Author: Momo Chan

The bitter truth finally hit me when Chloe got pregnant: her heart had never belonged to me. She’d stayed by my side purely to keep tabs on me, to ensure I wouldn’t hurt the man she truly loved. Because she was someone who’d been reincarnated. She knew what a twisted, villainous man I’d been in her past life. But what she didn’t realize was that the soul in this body wasn’t from this world. And I wasn’t the evil man she thought I was. Holding the pregnancy test results, my hand gently caressing the tiny life growing inside my wife Chloe, I felt a peace I’d never known before. I’d lived in this world for thirteen years, and in this moment, it finally felt like I’d found a real home, a true connection. After I died, I’d been reborn into this novel world as Liam Miller – the villainous side character who shared my name and had committed countless atrocities. But I considered myself lucky. When I arrived, the story hadn’t fully started, and I hadn’t done anything to antagonize the main characters. In fact, since Adam was so outgoing, we’d become best friends, sharing everything with each other. I played matchmaker, encouraging him to pursue his true love, plotting and celebrating as he and Skylar fell deeply in love. I even stood beside him as best man when he married the woman of his dreams. In this world, my wife was my only family. So he was the first person I thought of, the first one I wanted to share this wonderful news with. I gently kissed Chloe’s lips. My wife, Chloe, was originally the gentle secondary female lead in the novel, always silently devoted to Adam. Maybe it was the butterfly effect of my presence, but she wasn’t Adam’s follower anymore. Instead, she poured all her attention and affection into me. After thirteen years of walking hand in hand, I truly felt loved, so I jumped into marriage with her without any regrets. Now our little family was about to welcome a new life, and I could barely contain my excitement. But thinking about her health, I still managed to keep my emotions in check.

I grabbed my phone and went to my study, eager to share this joy with my best friend. As I pulled open a drawer to put the pregnancy test results away, I caught sight of the worn edge of an old notebook tucked under some neat files. It looked completely out of place, like its owner had hastily abandoned it there. I instinctively picked it up. The cover had a common student-era starry night design, but it was old—frayed edges, crumpled pages, yellowed with age—clearly well-loved and frequently flipping through. We’d always been open with each other, so I naturally opened it up. On the flyleaf, large English cursive read: For My Forever. I smiled, warmth spreading through my chest. Could these be old love letters she’d written for me that I’d never seen? I took out the pregnancy test results, thinking I could carefully tuck them inside. Let this brand-new joy in my life blend with her cherished past. With a hint of anticipation and tenderness, I turned to the first page. Instantly, I froze— My everlasting morning star—Adam. Adam. My best friend. The main character of this story. Suddenly, all the blood rushed to my head before draining away just as quickly, leaving me ice-cold. My throat felt tight, making it hard to breathe. My fingers trembled uncontrollably, yet I kept flipping through the pages, one after another. With a stubbornness that bordered on self-torture, I read every single word. It wasn’t a diary—it was more like an unsent love letter, with one core message: Chloe loved Adam, a love she could never have. So Chloe was a reincarnator. So her heart had always belonged to Adam. So all the tenderness and attention she’d shown me these past years were just an act! She stayed by my side just to keep constant watch over me, to stop me from doing anything that might hurt the man she loved. The joy I’d felt for our child, which had just filled my heart, vanished without a trace, leaving only endless, bitter emptiness. For thirteen years, I’d never once thought of harming Adam. But in that moment, I distinctly felt jealous of him. Jealous that a fleeting act of kindness he might not even remember could leave such an indelible mark on a woman’s heart—driving her to gamble thirteen years of marriage, turning it into a cage, all just to protect him. A whirlwind of emotions churned inside me, pain and despair tangled together. I don’t know how long I stood there, frozen, but everything around me felt foreign and unreal.

Exhausted, I fell asleep on the couch, only to be jolted awake by faint rustling from the kitchen. I opened my eyes and saw Chloe standing by the water dispenser, getting a drink. Maybe sleep had lowered her guard, or maybe she just didn’t need to keep up her perfect act when she thought she was alone in the quiet of the night. Her gaze was slightly unfocused as she stared ahead, unconsciously murmuring: “Adam…” I stiffened, feeling like I’d been stabbed with a thousand icy needles. I stared intently at her, my nails digging deep into my palms. “Adam.” She repeated it softly again, clearer this time, with a dreamy tenderness and concern. Instinctively, I responded in the easy, teasing tone I thought Adam might use: “Chloe?” Chloe whirled around, the sleepiness in her eyes instantly replaced by a clear flicker of concern and tenderness—an expression that absolutely shouldn’t have been there right now. “Adam… Are you doing okay lately? Please, take care of yourself.” That short sentence felt like a red-hot iron searing into me, clamping down and nailing me back into that cage of deceit. I could barely breathe, and the room started to warp and spin before my eyes. I couldn’t stand to stay any longer. I practically stumbled, fleeing back into the cold shadows of the living room. The love I’d embraced so wholeheartedly, from start to finish, had been nothing but an absurd joke.

I didn’t sleep at all that night. All the heinous acts of the novel’s villain, Liam Miller, replayed frantically in my mind. Liam bullying and ostracizing Adam with his clique, Liam setting up business traps to sabotage Adam, Liam using his family influence to constantly throw obstacles in Adam’s path… Suddenly, the Liam Miller in my dream turned around, and it was a face identical to mine. That face was twisted with malice, a terrifying sneer etched across it, making even me feel horrified. Time flowed fast in dreams, and Adam and Skylar grew quickly before teaming up to retaliate against me. Chloe’s eyes, cold and indifferent, stared at me like I was some lifeless object. “Since you enjoy trampling others with your power, then taste what it feels like to crash from grace, to lose absolutely everything.” The dream shifted. I was framed, stuck with massive debts. The Miller family enterprise collapsed, and my parents, crushed by pressure and shame, fell ill and passed away one after another. And there I was, abandoned by everyone, riddled with poverty and illness, choking on my last lonely, painful breath. “No!” I shouted, startling myself awake! I looked up to meet Chloe’s concerned gaze, which overlapped with the brutal, vicious look from my dream, making me tremble with fright. Chloe was covering me with a blanket and looked completely confused. “Honey, what’s wrong? Why didn’t you sleep in bed? You’ll catch a cold on the couch! Are you mad at me for waking you up last night? I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.” I shook my head, overcome with exhaustion and fear, not wanting to say anything. There were no guest rooms in our house. Chloe had sworn she’d never upset me; even if we had disagreements, she’d communicate openly and never let arguments linger overnight. As a result, when I really needed space, I didn’t even have a room where I could hide alone. I was indeed being “watched” very closely by her. Chloe didn’t notice my odd behavior. She rubbed her temples, her voice tinged with weariness as she complained. “Honey, I think I might have caught a chill last night. My head hurts so much. Do we have any headache medicine?” “I don’t know.” I actually knew where the medicine cabinet was, but I didn’t want to move. Chloe came from a humble background, while I was born into privilege. She always insisted on achieving success through her own efforts, earning my father’s approval, proving she was worthy of me. Because of this, Chloe worked incredibly hard. In her early years, to close deals, she’d work tirelessly, networking and pulling all-nighters when stress hit. I deeply loved Chloe. As her husband, I’d always meticulously cared for her health, finding remedies and focusing on her well-being. If I hadn’t known her true feelings, I might still have been the considerate, devoted partner I’d always been. Yet in reality, my efforts were nothing but one-sided love. [Liam Miller uses his family background to harm Adam. I can’t let him have even the slightest chance to hurt Adam. I need to establish myself in the business world, gain enough power to stand against the Miller family. If they harm Adam like they did in the previous life, I’ll make the Miller Group pay a heavy price!] Chloe’s desperate efforts were simply to gain real power, to protect the man she truly cared about.

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After we broke up, I suddenly remembered all my pajamas were still at his place. I called Liam, asking him to send them over, but he told me to come get them myself. When I arrived at his door, he was only wrapped in a bath towel around his waist. Droplets of water from his hair trailed down his Adam’s apple and chest muscles. I was about to step inside when he suddenly pulled me into his arms. His bath towel fell to the floor, and I felt the hard press between his legs against my stomach. I couldn’t resist. We ended up having a wild night. The next morning, I woke up in his arms. We spoke almost simultaneously. “How about we start over?” I asked. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m getting married.” The morning light was a bit harsh, catching on Liam’s sculpted abs. My mind went blank. I thought I’d misheard him. “What did you say?” Liam looked calm. He leaned against the headboard, lit a cigarette. “All my friends are married. I’ve had my fun; it’s time to settle down.” Smoke billowed, making me cough uncontrollably. In the past, he would have immediately put out his cigarette and come to comfort me. But this time, Liam just casually grabbed some clothes off the floor and tossed them at me. “Get dressed. You should go.” “Oh, and take that half-box of condoms from the nightstand. I won’t be needing them anymore, anyway.” A soft, tender smile touched his lips, as if he’d just thought of something. “With any luck, I could be a dad by this time next year.” My heart felt a sharp, bitter pang. It was like being stabbed. I was about to say something when a knock suddenly sounded at the door. Liam glanced at his phone, muttering a curse under his breath. “Damn it, I forgot my fiancée, Chloe, is coming today.” He frantically put out his cigarette, rummaged through the closet for a white T-shirt, and pulled it on. “Stay in here and don’t make a sound.” I stood there, frozen. Watching his back as he turned and walked away without a backward glance to open the door. I sniffled, but my tears betrayed me, spilling down my cheeks. As if to force myself to give up hope. I inexplicably pulled the bedroom door open a crack. The girl at the door was elegant and spoke softly. When she and Liam were setting out breakfast, she’d blush even at a slight brush of hands. And Liam was no longer his usual arrogant jerk self. He spoke carefully, afraid of saying anything too harsh. It wasn’t until Chloe looked down, asking in a quiet voice, “I heard you had a girlfriend for three years.” Her voice grew softer. “What if she comes back for you someday? Will you leave me and get back together with her?” “After all…” “We’ve only known each other for less than a month, and you two had three years together.” “Who’s spreading that nonsense!” Liam’s face instantly darkened, his tone icy. “Is someone jealous that I found true love, deliberately telling you all that bullshit!” The next second, seeing Chloe’s teary eyes, he panicked. Liam sighed, rubbing his temples helplessly, then bent down and gently coaxed her. “Chloe, I’m not mad at you.” He let out a breath, as if suppressing his anger. “I didn’t mean to keep it from you.” “It’s just my ex, Stella, she was such a drama queen. Her temper was awful, like a firecracker, always exploding at the slightest touch.” “And, we broke up because she was unfaithful and cheated on me.” Chloe’s eyes widened, looking at him in disbelief. Seeing her reaction, Liam immediately added, “I just thought she was too embarrassing to mention to you.” “Think about it, why would I give up a perfect fiancée like you and go back to a rotten person like that? Have I lost my damn mind?” A few seconds of silence. Chloe let out a giggle, turning her head shyly. “I’m not as perfect as you say…” I softly closed the door. All the strength seemed to drain from my body. I sat on the cold floor, hugging my knees, letting the despair wash over me.

