Author: Momo Chan

After I got pregnant, my husband, Daniel, specifically put a “Baby on Board” sticker on the car. He hoped it would attract trouble. Then, a violent impact hit us. In a daze, I heard my husband’s voice: “So, putting a sticker on really works! It gets rid of the bastard in my wife’s belly, and she’ll never suspect me!” “Don’t blame me, Ellie! I told you to get an abortion a long time ago. You’re the one who betrayed me first!” I had a long, terrifying nightmare. I dreamt Daniel used an incredibly absurd method to kill my baby. I struggled to open my eyes. He was grabbing the doctor, frantically asking when I’d wake up. When he saw my eyes open, he burst into tears of joy, rushing over to grip my hand. “Ellie, you’re finally awake.” Seeing him like this, I couldn’t help but pat his hand reassuringly, a small laugh bubbling in my heart. How could I have such a ridiculous dream? Though Daniel was a little paranoid, he wouldn’t go so far as to harm his own child. “How’s the baby?” At my question, his smiling face stiffened. “The doctor said… they couldn’t save it.” “But don’t worry, we’re still young. We’ll have another baby soon.” Daniel squeezed my hand, offering comfort, but his expression didn’t convey profound grief, as if he were bravely holding it together to console his sorrowful wife. Instead, there was a hint of barely concealed glee. Recalling the dream, a sliver of doubt crept into my mind. I was about to speak when my phone rang. “Chloe, I heard you were in a car accident? Are you okay?” It was Chloe, a colleague. I pushed away Daniel’s face, which had leaned in to eavesdrop, covered the mouthpiece, and mouthed: “It’s a woman.” Then, speaking at a normal volume, I said: “I’m fine, but… we lost the baby.” Chloe drew out her words, her tone regretful: “Oh, I see… No wonder you were so heartbroken you decided to resign.” Resign? My gaze locked on Daniel, who was pricking up his ears, listening intently. He rubbed his nose, avoiding my eyes. “Chloe, could you please explain to Brenda that I have no intention of resigning?” “The doctor needs me for an exam here, let’s talk later.” I hung up the phone before Daniel could open his mouth to stop me, taking a deep breath to suppress my anger. “Why did you resign for me? Why would you make decisions for me without even discussing it?” Daniel sighed, his attitude sincere: “I was just so worried. Seeing you lying in that hospital bed, barely alive, like you might never wake up again. I was so scared for you.” “Daniel, this isn’t the first time you’ve done this! This is my job, shouldn’t you have talked to me about it?” “I know you, always trying to be strong and do everything yourself. Now you’ve had a miscarriage, your health isn’t what it used to be. Why not listen to me and quit that job? It’s not like our family relies on your income, right?” He looked at me as if I were a clueless child. A gasp caught in my throat, suffocating me as if someone had choked me. My breathing became ragged. He rushed over to help me calm down. I shoved his hand away. “Enough, I don’t want to hear you anymore. I’m checking out of this hospital.”

In the end, we both compromised. Daniel wouldn’t unilaterally try to quit my job for me, and I would rest at home for a while until I recovered. “Sorry, Brenda, I’ll be back at work in a week.” She expressed understanding. I curled up on the couch, chatting idly with her, when I suddenly heard a commotion at the door. “Oh dear, how could such a thing happen, a car accident out of nowhere?” My mother-in-law, Martha, walked in, clutching a small purse, and settled herself tightly beside me, making herself at home. I shifted away, looking at Daniel who had followed her in, questioning him with my eyes. He smiled. “Mom heard about your miscarriage, she was worried about you, so she traveled all this way to take care of you.” “Yes, that’s right. Such a grown woman, can’t even drive properly, isn’t that just making us old folks work hard? My poor son, he was finally going to have a child, and you just… cut it short.” As Martha’s words grew increasingly inappropriate, I didn’t have the energy to get angry. Because Daniel had only smiled through the first part, but when he heard the word “child,” his face suddenly changed. This was very wrong. But I didn’t have much chance to investigate. Martha, under the guise of taking care of me, followed me everywhere. Chloe called, wanting my help with a project, and Martha leaned closer to me as she picked vegetables. I frowned, turned and went upstairs, closing the door. I’d barely opened my laptop when a loud knocking started. “Mom, I’m working.” “Work is work, but why close the door? It’s like you’re guarding against a thief. There are only two of us in this house, what do you take me for?” I had no choice but to leave the door open. Martha left, satisfied. She was back a moment later. Carrying a plate of fruit, she placed it on the desk, her eyes constantly darting to my screen. “Didn’t you say you were busy with work? Why is it a SnapChat page?” “Work requires communication.” “Is this a man or a woman? My son said you’re not allowed to talk to men. Don’t think that just because he’s not here, you can ignore what he says.” After several back and forths, I finally snapped. “Your son, your son! Are you here to take care of me or to spy on me for your son?” Martha was startled by my sudden outburst, scoffed, and stomped downstairs. When Daniel returned that evening, the two of them murmured in their regional dialect for a long time. Lying halfway on the bed, reading a book, Daniel pushed open the door and lay down beside me. “Did you argue with Mom?” “Did you tell your mom to spy on me?” I was fuming. “What nonsense. She’s just doing it for our own good. Maybe her methods are a bit hard for you to accept.” One playing the bad cop, the other the good cop. “Didn’t you tell her to do this? Now you’re acting all calm and pretending to be the good guy!” I slammed a glass on the floor, making a loud crash. “Hey, hey, hey, what’s going on?” Martha burst through the door. I turned and glared at her. “Can you please knock before you come in!” “What? My son’s room, and I, his mother, can’t enter?” Martha spoke in dialect. Daniel joined her. The two went back and forth, but I couldn’t understand a thing. Rage surged, swelling like a balloon: the injustice of losing my child, the helplessness of almost being forced to resign, the annoyance of being spied on by my mother-in-law. At that moment, a steel needle pricked it. “Can you two please stop speaking in dialect!” I screamed hysterically. Both of them looked at me. Martha tried to say something else, but Daniel cut her off. She left, and Daniel reached out to stroke my back. “Alright, alright, don’t be angry anymore.” I calmed down a bit, listening to his soft, gentle voice, and couldn’t help but soften my tone, intending to discuss it properly with him. “When you and your mom speak in your dialect, it makes me feel like an outsider.” Daniel still smiled. “Then you should learn it too, wouldn’t that solve it?”

It was time for my follow-up appointment at the hospital. Daniel was at work, so Martha accompanied me. “Oh, a taxi is so expensive, why don’t we walk instead and get some exercise?” An hour’s walk completely delayed my scheduled appointment with the doctor. There was no choice but to register and queue again. The doctor said I was recovering well. Martha, listening nearby, seemed uninterested. It was only when she heard that it wouldn’t affect my ability to have children in the future that a small smile appeared on her face. The doctor prescribed some medication and told me to pick it up. When paying, I suddenly heard an “Insufficient funds” alert. The alert was loud, and I felt everyone staring at me, their gazes like needles in my back. I gave an embarrassed smile and said, “Please wait a moment.” Then I quickly opened my banking app to check my balance. My hand trembled, and I entered the password incorrectly several times. Finally, I got in, only to see a massive “0.00.” For a moment, I didn’t know what to say. Yesterday, I had given Daniel my bank card password. He said his company was tight on funds recently and cash flow was difficult. Since I’d spent a lot on my hospital stay a few days ago, could I advance some of the medical fees? I thought, “Of course,” and gave him my bank card password. But I never expected him to transfer all my money away. Eight thousand dollars, including my savings, salary, and living expenses. My teeth ground together, making a clacking sound, as I dialed Daniel’s number. “You transferred all the money out of my bank account?” “Oh, right, I forgot to tell you.” I couldn’t be bothered to argue with him about the reasons; the people in line behind me were already getting impatient. “Transfer three hundred and fifty dollars right now. I’m at the hospital queuing to pay for my medication.” “Got it.” He hung up. I smiled apologetically at the people behind me and said, “Sorry about that.” A SnapChat notification came through. I sighed in relief, but then I looked at the transfer amount and saw it was only three hundred. I froze. “It’s three hundred and fifty. You sent too little.” I sent a message, but there was no reply. I had to turn to Martha for help. She looked down her nose at me. “I’m old, can’t figure out your mobile payments. I only have a little cash.” She fumbled in her pants pocket and pulled out a few crumpled bills, tossing them onto the floor. They were a few ones and fives, not enough to cover the medication. “Hurry up! What are you doing up there? There are so many people waiting, how many people’s time are you going to waste?” I took a deep breath, my eyes gradually misting over. I had no choice but to call Daniel again. “Oh, it’s just fifty dollars, I know, I know. I’m in a meeting here, gotta go.” I endured the most difficult five minutes of my life before those fifty dollars finally appeared on my phone. After I finally paid, Martha was still rambling on beside me. “Ah, just a few small boxes of medicine, and it costs hundreds of dollars.” “Ellie, let me tell you, you can’t be so foolish, listening to everything the doctors say. They’re just tricking you, making you buy expensive medicine so they get a commission, they’re terrible!” I was exhausted and didn’t respond, only thinking to myself that I would go back to work tomorrow.

That night, as I paced around the house trying on clothes, Daniel’s eyes kept darting my way. Finally, he couldn’t hold it in anymore. “Why are you dressed up so nicely? Where are you going?” I turned from side to side, looking at myself in the mirror, and said: “The doctor said I’m recovering well and can go back to work. Tomorrow’s Monday, too.” Daniel fell silent, and so did I. Sure enough, a moment later he spoke again. “I saw the weather forecast said it’s going to rain tomorrow. A skirt might not be very convenient, right?” I didn’t turn around. “Oh, I’m meeting a client tomorrow, so it’s better to dress a bit more formally.” “But it’s a bit too short.” “Daniel, are you crazy? It’s past my knees, how is that short?” I retorted testily. He fell silent. When I woke up the next day, he had already left. But no matter how hard I looked, I couldn’t find the skirt I’d tried on last night. I had to find a pair of jeans to wear instead. When I went to put on makeup, my foundation, brushes, eyeshadow, and blush were all gone. I gritted my teeth and began tearing through drawers and cabinets, but they were nowhere. Finally, realizing I was going to be late, I rushed to the office without makeup and borrowed a colleague’s meager supplies to put on a light touch. During lunch break, I found an empty lounge. Suppressing my anger, I called Daniel. He finally picked up on the third try. He still spoke in a good-natured tone. “What’s wrong?” “Where did you hide my skirt and my makeup?” “I’m at work. Can we talk about this when I get home, okay?” His voice was almost coaxing, as if I were being unreasonable. “Did I not tell you that was the outfit I needed to wear to meet a client today?” “How come your work is work, but my work isn’t?” “Actually, I think you look better without makeup, really.” “Alright, alright, don’t be mad. My client is calling. We’ll talk when I get back.” “Beep-beep—” The cold, hollow dial tone echoed in my ear. I impulsively threw a cup. It shattered right at Brenda’s feet. “What happened? Who upset you? Tell big sister.” “Brenda…” I sobbed, throwing my arms around her. “I feel like I’m getting so much more irritable. I feel like when I’m with him, I’m just an unreasonable shrew.” “To outsiders, I’m temperamental and he’s gentle. He takes all my abuse, letting me hit and curse him. Everyone says he’s a good guy, that he dotes on his wife.” I was a bit incoherent. Brenda patted my head. “I’ll give you some time off, and I’ll advance you a month’s salary. Didn’t you say he hid your clothes? Go buy more.” Brenda let me leave early, but I didn’t go shopping. There was one thing I absolutely had to figure out. Martha had been home the past few days, so I hadn’t been able to search thoroughly. But I knew Daniel had a habit of keeping a diary. It was an old-fashioned habit, but it was also my only path to the truth. Whether my child was actually lost because of him, I’d soon know. I found his diary in a drawer. My heart pounded as I flipped to the day of my car accident. But it wasn’t there. My car accident happened on August 3rd. August 2nd was there, August 4th was there, but August 3rd was missing. I looked closely and found traces of torn pages in the middle. I lifted the mattress. There was a compartment in the bed frame. Daniel always hid small items he didn’t want me to know about here, like his secret stash of money, or torn-out diary pages. I opened the compartment, and sure enough, there were two handwritten pages inside. “Ellie has been getting very close to that male colleague lately. They went to a hotel together, and soon after, she told me she was pregnant.” “I told her to get rid of it, but she refused and even yelled at me for being crazy. Why should I have to wear this humiliating green hat?” “I have a plan. I’ll put a ‘pregnant woman’ sticker on her car. Someone who doesn’t like it will naturally try to cut her off.” “Heaven’s blessings, that bastard is really gone!”

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I’d been with Dylan for almost 10 years. Now that he’s approaching 30, his performance in bed has been getting worse and worse. His temper has also become increasingly bad. But me, almost 30 myself, my sexual desire just keeps growing stronger every day. Most of the time, I can only rely on masturbating to satisfy myself. When I came back from a business trip once, I was shocked to discover that Dylan seemed to have returned to how he was when we first started dating. That night, he tied me to the bed and blindfolded me, bringing me to climax again and again. But what confused me was that every time we had sex after that, he insisted I wear a blindfold. At first, I thought it was just his new kink. Later, I realized that during sex, I kept feeling a scar on his back. But Dylan never had any scars on his back… Today was Thursday. It had been over half a month since I returned from my business trip. Strange thing was, ever since I got back, Dylan and his mother Martha had been treating me better and better. But also… weirder and weirier. At first, I didn’t think anything was wrong. I figured it was because I’d been promoted to Manager while Dylan was still just a low-level employee with no hope of advancement. I thought it was simply because I’d become the main breadwinner of the household. Since I came back, Dylan seemed like a different person. Every night, he’d initiate intimacy. He’d leave me completely drained and dizzy. Martha would also bring me a health drink before bed every night and every morning. She claimed it was to “replenish my body.” I thought maybe my luck had finally turned around. That day, my package arrived. It was a see-through nightgown and some pearl-studded panties. I figured since Dylan was putting in so much effort, I shouldn’t disappoint him either. Martha had called that afternoon saying she was going to her hometown in the countryside to bring some things back. So tonight, I wanted to surprise Dylan. I picked up the package and headed home early. Dylan wasn’t off work yet, so I took a shower and carefully pampered my body. My skin was fragrant and smooth all over, absolutely intoxicating. I put on the see-through nightgown and hid in the bedroom closet. After a while, I heard the door open. It was Dylan. “Hello, Mr. Xavier. Yes, once it’s ready I’ll text you and you can come over.” “Mr. Xavier? Why does he sound so deferential and submissive…” Hearing that form of address, I thought, “A client is coming over? Forget it then, it’d be so embarrassing to be dressed like this.” Just as I was about to come out of the closet, I heard Dylan walk into the room. I thought, I can’t go out dressed like this. How mortifying. So I kept waiting. Soon enough, Dylan took a phone call and left. I came out of the closet and changed into regular pajamas. I wore a cami underneath. It was dinner time. I went to the kitchen and found the bird’s nest health drink Martha had left warming in the pot. “How thoughtful.” I picked it up and drank half a bowl. Just as I finished, Dylan came home. When he saw me, he froze. “Lila, what are you doing home?” I was too embarrassed to tell him about the nightgown, so I made up a lie. “Oh, I wasn’t feeling well, so I took the afternoon off and came home early.” I noticed his expression looked off. “What’s wrong? Trouble at work?” My words seemed to snap Dylan back to reality. He forced a smile, walked over and hugged me. “Nothing, I just missed you, babe.” I leaned into his embrace, feeling so warm. Then Dylan noticed the bowl on the table. “You had the health drink?” “Yeah, I was a bit hungry, so I had some first.” “How much did you drink?” “One bowl, I guess.” Hearing this, Dylan seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. His arms around me gradually became less innocent. His lips teased my ear, making me itch unbearably. My body went limp. He picked me up and carried me into the bedroom. Just like the past two weeks, he reached for the black lace, wanting to blindfold me. Watching his movements, I said coquettishly, “Can we not use the blindfold? I want to watch you.” Dylan’s hand froze abruptly, his expression suddenly rigid. I thought he was angry. I figured the lace was just a way to spice things up, and I didn’t want him upset or to ruin such a good mood. “Okay, okay, blindfold me. Go ahead.” Dylan covered my eyes. The loss of vision made my skin even more sensitive. Dylan leaned down, constantly kissing my forehead, nose, lips, neck with his lips, then gradually moving lower. My head was getting foggier and foggier, though not as severely as the previous times. Then I felt the warmth on my body disappear. My clouded mind could only whimper to express my dissatisfaction. “Be good, I’m getting protection. Just wait.” Hearing his voice, I relaxed. After a while, I felt someone’s body press against mine again. I wrapped my arms around his neck, enduring his increasingly rapid rhythm.

