Author: Momo Chan

Lucas Hart strode into the conference room to find the department director and Yasmin Quinn fighting over my computer, determined to delete my design work. I was pushed to the ground, a sharp pain shooting through my two-month pregnant belly. “Stop this at once! What do you think you’re doing?” Lucas’s voice was cold as ice. “Lucas, you’re here! Did you come to see me?” Yasmin’s eyes lit up at the sight of Lucas, her face flushing coyly. Lucas ignored her and scooped me up in his arms. “Lucas, what’s going on? Do you know this woman? She must have ulterior motives – she’s just pretending to get your attention!” Yasmin cried out. The bodyguards held them back at the elevator doors. Just before they closed, Lucas said icily, “If anything happens to my wife, you’d better not plan on living either!” The scorching sun beat down as I walked step by step towards the Blue Zenith Design office building, my heart full of hope for my new life. Suddenly, a deafening roar came from behind me. I turned to see a Lamborghini barreling towards me on the sidewalk, showing no signs of stopping. I froze in place, unable to react. The Lamborghini screeched to a halt mere inches from me. My body instinctively jerked backwards and I fell to the ground. “My baby!” I clutched my belly protectively. The car door opened and an aggressive-looking girl stepped out. Though impeccably made up, she couldn’t hide the hostility in her eyes. “Are you f***ing suicidal? What are you doing standing in front of my car? Do you have a death wish?” she snarled. I struggled to my feet, relieved to feel no abdominal pain. The baby seemed fine, though my dress was torn and my heels scuffed. A stinging sensation made me realize my leg was scraped, with visible blood. “This is a sidewalk. I was just walking normally. You’re the one illegally driving on the sidewalk,” I said, suppressing my anger. “What? You dare talk back to me? Don’t push your luck! It’s my first day of work and I don’t have time for this. Get out of my way!” The girl spat on the ground, got back in her car, and sped off. What awful luck to encounter someone like that! But thinking of my two-month-old baby, I knew I needed to stay calm and cheerful. I took a deep breath and did my best to clean up the scrape. Just ten minutes earlier, I had gotten out of Lucas’s car at the previous intersection. He had looked worried, reluctant to let his pregnant wife walk even a short distance in heels. But I insisted on getting out early, not wanting to reveal our relationship just yet. I could already imagine his reaction when he saw my injury tonight – angry, but mostly concerned.

Arriving at the 58th floor reception area of Blue Zenith Design, I stepped out of the elevator to find two rows of receptionists lined up. “Welcome, Miss Quinn—” they chorused with a bow. My mind went blank – had Lucas made our relationship public after all? “What are you doing? Stop that right now!” A woman with her hair in a bun came rushing over. “How many times do I have to tell you to use your brains! Look at how she’s dressed – torn dress, scuffed shoes. How could this possibly be the CEO’s wife?” The woman stood haughtily in front of me, berating her staff. “Yes, Ms. Young.” The receptionists looked me up and down, seeming to agree with her assessment, and lowered their heads. This left me thoroughly confused – if I wasn’t Lucas’s wife, then who was? Just then, the elevator doors opened again. The girl who had nearly run me over earlier swaggered out. The receptionists and Ms. Young immediately bowed respectfully in greeting. “Hello everyone, I’m Yasmin Quinn.” Yasmin looked very pleased by their deferential welcome. “Miss Quinn, oh I mean Mrs. Hart! Yesterday our director said the CEO’s wife with the surname Quinn would be starting work here. I received your resume last night and couldn’t sleep a wink from excitement! Please look after me and support me in the future!” Ms. Young fawned obsequiously. “Really? The director said I’m Lucas’s wife?” Yasmin’s face lit up with joy. “Yes! I received two resumes – yours and this woman’s. If you’re not the CEO’s wife, surely it couldn’t be her?” Ms. Young jerked her chin dismissively in my direction. Yasmin glanced at me scornfully. “Her? In those cheap clothes? As if she could be the CEO’s wife.” The others laughed derisively at her words. “If that’s what the director said, it must mean Lucas has feelings for me! After all, he and the director are so close, there’s no way he could have misunderstood!” Yasmin smiled smugly, her eyes gleaming with coy delight. Her expression made me rather uncomfortable. “Ms. Young, I think Miss Sinclair is wearing a Prada haute couture dress…” Tina, who had been standing quietly beside Ms. Young, said softly. Ms. Young’s face changed instantly upon hearing this. Yasmin also caught Tina’s words. “Haute couture? Prada? Come on Tina, don’t joke around. I’ve been to every major fashion show – that’s clearly a cheap knockoff!” “Haha, you’re right Yasmin! Tina, I can’t believe you got it so wrong! Don’t overthink things – hurry up and show Miss Quinn to the special workstation we prepared for her!” Hearing Yasmin’s words, Ms. Young relaxed completely. “Yes, Ms. Young. What about Aria Sinclair’s desk?” Tina asked. “Aria Sinclair? We don’t have any empty desks left! Let her work in the storage room for now!”

I entered the storage room, which was covered in dust. It was so stuffy I could barely breathe. I had to grab cleaning supplies from the utility closet and start scrubbing. I had just cleaned enough space to sit down when Ms. Young came in and dumped a huge pile of work on me – all her personal tasks. “Ms. Young, making a PowerPoint for your kid…is this really part of my job?” I asked incredulously. “Who do you think you are, Aria Sinclair? When I give you work, you do it! Don’t think I don’t know your type – daddy’s little rich girl who only got in here through connections!” Ms. Young put her hands on her hips and started berating me. “The design department is the biggest in Blue Zenith, and I’m the biggest player in the design department! You’d better listen to me and do whatever I say, or I’ll have you fired in no time!” With that, Ms. Young slammed the files on the desk and stormed out. I sighed and picked up the documents. Lucas’s words from yesterday echoed in my mind: “No matter how strict the management, in such a large company there are bound to be some sycophants in the subsidiaries. I’m worried they’ll bully you…” I had to laugh, remembering how I told him to think positively and trust his employees, as well as me. My whirlwind romance with Lucas felt like a fairytale. The reason I was reluctant to make our marriage public wasn’t just because I didn’t want to live under his protection, but also because I wanted to stand beside him with a brand new identity. I used to be a professional rehabilitation therapist, serving ultra-wealthy families in New York City. My very first client after starting work was Lucas Hart, who had lost feeling in his legs after a car accident. As the new CEO of Blue Zenith Group, news of Lucas’s potential paralysis would undoubtedly impact the company’s stock price and exacerbate the complex power dynamics among upper management. So Lucas decided to keep it under wraps, using the excuse of studying abroad to go to Switzerland with me for rehabilitation. At the time, Lucas didn’t know if he was facing permanent disability or eventual recovery. All he knew was that his 28 years of pride and invincibility had been shattered in the face of disaster. His mood was extremely unstable then. The slightest frustration would set him off throwing things in anger, causing his family great distress. But in those darkest moments, I patiently stayed by his side. I took him out in nature, let him vent his emotions freely in the wilderness, listened to his sorrow and helplessness, and offered sincere comfort… Later, to both our surprise, we fell in love. What surprised me even more was that his legs miraculously recovered. I had thought someone like him would never have a story with me. When I learned Lucas’s legs were back to normal, I was overjoyed but also deeply saddened, feeling I would no longer have the chance to stay by his side. I left a letter confessing my feelings for him and wishing him well in the future, then returned to the US alone. Unexpectedly, on the third day after I got back, as I was sitting at home lost in thought, the doorbell suddenly rang. Lucas was standing outside. He knelt on one knee with flowers and a ring, his eyes brimming with love. “Marry me, Aria.” … After we married, I quit my job as a therapist, but I wasn’t content to just be an idle housewife. I picked up my art and design studies again, which I had abandoned years ago due to financial constraints. I hoped to join my dream company – Blue Zenith Technologies under the Blue Zenith Group – as a designer. Even though I was pregnant, Lucas was very concerned about my health but still respected my wishes and agreed to let me pursue my dreams. But I never imagined that as soon as I arrived at the company, I would be taught such a ridiculous lesson.

“Aria Sinclair, come out for a minute.” Ms. Young had barely left when Yasmin came knocking. “What is it?” I followed Yasmin to her bright, spacious workstation. “Aria, did you know that for the first month at the company, we’re both on probation? Only one person can stay in this position, so there will be fair competition.” Yasmin crossed her arms and lifted her chin, smiling strangely. “Although they say it’s fair competition, we all know how things really work… My family may not be as powerful as the Harts, but we’re still one of the top families in New York. So I don’t need to spell out which of us will stay, right?” “You mean I’ll be the one to leave?” I smiled too. But my smile angered Yasmin. “What’s that supposed to mean? You think it’ll be me? I’m just giving you fair warning so you don’t cry too hard when the time comes!” “I believe Blue Zenith is a fair company that will keep the person who’s most qualified for the job.” I replied calmly. “Qualified? Ms. Young showed me your resume – you’re just some poor student who had to drop out after one year at the Paris College of Art! I studied properly in the US for three years. How can you compare to me?” Thinking of my unfinished studies, I lowered my eyes, feeling a moment of sadness. But then I remembered how my French professor Léo always said: “Aria, you have such talent. It’s as if you were born for art.” “Not necessarily. I don’t think I’ll necessarily lose to you.” I took a deep breath and said quietly. “Don’t push your luck!” Yasmin flared up. “Since that’s how it is, next week we’re co-hosting a fashion show with a French design company. You two will represent Blue Zenith. I want to see what skills you really have!” Ms. Young had just come over to bring Yasmin coffee and overheard our conversation. “One week…” I murmured. “What’s wrong? Scared? Listen up, if your design isn’t chosen by the French side, forget one month – I’ll kick you out of the company immediately!” Ms. Young said contemptuously. “I was going to say that one week is plenty of time.” I smiled, leaving the two fuming women behind as I walked away.

One week is indeed very tight for creating a perfect work of art. But in my mind, I had already sketched out a design – it was an unfulfilled dream from my time studying in Paris. It was a gown with the pattern of Wang Ximeng’s “A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains” painted on it. Silk lining embroidered with Chinese landscapes. An organza overlay to add a dreamy, ethereal feel. The main colors would be smoky gray with low-saturation blue-green and white tones… I pulled three all-nighters to complete the design. After the final stroke, I collapsed onto the desk in the study and fell into a deep sleep. In my dreams, I heard Lucas gently scolding: “How could you fall asleep here…” I felt his strong arms lift me up and carefully place me on the bed, followed by a light kiss on my forehead. … The next morning, I rushed out the door with my drawings. Lucas chased after me: “Staying up late every night, and now getting up so early! Aria Sinclair, do you care about your health at all? What about the baby?” Seeing how worried he was, I couldn’t help but smile. “I’m fine, I feel great. Work makes me happy! The baby’s good too, I felt it move just now!” “Then, then what about me? Don’t you care about me anymore?” Lucas furrowed his brow and pouted. Is this what a sulky CEO looks like? I couldn’t help but giggle and gave him a quick kiss to reassure him. “That’s more like it! Oh, and Mom’s coming to New York to see you in the next couple days. Make sure you come home early!” Hearing that my outgoing and friendly mother-in-law was visiting, I was also very happy and nodded repeatedly. Little did I know that when I got to the office, things would take an unexpected turn.

Ms. Young and the design team staff were already waiting in the conference room. Today’s meeting was to conduct an initial screening to determine if my and Yasmin’s designs qualified for the fashion show. Yasmin presented her work first – a bright red brocade gown. You could tell some effort went into it, but not much. Ms. Young still praised it effusively with exaggerated expressions and tone, then asked everyone for feedback. It was clear no one wanted to offend this young heiress. They each took turns complimenting Yasmin’s design with flowery words, no two people saying the same thing. Yasmin could barely contain her smug smile. She turned to me triumphantly: “Aria’s supposed to be a big shot designer who studied in New York for a year. I can’t wait to see what masterpiece you’ll present!” The others laughed at her words. My resume was indeed the least impressive compared to theirs – they just wanted to see me make a fool of myself. Unfazed, I connected my computer to the projector. The moment I opened my design, the previously noisy conference room fell silent. Everyone held their breath, as if afraid to disturb the atmosphere. “It’s so beautiful!” “Incredible!” “Wow Aria, I had no idea you were this talented!” … People started whispering excitedly. Yasmin’s face visibly darkened. “Aria, this design looks familiar somehow. You didn’t plagiarize it, did you?” Yasmin suddenly asked coldly. “That’s right, I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere too. You must have copied it!” Ms. Young quickly chimed in. “That’s impossible. I stayed up for days designing this myself. All the drafts are on my computer.” I replied calmly. “Really? I don’t believe you. Show us the drafts then.” Ms. Young sneered. I opened my computer and pulled up the folder. The various draft versions were clearly visible. “Ms. Young, these drafts were probably stolen together. Aria didn’t even finish grad school, how could she have this level of skill!” Yasmin continued stirring things up. “We can’t let these designs get out, it would ruin Blue Zenith’s reputation!” “You’re right. Tina, delete all these files from Aria’s computer!” Tina responded and lunged for my computer. “Don’t you dare touch my designs!” I shouted. They all froze for a moment. But they quickly recovered and three of them started fighting me for the computer. “Let go, you b*tch!” Yasmin yelled as she grabbed at it. “Let go, or I’ll fire you right now!” Ms. Young snarled through gritted teeth. “You try firing me and see what happens! How can Blue Zenith have someone like you? Is there no justice?” I shot back without hesitation. SLAP! A stinging slap landed on my face, making me stumble. I lost my balance and fell to the ground. A sharp pain shot through my abdomen, making me see stars. My heart clenched in fear. The baby… my baby… I fought through the pain, trying to stand up and get the computer back. I couldn’t just watch helplessly as they destroyed my hard work! But the physical pain prevented me from getting up no matter how hard I tried. Just as they were about to delete the files, a thunderous shout came from the conference room door. “STOP RIGHT THERE!” Lucas strode in with my mother-in-law on his arm, followed by several bodyguards and assistants. “What do you think you’re doing?” Lucas’s voice was ice cold as he quickly made his way to my side and helped me up.

