Author: Momo Chan

My CEO fiancé said the company was struggling, so he cut my salary in half. But then I saw his little assistant flaunting on SnapChat. [My boss didn’t just give me a raise; he even bought me a luxury car because he was worried about my commute! So thoughtful.] In the picture, she and my fiancé stood in front of a brand new, high-end car, beaming with happiness. I paused for two seconds and tapped ‘Like.’ That evening, my fiancé called an urgent meeting. Using my “disruption of company morale” as an excuse, he docked my entire month’s salary and gave it to his assistant as “compensation” for her “distress.” Everyone looked at me with pity, expecting me to throw a fit. But I calmly packed my things from my desk and handed him my resignation. “Just docking salary isn’t enough for bullying a colleague, is it? I’ll resign myself.” The moment I finished speaking, Chloe, Connor’s assistant, jumped in. “Harper, how can you resign over such a small thing?” “You’ve been with the company for so long, and Connor has always been so good to you. If you quit now, at this crucial moment, what will everyone think of him?” “Connor, you should try to convince Harper too!” Connor probably had been planning to stop me. But after listening to Chloe, his anger flared. He scoffed, “Convince her? Why? If she wants to leave, let her. I’ve done nothing wrong; I’m not afraid of what anyone thinks or says.” Then, without hesitation, he signed my resignation letter and threw the paper in my face. The watching colleagues were stunned. A good friend from my team quickly whispered for me to just apologize, to not let my emotions get the best of me. Almost everyone present knew that I had helped Connor build this company from the ground up. When the company was short on funds, I practically drank myself sick to secure investments. When deadlines loomed, I was the one leading the team, pulling all-nighters for days on end. I poured my heart and soul into every single project. Now the company had completed its funding rounds and was about to go public. No one in their right mind would leave at a time like this. But I remained calm, picking up the resignation letter from the floor. “I’ll leave after I’ve handed over my work.” “No need for a handover. Get out now.” Connor pointed at the door, his voice cold and unwavering. Seeing this, I said nothing, just waved goodbye to a few colleagues, picked up my bag, and left. Before walking out, I glanced back at Connor. I clearly saw a flicker of complex emotion in his usually composed eyes. I knew exactly why. He thought I wouldn’t leave. We’d had arguments before, but I’d always regret it shortly after leaving, returning to him as if nothing had happened, apologizing, and going back to work as usual. But he probably didn’t realize this time was different. My patience with him had finally run out. I walked to the parking garage. I found my beat-up old car, the one I’d driven for ten years, its paint scratched and faded in several places. Next to it was a brand new, top-of-the-line Porsche – the exact one Connor had just given Chloe today. There were plenty of empty spaces in the garage, but she’d deliberately parked it right here. I understood. It was a clear challenge. It wasn’t just two cars; it was like the two of us. Connor and I had been together for ten years, yet I was worth less than Chloe, who’d only been here for ten months. I gave a self-deprecating laugh and got into my car. Just then, a text message came through. I opened it and saw a transfer from Liam, my friend. This morning, when Connor said the company wasn’t doing well and he was cutting my salary, I’d worried he was under too much stress. I immediately contacted Liam and arranged for a fifty thousand dollar loan. I’d intended to give it to Connor, but then I’d accidentally seen Chloe’s SnapChat post about Connor getting her a new car. Surprisingly, my heart had been perfectly calm, no sadness, no raging jealousy. Perhaps it was because it had happened too many times. Chloe had been specially recruited by Connor, even though her work ability was abysmal. Yet Connor, who was usually so serious and rigorous about work, tolerated her mistakes again and again. From minor things like ordering plain water for a client and a bubble tea for herself during meetings, to major blunders like sending the bottom-line price list instead of the official quote to a partner, causing the company to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars. Whenever I held Chloe accountable, Connor would unhesitatingly stand in front of her, looking utterly annoyed with me. “Chloe just graduated, isn’t it normal to make some mistakes? Why are you so harsh on new hires?” Over time, Chloe grew increasingly brazen, to the point where she didn’t even acknowledge me anymore. Soon, I left the garage. As the parking barrier lifted, my car suddenly jolted. Realizing I’d been rear-ended, I stepped out, only to see Connor and Chloe walking out of the car behind me, holding hands. “Oh, sorry, Harper, is that you?” Chloe immediately walked up, looking at her car’s dented hood with exaggerated concern. “But why did you brake so suddenly? I didn’t even have time to react.” “Such a shame, Connor just got me this new car.” Connor’s face was dark as he glared at me. “Were you doing this on purpose? Did you know Chloe was behind you and deliberately braked to get back at her?” I almost laughed at his audacity. It was always like this. Blindly placing the blame on me without any reason. Before I could even speak, Chloe’s eyes welled up. “Connor, don’t blame Harper.” “She just quit because of me; it’s normal for her to be angry.” “It’s all my fault, really.” Saying this, she clenched her fist and, as if in agony, moved to hit her forehead, only to subtly pull her punch at the last second. Connor, however, didn’t see through it. His eyes filled with concern as he gently rubbed her forehead. “It has nothing to do with you. Don’t take everything upon yourself.” Then, he turned his furious gaze back to me, getting angrier the more he thought about it. He angrily poked my forehead. “Harper, can’t you learn from Chloe and take some responsibility? She knows how to be modest, and you, after working for so many years, are still so childish and arrogant?” He pushed me back a couple of steps. Once I recovered, I found it almost laughable. For the past year, Chloe had been constantly stealing my credit, playing mind games, and framing me, and now she was modest and responsible, while I was childish and arrogant. Knowing that further conversation would be a waste of breath, I didn’t bother to say anything more and turned to leave. “Wait.” Connor suddenly stopped me. I expected him to lecture me again, defending Chloe. But to my surprise, he pulled me aside. He spoke with a serious, almost paternal tone. “Harper, my attitude towards you today was indeed extreme.” “But, I also have high expectations of you, which is why I’m so strict.” I was still somewhat confused by his gentle words. However, I soon understood his intention.

Connor smiled faintly at me and patted my shoulder. “I’ll withdraw your resignation; just come to work as usual. But find a time to publicly apologize to Chloe.” “Also, you’re fully responsible for this rear-end collision, and I’ll deduct the compensation amount from your salary.” It all clicked. I scoffed, looking up at Chloe. She probably knew exactly what Connor was going to say. Her face was full of smugness, and she winked at me provocatively. I sneered. “No, thank you.” “We can check the surveillance cameras to see whose fault the collision was. If not, just call the police.” “I have somewhere to be. I’m leaving.” With that, I walked straight away. Connor was fuming behind me. “I’ve given you a chance! Don’t you dare regret this!” Regret? Never. I got back in my car and sent a message to Liam. “I’ve resigned. I can start working at your company tomorrow.” Less than half a second later, Liam called back, his voice full of surprise. “Are you serious?” He sounded a little unsure. “Are you sure you don’t want to talk to Connor again?” Liam and Connor had started their companies around the same time. Compared to Connor, who started from scratch, Liam had more resources and more attractive benefits. Liam desperately needed excellent technical talent, so he’d promised me higher shares and profits if I’d come help them. He even made an exception and offered me a part-time role, even after knowing my relationship with Connor. But for Connor’s sake, I had always unequivocally refused. When I was at my lowest, almost freezing to death in the snow, it was Connor who dragged me into the police station and saved my life. I was incredibly grateful to him, so I’d abandoned everything and dedicated myself entirely to the business, finding every possible way to help Connor’s company grow step by step. But now, it seemed he didn’t care. Besides, after all these years, no matter how you looked at it, I’d repaid his debt of gratitude enough. I didn’t need to put myself through this anymore. “No need. I can make my own decisions.” After chatting with Liam for a few more minutes and confirming the contract signing time, I drove home first to grab the necessary documents. I expected Connor to be out until late, as usual. To my surprise, not long after, he walked into the living room, his face beaming with joy, while on the phone with Chloe. Seeing me, his face instantly darkened. He intentionally rolled his eyes at me, then pushed open the bedroom door and went inside. I knew he was waiting for me to go and soothe him. Every time we argued at the company, I would find ways to apologize and ask for his forgiveness. Even if he was the one in the wrong, I had to swallow my pride and admit fault. Before, I thought it was my duty, whether to repay his kindness or to maintain our relationship, I should always indulge him. But now, I just found it tiresome. I focused on searching for things in the drawer. Not long after, he walked out of the room, his face dark. “Chloe’s car is fixed. Is yours fixed yet?” I knew this was his signal, an olive branch of sorts. In the past, I would have immediately felt that he had forgiven me and gone to appease him. But now, I didn’t even look up. I said calmly, “It’s just a beat-up old car. Not worth fixing.” Connor frowned. “What do you mean by that?” I looked up at him, puzzled, not understanding what he was unhappy about now. This car had been scratched many times before, and when I suggested fixing it, he’d always said the same thing. I expected him to explode again, but to my surprise, he sighed. “Chloe’s work has been quite good lately. I gave her the car to retain her talent.” “You’re my girlfriend, and when we get married, the company will be yours anyway, so why bother with salary amounts or compete with her?” “Harper, everything I do is for the company. I don’t want other colleagues to think I’m playing favorites with you.” I was surprised that he was actually explaining himself to me. He’d never bothered to say such things before. But I knew deep down that these were just excuses. At the company, colleagues all knew how Connor treated Chloe and me. Projects I slaved over for three days, he’d suddenly, on a whim, hand them over to Chloe, and with just a simple PowerPoint presentation, they’d become her achievement. Clients I spent days negotiating with, on the verge of signing a contract, he’d use my name to take Chloe out to dinner with them, and suddenly the contract became Chloe’s accomplishment. Such incidents were countless. Over time, other colleagues simply thought Connor favored Chloe more. They even believed Connor didn’t like me, and because of this, I suffered many snubs and bullying at work, which he saw but pretended not to. I didn’t want to explain; he’d just say I was making excuses anyway. “Oh,” I replied flatly. “You don’t need to tell me all this. I have nothing to do with the company anymore. You can do as you please.” Connor didn’t speak. Finally, he sighed. He walked over to me, lowered his head, and gently touched my face. “Actually, I have a selfish reason too. I want you to take some time off and think about our wedding.” “When do you plan to marry me?” He asked, smiling. But I had brought up marriage many times before, and each time, he had refused. Every time we fought and he wanted to placate me, he would bring up marriage. Sometimes, I felt less like his girlfriend and more like a dog he strung along. I remained silent. Connor, as if playing with a dog, scratched my chin. “Don’t be mad, can you just smile for me?” Saying this, he leaned in, as if deliberately trying to please me, and kissed my neck. He rarely initiated physical affection with me. In the past, I probably would have been thrilled. After his kiss, I would have taken the lead, only to be pushed away and laughed at for being “dirty-minded.” Now, thinking about it, it just felt tiresome. I yanked his arm away, pulled out a wet wipe, and scrubbed at my neck. Connor was thunderstruck, frozen in place. “You’re disgusted by me?” “I have to go out later. I’m going to change.” I said calmly, then turned to go back to my room. Connor tried to follow, but I unhesitatingly closed the door and locked it. “Fine! Harper, don’t you dare regret this!” Connor seemed genuinely furious. After his angry outburst, he kicked the door hard and stormed off. When I came out of the room, the living room was empty. In the company SnapChat group, Connor had sent a message, inviting everyone out for dinner and asking who wanted to come. Complete silence followed. Only Chloe sent three “happy” emojis in a row. I knew Connor was deliberately trying to provoke me. This had happened many times before; other colleagues were always reluctant to join, but Chloe was always enthusiastically responsive. In the past, I would have been so jealous that I would have gone along, only to be mocked by them. Now, I couldn’t care less. I went straight to Liam’s place and signed the contract. Liam was incredibly happy and specially arranged a celebratory dinner for me. After several rounds of drinks, when I went to the restroom, I heard familiar voices from the private room next door. I instinctively paused. Through the slightly ajar door, I saw Chloe leaning into Connor’s arms. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but Connor was laughing joyfully.

Seizing the moment, Chloe quickly looked up and kissed him on the lips. Connor froze for a moment but made no move to push her away. “Connor, when are you and Harper breaking up?” “I can’t wait to be with you. Do you know how upset I get seeing you with her every day?” Chloe whined, sounding incredibly wronged. Connor’s lips moved, as if he wanted to say something. Finally, he hugged Chloe, patting her back gently, as if comforting a child. “Just wait a little longer.” “It won’t be much longer.” The two of them, intimately embraced, looked exactly like a couple. I scoffed and didn’t watch any longer. Back in the private room, after a few more drinks, the party broke up. As we headed to the underground parking garage, Liam suddenly pulled me in front of a top-of-the-line Porsche and asked if I liked it. I nodded, puzzled. I assumed it was his new car and was about to compliment him when Liam suddenly pressed a car key into my hand. “It’s for you.” He winked at me. “Your car is such a wreck, I couldn’t stand it anymore. I got you a new one.” I was about to refuse, but he seemed to know what I was going to say and cut me off. “I heard Connor got a new car for the new hire at your company. She has such terrible skills and gets to drive a luxury car; you certainly shouldn’t be any worse off than her.” “Speaking of which, I’ve seen some of the things that new hire has ‘produced.’ Her style is different every time. It’s clearly plagiarized. I have no idea how she even stays at the company…” Perhaps it was the alcohol, but Liam was completely unreserved, grumbling on and on about Chloe. I remained silent. He was right. Those projects were all things I and other members of my team had worked on. Almost every time, just as they were nearing completion, Connor would demand they be transferred to Chloe. That’s why Chloe’s “style” always varied. Liam wasn’t even at the company, yet he could see the truth. But Connor, for some reason, couldn’t. I thanked Liam. After chatting for a few more minutes, I headed home. When I opened the door, Connor was already sitting on the sofa in the living room. “Where were you?” He seemed to be in a good mood; his tone was much lighter. The image of him and Chloe embracing in the hotel flashed in my mind again. My stomach churned. “Out to dinner with a friend,” I said calmly, walking straight towards my room. After just two steps, Connor suddenly stopped me, frowning. “You drank?” “Didn’t I tell you not to drink when I’m not around?” I couldn’t help but scoff. His words meant I was only allowed to drink when I was entertaining clients for him. I didn’t say anything. But Connor seemed to have thought of something and suddenly smiled, a hint of smugness on his face. “You’re still mad about me going out with Chloe, right? If you don’t want me to have dinner with her alone, just say so. Is it really worth drinking this much over?” “You’re overthinking it. My drinking has nothing to do with you two.” I was tired, so I sat down on a stool. “However, I do have something I want to tell you.” “What is it?” Assuming I was about to apologize and soften up, Connor’s tone grew even more self-satisfied. “Let me tell you upfront, it’s too late to apologize now. I’m really angry with you because of what happened this afternoon.” “Don’t think a simple apology will make me forgive you.” Saying this, he rolled his eyes at me. I pretended not to see it and spoke. “I…” Before I could finish, his phone rang. Connor glanced down. I noticed the caller ID was Chloe. “Just a moment, I need to take this.” Without another thought for me, Connor lifted his hand to answer the call. Watching his indifferent, decisive back, I spoke calmly. “Let’s break up, Connor.” The moment I said it, Connor’s body seemed to stiffen abruptly.