At that moment, my hand wandering across his back touched a scar. Not long, maybe 6 or 7 centimeters. Suddenly, a thought flashed through my foggy mind. Dylan didn’t have any scars on his body… I tried to reach up and remove the blindfold to look at Dylan. The next second, my hands were pinned above my head. After a shudder, the person on top of me got up and left. I recovered for a moment, then reached up to remove the blindfold. The first thing I saw was Dylan’s somewhat pale face. Seeing me move, Dylan looked like he’d discovered something terrible. His voice even trembled slightly. “You’re awake already?” I was afraid he’d think I was disappointed in his performance tonight, so I said, “I’m so tired. So sleepy. I want to sleep again.” I reached out to hug him, acting cute. Dylan brought over a washcloth. “Be good, let me clean you up.” I kissed him. “Okay!” Then Dylan brought over the health drink. “Be good, drink this. Replenish your energy.” I was a bit hungry, and since I’d been drinking it every night, I didn’t think anything was wrong. “Okay, thanks honey.” After speaking, I drifted off to sleep in a daze. After it was over, Dylan went to the hallway to make a phone call. “Ten times total. That’s enough! I hope you’ll keep your word. Next week, I want to hear about my promotion to Regional Director.” Dylan’s face was furious, his eyes bloodshot, his fingers digging into the wall so hard his fingertips turned white. The person on the other end laughed. “Dylan, oh Dylan. You’re so blessed, married to such a beautiful and soft wife. What can I do? I can’t get enough of her now.” Dylan’s eyes flew open wide, his voice full of disbelief. “What do you mean?!” “I mean, I want one more time. One last time. I’ll guarantee your promotion to Regional Director.” As if shocked by the other person’s shamelessness, Dylan’s face twisted, his eyes blood-red. “Absolutely not! Xavier, you’ve already slept with my wife ten times. I want to kill you!” Xavier seemed unconcerned by Dylan’s fury. His tone was full of manipulation. “One last time, and I’ll make you Head of Department at headquarters. How about that?” Dylan’s anger seemed to vanish instantly, replaced by disbelief as if struck by a pleasant surprise. “Really? Head of Department at headquarters is way higher than Regional Director!” “Of course.” Without hesitation, Dylan said, “Fine! Tomorrow night!” He hung up, the hatred in his eyes instantly replaced by joy, not a trace of guilt visible. Naturally, he didn’t notice me behind the corner wall, thunderstruck, my expression shattered, desperately covering my mouth…

After I fell asleep, I might have drunk too much water and woke up needing to pee. Though my body felt completely weak and powerless, I definitely didn’t want to wet the bed. Using my last bit of strength, I opened my eyes. I found Dylan was gone. Then I heard voices from the hallway. I listened—it was Dylan. I opened the door and walked out. When I reached the corner, I heard Dylan’s words. “Ten times,” “promotion,” “tomorrow night.” Each phrase stabbed into my heart like a knife, leaving me devastated. I pressed my hands over my mouth, my limbs going cold, my thoughts in chaos. The overwhelming hatred nearly consumed me. I needed to figure out what the hell was going on. With difficulty, I returned to bed and lay back down, pretending nothing had happened. Moments later, Dylan came back. I felt Dylan kiss my forehead, murmuring, “I’m sorry, Lila. Just one last time.” I kept my eyes closed, desperately suppressing my body’s urge to tremble with hatred… The next morning, Martha returned from the countryside. Today, I noticed many things I’d never paid attention to before. Like how the health drinks at night and in the morning only appeared when Dylan and I were intimate. Like how Martha had to watch me drink a full bowl. Like the delighted expression on Martha’s face after I drank the health drink each day, and Dylan’s unnatural attitude. Like… how every time Dylan stopped mid-way, saying he was getting condoms, but I’d never seen used condoms anywhere in the house.

That day, I pretended everything was normal, drank the health drink, and left for work. Actually, after leaving, I took the health drink I’d scooped from the pot and sent it to a testing center. I paid extra for rush results within 8 hours. All day, thinking about what was happening at home, I was on edge, anxious as if being roasted over a fire. I didn’t want to believe that the man I’d been with for 10 years was a freak who’d pimp out his own wife for a promotion! After work, the moment I walked in, Martha pulled her fleshy face into a fake smile. “Oh my, Lila’s home! Come, come, come sit down. Oh honey, I made another health drink tonight. Drink up quickly, it’s so good for your skin.” I took the health drink and brought it to my lips, but kept watching Martha from the corner of my eye. That scheming expression made me sick. I pretended to set down the drink. “Martha, I’m not feeling well today. I don’t want to drink it.” Hearing this, Martha’s voice suddenly shot up eight octaves, sharp and piercing. “What do you drink?! How can you not drink? You must drink!” She actually forced it down my throat. After seeing me finish the whole bowl, she returned to that kind, benevolent expression. “Good Lila, you’re such a blessing to our family.” As she spoke, she kept looking me up and down with a disgusting gaze. Like a man would. I suppressed my nausea. “Martha, I’m going to take a shower.” “Yes, yes, go ahead. A shower is good!” I walked into the bedroom bathroom and started making myself throw up, until I’d expelled all of the health drink! I raised my head, gripping the sink tightly. My eyes were bloodshot from the vomiting, filled with tears. “Dylan! Martha! If you really are this inhuman, then don’t blame me for what comes next!” That night, I did things with Dylan just like before. After throwing up that bowl of drink, I clearly felt that today wasn’t like usual. My mind wasn’t foggy at all. Instead, I was unusually clear-headed. Just as I suspected, after blindfolding me, he got up again for “protection.” After a while, a man came in. When he entered me, I clearly felt the size was wrong! Every previous time my mind had been so hazy, I hadn’t noticed at all! Listening to his voice, my hand touched that scar as always… It really was him! In an instant, I ripped off the blindfold. The man seemed shocked that I would do this and got startled, releasing immediately. I looked at this unfamiliar face. “Who are you?!”

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My six years at a top-secret agency finally came to an end. My heart pounded with excitement as I arrived at my wife’s office building, eager to surprise her. But what I saw instead made my blood run cold: a man was yelling at my daughter, even forcing her to kneel and apologize. Rage consumed me. I charged forward, landing a punch squarely on the man’s face. As I wound up for a second punch, my daughter clung to my leg. “Please, run! You hit Mom’s assistant, she’ll never let you go!” I suppressed my fury, my voice tight with pain. “He’s just your mom’s assistant. How dare he make you kneel?” My daughter was about to explain when the man cut her off. “You’ll regret this! Serena will send her bodyguards to deal with you both!” I took a deep breath and called my wife. “Your assistant wants to teach me a lesson. Come out here!” All I wanted was a straight answer from Serena. How had she managed our daughter these past six years? How could she let her own assistant bully our precious Lily? “I don’t care who you are, or where you got my number.” My wife’s voice was ice-cold through the phone. “Just for that threat, no one can save you!” The call ended abruptly, before I even had a chance to say another word. I stared blankly at my phone, stunned. She hadn’t just failed to recognize my voice; she hadn’t recognized the number either. This was my old number from six years ago, and she hadn’t even bothered to save it in her contacts! Six years of constant longing, all my hopes, shattered in an instant. Seeing my call disconnected, Serena’s assistant sneered, his face full of mockery. “Kid, I thought you were someone important, but you’re just some clown who crawled out from under a rock.” I clenched my fists, struggling to keep my anger in check. I’d thought there might be some misunderstanding, but now, my heart sank completely. Of course. For six long years, I’d been completely off the grid, stuck in a classified research facility, a place even satellites couldn’t detect, running endless experiments. It was only natural she would have changed her heart. I should have expected it. But before I left, she’d promised me she would take good care of our daughter. The cheerful, laughing girl I remembered, who should be a vibrant teenager now, was instead frail, like a wilting flower, so emaciated from malnutrition. The fear in her eyes was a dagger to my heart, twisting it with raw agony. “Come on, I’m taking you home.” Tears blurred my vision as I gently took Lily’s hand, determined to get her out of here. I had six years of neglect to make up for. I would make her the happiest princess in the world again. “You hit me, and then you threatened Ms. Serena. You think you can just walk away now?” Brendan blocked my path, a cold smirk playing on his lips. “Are you saying you’re going to hold me here?” I narrowed my eyes. “Freedom? Haha, you’re talking about freedom with me in New York?” “Kid, I’m telling you, here, even the air you breathe is owned by the Serena Group!” Brendan snarled, his face contorted in a crazed grin. My expression darkened considerably. All these years I’d dedicated myself to my country, and to compensate for my efforts, the higher-ups must have secretly supported Serena a lot. But I didn’t expect them to grow so arrogant, so out of control. Suddenly, Lily pulled her hand from mine and dropped to her knees, pleading desperately. “Brendan, please, just let this man go. He doesn’t know you or Mom, that’s why he upset you. I’ll apologize for him, I promise!” My eyes welled up instantly at the sight. This was my precious daughter, whom I thought about day and night, whose photo I had to place over my heart just to sleep peacefully! Now, she was kneeling before these two monsters. How much had I failed her these past six years?

Brendan scoffed, about to speak, when the little boy he was holding suddenly rolled his eyes. “You want to apologize for him? Fine, then clean the drone you knocked to the ground. If you make it spotless, I’ll let him go.” “Okay, okay! I’ll clean it right now!” My daughter quickly picked up the drone, which looked incredibly expensive. The little boy added, “But no water. I want you to lick it clean, little by little.” Lily’s face fell. She instinctively said, “Leo, I… I’m your sister. How can you make me lick your toy?” “Ugh, stop acting like you’re something! You’re just a Asshole child Mom had with some deadbeat. I’m Mom and Dad’s real kid! Are you going to lick it or not? If you don’t, I won’t be so nice!” “I’ll lick it!” Lily glanced at me, then turned back, tears streaming down her face, and extended her tongue, humiliated, towards the drone. Just as her tongue was about to touch the dirt on the drone, I snatched it away and smashed it to the ground. “You’re going too far!” My heart ached so much I could barely breathe, my eyes burning crimson as I glared at them. I hadn’t realized that while I was still married, Serena had already married another man and even had a child! And I certainly hadn’t imagined their child would bully our daughter like this. Serena, even if your heart had changed, how could you treat Lily like this? “You… you dared to smash my drone?” The little boy froze, his small face contorted with a viciousness far beyond his age. “Brendan, I want him to pay with his life for my drone!” “Kid, it seems you’re in a hurry to die, daring to offend young master Leo! Security!?” Brendan roared furiously. “Didn’t you see young master Leo being bullied? Are you all dead?!” The security guards, who had been hiding in the shadows, exchanged glances and then surrounded me. “Beat him! Beat him to death if you have to, I’ll take responsibility!” Brendan commanded. I managed to block two of them, but one clubbed me in the back, sending me sprawling. They swarmed me, kicking and punching. The crowd of onlookers watched, none daring to intervene, only shaking their heads and sighing. “That guy has some nerve. Of all people to provoke, he picked that demon, Leo.” “Who in New York doesn’t know how much Ms. Serena dotes on her son? He’s completely finished today.” “This is what happens when you’re reckless and try to be a hero without any real power. He only has himself to blame.” Their eyes were filled with either pity or scorn. Lily cried, trying to shield me, but Brendan roughly yanked her away, nearly sending her to the ground. “Leo, I’ll clean this drone for you right now, please, I beg you, let this man go!”

Lily looked at me, huddled on the ground, bit her lip fiercely, picked up the drone, and carefully began licking it clean. Her tiny tongue moved deftly, wiping away every speck of dirt. My mouth was already full of blood, and I struggled, trying to stop her. “Don’t lick it!” “Stop, please!” Lily, tears in her eyes, handed the cleaned drone back. “I’ve cleaned the drone for you. Tell them to stop, please, they’re going to kill him!” Leo slapped the drone to the ground, disgusted. “You’re disgusting! It’s all your spit, it smells as bad as you do! I don’t want this drone anymore!” “But you promised just now!” Lily trembled, disbelieving. “I promised to let him go, but Brendan’s the one giving orders now, and Brendan didn’t promise anything!” Leo said, staring at her triumphantly. Lily’s face was filled with despair. She instinctively looked at Brendan, her eyes pleading. Brendan smirked, then leaned down and landed two more kicks on my body. “Young master Leo is right! He dared to break young master’s drone, and I, Brendan, will be the first one to make him pay!” Lily’s face drained of color. Her once sparkling eyes were now utterly shattered by the cruel hearts before her. Seizing the opportunity, I rolled over and pulled Brendan to the ground. I swung my fists wildly, aiming blow after blow at him, not caring if it killed me. He howled in pain as his face turned black and blue from my punches. “Ah! Kill him! Kill him!” By the time the security guards dragged me off, he was almost unrecognizable, screaming hysterically. Just then, footsteps approached, accompanied by a cool, clear voice. “What’s going on here?” I looked up, my eyes meeting Serena’s. She walked quickly towards me, surrounded by a group of people, scanning me up and down. Her eyes filled with disbelief. “Asher, you… how are you still alive?” “I’m alive. Disappointed, are we?” I stared intently at Serena. I had to admit, even after six years, Serena was as beautiful as ever. Time seemed to have left no mark on her; she looked exactly as she had on our wedding day. If there was any change, it was that her once loving eyes were now strange and cold. The person was the same, but her heart had changed. “You… you’re Dad?” Lily stared at me, disbelieving. Suddenly, she threw herself into my arms, sobbing heartbrokenly. “Dad, I missed you so much! Why did you only come back now? I dream of you every day, but Mom burned all your photos, so I can’t even clearly remember what you look like in my dreams.” My heart ached as I gently stroked her hair, letting her pour out all her grievances in my embrace. I looked up, my face filled with hatred. “Serena, I don’t blame you for changing your heart and getting married while I was away for six years. But what did my daughter do wrong? How dare you treat her like this?” Serena’s face turned ashen at my accusation. She scoffed coldly. “Lily is my daughter too. How I treat her has nothing to do with you, and it’s not your place to criticize. Asher, since you’re back, let’s finalize our divorce.”