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I’ve been married to Lucas for three years, only to suddenly discover he has had a girlfriend for eight years. When I proposed divorce, he cried and told me he had a mission to complete. “Emma, we can’t divorce. I’ll die!” “If we’re not married for at least four years, I’ll die!” What mission? This is absurd! I sneered at him and filed for divorce anyway. Later, I really saw his obituary on social media. Today is our wedding anniversary. Lucas and I had agreed to have dinner at this restaurant. The waiter enthusiastically ushered me to the private room. Just as I was about to push the door open, I heard his sneering voice, “If it weren’t for completing the mission, would I have married her?” “A woman who’s been used by other men, would you want her if I gave her to you?” I don’t know who he was talking to on the phone. The speaker was on, and a teasing voice came from the other end, “I’ve been envying your wife’s figure and looks. If you don’t want her anymore, why not let us brothers have some fun?” He slowly blew out a smoke ring, and even more offensive words came out of his mouth, “She’s no better than any prostitute out there.” “Once you’ve tasted her, you’ll realize she’s nothing special.” He spoke carelessly, as if I were an object that could be discarded at will. The waiter had tactfully left long ago. I stood at the door, listening to his tone that didn’t sound like a joke, my eyes rimmed with red. I let go of the hand that was about to push the door, not even having the courage to confront him. In the end, I went home in a daze. Lucas had pursued me for three years. When he learned that William Shen was going to break up with me and get engaged to the real heiress Cindy Lin, he disregarded his boss’s scolding and resolutely broke his appointment with a client to hold an umbrella for me in the pouring rain. “If he doesn’t want you, I do!” “Emma, look back. I’ve always been here.” I was stunned by his sudden appearance, and the tears I had been holding back could no longer be controlled, falling along with the heavy rain. In the following days, he took care of me wholeheartedly, helping me get over the breakup. He would drive me around, and appear by my side immediately whenever I felt sad. To confess to me, he rented the largest electronic screen in the city center. Declaring his love for me to the whole world. He said, “Emma Lin is the best Emma Lin in the world. I, Lucas Lu, will have no one but you!” That day, in front of our friends, he said he would give me the happiest life. So, we got together under the witness of our friends. During our relationship, he kept his promise to me. His kindness to me made all our friends envious. In the fourth year of our relationship, he and his friends carefully planned a proposal for me. When he asked if I was willing to face the future together with him, my eyes welled up with tears. Without saying anything, I extended my hand. He was overjoyed, and I cried tears of happiness. We stood in the middle of the crowd, accepting everyone’s blessings. After marriage, his care for me became even more meticulous, from daily meals to hospital stays when I was sick. Even outsiders couldn’t find any fault. Let alone me. The moment I opened the front door, looking at the empty room, the sadness in my heart intensified. I dragged myself to the sofa, and my phone screen lit up at the right moment. “Baby, have you arrived?” “I ordered your favorite lobster.” I nestled tiredly on the sofa, recalling what Lucas had said in the restaurant. A woman who’s been used… no better than a prostitute… Every word stabbed my heart, almost drawing blood. Even though I heard it with my own ears, I couldn’t believe these words really came from his mouth. The person who was so good to me that he would give his life for me. I’d rather believe these were drunken ramblings. But they say drunk words are sober thoughts, and he was clearly so sober… My eyes unconsciously reddened again and again, tears falling like broken strings, seeping into the sofa and disappearing. I took a deep breath, wiped away my tears, no longer wanting to let this matter occupy my mind. I forced an ugly smile and replied to his message, “Baby, I think my period came. My stomach hurts so much. I’m already home now.” “I’m sorry, I should have told you earlier.” He quickly replied, “You don’t need to apologize. My baby’s health is the most important.” “Wait for me at home, I’ll be there soon. I’ll make you some ginger tea when I get back.” He was always so understanding. It only takes 20 minutes from the restaurant to home, but it was more than an hour later when he got home. He hurriedly pushed the door open, carrying my favorite seafood porridge. “Babe, I got held up a bit on the way, so I’m a little late.” “But I packed some seafood porridge for you.” He proudly placed the porridge in front of me and opened it, then handed me a tulip. I looked at the porridge and flower in front of me and smiled weakly. But my mind was in turmoil. He patted my head and turned to the kitchen, “You eat the porridge first, the ginger tea will be ready soon.” The moment he went in, his phone screen lit up. A notification from a food delivery app. It was a cake, delivered to an unfamiliar address, with a bouquet of flowers. The note said “Love you forever.” My mind exploded in that instant. I asked hoarsely, tentatively, “Lucas, did you buy cake and flowers for someone else?” He reflexively denied, “No, of course not.” The screen darkened, and my heart sank a few degrees. So all this wasn’t my misunderstanding? “I bought it for you, silly. I thought you couldn’t eat cake during your period, so I had the order sent to someone else.” He came out with the ginger tea, a gentle smile on his face, “If I really had it delivered here, could you resist eating it?” I stared at his face, trying to find any flaws. But there were none. He disguised it well.

I smiled sweetly, “I thought you had another woman outside.” His expression seemed to freeze for a moment, but before I could be sure, he returned to his gentle self, lightly tapping my head. “What are you thinking? How could I have another woman? You’re enough for me in this lifetime, Emma Lu.” With that, he kissed my forehead again and again. In the past, I would have believed him without a doubt. But today, I had heard him disparage me with my own ears. I remained calm, acting as usual, giggling as I pushed him away, “Go wash up, you stink!” After he left, I picked up his phone and opened the messaging app. This was the first time I had ever checked his phone. It was clean, nothing suspicious. But it was too clean. Finally, in his payment records, I found an unusual expenditure. Every month, he would transfer money to this account, for five years. Seeing the name on the account, I remembered a person I had seen earlier. Opening her profile, I quietly noted down the phone number displayed. By the time he came out, the phone was back in its original position on the table. He glanced at me, his expression inexplicably flustered, but quickly returned to normal, “Baby, did anyone message me?” He was wiping his hair, pretending to ask casually. I feigned ignorance, got up and looked at his phone, “No.” The next day, on what should have been a workday, I took a day off. After Lucas left for work, I dialed the number I had noted down last night, “Hello?” The other end responded, the voice gruff, a man. I suppressed my pounding heart and exhaled, thinking, thankfully it’s not her. But the next moment, his question plunged me into an icy abyss. “Are you here to rent an apartment?” I couldn’t control my trembling voice, and just managed an “Mm.” “You’re in luck, a tenant is just moving out. You can come take a look.” “Don’t worry, our security is very good. This tenant who’s moving out has lived here for five years!” He was enthusiastically promoting the place, and when I heard “five years,” everything seemed to fall into place. Why Lucas often worked overtime. Why he always smiled stupidly while looking at his phone. Why it took him an hour to get home yesterday when the restaurant was so close. It turned out that while I was being kept in the dark, while he was being good to me, he had another woman. And they had been in contact for five years. I took a deep breath, suppressing the emotions about to burst forth, “Can I come take a look later?” After he agreed, I hung up the phone. The tears that had been welling up in my eyes broke free, and I could no longer control myself from crying out loud. After a long while, I composed myself and called my best friend Sophie to go with me to the address the man had sent. Seeing my distress, Sophie asked what had happened. I told her everything about Lucas, and she angrily asked, “So what are you going to do?” I laughed lightly, “Everything needs evidence.” We arrived at the address the man had given and followed him to the apartment that was about to be rented out. Standing at the door, watching the man’s back as he knocked, I suddenly felt as if time had frozen. I gripped Sophie’s hand tightly, but still couldn’t help sweating. I still hoped, deep down, that this person didn’t exist. The moment the door opened, my eyes stared blankly at the person who opened it. “Here to see the apartment?” he asked proactively. I frowned and looked at Sophie, who also looked confused at me. Was this whole thing really just me misunderstanding Lucas? After viewing the entire apartment, I pretended to be dissatisfied and walked out. Sophie exchanged a glance with me, “Landlord, do you have any other apartments?” The landlord hesitated, “There is one, but the tenant went out this morning. I’d have to ask if they’re willing to let us in to view it first.” We nodded, saying we could wait, and he went to call the tenant. “Sophie, I think I really misunderstood him. How am I going to explain to him?” I nervously held her arm, my face full of worry. She told me to relax, that everything would turn out fine. The tenant agreed to let us view the apartment, and we casually looked around. Thinking that after this viewing, I would go home and make a loving dinner for him. All these years, he had always been the one cooking for me. The times I cooked for him could be counted on one hand. The landlord was introducing the layout and lighting to us. Finally, afraid we wouldn’t rent, he told us, “A young woman lives here. All in all, she’s been living here for five years.” Five years? This number made me extremely sensitive. Our previously jovial expressions now turned solemn. Sophie casually asked, “She looks quite pretty. She must have a boyfriend, right?” The landlord chuckled, “Of course! It’s always her boyfriend who pays the rent. I even have his WeChat in my phone.” He took out his phone and showed us the chat history with Lucas, full of money transfers. I froze in place, my mind in chaos. Sophie was the first to react, “Are you sure this is her boyfriend?” The landlord looked disdainful, “Of course! He always comes during the day, rarely seen at night!” His voice suddenly lowered, “This girl is probably a mistress! What couple has a boyfriend who’s never there at night, right?” My eyes were already red. I felt like a walking corpse as Sophie supported me. I lowered my head, silently wiping away tears, then forced a smile, “Can we take some photos? We’ll discuss it when we get back.” The landlord happily agreed. Sophie looked at me worriedly. I squeezed her arm and said softly, “Now we have solid evidence, don’t we?” It’s not all bad. I took photos of the room’s layout, and secretly took a photo of the girl’s picture.

When I got home, Lucas had already prepared dinner and was waiting for me. “I’ve made dinner, come eat quickly.” The phone screen lit up. It was the landlord. “Miss, the apartment you viewed later can be moved into the day after tomorrow. You should decide quickly.” I replied, “How can it be so fast?” “The tenant today went out to buy a house with her boyfriend. They said they’ve already decided and will move out by the day after tomorrow at the latest.” “Okay.” I sneered as I looked at Lucas, who was still busy. Now he’s washing clothes and cooking for me, but during the day he went out to buy a house with his mistress. How wonderful. Lucas saw my expression and moved me to the dining table, kissing the corner of my mouth, “Is my baby unhappy today?” I looked at him for a while before speaking, “I went to your company to find you today, but you weren’t there.” Lucas’s expression visibly stiffened. I continued to press, “You weren’t at work? Where did you go?” His smile had already gradually disappeared, but the next second it rose again, “I went out to meet a client today. Why did my baby come to the company to find me?” I smiled lightly and hugged his waist, snuggling into his arms, “Nothing, I just missed you.” I took out my phone and flipped to the photos of the apartment I had taken in the afternoon, “Sophie and I went to look at apartments this afternoon. What do you think of this one?” I handed the phone to him. His smile became particularly uncomfortable, but his tone was still gentle as usual, “Why are you looking at apartments?” I spoke softly, carefully observing his expression, “Sophie said she wants to renovate the one she bought, so she needs to rent one temporarily.” He nodded casually and handed the phone back to me, “This one is not bad.” I smiled and flipped to the girl’s photo to show him, “I saw this girl when I was viewing the apartment. She’s quite pretty, so I couldn’t help but take a photo.” He glanced at it, his expression evasive. His hand shook a little as he served me food, “She is pretty, but my baby is prettier.” I smiled and put away the phone, “Let’s eat.” This was the most silent meal we had had since we got together. That night, when he wanted to be intimate, I coldly pushed him away, “Have you forgotten? I’m on my period.” He retreated sheepishly, holding me tightly in his arms. The day after tomorrow is my birthday. As usual, I would celebrate with Sophie first and then come home to celebrate with Lucas. But on this day, Sophie and I went directly to that community. We stood outside the community, watching Lucas and another woman laughing and kissing passionately. Sophie was about to rush over to confront Lucas, but I stopped her. We followed them to their new community where they were moving. To my surprise, Lucas was so bold as to buy a house in the same building as ours. How loving. I deliberately returned home at ten o’clock as before, after celebrating my birthday with Sophie. When I got home, I didn’t turn on the lights. I sat on the sofa in the dark, waiting for Lucas to come back. Lucas came back at half past ten. When he saw me sitting on the sofa, he was startled. The next moment, he returned to normal, just like before, holding a cake in his hand and a bouquet of tulips I liked. “Baby, I’m back! Happy birthday!” I looked at his performance quietly, chuckling, “Thank you.” I accepted the cake and blessings as usual. He sang me a birthday song, turned off the lights, and let me make a wish. I closed my eyes and made a wish for a long time. When the candles were about to go out, Lucas started to urge me, “If you take too long, it won’t come true.” I blew out the candles and spoke in the darkness, “Lucas, would you be as good to other women as you are to me?” When Lucas turned on the lights, I saw his panicked expression again, “Baby, what are you talking about?” He pinched my face, “You don’t seem to be in a good state lately. Is it because of your period?” I couldn’t control my emotions anymore and slapped his hand away, “Lucas, have you had enough of this act? How long do I have to play along with you?” His expression froze, and he stared at me blankly, his eyes panicked. “Are you going to confess yourself, or do you want me to say it?” Seeing him not speaking for a long time, I sneered and stood up, taking out a report from my bag and throwing it in his face. “This is the pregnancy test report I saw in your car yesterday.” ———-This is the cutoff point———-

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When my wife underwent artificial insemination for her cancer-stricken first love, I left a divorce agreement and walked away. Before leaving, I commented on their sweet photo on social media: “Let’s divorce. I’m making room for you two.” A minute later, she called, “Ethan, how can you be so selfish? Can you bear to let him die without an heir?” I laughed coldly and replied, “I don’t love you anymore. It has nothing to do with me.” But she became anxious. On our wedding anniversary, I asked my wife to come home early. Her usually cold expression showed a brief surprise before she silently nodded. That night, I prepared dinner and cake, waiting for her on the sofa until dawn. She never came home. Zoe Pei and I had been married for five years, but we were husband and wife in name only. She was the only daughter of Pei Group, the future heir. As for me, I was just an adopted son Grandpa Pei picked up from an orphanage twenty years ago. I met Zoe when I was eight years old. It was my first time being brought into the Pei family by Grandpa Pei. Years of living in ordinary circumstances made me feel out of place in such a grand house. Every move I made was cautious, careful not to upset anyone. Despite this, Zoe gradually helped me integrate into the family, taking care of my fragile self-esteem. To this day, I still remember when Old Mr. Pei told me to marry Zoe. I was overjoyed, thinking it would be worth it even if I died that day. Although everyone around me said I wasn’t good enough for her, I still plunged headfirst into the relationship. After all, who would pass up the chance to hold the moon in their arms? I sat on the sofa, silently watching the clock on the wall strike midnight, but there was still no news from Zoe. I couldn’t help but call her, but all I got in response was a cold electronic voice. Just as I was about to go out to find her at the company, Leo sent me a photo. In the picture, Zoe was hugging Leo, who was wearing a hospital gown. They looked intimate. Like a loving couple. Below the photo was a message from Leo: “Sorry, Ethan. I’m sick, and Zoe is keeping me company. The hospital needs to be quiet, so I muted her phone.” Leo’s message shattered my last bit of hope. I should have known all along that Zoe never loved me. I always knew that Zoe was never my moon. It’s just that for a moment, the moonlight really shone on me. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly at myself, mocking how long I had clung to the title of her husband. So long that I had become complacent. I didn’t reply. I just silently walked into the kitchen and reheated the already cold food. I swallowed this bitter dinner bite by bite, along with the cake. In fact, I had long understood that Zoe loved Leo. Leo was her first love from her teenage years. One was a beautiful and well-mannered heiress, the other a campus celebrity. And I was just the Pei family’s adopted son, hidden in the shadows. No matter how you look at it, they should have been a couple, but Grandpa Pei didn’t agree to their relationship. After Leo left heartbroken, I was able to pick up this bargain. On my eighteenth birthday, I wished that Zoe would look at me once more, and later she married me. Now, at twenty-eight, I only ask that she let me go in the little time I have left. At the same time, I’m letting myself go too.