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I thought marrying a billionaire would save my life. Instead, it became the reason I nearly died. My husband left me in labor to protect his mistress’s child. His people tied me down, drugged me, and tried to stop my baby from coming. He thought I would break. But I survived. Now it’s his turn to kneel. I had a fling with a younger guy back in the day. Once I had him hooked, I dumped him. Later, he became a billionaire CEO. He found me, broke and bankrupt, and married me. Everyone said I hit the jackpot. But they didn’t know he brought different women home every single night. I didn’t cry. I didn’t fuss. But it drove him mad. He retaliated by getting his mistress, Delilah, pregnant. I stayed calm, cool as ice. He slammed me against the wall. “Marina, do you actually love me or not?” Later, Delilah and I broke our water at the same time. I fell to my knees, telling him I loved him, begging him to take me to the hospital. He hugged me tight, a cruel smile on his face. “I knew it!” “You liar.” He shoved me away, hard. He scooped up Delilah, then walked out without a backward glance. “I’ll send you to the hospital later. The pain of childbirth is your punishment!” All I saw was his retreating back as he rushed away. My lower abdomen ached as if all strength had been drained from me. I collapsed heavily to the floor. Amniotic fluid gushed out, soaking my thighs, spreading a wet stain on the ground. Weakly, I raised a hand, calling out to a maid nearby, my voice hoarse. “Please, take me to the hospital…” The maid looked at me, her face full of dilemma. “Mrs. Miller, Cassian specifically told us we must wait for him to return. I wouldn’t dare…” “You wouldn’t dare?” I clutched my abdomen, my voice trembling from the pain. “If anything happens to me or the baby, Cassian will never forgive you. Take me now!” The maid, terrified, finally scrambled to her feet and rushed out. She had barely reached the door when Cassian’s personal assistant, David, blocked her path. “David, Mrs. Miller is in labor. She needs to go to the hospital right away,” the maid stammered nervously. David glanced at the fluid on the floor, then at my contorted face, his tone calm. “Mr. Miller said to wait for him. Mrs. Miller is just using her pregnancy to manipulate us again. Help her back to her room to rest.” “If we delay any longer, the baby will be gone! Will you take the blame?!” I desperately pushed myself up, pointing a trembling finger at him. David offered a polite, fake smile, his eyes devoid of any warmth. “Mrs. Miller, Mr. Miller is with Miss Delilah at the hospital, making sure her baby is safe. He said to wait for him to return.” “You know Cassian’s temper. No one dares to cross him.” “I’m in labor! The baby can’t wait!” The agonizing contractions returned, like a knife twisting and tearing inside my abdomen. I curled into a ball, cold sweat instantly soaking through my clothes. “What are you waiting for? Help Mrs. Miller to bed, now.” David snapped, his voice sharp. Two maids immediately rushed forward, ignoring the intense pain in my abdomen, roughly grabbing my arms and dragging me towards the bedroom. At that moment, I suddenly felt a warm liquid gushing out. I looked down—it was blood! “Blood! I’m bleeding!” Frantically, I grabbed a maid’s hand, screaming. “Take me to the hospital, quickly! Any later and the baby will really be in danger!” “Mrs. Miller, I can’t make that decision. I’ll call the family doctor over first.” The maid pulled her hand away, guilt written on her face. “I don’t want a family doctor! I need to go to the hospital!” “Mrs. Miller, please don’t get angry. I’ll go ask David right away.” The maid finished speaking and ran out in a panicked hurry. The pain in my abdomen was like a knife carving into my very bones. Cold sweat, mixed with blood and amniotic fluid, soaked the velvet blanket. Time ticked by, but no one came. Dragging my bleeding body, I painfully shifted to the edge of the bed and grabbed Martha, who had just walked in, by the hem of her uniform, crying out. “Martha, please, go check! I can’t hold on any longer…” Martha nodded, her face full of sympathy. “Mrs. Miller, just hold on. I’ll go hurry them up now.” But as she turned, David blocked her. He slowly walked towards me. His gaze swept over the blood-stained blanket, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. It was quickly replaced by cold indifference. “Let Dr. Miller take a look first.” As he spoke, Dr. Miller quickly entered with his medical bag. Several maids immediately stepped forward and pinned down my struggling limbs. “Let go of me! I need to go to the hospital!” I twisted my body desperately, tears mixing with cold sweat. “The baby can’t wait!” Dr. Miller, expressionless, examined me. Then he took out a few white pills and instructed Martha to give them to me. “What’s that?” I shook my head wildly. “I won’t take it! Are you trying to kill my baby?!” “It’s medication to delay labor. The contractions will lessen after you take it.” “No! That will cause the baby to be oxygen-deprived!” Dr. Miller remained coldly impassive, not saying another word. “Dr. Miller, your wife is also about to give birth, isn’t she? If she were lying here right now, would you make her take this medication? Aren’t you afraid of karma?!” I endured the intense pain and looked at David again. “David, if anything happens to me and the baby, you’ll be the murderer! Cassian Miller won’t let you get away with it!” Dr. Miller and David exchanged a glance. Just as David was about to agree to send me to the hospital, his phone suddenly rang. It was Cassian. He answered the call, responding respectfully, the hesitation on his face completely gone. “Mrs. Miller, you heard him.” His voice was filled with helplessness. “Mr. Miller said to absolutely wait for him to return. It’s not that I won’t help you, it’s that I truly don’t have the authority to decide.” With that, he gave Martha a meaningful look. Two maids immediately held down my shoulders, forcibly prying open my mouth. Martha took the opportunity to pop the pills in. I struggled to vomit, but the pills still slipped down my throat. Tears streamed silently down my face. I looked at the ceiling and suddenly burst into hysterical laughter. The laughter only made my tears flow harder. “This is excellent. Remember this day! If anything happens to my baby, I will become a vengeful spirit and drag you all down to hell with me!” “Mrs. Miller is unstable. Give her a sedative shot. Don’t let her hurt herself or the baby. Martha, keep an eye on her.” David frowned, then, after speaking to Dr. Miller and Martha, he turned and left. I stopped struggling, letting the thick needle pierce my arm. Turns out, in Cassian’s heart, his mistress was far more important than his own flesh and blood. To save her baby, he would let his own child struggle on the brink of death. The despair I felt in that moment was equal to my regret for having been so determined to marry him. I thought if I was good enough, he would see it. Sometimes, for a fleeting moment, I believed he loved me. But now I knew: if he doesn’t love you, he just doesn’t. Even carrying his child couldn’t earn me a shred of his concern. I caressed the rising curve of my abdomen. Amniotic fluid and blood had long since soaked the entire bed. I slowly closed my eyes, tears once again wetting my face. “Cassian Miller, if anything happens to my child, I will never let you go!”

Perhaps the medication had taken effect, as the pain of the contractions gradually lessened. But the blood still gushed from below. I lay weakly on the bed. In a haze, I suddenly heard Martha calling Mr. Miller’s name. Hope instantly ignited in my heart. Had he finally softened and decided to send me to the hospital? He still cared about me and the baby. So I gathered all my strength and shouted into Martha’s phone. “Cassian Miller, quickly! Tell someone to send me to the hospital! The baby really might not make it!” Martha had put the phone on speaker, but what came through was Delilah’s soft yet arrogant voice. “Sister, you really need to hold on. Cassian is still here with me. He can’t spare a thought for you right now.” She paused, then instructed Martha. “Martha, make sure you take good care of Mrs. Miller, okay? Make sure she listens to Cassian.” “Delilah, let Cassian take the call…” Before I could finish, someone clamped their hand over my mouth, leaving me to only make muffled sounds. Martha smiled fawningly into the phone. “Don’t worry, Miss Delilah, we’ve already given her the delay medication. Mr. Miller’s instructions will definitely be followed.” “That’s good.” Delilah’s voice was filled with triumph. “If Sister is still in pain later, I know a method that can both stop the pain and help her last until Cassian gets back.” “What method?” Martha urgently asked. I held my breath, staring intently at the phone, wanting to hear what twisted idea she’d come up with next. The voice on the phone suddenly turned sinister. “First, hang her upside down, head first, feet up. After five minutes, the baby will slowly retract. Then, find a rope and tie it tightly below her abdomen. That will naturally help her last longer. If that still doesn’t work, then…” She deliberately raised her voice: “Like, stitch her up. In short, no matter what method you use, you must wait until Cassian returns.” I desperately shook my head, but only muffled sounds came out. Martha stood frozen, her face ashen, only managing to force out a sentence after a long moment. “Miss Delilah, isn’t that… inappropriate? Something bad could happen…” “How could it?” Her voice was full of disdain. “Where I’m from, to make sure the baby is born at a ‘good time,’ people often do this. Babies are resilient, you know.” She paused for two seconds, then continued. “Cassian is right here next to me, and this is his idea. He’s the one who asked me to call and tell you. He said he needs to properly fix Marina’s jealous streak. And he said to protect my baby at all costs. If you go soft, and anything happens to me, Cassian will never forgive you.” Ignoring the gushing blood from below and the pain of the contractions, I violently broke free from the maids and screamed. “No! Cassian wouldn’t do this to me and the baby! You’re lying! You evil woman! Martha, don’t listen to her!” But the next second, two maids roughly pressed me back onto the bed. Tears streaming down my face, I looked at Martha, pleading desperately. “Martha, you’re a mother too. Can you really be so heartless towards my baby?” Martha was trembling, sweating profusely, even the hand holding the phone was shaking violently. Delilah was relentless. “Cassian said he’ll divorce her soon. You need to think carefully about who’s more important, me or her.” Then the phone was abruptly hung up. After a moment of silence, Martha suddenly spoke to the maids. “Let go of Mrs. Miller.” A surge of joy filled me. I thought she had finally taken pity on me. I weakly reached out to her. “Martha, quickly, to the hospital. Any later and it will be too late.” But she sharply turned her face away, avoiding my gaze, and instructed the maids. “Get some ropes.” “Martha, what are you doing? You can’t do this!” I stared at her, horrified. But she acted as if she hadn’t heard me. Then two maids forcefully pinned me down on the bed. Ropes savagely bit into my hands and feet, instantly leaving raw, bloody marks. Every movement felt like my flesh was being ripped open. “Mrs. Miller, this is for your own good. Please, bear with it.” Martha threw out this sentence, then shouted to the maids again. “Bring the metal frame!” “For my own good?” I looked at her, tears streaming uncontrollably. “Don’t believe Delilah’s lies! No matter what, Cassian wouldn’t treat me like this! He swore he’d never hurt me!” But no one listened. Not a soul. Not until the metal frame was finally wheeled into the room. They grabbed my arms and forcibly dragged me towards the frame. A long trail of blood instantly marked the floor. The baby in my womb seemed to sense the danger, suddenly kicking wildly in my belly. The agonizing contractions returned, and I could barely breathe from the pain. Then, they hung me upside down on the metal frame, head first. My head pounded, the baby violently kicking my abdomen. Black spots danced before my eyes. Tears streamed down my forehead, mixing with my damp, sticky hair. “Cassian Miller, please come back and see me! Are you really so heartless?” “Cassian Miller, I really can’t hold on any longer. The baby will really…” As my consciousness blurred, I thought I saw Cassian walking towards me, smiling. Just like before, he kissed my forehead, his voice tender. “Marina, I’ll protect you and our child from now on. Don’t cry.” “Marina, I’ll give up everything for you, even my life.” I reached out, my hand trembling, but I couldn’t grasp him.

The excruciating pain from the rope constricting my lower abdomen violently yanked me back to consciousness. Moments later, a maid brutally pulled me down from the metal frame. My back slammed hard against the floor, as if my bones would shatter. The rope binding my abdomen dug into my flesh, intensifying the contraction pain. The more I curled up, the tighter the rope bit, as if it was crushing my internal organs. Just then, a tearing, plummeting pain suddenly erupted from below. My hand trembled as I beckoned Martha. “Quick, I’m really giving birth…” Jenny, a maid who had just entered, suddenly gasped and screamed. “Martha, the baby… the baby’s crowning! Get her to the hospital, fast!” Martha’s face went white, but she just spun around in confusion. I stared at her, weak and in pain all over. “Please! Any later and the baby will be gone!” She suddenly raised her hand, her eyes cold. “Get a needle and thread. First, sew up her lower body.” “No!” Jenny rushed to the bed, spreading her arms to protect me. “Mrs. Miller and the baby will die! You’ll have to step over me first if you want to sew her!” “Do you dare defy Mr. Miller’s orders?” Martha scolded sharply. “But there’s so much blood!” Jenny cried, her voice choked. “Martha, how can you be so cruel?” “If we upset Mr. Miller and Miss Delilah, we won’t even be able to save our own lives!” “Tie her up! Don’t let her interfere!” Two maids rushed forward, dragging Jenny towards the metal frame. Tape was slapped over her mouth. Her eyes bloodshot, she struggled desperately. The metal frame was knocked to the ground, hitting her back hard. She curled up on the floor, her body convulsing violently, and remained motionless for a long time. Enduring the pain in my lower abdomen, I screamed, my eyes red. “Let her go! You monsters! I hope you all rot in hell!” The next second, tape was sealed tightly over my mouth. Martha took the needle and thread, lifted my dress, and plunged the long needle into the flesh of my lower body. Excruciating pain instantly spread through my entire body, like a sharp knife carving into my flesh. I shook my head wildly, tears mixing with cold sweat. The maids held down my hands and feet tightly, making it impossible for me to move even an inch. “Mrs. Miller, it’s a cosmetic stitch, won’t leave a scar.” Martha’s face was expressionless, her needle still pushing deeper. “No anesthetic is better for you. Childbirth is much worse than this, anyway. You’ll get through it. We’ll send you to the hospital once Mr. Miller returns.” I looked at these inhumane people, closed my eyes, and gave up struggling. Just then, the door was violently thrown open. “What are you doing?! Stop it!” Cassian’s sister, Sarah,’s stern voice echoed from outside the door. The air in the room instantly froze. The maids hurriedly released me, all lowering their heads in unison. Martha stood frozen, her face pale, her hands stained with blood, smearing her uniform. Cassian and Sarah had grown up together, their parents having passed away when they were young. Cassian’s success today was half due to her efforts. In the Miller family, her word carried more weight than Cassian’s. Sarah’s gaze swept over the purple bruises on my abdomen, the blood-soaked bed, and the half-finished, bloody stitches in my lower body. Through the fresh blood, a glimpse of the baby’s hair was visible. She stumbled, clutching the doorframe, her voice trembling. “Who gave you the audacity?! How could you be so wicked?!” “It… it was Mr. Miller who said we had to wait for him to return…” Before Martha could finish, Sarah raised her hand and slapped her twice, hard, drawing blood from the corner of her mouth. “That wretched woman again! She’s behind this!” Sarah was trembling with rage. “I don’t have a cold-blooded brother like him! And the Miller family certainly doesn’t have an animal who hurts his wife and child!” “She’s Mrs. Miller! How dare you treat her like this! If anything happens to her and the baby, I swear I’ll make you pay a hundred times over! You’ll rot in jail! Get her to the hospital, now!” The maids scrambled to untie the ropes from my body. The moment the ropes loosened, I felt a sudden relief in my abdomen. Immediately, more blood gushed down my thighs, and the excruciating pain below remained. Sarah rushed over, crouching beside my bed, her voice shaking uncontrollably. “Marina, I’m so sorry I’m late. You’ve suffered so much. You have to hold on! Please, don’t give up!” I looked at her red-rimmed eyes, wanting to reach up and wipe her tears away, but then my vision suddenly went black. In a daze, I felt myself enveloped in a warm embrace, carrying a faint, clean scent. Sarah’s tearful voice whispered in my ear. “Marina, look at me. Don’t sleep. I’m taking you to the hospital right away!” I wanted to respond, but no words would come out of my throat. I only heard a maid’s sudden scream nearby. “Blood! So much blood! The baby… I think I saw the baby’s head moving!” Sarah suddenly looked up, pointing her blood-stained right hand at Martha, roaring. “What are you waiting for?! Call an ambulance! Quickly!”