When Liam opened the door and walked in, I had cried myself to sleep. He didn’t even notice my state. He pulled out his phone, fiddled with it for a moment, and said lazily, “I transferred twenty dollars to you.” My eyes were swollen and sore, and my mind was still hazy. Then I heard him say casually, “Didn’t you run out of your streaming service membership? Get one yourself. I gave my account to Chloe.” “Don’t use such lame excuses to see me anymore. It’s getting boring.” I wanted to argue, but the lump in my throat choked my words. Liam stared at my red eyes, his gaze darkening slightly. “Crying?” He leaned closer, his warm breath fanning my face. The atmosphere became strangely unsettling. In that instant, all I could think about was how good he’d been to me for three years. In college, he was known as a playboy, but I was the only girlfriend he ever officially acknowledged. Though we’d broken up and gotten back together many times, he was never stingy with me and kept his distance from other women when we were together. His looks and family background were impeccable. Thinking of this, I was about to tentatively say, “Actually, I’m not completely against marriage.” “It was you who found the responsibility too much pressure, so I went along with you about not getting married.” Before the words could fully escape, a blinding flash of light hit my eyes. Liam’s beautiful, upturned eyes narrowed slightly, full of mockery. “First time I’ve seen you cry like this. Let me take a picture for old times’ sake.” He put away his phone, satisfied, and looked down at me, his voice laced with scorn. “Seriously, Stella. You didn’t shed a single tear when I broke my arm saving you in that car accident.” “So what are you crying for now?” Before I could answer, Liam reached out and, as he used to, habitually flicked my nose. “Don’t try to be like Chloe.” “When she cries, it’s elegant. You just look ridiculous.” “Go practice some more.” Looking at his arrogant and infuriating expression. I took a deep breath, swung my arm, and gave him a hard slap. Then, without another glance at him, I turned and slammed the door shut. Out of the hotel, I blocked him on all my social media and bought the earliest flight home. This Oceanview City, with Liam in it, was a place I never wanted to step foot in again.

During my time off. To keep myself from overthinking, I packed my schedule full. But I’d forgotten something. A university classmate’s wedding. Liam and I had already promised to be groomsman and bridesmaid. There was no choice. I had to brace myself and fly back to Oceanview City a day early, going to my friend’s house. My hand was just raised, ready to knock. Then I heard Liam’s lazy voice from inside: “Chloe’s a bit timid, so watch what you say later; don’t scare her.” Someone joked, “Are you and Stella really over for good?” “What happened this time?” Liam paused, then grunted a muffled “Yeah.” “It was exciting at first, but after a while, it was just… whatever.” “She was too controlling. Always trying to tell me what to do.” “No smoking, no drinking, no coming home late—no touching her without a condom, no matter how urgent.” The groom scoffed. “Then just marry her! I think she really liked you. She’d definitely say yes if you proposed.” My hand, poised to push the door open, froze in mid-air. Immediately after, I heard Liam say, word by word, “I just didn’t want to marry her, so I lied about being against marriage.” “Women like her are fine for fun, but for marriage, it has to be someone sweet and sensible like Chloe.” “You guys don’t even know, Chloe is incredibly compliant, she barely has a temper…” The latter half of his sentence stopped abruptly the moment I pushed the door open and our eyes met. Liam visibly flustered for a moment, but the next second he regained his composure, smiling as he greeted me, “You’re here.” Then he stood up, apologizing to everyone in the room, “It’s almost time. I need to check in, or my significant other will start worrying.” After he left, the atmosphere in the room became extremely awkward. Everyone joked and tried to change the subject. Only Caleb, Liam’s quietest friend, suddenly walked over and coldly dropped a line: “I told you two weren’t right for each other a long time ago.”

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When my fiancé Dean was accompanying me to try on wedding dresses, he suddenly said: “This mermaid dress looks better on Chloe. Her hips are perkier than yours, and her waist is slimmer.” I was furious. “You let your secretary wear my wedding dress?” Dean shrugged. “If you mind wearing a wedding dress that someone else has tried on, you don’t have to wear it. And if you mind marrying a man who’s slept with someone else, you can walk away too.” “You… you hooked up with her?” My lips trembled. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it. “A young, fresh woman actively throwing herself at me, how could I refuse? Besides, we’ve been together for too long, and honestly, I just don’t feel any desire for you anymore.” He took a long drag. “I didn’t want to lie to you.” Big, hot tears suddenly streamed down my face, hitting the floor with soft plops. Dean reached out to wipe them away. “Claire, when you buy roses, don’t you always pick the freshest, most delicate ones?” I was sobbing so hard I could barely breathe when his phone rang. It was Chloe. He didn’t answer, just watched me, unhurried. “So, are you still sure you want to marry me? Please hurry up and give me an answer, she’s waiting for me.” I violently slapped his hand away, grabbing a glass and throwing it at him in a fit of pure despair. “Get out!” He didn’t dodge. Blood welled from his temple. He bit down, his face darkening. “Fine, I’ll go. Anyway, I’ll always take care of you financially.” The slamming door reverberated, making my eardrums throb. I was alone in the dressing room. I tore off the wedding dress, ripping it to shreds like a madwoman. Fifteen years of our relationship, defeated by natural wrinkles? Staring at my reflection, I smashed the mirror in utter breakdown. Through the piercing pain, I saw glimpses of the past. We were abducted by these so-called “guardians,” with no memory of where we came from, and nowhere to go. I couldn’t steal, and I couldn’t beg for money. Our “guardian” decided to cripple me so I could earn more. Ten-year-old Dean rushed in, clutching a fruit knife. As the police led him away, he smiled at me: “Don’t be scared, Claire. I promised I’d protect you.” After he got out of juvie, he had no education, a record, but he did everything to ensure I had a good life. He took on any job, no matter how dirty or dangerous. He swallowed his pride and let others walk all over him. The hardest time was when he was transporting illicit goods and got two ribs broken, lying in the hospital, barely clinging to life. I cried, asking, “Is it worth it, all for me?” He squeezed my hand, cold sweat beading on his forehead. “Why wouldn’t it be worth it? You’re the most amazing person in the world.” It was cold, so incredibly cold. A kind store clerk, seeing my hysterical state, thoughtfully booked me a nearby hotel room. I wrapped myself in the duvet, swallowing a handful of pills. If it was a nightmare, I’d wake up and it would be over. But when I woke up, my phone was blowing up. Scandalous photos of Dean and his secretary getting intimate in a car had already gone viral across the internet. Dean’s call came immediately. His voice was lazy. “Claire, go talk to the media and get them to take the photos down. If you don’t know how, you can ask Mrs. Davies, she’s got experience. You’ll likely have to deal with these kinds of things a lot in the future.”

“You know how much I hate the media.” My hand shook as I held the phone. I knew Dean hated interviews, hated the media digging into his past. The first time he ever accepted an interview was when the media took candid photos of me and widely reported that I wasn’t good enough for him. Dean had even gathered dozens of online media outlets, smiling so gently into the camera. “My partner is the best partner in the world. Being even a little worthy of her is my luck.” He even punched a reporter who badmouthed me, not caring about his image. From then on, everyone in New York knew that the one person you couldn’t afford to offend was me. But just three years later, the same reporters were waiting to see me fall. I couldn’t take it anymore. When I got home, a strapless top and a man’s shirt were strewn across the living room, trailing one by one into the master bedroom. The sounds of a man and woman laughing playfully came from the wedding bed I had personally chosen. The door wasn’t closed. The girl arched her back in pleasure, looking up, and her eyes met mine. A wave of brutal emotion instantly tore through my mind. I leaned against the wall to keep from collapsing. Dean’s voice came from behind her. “You can go home now.” The girl didn’t move, looking at me curiously. “So, this is your wife? She does look pretty old, no wonder you’re not interested.” Dean gave her a faint glance. “I said, leave now.” The girl didn’t dare argue, pouting unhappily. “Fine, but I’ll be waiting patiently for you tonight!” The girl bounced up, ambiguously stroking Dean’s arm. “You have to promise me you won’t touch this old woman! You’re all mine.” Dean patted her bottom. “Alright, you’re all mine.” Dean watched her retreating back and chuckled. “Cute girl, right?” My fingernails dug deeply into my flesh. Maybe I couldn’t let go. Or maybe it was because I had no family, no friends; Dean had once been my entire world. I wanted to hold on to something, anything. “Dean, if you think we’re separating, you’re dreaming!” I caused a huge scene at the company, and as a founding shareholder, I easily made sure Chloe would never be able to hold her head up in this industry again. But what I didn’t expect was that when I returned from my business trip, my assistant had been replaced by the girl I had sponsored for seven years. I had saved her from human traffickers, paid for her education, and treated her like my own sister. She had once knelt before me, bumping her head on the ground, swearing to repay me for life. But when I cornered her in Dean’s office, she looked at me defiantly. “Claire, we just couldn’t resist.” I overturned his office desk, screaming at him like a lunatic. “Why are you doing this to me?!” Dean just looked at me indifferently. “So many people want to get into my bed; as long as they’re young and beautiful, I’ll take them.” I couldn’t stand it. I mobilized all my resources to boycott him, made a scene at that girl’s university, used every means to make his life miserable. Dean, however, just watched me squirm, even with a hint of indulgence. “Claire, your little tantrums are actually kind of cute.” But then he gave me a taste of his own medicine. He donated a building to a university abroad and sent that girl out of the country. Then, he colluded with other shareholders and ousted me from the board. The day I was kicked out of the company like a dog, surrounded by reporters, Dean was sending that girl off abroad. Making sure everyone knew his devotion had found a new home. Bold, passionate photos of the two of them abroad started flooding my phone. I became the laughingstock of all New York. In those photos, I also saw a necklace. Dean had given her the first gift he ever gave me. The necklace wasn’t expensive, only a few hundred dollars. But that was when we were squeezed into a leaky basement, sharing a single piece of toast because we were so broke. Life was so hard, yet on my eighteenth birthday, Dean still pushed himself to the limit to get me that birthday gift. “What everyone else has, my Claire deserves too.” “Claire, trust me. I’ll always love you, and I’ll make sure you have a good life.” I cried, begging him on the phone to give me back the necklace. This time, he finally answered. Through the receiver, he sighed with a hint of exasperation. “Claire, it’s just a few hundred-dollar trinket. My little mistress liked it, so I gave it to her. You wouldn’t do it anyway.” He was doing it on purpose. He knew exactly how to make me hurt. The last thread in my mind finally snapped. I plunged a utility knife into my arm.