A year ago, Leo, who had been missing for a long time, suddenly reappeared. Unlike before, his still handsome face now had a sickly pallor. After learning that he had cancer, Zoe began to devote her entire heart to him. Every day after work, she would go to the hospital to take care of him. I, who was already insignificant in her eyes, became completely invisible to her now. Occasionally, I would call Zoe to come home for dinner, only to be met with her cold rebuke. “All you think about is these trivial matters. Do you know how much Leo is suffering alone in the hospital?” “Honestly, why couldn’t it have been you who got this disease? It’s a waste for Leo to suffer like this.” Before I could answer, she would hang up. Sometimes, even Zoe’s gaze towards me carried a hint of resentment. Perhaps she hated me for agreeing to Grandpa Pei’s marriage arrangement back then, hated me for driving Leo away. But no matter what she thought of me, it no longer mattered. Because, just as she wished, I had been diagnosed with bone cancer six months ago. I had been hiding it from Zoe, afraid she would think I was trying to gain her sympathy by appearing weak. Ironically, even God seemed to think I was redundant. In these six months, my condition had rapidly deteriorated. The chemotherapy that was once a month became twice a month or even more frequent. The pain that seeped into my bones tortured me constantly. But I still persevered. I wanted to live a little longer, to see my moon once more. Until that day, right after chemotherapy, trembling in pain on the hospital bed, I saw Leo’s social media post. “Thank you to my angel for bringing me a little angel when I needed companionship the most.” Accompanied by a sweet photo of the two of them. At that moment, I only heard a boom in my mind, my heart feeling like it was being wrenched. Even the lingering pain from the chemotherapy couldn’t compare to the pain in my heart at that moment. The girl I had loved for over ten years, my wife of five years. She was having a child for another man. Nothing could be more heartbreaking than this. I knew it was time to let go. I drafted the divorce agreement. Zoe rarely came home these days, and I wouldn’t pretend to be pitiful to trick her into coming back. So, I chose our wedding anniversary as a reason to ask her to come home. To tell her about the divorce decision, and also to tell her that my time was running out. I didn’t expect that I had underestimated Zoe’s indifference and overestimated my position in her heart. I cleaned up the dining table, went back to the bedroom to pack my meager belongings, and left with nothing. I had entered the Pei family with nothing, and now leaving, I naturally couldn’t take anything with me. Thinking about how I had spent my entire life seeking a proper home. Now, as I was about to die, I realized that being clean and unencumbered was quite good too. After doing all this, I left the house keys along with a copy of the divorce agreement on the dining table. I sent Zoe a message. “The divorce agreement is on the table. I’m making room for you two.” Then I turned off my phone, closed the door, and left without looking back.

Half a month later, I came to the hospital to complete this month’s last chemotherapy session. On my way to deliver the medical report. I happened to run into Zoe accompanying Leo for a checkup. “Pregnant?” I asked casually. “No, Zoe is just accompanying me for a checkup. Thanks to her, I’ve recovered so quickly,” Leo explained, seeing my unfriendly expression. “That’s good, congratul-” Before I could finish, Zoe, who had been holding Leo’s arm, interrupted me. “Ethan, what are you doing? Why aren’t you answering your phone?” “And what’s this about divorce? Who allowed you to divorce? Are you planning to leave with nothing?” “What, now you’ve come to the hospital to win me back? Are you trying to play the victim?” Zoe’s barrage of questions made my already unclear mind feel even worse. Thinking about the upcoming chemotherapy, I didn’t bother with them anymore and walked straight into the doctor’s office. “Mr. Cheng, this is your last chemotherapy session for this month.” “Given your current condition, we suggest you start inpatient treatment after this session.” The doctor’s expression was grave. Combined with my current physical state, even I understood. My time was running out. I nodded, telling the doctor I wanted to think about it and finish this chemotherapy session first. After arranging with the doctor, I walked out of the office, preparing to enter the treatment room. Zoe grabbed me at the door. Leaving Leo looking at us with reluctant eyes. “Ethan, what are you doing? Are you serious?” Zoe crossed her arms, her usual dismissive gaze showing a hint of confusion. “What else? At this point, what reason do I have to lie to you?” I waved my hand wearily, just looking at her calmly. “Then why didn’t you say anything? Dragging it out until now, are you waiting here to make me pity you or-” “Do you remember our wedding anniversary half a month ago? I wanted to tell you that day, but where were you?” Zoe’s expression was shocked when I suddenly interrupted her, as if she couldn’t believe it. In fact, this was the first time in my life I had ever interrupted her. In the past, I would have been happy for an entire day just for having an extra word with her, but now I only found it annoying. Her words were either constantly ignoring me or endlessly mocking me. She really thought the world revolved around her. Although I hadn’t received the divorce certificate with Zoe yet. In my view, since I had drafted that divorce agreement, we had already become strangers. Suddenly realizing this, I felt that I was actually colder than I had imagined. Once I decided I had no relationship with someone, I thoroughly cut off everything with them. Be it relationships or emotions. The deeper my love for Zoe had been, the more indifferent I felt towards her now. At this moment, the nurse from the chemotherapy room called my name, asking me to come in for treatment. Hearing this, I turned to leave. Seeing me about to leave, Zoe hurriedly said, “What about my grandfather?” With these words, I immediately understood her meaning. Back then, Grandpa Pei had used the Pei Group heir position to threaten her into marrying me. Now that I wanted a divorce, I naturally had to give Grandpa Pei an explanation. “Don’t worry about that, I’ll explain everything to him.” After saying this, I left directly, not looking back at her once. In the past, I always watched Zoe’s retreating figure. Now, I no longer needed to.

After the chemotherapy, I stared blankly at the ceiling of the hospital room as usual. The color was so white it made me feel cold. It reminded me of the morgue where my adoptive father’s body was kept twenty years ago. Everything there was equally hopeless. As far back as I could remember, the only person by my side was my adoptive father. My adoptive father made a living as a taxi driver. The neighbors all said he was a bachelor approaching thirty who still hadn’t found a wife. And I was an orphan abandoned by my birth parents from birth. At that time, I was just a baby, thrown like garbage at my adoptive father’s doorstep. Seeing that I was as pitiful as him, he took me in. For the next eight years, it was just me and my adoptive father relying on each other to survive. Although life was tight then, those were some of the few happy days in my impoverished life. Perhaps it was destined that I shouldn’t have lived a peaceful life. When I was eight, my adoptive father went out to work a night shift in the rain and never came back. I only remember being led by a group of people in white coats into a very cold place. My adoptive father’s cold body was lying there stiffly. No matter how heart-wrenchingly I cried, he wouldn’t get up and hold me like he used to. Gently patting my back, telling me not to cry, that everything would be alright. After my adoptive father’s death, the neighbors avoided me like the plague. I became an orphan once again, entering the orphanage as my final destination. The long night was hard to endure, but the sun would always rise as usual. On the second day after I entered the orphanage, Grandpa Pei personally came to take me back to the Pei family. “Child, what’s your name? Would you like to come with me?” “My name is Ethan, meaning peace.” Ethan means long-lasting peace, to be safe and sound for life. My adoptive father hadn’t read much, I only heard him often murmuring in my ear that as long as one lived peacefully, it was good enough. After I finished speaking, he gave me a smile. That smile made me feel like my adoptive father had returned. It was also this smile that made me plunge headfirst into a world that didn’t originally belong to me. It was in this world that I met the person I would chase for most of my life. When we first met, Zoe was wearing a pure white princess dress, sitting at the grand piano in the center of the spacious living room. Her fingers, white as jade, continuously played beautiful notes. At that moment, I gazed at her as if entranced. Perhaps seeing my gaze was too intense, Zoe looked at me and walked over with a smile. “Are you the new friend Grandpa mentioned? Hello, I’m Zoe Pei.” “Zoe means ‘like’ or ‘love’, you know!” As she spoke, she reached out her hand to hold mine, leading me to tour every corner of the Pei house. At that time, I didn’t ask for anything, didn’t want anything, just a home, just love. Even if I died, I didn’t want to be abandoned again. Thinking of this, I unconsciously gripped Zoe’s hand tightly. Like a drowning person clinging desperately to the only lifeline nearby. In the days that followed, Zoe became like my little shadow, following me wherever I went. In her words, I was the only one in this family willing to play and have fun with her, her best companion. We absolutely couldn’t be separated. And so, Zoe and I grew closer and closer. Sometimes, the colder a person is, the more they want to get close to something warm. Zoe was gentle and passionate, like a ray of sunshine illuminating my originally barren life. When I was with her, I always felt a long-lost sense of peace and tranquility. So, I will never forget what she once said to me: “From now on, this is your home, and I am your family.” But now, hearing these words, I only feel extremely bitter.

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Five years of marriage, yet my wife never let me touch her. It wasn’t until she left me in the emergency room to pick up her true love at the airport that I finally understood. She was saving herself for her ideal man. And I was just a substitute, a toy she could discard at will. I gave up, choosing to let them be together. But my wife grabbed my clothes, kneeling on the ground, refusing to let go. “You said you’d love me for a lifetime,” she pleaded. My girlfriend was lying on the couch, editing photos on her phone. As I walked by, I accidentally caught a glimpse of a picture of her with her ideal lover. The two of them were wearing matching outfits, cuddling together, looking like the perfect couple in love. My heart instantly turned cold. In our five years of marriage, forget about matching outfits – she wouldn’t even walk next to me in public, saying I was too ugly and embarrassed her. I had a crush on her for four years in college, and we rushed into marriage right after graduation. I knew it was because her ideal lover had abandoned her that day, and I happened to be by her side when she impulsively chose me. Despite this, I still believed that through sincere dedication, I could make her fall in love with me. But now, seeing this photo, I realized it was just my wishful thinking. I confronted her with a dark expression: “Why do you still have this kind of photo with Chris?” To my surprise, she exploded, looking down on me with contempt. “Who told you to look at my phone? This is private, don’t you understand?” Private? After five years of marriage, I just glanced at her phone, and she talks about privacy? Chris was practically kissing her cheek, and she had a big smile on her face. I felt sick. Seeing that I didn’t respond, Mia became even more aggressive. “Chris is now working with our company, and this photo was just for a game. If you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do about it.” “People with dirty minds think everything is dirty.” With that, Mia walked away without looking back. In the past, I would have tried to stop her. But today, I didn’t. I was starting to lose hope in her. Did she even believe what she was saying? What kind of game requires matching outfits? And looking at the watch Chris was wearing, it was clearly a couple’s set with hers. Was that part of the game too?

That night, I was negotiating with a client and ended up with an acute gastric perforation. The doctor said I needed a family member to take care of me. In this city, Mia was my only family. It was because of her that I came to this city in the first place. I had no choice but to call her. “Mia, can you come to the hospital to take care of me?” Before I could finish, she coldly interrupted me. “It’s just a photo, and now you’re pretending to be sick to trick me? I’m out right now!” Before she finished speaking, I heard a man’s voice, and then the call was abruptly ended. Looking at the five-second call on my phone, I laughed bitterly, my heart turning cold. I recognized the voice – it was her ideal lover, Chris. I was her husband, drinking myself to the point of gastric perforation just to help her more. Yet she would rather accompany her true love than come to the hospital for me. No wonder in five years of marriage, she wouldn’t let me touch even a finger. She was saving herself for her ideal man. Maybe if I really had an accident, she would be happy. After all, without me as an obstacle, she could openly be with her true love. That night, I spent the most painful night of my life in the operating room. I thought I would be very angry, that my heart would ache. But surprisingly, I felt nothing, not a single emotional fluctuation. I knew this was a sign of falling out of love. Mia could no longer affect my emotions in any way. The doctor saw that I didn’t make a sound during the surgery and couldn’t help but admire me. It wasn’t that I couldn’t feel the pain, it was just that in my state of despair, this little pain was negligible. The day after the surgery, ignoring the doctor’s advice, I forcibly checked out of the hospital. I printed out a divorce agreement downstairs. Lying on the couch, I quietly waited for Mia to come home. 2 It wasn’t until midnight that Mia returned home, drunk and smiling. In five years, I had rarely seen her smile so happily. She could smile and speak softly to others, but to me, she was always cold-faced, speaking in a commanding tone. Seeing me lying on the couch, Mia waved her hand and coldly ordered: “Jack, go get me some water to wash my feet.” Seeing that I didn’t move, Mia’s expression turned colder. “Jack, are you deaf? I’ll say it again, go get me some water to wash my feet.” I had just had surgery on my stomach and couldn’t move easily. I shook my head. “Go get it yourself.” As soon as I spoke, Mia’s eyes turned ice-cold. “You think you’ve grown wings now, daring to disobey me?” Mia sat down opposite me with a mocking expression, reeking of alcohol, her eyes full of disdain. I laughed coldly inside. It seems she had quite a few drinks today, and she was in a good mood. No wonder, two old lovers reuniting. If she had said she wasn’t coming home tonight, I wouldn’t have been surprised. After loving each other for so many years, having dinner, drinking, and maybe rolling in bed to reminisce – not too much to ask, right? I took a deep breath and looked at her calmly. “Mia, let’s get a divorce.” Mia’s expression changed as she looked at me. It wasn’t pleading or reluctance, but shock. “You dare to divorce me?” Her tone was high and mighty, as if speaking to her servant or slave. She couldn’t believe I had the guts. For five years, I had been like a dog, accepting everything she did. When we got married, she refused to serve tea to my parents as a sign of respect. She said she had already served tea to her ideal lover’s parents before, and that she would only do it once in her life. She could only have one set of in-laws in this lifetime. The wedding venue fell silent instantly. It was me who jokingly took the microphone and went along with her wishes. Under my parents’ grim expressions, I served that cup of tea on her behalf. Thinking about it now, I was such an idiot! I handed her the divorce agreement, my expression flat. “Sign it. I’m making way for Chris. From now on, the man of this house will be the one you’ve been dreaming of day and night. You won’t have to face this substitute anymore.” Mia’s face changed, looking a bit flustered. “How did you know? Did you follow me?” “If you had spoken a little quieter on the phone a few days ago, I wouldn’t have heard. And didn’t you go to see him today?” I laughed coldly. Did I need to follow her? A few days ago, they were video calling in the living room, laughing and chatting, completely disregarding my presence. They even openly planned their travel itinerary. It’s really ironic when I think about it. She never went out to eat with me, not even to watch a movie. But for her ideal lover, she could drop all her work just to accompany him properly. Mia fell silent at my questions, her eyes dodging mine. But she quickly regained her composure. “Jack, don’t be delusional. When I married you, you had nothing. Now that you’ve achieved a little success, you want to fly solo? Not a chance. I’ll make sure you leave with nothing, you ungrateful bastard!” I looked at her calmly, my eyes full of disappointment. The year we graduated, because I had a falling out with my parents, I was penniless. Her parents demanded a $50,000 bride price, plus a house and a car. I borrowed from everywhere, but still fell short. Because of this, her parents always looked down on me, thinking I wasn’t good enough for Mia. Mia negotiated with her parents to pay them in installments. I agreed readily, vowing at the time to love her, cherish her, and spoil her for a lifetime. I never expected that after five years of marriage, I still couldn’t warm her heart.