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Cole missed another engagement dinner because Sierra cried over something trivial. He told me to stop complaining. He told me to “understand their bond.” When I confronted him, he defended her before he even looked at me. That was the moment my patience ended. I took off the ring, placed it on the table, and walked out. If he can show up for her every time, he can lose me. My boyfriend has a buddy who he treats like a sister, and they’re practically inseparable. On the day we were supposed to get engaged for the ninth time, he ditched me at the venue. Why? Because it was their 20th “friendship anniversary.” “It’s just a delayed engagement. No need to rush. Are you really worried that no one will marry you?” Her latest Instagram Story popped up, and it felt like a thorn in my eye. “Twenty years of friendship. How could someone like you ever compare?” They hugged, looking way too cozy for “just friends.” I tossed the ring into a trash can. A cab driver waved me over and asked, “Where to?” “Just drive,” I replied. “Anywhere but back.” When Cole Delaney’s calls started coming in, I turned my phone off. It stayed off for three days. The night breeze by Santa Monica Pier felt calming, lifting the hem of my red dress. It reminded me of the first time Cole told me he loved me. He had been so young and awkward, his feelings written all over his face, impossible to hide. I had fallen hard for 20-year-old Cole. I even left my hometown of Austin, Texas, and moved to the unfamiliar Midwest for him. I quit a job I loved to become his secretary, a role I held for nine years. Fate sure has a twisted sense of humor. We got engaged nine times. And each time, she got in the way. Her name is Sierra Stokes. We fought about her more times than I can count. “I’ve told you, Sierra and I are just friends. Why are you so insecure?” “We’ve shared everything since we were kids—even baths. Do you really think it’s anything more?” “Skylar Quinn, you’re acting like a jealous maniac! Sierra’s already forgiven you for stalking us. What else do you want?” Cole’s expression darkened during those arguments. After each fight, I’d pick up my feelings, wipe my tears, and apologize. I was terrified of losing him, so I always gave in first. But this time, I felt nothing. No anger, no sadness—just a calm desire to stay by the ocean, doing nothing and feeling at peace. Cole found me without much trouble. I forgot that the hotel I booked was one of his. He burst into my room without warning. “Skylar Quinn, running away is such a childish move.” “It was Sierra and I’s 20th anniversary as friends. We were just celebrating! Can’t I have friends besides you?” Friends. Right. Friends who kiss? I kept that thought to myself. I knew he’d dismiss it as “just a game.” Not like it would be the first time. “Sierra and I have nothing going on. Stop sulking, okay?” His furrowed brows softened as he looked at me, almost concerned. “I’ll make it up to you with a bigger wedding. Sierra can even be your maid of honor. Will that make you happy?” His voice had a soothing tone. I remained silent, making his brows knit together again. “Skylar, if you don’t—” “Fine,” I interrupted. The old me would’ve argued until I caved and apologized. But now? I just smiled faintly. My unexpected compliance caught him off guard, but he quickly masked it with a relieved smile. He reached for my hand. “Let’s go home.” I pulled my hand away coldly and walked ahead of him. Cole paused, stunned for a moment. No fight? He didn’t know how to deal with that. When I reached his car, Sierra was already waiting. “There you are, Skylar! Cole’s been freaking out trying to find you!” She pouted, playfully scolding him. “I told you we should’ve brought her to the anniversary, but nooo. Look what happened—she’s jealous again!” “Skylar, I’m really sorry for him. Don’t be mad, okay? If you are, I’ll hit him for you!” She pretended to punch Cole’s chest but ended up in his arms. “Still the charmer, huh?” Cole smirked at her. “Ugh, stop holding me like that!” Sierra blushed and squirmed, glancing at me. “Skylar’s watching. Are you trying to scare her off again?”

I ignored them and quietly took the backseat without looking up. I’d fought so many times over the front passenger seat. If Sierra was around, it was always hers. “She gets carsick unless she’s next to me,” Cole explained. I seethed, baffled. He thought I was being petty. This time, I said nothing, and Cole looked a bit surprised. As the car started, Sierra turned to me. “Skylar, you’ve lost so much weight in just two days. Let me take you to dinner to apologize for Cole?” “Next time, I promise you’ll be invited to our hangouts!” “No need,” I replied sharply. “Just take me home.” Cole ignored me and drove to a restaurant instead. “You look like you haven’t eaten properly. Stop being stubborn.” The car stopped in a busy area filled with restaurants. Sierra tugged at his arm and said, “Cole, I want a Matcha Latte!” “You’re about to start your period. No iced drinks.” They acted like a couple. He knew her body better than he ever knew mine. At the restaurant, the server brought us lemon water. Sierra grabbed Cole’s glass, sipping it. “Yours is so sour!” she giggled, scrunching her nose. Cole smiled fondly, pinching her cheek. “You’ve got to stop stealing my stuff.” Then Sierra turned to me. “Skylar, you’re not mad, right? We’ve always shared everything since we were kids.” Cole froze, realizing how inappropriate that sounded. “Doesn’t bother me,” I replied. “You’ve shared everything since you were kids, right? Makes sense.” Cole exhaled in relief, even smiling faintly as if impressed by my “maturity.” For the first time, I didn’t care if they flirted. When Cole peeled a shrimp for me, Sierra snatched it before it reached my plate. “How sweet! You remembered I love shrimp!” she teased, placing it on her plate. Cole shook his head, amused. “Slow down. No one’s taking it from you.”

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On the day Dillon returned, my wife dragged me off the road by my hair. Not because she wanted to save me— but because she didn’t want Dillon to see my blood. For three years, I saved her, raised my sister, protected Violet, and pushed away the only woman who truly loved me. Yet when Dillon faked his death, they all blamed me. They beat me, tortured me, and begged Dillon for mercy while stabbing me in the chest. I thought dying would set me free— until the one person I had abandoned came running through the crowd, screaming my name. “Ryan Scott, I know you’re awake. Why did you choose to commit suicide on such a joyous day when Dillon is returning? Are you trying to frame him by your death?” Hearing the cold voice, I opened my eyes to see my wife, Luanne Wright. Her icy glare was full of hatred. Luanne, one of my targets, was my wife who had loved me. When we met at the very beginning, she pretended to be mentally disabled to avoid being involved in a family feud and insisted on marrying me. For three years, I took complete care of her and gave her everything. Upon the death of all the family heirs, she regained her sanity and became the sole beneficiary. Only then did I know that she had been pretending all along and that I was the real fool. I tried to leave, but Luanne knelt and begged me, spending millions to propose to me in a high-profile way. “Ryan, don’t leave me, please. I can’t live without you. I deceived you, but I truly love you.” In the midst of swirling flower petals, I looked at the girl I had seen every day and accepted her proposal. However, when her true love, Dillon Hughes, returned, Luanne fell out of love. She used work as an excuse to stay away from home for long periods. She even questioned me, “Ryan, why can’t you understand me? Without my hard work, we won’t have a good life.” I believed in Luanne. But not long after, I discovered her intimate moments with Dillon in her office, along with used condoms on the floor. I confronted her, but she kicked me out without a penny. Dillon even staged a false suicide by jumping into the sea and posted a lengthy accusation on Twitter, claiming I had abused him and driven him to death. I faced a torrent of online abuse. Luanne then kicked me out of our home. Even my sister, Belle Scott, cut ties with me, calling me a vile person. No matter how much I tried to explain, no one believed me. I didn’t know why Luanne saved me, but seeing the intense hatred in her eyes, I struggled to speak, “Kill…me.” The next moment, Luanne let go, slapped me hard, and shouted, “If you want to die, do it somewhere else. You’re so disgusting!” Her slap left me dazed. When I came to my senses, her bodyguards had already thrown me onto the road outside the villa. Luanne crossed her arms, looking at me with contempt as if I were a pitiful creature. “If it weren’t for you bullying and tormenting Dillon, he wouldn’t have been driven to jump into the sea. Go away if you want to die. You really make me sick.” I forced a bitter smile. They slandered me, yet somehow I was the one at fault. With power and influence, they could smear me at will. Luanne probably forgot that without me, she would never have achieved what she had today. Since that was the case, I wouldn’t bother her anymore. Stumbling away, I reached a bustling street. Watching the flow of cars, I jumped. I thought, “As long as this body dies, I can go back to my original world.” Suddenly, the screeching sound of tires and honking horns filled the air. Someone grabbed my hair and dragged me to the roadside. “Ryan, what are you doing?” I looked at the furious Luanne and asked calmly, “I’m already leaving you alone.” Though her words were harsh, I saw her trembling all over. When she was pretending to be a fool, she would tremble with fear and hide behind me. Looking at Luanne, I thought, “What is she afraid of? Afraid I would die? But I’m making things easier for her and Dillon.” Luanne slapped me. “This is the road Dillon takes to come home. How can I let him see such a bloody scene?” I lowered my gaze, laughing bitterly. I went to the riverside. Here, I wouldn’t disgust her beloved man.

I was walking towards the river when someone suddenly grabbed my hand. Confused, I turned around and saw it was my sister, Belle. She was holding a cake with “DH” written on it. This cake was probably prepared to celebrate Dillon’s return after his fake death. Belle’s eyes blazed with anger and hatred. “What are you doing here, Ryan? Are you trying to stop me from giving this cake to Dillon? We’ve cut ties!” In this world, if anyone hated me more than Luanne, it was Belle. Belle wasn’t like this before. We were orphaned at a young age, and I raised her alone, naming her Belle, hoping she would be beautiful and free. She dreamed of learning music, and I dropped out of school to work three jobs so she could attend the best training programs. When there was a fire at home, she ran barefoot into the burning house, crying that she couldn’t live without me. We used to be each other’s support, the closest family we had. But everything changed after she met Dillon. Dillon said he wanted to eat something tasty, so Belle forced me, despite my illness, to cook an elaborate meal for him. Dillon didn’t even take a bite, and when I asked why, Belle lashed out, saying my cooking was terrible and accused me of being mean to him. Then, she threw away the food I had painstakingly prepared. Later, Dillon and Luanne conspired against me, faking his death by jumping into the sea. Belle hated me and cut ties with me. She watched coldly as I suffered and even pushed me further into despair. Thinking about this, I didn’t respond but pulled my wrist out of her grasp. Luanne sneered. “Dillon is back. I left your brother penniless. He can’t accept it, so he must be thinking of committing suicide.” Belle frowned, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she said, “Ryan is such a coward. He wouldn’t do it. This is just for show.” “Exactly,” Luanne nodded, laughing. “He tried this twice.” Belle looked at me with hatred. “Ryan, someone as vile as you won’t be missed even if you die. Get out of my way. I’m going to see Dillon.” I lowered my gaze. “Fine, I’ll go.” The next second, I fell into the turbulent river. Belle’s face turned pale. The current was swift, and within seconds, I was carried several feet downstream. I wasn’t afraid of death. Instead, a sense of relief washed over me. This time, maybe I could really die. But then, with a splash, Belle saved me, throwing me onto the shore. I was covered in mud, looking pathetic. She was soaking wet, kicking me furiously. “Ryan, are you trying to make everyone think I drove you to suicide and ruin me? Bastard!” “When did you learn to swim?” I coughed violently, cold water spilling from my mouth. Belle kicked me hard and sneered. “After Dillon jumped into the sea. Huh, your trick didn’t work. Are you upset now?” I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. Love was truly powerful. I had tried many times to teach Belle how to swim, but Dillon had always stopped me, saying, “With me around, Belle doesn’t need to learn to swim. I’ll always be there to save her.” Belle belittled me by saying, “This is where you and Dillon differ. You only force me to do things I don’t want to do. Ryan, you’re not fit to be my brother!” Later, when Belle accidentally drowned, Dillon looked on indifferently, while I dived in to save her. But she thought it was Dillon who had saved her and gave him all the credit, calling me heartless for standing by. Unexpectedly, Belle, who used to be afraid of water, had learned to swim for Dillon. I snorted. “It has nothing to do with you if I live or die. To me, you’re just a stranger now.” Hearing this, Belle turned livid with anger and slapped me. “If it weren’t for my vow to pray for Dillon’s soul, do you think I’d save someone I’ve cut ties with? I’d even save a dog that fell into the water!” I laughed bitterly. “Huh, what a moving story. Do you know? Dillon is going to marry Luanne.” At this, the cake in Belle’s hand fell to the ground as she stared at Luanne. “What? Marry her?” Before I could speak, another target, Violet Wood, rushed up in a panic, blurting out, “Dillon is missing!” “Ryan, did you hide Dillon? Bring him out right now!” Luanne glared at me.

Luanne, who had always been composed, panicked for the first time. “What? Dillon is missing? Ryan, no wonder you’ve been so strange today. You must have done something and are trying to clear your name. Tell me, where is Dillon?” Belle’s eyes turned bloodshot as she slapped me hard. “Dillon went through so much to come back, and you dare to harm him. Ryan, I shouldn’t have saved you just now. Where is he now? If he dies, I won’t live either!” The taste of blood filled my mouth. I parted my lips slightly, and a few drops of blood fell. I thought, “Dillon disappeared again. Huh, he really couldn’t stand me. Then I might as well fulfill his wish.” Just as I was about to speak, Violet, who had said I was her only salvation, pressed a dagger against my neck. “Where have you hidden Dillon?” Violet, one of my four targets, was a renowned expert in the field of traditional medicine. At that time, her family was murdered because someone tried to steal her family’s secret traditional medicine manual. I risked my life to save her. Perhaps witnessing her family’s murder made Violet extremely wary of anyone getting close. There was a scar on my left hand, which was left when she bit me in a moment of distress. Despite this, I accompanied her through that traumatic period. Eventually, Violet regained her composure and resolved to master her family’s medical techniques and seek justice for her family. Through countless life-and-death struggles, I helped her rise to prominence and exact revenge on all her enemies. That day, Violet cried, saying I was her brother from then on. I also cried because she reminded me so much of my sister from my original world. I missed her so much. However, after Dillon appeared, Violet gradually distanced herself from me just because he didn’t like me. She warned that if I came within ten feet of her, she would mute me with needles. When Violet learned Dillon had jumped into the sea, she went mad. She stabbed thousands of needles into my body, torturing me relentlessly to avenge Dillon. “Ryan, he must have suffered a lot because of you. You drove him to suicide. Every day from now on, you’ll endure torture a hundred times worse than what he experienced!” My silence further infuriated Violet. The sharp dagger pressed against my throat, leaving a thin line of blood. “You won’t say it? Well, it seems you’ve forgotten my means because I haven’t tortured you in a while.” With a cold expression, Violet knocked me out and dragged me into a small dark room in Luanne’s villa. She inserted countless needles into my acupuncture points, amplifying my pain before torturing me with various tools. Luanne and Belle didn’t stop Violet. Instead, they glared at me with intense hatred. I writhed in agony, the piercing pain spreading throughout my body, making me scream in torment. Violet slapped me hard and sneered. “Can’t you endure this bit of pain? Don’t forget how you tormented Dillon. If you don’t tell us where he is, I’ll make you suffer everything you did to him!” Hearing this, I opened my eyes. I didn’t want to be tortured anymore. Now, I just wanted to die quickly. Then, I could come back to my world and rest. I cried wildly at them and said, “Dillon is dead! I chopped him up into pieces. Kill me. Then you can avenge him. Just do it!” Violet, in a rage, couldn’t believe my audacity. “You think I wouldn’t dare kill you? Now that Dillon is dead, you must die with him!” She suddenly grabbed a dagger and thrust towards me with all her strength. She thought I would resist, but I just stood there, letting the blade stab into my chest. Violet froze, staring at the blood gushing from my chest, seemingly unable to believe it. I smiled. Finally, it happened. As my consciousness faded, Dillon’s voice suddenly came from the doorway. “Hey, you are all here. I’ve been looking for you all.”

