a forbidden drug. This was a drug that could temporarily increase a beast-man’s power, with extremely strong side effects. If the beast-man’s meridians couldn’t withstand the impact of the powerful demonic energy, they might end up with all their meridians ruptured. “So what?” Zarek looked at Liliana tenderly, “For Liliana, I’m willing to do anything. Besides…” He suddenly struck at Kieran: “How are you still alive in my hands!” Kieran calmly met the attack. “Bang—” At the moment of the collision of energy waves beside the two, Zarek’s expression suddenly changed. Even though he had taken the forbidden drug, he still couldn’t defeat Kieran. In just a few breaths, Zarek was already lying on the ground, his life or death unknown. Kieran and I had won. 4. Kieran didn’t use his full strength, wanting to let Zarek die in pain. But we had forgotten about one person. Rylan, the merman prince, who possessed powerful healing abilities. It was said that Liliana had begged him, and he didn’t hesitate to pluck off his most precious scales, using himself as medicine to save Zarek. Heh. Still as deeply affectionate towards Liliana as in the past life. After all, in the past life after I died, he knelt in front of Liliana, asking for nothing more than to silently follow by Liliana’s side. He didn’t even need a contract, he made a poisonous vow that he would never betray Liliana. How ironic, this affection itself was built on betrayal, yet it turned out to be more loyal. Just like now, after hearing what Rylan had done, his current contract master Rose was very angry. I happened to stumble upon the scene of her scolding Rylan. In the mist-shrouded hot spring, Rylan was bare-chested, silently enduring Rose’s whipping. “Rylan, have you forgotten that you are my beast-man, the person you contracted with is me!” “You actually plucked off your most important scales for that low-status woman Liliana?” Hearing Rose call Liliana low-status, Rylan finally showed a bit of reaction. “Liliana is not low-status. And, I plucked off my own scales.” “Ha? You defend this woman so much!” Rose was completely enraged, her whip lashing out at Rylan like mad. “Losing this scale, your cultivation will be difficult to improve, doesn’t that affect me?” Rylan’s back was quickly whipped bloody and mangled. Seeing this, I tiptoed, wanting to pull Kieran away. Suddenly Rylan looked back, his eyes precisely meeting mine. “This is bad,” I said to Kieran, “Rylan must think I was the one who told on him, and he’s added another grudge against me in his heart.” “So, you’re destined to be enemies with them,” Kieran persuaded gently: “Why don’t we take the initiative and just kill them directly.” His expression didn’t seem to be joking. “Alright,” I said solemnly, “They each killed me once, it’s not a problem for me to return the favor.” But I didn’t expect Rylan’s revenge to come faster than our action. Originally, the family had arranged an external mission for me. But Liliana insisted on butting in, saying she had wronged me and Kieran last time, felt guilty, and was willing to carry out the mission for me. In fact, Kieran had already shown me the scene of her and Zarek’s plotting. Liliana: “The mission assigned to Aria must be an extremely good one! It’s not impossible for her to advance her cultivation again with this mission.” Zarek: “Then Liliana should snatch this mission.” Liliana: “Can I really? I’m afraid…” Zarek: “Don’t be afraid, I swear, I will protect you with my life.” In reality, where was there any benefit to be gained from this mission of mine? I even thought it was too far away and I wouldn’t be able to see my mother. I was happy to be idle, so I let Liliana go. Waking up in the middle of the night, Rylan was standing by my bed, his hands choking my neck. His delicate face was beautiful and morbid in the moonlight. “Tell me, where did you force Liliana to go?” I quietly took out the dagger from my sleeve, “How would I know where she went.” “Don’t pretend with me, Liliana went to complete your mission! I’ve already heard about it from Rose.” He had already re-contracted, yet he still cared so much about Liliana, I really don’t know what kind of attraction Liliana has… Now that he snuck out in the middle of the night, Rose probably didn’t know either. “Alright, I’ll tell you…” Taking advantage of Rylan’s distraction, I activated my spiritual energy and flipped my hand upwards to stab, wanting to break free from his restraint. But unexpectedly, when the dagger stabbed Rylan’s body, he didn’t dodge at all, and his body wasn’t injured either. I had used all my strength. Rylan laughed coldly, his hands gradually tightening: “I used the most precious sacred artifact of the merman clan, the Spirit Avoiding Pearl. You can’t hurt me.” “Tell me, where did Liliana go!”

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My husband saved another woman in front of me, and even my son begged him to choose her over me. The system told me my mission had failed, and death was my only way home. But every time I tried to die, someone dragged me back—especially his brother, who claimed he loved me after destroying my life. I no longer want his love, his family, or this world. If I can’t go home, then I will burn everything they forced me to endure. Bella Sinclair and I were kidnapped at the same time, and Adrian Bennett came running with half a million dollars in ransom – to save Bella, of course. My son, whom I carried for ten long months, naturally echoed his dad: “I want Bella to come with us! Dad, she’ll be scared if she stays here alone!” The system informed me that my “mission” had failed: “If your body dies, you’ll return to the original world.” Fine by me. All I wanted was a way out, to go home. choose Bella over me. Adrian only needed a couple of seconds to untie Bella’s ropes, his eyes full of worry. And there beside him, Jonah, just like his father, fussed over Bella’s bruised wrists, blowing on her red skin. “Bella, this will make it feel better.” The three of them stood there, tender and cozy, entirely forgetting that I was still bound in the hands of the kidnapper. Even the man holding me couldn’t help but sneer. “That husband of yours is lost in the warmth of another woman’s arms. I bet he’s not coming back for you – should I just call it a day here?” As I watched Adrian and Jonah walk off with Bella, the system officially deemed my mission a failure. The penalty, a jolt of electric shock, knocked me out instantly. Through my foggy consciousness, I felt the kidnapper support my collapsing body. “All I did was say something harsh, no need to pass out! Oh no, oh no… I better get her to a hospital, don’t want to be in trouble if something really happens to her.”

I woke up in the hospital and confirmed with the system that, if I died here, I could finally go home. Once I had my answer, I made my way toward the window. My room was on a high floor, high enough to make the jump fatal. I opened the window and threw myself forward. As the wind roared past my ears, stinging against my skin, I felt no fear – only an intense, bittersweet relief. Just a little further, and I’d be back home, back to a place where I was truly loved. I closed my eyes, calm and ready. But a moment later, the sensation of falling stopped. My arm was yanked sharply, the force ripping through my muscles, pain radiating from my shoulder into my chest. I opened my eyes, feeling as if my arm had nearly broken. The one holding me was Ethan Carrington, Adrian’s half-brother. I looked up at the sweaty, panicked boy and spoke calmly, “Let go.” Ethan gritted his teeth and pulled harder, putting every ounce of strength into hoisting me up. “Seriously? All because my brother didn’t choose you, you’re doing something this stupid? What’s going on in that head of yours?” With effort, I began prying his fingers off, one by one. “Ethan, my death would suit you perfectly, so just let go.”

Ethan Carrington couldn’t stand me. Actually, none of Adrian’s inner circle wanted me around. After Bella ran off for love, Adrian married me under family pressure, and his people were convinced I had swooped in at her lowest point to stake my claim. I was met with obvious hostility and rejection. Ethan was always the first in line. With his rights as Adrian’s brother, he’d stroll right into Bennett Manor and ruin the garden of flowers I’d planted in the backyard. He even suggested that Jonah adopt a stray cat despite knowing I was severely allergic to cat hair. When I objected, Ethan coached Jonah to cry, making a big scene that echoed through the whole house. Then he jumped in, pretending to be the “good guy.” “It’s just a little cat. Let the kid have it if he likes it.” Jonah only cried louder, throwing a full-blown tantrum and rolling on the floor, muttering, “Mom’s mean. I want the cat.” I chased both Ethan and the cat out, then patiently explained to Jonah that I was allergic to cats and couldn’t have one but that we could get a puppy instead. But Ethan had Jonah so focused on that cat that he refused to hear me out, hitting me and demanding that I bring back his kitten. That day drove a wedge between us. Ethan seized the opportunity to plant more doubts in Jonah’s mind, convincing him that I was the “bad guy.” Like a demon crawling up from the depths, Ethan made it his mission to turn my life upside down.

I didn’t succeed in dying. Ethan’s ruckus attracted the medical staff, and together they pulled me back inside. Ethan shot me a glare and shut the window, falling silent for once. His hands trembled, knuckles red and bruised. “Vera, I don’t hate you as much as you think,” he muttered, his head down, messy hair covering his eyes. I almost thought I sensed a bit of regret in his voice. But before I could delve further, Ethan crossed his arms, looked up, and returned to his usual careless attitude. “So, what kind of new stunt is this supposed to be? I’ll tell you right now – my brother doesn’t fall for this hard-to-get stuff. Keep it up, and you’ll just push him away…” As he rambled on in his own world, the nurses checked the equipment nearby. I seized the chance to make my way back to the window and pulled it open again. But just as my foot hovered over the edge, Ethan grabbed me back with force. After stopping me twice, Ethan finally seemed to realize I was serious about ending my life. He moved me away from the window, making sure I was safely within his reach before he began trying to talk me down, with an oddly gentle tone. “Don’t be reckless, okay? My brother isn’t the only man in the world. Why cling to him this tightly?” He coughed awkwardly, a hint of pink touching his cheeks. “Look, I’ll admit, he’s not a great husband. But divorce him if you have to; he’s not worth dying over. And who knows? Maybe someone else out there’s been quietly in love with you, and you just never noticed.”

Ethan took me back to Bennett Manor. On the way, he informed me, “Adrian found out that the whole kidnapping was your plan, so he’s busy comforting Bella after the ‘trauma’ of it all.” “He’s angry, so apologize to Bella, and it’ll all blow over. Keep him calm, and the divorce will go smoothly.” I ignored him, turning to stare out the car window. The scenery blurred past, vanishing as quickly as it appeared. I thought back to the panic of the kidnapper rushing me to the hospital before I passed out. It was obvious that Bella had set me up yet again, pinning the blame on me so she could play the innocent “victim” in Adrian’s eyes. This wasn’t the first time, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. It was like Bella and I were two magnets with opposing poles, pushing each other away yet constantly colliding in harm. And Adrian? He was the iron that spun endlessly around Bella. No matter how thin her schemes were, to him, they were just more proof of her delicate charm and fragility. He always took her side, the scales never tipping in my favor. All my fighting, despair, and even hysterics only earned me one response from him: “Stop making a scene. Look at what you’ve become.”

I remembered back to when the system first assigned me to “win over” Adrian Bennett. Back then, Bella had run off with her love, leaving Adrian, the “tragic second lead,” to drown his sorrows in alcohol every night. The system had pointed to the drunken man passed out in the corner and said he was my target. I needed to reach 100% affection to return home. I didn’t understand why love from a man was the only way to succeed, but I tried. If going home meant this was the path, then I’d play along. I started with the basics. He drank himself sick at the bar, so I’d apologize to everyone, clean up his mess, and even help him get home. He’d talk about Bella’s favorite desserts, so I took baking classes to learn his tastes. But he never even looked at the treats I painstakingly made – they went straight to the trash. He warned me never to imitate Bella, that I wasn’t even worthy of standing in her shadow. I never made desserts again, though I did start learning to cook. Adrian’s stomach couldn’t handle late nights, so I made balanced meals and brought them to his office. Maybe my food wasn’t bad because he eventually started tolerating me around him. Those were the most peaceful days we had together. His affection climbed all the way to 98%. Just as I thought I’d be able to go home soon, one night of reckless drinking ended in my pregnancy. And Adrian, pressured by his family, married me. His “affection” plummeted. He believed I had tricked him, that I’d gotten pregnant on purpose, trapping him. Funny how he conveniently ignored who didn’t bother to use protection that night. He and Bella were alike in that way, both needing to lay blame on others. Did that make their guilt easier to bear? How ridiculous. I’ll never understand it.

I followed Adrian through the door of Bennett Manor, and there on the sofa, looking utterly relaxed, was Bella. Adrian and Jonah each played their part: Adrian brought over a plate of cut-up fruit and fed Bella piece by piece, while Jonah sat by her feet, grinning with his big toothy smile as he massaged her legs. If they had tails, they’d surely be wagging them by now. When Adrian turned and noticed me, his expression turned stern. He grabbed a file from the coffee table and threw it in my face. Rising with a towering, intimidating presence, he glared at me. “Vera! I can handle you throwing a tantrum, but harming Bella? That’s unforgivable!” “You set up that fake kidnapping just to get my attention? If something happened to Bella, you’d be rotting in jail!” I bent down, picked up the scattered pages, and read through them, unable to hold back a laugh. It was just a statement from the kidnapper, nothing more. If Adrian had even the slightest bit of faith in me, he’d look into the bank account used to pay the kidnappers and realize I was innocent. But people only see what they want to see. Bella, sensing my reaction, sprang from the sofa and gripped Adrian’s sleeve in a panic. “Adrian, I’m fine, really. You don’t need to get so worked up… It would be horrible for Vera to end up in jail…” Before she could finish, my hand lashed out, slapping her hard across the face. The crack of the slap echoed through the entire room. Bella stood there, stunned, as if unable to process what had just happened. Everyone else was frozen in place too. Adrian snapped out of it first. Fury filled his eyes as he grabbed my throat, his grip tightening. Fighting to breathe, I twisted and struggled, looking up at him with contempt. “You think that flimsy statement will put me in jail? You’re a fool if you think the police would fall for that.” The words seemed to hit a nerve; his hands tightened, and I felt my air slipping away. The darkness started closing in, yet I couldn’t help but let a smile creep across my face.