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My one-month-old daughter accidentally peed on my wife’s first love, and Serena was so furious she wanted to throw our baby off the roof. I desperately tried to stop her. Serena, my wife, clung to her childhood sweetheart, Mark, sobbing hysterically. She pointed at me and screamed: “If it weren’t for this wretched child I had with you, I never would have broken up with Mark! I wouldn’t have been forced to settle for a pathetic driver like you!” “You ruined my love, and this cursed child is going to ruin my entire life!” I gave a bitter laugh. She didn’t know I was actually the son of a billionaire. And now, there was no need for her to know. I picked up my wailing daughter and jumped from the rooftop. Six years later, my daughter Kaia won first place at a ballet competition. Serena Linwood, one of the judges, almost lost control, grabbing Kaia’s hand. Kaia shook her hand off. “Ma’am, you’ve got the wrong person. I have a mom.” Serena’s face drained from pale to white, and she muttered in a daze. As if realizing something, she frantically looked down, flipping through the contestant information, her eyes wide as she stared at one page. “Your name is Kaia Hayes? Is your father Arthur Hayes?!” Kaia, holding her bouquet, smiled innocently. “That’s right!” Serena completely abandoned all pretense of decorum, scrambling off the judge’s panel. “Arthur Hayes is my husband!” “I can’t believe this wretched child is still alive!” “Ma’am, is something… wrong up here?” Kaia tapped her little head, her face full of sympathy. “My mommy is a world-renowned brain surgeon. She can perform brain surgery on you and drain out all the extra water!” The entire hall fell silent for a moment, then low chuckles began to spread. Serena seemed provoked by Kaia’s words. Her rationality completely crumbled, and she lunged forward, trying to grab Kaia. “Come with me!” But at that moment, I stepped out from the audience, reaching out to shield Kaia behind me. Serena’s movements froze. Her pupils sharply contracted, as if she’d seen a ghost. “Arthur? You’re not dead?” That single sentence immediately sent shockwaves through the entire hall. The murmuring ceased abruptly, and all eyes focused on me. The man who had supposedly jumped from a rooftop six years ago was standing here, alive and well. It was like something out of a myth. In the crowd, a figure squeezed his way forward. It was Mark Turner, Serena’s longtime friend. He scrutinized me from head to toe, a cruel sneer twisting his lips. “Well, well, if it isn’t the pathetic driver.” “You pulled a dramatic stunt six years ago, pretending to jump off a building, and now you’re back with a kid. Quite the performance you’re putting on.” He stood with his arms crossed, his gaze dismissively sweeping over Kaia and me. “I knew it. How could this child just happen to win first place in today’s competition and coincidentally run into Serena?” “So, this was all your doing, wasn’t it? You taught this kid to act all sweet in front of the judges, and then deliberately let Serena recognize her, all so you could use the child as an excuse to worm your way back into the Linwood family, hoping to get your hands on their money, right?” “And this kid, at such a young age, you’ve taught her to be so manipulative. You two, father and daughter, are truly master schemers.” As Mark finished speaking, the expressions of those around me immediately turned judgmental, and whispers erupted once more. Serena’s gaze towards me also turned completely cold. She sneered, her tone sharp. “I once thought you had some backbone, that after being humiliated by me like that, you’d rather jump than back down.” “Now it seems I overestimated you.” “Arthur, you’re so clever. For money, you’d even fake your own death. Have you no shame?” Serena’s words grew increasingly nasty. I looked at her face, twisted with anger, and found it both absurd and laughable. “Serena, you’ve got the wrong person.” I didn’t bother to argue further. I bent down and took Kaia’s hand. “Kaia, let’s go.” Kaia nodded obediently, her small hand tightly gripping mine. We had only taken two steps when several men emerged from the side, blocking our path. They were expressionless and tall, clearly Serena’s bodyguards.

I paused, my brows slowly furrowing. Turning around, I looked at Serena, my voice colder now. “What do you want?” Serena walked forward slowly, her chin held high, her gaze arrogant and icy, as if she were looking at an object she already owned. “What do I want? Arthur, what happened all those years ago hasn’t been clarified yet. You think you can just leave? Not so fast.” “The incident where I was in danger and accidentally had a child with you—that still needs to be investigated.” “You showing up here today with the child, what exactly are your intentions? You need to explain yourself.” “And this child, she’s mine. The Linwood family’s blood runs in her veins. You won’t be taking her anywhere.” Serena’s gaze landed on Kaia, filled with an almost obsessive possessiveness. Looking at her like this, I felt a chill spread through my heart. The events of the past replayed in my mind like a film. It seemed six years hadn’t diminished her selfishness and obstinacy one bit. I tightened my grip on Kaia’s hand, my eyes darkening. “Kaia is my daughter. From the moment you forced us to jump, she had nothing to do with you.” “Are you trying to block our way and strong-arm someone else’s child, relying on the Linwood family’s influence?” Serena’s face darkened, her eyes fierce. “Arthur, don’t try to twist the truth here.” “This wretched child should never have existed!” Mark, seeing the situation, immediately stepped forward to back her up. “Arthur, you deliberately set up Serena back then, which is why she accidentally got pregnant with your child!” “Did you think that by doing so, you could use it as an opportunity to control Serena and seize the Linwood family’s assets? Dream on!” As Mark spoke, he shot a meaningful look at the men blocking our way. They immediately stepped forward, looking ready to act. The surrounding crowd’s gaze toward me grew even more contemptuous. Mark’s eyes flashed with a cold glint as he walked toward my daughter, reaching out to pull her away. “Take your filthy hands off her!” I kicked him squarely, then looked coldly at Serena. “As for the truth of what happened back then, with your resources, it shouldn’t be hard to find out.” Seeing my attitude, Serena’s brows furrowed even deeper. “Is what Mark said untrue?” She scoffed. “However, since you brought it up, I’ll let you die knowing! Bring me all the old files from back then, immediately!” At these words, Mark’s face instantly became ugly. He frowned, whispering to Serena: “Didn’t I explain everything about what happened back then? What’s the need for more investigation?” “In my opinion, this guy is just trying to stall for time, so they can keep showing off in front of the cameras!” But I merely sneered. “Mark, you seem very worried about Serena retrieving those files, don’t you? Could it be that you’re afraid of what happened back then?” Mark’s face stiffened. He angrily retorted: “Nonsense! Why would I be afraid?” This time, Serena also frowned. “Mark, this is my business. Stay out of it.” “I’m going to make this jerk lose, fair and square, today!”

Mark tried to persuade her further, but seeing Serena’s determined attitude, he could only withdraw his hand awkwardly. However, he secretly pulled out his phone and quickly sent a message to a confidant, instructing them to destroy some crucial evidence. He thought he had done it perfectly. But he didn’t know that if I dared to appear here today, I came fully prepared. My people acted almost simultaneously with his. At this point, Serena’s gaze returned to Kaia, her eyes filled with obsessive resentment. “Arthur, you think you can pretend not to know me and trick me with this child?” Her voice trembled. It wasn’t the frenzy of madness, but more like six years of suppressed grievance and hatred. “I’ll tell you one thing: as long as she has my blood, she must stay with the Linwood family, under my control!” Serena slammed her hand on the table, warning me. It was clear she was very confident about the files. Kaia, scared by her fierce gaze, shrank back behind me. Her small hand gripped my shirt tightly, her voice laced with a sob: “Daddy…” I gently patted her back, my eyes suddenly turning cold as I looked at Serena. “She is my daughter, and she answers only to me!” “As for what happened back then…” “Do you really think I was the one who initiated it?” I scoffed. “What did you say?” Serena’s face instantly flushed red, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. “Arthur, a pathetic driver like you dares to twist the truth? Back then, it was clearly you who…” “It was Mark who told you I drugged and assaulted you, right?” I cut her off, my gaze directly piercing Mark. Mark’s lips twitched. His eyes seemed to hold a hint of panic. “Cut the crap!” Mark’s face was grim as he reiterated: “You’re the one who set up Serena back then, making her pregnant with your child! You ruined her life!” “And now you’re back, bothering her with the child, simply trying to use the child as leverage to extort money from the Linwood family!” The murmuring grew louder and louder. The eyes fixed on me were filled with disdain and contempt. “So it really was a setup? This guy is disgusting.” “Coming back with a child to extort money, even using his own daughter—he has no bottom line.” “Poor Ms. Linwood, to be entangled with someone like this.” To them, Serena and Mark’s words were clearly more trustworthy. After all, in their eyes, I was just a driver. My humble origins were my biggest sin. Kaia didn’t understand the adults’ contempt, but she sensed the hostility around her, and her crying intensified. “Daddy, they’re so mean. Can we go home?” I held her tightly, my palm gently stroking her back to comfort her, my eyes as cold as a deep pool. I didn’t even glance at Serena or Mark. “Whether it was my setup or not, we’ll know once the files arrive.” “But by then, Serena, I hope you manage to stay calm. And you better not regret it!”

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My husband, Dennis Blackwood, had a virginity complex. When he sent his new lover to me for reconstructive surgery, the woman gloated: “I heard you two have been married for five years, and he hasn’t even touched you? We only met ten days ago, and he has sex with me three times every night. He practically dies of pleasure in my arms!” I didn’t react. I just went through the motions, asking about her medical history. Throughout, I calmly listened to her describe how many positions she’d tried. She didn’t know that before her, I had performed ninety-nine surgeries for Dennis Blackwood’s lovers. I had been enraged once, crying and screaming at Dennis, completely losing my composure. All I got in return was Dennis’s contemptuous smirk: “Just relax and enjoy being a trophy wife. When I’m done playing around, I’ll naturally come home.” As the girl was wheeled into the operating room, Dennis stopped me. “While you’re at it, give her a vaginal cosmetic surgery too. She’s really into looking good.” Seeing my silence, the man chuckled and tucked a credit card into my hand. “Your payment.” I smiled back, carefully putting the card away. He’d forgotten. The time stipulated in our pre-nuptial agreement had arrived.

After the surgery, I dialed a number I hadn’t called in ages. “Grandpa, I saw the flight information. Thank you.” “Aria, I’m so glad you’re coming home.” I hung up. Dennis, I didn’t know when, was standing behind me. “Who were you talking to?” I put my phone away, lowering my gaze, and brushed him off casually. “A sales call.” Dennis was already looking down at his phone, muttering an indifferent “Oh,” clearly not caring. Then he held his phone out to me. “What do you think of this bracelet?” It was a bracelet I had marked in a fashion magazine once. I was genuinely touched that Dennis had remembered. Then I heard him chuckle. “Willow would probably love it, wouldn’t she?” I froze, then nodded. “It’s beautiful. She’ll love it.” Perhaps it was my unusual calm this time, but Dennis surprisingly offered to drive me home. “Before Willow wakes up, I’ll take you home first.” In five years of marriage, this was the first time I’d ridden in his car, other than our wedding day. I reached out to adjust the passenger seat, but Dennis stopped my hand. “Aria , you should sit in the back.” “That girl Willow has a fierce temper. If she found out someone sat in her spot, she’d throw a fit with me.” He spoke with a doting smile plastered across his face. I paused for a moment, then moved efficiently to the back. A small pink blanket was casually tossed on the black seat, somewhat clashing with his usual demeanor. It still carried Willow White’s scent. Dennis saw my gaze in the rearview mirror and chuckled. “She’s young, she likes all things pink and soft.” I lowered my eyes, remembering that I was the same age when I married him. On our wedding night, he saw my pink nightgown and smiled nonchalantly. “Aria , I don’t like pink.” “And you’re not my type. Not touching you is my way of being responsible.” When he handed me the pre-nuptial agreement, he was still gentle. “Sign it. It’s just a business arrangement. In five years, we’ll both be free to marry whoever we want.” “But don’t worry, I’ll ensure you have all the respect due to Mrs. Blackwood.” In that moment, ten years of a young girl’s secret crush crumbled. Along with all my hopes for marriage and every fantasy of our wedding night, they shattered completely. I never wore pink again. I moved my gaze from the blanket and couldn’t help but sneeze. Dennis almost instinctively handed me a tissue, his voice as gentle as ever. “I’ll turn up the AC.” That’s when I noticed the tissue box was Disney-themed. Even with five years of a sexless marriage, Dennis and I had shared some calm, warm moments as a couple. In the beginning, I was young, and Dennis was willing to indulge me in everything. The only thing he refused was going to Disneyland with me. No matter how much I pleaded or coaxed, he wouldn’t budge. He just said he was afraid of being laughed at by business partners. It turned out he *could* break his principles. It just wasn’t for me. When we got home, Dennis walked straight to the kit . I was a bit surprised, and after a moment of hesitation, I spoke up. “What do you want to eat? I’ll cook.” Dennis shook his head, staring at a tutorial on his phone. “No need, I promised Willow I’d personally make her chicken soup.” I froze. Dennis Blackwood, the CEO who never cooked and was a germaphobe, was now personally cooking for Willow White. For some reason, my eyes welled up. I remembered once having a high fever and begging Dennis to get me a glass of water. He frowned abruptly. “I don’t like the smell of cooking oil. Wait here, I’ll call the housekeeper to get it for you.” He forgot afterward, and by the time the housekeeper found me, I was dangerously close to brain damage from the fever. Watching him busy himself, a smile playing on his lips, I couldn’t bear to look anymore and turned to go upstairs. I packed my luggage and fell into a deep sleep, only to be shaken awake in the middle of the night.

Dennis Blackwood, looking disheveled, woke me up. “Aria , I can’t do this. You have to teach me.” He pulled me downstairs, and seeing the several ruined pots of chicken soup, my already numb heart throbbed with a fine ache. Dennis wasn’t a patient man. Once, when he accompanied me to try on wedding dresses, he was already impatient by the second dress, making an excuse about work and leaving. Now, for Willow White, he’d ruined several pots of chicken soup and still hadn’t given up. I skillfully prepared the ingredients, turned on the stove, and started making the soup. Dennis cautiously watched the flame. This was, surprisingly, a long-lost moment of quiet intimacy between us. After pouring the chicken soup into a thermos, Dennis placed a kiss on my forehead. “Aria , thank goodness for you.” With that, he rushed out. He was worried about Willow White in the hospital, but he ignored my burned fingers. After I treated my burn, Willow White updated her Ins. “My dearest husband’s chicken soup for me.” Dennis, who never posted on Ins, surprisingly responded in the comments with a kissing emoji. My finger hovered over the screen for a few seconds, but I didn’t ‘like’ it. When I exited, a message popped up on my phone. “Hubby, where do you want to do it next time?” It was immediately recalled, and then Willow White’s voice message came through. “Oh, oops, sorry, sis! I meant to send that to Dennis, but I sent it to you by mistake. You didn’t see it, did you?” Before I could reply, she continued. “Your profile pictures are so similar, I get them mixed up. I’ll ask him to change his, so I don’t send anything wrong next time.” I didn’t reply. I also didn’t think Dennis would change his profile picture. That photo was taken by his late mother. I had once playfully insisted on using matching couple avatars with him, but he had sternly refused. He even scolded me for being childish. In a fit of pique, I found a profile picture that looked similar to his, treating it as our couple avatar. He never brought it up, so I assumed he agreed. But when I refreshed my phone again, I saw that Dennis Blackwood’s profile picture had changed to a cartoon one, matching Willow White’s. My fingers trembled slightly as I refreshed and reconfirmed repeatedly. Then I chuckled self-deprecatingly. Five years couldn’t compare to ten days. Fireworks erupted not far from the city center. Willow White updated her Ins again. She was in Dennis Blackwood’s arms, standing on a rooftop, with dazzling fireworks illuminating the sky behind them. “Happy ten days.” I froze, instinctively rubbing the numbers tattooed on my wrist. It was the same day. Today was my fifth wedding anniversary with Dennis Blackwood. Dennis’s first mistress was a rebellious teenager covered in tattoos. For the first time, I completely lost my composure, throwing a tantrum and crying in front of Dennis, begging him to send her away. He just quietly watched me act crazy, then gently promised it was just an act, that my position wasn’t threatened. But he would still disappear from my side in the middle of the night to be with other women. I learned from that girl and got our wedding anniversary tattooed on my hand, morbidly hoping he would love me. He only snickered when he saw it. “Aria , wash it off. It’s ugly.” I fell asleep amidst the memories, plagued by nightmares. Finally, I was woken by a frantic phone call. It wasn’t fully light yet. The Chief of Staff’s voice was urgent on the phone. “Aria , was it you who performed Willow White’s hymen repair surgery?” “Something’s happened. Get to the hospital quickly.”