“I can sign the agreement. The company is yours. I came with nothing, and I’ll leave with nothing. Consider it the final punctuation mark for all these years of dedication.” I didn’t want to argue with her anymore. After we got married, to give Mia a better life, I chose to start a business and worked part-time at night. Once the company stabilized, Mia said she wanted to help and asked me to arrange a vice president position for her. I gladly agreed. But she only took a salary, going out shopping with friends every day. It was me who went to entertain clients, drinking until I got a gastric perforation. I personally negotiated all the important projects for the company. Mia knew nothing about the company, no wonder she was worried. If she wanted it, she could have it all. Consider it my closure for these five years of marriage. This way, at least there would be no financial disputes. “Divorce is impossible. You said you’d love me for a lifetime. Are you going back on your word? Don’t you have any feelings for me at all?” Mia suddenly changed her attitude, stepping forward and tearing the divorce agreement to shreds. “What about you? Can you put your hand on your heart and say you have feelings for me?” I asked sarcastically. The room fell silent for a moment. My words had stumped her. Looking at Mia standing there dumbfounded, I felt no ripple in my heart. Five years of marriage, no, nine years of love. How ridiculous. “I’ll print another copy of the divorce agreement. This marriage is over, as far as I’m concerned.” I looked at Mia, then stood up to leave. Perhaps I got up too quickly. A sharp pain shot through my abdomen. I clutched my stomach, staggering and almost falling. Mia frowned slightly and came forward to support me. Seeing me clutching my stomach, pale-faced and sweating profusely, she lifted my shirt despite my protests. The bandage on my abdomen was soaked with blood. I must have torn the wound open with my sudden movement. “You had surgery? Why didn’t you tell me?” Mia asked, shocked. I laughed bitterly. “Didn’t I tell you? Oh right, you were too busy rushing to the airport to pick up your true love to listen to me.” “I… I’ll take you to the hospital,” Mia said, her eyes dodging mine. “No need to trouble you, Ms. Lee. I’ll go myself.” She flinched at my formal address. I used to call her “honey”. Addressing her by her title for the first time signified that she no longer held a place in my heart. “You can’t leave. I won’t allow it,” she said weakly. Hearing her powerless words, I said flatly, “I’m tired. I can’t love you anymore.” “You proposed marriage back then. Today, let me end it.” “Mia, if I could do it all over again, I wouldn’t have attended that graduation party. I wish… I had never met you.” With that, I pushed her away, ignoring her attempt to grab me, and walked out the door. I didn’t have much in this house anyway. I was always an outsider here. Mia would lock the door whether she was sleeping or showering. Who else was in the house besides me? She guarded against me like I was a thief. Was there any point in continuing such a marriage? Once outside, I took a taxi back to the hospital to have my wound restitched. I felt utterly exhausted, so I stayed at the hospital for the night. The doctor was worried about my wound reopening, so he quickly arranged a bed for me. The next day, I went to a small shop outside the hospital to print another copy of the divorce agreement. Just as I was about to go back and end this relationship that had exhausted me for years, I saw a man and a woman approaching, laughing and chatting. They were carrying gifts, as if visiting someone in the hospital. The woman was my wife, Mia, and the man was her ideal lover, Chris.

Of course, I didn’t think they were coming to see me, because Mia had no idea I was in this hospital. Mia was startled when she saw me. She looked flustered and quickly put down what she was carrying, walking up to me. “Honey, why are you here?” Honey? How ridiculous. In five years of marriage, this was the first time she had called me that. Yesterday she was making a fuss about not wanting a divorce, and today she’s laughing and chatting with her ex. The term made me feel sick. “Don’t call me honey. It makes me nauseous,” I said, looking at Mia with disgust. Seeing me, Chris’s face took on a playful expression, like a cat that had stolen some fish. “Hello, I’m Mia’s friend. Nice to meet you.” “Are you here to visit a patient too? Mia insisted on coming with me to see my mom. I told her it was just a fever, but she was so worried.” “Look, she even bought all these gifts.” After speaking, he gave me a smug look. I laughed coldly inside, ignoring him. When I was lying in the hospital unable to even drink a sip of water, I didn’t see Mia come to visit me once. But when her ideal lover’s mother just had a headache and fever, she rushed to visit as if the woman might die any second. How ridiculous. Anyone who didn’t know better would think they were the real family. Mia seemed to remember why I was in the hospital and looked at me with guilt. I sneered, “The divorce isn’t final yet, and you’re already so eager to see your future mother-in-law?” Mia looked at me nervously, “I didn’t… you misunderstood me.” I waved my hand dismissively. “That’s not important.” “Just sign the agreement quickly. We’ll go to the civil affairs office this afternoon. Otherwise, if I leave, you and he won’t be able to be together openly.” Mia’s face changed. “You’re leaving? Where to?” “None of your business!” After coldly saying this, I ignored her and turned to go home to pack, leaving her to do whatever she wanted with her ideal lover. I had very few belongings, just a few changes of clothes and shoes. My only suit was bought for the graduation party. Over the years, although I had earned quite a bit of money, I rarely spent it on myself. It was mostly to please Mia, buying her things to make her smile. For every holiday, anniversary, or birthday, I would prepare a gift for her. But she would always throw them in the trash without even looking, trampling my sincere feelings at will. As I thought about this, I fell asleep on the couch. I was woken by the sound of the door opening. Mia was back. I looked at the time. It was already afternoon. That meant she and her ideal lover had been out playing all day. They might even have been invited to her future mother-in-law’s house. Seeing Mia nervously approach me, I took out the divorce agreement I had signed. “Hurry up. Sign it and we’ll go to the civil affairs office. I don’t want to delay your date.” I said coldly. But Mia suddenly grabbed my clothes, her face pleading. “Jack, let’s not get divorced, okay?” “I know I wasn’t good to you before. I’ll make it up to you.” “I even bought some lingerie. You’ve always wanted children, right? I’ll give you one today.” As she spoke, Mia started to undress. It was the first time I had seen her white body. It was so alluring. The body I had longed for day and night was right in front of me, but I felt no desire at all. In fact, I felt a bit disgusted.

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When I was seven months pregnant, my undercover identity was exposed. The mafia boss who had always treated me well smashed my teeth with his gun, broke my ribs with his kicks, and threw me into a dark cell. I miscarried in that cell, and the mafia boss took away the dead fetus. I never saw him again after that. Five years later, a little girl crawled into my cell and said to me: “Mommy, Daddy’s drunk. He’s crying and saying he misses you.” Five years ago, Adrian Bright beat me brutally, took away the dead fetus I had delivered, and I never saw him again. Day and night, I was confined in darkness, surrounded by four walls with only a chamber pot. Sometimes I got so lonely that I would chat with a rat for hours if I caught one. It’s a miracle that I haven’t lost my mind in these five years. But my body has been gradually deteriorating. With no sunlight, damp conditions, and rotten food, every part of my body aches. The little girl was the first living person to speak to me in five years. She said— “Mommy, Daddy’s drunk. He’s crying and saying he misses you.” I didn’t understand. Why did she call me mommy? And who was her daddy? I wanted to talk to her, but when I opened my mouth, I realized I had forgotten how to speak after being silent for so long. In my anxiety, I started coughing violently. A mouthful of blood splattered onto the girl’s white dress. She got scared and ran away. Great, I’ve gotten myself into trouble again. Sometimes when those men are in a bad mood, they barge in and beat me up. Because five years ago, I was the one who provided information to the FBI, causing them heavy losses. Many people died, and their base was destroyed. The boss, Adrian Bright, had to flee abroad with me and some of his trusted men. Later, when they found out I was an undercover agent, I became a thorn in their side. They called me a traitor. Hah, I never betrayed my beliefs. How could I be a traitor? Adrian Bright used every torture method he knew on me. I begged him to kill me. He said he wanted to keep my worthless life. As long as I was alive, Lucas Lang would come for me. Lucas Lang, my husband. He was an FBI agent, and also my partner. His head was what Adrian Bright wanted most.

Clang, clang. The iron door outside opened. Heavy, steady footsteps echoed on the stone floor. Someone was coming. Judging by the footsteps, it didn’t sound like Ray, who usually brought me food. I huddled in the corner, fearfully watching the newcomer. He was carrying a bottle of liquor, and the strong smell of alcohol filled the small cell. He put a cigarette in his mouth. Lit a lighter. The flame illuminated his face. Sharp, defined features, a rugged profile, and wolf-like eyes glinting coldly. After five years, I recognized him instantly. My former “lover,” the boss of the Bright Family, Adrian Bright. He leaned against the iron bars, smoking. It was very quiet, with only the sound of the cigarette burning. “Chloe, long time no see,” he said in a low, hoarse voice. I didn’t speak. I was no longer used to talking. “We’re leaving,” he continued. “This area is getting too dangerous. We plan to flee far away. We’ve made enough money anyway. But they don’t agree to bring you along. They all want me to kill you.” Kill me? Killing me would be good. I’m better off dead. “But I want your death to have value. So, before you die, I need you to do something for me.” He came closer, grabbed my chin, and forced me to look at him. His alcohol-laden breath hit my face, terrifyingly oppressive. “I need you to lure Lucas Lang out.” I remained calm, neither humble nor arrogant, without joy or sorrow. This angered him. In his fury, he slapped me hard. Suddenly, blood gushed from my nose. He paused, “I didn’t hit that hard…” Indeed, he hadn’t used much force. This nosebleed wasn’t caused by his slap. It was my illness. I felt very sick. Death must be near. Since I was going to die anyway, why should I help Adrian Bright hurt my husband? Adrian Bright used the sleeve of his white shirt to wipe away the blood and pulled me into his arms. I struggled, but he held me tight, resting his chin on my head. “Chloe, listen to me, listen to me,” his voice was seductive. “Did you see that little girl earlier? Her name is Hailey. She’s your child. The baby you gave birth to that year wasn’t stillborn; she survived. If you help me take down Lucas Lang, I’ll spare Hailey’s life. If you don’t cooperate, I’ll make you hold her as we jump into the sea together…” I stopped struggling.

This was the first time in five years that I was taken out of the dark cell. When the sunlight hit me, I screamed like a frightened mouse and tried to run away. Adrian Bright caught me and dragged me into the villa. On the spacious sofa in the villa sat several heavily made-up women. “Mr. Bright…” They stood up to greet Adrian Bright. One of them even came over to kiss him. In front of me, Adrian Bright passionately embraced her. “Lily, take her upstairs for a bath and clean her up,” he said to the woman. The woman named Lily glanced at me sideways, “Come with me, bitch.” It took Lily and the other women an entire afternoon to clean the dirt and fleas off my body. Hot water washed over my skeletal frame. My ribs were clearly visible, and I looked like a walking corpse. Five years had taken their toll. The once beautiful FBI agent Chloe Summer had become a living dead. Lily was brushing my hair, speaking softly, “Don’t get any ideas. Mr. Bright is not the same man he was years ago. If you want to live another day, just behave yourself.” “Lily, you can leave now,” Adrian Bright appeared at the door. Lily gave me a warning look before leaving. Adrian Bright stood behind me, looking at my reflection in the mirror. His long, slender fingers brushed through my hair, down my neck, across my collarbone, and slipped inside my collar, slowly moving downward. I frowned, unable to hide my disgust. He stopped. Suddenly, he grabbed my hair, forcing me to tilt my head back. “Look at yourself now! No one would want to see you even if you were naked!” he snarled viciously. “Daddy!” A little girl’s voice came from the doorway. Adrian Bright paused for a moment and released my hair. “Daddy, you finally brought Mommy out!” The little girl ran over, looking up at me intently. “Mommy is so pretty, just too thin. Mommy needs to eat more meat.” I looked at her, my eyes welling up. Is this really my child? Is she really my child? “Hailey, how about Daddy takes you and Mommy out for steak tonight?” Adrian Bright said. “That’s great!” Hailey jumped and laughed. I didn’t know how she had grown up to be so innocent and lively in this den of evil. On the way to the restaurant, she kept smiling, interested in everything outside the car window. Adrian Bright spoke to her gently, his eyes no longer showing their usual cruelty. As I watched this “father and daughter,” my thoughts drifted back to over twenty years ago. That year, I was also five years old.

My father was an FBI agent. He was often away on business, spending over 200 days a year away from home. Every time he came back, I was overjoyed and would pester him with questions. That day was my fifth birthday, and my parents said they would take me to McDonald’s. I sat on the back of my father’s bicycle, holding a pinwheel that spun in the wind. The wheels of fate also began to turn. I only remember several loud “bang” sounds. I fell off my father’s bicycle. Before my eyes, everything turned blood red. My parents lay in a pool of blood. I don’t know how long it was before a man ran over, picked me up, and covered my eyes: “Little girl, it’s okay, don’t be afraid.” … The man took me back to his home. At first, I wouldn’t eat, wouldn’t speak, and wouldn’t cry. I was like a walking corpse. The man had a son named Lucas, who talked to me every day, tried to cheer me up, and played cops and robbers with me. Later, we went to school together, did homework together, took exams together, and got into the same police academy. After graduating from the academy, we joined the same police department and became detectives together. We worked on many big cases together, shedding blood and sweat. One year, I was injured during a mission. Before I was wheeled into the operating room, Lucas held my hand and cried, saying he loved me. “Chloe, you must live. I want to marry you.” During our school years, neither of us had dated anyone else, and even after we started working, we tacitly avoided talking about marriage. We knew we were waiting for each other. After I recovered from that injury, Lucas took a day off specially on Valentine’s Day to take me to see the cherry blossoms at St. Mary’s Church. It had just snowed that day. The snow weighed down the cherry blossoms, with the church’s spires in the background, creating a scene as beautiful as a painting. Under the cherry blossom tree, Lucas proposed to me. We embraced, vowing to protect each other for the rest of our lives.

As we were leaving St. Mary’s Church, a young man in a black suit brushed past us. My heart skipped a beat. I grabbed Lucas and whispered, “Does he look familiar to you?” Lucas said, “I noticed too. He looks like Adrian Bright.” Adrian Bright, the eldest son of Vincent Bright, the boss of the Bright Family. We had been investigating this mafia family for the past two years, but they were so discreet that we couldn’t find an opportunity to make a move. And now, with Adrian Bright right in front of us, how could I let him slip away? I told Lucas, “You go back first. I’ll follow him and see what he’s doing here.” Lucas knew my temperament. Once I made up my mind, there was no talking me out of it. He could only say, “I’ll wait for you at the bottom of the hill. Be careful, and don’t confront him directly!” I followed Adrian Bright into the church. I saw him kneel before the altar, light three incense sticks devoutly, and mutter something. What, did he think he could lay down his knife and instantly become a saint? Impossible. Adrian Bright was the right-hand man of the Bright Family, ruthless and cruel. The kind of demon that even God wouldn’t accept. After finishing his prayers, he got up to leave. I couldn’t follow him anymore, so I bought some incense sticks and casually asked a priest, “That handsome guy just now, does he come here often?” The priest replied, “Yes, he comes two or three times a month, at irregular times.” I had a bold idea: to get close to Adrian Bright and infiltrate the Bright Family. Lucas strongly opposed it, but I threatened not to marry him if he didn’t let me do this job, forcing him to agree. I said, “Lucas, this is the last time. After we take down the Bright Family, I’ll quit being a detective. I’ll work at the front desk registering people, marry you, and have children, okay?” Lucas didn’t say anything. He was still angry. I waited at St. Mary’s Church for half a month before I finally saw Adrian Bright again. While he was praying, I stood not far away, watching him. After he finished, he turned around, his sharp gaze shooting straight at me. Our eyes met for a moment, and he walked towards me. Good, woman, you’ve successfully attracted his attention. “You seem to have been watching me. Do we know each other?” he asked loudly. “Can we get to know each other?” I asked boldly. “Why?” “You’re… handsome,” I said, my face probably turning red. “Nonsense,” Adrian Bright turned away and left. After that, every time he came to pray, I would try to talk to him. Finally, one day, he said, “Beautiful lady, would you like to have dinner?”