Just as the edges of my vision began to fade, Ethan’s fist collided with Adrian’s face, snapping him out of it. His grip loosened, and I slumped to the floor, gasping for air. I shot a glare at Ethan, my reluctant savior, who looked back at me, clearly unsatisfied, and landed another punch on Adrian. “She almost died. Do you even get that? You almost killed her!” Adrian looked stunned, rubbing his wrist as if deciding whether to hit back. But after a moment, he shoved Ethan aside, casting me a conflicted look before averting his gaze. “So what if she died? She shouldn’t have messed with Bella in the first place.” “Exactly! She hurt Aunt Bella—she’s a bad mom! I hate bad moms!” Jonah clung to Bella’s arm, angrily chiming in. Not interested in facing the ugliness of the Bennett family any longer, I slipped away to my room while Ethan and Adrian continued their fight. Their voices drifted up to the second floor. “Brother! Don’t you get it? Vera wants to die! Didn’t you see that twisted little smile when you nearly strangled her? She’s pushing you on purpose!” “Want to die? Please. All she ever does is cling to me. You think she’d actually want to kill herself?” Once I shut the door, the noise faded. Peace at last. I pulled a small paring knife from my drawer and walked to the bathroom. The blade sliced cleanly across my wrist, the blood trickling down in thin rivulets. Funny…facing death wasn’t nearly as painful as I’d expected.

woke up in the hospital once again, staring blankly at the sterile white ceiling. As I moved to sit up, I noticed a familiar figure dozing in the chair beside my bed. Ethan. Seeing me stir, he jerked awake, eyes ringed with dark circles. “You’re up? How do you feel? Want some water or food?” Glancing down, I saw my wrist wrapped in layers of thick bandages. With a sigh, I brushed his hand away, pushing myself up without his help. He looked taken aback, retracting his hand awkwardly. I refused to look at him. If I hadn’t been so weak from blood loss, I would have slapped him for meddling. Of all the times to start caring, why now? “Where’s Adrian?” I asked. That question hit a nerve. Ethan gripped my shoulders, pressing me back into the bed with a flash of anger in his eyes. “Why are you still thinking about him?” he demanded. “Vera, you were out cold for two days. Did he visit you once?” “Stop torturing yourself over him. Just divorce him, please.” For a brief second, sorrow flickered in his gaze. He softened, almost pleading. “Please, just look at me, Vera. Just once.”

The walls in the hospital weren’t soundproof, and before Ethan’s heartfelt speech had even ended, the door swung open with a bang. I looked up just in time to see Adrian’s fist collide with Ethan’s face. Adrian looked furious, veins bulging as he punched Ethan again and again. “Ethan! Since when did you have these feelings for my wife?” Ethan had restrained himself before, but now he’d had enough. He clenched his fist, red-faced, and threw a punch right back. “I saw her first, you know that? Remember the time I almost drowned years ago? She was the one who saved me!” “She pulled me back from death, and I tried to find her afterward, but you got to her first and claimed her for yourself.” “I let you have her, and this is how you treat her?” Adrian’s fists tightened as he yelled back, “Claimed her? She came to me willingly. What claim are you talking about?” “Know your place, Ethan! As long as I’m in charge of the Bennett family, don’t think I won’t put you back in line.” The two fought ruthlessly, going at each other with every ounce of strength. At some point, Bella and Jonah appeared in the doorway. Jonah ran up, trying to pull them apart with his small hands, but he was too weak to make a difference and soon began crying out of frustration. Bella, meanwhile, folded her arms and watched the scene with casual amusement. Their racket made my head throb. I wanted to die, but I also wanted some peace and quiet while I did it. Grabbing an apple from the fruit basket beside me, I hurled it at them. The apple smacked right into Ethan’s head. “Enough! Can you all just be quiet?” Ethan rubbed his head, pausing, and Jonah stopped crying, though Adrian looked ready to charge again. I reached for a pear and threw that one at him, finally making him stop. As Ethan looked at me, clearly hurt, I laughed without mirth. My face was calm, expressionless. “Ethan, why do you think I’d want anything to do with someone who uses ‘love’ as an excuse to hurt me?” “Do you really think one word – ‘love’ – makes up for everything you’ve done?” “Get out, Ethan. You’re even worse than your brother. Honestly, I regret saving you. You should’ve just drowned.”

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He demanded a divorce for the hundredth time, and I finally agreed. On the way to sign the papers, I died in a car crash with his unborn child still inside me. While my body lay on the operating table, Adrian returned to the hospital in excitement—ready to cut out the heart of the “anonymous donor” that would save the woman he truly loved. He never knew the heart he transplanted into Eve Snow was mine. During his hundredth demand for a divorce, I agreed. What Adrian didn’t know, however, was that I was already carrying his child. On the way to the courthouse to finalize the divorce, I was in a car accident. Both my life and my unborn child’s were lost in an instant. Adrian didn’t get the divorce papers that day, but he did get the news that Eve had found a perfect heart donor match. Excited, he rushed back to the hospital and performed the surgery himself, taking the heart from my lifeless body and placing it into hers. The pain finally disappeared the moment my soul left my body. I hovered above the scene, staring at the mangled car smoking in the rain. The driver’s seat was crushed beyond recognition, and the body slumped inside was twisted and broken in every way imaginable. Today was supposed to mark our fifth wedding anniversary. Ironically, it was also the day Adrian asked for a divorce for the hundredth time. Over the years, I had tried to ignore the cracks in our fragile relationship, hoping that somehow, we’d make it work. But this time, I finally agreed to let go. Five years is a long time, even if most of it was marked by distance and tension. Regardless of how things were, we’d spent a significant part of our lives together. But everything changed a month ago when Eve returned from abroad, her health deteriorating. From that moment on, Adrian never came home. He stayed at the hospital, tirelessly caring for her. Everyone knew he had married me out of anger and heartbreak after Eve rejected him. But I had loved him for years, long before he even knew my name. So, even when I found out the truth, I stayed. Loving him was as natural as breathing, no matter how much it hurt. My thoughts returned to the present as I watched the ambulance from St. Mercy’s Hospital load my broken body into the back. I followed instinctively. Adrian worked at St. Mercy’s, where he was a legendary cardiologist. Patients and staff worshipped him. Yet, as his wife, I couldn’t even go to him for a cold. On our wedding day, he had made it clear: “I don’t want to see you at my workplace.” “And don’t bother me over trivial things.” That’s why I never told him I was pregnant. As I floated above the ambulance, my hand drifted to my stomach. The life I had carried, the one I had dreamed of for years, was gone now—just like me. Tears streamed down my face, silent and endless, as an ache settled deep in my chest. That child was supposed to be my miracle, my hope after five long years. My body wasn’t taken to the morgue. Instead, it was wheeled into the operating room on the fifth floor. The door to the operating room opened, and two figures stepped inside. “Dr. Ryan, this isn’t legal without the family’s consent…” The voice belonged to Noah, Adrian’s protégé. I knew him well; over the years, he had eaten countless meals I’d brought for Adrian. Eve scoffed and crossed her arms as she walked toward my lifeless body. She glanced at me before quickly turning her head, unable to hide the disgust in her eyes. “I’ve waited far too long for a compatible heart. I’m not about to let this opportunity slip away,” she said coldly. Then, without hesitation, she turned to Noah. “Call Adrian. Tell him to come back and perform the surgery himself.” Noah hesitated, shifting uncomfortably on his feet. He opened his mouth as if to protest but said nothing. Eve pulled out a card from her purse and handed it to him. “There’s fifty grand on this card. This stays between us. No one has to know.” Noah stared at the card, torn between guilt and greed. Finally, after a long pause, he took it and dialed Adrian. The phone rang a few times before Adrian’s voice filled the room. “What is it?” he asked, sounding impatient. Noah glanced at Eve before answering softly. “Dr. Ryan, we found a suitable donor for Eve. The body is in the operating room. You should come back.” The indifference in Adrian’s voice evaporated, replaced by palpable excitement. “Are you serious?! I’ll be there right away!” “Eve won’t have to worry about this anymore…” His voice was jubilant, overflowing with relief and joy. Each word felt like a dagger to my chest. My tears blurred everything as I looked at the operating table where my body lay. If Adrian knew it was my heart he was about to take, would he still sound so happy?

It didn’t even take thirty minutes for Adrian Ryan to return to the hospital. Out of breath, he rushed down the hallway and pulled Eve Snow into his arms. His voice was filled with relief and joy as he said, “Eve, you’re finally going to be okay.” Hearing this, Eve’s eyes welled up with tears, and she leaned into his chest, her voice trembling as she whispered, “Adrian, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t even want this heart… I’d rather give up.” Adrian tightened his embrace, gently placing a kiss on her forehead. His voice was full of unwavering promise: “Don’t worry. I’ll divorce Mia soon.” “I only married her because I was angry with you.” Even though this was something everyone seemed to know, hearing it from Adrian’s own lips still sent a sharp pain through my heart. So, this was how deeply he loved Eve Snow. So, even after five years, I hadn’t been able to melt the ice around his heart. The ache in my chest deepened as Adrian comforted Eve, telling her to prepare for surgery. He then walked into the operating room with Noah to scrub in. Performing a heart transplant was nothing more than routine for Adrian. It was the kind of procedure he could do with his eyes closed. But when he saw the bloodied body lying on the operating table, he couldn’t help but frown. “Noah, why wasn’t this cleaned up before it was brought in?” he asked, his tone sharp. Noah hesitated, his nervous gaze avoiding Adrian’s. He stammered, “Dr. Ryan, Eve’s match is so rare… And, well… keeping the heart fresh was the priority.” Adrian didn’t respond right away. Instead, he took the scalpel from Noah’s hand and prepared to begin. But just as he was about to make the first incision, he paused. I followed his gaze and realized he was staring at my left hand. There, on my ring finger, was the diamond wedding ring I had designed myself. The blood that covered it only made it more striking. I had even made Adrian a matching band for our wedding, but he had hated it. On the day of our marriage, he locked it away in a drawer and never wore it again. “What’s wrong, Dr. Ryan?” Noah asked, confused by his hesitation. Adrian shook his head but spoke with a faint trace of regret in his voice. “She was unlucky. Her husband must be devastated.” As he said this, he made the incision, opening up my chest. Noah stood beside him, passing him tools as needed. At one point, he added, “And… after running the tests, we found out she was two months pregnant.” “Really tragic when you think about it.” This time, Adrian didn’t reply. The atmosphere in the room grew heavier, like an invisible weight pressing down on everyone. I watched him from a distance, memories flooding back. Last winter, I fell terribly ill. My fever was so high that I couldn’t even get out of bed. Adrian was home that night, but he barely noticed. He was too busy working on a paper for some medical journal. I spent the entire night shivering and burning up, too weak to call for help. By the time I was rushed to the hospital, the doctors said I had narrowly escaped death. When I finally woke up, the first thing Adrian did was scold me. “You’re an adult. If you’re feeling this bad, why didn’t you say something?!” His eyes were cold, filled with anger. “Or was this your way of getting my attention?” I didn’t have the strength to argue with him. I wanted to remind him that he had always told me not to bother him, even if I was sick. I had been nothing but obedient, so why was he still angry? Now, standing in this operating room, I couldn’t help but wonder: How could Adrian show compassion for a stranger but be so heartless toward me, the woman who had been by his side for five years?