Luanne’s dagger fell to the ground. She finally stopped torturing me. My blood-soaked body slumped onto the floor. Blood gushed from the wound in my chest. I thought, “Just wait a little longer, and everything will be over.” Suddenly, ambulance sirens and women’s shouting rang out. I faintly heard someone begging me not to die. I thought, “Why does this voice sound so familiar? It’s like Ellie’s voice. How could it be her? Didn’t she die trying to save me from Luanne and the others?” “Ryan, don’t die, please!” a woman cried. I forced my eyes open and saw Ellie Green kneeling over me, desperately pressing her hands against my chest. Her hands were covered with my blood. It really was her. She hadn’t died. Countless memories of our youth flashed through my mind. Ellie was my first target and my childhood friend. When I was working to make money, she helped keep an eye on Belle. When Violet bit my hand, she bandaged my wound. Ellie had said to me, “Ryan, do whatever you want. I’ll always be your support.” Later, I married Luanne. Ellie left me a farewell letter and went overseas. We met again when she learned about the online abuse I had endured. That rainy night, Ellie became a world-renowned star, while I had been slandered by Dillon and fallen into disgrace. Ellie looked at me with a bright smile. “Ryan, did you do those things?” Raindrops fell into her eyes. I smiled and lied to her. “Yes, I did. I’m that kind of malicious person. You must be very disappointed in me, right?” But the next moment, Ellie hugged me tightly. “You’re lying. Every time you lie, you furrow your eyebrows for a second. Ryan, I know you’re not that kind of person. Why are you lying to me? You have nothing left now. Do you still want to push me away?” I lowered my gaze, showing a bitter smile. Among the four heroines, the others owed me something, but Ellie was the one I owed the most. That was why I always resisted her kindness. I didn’t answer Ellie and left her. But I never expected that this decision would plunge me into an abyss. Luanne’s people captured me. To avenge Dillon, they tortured me mercilessly. When I was dying, Ellie appeared, promising to rescue me. But she never showed up again. Later, Luanne told me she had gotten rid of Ellie. Dillon returned, and Luanne let me go. Coupled with Ellie’s death, I thought my task was completely ruined. And that was why I wanted to leave this world. But now, Ellie was still alive. “Ellie, you…” In my hazy state, I had so much to ask her, but my voice grew weaker and weaker. I struggled to stay conscious, afraid I wouldn’t get another chance to ask. “I…” Before I could finish my words, I fainted. What a good day it was. Everyone had gathered. I had no regrets left. I stopped struggling, waiting for death to claim me. But before long, I woke up. My body was wrapped in bandages. “Poor guy. There are so many wounds, some even showing bones.” Hearing the nurse’s mutter, I gradually regained awareness. I murmured, “Kill me.” “No wonder he has so many injuries. He must be a Luannetic!” The nurse, terrified, ran out of the ward. Soon, a group of people flooded into the ward. Violet, with a cold face, said harshly, “Ryan, you don’t know where Dillon is. Why did you lie to us? Do you want us to carry the burden of killing you? You’re so selfish! With my medical skills, I can bring you back from the brink of death!” The others echoed her, blaming me. Despite being the injured party, I was somehow at fault. I laughed bitterly. Dillon, pretending to be sympathetic, said, “I just wanted to cook for everyone on this special day, but I didn’t expect Ryan to almost die because of it.” Belle added, “Ryan, why don’t you explain it?” I frowned and sneered at them. “Explain? What’s the point? I’ve explained countless times that I never harmed Dillon. He framed me. But what did I get in return? Nothing but your insults! I don’t want to explain anymore. If you have any conscience left, give me a quick death.”

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Four years ago, I put three men in the hospital and five in the ground. All to protect my wife.The court called it excessive force and threw me in prison for four years. After my release, the house felt off. Everything looked normal, but the air was wrong. Then one day, helping my son with his homework, he looked up at me. “Why didn’t you just die in prison? Now that you’re back, Daddy Blake never comes to play games with me anymore.” Daddy Blake. That was my best friend. Blake. Maybe it was just proximity. Blake had been around a lot those four years. A kid gets attached to a friendly face. I tried to convince myself, but that very night, I caught my wife and Blake making out. My wife, Seraphina, hated germs. She saved her real kisses for rare, joyful occasions. With me, it was usually just a quick touch of the lips. But the way she was devouring Blake’s mouth was nothing short of carnal. “My wife. Enjoying that kiss?” The rage was a live wire under my skin, urging me to lunge and break his face. I held myself back by a thread. I waited for the shock, the panic, the scramble to explain. It didn’t come. Instead, their faces relaxed into sheer relief. “I’ve been meaning to tell you,” Seraphina said, her voice calm. “But how do you even start a conversation like that? I suppose it’s better you found out this way.” She leaned back into Blake’s hold. Then, she ran her tongue over her bottom lip, catching a last, glistening trace of him. . A cold clarity washed over me. Every time I’d reached for her, it was a new pill, a fresh ache, a mysterious flare-up she couldn’t explain. There was no illness. There was just him. In prison, many inmates had broken down, lamenting how their wives or girlfriends had abandoned them. But I was so sure. I was certain I wouldn’t be betrayed. Because I went to prison for Seraphina. Otherwise, she would have been violated that night, maybe even lost her life. “You two should talk. I’ll go first.” Right in front of me, Blake leaned in and kissed Seraphina again, a deep, lingering kiss. As their lips parted, he gave a soft, teasing bite that drew a low, playful gasp from her. Then, with a smile playing on his lips, he glanced at me, turned, and got into a car. He was provoking me. And the car he got into was my black Maybach, the one I had before prison. He even rolled down the window, flashed me a smug grin, and though he said nothing, his eyes screamed, “See, Asher? I’m driving your car, just like I’m sleeping with your wife.” I clenched my fists, my breathing growing heavy. I was on the edge of losing it. “Are you thinking of hitting someone again?” Seraphina’s icy voice snapped me out of it. “Don’t forget, you’re a convicted felon. If you lay a hand on him, I’ll make sure you go back to prison myself!” “Why?” I asked, confused, unable to understand why I was being betrayed. “How can you even ask that?” “As a husband, as a father, you spent four years behind bars!” “Do you have any idea how hard these past four years have been for me?” “If it weren’t for Blake holding everything together, this company, this family, everything would have fallen apart long ago!” Seraphina screamed at me hysterically. “Why was I in prison?” “I never agreed to that shady deal, but you backed Blake’s plan, which got us trapped in the shipping container district!” “With all those people surrounding us, if I hadn’t fought back, what do you think would have happened to you?” “Do I really need to spell out what those thugs would’ve done?” “I went to prison to protect you all, and this is how you repay me?” I couldn’t help but roar. “If I hadn’t felt obligated, I would’ve filed for divorce while you were still rotting in there!” Seraphina left me with a chilling sentence. “You’re still the man of this house, but please don’t interfere with Blake’s and my relationship.” With that, she brushed past me. I stood frozen. The love I once had, the person I’d risked my life for… it was all gone, just like that. “Asher, don’t make a scene. This kind of arrangement is pretty common.” But Seraphina turned back, took my hand, and started walking towards the mansion. “At least Blake and I are still just at the kissing stage. I can even promise you that before we’re officially together, I’ll ‘be with’ you one more time.” I walked forward numbly, her words completely shattering my understanding of the world. “And don’t worry, I’ll still be your wife and fulfill my wifely duties.” “I’ll try to make time for you. I won’t spend all my time on Blake.” Seraphina sounded like she was scheduling work tasks.

“There’s ten million dollars on this card. Do whatever you want with it.” “But remember, if you’re going to fool around, keep it clean. Don’t bring back any diseases.” Seraphina led me to the study and handed me a card. I looked at the card, then at the woman who had become a complete stranger. I said nothing, just took the card. “Where are you going?” As I turned to leave, Seraphina suddenly grabbed my arm. “To sleep.” I replied numbly. “No, you’re not!” “Tonight, you can ‘have’ me in the study. Didn’t you always want to try something… different? Tonight, anything you want.” Seraphina actually initiated it. But I felt utterly disgusted. Psychologically sick to my stomach, physically wanting to gag. Yet I suppressed the revulsion and didn’t refuse. That night, I barely slept. It was like she was trying to physically exhaust me to death, using sex as a weapon. It wasn’t until dawn, when she finally fell asleep in a chair, that I managed to shower. I thought of those movie scenes where someone feels violated and scrubs themselves endlessly, desperate to wash away the filth but never feeling clean. That was exactly how I felt right then. I even wanted to find sandpaper and scrub off my own skin. After my shower, all that was left was sorrow and exhaustion. I fell asleep in that haze, waking up sometime in the afternoon. When I went to the living room, I saw Seraphina’s parents sitting on the sofa, their faces grim. “What time is it already? Still sleeping?” “Did you sleep like this when you were in prison?” “What rotten luck to have married our daughter to a man like you” My mother-in-law, Mrs. Thorne, hadn’t changed. She remained a walking jewelry display, every possible surface glittering with stones. But I remembered the truth. She had once sobbed on my doorstep, threatening to kill herself if I didn’t marry Seraphina. And now, it was rotten luck? “We heard you saw everything yesterday?” “Well,” she sighed, as if relieved of a burden. “Now let’s skip to business. We’re here for two things.” “First, we’re taking Leo to Blake’s place. We all live there now.” “Second, we’re here to warn you. Don’t you dare ruin Seraphina and Blake’s relationship, or we’ll send you straight back to prison!” “A morally bankrupt ex-con like you doesn’t deserve my daughter!” Mr. Thorne finished, his face stern, then stood to leave. Morally bankrupt? Did his memory fail him? Forgot that I bailed him out after his prostitute scandal. Now he stands there in the suit I paid for, calling me corrupt. “Leo, are you sure you want to go?” I asked my son. He was seven or eight years old, and I decided to give him a chance. Leo glared back, his face twisted in disgust. “Mom said I can change my name to Sterling, like Daddy Blake! I’m not keeping your name, you pathetic ex-con!” With that, he tugged on Mr. Thorne’s hand and walked off, asking, “Did Daddy Blake buy me that computer? The one with the RTX 5090? I want to play Warzone and dominate every lobby!” “He did, he did,” Mr. Thorne replied. “And you don’t have to call him ‘Daddy Blake’ for long. Soon enough, Blake will be your real dad.” Mr. Thorne looked at me as he said this, as if trying to provoke me. I clenched my fists, saying nothing. The spacious room was now empty, leaving just me. The irony hit me hard: our wedding photo, Seraphina’s and mine, still hung in the living room. Near the liquor cabinet, another photo showed Seraphina and me kissing under a tree, with Blake’s goofy face photobombing from the corner. The woman I loved most, the brother I trusted most. I would have died for them. And they, without hesitation, gave me a cuckold’s cap. The true nature of people in this world. Just as I sat on the sofa, smoking, my phone rang. It was an unknown number. “Asher, I’m out too! Called you the second I got out. This is my new number!” The voice on the line was Julian’s. He looked like an angel and had been framed as a demon by his own brother for a DUI crash. In prison, his beauty made him prey. I made him my responsibility. He repaid me with a loyalty deeper than blood. “Let’s find a time to meet up. I’ve got some things going on right now, so I can’t hang out just yet.” I had barely finished speaking when another call came in, from my dad. I quickly told Julian, “Gotta go, my dad’s calling.” My biggest worry was my parents finding out. They were getting old, and the news might make them sick. “Asher, listen to me.” “Feelings are tricky. If Seraphina’s fallen for someone else, you shouldn’t cling on.” “Besides, Blake is a good kid. In the four years you were in prison, he took better care of us than you, our own son.” “So, if you keep bothering her, don’t blame your mom and me if we cut you off!” My dad’s angry voice boomed through the receiver.

So, even my parents betrayed me? A sharp pain lanced through my chest. I said nothing, just hung up the phone. If everyone was going to betray me, then I’d just pretend these people didn’t exist. Beyond emotions, there was also my career. I got up, cleaned myself up, put on a suit, and went to the company. Vance Enterprises. I built that empire from scratch. I started it in college, accumulating wealth through small mobile games. Then our mobile MOBA games blew up overseas, and I practically owned half the global market for games developed in our country. Before I went to prison, a major AAA title was just about to drop on Steam. My incarceration delayed it. Now, I was out of prison. Love and family were gone. This game was my only chance to return to my peak. But when I arrived at the group’s entrance, the security guard stopped me. “I’m Asher. Vance Enterprises is mine.” I explained. The security guard, a guy named Mark, sneered. “So what if your name’s Vance? I’m Mark. Can I say I’m your dad then?” Just then, footsteps approached from behind. I turned to see Seraphina and Blake, surrounded by a small entourage. Upon seeing them, Mark immediately stepped forward with a fawning smile. “Mr. Sterling, Mrs. Sterling, there’s some idiot here claiming Vance Enterprises is his!” Mr. Sterling? Mrs. Sterling? It seemed Seraphina and Blake weren’t hiding their relationship from the outside world at all. Blake just smiled, telling his distant cousin, “He’s not wrong. Vance Enterprises used to be his, but it isn’t anymore.” “How is it not mine?” I frowned. Blake chuckled. “When you went to prison, for the company’s development, all your shares were transferred to Seraphina. How could it still be yours?” Seraphina merely gave me a dismissive glance. “Alright, Asher, you shouldn’t come to the company anymore.” I remembered transferring my shares to Seraphina. At the time, the company was at a critical juncture and desperately needed funding. To attract investment, it was indeed unsuitable for me, being in prison, to hold shares, as competitors could use it against us. “Then why can’t I even come to the company?” I asked, suppressing my anger. “You’re a convicted felon. This company can’t have a felon as an employee, let alone in leadership.” Seraphina’s tone was ice-cold. “And you need to understand, I’m the CEO now. Don’t you dare question my decisions ever again!” Everything was gone? Even my career? I turned and left, saying nothing. I didn’t even know what to say. Seraphina’s voice echoed behind me. “As long as you behave, I’ll still ensure you maintain your dignity. At least you won’t be short on money.” They were taking the wealth I’d built, and now they wanted to dole it out to me, to insult me? I walked for who knows how long until I found myself in front of my old high school. I caught a whiff of familiar fried chicken, that greasy, salty, spicy smell-an indelible scent of youth. So many memories were made here with Seraphina and Blake. “Hey, can I get a fried chicken?” I said numbly to the vendor. “Don’t make him one.” Blake’s voice sounded behind me. He sneered. “Seraphina and I bought this fried chicken stand. With your money.” I stared at him deeply, then sighed, “Blake, nearly thirty years of friendship, and this is how you treat me?” “Asher, you know what?” “You went to prison, and every day, I slept in your bed, kissed your wife, and spent your money.” “Your son calls me Daddy Blake every day. Your parents treat me like their own son.” “Now you’re out. You think you can just waltz back and take everything from me?” Blake’s smile was cold. “Asher, you have nothing left. In four years, I’ve made everything of yours my own, and all you can do is watch me take it all!” I gasped, clenching my fists, just like I used to when I was ready to fight for my life. “What, you’re upset?” “You want to hit me? Come on then.” Blake pushed his face closer. “Go on, Asher. If you’re still a man, hit me!” I raised my hand.