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I lost five years of memories. When I woke up, I discovered that Ethan Sinclair, my longtime crush, had become my husband. But he wasn’t good to me at all. All his tenderness was reserved for his childhood sweetheart. Even when my life was in danger, he only cared about being with her. Everyone said I was madly in love with him; that even if Ethan made me serve his sweetheart hand and foot, I would do so without hesitation. Ridiculous. I didn’t remember this person at all. I didn’t remember Ethan. He wasn’t good to me, so I naturally suggested divorce. But later, he lingered outside my door late at night, refusing to leave for a long time. “Aria, can you… look at me one more time?” “Mrs. Sinclair attempted suicide!” I woke up to a blinding white light. Before I could fully process my surroundings, a sharp pain shot through my wrist. As I started to come to my senses, I heard an urgent male voice nearby. I saw a man with his back to me, speaking on the phone: “Mr. Sinclair, your wife is in the hospital. Would you like to come see her?” A cold voice came through the phone: “Is she dead? If not, don’t bother me!” The call ended abruptly. The man sighed heavily and turned around, startled to see me awake. After a moment, he approached me. “Mrs. Sinclair, you’re awake?” “…Mrs. Sinclair?” I looked at him in confusion. “Are you talking to me?” “You don’t recognize me?” The man’s expression changed. “I’m Zack, Mr. Sinclair’s assistant.” “…Who’s Mr. Sinclair?” Zack frowned, his patience clearly wearing thin. “Mrs. Sinclair, Mr. Sinclair is very busy with work right now. Your suicide attempt won’t get his attention, and pretending to have amnesia certainly won’t either! Give it up – he’s not coming to see you!” I was even more bewildered, not understanding what he was talking about. Seeing my silence, Zack took another step forward and continued in an exasperated tone: “Mrs. Sinclair, you’ve been married to Mr. Sinclair for five years and causing trouble for just as long. He still hasn’t fallen in love with you. Don’t you think it’s time for some self-reflection instead of constantly creating problems for him?” Although I still didn’t know what was happening, his attitude made me very uncomfortable. Looking at his face, I felt an inexplicable aversion. Wait a minute… “Did you say… five years?” I rushed to the bathroom attached to the hospital room and looked in the mirror. It was still unmistakably me, but I looked more mature, with a hint of sorrow I couldn’t quite place. Could what that man Zack said be true? Was it really five years later? Am I actually married? … As it turned out, I really was married. And had been for five years. I hadn’t time traveled or been dreaming – I had lost my memory. My current memories were still those of my 18-year-old self, just starting college. Back then, I had a crush on a senior named Ethan Sinclair. He was the epitome of perfection – looks, family background, abilities, all unparalleled. The quintessential ice prince. And now, apparently, I was married to him. According to Zack, I had married Ethan when I was 20, in a whirlwind romance with little foundation. I was still in college then, so we only registered the marriage without a ceremony. After getting married, I discovered Ethan’s heart wasn’t with me, but seemed closer to his childhood friend Olivia James. Apparently she was his unattainable first love. Unloved, I started acting out in our marriage. I used all sorts of outrageous methods to get Ethan’s attention, but only earned his increasing disgust. His friends all treated me like a joke, just waiting to see when we’d get divorced. Olivia never took me seriously either. She was the princess of their social circle. My hysterical antics just made me look like a clown in their eyes. Finally, I used suicide to threaten Ethan, demanding he cut off all contact with Olivia. But he didn’t agree. He even told me to go ahead and die. So I attempted suicide. That’s what happened right before I woke up – It all seemed so surreal to me. Suicide for love? That didn’t seem like something I’d ever do! By the time I pieced this all together, I was already in the master bedroom of our marital home. The doctor said I was fine, so Zack had brought me straight back, warning me not to cause any more trouble before he left. Looking at the massive mansion before me, I no longer had any desire to make a scene. I was completely overwhelmed by the sheer opulence. Just the walk-in closet alone was bigger than my old apartment! As I was taking in the grandeur of mine and Ethan’s bedroom, I heard movement at the door. I whipped around to find myself face-to-face with Ethan Sinclair, his expression cold and stern.

Even though I knew Ethan and I had been married for five years, this was still the first time I’d seen him up close from my perspective. I had to admit, there was a reason he’d been my teenage crush. Just having that face in front of me improved my mood considerably. Even with his cold expression, I didn’t find him particularly off-putting. Seeing that I didn’t speak, he frowned slightly. “Aria, what are you up to now?” As he spoke, he strode into the closet, passing right by me without pausing. He selected a robe and came back out. I turned to look at him. “Up to?” From the time he suddenly came home until now, I hadn’t said a word. How was I up to something? Ethan’s dark eyes glanced at me. “Haven’t you always thrown yourself at me the moment I get home? Changing tactics now?” I was a bit shocked. Had I really been so forward after marrying Ethan? But I kept my face neutral, only saying flatly, “Oh, that won’t happen anymore.” I had expected Ethan to be relieved. But instead, his brow furrowed even more, his tone growing increasingly impatient as he looked at me. “I’ve been very busy with work lately. I don’t have time to indulge your dramatics.” I stayed silent. Seeing this, Ethan’s gaze suddenly turned cold. “Aria, stop trying to do anything to Olivia. She hasn’t done anything wrong. Even if you threaten suicide again, it won’t work.” I was taken aback, my emotions complicated. Zack had already told me most of what had happened between Ethan and me. Basically, I loved Ethan, Ethan loved Olivia, and I was the clown in this love triangle who could only constantly cause trouble for Olivia, earning more and more of Ethan’s disgust. This suicide attempt was because I was jealous of how Ethan doted on Olivia, so I privately attacked Olivia’s company and slandered their artists. But Ethan unhesitatingly chose to support her – This undoubtedly told everyone in their circle that my position as Mrs. Sinclair was in name only. I didn’t even rank as high as Olivia’s pinky finger in Ethan’s heart. So I lost my composure and tried to use suicide to win back Ethan’s heart. The result was predictable. A man who was already tired of me wouldn’t suddenly cherish me because of a suicide attempt. He’d only find me more troublesome. Seeing I still wasn’t speaking, Ethan lost patience and went to the bathroom. I let out a sigh of relief, flopping onto the large bed, my mind in chaos. After all, I’d lost the memories of these past few years. I truly didn’t understand why I would have gone so crazy. My 18-year-old self had always looked down on people who lost themselves in relationships. Now I had apparently become the very thing I despised, ready to die for a man. I never imagined I’d see such a day! I was lost in thought, not yet sure how to handle my current situation, when the blanket beside me was lifted and a tall, firm body lay down next to me. The sudden warmth startled me. I turned my head to see Ethan looking at me with those pitch-black eyes, his usual cold indifference now tinged with a hint of suppressed intensity. I stammered, “W-what are you doing?” Though I had lost my memories, based on what I knew, Ethan and I should have a pretty bad relationship, right? We were probably even sleeping in separate beds. So why was he so naturally lying down next to me? Ethan seemed not to notice my panic. He wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me into his embrace without a word. Then he pressed me beneath him, his calloused fingers expertly finding my most sensitive spots, igniting unfamiliar sensations— “Ethan!” I couldn’t help crying out his name. “Don’t touch me!”

My eyes must have shown real resistance, not just an act, because Ethan paused for a moment, looking confused. But irritation quickly took over. “Aria, stop throwing a tantrum.” I didn’t like how he always used that tone with me. Even his face that I’d crushed on for years was starting to lose its appeal. “I’m your wife, right? I attempt suicide and end up in the hospital, but you don’t even ask if I’m okay. Now you’re just criticizing me. Ethan, what gives you the right to treat me like this?” My anger seemed to ignite his own. He gripped my wrist tightly, his tone icy. “Because you brought this all on yourself.” His grip was too strong, right on the wound from my suicide attempt. I winced in pain but held back any sound. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I saw my own pitiful reflection in Ethan’s gaze, on the verge of crying. Ethan suddenly let go, turning me away from him and holding me from behind. His voice was cold: “I’ll let it go this time, but don’t ever fake a suicide attempt to threaten me again.” I struggled a bit, but Ethan held me even tighter, clearly not wanting to let me argue. The difference in our strength was too great. After a few futile attempts to break free, I gave up. When I woke up the next morning, Ethan was already gone. I threw on some clothes and went downstairs to find him already eating breakfast at the table. The housekeeper greeted me. “Good morning, Miss Aria.” I stood there motionless. Ethan didn’t even look up. “Come eat breakfast.” Though it was just breakfast, the spread was impressive enough to make me gape. I couldn’t help thinking, no wonder they call it high society. Even breakfast is such a production. I sat down across from Ethan. The housekeeper brought me a bowl of sago pudding. Smelling mango, I frowned. “Why is there mango?” The housekeeper explained: “This is Miss Olivia’s special recipe, sent over by her. It’s her favorite, made with mangoes flown in from Europe…” I immediately lost my appetite. “I’m not eating.” The clinking of silver utensils on porcelain rang out. Ethan looked up at me, his voice cool. “Aria, that’s enough.” I held back my anger. “Is not eating mango offensive to you too?” “You’re not eating it just because Olivia sent it, right?” Ethan’s face was cold. “Aria, when will you rein in your jealousy?” Me? I’m jealous of Olivia? I don’t know how the 25-year-old Aria acted in front of Ethan, but I imagine it was a pitiful, petty image. But no matter what, we’re husband and wife. Does he not even know I’m allergic to mango? I was about to speak when the housekeeper suddenly said: “Sir, Miss Olivia is here!” A gentle voice rang out: “Ethan, am I interrupting?” A slender figure walked in from the doorway. The housekeeper and maids all greeted her familiarly. It was clear she was a frequent visitor. One glance and I knew this woman was Olivia. I noticed how the housekeeper addressed us. I was the lawful Mrs. Sinclair, yet he called me “Miss Aria,” while calling her “Miss Olivia.” The difference in closeness was obvious. No wonder the 25-year-old me was so hostile towards Olivia. As Ethan’s lawfully wedded wife, I still couldn’t compare to his blatant favoritism towards another woman. Anyone’s mental state would crumble. Olivia looked at me with concern. “Aria, I heard you cut your wrists… Are you alright now?” I snorted dismissively, not bothering to be polite. I don’t know how the 25-year-old me acted in front of them. Perhaps very meekly, perhaps willing to swallow my pride because I loved Ethan so much— But right now, I’m the 18-year-old me. I don’t love Ethan at all. So I have no reason to hold my tongue. Olivia turned to Ethan, looking troubled. “Ethan, I’m sorry. Aria doesn’t seem to want to see me. Maybe I shouldn’t have come…” “You knew that and still came?” I said bluntly. “Did you come to gloat?” Olivia’s face instantly flushed red. Ethan coldly rebuked me, “Aria, stop being unreasonable.” He was clearly defending Olivia. My impression of him sank even further. Originally, waking up to find I was married to my crush had made me a bit excited and grateful— But now I see, Ethan isn’t all that great. So what if he’s handsome and rich? Treating his own wife like dirt doesn’t make him look good. If he’s so great, why did he marry me in the first place? I was indignant, but Olivia remained gracious and calm. “Ethan, the reason I came today was to specially invite you to my celebration party…” As she finished speaking, she seemed to suddenly remember I was standing right there. She couldn’t very well not invite me, so she reluctantly said to me: “Aria, why don’t you come too?” I had originally planned to refuse. But seeing the barely concealed disdain and challenge in Olivia’s eyes, I suddenly smirked and agreed. “Sure, I am Mrs. Sinclair after all. I should accompany Ethan to social events.”

So I ended up going with Ethan to Olivia’s celebration party. When the three of us arrived, the reactions of the people in the private room were quite colorful. “Why did Ethan bring her?” “Not surprising. His wife is always making scenes and acting jealous. She’s hostile towards any woman near Ethan, let alone Olivia!” “I heard she even attempted suicide because of Olivia?” “That’s right! But she really doesn’t know her place. Marrying Ethan was already aiming too high for her. What right does she have to control him? Those other women were one thing, but Olivia? She’s not even in the same league!” These voices weren’t particularly quiet. I could hear them clearly. I swept my gaze over the group, guessing they were probably Ethan or Olivia’s friends. They were all part of the same social circle, no doubt. I inwardly scoffed. No wonder the 25-year-old me had attempted suicide. Hearing such belittling comments day after day, how could my psyche not become warped? Not to mention, I must have really loved Ethan back then. That’s why I suffered through the daily torment to the point of being willing to give up my own life. Ethan and Olivia had already sat down in the seats reserved for them. I was the only one left standing. “Is she just going to stand there by herself? Isn’t that awkward?” “How could it be awkward? As long as she gets to be near Ethan, she’d probably even kneel if you asked her to!” I coldly looked at the man gossiping. “He’s not dead, why would I kneel for him?” The man’s expression changed, clearly not expecting me to talk back today. Ethan’s expression was impatient. “Alright, that’s enough.” I had just been insulted like that, but not only did he not stand up for me, he just brushed it off equally. I sneered. “Looks like I’m not welcome here. I’ll take my leave.” With that, I turned to leave. Behind me, I heard those people’s sharp intakes of breath: “Did I see that right? She actually gave Ethan attitude!” “You don’t think she really went crazy because of Olivia, do you?” “I bet she won’t last half an hour before coming crawling back…” “…” Those noisy voices behind me were very off-putting. I went to the outdoor pool area to clear my head. Not long after, Olivia suddenly came out. “Aria, you’ve really surprised me.” I glanced behind her, seeing she had come alone. I said mockingly, “I hate you so much. Aren’t you afraid I might push you into the pool?” Olivia laughed. “I was hoping you’d dare. After all, everyone knows Ethan would save me.” I pressed my lips together, not bothering to respond. Olivia walked closer. “Aria, want to make a bet?” I found it strange. “If you two really love each other that much, why not just have Ethan divorce me? Olivia, do you really need to step on someone else’s sincere feelings to act out your little drama? Is that what you call true love?” Olivia’s expression changed for a moment before quickly returning to her calm, gentle demeanor. “That’s because you won’t let go! You cling to Ethan so desperately you’d even attempt suicide. He’s just taking pity on you!” Soon, she regained her composure and asked again, “Aria, dare to bet?” The pool’s surface sparkled, looking clear but actually quite deep. I shook my head firmly. “No.” I can’t swim. One stupid suicide attempt was enough. No need for a second. I had just stood up when I caught Olivia’s disappointed gaze. She was standing behind me and suddenly pushed me hard— Splash! Screams erupted all around as my body hit the water and quickly sank. In that moment, I couldn’t feel anything. Only the terrifying sensation of water engulfing me from all sides. My throat started choking on water, my lungs growing heavy. I desperately struggled to swim upwards, but only saw a familiar figure quickly swimming in another direction. My husband, Ethan Sinclair, swam towards her when Olivia and I both fell in the water. My heart was pierced by a sharp pain. This was perhaps the last bit of feeling left from my 25-year-old self… Although I had forgotten the past and no longer loved him, my body’s instincts remained. But this time, they were thoroughly drowned too. … When I came to, I was lying by the pool. Olivia and I had both been rescued, but she was saved by Ethan while I was saved by a stranger. He was quite handsome. I lay on the ground as he pressed on my chest, trying to expel the water I had swallowed. I coughed it all out— From the corner of my eye, I saw Ethan walking over. Olivia was still clinging to him pitifully, reluctantly watching him leave. Ethan seemed to have only just remembered he had a wife. He frowned and asked, “Are you alright?” I didn’t answer, struggling to stand up. The man beside me tried to help me up, but I pushed him away. When Ethan reached me, I raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face— A deathly silence fell over the scene. I could even hear everyone’s deliberately slowed breathing. “Ethan Sinclair, let’s get divorced.” After a long moment, I heard my own voice in the silence. “Consider that slap your alimony payment to your ex-wife.” [Cutoff point]

