Author: Momo Chan

Ethan and I were on a road trip when I got thirsty and went to grab some water at a rest stop. When I came back, he had driven off. I called him ten times, and every call went straight to voicemail. An hour later, my best friend Fiona called: “Oh, I’m so sorry, Kylie. Ethan just turned back to pick me up. You’ll have to wait another hour, and we’ll come get you.” I suddenly felt like laughing. Before, I’d ask Ethan to pick me up on his way home from work, but he always found it too much trouble. Even this road trip, I had begged him for a year before he finally agreed. Now, he was willing to spend three hours picking up Fiona. Turns out, he wasn’t lazy; he just didn’t care enough about me. After waiting for nearly two hours, Ethan’s car finally pulled into the rest stop. Fiona got out of the car, carrying her favorite juice, a bright smile on her face. “Kylie, I know you’ve been waiting forever, so I specially bought you juice!” She took one out of the bag, stuck a straw in it, and put it to my lips. I instinctively took a sip, but as soon as I tasted mango, I turned away, coughing. An itch spread through my throat. I leaned against the wall, coughing uncontrollably, tears welling in my eyes. Fiona gasped, then turned to complain. “What’s wrong with you, Ethan? I told you to get juice, why did you buy one with mango? Kylie’s allergic to mango!” Ethan retorted without hesitation. “I didn’t know this juice had mango in it.” “Seriously? Couldn’t you have just asked the store clerk?” I wiped away the tears from my eyes. Silently, I took the water Ethan handed me. Just like countless times before, I heard him say: “If it were Kylie, a bottle of water would be enough. Not like you, always making me remember all these picky details. It’s a hassle.” But no matter how much of a hassle, didn’t he still remember? That thought inexplicably popped into my head. I actually loved juice too, and I used to love bugging Ethan to buy it for me. But he was always lazy. Too lazy to check if the ingredients contained my allergen. I’d just reminded him, and then he’d immediately say he forgot. At that moment, Ethan was glued to his phone, starting a new ranked match, not even looking up. “Water’s fine, isn’t it? Who’d bother to remember something like that?” I’d told him countless times that I was allergic to mango, but he just couldn’t remember. When I looked up again, Fiona was already in the front passenger seat. I met her gaze from outside the car. Fiona slapped her forehead. “Oh, my bad! Kylie, come sit in the front.” “No, thanks.” “No, thanks.” Ethan and I said in unison. Ethan actually looked surprised for once. Right, it wasn’t the first time Fiona had mistakenly sat in the front passenger seat. Every time before, I would have swapped places with her.

But today, there was no need. I glanced at him, then pulled open the back door. Fiona turned around, suddenly saying mysteriously. “Are we totally synced or something? That ski resort you’re going to is exactly where I’ve always wanted to go! I can’t believe, Kylie, you don’t even ski, and you’re planning a trip there.” Ethan looked at me again through the rearview mirror. He casually spoke, hands on the steering wheel. “We were originally going to the beach, but she’s afraid of getting a tan, so I planned the trip to the ski resort instead. Kylie said she wanted to learn how to ski.” Fiona listened intently, then skillfully pulled her hand cream from the glove compartment. “Going to the beach would have been nice too; I love the ocean.” “Okay, can we just keep it down?” Ethan interrupted, turning on the music. That music was Ethan’s alarm. I immediately remembered how, over a year ago, the day after Ethan agreed to the road trip, I had woken up early, excited. After turning off his alarm, I inexplicably found myself opening his SnapChat. Fiona had sent him a few messages complaining about work last night. I casually scrolled through them and then froze. [Ugh, I seriously need a vacation. I wanna go to the beach so bad!] [Ethan, if you guys go to the beach, take me with you, pretty please~] Ethan replied, [Sure thing.] I stared at those messages for ten minutes, my eyes aching before I finally let the screen go dark. When Ethan woke up and hugged me from behind, nuzzling me playfully, I pretended to say casually, “Let’s not go to the beach for our road trip. Didn’t you say I look bad with a tan?” I thought at the time, I didn’t mind Fiona traveling with us. After all, I’d known both of them for over ten years. But why did Ethan choose a travel destination that she liked? Ethan didn’t think for long after hearing that. He kissed me. “Alright, then let’s go skiing. I’ll teach you how.” Thinking about it, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud in the car. Ethan looked back and asked what was wrong. I shook my head and said nothing. I just realized how naive I was over a year ago. Thinking that as long as Ethan changed for me, it would be