I raised my hand, then let it drop. If I hit him, and Blake pressed charges, I’d definitely go back to prison. Especially now that he had money-my money! “What, no guts?” Blake sneered, a flicker of disappointment in his eyes. That disappointment told me he was deliberately trying to provoke me into hitting him. I said nothing, just turned and walked away. From that day on, Seraphina rarely came home. But every day, my SnapChat inbox was flooded with photos of Seraphina and Blake. Photos of them kissing. Were they really that addicted to making out? I blocked them, out of sight, out of mind. But after I blocked them, packages started arriving every day. They were printouts of those same photos. They seemed intent on driving me insane. My mental state worsened. I was often deeply depressed, even suicidal, but then I’d suddenly become extremely agitated, filled with destructive urges. Julian noticed this when he came to visit. He took me to the hospital. His sister, Dr. Julia Hayes, was a psychiatrist there. Julian was strikingly handsome. His sister Julia was breathtaking. Hers was an artistic, formidable beauty that made you stare-a reflex, not a desire. After a brief evaluation, Dr. Hayes’s gaze found mine in the ensuing silence, then moved to Julian. “Go on, Asher can handle it.” Julian trusted me completely. I knew my situation was grim. “Asher, you might have bipolar disorder.” “You need to start medication immediately, and keep yourself busy. Otherwise, it could be very dangerous.” Dr. Julia said sympathetically. “My brother told me you’re a man of great perspective and a very open-minded person. How did you end up like this?” “I went to prison for my wife and my best friend, and they ended up together.” “Now my son disowns me, my in-laws curse me, and even my own parents threaten to cut me off if I don’t leave my wife alone.” “And I’ve lost all my company shares.” “Love, career-everything’s gone.” “If I could still be ‘open-minded’ after all that, I’d be a god.” I laughed sardonically. Julia hadn’t expected my story to be so tragic. Besides sympathy, she seemed to feel empathy, almost on the verge of tears herself. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll get through this.” I even ended up comforting her. She wiped her eyes, then gave me a diagnosis certificate and a stack of prescriptions. I didn’t let the siblings take me home. I left alone. Instead of taking the elevator, I wandered floor by floor, trying to waste time. But when I reached the sixth floor, I froze. I saw Blake helping Seraphina out of a consultation room. Blake’s face didn’t look good. “Asher, are you stalking me?” Seraphina saw Blake’s unhappiness, and her temper flared. Seeing me, I became her immediate outlet. “No, I’m not.” I shook my head. “Easy, Seraphina. You’re pregnant.” Blake said. Pregnant? I looked at her stomach, and my heart ached. Was she carrying Blake’s child? “Congratulations, Asher. You’re going to be a father again.” Blake said, gritting his teeth. “Mine?” I scoffed. “She sleeps at your place every night. How do you know the child is mine?” “Shut up!” Seraphina angrily walked up to me and slapped me across the face. “I told you, I haven’t slept with Blake! So the child is yours!” “Then abort it.” I dropped the bombshell, turned, and left. This time, I took the elevator. As the elevator doors closed, I saw Seraphina’s face, a mask of shock at my words. “I was going to break things off with Blake for this child!” “But Asher, you disappoint me too much!” Seraphina said, gritting her teeth. “You just wait, I won’t let you spend another dime of my money!” Blake’s eyes were blazing with fury. He had been so happy, thinking Seraphina would demand a divorce, but she was only threatening to cut off my funds. I ignored them completely. After leaving the hospital, I wandered aimlessly. Unconsciously, I found myself in a small alley. “Don’t go any further. This is it.” Blake’s voice suddenly came from behind me. I turned to see him, flanked by a dozen men. “What do you want?” I asked, frowning. “Alright, you guys, go.” “Don’t hit him too hard. Don’t actually injure me seriously, but make sure to cut me with your knives.” “Don’t touch my face, got it?” “Then I’ll call the police. You know what to say, right?” Blake’s voice was unnervingly calm, giving orders as if I weren’t even there. “Oh, and take his phone. Add yourselves as contacts. Transfer a few grand from his account to yours. Then type a message saying he hired you to beat me up.” “So determined to send me back, Blake?” I smiled bitterly. Blake gave a chilling smile. “Not just back, Asher. I’ve already made arrangements. Someone inside is expecting you. You’ll never disrupt my life again!” “Now. Get to work.” Blake roared.

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In my previous life, Ash locked me in his world. He controlled my phone, my friends, my every step. He used his illness as a chain and treated my fear as loyalty. When I tried to leave, he broke my bones and called it love. I died in that cage. Then I woke up on the day I confessed to him. This time, I cut him off before he could touch my life again. No hesitation. No mercy. I’m alive again, and I’m not his cure or his possession. I’m here to take back everything he stole—starting with my freedom. I was tortured to death. When I opened my eyes, I was back to the day when my crush rejected me. As we were cutting the cake, they encouraged me to confess. Gathering my courage, I said, “Ash, my birthday wish is you.” Ash’s hand holding the cigarette trembled. He smirked and said, “Sorry, you’re too good. Not my type.” In my previous life, because of these words, I went crazy, thinking about my miserable end. My whole body felt cold, and I wanted to kill Ash right then and there. “Nova, are you okay?” “Ash, can’t you say something nice?” Ash maintained his laid-back and nonchalant attitude, lazily blowing smoke rings. “I’m not good at lying.” His lazy British accent was quite alluring. But hearing it now, I only felt disgusted. In front of everyone, I coldly made a new birthday wish. “Ash, I hope that for eternity, you and I will never cross paths again.” I blew out the candles. They tried to stop me, but couldn’t. Ash’s smile froze on his face. “Nova, are you serious?” “I’ll give you one more chance. Make a new wish, and I’ll pretend I didn’t hear anything just now.” No need. I ignored him and started cutting the cake. Ash rushed towards me, grabbing the blade with his right hand. “Nova, I’m talking to you.” The blade cut his finger, drawing blood. Someone exclaimed, “Blood! Ash, you’re bleeding!” I knew he was having an episode again. Ash had a severe psychological disorder. In my previous life, only I could stop him from having these episodes. Oh, to be precise, only I could before that poor junior girl appeared. Because of this, I always thought I was special to him. Until I heard him comforting that poor girl in his lazy tone. “She’s different from you.” “At most, she’s just a placebo. Only you are my sole medicine.” “Without you, I’d die.” I let go of the knife and said, “If you like it so much, you can have it.” As I turned to leave, Ash threw the knife aside and grabbed me. His bloodied finger stained my white shirt. “Nova, who are you trying to impress with this attitude?” The blood terrified me. Uncontrollably, I remembered the things from my previous life. Feeling dizzy and overwhelmed, I fainted. When I woke up, Ash was by my bedside. “Awake?” “You made me angry, yet I had to carry you back. Nova, how do you plan to make it up to me?” Ash was a player. He often said these ambiguous things, making me harbor inappropriate hopes. But I was no longer who I used to be. I knew very well that when faced with someone he truly liked, Ash couldn’t utter a single flirtatious word. Even when confessing, his voice would tremble. I sighed and said, “I’m tired.” “Ash, let’s not see each other anymore.” 0

The next day, I went to school alone. Ash didn’t wait for me. I knew this was his punishment for me. He was waiting for me to apologize. But I ignored him all day. In the afternoon, I was sleeping in the classroom when someone shook me awake. “Nova! Wake up! Ash’s fighting with someone on the basketball court!” Still half-asleep, I was dragged to the basketball court by my deskmate. “Quick, go look! Ash’s gone crazy, only you can stop him!” No. He was wrong. I didn’t need to go over there. Because his leading lady had already appeared. I guessed right. By the time we arrived, Ash had stopped fighting and was sitting to the side, drenched in sweat. Beside him sat a girl. She had a low ponytail, a serene expression, and was holding his hand. Her voice carried a hint of choked emotion. She said softly, “Ash, you’re hurt.” Ash hated being touched by outsiders. He tried to pull his hand away. But when his eyes met mine, he paused, his gaze darkening, allowing Lily to hold his hand. The senior he had beaten was leaving, supported by his classmates. “Wait,” he called out to them. He pointed at Lily beside him. “Apologize.” The senior’s face was bruised and swollen. A classmate tried to persuade Ash, “Ash, let him go to the hospital first.” Ash refused, his voice deepening as he repeated, “I said, apologize to her.” Lily grabbed Ash’s hand, shaking her head, “It’s okay, Ash, I’m fine.” The senior, beaten so badly, still had to bow and apologize. Someone asked why he was beaten. My deskmate answered, “He called her poor, and Ash overheard.” “Serves him right! Who told him to be so mean!” “Ash is so cool! A hero saving the damsel in distress!” “Is this a campus romance happening right before our eyes?” Only I knew that wasn’t the truth. In my previous life, the senior was forced to transfer schools by Ash. Before leaving, he came to warn me about Lily. He wouldn’t say more, probably scared by Ash. The senior needed to go to the hospital, but the ambulance would take some time to arrive. I went over and said, “Take my car.” The senior was stunned and said, “Thanks, but no need.” Ash ran over and grabbed my arm. “Nova, are you deliberately trying to upset me?” I looked at Lily behind him, her eyes red from crying. “Mind your own business.” “If you dare leave, don’t ever come find me again.” I left without looking back, leaving them in a mess. “Bang!” There was a commotion behind me. Ash had punched the basketball hoop. Tsk, doesn’t he feel pain? 0

Ash and I haven’t had much interaction lately. I heard that for Lily’s sake, he hasn’t been fighting for a long time. He’s even turned over a new leaf and started studying hard. Ash’s friends called him to go to the internet cafe. Lily whispered to him, “You haven’t memorized your English vocabulary yet.” Ash sighed deeply and sat back down. “My family’s strict, I can’t go.” I hear stories like this from my deskmate every day. But whenever they see me approaching, they stop talking and go back to their own business. “She’s so pitiful.” “Yeah, she chased Ash for so long, only to be snatched away by a poor junior girl.” Pitiful? I don’t think so. My paperwork for studying abroad is all set. Once I pass the Japanese language test, I’ll be off to study my favorite major, journalism. My beautiful new life is about to begin. That day, on my way home from school, Ash’s mom stopped me: “Nova, Ash forgot his medicine again. Could you please take it to him for me?” I really wanted to refuse. But seeing the bruise on Ash’s mom’s wrist, I sighed and said, “Alright.” I asked Ash, “Where are you?” He took a long time to reply, sending me a location. Pool hall. In my previous life, I had been there countless times. When I arrived, I knew exactly where to go. The pungent smell of smoke made me feel sick. I spotted Ash immediately. He was at the central pool table, gambling with someone. There was a thick stack of cash on the table. I walked over and tossed him the medicine. “Your mom asked me to bring this to you.” Seeing me, Ash frowned and said, “Who told you to come?” I didn’t bother responding to him. I dropped the medicine and turned to leave, but someone blocked my way. “Ash, is this your girlfriend?” Ash sneered, taking a cigarette offered to him and tucking it behind his ear: “Do you think that’s possible?” Just then, Lily came in with her backpack. As soon as she entered, she started coughing. Ash stood up, shielding her. “Put out all the cigarettes.” The guy with yellow teeth who had stopped me earlier grinned. “Looks like the real girlfriend is here.” Lily’s face turned red. “Ash, don’t talk nonsense. The teacher said we can’t…” “I know.” Ash lightly tapped her nose. “Be good, call me ‘brother’ and I’ll let you go.” Lily exclaimed “Ah!” and pointed at the cigarette behind his ear: “Ash, didn’t you promise me you’d quit smoking?” I noticed Ash’s gaze fall on me. Suddenly, I remembered that I had also asked him to quit smoking before. Because I had asthma since childhood and couldn’t stand the smell of smoke. At that time, he didn’t even bother to pretend, deliberately blowing smoke rings in my face, saying, “Can’t do it.” A cold smile crossed my lips as I tried to leave, but someone grabbed me again. “Don’t go, little sister.” “Ash, hurry up. It’s two on two. My girlfriend’s here, who’s going to play on your side?” 0

I just walked away. Lily tugged at my sleeve. “I… I don’t know how to play pool.” I frowned and said, “What’s that got to do with me?” “I…” Intimidated by my harsh tone, Lily’s eyes welled up with tears. Ash ran over, shielding her behind him, and confronted me: “Can’t you speak nicely?” “Psycho.” I tried to leave, but he blocked me. Fed up, I deliberately provoked him: “What’s the deal, Ash? Playing hard to get? Want me to be your girlfriend?” “In your dreams.” “Then don’t block my way.” I left, and this time no one stopped me. I heard Lily panicking behind me, asking, “What should we do, Ash? I don’t know how to play pool.” Ash patiently comforted her: “Silly, with me here, we won’t lose.” I had no interest in the outcome of their game. But that evening, during dinner. My mom kept sighing, saying, “I saw Ash’s mom again today, she was covered in bruises. His dad is really going too far…” “By the way, Nova, why haven’t I seen Ash come over for dinner lately? Did you two have a fight?” “No.” “That’s good. If you’re free, invite him over more often…” I looked up, interrupting my mom. “We’re not friends anymore.” “What? Why?” I took a bite of the tender fish. “No reason. I just can’t stand blind people.” My mom cautiously asked, “Is Ash dating someone?” I put a piece of fish in my mom’s bowl. “Yeah, and they’re sickeningly sweet.” They’re acting out some idol drama and insist on dragging me, a passerby, to play the supporting role. Early the next morning in the classroom, I heard Lily crying. “What should I do, Ash? It was in my backpack this morning, but now it’s gone!” My deskmate told me: “The class fund that Lily was keeping has disappeared. Everyone’s helping her look for it.” I casually said, “Why not just check the security cameras?” Lily reacted defensively, coming over to me and saying, “Nova, I may be poor, but I’m not so poor that I’d steal the class fund.” I didn’t even say she stole it, why is she so defensive? Ash came over and coldly commanded. “Apologize to her.” I put my backpack on the desk and sat down. He threw my backpack and flipped my desk. Ash was having an episode again. “Apologize to her, didn’t you hear me?” The classmates didn’t dare to make a sound, and no one dared to come stop him. I bent down to try to right my desk, but Ash grabbed my neck. His eyes were red as he said, “A-po-lo-gize.” I couldn’t breathe, tears welling up in my eyes. My neck quickly developed a red mark from his grip. Lily tried to stop him: “Ash! Ash!” He wouldn’t listen to anyone, staring at me with red eyes, not knowing who he thought I was. It took several teachers rushing in to separate us. Lily went forward and hugged the frenzied Ash. “It’s okay, it’s okay, Ash. I don’t care about others, as long as you believe me, that’s enough.” He buried his head in her shoulder, but his gaze was fixed in my direction. I was taken to the infirmary by the teachers. His gaze was obscure, constantly fixed on my retreating figure.