The heart was successfully transplanted. Six hours later, it beat again—this time inside Eve Snow’s body. The moment Adrian Ryan stepped out of the operating room, he went straight to Eve’s recovery ward. He stood by her bedside, watching her sleep peacefully. Only then did he let out a long sigh of relief. Once he was sure Eve was stable, Adrian returned to his office. He sank into his chair and pulled out his phone, only to find the screen blank—no messages, no missed calls. It was strange. I used to text him endlessly every single day, sharing every mundane detail of my life—what I ate, what I was working on, how my day went. But Adrian never responded. Not once. He stared at his phone for a few moments, then opened his contacts. His thumb hovered over my name before he hesitated, but eventually, he made the call. The line rang and rang, the mechanical tone echoing in the silence, until it automatically disconnected. On the other end, there was no one to pick up. Frustrated, Adrian put the phone down, opened our old chat thread, and recorded two voice messages, his irritation unmistakable: “Mia, you already agreed to the divorce. Whether you answer your phone or not won’t change my decision.” “And don’t think playing hard to get will make me reconsider.” I watched him angrily send the messages, a faint smile tugging at my lips. It was bitter and hollow. “Adrian Ryan,” I murmured softly, “if you hated me this much, why did you marry me in the first place?” But it didn’t matter anymore. The wife he despised had died in today’s storm. He wouldn’t have to deal with me ever again. For the first time, Adrian’s messages disappeared into the void, unanswered. I faded from his world, quietly and without a trace. And yet, he didn’t look for me. He assumed I was being difficult, hiding away because I didn’t want the divorce. He was so certain of it that he didn’t bother to question my absence. Meanwhile, my body lay unclaimed in the hospital morgue. It wasn’t surprising. After all, I was an orphan. Growing up in a group home, I had no family to call my own. My only real accomplishment in life was earning a spot at one of the country’s top design schools. And, of course, marrying Adrian Ryan. Back in college, Adrian wasn’t just the star of the medical school—he was the star. Top of his class, impossibly handsome, and untouchable, he was the dream of every girl on campus. Even at my school across town, everyone had heard about the perfect love story between Adrian Ryan and Eve Snow. The first time I saw him was at a joint event between our universities. He stood tall in the crowd, dressed in a custom-tailored suit that screamed wealth and elegance. He spoke with effortless charm, surrounded by people who seemed magnetically drawn to him. His presence was so dazzling, it was almost blinding. That night, I was cornered by a drunken guy who wouldn’t leave me alone. Adrian was the one who stepped in, pulling me out of the situation. My quiet, reserved heart raced for the first time. But I knew better. Adrian Ryan was a world apart from me. He was untouchable, and besides, he already had Eve. So I buried my feelings deep inside, content to admire him from a distance. It was a foolish dream, I thought. People like me—those who clawed their way out of the dirt—had no business reaching for stars like him. I thought that would be the first and last time our paths crossed. But fate had other plans. Adrian and Eve eventually broke up. I wasn’t sure why, and it wasn’t my place to ask. One sunny afternoon, I happened to be delivering custom cufflinks to one of Adrian’s friends. Adrian was there, standing by the window, bathed in golden light. He looked up at me, his gaze calm and detached, and asked a question that would change everything: “Do you want to marry me?”

“Mia still isn’t answering her phone?” In the hospital room, Eve Snow’s pale face grew even more ashen. Her eyes reddened, and tears spilled over as she looked at Adrian Ryan, her voice trembling. “Adrian, in the five years you were married to her… did you really never feel anything for her? Not even once?” Her voice cracked as she continued, her emotions unraveling. “Is she really missing, or are you lying to me? Was this all a trick because… you never actually wanted to marry me? Because you never forgave me for leaving you back then?” By the time she finished, Eve burst into heart-wrenching sobs. I stood by the window, quietly leaning against the frame, watching them. My emotions had oddly settled over the past few days. I wasn’t even angry anymore. I had expected this. I guessed Adrian would pull her into his arms, soothing her like he always did. And sure enough, a second later, he frowned, stood, and wrapped the trembling Eve in a comforting embrace. See? I guessed right. “Mia agreed to the divorce,” he said calmly, patting Eve’s back as if to reassure her. “I don’t know why she suddenly disappeared, but don’t worry. I’ll go through with the divorce.” “And then I’ll marry you.” Just as those words left his mouth, hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway. Before Adrian could react, two uniformed police officers walked into the room. Adrian froze, his brow furrowing in confusion. “Officers, is there a problem?” Before the police could respond, the door burst open again. Noah stumbled in, panting heavily, his face pale as he stammered, “Dr. Ryan… C-Mia… Mia is dead.” The words hung in the air like a thunderclap. Adrian stared at Noah, his expression blank as if he hadn’t heard correctly. “What did you just say? Who’s dead?” One of the officers stepped forward, sighing deeply as he pulled out his phone. He unlocked it and handed it to Adrian, a video already playing. “We’re here to inform you officially, Mr. Ryan,” the officer said gravely. “A week ago, your wife, Mia, was in a car accident. Her car collided with a bus on the highway.” “The crash was devastating. She died at the scene.” “To ensure accountability, her body was taken to your hospital. But no one ever came to claim it…” Adrian’s hands trembled as he held the phone, his eyes glued to the screen. The video showed the scene of the accident—twisted metal, shattered glass, and blood. For the first time, I saw something on his face I had never seen before: shock. The room fell silent. The kind of silence so heavy it felt like the air itself had stopped moving. You could hear a pin drop. Noah broke the stillness, stepping closer to Adrian. His hand pressed down on Adrian’s shoulder as if steadying him. “Dr. Ryan,” Noah said softly, his voice filled with guilt, “the body you operated on last week… that was Mia.” “She was pregnant. Two months along.” “And now…” Noah hesitated, his voice cracking, “her body is still in the morgue.” A sharp thud broke the silence as Adrian’s phone slipped from his hand, hitting the floor. His pupils dilated, his face a mask of disbelief as he stared at Noah. “You’re telling me… that person was Mia?” Noah didn’t respond this time. His eyes were red, his expression conflicted. I could tell he didn’t know what to say. After all, it was him and Eve who had taken my heart without anyone’s consent. And to think, I used to be kind to Noah. Adrian didn’t wait for an answer. He bolted out of the room like a man possessed. Noah snapped out of his daze and rushed after him, leaving Eve frozen in place, her face filled with confusion and panic. The elevator was stuck on the top floor, refusing to come down. In his desperation, Adrian took the stairs, racing down from the sixteenth floor. His pace was reckless, and he missed a step, tumbling down the staircase. “Dr. Ryan!” Noah shouted, running to help him. Adrian shoved him away, blood dripping from a gash on his forehead. He staggered to his feet, ignoring the injury, and continued his mad dash to the basement morgue.

I followed quietly behind them, watching everything unfold with a detached calm. I couldn’t quite understand why Adrian Ryan seemed so shaken after hearing the news of my death. Was he thrilled that his nagging wife was finally gone? Maybe his excitement was just overwhelming him. Adrian stopped abruptly in front of the morgue doors. His earlier frenzy disappeared, replaced by an eerie calm. He took slow, deliberate steps toward the rows of cold metal drawers and came to a halt. Noah, who had caught up with him, hesitated for a long moment, glancing at Adrian several times before finally pointing to one of the drawers in the middle row. “Dr. Ryan… Mia’s… Mia’s body is in here.” I floated silently beside Adrian, watching him lower his gaze to the drawer handle. His hand shook violently as he reached for it, fingers trembling against the cold steel. But he didn’t pull it open right away. He just stood there, staring, unmoving. I looked at his pale, bloodless face and couldn’t help but mutter sarcastically, “What’s wrong, Adrian? Are you so happy I died that you’re too overwhelmed to react?” After all, with me gone, he wouldn’t have to deal with my “annoying” presence anymore. Nothing stood in the way of him and Eve Snow now. True love conquers all, right? The thought made me want to scream. “Adrian Ryan! I was your wife for five years. You weren’t with Eve for even half that long!” “If you don’t shed at least one fake tear when you see me, I swear I’ll haunt you for the rest of your life!” I yelled at him, as loudly as I could, but of course, he couldn’t hear me. With a soft click, the drawer slid open. A wave of cold mist escaped, revealing the broken, mangled body that had once been mine. Even Noah couldn’t help but gasp at the sight. Adrian seemed to lose all strength. He dropped to his knees, staring at my disfigured body. His entire frame began trembling uncontrollably, and then, like a dam breaking, tears streamed down his face in torrents. I froze, stunned. Was this… real? Was this the same Adrian Ryan I had known? Or was this some kind of ridiculous performance? Was he putting on a show, even now, to maintain his image as the “tragic, devoted husband”? Before I could make sense of it, Adrian reached out a trembling hand toward my head, but he stopped just inches away, unable to go any further. I sighed softly as I looked at him. It made sense. My skull had been shattered in the accident, and even though it had been pieced back together, the surface was uneven and grotesque. I couldn’t blame him for hesitating. But then, out of nowhere, his anguished scream shattered the silence of the morgue. “Mia!!!” Adrian shouted my name and lunged forward, wrapping my corpse in his arms. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…” he sobbed over and over, his voice breaking with every word. For a moment, I didn’t know how to react. My chest tightened, and tears pricked the corners of my eyes. “What an actor,” I muttered bitterly to myself. “How did I never realize he was this good at pretending?” Noah, visibly alarmed, crouched down and grabbed Adrian, trying to pry him away. “Dr. Ryan! Stop! Mia’s body took hours to repair—please don’t touch her!” It took all of Noah’s strength to pull Adrian away. But as expected, the moment Adrian let go, my body—barely held together—fell apart. Adrian froze, staring at the disassembled remains in the drawer. His tear-filled eyes were wide with disbelief as he whispered, “This isn’t real… This can’t be real.” “You’re lying to me, aren’t you?” His voice cracked, filled with desperation. “Mia, I know you love playing these little tricks to get my attention. But this… this isn’t funny.” “Get up.” His voice rose into a plea. “Mia, get up!” Adrian’s sobs grew louder, his entire body trembling as he clung to Noah, gripping his shirt like a lifeline. It looked like he might pass out at any second. Noah’s own eyes were red with unshed tears, but he managed to keep his composure. “Dr. Ryan… Mia is gone,” Noah said softly but firmly. “She’s… she’s dead.” “No!” Adrian roared, shoving Noah away with surprising strength. “She loved me. She wouldn’t leave me like this!” “She can’t be dead… This is just a nightmare. It has to be.” He collapsed to his knees in front of my drawer, his movements slow and reverent as he reached for my left hand. He grasped it gently, clutching it in both of his trembling hands. “Mia,” he whispered, his voice raw, “please wake up.” “I won’t bring up divorce again. I swear, we’ll fix everything. We’ll start over.” “Please… I’m begging you…”

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On my wedding day, I was sitting on my fiancé’s father’s bed. He held my wrist and asked in a low voice if I regretted anything. At that moment, the space between us was dangerously close, charged with a tension that should never have existed. But the one who crossed the line wasn’t us—it was my fiancé. He vanished with a farewell message sent to his mistress, leaving me alone at the wedding venue. His father stepped in to clean up the mess. He shielded me, kissed me, and opened the door to a far more ruthless path of revenge. I am Sienna Henderson, heiress of Henderson Enterprises. Today was supposed to be my wedding day with Evan Westfield, the young heir of Westfield Corporation. But the groom, who was meant to be front and center, was nowhere to be found. “You’re telling me Evan ran away?” I asked, my voice cold. “That’s what they’re saying…” the maid stammered, trembling as she explained. My parents were livid. Both the Henderson and Westfield families had spent months preparing for this wedding. Every major elite family in New York City had been invited, and the media was eagerly covering it. If Evan had any issues with the wedding, he had plenty of opportunities to voice them. But to flee on the day of the ceremony? That was a direct slap in the face to the Hendersons. After offering me some reassurances, my parents hurried off to figure out how to salvage the situation. I sat in the corner, quietly thinking about how to proceed with the reception when I heard a commotion at the entrance. Instinctively, I looked up. Walking through the door in a tailored black suit was a strikingly handsome man. This man was Damian “Chris” Westfield, the current head of Westfield Corporation and, technically, Evan’s father. Despite being thirty-five, he looked like he was barely in his twenties. Chris rarely attended large social events. Even I had only met him a handful of times. So seeing him here, now, drew the attention of every family present. People practically tripped over themselves to get to him. Staring at Chris’s perfect features, a wild idea flashed in my mind. As I watched him politely turn down everyone’s advances, he suddenly walked straight toward me. “Mr. Westfield,” I greeted him with a polite smile, though I couldn’t hide a hint of vulnerability in my voice. His voice, low and melodic like a cello, came next. “Miss Henderson, I apologize for Evan’s behavior. I’ve already sent people to find him. When he’s caught, you may decide what happens to him.” “I’ll inform everyone that the wedding is postponed, and Westfield Corporation will cover all expenses.” It was a perfect solution, but I had a better plan. “Mr. Westfield, this engagement has always been between the Hendersons and the Westfields, right? The groom doesn’t necessarily have to be Evan, does it?” “What?” His eyes darkened, clearly taken aback by the sudden turn. After a pause, he asked, “Well, who would you choose then?” I smiled sweetly, extending my hand. “Would you be my groom?”