enough. Even though I didn’t like the beach and wasn’t really interested in skiing. I unlocked my phone and bought a ticket to a different destination. This time, I was going where *I* wanted to go. — We checked into a small town at the base of the ski resort. We had planned to go skiing tomorrow, but I no longer intended to go up the mountain. So I only took my own luggage. All the gear stayed in the trunk. Ethan parked the car, then glanced at the stuff in my hands, surprisingly sharp. “Why didn’t you take your skiing gear?” I casually mumbled a reply. “Forgot.” But I didn’t frantically turn around to get it, like I usually would. After I swiped my card and entered the room, Ethan came in with the luggage. He saw me squatting on the floor, rummaging through my suitcase, and walked over to ask. “Are you mad?” I didn’t turn around. “No.” The next moment, he pulled me up and into his arms. Ethan’s hugs were always warm, accepting of all emotions. When I was little, I just thought of him as my older brother, just a year older. But then, when he chased off my stalker ex-boyfriend and held me, comforting my scared self, I suddenly realized my heart was pounding so fast. Totally different from the slightly calmer beat it had now. Ethan chuckled. “Are you jealous because I brought Fiona along to hang out?” “I just thought of her as your best friend. Otherwise, I wouldn’t even give her a second glance.”

He cupped my face and kissed me a few times. “Fiona said you were petty before, and I didn’t believe her. Guess it’s true.” Ethan laughed again, and that laugh felt like a needle pricking my already aching heart. Then his phone vibrated. He glanced at it and shook his head with a sigh. “Fiona didn’t bring any hand warmers. I’ll go get them for her.” Then he bent down, took a big pack of hand warmers from my suitcase, and went to the room next door. I looked down at the two lonely hand warmers left in my bag and suddenly felt a chill. I remembered another time when I forgot to grab my pajamas for the shower. They were right next to Ethan, but he was too lazy to get up and hand them to me. Now, walking from our suite to Fiona’s room was more than ten steps away. And he hadn’t even thought of refusing. Ethan didn’t come back for two hours. He seemed like he wanted to explain something, but then he saw I was already lying in bed, facing away from him. The next day when I opened my eyes, Ethan was already dressed, helping Fiona, who must have come in at some point, adjust her collar. “Zip up properly, or you’ll get cold.” Fiona stuck out her tongue. Watching this scene, I sat up. “You guys go have fun today. I’m not coming.” I hadn’t planned on going up the mountain today anyway. Seeing their natural interactions, I felt like I would just be in the way. “Kylie, you’re awake? What were you just saying?” Fiona blinked, then playfully slapped Ethan’s arm. “Kylie just called you. Say something!” Ethan smirked. “Do you think she’s like you, needing to be coaxed out of bed?” He turned to me and said. “I was going to let you sleep in a bit, but then I forgot to call you. Hurry up and get ready, we’re leaving soon.” Then he bent down and picked up his things. “Fiona, let’s go first. We’ll wait for Kylie downstairs.” I stood up and looked down from the window. Fiona walked ahead, occasionally looking back and smiling as she said something. Ethan, walking behind her, replied, unlike with me, when we rarely had much to talk about. Ethan and she always had so much in common. I don’t like playing video games, and I’m not into extreme sports. I couldn’t join Ethan in his passions like cave diving, skiing, or skydiving. But in our ten years together, I never thought there was anything wrong with that. People don’t have to be alike to be together. But looking at Ethan’s smiling face now, I knew he was truly happy today – a hundred times happier than spending a boring weekend with me, or drinking one of my poorly mixed cocktails. I opened my chat with Ethan. He had just asked when I was coming down. I wanted to type ‘Let’s break up,’ but my fingers felt incredibly stiff. So I sent voice messages: [You guys go ahead, I’m not coming.] [Ethan, we’re just not right for each other. Let’s break up.] He first replied with ‘Okay.’ Then he sent a voice message: [Okay, well hurry up and catch up. We’ll wait for you up ahead.] Ethan was being lazy again. Of the two voice messages, he only half-read the transcribed text of one, and didn’t even bother to look at the other. He probably thought the second message was just me telling them to wait a bit. He’d always been like this. Always. I put down my phone and remained silent for a long time. The hotel phone rang. I picked it up. “Yes, I booked a driver. To the station.” Because of the significant temperature changes between day and night, I started to feel a bit feverish. While waiting for the driver, my mind began to drift. When I came back to my senses, my phone showed an unknown number of missed calls.

