Author: Momo Chan

Part One After I thought I had breast cancer, I conspired with Sophie Williams, my fiancé Ethan Parker’s admirer, to stage a drunken one-night stand. Ethan was heartbroken but still tried to care for me through various means, hoping to salvage our relationship. My condition was brought under control, requiring lifelong medication, with only some difficulty in getting pregnant. Ethan and I reconciled. After Ethan proposed again, I honestly told him about my condition. Then Ethan disappeared… Today was the day Ethan and I were supposed to pick up our wedding photos from the studio. We had taken traditional-style photos – I was dressed in an elegant red gown with an ornate headdress, looking more graceful and charming than usual. Ethan looked dashing in his formal suit, like a prince from a fairytale. “My dear, we truly are a match made in heaven,” Ethan whispered intimately in my ear. I felt my ears grow hot. “Oh stop it, who compliments themselves like that? Besides, we’re not officially married yet, so don’t get ahead of yourself,” I laughed, playfully swatting his arm. “But you know, Ethan, even though you didn’t become valedictorian in school, at least you got to feel like one during this photoshoot.” Ethan took my hand and kissed it gently. “Lily, I may not have excelled academically, but I have the best eye for choosing a life partner. Look at you – the most perfect woman to be my wife. I knew it from the moment I met you in preschool.” His words made me blush, and I turned away shyly to look at the photos instead. Ethan moved closer to me. “Lily, once we get the medical check results, let’s pick a good day to quietly get our marriage license. I can’t wait to be your lawfully wedded husband. You’re so old-fashioned, insisting on waiting until after we’re legally married to move in together. I don’t know where you get that from – even our parents are more relaxed. The earliest auspicious wedding date the fortune teller gave us is still five months away. It feels so far off. Lily, I don’t want to wait another moment.” Ethan wrapped his arms around me and gently pinched my cheek. His tall frame bent down slightly to meet my eyes, gazing at me with those beautiful, loving eyes of his. His tone was pleading. My face flushed again at his words. I lowered my head and mumbled a soft “Okay,” before hurriedly pulling the photographer away to look at some more dress options for the ceremony. “Haha, Lily, be careful walking in those heels! I’ll come find you in a bit,” Ethan called after me with a hearty laugh. I felt a bit embarrassed. The photographer beside me smiled and cautioned, “Miss Anderson, please watch your step. The floor can be slippery here.” I didn’t look back at Ethan, but I could feel his tender gaze following me. After choosing the dresses for the wedding ceremony, Ethan and I planned to grab lunch before heading to the hospital together in the afternoon to pick up our pre-marital health check results. At the restaurant, we had just started looking at the menu when Ethan’s phone rang. He glanced at it, frowned slightly, and declined the call. I looked at him but didn’t say anything, just pointed out the soup of the day on the menu – it was the duck soup he liked. “Lily, just order whatever you like. You’ve gotten thinner lately with how busy work has been…” Ethan reached out to stroke my hair gently and was about to continue when his phone rang again. He declined it once more. I lost my appetite and said, “If you’re busy, go take care of work first. I can pick up the results myself later.” I knew the calls were from Sophie Williams. She was Ethan’s junior in college, one year below him. Ever since seeing Ethan at the freshman welcome party, she had been chasing after him relentlessly. Now she even worked at the same company as him. Maybe her feelings for Ethan were no less than mine. But love is selfish, possessive and exclusive. There’s only so much of it to go around – once given to one person, there’s none left for another. Fortunately, Ethan had always chosen me. “It’s nothing, just an unknown number,” Ethan said casually. “I don’t have anything scheduled today. We planned this day to pick up the photos, choose dresses, get the health check results, and then start decorating our new place.” He didn’t realize that when he lied, his eyes would shift away slightly, his lips would purse unconsciously, and the tips of his ears would turn red. I knew him too well – we’d known each other for over a decade, maybe even better than he knew himself. I just smiled without saying anything. The meal ended up being rather tasteless for both of us. After lunch, it was time to go to the hospital for our test results. Ethan’s phone rang again. He glanced at it and answered, “I’m out right now. Yes, now? Okay, I’ll be right there.” He hung up and turned to me with an apologetic and frustrated expression. “Lily, something urgent came up at work that I need to handle personally. I can’t go with you to get the results…” Before he could finish, I stepped forward and gave him a quick hug. “Ethan, it’s okay. I can go by myself. I drove here today anyway, so don’t worry. Just give me your ID and go take care of work. I’ll call you after I pick up the results.” Without waiting for his response, I got in my car and slowly merged into traffic. In the rearview mirror, Ethan’s figure grew smaller and smaller until it disappeared. I believed in Ethan and in the unshakeable love between us. Our relationship had always been smooth sailing, with both our families’ full support and blessings. Thinking of how happy we looked in the wedding photos earlier, my disappointment at Ethan not being able to accompany me gradually faded. He held an important position and the company relied on him. Part Two At the hospital, I scanned both our IDs at the self-service kiosk and printed out a stack of reports. We had opted for the full comprehensive health check. After collecting the papers, I didn’t rush home but went to sit in the small garden near the hospital. This was Ethan and my secret spot – I always tried to stop by whenever I had errands in the area. The garden was lush and green, with a canopy of trees providing cool shade. Delicate pink roses bloomed shyly. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, dancing on the flower petals and painting them in vibrant hues. Birds chirped melodiously. A gentle breeze carried the fragrance of flowers, caressing my hair and kissing my lips before rustling through my white sundress. I sat on a bench and slowly looked through the test results. I checked Ethan’s papers first. Page after page showed everything was normal. I smiled to myself, then started on my own results. But then one page caught my eye – it recommended a biopsy. I rubbed my eyes and looked closer. It was the breast exam report, describing an irregular mass in the left breast, measuring 4×3.5×2.5 cm. The report mentioned enlarged lymph nodes and other concerning details I didn’t fully understand. But I had a sinking feeling it wasn’t good news. I wondered if I had grabbed the wrong papers by mistake. I double-checked the name – Lily Anderson. It was definitely mine. But how could I be sick? I had no symptoms at all. There must be some mistake. I rarely even caught colds growing up. I grabbed the papers and ran back into the hospital, finding the nurse who had assisted us earlier. Seeing my pale, anxious face, she quickly came over and took my hand. “Miss Anderson, what’s wrong?” “I think there’s a problem with the report. I may have taken the wrong one.” She took the papers I was clutching tightly and looked them over. “Miss Anderson, please try to stay calm. Let me take you to see the head doctor, okay?” I let her lead me to the doctor’s office… The doctor asked if I had any family with me. I shook my head and said to just tell me the results directly. The doctor sighed and slowly explained that they recommended a biopsy, as the report findings were concerning and cancer was a strong possibility. We would need to wait for the biopsy results to determine next steps for treatment… I stared blankly as the doctor’s mouth moved, but all I registered was the word “cancer”. I walked out of the office in a daze. “Miss Anderson, would you like me to contact your family?” The nurse carefully helped me sit on a couch in the VIP waiting room and brought me a cup of warm milk. “Can you keep the contents of the report confidential?” She nodded. “Miss Anderson, I still recommend discussing this with your family and scheduling further tests as soon as possible. The earlier we intervene, the better the treatment outcomes.” I waved her off and gazed out the window. It was early fall, but the afternoon sun was still bright and intense. The warmth on my skin contrasted sharply with the coldness spreading through my heart. I felt frozen to my core, as if my blood was turning to ice. Just this morning I had been discussing wedding plans with Ethan, dreaming of our happy future together. Now in the afternoon I was facing a potentially life-ending diagnosis. Life had a way of delivering its cruelest plot twists when you least expected them. My phone rang in my purse. I took it out and saw Ethan’s name. I didn’t answer, just sat there staring blankly until the sunlight faded from my body and the city lights began twinkling outside. A text message alert dinged. I sighed and opened it. It was from Ethan: “Lily, are you busy? I’m done with work. My parents want me to stop by to discuss some wedding details. Call me when you’re free.” I could imagine Ethan patiently and lovingly typing out that message. We were about to start a whole new chapter of our lives together. Why did this have to happen to me, of all people? I had no doubt about Ethan’s love for me. But if I’m being honest with myself – if my condition was truly life-threatening, what would happen to Ethan? Could he bear losing me? Would he be able to move on and live a good life? Was I willing to leave him alone to face a world without me? If my illness could be cured but I lost a breast in the process, was I willing to spend the rest of my life with Ethan as an imperfect version of myself? The answer to all of these was no. I loved Ethan too much. He deserved the very best this world had to offer. I texted Ethan back: “Ethan, something urgent came up at work this afternoon. I dropped the wedding photos off at our new place. I need to go on a business trip for about 10 days. I’ll be in touch when I’m back.” Ethan replied quickly: “Lily, stay safe. Talk to you when you’re back.” My job often required last-minute travel, so Ethan didn’t suspect anything unusual. I put my phone away and left the hospital. The streets were bustling with the evening rush hour crowd. The whole city felt like it was putting on an elaborate stage production. What was my role in all of this? On the drive home, I kept the windows down. The sweet scent of osmanthus flowers drifted through the air – it reminded me of Ethan’s cologne. In that moment, I missed him terribly. I wanted to tell him everything that had happened. But as I reached for my phone, I hesitated. [This marks the end of the preview section] Part Three Ethan and I had been childhood sweethearts. Our parents used to work together, and even after Ethan’s dad retired early to start his own business, Ethan and I still went to school together. As he liked to say, being my classmate helped him improve his grades and kept his parents happy, saving him from their scolding. We were in the same class from preschool all the way through high school. As a child, Ethan had an outgoing personality – he loved excitement, standing up for others, and making friends. He had many great qualities, but studying wasn’t one of them. In an era when academic performance was everything, his poor grades often earned him beatings from his father, who believed in strict discipline. Ethan learned early on to either run away or stoically endure a few hits when escape wasn’t possible. My childhood personality was the complete opposite of Ethan’s. I was quiet and preferred being alone, with reading as my only real hobby. I had very few friends. Adults saw me as obedient and well-behaved. Both sets of parents thought the other’s child had a better personality and hoped we would balance each other out. So they kept putting us in the same class. We went to and from school together and did homework together. Ethan always protected me. He said I was his little sweetheart that he’d chosen since preschool, and it was his duty to look after me. In elementary school when classmates bullied me by damaging my things or messing with my homework, I was too afraid to tell the teachers or my parents. But Ethan stood up for me. He confronted the bully privately – they both came out of the storage room with bruises and got disciplined by the school, but I was never bullied again after that. In middle school, Ethan would walk me home after evening study sessions, keeping me safe…I thought we’d always be in school together, until college admissions separated us. We ended up at universities hundreds of miles apart. The day before I left for college, Ethan came to see me. He waited for me under the osmanthus tree in front of my building. He demanded that I not date any boys in college. Then he hugged me tightly and whispered in my ear that from now on, he would be my boyfriend, and later my husband, the father of my children, the grandfather of my grandchildren… I can still vividly recall that scene – Ethan embracing me, flower petals falling on our heads, the sweet osmanthus scent enveloping us. It felt like we were the only two people in the world. Now every autumn when the osmanthus blooms, I love taking walks with Ethan to enjoy the fragrance. Though in the two years since graduating college, we’ve both been so busy with work that we haven’t gone on many walks together…Even though so much time has passed, I can still clearly remember every detail of my story with Ethan. I wonder if there will be more chapters to write. I arrived home to find my parents had already eaten dinner. “Lily, you didn’t have dinner with Ethan tonight?” my mom asked, seeing me back so early. “He went to his parents’ place,” I replied. I went straight to my room instead of chatting with them in the living room like usual. My expression must have seemed off, because soon after, Mom knocked and came in to sit on my bed. “Did you have a fight with Ethan? You look upset.” Mom took my hand and spoke gently. Tears started streaming down my face. I hadn’t cried when I first saw the test results, but faced with Mom’s tender concern, my armor cracked. I suddenly felt incredibly wronged. I was only 23 years old. I threw myself into Mom’s arms, hugging her tightly. Mom was startled by my reaction. She frantically tried to wipe my tears while saying, “Lily, what happened? Don’t cry, sweetie. Don’t be afraid. Mom’s here. Dad’s here too. We’ll protect you no matter what. Please don’t cry – you’re making me want to cry too.” Mom’s voice grew choked up as she saw how distraught I was. Dad heard us from the living room and came in. Seeing both Mom and me in tears, he looked helpless. “Lily, why are you crying? Did Ethan upset you? I’ll go teach that boy a lesson right now.” I took the tissue Dad handed me and wiped my eyes. Seeing how worried and anxious my parents were on my behalf, the pressure I’d felt since getting the test results melted away in the face of their comfort. My heart suddenly felt at ease. I got up and took the medical reports out of my bag, placing them in front of my parents. “This…Lily, is this real?” Mom’s hand trembled as she held mine. “Lily, don’t be scared. We’ll take you to a different hospital tomorrow for another check-up. Try not to worry, okay?” Dad patted my shoulder, feigning calmness. “Your mom will sleep with you tonight. I’ll go make arrangements for the hospital visit tomorrow.” Dad turned to grab his phone, but I quickly grabbed his sleeve. “Dad, please don’t contact Ethan’s parents yet. I haven’t told Ethan about this. Can we keep it from him for now?” “Lily, are you two having problems? Why do you want to hide this from him?” Mom asked, confused. “Let’s just keep it from Ethan for now. I don’t want him to worry. He can’t really help with the medical stuff anyway,” I said softly, looking down. “Alright, we’ll do as you say,” Dad agreed, seeing I was insistent. Then he left my room. Mom hummed a lullaby and patted me gently like when I was little. I quickly fell asleep to the familiar tune. Part Four For the next few days, my parents took me to various hospitals. All the doctors who saw my test results and medical records urged me to be admitted for treatment as soon as possible. I didn’t want to be hospitalized. I was terrified of surgery and the idea of parts of my body being cut away. Even if I recovered, I’d be a woman with physical defects – incomplete. Just thinking about it made me feel like dying would be better. At my parents’ urging, I had taken extended leave from work and handed my projects over to colleagues. I was starting to feel some pain and fatigue. I looked at my phone, at the message I had sent Ethan about extending my work trip. He had replied with updates about his work, little details about his daily life, and some scenic photos…The cool, dignified image he presented to others contrasted with the warm, affectionate side he showed only to me. I turned off my phone and curled up on the couch, listening to the mundane chatter of a TV drama – the kind of ordinary life I used to scoff at, but now desperately longed for yet felt out of reach. “Lily, Dad knows you don’t want to go to the hospital because you’re scared of surgery. Dr. Huang said they can start with a conservative treatment plan. Trust Mom and Dad – we won’t let them do any procedures you don’t want,” Dad said gently in a calm voice. Mom came over and hugged me. Since seeing the test results, my parents had put their work on hold to be with me. In just a few days, I could see more grey in their hair. They looked less composed and steady than usual. My illness was causing them just as much pain and distress. Only parents can truly empathize with their child’s suffering. I agreed to be admitted to the hospital. The conservative treatment plan involved controlling the disease with medication. Both my hands were bruised from IVs. I couldn’t keep food down and the drug side effects were severe. I lost a lot of weight quickly. “The disease is progressing rapidly. You really should try to convince her to have the surgery. She’s so young – if we operate now and follow up with chemotherapy, there’s still hope for a cure. If we wait much longer, it’s hard to say…” I overheard Dr. Huang talking to my parents outside my room. The leaves on the plane tree outside had finally started to fall. “Mom, Dad, I heard what Dr. Huang said. I’ll agree to the surgery,” I told my parents calmly. “But before the operation, I want to break up with Ethan.” I continued in a steady voice, “If the surgery is successful, my body will be disfigured. I can’t let him see me like that. He’s such a wonderful person – he deserves a perfect wife. If the surgery fails and I lose my life, his life will go on. I don’t want to burden him with mourning me.” Tears streamed down my face as my voice grew hoarse. “Mom, Dad, I’m sorry for causing you so much worry. Please let me be selfish just this once.” “Okay, as long as you’re willing to get treatment, we’ll support whatever you decide,” Dad said, coming to the bedside and embracing Mom and me. “You’re a good girl. You have nothing to apologize for.” After we had all calmed down a bit, I asked my parents to go home first and pack some things for me. Once the room was quiet again, I took out my phone and called Sophie Williams. “Lily, are you sick? Is it serious? I’m so sorry I lied to Ethan that day. He’s always been cold towards me. I won’t bother you two anymore. Ethan told me about your relationship – I was really touched. Don’t worry, Lily. I’ll wish you both the best…” Sophie babbled nervously as soon as she entered my hospital room. She was just as I had imagined – tall and pretty, with a bubbly personality. Her sunny presence brightened up my gloomy hospital room. She seemed frightened by the floor I was on – the 8th floor of Sky Hospital was for critically ill patients. From her explanation, I learned that the day Ethan and I were picking up our wedding photos, she had faked being in a serious car accident. When Ethan didn’t answer her calls, she had others keep calling him. Since it involved a company car, Ethan had to go deal with it. That explained the scene I had witnessed. Such a lovely girl – surely she could help Ethan get through the brief pain of our breakup. “Can I call you Sophie? I have a favor to ask. Would that be okay?” … Part Five In a private room at an upscale bar, I wore a form-fitting dress and heavy makeup. My lips looked especially alluring with bright red lipstick. But a close look would reveal my unnaturally pale skin. The table was covered in open wine bottles. I had splashed some wine on my hair and dress, then lounged on the sofa. In the dim lighting, the scene looked intimate and suggestive. Sitting next to me was my cousin Jack, a sophomore in college. In his white dress shirt, he bore a striking resemblance to a younger Ethan. “Lily, do we really have to do this? Why don’t you just tell him the truth? Why deceive him like this? No man can accept this kind of thing. He’ll hate you for it,” Jack pleaded, still trying to talk me out of my plan. He had been against this “drunken one-night stand” scheme from the start. But I couldn’t think of any other way to make Ethan willingly leave me. “Better he hates me than spends a lifetime heartbroken,” I said flatly. “Lily, if you’re so sure he loves you, why are you afraid to tell him the truth?” I didn’t know how to answer. Maybe I was afraid of losing. So I could only resort to this clumsy plan to deceive Ethan and push him out of my life.