Although Chris is Evan’s father in name, he isn’t his biological dad. There were rumors Chris had certain… physical shortcomings, which is why he was still unmarried. At twenty-five, he adopted Evan from a distant relative. Whether or not those rumors were true didn’t concern me. Medical advancements these days are incredible—I’m sure any issue could be resolved. And if not, well, maybe we just don’t have kids. Chris raised an eyebrow, amused by the bold smile on my face. “Are you sure?” “Of course,” I replied without hesitation. After all, Chris was far more attractive than Evan—by miles. Even if the rumors were true, just looking at his face every day would be more than enough for me. It sure beats being humiliated by a two-timing Evan. Chris studied me for a long moment before finally nodding. “Alright.” His strong, masculine hand clasped mine, and my heart skipped a beat. The wedding went on with a new leading man. I didn’t even have to change my dress. The elegant white gown, paired with Chris’s custom-tailored black suit, made us look like we were always meant to be bride and groom. Everyone at the reception caught on quickly. Evan’s sudden disappearance wasn’t exactly a secret, and the guests had more or less figured it out. The media, sensing a scandal, had their cameras ready, eager to capture the drama unfolding between two of New York’s wealthiest families. But when they saw me walking down the aisle, arm in arm with Chris, jaws dropped. The audacity of switching grooms at the last minute left them all speechless. The officiant, ever the professional, read off the updated details with ease. “Please, exchange your rings…” Chris pulled out a ring and slid it onto my finger, and I did the same for him. I quickly noticed the ring didn’t quite fit—after all, it was sized for Evan. It was a rushed job, but it would have to do. Then came the moment for the groom to kiss the bride. I felt a wave of nerves. Chris was known for being discreet and private—he rarely attended events, and when he did, he never had a date. Would he really want to kiss me in front of all these people? I regretted dragging him into this mess on a whim. But before I could spiral into doubt, I felt the soft pressure of his lips on mine. Shocked, I opened my eyes, and there he was—his perfect face, inches from mine. Sensing my surprise, Chris gently cupped the back of my head, deepening the kiss. I closed my eyes again, letting myself sink into the moment as the crowd around us erupted into applause.

My parents had no idea about my last-minute decision, but faced with the congratulations from everyone around us, they had no choice but to smile and accept it. They couldn’t possibly embarrass their daughter in public, could they? During the reception, my mom pulled me aside into a private room where my dad was already waiting. She locked the door behind her. “Sienna, what is going on? How did you end up marrying Chris Westfield?” “Because… he’s handsome.” I had no better explanation for my sudden impulse. “Handsome?” My mom thought about it for a moment. “Well… he is good-looking.” “But he’s more than ten years older than you! He was almost done with elementary school when you were born.” “So what? They say older men are more caring.” I tried to play it cool. “But… there’s a rumor he can’t, well, you know…” Yikes. This was going to be tough to explain. Before I could figure out how to dodge that landmine, there was a knock on the door. My mom opened it, and there stood Chris. I had no idea how long he’d been standing there. With practiced ease, my parents plastered on polite smiles, as if they hadn’t just been gossiping about the man. “Mr. Westfield, what brings you here?” “I’d like to have a word with you both, if you don’t mind,” Chris said. I have no idea what he said to them, but by the time their conversation ended, my parents were no longer opposing the marriage. In fact, they seemed genuinely impressed with him. “Chris is quite something,” my dad said approvingly. “He’s capable, resourceful. Sure, he’s a bit older, but that kind of man can protect our daughter.” Evan, who ran away like a coward, certainly couldn’t.

After the wedding, I moved into the Westfield Estate. This was Chris’s personal residence, and it was my first time there. The décor was modern, minimalist, with everything in black, white, or gray. After a day filled with endless socializing, I could feel the alcohol and sweat clinging to my skin. Chris headed off to shower first while I relaxed on the couch. I could hear the sound of the water running, and through the frosted glass of the bathroom door, I could just make out his silhouette. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment, so I quickly averted my eyes. Eventually, the water stopped, and out of habit, I glanced up as Chris emerged from the bathroom. He was wearing a robe, the collar slightly open, revealing a chiseled chest and abs. I stared, wide-eyed. I hadn’t expected him to look so… fit. Chris caught me looking and gave a small, amused smile. “Sienna, maybe you should take a shower too,” he said, his voice deep and teasing. Snapping out of my daze, I bolted into the bathroom, my face burning. As the water rushed over me, my mind replayed the way he’d called me by my name. How had I not noticed before how charming he was? After my shower, I realized I’d forgotten to bring my clothes into the bathroom. Ugh. There was no choice but to crack open the door just a bit and call out, “Chris, I forgot my clothes. Can you grab the bag on the couch and hand it to me?” There was no response at first, and I started to wonder if he’d left the room. Just as I was about to ask again, his voice came from outside the door, a little rougher than before. “Sure.” I could hear him moving around, and soon, he knocked on the bathroom door. “Here you go.” I cracked the door just enough to extend my arm, and he handed me the clothes. “Thanks,” I muttered, quickly closing the door. But as I did, I accidentally met his gaze. Those deep, smoldering eyes… I blushed even harder. Oh my God. He hadn’t handed me the whole bag—just the underwear.

I spent a long time dawdling in the bathroom, but eventually, I had to come out. Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open. Chris was already changed into his pajamas, sitting on the bed, reading a document. When he saw me emerge, he calmly closed the folder. There wasn’t any teasing in his expression, which helped me relax. I had some business to address anyway. “So, what are you planning to do about Evan?” Chris had anticipated the question. He handed me the folder he’d been reading earlier. “Take a look.” I walked over and took the papers. Inside was the whole backstory of Evan and some girl—the kind of classic love affair you’d expect from a cheesy romance novel: a rich heir and a delicate, innocent girl. Next to the description was a photo of the girl. She really did fit the role of a sweet, innocent little thing. Apparently, they’d gone through rounds of dramatic breakups and reconciliations, all without me knowing. Then, last night, the girl found out Evan was getting married. Distraught, she called him, crying. Evan, ever the compassionate fool, panicked and ran off, leaving his fiancée (that’s me) behind to elope with her. Honestly, if I weren’t the poor bride left at the altar, I might have congratulated them. But no, unfortunately for me, I was the jilted bride. Seriously, where had these two been for the past few months? From the timeline in the documents, their little roller-coaster romance had been going on for two months. Longer than it took to plan the wedding. If Evan had hinted at anything during that time, I wouldn’t be so furious right now. “Evan’s off on some vacation with his little girlfriend right now,” Chris said, noting my simmering anger. “I’ve sent people to drag him back. If you want, we can pretend this whole wedding didn’t happen.” We hadn’t officially signed the marriage license yet—just held the ceremony. But I didn’t regret a thing. I’d tossed away trash and found myself a treasure. This was luck beyond belief. “No need to cancel anything. We’re married, and I’m your wife. Tomorrow, we’ll get the paperwork done.” I was serious. Chris looked at me, realizing I meant every word. His tone softened. “Alright.”

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My younger brother, Brett, always competed with me. When we were kids, he fought for our parents’ attention. When we grew up, he went after my girlfriends. But every time he tried to sneak into Serena’s bed, she’d ruthlessly kick him out. “I’m your brother’s girlfriend, no one’s taking me away.” I was 25 when I passed the police academy’s final assessment. Brett brought over a cake, his eyes, usually filled with a defiant glint, surprisingly subdued. Serena held a bouquet of flowers, and the engagement ring she raised glinted in the warm light. In that moment, I felt like the luckiest man in the world. Until my first mission. I kicked open a hotel room door, And there I saw my brother, Brett, pinning Serena beneath him, engulfed in a moment of raw passion. Serena’s white shirt was a rumpled mess. Her collar gaped open, fresh hickeys blooming on her collarbone. My own brother, Brett, held her down, his movements clumsy yet audacious. In that instant, my world imploded around me. My heart felt like it was being squeezed by a giant hand, the pain stealing my breath. Brett finally looked up, his face flushed with a drunken, lustful haze. When he saw me, he deliberately shifted, a smug, triumphant grin playing on his lips. “Took you long enough, big brother. A little later, and you would’ve missed the show.” Serena never once looked at me. She just pulled her blazer tighter around Brett. It was my birthday gift to her last month, bought with half a year’s salary. I forced myself to look away, speaking to my colleague behind me. “Take them in.” The ride back to the precinct was filled with a chilling silence. I sat in the passenger seat, feeling the gazes from the back seat. A cocktail of pity, shock, and barely contained gossip. I was a walking punchline. A colossal joke, betrayed by my own brother and my fiancée. At the precinct, I was assigned to record the interrogation. Behind the one-way mirror, I watched Brett in the interrogation room. There wasn’t a trace of shame or remorse on his face. “Officer, I’m not a hooker. We’re in love. I love her, she loves me, we’ve been together for a long time.” His voice came through clear as day, every word a razor-sharp blade, shredding my heart to pieces. “I know every mole on Serena’s body.” “I told you, I’d take everything from Ryan. First, it was Mom and Dad’s love. Now, it’s Serena.” The documents in my numb fingers slipped, scattering across the floor. My vision blurred, my stomach churning violently. A colleague grabbed my trembling body. “Ryan, you okay? Maybe take a break?” Through my hazy vision, I saw Serena emerge from another interrogation room. She walked straight past me, her voice chillingly clear. “Brett is still young, he doesn’t know any better.” “I’ll take full responsibility for everything.” The way her eyes lingered on Brett showed a mix of panic and tenderness I hadn’t seen in ages. Captain Miller told me to go home and rest. I don’t know how I got back to my apartment. In the empty living room, I frantically dialed Serena’s number like a madman. Dozens of calls. From no answer to outright hanging up. Finally, my phone screen lit up, but it wasn’t her calling back. I shakily opened the email. It was an official termination letter from the precinct. The reason: Misconduct during an arrest, causing significant harm to the individual involved.

Attached was a formal complaint, signed by Serena herself. I collapsed onto the cold floor, my gaze empty, fixed on the dining table. On it sat an unopened cake. Serena had prepared it in advance to celebrate my first successful mission. I suddenly remembered years ago, when I got into the police academy and excitedly told her the news. She hugged me tightly, her eyes sparkling brighter than any star in the night sky. “Ryan, I’m so proud of you.” It was all a lie, then. All those memories I’d cherished as priceless were nothing but her empty charade. I shakily answered the phone. On the other end, Serena’s voice was back to its usual tenderness, now making me sick to my stomach. “Ryan, let me explain. I really had too much to drink…” I cut her off, my voice a raw croak: “Serena, do you honestly think I’d believe that?” She paused, then her tone shifted, filled with a weary understanding, almost patronizing. “Ryan, what happened today was really messy, and it’s bad for your career.” “I’ve already arranged a new job for you. It’s easier than being a cop, and the pay is higher. You…” I let out a choked laugh, tears streaming down my face. “Serena, who are you to decide my life for me!” The next second, Brett’s message popped up. The photo showed him wrapped in Serena’s favorite bathrobe. The collar was wide open, revealing mottled hickeys on his collarbone. The background was the marital home Serena and I had decorated with our own hands. That soft, white king-sized bed we’d picked out together. But Serena had told me the house was still airing out and uninhabitable. Below the photo, a caption: [Big brother, the bed you picked out is so comfortable. Your taste in women isn’t bad either.] A furious rush of blood surged to my head. I grabbed my car keys and stormed out. Soon, I stood at the villa’s front door. I entered the code Serena and I had chosen, but it kept flashing “incorrect.” I had to go around to the backyard, scramble up the wall, and climb onto the balcony. Voices drifted from the living room. I lightened my steps, moving closer, one foot after another. In the dining room, Serena was gently feeding Brett porridge, spoonful by spoonful. Her movements were soft, intimate, a tenderness I’d never experienced myself. “I don’t like these curtains. Too plain. Change them.” Brett pointed to the galaxy-themed curtains I’d personally chosen, his tone demanding. Serena playfully tapped his nose, a doting smile on her face: “Okay, we’ll change them.” “Whatever Brett likes, we’ll get.” After giving his instructions, Brett pouted, asking impatiently. “Serena, just don’t marry him…” Serena put down the bowl and kissed Brett’s forehead. “Silly boy, marrying him is a necessity.” “I need a husband with a clean, respectable record, and someone who’d listen to her.” Each of her words hit me like a sledgehammer to the chest. “But don’t worry, you’ll always be the man of this house.” “My true love is only you.” My nails dug into my palms, but the physical pain was a mere fraction of the agony in my heart. Brett still wasn’t happy and turned his head away. Serena chuckled softly, then started kissing his neck. Her hand, growing bolder, slipped beneath his shirt. “Serena…” Brett feigned reluctance, then suddenly pushed Serena down onto the sofa. Soon, they were entwined, right there on the couch. I stood in the shadows, watching that scene, Trembling, frozen to my core. It wasn’t until the cold wind had completely chilled me that I returned the way I came, through the window. Back in my car, I pulled out my phone and shakily opened a webpage. [Special Talent Recruitment Program – Border Patrol] Selected candidates would serve on the border, with restricted communication, for ten years. I calmly filled out all the information and clicked submit. Consider these past seven years of my life, a complete waste.