Dean had to come back. “Claire, it’s not like you don’t have other options. Why are you putting yourself through this?” “If it’s that painful, then let’s just break up.” I lay on the hospital bed, lost in thought, remembering a time I was misdiagnosed with cancer. Dean had prayed for me for three days and three nights in a church. But he only cried the day he found out it was a misdiagnosis. “I almost thought I was going to lose you. I didn’t know how I would live without you.” My mental state was terrible, and Dean stayed by my side in the hospital for a while. But eventually, he couldn’t resist. Young bodies held a fatal attraction for him. He started again—influencers, minor celebrities, every woman caught in a scandal with him was younger and more delicate than the last. The youngest was even 18. But the last woman caught by the media was different. Her name was Brenda. An ordinary figure, plain looks, with wrinkles around her eyes that she couldn’t hide. Thirty-three, even a few years older than me. I threw a photo violently at his face. “Didn’t you say you liked young women? Explain yourself!” He picked up the photo, gently wiping away a speck of dust from her face. “She’s different. Her massage technique is good, and she’s very gentle.” My head buzzed, and I asked in disbelief. “Haven’t I done these things for you?” He often got headaches, so I had studied massage for two years. I burst into uncontrolled sobs, but Dean just looked at me coldly. “She’s a very gentle woman. Don’t try any of your tricks on her, or else…” Gradually, Dean stopped coming home at all. I would stake out places where he was likely to appear, just wanting him to come home. But Dean, fearing I might harm Brenda, obtained a restraining order from the police. Forbidding me from coming near them. He even spent a fortune, buying Brenda an astronomically priced diamond ring. I smashed the TV, my heart felt tightly wrapped in asphalt, aching so much I couldn’t breathe. He had proposed to me the moment we were old enough. But back then, starting our business was tough; we were deep in debt, and mice scurried through our apartment at night. I picked out a three-hundred-dollar plain silver ring. Happily, I let him put it on my finger. He clutched the ring, his eyes red for a long time. He said that when things got better, he’d give me the best things in the world to make up for it. But later, when things did get better, he could easily afford the best rings. And he put one on someone else’s hand. What finally crushed me was that Dean, who always claimed to enjoy his freedom, cut off all his other women. And proposed to Brenda with that very ring. “She’s older, she wants to settle down, enjoying freedom isn’t that important anymore.” I was completely shattered. I broke through the police’s barrier. A group of people held me back as I screamed hysterically at them. “Dean, just tell me, why *her*? Why can *she* have it?!” Dean shielded Brenda behind him and coldly glanced at me. “What are the police for? Take her away.” A surge of indignation ignited within me. I pulled out a utility knife and held it to my throat. Threatening to kill myself if he didn’t come with me. Dean actually laughed. “You didn’t die last time, did you? And you’re still using a knife.” My fragile composure broke again, and I struggled free from the police. Dean impatiently pushed me. “Stop making a scene! If you want to die, go do it at home.” I lost my balance and tumbled down the grand spiral staircase of the mansion. I was pregnant, though I didn’t know it then. The baby was gone.

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The new intern in the PR department, Chloe, posted a TikTok today using the company account. “First day on the job and my boss is totally into me. He’s such a shy type, probably too embarrassed to make a move, so I’m taking matters into my own hands! I’m going to ambush him with kisses, however many likes this video gets, and see how he reacts~” The video unexpectedly went viral, becoming the most-viewed clip the company had ever seen. Chloe burst into my office, ready to pounce and kiss me. I dodged her in a panic, snapping at her to leave. She just shot me a disdainful look. “Stop playing innocent! I know you like me. So many people are waiting for the follow-up, don’t act like you’re too good for this, or I’ll tell everyone you sexually harassed me!” I laughed, a humorless sound, at her audacity, then switched on the hidden camera on my chest. My big boss, Mr. Sterling, had given me this camera. It was meant for recording important meetings when he wasn’t around. Never thought it would come in handy today. Chloe saw my silence and mistook it for fear, a smug grin spreading across her face. She walked to my desk, leaning in close. “Mr. Alex, cut the good guy act!” “On my first day, I had stomach cramps, and who was it who specifically got me a hot drink and told me to rest, huh?” “If that’s not liking someone, what is?” Her words stirred a memory. On her first day, I’d seen her, a young woman new to the professional world, and felt a flicker of concern. It was a brief moment, no more than fifteen seconds. I hadn’t even said anything extra, let alone made any ambiguous gestures. Just how severe was her delusion to twist that into me being interested in her? I frowned, patiently trying to explain. “That was just normal colleague-to-colleague concern, nothing more. Besides, I’m already married.” “So what if you’re married?” Before I could finish, she cut me off, completely unapologetic. “Being married doesn’t stop you from liking me! Mr. Alex, I’m giving you a chance right now. Just be with me, divorce your ugly wife, and I’ll pretend nothing ever happened.” She spoke with such arrogance, as if she were doing me a favor. It made my stomach churn. I’d initially thought she was just a young girl new to the world, no need to make a big deal out of it. But now, it was clear I’d been too soft. “Who do you think you are? Get a reality check. You think I’d ever look twice at someone like you?” Chloe’s face instantly flushed crimson. She shrieked, rushing towards me, tearing at her own clothes wildly. “Since you’re not going to be reasonable, I guess I’ll have to use other methods!” The words were barely out before she pushed past me, screaming like a madwoman as she ran towards the door. “Help! Help me! Mr. Alex is trying to assault me!” Her voice instantly echoed through the entire office. My colleagues were already buzzing about my relationship with Chloe because of that viral short video. Now, it was pure chaos. A few female colleagues even took off their jackets and draped them over Chloe, asking curiously what happened. Chloe leaned into a colleague’s embrace, fake-sobbing a couple of times. “As soon as I walked into the office, Mr. Alex forced me to take off my clothes.” “He said if I didn’t listen to him, he wouldn’t let me pass my internship and would fire me. I refused, and he lunged at me, trying to kiss me. I fought him off and managed to escape…” She spun such a convincing tale that if it weren’t for the camera, even I would have believed her nonsense. The expressions of my colleagues instantly turned complicated. “Mr. Alex always seemed so decent, not the type to take advantage of people, right?” “You never know. Didn’t you notice Mr. Alex is usually nicer to female employees than male ones? So that’s what he was up to.”

“I’m telling you, I’ve seen Mr. Alex lurking around the women’s restroom several times, not sure what he was doing!” “Shouldn’t we call the police? We can’t just let him get away with this!” I wasn’t flustered. I slowly walked out of my office. “You’re saying I sexually harassed you?” “Well, I’m saying you sexually harassed me.” Chloe heard my voice and, feigning fear, shrank further into my colleague’s arms. “Why would a girl like me ruin my own reputation to frame you? Mr. Alex, isn’t it just because you liked me, and I rejected you, that you’re now bitter and falsely accusing me?” At her words, my colleagues’ eyes widened, looking at me. “Mr. Alex? Did you really confess to Chloe?” Chloe nodded, crying even harder. “Yes, just a few days after I started, he secretly approached me and told me he liked me. But I rejected him! I never imagined he would try to force himself on me because of that!” She grew more and more outlandish, twisting black into white. Too annoyed to argue further, I pulled out the camera and held it up for everyone to see. “Everything that just happened in my office is clearly recorded right here. You can all come and see for yourselves.” Suddenly, the air grew silent. Colleagues exchanged glances, their eyes full of curiosity. A few closer to me were already eager to step forward and view the footage. Chloe’s face instantly turned ashen, her eyes wide as she stared at the camera in my hand. In just three seconds, she lunged at the camera in my hand, smacking it, completely wrecking it. Then she clutched her head, letting out a piercing scream. “I have depression! Mr. Alex, stop pushing me! If you push me any further, I’ll die right here!” After shouting that, she turned and ran without looking back. My colleagues were smart; how could they not understand what was really going on? They exchanged glances and slowly dispersed. As if nothing had happened. I watched in a daze for a while as Chloe disappeared, before finally snapping back to reality. Honestly, her smooth string of moves had truly opened my eyes; I was momentarily speechless. But after this scene, she had thoroughly embarrassed herself. She definitely wouldn’t be coming to work tomorrow. That was probably for the best, a lesson learned, letting her know that not everything can be said carelessly. For now, the incident was over. I didn’t see Chloe again until it was time to leave work. Near closing time, Chloe’s team lead reported to me that Chloe had packed her things and left the company. I was getting ready to leave too. As soon as I got into my car, my phone rang. It was Mr. Sterling, the big boss. He asked me to go with him to entertain a client. I immediately called my wife, Sarah, telling her to go to bed early and not wait up for me. At dinner, I toasted glass after glass. The client was very pleased with me, and we got along great. The collaboration details were smoothly finalized. But I was pretty tipsy, my head heavy, and people started to blur before my eyes. By the time the dinner ended, it was very late. If I went home now, I’d definitely wake Sarah. She was pregnant, and I truly didn’t want to disturb her. So I went to the hotel next door to crash for the night. After entering the room, I collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep. I don’t know how much time passed, but I was woken by my phone. I groggily opened my eyes, my head throbbing. I pulled my phone from under the pillow and answered the call. “Hello?” My neighbor, Mrs. Henderson, sounded anxious on the other end, her voice mixed with a chaotic din of arguments.

“Mr. Alex! Where are you? Come home quickly! Something’s happened at your place!” I instantly woke up, bolting upright in bed. “Mrs. Henderson, what’s wrong? What happened at my place? Please tell me slowly!” Mrs. Henderson, frantic, blurted out a long string of words. “A girl showed up at your doorstep, claiming she’s your girlfriend! She’s arguing with Sarah right now! Hurry back!” At that moment, I was completely sober. I quickly got dressed and hailed a cab home. Rushing to my doorstep, I saw Sarah, surrounded by neighbors, and the person claiming to be my girlfriend. It was Chloe! Of course, it was her! My rage instantly boiled over. Yesterday, I’d been kind enough to let her off the hook! And today, she dared to come to my house to cause trouble? Chloe stood there, haughtily provoking Sarah. “Let me tell you! In this world, the unloved one is the third party! Alex doesn’t love you anymore! If you’re smart, pack your things and leave! And get rid of that thing in your belly too, don’t try to pin it on us!” Mrs. Henderson stood by Sarah, protectively shielding her. “Young lady, how can you say such things! The baby’s eight months along, almost due! Getting rid of it now could kill her! Besides, the young couple’s relationship is perfectly fine; *you’re* the one destroying someone else’s family!” Chloe completely ignored Mrs. Henderson, her eyes fixed on Sarah’s belly, filled with venom. “What does her life have to do with me?” “I’ll tell you the truth, Sarah! Alex and I have already slept together! He’s fantastic in bed, I almost couldn’t get out of it today, my back still aches!” Her shameless words made the surrounding neighbors look at her with disgust. After all, people usually saw wives confronting mistresses; who had ever seen a mistress proactively showing up at the door? Sarah, instead of getting angry, actually smiled. She looked calmly at Chloe, her voice laced with mockery. “You said you slept with Alex?” “Yeah! So what? You don’t believe me?” Chloe said, deliberately stepping closer. “He said he’s sick of you, you ugly woman! If it wasn’t for you being pregnant, he would have divorced you already.” The neighbors couldn’t help but feel indignant for Sarah. “This girl is too much! Spouting nonsense!” “Exactly! Alex and Sarah are such a great couple, how could he ever be interested in her?” “Sarah, don’t listen to her, she’s just trying to provoke you! You’re pregnant, don’t get worked up!” Sarah wasn’t at all provoked by Chloe’s words; she even looked Chloe up and down with amusement. “You’re lying! Alex would never sleep with you.” Seeing her provocation fail, Chloe, enraged, lunged to hit Sarah. “You dare not believe me!” I quickly pushed through the crowd and grabbed Chloe’s arm. Once Chloe realized what happened, she became even more brazen. She leaned into me suggestively: “Oh, you’re awake? Do you remember last night?” Last night? I frowned, my mind a blur. Last night I’d just collapsed into bed at the hotel; could something else have happened? Seeing my confused expression, Chloe feigned shyness and lowered her head. “Last night, after you drank, you called me and asked me to come over. As soon as I arrived at the hotel, you pulled me straight into your room…” She said, pulling out her phone from her pocket, finding a picture, and holding it up for everyone to see: “Look! This is proof!” In the photo, I was wearing clothes and sleeping soundly. Chloe, however, was lying naked beside me, a triumphant smile on her face, snuggled into my arms. It certainly looked like the two of us had slept together.