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The first thing my father-in-law did after his company went public was order my wife to divorce me. “Divorce him! I’ll find you someone rich! A struggling professor? He ‘s not good enough for you! I must have been blind to allow this marriage.” I smiled. He truly was blind. Last year, when his empire was crumbling under thirty million in debt, I was the anonymous buyer who quietly purchased every last note.. If I hadn’t stepped in when I did, he would have been bankrupt! On my phone screen, a voice message from my friend Chloe sat unplayed. I didn’t need to. The preview text beneath it told the whole story. The click of a key turning in the lock echoed from the entryway. My wife, Scarlett, was home. She kicked off her heels, the motion sharp with fatigue. When her eyes met mine, all she offered was a drained “Mm.” She used to rush in, all warmth and lively stories. Now, only this solid silence remained. “Have some tea first.” I poured a cup and offered it to her. She glanced at it, her brow furrowing. “Again? I’ve told you I don’t take it sweet.” My hand stalled in the air, the cup suddenly heavy. This used to be her favorite. She didn’t look at me again, walking straight into the bedroom and slamming the door shut. That sharp thud left the house in utter silence. At the dinner table, we sat opposite each other, neither speaking. She picked at her food for a few bites, then suddenly put down her fork. “Alex, we need to talk.” I looked up, watching her quietly. “I don’t think we can keep going like this.” Her gaze darted away, unwilling to meet mine. “Our lives are drifting further and further apart.” “My dad’s company… it’s back on track now, even better than before.” “And you’re still just a university professor, making peanuts every month.” I put down my fork, saying nothing. She seemed to finally muster her courage, raising her eyes to meet mine. “Alex, let’s take a break. Let’s both cool off for a while.” A break? I looked at her resolute face and suddenly laughed. “Okay.” That single word choked all the elaborate explanations she’d prepared. She froze, seemingly surprised by my immediate agreement. I stood up, clearing the dishes as I always did. “Scarlett,” I said, my back to her, my voice flat. “Don’t regret it.”

The next day, I went to the university to teach as usual. During lunch break, Professor Miller sighed and went on about the insane housing market. “Alex, you’ve got it easy, single, no dependents, no worries.” He patted my shoulder. “Not like us family men. The pressure is real.” I smiled, not responding. In their eyes, I, Alex Reed, came from an ordinary background, had a stable job, and married a beautiful wife whose family had recently gone bankrupt. I was the typical ‘nice guy’ who took on someone else’s baggage. My phone vibrated. It was a message from Scarlett. “Saturday night. Dinner at my parents’ house.” A commanding tone, cold words. I replied,”Okay.” The ambush dinner was coming. On Saturday, I walked through the front door of Richard Hayes’s mansion, carrying a couple of expensive bottles of wine. The mansion, once so quiet and empty, was now bustling with people again. Richard, my father-in-law, was dressed in a designer suit, beaming with confidence, talking loudly about business with several partners. When he saw me, the smile on his face faded, replaced by undisguised disdain in his eyes. “You’re here? Find a seat for yourself.” He gestured towards the most secluded corner of the living room. In the main seating area, a young man I didn’t recognize was sitting, dressed in head-to-toe designer brands, a Patek Philippe watch glittering on his wrist under the lights. Scarlett was sitting right beside him, smiling charmingly, deep in conversation. That was a Scarlett I’d never seen, a Scarlett from another world. “Alex,” Eleanor, my mother-in-law, handed me a glass of water, her tone distant. “This is Eric Sterling. Mr. Sterling’s son. He just came back from abroad, young and accomplished.” I nodded, looking at the man named Eric. He was sizing me up too, his gaze like he was looking at a cheap knock-off. “Oh, so this is Scarlett’s husband? Alex Reed, right?” Eric drew out his words, a faint, mocking smile playing on his lips. “Teaching at the university, are we? Well, that must be… quite the effort.” He said “effort,” but his eyes were practically overflowing with contempt. Scarlett’s expression was a little uncomfortable, but she didn’t say a word in my defense. Dinner was served, a lavish spread of delicacies. Richard sat at the head of the table, full of vigor, raising his glass. “To all my friends, thank you for sticking by me, Richard, during my most difficult times!” He downed his drink, then his tone shifted, his gaze landing on me. “Of course, I also want to thank some… people who ‘stuck by us’ even when our family was struggling.” He deliberately emphasized “stuck by us,” drawing a chorus of knowing chuckles from the table. Eric was even more brazen, speaking up. “Now, Richard, be fair. Some people just want a quiet life, they don’t have big ambitions. They’re content just sticking to their wives and kids.” “But a woman like Scarlett? Now that the Hayes star is rising again, she deserves to soar. Can’t have dead weight holding her back.” They sounded like they’d rehearsed this whole routine. I remained silent throughout, just quietly eating my food. My silence, to them, was weakness, incompetence. Finally, Richard put down his fork, dropping the pretense. “Alex,” he looked down at me. “As you can see, our family is different now. Scarlett is too good for you.” “I’ll give you two hundred thousand dollars. Divorce Scarlett, and don’t bother her again.”

Two hundred thousand dollars. To buy out three years of our marriage. I’d settled thirty million in debt for him, and he was offering me two hundred thousand to get rid of me. It was laughable. Everyone in the living room was focused on me, smirking, waiting to see my angry or desperate reaction. Eric was smug, as if he was already the terminator of my marriage and Scarlett’s next partner. I didn’t look at Richard. Instead, I turned my gaze to Scarlett. From start to finish, she had kept her head down, like a puppet, as if it had nothing to do with her. “Scarlett,” I said. “Is this what you want too?” Her body stiffened, her shoulders trembling slightly. Seconds stretched into an eternity. Finally, she still didn’t look up, but forced out a single word through gritted teeth. “Yes.” That word completely broke me. I couldn’t help but laugh aloud, my chest shaking with it. “Good. Very good.” I stood up, scanning the room full of people. Richard frowned, clearly displeased with my reaction. “What are you laughing at? Is two hundred thousand not enough? Alex, don’t be greedy!” “No, it’s plenty.” I shook my head, the smile on my lips growing colder. “For someone about to lose everything again, two hundred thousand is indeed a large sum.” Richard’s face changed. “What do you mean? Are you cursing me?” “Dad, don’t waste time with him!” Scarlett finally spoke up, her voice annoyed. “Alex, what do you want? Do you have to make this so ugly?” “Ugly?” I looked at her. “Scarlett, it became ugly the moment you allowed him to sit here and humiliate me.” I gestured towards Eric. “I’ll divorce you,” I said, my smile gone, my face turning completely cold. “But not now.” Everyone was stunned. Eric sneered, “What? You want to drag it out? Let me tell you, Scarlett will be mine. Dragging your feet won’t change anything.” “I just feel,” I slowly adjusted my cuff, “that we never had a grand wedding when we got married, and that’s always been Scarlett’s regret. Now that the Hayes family is flourishing, why don’t we host a grand banquet? Invite everyone we couldn’t afford to include back then.” “At that banquet, we’ll announce our divorce. It’ll be a proper farewell, a dignified end to our marriage.” My proposal stunned Richard and Eric. They couldn’t figure out what I was planning. To them, this was public humiliation, tearing off my last shred of dignity and stomping it underfoot. A glint flashed in Richard’s eyes. He understood. This was a golden opportunity for him! He was already looking for a chance to announce his triumphant return to everyone and introduce Eric, the wealthy suitor. With me setting the stage, why wouldn’t he be happy to perform? “Excellent! That’s showing some character!” Richard slapped his thigh, his face beaming. “Alex, I didn’t expect you to have some backbone after all! Let’s do it! I’ll arrange the banquet, and it’ll be grand!” Eric also laughed, his gaze at me filled with disdain and pity. “Alex, just try not to cry on the day, okay? Do you need me to sponsor a decent suit for you?” I ignored him, giving Scarlett one last look. Her face held confusion, bewilderment, and perhaps a hint of imperceptible guilt. But what did it matter? This path was her choice. So, in this grand finale, she had to be the star.

Over the next few days, Richard indeed threw all his energy into preparing for this “divorce banquet.” He booked the penthouse ballroom of the city’s most luxurious five-star hotel and sent out invitations far and wide, inviting every business elite, friend, and acquaintance he could think of. The city’s elite knew the Hayes banquet was never just about celebrating the company’s revival. It was a stage to publicly dissolve a “mismatched” marriage and present Scarlett’s wealthy new suitor. I had become a complete joke. Scarlett called me once, her voice hesitant. “Alex, do we really have to do this? I think… it’s too much.” “Isn’t this what your father wanted?” I countered. Silence on the other end of the line. “Scarlett, there’s no turning back now,” I said, and then hung up. Chloe was furious, ripping into me over the phone. “Alex, are you out of your mind?  You’re really walking into their trap? What’s your game here?” “Just want some peace,” I said calmly. “You…” Chloe was too angry to speak. “Fine, have it your way! I’ll be there to see how you clean up this mess!” On the day of the banquet, I walked into the opulent ballroom wearing a perfectly ordinary casual suit. Richard and Eleanor, in resplendent gowns and suits, were greeting guests with beaming faces. Scarlett, in an expensive custom-made evening gown, was arm-in-arm with the impeccably dressed Eric Sterling, accepting congratulations and envious glances from everyone. Seeing me, the smile on Richard’s face instantly vanished. He quickly walked over, whispering in a warning, disgusted tone. “You actually dared to come! Remember, today you’re here to play your part, don’t you dare pull any stunts!” Eric also approached, sizing me up before sneering, “Alex, with that outfit, are you here to be a waiter? Don’t say I didn’t warn you, only important people are here today. You’d best hide in a corner so you don’t embarrass the Hayes family.” I didn’t speak, just smiled. Scarlett’s gaze briefly met mine, then she quickly looked away, her eyes complex. I found an inconspicuous corner to sit in, watching this absurd yet very real drama unfold. I watched Richard move through the crowd, boasting about how he had turned the tide for his company. I watched Eric Sterling, acting like the man of the house, introducing the grand vision of the Hayes family to everyone. And I watched Scarlett, the woman I had loved for three years, the woman I thought I would spend my life with, smiling radiantly in this socialite circus, drifting further and further away from me. Halfway through the banquet, the host invited Richard to the stage to give a speech. Under the spotlight, Richard, microphone in hand, looked full of vigor. “Good evening, esteemed guests and friends!” “Today is a day of great joy for me, Richard! The first joy is that my Hayes Group has risen from the ashes, stronger than ever!” A thunderous applause erupted from below the stage. He reveled in the moment, then his tone shifted. “The second joy is my daughter, Scarlett. She will bid farewell to the past and embrace a brand new life!” Saying this, he beckoned Scarlett and Eric. The two walked intimately onto the stage, standing beside Richard. “Some people are only suited to share hardships, not prosperity,” Richard said, his gaze falling on me with a chilling intensity. “The Hayes family is sailing ahead, and we don’t need a heavy anchor holding us back.” All eyes turned to me. There was sympathy, pity, but mostly morbid curiosity and mockery. I had become the superfluous person in their eyes. Scarlett kept her head down, not daring to look at me. Eric, beaming with triumph, put his arm around Scarlett’s waist, subtly flaunting his victory to me. Richard cleared his throat, about to announce my divorce from Scarlett and hint at Eric and Scarlett’s impending engagement. I stood up, slowly walking towards the stage. Everyone was stunned, and the music stopped. Richard’s face went pale with rage, and he roared into the microphone. “Alex! What do you think you’re doing? Get off this stage!” I ignored him, walking directly to the center of the stage, plucking another microphone from the stunned host. The lights shone on me. I could clearly see every astonished face in the audience. “Don’t be so hasty, Richard.” I smiled, a sharp, quiet thing, as my voice filled the silent ballroom. “After all, isn’t this my stage too?”

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I stepped out of the airport, and my ex’s people pointed at me and called me a broke nobody— Mason mocked my clothes. Elise slapped me and ripped off my twenty-million bracelet, calling it fake. not knowing the “Mrs. Young” they were ordered to pick up was me. Because the man they worship, Damian Young, is my husband. In the arrival hall, I saw someone holding a sign with my English name. As I walked over, I realized it was Mason Lee, whom I hadn’t seen in three years. He was there with Elise and a few of his good friends, all craning their necks and looking around expectantly. “Sam, isn’t that your doormat Nova?” one of them said. Mason looked surprised to see me too, but quickly pretended to be indifferent and said, “See? I told you she’d come crawling back.” The group snickered and looked at me: “Nova disappeared without a word back then. Now that she sees Sam’s successful, I bet she cries herself to sleep every night regretting it!” “But Nova, if you wanted to pretend to bump into him, why did you just wear casual clothes? Couldn’t you have dressed up a bit?” “Don’t tell me you can’t even afford decent clothes without Sam? You must be in a really bad state!” In the past, whenever I went out to see Mason, I would always put on my most exquisite makeup and choose the most flattering clothes, presenting my best side to him. But now, there was no need for that anymore. Because of my pregnancy, my husband doesn’t let me wear makeup and wants me to dress comfortably. This casual outfit was specially customized for me by someone he hired. However, hearing their words, I realized they only knew my English name but didn’t know that I was the person they were supposed to pick up. Seeing that I remained silent, someone who used to be closer to me quickly tried to smooth things over: “Nova, it’s good that you’re back. Actually, Sam has been looking for you all these years… asking around for news about you!” Mason’s smile froze, then he pretended to be nonchalant and said: “Elise’s child is about to start kindergarten. From now on, you’ll be responsible for picking him up and dropping him off.” Mason was still his same arrogant, self-righteous self. But I was no longer that young girl who always accommodated him. Seeing him again, all I felt was annoyance. Not wanting to waste time with them here, I was about to reveal my identity when Elise spoke first: “Nova, don’t blame Sam. He did this to take care of you too. After all, who knows what you’ve been up to during these three years you disappeared?” “Now that you’re in such a poor state, you couldn’t even handle being my personal assistant if he offered you the job.” “Don’t worry, no one will look down on you if you help me take care of my son.” Three years later, Elise was still as arrogant as ever, still able to make me frown in disgust. Mason misunderstood my expression as jealousy and anger towards him, a hint of smugness flashing in his eyes. “Alright, enough with the fuss when you can’t even make it out there anymore,” he said. “Just take care of the kid properly and stop causing trouble. You need to know your place.” “Don’t worry, we still have a room for the maid at our place.” As soon as he finished speaking, the people around burst into malicious laughter. “Nova, see how good Sam is to you? He’s afraid you’re suffering out there, so he’s arranged food and lodging for you.” “It’s just helping Elise take care of the kid, isn’t that much better than your current poor life? Hurry up and thank Sam.” Elise touched her earrings, pretending to be considerate: “Nova, don’t worry. If my son misbehaves and doesn’t listen to you, I’ll discipline him for you. I won’t let you suffer any grievances.” Mason snorted with laughter, glancing at me. “What grievances could she have? She disappeared over a trivial matter back then. Now that she can’t make it on her own and has come back, it’s only right for her to suffer a bit.” Hearing these words, my heart skipped a beat. Even now, did he still think that getting married to Elise was just a trivial matter? It turns out that the Mason who once loved me was long gone. He was no longer that boy who, covered in wounds, carried my injured self across half the city. Nor was he that young man who, with nothing to his name, loudly proclaimed his love for me and promised me everything. And he certainly wasn’t that successful man who was willing to cook for me with his own hands. But it’s fine. It’s all in the past, no need to bring it up. After all, I’m about to have my second child soon.