Consider my entire twenty-something years of life, nothing but a cruel joke. From now on, Ryan was dead. The next day, the heavens opened, unleashing a torrential downpour. I stood before my parents’ gravestone, letting the icy rain drench me to the bone. My mind, against my will, flashed back to a series of images. Sweet memories of Serena and me, meeting and falling in love. And many years ago, me clutching my parents’ legs, Crying and begging them not to take my brother to the city with them. I’d rather go with them myself and work multiple jobs, just so he could stay in our hometown and focus on his studies. But the brother I’d protected with all my might had stabbed me in the back with the most brutal betrayal. The woman I’d loved for seven years had systematically dismantled my entire life. I closed my eyes, the pain in my chest had become a dull, persistent ache, almost numb. My phone stubbornly rang in the rain. “Ryan, that person has deep connections. Don’t go head-to-head with them. You’ll only end up hurting yourself.” I wiped the rain from my face, trying to make my voice sound normal. “Captain Miller, thank you.” “I’ve made up my mind. This profession isn’t for me. I’ve found a new direction in life.” I hung up and looked up at the gray, overcast sky. Rain mingled with my tears, streaming down my face. Suddenly, a black umbrella appeared over my head. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. That cool, subtle fragrance I once adored now just made my stomach churn. Serena’s voice, as gentle as ever, came from behind me. “You’ll get sick standing in the rain.” I didn’t move, didn’t speak. “Ryan, don’t be stubborn with me.” She slipped an offer letter into my hand. “I’ve arranged a new job for you. An executive position at a prestigious company, with a relaxed schedule and a generous six-figure salary. It’s much better than being a cop.” “I don’t need it.” I said coldly. She destroyed my dream, then tried to dismiss and insult me with money. Serena’s tone remained patient, almost patronizing, like she was trying to soothe a child: “Ryan, I know you feel wronged. But everything I did was for your own good. I couldn’t stand by and watch you take risks. I promised your late parents I’d look after you. From now on, you don’t have to always try to be the strong one alone.” “For my own good?” I finally couldn’t hold back. I looked up at her and suddenly laughed. My laugh sounded hollow and desolate in the rain. Serena’s brows furrowed. “Don’t throw a tantrum, Ryan.” “I know it’s hard for you to accept right now, but once you calm down, you’ll understand my good intentions.” “Our years of history together…” I scoffed. She was so sure I loved her so deeply, that I couldn’t live without her. She was so sure I’d eventually become like a docile pet, accepting all her arrangements. I looked at her face, and my hatred and fury reached a boiling point. Right in front of her, I tore the offer letter page by page into tiny pieces. I flung them hard into her face. “Serena! Who are you to decide my life!” “I never want to see you again!” The paper scraps fluttered and stuck to her wet face, making her look utterly wretched. I expected her to be angry, to explode. But she wasn’t. She just looked at me, her voice still calm. “Ryan, I’ll wait for you to calm down.” I didn’t want to argue with her anymore and turned to leave. But the intense emotional turmoil and days of mental exhaustion had already taken their toll on my body. My vision suddenly went black. All my strength drained away, and I collapsed. In the last second before consciousness vanished, I thought I saw a flicker of panic cross Serena’s usually composed face. Perhaps it was just my imagination. When I woke up, Serena was by my bedside, her face drawn and pale. Seeing me awake, she immediately clutched my hand, her eyes filled with remorse.

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The day my wealthy adoptive parents brought their ‘real’ daughter home, I had my bags already packed. “I’ll head back to the village. Make room for the real one.” My parents’ smiles were strained as they pressed a hand on my suitcase. “Nonsense. This house is big enough for ten daughters. You’re not going anywhere.” On the first day, the real daughter, Celeste, saw me, her eyes  welled up with perfect, on-demand tears. “I envy you so much. You enjoyed eighteen years of Mom and Dad’s love. I got nothing.” That night, she was found in the bathtub, an empty bottle of sleeping pills beside her. My parents screamed as they rushed her to the hospital. Spotting me stepping into the family car, Celeste was consumed by a fresh wave of jealous rage. By midnight, she’d slit her wrists. When Celeste became the target of school rumors, she marched straight to the rooftop. There, she staged a dramatic proclamation of her innocence for all to see. All fingers pointed at me. My parents were caught between a rock and a hard place. I simply showed them my booked flight ticket. “My study here is complete. It’s time I returned to my real home.” But when I was truly about to walk away, Celeste panicked…

“Go back to the village?” Celeste’s voice shot up. She twisted away from the ledge, her suicidal performance abandoned. I met her blank stare with a brisk nod. “Yes. To my real family’s place.” It wasn’t the first time I’d said it. My adoptive parents were the ones clinging to me, begging me to stay. I’d known Celeste would never tolerate sharing the Hayes mansion. So on the very day the DNA results came in, I’d already consulted my teachers and counselors about transferring. With my academic record-valedictorian of the entire state-I could have written my own ticket anywhere. In fact, when word got out I wanted to transfer, the two schools practically fought over me. One refused to let me go, and the other was begging me to come. I’d planned to leave early, but my adoptive parents insisted I stay with the Hayes family. Even if the blood tie wasn’t real, the eighteen years of love we shared certainly were After all, for nearly two decades, I’d been the obedient daughter, the golden child against whom every other rich kid was measured, the walking testament to my parents’ success. But Celeste knew none of this. If she did, she’d probably faint with rage again. “You’re doing this on purpose! You’re playing the victim so they will pity you and see me as the monster! You never had any intention of leaving!” She stood by the rooftop railing, sobbing as if her heart were breaking, perfect tears tracing paths down her cheeks. Then, in a sudden, violent move, she lunged at me and snatched my backpack, upending it with a vicious shake. “Who packs only books when they’re running away? You’re putting on a show!” The air went still. Everything that spilled from my backpack was indeed books. Celeste’s foot crushed the book and she choked back sobs. The next second, she revealed the cut on her wrist and the scar on her forehead. “Which one of us is really Mom and Dad’s biological daughter?!” Her angry shout made my parents flinch, their bodies trembling. Their eyes filled with pain, and they immediately rushed to protect her, their faces etched with heartache. “Celeste, it’s you, of course!!” “Dad and Mom love you both!! Aria, you…” I took a step forward, my expression calm, interrupting their words. I spoke directly. “Of course, it’s you, Celeste. You have blood ties with them. I’m just an outsider!” Celeste, her eyes blurry with tears, looked up. The satisfaction in her eyes hadn’t even fully surfaced before my next sentence struck it down. “But I think you’re sick!” Facing my parents’ astonished faces, I continued. “She might have paranoid delusions and self-harming tendencies. I suggest she gets a mental health check-up. If this kind of illness is delayed, it can…” “Snap!” A sharp slap landed on my face, Dad’s hand trembling. “Shut up!” “Aria Hayes, do you have any empathy at all?!” Mom immediately covered Celeste’s ears in her arms, then looked up at me. “She doesn’t mean any of this!. She’s been through hell! Her life in that town was a nightmare!” Struggling to finish her words, they both shielded Celeste and left the rooftop, descending toward the waiting luxury car under everyone’s gaze. And I was left behind, standing utterly alone in the center of that accusing circle. Celeste had suffered? From what I’d seen, she had never suffered… I stared down at the small, unmarked package I’d just retrieved from outside her room. A heavy sigh escaped me.. I couldn’t quite understand it. If Mom and Dad knew she was poisoning the whole family… Would they still be able to love their biological daughter? I wasn’t kidding. Celeste was genuinely sick.

My plane ticket was canceled. “Aria, no matter what, the Hayes family will never abandon you!” For a second, I felt touched when my parents said that. But the next second, my softened heart hardened back to stone. “The moment Celeste comes home, you go back to your old town? What will outsiders think of us?!” “They’ll just mock our family for being dysfunctional.” At the end of the day, I, who had been their daughter for eighteen years, wasn’t their own flesh and blood. Celeste was sent to the hospital for just a tiny scratch, and my parents were beside themselves with worry. She was brought back to the Hayes mansion, adored by everyone. The first thing that happened when we got home was my belongings were moved out of my room. My parents looked away, unable to meet my eyes. “Aria, you’re the older sister. Celeste isn’t well, and this room gets great sunlight. Why don’t you switch rooms?” “You’re always so understanding, you’ll surely…” “Fine.” Without a moment’s hesitation, I agreed, shrugging as if it didn’t matter. They wouldn’t let me leave, but they also needed to hurt me to compensate Celeste. “Aria changing rooms is exactly what she should do!” “Of course, she’ll agree! She’s been usurping Celeste’s place for so many years, doesn’t she feel ashamed?!” The villa’s front door was abruptly pushed open. A figure swaggered in: Julian, from the Sterling family next door. He also had another identity: my fiancé. The Hayes and Sterling families had an engagement planned for the next five years. Now that Celeste was back, that engagement naturally shifted to her. Julian hated me. He couldn’t wait to see me suffer. He gave me a cold look, then stood beside Celeste, his back straight. “I heard everything that happened at school, Aria. I advise you to behave yourself!” “Don’t you dare bully Celeste!” A blush crept onto Celeste’s face, and her eyes reddened. “Mom, Dad, and Julian… you’re all so good to me.” “No one has ever been so kind to me before.” Her voice was hoarse and choked. My parents were immediately touched, and Julian stared at Celeste, his face as red as an apple. That feeling of being their whole world, of being depended on and spoiled, was something I’d never experienced. A cough escaped me, and their gazes softened even more. Turning away, in a corner where they couldn’t see, Celeste gave me a chilling stare. Clearly, she wasn’t done with me. In the days that followed, Celeste found new ways to torment me. I went to the restroom, and a bucket of dirty water was thrown over my head. “Doesn’t she know her place? A fake, still bullying the real daughter!” “She pushed Celeste to suicide, and now she’s spreading rumors that she’s sick.” “I can’t stand people like her!” Wiping the water from my face, I held up my phone, which was recording, and marched straight to the teacher’s office. When the culprits emerged from the office, looking pale and miserable, my desk had been defaced with huge lipstick graffiti and moved out into the hallway. “Aria, are you okay!” “Don’t be sad!!” Celeste cautiously approached me from the front row, a look of concern on her face. The next second, she stepped on a book I’d dropped, stumbled, and crashed directly into the corner of the desk. “Ah!!!!” That day, my parents rushed to the hospital for the second time, straight to Celeste’s bedside. Seeing the cut on her head, they both gasped. When their gazes finally found me, their eyes filled with disappointment. “Aria, look what’s happened to Celeste again!” “Every time she’s near you, she ends up hurt. What is it about you that brings her so much pain?” What did her getting hurt have to do with me? Before I could voice it, Julian shoved me aside. “It’s all your fault!” “Celeste, from now on, you’ll stay with me. I’ll keep you safe!” He turned to my parents. “Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, you have my word. I’ll take care of her. No one will lay a finger on her again.” He emphasized the last few words, Julian looking meaningfully at me. I scoffed, my eyes icy. “I don’t want to be around her!” They only saw the cut on Celeste’s forehead; they didn’t see my vandalized desk or my dirty clothes. At my words, my parents’ faces immediately changed. Unable to hold back, they roared. “Unrepentant! Celeste has been so patient with you!” “Don’t forget, she’s our biological child.” Celeste’s body trembled. She suddenly hugged her head and crouched down. “It’s not her fault. I came from the countryside, I don’t know the rules. Aria hates my poverty, so she doesn’t even let me touch her. It’s only right that she pushed me away!” “Snap!” Unable to stand it anymore, I slapped my soaked school uniform jacket onto the floor. Dirty water splattered several of their faces. I raised my hand and tapped the blackboard, pointing above my head. “What are you arguing about? There are cameras inside and outside the classroom!” Mom and Dad froze. Half an hour later, Celeste bit her lip and said nothing. The video paused on the scene where I was being bullied, standing alone. Julian clicked his tongue, then looked away, reminding them. “Aria’s just got dirty clothes, but Celeste’s face is injured.” “Yes, yes.” Clearly, Celeste’s injury was more important than my humiliation. It was just a misunderstanding, my parents told me not to be so pessimistic. Celeste was tenderly taken home by my parents to recover, while I was left awkwardly at school, without even an apology or explanation. That evening, to thank her parents and Julian, Celeste personally cooked a pot of soup. The whole family was moved to tears. They drank bowl after bowl, and Julian, who came to join them, guzzled the soup down. My eyelids twitched. As I cautiously opened the kitchen monitor, the harsh ringing of a phone suddenly echoed through the dining room. The moment it connected, two cheerful voices came from the other end. “Aria, our sweet girl!” “When are you coming home?”