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The night I became CEO of Shaw Corporation, Richard Shaw’s heir, Edmund, stormed into my office. He grabbed my chin, his voice dripping with threats: “Don’t think that sleeping with my dad gives you the right to boss me around!” I shot back: “Maybe you’re just terrible at your job! What are you gonna do about it, coward?” He leaned in closer: “You think I won’t do anything?!” Before I could push him away, he bit my lip with his teeth. I struggled hard. My tight skirt tore open, exposing my bare chest. Edmund’s eyes turned bloodshot. He looked like a starving, feral wolf. He ripped my clothes off violently. Then he threw me onto the massive desk and kissed me savagely. I kept my voice low: “Edmund, stop! This is so childish!” “Is it?” His lips curved into a smirk. “Then let’s play some grown-up games!” Edmund unzipped his pants. His movements became even more aggressive. His large hands pinned my wrists down. His body weight pressed against me. I couldn’t move. I could only let him enter me. Even though it was late at night and the curtains were drawn tight, every nerve in my body fired intensely. Sweat dripped from my skin. In the silent night, the sound of our bodies colliding echoed loudly. He breathed heavily in my ear. My body gradually dropped its defenses, responding to wave after wave of heat. His touch, his kisses, his breath, the rhythm of his body, and his favorite positions… Everything felt too familiar. Edmund was my ex-boyfriend. We dated for a year. We’d done this countless times before—desperately claiming each other like this. But this time felt different. This time, he was more like a beast. I knew he was angry at me. I was the executive Richard Shaw had parachuted into the company. The moment I arrived at Shaw Corporation, I held major shares, became CEO, and had absolute authority. Rumors spread throughout the company that I was Richard’s mistress. Some even said Richard was going to completely abandon Edmund as his heir. The truth was, Richard had asked me to change Edmund. To ignite Edmund’s fighting spirit so he could deal with the wolves circling inside Shaw Corporation. I still remembered Richard’s absurd reason for convincing me. He said he’d never seen Edmund so obsessed with anyone—except me. I laughed bitterly. When we broke up, Edmund had been so decisive. But saving Edmund before I die, repaying Richard’s favor, and giving Shaw Corporation some hope? I was happy to do it. My thoughts snapped back. I looked at Edmund’s reddened eyes and closed mine. Right. He came here to take nude photos of me so I’d resign in shame. With a “click” from the camera, my heart skipped a beat. But strangely, Edmund didn’t take more pictures. Instead, he turned and left. I watched his back with some longing, but mostly disappointment. Facing the enemy who’d stolen most of Shaw Corporation’s shares, how could he be so soft-hearted?

The next day, as Shaw Corporation’s CEO, I attended a networking conference. In the women’s restroom, a woman with heavy makeup deliberately approached me holding a glass bottle. I ran out cautiously, but she chased after me relentlessly. She screamed while running: “You bitch! You stole my man! You deserve to die!” I rushed toward the crowded area. Unable to catch me, she opened the glass bottle and threw the liquid viciously in my direction. I dodged the first time. The liquid splashed on the floor. A conference attendee passed by, saw the bubbling liquid on the ground, smelled the strong odor, and screamed: “Acid… it’s acid! Ah!” I covered my head in terror, afraid that life-destroying substance would hit me next. Suddenly, a figure rushed out. He pulled off his coat and threw it over my head. Under the coat’s cover, I heard Edmund’s voice. He was talking to the attacker: “You don’t need to ruin yourself over a woman like her!” Ha. “A woman like her.” Ironic, wasn’t it? He saved me, yet he despised me and hated me. The woman with heavy makeup seemed to know Edmund. She shouted: “Why are you helping this slut?” Edmund sneered coldly: “Help? Nobody hates her more than I do!” Security personnel arrived and restrained the crazy woman. Afterward, I learned that this woman was the girlfriend of Dylan Garrett, the son of Shaw Corporation’s Director Garrett. Dylan had lied and told her I was his new girlfriend, which caused this psycho to attack me. It would destroy me and get the crazy woman arrested—killing two birds with one stone. Absolutely vicious! Makes sense. The moment I joined the company, I started collecting evidence against Director Garrett. Dylan must be desperate. But compared to Dylan, Edmund should hate me more. So… why did he save me? I soon got my answer…

Ding dong… ding dong… The doorbell rang so urgently it was annoying. I wrapped myself in a bathrobe and opened the door. Edmund threw a document at my feet: “That crazy woman misunderstood everything! Dylan didn’t even know she’d go after you. And because of her, you’re suspending all these people? That makes no sense!” “It’s a vacation. After all these years of hard work, they deserve a long break.” Edmund was too naive. He couldn’t see how Director Garrett was secretly colluding with those people, slowly devouring Shaw Corporation. Edmund pushed the door open and barged in. He backed me against the wall, eyes fierce: “You suspended so many people! The company will suffer huge losses!” Too noisy. He couldn’t keep his cool. He needed to be trained! I stared provocatively at Edmund’s opening and closing lips, teasing: “They’re gone. The sky won’t fall.” “You—” My finger pressed against Edmund’s lips. He seemed a bit restrained. His ears started turning slightly red. “Alright, you can leave now.” But Edmund pulled me back. During the struggle, Edmund accidentally noticed a circle of small red marks on my shoulder. His pupils widened. I instinctively pulled my bathrobe back to cover that red mark. “These marks are fresh. My dad’s still in the hospital, and you’re already cheating on him. You… shameless…” He couldn’t finish. Maybe when he learned his ex-girlfriend had become his father’s lover, something inside him had already snapped. Let him hate me. Both Richard and I wanted Edmund to become more ruthless! I continued teasing, whispering in Edmund’s ear: “That’s right. Your dad can’t satisfy me. Why don’t you, his son, satisfy me instead?” Edmund’s breathing suddenly quickened. Fury and desire surged in his eyes like a storm. He stopped talking and bit down hard on that red mark. Pain mixed with tingling pleasure. I moaned softly, my fingers threading through his hair. He roughly yanked my bathrobe tie open. The fabric slipped off my shoulders, exposing large areas of skin. He leaned down and kissed me, no longer hesitating. Our lips and tongues tangled. Our breathing grew more ragged. The air filled with scorching heat. His hardness pressed insistently between my legs through the thin fabric, rubbing back and forth. The heat was frightening. I couldn’t help moaning. My waist went soft. I deliberately pressed up, feeling him get harder and bigger. His Adam’s apple bobbed. He growled low, his palm sliding directly into my bathrobe, against my skin, moving down, over the small of my back, squeezing my ass, pressing me hard against him. I was already soaking wet between my legs. His fingers pressed against that sensitive spot through the drenched fabric. With just one press, I trembled and moaned. He panted harder. His cock thrust several times through the fabric like it wanted to break through. I bit his earlobe, my voice hoarse: “Look clearly. I’m your stepmother. Do you really want to do this with me?”

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My husband’s first love became pregnant after an assault. At the same time, I was also pregnant. On the day I delivered our son, Derek served me with divorce papers. “Seraphina can’t have a scandal. I’m marrying her!” I refused the divorce. Instead, I took my newborn son and went live, exposing everything. I ended Seraphina’s future with my own words. She ended up slitting her wrists. Derek gave her a quiet, dignified funeral. Then he stood back and let her fans hunt me and our child down. When I opened my eyes again, I was back in that hospital room, the divorce papers just placed in my hands. This time, I signed it right away. Because he was premature, my son, Leo, went straight into the NICU the moment he was born. Derek handed me the divorce papers right there. “You know Seraphina Hayes was a principal dancer. If another scandal breaks about her assault and child, her career will be ruined.” I had just come from surgery. Even a slight movement pulled at my stitches. I took the divorce papers. “I’ll divorce you, but I want compensation.” Derek breathed a sigh of relief. “Fine. Two million. Is that enough?” Derek was the heir to the Caldwell Group, yet he offered me only two million. I scoffed, knowing it was useless to argue further. I just nodded. With the papers signed, Derek was eager to find Seraphina. He didn’t even spare a thought for our child. Two days later, Leo was out of the NICU. I wrapped my baby in a soft blanket, ready to leave the hospital. Back at the mansion, I asked our housekeeper Mrs. Gable to turn up the AC, but no one answered. As I walked towards the nursery, holding Leo, I heard them whispering in the kitchen. “No shame, bringing back a child born from an affair. Mr. Caldwell was soft-hearted enough not to press charges, but instead of being grateful, she still wants a share of the family fortune!” My steps faltered. Under my thick loungewear, cold sweat drenched my back. “What are you talking about!” I pushed open the kitchen door. The staff looked up, their eyes full of disdain. One of them mumbled, “Who’s talking nonsense? Mr. Caldwell already made a statement. You cheated, and we can’t even talk about it?” I rushed back to my room, charged my phone, and opened Ins. The top trending topic was “Caldwell Heir Announces Divorce.” “Due to Ms. Anya Williams’s infidelity, Mr. Derek Caldwell has terminated their marriage. This statement is hereby issued.” My mind went blank. A sharp, violent throbbing started at my templesy. For Seraphina’s sake, Derek was willing to destroy my name completely! Just as I thought about defending myself online, my phone suddenly vibrated. It was Officer Davis, the detective helping me search for my birth parents. “Ms. Williams, we have a major breakthrough!” His voice was urgent. “You were taken from Evergreen City as a child. We’re now working with their police to cross-reference missing persons files. You need to come in for a DNA test immediately.”

My shattered heart suddenly found a flicker of hope. Since I was abducted at six and brought to Veridia City, I had never truly felt the warmth of a family. I thought marrying Derek would be a new beginning, but it turned out to be another calamity. But now, I might find my birth parents, and my child could have a family who truly loved her! After hanging up, I quickly packed a small bag and turned to the nursery to grab a few essentials for Leo. As my hand touched the doorknob, the front door of the mansion was suddenly flung open. “Anya, who said you could touch anything in there?” Derek frowned, his expression displeased. “I just wanted to get some change of clothes for Leo.” “Those are for Seraphina’s baby. If you need anything, buy it yourself.” Every single item in that nursery had been carefully chosen by me during my pregnancy. Now, he intended to give them all to Seraphina’s child. Even though that child bore no blood relation to him. I swallowed the bitterness in my heart, choosing not to argue at that moment. But Mrs. Gable suddenly grabbed me with a stern face and dragged me outside. “Mr. Caldwell ordered us to go to the rehabilitation center to take care of Ms. Hayes.” The pulling made my incision hurt, and I cried out, “I just gave birth! I need to rest!” Derek didn’t even look back. “Which means you have experience.” “Don’t whine. You’re strong, you don’t need rest.” He got into his car, and I was pushed into a minivan heading for the rehabilitation center. When we arrived, Seraphina was lounging in a recliner, surrounded by five or six caregivers. Seeing me, she feigned an attempt to stand. “Anya, you’re here! Please, sit down. Giving birth is hard work…” Derek gently pressed her back down, then shot me a glance. “She used to manage even with a fever, this is nothing. Anya, if you take good care of Seraphina, I’ll add another half a million. Pretty good deal, right?” Another half a million. It was indeed tempting. I bit my lip. “No. My baby is home alone with no one to watch him.” A flicker of impatience crossed his eyes, but Seraphina softly tugged his hand. “Derek, if Anya doesn’t want to take care of me, please don’t force her. I don’t want to be a burden to you.” Derek squeezed her hand, his gaze shifting to me with pure contempt. “Letting you care for Seraphina is an opportunity for you,” he said, his tone icy. “You came into this marriage with nothing. You’ve contributed nothing. If you can’t even manage this simple task, then understand this: taking proper care of her is the only worth you have left.” He habitually belittled me, completely ignoring my pale face. He waved Mrs. Gable back to take care of Leo. But Mrs. Gable always disrespected me; how could she genuinely look after my child? Derek ignored me, ordering me to feed Seraphina her nutritional meal. I looked back at the closed door, realizing I couldn’t leave for now. I dragged my weak body to prepare Seraphina’s meal. Just as I brought a spoonful of stew to her lips, she suddenly leaned back, crying out in pain. “Hot!” Derek snatched the bowl and threw it at my feet, the broth splashing on my pants. “What are you throwing a tantrum for?! You scalded Seraphina, you won’t eat today!” Seraphina nestled against his shoulder, her eyes brimming with tears. “Derek, don’t be angry, she didn’t mean it…” “We’ll finalize the divorce papers tomorrow!” I was left standing there, covered in stains, ignored by everyone.