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In my previous life, my wife and I shared a lifetime of love, vowing to reunite in our next incarnation. When I opened my eyes, we had both been reborn to the year we entered college. But she let go of my hand and turned to chase after her first love from her youth. She even claimed I had ruined her happiness in our past life, mocking my inadequacies. This time, I finally woke up. I no longer gave up my inheritance and the opportunity to study at a top university for her sake. I reclaimed the life that should have been mine all along. Little did I know that my wife’s first love was actually a psychopath who wanted her to take the fall for his crimes. Later, my battered and bruised wife tried every trick to beg for my forgiveness. But I never looked back at her again. As I approached the twilight of my life, I stood with my beloved wife Olivia Lin beneath the wishing wall in the park, writing down our lifelong wish. “In my next life, I want to spend another lifetime with Olivia Lin.” She was the love of my life, but I still hoped for another chance in our next incarnation. The next morning when I opened my eyes, I was shocked to find myself back in the year I first entered college. “Welcome, new students!” The banner hanging at the campus entrance was particularly eye-catching, instantly bringing back memories of that year. Back then, I had given up the opportunity to attend a prestigious university to pursue Olivia Lin, choosing instead to enroll at her college. After years of relentless pursuit and devotion, she was finally moved by my efforts and agreed to date me. Thinking of this, I eagerly put down my luggage and rushed to Olivia’s dormitory building, hoping to see her. “I wonder if she’s been reborn too?” I thought to myself as I ran to meet her, my heart filled with anticipation. As I sprinted along, I suddenly heard a familiar voice from nearby. “Ethan, I have so much luggage and I’m exhausted. Could you help me please?” I whipped my head around to see Olivia Lin holding a suitcase, her cheeks slightly flushed as she spoke coyly to the man beside her. She was still as beautiful as ever, with skin as fair as snow and long, flowing hair. I knew the man next to her all too well. He was Ethan Chee, Olivia’s first love. Back then, everyone knew about Olivia’s crush on Ethan. He was the ideal first love for many girls, with countless admirers, and Olivia had once been one of his most ardent pursuers. Ethan took her luggage, smiling at her. I could see her ears turning redder by the second. The two of them walked away, chatting and laughing. I gradually sensed something was amiss. In my previous life, I had proactively offered to help Olivia move her luggage at this time. But this time, even though I had arrived earlier than before, why had she sought out Ethan first? It was clear that Olivia had been reborn as well.

That night, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Olivia had been reborn, so why didn’t she come to find me first? Why did she choose to seek out Ethan instead? Finally, I couldn’t stand it anymore. I called her, determined to get to the bottom of this. “Olivia, you’ve been reborn too, haven’t you?” There was a moment of silence on the other end before she answered with a single word. “Yes.” Excited by the fact that we had both been reborn, I momentarily forgot about her interaction with Ethan. “That’s wonderful, Olivia! Our wish came true! We’ll be together again in this life!” I was beside myself with joy, completely oblivious to the lack of enthusiasm from the person on the other end of the line. When Olivia was preparing for her major transfer exam, I made sure to remind her. “Make sure you study hard to get into my medical program, okay? We promised each other we’d live more successful lives this time around.” She agreed without hesitation, spending seven to eight hours studying in the library every day. I was very pleased. It seemed that she felt guilty about not getting in last time, and was now determined to work hard for me and be with me. I was the only one in Olivia’s heart. That day, she must have just bumped into Ethan and caught up with an old friend. Every day, I dreamed of the wonderful college life Olivia and I would have in the same major. I even imagined our future, continuously advancing in the medical field, becoming an outstanding couple in this domain. Until one day, I accidentally saw Olivia’s major transfer application. The intended major she had written down wasn’t medicine at all. It was psychology – Ethan’s major. In that instant, the confusion in my heart became a tangled mess. I angrily confronted Olivia. “Didn’t we agree that you’d transfer to the medical program so we could work hard together? How could you secretly change to psychology behind my back?” Her eyes filled with tears, seemingly frightened by my tone. She looked very upset by my questioning. “I’m sorry, it’s just that the medical program is really too difficult to get into. And I found that I’m still more interested in psychology. We’ve been given a second chance at life, I want to study something I like.” “I didn’t mean to hide it from you, please don’t be angry.” She held my hand, her fingers gently swaying on mine. My gaze was fixed on her face, trying to read her inner thoughts through her eyes. But looking at her smile, her brows, even her lightly trembling eyelashes, I felt deeply drawn to her. She kept whispering in my ear, begging for my forgiveness. My resolve wavered. “If you really like psychology that much, then I support you.”

To help Olivia prepare for her exams, I rushed around gathering information for her. But on one of these errands, I suddenly got into a car accident. When I opened my eyes, I was lying in a hospital bed. Fortunately, the accident wasn’t serious, just some minor injuries. A few of my roommates were sitting beside me. I immediately sat up and looked around, trying to catch a glimpse of the person I was expecting to see. “Don’t bother looking, Olivia didn’t come at all,” one of my roommates, Mike, spoke up. “Why didn’t you tell her? There’s no way she wouldn’t come when I’ve been in such a big accident!” I started to panic. They exchanged glances, hesitating for a while before saying, “We not only told her, but we even exaggerated and said you were hit by a car and almost died. She said she had an urgent matter and didn’t have time to come see you…” “Just now, a classmate told me she’s currently holding hands with Ethan at an art exhibition. Look, there’s even a photo.” He handed me his phone to see. I felt as if I had been struck by lightning. In our previous life, Olivia and I were so in love. How could she betray me like this? Ignoring my roommates’ attempts to stop me and my injuries, I rushed out of the hospital to find Olivia. This time, I had to get to the bottom of this.

“Meeting you was so fortunate…” “Actually, I’ve been singing this song for someone special. I’ve liked him for a long time.” “But today, I don’t want to keep it in my heart anymore. I want to express my feelings to you here.” Olivia stood in the middle of the campus field, unconsciously fidgeting with the hem of her clothes, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. I had been running frantically back to campus, only to stumble upon this scene. My steps faltered. I held my breath, praying in my heart that Olivia wouldn’t say those words. “Ethan, I’ve liked you for a long time. Will you be with me?” She shouted into the microphone she was holding, her confession echoing across the entire field. Instantly, everyone turned to look at where Ethan was standing and started cheering. “Say yes! Say yes! Say yes!” My heart skipped a beat. My suspicions over the past few weeks were true, and Mike and the others hadn’t lied to me. Ethan was pushed by those around him to Olivia’s side. Standing together, they indeed made a good-looking couple. “Olivia, actually, I like you too.” Ethan reached out and caressed her face, gazing at her eyes lovingly. Olivia smiled. I had never seen her smile so brightly before. “Ahhhh! They’re together!” They embraced on stage, the cheering from the crowd below grew more intense, with screams ringing in my ears. No one noticed me in the corner, my heart breaking.

“Why?” I looked at this familiar yet strange person before me, my voice trembling. Olivia seemed shocked by my appearance. “Didn’t Mike say you were hit by a car and almost died? How are you standing here perfectly fine?” Her words truly chilled me to the bone. So she really wanted me to just die like that, so she could be with Ethan in this life without any obstacles. Olivia decided to drop the act and lay all her cards on the table. “Lucas Quinn, do you know why I was also reborn to today?” “Because the wish I wrote on the wishing wall was that if I could go back to the past, I would definitely be with Ethan.” There wasn’t a hint of guilt in her eyes, as if everything was perfectly justified. “Olivia, I was reborn for you. You’re all I have in this world, and you even promised me. How can you abandon me like this?” I felt an unprecedented despair. She let out a cold laugh. “I wasn’t happy at all being with you! You ruined my wonderful life in the last lifetime!” “My life has finally gotten a second chance. I’m begging you, please don’t interfere with me living a better life, okay? Being with you was painful enough. You have no money and no ability to give me a good life. Ask yourself, are you worthy of me?” She spoke with a crying tone, as if I was the one who had betrayed her. In my previous life, I had given up the opportunity to attend a prestigious university and inherit the family fortune to be with her. I even transferred from a top program to her mediocre major, ruining my own future. I had done all this for her, giving up my family wealth and a top university, but now these became her ammunition to mock me. It turned out that everything I had done meant nothing to her. Ethan suddenly appeared by Olivia’s side. “Olivia, it’s getting late. Let me walk you back to your dorm.” He thoughtfully draped his jacket over Olivia’s shoulders. Olivia’s eyes lit up at the sight of Ethan. “Okay, let’s go.” Before leaving, she didn’t forget to turn back and taunt me one last time. “Lucas Quinn, no wonder your parents didn’t want you. Just be an orphan for the rest of your life!” Indeed, those closest to you know exactly where to stab the knife. But the fact that I was an orphan was a lie. Not only was I not an orphan, but my family also ran several hospitals, and my parents were quite renowned in the medical field. In my previous life, after cutting ties with my family, I had hidden my true family background from Olivia, telling her that I had been abandoned by my parents since childhood and was an orphan. At that time, she had looked at me with pity, constantly saying words of comfort. I never expected that beneath her seemingly understanding exterior, she was actually gloating inside. This time being reborn, I finally saw through the person who had lain beside me. In my previous life, when my father learned that I had cut ties with them for Olivia’s sake, he was so angry that he coughed up blood and eventually passed away in despair. But I had been too stubborn to go back and see him one last time. Thinking of him now, I felt immensely guilty. Fortunately, at this point in my previous life, I hadn’t yet severed ties with my family; we were just in the middle of a cold war. In this life, I couldn’t leave any regrets behind. I immediately dialed my father’s number. “Dad, I’m sorry. I understand now. I can’t give up my bright future for a woman. I will definitely pursue further studies in the medical field to inherit the family business in the future.” I wanted to show Olivia just what kind of pinnacle I could reach without her in my life. I successfully reconciled with my family and took over some of the family business. One day, my father suddenly took me to meet someone.

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I spent three years in jail for my wife Amanda, but when I got out, all I received was a one-dollar opening gift. Just as I thought there had been a mistake, I noticed that my male colleague Derek’s envelope also contained only a single dollar bill. I set aside my concerns and enthusiastically accompanied Amanda through the opening ceremony. However, that evening, I came across Derek’s Instagram post. He had shared a photo of a check: “Congratulations on the grand opening, Boss Amanda! The boss is so generous, giving a million-dollar opening gift!” The comments section was filled with envy, congratulating him on his “success” with the “boss.” Not only did Amanda fail to explain, but she also rushed to distance herself from me: “You just got out of jail, it’s not appropriate to go public. Let’s keep our marriage a secret for now. Just call me boss in front of others.” Then, she went and liked Derek’s Instagram post. I wiped away a tear and dialed her arch-rival’s number. “I’ll work for you from now on.”

“You were willing to spend three years in jail for Amanda’s business, why are you suddenly wanting to work for me?” Olivia asked, puzzled. “I remember she promised to give you the department manager position when you got out. Are you sure you don’t want it?” I fidgeted with the one-dollar bill, letting out a bitter laugh. “No, I don’t want it anymore.” Just as I said this, Amanda suddenly appeared in front of me, asking suspiciously: “What don’t you want anymore?” I ended the call discreetly and told her the truth: “The department manager position.” Hearing this, a glimmer of relief flashed across the woman’s complex expression. “Good. I was planning to give it to Derek anyway. You can start as a clerk for now.” Hearing these words, I couldn’t help but frown. Back then, I endured three years behind bars for Amanda’s company. She had promised me repeatedly that when I got out, the position would be mine and mine alone. Who would have thought that in the end, I’d become nothing more than a lowly office worker? At this moment, Amanda was breaking the promise she made three years ago with her own words. But I couldn’t see a hint of guilt in her eyes. My eyes burned, and an unstoppable pain flooded my heart. Seeing that I remained silent, Amanda took out an agreement from her briefcase and tossed it onto the coffee table. She said nonchalantly, “This is a secret marriage agreement, consider it for the sake of the company.” The words “Secret Marriage Agreement” stung my eyes painfully. Three years ago, the day before I went to jail, Amanda and I had gotten our marriage certificate. The only belief that supported me through those years was the thought of a happy married life after my release. But now, I had become someone she was ashamed to acknowledge. She even wanted me to disappear without a trace. I laughed bitterly to myself, picked up the pen without a second thought. Amanda suddenly turned her head, frowning as she saw my hand about to sign. The man who once couldn’t wait to announce this marriage to the world was now so decisive? She instinctively held my wrist, her words puzzling: “You’re not even going to think about it?” I didn’t even look up, signing immediately. Having gotten the secret marriage agreement as she wished, she fell into an inexplicable silence. After a while, she cleared her throat, her voice turning gentle: “Jack, don’t worry. Once the company stabilizes, I’ll definitely make it up to you properly.” I responded with a noncommittal “mm,” just as the company group chat on SnapChat buzzed. Derek had become the company’s first department manager, and all employees were offering their congratulations. “You’ve been by Amanda’s side these three years, we’ve all seen it. This position is well-deserved!” “I think Derek is the department manager today, tomorrow he’ll probably be the boss’s husband, right? We better start sucking up to you now.” Following this, Derek sent a laughing emoji, implicitly accepting everything. “I still think Jack is the lucky one though, spent three years in jail and still got a clerk job at the company, the boss must really value him!” Clearly knowing the truth, he was obviously mocking me. I reluctantly looked away from the screen, but inadvertently saw Amanda staring at her phone. The smile on her lips was a tenderness I had never seen before. It made me wonder. Was her secret marriage to me really for the company, or was it for Derek?