“Thud.” The bowl hit the table. Julian snatched my phone. Celeste’s face turned ashen as she put down her bowl, implying. “Aria, why are you secretly contacting them behind Mom and Dad’s backs?” “They…” She spoke as if she wanted to say more, then suddenly turned to my parents, throwing herself into their arms. “Mom and Dad, please don’t let Aria go back to that place. I don’t want her to go!” “I’m doing this for her own good!” Her crying filled the air, and Julian’s expression shifted. My heart sank. Realizing something was wrong, I immediately tried to grab my phone. “Give it to me!” Julian shoved me hard, holding up the phone with a smirk. “Aria looks down on you for being poor, why would she ever come back?!” “Don’t dream about it. You’re not good people either. Haven’t you tortured Celeste enough? How much more do you want to gain?” “Aria?! She wishes you were dead.” I looked at Julian in utter disbelief. When had I ever said those things?! He was doing this on purpose. My parents reacted, once again snatching the phone from Julian before I could. They immediately spoke into it. “Yes, those things you did to Celeste! We’ll investigate everything!” “Aria will never return to that hellhole of yours!” “She’s staying with the Hayes family forever!” My breath hitched. I watched as Mom swiftly hung up the phone. Before I could explain, a slap landed on my face. “Aria Hayes, is this your dramatic ploy?!” The last shred of affection in my heart shattered. I met the disappointment and doubt in their eyes. Celeste was finally satisfied. She stepped forward triumphantly, pretending to hold my parents back, speaking gently on my behalf. “Aria was spoiled for eighteen years, so it’s normal for her to feel disappointed.” “No matter what, she shouldn’t say she wants to go back to that den of evil and hurt Mom and Dad’s feelings…” She was seemingly speaking up for me, but actually implying I was ungrateful and not worth raising. My parents’ faces grew even uglier. Julian scoffed, muttering “ungrateful brat.” The air in the villa instantly turned sour. My parents’ expressions were indifferent; they didn’t spare me another glance. Only Celeste winked at me. In the following days, my treatment at the Hayes’ home plummeted. The entire Hayes household treated me like air. The family driver picked up and dropped off Celeste for school, completely ignoring me. Everyone at school laughed, saying I’d fallen from queen to commoner. Only Celeste would step forward to defend me. Every time she did, she’d receive praise, and Julian, especially, would go out of his way to humiliate me for her sake. Until a month later, Celeste felt unwell and asked to go home, but then suddenly went missing. She’d been kidnapped! The moment the Hayes family driver relayed the news, everyone remained silent, but their eyes immediately turned to me. “Did someone finally snap?” “Celeste has no enemies, why would she suddenly be kidnapped?” “Could it be someone deliberately seeking revenge? After all, the public media hasn’t even announced Celeste’s identity yet.” “Speaking of which, I think the person who hates Celeste the most must be her.” Countless suspicious gazes fell on me. Julian even pushed me directly, his brows furrowed. “Aria, where did you take Celeste?!” I thought they had lost their minds. Celeste was kidnapped, and instead of calling the police, they suspected me first. “I don’t know.” My face was devoid of expression. The moment I said those words, the classroom door burst open. Mom and Dad rushed in, their faces anxious. “Aria, do you really not know?!” “Yes.” I wasn’t lying. I really didn’t know. But I probably knew where Celeste had gone… I met my parents’ gaze directly. Just as I was about to drop my eyes in disappointment, a voice suddenly spoke from above my head. “I believe Aria.” “She’s the child we raised since she was little. No matter how much she dislikes Celeste, she wouldn’t hurt anyone.” My eyes flickered. My chest warmed, and I couldn’t help but look up. But just as I was about to explain, Julian suddenly moved. Holding up his phone, his face pale and distraught. “The kidnappers sent a video!” The next second, the video started playing. A voice came through. “Celeste, right? You’re the real daughter Aria talked about!” “You’re worth a lot more than her.” “We have her to thank for being able to catch you…” The entire room erupted in chaos. My parents instantly let go of my hands, their faces filled with utter disbelief. My dad’s facial muscles twitched. He pointed at me, his chest heaving. “You animal!” I didn’t explain. I raised my hand and dialed the emergency number. Seeing me about to call the police, Julian’s face suddenly fell. “Don’t call the police!”

“You’re insane!” Someone covered their mouth, looking at me with derision. Julian advanced towards me, his eyes red. “We just want to find Celeste. Are you deliberately calling the police to provoke the kidnappers into killing her?!” “You’re doing this on purpose! You’re in league with the kidnappers!” My parents’ dazed expressions instantly turned into dawning realization, and their gazes at me grew even more furious. I evaded Julian, quickly called the police, ignoring their exceptionally angry stares. “The kidnapped person’s name is Celeste Hayes… Yes, she’s been kidnapped for three hours, so she probably hasn’t gone too far…” The moment I hung up the phone, a pair of hands suddenly grabbed my throat, squeezing with merciless force. “Just tell us where Celeste is!” “Aren’t you afraid of being taken away by the police if you call them?!” “Aria Hayes, you’re still acting crazy! You’re beyond saving!” “I’m giving you one last chance! Tell me now! Where is Celeste?!” Julian was frantic, applying desperate force with his hands. I gasped for air, my frantic breathing drawing the attention of the others present. Pointing at me, someone screamed. “Quick! Officer, arrest her!” “She…” The next second, the scream seemed to be choked off. Everyone stared blankly at the door. A familiar figure appeared at the entrance. “Celeste!!!” My parents’ faces lit up with surprise. They took a step forward, then, seeing her clearly, their expressions instantly fractured. Celeste’s face held no trace of joy. She was supposed to be the rescued kidnap victim, but she was being held by police officers on either side. When she moved, her handcuffed wrists were revealed. “This is…” Someone pointed at Celeste, their mouth open wide enough to fit an egg. “Officer, you’ve arrested the wrong person!” I coughed, pulled a USB drive from my pocket, and plugged it directly into the computer at the front of the classroom. “They didn’t make a mistake.” They arrested exactly who they should have. I had waited a month for this day. The video on the USB drive began to play. Celeste’s gentle voice filled the room. “If I ‘get kidnapped,’ everyone will blame Aria, won’t they?” “Seventy-thirty split on the ransom. The Hayes family won’t pursue it. I’ll make sure of it.” “Take the money. And disappear.” My parents’ faces instantly turned ashen, utter disbelief etched on their faces. After a few seconds of silence, Celeste’s voice continued. “Pin it on Aria’s birth parents.” “They actually wanted to send me to a mental hospital.” “Me? Sick? Impossible.” The air in the room turned to ice. Everyone took a collective step back, as if an invisible, toxic barrier had just expanded around Celeste. Julian couldn’t believe it. A sudden, warm trickle under his nose. He raised a hand to find it streaked crimson. The next second, he collapsed onto the floor.

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My autistic daughter was screaming, terrified, locked in a horror escape room. They beat her for nearly half an hour. By the time I rushed in, my five-year-old was curled on the floor, her face covered in blood, her entire body shaking uncontrollably. Seeing that sight, my blood boiled. I desperately tried to reach her, but the escape room owner, Vanessa, and her staff blocked my way. “Let me go! My daughter needs to be rushed to the hospital right now! You’re trying to murder her, I’m calling the police!” I struggled with all my might, but Vanessa stomped on my hand, grinding her heel into my knuckles repeatedly. “Heh, the police? My husband is Damian of the Dawson Group. In this entire city, what the Dawson Group says, goes!” My world instantly crumbled. So, Damian was cheating on me, and he allowed this woman to hurt our daughter like this? Before I could even speak, Vanessa pulled out her phone and called Damian: “Honey, a crazy mother and daughter are causing trouble at my place. Hurry over and teach them a lesson!”

She must have gotten a satisfying reply because, after hanging up, Vanessa became even more arrogant. “I’m telling you, my husband will be here any minute! And he doesn’t have my good temper.” “Calling the police? By the time my husband gets here, you won’t even know what hit you!” I couldn’t break free, so I could only look up at the woman in front of me. “Who are you?” Vanessa looked like she’d just heard the funniest joke in the world, glancing at the other staff members standing beside her. “Hahahaha, this crazy woman is actually asking who I am?” “Come on, you guys tell her who I am.” The surrounding employees and customers chimed in, fawning over her. “Hahaha, this is Vanessa, our escape room owner, and the wife of Mr. Dawson from the Dawson Group!” “Mr. Dawson dotes on Ms. Hayes. He built this entire shopping complex just because she loves escape rooms.” “You still dare to yell? You can’t control your own daughter, so what if we took her into the escape room for some fun? Who knew she was so fragile?” The rage in my chest felt like it was about to explode. Damian built this shopping complex three years ago. At the time, I told him that building it in this location was a huge investment with tiny returns, not good for the company’s development. But he didn’t listen, determined to invest. I figured we weren’t short on money, so I let him do what he wanted. I never imagined it was all for his mistress! How utterly laughable! I lifted my head, glaring at everyone around me. “My daughter has autism! Taking her into a horror escape room like that is attempted murder!” Vanessa’s face twisted into a sneer. “Oh, so that’s why the kid looks off. She’s mentally ill?” “Why let a crazy kid like that out of the house instead of keeping her locked up?” “I’m telling you, you should be thanking me! I gave her a job opportunity by letting her be an NPC. Who knew this psycho would get so scared by the lights and sounds?” “I’m telling you, she was screaming and yelling in there, scaring off my customers. I should be making her pay for my losses.” I didn’t want to argue with her anymore. My eyes fell on my daughter, still huddled behind the crowd. Belle was covered in blood, lying on the ground, her eyes tightly shut. If it weren’t for the faint rise and fall of her chest, I would have thought she’d stopped breathing. My daughter was in a critical state. I forced my voice to remain steady. “We can talk about all this later. My daughter is in very bad shape right now. I need to take her to the hospital.” “If anything happens to her, you’ll be charged with attempted murder!” Hearing my words, Vanessa laughed even harder. “Hahahaha, do you even hear yourself? “No wonder you gave birth to a psycho. Turns out you’re just as crazy, huh?” “I’m telling you, in this entire city, there’s nothing my husband can’t handle. Getting rid of a couple of nobodies like you two won’t be a problem.” I couldn’t take it anymore. While the two security guards were also laughing, I violently broke free from their grasp. I grabbed a fire extinguisher from the corner and swung it wildly at the crowd. Perhaps startled by the wild look on my face, they hesitated to approach. I seized the opportunity, rushed to my daughter’s side, and gently pulled her into my arms. My movements startled Belle. Her confused eyes met mine. But quickly, she seemed to remember where she was, and she started screaming hysterically in my arms. Vanessa was furious. She ordered the security guards to move forward. I held my distraught daughter tightly. “Try to come closer! I dare you!” “This is Damian’s daughter! I am Damian’s wife!”

Led by Vanessa, the crowd erupted in even louder laughter than before. “Hahahaha, this woman must really be crazy, did you hear what she said?” “Ms. Hayes is standing right here, and she’s claiming she’s Mrs. Dawson? Is she out of her mind? She’s going to be a total joke.” “She must be jealous of how Ms. Hayes bragged about Mr. Dawson. She’s clearly delusional.” I was about to speak, but Belle suddenly screamed again, completely engulfed in terror. I could only pat her back, trying my best to soothe her. “It’s okay, Belle, Mom’s here, Mom’s here. Don’t be scared, Belle, don’t be scared.” Perhaps hearing my familiar voice, my daughter gradually calmed down in my arms. “M-mommy…” Hearing my daughter’s voice, I almost burst into tears. But Vanessa wasn’t about to give us any time. She glared at the security guards beside her. “What are you standing around for? Don’t just stare, grab these two bitches!” “Am I paying you to watch a show? You can’t even restrain one woman? Are you all useless?!” The guards snapped out of their daze and roughly pulled us apart. Against the strength of several men, I struggled desperately but to no avail. I could only watch helplessly as my already injured daughter was violently pulled away again. Belle, who had just calmed down, started screaming uncontrollably once more. My daughter’s screams enraged Vanessa. Vanessa picked up the fire extinguisher I had thrown on the ground earlier. “So noisy! See? I told you, crazy people should be locked up at home.” She said, walking towards my daughter, a sinister smile on her face. I realized what she was about to do and struggled frantically, roaring. “Vanessa! What are you doing?! She’s only five! She’s only five years old!” “If you dare to touch her, I swear I’ll kill you! I promise, I’ll kill you!” Vanessa tilted her head, looking at me with a scornful smile, raising the fire extinguisher high. “Oh? Well, let’s see if you kill me first, or if I finish off you two bitches first!” As Vanessa uttered her last word, the fire extinguisher in her hand crashed heavily onto my daughter’s head. “Mmph…” A muffled grunt escaped Belle’s lips, and fresh blood gushed from her already injured head. But my daughter didn’t dare to scream anymore; she just stared at Vanessa in horror. Vanessa looked at Belle with satisfaction. “That’s more like it.” I was pinned to the ground, unable to move, the anger and helplessness in my heart almost suffocating me. “Vanessa! Whatever you want, direct it at me! She’s only five! Why are you hurting her?!” Vanessa turned to me, as if she’d heard the funniest joke. “Direct it at you?” “Do you really think I’ll let you off?” Vanessa stood over me, raising the fire extinguisher like a demon, striking me again and again. “It’s been a long time since anyone dared to cross me like this.” “And you’re Damian’s wife? His name isn’t for a nobody like you to utter!” I tried to fight back, but the security guards held my limbs firmly, immobilizing me. Soon, I felt blood freely streaming down my head. My vision blurred, the world reduced to a single crimson hue. I used every last ounce of my strength. “I’m going to call Damian.”

Hearing my voice, Vanessa paused. A moment later, she scoffed. “Call Damian? Do you even deserve to? Who do you think you are?” I forced a playful smile onto my lips. “Are you scared?” Before Vanessa could respond, her employees quickly stepped forward to insult me. “Ms. Hayes is the legitimate Mrs. Dawson, what is there to be scared of?” “I think you’re just tough-talking even when you’re at death’s door. You want to call Mr. Dawson? Does Mr. Dawson even know who you are?” “I advise you to apologize now, otherwise, when Mr. Dawson arrives, you’ll be in for a world of hurt.” Vanessa’s expression told me she clearly knew of my existence. Which meant this humiliation of my daughter today was entirely deliberate on her part. I ignored the mockery of those around me and looked straight at Vanessa. “Vanessa, I’m Scarlett Stone. You know me, right?” “Or are you afraid to let me call Damian?” A flicker of annoyance crossed Vanessa’s eyes. But before she could speak, her sycophantic employees quickly jumped in to defend her. “What’s Ms. Hayes got to be afraid of? Stop trying to be mysterious!” “Ms. Hayes, let her call! What’s a Scarlett? Mr. Dawson couldn’t possibly know a crazy woman like this!” “I’m telling you, when Mr. Dawson gets here, don’t you dare beg on your knees.” Cornered by her own employees, Vanessa had no choice. She gritted her teeth and looked at me. “Go ahead and call. I’d like to see what magic you can pull off.” The security guards immediately released me. I endured the intense pain, trying to control the trembling in my hands as I dialed Damian’s number. After several calls went straight to voicemail, Vanessa’s face broke into a triumphant smile. “Scarlett, what are you doing?” “Looks like no one’s picking up your calls. I gave you a chance…” Vanessa hadn’t even finished speaking when Damian finally answered the phone. “Are you crazy? I’m driving, why are you calling me so many times…?” I cut Damian off directly. “I asked you to look after our daughter at home. Where are you?” “Do you know where Belle and I are right now?” Damian’s tone was full of impatience. “If you have something going on, does that mean I can’t? “Belle’s at home with the nanny, what are you worried about? Stop being so demanding.” “Alright, I’m driving now. Whatever it is, we’ll talk about it tonight when I get back.” Before I could say anything more, Damian hung up. Seeing my expression, everyone present couldn’t help but burst into laughter. “Hahahaha, this woman’s act is falling apart. Look at her, it’s hilarious.” “Who knows who she was even calling? She still has the nerve to call herself Mrs. Dawson, trying to be a mistress in front of the real wife?” “Don’t insult Mr. Dawson and Ms. Hayes! Mr. Dawson would have to be blind to choose this woman, okay?” Vanessa, beaming with pride, squatted in front of me. She grabbed my hair, forcing me to look directly at her. “Bitch, what do you have to say for yourself now?” “You’ve called, you’ve tried to find help. What other tricks do you have up your sleeve?” Seizing this opportunity, I secretly pressed the emergency call button on my phone. Damian as my savior? Vanessa still underestimated me.

Seeing Vanessa’s actions, Belle, who had been curled on the ground, suddenly rushed towards us like a madwoman. She shielded me, frantically waving her little hands, trying to scare Vanessa away. At that sight, my heart lurched. When Belle was seven months old, we realized she was different from other children. After a hospital check-up, the doctor told us she had severe autism. For five whole years, Belle lived only in her own world, rarely reacting to anything outside of it. She would only occasionally say the simple word “Mommy.” But now, even though Belle still couldn’t speak, Her actions clearly showed she wanted to protect her mother. Vanessa was caught off guard and pushed to the ground by Belle. Belle had sustained such severe injuries that the push couldn’t have been very strong, yet Vanessa was furious. She grabbed Belle and walked towards the balcony railing. “You little psycho, looks like you haven’t been beaten enough. You’re really not afraid to die, are you?” “Fine, today I’m going to see just how many lives you have!” Vanessa’s escape room was a large-scale horror experience, with three floors. We were currently on the third-floor lounge. Judging by Vanessa’s direction, she clearly intended to throw my daughter from the third-floor balcony. Seeing this, my guts twisted with terror. I desperately tried to snatch my daughter back. But the security guards were faster than my injured self. Before I could even get up, they anticipated my move and firmly pinned me back to the ground. I struggled frantically but to no avail. I could only yell at Vanessa’s retreating back. “Vanessa! If you dare! I swear I’ll make your life a living hell!” “Vanessa! Vanessa!” Vanessa ignored my screams. It wasn’t until she reached the balcony railing that she turned back to look at me. She lifted Belle’s body, dangling her over the railing until Belle’s entire lower half hung outside the barrier before she stopped. “Oh? Looks like you really care about your crazy daughter, huh?” “How about this, you kneel and kowtow three times, loudly admitting you were wrong, and I’ll consider letting her go. What do you say?” Vanessa shot a glance at the security guards. The next second, the hands restraining me loosened. I stood up, about to rush forward, but Vanessa’s voice rang out again. “Don’t move, don’t move. If you take another step forward, I can’t guarantee my hand won’t slip, you know.” Vanessa grinned maliciously, her words chilling to the bone. Looking at my daughter’s terrified little face, I couldn’t move an inch. Vanessa was pleased with my compliance. “Why are you still standing there?” “Looks like your knees are pretty stiff, huh? It seems your daughter isn’t as important as your pride…” Vanessa hadn’t even finished speaking when my knees buckled, and I dropped heavily to the ground. “Ms. Hayes, I’m sorry, I was wrong, I didn’t know who I was dealing with.” “Please, please, be the bigger person and forgive my daughter.” “Please…” I spoke, lowering my head. But at that very instant, I saw something that made my pupils suddenly dilate. I heard my own heartbroken scream. “No!!!!” At the same time, the gasps of those around me echoed in my ears. “Mr. Dawson is here!”

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I was the sales champion, bringing in millions for the company. When my boss’s boyfriend took over, he fired me without a second thought, just because I didn’t gush about how handsome he was in the company’s WhatsApp group. He even put his cousin in my place. Later, when the company’s sales plummeted to zero, he showed up at my door, begging. “Please, come back. My girlfriend says if you don’t, she’ll leave me.” My boss, Jessica, went on a business trip for a month, leaving her boyfriend, Spencer, in charge. Who knew he’d come after me on his very first day? I walked into the office promptly at ten that morning. Chloe, a colleague, looked panicked. She pointed towards the boss’s office and whispered, “Spencer’s here. He wants to see you!” Spencer was Jessica’s new boyfriend, notorious for being a total tyrant. He’d snap at anyone he didn’t like. Once, a female colleague, Harper, accidentally bumped into him, and Spencer started spreading vile rumors about her, saying she slept her way to the top. But he had a way with words, always sweet-talking Jessica, so she usually just let him do his thing. Now, he was fixated on me. I put down my coffee and pushed open the office door. The moment I stepped in, a folder flew past my face and hit the wall with a thud. “Do you even know what time it is? Company policy says eight AM! Why are you just showing up at ten?!” The sharp edge of the folder left a thin cut on my forehead. I clutched my head, staring at Spencer, who was lording it over the office from behind Jessica’s desk. My ten AM start time was a perk, a special privilege for being the sales champion. Everyone in the company knew about this unwritten rule. Years ago, when Jessica’s company was on the brink of collapse, she accidentally hired me. In my first month, I generated half a million in sales, bringing the company back from the dead. Since then, Jessica had practically worshipped the ground I walked on, always consulting me on major decisions. He slammed his hand on the table, his face twisted into a snarl, his mouth wide open. “Look at your time sheet! You’ve been coming in at ten for a whole month straight! You don’t care about company rules, do you?!” “According to company policy, three consecutive late arrivals is grounds for dismissal!” “You’re fired! Get out!” I stared at Spencer in disbelief. “You’re firing me? Did you clear that with Jessica?” I brought in eighty percent of the company’s profits. How dare he fire me? Spencer scoffed, glaring at me with contempt. “You’re just a sales rep! A glorified salesperson. What’s wrong with me firing you?” “This is my girlfriend’s company. I’m the man in charge here. I can fire whoever I want!” Jessica had always treated me well. I couldn’t just leave like that. So I sat on the couch. “You should really talk to Jessica first.” Spencer rolled his eyes. “Who do you think you are?” With that, he directly called Jessica. Her voice on the other end sounded tired. “What is it?” Spencer, who had just been yelling at me in a high-pitched voice, immediately softened. “Honey, I miss you.” Jessica sighed. “Just tell me what you want.” Spencer shot me a smug look. “There’s a sales rep here who keeps breaking the rules, always late. I want to get rid of her.” “Whatever. I need to rest.” Jessica brushed him off and hung up. Spencer smirked triumphantly at me. “Hear that? I can fire whoever I want. Now get lost!”

I smirked back at him. “Are you sure about that?” “Jessica might be a little upset when she gets back and finds out you fired me.” I was trying to warn him, genuinely. Headhunters had been trying to poach me with high offers for years, but I’d always stayed out of loyalty to Jessica. My leaving wouldn’t affect me one bit, but Spencer? That was a different story. Spencer glowered at me, his face contorted in a furious, tyrannical mask. “Who do you think you are? Just a sales rep. I’m my girlfriend’s future husband, the man of this company! You think she’d choose you over me?” Hearing that, I just shook my head. Fine, if that’s how he wanted it. I turned and walked out of the office. My colleagues outside had clearly heard our argument but weren’t sure what happened, all looking at me with concern. “Riley, what happened?” I started packing my things efficiently, a small smile on my face. “What happened? I got fired, that’s what.” Chloe’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Fired you? Is Spencer out of his mind? Everyone knows you’re Jessica’s favorite! Isn’t he afraid she’ll break up with him?” I shook my head, chuckling softly. “Can’t say I care. It’s his decision, he’ll have to live with the consequences.” “Besides, I’ve been working for so many years, a break sounds nice.” I’d already saved enough money to be financially free, but I’d never taken a real break, feeling too guilty to ask. This was a perfect opportunity. Chloe was fuming. “No, but why did he fire you? Did you do something to offend him, Riley?” I frowned, trying to remember. “Probably because I defended Harper last time when he was spreading those rumors about her.” “He’s been looking for ways to pick a fight with me ever since.” Yesterday, Spencer had uploaded a professional photo of himself to the WhatsApp group, and everyone had been spamming compliments about how handsome he was. I was the only one who’d read it and not replied. That was probably the final straw. “Should I call Jessica right now? You’re the backbone of this company; you can’t just leave!” I shook my head, a light laugh escaping me. “No, it’s fine. If I ever come back, it’ll be after Spencer and Jessica break up. I can’t stand his act. We’ll see.” I finished packing my things and headed to the finance office to get my monthly pay. I’d only worked ten days this month, but my commission was easily over fifteen thousand dollars. I informed Mia, the finance girl, that I’d been fired and asked her to transfer my pay to my account. Just then, Spencer suddenly appeared at the office door, glaring at me. “Riley, I told you to get lost! What are you doing here?” I glanced at him indifferently. He was basking in his undeserved power, all thanks to his successful girlfriend, and it was truly disgusting. Seeing that I ignored him, Spencer immediately got agitated. He stepped forward and grabbed my arm. “Didn’t I just tell you to get out? What are you doing in the finance office? These are important company documents! Get out now, or I’m calling the police!” I frowned, yanking my arm free from Spencer’s grip. “Let go!” “I’m leaving, so what’s wrong with me taking my pay for this month? It’s a good thing I’m not even asking for severance.” Spencer stared at Mia. “How much is her pay?” Mia honestly replied, “Fifteen thousand five hundred.” Spencer’s face instantly changed. “How much?!” After Mia repeated the amount, he pointed at me. “You violated company rules, you were late, so your pay for this month is gone.” I scoffed. “Being late once costs two hundred. How did you do that math? Did you even pass elementary math?” Spencer looked at me defiantly. “I just made a new rule: three late arrivals, and your entire monthly pay is docked. Now get out!”

“What authority do you have to make rules?” Spencer crossed his arms, his mouth wide open, shamelessly declaring, “I’m going to be part owner of this company someday, so what if I make the rules?” I was too fed up to argue with him. “Then you can expect a lawsuit from me.” With that, I strode out. I gathered my things and drove home. As soon as I put everything away, I saw a message from Spencer in the company WhatsApp group, which I hadn’t yet left. “From now on, any message I send on SnapChat or WhatsApp must be replied to. Those who don’t reply will suffer the same fate as the person fired today.” It seemed he really did fire me just because I hadn’t joined in the flattery. Jessica really hit the bottom of the barrel with this loser, didn’t she? Replies immediately started flooding the group chat. Annoyed, I simply exited all of them. My phone was suddenly much quieter. But Spencer wouldn’t let me take my last month’s pay? I’d have to teach him a lesson. All my important clients were in my SnapChat contacts, so I sent a mass message to them, explaining that I had resigned and was no longer handling business for the company. Most of these people were clients I had brought in, and they worked with the company because of me. If I left, they would most likely follow me. Sure enough, within two minutes, my former clients started messaging me, asking which company I was moving to and expressing their willingness to transfer their contracts. I explained the situation to each of them, telling them I hadn’t found a new job yet but would contact them immediately once I did. I had so many SnapChat clients that I replied to messages until dark, eventually falling asleep from exhaustion. When I woke up the next morning, Chloe had sent me a message: “Riley, a lot of our partners are saying they want to cancel their contracts and won’t renew. Was that you?” Looks like my plan was working. I chuckled softly. “I didn’t do anything, except state the fact that I’ve left the company.” “You’re amazing, Riley! Spencer came in this morning, heard about it, and blew up at several sales reps, demanding to know why they couldn’t keep clients. Now several of them are planning to quit, saying they can’t stand this treatment.” It seemed many people in the company were unhappy with Spencer. I wondered how he would clean up this mess. Meanwhile, I prepared to contact a lawyer to sue and get my wages back. It wasn’t that I desperately needed the money, but I wasn’t going to let him get off easy. A few days later, Spencer actually called me. I was surprised, answering with a puzzled, “What do you want?” As soon as I picked up, I was met with a torrent of abuse. “Riley, are you even human?! Where are all the company’s client contacts? They all say they’re with you! Hand over those phone numbers right now! They’re company property! I’ll sue you, I swear!” I was stunned, then realized Spencer was panicking. “How can you be so disgusting? Hand over those client numbers! Or I’ll kill you, you hear me?!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “311459”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #重生Reborn #魔幻Magic

Liam missed my birthday again this year. Because it was also Bella’s birthday, his childhood best friend. I opened Bella’s Ins, and sure enough, there was a new post. “Grateful for your company every birthday. We promise to spend every future birthday together too!” The photo showed two hands making a heart sign in front of a cake. One was Liam’s, and he was wearing the designer watch I’d bought him. I liked the post, put down my phone, and dumped all the homemade dishes I’d carefully prepared—all Liam’s favorites—into the trash. Then I went to a restaurant, ordered what I liked, and celebrated my birthday alone. From now on, I vowed to truly celebrate every single one of my birthdays for myself. Halfway through my meal, Liam called. His voice sounded a little anxious. “Chloe, did you see Bella’s Ins post?” “I did.” “I’ll come back after celebrating with her. Next year, I promise I’ll be with you. Just be cool about it, don’t start anything with me, okay?” The old me would have cried and made a scene, but not anymore. I simply said, calmly, “Okay.” The next morning, around seven, I was woken by my phone ringing. It only rang three times before stopping. I picked up my phone and saw it was Liam. He used to always call like this, three rings then hang up, because he was too lazy to use his key to open the door himself. No matter what I was doing, I’d always rush to let him in immediately. But not today. I tossed my phone aside, pulled the covers over my head, and went back to sleep. He knew the spare key was under the shoe cabinet by the door. I’d been packing until three in the morning last night, and my head was still fuzzy. My phone rang a few more times, but I couldn’t even bother to look. I don’t know how long passed before I vaguely heard someone open the door and come in. The door slammed against the wall with a loud bang, then my bedroom door was violently pushed open, followed by Liam’s angry accusation. “Chloe, why didn’t you open the door for me? I called so many times! You know I hate using my key!” I opened my eyes, giving him a flat look. “I was too tired, I didn’t hear it.” Liam opened his mouth, but in the end, just said, “I’m starving. Get up and make me some breakfast. I didn’t sleep at all last night, I need to eat and then catch up on sleep.” If this were before, I would have scrambled out of bed to make him breakfast. But now, I just said blandly, “I’m really tired too. You can go downstairs and grab something yourself.” Liam was clearly annoyed, but he held it back. “Are you still mad because I didn’t spend your birthday with you yesterday?” “No, don’t overthink it.” Liam didn’t believe me and started explaining on his own. “Bella’s like a sister to me. Her parents died young, who else would be there for her if not me? Don’t be so petty, or I’ll actually get angry!” “You’re right. You should be there for her. I’m not angry.” I couldn’t sleep anymore, so I got up and headed to the bathroom. Liam grabbed my wrist, reluctantly pulling a bracelet from his pocket. “Here, stop sulking. It’s your birthday present. I remembered it’s your special year this year.” Looking at the cheap bracelet, with its flimsy metal charms dangling with every movement, it felt so dismissive. Then I thought about the designer watch Liam wore in Bella’s Ins photo, and I couldn’t help but let out a self-deprecating laugh. Turns out, Liam wasn’t saving money these past few months to buy me a birthday present. I’d been overthinking it. I shook my wrist, revealing the watch my mom had sent me a few days ago. “Thanks, but I already have a watch. This one wouldn’t be practical to wear with it. You keep it.” Liam snapped, annoyed, “Still saying you’re not angry! You used to be thrilled with anything I gave you, but now you’re being picky, huh?” Liam didn’t earn much. In the past, his birthday gifts for me were never expensive, just small trinkets costing a few bucks or sometimes he even forgot, but I never minded. Yet, every year for his birthday, I’d painstakingly prepare a gift. Last week, for his birthday, I gave him a brand-name bracelet. I was exhausted, truly too tired to argue anymore. I took the bracelet and slipped it into my pocket. “Thank you.” I changed my clothes, ready to leave. Liam quickly asked, “Where are you going?” “To meet friends. We’re doing yoga together.” Ever since I got together with Liam, all my time outside of work belonged to him. I’d be with him, taking care of him, barely having any time for myself. But not anymore. I was going to live for myself.

After an invigorating workout with my friends, we sat in the lounge area, grabbing some water. My friends half-jokingly complained, “We thought you’d forgotten us now that you have a boyfriend. We were almost too scared to ask you out.” I quickly apologized and promised, “I’m so sorry! It won’t happen again. Call me for anything you guys do!” “That’s more like it! Come on, let’s go chill at a coffee shop and catch up.” When I was with Liam, I always tried to fit into his circle, but without realizing it, I drifted away from my own friends. Every day revolved around him, putting him first in everything. Looking back, I realized how foolish I’d been. It was almost midnight by the time I got home. Pushing open the bedroom door, I saw Liam sitting on the bed. He frowned and said, “Chloe, why are you home so late? I had to order takeout for lunch and dinner. It was disgusting.” I opened my closet to get some fresh clothes. “I ate out today too. The food was pretty good, not worse than homemade.” Liam’s eyes widened in surprise. “Didn’t you used to say you’d cook for me every day and not let me eat takeout because it’s unhealthy?” “I was wrong. Living in this day and age, if you can’t cook, you have to get used to the taste of takeout.” A flicker of anger crossed Liam’s eyes. “You still say you’re not angry! You were out all day, not a single call, not a single text, and you didn’t come back to cook!” I calmly said, “I’m really not angry. I was just catching up with friends, and my phone died.” Seeing my composure, Liam abruptly threw off the covers, stormed out of bed, and grabbed me as I was about to leave, his voice rising. “Can you stop being so petty? I told you, we’re just like brother and sister! What exactly are you trying to start? Chloe, my patience has its limits!” I pulled my hand free. “I’m not starting anything. I’m tired. I’ll sleep in the guest room tonight.” With that, I took my clothes and went to the bathroom, ignoring Liam’s shouts behind me. That night, I had a rare, full night’s sleep. Liam was a restless sleeper and always kicked off the covers. When I used to sleep with him, I’d wake up several times in the middle of the night to cover him. The next morning, Liam sat in the living room, arms crossed, a dark look on his face. I knew he was waiting for me to apologize, to sweet-talk him into a good mood. Before, whenever he was upset, regardless of whether it was my fault, I would humble myself and beg for his forgiveness. Then he would demand a list of things, and only after I complied with each one would he grudgingly forgive me. For years, it had always been this pattern. I was tired of it. I ignored him, washed up, and left. I had something important to do today.

I went to the office and handed in my resignation. My manager was surprised and tried to keep me, but my decision was firm. I originally took this job to be closer to Liam, to make it easier to take care of him. But now, there was no need. Last night, I video called my parents and told them I planned to resign and move back home. I saw the surprised tears in my mom’s eyes. Dad hadn’t been feeling well recently, and managing the family convenience store by himself was becoming too much for him. It was my hometown, but it was actually a nice, mid-sized coastal city. Liam grew up inland and couldn’t stand the temperature and humidity of coastal cities. He’d always been unwilling to go back with me, which was why I’d left my parents to work and live here with him. That evening, I invited my friends for dinner and told them the news. They all thought I was right to go back; my parents’ health was more important. Mid-conversation, someone suddenly asked, “What about Liam? Is he willing to go back with you?” I was silent for a moment, then gave a bitter smile. “No. We… we’re probably going to break up soon.” I used to think Liam and I could build a family here, and then bring my parents to live with us later. But now, that home no longer existed. I needed to return to the home where my parents were, the home that would never abandon me. When I got home, I saw Liam wearing a white shirt, his hair perfectly styled, holding his phone, on a FaceTime call with Bella. Bella’s voice came from the phone: “Liam, you look so handsome! Even in a simple white shirt, you look so stylish!” Liam smiled happily, his voice laced with laughter. “Really? You always know what to say.” I stood quietly, saying nothing. That white shirt was anything but simple; it cost me a month’s salary to buy it for him. When Liam turned back with a smile and saw me, his face immediately fell. He turned to Bella and said, “Gotta go, I’m heading out now, I’ll be there soon. You grab something to eat first.” Liam could smile warmly and be incredibly caring towards Bella, but he wouldn’t spare a single smile for me. He gave me an annoyed look, slipped on his shoes, and walked out past me. He was back to his old silent treatment. During all the years we’d been together, he often ignored me because of Bella. Each time, I’d be frantic, trying every way to make him happy. But this time, I wasn’t anxious. I simply brought the groceries I’d bought into the kitchen and made myself a late-night snack. I’d been so engrossed in talking with friends that evening that I hadn’t eaten much, and now I was a bit hungry. The next few days, I was busy with work handover and packing. The things belonging to me in the apartment slowly decreased, but Liam didn’t notice.

Today, Liam went out to see Bella again. I sat at the dining table, eating and looking at my phone. Bella posted on Ins: “Whenever I feel lonely, you’re always there. So good, grateful!” In the photo, Liam and Bella had their heads leaning against each other, flashing peace signs at the camera. Liam’s friends all liked and commented, envying their bond. They’d always thought Liam and Bella were better suited, that childhood sweethearts were so ideal, and I was like the third wheel intruding between them. Looking at that Ins post, I suddenly thought his friends were right; they really did look more like a couple. Before, I would always hold it in for a long time before carefully reminding Liam to keep some distance from Bella. Then his friends would mock me for being too controlling, stifling him, and not letting him have his freedom. Liam never stood up for me. Instead, he’d join them in criticizing me, telling me not to tie him down and to give him more space. Liam also commented below: “You’ve always been there for me too!” I calmly exited SnapChat and started clearing the dishes. Thunder rumbled outside; it was going to rain. I went to the balcony to bring in the laundry, and large raindrops immediately began to pelt the window. In the past, whenever it rained, I’d rush to call Liam, asking where he was, wanting to pick him up with an umbrella, afraid he’d get even a little wet. He and his friends would laugh at me, calling me a control freak, worrying too much, and spoiling their fun. I showered early, lay in bed watching YouTube, and drifted off to sleep. Liam violently pushing open my door woke me. Seeing me asleep, he angrily demanded: “Chloe, it’s raining so heavily, and your boyfriend isn’t home this late. Aren’t you worried at all? If it were my buddies’ girlfriends, they’d be calling non-stop, asking where he is, and personally picking him up with an umbrella! What about you?”

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