The next day, Derek took me from the rehabilitation center to finalize the divorce. Stepping out of the registry office, he got straight into his car. “I need to go get Seraphina’s performance outfit custom-made. You can go back on your own.” His face was grim. “Anya, if you’re not at the rehabilitation center within forty minutes, you’ll face the consequences.” The car sped away, leaving me to flag down a taxi back to the mansion. As soon as I entered the front door, I heard a baby crying from the storage room in the backyard. That was where the gardening tools were kept! I rushed in and saw Leo carelessly placed on a cold stone slab. There was formula and diapers ready nearby, yet his little face was purple, and his cries were weak. He probably hadn’t eaten since yesterday! Nor had his diaper been changed! No time to confront Mrs. Gable, I picked up Leo, fed him, and changed his clothes. As I burped him, Leo gave me a blurry smile. My eyes welled up, and tears fell onto his tiny clothes. Seraphina’s child was cherished by everyone, while mine was forgotten, even struggling for basic needs. “Don’t be scared, Leo. Mommy will take you away.” Suddenly, there was a pounding on the door outside. As I opened it, Derek’s slap landed on my face. “Anya! How dare you bring shady people into my home!” I shielded Leo as Derek pushed me into the living room. Seraphina, wrapped in a shawl, followed him, surrounded by caregivers. The scene inside shocked me. Several unfamiliar men lay sprawled on the carpet, reeking of alcohol. The house was a mess, like it had just hosted a wild party. People were asleep in the bedrooms and study, and even three people lay in the master bed, their clothes disheveled. I frantically shook my head. “It wasn’t me!” But Mrs. Gable stepped forward, looking heartbroken. “Mr. Caldwell, a group of people broke in last night. They said Ms. Williams gave them the keycard and invited them to party. They complained the baby’s crying was too loud, so they moved him to the storage room…” I trembled, quickly trying to explain. “I don’t know them! I was at the rehab center all day yesterday. How could I have given anyone a keycard?” “That’s right… Anya was with me yesterday, Derek. Why don’t you ask these people?” Seraphina lightly tugged Derek’s sleeve. His stern expression softened slightly. He ordered someone to wake the nearest man. “Who let you in?!” The man, still drunk, slurred, “Some woman named Anya gave us a keycard, said the house was empty and invited us to party… Get another bottle!” In his swinging hand was my keycard. Still attached was the small, hand-stitched leather keychain I’d made myself! I instinctively touched my pocket. it was empty. “No, I lost my keycard. It wasn’t me!” “Still trying to lie?! If Seraphina hadn’t worried about you and insisted on coming back to stay, I wouldn’t have known you harbored such disgusting intentions!” “You clearly wanted to fool around with these people here!” Derek grew increasingly impatient, ordering Mrs. Gable to lock me in the storage room. Behind me, I heard Seraphina’s soft voice trying to mediate. “Derek, Anya was just being playful, don’t get so angry.” “She won’t learn her lesson without punishment! This house is defiled; we’re going to the downtown apartment!” The storage room door was locked. Through the window, I watched them drive away. Seraphina turned back in the crowd and shot me a triumphant smile. Late that night, after I’d finally managed to lull Leo to sleep, the lights abruptly cut out. Assuming the wiring in the storage room was old, I checked train tickets on my phone. A sharp click cut the silence. The lock turned. The door opened, and Seraphina stood there, etched in the cold moonlight. With no one else around, her eyes blazed with pure malice. “You’re divorced and still dare to ask for money? Anya, you have no shame!” I shoved Leo behind me, retreating until my back hit the wall. Trapped. Seraphina looked ready to end me. “Seraphina, I never did anything to you! Why set me up like this?” “Nothing? If it weren’t for you, I would be the one married to Derek!”

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My husband, Dominic, sneered in Italian, calling my inheritance “crumbs,” not even enough to buy his mistress a handbag. Then he turned to me, his voice soft with English endearments. “Honey, why not go abroad to clear your mind? I’ll buy your ticket.” I smiled and accepted the one-way ticket. Dominic had no idea I understood Italian. He knew even less that the inheritance he scorned was a vast business empire, large enough to buy out ten of his companies. Elara’s POV Dominic was on a video call. Seeing me enter, he casually pulled me into his embrace. The man on the screen chuckled, his Italian fluent and relaxed. “Dominic, you’re not worried your wife will overhear us discussing your little secretary while she’s right there in your arms?” Dominic carelessly kissed my earlobe, replying in Italian, “Why would I be? She doesn’t understand a word. The farthest she’s ever traveled is an all-inclusive resort. She can’t read Italian. She can barely make sense of a French menu.” I leaned against his chest, compliant, my fingertips trembling slightly. Dominic didn’t know that I had spent three years learning Italian, just so I could understand those hushed phone calls he tried to hide from me. The man on the screen laughed even more brazenly. “So what about your little drama queen, threatening a hunger strike? Next week is your fifth anniversary with her, and she insists on having your spot.” Dominic’s fingers gently massaged my waist, his tone laced with cold indifference. “I’m trying to appease her. In fact, I’m planning to send the woman in my arms away. Her uncle left her some inheritance, perfect for her to spend half a month abroad. Get her out of the way, make room for the new one.” “Is it worth it? All this trouble for a bit of inheritance?” “Even crumbs are still something.” Dominic scoffed. “I don’t even care for that money; let’s just consider it her pocket change.” Then, he ended the video call. When he looked down at me, he had seamlessly switched back to gentle English, his eyes full of affection. “Honey, I was just discussing business with a partner. Don’t be too sad about your uncle’s passing. Since it was his wish, you should go ahead and handle it.” I looked up, flashing a sweet, innocent smile. “Okay, thank you, darling.” Dominic patted my head, satisfied, and quickly typed something on his phone. “I’ve transferred a million dollars to you. Have my secretary book your flight. Buy whatever you like over there, don’t hold back.” I smiled, accepting the transfer notification on my screen. It wasn’t until he turned and went into the bathroom that I opened the unread lawyer’s email on my phone. At the top of the attachment was a property deed for a Tuscan vineyard, along with a trust fund balance with so many zeros it made my head spin. I turned off the screen and calmly sent a reply to the lawyer. “Proceed as planned. See you in half a month.”

Elara’s POV The next morning, Dominic’s secretary sent me the flight information. “Ms. Hayes, Mr. Julian specifically asked me to book you the earliest first-class flight. He said he was worried you might miss the notarization appointment there.” I looked at the flight information on my screen, a mocking smile playing on my lips. Worried I’d miss the notarization? That was a lie. He was worried I’d mess up his anniversary with his mistress. “Thank you for your trouble,” I replied. “By the way, I’m not sure how long this trip will take. To make changes easier, please only book the outbound flight.” The secretary replied instantly. “Of course, Mrs. Hayes. Mr. Julian said the same thing-that you should enjoy yourself there and come back when you’re ready. A return ticket can be booked anytime.” I closed my phone, looking at the e-ticket, feeling eerily calm. Dominic thought this was just a one-way ticket for easy changes. But he didn’t know it was truly a one-way ticket. No return. Fifteen days left until departure. Fifteen days was all I needed. It was enough. After Dominic left for the office, I called in two people who dealt in second-hand luxury goods. In my walk-in closet, the Hermès bags and limited-edition jewelry Dominic had given me were piled high on the floor. “Ms. Hayes, do you really want to get rid of all of these?” The recycling store owner’s eyes gleamed at the sight of all the genuine articles. In this circle, wealthy women usually only bought, rarely cleared out their entire collection like this. “Yes, sell them all.” I casually picked up a limited-edition diamond necklace. Dominic had bought it at an auction last year, specifically to appease me and cover up a hickey on his neck. “I’m going abroad, these things are too much of a burden. Out with the old, in with the new.” The owner had his staff pack and appraise the items, while he chuckled, “Of course, Mr. Julian dotes on you so much, there’ll definitely be even better things waiting for you when you return.” Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he asked casually, “Oh, by the way, Ms. Hayes, aren’t you selling that sapphire necklace today? The one bought at the auction with this bag?” My hand, as I was tidying clothes, paused. That was Dominic’s birthday gift to me during our first year of marriage. A few days ago, I wanted to wear it, but he said the clasp was loose and he’d sent it for maintenance. Seeing my silence, the owner thought he’d spoken out of turn and quickly tried to mend it. “I just asked casually. Because a few days ago, I saw an influencer on Ins showing off a picture, and it looked like she was wearing that exact necklace. I thought maybe you’d lent it to a friend.” An influencer on Ins? I understood immediately, but my face remained impassive, maintaining a polite smile. “Oh, that one. It’s still being serviced. You must have seen wrong; that necklace is a one-of-a-kind piece. I don’t lend it to anyone.” The owner gave an awkward laugh and didn’t press further, swiftly getting his staff to clear out the items. “Don’t transfer the money to my card; just give me euros in cash,” I instructed the owner. Once the house was quiet again, I took out my phone and downloaded the app the owner had mentioned. Using the app’s location filter and a few keywords, I quickly found the account. The latest post was a selfie in the rearview mirror of a luxury car. The young woman in the picture was wearing my sapphire necklace. The caption read: “Even though it’s an old design, as long as he gave it to me, I love it. Can’t wait for next week’s surprise.” I wasn’t angry. I didn’t even bother to screenshot it. If I was leaving, I was leaving cleanly. I wouldn’t take a single thing that belonged to Dominic.

Elara’s POV To appease his mistress, Dominic, for the first time ever, brought Chloe to a private business dinner that evening. The irony was, Chloe was there as a “translator,” but she was decked out in a custom-made gown flashier than anything I, the actual wife, would wear. From the moment she walked in, her eyes never left Dominic, that clingy intensity practically screaming their inappropriate relationship to everyone present. “Ms. Hayes, long time no see.” A few business partners came over to toast, and Dominic smiled, pulling me close by the waist, playing the part of the model husband. “My wife doesn’t understand much about business. I’ll drink this for her.” An important Italian client approached with a glass, and Dominic released me. He turned to Chloe behind him and whispered in Italian, “This old man is a lecher. Go have a few drinks with him, don’t let him bother Elara.” Chloe looked reluctant, pouting in Italian, “Darling, I’m not feeling well today. Shouldn’t Elara do the blocking? She doesn’t understand business talk anyway, it’s such a waste for her to just stand there like a flower vase.” Dominic hesitated for a moment, his gaze flicking between us. Ultimately, his heart, predictably, went out to his mistress. He turned to me, his voice gentle in English. “Honey, Chloe isn’t feeling well today, and this client is quite important. Could you help me toast him? Just smile, you don’t need to say anything.” I looked at his face, so full of feigned affection, and scoffed inwardly. In his eyes, his mistress held a higher position than I, his wife. “Of course.” I took the wine glass, smiling gracefully and generously. “Since Ms. Chloe isn’t feeling well, as the boss’s wife, it’s only right that I look out for the staff.” I walked towards the Italian client, glass in hand. Chloe, standing behind Dominic, flashed me a smug, defiant smile. She thought I hadn’t understood their Italian conversation. As I passed her, my high heel slipped. A full glass of red wine, without missing a beat, spilled directly onto Chloe’s expensive gown. “Ah!” Chloe shrieked, clutching her chest in embarrassment. “Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry!” I stood steady, feigning panic, my expression innocent. “Ms. Chloe, are you alright? You looked a bit pale, so I tried to steady you, but my hand slipped.” All eyes instantly converged on us. Dominic’s brows furrowed. He instinctively reached out to help Chloe, but seeing all the business partners around, he abruptly redirected his hand, steadying a seemingly startled me instead. “Elara, are you okay? Did you hurt your ankle?” His voice was concerned, but his eyes swept over the red stain on Chloe’s chest with unconcealed pity. Chloe’s eyes welled up with tears of indignation. She bit her lip and complained to Dominic in Italian, “Darling, she did it on purpose! This dress is the one you gave me-” “Shut up.” Dominic coldly snapped at her in Italian, his eyes warning her. “Go to the restroom and clean yourself up. Don’t make a scene here.” Turning back to me, he put on his doting husband persona, gently smoothing my hair. “It’s nothing, just a dress. If it’s dirty, it’s dirty. What matters is that you didn’t fall.” I leaned into his embrace, watching Chloe’s retreating figure, clutching her dress in embarrassment. A barely perceptible smile touched my lips. After the dinner, Dominic used the excuse of seeing a drunk client home, telling the driver to take me home first. I knew he was rushing to appease his wronged mistress. Back home, I didn’t turn on any lights. My phone screen glowed in the darkness, an unread message from my lawyer. “Ms. Hayes, your overseas account has been activated. All asset transfer procedures will be completed within a week. Please confirm your travel plans.” I glanced at the date circled in red on my calendar. That was the anniversary Dominic and Chloe were so eagerly anticipating. It was also the day I would finally leave. I calmly replied with two words. Confirmed.

Elara’s POV The day after I sold off my luxury items, Dominic, unexpectedly, came home in the afternoon. Normally, he’d be at the office, or having afternoon tea with Chloe. His sudden return today clearly meant something urgent had come up. I was sitting on the living room carpet, tossing the last few photo albums into a cardboard box beside me. They were photos from college, and a handful of anniversary pictures from our five years of marriage. “Why are you digging all these out?” Dominic loosened his tie, glancing at the box without much interest, asking casually. “Just tidying up.” I closed the box and sealed it with tape. “I’m going abroad, so I thought I’d send these things to my old house for storage, instead of letting them gather dust here.” Dominic nodded. “Good idea. It’s better to have fewer things around, more peace and quiet.” He probably thought I was carefully preserving these precious memories. In reality, that cardboard box’s final destination was the trash compactor downstairs. “Oh, by the way, Elara.” He suddenly turned and walked into the walk-in closet. “Where’s that pink diamond bracelet I bought at the auction last year? A client’s wife is having a birthday, and I wanted to borrow it as a sample for the designer to reference.” I sneered inwardly. “Client’s wife?” More like Chloe must be throwing a fit about yesterday’s spilled wine and demanding compensation, right? That pink diamond bracelet was a multi-million dollar piece; he certainly wasn’t shy about using it to appease his mistress. Too bad he was a step too late. Sounds of rummaging came from the closet. A few minutes later, Dominic emerged, frowning, a hint of frustration in his voice. “Why can’t I find it? The jewelry box is empty.” I remained seated, taking a slow sip of tea, and calmly said, “Oh, that bracelet. Last time you said the necklace was sent for maintenance, and I thought the bracelet hadn’t been worn in a long time, so I sent it along to the brand for care too.” Dominic froze. He clearly hadn’t expected me to do that. He knew better than anyone where that necklace was. But he hadn’t anticipated that I would use the same excuse to get rid of the bracelet. “Sent it overseas?” His brows furrowed even deeper. “When did you send it?” “Just two days ago.” I looked at him with an innocent expression. “What’s wrong? If you’re really in a hurry, I can call and have them intercept and return it now? But it’s already international shipping, so it might take a while.” Dominic’s expression stiffened for a moment. Intercepting it was impossible; once intercepted, his scheme to take the necklace would be exposed. Besides, going to such lengths to retrieve a bracelet from overseas for a mistress simply wasn’t his style. “Never mind. It’s not worth the trouble.” He waved a hand, hiding the disappointment in his eyes. “Since it’s gone for maintenance, that’s fine. I’ll have my assistant pick out another gift.” As he turned to leave, I suddenly called out to him. “Dominic, I also packed up and sent away all the other bags and jewelry from the closet.” I gestured towards the empty closet space, smiling sweetly and dutifully. “Since I’m going abroad, there’s no one to wear these valuable items at home, and they’re a hassle to maintain. Might as well store them together.” Dominic glanced back. The once lavish display shelves were indeed half empty. But he didn’t suspect a thing; instead, he seemed relieved. “That’s good. You arrange it.” He walked over and gave me a perfunctory kiss on the forehead. “Once you get your inheritance abroad, I’ll buy you new ones.” After Dominic left, the house became utterly silent. I looked at the sealed cardboard box, picked up a marker, and wrote TRASH across it in bold, black letters. Then I called the housekeeping service. “Hi, could you send someone up? There’s a pile of things in the living room that need to be taken away. Yes, no sorting necessary. Just remove it all.”

Elara’s POV The lawyer sent the final batch of documents that needed signing. A thick stack, filled with dense paragraphs of Italian and French clauses. When Dominic returned that evening, I was sitting by the living room coffee table, frowning at the pile of papers. “Dominic, you’re back.” I held a pen, my brows slightly furrowed, feigning a headache from the cumbersome procedures. “What’s wrong?” Dominic took off his jacket, tossing it onto the sofa, his gaze sweeping over the coffee table. “Still dealing with that inheritance business?” “Yes, the lawyers over there are incredibly particular.” I sighed, pulled a thin sheet from the stack, and handed it to him. “They said that for tax purposes and procedural compliance, my spouse needs to sign a waiver of inheritance and an informed consent form.” Dominic took the document, casually glancing at it. It was all obscure Italian legal jargon. He couldn’t be bothered to read it. In his eyes, it was just a few thousand dollars, and now he had to sign a stack of papers-what a waste of time. “This is such a hassle.” He frowned impatiently, tossing the document back onto the table. “For such a pittance, they’re acting like it’s hundreds of millions to inherit. And they want me to waive it? As if I’d be interested in your petty pocket money.” I gave an embarrassed laugh, handing him the pen. “I think it’s troublesome too, but the lawyer said the transfer of ownership can’t proceed without this signature. So please, just help me out, sign it, and I won’t bother you anymore.” Dominic took the pen. Without even glancing at the content of the page, he flipped directly to the last page, to the signature line. “Alright, where do I sign?” “Here, and here.” I pointed to two blank spots. Those spots were not just for waiving the inheritance; they were also for a cleverly concealed legal document voluntarily surrendering any claims to the wife’s assets and acknowledging no other property disputes between the two parties. Once he signed that name, even if I took every single thing that belonged to me, he would have no right to object. The pen tip scratched against the paper with a soft rustling sound. Dominic signed decisively. He completely failed to notice that another document, hidden under his elbow, was in fact a meticulously crafted divorce agreement with stringent enforcement clauses. “There.” He capped the pen and tossed the document back to me. “Next time, handle these small matters yourself.” “Thank you, darling. You’re so good.” I collected the documents in a good mood, tucking them into a file folder. “Oh, right.” Dominic stood up, glancing at his watch. “Chloe said she left an urgent file at the office. I’ll go pick it up and be back later.” It was almost ten o’clock. What kind of file required the boss to personally fetch it? Besides, it was Chloe’s birthday. I knew exactly what was going on, but my face remained compliant. “Okay, drive safe.” After Dominic left, I picked up the file folder and gently blew on the signed spots to dry the ink. I locked the folder in the safe; it was what I needed to take to the notary public in the morning.

Elara’s POV With only three days left until my departure, Dominic, to maintain his “devoted husband” facade, purposely canceled his evening engagements, claiming he would cook dinner for me. From the kitchen, I could hear his busy movements, punctuated by occasional phone notifications. He thought if he put his phone on silent, I wouldn’t hear it, but the frequent vibrations were jarringly loud in the quiet villa. “Dinner’s ready.” Dominic emerged with the last dish. “Try this.” He cut a piece of steak for me, but his eyes kept darting towards his phone on the table. Each time the screen lit up, his brows would subtly furrow. I pretended not to notice, taking a bite. “It’s delicious, thank you, darling.” “Glad you like it, eat more.” Dominic smiled, but the warmth didn’t reach his eyes. To mask his distraction, he picked up a plate of lobster rolls, intending to pass it to me, but then suddenly paused. “Oh, I almost forgot this!” He put the lobster rolls down with a look of annoyance, pushing them further away from me. “You can’t eat these lobster rolls, you’re allergic to seafood. You’ll break out in a rash.” I looked at the plate of lobster rolls, my hand tightening around my fork. It wasn’t me who was allergic to seafood. It was Chloe. I grew up by the sea; seafood was my favorite. Back when we were dating, he’d often shared seafood feasts with me. Now, he’d projected his mistress’s dietary restrictions onto me. I looked up at his face, so full of feigned concern, and felt a wave of nausea. But I didn’t expose him. I simply played along, pushing away the bowl of clam chowder in front of me as well. “That’s right, I completely forgot. Good thing you remembered.” “Of course. You’re my wife; of course, I remember everything about you.” No sooner had the words left his lips than the phone on the table vibrated again. This time, it was a call. The moment the screen lit up, I clearly saw the caller ID: a cat in a lace nightgown. That was Chloe’s new profile picture, changed just yesterday. Dominic’s face subtly changed. He quickly hung up the call and placed the phone face down on the table. “Spam call. Too many insurance salespeople lately.” “Is that so?” I put down my fork and knife, dabbing my mouth with a napkin. “Since they’re so persistent, maybe it’s urgent? Why don’t you answer it?” “Don’t bother with it.” Dominic cut a piece of steak, trying to change the subject. “How’s the packing coming along?” Just then, the phone stubbornly rang again. This time, Dominic couldn’t pretend not to hear it. He glanced at the screen, his expression growing anxious, and finally couldn’t sit still anymore. “I’ll take this call; there might be an issue at the office.” He grabbed his phone and strode to the balcony. Through the glass door, I watched his retreating back. He stood with his back to me, his shoulders relaxed. He said something into the phone, that look of helpless affection spreading across his face. That was a look he once reserved only for me. A few minutes later, he pushed the door open, grabbed his jacket with an apologetic expression. “Elara, things at the office are a bit complicated. I have to go in. You eat first, don’t wait for me.” “Okay, go ahead.” I smiled and waved him off. “Drive safe.” Dominic left quickly, probably in a hurry to see his mistress. The door closed. I lifted a lobster roll with my fork and took a bite. It was good. Genuinely delicious. A pity, then, that the hands that made it no longer held a place for me in the heart they belonged to. I stood, carried the plate into the kitchen, and scraped every last piece into the trash. If he’d gotten the love wrong, then the food deserved no better fate. Dominic. I don’t love you anymore.

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My brother brought his girlfriend home for a holiday dinner for the first time. During the dinner, his girlfriend suddenly turned to me. “Chloe Davis, you look so familiar! I remember now! I saw your pictures on Pornhub. You have a really hot body.” She finished, then quickly clapped a hand over her mouth, pretending she’d spoken out of turn. All the relatives at the dinner were stunned. Then, they started pointing fingers at me. “Young people these days really have no morals.” “What’s her stage name? I wanna check it out too!” I, however, calmly set down my fork and smiled at her. “I also think you look familiar. Oh, I remember now, I performed several abortions on you!” My brother was bringing his girlfriend home this year, and my mom was so thrilled she gathered all our relatives for a big family dinner. At the dinner table, my brother’s girlfriend, Serena Lewis, was incredibly well-behaved. She proposed toasts to the adults, told jokes, and not only charmed my mom completely, but even had the relatives praising Brandon for his good taste. Just as everyone was soaking in the warm atmosphere Serena had created, a relative turned to me. “Chloe, you work in New York. You must be earning a lot of money! Your cousin graduates next year; you really should help her find a good job!” Other relatives chimed in. “Your mom says you give her fifteen hundred dollars a month. That’s amazing! Not like our useless son, who can’t even find a job.” “Chloe, what exactly do you do in the big city?” I was about to answer when Serena suddenly put down her glass and asked me. “Chloe, even though this is our first time meeting, I just feel like I’ve seen you before!” I offered a polite smile. “Maybe I just have one of those faces.” Serena shook her head, staring intently at me, scrutinizing my features. “No, it’s not an average face. I definitely saw you somewhere… Ah!” It was as if something clicked for her, and a look of sudden realization dawned on her face. “I know! You’re an influencer on Pornhub, aren’t you?” The moment she said that, several relatives at the table visibly stiffened. Serena seemed oblivious to the sudden change in atmosphere and continued. “I’ve seen your pictures; your body is so hot! I can’t believe I’m seeing you in person now!” She finished, then abruptly clapped a hand over her mouth, looking like someone who’d just said something regrettable. I was stunned. I couldn’t believe Serena would fabricate such a rumor right there. My first instinct was to confront her. “What in the world are you talking about?” She immediately put on a show of being wronged and apologized. “I’m so sorry, Chloe! I just spoke without thinking! I never imagined it would be you. I really didn’t mean it, please don’t be angry.” Serena’s words were so direct that all the relatives’ gazes shifted, scrutinizing me. “Young people these days are so… open-minded.” “No wonder she always says she’s busy and only comes home once a year. So that’s what she’s been busy with.” “No wonder she’s so rich. She’s selling herself!” “How embarrassing!” The relative who had just asked me to help her daughter find a job quickly retracted her words, clearly worried I might lead her daughter astray. “What I said earlier doesn’t count. My daughter would never do something like that; it’s utterly disgraceful!” 2 My mom’s face was beet red from the relatives’ whispers, her hands trembling. She looked at me in disbelief. “Chloe, are you really an influencer on Pornhub?” My brother’s eyes were also red with anger, glaring at me. “Chloe, is what she said true? Did you really do something so shameless?” “No, I didn’t!” I cut them off, my voice firm and resolute. Hearing my explanation, they still looked skeptical, their faces tight with doubt. I stared at Serena, the architect of this slander, a suffocating knot of anger in my chest. This was my first time meeting Serena. We had no history, no grudge, yet she had inexplicably pulled a stunt like this. I said, my voice low. “Serena, you can’t just go around spreading lies. Defamation is a serious offense!” At my words, Serena seemed to grow even more tearful. Her eyes red, she whispered timidly. “Chloe, I really didn’t mean it. Can you please forgive me?” It was something that could have been cleared up with a single sentence, but Serena deliberately chose to be vague. I truly didn’t know what I had done to provoke her. But for Brandon’s sake, I still managed to hold back my anger. “Serena, the person you’re talking about isn’t me, and it couldn’t possibly be me. You must be mistaken.” I tried to guide her toward an explanation, but she acted as if I was pressuring her. She immediately choked up. “Chloe, don’t be so mean, you’re scaring me. I truly didn’t mean it. I didn’t know your family would care so much about this… I just thought the person in the photo looked a lot like you and casually mentioned it. How can you say I’m slandering you?” Serena kept circling back to the same point, continuously implying that I had been involved in something illicit but was too ashamed to admit it. This time, I couldn’t hold back anymore and yelled. “Serena, we have no personal vendetta. There’s no need for you to target me like this!” And then Serena cried. She sobbed, hiding behind my brother, presenting herself as a poor, wronged victim. She explained to Brandon. “I’m just a straightforward person, I say what I think. Brandon, you have to believe me, I really wasn’t targeting Chloe.” Seeing her distress, Brandon immediately pulled her into his arms to comfort her. Then he turned on me, furious. “Chloe, do you have to be so aggressive? If you really didn’t do anything like that, how could Serena just make it up out of thin air? Don’t you have any self-awareness?” My brother’s barrage of accusations, his words, showed no regard for my situation as his sister. Even if our sibling relationship wasn’t the best, I never imagined he’d side with an outsider to bully me after hearing just a few words. The relatives, hearing him, chimed in their agreement. “Exactly, if you don’t want people to know, don’t do it!” “Serena is such a sweet, sensible girl; how could she possibly spread rumors without reason!” “I think Chloe really did something shameful!” My mom slammed her hand on the table, pointing a finger at my nose. “Chloe! You tell me clearly! Did you or did you not do those unspeakable things? If you really did, I’ll disown you!” I reiterated to my mom that I hadn’t done anything. Then I scanned the faces of all the relatives present, my gaze finally landing on Serena. I said. “Serena, since you claim you saw my photos in that ‘circle,’ then produce the evidence. Otherwise, I’m calling the police right now to report you for defamation!” Serena’s eyes flickered, then she stood up to go get her phone from the room. “To prove my innocence, I’ll find those photos and show them to you right now!” Soon, she returned with her phone and, in front of everyone, pulled up *that* photo of me. 3 She let everyone browse the picture, then thrust it in front of my face. Her tone was slightly triumphant. “Chloe, see for yourself. It’s really not me slandering you! I just had my best friend’s boyfriend look it up on that site. This side profile picture is definitely you!” The full-body side profile photo on Serena’s phone showed someone in revealing lingerie, and the side profile did indeed bear a nine-tenths resemblance to me. But I hadn’t done it, so I wouldn’t admit to it. As soon as Serena came back with her phone, I felt a pang of suspicion, like I’d been secretly photographed. I vocalized my thought. “What can a side profile picture prove?” “Oh, right. You just secretly photographed me, didn’t you? And used my picture for AI synthesis?” I stared into Serena’s eyes, and sure enough, I saw a flicker of guilt. But she stubbornly refused to admit it. She once again put on that wronged, pitiful expression, choking out. “Chloe, you can’t accuse me just because you don’t want to admit it! We’re family; why would I slander you?” “I should have known better than to come with Brandon. If it weren’t for me, your family would definitely be happy!” Serena spoke with such apparent sincerity that the relatives quickly rallied to her defense. Aunt Carol mocked me for having no upbringing. “Chloe, you’re shameless, and you still have the nerve to blame others? Having you as a relative truly embarrasses me!” Uncle Robert angrily reprimanded me for disgracing the family name. “Our Davis family reputation will be ruined by you! How can you face us, how can you face your deceased father?” Other relatives chimed in, their words as malicious as possible. “Shameless, what was the point of college?” “If she were my daughter, I’d have slapped her to death already!” “So unlucky to have such a dirty thing in the family!” My mom listened, trembling all over. She had always been very concerned with appearances, and now, seeing the so-called evidence, she was absolutely furious. “Chloe, how did I raise you? You insist on shamelessly degrading yourself, don’t you? How could I have given birth to such a disgraceful daughter like you!” Hearing the harsh accusations, I felt a deep sense of powerlessness. My own mother and brother, the people closest to me, didn’t believe me. At the same time, Serena spoke again. This time, she urged me to admit my mistake and turn over a new leaf. She said. “Chloe, it doesn’t matter if your body is dirty, as long as your heart isn’t! Don’t worry, we won’t tell anyone about this.” At her words, I let out a cold laugh, then spoke with a chilling edge. “Serena, you know best whether the person in that photo is me or not!” “As for ‘dirty,’ you’re the dirtiest one here!” I locked eyes with Serena, wanting to see just how far her depravity truly went. Serena seemed startled by me, instinctively shrinking further into my brother’s arms, her voice trembling slightly. “You… what are you talking about! How am I dirty? You’re the one selling your body, not me!”

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My husband loved me deeply. Until one night before bed, I didn’t drink the milk he gave me. That night, someone climbed into bed. A familiar scent pressed against my back, but his hands were more urgent than usual. I pretended to be asleep, then heard an argument: “The baby your wife is carrying is mine!” I quietly opened my eyes. In the darkness, two identical faces appeared before me! One was my husband. But who was the other?! After getting pregnant, I suddenly discovered I had two identical husbands. Every night, they gave me a glass of milk laced with sleeping pills. Then they took turns appearing in my bed. I held my breath, hiding behind the bedroom door, trying to eavesdrop. But I accidentally knocked over a cup, alerting them. “Who’s there?” Not daring to imagine the consequences of being discovered, I quickly fled to bed and pretended to be asleep. The door opened. I could feel two people scrutinizing me with penetrating gazes. “Maya?” After what felt like forever, the bed suddenly dipped. A tall figure pressed against my back, intimately whispering my name in my ear. The other person moved closer from the front, sandwiching me between them. They wrapped their arms around my waist, fingers tracing over my clothes, stroking every zone they knew so well, over and over again. Utterly shameless. I forced myself to suppress the trembling, holding back any sound from my throat, not even daring to move my eyes. Just then, my nightgown was lifted. My inner thigh felt cold. A burning hot palm slid upward along the inside. Fingertips stopped at the most dangerous edge. Circling gently, but never quite touching. I was terrified. Was this what they did to me every night after drugging me? I was on the verge of breaking down. Then one hand pressed down on the wandering hand: “Stop it. With this dose, she won’t wake up.” Immediately after, that hoarse voice threatened, “Cole, I’m warning you, stop drugging her! She’s carrying my son!” “Your son? How can someone with dead sperm have a son? I’m the real father here. If I don’t feel sorry for her, why should you?” Cole coldly grabbed Derek’s hand back: “Derek, don’t tell me you’re catching feelings? Don’t forget, you promised me that after she gives birth, you’d make her donate her kidney to me!” Hearing Cole’s words, Derek immediately softened his tone, coaxing: “What are you talking about? You know I only married her to find you a kidney.” Lying in bed, I felt like I’d fallen into an ice cave! My husband of two years, who had always been so loving, had only seen me as a breeding tool and a walking kidney donor. But my mother-in-law Margaret had never mentioned that Derek was a twin. What was their relationship exactly? Did Margaret, who had always doted on me even more than on Derek, know about all this?

After thinking all night, by the next day’s prenatal checkup, my eyes had dark circles under them. The doctor examined me and warned us that now that I was pregnant, we shouldn’t be so active in bed. Derek’s face darkened. He knelt by the examination bed, helping me put on my shoes and socks. From my angle, I could only see the top of his head. But from his unusually silent demeanor, I could tell he was unhappy. I sneered inwardly. This was the consequence he’d caused with his own hands—what right did he have to be unhappy? “Derek, I’ve been feeling so awful since getting pregnant. The doctor said the baby isn’t developing well. Maybe we should just terminate it.” In the end, he was someone I’d married out of love. I couldn’t help making one last test for our relationship. Did he really not care about me at all? His hands paused while putting on my shoes, then he gently stood up and kissed my forehead: “Why are you talking nonsense? Didn’t you sleep well?” The gaze meeting mine was full of sharp, uneasy scrutiny. He was wondering if I’d actually been awake last night and discovered their secret. My heart turned to ash. But then something even more desperate happened. When we reached the stairwell, he actually tried to push me down from behind. The metal handrail reflected like a mirror, showing his twisted, vicious expression. In that instant, all my hopes for this man completely shattered. I suddenly turned and threw myself into his arms, hugging his waist and acting cute with him like usual, catching him completely off guard. But inside, I was sneering coldly. You bastard, just wait. Dare to covet my kidney, treat me like a breeding tool? You two scumbags can hold hands and go to hell together!

From that day on, I gradually learned to distinguish between Derek and Cole. Derek had bigger muscles and a more prominent bulge in his pants. Cole was more delicate, without Derek’s muscular build. What shocked me even more was that Cole lived right next door to us! That evening, while Derek was showering, I insisted I wanted a late-night snack. Margaret could only reluctantly go make it. Taking advantage of the lack of supervision, I used smoke I’d prepared earlier to trigger the fire alarm. “Fire! Fire!” I screamed and ran out the door. Soon I’d attracted the neighbors’ attention. Before long, the fire escape filled with a dense crowd of people. I hid in the shadows, quietly waiting… Within minutes, Derek appeared in just a bathrobe, knocking on the door next door. Two identical faces appeared in the hallway. Downstairs was a sea of people, like an evacuation. I clutched my belly, deliberately blocking the escape route. When Margaret and Derek tried to help Cole leave, I seized the opportunity and pushed my way to Margaret’s side. “Margaret, Derek, who is he?” The moment I spoke, Derek and Margaret jumped like cats whose tails had been stepped on. “When did you get here?” They completely lost their composure, stammering without being able to form words. Cole’s face was deathly pale. I quickly pulled over a medical worker doing routine checks to examine him. “Do you have any medical history?” I asked with concern. He glanced at me, then brushed it off by saying he had moderate anemia… I sneered inwardly. What kind of anemia requires a kidney donation? After the property management announced the all-clear, we returned home with varying expressions. Derek nervously told me another version of this family’s story. “Maya, I actually have a brother. He was kidnapped years ago. I thought I’d never see him again… But incredibly, he’s been living right across from us. It’s fate!” Derek was crying tears of joy. But his tears looked utterly fake to me. I forced a smile, secretly admiring his ability to fabricate lies. Cole, is it? We’ll see about this! I would personally uncover the secrets between this family and him. Cole put on a show of reuniting with his roots in front of me, as if returning to the Carson family was the greatest fortune of his life. I took the opportunity to suggest Cole move in with us. After all, family should live together—it’s most appropriate that way. Cole happily went next door to pack his things, but strangely, Derek and Margaret seemed very unwilling. But their unhappiness didn’t affect my mood at all. Just because I hadn’t caught them in their conspiracy yet didn’t mean there wouldn’t be opportunities in the future. After all, walls have ears. Soon enough, I found his medical records in Cole’s room. He was born with only one kidney! No wonder they were eyeing mine… Then, on the medical forms, I discovered something even more intriguing. He had type A blood… But I clearly remembered that Derek’s parents were both type O. Two type O parents could never produce a type A child! Unless Cole wasn’t Derek’s real brother at all! But they looked exactly alike… Puzzled, I began observing these two men. Soon I discovered some strange clues. Cole actually… reached his hand directly into Derek’s pants?! He even used his hand to tease Derek’s bulge! Derek didn’t refuse—he even thrust his hips along with it! That evening, while setting the table, I caught Cole leaning on Derek’s shoulder, lips pressed against his ear. Saying suggestively: “Come to my room tonight, hmm?” His voice was sickeningly sweet… making me wanted to vomit. Now I was absolutely certain they were not in any innocent brotherly relationship. That night, Cole brought me a glass of milk. His malicious smile made it hard for me to believe this was a normal glass of milk. But I went along with him and drank it in one gulp. After he left, I immediately made myself throw up. For them to torment me like this, clearly something would happen tonight. Soon, I witnessed an explosive scene on the surveillance footage.

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My daughter seemed like a completely different person! My husband had been abusing me for years. My parents stood by coldly, even helped him sometimes. I couldn’t take it anymore. I was about to end my life. But then, my 8-year-old daughter rushed over and slapped me across the face. She yelled at me, “Sarah! What the hell are you doing?! Get your act together!” I was stunned. How could my usually sweet and adorable daughter say something so vulgar? Her whole demeanor wasn’t that of an 8-year-old at all. My daughter’s hand was still small, but she’d put every ounce of her strength into that slap. My face stung, a fiery throb. She glared at me, her round eyes blazing with anger. I was too shocked to react. “Lily… you…” She pointed at the rooftop ledge, her voice accusatory. “Were you going to jump?” My nose tingled, and tears instantly welled up. I didn’t know how to answer her. I’d raised this child mostly on my own since she was little. We had such a close bond. She was the only person in this world I couldn’t bear to leave. But, my darling, Mom really couldn’t go on anymore… “Good girl, why don’t you go home first? Didn’t I buy you a little stuffed bunny? Go play with it for a bit.” I wanted to coax her away, but she pulled her hand from mine, her face full of impatience. “Don’t change the subject! You’re going to jump, going to kill yourself, but did you even think about me?” “As a mother, abandoning your child to an alcoholic father and just dying – is that fulfilling your responsibility as a mother?” “And even if my dad is an alcoholic and hits you, why don’t you fight back? What kind of modern woman doesn’t know how to protect herself these days?” Her small mouth opened and closed, her expression serious and stern. I was rooted to the spot in shock! Just this morning, she was still cuddling with me, begging for a plush rabbit to be her ‘sister.’ She was only eight! I quickly reached out to touch her forehead. Was she sick? She slapped my hand away. “I don’t have a fever!” “My dear, what’s wrong? Do you feel unwell anywhere?” “I’m fine, perfectly fine. It’s you I’m worried about. If you jump, you’ll be free!” “But think about my dad, my grandma, and your entire family – who among them will take care of me?” The thought plunged me back into despair. I pulled her into my arms, tears streaming down my face. “Mom doesn’t want this either, but what can I do? I can’t take you with me…” She gently stroked my back, a comforting rhythm. “Listen to me. Neither of us has to die. They’re the ones who should suffer.” “Don’t worry, I promise I’ll free you from all this pain.”

My daughter truly seemed like a different person. But I looked her up and down, from every angle, and she was indeed my daughter. “Stop staring. It’s your daughter, authentic and genuine.” She spoke softly, as if rolling her eyes. I just couldn’t wrap my head around it. I was about to talk to her when the front door of the house was suddenly kicked open with a loud bang. My heart instantly clenched. Mark was back! From the sound of him kicking the door, he must have been drunk again. I quickly led Lily back to her room. “Lily, no matter what you hear, don’t come out. Just like normal, okay?” Mark’s angry shouts echoed from outside the door. I closed it, quickly smoothing my hair. With another bang, he pushed the door open, reeking of alcohol. He squinted, scanning the room. I took a deep breath, forcing down the trembling that wracked my body, and stepped forward to help him. “You’re back…” A familiar silence, then an explosive outburst! He grabbed my hair, yanked me to the floor, first with punches and slaps, then standing over me, kicking again and again… “Bitch! Whore! You worthless woman!” I curled up, hugging my head, my eyes squeezed shut. Just hold on a little longer. He’d drunk a lot today; he’d tire himself out soon… Just a little more… Just as I felt myself fading, I heard a commotion, and he yelled, “What are you doing?! Let go of me!” I struggled to open my eyes and saw three or four police officers restraining him! He was furious, swearing at them. Lily was standing right there. Suddenly, I didn’t feel the pain anymore. I sprang up and pulled her into my arms, shielding her. “Why did you come out? Are you okay, honey?” I frantically checked her over. But she wasn’t flustered at all. She took my hand and spoke to the officers. “Officers, you saw it. This man has been abusing my mother for a long time. If you hadn’t arrived in time today, my mom might have been beaten to death!” Mark had sobered up quite a bit. “Bullshit! You little Asshole! Did you call the police?!” “Oh, Sarah, you’ve really gone too far. You’ve learned to call the police!” I shook my head frantically, but Lily continued. “Officers, he goes crazy every time he drinks. My mom is covered in bruises. You have to arrest him!” In the end, Mark was taken away by the police, cursing and swearing all the way out. I shivered uncontrollably. “It’s no use. He won’t stay in there forever.” But Lily said, “But there will be a police record, and my testimony, and the neighbors’.” “What are you planning?” A confident look settled on her small face. “First, divorce. We’ll figure out the rest later.”

Divorce… I dreamed of divorce. But Mark would never let me go that easily. For years, he’d held that one thing over my head, knowing my vulnerable situation. “It’s just your first love ran off; there’s nothing to worry about.” Lily said it so casually, and my mind went blank with a loud whoosh. How did she know about that?! Seeing me cover my mouth and stare with wide eyes, she quickly rephrased. “It wasn’t your fault anyway. You were the victim. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.” “He’s always used that to threaten you. As long as you’re not afraid, as long as you’re not threatened, you’ll definitely get a divorce.” That was the first time it felt like someone was truly on my side. My tears flowed instantly, a dam breaking… At seventeen, I didn’t understand people. A few sweet words, and I believed in “love.” Against my family’s objections, I eloped without a second thought. Later, we ran out of money, and he abandoned me for a wealthy businesswoman. I returned to my hometown in shame. My parents were embarrassed; my brother Daniel and his wife Jessica looked down on me. Eventually, they forced me to marry Mark, with no conditions or expectations. Six months later, I gave birth to Lily. Everyone said she didn’t look like Mark; she was too fair and beautiful. Mark developed a grudge, and my life, from then on, became a living hell… I knew it was all my own doing. But now. Lily was saying I was the victim. I couldn’t understand how an eight-year-old could say such things. “You’re too young; you don’t understand…” It wasn’t that I hadn’t suggested divorce before. But my family would point fingers at me, calling me trashy. Mark also threatened to tell everyone that Lily was a Asshole! I honestly didn’t know what else I could do… “You’re just too weak!” Lily sighed, pulling out a tissue and handing it to me. “You’re not some ignorant woman who hasn’t been to school. You should know that no one has the right to dictate your life!” “You were hurt, and you should have faced it bravely, walked out of the predicament! But what did you do? You gave up, came back to your hometown with a bad reputation, didn’t resist your parents’ unreasonable arrangements, and after marriage, you chose to endure your husband’s abuse. You weren’t wrong, but your current situation is all because of your weakness!” Every one of Lily’s words felt like a knife piercing my heart. It hurt, but it was a sobering pain. “Yes, you’re right. I was weak. Even a child like you understands this, yet I pretended to be foolish for so many years.” Lily then added, “Mom, while Mark is locked up for a few days, let’s go back to your parents’ house tomorrow. We’re going to get even with them. I’ll tell you what to do!”

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