I didn’t clearly see who was calling, so I just tapped to call back. “Kylie, why didn’t you follow?!” The voice from the phone merged with a real-life voice, and I saw Ethan standing right in front of me. His face was dark, and when he saw my suitcase next to me, he immediately roared. “What are you pulling now?!” “Why didn’t you follow? Do you have any idea how worried Fiona was when she couldn’t reach you? She went looking for you and fell down the slope! We still haven’t found her!” I shook my head, checking each missed call. “She didn’t call me—” Ethan slapped my phone out of my hand forcefully, and it fell into the snow. Ethan’s gaze was as cold as ice. “Kylie, aren’t you just throwing a tantrum because I picked up Fiona? Now you’ve put her in danger, and you’re pretending to be innocent?” “I never thought you were the type to be so cruel, to be able to hurt your best friend like this.” My temples were throbbing. I rubbed them, then bent down to pick up my phone. “If that’s what you think, then fine.” I pulled my suitcase, ready to leave, but my wrist was grabbed. “Something happened, and you still want to leave? Come up the mountain with me to find her!” Ethan was stronger than me, and I was running a fever, my limbs heavy with fatigue. I didn’t even have time to put on more clothes before I was dragged up the mountain. A rescue team had already arrived, but the wind was picking up, and visibility was dropping fast. Ethan pulled me along, and all I could hear was our breathing. He frowned and looked back. “How many hand warmers did you put on? Your hand is burning up.” My lips were pale. “None.” The person in front of me scoffed. “Still pretending.” After another hundred feet, the wind and snow grew heavier, and visibility was less than a meter. Suddenly, a crying sound came through the wind. I didn’t even have time to react, my hand was forcefully shaken off. “Fiona, it’s me!” The snow was deep but not stable. I stumbled backward, falling and rolling about thirty feet until my back slammed hard against a rock, finally stopping me. Through the blurry snowstorm, I saw Ethan pick Fiona up and carry her on his back. Their outlines merged. The wind was howling, and Fiona yelled into his ear. “Kylie? What about her?!” Ethan looked around, seeing no sign of me. “Forget her! You’re what matters now!” When I woke up, I was in a small hospital in the ski resort town. Fiona, her eyes red-rimmed, was gripping my hand tightly. “You’re finally awake! I was so worried about you!” “It’s all my fault. There was no signal on the mountain, so I couldn’t call you, and then I accidentally slipped and fell down the slope. And Ethan, seriously, why did he even bring you up here?!” I listened quietly until Fiona ran out of things to say. “Kylie, why aren’t you talking? Does your throat hurt?” “Of course, she has nothing to say. Don’t make excuses for her; she was in the wrong first.” Ethan walked in, his face expressionless, carrying a pizza. “I bought your favorite pizza. Kylie, it’s fine if you don’t go up the mountain because of your fever, but why didn’t you tell us earlier?” “You’re an adult. Can’t you be a little more considerate?” I looked at the now cold pizza, without an ounce of strength to explain. Ethan, impatient, picked up a slice and tried to put it in my mouth. I turned my head away. “I don’t like seafood pizza.” “How is that possible? You clearly…” Fiona looked anxious, reaching out to take it. “Stop arguing—ouch!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “417036”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

One AM, I was mopping the floor at the convenience store when I bumped into my own mother. She was wearing a cashmere coat worth thousands, holding her two-year-old daughter’s hand, picking out imported milk for her shopping basket. Seeing my name tag, her smile froze. “Give me your account number. I’ll transfer you some money so you and your dad can get something decent to eat.” I pushed her hand away. “No, thanks, Ms. Vance.” She frowned, looking at my twisted knuckles and the old scars on my palm. “Where’s your dad? Is he not taking care of you? At least tell me, I’ll come pick you up.” I stared at her. “He can’t anymore.” “He’s dead. Died three years ago.” She didn’t believe me. She said my dad was a master at playing the victim. But soon after, she barged into my tiny rented apartment and saw Dad’s memorial photo— She shook my shoulders wildly. “Where is he? He can’t be dead!” I shook her off. “The night you spent eight million on a painting for Caleb Blackwood, my dad was biting through his lips in pain on his hospital bed.” “One less splurge from you, and his surgery would’ve been covered.” “And that card.” “The one you said had three hundred thousand in it, when I tried to withdraw it—” “There wasn’t a penny.”

It had been three years since I’d seen my mother, and I found her in a convenience store. One AM. The store was empty. I was bent over, stocking bottled water on the shelves, when the sensor bell chimed at the entrance. A woman holding a little girl, around two years old, walked in. I continued working, not paying attention. It wasn’t until the woman came to the checkout counter with a bottle of water that I looked up. Our eyes met. The expression on her face froze. I was stunned for a moment too, but quickly recovered. “Twelve dollars total.” I scanned the barcode, my voice as flat as a machine’s. She didn’t pay. She stared at my name tag. My name tag read: Autumn Dawson. “Autumn?” Her voice was trembling slightly. “Is it really you?” I didn’t answer her question. “Twelve dollars. How will you pay?” Her gaze moved from my grease-stained uniform to my deformed knuckles, then to my worn-out canvas shoes with peeling soles. “Why are you so thin?” She frowned. “Where’s your dad? If he’s not taking care of you, at least tell me, I’ll come pick you up.” I forced a small smile. “Ms. Vance, either pay for your things or step aside.” She glanced back. There was no one behind her. She sighed. “Give me your account number. I’ll transfer you some money so you and your dad don’t have to suffer.” I looked up at her. “No, thanks.” “Never saw you care so much about Dad and me before.” Her face darkened. “You’re as stubborn as your dad. If you hadn’t stuck with him back then, would you be working the night shift at a convenience store now?” The little girl tugged on her coat. “Mommy, I want milk.” She bent down, picked up the child, and looked at me again. “Tell your dad not to be stubborn. If he’s willing to apologize, I’ll take you in. Your life wouldn’t be worse than it is now.” My fingers tightened on the cash register. “My dad and I don’t need your concern. We’re strangers to you. Talking like this, people might misunderstand.” Her eyes flickered, as if she wanted to say something. But she swallowed it. She put down twelve dollars, turned, and left. After she left, my colleague peeked out from the back. “Who was that just now? She had quite the entourage.” I didn’t look up. “Don’t know her.” Another colleague came over, holding her phone screen in front of me. “I looked her up. Isn’t that Eleanor Vance from Vance Corp.? The CEO who’s always in the news for her charity work?” “Look at this interview. She says her biggest regret in life is her ex-husband and daughter.” I glanced at the screen. “She’s good at faking it.” “But she donates real money to charity, and she even started a children’s foundation named after her daughter!” I stopped what I was doing and looked at them. “She pretended to be poor to her ex-husband, transferred all their savings when they divorced, and dumped all their debts on him.” “Her husband went from being a teacher to a warehouse mover just to pay off the debts she left behind.” “She says her biggest regret is her ex-husband and daughter? But then she physically pushed her own daughter’s hand into broken glass, making it so I could never draw again.” They froze. “You… How do you know all this so clearly?” I flipped my name tag. Autumn Dawson. “Because I’m her daughter.” They immediately fell silent. After my shift, I didn’t go back to the rented apartment. I stopped at a bakery for the smallest cake, then a flower shop for a bouquet. It was a forty-minute walk to the cemetery. The cake and flowers I placed in front of the gravestone. In the photo, Dad wore a white shirt and had a gentle smile. I knelt down in front of him. “Happy birthday, Dad.” “I ran into her today.” “She still thought you were alive.”

The next day, as soon as I walked into work, something felt off. Mr. Henderson, the manager, was behind the counter, wiping sweat, his face pale. Eleanor Vance sat on a lounge chair in the middle of the lobby. An unopened coffee sat in front of her. Her assistant, David, stood behind her, holding a file bag. The manager saw me, his eyes looking like he’d seen a lifeline. “Autumn, Ms. Vance said the milk she bought yesterday was bad, and her daughter got sick.” “You, you come over and explain to Ms. Vance…” I glanced at him. “Explain what? If it’s not past its expiration date, it’s not our problem.” Then I walked towards Eleanor Vance. Her gaze was already fixed on me. “Ms. Vance, what exactly do you want?” She looked up. “The milk yesterday had a quality issue. Lily drank it and threw up all night. Her dad isn’t happy.” I scoffed. “So? Are you here to complain? Or are you looking for an excuse to drag me in front of Caleb Blackwood and make me apologize to him?” Her face changed. I continued. “Isn’t that what you did three years ago? My dad and I were always the ones apologizing first, kneeling first, making amends first.” Her brows furrowed. “My business with your dad is not for a child to judge.” “I’m not a child anymore.” I stared at her. “The year you threw my dad and me out when I was sixteen, that’s when I grew up.” “Threw you out?” Her voice rose. “Your dad dragged you out himself! He knew what he did!” I looked at her, unsure whether to be angry or laugh. “What did he do? What he did was get framed by your precious husband.” “It’s been three years. Did you ever once look into the truth?” She slammed her hand on the armrest of the chair. “Did you learn to lie through your teeth from your dad? When has Caleb ever harmed you? He’s a thousand times better to Lily and me than your dad ever was!” I retorted coldly. “Better? Better enough to stomp on your own daughter’s hand? Better enough to press my dad’s face to the ground where you couldn’t see?” She opened her mouth, but no words came out. I didn’t want to waste any more time with her. “Ms. Vance, I advise you to leave now. You and I have nothing to do with each other anymore.” She finally stood up. “I want to see your dad. Let him explain it himself.” That sentence made my whole body stiffen. Several customers in the store were watching. I stared at her. “See him? You lived in the same house with him for seventeen years, did you ever really know him?” She was too angry to answer for a moment. She threw down a business card and left. Gold embossed: Eleanor Vance. My colleague came over. “Autumn… Are you okay?” I tore the business card in half. “Help me get a few more shifts. I’m still three hundred short on rent this month.” She looked at the shredded paper in my hand and didn’t dare to ask anything else. After work that day, I went home and looked at my dad’s photo. “Dad, she’s looking for you.” “She said you know what you did.” I buried my face in my knees. “But you didn’t do anything wrong.”

Three years ago, our family lived in a three-bedroom apartment. Dad was a teacher at a private school. Every day, he’d come home, hum while he cooked in the kitchen. I was in my first year of high school, spending all my free time in the art studio. That year, I won first prize in the art competition. The judges said I had exceptional talent with color and recommended me for early admission to a top art school. Mom didn’t come home often. But when she did, she’d sit on the couch and watch me draw. She’d smile and say my talent was like hers. Those were the happiest days of my life. Until one day, Mom suddenly stormed home, slamming the door. She smashed Dad’s phone on the floor, pointing at him. “Michael Dawson, you’re absolutely shameless!” “Look at these pictures yourself!” On the table was a stack of printed photos. Dad hugging a young woman, picking out jewelry at the mall. Dad’s face went white. “That’s not me, Eleanor, listen to me—” “Shut up!” She slapped him. “Caleb Blackwood investigated for a month! You’ve been with that student for a whole year!” I rushed out of my room. “Mom, let Dad explain—” She didn’t even turn around. “He cheated on me, he cheated on you. I can’t stay in this house for another day.” That night, the lawyer arrived. The agreement was already drawn up. The house was hers, the car was hers, all the savings were hers. Dad got nothing. Dad’s hand kept shaking as he signed. “Eleanor, those pictures are fake… Let me investigate, just give me a week—” “You don’t have a week. Be out by tomorrow.” I knelt, tugging at her skirt. “Mom, please don’t go. Can you just let Dad prove it? I don’t want you two to divorce—” She suddenly shoved me. I flew backward, hitting the back of my head on the corner of the coffee table. I instinctively put out my right hand to brace myself. My palm landed on a glass cup on the table, shattering it. Shards of glass embedded themselves in my palm and between my fingers. Blood gushed out instantly. The pain made my vision go black. Dad rushed over and held me. “Eleanor! Call an ambulance quickly!” Mom glanced at me. A flicker of panic crossed her face. But at that moment, Caleb Blackwood walked in through the door. He saw the blood everywhere and covered his mouth. “Eleanor, what happened… This is so scary…” Mom’s expression changed instantly. She quickly went over, hugging him to comfort him. “It’s okay, it’s nothing to do with you.” She didn’t look at me again. Caleb was an unknown actor back then. He was handsome and spoke in a sweet, soft voice. He said he grew up in an orphanage, with no parents. He said my mom was the best person in the world to him. He said if my mom didn’t take care of him, he wouldn’t want to live. Mom believed it all. She gave him all her tenderness. My right hand underwent three surgeries. The tendon damage was too severe; my fingers couldn’t regain their flexibility. From then on, I couldn’t hold a paintbrush steadily. My early admission to the top art school was revoked.

That winter was the hardest time for my dad and me. Dad was fired from the school. Somehow, those fake photos got to the school administration. The woman in the pictures looked about the same age as his students. Even though it wasn’t the same person, the parents raised a fuss, and the school couldn’t cover it up. I never had proof of who sent the photos, but I had my suspicions. No job, no house, no savings. Dad moved me into a cheap apartment, less than ten square meters. The walls were covered in mold, the windows leaked air, and in winter, it was so cold you could see your breath. Dad worked as a mover in a warehouse during the day and washed dishes at a restaurant at night. Fifteen, sixteen hours a day, he got so thin his cheeks became hollow. My hand was still bandaged. Every day after school, I’d go to the supermarket to help people carry groceries. Two dollars a trip. At first, we could afford bread. Later, we couldn’t even afford to buy much of that. Every meal, Dad would put all the good food in my bowl. He’d say he wasn’t hungry. But I’d hear him get up in the middle of the night to drink cold water several times. One day, I came home from school and smelled meat cooking. I opened the door and saw a table full of dishes on the coffee table. Next to it, a small cake with a crooked candle. “It’s your birthday today,” Dad smiled, stroking my head. “Eat your cake, then do your homework.” I looked at the dishes, then at his increasingly hollow face. “Dad, how much did you eat?” He said he’d eaten. But in the trash can, there was only an empty instant noodle packet. I didn’t eat the cake. I stared at the flame for a long time. Then I cried. Late that night, I saw Dad sitting on the steps outside our rented room. Under the streetlight, he was flipping through his phone gallery. All of them were old photos of Mom. Not a single one deleted. I crouched beside him. “Dad, don’t look anymore.” He turned off his phone and pulled me into a hug. “Autumn, I’m sorry. Your dad isn’t capable.” I buried my face in his chest. “You are capable, you’re the best dad in the world.” A few days later, I scrolled past a news headline. Eleanor Vance and Caleb Blackwood attending a charity gala. She in a white haute couture gown, he in a custom-made suit. Holding hands on the red carpet. The headline read: “Vance Corp. CEO and Her Beloved Find True Love, Long-Term Commitment to Philanthropy.” The comments were full of praise. Saying she was loving and righteous. Saying she started from scratch and found true love. Someone asked her if she’d like to talk about her ex-husband and daughter. She looked at the camera, her eyes slightly red. “That’s my biggest regret in life. If someday they’re willing to come back, my door will always be open for them.” I almost crushed my phone. “Her door will always be open?” I turned to Dad. “Then I’ll go try.” The next morning, I helped Dad to Mom’s new house. A seaside villa, with three luxury cars parked out front. Security guards stopped us at the iron gate. “Who are you looking for? This isn’t a place for you.” Dad, his eyes red, said, “I’m Eleanor Vance’s ex-husband. I need to see her.” The intercom buzzed. Five minutes later, Mom appeared at the door. Silk pajamas, hair disheveled. “Michael Dawson, what are you doing here?” Dad gritted his teeth. “Eleanor, I’m not here to reconcile. Autumn’s hand needs a follow-up, and I’m injured too… Can we borrow some money?”