Suppressing my thoughts, I didn’t want to argue with them here. It was pointless. I looked at Mason and said calmly: “Weren’t you here to pick me up? Let’s go.” The scene went quiet for a moment, and they exchanged glances before suddenly bursting into laughter. Elise sneered coldly: “Wait for you? Who do you think you are?!” She pointed at the sign, “Look carefully, we’re waiting for Nova. Do you know who that is?” This was my English name, of course I knew. “Nova is Mrs. Young, the lady of the Young family, and the legal wife of Mr. Young.” “Mr. Young is decisive in the business world, but he’s actually quite the romantic. They say he refused to marry for years, just waiting for Nova.” “Everyone in the circle knows that rather than trying to please Mr. Young, it’s better to please Mrs. Young. She’s the apple of Mr. Young’s eye.” Hearing their chatter, a happy smile appeared on my face. After three years of marriage, Damian’s business had grown bigger and bigger, and his reputation as a wife-doting maniac had spread far and wide. Elise, always trying to one-up me, couldn’t resist showing off in front of me: “Mr. Young once bought a ‘True Love Forever’ bracelet at Christie’s auction for $20 million… US dollars, just to please Mrs. Young.” “Mrs. Young is the envy of women all over the world.” She paused, then pointed at my wrist and said shrilly: “It’s this one!” The scene suddenly went quiet, with everyone looking at my bracelet. Mason grabbed my hand abruptly, examining it for a moment before saying mockingly: “The imitation is quite exquisite! Which delivery guy bought this for you? Giving fake gifts.” “Trash.” I shook off his hand, curled my lips into a smile, and gently caressed the bracelet. Seeing my happy smile, Mason’s pupils constricted, and he suddenly grabbed my wrist, roughly rubbing the bracelet. I hadn’t expected this to happen and was caught off guard. Elise stepped forward to examine the bracelet, taking it from Mason’s hand and playing with it. “It is indeed more exquisite than the imitation I bought, but I would never wear it out. It’s embarrassing.” “The imitations from abroad are really different, the feel is quite nice.” “Or are you saying, Nova, that you’re Nova, that legendary Mrs. Young?!” As she finished speaking, the people around burst into laughter. After all, it was too absurd for them to believe. Damian Young was a world-renowned financial genius, cold and ruthless in the business world, decisive and unforgiving. And I was still hanging out with them three years ago, a nobody whose wedding was called off by Mason. No matter how they thought about it, it seemed impossible. Elise twirled the bracelet around her finger. “Nova, why don’t you give me this bracelet? I’ll pay double for it.” Afraid she might drop the bracelet, I quickly said: “Give me back the bracelet, it was given to me by Damian…” Before I could finish, Mason slapped me hard across the face, making my head turn and drawing blood from the corner of my mouth. “Shut up!”

Mason looked at me with some annoyance and said: “Nova Johnson, you dare to mention Mr. Young’s name? You’re even daring to spread rumors about having a relationship with him. Are you trying to get me killed?” Mason’s good friends also looked indignant, glaring at me angrily. “Nova, do you know that we barely managed to get the chance to pick up Mrs. Young today?” “Sam’s company was acquired by Mr. Young last year. We all depend on Mr. Young for our livelihoods now. Only by pleasing Mrs. Young can Sam’s position be secure.” “Now you’re here spreading rumors about having a relationship with Mr. Young. Are you trying to ruin Sam?” I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth and slowly turned my head, meeting Mason’s gaze. Perhaps my look was too frightening, as Mason frowned, a flash of panic crossing his eyes. Seeing Mason’s strange look at me, Elise shot me a venomous glance and pointed at my nose, cursing: “Nova Johnson, you ungrateful wretch! Sam has already agreed to take you back, don’t be so ignorant and ungrateful, getting above yourself.” “Even if you have some resentment towards Sam, you can’t use this method to get revenge on him, can you?” Hearing this, I felt like I was back three years ago. No matter what I did, Elise would always misinterpret my intentions and explain them to Mason. At first, Mason would scold Elise. But later, he would follow Elise’s words and blame me. Just like now, Mason scolded me in a tone of disappointment: “Jealous woman.” But this time, he didn’t continue to scold me as he did in the past. After a moment of silence, Mason took out a check for $200,000 and placed it in front of me. “For the sake of our past relationship, I won’t do anything to you.” “Take the money and buy yourself some decent clothes. If you don’t like taking care of children, I’ll find you a respectable job in a few days.” “Don’t worry, since Mr. Young acquired the company, this amount of money is nothing to me now.” Mason’s patronizing attitude made me sick. Looks like he’s been doing quite well lately. Under everyone’s surprised gaze, I pushed away Mason’s hand holding the check, retrieved my bracelet from Elise’s hand, and said with a smile: “No need, Mr. Lee. I don’t accept things from strangers.”

Ignoring Mason, whose face had turned as dark as a pig’s liver, I turned to leave. But before I could take a few steps, Mason grabbed me and coldly demanded: “Nova Johnson, you won’t even take my money? What do you mean? I’m a stranger?” I replied: “Since we’ve already broken up, it’s better not to have any contact. It might cause misunderstandings.” I thought of my slightly jealous husband. Mason, however, glanced at Elise with a knowing look. “The company is holding a banquet for Mr. Young in three days. I was planning to bring you along to see the world.” “But you’ll need to buy some proper clothes, so you don’t embarrass yourself…” Before he could finish, I directly declined: “Really, there’s no need. Thank you.” Hearing my refusal again, Mason became somewhat annoyed. His hand offering me the check froze in mid-air, his teeth grinding audibly. “Nova Johnson, you’ve really grown some backbone. I guess it’s true that poverty breeds insolence.” “Since you don’t want to go, forget it then. I’ll take Elise!” Hearing that Mason wanted to take her to the banquet, Elise’s eyes lit up, and she quickly said: “Sam, I’ll definitely perform well and absolutely won’t embarrass you.” Not wanting to entangle with them any further, I turned and strode away, leaving a parting shot: “I hope you’ll still be this confident in three days.” Quickly leaving the arrival hall and breathing in the fresh air, the nausea in my stomach finally subsided. Three years ago, when my family arranged for me to go abroad for a blind date, I begged my boyfriend of seven years, Mason, to marry me, planning to present my parents with a fait accompli. Mason agreed. But unexpectedly, at the courthouse door, I not only waited for Mason but also for Elise, his longtime crush. “Elise’s child needs to be registered. I need to marry her first.” “After we get divorced in a month, I’ll marry you right away.” “It’s just for the child, don’t overthink it.” Watching Mason walk into the courthouse holding Elise’s hand, I was completely heartbroken. That night, I took a flight abroad for the arranged blind date. A month later, I held my wedding and married Damian Young. A year later, I gave birth to our first child. Recently, I became pregnant with our second child. If it weren’t for accompanying Damian to pay respects to his ancestors, I wouldn’t have come back to the country at all. Let alone run into Mason.

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Alex, the billionaire, had a ring custom-made to my size, proclaiming he’d marry whoever it fit. In my first life, Chloe, the fake heiress, secretly had the ring enlarged and married him. Alex beat her face senseless. “She’s not the one!” In my second life, Hailey, the adopted sister, starved off thirty pounds for that ring and married him. Alex backhanded her, sending her tumbling down the stairs. “She’s not the one either!” In my third life, Serria, my stepmother, shaved the skin from her finger to make it fit. Alex simply sneered, then drowned her in the tub. Another failure. In my fourth life, they were out of options. Terrified, they shoved me forward. The ring slipped onto my finger. A perfect, chilling fit. My whole family finally breathed a sigh of relief. But the moment Alex looked at me, he drew a knife and plunged it into me. “Why isn’t it her yet? Where is she?” Now, in this final life, when the ring arrived, all four of us claimed it didn’t fit. But the secretary’s gaze swept over us, puzzled. “Mr. Alex said the owner of the ring is among you four.”

The four of us stared at the massive diamond ring, completely stunned. Every eligible woman in the Winslow family had already taken a turn being his “bride.”. So who on earth was this billionaire actually looking for? Serria, my stepmother, repeatedly confirmed with Alex’s secretary, Mr. Vance. “There must be some mistake. Surely…surely Mr. Alex’s true beloved isn’t among us?” Otherwise, we wouldn’t have married him four times. At this rate, we were just collecting headstones. But Mr. Vance frowned with displeasure, stating with serious conviction. “When you four attended Mr. Alex’s banquet, you had a table to yourselves. He looked at you then and said the ring’s owner was among the four Winslow family ladies.” “This matter, it’s absolutely not mistaken.” With that, he presented the diamond ring, haughtily saying, “Why don’t you each try it on?” Chloe, who always cared most about appearances, recoiled instantly. “I’m allergic to diamond rings. I’ll drop dead if I wear it.” Hailey, who loved money more than life, waved her hands frantically. “I’m so chubby, I’ll stretch the ring until it breaks.” Serria, who was practically yearning for an affair, forced a smile that looked worse than a cry. “My heart belongs to my late husband. Mr. Alex definitely doesn’t love me.” Finally, all eyes turned to me. Mr. Vance’s face crinkled into a smile. “Didn’t Astrid once meet Mr. Alex and fall for him at first sight?” “This ring, it must be yours, Astrid.” My heart? It was practically frozen solid with dread. How could I dare to “fall” for him? In my previous life, when I heard those words, I was indeed incredibly moved. After all, Alex and I did have a secret relationship, and he even had the ring custom-made to my finger size. So, when I finally escaped the control of those three and successfully married Alex, I thought my suffering was over. I waited on the wedding bed, a mix of nervous excitement and trepidation for him to arrive. But the moment he clearly saw my face, he furiously grabbed a fruit knife and left me riddled with holes. His eyes, reflecting my terrified face, burned with an inferno of rage. “How dare you marry me in her place? You’re not her!” I bled out in immense pain. Even when I woke up in this new life, I still couldn’t understand. The woman Alex was looking for wasn’t me? Then who could it possibly be?! Lost in my memories, I stood silently, not taking the ring from Mr. Vance. He smiled, “Marrying Mr. Alex certainly comes with a lot of pressure. You need some time to prepare yourselves mentally.” “Alright, Mr. Alex himself will come tomorrow. You have one night to think it over properly.” “I’ll leave the ring here for now.” Mr. Vance left the ring, then turned and departed in his diamond-studded luxury limo.

But staring at that blinding diamond, our hearts remained frozen. We were terrified of dying. The three women who had been constantly battling me for years in the Winslow family surprisingly formed a united front. They pulled me into the living room for an urgent meeting. One by one, they forced the ring onto their fingers. In the end, only my finger offered the perfect, cursed fit. Serria looked at me suspiciously. “Are you sure you were killed by him on your wedding night too?” I rolled my eyes helplessly. “I was left riddled with holes and sent back to the Winslow family. Didn’t you all see it?” Hailey nodded frantically. “It was brutal, seriously. Not a single good piece of skin left on her body.” Chloe also sighed. “I battled Astrid for ten years, and even I felt bad for her when I saw that.” The four of us exchanged glances, then let out helpless sighs. Serria was on the verge of a breakdown. “But if we can’t produce someone tomorrow, won’t he just kill us all?” The three of them looked utterly devastated. Suddenly, I looked up. “But it’s not entirely hopeless. For example, there must be surveillance footage from that banquet, right?” “If the person Alex is looking for isn’t one of us, perhaps we can find his true beloved through the surveillance footage?” To save our lives, we decided to act immediately. We hailed a cab and headed to the hotel where Alex had hosted the banquet. Hailey, a master at playing the innocent victim, spun a sob story so convincing it earned us access to the surveillance footage. As the banquet began, we were assigned a table in the corner. My father’s death had wiped our name from the city’s social ledger. Serria frowned. “The prestigious corner table. How fitting.” The four of us were always at each other’s throats. The toxicity was so thick, not even the most distant Winslow relative would dare join our table. Chloe was puzzled. “And there were only four of us.” At that exact moment, Alex strode down the red carpet. His walk halted as he passed the Winslow table. He turned precisely towards our table, a deeply doting smile on his face. He leaned to murmur something to his secretary. His smile now felt like a predator sighting its prey. I said in a daze, “It seems his beloved is indeed among us.” The four of us exchanged glances, seeing fear mirrored in each other’s eyes. If we didn’t all possess the memories of our previous four lives, we probably wouldn’t be able to make sense of it. Hailey shivered. “If it really is one of us, then why did he use such cruel methods to kill us?” I took a deep breath, and a singular solution suddenly flashed into my mind. I looked at them with determination. “I might need to go to Alex’s house. You all wait for my news.”