By the time I rushed to the hospital, all I could hear were Willow White’s screams. When she saw me, she pointed at me, her emotions high, and cursed. “Did you hurt me?” “You’re jealous! You’re jealous Dennis would rather touch me than you, so you deliberately messed me up down there!” As she spoke, she clung to Dennis Blackwood’s arm, crying, her face covered in tears. “Dennis, I’m bleeding so much, it hurts!” Dennis looked at me, his face grim. “Aria , apologize to Willow.” I picked up the instruments, met his gaze, and calmly said: “Before we determine if it was my fault, shouldn’t I examine her first?” But Willow White abruptly recoiled. “No, I don’t want this bad person to examine me!” “I’m scared I won’t be able to be with Dennis anymore.” Dennis pulled her into his embrace, gently comforting her. The Chief of Staff had no choice but to call another doctor, my colleague Dr. Aaron Price, who had always disliked me. Half an hour after the examination. He pulled out a blood-stained piece of gauze, about the size of a fingernail. Dennis Blackwood looked at me, his brows furrowed. “Was that intentional?” I looked at Dr. Aaron Price in disbelief. “How could it be? I’ve never made a mistake with such a minor procedure.” Dr. Aaron Price shrugged innocently. “But we can’t guarantee that Chief didn’t have a personal vendetta, can we?” He looked at Dennis Blackwood. “After all, the patient and your relationship aren’t exactly harmonious.” Soon, I was formally reprimanded by the entire hospital and dismissed from my position. I knew Dennis Blackwood was behind it; he wanted to get revenge for Willow White. When I was escorted out of the hospital, everyone looked at me with disdain. Someone had posted a video online of Willow White cursing at me, and suddenly my former patients found me. One slapped me several times across the face. “Bitch! No wonder my boyfriend found out after my surgery! Turns out your skills aren’t up to par!” I was being beaten by a crowd. Dennis Blackwood passed by with Willow White, but he covered her eyes. “Don’t look, it’s bad luck.” He merely gave a chilling command to his bodyguards. “Bring her over later.” My face was bruised, and I was doused in urine. The bodyguards dragged me, disheveled, into Willow White’s hospital room. Dennis Blackwood was coaxing Willow White to drink water. “Good girl, I’ve already cooled it down for you. Drink up.” My tears flowed uncontrollably. This scene was something I had yearned for five years but never received. Willow White had easily obtained it in just ten days. Seeing me, Willow White became agitated, clinging to Dennis Blackwood’s waist. “Dennis, what’s she doing here? Is she going to hurt me again?” “My wound still hurts so much, Dennis, I’m scared!” Dennis Blackwood gently patted her back, his eyes dark and menacing as he looked at me. “Aria , I told you, as long as you didn’t cause trouble, I’d be happy for you to remain Mrs. Blackwood. “But you’ve been very naughty.” “Willow is different from those other women. If you touch her, you provoke me.” He looked at Willow White, his voice gentle. “Don’t be scared, Willow. I brought her here so you can get your revenge.” A flicker of triumph crossed Willow White’s eyes, but she spoke timidly. “Really? Can I take my anger out however I want?” “She’s your wife. Can you really bear to do it?” Dennis Blackwood smiled and kissed Willow White’s lips. “No one is more important than you.” Willow White looked at me provocatively. “Then I want her to suffer the same pain I did!” Dennis Blackwood almost blurted out his agreement: “You can.” Then he casually instructed a bodyguard, “Arrange for a doctor.” I looked at the heartless man before me in disbelief. “Dennis Blackwood, I am your wife!” I struggled fiercely but was held down firmly on the floor. Dennis Blackwood’s voice floated over, light as a feather. “Aria , when you do something wrong, you must be punished, don’t you agree?” I was dragged into the operating room. After an examination, my colleague found Dennis Blackwood, his face troubled. “Mr. Blackwood, your wife… she’s never had sex.”

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For seven years, Julian was the man I loved. He quit smoking for me and kept all other women away. Everyone said he was a changed man, completely devoted to me. Then I heard the laughter from the private room. “Clara Sterling? I’m over her. This ring? It’s for my childhood sweetheart.” That day, I was burning up with a 104-degree fever while he went horseback riding with his true love. He left me stranded in the suburbs, forcing me to walk miles back to the city, my blood staining the path behind me. Later, I reclaimed my identity as the Sterling heiress. I pulled our investments and cut off his company’s lifeline. At my wedding, he barged in desperately, only to be blocked and escorted out by my new husband. My new husband gently wiped my tears. “Don’t let him ruin this for you.” And there was Julian, kneeling on the shattered glass, finally understanding. He hadn’t lost a replacement. He had lost the only light his world would ever have. Clara’s POV To the world, Julian Quinn, the ultimate ladies’ man, was reformed because of me. He stopped chasing other women and reined in his wild ways. Because I hated smoke, Julian quit. Because I valued punctuality, he imposed a strict 10 PM curfew on himself. He’d drive three hours to bring me my favorite dessert from that shop downtown. He’d clear his calendar of billion-dollar deals to personally nurse me through a cold. Everyone called him a reformed man, utterly devoted to me. I believed it, too. Until our seventh anniversary year, when I overheard the laughter from behind a private room door. “Julian, Clara’s been with you for so long. Are you two getting married soon?” My hand, poised to knock on the door, froze. A surge of nervous excitement, sharp and thrilling, shot through me. Julian and I had been together for a full seven years, from the age of twenty to twenty-seven. It wasn’t that I hadn’t brought up marriage before, but each time, Julian would say we were still young, no need to rush. His friend chuckled. “Word is, you ordered an engagement ring and hid it from Clara. Planning a surprise?” An engagement ring? Hope surged, warm and bright, in my chest. Then three seconds later, Julian’s voice cut through it. “That ring isn’t for proposing to Clara.” It felt like a bucket of ice-cold water, suddenly dumped over my head, freezing me to the bone. My entire body went rigid. His friend sounded confused. “Then… what is it for?” Julian’s deep voice slowly replied, “It’s for Vivian.” “Vivian? Your childhood sweetheart? Isn’t she always globetrotting? What, is she coming back?” “Yes, she said she’s returning soon.” “So, you’re going to propose to Vivian?” Julian paused, then a soft, tender smile entered his voice. “She always valued her freedom. So we agreed, while we were young, we’d both explore other people. If neither of us was married by twenty-seven, we’d get together.” “Well, Julian, that’s something! Everyone thought you were head-over-heels for Clara, but it turns out you had an agreement with Ms. Vivian all along.” “Ms. Vivian is so free-spirited and vibrant. She travels to countless countries every year. Her perspective and charisma? Clara’s quiet, docile personality can’t even compare.” “But Clara’s been with you for seven years. Will she agree to break up?” “Ha, what if Clara doesn’t agree? She’s a nobody with no connections; Julian can just throw some money her way to get rid of her.” Laughter erupted from the room, each peal a sharp, burning pain piercing my chest. I subconsciously clenched my hands, my nails digging into my palms, praying Julian would say something to deny it. A moment passed, then his casual voice drifted out- “Clara is too docile, almost boring. At first, her quiet, compliant nature felt refreshing, unlike other women who were loud and annoying. But after all these years, I’ve definitely grown tired of it.” Disbelief clawed at my throat. Seven years of my life, seven years of companionship, reduced to his single sentence- I was too docile, too boring, and he was tired of me. So, he’d only been with me for seven years because Vivian had agreed to try dating other people first. And his constant excuse that we were “still young, no need to rush into marriage”? It was because he never planned to marry me. His chosen bride was someone else entirely. Tears welled in my eyes, blurring the world. Suddenly, I realized these past seven years had been nothing but a cruel joke, a complete farce. Every breath was a sharp, searing pain. I forcibly suppressed the urge to burst through the door, turning in silence. Leaving the club, I pulled out my phone and dialed. “Dad, pull the investment from Quinn Corporation.” My father on the other end sounded shocked. “Years ago, when the Quinn family was in trouble, and Quinn Corporation was on the brink, you were the one who insisted Julian was promising, begging me to invest and help them. Why the sudden change of heart? Has Julian upset you?” “Just don’t ask so many questions.” My eyes burned with unshed tears as I bit my lip. “Also, I agree. I’ll come back for the arranged marriage.”

Clara’s POV My father sounded even more surprised. “Are you serious?” “Yes.” My father promised, “Don’t worry, the man I’ll find for your arranged marriage will be a thousand times better than Julian. Once you’re back, I’ll immediately withdraw the investment from Quinn Corporation.” I softly affirmed, ending the call with my father. Julian didn’t know that I wasn’t some Cinderella. I was Clara, heiress of the powerful Sterling family in Manhattan. Seven years ago, I moved from Manhattan to Las Vegas for university, where Julian and I were classmates. Our paths first crossed at a university reunion at an entertainment club. A drunk man was bothering me, and I stumbled, falling right into Julian’s arms. Julian looked at my face, his narrow eyes filled with an intrigued glint. “You look like such a good girl. You should stay away from places like this in the future; they don’t suit you.” He shooed away the harassing man, but throughout the party, his gaze, full of intense interest, subtly lingered on me. Perhaps he’d never encountered someone like me before; he was clearly fascinated. To win me over, he changed all the habits I disliked. He’d bring me breakfast in the mornings, pick me up for lunch, and invite me to watch the moon at night. But what truly captured my heart was the time I was accidentally hit by a basketball. He carried me to the infirmary, looking paler than I, the actual injured party. Even the doctor chuckled at his anxiety. “She’s the one who’s hurt, but you look more scared than she does!” After we started dating, Julian was impeccably good to me, always putting me first. Within two years, something unexpected happened to the Quinn family. Quinn Corporation faced a crisis, nearly going bankrupt. It was I who pleaded with my father to inject capital, helping Quinn Corporation escape disaster. Julian had an extremely strong sense of pride. So, I never told him that the reason Quinn Corporation survived was thanks to me. I thought I’d tell him about my identity as the Sterling family heiress from Manhattan when we got married. But now, none of that mattered. We wouldn’t be getting married. The person he secretly bought a ring for, the one he planned to propose to, wasn’t me. That night, Julian returned to the villa. “Baby, I brought you your favorite mousse cake. I know you don’t eat sweets at night, so I’ll put it in the fridge for you to have tomorrow morning.” He tilted my chin up and kissed my lips. My mood was sour, so I raised a hand to his chest. “Go take a shower first.” Julian smiled, soft and affectionate. “Alright.” He turned and went into the bathroom, leaving his phone on the bedside table. Messages kept pouring in. Julian never set a password on his phone. So, I saw message after message pop up. “I’ve had my fun for all these years. I’m coming back.” “Is our agreement still on?” “My flight lands at midnight tonight. Are you coming to the airport to pick me up?” All the messages were from someone saved as “Vivian.” Julian came out of the shower, picked up his phone, and a flicker of delight crossed his dark eyes as he read the messages. He quickly turned to me. “Baby, I have to go out for a bit.” I asked, feigning ignorance, “You usually don’t go out this late. Is something urgent?” Julian, while changing into clean clothes, replied, “A big client is landing in Las Vegas tonight. I can’t be rude; I need to pick them up and host them.” A big client? So, he could lie to me with a straight face. Julian finished changing and came back to the bed. He kissed my forehead apologetically. “This client is very important. I might not be back tonight. If you’re sleepy, go to bed early. Don’t wait up for me.” Before I could say anything else, he grabbed his car keys and hurried out. For seven years, Julian never stayed out past ten, never left after ten at night, and certainly never spent the night away from home- But on the night Vivian returned, he stayed out all night. All the habits he had changed and maintained for me were shattered, completely disregarded, in front of Vivian. I scrolled through Ins and saw a post from one of Julian’s friends. “True love is when, no matter how many years you wander, you always find your way back.” The photo showed Julian kneeling on one knee, placing a ring on a woman’s ring finger at a welcome back party. Julian quickly liked the post. But he probably forgot to block me. Less than two minutes later, the post was deleted. A bitter, humorless laugh escaped my lips. My heart, though, was bleeding, each beat a fresh wound. I put down my phone and sat on the balcony sofa, staying awake all night, watching the moon.

Clara’s POV I saw Julian the next day at the office. About his overnight absence, Julian explained, “I entertained that client very late last night, drank a lot, and just decided to rest at a nearby hotel.” I remained expressionless, not bothering to expose his clumsy lie. Seeing my low spirits, Julian wrapped his arms around my waist, his voice soft and tender. “What’s wrong, baby? Are you mad?” I forced a smile, pushing him away and handing him the documents. “Sign these.” “What are they?” “My resign-” Two sharp knocks cut me off at the office door. Julian looked up. Vivian stood there. Vivian, in a stunning red dress, leaned against the doorframe, raising an eyebrow. “Hope I’m not interrupting your work?” Julian’s eyes lit up, and he immediately rushed towards her. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? I would’ve come down to meet you.” “I’m perfectly capable of coming up myself. Why do you need to pick me up?” Julian ushered her into the office. Vivian’s gaze fell on me. “And this is…?” Only then did Julian remember I was still there. He calmly and composedly introduced, “She’s my assistant, Clara.” In front of Vivian, I wasn’t even worthy of being called his “girlfriend.” I was merely his assistant. Julian then introduced me to her. “This is Vivian, my best friend since childhood.” Best friend? My gaze inadvertently swept over Vivian’s ring finger, where a dazzling, expensive diamond ring shimmered. So, he gave engagement rings to his “best friends.” Julian looked at me. “I’m showing Vivian around the office. You go back to your work.” I didn’t leave. Instead, I handed him the documents again. “You haven’t signed this yet.” Julian didn’t even glance at what the documents were, picking up a pen and scrawling his signature in a few quick strokes. Taking the signed papers, I turned and left the office. I vaguely heard Vivian and Julian’s voices behind me, but I didn’t listen to what they said. Holding Julian’s signed resignation application, I submitted it to HR. The HR person said, “Hand over your work within fifteen days, and then you won’t need to come in anymore.” News of my resignation spread quickly through the company. Colleagues I was close with came to ask me, “Clara, why are you suddenly resigning?” After graduating, I chose to stay in Las Vegas for Julian, joining Quinn Corporation and, through my own abilities, became his chief assistant. I smiled faintly. “I’m going home to get married.” “Married? You and Mr. Quinn are getting married? Congratulations, Clara! You’ll be our boss’s wife!” I was about to deny it when Julian’s voice suddenly came from behind me. “What are you all doing? Are you that idle?” The colleagues flinched. “Mr. Quinn…” Julian’s gaze locked onto me. He stepped forward, grabbed my wrist, and pulled me into an empty corner. His handsome face was etched with displeasure. “Clara, I told you, I’m not considering marriage right now.” Realizing he also thought I wanted to marry him, I couldn’t help but find it amusing. I chuckled. “No, you misunderstood.” He frowned, confused. “Misunderstood?” I didn’t want to explain anymore. My lips moved, “Julian, let’s break up.” “Julian, are you done?” Suddenly, Vivian walked towards us. Julian hadn’t heard what I just said, his attention completely drawn to Vivian. Vivian flashed a bright, charming smile. “Oh, Clara’s here too.” I gave her a cool, indifferent look. Vivian, as if just remembering something, cooed and pleaded with Julian. “I left my bag in your office. Julian, could you please go get it for me?” Julian didn’t think twice. “Sure. Wait here for me.” As soon as he left, Vivian began to scrutinize me. I wanted to turn and leave, but Vivian intimately and warmly linked her arm through mine. “Clara, your skin is amazing! How do you take care of it? I’m always traveling to places like Africa and the rainforests; my skin gets so bad. Can you teach me your routine?” My gaze dropped to Vivian’s hand, adorned with the ring, a stinging sight. “For skin issues, you should consult a professional. Mine is natural; I can’t teach you.” Unwilling to stay with Vivian, I pulled my arm away. I hadn’t even used much force, but Vivian, following my movement, tumbled to the ground with a cry of “Ah!” Julian, rushing back, saw the scene and angrily snapped, “Clara, what are you doing!”