Before he could finish, Caleb Blackwood peeked out from behind her. Seeing Dad and me, his face instantly changed, and he shrank back behind her. “Eleanor, they’re here again… Are they going to cause a scene…?” Mom turned to comfort him. When she turned back, her face was completely cold. “Michael Dawson, have you no shame? You messed up, and you’re still coming here asking for money? What do you take me for?” I stepped forward. “He didn’t do anything wrong! Those photos are fake! Why wouldn’t you investigate?” Mom glanced at me. “The child doesn’t know any better, your dad corrupted her. Someone, please escort them out.” The security guards came up and pushed us. Dad was pushed down onto the steps. I knelt to help him up. The door closed in front of us. The moment it shut, I heard Caleb Blackwood laughing inside. After that, Dad’s body couldn’t hold up anymore. He hadn’t thought much of the fall at the warehouse at the time. But later, he started having frequent stomach pains, couldn’t eat, and visibly wasted away. I dragged him to a community clinic. The doctor’s expression after reading the report is something I’ll never forget. “Stage two stomach cancer. Immediate surgery is required, or it will progress to stage three.” Surgery plus follow-up treatment, at least three hundred thousand. For us, that was an astronomical sum. I had already dropped out of school by then. Working at a coffee shop during the day, and cleaning at a karaoke bar at night. At most, I earned three thousand a month. Dad didn’t want me to drop out. But we couldn’t afford tuition at all. I said it was okay. My drawing hand was already ruined anyway, so going to school or not made no difference. Three hundred thousand. I tried every method I could think of. We only raised twenty-three thousand on GoFundMe. Relatives had long cut ties. Community aid had a six-month waiting list. Finally, I called Mom’s number again. The first few dozen calls, all busy tones. But online, her news was everywhere. Throwing a birthday party for Caleb, booking out an entire commercial street. Spending eight million at an auction on an oil painting. The painting was of a little girl running in a field. She spent eight million on a painting. But she couldn’t answer my phone call. Later, after dozens of attempts, the call finally connected. “What do you want now?” Her voice was cold. I clutched the phone, my voice trembling uncontrollably. “Mom… Dad has stomach cancer. Stage two. He needs three hundred thousand for surgery, please… He’s really not doing well…” There was silence on the other end for a few seconds. “Are you and your dad putting on another act? Last time it was an injury and asking for money, this time it’s cancer. Next, will it be a will?” I crouched in the hospital corridor, tears falling one by one onto the floor tiles. “I’m not lying… I can have the doctor talk to you…” “Enough. I’ll give you one last chance.” Two days later, David, her assistant, came to the hospital. He handed me a bank card. “Ms. Vance said there’s three hundred thousand in it. Take it, and don’t call again.” I took the card with both hands. Like holding a life in my hands. I ran back to the hospital room, kneeling by Dad’s bed. “Dad, the money’s here. You can get the surgery now.” Dad looked at me, his eyes red. He laboriously raised a hand and stroked my head. “Autumn, your mom gave it to you?” I nodded. He didn’t say anything. He turned his face away, tears flowing into his pillow. I took the card to pay the bill. I waited in line for a long time. Finally, it was my turn. I handed the card into the window. “Transfer three hundred thousand, for surgery.” The staff member swiped it. Then swiped it again. She looked up at me. “Insufficient balance.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “417035”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

On the night I decided to divorce, my protégé — a scholarship recipient I’d supported for eight years — was stealing the show at a charity gala, wearing a limited-edition necklace my husband had bought. She sweetly posted on Ins: “He said he has an instinctive attraction to me. Is this what it feels like to be truly adored?” I tapped the ‘like’ button, then casually tossed the divorce papers onto his face. Ethan sneered, “Eleanor, you’re just using that old debt of gratitude to manipulate me. Without me, you won’t last a day in this social circle.” He thought ten years as a stay-at-home wife had turned me into a useless mess. But he had no idea. Like that ungrateful snake, I’d supported three hundred. Now, they were all top professionals in various industries. One word from me, and I could make him lose everything. The lights of the charity gala were dazzling. I stood on the VIP terrace on the second floor, holding a glass of champagne, watching the girl at the center of attention in the grand hall downstairs. Chloe. The scholarship recipient I’d supported for eight years. She was wearing a couture gown, a dazzling sapphire necklace around her neck, smiling innocently for