To fulfill the secret marriage contract, Amanda moved from the master bedroom to the guest room. Besides that, she also made it clear: I wasn’t allowed to ride in the same car with her. I wasn’t allowed to talk to her at the company, only allowed to call her boss. And, her relationship with Derek was just an act, I wasn’t allowed to make a big deal out of it. After explaining all this, Amanda disappeared for three days. It wasn’t until I called in sick with a fever that she bothered to call me: “You’ve only been working for a few days and you’re already taking time off, aren’t you being a bit dramatic?” “You’ll have to go to the hospital by yourself, I’m still on a business trip, I can’t take you.” An expected result. I mumbled an “mm” in my feverish state. But just as I finished speaking, a familiar male voice came through the phone: “Amanda, come help me with my tie!” Although Amanda quickly hung up, I still heard her hurried footsteps rushing over. Looking at Derek’s Instagram again, he had already changed his profile picture. It matched Amanda’s profile picture as a couple. I remember when we were dating, I always pestered her to change to matching profile pictures. But she always had countless reasons to refuse me: It’s troublesome, childish, tasteless… For some reason, she started frantically sending me messages and calling me. I only replied once: “It’s my rest time now, please understand, boss.” After finishing my IV drip, I returned to the company. My colleagues were as cold to me as ever, piling work on my desk. In their minds, I was probably just a lucky ex-con taken in by the boss. I should naturally take on more work. I adjusted my mood and packed all the couple items from the storage cabinet into a black garbage bag. If I had known they would never see the light of day, I wouldn’t have worked so hard to bring them into the company. I was about to go throw them away when Amanda came back unexpectedly. Before I could react, she angrily dragged me all the way to the stairwell. Seeing the garbage bag in my hand, her face darkened: “You have time to clean up garbage but no time to return calls?” The strong scent of men’s cologne on her made me take a step back involuntarily as I replied calmly: “I did reply to your message.” Hearing this, Amanda seemed to be set on fire, questioning me: “Why did you call me ‘boss’ in the text?” What’s the difference between texting and real life? It was what she had instructed me to do, so why was she upset when I did it? Seeing that I had no intention of explaining, she let out a cold laugh: “You know I don’t like petty men, you’d better not turn into someone I hate.” Saying this, she snatched the bag from my hand and threw it forcefully onto the ground. Amidst the loud crash echoing through the stairwell, she strode away. Looking at the shattered photos and couple mugs, my heart trembled. It was as if our years of feelings would also end up in pieces. I cleaned up the broken pieces and called a lawyer to draft a divorce agreement. After getting the document, I printed a copy in the copy room. Just as I had mentally prepared myself and was about to knock on the door, Amanda opened it first. Meeting her icy gaze, I calmly handed over the document: “Sign it when you have time.” But Amanda didn’t even look at it, flipping directly to the last page and signing. Then she handed it back casually, instructing: “Come out with me for a business dinner later, be smart about it, remember to block the drinks for me.” I was puzzled, Amanda’s alcohol tolerance was unusually good, why did she need me to block drinks? Before I could ask, Derek popped out from behind her, looking smug: “The boss is so considerate! She even remembers that I have a cold and can’t drink!”

Derek sat down casually next to Amanda, his arm directly around her shoulders. Seeing me, he frowned and complained: “The boss is just making a fuss, it’s only a cold, not letting me drink or go to work. If I hadn’t begged her, she wouldn’t even let me come to this business dinner.” Hearing him say this, Amanda fondly tapped his nose. “I don’t care what you say, don’t complain about taking medicine later.” The two people before me were clearly a couple in love. Her gentleness and care were also unfamiliar to me. I held the divorce agreement in my hand, feeling strangely relieved. Arriving at the restaurant, Amanda exchanged pleasantries with the business partners for a while. Then she stepped back and began introducing everyone. “This is Derek, our company’s department manager.” When introducing me, the business partner’s boss frowned slightly. “I remember clearly, this gentleman went to jail for owing money. Boss Amanda, you really value loyalty.” Amanda tensed up, glanced at me, then laughed along and tacitly agreed. During the project discussion, Amanda and Derek’s seats were right next to each other. She kept giving me eye signals, telling me to actively block drinks for Derek. During the meal, someone noticed their intimate gestures and couldn’t help but tease: “Boss Amanda and Mr. Derek look so well-matched. I wonder if Boss Amanda is married?” As soon as the words fell, Amanda looked at me, a flash of hesitation in her eyes. The next second, we almost said in unison: “No.” Even though we gave the same answer, she suddenly turned her head, looking at me in shock. It wasn’t until the business partners went to the restroom that she sent me a message: “It’s all just an act, don’t take it to heart.” Amanda said it was acting, but I was telling the truth. After all, she had already signed the divorce agreement. I glanced at the message and flipped my phone face down. Seeing this, Amanda sitting across from me was about to get up and come over, but I turned and went to the restroom. Coming out of the stall, I ran into Derek. He stood with his arms crossed, clearly in the posture of a victor. “Jack, you’re really pathetic as a man. Being despised by your wife like this, if it were me, I definitely wouldn’t have the face to show up in public.” I washed my hands, indifferently saying: “That’s none of Mr. Derek’s concern.” Drying my hands, I prepared to leave. But Derek flashed in front of me, blocking my way, looking me up and down. “How come the boss’s husband is still wearing rags?” “Oh, I forgot, Amanda probably took all the money to buy luxury custom-made clothes for me, sorry about that.” The expensive brands he wore seemed to constantly remind me of the difference between one dollar and a million dollars. In an instant, the bitterness suppressed in my heart exploded, and I fled in a panic. Returning to the private room, I picked up my things, ready to leave. Amanda hurriedly came forward to stop me, her tone gentle: “Don’t leave yet, I’ll take you home later.” I was about to refuse when Derek suddenly rushed in, looking panicked. Instantly attracting everyone’s attention. Amanda immediately let go of me and ran over to ask what had happened. Derek was frantically rummaging through his bag and all his pockets. Then he cried out in alarm: “My custom watch is missing!”

As soon as he said this, everyone in the room started looking for Derek’s watch. While searching, he kept muttering: “This was a birthday gift from Boss Amanda, worth over three million dollars. I really don’t want to lose it!” Although I didn’t know what kind of trick he was playing, I just wanted to leave immediately. But just as I reached the door, Derek stopped me. “Jack, let me check your bag, otherwise you won’t be able to clear your name either.” I knew very well whether I had stolen his watch or not. “I’m tired, Mr. Derek can look for it himself.” Seeing that I insisted on leaving, Derek actually grabbed my bag directly. In the struggle, the contents of my bag spilled all over the floor. And among the scattered items, there was indeed a watch. I looked at the watch in shock, then met Derek’s challenging gaze. “Why are you framing me?” Turning around, I found that everyone behind me was looking at me with contempt. Especially Amanda, who frowned, her eyes full of disgust for me. I instinctively tried to explain to her: “I didn’t take this!” But my explanation seemed so weak in the face of the glaring “evidence”. Then, Derek picked up the watch and started complaining pitifully: “This watch means a lot to me, how could Jack steal it?” “I originally thought Jack had reformed in prison, I didn’t expect he would still resort to anything for money. I won’t dare to work with you in the future…” Derek’s few words made everyone’s faces turn ugly. The business partner’s boss was the first to break the deadlock, saying sternly: “Boss Amanda, let’s forget about this cooperation!” With these words, he left the room angrily with his people. I wanted to chase after them to explain, but I received a solid slap from Amanda. Meeting my incredulous gaze, there was no regret in her eyes. “I didn’t expect you to be the kind of person who sees money and loses all reason!” “I brought you out, not for you to steal things!” Amanda’s words completely convicted me. Didn’t she know what kind of person I was? Had she also forgotten why I went to jail? Looking at the anger in her eyes, I knew she wouldn’t believe me. I could only laugh bitterly and hand her my phone. “Then call the police.” She looked down at the phone, then frowned at me, still not moving. The long eye contact seemed to make me see clearly the woman in front of me. After a while, Amanda snorted coldly, “Unreasonable!” The woman turned around, helped Derek put on the watch, and softly coaxed him to leave. In the room, only I was left, along with the mess on the floor. I picked up my scattered belongings and headed to the airport without hesitation. In the late-night waiting hall. I was about to draft a resignation letter when I received Amanda’s dismissal notice in advance. Her words were filled with anger: “Don’t come to the company anymore, stay at home and reflect on yourself!” Seeing her ridiculous request, I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. Without thinking, I took a photo of the signed divorce agreement and sent it to her. Along with the text: “Amanda, I wish you and Derek a hundred years of happiness and grow old together!” “But the premise is that you get a divorce certificate with me, otherwise I’ll report you for bigamy.” After sending this message, Amanda started calling frantically like her life depended on it. ———-This is the cutoff point———-

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Mandy Gu’s young kept man contacted me out of the blue. “We’ve been on 100 dates in total. She initiated 68 of them, and I asked her out 24 times.” “Oh, and 8 times were at your place.” … I knew him. He was a minor character in Mandy’s new drama. I remember the first time I saw him on set, I knew. This 18-year-old boy looked exactly like Mandy’s first love from years ago. She still couldn’t forget him. “You’re just a personal assistant with a measly $300 monthly salary.” “You can’t satisfy her needs. I can satisfy everything.” With a click, the call ended. After standing there stunned for a long time, I put out my cigarette. Then I edited a text message and hit send. [Sis, I agree to the arranged marriage.] That night, Mandy’s young kept man called me. His sickeningly sweet voice made me nauseous. “Ethan, I’ll call you ‘bro’ one last time.” “You know what? I just got out of Mandy’s trailer.” “Just now, we used up the hundredth one.” My hand holding the cigarette trembled, ashes falling onto the leather sofa, burning a small black hole. “And then?” The other end of the line seemed startled by my feigned calmness, sounding a bit dissatisfied. “Mandy doesn’t love you at all!” “To tell you the truth, the set was on break today, but she stayed behind to be with me.” I couldn’t help but laugh. Are young people these days always so blunt? After taking a deep drag of my cigarette, I replied. “I’ve been by her side for ten years. You’re not the first man to appear in her life.” An angry voice came from the other end of the phone. “Mandy is an A-list actress. You’re just her personal assistant with a $300 salary. Do you think you two are a match?” “You can’t satisfy her needs. I can satisfy everything!” “Both in bed and in the entertainment circle!” I smirked. Turning my head, I looked at the twelve dishes laid out on the table. They had long gone cold. Each one was made by me, all Mandy’s favorites. An hour ago, Mandy called to say she had to work late at the set and wouldn’t be coming home. An hour later, her kept man called to gloat. No wonder everyone else on the crew got time off except the two of them who were “working overtime.” No wonder her voice sounded a bit breathless on the phone earlier. I lit another cigarette, exhaling smoke. “Anything else interesting? Go on.” My attitude angered the person on the other end of the line. “Ethan, let me tell you the truth!” “Last month when you had a gastric ulcer emergency, she was with me when you called her. I told her not to go.” “On your birthday six months ago, she didn’t come back because she was out of town with me at a hot spring.” “Don’t forget, there was also that incident three years ago…” … Beep beep beep. My brows furrowed as I hung up the phone, my chest aching uncontrollably. She even told him about the incident from three years ago. And during all those moments when I was struggling alone, Mandy was cuddling and flirting in someone else’s arms. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. A first love is indeed a first love. Even with just a slight resemblance, it could make Mandy willingly give her all. Without realizing it, the ashtray was full. Three years ago, Mandy accidentally got pregnant with my child. But we weren’t married. Although I had been her boyfriend for many years, I always claimed to be her personal assistant to the outside world, living and eating with her. Because Mandy was still waiting for her first love who had gone abroad years ago. She refused to marry for Lucas Lu’s sake, so naturally, she wouldn’t keep a child with me either. Three years ago, Mandy went to the hospital for an abortion without discussing it with me. “My child can only be Lucas’s. This is non-negotiable and doesn’t require your consent.” “Remember your place, Ethan. You’re just my personal assistant. Don’t foolishly think you can tie me down with a child.” Around the same time, this young kept man joined the crew. His name was Alex Liu. The moment I saw him, I knew. He looked very much like Lucas Lu. Very much like that childhood sweetheart of Mandy’s.

Originally, Alex was just an extra. But Mandy insisted on signing him, bringing him into every production she was in. She even gave him a stage name, Alex Lu. Over the years, Mandy had many men around her, coming and going too many to count. But besides me, he lasted the longest. Because he really looked too much like Lucas. Like that sunny, tall Lucas who had gone abroad and never been heard from again. How could she not like him? I stood up and cleared the ashtray. With a beep, my phone received a message. “Have you considered it? This arranged marriage would benefit both our families.” “Little Ethan, you’ve been drifting outside for that actress for so long. It’s time to come home.” I paused, looking back at the house I had shared with Mandy for years. Empty and cold. Yes, indeed there was nothing worth staying for anymore. I let out a sigh, opened my phone, typed a line and hit send. “Sis, I’ve broken up.” “I’ll attend the engagement party as scheduled next week.” I turned off my phone and tossed it into the bathtub behind me. The surface was covered with red rose petals, scattered as the phone fell in. Red roses were Mandy’s favorite. If she knew I had thrown my phone in there, she would definitely be angry. But what did it matter? In a week, everything would be over. Ten years ago today, I met Mandy. I had been orphaned since birth, but fortunately, I had a fabulously wealthy CEO sister. She had me receive an elite education from a young age. As the sole heir to the Zhou Group, my sister secretly groomed me for my safety. Ten years ago, I skipped grades and was admitted to the top finance program at a prestigious university in the country. That’s when I met Mandy. She was my senior, three years older than me. After starting university, it was my first time interacting with people outside the family. Mandy provided me with a lot of help and encouragement, making me quickly let my guard down. On my eighteenth birthday, my sister was busy with an international conference and had no time for my birthday. From childhood, I had always been taught that birthdays were meaningless, that it didn’t matter whether they were celebrated or not. But that night, for the first time, someone celebrated my birthday. It was also the first time someone taught me the meaning of birthdays. It was very late that day, and it was pouring rain. Somehow Mandy found me, holding an umbrella, with a cake in her hand. The usually elegant and intellectual Mandy had messy hair, runs in her stockings, and was soaking wet, looking completely disheveled. But when she found me, the first thing she said was, “Ethan, are you cold?” In that instant, I completely let down all my defenses. Not long after, we naturally got together, and she took me to meet her friends. When her friends saw me, they exchanged glances. “Mandy, this guy doesn’t look anything like Lucas Lu.” “Have you moved on?” At that time, I didn’t know who this Lucas Lu was that they were talking about. Every time I wanted to ask, Mandy would interrupt me. “It’s nothing, just a friend.” “I’ve forgotten all about him.” But later, as I gradually became more involved in Mandy’s life, I discovered that this man called Lucas Lu was actually Mandy’s first love. Although Mandy said she had forgotten him, traces of him were everywhere in her life. From the small photo she always kept in her wallet, To the fact that every boyfriend she had besides me looked very much like Lucas Lu. Even her choice to become a celebrity was so Lucas Lu would see her. She lied to me, and to herself. She had never forgotten Lucas Lu from the very beginning. But I still held onto hope. To make Mandy completely let go of him, to marry her and have children and live an ordinary life, I forced myself to ignore all of this. For a full ten years. I accompanied Mandy from being unknown to becoming the lead actress in hit dramas. After graduation, I gave up inheriting the family business to become her personal assistant, earning a pitiful monthly salary. $300, not even enough to buy what I used to in the past. But in these ten years, Mandy never agreed to my proposals. She even had an abortion without discussing it with me. “I will never marry you, give up that idea.” “If you’re willing, you can always stay by my side as my personal assistant.” Lucas Lu was her bottom line, not to be touched by anyone. Naturally, that included me. Countless times in the middle of the night, when she was sound asleep, she would mutter “Lucas, Brother Lucas.” And when she woke up and saw it was me, her eyes were full of disappointment and loneliness. “…Oh, it’s you.” Then Mandy would always sigh softly and bury her face in my arms, coyly saying with her head down, “Ethan, I’m hungry.” And I would always remain silent for a long time. Looking at her face that had become thinner and thinner for the camera, I would get up and light a cigarette. “What do you want to eat?”