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“Professor Qin, I’ve made my decision. I’ll join your pharmaceutical research institute and continue studying medicine.” Professor Qin chuckled, “Your wife loves you so much. Will she agree to let you go abroad for academic research?” “This is my own decision. It has nothing to do with her.” “Alright then. When can you arrive?” “In a week.” “Good, I’ll be waiting for you to report in.” “By the way, Professor Qin, that amnesia drug you developed before – does it still need a test subject?” Professor Qin’s voice turned serious, “What do you mean?” “Please mail a dose to me. I’ll test it.” When this call was made, it was 9:30 in the morning. Lucas leaned against the headboard. The space beside him was already empty. From the guest room next door came faint sounds of intimacy. “…Miss me?” “I only get to see you once a month. The time always passes so slowly.” “Heh,” the woman giggled coyly, “Shall we do something wild today then?” “Keep your voice down. Don’t wake Lucas.” “It’s fine, he slept late last night. He won’t wake up now.” “Mmm, you’re so naughty…” Lucas was very familiar with this man’s voice. His name was Henry, the college student Lucas had been financially supporting for four years. On the first of every month, he would come to the house. Lucas would give him that month’s living expenses and check on his studies and living situation. Each time, he would stay in the guest room next to the master bedroom. Lucas had even helped arrange a graduate advisor and internship for him. He just never expected this male student’s ambition was not to become independent, but to directly steal his wife. Since that’s how it is, he might as well give her to him. Lucas changed his name to Ethan. And had already reapplied for new identification documents. Ethan – to hide away. Once unfaithful, never to be used again. He would disappear from her world forever, then drink the amnesia drug and forget her completely. The intimate sounds from the guest room finally ceased. Lucas lay on his side, pretending to still be asleep. After a few minutes, the mattress beside him dipped slightly. Then a slender, pale arm draped over his waist. Lucas fought back the pain in his heart and pushed that arm away. Sophia acted like she had just woken up, mumbling, “Honey, you’re awake?” Lucas felt nauseated hearing her call him “honey”. “Mm, get up soon. You’ll be late for work.” Sophia rolled over and hugged him tightly from behind, planting a kiss on his chin. “I’m so tired. Stay in bed with me a little longer.” Lucas just wanted to laugh coldly. After being “wild” with Henry all night, of course she’d be tired. He said sarcastically, “What, didn’t sleep well last night?” Sophia nodded vigorously, “I dreamt an evil dragon stole my husband away. I fought through thorns and brambles to find you, searching all night. Even after waking up I still feel exhausted.” “No dragon would steal me away.” But I will leave on my own. And I definitely won’t let you have a chance to find me. Sophia glanced at the clock. “It really is getting late. We should get up.” She quickly showered and got dressed, then knelt by the bed and kissed him. “Lazy bones, don’t sleep anymore. Get up and wash up. I’ll go make breakfast.” After Sophia left, Lucas brushed his teeth vigorously. Her kissing Henry’s mouth then coming to kiss him only made him feel disgusted. When he went downstairs, two people were already seated in the dining room. Sophia sat in the main seat, with Henry to her left. He wore a white tracksuit, looking pure and refreshing. Seeing Lucas come down, he sweetly said, “Morning, Lucas!” Lucas grunted in response. Henry chuckled, “Breakfast is ready. Come eat!” Lucas sat down at the table. Sophia blew on some porridge to cool it, then placed it in front of him. “Careful, it’s hot.” Henry watched enviously from the side. “I’m so jealous. You take such good care of Lucas.” Lucas forced a smile. “She takes good care of you too.” Didn’t she just take very good care of him last night? All the way until this morning. Sophia laughed lightly, “It’s different. I take care of you because you’re my husband, the man I love most in this life.” “Then what about Henry? Why do you care for him?” “Because he’s the one you’re supporting. You said he’s like a little brother to you, so he’s my little brother too.” “Is that so.” Lucas took the bowl of porridge from Sophia’s hands. “No need to blow on it. I’ll let it cool on its own if it’s too hot.” Sophia sensed something was off in his attitude. She took his hand in hers, bringing it to her lips for a kiss. “What’s wrong? You seem unhappy this early in the morning. Is the breakfast not to your liking? Tell me what you want to eat and I’ll make it again for you.” Lucas pulled his hand away. “Sophia, do you love me?” “Of course,” Sophia said. “Everyone knows I love you.” “Then do you think a woman can love two men at the same time?” Sophia’s brow furrowed slightly. “True love is only for one person. It doesn’t allow for any impurities.” Lucas told her very seriously, “If one day you have a change of heart, please tell me directly. I will step aside and wish you well. But please don’t deceive me. My feelings are precious and also don’t allow for any impurities.” Sophia smiled, “Don’t worry, I’ll only ever love you in this life. No man can replace you.” “What if someone did replace me?” “That’s impossible.” Lucas said, “If I find out you’ve deceived me, I will leave you and forget you forever.”

Sophia smiled and said, “That day will never come. I won’t give you a chance to leave me either.” With that, Sophia moved to embrace him again. But Lucas was now extremely averse to her closeness. Because her body still carried faint traces of a sickly sweet scent. The kind of scent left behind after a man and woman spend the night together. Lucas stood up. “I’m going to get a spoon.” Sophia immediately got up too. “I’ll get it for you.” “No need, I can do it myself.” Lucas went to the kitchen and turned on the faucet. He used the sound of running water to mask his sigh. It wasn’t that he was inadequate. It was that her past self had been too wonderful. So wonderful that just thinking of those days when she loved him passionately made his heart ache. Growing up in an orphanage from a young age, enduring bullying and cold stares, he had been forced to harden his heart. He originally had no plans to date or marry, preferring to let clients drink him under the table rather than ask others for help. But then Sophia appeared. She rescued him from those people, declaring “This man is mine now.” At first Lucas thought she would just humiliate him like those capitalists. But Sophia did nothing of the sort, only gently telling him: “Go home and get some good sleep. Forget all the unpleasant things from today. Tomorrow is a new day.” After that, she began frequently appearing in his life. Sometimes coming to his company on business, or “coincidentally” running into him at a coffee shop. Sweet and adorable, but anyone could see she had feelings for him. However, their marriage was still opposed by Sophia’s parents. Lucas didn’t want to affect her relationship with her family, so he told her they should break up. But Sophia just firmly held his hand and said, “No breaking up. I’ll take you with me.” Later she started her own business from scratch, even enduring her parents’ suppression and coercion. She bore it all, drinking herself half to death in the process. Until later, when they were in a car accident together. At the critical moment, Sophia pushed him out of harm’s way. She and the car were hit by a large truck and sent flying off the road. The car rolled violently before catching fire. Sophia was burned half to death, falling into a coma. Only when Lucas spoke to her by the bedside would she show any reaction. It was at this time that Sophia’s parents finally understood how much their daughter loved Lucas. They finally relented and agreed to their marriage. Lucas cherished this hard-won marriage dearly. He cherished this woman who loved him to the bone even more. He just never imagined that after only three years of marriage, her heart would stray and her eyes would turn to another man. “Honey, is everything okay? Why were you gone so long?” “It’s nothing.” Lucas wiped the tears from his face, turned off the faucet, and prepared to go out with the spoon. But his hand trembled and the spoon fell to the floor. As he crouched down to pick it up, he accidentally saw the secret hidden under the dining table – Henry was wearing the new sneakers Lucas had bought him. His toe was gently caressing Sophia’s calf, then gradually moving upwards – knee, thigh, and further in… A delicate white hand smacked him lightly. “Behaving naughty again?” “What are you afraid of? Lucas hasn’t come back yet.” “Be good, don’t make trouble in front of Lucas. Later we’ll go out…” Lucas deliberately made a loud noise, and the two quickly settled down. He returned to his seat. The two of them acted as if nothing had happened. Sophia picked up some food for him. “Honey, eat more vegetables. It’s good for your health.” Henry still looked like an innocent little brother, gazing at him enviously. “I hope I can find a wife as virtuous and gentle as sister someday.” Lucas said coldly, “You will.” Henry didn’t catch his hidden meaning, still complimenting them. “That’s impossible. Sister is the best woman in the world. I don’t have that kind of luck.” Lucas said, “You do.” Just then, Lucas’ phone rang. “Hello, Mr. Xu, you have a package.” This time, Sophia was even quicker than him. She rushed to open the door before him and received a document envelope. She looked at the sender. “Southern Airlines International Business Department…Honey, did you buy plane tickets? Where are you going? How come I don’t know about this?”

Lucas said, “I just redeemed a gift with my points.” Sophia patted her chest in relief. “You scared me. I thought you were going to leave me.” Lucas took the envelope from her hands. “You haven’t betrayed me, so why would I leave you?” Sophia smiled. “That’s right, I only have you in my heart.” In the past, hearing these words would have moved Lucas deeply. But now, he felt nothing. “Honey, what gift did you redeem? Let me see.” Lucas refused. “It’s nothing, just a small commemorative coin.” “Southern Airlines has commemorative coins?” “Mm.” Lucas went back to his bedroom and opened the envelope. Inside lay a plane ticket to London departing in a week. He had bought it under the name “Ethan”. His phone also showed the shipping information for an international package – The amnesia drug Professor Qin sent him would arrive in about a week as well. Seven days later would be the time for him to leave her completely. From downstairs came Sophia’s voice: “Honey, are you not feeling well?” “I didn’t sleep well last night. I’m a bit tired and want to rest some more.” “Okay, you get some good rest then. Henry has class this afternoon. I’m going to the company and will drop him off at school on the way.” Lucas responded with a simple “Okay.” Lucas didn’t sleep. He went to the second floor window and looked outside. Sophia was holding Henry’s arm like a happy little rabbit. Henry opened the passenger door for her. As Sophia got in the car, Henry stole a quick kiss on her cheek. She directly hooked her arms around his neck and kissed him back. From cheek, gradually sliding to lips. Then lower… Lucas didn’t see the scene after that. The two got in the car. He could only see the car constantly shaking and rocking. When the car finally drove away, Lucas let out a sigh of relief. He began packing his clothes. Professor Qin told him that after drinking the amnesia drug, he would forget everything from before. After packing his clothes, he wrote notes categorizing them, as well as his various daily necessities and habits. Finally, he went to a jewelry processing store. He took off his wedding ring and handed it to the clerk. The clerk accepted it nervously. “Sir, do you want to exchange this ring for another style? But this looks like a wedding ring, it’s part of a pair. Does your wife need to exchange hers too?” “No,” Lucas said. “Melt it down.” “What?” “I said, melt it down.” “Alright…” Half an hour later, Lucas left holding a small red velvet box. When he returned home, he ran into a frantic Sophia rushing out. There was a crowd of people inside the house. Police, bodyguards, and the household staff. Sophia’s eyes were red. The moment she saw him, she tightly embraced him. “Honey, where did you go? You scared me to death…” She hugged him so tightly Lucas could barely breathe. Finally the police smiled and said, “Ms. Zhu can finally relax now. Mr. Xu is back.” The maid also said, “Mr. Xu, when the madam came back and didn’t see you, and saw that you had packed all your clothes, she thought you had left. She was so frightened she lost her soul.” “Yes, Mr. Xu. Just now Ms. Zhu was telling us to contact the best private detectives. She said if we couldn’t find you we’d all be fired.” Sophia held Lucas like a precious treasure. “Honey, where did you go? Are you hurt? Were you hungry or cold?” Lucas calmly put some distance between them. “I just went out for a walk.” “But your phone was turned off.” Lucas took out his black-screened phone to show her. “It just ran out of battery.” “Then what about the packed clothes in the room?” Lucas said, “Those clothes are all old styles. I was planning to donate them.” Sophia finally let out a deep breath. “As long as you’re not leaving. Honey, promise me you’ll never leave me, okay? I would really go crazy.”