Clara’s POV Julian tenderly helped Vivian up. Vivian’s eyes welled with feigned tears. “I just wanted to ask Clara how she takes care of her skin, but she got impatient and pushed me… Julian, Clara doesn’t seem to like me very much.” I was astonished by her blatant lie, and even more so that Julian actually believed it. He stared at me, his gaze so dark it seemed to drip with venom. “Even if you don’t like Vivian, you shouldn’t have pushed her.” Without giving me a chance to explain, Julian embraced Vivian and walked away. He never used to raise his voice at me. He never used to trust others and misunderstand me. And he certainly never used to leave me alone. Watching their retreating backs, I felt like I was seeing him for the very first time. After work, a Bentley pulled up at the company entrance. “Oh, didn’t Mr. Quinn leave the company ages ago? Why is he back?” “He’s probably back to pick up Clara.” “Mr. Quinn loves you so much, Clara. You’re so lucky.” My colleagues cast envious glances my way, but I looked at the Bentley, feeling absolutely nothing. Julian rolled down the window and said to me, “Get in.” My colleagues nudged my shoulder. “Go on, Clara, don’t keep Mr. Quinn waiting.” I had no choice but to get into his car, settling into the passenger seat. Julian started the car. After driving for a short distance, he broke the silence. “I was a bit harsh with you today. I apologize. Don’t be mad.” I replied flatly, without much emotion, “I’m not mad.” Julian’s tone shifted. “Still, you were a bit out of line today. No matter what, you shouldn’t have pushed Vivian. She’s my best friend.” Listening to his accusatory tone, I curled my lips in a sneer. “Really, ‘just friends’?” A flicker of guilt crossed Julian’s eyes, and he quickly masked it. “We’ve known each other since childhood. We’re truly just friends all these years. Don’t overthink it.” My heart was filled with bitter mockery. I wondered how long he planned to keep me in the dark, treating me like an idiot. Julian controlled the steering wheel with one hand, reaching over with the other to ruffle my hair, coaxing me softly, indulgently. “Alright, baby, let’s not talk about other people. I’ll take you to that French restaurant you love so much, hm?” Just as he finished speaking, his phone rang. I glanced at the caller ID; it was none other than the “other person” he’d just dismissed-Vivian. Julian hesitated for two seconds, then finally picked up the phone. His eyes visibly softened. “What’s wrong?” Vivian’s sweet, tearful sniffles came through the phone. “Julian, it’s thundering suddenly, and I’m so scared… Can you come and stay with me?” Julian agreed, ended the call, and then looked at me, hesitant. “Baby, something’s come up. I can’t take you to dinner. Get out here, and I’ll send someone to pick you up and take you home.” I was left on the roadside, watching his car speed away into the distance. Over half an hour passed, and no one came to pick me up. Instead, the sky, dark with storm clouds and crackling with lightning, unleashed a torrential downpour. There was no shelter nearby, and the violent rain instantly soaked me through. My clothes and hair clung to my body, and a chilling cold seeped into my skin. I tried to hail a cab for a long time, but no driver accepted. In the end, I had no choice but to brave the furious storm, walking for two hours until I finally reached the villa. After that night, I ran a high fever and was confined to bed. Julian returned the next day and unleashed his fury on the housekeeper. “She’s burning up like this! Why didn’t you call me?” “Mr. Quinn, I did call you, but your phone was off…” Julian froze, speechless, and could only give up. He immediately contacted a doctor to come and give me an IV drip to bring down the fever.

Clara’s POV When I woke up, I saw Julian sitting by the bed, working on his laptop. Seeing my eyes open, he quickly put down his computer. “Baby, you’re awake. How do you feel? Still uncomfortable?” My head felt heavy and cloudy, my body burning as if on fire. Julian, with a mix of concern and apology, helped me sit up. “I’m sorry, baby. It’s all my fault for not giving the driver clear directions to pick you up. He went to the wrong place, and you got caught in the rain.” Was it truly his fault for giving the driver wrong directions, or was he just so eager to see Vivian that he completely forgot to send anyone for me? A cold, bitter laugh echoed in my heart, but I was too weak to challenge him. Julian picked up the chicken soup the housekeeper had brought. “You must be hungry. I’ll feed you some soup.” His gentle, caring demeanor made it seem as if the Julian I knew had returned. Every time I was sick or in pain before, he would always patiently stay by my side and take care of me. His anxious attention, his tenderness, his thoughtfulness-they once made me believe I had found a man worth entrusting my life to, and so I gave him everything without reservation. But now, having witnessed firsthand how he repeatedly abandoned me for Vivian, I could no longer feel that familiar sweetness or happiness. Perhaps out of guilt, Julian stayed by my side in the villa for several days while I was ill. The day my fever broke and I started to feel better, he took my hand and led me out. “Some friends invited me horseback riding. Since you’ve recovered, it’s a good chance to get some fresh air.” At the stables, I realized Vivian was there too. Vivian, dressed in riding gear, smiled sweetly. “Julian, you’re so good to your assistant. You bring her out horseback riding right after she’s recovered from being sick.” Julian and his friends looked slightly uncomfortable. Someone quickly laughed to smooth things over, and another person came to help me put on my safety gear. Once my gear was on, I turned and saw Vivian pouting unhappily in the distance, while Julian was softly coaxing her. “She only got sick because of me. I’m just taking her out horseback riding to make it up to her. Please don’t mind her being here, okay?” He reached up and pinched Vivian’s nose-a gesture he once reserved only for me. I curled my lips in a sarcastic smile, feeling an indescribable bitterness in my heart. Didn’t he get tired of juggling two women? Turning my head, I looked away from them and chose a gentle black horse from the stable. Julian had taken me horseback riding many times before. Each time, he would carefully check and adjust my saddle and teach me how to hold the reins. But this time, seeing him waiting on Vivian hand and foot, I didn’t bother him. I skillfully took the reins and rode the horse, completing several laps around the arena. Unnoticed, Vivian rode her horse next to me. “I know all about you and Julian being together for seven years.” I glanced at her from the corner of my eye, remaining silent, not engaging. Vivian raised her ring-adorned hand. “But what does it matter? The person he wants to marry is me.” I understood. Vivian was afraid I’d cling to Julian, and she was here to gloat and assert her dominance. I couldn’t help but sneer, “If that’s the case, why do you feel the need to come and show off to me?” “Because you did spend seven years of your youth on him. He’s soft-hearted; he doesn’t know how to break up with you.” Julian and his friends were chatting and laughing in the distance, completely oblivious to us. Vivian continued, “But this can’t go on. It’s not good for any of us. He needs to make a choice.” I was about to say that Julian didn’t need to make any choice because I had already decided I didn’t want him. But Vivian preempted me, hooking her lips into a smile. “Tell me, if something happened to both of us at the same time, who would he be more worried about? You, or me?” Before I could react, Vivian whipped her riding crop hard against my horse’s flank. The black horse shied, rearing its front hooves, and Vivian immediately whipped her own horse. Instantly, both horses shied and bolted, neighing as they galloped wildly forward. Julian, sensing the commotion, looked over, gasping in alarm. “Clara… Vivian!” I desperately clung to the reins, while Vivian let go of her stirrups and reins, allowing the frantic horse to throw her off. Julian’s pupils violently constricted. “Vivian!!” Meanwhile, I was also thrown from my crazed horse, one foot accidentally caught in the stirrup. The panicked black horse dragged me across the riding arena, for countless laps. By the time the staff arrived and brought my horse under control, I was already covered in blood from scrapes, every inch of my body aching with intense pain. Before I lost consciousness, the last thing I saw was Julian anxiously scooping Vivian into his arms and striding away with a cold, determined expression, never once looking back to check on my injuries. I smiled, a heart-wrenching, bitter smile. Thankfully, I hadn’t expected much from him anyway.

Clara’s POV The smell of disinfectant filled my nostrils, and I slowly regained consciousness, finding myself in a hospital room. My entire body felt like it had been run over by a truck, taken apart, and then haphazardly put back together, aching excruciatingly. The slightest movement sent shivers of pain through me. The nurse, who was administering my IV drip, saw me stir and said, “Your abrasions are severe; large patches of skin are gone. You don’t have many uninjured spots on your body. You need to lie still and rest. It’s best not to move around too much.” I assented, forcing myself to lie still. The nurse gave me a few more instructions and left the room after finishing the IV. “Both fell off horses, but this one is so badly injured and has no one by her side. The one in the next room just got a few scratches, and her boyfriend is worried sick. It just goes to show, people really can’t be compared.” “Right? The boyfriend of the lady in the next room hasn’t left her side since bringing her to the hospital. He’s bringing her tea and water, feeding her fruit by hand, even carrying her to the restroom. He’s so good to his girlfriend.” Hearing the nurses’ hushed whispers outside, I curled my lips in a soft, mocking smile. Before, when I had a cold or fever, Julian dropped everything to be with me. Now, with both Vivian and me injured, even though my injuries were clearly far more severe than Vivian’s, even though we were in adjacent rooms, he hadn’t even spared me a glance. Our seven years of love seemed so insignificant, so ridiculously trivial, compared to Vivian. That night, as I lay resting, the hospital room door suddenly swung open. I jolted awake to see Julian, his brows deeply furrowed, approaching my bed. My mind felt foggy. “What is it?” “Vivian wants some chicken soup. I remember your chicken soup is the best. Go home, make some for Vivian, and bring it over.” Hearing his demand, I felt as if I’d heard something utterly preposterous. My eyes widened slightly. “You want me to prepare the soup for Vivian?” Julian bent down, kissed my hair, and softly pleaded, “Baby, will you please do this for me?” I found it utterly ridiculous. Julian’s stomach used to bother him because he worked so hard for his company. So, I, who had never even boiled water since childhood, specifically learned to make my signature nourishing broth just for his stomach. Now, he was asking me to make soup for Vivian. My blood surged, my chest heaving with indignation. “Julian, I’m not your housekeeper! And I’m an injured patient!” “You just have some abrasions; your hands and feet aren’t incapacitated. Vivian hasn’t eaten anything all day; if this continues, she’ll get a stomachache. Please, I’m begging you, help me with this. I’ll make it up to you.” “I don’t need your compensation! And I won’t cook a meal for her!” Seeing that his gentle requests were met with my consistent refusal, Julian’s brows furrowed. His expression gradually darkened, and his tone grew several shades colder. “Clara, don’t make me drag you there myself.” His displeasure was palpable, as if he truly would force me to make soup for Vivian and bring it to her if I refused again. I stared at him in disbelief, finally, completely recognizing his true colors. After a moment of tense standoff, I closed my eyes, conceding. “Fine, I’ll go.” My concession wasn’t out of fear, nor was it because I still cared for him. It simply wasn’t worth the trouble. Anyway, I was leaving soon. I didn’t want any more complications. Julian finally smiled, reaching out to ruffle my hair. “Baby, you’re so good, so understanding. I’ll have the driver take you back.” Yes, how could I not be “understanding”? Vivian was back. I was the one stepping aside, injured yet still making soup for her. Back at the villa, I prepared the soup and had the driver deliver it to them at the hospital. I stayed at the villa to rest, too weak and in pain to move around again. The next day, while I was still asleep, a sudden, powerful force yanked me upright. “Why did you do that?!” My mind was foggy with sleep. “What did I do?” “Vivian was rushed to the ER last night after your soup. They confirmed poisoning. How could you be this cruel?!”

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New Year’s Eve. Brandon, my boyfriend of three years, invited me home to meet his parents. At dinner, he drugged my wine. “Skylar, the gangsters…they’ll chop my hands off if I don’t pay up. I had no way out! I had to give you to him.” “Don’t blame me. Blame your luck. You look just like his crush.” “It’s win-win. I pay my debts, you get a wealthy life.” Drugged and dazed, I was delivered by his family to gates I knew too well. The home of my uncle, Victor Thorne. Victor had always doted on Mom and me. The year my father laid a hand on her, Victor had him shipped to a remote African mine before sunset. I could barely imagine what Brandon was about to face… The tranquilizer hadn’t fully worn off. I lay slumped in the backseat of the car, unable to lift even a finger. The voices of Brandon, Frank, and Carol Miller reached me as a muffled drone, distant and indistinct. Brandon and I had been together since college, straight through graduation. Ours was a stable relationship, one that had never faced any real turbulence. Just before the holidays, he’d looked so sincere, saying he wanted to take me home to meet his parents, to talk about marriage. Thinking I needed to make a good impression on his family, I’d spent days meticulously preparing. I bought a new cashmere coat, got my hair done, and brought two expensive bottles of wine and a stack of gift boxes. But after just half a glass of water Carol poured for me, my vision started to blur. “Skylar, don’t blame me,” Brandon said, his face a mask of feigned grievance. “I was truly backed into a corner, with no way out.” “Five million! How was I supposed to pay that back? They’ll really chop off my hands!” I wanted to curse him, but my tongue wouldn’t obey, only choked, incoherent sounds escaped my throat. “Don’t feel so wronged, either,” he continued to ramble. “Mr. Thorne’s place isn’t some bad situation. He just likes your type.” “You’ll live a life of luxury with him, isn’t that better than being with me? I’m doing this for both of our sakes, a win-win, get it?” Win-win? You win my ass. The car sped through the darkness, the scenery outside the window a blur. I struggled to focus my eyes, trying to make out our direction. Until the car slowly decelerated, finally pulling up to a massive, intricately carved iron gate. This place, this gate, this estate… My heart leaped. My hazy mind felt like it had been doused with ice water, clearing slightly in an instant. No way. It couldn’t be. Brandon and his mom dragged me out of the car, one on each side, practically pulling me across the front lawn of the estate. My cashmere coat was disheveled and torn, my heels were long gone. Two straight-backed men stood by the door, watching us approach with expressionless faces. “Gentlemen, please inform Mr. Thorne. We truly couldn’t raise the money, so we came up with a new way to settle the debt.” Frank Miller bent at the waist, fawning over the men in black suits at the door. “We’ve brought Mr. Thorne a New Year’s gift. He’s definitely going to like it.” One of the men shined a flashlight beam across my face. The light stung my eyes, making me squint. “Her?” His voice was flat. “Yes, yes, exactly! My son’s girlfriend,” Carol quickly chimed in, forcefully pulling my face straight. “See? Doesn’t she look exactly like the woman Mr. Thorne commemorates every year? We specifically found out about that.” “And she’s a dancer, very graceful. She’ll be attentive to his needs!” My stomach lurched. The man was silent for a few seconds, then gestured to a subordinate nearby. “Go inform him.” He turned back to us. “Whether it works out or not, I can’t say. Just come inside and wait.” “Thank you, sir! Thank you!” Brandon nodded profusely, bowing repeatedly, as he dragged me towards the main house. By the time I was pulled into the parlor on the first floor, my legs had given out. I collapsed onto the cold floor. “Mr. Thorne is with a guest. Wait here,” the man said, then left. As soon as the door closed, Brandon immediately crouched in front of me, a mix of anxiety and calculation on his face. “Skylar, help me out, just this once.” He grabbed my shoulders and shook me. “When Mr. Thorne comes, just say you came willingly.” “Please, I won’t look down on you. I promise I’ll treat you well afterward!” I stared at him, unable to make a sound. “Don’t you dare stay silent!” Carol also leaned in, her nails digging into my arm. “If the Millers go down, you won’t have it easy either! Brandon’s your boyfriend, you should help him!” “Mom, don’t scare her,” Brandon faked a gentle reprimand, then turned back to me, softening his tone. “Skylar, I know you’re angry, but I really have no choice. Five million! They’ll kill me…” The tranquilizer was slowly wearing off. I could feel my limbs regaining sensation, and my tongue could move again. I took a deep breath, finally choking out a raspy sentence: “Get lost. I won’t.”