Under their gazes of admiration and gratitude, I set off for Alex’s house. They still didn’t know that I was the most bewildered one of all. Because Alex and I were still in a secret relationship that no one knew about, and what’s more! He was the one who pursued me at the beginning of this relationship! Following the small side entrance Alex and I often used for our clandestine meetings, I easily slipped into his room. He froze for a second when he saw me, then his expression returned to normal. “Why did you come without letting me know beforehand?” The gentle man before me now overlapped with the madman who had brutally stabbed me to death in my previous life. Suppressing the fear in my heart, I walked forward. “Are you going to marry me?” Alex paused, a strange unnaturalness flashing in his eyes. “We’ve been together for so long, don’t you know me?” “I went to the Winslow family with the ring to propose, of course, it’s for the woman I love.” He smiled and pulled me closer, letting me sit on his lap, a familiar intimacy in his gesture. But I keenly spotted a blind spot in his words. He said he would marry the woman he loved, but he didn’t say that woman was me! I dug my nails into my palm, forcing a smile as I asked, “So, who is the woman you love?” Alex suddenly fell silent, sizing me up a few times. “You should know, why are you asking me such a thing?” I thought he would continue to evade, but he then said, “Of course, it’s you, Astrid.” “As long as you wish it to be you, then it will be you.” “When you marry me tomorrow, I will definitely treat you well.” I stared into his eyes, seeing nothing but profound affection. Since our secret relationship began, he had always been incredibly good to me. My mind was often slow, and I was frequently bullied by Serria and the other two. I had no shares in the family corporation. But Alex not only supported me behind the scenes, he also gave me many things the Winslow family could never own. Moreover, this man, born with a silver spoon in his mouth, would even tie my shoelaces and cook for me with his own hands. I once believed he would surely marry me. But I also witnessed him descend into madness and paranoia, howling as he plunged the knife into my heart. “You’re not her! How dare you marry me in her place?” “Just a Winslow family girl with a title but no real power, how could you ever be worthy of being with me?” “You’re nothing but a mistress for my amusement, yet you dare to dream of replacing her and marrying me!” I snapped back to reality, seeing him take my hand and press a kiss to its back. I forced myself not to pull my hand away. But that very action suddenly made me realize a truth that was incredibly crazy, yet perfectly logical. I looked at him, disbelief creeping in. “The woman you love is…” Alex didn’t give me a chance to speak, covering my mouth. A dangerous glint flashed in his eyes. “Are you asking too many questions tonight?” But then his gentle expression quickly returned, “Tomorrow is the big wedding day. You should go back and get some rest.” A creeping terror flooded my heart, and I quickly nodded, eager to leave. When I returned to the Winslow family mansion, Serria and the other two hadn’t slept. They swarmed me the moment I appeared. “What happened? Do you know who Alex’s beloved is?”

I was silent, then shook my head. Their eyes immediately flickered with frustration and despair. Hailey even started crying. “I don’t want to die! Should we just run away?” Serria snapped. “How can we run? Alex’s power is immense. We’d be caught no matter how far we ran.” Chloe made up her mind. “It’s only four hours until dawn. Running away might at least give us a few more days to live, better than dying instantly.” But I changed the subject abruptly, my voice firm. “We can’t run.” “We definitely have to marry. And, I’ll be the one marrying him.” Chloe looked at me in disbelief. “I hate you, but you died so horribly in the last life, have you forgotten?” Serria frowned. “If you’re still a love-struck idiot now, I’m seriously going to doubt if I was ever too good to you.” The massive diamond ring, worth hundreds of millions, still sat on the table. If Chloe wore it, she’d be beaten senseless and thrown into the basement, her face infected and festering until she died. If Hailey wore it, she’d be pushed down the stairs, her body shattered from multiple fractures, dying in agonizing pain. If Serria wore it, she’d be drowned in the bathtub, her body swollen beyond recognition before being returned to the Winslow family. And if I wore the ring, my death would be the most excruciating. To punish me, the insolent mistress, Alex had stabbed me twenty times. None of the wounds were immediately fatal. Blood slowly drained from my body, my warmth gradually fading. This sensation of life slowly ebbing away brought me unimaginable terror and despair, like a slow torture. It was so horrifying that even my three archenemies, upon seeing my corpse, felt pity for me. The brilliantly polished, rounded facets of the diamond gleamed, yet they were our execution block. But I walked over. Without hesitation, I put on the ring. “The danger is real. But this is the only way for us all to survive!” Hailey looked at me in disbelief. “What did you find out?” Of course, I did. Telling them the truth would make tomorrow’s plan more likely to succeed. But if my suspicion was right, it was far too bizarre and terrifying. I couldn’t drag them all into it. I shook my head. “Sorry, not yet.” Chloe’s expression was grave as she asked. “Tell us, what do you need us to do?” I lowered my gaze. “I need you to attend the wedding as usual, pretending you know nothing.” Serria fiercely furrowed her brow. “You’ll be stabbed to death after the wedding, and you want us to act as if nothing happened?” The three of them looked at me with deep concern, now completely on my side. I remembered all the things they used to do to me. They were merely petty squabbles over small sums of money, never threatening my life. But the man I deeply loved and trusted had brutally tortured me to death on our wedding night. I took a deep breath, and decided to tell them the truth. “When I went to see Alex just now, he suddenly grabbed my hand and kissed its back.” “That very detail made me suddenly realize who the woman he loves is!” “This person is indeed among the four of us. It’s someone we would absolutely never guess. She is…”

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A woman accused me of being a mistress, tore my clothes, pinned me to the ground, and slapped me across the face. In a panic, I grabbed an elegant socialite nearby and pleaded for help: “Call the police! I don’t even know her husband!” But to my shock, the woman slapped me too: “Chloe, you hooked up with your best friend’s boyfriend seven years ago, and now you’re a mistress again? Can’t you ever change your ways?” That’s when I realized the elegant woman was my mother, Victoria, with whom I hadn’t spoken in seven years. Mom continued to scold me: “Apologize now! Swear you’ll never be a mistress again! Then I’ll let you be the Sterling heiress again!” I looked up at her undisguised disgust and disappointment, but I insisted: “I didn’t do anything wrong.” Not seven years ago, and certainly not today. As for being the Sterling heiress, I stopped caring about that a long time ago… My defiance earned me another slap. This one hit harder, far more brutal than the other woman’s. My ears rang, and my mouth filled with the metallic taste of blood. Yet, I clearly heard Mom’s voice, laced with ice: “Are you saying it’s glorious to be a mistress by not apologizing? How could I have given birth to such a shameless daughter? “If I’d known I’d run into you today, I wouldn’t have left the house. What bad luck!” My ex-best friend, Seraphina Hayes, who had been watching the drama unfold, promptly came forward, supporting Mom and gently patting her chest to help her calm down: “Foster Mom, maybe Chloe had no choice but to do this scandalous business… Don’t get so worked up, it’s not worth getting sick over!” She then turned to the cheated wife, Brenda, and apologized: “Ma’am, please don’t worry. With my foster mom and me here, she’ll never bother your husband again. Pick any bag you like in this store; I’ll buy it as an apology on her behalf…” I cut her off coldly: “I’m not a mistress, and I don’t need your fake apologies!” Seraphina’s eyes instantly welled up, tears threatening to spill: “Chloe, you don’t still believe that in love, the one who isn’t loved is the real ‘other woman,’ do you? “If I’d known you were so obsessed, I should’ve just let you have Marcus back then, no matter how much it hurt…” She shouldn’t have brought up the past. The moment she did, Mom exploded like dynamite, her voice sharp and piercing: “Are all the men in the world dead? You just have to go after a married man?” In just a few words, the two of them exposed my shameful past to everyone. “So she’s a repeat offender! Seven years ago, she was already a mistress, backstabbing her best friend. How despicable!” “Even her own mother can’t stand it! How does she have the nerve to live to this day?” “If you ask me, everyone should post this repeat offender online! Who knows how many other families she’s broken up!” When they want to blame you, any excuse will do. With my own mother as a witness, the accusation of me being a mistress was sealed. Everyone pulled out their phones, snapping photos of my exposed body and my face. Some people, who had already recorded videos of me being beaten, were preparing to upload the content online. Seraphina suddenly knelt on the ground, crying, begging everyone to stop filming. “Please, give my best friend another chance! My foster mom and I will definitely take her home and educate her properly, ensuring she won’t make the same mistake again! “With the internet as it is, if she’s exposed like this, she’ll be shamed for life…” Brenda immediately flared up again: “If she knew what it meant to be shamed, she wouldn’t have tried to seduce my husband! “You two aren’t in this together, are you? Both of you dressed so provocatively, maybe you all have to sell yourselves to shop here!” Mom and Seraphina were implicated, and their eyes burned with a hatred that wished to tear me to shreds. Finally, Mom couldn’t take it anymore. She turned and handed Brenda a business card and a credit card: “Please delete any photos and videos that show my face or Seraphina’s! “As for her, we’ll see how she behaves later…” Brenda was initially disdainful, but upon seeing “Victoria Sterling, CEO of Sterling Enterprises” emblazoned on the business card, her expression immediately changed. “Oh, it’s the renowned entrepreneur, Ms. Sterling!” “It seems this whole thing might be a misunderstanding, I…” Brenda couldn’t afford to offend Sterling Enterprises, and she couldn’t fathom why Victoria Sterling’s own daughter would become a mistress. Her eyes full of confusion, she tried to help me up. But Mom stopped her.

Brenda was dumbfounded: “Ms. Sterling, wasn’t that whole act just to get me to forgive her? I trust that with your strict discipline, she definitely won’t make the same mistake again…” Mom, however, snorted coldly. Just like seven years ago, she condemned me without hearing my side: “The first time she tried to steal another woman’s man, I kicked her out of the house. I thought that after all these years of hardship, she might realize her mistakes. Unfortunately…” The onlookers and Brenda instantly understood. To curry favor with Mom, Brenda returned the card and even proactively handed her phone to Mom for inspection. “Ms. Sterling, please have a look.” Mom tapped to play the video of me being beaten before Brenda arrived. A flicker of heartache actually welled up in her eyes. I shook my head, quickly shaking off that hallucination. Sure enough, the next second she looked down at me, commanding again: “This is the last time I’m cleaning up your mess. As long as you apologize to this woman and swear you’ll never do this again, these photos and videos won’t ever be leaked online!” Mom’s influence and power could indeed prevent the photos and videos from being published online. But there were countless onlookers, inside and out. How could she silence the wagging tongues of the crowd? From the moment she publicly shamed me, I was a mistress everyone cursed. Even though I knew she wouldn’t believe me, I stubbornly said, word for word: “I am not a mistress, and I will not apologize to anyone!” The next second, she handed the phone back to Brenda: “Since she’s so stubborn, you don’t need to be polite. She’s yours to deal with.” Brenda asked Mom, somewhat uncertainly: “Should I post all the videos?” “Post them! She needs to pay for her actions!” Brenda did as she was told. In just a moment, someone online had already dug up my information. Mom shoved the hateful messages in my face: “Chloe, do you admit your mistake now?” “I didn’t do anything wrong!” Seeing my unwavering denial, Mom trembled with rage, clutching her chest, her face utterly pale. Seraphina skillfully took some medicine from her bag and gave it to her. Then she motioned to the bodyguards nearby: “You two take Foster Mom home first. I’ll stay here and handle Chloe.” Mom left without a backward glance. Seraphina then started a SnapChat group with the onlookers, handing out a generous cash gift to everyone as an apology: “Today’s incident, please forgive us for the spectacle! I beg you all to be kind with your words and please, give my best friend a chance to change!” The crowd took the money, praising Seraphina for her kindness and beauty, and reminding her that even kindness has its limits, especially with someone like me—she should be extra cautious. After the crowd dispersed, I wrapped myself tightly in the jacket Mom had left behind, getting up and stumbling away. Seraphina grabbed me firmly: “Chloe, come home with me. You don’t know how much Foster Mom has worried about you day and night all these years…” I wrenched myself free, scoffing: “Seraphina, no one’s around. You can drop the act now.”

Ten years ago, Seraphina’s mom and my dad both passed away from illness, and we bonded over our shared grief, becoming best friends. My mom, feeling sorry for her, doted on her like her own daughter. The two families grew close, and over time, my mom actually fell in love with Seraphina’s father, Richard Hayes. But Richard couldn’t let go of his deceased wife and always kept my mom at a distance despite her overtures. Unable to get what she wanted, my mom poured more of her energy into Seraphina, almost to the point of granting her every wish. And I, because I tried to tell her that you can’t force love, gradually grew estranged from her. Even Seraphina’s attempts to mediate couldn’t reconcile our mother-daughter relationship. It was during that period that I met my first love, Marcus Reed. Not wanting my mom to know about the relationship, I only confided my secret romance to Seraphina. I treated her as my best sister, sharing the sweetness of falling in love, sharing every little gift Marcus gave me. But I never imagined that while she wished me well to my face, she would turn around and seduce Marcus. On Marcus’s birthday, I secretly prepared a surprise for him. Pushing open his apartment door, I saw two bodies entwined on the sofa. Seraphina frantically pulled her clothes to cover herself, while Marcus, the man who constantly claimed to love me, averted his gaze: “Chloe, let me explain…” I didn’t cry or make a scene; I just quietly questioned Seraphina: “You already have all of my mother’s love, and my friendship. Why do you need to steal my boyfriend too?” She cried, begging for my forgiveness, but then leaned closer and whispered: “Who told your mom to keep chasing my dad?” In that moment, I swore I would get my mom back from her. I ran all the way home, wanting to tell Mom that Seraphina wasn’t a good person, that she was the kind of ‘other woman’ Mom despised. But I never imagined that Seraphina and Marcus would accuse me first. Seraphina sobbed heartbrokenly in my mom’s arms: “Mom, I know Chloe always disliked me getting so much of your attention, but how could she… how could she steal my boyfriend?” I argued reasonably, but my mom didn’t believe me. Only because she was madly in love with Richard Hayes. Seraphina was the most important link in maintaining her relationship with Richard. My words were light as a feather compared to Seraphina’s tears. Without asking any questions, she forced me to apologize to Seraphina. “Chloe, apologize to Seraphina! Swear you’ll never bother Marcus again!” I looked at her protecting Seraphina, at Seraphina’s defiant gaze from behind my mom, and my youthful defiance overpowered all my hurt. “I didn’t do anything wrong! She’s the one who stole my boyfriend!” “Incorrigible! Get out! Don’t come back until you realize your mistake, or don’t ever return to this house!”

I slammed the door and left, relying on odd jobs and student loans to not only complete my studies but also earn an outstanding graduation certificate. At that time, my mom, who had grown closer to Richard Hayes, was in a great mood and proactively welcomed me home. She even held a celebration dinner for me. Marcus was there too, as Seraphina’s fiancé. After years of not seeing me, he surprisingly grew greedy for me again. While I went to the backyard to sober up, he followed me, hugging me from behind: “Chloe, I still can’t forget you. Seraphina doesn’t even compare to you… Let’s get back together…” I was utterly disgusted. I struggled violently and slapped him across the face. The commotion drew everyone’s attention. Marcus immediately changed his demeanor, pointing at the slap mark on his face, feigning deep sorrow: “Ms. Sterling, Chloe tried to seduce me again, and when I refused, she hit me…” I trembled with rage, pointing at Marcus’s nose: “You’re lying! You tried to force yourself on me!” I then looked at Seraphina: “Control your trash!” Seraphina knew Marcus’s true colors, but she still chose to smear my name. Mom was utterly disappointed, and for the first time, she hit me: “Chloe, do you have to steal everything Seraphina likes?” “Get out! I never want to see you again! I don’t have a daughter like you!” In that moment, my heart turned to ash. I didn’t argue another word, turning and leaving. After severing ties, I lived a simple and ordinary life on my own. But fate didn’t easily let me off the hook. A routine physical exam revealed I had hereditary liver cancer. My dad had also died from liver cancer. To raise the exorbitant surgery fees, I worked several jobs after my main shift. I came to this luxury store today because I took a delivery order, to deliver a pre-ordered bag to a client’s loved one. But I never imagined I’d suffer this undeserved misfortune. My phone rang, interrupting my thoughts. When I answered, an impatient male voice came through: “Why aren’t you here yet?” “I’ll be right there.” I hung up, and when I looked up, I met Seraphina’s excited gaze. “I knew it! You’ve lived a life of luxury for so long, there’s no way you could survive on your own! So you really did become a shameless mistress, huh?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “309999”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic