Author: Momo Chan

I opened my eyes to find myself in a stark white hospital room. As I sat up, I felt as if something had been cleared from my mind, leaving me with an unusually calm feeling. While I was staring out the window, lost in thought, someone entered the room. “Zoe, I’m so glad you’re awake. I had no idea that little stray cat would be so naughty. Once you’re out of the hospital, I’ll buy you a much more expensive one to make up for it,” said a teary-eyed woman. “And about the baby… I want to apologize. Please don’t be angry with Jack because of me. Don’t let this affect your relationship of many years,” she continued, her eyes red from crying and her demeanor suggesting she had been greatly wronged. I remained silent, which only made the woman cry harder, her tears falling like water from a faucet. “It seems Zoe won’t forgive me. It’s all my fault. I should just go and die now, to make amends for Zoe’s baby,” she said, rushing towards the door. The man beside her quickly grabbed her, locking her in his embrace. “What are you talking about? This isn’t your fault. Don’t say such things!” he said, holding her tightly. Then he turned to me, his face dark with displeasure. “Rachel has apologized to you. What more do you want? You know she’s not in good health. Can’t you stop bullying her?” he said sternly. I frowned, “Who are you people? Do I know you? If you’re sick, go get treatment. Don’t come here acting crazy!” The man paused for a moment, then furrowed his brow, looking at my face suspiciously as if trying to determine whether I was lying. “Zoe Sanders, what do you mean by that?” he asked. I didn’t answer him. Instead, I tilted my head, seriously trying to recall who these two annoying people were. But even after long consideration, I couldn’t retrieve any information about them from my memory. “I don’t know you. Get out of my hospital room, or I’m calling the police,” I said firmly. The man’s face gradually darkened. He gripped my shoulders, his tone serious, “Zoe, this amnesia act isn’t funny. If you’re trying to get my attention, I advise you to stop now. It only makes me more annoyed.” I narrowed my eyes, then raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face. The woman screamed and rushed over, cradling the man’s face and checking for injuries. Unfazed, I quickly grabbed my phone and dialed 91

“Miss Sanders has no brain damage. According to the test results, it appears she has experienced some kind of shock, causing her body’s defense mechanism to choose to avoid the pain. As a result, her memory has regressed to when she was 18,” the doctor explained to the police. After the police and doctor left, I stood with my arms crossed, staring expressionlessly at the two people in front of me. According to the police officer, the man before me was my fiancé, and the woman beside him was his childhood friend. After hearing this, I couldn’t help but laugh. What kind of fiancé would be hugging and comforting his childhood friend while leaving his own fiancée out in the cold? Moreover, judging from their words and actions before the police arrived, these two people seemed to have an unclear relationship and apparently didn’t treat me well. Jack’s face was pale as he sat on the edge of the hospital bed, trying to hold my hand. I immediately pulled away and raised my hand again, “I don’t mind giving you another slap.” Jack’s eyes flashed with hurt. He pressed his lips together, “Zoe, have you really forgotten me? You used to love me so much…” I smiled, “But it seems you don’t love me very much.” Jack followed my gaze to Rachel. He hurriedly tried to explain, “I’ve told you countless times, Rachel is just like a sister to me. She’s not in good health, what’s wrong with me taking care of her?” “Right, right,” I said sarcastically. “Using your wife and child’s lives to take care of a ‘sister’ with no blood relation. Even Buddha would have to step aside for you.” “Jack Roberts, you know very well what you’re thinking. If you want to have an affair, just have one. Why use the excuse of her being your ‘sister’? Honestly, men like you are not only disgusting but also cowardly. I don’t know what I was thinking to fall for someone like you.” Jack’s face turned ashen, his facial muscles tense. Rachel stood beside Jack, supporting his shoulder and putting on an understanding act. “How can you speak so rudely? Jack and I grew up together, we’re family. What’s wrong with him taking care of me a little more?” I smiled slightly, straightened up, and beckoned her closer. She approached uncertainly. I grabbed her collar and slapped her hard, sending her sprawling to the floor. “Don’t you have parents of your own? Why are you out here trying to steal someone else’s husband to be your ‘family’? If you need so much care, pack your bags and go lie down in a nursing home!” Rachel held her face, biting her pink lips. Her tear-filled eyes looked towards Jack. Jack wanted to say something, but when he met my gaze, he swallowed his words. He simply helped Rachel up silently. “Rachel, you should go home now,” he said quietly. Rachel looked at him in disbelief. “Jack…” “Go home!” he repeated more firmly. Rachel glared at me with hatred and reluctance before turning and leaving the hospital room. “Your little lover has left. Why are you still here?” I asked coldly. Jack didn’t refute my words. He pressed his lips together and said, “Zoe, once you’re discharged, let’s go get our marriage license.” I looked at him incredulously. “Are you sick? Who wants to marry you?” He panicked immediately, his eyes trembling. “Didn’t you always want to marry me?” “I did? Well, I don’t want to anymore. Is that okay? Looking at you makes me sick.” Jack looked deeply hurt. But I was telling the truth. Just a few exchanges had made me despise him so much. I don’t know how my former self had endured it. After Jack left, I opened the voice memo app on my phone. I’ve always had the habit of keeping an audio diary, and I wondered if I had continued this habit as I grew older. Upon checking, I found that the latest recording was from last night. Before playing it, I felt an inexplicable sense of dread, as if a huge stone was weighing down my heart. But after what had just happened, I desperately wanted to know everything. It was a twenty-minute recording. I wiped my face and found it wet with tears. How had 28-year-old Zoe Sanders ended up living like this? Humbled in love, framed, humiliated, handed over by her beloved to be tortured by a psychopath… Her child, her kitten, along with her dignity, all stripped away… It’s okay. It won’t happen again. 18-year-old Zoe Sanders doesn’t love Jack Roberts. Without love, there won’t be humiliation, and there won’t be even a shred of softness in my heart.

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Just because I, Camille Miller, lost my engagement ring, my CEO fiancé, Xavier Thornton, decided to cancel our wedding to teach me a lesson. As if that wasn’t enough, he publicly announced that he would marry his assistant, Kimberly Scott, instead. But on their wedding day, I saw my lost ring on Kimberly’s finger. Before I could even question her, she burst into tears, claiming I had it out for her and was framing her on purpose. To prove her innocence, she tearfully submitted her resignation. Xavier, desperate to console her, did something even more outrageous. He called for a company-wide meeting, live-streamed it, and publicly criticized me. He called me jealous and unworthy and announced that he would strip me of all my shares to compensate Kimberly for her emotional distress. Otherwise, he’d really marry her and leave me with nothing. The entire office was in shock. The way they looked at me was full of pity. They all thought I would obediently give in to him again. But this time, I simply clasped my hands together and said, “Well then, I wish the two of you a lifetime of happiness.”

The moment the words left my lips, Xavier froze. Then, his expression darkened, and he slammed his hand on the table. He grabbed a stack of papers and threw them in my face. “Camille, stop with the sarcasm! “You did the wrong thing, yet you show no remorse. Do you believe I won’t fire you and kick you out of the company right now?!” Whispers filled the room. People pointed at me, murmuring among themselves. Everyone has already become accustomed to this kind of scene. This had happened so many times before. Even though I was Xavier’s fiancée, he never hesitated to humiliate me in front of others whenever he was upset. Over time, people stopped respecting me. But he still wasn’t satisfied. Later, he even deliberately posted edited clips online to make me look bad. I had swallowed my pride and helped him build his company from the ground up, yet because of his video. People were calling me an arrogant, incompetent trophy wife. The live chat was flooded with hateful comments from every direction, all aimed at me. Kimberly, his assistant, couldn’t hide her smile. It took her a moment to suppress her amusement before she strolled forward, casually shutting off the livestream. Then, she turned to Xavier, feigning concern. “Xavier, don’t be so rash. I’ve already forgiven Camille. “Besides, no matter what Camille did, she’s still your girlfriend. I don’t want to be the reason you two fight.” Xavier’s expression had been somewhat conflicted a moment ago. Perhaps he regretted speaking too harshly to me in front of everyone. But after hearing Kimberly’s words, he let out a cold laugh and shot me a look full of disdain. “She takes advantage of the fact that she’s my girlfriend. She thinks she can do whatever she wants just because I spoil her. “Camille, tell me, am I wrong?” I scoffed inwardly, too tired to argue. It didn’t matter what I said. He would only stick to his version of the story, convinced that I was being unreasonable. Seeing that I stayed silent, Xavier took it as an admission of guilt and dismissed the meeting. Once everyone had left, he sighed and looked at me as if he were genuinely disappointed. “Camille, I really didn’t expect this from you. Not only did you refuse to admit your mistake, but you also embarrassed me in front of everyone. I’m really disappointed in you.” This was what he always said after scolding me, like a script he had memorized. At first, I believed him. Every time, I would reflect on my actions, wondering if I had truly done something wrong. Until I realized that my self-reflection was just a trap, a way for him to test my limits, each time, his punishments only grew harsher. “What exactly did I do wrong?” I asked, my voice calm. “You and Kimberly already had your wedding. What’s so wrong about what I said?” Xavier’s expression froze for a split second as if he hadn’t expected me to respond this way. But then, he sneered. “People weren’t wrong when they called you petty. “That wedding was just for publicity. It wasn’t real. “After promoting it for an entire year, we couldn’t just cancel it at the last minute. What would people think? “Honestly, you should be thanking Kimberly. She went out of her way to find the wedding ring. Since you were out of town, she stepped up and played the role of the bride to keep the public from asking questions. “You weren’t even half as invested as she was. So tell me, where do you get the nerve to throw a tantrum?” His tone was righteous as if he truly believed he was making perfect sense. I couldn’t help but laugh. That wedding, the one I had spent three whole months planning, was something I had poured my heart into. I handled everything from the grand decorations of the venue down to the tiniest details, like picking out the candy for the guests. Back then, he had insisted I had too much on my plate and might mess things up, so he forcibly handed the wedding ring to Kimberly for safekeeping. I protested, but he turned it into a big argument about how I didn’t trust him. Later, the ring mysteriously went missing. The guests had already arrived, so I rushed to get a replacement. But instead of thanking me for saving the situation, he accused me of being careless about the wedding and started a huge fight. Then, without another word, he stormed out. I had no time to dwell on my emotions. I had to stay behind, keep the guests entertained, and make sure everything went smoothly. I didn’t even get a chance to breathe before he sent me off on a business trip out of town. And now? As always, he was pushing all the blame onto me. Putting aside the fact that Kimberly clearly wanted to marry him, something everyone could see except him, the ring had been in her hands. If she wanted to hide it, I could have turned the entire city upside down and still never found it. Before, I would have argued my case. I would have stood my ground and tried to make him see reason. But this time, I was exhausted. I didn’t want to waste my breath fighting over something he already knew deep down but refused to admit. “Xavier, don’t blame Camille. I did all of this willingly.” Back in the conference room, she naturally walked over to Xavier’s side. “I’ve been with the company for so long that I already see it as my home. The company’s business is my business, and of course, that includes whatever happens between you and Camille.” She smiled as she spoke to Xavier, then sighed with a hint of grievance. “But I really didn’t expect Camille to be this upset this time. I guess this is my fault.” As soon as she said that, Xavier’s gaze softened. “Kimberly, you’re just too considerate.” He let out a sigh, then turned around and shot me a sharp glare. “Camille, do you see that? Look at Kimberly’s attitude and then look at yours. Why can’t you learn from her?” I said nothing. Xavier had always defended Kimberly. She didn’t even have the qualifications to apply for the job, but Xavier went against all opposition and brought her into the company. Everyone had to call him Mr. Thornton, even me. Only Kimberly was allowed to call him Xavier. She made countless mistakes, yet he always shielded her. He even pinned the blame on me just to keep her in the company. Everyone saw how much he protected her, so they followed suit, making me her scapegoat time and time again. I had no idea what I was supposed to learn from Kimberly, just as I had no idea what to say right now. Xavier sighed. “Enough. I don’t want to argue with you. You falsely accused Kimberly, and now rumors are spreading all over the company. She’s a woman. If she weren’t strong-willed, this could’ve ended badly for her. “Our company has never wronged an employee. As compensation, sign this contract.” He slammed a share transfer contract in front of me. “You don’t deserve these shares anymore. They should go to someone more capable.” Kimberly’s eyes lit up, though she still pretended to hesitate. “Oh, but how could I accept this?” “Why not? This is what you deserve,” Xavier said righteously. I almost laughed out loud. This company was built with my initial investment. I was the one who worked around the clock, securing funding and developing projects. And now, with just a few words, he wanted to hand everything I worked for to someone else. I let out a cold chuckle as I picked up the contract. He thought I had given in. I saw the flash of satisfaction in Xavier’s eyes, and Kimberly’s gaze stayed locked on my hand, anticipation flickering in her expression. Under their watchful eyes, I raised my hand and tore the contract in half. Then, I took out my phone and dialed the police.

Xavier’s eyes were fixed on my fingers. The moment he realized I was calling the police, he reacted quickly, snatching my phone and ending the call. “Camille, why are you calling the cops?” He looked at me, frustrated. His nervousness was almost funny. Clearly, he knew he was in the wrong. I scoffed. “Didn’t you say I falsely accused Kimberly? Then let’s have the police come and find out who’s really at fault. “While we’re at it, they can investigate the missing diamond ring. With all the security cameras in the office, it won’t be hard to get to the truth.” A flicker of panic flashed in Kimberly’s eyes. Xavier opened his mouth to argue, but Kimberly grabbed his arm and whispered, “Forget it, Xavier. We’re all colleagues. There’s no need to escalate this to the police. We don’t want to make a scene and embarrass the company.” Xavier’s gaze softened as he looked at her pitifully. Then he turned back to me, his face darkening with anger. He jabbed a finger at my forehead and snapped, “Camille, you’re getting worse and worse. “Consider yourself lucky that Kimberly is mature enough not to stoop to your level.” The ever-mature Kimberly took the opportunity to shoot me a glare when Xavier wasn’t looking. Then she smiled sweetly and said, “I’ll get back to work now. Xavier, you and Camille should talk.” She finished speaking and turned to leave. Watching her back, I could already imagine the smug smile on her face. She knew that Xavier wasn’t just talking to me. He was also standing up for her. As soon as Kimberly walked out, Xavier started scolding me, saying I was no match for her. He accused me of growing pettier with age, unlike a young girl who knew better. After venting his frustration, Xavier finally pulled out the diamond ring from our wedding. His voice was heavy with meaning. “Do you really think I favor her over you? Everything I do is for your own good. I just want you to rest and make sure we keep the best talent for the company.” Saying this, he reached out, trying to slip the ring back onto my finger. Looking at him now, so gentle and sincere, I knew that the old me would have believed him in a heartbeat, but not anymore. I could see what it was for. It was just another sweet gesture after a hard blow. I let out a soft scoff and dodged him without hesitation. “Kimberly lost over eight million for the company, and you call that talent? “Xavier, tell me, is it me who needs to rest, or is it you?” “You…” His face turned red. He wanted to explode but managed to hold himself back. “If that’s how you see it, then there’s nothing left for us to talk about.” With that, he threw the ring at my face and stormed out. I knew what he was doing; he was giving me the silent treatment. This was his go-to tactic whenever he was in the wrong. He used it to force me into apologizing, into giving in. But this time, I wasn’t anxious or afraid. I didn’t scramble to fix things. I simply glanced at the ring on the floor, now crushed under his heel, then turned and walked out. That night, Xavier still hadn’t come home by the time it was past midnight. Meanwhile, Kimberly sent a message in the company’s group chat. [The new luxury car Xavier gave me is just stunning! Hard work always pays off. Keep going, everyone, you’ll get there too!] Attached was a picture of her beaming in front of a limited-edition car, with Xavier beside her, his arm wrapped around her shoulders. His eyes were full of admiration, his smile sweet. Colleagues flooded the comments, liking and congratulating her. At the very end, Xavier himself left a cute emoji, along with a message. [This is a reward for your outstanding performance. You earned it. I just wish some people would learn from you.] There was no need to guess who some people referred to. I knew exactly what he was doing. He was deliberately trying to make me jealous and force me into submission. A female colleague couldn’t help but message me privately. “Camille, what’s going on? I thought you and Mr. Thornton used to be madly in love?” I recognized her. She was one of the earliest employees who had fought alongside Xavier and me. She left years ago to focus on her family but had recently returned when I rehired her. Her message stirred up old memories. Back then, Xavier and I were in love. When I was sick, he stayed up for three days straight, watching over me. When I craved green mangoes, he worked nonstop for a whole week, then drove across state lines just to buy them for me. On my birthday, he went all out, surprising me with a luxury car in the middle of a busy street… That car was over a decade old now. Worn out, just like our love. I didn’t reply to her message. Instead, I quietly packed my things. Since I had already decided to leave, there was no reason to hold on to anything. I sold what I could and threw out the rest. In the end, all that remained were our photos. After a moment of thought, I took out a fire pit. One by one, I tossed the pictures into the flames, watching them curl and burn. Just then, the door swung open. Xavier walked in, his eyes fixed on his phone, a small smile on his lips as he typed. When he saw me, the smile on his face disappeared on purpose. He glanced at me and spoke with clear disdain. “Why are you here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping? Got nothing better to do?” I knew he was frustrated because his attempt to provoke me had failed. But back when we were still in love, he would sometimes go out late at night to meet friends. I couldn’t go with him, but I knew he was afraid of the dark. So, I would leave the lights on and fight off my sleepiness, waiting for him in the living room. Back then, he would always hold me in his arms when he got home and tell me how thoughtful I was. Love and indifference were obvious at a glance. I didn’t explain myself. I simply continued burning the photos in my hands. Xavier never liked taking pictures. Most of them were taken because I had begged him to. I thought he wouldn’t care. But to my surprise, he suddenly showed interest, leaning down to take the photos from my hands, flipping through them one by one. “When were these taken? I don’t remember any of them.” He looked surprised, and for some reason, his tone softened. “This one… My side profile looks pretty good. Who was the photographer? “Why does this one look so funny? You look like a little fox. “Camille, look at you back then. You were so cute, all chubby and adorable.” He reminisced to himself, his smile unconsciously growing. I didn’t respond. Three seconds of silence passed. Then, as if suddenly realizing we were still in a cold war, he cleared his throat and frowned slightly. “Why are you burning these photos?” “I don’t need them anymore,” I said calmly. “Come on. Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing.” Xavier smirked confidently, stood up, and shoved the photos back into my hands. “You did this on purpose, so I’d see it, didn’t you? Stop being stubborn. Bring your ID tomorrow afternoon. We’re going to City Hall.” His tone was arrogant as if marrying me was some kind of generous favor. I let out a cold laugh and tossed the rest of the photos into the fire. The last remnants of our past were completely consumed. Xavier’s brows furrowed instantly. “What are you doing?” “Xavier, we…” Before I could finish, his phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, and his eyes lit up. Without hesitation, he walked into the bedroom to answer. Laughter drifted through the closed door. I stood outside, staring at the pile of ashes left from the burned photos, just like our relationship, nothing but dust. Nearly half an hour passed before he finally came out, still smiling. “There’s something at work. I need to head out. I’ll probably be back late.” He tried to keep his tone casual to avoid giving anything away. But I knew exactly who had called Kimberly. Over the years, he had used work as an excuse to meet with her countless times. I didn’t expose him. I just nodded. He went back to the bedroom to change, even spraying on cologne. One phone call and he had completely forgotten about me. Forgotten about the photos I burned. “Oh, right. What were you about to say earlier?” He finally remembered when he was about to leave, pausing by the door to ask.

“I can sell my shares to Kimberly at market price. Ask her if she wants them,” I thought for a moment and spoke. Xavier’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Are you serious?” I nodded. He quickly stepped toward me, cupping my face and kissing me hard. “You’re being so good today. I knew it. Deep down, you still care about me. “I’ll tell her later tonight.” The moment the words left his mouth, he realized how inappropriate they sounded. He quickly corrected himself. “I mean, I’ll call her and let her know.” I pretended not to notice the slip and wiped my face with disgust. “Do it soon before I change my mind.” Xavier agreed, grabbed his car keys, and left. He was in such a good mood that he even started humming. Less than half an hour later, I got a text. Kimberly had agreed to buy the shares. I wasn’t surprised that she agreed. The company was doing better and better, and the stock value kept rising. Even if she didn’t have that much cash on hand, Xavier would help her get it. Free shares were something she couldn’t bear to give up. That night, Xavier didn’t come home. I wasn’t sure if they were celebrating, but in the middle of the night, while I was sound asleep, my phone rang. Half-asleep, I answered. On the other end, I heard Xavier’s heavy breathing. Nearly ten seconds passed before Kimberly’s playful laughter came through. “Xavier, you don’t even like Camille anymore. So why are you still getting a marriage certificate with her?” There was silence for two seconds before Xavier responded in a low voice. “We’ve been together for ten years. And she did as I asked. She handed over all her shares. Breaking up now wouldn’t be right. “Ugh, don’t bring her up. It kills the mood.” The call ended. I stared at the disconnected screen, knowing full well that Xavier had no idea about this call. It was Kimberly’s doing, a deliberate move to provoke me. This wasn’t the first time. Telling Xavier wouldn’t change anything. He trusted Kimberly more than he trusted me. I could even predict that he’d change his mind about the marriage certificate by morning. I set my phone aside and went back to sleep. The next day, I continued packing my things. It was nearly evening when Xavier finally came home, looking tired from the day. “Camille, something urgent came up today, so I couldn’t make it to City Hall. It wasn’t on purpose. “You’re not mad, right?” There was a faint scratch on his neck. The urgent matter was obvious. I shook my head. “No, I’m not mad.” I had already prepared myself for this. I didn’t go either, after all. “That’s good.” He smiled and handed me a document. “I’ve finalized the stock transfer contract. Let’s get this done first.” Maybe he was worried I’d change my mind out of anger. He seemed a little anxious, but I pretended not to notice. After checking that the terms were correct, I signed. As I finished signing the last page, he let out a relieved sigh. The same man who always delayed things immediately called a lawyer to finalize the paperwork. It had taken nearly a week to transfer the shares to me. This time, it was done in less than half an hour. The shares were now under Kimberly’s name. The money was in my account. It was over. Xavier was in a great mood, even looking at me with a softer gaze. “You look exhausted. “I was thinking we could wait until tomorrow for the marriage certificate. But since you’ve been so good today, I’ll take you now.” Smiling, he reached out and pinched my cheek. “Happy?” I slapped his hand away without answering. Instead, I turned and walked to the bedroom, pulling out the suitcase I had packed long ago. Xavier frowned. “What are you doing? Don’t tell me you’ve already planned our honeymoon. “Camille, I agreed to marry you, but a honeymoon is out of the question. I’m too busy right now…” “It’s not a honeymoon,” I said calmly. “I’m moving out. “Xavier, we’re done.”

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My wife was a fool. For three years, I took complete care of her and gave her everything. Then one day, she regained her sanity and became the CEO of a listed company. She spent tens of millions of dollars holding a grand proposal for me. After getting married, I became the envy of everyone. Whenever she could, she expressed her love for me. Her true love’s return caused a change in everything. She kicked me out to make room for him. With nowhere to go, I took a bottle of sleeping pills. I had spent 25 years trying to win over four heroines, only to lose everything in the end. The system said that if I died in this world, I could return to my original world. While my life was passing by, I heard someone begging me to live. “Ryan Scott, I know you’re awake. Why did you choose to commit suicide on such a joyous day when Dylan is returning? Are you trying to frame him by your death?” Hearing the cold voice, I opened my eyes to see my wife, Luna Wright. Her icy glare was full of hatred. Luna, 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 Luna 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, Dylan Hughes, returned, Luna 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 Luna. But not long after, I discovered her intimate moments with Dylan in her office, along with used condoms on the floor. I confronted her, but she kicked me out without a penny. Dylan 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. Luna then kicked me out of our home. Even my sister, Bella 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 Luna saved me, but seeing the intense hatred in her eyes, I struggled to speak, “Kill…me.” The next moment, Luna 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. Luna crossed her arms, looking at me with contempt as if I were a pitiful creature. “If it weren’t for you bullying and tormenting Dylan, 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. Luna 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 Luna 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 Luna, I thought, “What is she afraid of? Afraid I would die? But I’m making things easier for her and Dylan.” Luna slapped me. “This is the road Dylan 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, Bella. She was holding a cake with “DH” written on it. This cake was probably prepared to celebrate Dylan’s return after his fake death. Bella’s eyes blazed with anger and hatred. “What are you doing here, Ryan? Are you trying to stop me from giving this cake to Dylan? We’ve cut ties!” In this world, if anyone hated me more than Luna, it was Bella. Bella wasn’t like this before. We were orphaned at a young age, and I raised her alone, naming her Bella, 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 Dylan. Dylan said he wanted to eat something tasty, so Bella forced me, despite my illness, to cook an elaborate meal for him. Dylan didn’t even take a bite, and when I asked why, Bella 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, Dylan and Luna conspired against me, faking his death by jumping into the sea. Bella 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. Luna sneered. “Dylan is back. I left your brother penniless. He can’t accept it, so he must be thinking of committing suicide.” Bella 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,” Luna nodded, laughing. “He tried this twice.” Bella 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 Dylan.” I lowered my gaze. “Fine, I’ll go.” The next second, I fell into the turbulent river. Bella’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, Bella 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. Bella kicked me hard and sneered. “After Dylan 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 Bella how to swim, but Dylan had always stopped me, saying, “With me around, Bella doesn’t need to learn to swim. I’ll always be there to save her.” Bella belittled me by saying, “This is where you and Dylan 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 Bella accidentally drowned, Dylan looked on indifferently, while I dived in to save her. But she thought it was Dylan who had saved her and gave him all the credit, calling me heartless for standing by. Unexpectedly, Bella, who used to be afraid of water, had learned to swim for Dylan. I snorted. “It has nothing to do with you if I live or die. To me, you’re just a stranger now.” Hearing this, Bella turned livid with anger and slapped me. “If it weren’t for my vow to pray for Dylan’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? Dylan is going to marry Luna.” At this, the cake in Bella’s hand fell to the ground as she stared at Luna. “What? Marry her?” Before I could speak, another target, Violet Wood, rushed up in a panic, blurting out, “Dylan is missing!” “Ryan, did you hide Dylan? Bring him out right now!” Luna glared at me.

Luna, who had always been composed, panicked for the first time. “What? Dylan 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 Dylan?” Bella’s eyes turned bloodshot as she slapped me hard. “Dylan 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, “Dylan 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 Dylan?” 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 Dylan 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 Dylan had jumped into the sea, she went mad. She stabbed thousands of needles into my body, torturing me relentlessly to avenge Dylan. “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 Luna’s villa. She inserted countless needles into my acupuncture points, amplifying my pain before torturing me with various tools. Luna and Bella 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 Dylan. 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, “Dylan 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 Dylan 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, Dylan’s voice suddenly came from the doorway. “Hey, you are all here. I’ve been looking for you all.”

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After Yelena Sullivan, the youngest daughter of the Sullivan family, lost her sight, my older brother Ethan Lambert broke off their engagement and went abroad. My parents had no choice but to send me, their adopted son, to live with her as compensation. For five years, I meticulously cared for Yelena until her vision was finally restored. Just as Yelena and I were about to get married, Ethan showed up at the wedding with a bouquet of flowers, knelt on one knee, and confessed his love to her in a voice thick with emotion. Yelena, who had always been cold and distant, burst into tears. She threw away her wedding ring, rushed off the stage, and blamed Ethan for why he had waited until now to come back for her. At that moment, all the guests were laughing at me. I simply changed out of my wedding attire and quietly gave up the ceremony to them. Yelena praised me for being understanding and generous, insisting it was all a charade and promising her husband’s title would belong to me always. I smiled but said nothing, booking a one-way ticket abroad. Yelena had no idea that the care I gave her all those years was nothing more than a paid job. Now that Yelena’s old flame had returned, it was time for me to live my own life.

As soon as I stepped off the stage, I heard Ethan explain, “Lena, I was diagnosed with cancer back then. I didn’t want to burden you with my worries, so I went abroad, but I never expected it to be all just a misunderstanding. “You regained your sight because I prayed for you day and night. “I’ve always loved you, and that hasn’t changed.” My mother, Maria Lambert, pushed me aside, took Yelena’s hand, and told her how deeply Ethan loved her. “Ethan truly loved you and didn’t want to trouble you. Now that the misunderstanding is cleared up, you should get back together.” But the truth was, they all knew Ethan had despised Yelena’s blindness and refused to marry a blind woman. That’s why he’d resorted to threatening suicide to force her into breaking off their engagement before running off abroad. My parents didn’t want to sever the long-standing relationship between the Lambert and Sullivan families, so they hoped I would marry Yelena. Now that Yelena’s sight had returned, Ethan was eager to come back and elope with her. Thankfully, Yelena saw through his lies. After all, during her darkest days of self-harm and psychosis, he’d never visited once. Instead, he’d even rubbed salt in her wounds, cruelly saying he had never loved her. During the five years of Yelena’s blindness, I had been by her side, taking care of her day and night. I told her stories, guided her steps, and became her eyes. I’d felt so certain, but the next moment, I saw Yelena, tears in her eyes, take Ethan’s hand and choke with sobs. “I knew there was a reason.” Watching them hold hands tightly, I was stunned and could only smile bitterly. How naive I’d been! Ethan was her great love, the man she’d nearly died for. How could a substitute like me ever replace him? Seeing them reconcile, Maria breathed a sigh of relief. But the moment she turned and noticed me still standing there, her patience vanished. She shot me an irritated look and snapped, “Why are you still here? You’ve had ten years of living Ethan’s life. Are you still trying to steal his wife now?” My parents, who had been so gentle with me in my childhood memories, now looked at me with hatred. They pushed me away and shoved me out the door, scolding me, and I couldn’t help but feel heartbroken. Back then, when Ethan went missing, they were devastated, so they adopted me because I looked like him. For those ten years, I had parents who doted on me endlessly and a childhood sweetheart, Yelena, who was as close to me as anyone could be. It was the happiest time of my life. But Ethan’s return shattered my illusion. My parents felt I had stolen the love meant for Ethan, and they despised me. Even Yelena, who’d vowed to marry me, chose him. Under the weight of their hostile stares, I lowered my head, feeling utterly alone. Still, they had raised me, and I didn’t even have the right to protest. As I nodded and turned to leave, Yelena finally noticed my lonely figure. She raised an eyebrow at my parents and said, “Mr. Harrison Lambert, Mrs. Maria Lambert, there’s no need to be so harsh. What do you mean by ‘steal’? He’s my husband, and no one can replace him.” Watching Yelena slowly approach me, a touch of gratitude rose in my heart. She still favored me, just like when we were children. Yelena took my hand and whispered, “Zach, I was just putting on an act with him. We’ll go skiing soon, just like you’ve always wanted.” Ethan, who had followed Yelena over, sneered when he heard this. I could only smile bitterly in silence. We had grown up together, but how could she forget that I suffered a concussion from a skiing accident as a child? Since then, I developed a phobia of the sport and dreaded it. Skiing was Ethan’s passion, not mine. So, I was still Ethan’s substitute, and that had never changed. Ethan clapped my shoulder with a smile. “Alright. We’ll make it a trio.” My parents pulled Yelena aside and said, “Don’t let this outsider ruin your marriage.” Yelena wrenched her hands free and leaned in, whispering softly in my ear, “Don’t overthink it. It’s been five years since he dumped me, and I’m not about to let it go. I just need these five days to make him pay. “Once everything’s settled, we’ll get married and live happily ever after.” I nodded, watching them depart. Just then, a message from my boss popped up on my phone: [Zachary, the headquarters in Mercado is impressed with you. They want you to work there. If you’re okay with it, you’ll leave in five days.] I looked up at the stage where Yelena posed with Ethan’s family, radiant and whole. They were the real family, and I’d always been an outsider. Swallowing my pain, I replied: [No problem. On my way to finalize.]

Seeing how quickly I replied, my boss asked curiously: [Aren’t you getting married today? Take time to discuss with your wife and come back tomorrow if needed.] Following a devastating car accident that left her completely blind, Yelena was abandoned by Ethan at her lowest point, spiraling into a crippling mental breakdown. When I first met Yelena, I was covered in scratches from her every day. Over time, Yelena grew accustomed to my presence, and she could only fall asleep at night while holding my hand. If I’d been transferred earlier, I would’ve thrown away my entire future to stay with Yelena, because her fragile mind was all I could think about. Now, seeing Yelena beside Ethan with a beaming smile and sound mind, I knew her true love had returned, and my role was over. I typed: [I’m not getting married.] As Ethan slid the ring onto her finger amidst cheers, I slipped away. Upon handing over my work at the office, I walked out of the building. Yelena was nowhere to be found at the wedding. However, I never expected to find her waiting for me downstairs at the office building. She had roses in hand, was leaning against a sleek convertible, and waved me over. My colleagues gave me teasing looks before dispersing. Curious but composed, I walked over to her. “Zach, why did you leave so suddenly? You missed dinner, right? Let me take you…” Before Yelena could finish, Ethan stepped out of the driver’s seat and interrupted impatiently, “Lena, why are you wasting time talking to him? “Zachary, you’ve been wearing the heirloom meant for me for five years in my place. Time to hand it over.” Yelena pushed Ethan, telling him to be polite, and whispered to me, “Don’t listen to him. You’re the only one I consider my husband. “But Ethan needs to wear the emerald ring at today’s family banquet. Can you lend it to him? He’ll return it tomorrow, okay?” I took off the emerald ring, its green gem still warm from my body heat. Yelena had no idea that my life in her family was just a deal. Her parents had never seen me as her husband. With my unknown origins, they considered me an illegitimate child, unworthy of living with the Sullivan family. They paid me a monthly salary to take care of Yelena. The day Yelena no longer needed me would be the day I was cast aside. They had never intended to give me the emerald ring. Yelena had gone against her parents’ wishes, insisting on giving me the ring and placing it on my finger herself. I’ll never forget how she gently told me, “Zachary, you’re my husband now. You deserve everything that comes with it.” Now, she was taking back the ring meant for her husband, along with the favor she had once shown me… Without hesitation, I removed the emerald ring and handed it to Ethan. “Keep it. No need to return it to me.”

Hearing this, Yelena frowned. “You’re just lending it to him, but why are you saying that? You still want to marry me, don’t you?” Ethan sneered. “Why do you think? He’s just playing the victim again, trying to win your sympathy. “When we were kids, he threw a tantrum and refused to ride in the car, choosing to walk home barefoot in the freezing winter instead. It was as if my family had mistreated him, the adopted son.” Upon hearing Ethan’s words, Yelena seemed to remember something. Her expression darkened, a flicker of displeasure crossing her face. But that wasn’t how it had happened. When Ethan was found and brought back, he never stopped complaining about the hardships he’d endured. “I rose before dawn to work the fields, walked barefoot in the winter to chop firewood in the mountains, and only ate one meal a day, with no delicacies…” My parents resented that their biological son had suffered while I, an outsider, had lived comfortably. So, they made me experience everything Ethan had gone through. From then on, I was woken up at the crack of dawn to pull weeds and had to walk home barefoot in the winter. While my family enjoyed lavish meals, I was given scraps, and even the maids ate better than I did. Whenever I begged them for mercy, they would say it was nothing compared to what Ethan had endured. Yet Ethan’s suffering wasn’t my fault. I was just an abandoned child they had taken in. Word of my mistreatment spread soon. To protect the Lambert family’s reputation, they blamed me, saying I had deliberately caused the trouble out of jealousy for Ethan’s return and embarrassed them. From then on, I became an annoying troublemaker, ostracized by everyone. Even Yelena, who had once been close to me, turned against me and soon started dating Ethan. Back then, I was terrified Yelena would grow to hate me, so I told her the truth. However, no matter how hard I tried to explain or how much evidence I presented, Yelena didn’t trust me the way she once did. In fact, she only seemed to dislike me even more. Right then, as I saw the doubt flicker in her eyes, I didn’t explain, simply shaking my head. Anyway, I was leaving. It no longer mattered if she misunderstood me. As I turned to leave, Yelena grabbed my hand and sighed, as if compromising. “You have to come to the family dinner tonight, so please get in the car.” I nodded. This would be my last meal with them before I left. I sat in the back seat. Throughout the ride, Yelena chatted animatedly with Ethan in the front seat, reminiscing their unforgettable memories together. I didn’t say a word. Arriving at Sullivan Villa, I walked into the living room and found my parents there. When they slid a kidney donation consent form in front of me, I finally understood why they had invited me to the family dinner. It turned out Ethan had been diagnosed with kidney failure and needed a transplant. It all made sense now why my family had pushed for that medical checkup just a few days ago. They had discovered my kidney was a match for Ethan’s and were forcing me to save him. Yelena’s mother, Grace Sullivan, served Ethan food while telling me, “Zachary, your parents raised you all these years, so you should be grateful and do the right thing.” My father, Harrison Lambert, snorted. “If you don’t want to donate your kidney, we can pay you.” Ethan put on a fake act and said, “It’s my fault for hurting Lena before. You don’t have to save me. Let me die, and it’s the least I can do to make up for what I’ve done.” Seeing this, Yelena’s eyes showed a flicker of worry. She held my arm and pleaded, “You’ve always been kind, Zach. You wouldn’t let your brother die, would you? “It’s just one kidney. You’ll recover after the surgery, and it’s no big deal.” I hadn’t even sat down before they started pressuring me. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly at myself. “When is the surgery?” Everyone seemed shocked that I agreed so quickly. Harrison said in a low voice, “Tonight. The sooner, the better.” I turned to look at Yelena. Yelena, who would’ve defended me in the past, now stayed silent, as if she were afraid I might refuse. It was a lie when Yelena said she was just putting on an act. She loved Ethan so much that she was terrified his condition would get worse, so she hurriedly tricked me into coming back for the family dinner. I didn’t refuse. “Alright, but I have one condition.” Upon hearing that I still had a request, Maria instantly looked indifferent. “Sure enough, you’re still greedy for money. I raised you for nothing all these years!” Yelena also thought it was inappropriate for me to ask for money and raised an eyebrow, saying, “Zach, you should repay your parents for raising you. How could you ask them for money?” I hadn’t even said anything, yet they were already labeling me as an ungrateful guy. I shook my head and told my parents, “I don’t want money. I want to cut ties with you. From now on, I owe you nothing.” My parents were stunned. They hadn’t expected this, but they agreed quickly. Without eating anything, I was rushed to the hospital and wheeled into the operating room. As I woke up from the anesthesia, I was back in my hospital room. Ethan was sitting by my bed, peeling an apple. We had both undergone surgeries, but why did he look so different? Just as I was wondering, Ethan answered with a smile, “You’re surprised, aren’t you? “Zachary, I was never sick. I just wanted to make it clear to you that our parents and Yelena have never been on your side. “To save me, your miserable life could be thrown away at any moment!” Chapter 4

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I returned to the country ahead of schedule without telling my husband, Herbert Foster, because I wanted to give him a surprise. Following the location, I rushed to the pub’s box. However, through the glass window, I saw him passionately kissing another woman in his arms. All his friends were cheering, and one of them said, “You said you’d be a DINK for your wife, but you still got Stella pregnant. Your wife is so high and mighty and boring. She won’t even give you a kid.” Herbert frowned and scolded, “Shut up. Don’t make jokes about my wife. When Stella’s baby is born, I’ll find an excuse to let my wife adopt him.” After lighting a cigarette, he added, “My wife is delicate and can’t have children. If anyone lets my wife find out about these things, I won’t let them off the hook.” Everyone swore they would keep it from me, and I stood outside the door as tears streamed down my face. The man who once doted on me and said he couldn’t bear to see me suffer from pregnancy and was willing to be a DINK for me had already had a child with someone else behind my back. Such being the case, I would never let him find me for the rest of his life.

I came home in a daze. I knew that woman. She was Stella Edwards, the new secretary Herbert Foster had hired. Everything I saw outside that box seemed to be etched in my mind and lingered there for a long time. Those hurtful words kept echoing in my head and reminded me that Herbert, the man who I thought loved me with all his heart and soul, had truly betrayed me. I took out my phone and initiated a video call to Herbert, but he hung up on me in a flash. Almost immediately, several messages popped up on my screen. [What’s up, babe? I’m in the middle of a meeting.] [Sorry, I can’t answer your call right now, babe.] [Are you missing me? I miss you, too, honey. I’ll wrap up this meeting soon, and we can have a video chat then. Love you.] If I hadn’t seen him locking lips with another woman with my own eyes, I might have fallen for his sweet-talking lies. I sent him a voice message, telling him that I had come home early. Herbert quickly replied: [Why’d you come home early, honey? I’ll be home right away.] I didn’t bother replying to him. Instead, I stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at the night view of Rivrt. Yesterday, while I was at a fashion show overseas, my assistant, Tiffany Reed, told me that Herbert had specifically told her to buy every single piece of clothing that caught my eye. Tiffany had laid it on thick, trying to speak up for Herbert. “Ms. Brown, Mr. Foster loves you so much. He wants to bring all the good things in the world to you.” She was right, in a way. Herbert had loved me. He loved me so much that even though I saw him kiss another woman with my own eyes, I still doubted if I had seen it wrong. My mom died of amniotic fluid embolism when she gave birth to me. My dad raised me until I was eighteen and then committed suicide by cutting his wrists to join my mom in death. He left me with hundreds of millions of dollars in inheritance, which made me a prime target for all sorts of people with malicious intentions. Then, Herbert entered my life. He was my knight in shining armor, protecting me from all the dangers and harm, creating a safe bubble around me. He refused to get even a single cent of my money. Instead, he transferred all of his properties under my name. Everyone said that his love for me bordered on obsession. He was such a proud and dignified man, yet he’d race back just to catch a glimpse of me even when he was swamped with work and only had half an hour of break time. I had a deep-seated psychological trauma because of my mom’s death, and I was terrified of having children. Herbert would hold me close in his arms and plant gentle kisses on me, saying, “It’s probably for the best if we don’t have a baby. I’m scared that once he’s here, he’ll steal all your love away from me, and I’ll be envious. Honey, having you is more than enough for me in this lifetime. You’re the only one I love.” Herbert’s love had almost suffocated me in a way. Even though I was angry at my dad for leaving me behind, I envied the unwavering love my parents had for each other, a love that was strong enough to make one follow the other into the unknown. I once thought that, just like my mom, I had married for true love and was the luckiest woman on the planet. But in the end, it all turned out to be a beautiful dream that shattered into a million pieces.

Time seemed to stand still until the sound of the door opening broke the silence. Herbert stood at the door with a beaming face. After he warmed up a bit, he rushed over and hugged me tightly. He said, “Honey, why did you come back early? Wasn’t your flight supposed to be tomorrow? Why didn’t you tell me? I could have come to pick you up.” I stared blankly at the lipstick mark on Herbert’s neck and reached out to wipe it off for him. “Herbert, I don’t like this smell on you.” There was a scent of women’s perfume on him that didn’t belong to him. The glaring lipstick mark and the cloying perfume were like a silent challenge from that woman to me. Herbert’s expression froze for a moment. But then, he quickly regained his composure. He took a step back, took off his overcoat, and threw it on the floor. Looking at me with a remorseful face, he said, “Sorry, honey. There was a client at the meeting tonight whose perfume was way too strong. It’s my fault. I was in such a hurry to come back and see you that I didn’t have time to deal with it.” Herbert was so smart. He mixed truth and falsehood in his words. It was true that he was eager to come back to see me, but the story about the client’s perfume was a lie. A cold smile played on my face. My fingers wrapped around his tie, and I gave it a hard tug. With our faces just inches apart, I said slowly, “Herbert, you’re not fooling around with someone else behind my back, are you?” Herbert’s pupils trembled slightly, and a look of panic flashed across his face. But years of experience in the business world had already honed his ability to stay calm in any situation. He quickly composed himself and looked at me with a pitiful expression, and there were even tears glistening in his eyes. “Honey, you’re the only one in my heart. Did I do something wrong to make you ask me such a question?” Seeing how nervous he was, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud, saying, “Just kidding. Why are you so serious? Look, you’re even sweating. Go and take a shower.” I reached out and wiped the sweat from his forehead. Herbert’s stiff body quickly relaxed. He kissed my lips and said in a soft, reproachful voice, “Don’t say such things again. You almost scared me to death.” He kissed me for a while before going to take a shower. The moment he turned around, my smile disappeared, replaced by overwhelming feelings of resentment and disgust. Tears streamed down my face, and I wiped my lips vigorously. The moment I saw the panic in his eyes, I felt that the man I had loved for nearly ten years was so unfamiliar and repulsive. When Herbert came out of the shower, he wrapped his arms around my waist, attempting to be affectionate. I subtly moved away and curled up in the corner. “I’m tired.” Herbert felt so sorry for me. He carefully adjusted the quilt for me and patted my back as if he were coaxing a child. He said, “You’ve had a long day, babe. Get some rest. I’ll spend more time with you tomorrow.” Gradually, I heard his even breathing. I stared at Herbert’s face in the dark, and my tears wet the pillow. Even when he was sleeping, he would unconsciously mumble my name. I couldn’t figure it out. How could he not love me anymore?

The next day, Herbert really stayed by my side all the time. The formidable president of a corporation was willing to act like a nanny for me. Even when it came to eating grapes, he would peel them and feed them to my mouth. That night, he booked the most luxurious high-altitude restaurant in the whole city for a date with me. The view outside the window was dazzlingly beautiful. Herbert took out the necklace he had designed himself and put it around my neck. This necklace was called Love-Samantha, and it was inlaid with a valuable ruby. Herbert looked at me with eyes full of love. “Honey, you look so beautiful wearing this necklace.” He leaned over and was about to kiss me when the phone on the table rang. I glanced at it, and it was a phone call from his secretary, Stella. Herbert answered the phone with a look of impatience, “I told you I’m spending time with my wife today. I’m not available. Can’t whatever work-related matter wait until tomorrow?” I didn’t know what the person on the other end said, but Herbert’s tone softened, and a look of panic flashed across his face. “Wait for me. I’ll be there right away.” After hanging up, Herbert looked at me guiltily. “Sorry, honey. I need to deal with an urgent matter. I promise I’ll be back soon.” He tried to kiss me, but I dodged him subtly. “Don’t keep her waiting.” Herbert left in a hurry, and I looked at those dishes on the table that I used to love the most. At this moment, they tasted like sawdust to me, and I could hardly swallow them. I turned my head, and my tired and disappointed face was reflected in the glass window. The dazzling necklace around my neck made me look like a clown. I got up to go home, but the wedding ring on my hand suddenly fell off. In the dark, I couldn’t see it and could only squat down to look for it. The ring got stuck in the crack and was pushed further and further away. My heart suddenly skipped a beat. Maybe it was the fated arrangement. Herbert and I were like this wedding ring, getting further and further apart. On the way home, my phone received a photo of Herbert. Herbert was looking at the pregnancy test report in his hand with a gentle smile. A dull pain hit my heart. The person then sent me several videos of her being intimate with Herbert, which were filmed in the car, his office, or a hotel room. There were countless pieces of lingerie and sex toys, and condoms were all over the floor. That person kept sending me messages: [Just because I said my stomach hurt, he left you and came to me. Samantha, can’t you see which woman is really in Herbert’s heart?] [He said that I’m young and fun and that you’re haughty and uptight. You’re so stiff in bed that he’s already grown tired of you.] [The one who isn’t loved is the outsider. You’d better leave on your own. Don’t make me kick you out with my baby.] Every gasp in the videos wildly stimulated my nerves. My hands were shaking so violently that I could barely hold my phone. A wave of overwhelming pain washed over me, and tears streamed down my face. In the end, I covered my face with both hands and broke down into sobs. When Herbert came back, it was almost midnight. At that time, I was lying on the sofa, pretending to be asleep. Herbert thought I had fallen asleep while waiting for him. He felt extremely guilty, picked me up in his arms, and put me on the bed. He held my cold feet against his chest to warm them up. I opened my eyes, facing away from him. In the stillness of the night, I asked him, “Herbert, do you love me?” The person behind me froze. Then, he hugged me tightly, and scalding tears fell on my shoulder. I couldn’t tell if it was out of guilt or some other emotion. At that moment, Herbert was indeed crying. He said, “I’m so sorry I came back so late and made you wait for so long, honey. Please don’t ever doubt my love for you. You mean the world to me, more than my own life.” I turned around and met Herbert’s intense gaze, his bright eyes filled with my reflection. It brought back memories of the time when I was alone and vulnerable, and he had stepped in to protect me from the harsh realities of the world, and the way he had looked at me with those clear eyes back then. I had never doubted true feelings, but true feelings could change in an instant. I smiled and touched his face. “I love you, Herbert.” I would always love Herbert, whom I met when I was eighteen, but I wouldn’t stay with him anymore. Herbert held me tightly in his arms as if holding something fragile. He whispered, “Honey, shall we adopt a child in a couple of years?” I knew he was talking about the child he had with Stella. I didn’t hesitate. “Okay.” Anyway, I was going to leave, and he could adopt whoever’s child he wanted.

When I woke up, Herbert had already gone to work. On the bedside table, there was breakfast he’d personally prepared, along with a freshly plucked rose. My phone was flooded with affectionate messages from Herbert. Amidst them were some lurid videos sent by Stella. Just as Herbert sent me a video updating me on his whereabouts, Stella was using her hand to pleasure him. A wave of nausea surged within me. I raised my hand and swept the breakfast off the bedside table. After yanking the necklace from around my neck and tossing it into the trash can, I booked a flight ticket abroad. In the afternoon, Herbert returned and personally assisted me in putting on a dress. “You must accompany me to the company dinner tonight, babe. I want everyone to envy me for having such a gorgeous wife,” he said. I didn’t decline and let him lead me to the car. I had met Stella before, yet I was still taken aback by her transformation tonight. Money truly could work wonders for a person. She no longer had that timid air she’d had when I first met her. Instead, she’d become an elegant and radiant woman. There was a faint resemblance between her features and mine. As an assistant, she was clad in an expensive, custom-made dress and decked out in jewelry from head to toe. She truly seemed to be the one Herbert cared for most. Herbert remained by my side throughout, holding my hand, but he kept stealing glances in Stella’s direction until a CEO asked Stella to have a drink with him. Stella couldn’t refuse and was about to raise the glass to her lips. Herbert swiftly let go of my hand, snatched the glass from Stella, and drank the wine in one gulp. He did it so forcefully that I nearly lost my balance and fell to the ground. Suddenly, all the surrounding eyes turned towards me. There were looks of mockery, confusion, and pity. Herbert then realized and rushed towards me. He nervously took my hand and explained, “Stella is pregnant and can’t drink. As her boss, I couldn’t just stand by and watch her risk her health for the sake of business, right?” I suppressed the urge to slap him and stared at Stella with a smile. “Ms. Edwards is truly capable. She’s still socializing even though she’s pregnant. I’m curious what the father of the child is up to?” Stella stood beside Herbert and showed me the ruby bracelet on her wrist. “The father of my child is busy making money. My husband designed this ruby bracelet himself. It’s called Love-Stella.” My heart constricted painfully, and the sudden, intense ache made my face turn pale. So, Herbert had designed a necklace and a bracelet, giving one to me and the other to Stella. Noticing my appearance, Herbert pushed Stella aside and nervously grasped my arm, looking concerned as he said, “Honey, why do you look so pale? Are you feeling ill?” I shook my head, steadied myself against the table, and pushed his hand away. “I’m a bit tired. I’m going back first.” Herbert wanted to accompany me back. I smiled and pushed him toward Stella. “It’s okay. Take good care of the pregnant lady. Make sure she doesn’t drink again.” With that, I turned around and left. When Herbert saw me leave like this, a strong sense of unease and anxiety flashed through his heart. He was about to chase after me, but Stella tightly latched onto his arm. “Herbert, I bought the clothes you like the most.” Herbert hesitated for a moment, then turned back and pinched Stella’s cheek. “You are such a coquettish girl.” I didn’t leave but was sitting in the car across the road. I watched as they came out hand in hand and got into Herbert’s car, saying to the driver, “Wayne, follow them.”

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My wife, Jessica Davis, had always loved Tristan Carter. But when he killed a patient, she decided to pin everything on me, Brian Hughes. “It’s just getting fired from the hospital. It’s not a big deal. “Tristan is different. He’s about to be promoted. His career can’t have any stains.” I was dragged to the rooftop by the patient’s family and thrown off the third floor. Miraculously, I survived. And with that fall, the memories I had lost seven years ago came rushing back. Calmly, I canceled my ID and dialed my assistant, Tyler Morgan. “Tyler, send someone to Rhenova to pick me up.” “Mr. Sinclair? Oh my God, finally! I’ll send a helicopter right away!” On the other end of the line, Tyler was so overwhelmed with emotion that I could hear his voice trembling. The moment I hung up, the front door opened. Jessica walked in, chatting and laughing with Tristan as if nothing had happened. “Who were you on the phone with?” she asked casually while bending down to grab Tristan’s slippers. She didn’t even look at me. My answer clearly mattered far less than Tristan’s bright, cheerful voice. “Jessica, you’ve been running around so much for me these past few days. I don’t know what I’d do without you. Thank God this whole hospital mess is finally over.” Jessica glanced at me, looking slightly awkward. I chuckled to myself. Why would a useless man like me matter to her at all? I silently walked into the kitchen and took my medication. As usual, I made myself a cup of coffee. Jessica, meanwhile, finished sorting Tristan’s documents and personally escorted him to the door. Only after he left did she finally sit down on the couch and reach for the cup next to her, only to find it empty. She turned to me, her face filled with irritation. “Are you seriously giving me attitude just because I asked you to take the blame for Tristan? “Do you even understand how rare this opportunity is? He’s about to be promoted to professor. You, on the other hand, are just a lowly assistant. Losing your salary for a while won’t kill you. “Besides, Tristan even booked a private room tonight to celebrate your discharge.” At the pre-surgery meeting that day, I had pointed out that Tristan’s treatment plan was flawed. Jessica, as the hospital’s vice president, had publicly humiliated me, telling me, an assistant, to stay out of it. Not only did she dock my pay, but she also personally approved that flawed plan. When everything went south, she turned around and accused me. “You did it on purpose, didn’t you? You knew there was a problem, but you didn’t do everything in your power to stop it.” And just like that, the entire hospital threw me under the bus. Maybe she sensed something different about me because she frowned slightly and walked toward me, only to notice the gift bag by my side. “You bought a new watch? Isn’t the one you have still working?” The last flicker of warmth in my already numb heart turned ice-cold. I didn’t bother telling her that it was a birthday gift from someone else. After a moment of silence, I simply said, “Just picked it up randomly.” “Perfect. Tristan’s watch is getting old. I’ll give this one to him.” I opened my mouth, but before I could say anything, she had already reached for the gift box. Just then, my phone screen lit up. [Mr. Sinclair, do you have any further instructions? I’m boarding the plane now.]

Jessica’s gaze shifted from the phone screen to my face. I was about to brush it off with some excuse. But then she suddenly sneered. “Mr. Sinclair? Seriously, Brian, do you think you’re some kind of big shot? Stop playing games with your loser friends.” I turned off my phone. “Got it.” Before I could say anything else, her phone started ringing. She was standing so close that I could clearly hear Tristan’s frantic voice on the other end. “Jessica! I left the document you just signed at your place. I need it right now. What should I do?” Jessica’s grip on her phone tightened instinctively. “Don’t worry. I’ll bring it to you right away. This is a crucial moment for your promotion. You need to stay composed. I’ll take care of everything.” After hanging up, she looked at me and said seriously, “Something came up at the hospital. I’ll be back to pick you up for the celebration later.” She turned to leave. I suddenly remembered that I still needed to get a new SIM card. So, I stood up and followed her. “I’ll go with you.” Jessica immediately flared up like a porcupine with its spikes raised. “Why the hell are you following me? What’s wrong with you? Do you want to put a leash around my neck, too?” Seeing the anger flicker in her eyes, I spoke in a low voice. “My SIM card is broken. Drop me off at the mobile service center on your way to the hospital. Any problem with that?” She froze for a moment. Ignoring her dazed expression, I put on my shoes and walked out the door. There was a time when I felt uneasy about how close she was to Tristan. But after the hospital attack, I was just exhausted. My wounds hadn’t fully healed, and a dull pain lingered all over my body. Every time it ached, all I could think about was that moment, Jessica shielding Tristan, watching me collapse in a pool of blood, and coldly saying, “You got your revenge on Brian. Isn’t that enough? Why go after Tristan, too?” That was the moment my love for her completely disappeared. After getting my SIM card replaced, I remembered I still had some things to pack at the hospital, so I went back. Turning a corner, I saw Jessica in Tristan’s arms. He was kissing her. Rage surged through me. Without thinking, I strode forward and punched Tristan. Jessica’s eyes were wide and shocked at first, but the second she saw Tristan get hurt, her expression changed. She glared at me, full of accusations. “Brian, what the hell are you doing?” Tristan, looking pitiful and innocent, muttered, “I couldn’t help myself. If Brian wants to hit me, I deserve it.” Jessica’s heart ached for him. Her voice softened immediately. “Tristan, it’s not your fault. I was willing. “I recognize you so late as my savior. I was just following my heart. If Brian wants to throw a fit, let him.”

I frowned, “What do you mean, savior?” Tristan shook his head at Jessica, silently telling her not to explain. But Jessica couldn’t stand seeing Tristan take the blame. “Fine. I’ll tell you,” she said. “Seven years ago, I was kidnapped by rebels during the Auristia war. Tristan saved me. Without him, you wouldn’t even have me today. “I fell for him back then. If it weren’t for you interfering, we wouldn’t have lost all these years.” I thought, “Interfering?” She was the one who confessed first. That was why we got together. I let out a bitter laugh. Tristan sighed, “Jessica, stop. I don’t want to ruin your marriage over this. “It’s been so many years. You should let go of your obsession with me. I’ll put my feelings aside and leave the hospital.” Hearing that, Jessica panicked and clutched his hand. “No! You’re not leaving. Even if it’s not for me, can you really walk away from the career you built over seven years?” Tristan took a deep breath. “But Brian…” “Brian!” Jessica turned to me. “You better promise you won’t mind Tristan being around anymore. If he leaves, I’ll never forgive you!” I looked down, chuckled at myself, and said, “Let’s get a divorce. I’ll give you both the world you want.” Shock flashed across Jessica’s face. I turned and walked away. Tristan suddenly grabbed my wrist. He showed a satisfied smirk before he winced and clutched his hand in pain. “Brian has every right to hit me,” he said weakly. “Jessica, don’t worry about me. Let him get his anger out.” Jessica’s palm landed hard across my face. “Brian, you make me sick. “There’s a limit to how much you can throw a tantrum. Tristan saves lives with his hands, and you dare hurt them? I never even said I wanted a divorce! Why are you being so dramatic?” I laughed lightly and spoke calmly. “I’m serious. Let’s divorce.” Behind me, Jessica was fuming. I couldn’t care less about her emotions anymore. I collected my things from the hospital and stopped by a store to pick up some local specialties. Then my phone rang. It was Jessica. “The private room is full. Get here soon, and bring a gift for the elders,” she ordered. I didn’t want to go. Jessica’s voice turned firm. “We’re still married. You need to fulfill your duties as a husband.” Exhausted, I hailed a cab. When I arrived outside the private dining room, Jessica’s laughter and chatter with her friends were especially grating. “Jessica, did Brian really ask for a divorce?” one of her friends asked. She scoffed, “He’s just throwing a tantrum. He’s nothing but a homeless stray. Do you think he’d actually leave me? “He knows he can’t compare to Tristan. He’s just acting out. But once he begs me properly later, I might be kind enough to forgive him.” I thought, “Homeless stray. So that’s what gave her such confidence.”

I pushed the door open and walked in. Jessica looked at me, her eyes flickering with surprise. Her mother, Sarah Davis, let out a cold snort. “No respect for your elders. You’re so late! If Jessica didn’t like you, I would’ve kicked you out a long time ago.” I gave a faint smile, already used to Sarah’s insults. Just as I stepped forward, a waiter blocked my way. “Sir, please put on shoe covers.” In the past, for Jessica’s sake, I had endured this humiliating rule that seemed to apply only to me. But now that I no longer loved her, I saw no reason to put up with it. Sensing my resistance, Jessica stepped forward and dismissed the waiter. “Come in.” She took my hand and led me to sit beside her. But when she saw the gift in my hand, her expression instantly darkened. “Brian, is this how you buy gifts? “I went through the trouble of inviting my parents to celebrate your recovery, and this is what you bring? This cheap, embarrassing thing?” Tristan, sitting nearby, tried to calm her down. “Jessica, don’t be upset. Getting angry isn’t good for your health.” I let out a small laugh, hiding the self-mockery in my eyes. The Davis family had made me sign a strict split-the-bill agreement with Jessica the moment we got married, just to make sure I wouldn’t leech off them. Then came the hospital lawsuit, draining all my savings. They never cared whether I had enough money to get by, but now they looked down on my gift for being cheap. Looking at them now, I realized my years of devotion had been a complete joke. I turned to leave, but Tristan suddenly stepped forward, holding a cup of steaming hot cocoa. “Brian, Jessica didn’t mean it that way. This misunderstanding is my fault. Here, let me make it up to you with this cocoa instead of wine.” As he spoke, he insisted on handing me the cup, pressing it toward my hands. Just as I dodged, the cup slipped from his grasp, spilling all over his hand. Jessica’s eyes widened in shock. She lunged forward. My face turned slightly to the side. “Brian, I’m so disappointed in you!” I clenched my jaw. Beside me, Jessica’s voice softened as she fussed over Tristan. “Does it hurt? Why didn’t you pull your hand away?” She hovered over his hand, her face full of distress. Seeing this, I stepped aside, clearing a path for them as they hurriedly left the private room with Tristan. Taking out my phone, I typed my final message. [Thank you for the past seven years. It ends here.] Right then, my ride arrived. The moment Tyler saw me, he rushed over and clung to me, sobbing uncontrollably. “Mr. Sinclair, thank god you’re alive!” I pried his arms off with a sigh. “Stop crying. It’s embarrassing.” After changing into my travel gear, I walked out of the hotel, surrounded by my security detail. Above us, the roar of helicopter blades echoed through the air. People instinctively looked up, their bodies swaying from the sudden gust of wind. Jessica and the others stood below, caught in the storm. As the helicopter descended, I passed by Jessica. She turned her head, looking up, her eyes widening in disbelief as she got a good look at the man in front of her. At the open cabin door, my black trench coat billowed wildly in the wind with black pants, short boots, and a simple, low-profile outfit, yet impossible to ignore. Jessica squinted, struggling to believe what she was seeing. Finally, recognition dawned in her eyes. “You… you’re my lifesaver!”

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One month before the SAT, Lucas approached me once again to confess his feelings. The eighteen-year-old boy was bold and passionate. When he expressed his fondness for me, his cool eyes sparkled like a sky full of stars. However, I rejected him once more. The smile on Lucas’s face vanished. He violently threw the roses in his hand at his lackey’s face. The sharp thorns left several bloody gashes on the lackey’s face, looking ghastly and terrifying. “It’s all your fault! Aria must not like the roses you chose!” Lucas shouted. He vented his anger on the boy, kicking him repeatedly until he coughed up blood. The roses worth thousands of dollars were trampled underfoot, mixed with the boy’s blood. Lucas’s psychotic behavior frightened me. Fearing he might beat the boy to death, I quickly spoke up, “I wouldn’t like you no matter what you give me. Right now, I just want to focus on studying for the SAT.” Worried he would continue to interfere with my studies, I added, “I hate you, Lucas. Your persistence disgusts me.” Lucas’s eyes reddened as he stared at me intently. I felt scared under his gaze, afraid he might beat me like he did that boy. But in the end, he didn’t do anything else, only saying he’d talk to me again after the SAT. I breathed a sigh of relief. However, what I didn’t expect was that night, Lucas would drink and drive, running through over a dozen red lights before dying in a car accident. The next evening after school, someone covered my mouth and nose, knocking me unconscious. When I woke up again, I was in an abandoned warehouse. A man who bore a slight resemblance to Lucas sat in a chair in front of me, a cigarette held between his long fingers. He stood up, exhaled a puff of smoke, then pressed the lit cigarette directly onto my face. Amidst my screams of agony, the man said with disgust, “Cripple her hands.” This sentence jolted me awake through the pain of my burning flesh. My hands were held down, and a hammer was suspended above them. “No, don’t! Who are you people? Why did you kidnap me?” I cried out. The man didn’t speak, just raised his hand and brought it down in a swift motion. “Ahhhhh!” The index finger of my right hand was smashed, the pain almost making me pass out. No, they can’t cripple my hands. I still have to take the SAT. My hands can’t be injured! I begged them incoherently through my tears, “Please don’t hurt my hands. I… I have the SAT in a month. My whole family is counting on me… My mom is sick, I need to take the SAT. I must take it…” My family was ordinary. My dad worked on construction sites, and my mom ran a small breakfast shop. But ever since mom was diagnosed with leukemia, our family’s expenses exceeded our income. The school promised me that if I could rank in the top three in the state for the SAT, they would give me a $5,000 scholarship. That money could cover mom’s next round of chemotherapy. It was just one month away. I banged my head hard on the ground, my tears mixing with the dust, “Please, if I’ve offended you somehow, can’t you wait until after the SAT to take revenge?” The fingers of my right hand had already been smashed one by one, deformed, but I still endured the pain and kept kowtowing to the man. It didn’t matter if my right hand was ruined. I still had my left hand. As long as there was a glimmer of hope… “SAT?” The man looked down at me condescendingly. “You caused my brother’s death. What right do you have to live well?” It turned out he was Lucas’s brother, Ethan. He believed Lucas’s death was entirely due to my rejection of his confession. Ethan used the tip of his shoe to lift my chin. “What right does a commoner like you have to reject my brother?” It was too absurd. My left hand was smashed just like my right, but I couldn’t feel the pain anymore. All hope had been completely shattered. Then my clothes were torn off. I knew what they were going to do, but I had no strength left to resist. I stared directly at the camera in the man’s hand, even wondering how I would earn money after this day, how I would earn enough for mom’s chemotherapy. I kept thinking, my mind filled with images of my mom lying weak on the hospital bed. Clinging to this thought kept me from passing out, from killing myself on the spot. “I heard your mom is having chemotherapy today?” Ethan said. I, who had been as lifeless as a rag doll, showed a flicker of emotion in my dead eyes upon hearing these words. Ethan’s face, similar to Lucas’s, twisted into a cruel smile. “I wonder how she’ll react when she sees this video?” My eyes widened, tears falling. I desperately reached out with my distorted, deformed hands, touching his expensive suit pants. “Please don’t. Just kill me. It’s all my fault. I’ll pay for Lucas’s life with mine…” Ethan stepped on my hand. “Your life is too worthless. One isn’t enough.” Ethan took me back to the Smith family home and locked me in a dark basement to torture me. My mom saw the video and didn’t survive the surgery. She died crying, saying it was her fault for burdening me. My dad was working at a construction site when he heard the tragic news about his wife and daughter. The nearly fifty-year-old man lost all will to live and fell from the high-rise building. I don’t know how long Ethan kept me locked up. I often wondered if everything would have been different if I had accepted Lucas. I shouldn’t have been so prideful. Ethan had many ways to torture people. He said Lucas loved me the most when he was alive, so he locked my naked body in a coffin with Lucas’s corpse. He said he was fulfilling his brother’s wish, marrying me to him. Later, he threw me into a tank full of piranhas, branded me with hot irons, forced me to eat filth… I wanted to die but couldn’t. He spent millions on equipment to keep me alive, saying unless he died, I had to live on to atone for my sins. Later, for some unknown reason, he moved me from the basement to a warm, bright bedroom. He gradually stopped hurting me, bought me a lot of beautiful clothes and jewelry, and even took me to the hospital to remove my scars. Until one night, he came to my room, hugged me, and kissed me. He said he understood why Lucas liked me, that I could maintain my sanity and not bow down even after being tortured like this. Ethan said he was starting to have feelings for me, that he wanted me to stay with him forever. Just like those cliché romance novels where the male lead tortures the female lead but then suddenly realizes her worth and has a change of heart. It was utterly disgusting. I sat in the bathtub, using a hidden piece of broken glass to slash my wrists. Fresh blood dyed the bathtub red. Death would reunite me with my family. I could finally escape these revolting brothers. When I next regained consciousness, the sound of summer cicadas accompanied by waves of heat rang in my ears. My vision began to focus, and the intense sunlight made me instinctively cover my eyes. After being locked in the basement by Ethan for three years, my eyes had nearly gone blind, only able to tolerate the faintest candlelight. “Aria, I like you. Will you be my girlfriend?” The familiar voice made my body instantly go cold, my skin breaking out in goosebumps. I lowered my hand and saw a face that was etched into my soul. “Lu…Lucas?” It took me a minute to quickly process the fact that I had been reborn. If I remember correctly, there are still six months until the SAT, and this is Lucas’s third time confessing to me. Lucas had a very deceptive face. He looked gentle and sunny, with amber eyes like a cat’s. But in reality, he could easily instigate one bullying incident after another, all while maintaining that gentle smile. Lucas was sick, literally. The violence in his genes made it impossible for him to control his emotions. His liking for me was inexplicable. The reason was simply that I had casually given him a cheap Tootsie Roll when he had low blood sugar. The sticky, artificial taste made the young heir remember me deeply. From then on, the young heir always kept a strawberry-flavored Tootsie Roll in his pocket. How could someone fall in love because of a candy? Moreover, what kind of girls hadn’t Lucas seen or dated? So in my eyes, his pursuit was just a bored rich boy’s game. I never thought he was serious. Even if it was real, it only seemed absurd to me. The love brought by a cheap candy was equally cheap and artificial. I had a clear understanding of myself. I was just like that fifty-cent candy, only giving the young heir a momentary sweetness. It was impossible for someone as pampered as him to remember it for a lifetime. I really just wanted to escape the hardships of reality through my own efforts. I just wanted to cure my mom, just wanted to help lighten my dad’s burden. But just because of my lower class, I couldn’t reject their love. I should have been grateful. Why? What right did they have to easily trample on my dignity and extinguish my hope? Because of my initial rejection, Lucas began to use various methods to force me to love him. He secretly guided the whole school to bully me. They tore up my three years’ worth of notes and locked me in a warehouse for a day and a night. Then Lucas would appear as a savior, rescuing me from the fire and water. A typical hero saves the beauty scenario, but I didn’t have Stockholm syndrome, nor would I fall for the suspension bridge effect. The fact that I could maintain the top spot in our grade proved I wasn’t stupid. I understood why I was being bullied. I couldn’t afford to offend them, so I could only study secretly in inconspicuous corners of the campus. Only six months left, I couldn’t afford to fight them. I couldn’t take that risk. When they found me by the lake again and threw my newly made notes into the water, I didn’t hesitate to jump in after them. My body sank down, and Lucas frantically came to save me. When I woke up in the infirmary, I held the scissors used for cutting bandages to my throat, tears rolling down my fair cheeks one by one. I looked at Lucas with tear-filled eyes and said, “I really can’t bear their bullying anymore. If I die, will I no longer be bullied?” The high and mighty young heir panicked. He hadn’t expected that I would rather die than accept his help. So the bullying stopped. He asked the teacher for the most complete notes for me and bought me the best practice books. In the corners he couldn’t see, I wiped away my tears, expressionless. These setbacks weren’t enough to make me seek death. They were just too annoying. I needed a quiet environment to study. Afterwards, I still clearly rejected him. But the more I rejected him, the more obsessed he became with me. Lucas was hostile to any male who appeared around me. Just because a boy came to ask me a question, Lucas sewed his mouth shut with a needle and forced him to drop out of school. He was truly an unrepentant madman, just like his brother. They were both lunatics. As the memories ended, I looked at the handsome young man before me and, for the first time, smiled as I accepted the flowers from his hand. His eyes lit up, his cheeks flushing. I spoke softly, “Thank you for the flowers. It’s just that I haven’t considered dating yet. We can be friends first.” Lucas nervously said, “It’s okay, Aria. I’ll make you fall for me!” I smiled without speaking. If I rejected him this time, he would bully me for a month, just like in my past life. When Ethan tortured me in my past life, the thing he said most often was that I had a pride that someone of my class shouldn’t have. I was unwilling to bow to anyone, thinking that sheer determination alone could achieve any goal. Little did I know that what the upper class loved most was crushing the pride of people like us, watching us roll in the mud like dogs. So in this life, I won’t be proud. I’ll drag them into hell bit by bit. Lucas’s obsession with me was too strong. If I continued to reject him, it would only end up like my past life. But agreeing disgusted me. And he was sick. He seemed able to control it now, but who knew if he might lose control and kill me in the future? Who could guarantee he would love me forever? Because of my softened attitude, Lucas started following me around like a puppy. Unlike before, I didn’t treat him coldly and even brought him a box of milk every day. The lactose-intolerant young heir would drink every drop of the whole milk I brought, clutching his cramping stomach with a pale face, seeking praise from me. I’d reach out to pat his curly hair, giving him a little reward. Looking at his bright amber eyes, I would think of another person who had those same eyes. Although Lucas was called the young heir by everyone, the real heir to the Smith family was his brother, Ethan. Ethan doted on this brother a lot. Even if Lucas killed someone, he would help him cover it up. It’s just that he had been abroad on business before and didn’t know about Lucas and me. He was coming back soon. On the tenth day after my rebirth, I appeared at an ordinary intersection wearing a pure white dress. I counted down in my heart. Three, two, one. A Maybach was suddenly hit by a small truck and flipped over. The car body quickly caught fire. I saw Ethan trapped in the back seat. His leg was injured and he couldn’t move. A steel bar that had fallen from the truck had pierced his calf. What a pity. Why couldn’t it have pierced his heart? While people around were taking photos with their phones, I ran over and dragged Ethan out just before the car exploded. Even if I didn’t save him, someone else would. I might as well take credit for saving his life to get close to him.

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My cousin Emma has an obsession with testing my boyfriends. Despite my repeated refusals, she finds great pleasure in this game. After successfully seducing them, she dumps them and then informs everyone in our family group chat that my boyfriend is no good. When she tried her old trick once again, little did she know that this time, I had set up a trap specifically designed for her. She had no choice but to fall into it. Emma has been divorced for three years now, still living a carefree life with the hefty alimony from her ex-husband. One day she’s dating male models, the next day she’s spoiling young boys – she’s extremely busy with her love life. Recently, she set her sights on a new target: my boyfriend of six months. I wasn’t surprised that she discovered Jack so quickly. My mom happened to meet him when she came to my rented apartment to pick up some stuff. My mom’s biggest flaw in life is her tendency to compare herself with others, commonly known as being “green with envy.” Emma married well, and even after her divorce, she still has an endless supply of alimony. Add to that my aunt’s relentless boasting about Emma in front of my mom. It has become my mom’s life motto to have me marry someone even better than Emma’s ex-husband. My lack of progress in this area has become her constant worry. I met Jack at a bar. I spotted him in the crowd and it took me over six months to finally win him over. He’s younger than Emma’s ex-husband, more handsome, and even richer. Isn’t this exactly what my mom wants? She immediately announced it in our family group chat and even sent out red envelopes, indicating that I would be getting married soon. When I saw this, I felt helpless and sent a waving hand emoji in the group. “It’s not that serious, family. Don’t make a big deal out of it.” My mom immediately countered with a photo in the group chat. “With his looks and that bag he’s carrying, how can you not be serious?” Emma chimed in, “Wow, where did our little Lily find such a catch? Do you want your big sister to test him out for you?” I didn’t respond, but I knew that whether I liked it or not, she would try anyway. However, this time, I was well prepared.

On the first day of our relationship, I told Jack, “I have a very beautiful and sophisticated cousin. She likes to add my boyfriends on SnapChat. If she tries to add you, please don’t accept.” Jack jokingly asked, “Are you afraid I’ll fall for her?” I smiled lightly and said, “I’m afraid she’ll bewitch you and you’ll meet a terrible end. That’s how all my previous boyfriends died.” He hugged me and comforted me for a while. “I would never do that. I’ll only marry you in this lifetime, Lily.” With my warning, when Emma first tried to add him, he consistently refused. He even complained to me several times, “Your cousin Emma is really persistent. She’s already tried to add me with over ten different SnapChat accounts.” I kissed him on the cheek to show my appreciation. “You must stand firm. Don’t accept just because she’s playing all sorts of tricks.” Without even pausing, he rejected another friend request from a new account, then turned to me and said, “My parents want to have dinner with you. They say we’ve been dating for six months, and you haven’t met them yet. They’re really looking forward to meeting you after hearing me talk about you.” I hesitated for a moment, then patted his head and said, “Let’s wait a bit longer. I’m quite busy these days. How about I treat your parents to dinner after this quarter when I’m less busy?” “There’s no need for you to treat them. They’d be overjoyed just to see you. We can eat at my family’s hotel when the time comes!” Perhaps because she couldn’t add Jack on SnapChat, Emma became a bit impatient. She suggested coming to stay at my rented apartment for a while. Of course, I wouldn’t agree, but my mom was eager to show off the new apartment Jack had gotten for me. She couldn’t wait to give Emma my address. So when I got home from work, Jack and Emma were sitting on opposite ends of the sofa, scrolling through their phones. Jack pulled me into the bedroom, looking a bit annoyed. “I really didn’t pay any attention to her. Why did she come to our place?” I shrugged it off, “My mom probably gave her the address. She’s just like that. Just ignore her.” He swore to heaven, but I felt a bit uneasy, my mind kept replaying the image of them sitting on the sofa. Jack wouldn’t, would he? I had pursued him relentlessly for half a year before succeeding. He couldn’t possibly be won over in just one evening, right? I still felt a bit anxious, partly due to my lack of self-confidence, and partly because I wasn’t sure how long Jack could resist.

Jack didn’t stay over that night. He has another apartment in the next building, so he went back there. Early the next morning, he came over to bring me breakfast. There were seven or eight dishes spread out on the table. Emma saw this and smiled smugly. “Brother-in-law, did you bring so much because you knew I was here today?” “Wow, I love the soup dumplings from this place, but they never do deliveries. Did you go and pack all this early in the morning?” Jack looked up at her, “No, I forgot you were here. I actually bought less than usual. It’s mainly because Lily doesn’t have a good appetite in the morning, so I buy more for her to choose from.” Emma let out a long “Oh,” but her hands didn’t stop fiddling with her newly done nails. This was her state when she was thinking. I figured if she was only slightly interested in Jack before, now she must be determined to have him. I unconsciously tightened my grip on Jack’s hand. Maybe feeling the pain, Jack looked at me. I hurriedly apologized and left the table. In the evening when I got off work, they were again sitting on opposite ends of the sofa. When I came back, Jack got up to greet me. He whispered to me, “Doesn’t your cousin have a job? Why is she here every day? Doesn’t she have her own place? What’s the deal with her always being at our place?” I looked up at him and said, “If you add her on SnapChat, she might leave us alone.” His expression stiffened. After a moment, he said, “I just added her. She said she’d go home tomorrow if I did.” I just said “Oh” and went into the bedroom. Jack followed me in, hugging me and asking if I was angry. “I just don’t want to see her every day. I added her, but I can block her, you know? Look, I’ve already set her to ‘Do Not Disturb’.” As he spoke, he took out his phone and held it up to my face, trying to prove his innocence. I didn’t say anything, but my disappointment must have been obvious because Jack held my hand and comforted me for a long time. At dinner, he kept trying to make conversation with me and piled food onto my plate. Emma saw this and just smiled, “Our Jack is very attentive, isn’t he?”

Jack ignored her. He was focused on discussing with me about the store layout problem for a direct-sales brand he was working on. Emma deliberately made a noise at the dinner table to get our attention. When we looked at her, she smiled and said, “Oh my, you’re talking about something I’m good at. I got a bit excited.” She turned to Jack, who looked confused, and said, “My ex-husband has a direct-sales brand that’s doing quite well. He has many channels that he could share with me. For Lily’s sake, I could help you out.” Then she went on to introduce the brand in detail. I could see that Jack was very tempted. He looked at me hesitantly, then at Emma, and asked, “If it’s your ex-husband’s, wouldn’t it be inconvenient?” “What’s inconvenient about it? A little pillow talk and everything’s solved, right? Just wait for my message.” This time, Jack didn’t refuse. I knew his ‘Do Not Disturb’ setting for her would soon be turned off. Sure enough, after entering the room, he said to me, “Your cousin Emma is very generous and straightforward.” I just looked up at him once, my eyes half red. He immediately came over to comfort me, “I was just saying. How could I be interested in a woman who’s still entangled with her ex-husband?”

Emma left my apartment the next day, and Jack didn’t come back for several days. He said he was out of town for work because several direct-sales stores were opening at the same time. A few times during video calls, I saw Emma in the background. He hurriedly explained, “Cousin Emma called to ask about the progress. When she heard I was in the neighboring city, she came over to take a look. This time, thanks to cousin Emma’s help, we saved a lot of trouble. Even my dad praised me.” Second-generation rich kids spend their whole lives wanting to surpass their parents, and Jack was no exception. His father and grandfather were both very successful entrepreneurs. Jack wasn’t bad either, but he was always overshadowed by his family’s reputation. He had always wanted to prove himself. This time, the direct-sales stores were set up in several cities at once, fast and in good locations. Even his father and grandfather praised him at the dinner table for doing a great job. Jack transferred me $200,000, saying it was to buy a bag for my cousin in my name. “I know she helped me out for your sake, so it’s better if you give it to her. I still have that much sense.” Then he added, “Choose one that your cousin likes. If it’s not enough, I’ll transfer more to you.” I took out my phone and called my sister, saying as soon as the call connected, “Thank you for helping my boyfriend. He says he wants to buy you a bag around $200,000. Do you have any preferences? Or should I just transfer the money to you?” There was a pause on the other end, then a slightly deep male voice came through, “Lily? Why is your boyfriend buying things for Emma?” Oh my god, my cousin and my ex-cousin-in-law’s contacts only differed by one character, and I had accidentally called my ex-cousin-in-law David. David, Emma, and I were all schoolmates. David was one year ahead of us, and we would run into each other during club activities. I only praised David for being considerate once, and the next day, Emma started pursuing him openly. When a girl chases a boy, success comes easily. Two weeks later, they got together. After breaking up and getting back together several times, they got married right after graduation. Three years after marriage, they divorced.

To avoid any misunderstanding from this big spender who still sends my sister a monthly living allowance, I quickly explained, “No, no, she helped my boyfriend with something big. But we should thank you too, brother-in-law. This time, my boyfriend’s direct-sales snack brand relied entirely on your resources.” “I thought she was being ambitious and planning to open her own business, but it turns out it’s for your boyfriend. She’s more attentive to him than she ever was to me.” Before I could respond, he continued, “Alright, I get it. I’ll buy the bag for her. You keep the money for yourself.” I returned the money to Jack, telling him that my brother-in-law said not to worry about it. He seemed a bit puzzled, “Isn’t he your ex-brother-in-law? Why is he still so involved?” “He’s her meal ticket. Where do you think all those designer brands and high-end lifestyle of my cousin come from?” Jack’s expression became a bit unnatural. Seeing me looking at him, he added, “I see.” That night, Emma came to my place again. She had been drinking and was sitting on the sofa with a flushed face, arguing with me. Clear-headed, logical, and articulate, she criticized me inside and out, up and down. Finally, pointing at Jack, she said to me, “You? You think you can land a rich guy? Let me tell you, don’t dream about it, Lily. You’ll never be able to live the life I have.” “You told David I’m stealing your boyfriend so he’d cut off my allowance? I bet I could find a new sugar daddy tomorrow if I wanted to. You believe that?” When Jack heard this, a spark flashed in his eyes. I suddenly felt it was all so pointless. I left them in the living room and went back to my bedroom. After this incident, Jack started working overtime and going on business trips more frequently. Even when I mentioned that I wasn’t busy recently and could have dinner with his parents, he politely declined, saying it wasn’t the right time yet. By this point, I understood. Emma had succeeded again. She had won again.

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The Man I Had a Crush On Went Blind I pretended to be his fiancée and took care of him for a year. When the real one came back, I was kicked out of the villa. I went abroad to work alone. Little did I know, he was desperately searching for me back home. “Lucas, it’s time for your medicine!” I lowered my voice as I walked into the bedroom carrying a glass of water. The man sitting on the edge of the bed turned his head. The sunset fell on his handsome face, gilding it with a golden edge. However, his eyes were unfocused. “Why are you only coming now? You’re half an hour late.” Lucas complained, but smiled gently in my direction. “The company had some urgent business.” I mimicked Emma’s tone and placed the glass in his hand. Lucas was my husband, and I was playing the role of his childhood sweetheart. A year ago, Lucas was in a car accident that left him temporarily blind, with an unknown recovery time. His fiancée Emma was proud and arrogant, naturally unwilling to marry a blind man, and had fled abroad to hide. My brother had a heart attack and urgently needed surgery, with the huge medical bills weighing on me. It just so happened that the Smith family was secretly looking for someone, needing a voice actor similar in all aspects to play Emma. And I was the best candidate. I had studied vocal music and had excellent grades. We quickly reached an agreement. “Honey, what’s for dinner tonight?” Lucas smiled as he played with my fingers. He worked from home every day and only relaxed when I got off work. “The housekeeper made your favorite dishes. I’ll bring them up in a bit.” “Okay.” Lucas caressed my neck and kissed me. I blushed, unable to push him away, and instead had my wrists pinned down by him. My heart raced, even though I had experienced this many times before. But every time I would get nervous, afraid of accidentally revealing myself. Lucas’s hand stroked my waist and landed on my stomach, looking puzzled: “It’s been so long, how come there’s still no movement?” “Uh… these things depend on fate, and I’ve been quite tired from work lately. I probably need to take better care of my body first.” I lied, since he couldn’t see my micro-expressions anyway. Our relationship was just an agreement, and I always took my pills on time. “Looks like I need to try harder!” Lucas laughed and bit my ear. Seeing that he wanted to continue, I immediately pushed him away: “I-I’ll go check if dinner is ready.” I heard his light laughter behind me. I leaned against the hallway wall, my face flushed and my heart pounding. The thought that his gentleness and everything was meant for his fiancée suddenly felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over me. This man was gentle and wise, with excellent manners. It was hard not to fall for him. Moreover, I had liked him for a very long time.

Downstairs, Lucas’s mother Vivian was waiting for me at the dining table. “Perfect timing. I have good news for you. “Emma has been found, and Dr. Lee also said that Lucas’s eyes are showing signs of recovery. You’ll be able to step down soon.” Vivian smiled, obviously genuinely happy. I forced a smile: “Congratulations. It’s finally over.” Vivian noticed the kiss marks on my neck and immediately frowned. “Aria, don’t you dare get any ideas. If you slip up or have any ulterior motives in these final days, you won’t get a penny of your brother’s follow-up treatment fees.” “I understand, Mrs. Smith!” I nodded coldly, ignoring her obvious disdain. In private, Vivian wouldn’t let me call her mom. Because deep down, she always saw me as a poor knockoff, and it was my good fortune to be touched by her son. In her mind, only someone from a noble family like Emma was truly worthy of Lucas. If it weren’t for not wanting to lose face on the engagement day, she wouldn’t have let a poor girl like me set foot in the Smith family at all. On the engagement day, she made me cover my face with a veil and just go through the motions. … After dinner, I brought a glass of milk to Lucas. Walking into the bedroom, he was on the phone with his assistant, listening to a report on the company’s situation. I sat nearby, my heart pounding, repeating the script I had prepared in my head. Lucas hung up the phone and reached out to hold my hand. “Let’s go out and play tomorrow, it’s the weekend.” “But… I need to visit my family tomorrow.” He hooked his fingers with mine and smiled: “Then I’ll wait for you.” I looked at him wistfully. The agreement would end tomorrow, and tonight would be our last night together. “Lucas, drink your milk and get some rest.” I placed the glass in his hand. Lucas finished drinking, with milk residue on the corner of his mouth. I raised my hand to wipe it off. My fingertips brushed across the corner of his lips. Lucas felt a tingle in his heart and kissed me accurately. “My wife is so passionate tonight?” “Lucas…” Take care of yourself!

Early the next morning, when I went downstairs, the servants had already packed my things. Vivian stood there, staring at me with a harsh look, full of disgust. “Here’s your money. The password is your birthday.” I took it expressionlessly and walked towards the entrance. Suddenly, footsteps sounded on the stairs. Lucas had woken up at some point. “Honey, when will you be back?” My throat tightened: “Later.” “Then I’ll wait for you!” Looking at his handsome face, I steeled my heart and turned to leave. I dragged my luggage to my previous cheap rental apartment, finally feeling relieved. Even though it was very run-down here, at least I didn’t have to watch other people’s faces anymore. After my brother’s surgery, I took him abroad. This was part of the agreement. When Emma came back, I was to disappear from their sight. Before going abroad, I saw Lucas’s appearance after regaining his sight in the news. He appeared radiant at a charity gala, with the elegant and proud Emma standing beside him. They truly were a perfect match. I couldn’t help but think back to the New Year’s party in high school, where they stood gracefully on the main stage. I was a year below them, but I had known about Lucas for a long time. The hot topic among girls was always about handsome and excellent boys. I fell for him just because of a small incident. There were always beggars near the school, and everyone would walk away in fear and disgust. Only Lucas wouldn’t. He would always politely buy them breakfast. At that time, my family hadn’t fallen on hard times yet, and I could often secretly watch him at school. Later, my father lost all our family assets through gambling and jumped to his death. I was forced to transfer schools, working part-time while studying.

Life abroad wasn’t easy. Unfamiliar with the place and having to take care of William who was still recovering. It took half a year before I gradually got used to this foreign land. I worked as a vocal teacher at a small institute and played the piano at a French restaurant when I had time. Most of the money given by the Smith family was spent on medical care. There would be many expenses in the future, so I had to work harder. To my surprise, I ran into Lucas at the restaurant. With his restored vision, he looked even more handsome than on the news. He was discussing business with someone and didn’t look at me once. It was normal for Lucas not to recognize me, as he had never seen me before. But I was unsettled, and my piano playing was a mess. The restaurant manager glanced at me with a warning look. I took a break and went to the restroom to calm down. As I came out, I bumped into someone. I knocked the person’s phone to the ground and hurriedly went to pick it up. “I’m so sorry!” Looking up, I found Lucas staring intently at me. I tried to remain calm, saw that the phone was intact, and quickly returned it to him. Our fingertips touched for a few seconds, and I quickly withdrew as if electrocuted. “Please check if your phone is okay. If it is, I’ll be on my way.” “…” He didn’t say anything. I felt uneasy under his gaze, smiled politely, and turned to leave. A hesitant and probing voice came from behind. “Honey?” I paused, pretending to be surprised as I turned back. “What did you say?” “…” He fell silent, his gaze very disappointed.

Sitting back at the piano, my mind was in chaos. Why did Lucas call me that just now? Was he deliberately testing me? I continued playing, for the first time hoping time would pass quickly. The gaze from not far away falling on me made me feel uneasy. After the last piece ended, I let out a sigh. As I was about to leave, Lucas walked over to me. “You played well.” He smiled slightly and took out some tips to give me. I looked at the bills, not wanting to accept them. But the manager not far away was winking at me, afraid I would offend him. “Thank you.” I stiffly accepted. But he didn’t let go, and I looked at him in confusion. Suddenly, his hand reached out and gripped my fingers. I was startled and instinctively wanted to pull back, but he held on tighter. His long fingers swept across the back of my hand, as if searching for something. Abruptly, his fingertips paused. His gaze locked onto me, and the corners of his mouth curved up. “It really is you!” “…” I lowered my eyes guiltily and pushed him away forcefully. “You’ve got the wrong person, sir.” “Is that so? Then why are you so nervous?” He stared at me intently, excited yet annoyed. I looked at the floor helplessly, fortunately his business partner came over to find him, seeming to have an urgent matter. Taking advantage of their conversation, I quickly slipped away. “Wait!” Lucas called out urgently, only managing to grab a bit of my clothes. I was familiar with this place and nimbly escaped through the back door. Seeing that he didn’t chase after me, I finally let out a sigh of relief. I was very afraid that Lucas would come to settle accounts with me. If he knew that all his gentleness during that time was directed at a strange woman, what would he think? Feel hurt, disgusted? I clenched my fingers, my chest feeling stuffy.

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Six months ago, my mom knelt on the ground begging me to donate a kidney to my stepsister. Six months later, on the night before my wedding, my mom knelt on the ground again, pleading with me to give up my fiancé to her beloved stepdaughter. My brother slapped me across the face. “Lily, how can you be so inconsiderate? She’s dying, don’t you know?” It’s okay. In two more months, I’ll be dead too. That will make everyone happy. On the eve of my wedding, Mom knelt on the ground begging me: “Lily, please don’t get married yet. Let Lucas stay with Chloe for a while, okay? Chloe has depression, and her condition has worsened since she heard about your wedding… Please, I’m begging you.” I didn’t respond. Then my brother suddenly slapped me hard across the face. He was furious, veins bulging on his neck from anger. I looked at them with a smile: “So, anything Chloe wants, you expect me to sacrifice? My kidney, and now even my future husband – is that right?” Mom’s eyes were red and teary: “Chloe is still young, she… she can’t live without Lucas. I promise you, once Chloe gets better, we’ll let Lucas come back and marry you, okay?” My brother grabbed my wrist: “Lily, stop being difficult. We’re family. Isn’t it good if Chloe can live well?” Lucas knocked and entered the room. His expression was hard to read. He was still wearing the suit for tomorrow’s wedding. I could see the hesitation in his brow, but in the end he just patted my head and said: “Lily, wait for me to come back.” The three of them hurried out, leaving me alone like a confused clown. My traditional wedding dress and white gown still lay on the bed. I looked at the medical report I had just received yesterday in my makeup case. I thought to myself, it’s okay. I’ll be dead soon too. Then everyone will be satisfied. My donated kidney and my future husband – they can all be hers.

Mom had already notified all our relatives and friends that they didn’t need to come tomorrow – the wedding was canceled. Lucas had also informed his family that the wedding would be postponed. As the bride, I had no say in any of this. It was just like six months ago, when Chloe needed dialysis and a kidney transplant due to uremia. The whole family was required to get tested for compatibility. I had always been the least noticeable person in this family. But on the day the test results came out, Mom, Uncle Steve and my brother didn’t stay at the hospital with Chloe as usual. Instead, they prepared an elaborate dinner for me at home. I had never been treated like this before, and felt a bit overwhelmed by the sudden attention. But no one remembered that I’m allergic to seafood. Mom spoke in a placating tone: “Lily, the test results are out… you’re a match for your sister. You can save her…” I stared at the seafood on the table, then suddenly looked up at the three of them: “Do you remember that I’m allergic to seafood?” My brother threw his chopsticks at my face, his expression angry: “Lily, your sister is dying and you’re worried about your seafood allergy?” Mom started crying: “Lily, you have to save her. Don’t forget, Uncle Steve has paid for all your school fees and living expenses since you were little. You should show some gratitude.” It was pouring rain outside that night. Mom knelt down begging me, my brother glared at me with hostility, and Uncle Steve looked at me with pleading eyes. I gave a small laugh: “Mom, if I donate this kidney, can you promise not to make me give up my things for her anymore?” My mom hesitated for a moment, but then nodded vigorously: “I promise you.” I agreed, and the three of them finally breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at the heavy rain outside, Mom hurried to leave. “Chloe is terrified of thunder. She’ll be scared without me there. I need to go to the hospital to be with her.” I was left alone in the room, staring at the table full of seafood. I suddenly remembered when my dad was still alive before his illness – Mom loved me then, my brother doted on me, and the whole family carefully protected me. When did everything start to change? It seems it was twenty years ago, when my dad passed away and Mom remarried Uncle Steve, bringing me and my brother along. He was kind and gentle, and his daughter was lively and lovable – everyone adored her. Meanwhile, I had become quiet and withdrawn after losing my father and our standard of living dropping suddenly. I wasn’t the type of child that adults found endearing. Sometimes when I watched my brother, Mom, Uncle Steve and Chloe together, they looked like a perfect family of four. I was the extra, unnecessary one. Anything I liked, if Chloe happened to like it too, Mom would give it to her instead. Even my own brother, through day after day of interactions, came to favor the stepsister who had no blood relation to him. She would lean affectionately on his shoulder, or hop onto the back of his bicycle after school, ignoring me as I trailed awkwardly behind them. Back then, Chloe said to me: “Big sis, your mom and brother are mine now. You’re really unnecessary.” As I stood there stunned with tears in my eyes, she had already run to my mom, hugging her and acting cute, then turned back to make a face at me.

Thinking back on this, I lay down on the wedding dress on the bed. Suddenly my body was wracked with intense pain, a bone-deep ache that made tears stream uncontrollably from my eyes. I curled up on the wedding dress I had chosen so carefully, crying like an abandoned puppy. The next day, I packed up my things and returned to the small home Lucas and I shared. I sent Lucas a message: “Lucas, I think we need to talk.” Soon, Lucas’ reply came through – a selfie of him with Chloe. He was smiling like that fresh-faced college boy from years ago, his expression relaxed and carefree. I knew this was Chloe’s doing. I called Mom next. She picked up, speaking in a low voice to brush me off: “Lucas is here keeping Chloe company. Her condition is much more stable now. Okay, I can’t talk now, I need to bring Chloe some soup.” I tossed the phone aside and looked at the whimpering dog beside me. It jumped onto my lap, sniffing me, then lay down on my legs. I wondered if dogs could smell sickness on people – it seemed dejected. I patted its head: “Lucky, Mommy needs to take care of something. I’ll come back for you.” I drove to the hospital. Uncle Steve and Mom were lovingly watching over Chloe, peeling an apple for her. My brother and Lucas were by Chloe’s bedside, helping her play a mobile game. Fighting the discomfort in my body, I twisted the door open and walked in. Chloe’s face immediately darkened. She quickly clung to Lucas’ arm and looked at me with red, tearful eyes: “Big sis, can you please let me have Lucas? Please?” Lucas hurriedly stood up and brushed off her hand: “Lily, I was planning to come home soon.” Uncle Steve looked uncomfortable, but still forced a smile: “Lily, Chloe isn’t well yet. Once she recovers, our whole family will attend your wedding.” At this point, Chloe seemed to be strongly triggered. She clutched her head and started screaming loudly. My brother hugged her, patiently comforting her: “It’s okay Chloe, don’t be scared. Your brother is here, I’m right here with you.” Mom pushed me out the door: “Why did you come? Don’t you know seeing you upsets her?” I stared straight into Mom’s eyes: “Mom, do you remember that I’m your real daughter?” A flicker of hesitation passed through her eyes, then she coldly pushed me away: “Lily, don’t be difficult. You were able to go to college and grad school – don’t forget it was all paid for by your Uncle Steve. You should be grateful.” I desperately grabbed Mom’s hand: “Mom, I can pay back all the money to Uncle Steve. Can you please…” She closed the door without looking at me again. I finished my sentence to the empty hallway: “Can you please… not treat me like this?” Lucas pushed open the door and came out. There was guilt hidden in his eyes: “Lily, there’s nothing between me and Chloe. Her depression is very severe.” I looked at this man I had loved for seven years, since freshman year of college. I finally let out a long sigh: “Lucas, that summer during our first year of grad school, when Chloe insisted on coming to our city for an internship – the pet camera at home recorded what you two did every day.” His face went pale. He gripped my sleeve tightly: “Lily, I didn’t do anything with her.” I nodded: “That’s right, you didn’t do anything. You just played games together, watched shows together, walked my dog together. And when she trash-talked me, when she secretly kissed you while you were sleeping on the couch – you didn’t push her away.” “Lily, we’re about to get married.” “Lucas, we’re not getting married anymore. I wanted to pretend I didn’t know, but it seems even pretending can’t cover up some facts. Chloe is indeed more likable than me. Everyone loves her. I can’t keep up this act anymore. Just like how all these years she would constantly send you cute, flirty selfies. Even though you never replied, you were moved by them, weren’t you?” As I turned to leave, Lucas suddenly hugged me from behind: “Lily, I’ll go home with you. We’ve been together for seven years, seven years…” Just then, Chloe’s face appeared in the window. She violently smashed her head against the wall. There was a loud thud. Her forehead started bleeding. She glared at me viciously: “Lily, why do you have to fight me for everything?” Lucas hesitated. He let go of my hand, his gaze evasive. He started to open the door to go back inside. I knew in that moment our seven-year relationship was over. The sounds of Mom and my brother’s scolding voices filled my ears again. The filthiest insults, used in their angriest moments to curse me – the intruder. My brother pinned me against the wall, glaring at me fiercely: “Lily, can’t you just behave? Are you stupid? Do you have to turn the whole family upside down?” I said to my brother and Mom: “Don’t worry, Lucas is Chloe’s now.”

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