The commotion finally ended. As the police were leaving, they smiled and said to him, “In all my years handling missing persons cases, I’ve never seen such a devoted woman as Ms. Zhu. Cherish her well, and don’t make her worry in the future.” Sophia stood protectively in front of him, a bit unhappy at others criticizing him. “Lucas just went out for a walk. My worrying is my own business, it’s not his fault.” The police could only smile wryly. “Alright, alright. As long as Mr. Xu is fine, that’s what matters. You two focus on living your lives well together.” Lucas apologized to the police and saw them out. Sophia stayed glued to his back the whole time, not leaving his side for a moment. She noticed the jewelry box in his hand and her eyes lit up. “Honey, did you go buy new jewelry?” Lucas said, “This is a gift for you.” “A gift for me?” “Yes, your birthday is in a week. It’s your birthday present.” “Thank you honey! Can I open it and take a look?” Lucas said, “Wait until your birthday to open it.” A week later would be Sophia’s 26th birthday. And his flight was departing at 5am that morning. By the time she woke up and opened this jewelry box to see the platinum melted into a small lump and the lonely diamond inside, he should have already taken the amnesia drug and flown out of the country. They started with this ring, so they would end with this ring too. Over the next few days, Sophia seemed afraid he would disappear again. She canceled all her work and stayed home with him every day. She cooked for him, watched TV shows with him, or they would go for walks in the park together. Lucas had the illusion that they had really returned to when they first got together. So in love, so loyal, with eyes and hearts only for each other. But the constant stream of messages on his phone shattered all the beautiful illusions. [Henry: Lucas, I saw you that day.] [Henry: I know you saw me and sister having sex in the car. But what you don’t know is that we’ve been together since four years ago when you first started supporting me.] [Henry: I’ve been her man since I was 18. I don’t want to always just call her sister.] [Henry: Lucas, you gave me money for school, let me see a broader world, experience greater things, and also meet the best woman in the world.] [Henry: She can’t bear to leave me. You’ll see.] After that was a video. The video was long, one hour and forty minutes. Seeing the length, Lucas already guessed what this video was. While Sophia went to buy him water, Lucas played the video. In the cramped car, Sophia’s face was contorted with desire. She was pinned against the car seat backrest by Henry, in pain yet ecstasy. Henry traced circles on her chest with his fingers, asking suggestively, “Doing this, aren’t we wronging Lucas?” Sophia just giggled. “A woman’s sex and love can be separate. I truly love him, but I also truly can’t live without your body.” “So I’ll just be nameless and without status forever?” “I can give you anything except status.” “What if I want you to have my child?” Sophia thought for a moment, then said, “Then don’t wear a condom today. It’ll feel better.” Lucas couldn’t watch anymore. He closed the video. When Sophia returned, she was holding a bottle of water. “Honey, here you go. I had the owner heat it up specially. Your stomach isn’t good, you can’t drink cold water.” Lucas took the water. It was indeed quite warm, almost hot to the touch. Sophia cupped his face with her warm little hands, frowning slightly. “Why is your face so cold? And you look a bit pale. Honey, are you not feeling well?” Lucas turned his face away, avoiding her hands. “It’s nothing. I just saw a video that made me feel a bit sick.” “In the future if you come across videos that make you uncomfortable, just swipe past them. Don’t watch.” “Mm, I won’t watch anymore. I’ll never watch again.”

That evening, Sophia took him to the seaside. The crowd around them was bustling. Sophia circled her arms around him as they walked forward, afraid others would bump into him. Suddenly, a dazzling firework exploded in the sky. Then a second, and a third. Countless fireworks lit up the entire night sky. “Wow, is some rich person proposing? It’s so beautiful!” “So many fireworks, did they buy up all the fireworks in H City?” “How romantic! If someone was willing to set off so many fireworks for me, I would love them for a lifetime!” Hearing this, Lucas smiled wryly. Young girls were indeed easy to deceive. A firework display was enough to make their hearts flutter and casually promise a lifetime. But he wasn’t so easily fooled. Sophia said a woman’s sex and love could be separate. But for him, they couldn’t. Although Sophia said she loved him, betrayal was betrayal. He could never forgive it. “Honey, look—” Sophia pointed at a firework that had just exploded in the night sky. It was an English letter. S. Then O, P, H, I, A. SOPHIA. Then a big pink heart. After that was L, U, C, A, S. LUCAS. Sophia whispered in his ear, “Honey, I love you forever. Let’s be together forever, grow old together, okay?” Before Lucas could speak, Sophia had already knelt down on one knee in front of him. She shouted loudly for everyone to hear: “Sophia loves Lucas, for life, for all lifetimes, never changing—” Applause immediately erupted around them. Mixed with exclamations and praise from girls. One girl even boldly asked, “Handsome, did your girlfriend just propose to you?” Sophia smiled and denied it. “We’ve been married for four years.” “Then is it your husband’s birthday today? Or your anniversary?” “Neither.” “Then why such a big production? What’s the occasion?” Sophia looked at Lucas, her gaze burning. “I just want my husband to know how much I love him. He hasn’t been very happy lately, so I wanted to cheer him up.” Another round of praise erupted from the crowd. Lucas received envious looks from everyone. But only he knew – His wife had been unfaithful for four years. She had held another man’s hand, kissed another man’s lips. Over these four years, they had tumbled in bed together countless times. A little girl gave him her glow stick. “Big brother, this gift is for you. I hope you and big sister will be together forever.” Lucas asked Sophia, “Did you arrange for the little girl too?” Sophia said, “No, the little girl must have been moved by our love and thought our relationship was beautiful.” Lucas returned the glow stick to the little girl. “Thank you, but big brother can’t accept your gift.” The little girl didn’t understand. She tilted her head and asked, “Why?” Because big brother and big sister’s love isn’t beautiful at all. It’s full of lies, betrayal and concealment. This kind of relationship shouldn’t be admired by innocent children. It’s not worthy. Sophia comforted the little girl. “Thank you. Go find your mom and dad now.” The little girl said, “Big sister, you must have a little sister with big brother, okay? Big sister is so pretty, the little sister would definitely be pretty too.” Sophia chuckled. “Okay, big sister will try her best.” Back by his side, Sophia said half-jokingly, “Honey, let’s have a daughter?” Lucas asked her, “Do you want children that badly?” “I actually prefer just the two of us, but don’t all you men hope to pass on the family line?” “Is that Hen—” Lucas almost said Henry’s name. He really wanted to confront Sophia face to face about what exactly her relationship with Henry was, if she would continue having a physical relationship with him in the future, if the three of them would always coexist. But out of the corner of his eye, he saw the kiss mark on Sophia’s neck. It was left by Henry several days ago. So many days had passed, yet it still hadn’t faded. He averted his gaze, not wanting to look or ask anymore. At this point, he didn’t want to argue like a madman with his unfaithful wife on the street. He had his pride. Since she couldn’t change, he would be the one to change. Drink the amnesia drug, go to a city where no one knew him, and start a completely new life. Sophia asked him, “Honey, what were you just saying? You said ‘Is that…’” Lucas shook his head. “I was saying, many men think that way, but I don’t.” “You don’t want to have a child with me?” “Mm.” “Are you afraid that after the child is born, it will take away my love for you? Don’t worry, even if we have a child, you’ll still be the person I love most.” “Let’s go back.” “Are you angry? I’m sorry honey, I said the wrong thing. If you don’t want children then we won’t have any. We can be DINKs and keep living just the two of us. That’s good too.” Lucas’ footsteps faltered. That day she and Henry had been going at it for an hour and forty minutes in the car. Maybe she was already pregnant by now. But unfortunately, it wasn’t his. “Honey, what’s really wrong…” Ring ring— The phone rang. Sophia glanced at it and answered with some irritation. “Didn’t I say not to call me these few days, I’m with my husband…” The other person said something, and Sophia’s eyes flickered. “Fine, I’ll come over now.” She hung up and said to Lucas, “Honey, there’s an urgent matter at the company I need to deal with. Can I call you a car to take you home?” Lucas said, “I’ll call a car myself. The company matter is important, you go quickly.” “My husband is so good. Then I’m going. Send me a message when you get home so I know you’re safe.” Sophia hurriedly drove off. Lucas did indeed call a car. But he didn’t go home. He told the driver, “Follow that car up ahead.” Sophia’s car stopped in front of the hospital. Henry immediately embraced her. He took off his own jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296115”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring #惊悚Thriller #重生Reborn #校园School

I’ve been married to Jack for twelve years. My millionaire husband has fallen in love with the new receptionist at his company. She’s nearly forty, not as pretty as me, and doesn’t have as good a figure as I do. Yet in just six short months, she’s provided Jack with tremendous emotional value. Jack wearily said to me: “If we divorce, you can have the house and the car. Olivia, can you please just let me go?” I lowered my eyes and said softly, “Alright.” Then I bought a calendar and circled a date. Divorce countdown: 30 days. When I pushed the divorce agreement in front of Jack, it had only been 40 minutes since he told me about his affair and asked for a divorce. As requested, the house, car, and custody of our child would all go to me. He would give me a one-time payment of $2 million for compensation and child support. After that, our child and I would no longer bother him. At that moment, Jack was in the middle of a conference call. He glanced down, saw the words “Divorce Agreement,” and his expression flickered almost imperceptibly. Then he nodded, indicating he understood. I left the room. To save time for both of us, I packed up all of Jack’s clothes and belongings. Three full suitcases. Afraid I might have missed something, I even included his childhood photos from the attic. Finally, I saw our wedding photo in the corner. In the photo, Jack looked handsome and dashing, while I smiled sweetly. We were embracing without a care in the world under the sunlight. That was when he would always hold me close and whisper, “Honey, I love you so much. I’m so lucky to have married you.” Jack and I met in college. When we first met, he was still a poor boy wearing worn-out canvas shoes. I had plenty of suitors back then, but I fell for Jack at first sight. He was calm, kind, and good-looking. He had countless qualities I admired. We got married right after graduation, and he started a company with his friends. After I got pregnant, I became a full-time housewife. I devoted myself entirely to taking care of Jack and our family. As the business grew, Jack’s social obligations and drinking events increased. In between my busy daily routines, I made time to work out and learn about makeup and fashion. Jack didn’t disappoint either. No matter how busy he was, he would come home to look after our child and cook. He also helped me handle the relationship with his mother. In others’ eyes, we were the model couple, the model family. I’m not sure when it started, but Jack began scheduling meetings in the evenings. Sometimes when work got busy, he would stay out all night. Friends joked that I should keep a closer eye on him in case anything happened. I laughed it off, saying it wouldn’t, but I still felt uneasy. I brought them late-night snacks a few times. Nothing seemed amiss. A group of people in meetings, with that woman just waiting at the reception desk. Her name was Rachel. In her early forties, not very tall, on the thin side, with short hair. She looked rather plain, but her voice was unexpectedly gentle, unlike her appearance. She smiled and greeted me. All these years, I had imagined this day might come. I thought it might be a pretty secretary at the company, or a fresh-faced college student, or maybe a powerful female CEO they worked with. I never expected it would be Rachel, the receptionist. I heard she had been married before, but her husband cheated and they divorced. This was her first job after the divorce, and she cherished it greatly. She would come to the office early, learn everyone’s little habits, and occasionally make some pastries. Some colleagues even ordered lunch from her for convenience. When I found out, I told Jack to look after her a bit, since she was having a tough time. Jack always responded coolly. “The company isn’t a place for sentiment. I’ve already advised her not to engage in transactions outside of work.” At the time, I teased Jack for being an unsympathetic boss. Now that I think about it, he was probably upset that Rachel had to make extra food for colleagues after work every day. As for why Jack chose today to ask for a divorce. I had just made him a hangover soup as usual this morning after he came home drunk. He looked at the soup in front of him, sighed, and pushed it away slightly. After a long silence, he suddenly looked up at me, his eyes weary, and asked if we could get divorced. He confessed that he had been having an affair for six months, sneaking off to hotels every time he worked late. My heart trembled like a sieve, as I struggled to control myself. I asked who it was. When he said Rachel’s name, I even doubted I had heard correctly. A sense of helplessness washed over me. Cold and chilling.

By the time Jack finished his meeting and came out, I had already eaten, cleaned up the kitchen, and was sitting in the living room watching TV. As if nothing had happened. He turned to take a shower, but halfway through realized there were no towels. Out of habit, he called from the bathroom. “Honey, where’s my bath towel?” Without turning around, I replied: “I’ve already packed it in the suitcase. If you don’t mind, use mine for now. I’ll throw it away later.” I was met with a long silence in response. When Jack came out, he finally noticed the three suitcases by the door. He sat down across from me and pushed the divorce agreement towards me with his fingertips. “I can give you $1.5 million for child support upfront, and the rest can be paid monthly…” I interrupted: “No need. Let’s do a lump sum buyout. I don’t think she would want you to keep in contact with me either.” Jack looked at me, puzzled: “The child isn’t just yours. I have the right to be involved in his upbringing. I know this is my fault, and I’m willing to compensate, but you don’t need to use our child as leverage.” I paused the TV show and looked at Jack seriously. “The affair is your fault, so it’s reasonable for you to pay compensation and child support. Compared to your assets, me getting the house and car isn’t asking too much. Our son has been raised by me since he was little. He’s a sensitive child with needs. Tell me, how much energy will you have to take care of him while you’re in the honeymoon phase of your new relationship? Being involved in his growth isn’t just about money, it’s about time and companionship.” Jack was left speechless. After a while, he spoke: “In any case, I won’t use $2 million to buy out my relationship with my son.” I reached out and opened the divorce agreement: “The $2 million is for compensation and child support. If you have other emotional needs, you can transfer money to our son. I’ll open a separate card for him.” Jack suddenly laughed: “Olivia, I never knew you were so obsessed with money. You keep talking about money.” “What else is there? Is loving you useful?” Jack was stunned into silence. He frowned and swiftly took out a pen to sign the divorce agreement. He also arranged for us to go to the civil affairs bureau tomorrow to apply for divorce. Then he called his driver. I finished watching my show and went to bed. When I woke up in the morning, Jack was already gone. Our son ran out of his room and hugged me, excitedly telling me about a really happy dream he had last night. As I listened to him share, I tentatively told him that Dad’s company was busy lately, so he might be away on business trips for a long time. Contrary to his usual reaction, our son didn’t insist on calling Jack to ask, “Dad, when are you coming back?” He just said “Oh” and pursed his little lips: “It’s okay, I have Mom with me.” I instantly couldn’t hold back anymore. Tears spilled from my eyes as I excused myself to the bathroom to compose myself. Agreeing to divorce Jack made me sad, but mostly I felt I was letting our son down by not allowing him to grow up in a complete family. But I knew this wasn’t my fault. After dropping our son off at school, Jack and I went to the civil affairs bureau to apply for divorce. There’s a 30-day cooling-off period, after which we can get the divorce certificate. Back in the car, I circled a date on the calendar, marking today. Divorce countdown: 30 days.

I debated whether to tell my parents about the divorce now. I grew up in this city, with all my relatives and friends here. My parents are retired teachers, and I’m their only daughter. They’re very open-minded, but my father’s health hasn’t been great these past couple of years. I was thinking of waiting a bit longer. Jack called after a couple of days. He rarely called me. Usually, he would text on SnapChat, since I would always reply promptly, which he found convenient. Last night, I had already deleted him from my contacts. I answered the call. Jack’s voice sounded normal. “Olivia, your mom just called me. She said she’s cooked a lot of dishes tonight and wants us to come over for dinner. I think since your dad’s health isn’t good, maybe we should wait to tell them about the divorce until he’s better. What time do you want to go over? Also, next Sunday is your dad’s birthday. Should I still go with you?” I had been hesitating, but hearing Jack’s words made me decide to tell my parents the news. I replied that it wasn’t necessary. Jack: “You don’t need to be stubborn. The elderly’s health is important.” I said calmly: “If you really cared, you wouldn’t have an affair and ask for divorce at a time like this. My dad’s health may not be great, but his mind is clear. I don’t think he would want me to continue in an unfaithful marriage.” “Jack.” “Hmm?” “Don’t call again. If you want to see our son, follow the agreement. Once a week.” Hearing this, Jack dropped his conciliatory tone. “Olivia, I’ll say it again. Jason is my son too, my family…” “But you gave up the family he belonged to, didn’t you?” Finally, I heard Jack slam down the phone. I promptly hung up and collected my somewhat shattered emotions. I decided to drive to the mall. The bedding, sofa, and all the furniture Jack liked at home – I planned to replace it all. And I wanted everything in stock. After replacing everything, I cleaned the house thoroughly, then went to my mom’s place. When she saw me without Jack, she assumed he was busy. I fell silent, feeling a bit nervous as I called out, “Mom.” She immediately sensed something was wrong. Putting down what she was doing, she just stared at me, then gently pulled me into her arms. I didn’t say anything, but as a mother, she could feel my emotions and hurt. I tried to calmly explain everything to her. My mom handed me a tissue to wipe my tears. Her voice was very soft. “It’s okay, divorce is quite common these days. If he’s not faithful, it’s better to end it sooner rather than later. Olivia, Mom only has one request for you.” She finished speaking, her eyes growing moist as she held my hand. “Since you’ve decided to divorce, no matter what happens, don’t ever get back together with him.” I nodded tearfully: “Okay.” After dinner, my mom and dad talked in their room for a long time. When they came out, my dad handed me a big red envelope. He said today was a new beginning, worth celebrating. “I hope my precious daughter will always be happy and blessed.” Leaving my parents’ house, I cried for a long time in the car. Before coming, I was so afraid of disappointing them. They’ve barely argued in their lives, always getting along harmoniously. When I married Jack, everyone disapproved, but they said they respected my decision. Now that Jack is successful, everyone admires them for having good judgment. Yet they calmly support my divorce. I wiped my tears and looked at the calendar. Divorce countdown: 28 days.