“What did you say?” Brandon’s face instantly darkened. He grabbed a handful of my hair, forcing me to look up at him. “Skylar, I advise you to think carefully before you speak.” A sharp pain shot through my scalp, but I gritted my teeth. “I said, I won’t. This is a crime. I’m calling the police.” Smack! A stinging slap landed hard on my face. My vision went black, my ears rang, and I tasted blood. “You’re ungrateful!” Brandon snarled through gritted teeth. “What do you think you are? You’re just a dancer, it’s your good fortune to be able to pay off my debt!” Carol followed up with a kick. “Exactly! Who are you to act so pure? It’s an honor my son chose you!” “Not her face!” Frank warned from the side. “If you damage her face, we’re all screwed!” Brandon finally let go. I lay sprawled on the cold floor, gasping for air. “Skylar, I’m asking you one last time,” he crouched down, pinching my chin. “Are you going to cooperate or not?” I stared at him, enunciating each word. “Absolutely not.” “Fine. Very well,” Brandon sneered, standing up and walking towards me. “Aren’t you a dancer? Aren’t you supposed to fulfill your mom’s legacy?” He lifted his foot and stomped down hard on my calf. “Ah!” The excruciating pain made me scream. “If this leg breaks, what dance will you do then?” He ground his foot down harder. “I heard your mom’s biggest wish before she died was to see you on an international stage. What a shame…” Fear instantly consumed me. Mom was one of the nation’s top dancers, but she passed away due to illness at the peak of her career. I had trained tirelessly in dance since childhood, all to honor her legacy. “No,” my voice began to tremble. “Don’t touch my leg…” “Now you’re scared?” Carol scoffed from the side. “Weren’t you tough a moment ago?” Brandon took his foot off, then crouched down again. “Then be a good girl and behave later.” “As long as you clear my debt, I’ll still marry you. We’ll go back to how things were.” I closed my eyes, tears streaming down my face against my will. “That’s more like it,” Carol said, satisfied. “Go clean her up. She’s a mess, how can she be presented like this?” Brandon roughly dragged me off the floor, pulling me towards the private bathroom attached to the parlor. “I can do it myself,” I tried to struggle. “Shut up!” He shoved me into the bathroom. “Your makeup’s ruined, you look like a ghost.” He grabbed my hair, forcing my face under the faucet. The cold water made me shiver violently, my makeup washing off in streaks. Brandon grabbed the hand soap from the sink and smeared it directly onto my face. I choked, coughing. “Mmph…Stop!” “Clean her up properly. Mr. Thorne will want to see this face.” “She really does look like her. Damn. I only chased you because your face looks just like Mr. Thorne’s woman.” My heart sank completely. So that was it. Three years of a relationship, just a calculated setup from the start. Brandon rinsed the foam from my face, then roughly wiped it dry with a towel. Then he started ripping my clothes. “What are you doing!” I screamed in horror, clutching my chest. “These clothes are too conservative. You need something sexier.” He pulled a low-cut black dress from his bag. “Put it on.” “No!” “You won’t?” Brandon’s eyes turned cold. “Then don’t blame me for helping you.” He violently tore open the buttons of my cashmere coat. I shrieked and struggled, but he slapped me again with the back of his hand. “Stay still!” The bathroom door suddenly rattled. Carol’s voice came through. “Brandon, hurry! Mr. Thorne’s men are here!” Brandon froze, glaring at me viciously. “You’re lucky.” He dragged me out of the bathroom, pushing me back onto the parlor carpet. The door opened. Several men in black suits walked in. The one at the front, in his early thirties, had a scar on his face and cold, dangerous eyes. “Mr. Thorne will be here any minute,” the man with the scar, Jax, said, glancing at me. “Cleaned up?” “Cleaned up, perfectly clean!” Frank quickly forced a smile. “Jax, sir, take a look. Doesn’t she look exactly like her?” Jax took a few steps closer, crouching down to examine my face carefully. My heart pounded. Was this Jax, the new guy under my uncle? Victor had only mentioned him once, saying he’d only been with him for about six months, known for being ruthless, but still unfamiliar with family matters. I was doomed. He didn’t recognize me at all.

Jax stared at my face for a full thirty seconds, his expression shifting from scrutiny to something ancient and unsettling. “Uncanny. Damn uncanny,” he muttered. He reached out, his rough finger grazing my cheek. “She’s practically identical to the woman in the photos.” My body went rigid. I managed to squeeze out a sound. “Are you Jax? I’m…” Smack! Another slap, harder than Brandon’s. My head snapped to the side, blood oozing from the corner of my mouth. “Who told you my name?” Jax grabbed a handful of my hair, forcing me to look at him. “You’re just merchandise for debt, trying to pull rank on your grandpappy?” “No, I really am…” “Shut up!” He clamped a hand around my neck. “Say one more word, and I’ll rip out your tongue.” Suffocation gripped me. I clawed at his hand, but it was to no avail. The Millers stood frozen nearby, barely daring to breathe, fawning over Jax. “Jax, sir, what about… Mr. Thorne?” Frank tentatively asked. “Mr. Thorne is upstairs handling some business. He sent me down to check first.” Jax released me and stood up. “But I don’t think this girl is very cooperative.” He pulled out a cigarette, lit it, took a drag, then crouched down and flicked the ash onto my face. “It’s your good fortune that you look like someone Mr. Thorne admired, but don’t think you can get away with anything just because of that face.” He pinched my chin. “Mr. Thorne hates it when people try to exploit his personal connections. You’d better know your place.” I coughed violently, tears streaming down my face. “I really am… I’m Victor’s niece, please believe me…” “Still spewing nonsense!” Jax roared in fury, kicking me hard in the stomach. I curled up in pain, felt like my organs were shifting. “Do you really think I wouldn’t know if Mr. Thorne had any siblings? Where would a niece come from?” Jax sneered. “What lies won’t you spin just to climb the ladder?” He gestured to a subordinate. “Bring the liquor.” A subordinate immediately handed him a bottle of vodka. Jax twisted off the cap, grabbed my chin, and started pouring it down my throat. The harsh liquor burned its way down my throat. I choked, my face flushing scarlet, alcohol streaming from my mouth, down my neck and soaking my clothes. “Drink it! Finish it!” Jax’s expression was distorted. “If Mr. Thorne comes and you dare to throw it up, I’ll throw you into the deepest, darkest pits of our operations and let every one of the guys have their fill!” He only released me after half the bottle was gone. I lay on the floor, dry-heaving, my throat burning. My vocal cords felt shredded, unable to form a complete sound. Brandon looked uneasy. “Jax, sir, if Mr. Thorne comes and she can’t speak…” “Better if she can’t speak,” Jax glanced at him. “Save her from talking nonsense.” He crouched down again, grabbing my right hand. “Pretty fingers, huh?” I stared at him in horror. “What a shame.” He sneered, then suddenly twisted with force. Crack! “AH!” My bloodcurdling scream echoed through the entire parlor. My index finger bent at an unnatural angle. The excruciating pain made my vision go black. “That’s just one,” Jax said, his tone light. “If you don’t behave, I’ll break all ten of your fingers.” I convulsed in pain, tears and snot blurring my face. “Mr. Thorne is here!” A subordinate at the door suddenly announced. Jax immediately stood up, straightened his suit, and adopted a respectful expression. The Millers also quickly stood at attention, heads bowed, not daring to look around. The door opened. A tall figure walked in, dressed in a black coat, with cold and severe eyes, radiating an aura that screamed ‘keep your distance’. It was my uncle, Victor. He scanned the parlor, his brows immediately furrowing. “What’s going on? It’s a mess.” Jax quickly stepped forward. “Mr. Thorne, these people came to settle a debt, and they brought a woman.” “I told you, don’t bring just anyone here,” Victor’s voice was icy. “Clean it up.” He said, then turned to leave. No! Don’t go! I used all my strength to push myself up, but my legs failed and I fell back to the floor, still unable to make a sound. My uncle’s footsteps didn’t falter. In desperation, I tore off the necklace my mother left me, the one around my neck. Then, with my working left hand, I threw it hard at Victor’s feet. The metal struck the marble floor with a sharp clink. Victor’s footsteps halted. He looked down, his gaze moving from the necklace on the floor to my bruised, tear-streaked face. His pupils constricted sharply.

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There they were, in the bed again, caught red-handed. But this time, it was me lying there naked with a stranger. And for the first time, Jack Murray showed a reaction. It lasted a second. He quickly regained his composure, even tearing open a condom for me. Calm. Casual. “I said we’d have an open marriage, no strings attached. Looks like you finally listened.” Then, with a chilling smile, he handed a condom to the man on top of me. “Be careful. Don’t let her get pregnant.” As he walked away, he offered one last piece of advice. “I’m right next door. Have fun. Run out of ideas, just ask me for tips.” I watched him walk away without a glance back. This five-year marriage had to end. “Ms. Hayes, should we… continue?” The man looked at me, a hint of pity in his eyes. I stumbled from the bed, fumbling with my clothes, my heart a raw wound of humiliation and grief. I pulled out a wad of cash and handed it to him. “What happened tonight, it never leaves this room.” As I left the room, Jack was waiting in the hallway, his arm around his latest fling. He eyed me with a smirk that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Thought you finally grew a spine. Is that all you’ve got?” I froze, looking up at him. Jack chuckled. “Audrey Hayes, we have an understanding. Even if you did sleep with someone, I’d never make the pathetic scene you just did. Don’t worry. I’m the picture of understanding.” His words hit me like a physical blow, stealing my breath. He was right. He was understanding. In a situation like that, even if it was just an act, no man would react as casually as Jack had. No other man would dismiss it so lightly. He simply didn’t care. He didn’t care about me. So no matter what I did, it wouldn’t stir a single ripple in his heart. Between us, the one who always struggled with being “understanding” was me. That’s why five years ago, when I first found him in bed with someone else, my reaction was so drastically different from his. I smashed everything I could get my hands on, crying hysterically, like a total lunatic. But Jack? He remained utterly calm, just watching me quietly, before letting out a sigh. “Audrey, this is just an arranged marriage. Why are you making such a spectacle of yourself?” It felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over me, chilling my heart to its core. Jack would never understand how I felt then, just as he would never know how my heart soared to the heavens when I learned he was my arranged fiancé. Because of his words, I, his wife in name only, lost the right to even question his subsequent gossip and scandals. Facing one caught-in-the-act after another, I gradually transitioned from hysterical outbursts to a numb, resigned calm. Like now. I was still hurting, but I could finally accept the fact that our marriage was truly ending. I looked at Jack, gathered my composure, and, mimicking his smirk, curved my lips into a smile. “Poor acting, I know. My apologies.” Jack blinked, a flicker of confusion in his eyes. For the first time, he seemed genuinely unsure of me. But the woman beside him, Scarlett Reed, snickered. She leaned into him, her voice playful. “Jack, honey, how can you talk to Ms. Hayes like that?” “She went through all that trouble, stripping herself down and throwing herself at another man, just to get your attention, to make you jealous! You’re making her lose face!” She playfully pushed Jack toward me, poking his chest. “Go on, comfort her! Look, Ms. Hayes is about to cry.” Jack glanced at me, then offered a dismissive smile. “It’s just an arranged marriage. I have no obligation to comfort anyone.” “Everyone needs to manage their own emotions. If you don’t want to humiliate yourself further, don’t pull ridiculous stunts like this again.” He wrapped his arm around Scarlett’s slender waist once more. “I promised to spend tonight with you. I can’t go back on my word, can I?” Without another glance, he turned and led Scarlett into their room. The moment the door closed, Scarlett looked back at me, her eyes glinting with undisguised triumph and provocation. Soon after, muffled, intimate sounds began to emanate from behind the door. It was as if they were determined to make sure I heard every single sound, to break me with their forced display. They knew I hadn’t left, and I knew they were doing it on purpose. I don’t know how long I stood there, until my legs went completely numb. Then I shakily made my way home and called my lawyer. “Draft up a divorce agreement for me. Get it to me as soon as possible.” Since Jack kept insisting it was just an arranged marriage, then surely it wouldn’t matter if I just… found a new arrangement. After all, what difference did it make who I was arranged to marry?

Jack had been gone longer this time. He was a ghost for nearly half a month, but Scarlett’s Ins stories updated punctually every night. Auctions, galas, exclusive parties, even the private island where Jack and I had gone for our honeymoon-her presence was everywhere. Scarlett truly deserved her title as the one who’d been by Jack’s side the longest; she always knew exactly how to twist the knife. Everything she did felt less like showing off and more like a deliberate provocation. But unfortunately for her, she was going to be disappointed this time. Now that I’d decided to let go completely, I wasn’t going to waste any more emotion on Jack. Just as I closed my phone, ready to rest, a message from Scarlett popped up. “I’ve prepared a gift for you. Hope you like it.” Beneath it was a link to a trending story. The moment I clicked it open, it felt like I’d been stomped on. “Audrey Hayes, Heiress, Caught Cheating! Secret Rendezvous with Boy Toy!” Beneath the sensational headline were dozens of private photos from that night. I looked heartbroken, my eyes red from crying. But my suppressed grief and silent pain were completely twisted by the online mob, distorted into unspeakable filth. The comment section was a torrent of vile abuse. I scrolled through, trembling with rage. I was the victim in this marriage, yet the true betrayer walked away unscathed, while I became the slut publicly condemned by everyone. When I finally managed to calm down and contacted someone to take down the trending topic, they told me that someone had paid a high price to keep the story on the front page for an entire day and night. After hanging up, a wave of dread washed over me. Scarlett didn’t have that kind of power. The person backing her, the one who wanted to ruin my reputation, was Jack. I racked my brain but couldn’t understand why he hated me so much. Five years of marriage, even if it was just in name, the feelings I’d once held for him were real. My care and concern for him were genuine. Even if Jack had no feelings for me, he didn’t need to be this cruel, this spiteful. But soon enough, I got my answer. The next afternoon, Jack and I were both invited to a gala. Because I hadn’t slept all night, I had a minor incident on the way there, causing me to arrive a bit late. The banquet hall was loud, but I spotted Jack instantly. He was surrounded by a group of people, and draped bonelessly over him was, of course, Scarlett. I took a step forward, intending to approach, but then I overheard his conversation with his friends. “Jack, I saw the trending story. I can’t believe even you got cheated on! Your wife’s quite something!” “That’s what you get for always trying to steal my girls! Karma’s a bitch, huh?” Someone else joked, “Oh, come on! And you always boast about your conquests? You can’t even tell? Those pictures on the trending story clearly show it wasn’t the real deal! Your wife was obviously just putting on an act to win you back!” “But Jack, didn’t you go a bit too far this time? Keeping that story at number one, letting everyone insult and slander her? She’s still a woman. How’s she supposed to show her face in public after this?” Jack slowly picked up his glass, a mocking smile playing on his lips. “How else is she going to learn her lesson? I want to make sure she never dares to find another man again, not even to pretend.” The friend looked surprised. “That’s a double standard! You can play the field, but she can’t even have a fake fling? Are you saying your ‘open marriage, no interference’ rule only applies to others, not you?” Jack frowned, but said nothing. “You’re a cunning one, alright. You don’t fulfill your duties as a husband, but you demand she acts like a proper wife. And because of your ‘no interference’ rule, she can’t even get jealous or angry!” “As your buddy, I gotta say I’m jealous. Unlike me, my battle-axe of a wife went and caused a scene at my company last month. I was totally humiliated!” “Hey, how about this? I’ll go home later and make the same agreement with my wife, tell her we’re both free to do as we please, no interference. What do you think?” This time, Jack actually laughed. “No, don’t you dare say that. If you do, you’ll be signing your own divorce papers.” “My situation is different from yours. After all, Audrey… she’s in love with me.” His tone was a mix of smugness and teasing, but my blood instantly ran cold. So he knew I loved him.

Because I loved him, he felt free to demean me, to stomp all over my dignity, to let his endless string of mistresses walk all over me. Everything I had endured all these years, it was simply because he knew I loved him. How utterly ridiculous. Their conversation continued. “Holy crap! Jack, you’re an animal!” “But since your wife is so devoted to you, and you don’t intend to divorce her, why did you trick her into having an abortion when she was pregnant with your child?” At his words, I froze. He was right. I had been pregnant with Jack’s child. But at three months, there was an accident. The railing on the second-floor staircase suddenly became loose, and I fell. By the time I reached the hospital, the baby was gone. Not only that, the doctor announced on the spot that my body was damaged. Because my health was already fragile, it was highly unlikely I’d ever conceive again. Coincidentally, the person who performed the abortion was Scarlett. When I emerged from the operating room, Jack for the first time showed a glimmer of concern in his eyes. He walked over and held me, his voice unusually gentle. “It’s okay. The baby’s gone, but as long as you’re alright, that’s all that matters.” Back then, I was naive enough to think I’d finally touched his heart. Now, it was clear there was a hidden agenda. “The doctors said your wife’s condition was indeed critical, but with proper care, the baby might have been saved. But you? You kept it from her, sent her straight into surgery, and because of the forced abortion, she suffered permanent damage.” “I really don’t get you, Jack. Can you tell me why you did it?” Hearing this, Jack’s expression turned complex, a mix of annoyance and something else. He lit a cigarette, squinted, took a drag, and said irritably: “Why else? I wasn’t done living it up, I wasn’t ready to be a dad yet! “Besides, Audrey getting pregnant was just a way for her to get a hold over me. Our families only arranged this marriage for business. If a child interfered with the Murray Corp.’s crucial interests, it would be a huge loss, wouldn’t it?” “Her physical harm wasn’t my intention. I’ll compensate her later. And don’t ever bring this up again. If she finds out, she’ll probably throw a fit.” My body trembled uncontrollably. A tsunami of desperate emotions instantly consumed me. By the time I regained my senses, I had already walked directly in front of Jack. My sudden appearance silenced the entire room, leaving only the sound of breathing. Even Jack couldn’t maintain his composure. A flicker of panic crossed his eyes. He coughed, looking at me with a hint of guilt. “Since you’re here, come sit down.” I didn’t move, didn’t speak. The atmosphere became impossibly awkward. Seeing my silence, Jack’s face tightened, clearly losing face. He frowned. I knew this was his precursor to anger. I used to dread his temper, but now I simply and silently pulled the pre-drafted divorce agreement from my bag and placed it before him. “Jack, I don’t know when you’ll ever be ‘done playing,’ but I’m tired of playing along. Sign this divorce agreement, and you can play however you want. I won’t interfere, and I certainly won’t try to use a child to affect Murray Corp.’s crucial interests.” “We’re done, Jack.”

Jack stared intensely at the document, his face ashen. After a long moment, he looked at me with a cold laugh. “Are you threatening me?” I offered a bitter smile. “If that’s what you think, then yes.” He looked at me, his eyes narrowing dangerously, his voice a mix of threat and pressure. “I’m asking you one last time. Do you really want to divorce me?” I nodded without hesitation. Seeing my resolve, his friends exchanged glances, then tried to persuade me to reconsider. But my stance remained unwavering. Jack wasn’t used to being defied like this. He angrily scribbled his name on the divorce agreement, then glared at me, his voice venomous. “Audrey, you’re quite something. I dare you not to come back crying and begging me!” I ignored him, picked up the agreement, and walked away. I hadn’t gone far when their voices reached my ears again. This time, Jack’s friends were betting on how long it would take for me to return and grovel. Their chatter grew louder and more excited, until Jack finally chimed in. “Stop guessing. Three days, tops. She’ll be back, crying and begging me not to divorce her.” Hearing that, I curled my lips into a sneer. He was going to be disappointed this time. Not only would I not go back and beg him, but I was going to make sure he lost face too! My endless patience with him before was only because I loved him. But now, I had no reason to tolerate anything anymore. So, as soon as I got home, I immediately contacted the media. I extracted videos from our home surveillance showing Jack with various mistresses and uploaded them online. The most scandalous, without a doubt, was the footage of him and Scarlett. I reciprocated his methods, ensuring these stories remained trending for an entire day and night. Public opinion completely flipped. This time, the targets of ridicule and scorn were them. Jack called me incessantly during this time, but I ignored every single call. See? A knife only hurts when it cuts you. They deserved to feel the sting of public condemnation too. What I didn’t expect was a call from the hospital a few days later. “Ms. Hayes, it’s urgent! Your mother’s condition has suddenly worsened. She needs immediate surgery!” My mother had been battling illness for years. She’d just had surgery three months prior, and her health had finally started to improve. I couldn’t believe this was happening now. When I rushed to the hospital, the doctor explained the situation. “Ms. Hayes, the lesion has progressed. The procedure is extremely high-risk. Your mother’s former specialist, Dr. Henderson, left the country for a fellowship two weeks ago. At this point, only his protégé, Dr. Reed, might be able to handle it. It’s critical. You need to decide now.” Dr. Reed was Scarlett. The name hit me like a physical blow. But faced with my mother’s life, what was my pride? Before I could go looking for her, Scarlett found me first. Jack was standing beside her. Both of their faces were grim when they saw me. After I explained the situation, Scarlett said, “Ms. Hayes, that stunt you pulled online almost cost me my job. And now you’re asking for my help? Don’t you think you should apologize first?” I asked, “What do you want me to do?” Scarlett looked at me, a malicious glint in her eyes. “Unless you get down on your knees and beg me right now, I might consider it.” My eyes widened. I instinctively looked at Jack, who stood beside her. But Jack simply said, “When you ask for a favor, you need to show the right attitude. Whether your mother lives or dies is up to you.” At his words, any last shred of hope in my heart shattered. For my mother, I had no choice but to throw my pride onto the ground, to let them trample it. The moment my knees hit the floor, Scarlett’s undisguised jeers filled my ears. A while later, my mother was wheeled into surgery. After an agonizing wait, the light above the operating room finally went out. Scarlett emerged with two nurses. I rushed forward, desperate for news, but she shook her head. “I did my best, but it seems your mother’s fate was sealed. There was nothing more I could do.” But one of the nurses beside her murmured quietly, “Who says? If it weren’t for… if it weren’t for you losing focus during the surgery, the patient wouldn’t have…” She trailed off. My mind went blank. By the time I came back to myself, my palm had already connected with Scarlett’s face. “You did it on purpose! Scarlett! You did it on purpose, didn’t you!” A flicker of something like concern crossed Jack’s eyes when he saw my distress. He reached for me, ready to speak, but Scarlett’s sob made him pull back. “Audrey, no surgery is guaranteed. Scarlett is a doctor. Why are you making her out to be a villain?” “Your mother has been sick for years. This might be a relief for her. You should be thanking Scarlett, not attacking her.” In that moment, my heart turned to stone. I spent the next two weeks arranging my mother’s funeral. Then I cut all ties with that toxic place for good. As I boarded the plane, a breaking news alert flashed on my phone. “Hayes Corp and Murray Corp Alliance Terminated! Hayes and Maxwell Industries Rumored to Be Tying the Knot!” At the same time, Jack was ripped from sleep by the violent ringing of his phone!

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My best friend, Chloe, had always been obsessed with romantic dramas, convinced she’d marry a handsome, rich man one day. To my surprise, she actually hooked up with a billionaire. Their whirlwind romance led to a quick wedding. She called me after the wedding: “I’m all alone in this mansion, it’s so boring. Come live with me!” Her husband, Alex, also chimed in: “I’m too busy with work to keep Chloe company. Please, come stay with her.” I agreed. Excitedly, I dragged my suitcase to their mansion, a wide smile on my face as I addressed the butler: “I’m Chloe, your lady’s best friend! She invited me to move in!” The butler, Mr. Hayes, looked bewildered. “Chloe? Who’s that? Mr. Vance has always been single.” 1 My smile froze solid, shattering into a million pieces. “You’re very funny,” I forced a laugh. “Chloe! Alex Vance’s wife!” “I even shared a toast with you at their wedding. Don’t tell me you’re playing games.” Mr. Hayes stared at me, his face devoid of emotion. “I have no time for games. There’s no Chloe here. Only Mr. Vance and I live in this house. If you keep causing trouble, I’ll call the police.” With that, he moved to close the gate. “Hey! Don’t!” Panic flared in my chest. I grabbed the iron gate, fumbling for my phone with my free hand. “I have proof! How can you forget such a huge wedding? Are you losing your memory?” I quickly opened Ins, scrolling through my saved posts for the wedding live stream replay. I remembered taking screenshots and sending them to Chloe, tears of envy streaming down my face. But the moment I clicked the link, a pop-up appeared: [This content has been deleted or does not exist.] A frantic buzz filled my head. No way. I clicked on several news articles from my browser bookmarks, refusing to believe it. “Billionaire Spends a Billion to Marry a Cinderella”, “Chloe: The Girl Kissed by God.” Every single link, the moment I clicked it, was dead! “How… how could this be? It worked last night…” Mr. Hayes watched my every move with cold eyes. “Miss Miller, it’s illegal to spread fake news or manipulate photos. Are you that desperate to snag a rich guy?” “I’m not making it up!” I roared, my fingers trembling as I switched to SnapChat. “I have chat logs! Look! She just messaged me a minute ago!” On the screen, Chloe’s selfie avatar and our conversation box were crystal clear. [Babe, I just put on my face mask… Mr. Hayes will let you in…] “You wait! I’m calling her right now!” My voice cracked, almost a shriek. “When she comes down to get me, you’ll be out of a job tomorrow!” The next second, a cold, mechanical voice echoed in my ear: “We’re sorry, the number you have dialed is not in service. Please check the number and dial again…” I froze. Not in service? I glanced at my SnapChat screen again. She was just talking to me a second ago! A chilling dread slithered up my spine, coiling around my heart. SnapChat instant replies, but a dead phone line? What kind of messed-up situation was this? Mr. Hayes’s gaze was unwavering, without a hint of surprise. He looked at me with utter contempt, as if I were garbage. “Get lost. If you don’t leave now, I’ll have security throw you down the hill.” Bang! The courtyard gate slammed shut with a heavy thud. I stood under the scorching sun, but my entire body felt like it had plunged into an ice bath. What in the world was going on? Chloe was clearly in there, so why was Mr. Hayes denying it? Why had all the news articles vanished from the internet? Could it be… something happened to Chloe? The world of the super-rich is a deep, dark place. Was Alex keeping Chloe under house arrest, pretending to be single, and erasing every trace of her existence? A shiver ran down my spine at the thought, a tidal wave of fear and righteous fury crashing over me. No, I couldn’t leave! If I left, she’d truly be alone and helpless! I gritted my teeth until my jaw ached, then dragged my suitcase and sat right in the middle of the iron gate. I refused to believe Alex wouldn’t come out! Sure enough, less than ten minutes later, a black Maybach slowly approached. I recognized it – it was the very car Alex had driven to pick Chloe up for their wedding. A surge of reckless impulse coursed through me. I lunged forward, spreading my arms wide, blocking the front of the car! “Alex! Get out here! Where have you hidden Chloe?!” The driver’s face went white with shock. He was about to get out and yell at me. But the rear window slowly rolled down. It was none other than my best friend’s newlywed husband, Alex. I rushed to his window, shouting furiously. “Mr. Vance! Mr. Hayes says you’re single, and that there’s no such person as Chloe!” “We even FaceTimed when you and Chloe were vacationing in Hawaii half a month ago! What’s going on?!” Alex’s brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of confusion in his eyes. “Chloe? Hawaii?” I saw him about to play innocent and was ready to explode. But the next second, he gestured to Mr. Hayes to open the grand gate. “Since you’re here, come in and explain yourself. I, too, am quite curious to know… where exactly this ‘Mrs. Vance’ you speak of is.” 2 The moment the gate opened, I didn’t even wait for Alex to get out of the car. I dragged my suitcase and charged straight into the mansion. Mr. Hayes tried to block my path, but I shoved him aside with a force I didn’t know I possessed. “Don’t touch me!” I navigated through the living room like I owned the place, heading straight for the second floor. I knew the layout of this mansion intimately! On their wedding day, I’d been with Chloe in the master bedroom on the second floor. “Chloe! Come out!” I kicked the door open. I burst in, my gaze frantically sweeping the room. Nothing. No Chloe. Not even… a single trace of a woman living here. “How could this be…” Refusing to believe it, I tore open the walk-in closet door, almost ripping it off its hinges. “The closet! Yes! The walk-in closet!” I remembered it clearly! On their wedding day, behind this door were two entire walls filled with Hermes bags! I even remembered screaming with delight while holding a Himalayan Birkin, and Chloe had laughed, offering to get me one. Whoosh— The closet door swung open violently. My hand froze, suspended in the barren air. Empty. Only a few dark, custom-made suits hung there, stark and alone. No Hermes. No Chanel. “Impossible… This is impossible…” I sank to the floor, my hands frantically searching the wooden planks at the bottom of the closet, desperately trying to find even a single long strand of hair, or an earring. But there was nothing. The place was as clean as a display home. Alex leaned against the doorframe, his voice flat. “Had enough, Miss Miller?” I sat slumped on the floor, my mind a churning vortex of disbelief and terror. Was this really some kind of elaborate scam? Was the Alex that Chloe met a fake? But… this mansion was real! Could a con artist be that resourceful, renting a billionaire’s mansion just to put on a show? And if it was a scam, why was the real Alex still living here now that Chloe was gone? “I don’t believe it!” I scrambled to my feet, pointing at Alex. “You’re the imposter! You’ve hidden everything, haven’t you?” “I’m calling the police! I have video proof! You two were on your honeymoon in Hawaii just half a month ago!” Alex looked at me as if I were a wild animal, utterly beyond reason. He pulled out his phone and dialed 91

“Hello, police department? This is Alex.” “Someone has trespassed onto my private property. Please send someone over.” Ten minutes later, the police arrived. “Officers! I want to report a missing person! Chloe is gone! He definitely did something to her!” “I have proof! They were on their honeymoon in Hawaii just half a month ago!” The officers looked at me, then at Alex. Alex wore an expression of weary resignation. “Officer, I’ve been in the country for the past half-month, dealing with a corporate merger. I haven’t been to Hawaii at all.” “If you don’t believe me, you can check my travel records.” The officers immediately ran a check on their terminal. Two minutes later, an officer showed me the terminal screen. “Miss Miller, the system shows that Mr. Vance has no overseas travel records in the past three months.” Boom! A thunderclap ripped through my skull, shattering whatever remained of my sanity. No travel records? “That’s impossible! I clearly saw it… the waves, the beach…” The officer put away his terminal, his expression serious. “Miss Miller, filing a false police report is a crime. Considering you were genuinely desperate to help someone and perhaps misled, this will be a verbal warning.” “Please leave immediately, or we’ll have to charge you with disturbing the peace.” I stood frozen, my hands and feet icy cold. A monstrous wave of sheer terror engulfed me, stealing my breath. Alex stood nearby, his gaze as cold and detached as if he were looking at a bag of trash. “Mr. Hayes, escort our guest out.” “If she ever dares to step foot in the Vance mansion again, call the police immediately and have her arrested.” Mr. Hayes immediately stepped forward, roughly pushing my suitcase towards the door. “Miss Miller, if you please.” I gritted my teeth, shaking with fury. I refused to accept this! Everything was clearly real, so why was it suddenly me who was going crazy? I dragged my heavy suitcase, looking back every few steps. As I passed the trash can next to a grand decorative vase in the entryway, my suitcase wheel accidentally bumped the side of the bin. Clang. The trash can toppled over. A pile of crumpled paper balls rolled out. Mr. Hayes immediately frowned, scolding me. “Stop messing around! Just leave!” Just then, a crumpled, wrinkled receipt caught my eye. One look, and all the blood in my body instantly froze. It was a convenience store receipt. Item: Orange burst cigarettes. Time: Yesterday, 2:30 PM. Those were Chloe’s favorite cigarettes! 3 I discreetly hid the receipt and walked out of the mansion, trying to appear nonchalant. As soon as dawn broke, I called Ava, Chloe’s former colleague. “Ava, it’s Mia! Where’s Chloe? Did she contact you guys after the wedding?” There was a pause on the other end, then Ava’s voice rose in volume. “Mia, are you sick? Chloe doesn’t even have a boyfriend, what wedding are you talking about?” A cold dread seized my heart. “You didn’t see the wedding streamed live across social media last month? Alex!” “Are you delusional?” Ava impatiently cut me off. “She quit her job last month and moved back home to clear her head!” Before I could react, the call was disconnected. My hands trembling, I dialed my mom. “Mom! Something’s happened to Chloe! Alex is denying everything, saying he never got married! You have to come!” My mom was silent for five seconds. “Mia… what nonsense are you talking about?” “When did Chloe get married?” I was stunned. “Didn’t they send you the wedding money? Eight million dollars!” “What wedding money? Are you running a fever, child?” My mom’s voice was urgent. “Chloe told me last month she was going back home to unwind, and she sent me pictures! Where would she get a boyfriend?” “Don’t talk nonsense and ruin Chloe’s reputation!” Click. The phone was hung up again. I was completely flummoxed. Had they bought off my own mom too? I refused to believe it! I hailed a cab directly back to my mom’s house. The moment I walked in, I grabbed her. “Mom! Something’s happened to Chloe! Everyone in the world is lying to me!” I spilled everything that had happened in the past two days. My mom listened, then looked at me, her expression bewildered, and touched my forehead. “Mia, when did Chloe get married? How come I don’t know anything about it?” My brain imploded, a chaotic symphony of alarm bells. “Mom! Don’t joke with me!” “We watched the live stream together last month! You even praised Alex for being handsome!” My mom frowned. “Last month you were working late, and I was watching TV. When did we ever watch a live stream?” “No, I’m not wrong!” I pulled out my phone and shoved it in front of her. “Look! This is proof!” “Chloe shows off her life as a billionaire’s wife to me every day! Yesterday she even told me to hurry inside!” My mom glanced at the screen and sighed. “Mia, these are just those rich-guy fantasies you two used to play when you were little.” “Stop playing, you’ll really blow things out of proportion.” Make-believe? I stared intently at the screen. A tsunami of unanswered questions threatened to drag me under. If it was just make-believe, what about that wedding? If I was dreaming, how did I know the layout of Alex’s mansion’s bedrooms? What’s more, if Chloe and Alex hadn’t gotten together, I wouldn’t even know who he was! And most importantly, where was Chloe now? Suddenly, something clicked. There was one more place that could prove it! I rushed out, hailing a cab. “To the city’s financial district! ‘Everlasting Love’ Wedding Planners!” 4 Chloe’s wedding had been handled by Everlasting Love, the biggest wedding planning company in the city. I refused to believe such a huge company could just vanish into thin air! Ten minutes later, I stared blankly at the sealed door in front of me. [Everlasting Love Wedding Planners: Temporarily closed due to operational difficulties.] The date on the seal was exactly half a month ago. The day after Chloe’s wedding ended! I peered through the glass door. Inside, it was a mess, chairs overturned, documents scattered everywhere. Did they just skip town? The biggest wedding company in the city, which had just secured a billion-dollar deal from one of the country’s wealthiest men, went bankrupt and fled the very next day? I pulled out my phone and dialed the number I had for the owner. “We’re sorry, the number you have dialed is not in service…” Another disconnected number! An icy tendril of dread snaked up my spine, gripping my very soul. Everyone and everything related to that wedding was slowly disappearing. This only proved that something was terribly wrong. I wouldn’t give up! There had to be something that hadn’t been cleaned up yet! “The spa! Yes! The spa!” I remembered! Just a week before the wedding, Chloe had taken me to a high-end spa for a facial and massage. To show off, she’d directly charged a half-million dollar VIP membership card for me! “Mia, here, take this card. Come whenever you want, it’s on Alex’s secondary card anyway!” I immediately hailed a cab and rushed to that spa. “Can you check the balance on my membership card?” The receptionist typed a few keys on her computer. “Miss Miller, your VIP card balance is still four hundred ninety-eight thousand dollars.” A wild, desperate hope surged through me! Four hundred ninety-eight thousand! Where would I, an average office drone earning three thousand dollars a month, get half a million dollars to put on a card? “Quick! Pull up the top-up history for me! Who charged it?” The receptionist turned the screen towards me. “It says you charged it yourself.” I was stunned. “What do you mean I charged it myself? Chloe swiped that card! Alex’s secondary card!” The receptionist looked utterly bewildered. “Chloe? We don’t have a member named Chloe here.” “Impossible!” I shouted. “Check the surveillance footage! Chloe and I came here together that day!” The receptionist was startled by my outburst and quickly called the manager. The manager frowned, an impatient look on her face. “I apologize, Miss Miller, but surveillance footage involves the privacy of other clients and cannot be arbitrarily accessed.” “You won’t check it, huh?” I scoffed, pulling out my phone. “Then I’ll call the police! Suspicious financial activity involving a huge sum of money – surely the police have the right to check?” Twenty minutes later. The police arrived. And following behind them, was Alex. He still wore that same look of weary resignation. “Miss Miller, how much longer are you going to keep this up?” “Stop wasting time! Check the footage!” At the police’s request, the manager reluctantly pulled up the recording from that day. Everyone stared at the screen. On the screen, I walked in. Beside me… was no one. I pulled out a black card and handed it to the receptionist, saying something. But beside me, from beginning to end, there was no one. The entire surveillance room was eerily silent. The officers’ gazes at me changed, filled with both sympathy and wariness. Alex sighed, walking over as if to put a hand on my shoulder. “Miss Miller, you should go to the hospital. I’ll cover the costs.” I stood frozen, my entire body trembling. Was I really alone? Had I truly gone insane? Was all of this just my imagination? Just as the police were about to take me away. Something suddenly clicked in my mind. So that’s it! That’s how this all works! I snapped my head up, staring intently at Alex. “Alex, you can stop pretending. I know where Chloe is.”

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The moment my sister rushed to my ailing grandfather’s bedside, demanding to care for him before I could even move, I knew. She’d been reborn too. In my past life, my sister Seraphina and I both qualified for interviews at an Ivy League university. But on interview day, Grandpa Arthur suddenly took a turn for the worse. I chose to stay and care for him, missing my chance. Seraphina, though, went on to enroll successfully. As it turned out, Grandpa Arthur left his entire estate to me before passing away. I achieved financial freedom without ever having to struggle through college. Seraphina, on the other hand, had a miserable time in college. She constantly alienated her peers and even managed to anger a professor. Eventually, she took all her frustration out on me, shoving me off a rooftop. I died instantly. After my death, my fiancé Lucas helped her fabricate an alibi, claiming I’d been depressed and had jumped. They then forged my will and stole everything I owned. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Grandpa Arthur fell gravely ill—the day I had to choose whether to stay and care for him.

“Grandpa, let me take care of you! I’m not going anywhere!” Seraphina darted past me and burst into Grandpa’s room. As she held his hand, vowing to care for him, then demanded he hand over the pocket watch that symbolized his inheritance, I knew. She’d been reborn too. Clutching the family pocket watch Grandpa handed her, Seraphina turned with a defiant smirk. “Sorry, Stella, the inheritance is mine now.” I just shrugged. “I wasn’t planning to fight you for it.” Seraphina clearly didn’t believe me. She scoffed, tucking the watch into her bag. “How could that be? You only stuck around Grandpa because…” She abruptly stopped herself. I knew where she was going with this. In my past life, I’d chosen to stay and care for Grandpa. Because of that choice, I missed the deadline and arrived too late for the interview. Seraphina got her acceptance letter from the Ivy League school. But Grandpa, in return, left everything to me. She enrolled in college; I inherited the fortune. But in college, everything fell apart for her. She crumbled under the pressure and pushed everyone away. In a violent rage, she pushed me off that rooftop. Seraphina smirked. “I’m not going to college. You love being a bookworm so much, Stella—you can have my spot.” I nodded toward Grandpa. Then, without hesitation, I turned and left for my interview. That night when I got back to my apartment, there was Lucas—my fiancé—with his arm around Seraphina’s shoulders. I must have been blind in my past life, only realizing on my deathbed they’d been in this together all along. When they saw me walk in, they didn’t even hesitate—their faces showed open defiance. Lucas looked at me with disgust. “Stella, the one I really love is Seraphina. I was only with you because your family had money.” “But now things are different. Seraphina’s about to inherit a fortune. We’ll never have to worry again.” “I won’t have to settle for someone as dull as you just for money anymore.” My fists tightened. So that was their game. My own sister and my fiancé. I’d always been so easygoing with them, never minded their little slights. Now I saw them for what they were—leeches, clinging to me and draining me dry. Since fate gave me a second chance, I’d make sure they paid back a thousandfold for everything they took from me in my past life! Seraphina scoffed. “Stella, I used to let you have your way because you were useful.” “But now I’m getting an inheritance. I’ll never worry about money again. What could you possibly offer that compares?” “You’ll be stuck as a struggling student forever, but Lucas and I? We’re set.” “We’re going to travel the world. That’s a life you’ll never even imagine.” They packed their bags and moved out of the apartment that same day. I watched their retreating backs and let out a cold laugh. How naive. Did they really think it would be that easy?

I aced my interview and got accepted to the Ivy League university. This was the best opportunity someone from my background could hope for. The university was far from home. After talking it over with my parents, I decided to rent a small apartment near campus. I went to a real estate agency, and the agent, Mr. Harrison, had just shown me several properties. Suddenly, a familiar voice boomed from the doorway. “Someone needs to help us right now! Show us your best apartments!” I turned to see Lucas strutting in with Seraphina on his arm, a cocky smirk on his face. When they saw me, they immediately sauntered over and sneered. “Stella, drop the act. You can’t actually afford a place here, can you?” “I checked. Even if you sold all your old stuff, you couldn’t come up with a down payment in a decent neighborhood.” At his words, Mr. Harrison’s previously eager demeanor instantly cooled. I shot back, “I can’t afford it, but you two can?” Seraphina lifted her chin with a smirk. “Of course. I’m getting a fifty million inheritance. I could buy several of these places cash.” Mr. Harrison’s eyes lit up, and he hurried over to them. “Ma’am, how can I assist you today?” Seraphina raised her chin. “I want that apartment over there.” Mr. Harrison’s eyes sparkled as he launched into his sales pitch. “Ma’am, you have excellent taste! This is our premium unit with the best location and views in the complex.” “It’s only three million—quite reasonable for someone in your position.” “Three million?!” Lucas and Seraphina froze, clearly shocked. They hadn’t realized apartments in good areas cost that much. Mr. Harrison added, “If it’s a bit steep, we do offer financing options.” Seraphina bristled at the suggestion, pride wounded. She lifted her chin defiantly. “Financing? I’m getting fifty million! I’ll pay cash!” Mr. Harrison’s enthusiasm grew even more hearing that. “If you’re interested, we just need a 10% deposit to hold it.” Lucas and Seraphina exchanged nervous glances. I frowned, losing patience. “I doubt you’ll ever see that fifty million. Are you just here wasting everyone’s time?” “If you can’t afford it, stop wasting our time and leave!” Lucas’s face turned red with anger. “Shut up! Seraphina *will* get that inheritance. The paperwork just isn’t done yet.” I waved them off. “Whatever. I’ll take this apartment then.” They both panicked when they heard that. Seraphina gritted her teeth and stepped forward. “I want this apartment! Just wait! I’ll get a loan and pay the deposit right now!”

Over the next few days, Seraphina and Lucas flooded their social media with travel photos from around the world. Every post was filled with luxury items. They even took out high-interest loans to buy a house and a fancy car. I watched their reckless spending with watching coldly from the sidelines， knowing such excess always leads to ruin. I just blocked them on everything. Three months into the semester, Grandpa took a turn for the worse. This time, there was no saving him. The day of the funeral, Seraphina posted in the family group chat. After the funeral, we’re having a small gathering at the house to thank everyone for coming. Please be there. She even messaged me directly. Stella, you have to come. Grandpa would want the whole family together. I simply replied, “Okay.” A lot of relatives wondered why she was having this gathering after the funeral. Only I knew why. She was desperate to flaunt her “victory” in front of everyone. After the funeral service, everyone gathered at the house. That’s when Seraphina and Lucas finally showed up—fashionably late, with Seraphina clinging to Lucas’s arm in a bright red dress that screamed “party” and clashed horribly with the somber mood. They immediately drew every eye in the room. They looked completely different—dripping with expensive clothes and jewelry that felt totally out of place. Seraphina started passing out expensive gifts to all the relatives and younger guests. “Family and friends, thank you all for coming to say goodbye to Grandpa today. Please stay for dinner—my treat!” Relatives stared at them like they were crazy. People started whispering about how inappropriate this all was. Seraphina pulled the pocket watch from her designer bag, waving it around for everyone to see—fake tears in her eyes but a huge smile on her face. “Before he passed… Grandpa gave me this. It means I get his whole inheritance—fifty million dollars!” The room went silent for a second, then everyone started talking at once. “Fifty million?” “Grandpa left all his money to Seraphina?” “Oh my goodness, that’s…” Finally, one of the older relatives spoke up. “Seraphina, your grandfather just passed. Has the lawyer even read the will yet? How do you know about this inheritance already?” Seraphina waved her hand dismissively. “Grandpa promised me directly. This watch is proof. The paperwork will be done soon, and the money will be in my account any day now. I’m just honoring his memory by showing him I can handle things.” Someone in the crowd muttered under my breath, “Wasn’t Lucas dating Stella? What’s he doing with Seraphina now?” Facing their confused and disgusted looks, Lucas just pulled Seraphina closer, not even fazed. “Everyone wants to get ahead in life. You all understand that, right?” “Stella might get into a good school, but she’ll just be some overeducated academic. Seraphina’s different.” “Besides, Seraphina and I are actually in love.” That comment made a lot of relatives frown. One relative spoke up. “But Stella got into an Ivy League school! That’s a real future!” Seraphina almost laughed out loud, shoulders shaking with amusement. “Ivy League? So what if she goes there? Will she ever make fifty million in her lifetime?” “These days, a fancy degree doesn’t mean anything. Just more studying and an uncertain future!” She then looked triumphantly at me in the corner. “Stella, even though you don’t deserve to be here, if you’re nice to me, maybe I’ll remember we’re family and help you out.”

The other relatives were shocked by her behavior at the funeral, faces red with embarrassment, but held back from saying anything out of respect for the occasion. Some of the more kiss-up distant relatives already started gathering around her. “Seraphina is so responsible. Grandpa made the right choice.” “Our family will have to rely on Seraphina from now on.” “Exactly! Don’t forget about us relatives when you’re rich!” Deep down, they knew Seraphina had a point. Fifty million was more than most people made in a lifetime. Some even started putting Stella down to butter Seraphina up. “Seraphina’s just being practical. Stella might graduate from an Ivy League, but she’ll still be working for someone else. She can’t compare.” I smiled faintly, standing quietly in the corner. The opportunities from a top university were worth more than any amount of money to someone with vision. Seraphina had crashed and burned in my past life because even with money, she couldn’t buy class—her insecurities always gave her away, making her a joke in high society. After everyone ate, Seraphina touched up her makeup, smoothed her expensive dress, and walked to the center of the living room like she owned the place. Meanwhile, I noticed about a dozen people with phones and cameras had quietly joined the crowd. Seraphina gave them a little nod. So she’d planned this whole spectacle for Grandpa’s funeral. Seraphina pulled out the pocket watch again. Facing the obvious livestream cameras, she put on a fake cry and spoke in a loud whisper: “To everyone watching, thank you for sharing this sad moment with me. I just lost my dear Grandpa Arthur, but he left me his love—and about fifty million dollars. Now I can honor his memory without struggling to get by.” “But look at my sister—all she does is study. She’ll be stuck in college, just another academic drone with no real future or dignity.” She gave me a pointed look as she said it. The livestream chat blew up immediately. I couldn’t read the comments, but they probably weren’t nice. Seraphina didn’t care. She suddenly pointed at me, speaking in a stuck-up tone. “Stella, Grandpa’s lawyer should be around organizing papers. Go get him. We’ll read the will right now—with all the relatives and viewers watching as witnesses.” I said nothing. Lucas stepped forward, looking annoyed. “Stella, are you deaf? Today’s about Seraphina. She’s honoring you by asking. With your status, you’re not even good enough to shine her shoes. Just run the errand—maybe she’ll throw you a bone later.” Some relatives couldn’t take it anymore. “Grandpa’s barely cold in his grave! What is this?” “Stealing her sister’s fiancé and showing off at a funeral…” Seeing I wouldn’t budge, Seraphina put on a sad-but-strong face for the cameras. “Stella, wake up. Grandpa left me everything. We’re in completely different leagues now. I’m giving you a chance by asking nicely.” I checked my watch and said calmly, “We’ll wait five more minutes.” Seraphina had no idea what I was planning. She kept up her camera-ready smile. “Fine. But waiting won’t change the fact that Grandpa left me his inheritance.” I smiled faintly. We’ll see about that. Just then, a sharply dressed middle-aged lawyer with a serious expression walked quickly in from outside. He addressed Seraphina, who was surrounded by people, in a deep, firm voice. “Ms. Seraphina, according to the will, your grandfather did *not* leave you his inheritance.”

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