Mandy didn’t come home until the next afternoon. I was lying in bed when the sound of the door closing woke me from a nightmare. In the dream was the child Mandy and I never had. Mandy took off her coat and collapsed into my arms reeking of alcohol, no longer resembling the A-list actress she was. “I’m home.” I didn’t want to talk, not even looking at her. “Ethan, why aren’t you responding to me?” She tried to kiss me like before, but I dodged it. Mandy instantly became angry. “Ethan, don’t go too far. What are you sulking about!” As she finished speaking, her eyes caught sight of the twelve dishes on the table. Each one was her favorite. Mandy thought I was upset because she didn’t come home last night, so she approached me again, trying to control her temper. “Ethan, we had to work overtime at the set last night. I didn’t want to either.” “Let’s heat up the food and have a meal together, okay?” Mandy had always been a clean freak. Every time she finished work, she would shower first thing before coming home. But this time, her body carried the scent of an unfamiliar cologne. I no longer felt hurt by this, just utterly exhausted mentally and physically. “Mandy.” “Hm?” “Let’s break up.” Mandy froze for a second, sitting up straight. In the dim room, I couldn’t see her face clearly, but I could hear her extremely impatient sigh. “Ethan, what are you going crazy about now?” “You’re not a kid anymore, always throwing tantrums.” Mandy turned over, lighting a cigarette. “Hah, break up?” “With your $300 monthly salary, which woman besides me would be blind enough to like you?” “Who would marry a man with no car, no house? Are you being childish?” My body stiffened. If I hadn’t met her, I wouldn’t be earning a $300 monthly salary, but would be sitting on the Zhou Group empire. For her sake, I had given up almost everything that was within my grasp. But in the end, all of this became the sharp knife she used to stab me. “Mandy.” Looking at that face I had once loved deeply, I couldn’t help but ask. “If one day I suddenly disappeared and married someone else, you…” “Enough! Ethan, are you done with this nonsense?!” Mandy irritably interrupted me. She threw the bedside lamp onto the floor, her tone full of impatience. “Marriage, marriage, all you ever talk about is marriage!” “I’ve been so busy lately, and when I come home I have to see your gloomy face. Isn’t it annoying?!” “I don’t have the energy to play house with you!” Mandy took a deep breath, putting out her cigarette, her tone softening slightly. “Stop making a fuss, okay? Next week, come with me to see my parents.” “Don’t misunderstand.” “They’ve been pressuring me about marriage. Help me deal with it.” My eyes suddenly stung. I really didn’t know what I had been hoping for. The person Mandy wanted to marry had always, always been only Lucas Lu. Just then, her phone rang. Seeing the name “Alex Lu” on the screen, Mandy’s furrowed brows instantly relaxed. She turned her back to me, her voice becoming cute, like a girl in the throes of young love. I had to admit, this kept man really knew how to make her happy. “Hello.” Alex’s voice came through, but I couldn’t make out what he said. After a few exchanges, Mandy’s expression suddenly turned worried. “What happened to you?” “Don’t worry, I’m coming over right now.” Mandy hurriedly put on her coat, ready to leave. Looking at her back, I couldn’t help but laugh, “A colleague?” “Mm-hmm.” “Mandy, do you think I’m an idiot?” “He called earlier today.” Mandy’s movement of putting on her high heels suddenly stopped. Although I couldn’t see clearly, I guessed her expression must have turned very ugly. “What did he tell you?” I had always been in the habit of recording calls. I scrolled through my phone’s memory and played those few minutes of the conversation for her. Mandy’s brows furrowed. She just glanced at it and continued walking out. “Don’t blame him, he’s just childish.” “Don’t worry, I’ll be back later.” “He’s hurt, I should go check on him.” I laughed coldly. “Fine, you don’t need to come back after you leave.” “Next week…” “Enough, Ethan.” She interrupted me again, her beautiful eyes full of impatience. “You’re not a kid anymore, can’t you understand? After all these years, I just realized how annoying you can be.” “If anyone’s leaving, it should be you. Who are you trying to scare?” “Don’t forget this house was bought with my money. You’ve been the parasite all along.” With that, Mandy slammed the door and left. I didn’t try to stop her, just closed my eyes completely. In the darkness, I muttered to myself. “Mandy, I’m getting engaged next week. I’ll send you an invitation.” ———-This is the cutoff point———-

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The grueling night shift and back-to-back surgeries had just ended. Suddenly, I was brutally stabbed to death in the on-call room by an enraged patient’s family member. With a dull thud, my lifeless head hit the desk hard. As consciousness slipped away, I could still hear the family member’s relentless cursing. “Even your own people admitted it. You deserve to die!” It’s true that the soul doesn’t immediately dissipate after death. For the next two weeks, I hovered in mid-air, coldly watching everything that unfolded. The family member who killed me and their accomplices were all arrested by the police. Each of them was unrepentant and self-righteous. My colleagues, who I had worked with day and night, were heartbroken and furious. Meanwhile, the patient whose “surgery had failed” was steadily recovering. They could even eat independently and get out of bed, full of energy. — Medical Malpractice These four heavy words crumbled on their own. News media, social networks, and ordinary people discussed it endlessly, expressing a mix of opinions. “Rest in peace, angel in white.” “No matter the profession, women always suffer the most.” “This doctor was just unlucky, encountering unreasonable family members.” “Even if it was a mistake, doctors’ attitudes are terrible these days, especially female ones. They deserve it.” “Mistaken killings are rare, but unethical doctors are the norm.” “Hope this bloody lesson will awaken doctors’ consciences.” … After working for decades, I had heard such words countless times. Even the most vicious and cold words could no longer touch my heart. Besides, my heart had already stopped beating. As time passed, this “bloody incident” gradually faded from public view. Just as I was feeling disheartened and ready to leave for good, The police brought the killer back to the crime scene. For a final crime reconstruction. Escorted by the police, he looked disheveled and dejected in handcuffs. Yet he was still obstinately muttering. “Impossible! There couldn’t have been a mistake, it was clearly…” “It was clearly their own people who said it…” ?! An excruciating pain surged through my entire being. My soul instantly began to tremble. I wanted to keep listening to what he had to say. But my scattered soul in mid-air could no longer sustain my remaining consciousness. The light before my eyes suddenly vanished. Complete darkness. The next second, I was reborn. Back to two days before my death.

“Lily, Lily, were you having a nightmare?” My husband’s urgent, worried voice came closer, completely pulling me out of my dazed thoughts. I suddenly opened my eyes wide, staring blankly into space. It hurt so much. I instinctively raised both hands, tightly covering the non-existent wound on the back of my neck. There was no warm blood. Instead, it was covered in cold, clammy sweat. I wasn’t dead yet. Realizing this, my out-of-body soul finally came back to its senses. My unfocused eyes gradually focused on the anxious face of the man in front of me. In the chaos, that bone-chilling sentence invaded my mind. “It was clearly their own people who admitted it…” Perhaps this mistaken doctor-killing case wasn’t as simple as imagined. Thinking carefully, there were too many questionable points about this incident from the start. So, who really wanted to kill me? The man saw my pale face and kept comforting me. “Lily, it’s okay now. Dreams are often the opposite of reality.” “I’ll wait for you to come back from your night shift. Then we can go adopt a little kitten.” “It can be your birthday present.” “Okay.” Just like in my previous life, I happily agreed to my husband’s suggestion. Looking at his clear, gentle eyes, I also struggled with whether to tell him everything that was about to happen. But the butterfly effect… Any choice would affect the future course of events. Rather than letting things become more out of control and confusing, It’s better to follow the original trajectory, tracing the thread to prevent a predetermined death. The man, medical malpractice, conspiracy… This time, I want to uncover the truth behind it all.

After quickly freshening up, I bid farewell to my husband. Once again returning to the familiar on-call room. Facing what would soon become a murder crime scene, I still couldn’t completely overcome my inner resistance. So I quickly changed into my white coat and walked into the doctors’ office. “Lily, why are you here so early today?” The speaker was Kevin Liu. He looked energetic and in a good mood. Always the first to arrive in the department. Very disciplined, never late. Now not yet forty, he had already been promoted to associate chief physician. With a virtuous wife and two children, he was the envy of everyone. In his spare time, he often traveled with his family, posting one exciting update after another on social media. He probably wasn’t the “own people” that person had mentioned. “Kevin, good morning! Where are you planning to take your wife and kids this weekend?” I was used to responding more gently to kind people. But with a sword hanging over my head, I had to try every way to dig out all the clues. There were only two days until the weekend. I firmly believed that someone who had painstakingly planned to harm someone wouldn’t plan a family trip in such a short time. “This weekend we’re planning to drive to Lotus Lake. The lotus flowers are in bloom right now.” Good. It probably wasn’t him. “Have a great time.” I replied with a sincere smile. Kevin was a man who loved life and was sensitive. He had a deep understanding of the saying “work is only a small part of life.” “Lily, you should still go out with your husband when you have time off to relax.” “The department is already short-staffed with people leaving or on sick leave, taking turns for annual leave. We’re busy enough as it is, don’t work too hard.” “This is just a job to make a living.” “You’re just too serious about it.” Kevin wasn’t wrong. Everyone could see that my dedication to work exceeded that of normal people. In ten years of working, I was the director’s model of progress and positive energy. The king of overtime in my colleagues’ eyes. A conscientious and meticulous doctor in patients’ eyes. It was because I had dreamed of curing diseases and saving people since I was young. So I naturally became one of the few female surgeons. “I understand, Kevin.” I also silently thanked him for his unintentional reminder. Now, there were only five doctors left in the department. Apart from Kevin and me, there was only the director, associate chief physician Ethan Zhang, and attending physician Ryan Liu. And I was so dedicated to work that I rushed home after my shift. I didn’t have much interaction with the nurses. I probably hadn’t offended them. So the person behind this was very likely among these four people. Kevin was temporarily ruled out. The director was probably impossible too. If something happened to me in the department, he would also bear responsibility. Even if he was dissatisfied with me, he wouldn’t be stupid enough to take action in his own territory. So that left only Ethan Zhang and Ryan Liu.

Time approached 8 o’clock minute by minute. The remaining three people arrived at the doctors’ office one after another, just in time. Everyone’s expressions were as usual, chatting and laughing like any other day. Until the director gestured for silence. The morning handover began. Today’s handover was done by a newly hired young nurse. She had a pretty face and styled her hair differently every day, matching it with coordinated makeup. I couldn’t help but sigh after just a few extra glances. How early must she get up, wasting so much rest time! While I was lost in thought, The young nurse slowly raised the handover board, coincidentally blocking her eyes. Then her left eyelid flipped quickly, casting a flirtatious glance at someone less than two meters away. And standing in that direction was Ryan Liu. !! A inappropriate phrase flashed through my mind. “Subtle flirting in a crowd is true love.” Even if there really was something between them, It shouldn’t have anything to do with my death, right? But this scene was strangely familiar. As if I had seen it somewhere before. Just as I was about to sink into deeper memories, the handover ended. Ethan Zhang, the associate chief physician who was also my immediate superior, Called out to stop me.

“Lily, that patient in bed 25 is still feverish after surgery. I just passed by the ward and saw his eldest son looking a bit strange. You’re the only female doctor in our department, be careful.” My heart skipped a beat. Ethan the true prophet. So the killing intent had started taking shape from this moment. Had he said these words in my previous life? I really couldn’t remember clearly. During this period, all the patients I was in charge of were in serious condition. Every morning, my body was at the handover meeting, but my mind had already flown to the wards. Afraid the seriously ill patients would deteriorate, and afraid the mild cases would worsen. Also, medical staff had a special employee passage for coming and going. How could he have passed by the ward? Had he deliberately gone to the ward and said something to someone? If it really was him stirring up trouble and provoking conflict, Why publicly remind me to be careful? Was it to completely clear himself of suspicion? I was stunned. Out of politeness, I quickly thanked him for his concern. After this little episode, I completely forgot about the young nurse and Ryan Liu making eyes at each other. The ward rounds were as long as ever. Maybe it was professional habit. Even though I just wanted to briefly remind the patients and then look for clues, I still couldn’t help but say a few more words. By the time I got to bed 25, it was almost 10 o’clock. As soon as I entered, I saw that familiar and terrifying face. The patient’s eldest son. The person who had stabbed me to death in my previous life. My heart sank.

This feeling was very strange. A person who had already been killed suddenly got the chance to escape death at the hands of the murderer. It was probably just me. I didn’t know if it was lucky or cruel. I pushed the simple ward round cart, walking to the patient’s bedside with complicated emotions. “How are you feeling today, sir?” “Is your stomach still hurting?” “What was your temperature this morning?” The person in the bed seemed to still be sleeping and didn’t immediately answer me. I quickly glanced at the cardiac monitor at the head of the bed. All indicators were normal. There shouldn’t be any major problems. At this time, the eldest son glanced at me sideways, casually tossing the phone he was holding onto the companion chair. Then he walked straight to his father’s side and called out in a low voice several times. “Dad, Dr. Lily is here to see you.” After speaking, he looked at me again. Calmly helping his father answer my questions. “He says his stomach doesn’t hurt. He had a low fever today, highest 99.5°F.” His tone couldn’t be called good, but there was no hostility either. Compared to his behavior before attacking me, I felt that at least at this moment, he didn’t have thoughts of murder. I walked to the bedside, skillfully completed the examination, and retreated back to the ward round cart. My right hand grasped the mouse while my eyes began browsing and analyzing the patient’s test results. In my peripheral vision, the man’s unextinguished phone on the chair was glaringly bright. After finishing explaining the precautions, The patient and his eldest son didn’t show any dissatisfaction. They even said “Thank you.” The confusion in my heart deepened even more. What exactly had happened? To make them suddenly sentence the always conscientious and responsible me to death. Before leaving, with the attitude of not overlooking any clues, I pretended to casually glance at the lit phone screen. The overall color scheme was light yellow. I knew at a glance it was the very familiar food delivery app. Was he buying something? But it wasn’t mealtime now. I speculated in my heart, but my feet didn’t linger for a moment as I left the ward. Yes! Given the painful lesson from my previous life, I chose to back out of the ward, no longer daring to turn my back to the murderer. Suddenly, an absurd thought flashed through my mind. He wasn’t buying a knife, was he?

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