When I picked up our son from school, he said Grandpa had called saying he missed him and asked if he could stay at their place for a week. He wanted me to take him over. I was taken aback but helped our son pack a small suitcase. He was so excited, saying Grandpa had promised to take him to fly a drone. After dropping our son off, my mom walked me out: “Olivia, cheer up. Go out and have some fun.” As I got in the car, my mom stood there watching me for a long time before going back inside. I opened the mirror in the car and saw my pale face and dejected expression. I took out my makeup and applied a bright lipstick. I went home and packed some things. Then I traveled for a week, hurriedly seeing many people and places, hearing many stories along the way. I came back feeling much more spirited. I looked at the calendar. Divorce countdown: 21 days.

I returned just in time for my dad’s birthday. They decided to hold it at a hotel this time, inviting relatives and friends for a gathering. The hotel wasn’t far from home. There were five tables in total, all filled with familiar relatives and friends. Many people were asking about Jack. Fortunately, our son had an extracurricular class today and didn’t come. My parents didn’t directly answer the questions. Just as dinner was about to start and my dad went up to give a speech, Jack arrived. He was dressed in a suit and tie, carrying several gift bags and a big red envelope. The relatives and friends all greeted him. He waited for my dad to come down and handed him the red envelope: “Dad, happy birthday.” My dad glanced at it coolly: “Mr. Wilson, you’re too kind. No need for the red envelope, since you and Olivia are already divorced. I wouldn’t dare let you spend the money.” Jack’s face instantly froze. The relatives and friends were in an uproar, but quickly fell silent. His voice was very low: “We’re still just in the agreement stage…” My dad shook his head: “It’s all the same, same meaning.” He then turned to invite everyone to eat and drink. Jack just stood there. He gripped the gift bags tightly. My mom politely returned the other things to him. He left without lingering. Seeing him leave, the relatives and friends tacitly agreed not to mention Jack again. In the future, no one would ask me about him either. That’s good. My mood was gradually recovering, accepting, permeating. I shed the title of Mrs. Wilson. I became Olivia Chen again. The property management and housekeeper of the company somehow got the news. They no longer called me Mrs. Wilson, but Miss Chen instead. I also quickly wanted to keep myself busy. I planned to open a coffee shop. There was a shop for sale that I liked the location and decor of, so I signed the deal right away. The staff were all still there and could continue operations, but I wanted to take some time to adjust the menu and flavors. I also wanted to change the storefront and furniture. It was temporarily set to soft open. After a busy day at the shop finalizing plans, I was about to head home. I glanced at the calendar in the car. Divorce countdown: 15 days. Just as I arrived downstairs, Emma, a girl from Jack’s company, called me. She’s outgoing with a straightforward personality that people find likable. She asked if I was busy. When she learned I wasn’t, she immediately started complaining, asking if Jack and I were really getting divorced.

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I received a call about a terrible car accident on the highway. My husband Finn, his childhood friend Charlotte, and her son Leo were involved while on their way to a picnic. Finn died at the scene. Charlotte fell into a coma, but she had managed to protect Leo, who only suffered minor injuries. Upon hearing the news, I quickly arranged for Finn’s body to be taken to the funeral home. My in-laws, George and Evelyn, rushed back from out of town and immediately took Leo into their care. A week later, Charlotte woke up. Upon learning of Finn’s death, her first words were: “Leo is Finn’s son. He has inheritance rights.” George and Evelyn immediately backed her up, claiming the child was indeed their grandson. I stated that as long as they could prove Leo was Finn’s biological son, I wouldn’t object. Since Finn had already been cremated, George offered to do a DNA test with Leo as supporting evidence. I wasn’t worried at all. In fact, I almost wanted to laugh, because I knew the results would show no blood relation between them.

When George and Evelyn both insisted that Leo was Finn’s biological son, I wasn’t surprised at all. Because I also knew that Leo was indeed Finn’s child. That’s why I had arranged for Finn’s cremation so quickly, and even had the house thoroughly cleaned, leaving not a single hair behind. But even if he was Finn’s son, I could still prevent him from inheriting anything. “You can’t just say it’s true without proof. What if there’s been a mistake?” I said, forcing my swollen eyes open. “We can’t just take her word for it. We need evidence.” Charlotte, her head still bandaged and looking pitiful, said, “We can do a paternity test.” Evelyn, hearing this, stood up angrily. “It’s because of you, you barren hen! We hadn’t even arrived, and you had him cremated. How are we supposed to do a test now?” I shook my head, crying, “We can’t just make baseless claims. I won’t accept it without proof.” Evelyn was about to berate me further when George stopped her. “Calm down. She’s grieving too. But we can’t let my grandson be left out in the cold. I can do a DNA test with him. After all, Finn was my only son, so a test with me should serve as evidence. Aria, will you accept the results if they come back positive?” I nodded, “I don’t understand the science, but if the testing center says it’s valid, I’ll accept it. Whatever he’s entitled to, he’ll get, even if he is… illegitimate.” Evelyn flew into a rage again. “Who are you calling illegitimate? He’s our family’s only heir! You can’t even have children, and now you’re trying to ruin the child’s reputation.” I scoffed internally. The kid was clearly born out of wedlock, and they were upset about calling him illegitimate? I looked at the three people in the room. The arrogant George, the bitter Evelyn, and Charlotte, who had caused all this trouble and was now playing the victim. I wondered what kind of drama would unfold in the future. I do love a good show. I watched George call the DNA testing center, barely able to hold back my laughter. When the results came back, it would be time for me to enjoy the spectacle. Because I knew the test would show no blood relation. That’s when my real hunt would begin. None of these three would get off easy.

I watched Evelyn fuss over Charlotte, my eyes full of contempt, though hidden behind my swollen eyelids. “Go home and make some chicken soup for her. Nothing too greasy,” Evelyn instructed me. I nodded and got up to leave. As I was about to exit the hospital room, I heard Charlotte say, “Mom, thank you. I’ll take good care of you from now on, and Leo will be a filial grandson to you and Dad.” Hah, laughable. If they knew that their son had been killed because of Charlotte, I wonder if they’d still be so kind to her. I had already retrieved the dashcam footage from the car. The contents were quite interesting indeed!

Back home, I ordered takeout and had it delivered to the hospital. I chose a place with the worst reviews. The chicken soup I made myself was for me to eat, of course. I had lost a child too, so I needed some nourishment. So, I ate what I cooked, and she could have the takeout. After I finished eating, I’d take it to her. How amusing, I’ve ended up in the position of serving my husband’s mistress. I discovered I was pregnant a year ago, just three days after learning that Finn and Charlotte had a child together. After losing the baby, I had someone investigate the situation thoroughly. It turned out that Finn and Charlotte had been involved even before our marriage, and things only intensified after we wed. Finn and I had been married for four years, and their child was four years old. Ironically, Leo was conceived during what should have been our honeymoon period. Unfortunately, it was during my honeymoon that they conceived their child. I couldn’t understand why, if they were already involved, they didn’t just get married. Why did Finn have to marry me and ruin my life? Was it just for the thrill? As for my in-laws, they knew about the child too, and even helped Charlotte with childcare regularly. I didn’t want to know the reasons anymore, since Finn was now just a pile of ashes. The day George took Leo for the DNA test, I didn’t go with them. I said, “Dad, I trust you. I’ll just look at the results when they’re ready. If the child really is Finn’s, I’ll divide the inheritance as required. Don’t worry.” George nodded, “That’s how a good wife should behave. Be generous. Leo is also your child now, and you should treat him as your own in the future.” I thought to myself, “Really?” Once the estate was divided, I planned to take my share and disappear. What? Did they expect me to stay and serve Charlotte and her illegitimate son just because I married into their family? Watching George’s confident stride as he left, I felt disgusted. His son had just died, and he didn’t seem particularly grieved. All he cared about was getting his grandson recognized. But when the test results came back, he would be devastated, wouldn’t he? His precious heir was about to go down the drain.

On the day the DNA test results came out, I had just finished dinner and was returning home. Since my husband’s death, I hadn’t cooked at home. Evelyn did all the cooking because she had to take care of Charlotte and Leo. I said I had to work and was getting busier, so she had no choice but to do it herself. She had tried not cooking at all, waiting for me to come home and do it. But I didn’t play along. I either ate out before coming home or went shopping after eating and came back late. That day, when I got home, George said the test results were ready and asked me to go with them to see them the next day. I agreed and took a day off from work. I wouldn’t miss the chance to witness this drama unfold firsthand.

Early the next morning, we took a cab to the testing center. When George received the report, his face was glowing with anticipation. But when he saw the results, his face turned green, like he was looking at a stock market crash. I peered over and saw that the results showed no blood relation. I covered my mouth in shock, “Oh my God, was she really trying to scam us?” Charlotte heard me and snatched the report, not believing what she was seeing. “How is this possible? How can it say we’re not related? He is Finn’s child, he really is!” I tried to comfort her, “Miss Charlotte, maybe you should think carefully. Was there anyone else you were with during that time? Maybe there’s been a misunderstanding? The child might be someone else’s!” She raised her hand to slap me, but I dodged it. “Are you lashing out because you’re embarrassed? Don’t get physical here. You tried to scam our family for Finn’s inheritance, and now that you’ve been exposed, are you going to pretend to be crazy? Dad, we can’t fall for her tricks.” Charlotte’s eyes were red with anger. She pointed at me, trembling. “You faked the results, didn’t you? Leo is Finn’s son.” I was speechless. How could I possibly have the power to change the results of a test I never even touched? George stepped in at this point: “She never touched anything, so she couldn’t have faked it. But you, you’ve been lying to me all these years, saying Leo was my grandson. How much money have we spent on you? How much did Finn spend on you? You’re quite something, taking our money and making a fool out of my son at the same time.” “Dad, I didn’t, I really didn’t. The child is Finn’s, I don’t understand why the test results say there’s no blood relation.” George snorted coldly and turned to me, “Finn even bought her a car and a house. Sue her and get everything back.” I cried, tears streaming down my face, desperately covering my mouth. Of course I had to cover it, or I might have laughed out loud. What an unexpected windfall. Charlotte was utterly dejected, desperately trying to explain that the child was indeed Finn’s. But George didn’t believe a word: “If you try to scam our family again, I’ll call the police. And return all the money Finn gave you. We gave you money because we thought Leo was our family’s only heir, but now he’s just a bastard. Return all the money we spent on you, or I’ll report you for fraud.” Charlotte wailed loudly. I sat in the chair, watching her pitiful state, feeling a bit sorry for her. Because among everyone present, only I knew that she was truly wronged. The child was indeed Finn’s. Charlotte’s persistent pleas were silenced by a slap from George. She knelt on the ground, crying hysterically, while I helped George leave. Back home, George told me exactly how much money Finn had spent on Charlotte.

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What to Do When Your Wife Suddenly Becomes Rich? Divorce Her Immediately! Don’t Hesitate for Even a Second or You’ll Lose! The day Melissa became the richest woman in River City, I walked away with most of her assets in the divorce settlement. She glared at me with bloodshot eyes, grabbing my collar: “Adrian, how could you be so heartless!” After ten years, the pig I had been fattening up was finally ready for slaughter. Oh, the joy! Who could understand? I’m probably the first man to want a divorce because his wife got rich. The reason is simple – I discovered Melissa was on the verge of having an affair. She was just one step away from actually cheating. After the initial shock and heartbreak, I came to terms with it. Actually, I had a feeling this day would come ever since her company got its first round of venture capital funding five years ago and started growing rapidly. They say money changes men, but the same is true for women. … Melissa had no idea that the day she was discussing her potential affair with Natalie, I was standing right outside the study door with a cup of coffee. “So Melissa, what do you think about that handsome TV host Ryan? He seems pretty great,” Natalie probed. Melissa replied nonchalantly, “He’s a bit clingy.” “But you still bought him a Maserati? That’s quite generous even for someone as rich as you.” My fingers froze and my heart sank. A Maserati? Talk about going all out. Then I heard Melissa’s slightly weary voice: “It’s just a car.” “Well, I’ll keep him on the hook for you then. Who knows, you might change your mind someday.” “Whatever.” The topic of Ryan ended there, and they went back to discussing business projects. It seemed like just some casual girl talk over afternoon tea. Nothing too serious. That cup of coffee ended up in my stomach, but I lay awake all night. The ironic thing is, when we got married, we were too poor to even have a wedding reception. Now Melissa was planning an extravagant wedding ceremony for us. She felt guilty towards me, but that didn’t stop her from trying to please other men. Hah, the human heart is unfathomable, the sea of money bottomless. Divorce. We had to divorce. And quickly! Before it was too late.

I met with my lawyer friend Howard at a coffee shop. As luck would have it, the TV in the lobby was playing Ryan’s financial talk show. I guess that’s where Melissa first met him. The young, handsome host spoke eloquently and intelligently, completely at ease even when interviewing intimidating billionaires. Howard was an old classmate of mine who had become a famous divorce lawyer. Noticing me staring at the screen, he joked, “Adrian, that Ryan guy kind of looks like you.” I immediately bristled, snapping, “No way!” Ryan was the pretty boy type that women fawned over. I was all man. Howard blinked in confusion. “Anyone who knows you both says you look alike. It even came up at our last class reunion.” I frowned, scoffing, “How unfortunate.” Not in the mood to discuss Ryan, I got straight to the point and told Howard I wanted to divorce Melissa. “Adrian, you can’t be serious! You’re finally successful and now you want a divorce?” “Do I look like I’m joking about marriage?” I rolled my eyes. Our group of classmates had witnessed how I married Melissa when her company was on the brink of bankruptcy. No wonder Howard was so shocked. “You married her when she was dirt poor, and now you’re leaving her when she’s filthy rich. Adrian, you sure know how to make a statement.” I replied calmly, “Howard, I could handle that poor girl back then. But do you really think I can handle the richest woman in River City now?” “You’ve handled so many divorce cases. I thought you’d understand best of all.” Weren’t lawyers, especially divorce lawyers, the ones who understood the dark side of human nature best? Howard was speechless for a long time before tentatively asking, “Did Melissa… have an affair?” “She’s one step away from it.” “Can’t you try to salvage things? Isn’t it too harsh to sentence her to death right away?” I laughed bitterly. “If I’m not harsh now, she’ll be the harsh one soon enough. Howard, tell me, from all the cases you’ve handled…” “Do people get more in a divorce settlement out of love or out of guilt?” Once the new lover officially takes over, how much I’d get would depend entirely on her whim. I refuse to be the passive one in this situation! Howard was taken aback by my words. “Adrian, your calmness scares me.” Calm? My calmness was the result of five years of simmering emotions. Besides Ryan, there was also Melissa’s male secretary Henry who had his eyes on her. I couldn’t remember exactly when, but one day when I went to have lunch with Melissa, I saw through the partially open door Henry zipping up her dress. Afterwards, he carefully took out a thermos of hangover soup from his own lunchbox. Henry was always trying to impress her, and she always refused. But that day, the hangover soup I had made and sent with the driver was still untouched in its container when it came back home. Even the knot I had tied myself hadn’t been touched. … Long ash fell from my cigarette as Howard looked at me pensively. “Adrian, I should really have my clients come learn from you.” I leaned forward to stub out my cigarette, smiling wryly. “It wouldn’t help. They can’t let go, and they don’t have the heart to be ruthless.” Those who can’t let go think they can handle such an exceptional wife, that they’re different. Until the very end when all love is gone, they don’t have the heart to be cruel. That’s why people shouldn’t be too greedy, wanting both money and the person. They’ll end up losing everything. I’m different. Because no one else could do what I did – always planning an exit strategy in my marriage. Of course, I want a divorce. But before that happens, I need to have a proper meeting with Ryan as Melissa’s husband!

That evening at the dinner table, I deliberately put on Ryan’s show as background noise – the episode featuring Melissa. She touched her face self-consciously. “What, you think I looked beautiful that day too?” She acted completely normal, without a hint of guilt. I almost believed the Maserati was just a toy car. “Melissa, I’ve got my eye on a car,” I said casually. She replied offhandedly, “Oh, it’s rare for you to be interested in cars. Which model? We can go pick it up together someday.” I watched her carefully as I said, “The Maserati Levante.” Her smile slowly faded as she gave me a scrutinizing look. “I thought you liked Range Rovers?” I tapped the table. “Fine, let’s go with a Range Rover then.” As long as it was more expensive than a Maserati. … It wasn’t long before Ryan and I had a fateful encounter. His Maserati crashed into my Range Rover. I had engineered it. Unfortunately for him, his car didn’t fare well in the collision. Ryan stood helplessly by his car, glaring resentfully at my vehicle’s front end. The collision between two luxury cars caused a traffic jam, and the police arrived promptly. “Mr. Shen, the video shows you made an illegal U-turn. You’re fully at fault,” the officer stated. Ryan looked painfully at his crumpled front door, shattered headlights, and bent bumper. “Couldn’t you have just let me go? I was prepared to get points on my license. Now both our cars need repairs,” he whined, his eyes reddening as he played the victim. His entitled attitude even surprised the police officer. A hot-headed driver nearby couldn’t help but shout, “What, are you used to people always giving way to you? This is a Range Rover, buddy. It’s not afraid of your little toy car.” “Serves him right! Fight fire with fire!” Having enjoyed the spectacle enough, I leisurely opened my car door and stepped out. Ryan’s accusations hit me immediately: “Why were you driving so slowly up front? Is the road your personal runway? I wanted to overtake you but you wouldn’t let me. Were you deliberately blocking me?!” “I was in a hurry and had no choice but to step on the gas a bit. You—” His words cut off abruptly when he saw me, his face turning pale. I smiled slightly. “With such a nice car, you still have to rush to work to make money? Looks like a Maserati can’t change your fate after all.” Ryan bit his lip, his face ashen. Without another word, he got back in his car. He told the officer, “Just handle it. I’ll pay for the damages.” The officer nodded and quickly moved to direct traffic. I watched Ryan’s retreating figure thoughtfully, letting out a cold laugh. … I was in a hurry to get divorced. But I didn’t expect Ryan to be in an even bigger hurry. Maybe he was still upset about me crashing his car. A few days later, I received a video file from Natalie’s phone. Around a mahjong table, Melissa was leaning close to Ryan, waving her hand as she explained the game. Ryan glanced at her coyly, saying in a whiny voice, “Big sis, which tile should I play? My palms are all sweaty.” Melissa looked at him indulgently. “Whatever you want. If you lose, it’s on me.” The others at the table laughed loudly. As Ryan lowered his head to look at his tiles, his bangs kept falling into his eyes. Melissa gently and naturally brushed away the hair blocking his view. “Play your best, okay?” she said softly. My fingers trembled as I angrily turned off the phone and threw it on the bed. A sour, painful feeling welled up inside me. I felt unsteady, my blood rushing to my head. I had to grip the edge of the table tightly to calm myself down. If Melissa’s affair partner had been anyone but Ryan, I might have graciously let her go. … Not long after receiving the video, Natalie called me. She anxiously tried to explain: “Bro, I’m so sorry, I can’t take back the video. I really didn’t mean to send it, I swear it wasn’t me.” “Please, whatever you do, don’t tell Melissa.” I replied flatly, “I know it wasn’t you.” She let out a huge sigh of relief. “Don’t overthink it. You know how Melissa feels about you. That was just her being polite for business.” “I guarantee she’d cheat on me a hundred times before she’d ever cheat on you!” “So you’re trying to drag her down with you, huh?” I retorted. She sheepishly admitted, “Yes, yes, you hit the nail on the head. It was wrong of me.” I hung up the phone, feeling utterly disgusted. I didn’t believe a word from this notorious player. But there was one thing she wasn’t lying about. As wild as she was, even she wouldn’t dare send that kind of video to my phone. That kind of thing could only be done by someone like Ryan – someone raised with a sense of entitlement who learned from example! Natalie’s earlier words, “I’ll keep him on the hook for you,” proved she had feelings for Ryan too. She just didn’t dare steal him from Melissa. It probably wasn’t hard for Ryan to get access to her phone. I called Howard: “How’s that divorce agreement coming? Can you get it done in a week?” “Come on, we’re old friends. I was just giving you time to cool off.” “If I don’t have it by tomorrow, I’m finding someone else.” “Alright, alright, fine.” It was time to confront Melissa.

I walked into the CEO’s office and got straight to the point: “Melissa, I have a favor to ask.” Melissa rested her elbows on the desk, fingers interlaced, and gave me an appraising look. “You’re my husband. Whatever you need, just ask.” I leaned down, flashing a cold smile. “Alright then, I want something.” “What is it?” I enunciated each word clearly: “The keys to the Maserati Levante.” She froze, her expression rapidly changing. We stared at each other for several seconds, neither backing down. Finally, she sighed and tried to placate me. “Adrian, that’s not important. It wasn’t even that expensive.” Her face showed she thought I was being unreasonable. “You’ve never been so petty before.” I couldn’t be bothered to argue. “Ms. Mu, can you get them back or not?” Melissa’s gaze was fixed on me, seemingly trying to gauge how serious I was. I stared back unflinchingly. She bit her lip and rubbed her forehead, but eventually replied, “Fine. I’ll give them to you tomorrow.” This was the first time I had ever been so disrespectful to Melissa. But it didn’t matter. I had achieved my goal. “Thank you,” I said with a faint smile, turning swiftly to leave. As I grasped the doorknob, Melissa’s voice came from behind me: “Adrian, are you jealous?” I replied noncommittally, “You can think that if you want.” As I closed the door, I heard the sound of something being swept off the desk inside. Then came the loud thud of a fist slamming onto the desk. Outside, Henry the secretary looked at me in shock. I gave a slight smile and entered the elevator. This was good. Once the decision was made, what was the point in keeping up appearances? … After getting the Maserati Levante keys, I wasted no time in setting up a meeting with Ryan at the TV station. At a café downstairs, Ryan arrived late, looking haggard. It must not feel good to have a gift taken back. “Please, have a seat Mr. Shen,” I gestured. His eyes landed on the car keys next to my coffee cup and his pupils constricted sharply! He plopped down unceremoniously and sneered at me. “Did Mr. Ou come to show off?” He flicked his bangs, looking at me defiantly. “Ms. Mu did ask for the keys back, but a woman of her status would surely compensate with something even more valuable when taking back a gift,” he said. I gazed at him calmly. Of course I understood such a simple principle. But it didn’t matter. “Besides, Mr. Ou, doing this makes big sis lose a lot of face.” I waited silently for him to finish, then slowly pushed the car keys towards him. “Her face doesn’t matter to me. Mr. Shen, a Maserati isn’t worth showing off to me. I got it back only because I wanted to—” I paused, and he looked at me warily. I chuckled softly. “I just wanted to give it to you personally.” He stared at me intently. “What do you mean?!” I explained slowly and deliberately: “If you want it, I can give it to you. But you can’t steal it. Understand, my dear little brother?” The color drained from his face. The coffee he was holding splashed out and he quickly set it down. I leaned back with a cold smile, looking at him. At that moment, I felt like a porcupine with all its quills raised. That’s right, Ryan was my half-brother from the same father. As of today, we hadn’t seen each other in 20 years. So we both pretended not to recognize each other. Actually, the first time I heard the name Ryan Shen, I knew it was him. At the accident scene, Ryan recognized me immediately too. His target was Melissa – how could he not investigate my identity? He just chose not to acknowledge our relation since he hadn’t officially gotten his position yet. Knowing my stepmother’s style and upbringing, once Ryan achieved his goal, he’d probably put on a pitiful act and say, “Big brother, I’m so sorry, I really didn’t know Melissa was your wife.” How could I let him have his way! I can accept a divorce, but the idea of Ryan even getting a whiff of Melissa is a sign of my incompetence. He wants to recreate what Linda did to my mom back then? Not a chance. Thanks to that mother-son duo, I learned an important lesson from a young age: Never let anyone catch you off guard!

“I’ll get divorced. But you will never be Melissa’s husband, because that’s one of my conditions for the divorce.” I smiled coldly as I watched the color drain from Ryan’s face. I continued to mock him: “Of course, you can choose to be her secret lover and get some pocket money from Melissa. But Linda would be disappointed, wouldn’t she?” “Linda has always had high hopes for you, surely she wants you to surpass me. A mere lover is beneath you, isn’t it?” Ryan’s excitement hadn’t even had a chance to rise before I crushed it mercilessly. He bit his lip and asked shakily: “Big brother, do you hate me that much? I was innocent back then too.” I coldly watched him put on an act. Then he tried to appeal to my emotions. “Dad has felt very guilty about you all these years, he just couldn’t get in touch with you.” “I don’t know what to say about what happened between my mom and Aunt Ou, but we’re different. We’re brothers by blood.” I remained unmoved and laughed coldly: “Ryan, don’t try that act with me! I’ve already lost once in life. That’s enough.” Ryan’s expression changed. He clearly hadn’t expected me to be so unswayable, so he stopped pretending. “I heard from Melissa that your marriage hasn’t been happy these past few years. She said you’re the unsatisfied one, and she actually feels very tired being with you.” “That’s right, but you’ve lost your chance!” I ended the meeting confidently and turned to leave. Ryan shouted behind me: “Big brother, even if I just make you get divorced, I still win!” “Don’t flatter yourself. At most, you’re just one of the catalysts for my divorce.” I tossed back the words dismissively and left without looking back. … After returning home, I started giving Melissa the cold shoulder. First, of course, because I was angry that of all people, she chose my stepmother’s son. Second, since we were getting divorced, I couldn’t keep acting all lovey-dovey. I had to show some signs. When the event planning company contacted me about the wedding arrangements, I put the project on hold, saying I’d get back to them when I had new ideas. Who wants a wedding that’s past its expiration date! That night I had a nightmare. Back then, my name was still Adrian Shen. I was three years old. Ryan’s mother Linda was my dad’s secretary, determined to climb the social ladder. That day, she barged into our home with an ultrasound, her belly swollen. She said she was carrying a boy, the young master of the Shen family who couldn’t be left out in the cold. Using the child as leverage, her attitude was arrogant. Although my mom had me as a son, a stay-at-home housewife was no match for an experienced office vixen. My dad held that ultrasound like a treasure. Shamelessly, he told Linda not to upset the baby and ordered my mom to get out! My mom fainted from anger. In the end, it was my grandmother who stepped in to mediate. Unlike my dad, she couldn’t be easily fooled. She placated Linda while reassuring my mom. “Janie, what man with money doesn’t fool around outside? Those are all shameless hussies. You gave birth to Adrian, no one can shake your position.” To give credit where it’s due, my grandmother was pretty good to me, her eldest grandson, back then. My mom was somewhat swayed by her words. Mainly because she hadn’t worked in years, having devoted everything to my dad and our family. If they divorced, she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to get custody of me. … But Linda only behaved for a short while before causing trouble again. Later when my grandmother passed away from illness, she became even more unrestrained. She went around telling everyone she was pregnant with my dad’s child, firmly grasping his weakness. As she became more and more involved in the company, she started to treat it as her own. She began urging my dad to transfer assets, saying it was for their son’s sake. If he gave anything to my mom, it would all go to another man’s family when she remarried. My dad was so brainwashed by Linda that he ended up forcing a divorce. In the end, my mom was left with nothing and couldn’t even take me with her. Since she had no income, I was naturally awarded to the Shen family. From age 3 to 8, for five whole years, Linda became my lifelong nightmare. In that house, I was treated worse than a servant. Later when Linda gave birth to Ryan, her figure changed. My dad started spending his days gallivanting with other women again. This made my life even more miserable. Linda took out her dissatisfaction with my dad on me. She would beat and scold me at the drop of a hat, or lock me up as punishment. Because of this childhood family trauma, I thought I would never get married in my life. Until I met Melissa. Now, Ryan wants to recreate the story of the previous generation? Did he ask for my permission? I won’t end up like my mom, left with nothing in the end.

When Melissa heard the wedding was canceled, she came to ask me what was going on. I casually took out the divorce agreement: “Let’s get divorced.” Melissa shot to her feet: “Adrian, have you lost your mind?!” I looked at her calmly: “You know I haven’t. You’ve known for years that I’ve had this idea, haven’t you?” Her chest heaved as she paced back and forth, hands on her hips: “Is it because of Ryan? Stop being unreasonable, I know he’s my brother-in-law!” I angrily threw the divorce agreement in her face: “You don’t know shit! If you knew, you wouldn’t have done this!” I shouted, my voice distorted and shaking: “Melissa, how did I not realize you’ve become so full of yourself since getting rich! What exactly are you trying to do?!” The paper’s edge left bloody scratches on Melissa’s face. She stared at me in shock for a long while. She seemed unable to believe I would react so strongly. After a long time, she came over and hugged me tightly: “Adrian, I just wanted you to reconcile with your birth family. I was still hesitating whether I should do it when you found out.” My armor of indifference crumbled in that moment. Strong emotions of grief and anger made tears fall from my eyes. They silently dropped onto the shoulder pad of her suit. “Melissa, you don’t understand anything,” I said. “I do know. You’ve been seeing a therapist for five years. I know everything, Adrian,” Melissa gripped my shoulders tightly, her voice restrained and pained. I muttered: “Melissa, what gives you the right—” What gives you the right to be my savior when you haven’t experienced my pain? That family – I wish they were all dead! It’s not just me who’s a victim of that family, you are too! What gives you the right to make me reconcile with them! They don’t deserve it! Melissa wiped away my tears: “Adrian, believe me, I’ve never betrayed you. I gave Ryan the car because Natalie wanted to pursue him. You know how fickle she is.” “He is your brother after all—” I shoved her away forcefully. Whether she only saw Ryan as a brother-in-law, I didn’t want to delve into it. But Ryan’s desire to take my place was clear as day. “It doesn’t matter anymore, Melissa. Sign the papers. When we got married, we promised that if one day this relationship made either of us uncomfortable, we would let the other person go.” “Adrian!” she called out helplessly. I said wearily: “I know the company is at a critical stage right now. We won’t divide assets. I just want shares. Also, Melissa’s husband can’t be Ryan. Those are my only conditions.” “Adrian, do you think this is fair?” Melissa angrily threw aside the divorce agreement and came towards me. With bloodshot eyes, she grabbed my neck and pushed me against the wall. “What did I do wrong for you to treat me so cruelly!” “Melissa, I don’t want to test human nature. You’ll thank me for this in the future.” She stared at me for a long while, then buried her head in my chest, asking in a small voice: “Adrian, does it really have to be this way?” “Please grant me this, Ms. Mu.” I said. She glared at me fiercely. I met her gaze calmly. Melissa then pushed me away, turned around, and quickly signed her name without looking at me again. “You’ve really outdone yourself, Adrian!” … The day after finalizing the divorce, I went to have dinner at my mom’s place. Ever since I was 8 years old, when she finally had the means to support herself and fought to get me back, we had relied on each other. For my sake, she never remarried. Seeing me arrive alone, she chided me for not bringing Melissa along. I had a feeling that if I told her about the divorce right away, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy the meal properly. So I just said Melissa had a business engagement. My mom nodded, urging us to hurry up and have a child. She gripped my hand tightly, earnestly advising: “Adrian, is Melissa the one who wants to avoid pregnancy?” “She used to say it wasn’t the right time for kids, but she can’t make excuses anymore now, can she?” Seeing my mom so anxious and insecure, I had a sudden realization. If I had continued my marriage with Melissa, I probably would have ended up like my mom. Insecure. Desperate, clinging to a child as a lifeline. I replied flatly: “Neither of us said we don’t want kids, and neither of us said we do. We’re just letting nature take its course.” Thinking about it seriously, Melissa and I had only discussed having children once in all our years of marriage. That one time, in our shabby rented apartment, she held me with restrained emotion.

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It was rare for James to have a weekend off. After much pleading, I finally convinced him to make sweet and sour pork ribs for me. While he was cooking, his phone on the coffee table chimed. I tapped the screen but couldn’t see clearly. Upon closer inspection, I realized he had installed a privacy screen protector. Instantly, an ominous thought crept into my mind. I suddenly recalled what a colleague had once said: “When your partner starts using a privacy screen behind your back, it means they have secrets.” Those words stung like a thorn in my heart. I tried to convince myself it was just a coincidence, but doubt grew like weeds in my mind. Fortunately, he hadn’t changed his passcode yet. I unlocked the phone. SnapChat showed a new message from an unfamiliar name. The content was simple and direct. “Miss you.” My heart clenched, my eyes fixed on those two words. Scrolling up, I found no other chat history. But those two simple words were enough to cut me deep. As I tried to calm myself, I accidentally knocked over the water glass on the table. James poked his head out of the kitchen, holding a spatula. “What’s wrong?” I forced a smile, quickly slipping the phone into my pocket. “Nothing, just wondering how far along you are.” “Not that fast,” he frowned, complaining, “This caramel is so hard to get right. Let’s eat out next time.” I paused briefly, then nodded in agreement, “Okay.” James seemed to have forgotten that I’m from New York and don’t like sweet food. The one who loves sweet and sour pork ribs is him. When we first bought this house, he had pointed at the kitchen, his eyes gleaming with confidence and anticipation. “This is my domain. No one enters without my permission!” Every weekend, he would hole up in the kitchen, experimenting with recipes just for me. Back then, he loved our home so much, loved creating beautiful memories with me. The phone in my pocket felt like it weighed a ton, digging into my thigh. After calming down, I decided to reply on his behalf. “Come over, she’s not here.” I was curious about who this person was and how James would react. Not long after, the doorbell rang shrilly. I quickly changed clothes and walked to the door. My hand rested on the cold doorknob. After a moment’s hesitation, I decided to open it. The person outside was clearly startled, the excitement on their face instantly freezing when they saw me. I studied her carefully, involuntarily comparing every detail from age to appearance to figure with myself. However, the conclusion was cruel—she surpassed me in every aspect. “You must be Emily.” “You know me?” “James mentioned you.” The thought that my name might have become a topic of amusement between them only deepened my disappointment in James. She seemed to remember something and pulled out a familiar food container from her bag. “I came to return this.” “Last time James brought sweet and sour pork ribs to the office, I suddenly had low blood sugar, so he gave them to me to eat.” Looking at the lunch box she was clutching—the one James and I had bought together at the supermarket—I couldn’t help but recall how reluctant he had been when I begged him to make sweet and sour pork ribs this morning. My anger instantly ignited. I deliberately called out loudly towards the kitchen, “Honey, someone’s here to see you.” James heard the commotion and came out of the kitchen. Seeing her, he looked bewildered. I carefully observed their reactions, but didn’t see the guilt and unease I had expected. “Why are you here?” James asked, confused. “I was in the neighborhood and remembered I hadn’t returned your container, so I texted you.” “What text?” James suddenly seemed to realize something, glanced back at me, then his face darkened. “Just leave the container and go.” However, she didn’t leave immediately. Instead, she stood at the door, her eyes fixed on me. “Emily, aren’t you going to invite me in?” I couldn’t help but sneer, deliberately making way while glancing at James. “Why don’t you invite her in? We just made sweet and sour pork ribs again today.” I deliberately emphasized “sweet and sour pork ribs,” and James’s face indeed changed. “Stop it,” he said. Sensing James’s displeasure, she slowly replied. “I just remembered I have plans nearby. I got too excited and forgot. I’ll come play another time.” I didn’t say anything more, just coldly watched James see her off. When he returned, his face was so dark it looked like it could drip water. “What, missing her already?” I leaned against the door, mocking him. James glared at me angrily, “Don’t talk nonsense, she’s just my colleague.” How could I let him off so easily? “Colleague? Then what’s with her sending you ‘miss you’ messages?” James looked exhausted, “We’re just working on a project together recently. The pressure is high, so we joke around to relax a bit.” I didn’t believe his nonsense at all, and we had a huge argument. After that, James’s relationship with me became very tense. I also slowly began to reflect on whether I had been too impulsive, but I also felt James’s explanation was too unconvincing. This life had become utterly frustrating. I told my best friend Rose about my suspicions of James cheating. She laughed for a long time. After my parents passed away unexpectedly, she and James became the most important people in my life. “What nonsense are you talking about?” “Back in college, James bought our dorm bubble tea for over a semester just to pursue you. I still remember there was no KFC on campus then, so he would take the bus for over an hour each time to bring you food, not even daring to eat a single fry himself, saving it all for you.” I laughed wryly, “Really? I’ve forgotten.” Rose animatedly discussed how James had pursued me in college, but it all felt so distant to me. Indeed, 10 years had passed. In two months, I would turn 28. Before leaving, Rose earnestly advised me. “Emily, talk things through with James and set a date soon.” “Don’t let it drag on too long.” Rose and I both tacitly avoided discussing it further. The sunk cost of a 10-year relationship was something I couldn’t afford to bear. That night, I took the initiative to text James, even sending him a sexy photo of me in black stockings. In the past, he would have playfully replied, “Hubby’s coming home right away, please be patient a little longer, my dear wife.” But today, he replied three hours later with just, “Working overtime.” I exited SnapChat and opened Facebook, searching for James’s account. The glaring “Active now” status. He wasn’t at the office. By the time I realized it, my carefully grown nails had already been bitten down to the quick. After my parents passed away, I developed a habit of biting my nails when anxious. James would worry about me, saying he’d help me quit this bad habit, even volunteering to apply bitter nail polish with me. But now… Thinking of this, I felt an inexplicable irritation. I had planned not to reply, but remembering Rose’s words, I typed again. “It’s okay, I’ll wait for you to get off work.” This time, he didn’t reply. I sat in the most conspicuous spot in the living room. The tight black stockings had long been replaced with loose loungewear, but they couldn’t hide my inner anxiety and insecurity. The wall clock showed it was already 1 AM. I held the photo album James had made for me during our college days, lost in thought. When exactly did our relationship change from inseparable lovers to roommates who barely see each other? “Door open, welcome home.” The mechanical voice of the smart lock broke the night’s silence, also awakening that faint hope in the bottom of my heart. I suddenly lifted my head, my gaze piercing through the darkness, trying to capture that familiar silhouette. James stood at the door for a long time before finally stepping over the threshold. But his eyes quickly darted away the moment they met mine. That instant of avoidance hurt more than any words could, leaving me feeling utterly hopeless and cold. He stood in the entryway and suddenly lost his temper. “Can’t you fix your habit of leaving shoes everywhere?” I was stunned for a moment, about to go tidy up, when I saw him carelessly kick my shoes aside. Once upon a time, he would carefully arrange my high heels, always make sure my electric toothbrush was fully charged, and pack away my seasonal clothes well in advance. But now, all of that had become a distant memory. Lost in thought for a moment, I saw James walk out of the kitchen with a glass similar to the one in front of me. The difference was, it was a brand new glass. He sat down directly at the dining table and poured himself a glass of water. I stared at the glass in his hand, remembering our old habit of sharing a glass, suddenly feeling a bit hurt. “Why aren’t we using the same glass anymore?” “No reason.” He seemed a bit impatient, slightly turning his body away and focusing on his phone. I didn’t want us to keep cold warring like this, so I mustered up the courage to hug him from behind. “What are you doing!” He shook me off like I was the plague. I stared at the red marks on my wrist, my heart shattering. “Today is our 10th anniversary,” my voice tinged with desperation and pleading. James’s body stiffened slightly, a flash of guilt in his eyes. But it only lasted a few seconds before being replaced by his cold gaze. “What gift do you want? Text me, I’ll buy it for you tomorrow.” His tone was as flat as if he were talking about something unrelated to him. “It’ll be too late tomorrow.” I tilted my head slightly, trying to win him over with the cuteness he used to love. He once said he loved it most when I puffed out my cheeks in anger, saying I looked as cute as a pufferfish. But now, his gaze only grew colder, as if I were a complete stranger. “Emily.” He coldly called out my name, making my heart skip a beat. Using my full name meant the invisible wall between us had grown thicker. “Stop it.” Those three short words cut like an icy wind. “We’re both 28 now, not kids anymore. Life isn’t built on anniversaries.” My heart contracted violently, as if struck by a heavy hammer, the pain unbearable. The man before me, in his suit and tie, mature and steady, was a far cry from the sunny boy in white who used to smile so brightly in my memories. I stared at him, trying to find a trace of the past in his face, but only saw unfamiliarity and resolution. Finally, I gave up arguing with him, just mumbling, “Yeah, I’m already 28.” He seemed to guess what I was going to say next and quickly interrupted me. “You know, my career is at a critical point right now, I don’t want to get married yet…” James was about to say more when his phone rang inopportunely. He glanced at me and quickly rejected the call. My heart sank, but I still maintained a calm facade, even with a hint of fawning. “So, when do you want to get married?” He didn’t answer me directly, nor did he let me continue waiting. Instead— “If you feel wronged being with me, then…” “Then break up with you? How did I become the bad guy?” The words that slipped out made us both calm down. In the end, it was James who broke the silence. “I’m not good enough for you.” I suddenly got angry, the emotions I had been suppressing all night reaching their peak. “Now you feel you’re not good enough? Why didn’t you think that when you were chasing me so publicly back then?” James’s face instantly turned ashen. His lips moved slightly, as if wanting to say something, but after a moment’s struggle, he gave up. Just like our relationship now, he didn’t even have the will to salvage it. I watched him walk towards the guest room with a black face, not saying a word. Until he struggled to open the door for a while and angrily turned back to shout at me. “Emily! Can you stop messing around! Open the door!” I kept a cold face, trying hard to suppress the displeasure and disappointment surging inside. “I told you to change that lock ages ago. The balcony window wasn’t closed today, and the wind was too strong, so it slammed shut. I can’t open it either.” He instinctively looked towards the balcony, as if to verify what I said. The atmosphere around us became even heavier, a suffocating oppression filling the air. Until he spoke first, breaking this silence. “Then I’ll go stay at a hotel.” The rational defense line completely collapsed at this moment. I suddenly stood up, my voice sharp and piercing. I hysterically shouted, “What, is this big house not enough for you now? Or are you just too lazy to even pretend anymore?” James’s face became extremely ugly, a flash of shock in his eyes. He seemed to have never seen me so out of control before, momentarily at a loss for words. “If anyone should go to a hotel, it should be me. After all, you bought this house, how could I make you leave.” I continued my high-frequency output, as if giving him a hard time could make me feel better. Or perhaps, deep down, I hoped that making a fuss like this would make him care about my feelings again. “Emily, you’re always like this, never considering others’ feelings when you speak or act.” “What do you mean?” I glared at him like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. “What do I mean? Last week when you deliberately called my colleague over, did you ever think about how I’d face people at work afterwards?” “Face them? How to face them? She sends you those ambiguous messages, and I can’t say anything?” “I don’t want to explain anymore. Think whatever you want.” He completely cold-shouldered me, ignoring my anger and insecurity. Then he walked towards the door without looking back. When he reached the door, he suddenly stopped, but didn’t turn around. “Emily, if you really can’t go on, let’s just end it.” I held my neck stiffly, not answering. The frustration in my heart was about to explode. At this moment, I was certain James didn’t love me anymore. After that day, James didn’t come home again. On Friday night, Rose sent a message in our group chat with three people. “Friends, I’m getting married!” Following that was an elaborately designed invitation. She tagged me and James. “You two college sweethearts must come support me, the time and place are written above, be there on time!” I waited for a long time but didn’t see James reply. Not wanting Rose to worry, I responded. “Mm, we’ll be there.” Just after I sent it, James’s private message popped up. “Just find some excuse, say I’m on a business trip or sick, I won’t go.” I hesitated for a few seconds, “But they’ve invited us, it’s not right not to go.” “Besides, Rose is my best friend.” I watched the “typing” indicator above the SnapChat dialogue box. After waiting for a long time, until— “Emily, let’s break up.” I stared at the screen, tears falling uncontrollably. Clumsily moving my already stiff fingers, I repeatedly typed on the keyboard, but hesitated and deleted each time. After a long while, I angrily pressed send. “Fine.” When I first met James, he was being scolded by our counselor. “James, I chose you as class monitor considering your poor family background. Being a student leader can add points, which will be very helpful for your future scholarship applications.” James bowed his back, “Yes, I’m very grateful to you. It’s just that I had a high fever last week and couldn’t help you move. Next time you need anything, I’ll be there immediately.” After overhearing a bit more, I learned that this tall boy had often been ordered around by the short, chubby counselor in front of him to do hard labor. “You say that, but I ask you for help because I know you’re a country boy. I’m just looking out for you a bit more.” “Yes, I…” “I’d say rather than looking out for him, why not introduce him to a proper part-time job? Besides, those few points from being a student leader are nothing compared to what he could get from winning a competition or something.” “Who are you?” Great, he doesn’t recognize me. “Who I am doesn’t matter, I just can’t stand you bullying people.” I walked over and pulled the dumbfounded James away. “Hey…” “Are you stupid?” James smiled bitterly and shook his head, “I know he doesn’t have good intentions, but I thought it’s better to avoid trouble. Besides, being a student leader looks good on the resume after graduation.” “You’re worried about your resume with all those first prizes you’ve won?” James was stunned, only now really looking at me. “You’re the… from the English Cup competition…” “Second place!!” I said angrily. If it weren’t for him butting in, I would have gotten first place, and the DSLR camera my dad promised to buy me would have been in my hands long ago. “Hi.” He scratched his head shyly and smiled. “Hi my ass.” I turned and left. After that, James became my shadow, following me wherever I went. It wasn’t long before he confessed to me. I didn’t play coy either. I had my eye on him since the English Cup competition, how could I let him go? The reminiscence came to an abrupt end. After I agreed to break up, James didn’t contact me again until that night. I was revising my new resume at the company when I suddenly received a call from James’s friend. “Sis, I’m with James at Mirage KTV. He’s drunk too much and we’re worried something might happen. Can you come pick him up?” I guessed James probably hadn’t told them about our breakup yet. “Alright, I’ll come over now.”

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Hazel Crawford watched in shock as her boyfriend passionately kissed her best friend. Without hesitation, she marched over and slapped them both across the face. A well-dressed woman passing by stopped in her tracks, staring at the scene in amazement. She approached Hazel and asked, “Excuse me, could you slap my son like that too?” Hazel blinked in confusion, but before she could respond, her now ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend started hurling accusations at each other. “You cheating bastard! I’ll never let you have custody of our child!” “You gold-digging whore! I’m done covering up your affair with that old rich guy!” They glared at each other, their silent accusations speaking volumes. Soon, they were at each other’s throats. Hazel felt a sense of satisfaction as she prepared to go home and mourn her dead relationship. Suddenly, the well-dressed woman grabbed her arm, tears in her eyes. “It’s not easy raising a child alone. Here’s a thousand dollars. I hope it helps.” Realizing the woman had misunderstood the situation, Hazel quickly explained that it was all made up. The woman paused for a moment, then asked again, “So… could you still slap my son?” Hazel was taken aback. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but I don’t do that sort of thing.” The woman wiped away a tear and pulled out a credit card. “Ten thousand dollars.” “Really, I can’t-” “Fifty thousand.” Hazel hesitated. “Um… maybe we should exchange contact info?” The woman introduced herself as Mrs. Grant. Her son, Lucas, was hopelessly in love with his ex-girlfriend Ruby, who had been studying abroad and leading a promiscuous lifestyle while stringing Lucas along. According to Mrs. Grant, when Ruby returned home wearing a white dress, Lucas was overcome with joy at their reunion, completely ignoring his mother’s warnings. To avoid damaging their mother-son relationship, Mrs. Grant decided to hire Hazel as an “intervention specialist.” “Ruby dumped him as soon as she went abroad, leaving him depressed for three years. He nearly failed out of college, only managing to graduate by cramming in his final year. Now that she’s back, I don’t know what will happen to my Lucas…” Mrs. Grant explained tearfully. “Don’t worry, Mrs. Grant. I’ll take care of it,” Hazel assured her, pocketing the $5,000 deposit. For the first time in her life, Hazel splurged on a taxi instead of taking the bus. She arrived at Lucas’s place in record time, ready to deliver a slap. But as she raised her hand, she was struck by his handsome face and piercing eyes. Her fierce slap transformed into a gentle caress down his cheek. He was too attractive to hit. “I’m so sorry, how rude of me,” Hazel apologized. Lucas’s temple twitched slightly, but his good manners kept him composed. Encouraged by his politeness, Hazel extended her hand. “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Hazel Crawford, a friend of a friend of your mother’s.” Lucas smiled faintly. Just as he was about to shake her hand, he suddenly put his arm around Ruby instead. “I’m sorry, but I have a girlfriend,” he said coolly. Ruby looked up at him, her face glowing with happiness. It seemed as if their relationship had just been confirmed in that moment. Hazel’s smile froze. She hoped Mrs. Grant wouldn’t demand a refund. Back home, Hazel began researching Lucas’s interests online, combining this information with what Mrs. Grant had told her. She started subtly inserting herself into Lucas’s world. They had “chance” encounters at cafes, and Hazel got a part-time job as a waitress at his favorite restaurant, her hand occasionally brushing against his as she served him. Ruby grew increasingly unhappy, and the couple started arguing. It was a good sign for Hazel’s mission. That evening, Hazel transformed into a sporty, sunshine girl, jogging past Lucas’s house. She deliberately tripped and fell into his arms as he was taking out the trash. She cried out in pain, then looked up, feigning surprise. Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears. “Mr. Grant…” Lucas remained silent, his expression unreadable. Emboldened, Hazel confessed, “Actually, I’ve liked you for a long time.” The first step in breaking up the lovebirds was to sow discord. Lucas loosely held her, asking, “You like me?” Hazel nodded shyly. He lifted her gently, then unceremoniously dumped her into the recycling bin along with the trash. Keeping one hand on the lid to prevent her from escaping, he pulled out his phone with the other. “Hello? 911? Yes, there’s a stalker here. She’s been following me and just tried to sexually harass me.” “This is unacceptable, Miss Crawford! Even if you have a crush on someone, you can’t go to their home and harass them. Is this what they teach you in college these days?” The police officer lectured Hazel sternly. Hazel tried desperately to explain herself. The officer just stared at her coldly. “Call your academic advisor to come pick you up!” Calling her professor was out of the question. She didn’t want to become a social pariah on campus. Tonight, Hazel should have been in Lucas’s arms, feeling his lean waist, their breaths mingling… only to be caught by Ruby, leading to a dramatic confrontation. Then she would have tearfully collected her $500,000 reward. Instead, she was sitting in a jail cell, listening to a bunch of drunks howling and crying… With no other choice, Hazel called Mrs. Grant early the next morning. Mrs. Grant arrived quickly, using her status as a “relative” to bail Hazel out. Completely ignoring the suspicious looks from the police, she praised Hazel effusively. “You did a great job! Lucas called me last night in a terrible mood. He must have had a fight with Ruby…” As they left the police station, Mrs. Grant continued chattering away. “But he’s too soft-hearted. He made up with her and invited her over. Hazel, do you think you could go to his place and keep an eye on things? Just in case that girl tries to trap him with a pregnancy or something. How awful would that be?” Hazel turned to her wearily. “Mrs. Grant, do you think next time you’ll be picking me up from prison instead?” Breaking and entering would definitely land her in more serious trouble. Mrs. Grant seemed oblivious to Hazel’s concerns. “Don’t worry, Hazel. Just go for it!” Hazel vaguely felt that her relationship with the police was far from over. After finishing her professor’s urgent request for a thesis draft, Hazel looked up to find night had fallen. To avoid creating more “little Lucases,” as Mrs. Grant put it, Hazel reluctantly made her way to Lucas’s house. True to her word, Mrs. Grant had bribed the newly hired security guard, who let Hazel in without question. At that moment, Hazel felt a surge of confidence. The front door was slightly ajar. Through the gap, Hazel could see two figures on the couch engaged in some heavy petting. Lucas’s partially unbuttoned shirt was damp, clinging to his skin and revealing tantalizing glimpses of his muscular physique. Ruby frantically tried to dab at the wet spot with a tissue. “I’m so sorry, so sorry!” Lucas frowned slightly, blocking her hand. “Ruby, we’re both adults now. Some things…” He suddenly trailed off mid-sentence. Hazel’s heart skipped a beat. Were they about to do adult things?! She couldn’t allow that! Lucas’s piercing gaze swept towards the door. “Our visitor at the door, have you seen enough?” Hazel strode in with as much dignity as she could muster. Ruby immediately snuggled closer to Lucas, as if marking her territory. But that meant nothing. Mrs. Grant didn’t approve either. Hazel announced, “Mrs. Grant said she left something here and asked me to retrieve it.” As long as she couldn’t find this nonexistent item, she had an excuse to stick around and prevent any funny business between the couple. Lucas stared at her, his brows furrowed into a deep frown. He was about to stand up when he glanced down at his damp shirt. Instead, he turned to Ruby and said, “I need to take a shower. This wine you spilled is sticky. While I’m gone, please help our guest… leave.” He headed towards the bathroom. Ruby swirled the wine in her glass, her tone dripping with disdain. “I advise you not to use such underhanded tactics to seduce Lucas. He’s different from other men. He’s very loyal.” Hazel couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “He may be loyal, but are you?” Mrs. Grant had already investigated Ruby thoroughly. She had returned to the country, but she wasn’t being faithful. She had several backup boyfriends, but unfortunately, there was no concrete evidence to make Lucas believe it. Hearing this, Ruby’s face changed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. “What are you talking about? I only love Lucas.” “In a relationship, loyalty is the bare minimum. And Miss Chen, you don’t even have that. But I do,” Hazel replied coolly. Seeing Ruby’s smile become increasingly strained, Hazel knew Mrs. Grant’s intel was spot on. Suddenly, a phone on the coffee table started ringing. Perhaps due to nervousness, Ruby accidentally hit the speakerphone button. A young man’s voice immediately filled the room: “Babe, are you coming over tonight?” His tone was lazy and intimate. Ruby frantically tried to mute the call, rushing outside in a panic. This was her chance! If she could just let Lucas see Ruby’s infidelity, her mission would be accomplished! Where was Lucas? The sound of running water came from the nearby bathroom. Oh right, he was showering. Hazel rushed over and pounded on the door. “Are you done? I really need to use the bathroom!” A languid voice replied from inside, “No.” “Hurry up, I can’t hold it anymore!” After a moment’s hesitation, Lucas responded, “There’s another bathroom upstairs.” “Please, I’m begging you! It’s an emergency!” Hazel pleaded desperately. Through the window, she could see Ruby’s lips forming what looked like “goodbye.” She ended the call quickly, while Lucas started speeding up his shower. Hazel clawed at her hair in frustration. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! As Ruby was about to come back inside, the sound of water in the bathroom stopped. To hell with it! Hazel kicked open the bathroom door and barged in. A Greek god emerging from the bath – that was her first thought.

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I was doxxed by my boyfriend of three years, exposed online for all to see. His stepsister caused my allergic reaction, and I demanded an apology. Three years of love couldn’t compete with an outsider who wasn’t even blood-related. I always thought it was my fault until I overheard his conversation with friends… “She just had an allergic reaction, not like she died. Why should my sister apologize?” That sentence from my boyfriend became the last straw that broke me. I watched him protect his two-faced stepsister, my heart turning to ashes. Three years. I loved him for three years, only to realize it was all a big joke. I deleted all contact information and blocked him. Until one day, he appeared at my doorstep with bloodshot eyes: “What do you want from me?” I smiled: “I want you… to die.” … I sat at the dining table, feeling terribly uncomfortable. My throat felt like it was blocked by something. Chloe smiled at me sweetly: “Aria, I made this shrimp fried rice especially for you.” I shook my head with difficulty, wanting to say that she knew I was allergic to shrimp, but I couldn’t speak. My body started itching, and red rashes appeared all over. I looked at my arms in horror, finding it increasingly difficult to breathe. “Aria, what’s wrong?” Ethan finally noticed my distress. I wanted to answer him but could only make choking sounds. I collapsed onto the chair, my vision blurring. In my daze, I heard the sound of an ambulance. When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a hospital bed. “You’re awake? How do you feel?” Ethan sat by the bed, asking with concern. I looked at him weakly, my voice hoarse: “Chloe did it on purpose, didn’t she?” Ethan frowned: “Don’t overthink it, how could she…” I interrupted him: “I want her to come and apologize to me in person.” Ethan’s expression turned unpleasant, but he nodded. The next morning, just as I was about to be discharged, my phone suddenly started buzzing frantically. I opened it and froze. My photos, ID number, home address – everything had been posted online. I had been doxxed! Even worse, some of my private photos were being sold online for a dollar each. I trembled all over, tears streaming down my face uncontrollably. This blatant humiliation and hurt nearly broke me. I called Ethan with shaking hands, but no one answered. I dragged my weak body, taking a cab to the hotel where Ethan usually stayed. In the elevator, I leaned against the cold wall, my heart full of expectations for Ethan. He would comfort me and help me solve this problem, right? As I reached his room and was about to knock, I heard voices from inside. “Haha, that stupid girl must be terrified now, right?” “Serves her right for messing with Chloe and demanding an apology!” I froze, unable to believe my ears. I stood there, ear pressed against the door, listening to the conversation inside. The sound of clinking glasses and unrestrained laughter of several men came from the room. “Guys, check out these photos. What a body!” a drunken voice said. “Tsk tsk, who knew she was so wild in private when she acts so proper in public,” another chimed in. My heart ached, tears falling uncontrollably. Those photos, those scenes were all taken at Ethan’s place. My intimate moments with Ethan had become their entertainment. “Ethan, you dog! You scored such a hot chick!” I heard Ethan chuckle: “She’s alright, just for fun.” My heart instantly turned cold. I gripped the doorframe to keep from falling. “Hey, I heard there’s no info on her parents. Is she an orphan?” “An orphan? Even better! No one to protect her if we mess with her.” I bit my lip hard, trying not to make a sound. “Ethan, what made you do this?” someone asked. Ethan laughed coldly: “It’s all because that bitch dared to ask Chloe to apologize. Who does she think she is?” “This is her lesson, to know her place.” I trembled, unable to believe these words came from Ethan’s mouth. “So, are you still going to marry her?” “Are you kidding? Someone like her? You guys can have her if you want.” My heart shattered completely, tears blurring my vision. So in his eyes, I was never a lover, just a toy to be played with. I covered my mouth, trying hard not to cry out loud. Listening to the laughter from inside, my despair reached its peak. I struggled to support myself on shaky legs. Countless memories flashed through my mind, piercing my heart like shards. “Baby, let’s try something new today?” Ethan had looked at me lovingly in bed. At the time, I thought he wanted to deepen our relationship. Now I realized how disgusting it was. So all those intimate moments had been recorded by him. I covered my mouth, trying hard not to vomit. Suddenly, a cheer erupted from the room. “Guys, I’ve got videos and audio too. Want something more exciting?” Ethan’s voice came through the door. I felt cold all over, as if I’d fallen into an ice pit. The scene at Ethan’s house that day involuntarily flashed through my mind. Chloe came over with a plate of fried rice, smiling sweetly: “Sis, I made this especially for you.” I was so touched at the time, but ended up covered in rashes after eating it. Ethan had said Chloe accepted me and invited me for dinner. Now I realized how ridiculous that was. So they had been plotting against me from the start. I remembered what Ethan’s drunk friend had said last time: “Ethan, when are you going to marry Chloe?” I thought he was just drunk and got the name wrong. Now I understood the truth. In his heart, I was never his true love. Just a substitute, a toy to be discarded at will. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. With trembling hands, I pushed open the hotel doors. The harsh sunlight instantly hit my face. I instinctively lowered my head, feeling the strange gazes of people around me. Shame and fear overwhelmed me like a tidal wave. I quickened my pace, wanting to escape this place. Suddenly, a stranger pointed at me and whispered: “Isn’t that the girl from the internet…” I shuddered and hurriedly hailed a cab to leave the hotel entrance. Sitting in the car, tears streamed down my face. My trembling fingers scrolled through my phone, finally finding my parents’ number. The call connected quickly, my father’s gentle voice came through: “Aria, what’s wrong?” Hearing the familiar voice, I could no longer control my emotions. “Dad… I… I…” I choked, tears bursting forth. My father sensed something was wrong, his tone becoming urgent: “Aria, what happened?” I took a deep breath and told my parents everything that had happened. By the time I finished, I was sobbing uncontrollably. My parents were silent for a moment, then my mother’s soothing voice came through: “Don’t be afraid, sweetheart. We’re here for you.”

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After My Husband Lost His Memory, He Wanted a Divorce Claiming His Lover Was Pregnant I agreed. After regaining his memory, he chased me to a foreign country begging to reconcile. But I had already lost all feelings for him. Because I too had regained my lost memories. “Sign the papers. Mandy is pregnant, so I must get a divorce,” said the man sitting across the table from me. Ethan Zhang, heir to the Zhang Group empire. And I was his wife. “Ethan, please reconsider,” pleaded the woman beside him – my mother-in-law. “You’ll regret this when you get your memory back.” That’s right, my husband had lost his memory. Three years ago, on our first wedding anniversary, he went to the supermarket to buy ingredients, saying he wanted to cook a special dinner for me like he used to when we were dating. Hours passed and he didn’t return. After I reported him missing, the hospital called the next day to inform me my husband had been in a car accident. When I rushed to the hospital, I found my husband gazing lovingly at the girl who had saved him. Then the doctor told me my husband had amnesia. His memories stopped at three years ago, the day before we first met. He didn’t remember that I was the wife he had pursued for two years. Even worse, he had fallen madly in love with the girl who brought him to the hospital. The day after he was discharged, he asked for a divorce. I looked into his eyes and saw the same sincerity as when he first confessed his love to me, promising to love me forever. My heart felt like it was being torn apart. I didn’t agree. I couldn’t let go of our relationship so easily. So he moved out. Over the next three years, I heard about many crazy things Ethan did for that girl. After all, the Zhang Group was famous, and Ethan himself was handsome and capable. More importantly, he did things for her that he had never done for me. Sometimes I think love is such an ephemeral thing. Mere memories can completely change who one loves. During those three years, many people tried to talk Ethan out of his foolishness. Every friend and relative who had witnessed our love urged him to move back home for a while. Later they started advising me, saying that once Ethan regained his memory, he would remember how much he loved me. So I endured for three years. I endured when they told me Ethan bought the girl’s company just so she couldn’t leave him. I endured when they said he bought an island as a gift for her. I even endured when I learned they were living together as husband and wife. But now, I couldn’t take it anymore. “Alright,” I smiled. “Give me the papers. I’ll sign.” “Aria, Mom doesn’t agree,” my mother-in-law grabbed my hand, tears in her eyes. “Ethan just lost his memory. He loved you so much, and you loved him too. Oh, how cruel fate has been to you both.” My parents passed away when I was young. Over the years, Ethan’s parents had treated me very well. “It’s okay. You’ve always wanted a grandchild, right? She’s pregnant, and the child is innocent,” I wiped away her tears. “That girl is nice too. Ethan and I… I guess it just wasn’t meant to be.” “I can’t believe you agreed so easily.” Ethan let out a cold laugh, looking at me with none of the love from before, only disdain for a crazy woman. Of course, in his current memories, I was just a mad woman who refused divorce and obstructed his wonderful new love. “She’s pregnant. What else can I do? Let the child be born out of wedlock?” “You…” Ethan glanced at my stomach, suddenly sneering, “Looks like I didn’t love you that much back then either. Otherwise, why weren’t you pregnant after a year of marriage?” I threw my water in his face. “Get out!” He wiped his face angrily, not forgetting to spit out more harsh words. “Just you wait. After the divorce, this house won’t be yours either!” After he left, my mother-in-law tried to comfort me. “Aria, move in with me. Even if you’re no longer Ethan’s wife, you can still be my daughter.” I shook my head. Over the past three years, Ethan had caused trouble with his parents too. He refused to come home, and when I went to his company, he had people block me. But he needed my agreement for the divorce. When his friends were too embarrassed to approach me, he went to his parents. After being scolded by them a few times, he simply stopped going home altogether. After finally persuading my mother-in-law to leave, a friend messaged to say Mandy wanted to meet me. Mandy Su – the girl who had brought my husband to the hospital that day. Now she was pregnant, and I was worried about her safety if we met. Without thinking, I refused. But my friend said Mandy was determined to see me and was waiting at a cafe, saying she wouldn’t leave until she saw me. These two were truly the bane of my existence. Cursing under my breath, I rushed to the cafe. As soon as I entered, I saw Mandy sitting by the window. Thinking about it carefully, I didn’t really have any deep grudge against Mandy. Some friends called Mandy a homewrecker, but I said that ultimately it was Ethan’s fault. Poor Mandy was just doing a good deed by taking an injured man to the hospital, only to be suddenly fallen in love with. I knew the lengths Ethan would go to for a woman he loved. He was quite a catch, and Mandy was a young girl fresh out of college. With all his sweet words and grand gestures, even a heart of stone would melt. Mandy wore a light-colored dress, her long curly hair looking soft and sweet in the sunlight. Only her complexion seemed a bit off. “Aria, thank you for coming,” her voice was as gentle as her appearance. People who knew us said Mandy and I were complete opposites. She studied art, with a gentle personality and a delicate artistic air. Just standing there, she looked like the female lead in a romantic music video. Before I met Ethan, I was a botanist who spent most of my time trekking through forests. Because I became a team leader at a young age, my personality was inevitably strong-willed. Back then, Ethan hadn’t fully taken over the company yet and was a thrill-seeking rich kid. God knows how much money he spent to join our expedition team. Throughout the trip, I scolded him endlessly for his lack of outdoor survival skills. When he first pursued me, I refused. I loved the adventurous life deep in the rainforests. Being a rich man’s wife might be many people’s dream, but not mine. But Ethan knew exactly how to win me over. He showed me things I had never had – the warmth of family. His parents were wonderful, truly treating me like a daughter. And he promised he wouldn’t let marriage constrain me, that he would be my support. It was all lies. At first after marriage, I didn’t give up my career. Until he said he wanted children, and I considered temporarily transferring to a lab. Then, while I was in the process of arranging the transfer, the car accident happened and he lost his memory. The vows of marriage didn’t allow me to just abandon him, so I went to work in the lab, continuing my research during the three years he kept demanding a divorce. Now that I think about it, it’s time to let him go. I’m starting to miss my life before marriage. I sat down across from Mandy at her invitation. She must be in the early stages of pregnancy, as she still looked slender. “You wanted to see me? I’ve agreed to the divorce,” I told her directly. To my surprise, Mandy burst into tears. “Why are you crying? I already agreed to the divorce.” I was baffled. She just kept wiping her tears. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” Her tears softened my heart despite myself. “You have nothing to apologize for. It’s not like you made Ethan lose his memory. These things happen, there’s nothing we can do.” I took a sip of coffee. Normally I drank coffee like water, but today for the first time I found the latte unbearably bitter. “You’re having his child now. Live well together in the future.” Mandy cried in fits and starts. “I didn’t want this, really, I didn’t want any of this.” Seeing that we were drawing attention from nearby tables, I felt powerless for the first time today. “Stop crying,” I resignedly started wiping her tears. “I really don’t blame you, honestly.” “Mandy!” Just then, the cafe door was violently pushed open and Ethan rushed in like a gust of wind. “I can’t believe you’re so shameless!” He suddenly grabbed my wrist, squeezing so hard it felt like he would snap the bone. “Mandy hasn’t done anything wrong. If you have any complaints, take them out on me!” Seriously, how did I never notice Ethan had eye problems before? “Are you insane? Why would I give her a hard time?” “Ethan, Aria didn’t do anything to me. Let go of her.” Mandy pleaded. Ethan flung my hand away violently. With a loud thud, my hand slammed against the table corner. “Ouch,” I hissed. I was supposed to go on an expedition soon. It would be troublesome if my hand was sprained. But I still underestimated how unreasonable Ethan could be. He checked Mandy over carefully, only to find her eyes were just swollen from crying. “Cloud, I’m warning you – I’m the one who wants a divorce. If you dare bother Mandy again, I won’t let you off so easily.” How could my taste in men have been so poor back then? This guy not only had eye problems, but brain damage too. “Let me tell you something too, Ethan Zhang. We’re definitely getting divorced. And…” I raised my hand and slapped him hard. “Since you’re so eager to end this, bring the divorce papers soon. Don’t waste my time.” That evening, I got a call from Ethan’s secretary. “Mrs. Zhang, why did you agree to the divorce?” I was icing my wrist as I corrected her. “Don’t call me Mrs. Zhang anymore. I’m divorcing your boss. Seeing how eager he is, it’ll probably be in the next couple days.” “Miss Cloud, but Mr. Zhang didn’t leave you anything!” I froze. “What do you mean he didn’t leave me anything?” “This afternoon when Mr. Zhang came back, he immediately called a lawyer. He’s demanding you leave with nothing.” Is that so? But I clearly remember Ethan promising when he proposed that if he ever wronged me, he would be the one to leave with nothing. On the other end, the secretary continued explaining. “Including the things Mr. Zhang gifted you before, he wants them all back.” Right, he had been very attentive when pursuing me. I didn’t care for jewelry or bags, so he once gave me a star. “Including that star?” “Star?” The secretary sounded confused. After some keyboard and mouse clicks, she said, “For that star, Mr. Zhang only bought the naming rights. He hasn’t mentioned renaming it yet.” He probably didn’t even remember it, I gathered from the secretary’s tone. Come to think of it, my relationship with Ethan was quite absurd. A star named after me, as worthless as our relationship that crumbled with lost memories. “It’s fine. Those things were his to begin with. He can have them all back.” I was tired. Soon, perhaps none of this would bother me anymore. “Miss Cloud, even though I’m Mr. Zhang’s secretary, the terms of the divorce agreement are unfair to you. You didn’t do anything wrong in this marriage. Mr. Zhang shouldn’t treat you like this.” The secretary paused. “It’s not my place to say this, but Miss Cloud, don’t sign the agreement.” I knew she meant well. Everyone knew I came from an ordinary background, with no parents, living in a small suburban house before I met Ethan. Now Ethan, as heir to the Zhang Group, was demanding his blameless wife leave the marriage with nothing. “Thank you,” I sincerely thanked her. “But honestly, those things are useless to me anyway.” Early the next morning, Ethan’s lawyer showed up at my door. “Mrs. Cloud, this is the divorce agreement Mr. Zhang asked us to draft.” “Let me see it, I’ll sign.” “Mrs. Cloud, don’t you want to read it carefully? If there’s anything you can’t accept, we can discuss it further with Mr. Zhang.” The lawyer seemed surprised by how readily I agreed. “No need. He’s not giving me anything, right? I don’t want anything of his either.” I glanced at the agreement. Ethan had already signed it. According to the secretary, the agreement was commissioned yesterday afternoon. Ethan couldn’t even wait a moment longer. Then why should I insist on our previous vows? I picked up the pen and signed my name too. “Mrs. Cloud, Mr. Zhang hopes you’ll move out today.” Ethan, you’ve really outdone yourself. I looked around the home I’d lived in for over four years. “Fine.” The lawyer had barely left when Ethan’s mother rushed over.

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My childhood friend persuaded me into an intimate encounter, only to later reconcile with his ex-girlfriend, Sophie. A month later, I sent him a pregnancy report. His only response was, “Emily, I always thought of you as a friend. You don’t want to be my wife, do you?” I replied, “No worries, I’ll raise the baby on my own.” Two years later, I went bankrupt. As he was about to marry, he took our child from me, citing my financial inability to support him, and left him in Sophie’s care. Three days later, I received the devastating news of my child’s death. By the time I reached the hospital, Little Round was already cold. His tiny hand lay still in my palm, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t warm him. Michael stood by with his fiancée Sophie, explaining with a disturbingly calm tone, “The child was playing and fell into the villa’s koi pond. By the time Sophie found him, it was too late.” I screamed in agony, “Why did you let her take my child? Why!!” I charged at them in a frenzy. Michael shielded Sophie, angrily replying, “Emily, this happened because of you. If you hadn’t insisted on having him, would we be here now?” I stood frozen, something lodged in my throat, suffocating me. Michael sneered, “You’re just selfish. Did you think having my child would unify the Johnson and Taylor families? Dream on. I, Michael, don’t need a marriage alliance. And now it’s proven—Emily, the sole heir of the Taylor family, you managed to bankrupt the Taylor Corporation in just two years.” I looked at him, the man I had admired for so long, and felt nothing but hatred. “Glaring at me? You still think you’re the high and mighty heiress? What right do you have to glare at me?” Michael pulled out a card and tossed it to me dismissively. “This is for the child’s funeral expenses, and the rest is your payment for the past two years.” He then turned to Sophie, wiping away her feigned tear and gently said, “It’s not your fault, don’t blame yourself. Let’s go home.” “No, Brother Michael, I want to stay with Emily,” Sophie said, looking at me with feigned guilt. “She must be very upset.” “Sophie, you’re too kind. I’ll head back to the office and have someone take you home later.” They shared another deep kiss. Yes, Sophie is seen as kind, weak, and needing protection. I heard this countless times five years ago. That year, amidst a heavy snowfall, Sophie stopped our car, cradling a stray cat, begging us to take it in. Michael held an umbrella over her, gently caressing the kitten in her arms, his gaze never leaving her face. In that moment, I tasted the bitterness of impending loss. Michael took her into the car. I recognized her; she worked at the café near our school. Her home should have been nearby, so why didn’t she take the stray cat home instead of stopping our car? When I questioned this, Michael, displeased, pushed me out of the car, telling me to experience the harshness of life to regain my conscience. The snow that covered me that day enveloped me again today, chilling me to the bone.

After Michael left, Sophie’s sad expression vanished. She picked up the card and brushed it against my face twice. “Emily, I’m about to marry into the Johnson family. Don’t expect a penny from Michael! Just because you had his son doesn’t mean you can sit back and enjoy the benefits.” “Marry! Marry! Marry the Grim Reaper!” I lashed out, grabbing Sophie’s neck tightly. Even as Michael’s bodyguards tried to pull me off, I wouldn’t let go until they used a stun baton, leaving me paralyzed on the ground. Sophie grabbed the baton, laughing maniacally as she hit me. “Emily, you should thank me. If I hadn’t broken up with Michael, he wouldn’t have gone to you out of spite. You know, I still have recordings of how he humiliated you. Want to hear it?” I had no choice. Michael’s voice was already coming through the phone. “Sophie, I just had some drinks, and Emily conveniently showed up. It’s all her fault. This woman has clung to me since childhood, shamelessly sticking around, always finding excuses to be near…” But I remember, Michael was the one who invited me that day. He said, “Emily, will you stay with me until we’re old?” I asked if he wasn’t dating Sophie. He shook his head with a light laugh, “We broke up. What? Don’t you like me anymore?” “No…” I hadn’t even finished speaking when he sealed my lips with a kiss. Before, I placed all my hopes on him and the child. It was my way of holding onto the most heart-fluttering memory of my youth. But today, that hope died with the child. The man in my memories also died.

I buried Little Round with my grandfather so they could keep each other company and not be lonely. I lost my parents at a young age and was raised by my grandfather. Though life was wealthy, something was always missing. The Johnson family and ours were family friends, so Michael and I grew up together. When my grandfather learned I was pregnant with Michael’s child, he was thrilled and immediately discussed our marriage with Michael’s father. But Michael rejected it on the spot. He said, “I have someone I like, and the child in Emily’s womb might not even be mine.” My grandfather’s face went red with anger and he severed ties with the Johnson family. That night, I cried my eyes out. My grandfather sat silently by me until dawn. After Little Round was born, the Taylor household became more lively. But the good times didn’t last. My grandfather fell seriously ill. On his deathbed, he stroked Little Round’s face and sighed, “Thank goodness for this little guy accompanying you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t rest in peace.” After losing my grandfather, I was in a slump for a long time and neglected managing the company, leading to bankruptcy. I initially wanted to take Little Round and leave Wind City, to start anew in an unfamiliar place. But I was intercepted by Michael at the airport. He yelled at me, “You went bankrupt, fine, but why take my son!” That was the first time he met Little Round and the first time he acknowledged him as his child. At first, I was unwilling to give Little Round to him. He had someone forcibly take him and threatened that if I caused trouble again, I wouldn’t see the child well-off. I never imagined that this would be my final goodbye to Little Round. “Little Round, Mama won’t let you die in vain.” I lay before the gravestone, wiped my tears, closed my eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.

I don’t know how long I slept, but I heard someone repeatedly calling me. It was the cemetery caretaker. He frowned, “Miss, why are you sleeping here?” I smiled slightly and replied, “I have no home. This cemetery plot is the only place I owned, so I made do for the night.” Yes, I was penniless at that moment. The villa was auctioned off, and all my bags and jewelry went to pay off debts. But I’m not worried. Surviving isn’t difficult for me. I braced against hunger and walked into the most famous club in Wind City, where socialites gather to spend. As a fallen heiress, there’s no way I could rise back to the top from the glamorous side. They’d only try to crush me further. So I had no choice but to choose this route. The receptionist at the club recognized me instantly, “Miss Taylor, I remember you don’t have any wine stored here. Why are you here?” “I’m here to see Manager Brown.” The receptionist smirked sarcastically, “Not just anyone can see Manager Brown.” I wasn’t in the mood for her games and stood aside. Soon, a tall figure appeared in the club. I immediately approached, “Manager Brown, I need to talk to you.” Upon seeing me, Kelly Brown was a bit surprised, “Miss Taylor, you know I only work for money, you…” “I want to sell wine here, to work with you,” I said bluntly. “The news of a fallen heiress selling wine here will surely make your business boom.” “Indeed, anyone who can become an heir must be ruthless enough to let their dignity be trampled,” Kelly Brown extended a hand to me, “Welcome.” Soon, the entire socialite circle in Wind City was eager to see my downfall at the club. Most were my well-off classmates.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296107”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring #惊悚Thriller #重生Reborn