the cameras. That necklace. Ethan Hayes had bid fifty million for it at an auction last month. The news was everywhere, saying Ethan had splashed millions on it to surprise his beloved wife for their tenth wedding anniversary. Now, that surprise was around a twenty-two-year-old girl’s neck. My phone vibrated. Chloe had posted an update. It was a selfie of her wearing the necklace, with the blurry side profile of a man in a suit in the background. “He said he has an instinctive attraction to me. I’ve never been in love before — is instinctive attraction a good thing or a bad thing?” Dozens of comments were already underneath, all teasing her. I stared blankly at the screen, then gently tapped my finger, leaving a comment. “Great. Just like a dog to its own filth — also purely instinctive.” After posting, I drained the champagne from my glass and turned towards the backstage area. Within five minutes, hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor. Ethan pushed open the lounge door, his face ashen. “Eleanor Vance, what the hell are you doing?” He strode over, slamming his phone onto the table. My comment was right there on the screen. “Chloe is still young, just getting started in the industry. Your comment will be screenshotted and used against her. Do you know this could ruin her?” I leaned back on the sofa, coldly looking at the man I’d loved for ten years. “Ruin her? When she was wearing my husband’s necklace and showing off her affection, why wasn’t she afraid of ruining herself?” Ethan frowned, a flicker of impatience in his eyes. “She borrowed that necklace just to wear. Young girls like to look pretty, it’s just vanity. Do you really have to be so petty about it?” “Besides, you sponsored her. It’s normal for her to be attached to us. I’ve been with you for ten years, I treat her like a sister. What’s wrong with taking care of her a bit more?” A sister? His ‘sister’ with an instinctive attraction? I laughed, exasperated, and pulled a pre-prepared document from my bag, tossing it at his chest. “Since you’re so fond of taking care of her, then you can officially take care of her from now on.” The papers scattered on the floor. The cover clearly read: “Divorce Agreement.”

Ethan froze. He looked down at the documents on the floor, then up at me, as if he’d heard the funniest joke in the world. “Divorce?” He pulled at the corner of his mouth, his voice full of certainty and contempt. “Eleanor, there’s a limit to throwing tantrums. You’ve been married to me for ten years, never worked a day. You probably don’t even know how to ride the subway anymore.” “Who are you kidding? Everyone knows you’re nothing without me.” Looking at his arrogant face, my stomach churned. Ten years ago, Ethan was just a poor kid. My father saw his potential and gave him his first startup capital. When his company was struggling the most, I was there, eating instant noodles with him, pulling all-nighters. Later, when the company grew, he said the world outside was too harsh, and told me to stay home and live comfortably, his ‘lady of leisure.’ I believed him. And what did I get in return? His dismissive line: “You’re nothing without me.” “Ethan, I’ve already signed the papers.” I stood up, smoothing my dress. “My lawyer will contact you tomorrow.” With that, I walked out without hesitation. “Eleanor Vance!” He called out sharply from behind me. “If you walk out that door today, don’t even think about coming back! I’d like to see how you’ll survive without me!” I didn’t stop, only leaving him my back. “Just you wait.” Stepping out of the hotel, the night air was cool. I pulled my shawl tighter and called Martin, my driver. “Martin, bring the car to section C in the underground parking.” He stammered on the other end, “Ms. Vance, uh… the car’s having some trouble. I sent it for repairs. Maybe you could call a taxi?” I frowned. The car was perfectly fine this afternoon — how could it suddenly break down? Just then, a black SUV pulled up in front of me. The door slid open, and Chloe poked her head out, smiling innocently. “Eleanor, can’t find a cab this late? Ethan told me to give you a ride home.” I looked at her, then at the familiar figure in the driver’s seat. Martin. My father’s most trusted driver, who had watched me grow up, was now looking down, avoiding my eyes. I understood instantly. “Martin, what is the meaning of this?” I asked coldly. He rubbed his hands, his voice thin, “Ms. Vance, Ms. Miller said… she said she was going that way anyway, and she helped my son get into that private school…” I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. So that’s how it was. Even the people closest to me could be bought by her with such tactics. “No, thanks.” I opened my eyes, my gaze chilling as it swept over Chloe’s triumphant face. “I find it dirty.” With that, I walked to the roadside and hailed a taxi. Through the rearview mirror, I saw Chloe’s smile freeze, and she stomped her foot in frustration.

It was late when I got back to the mansion. I didn’t turn on any lights, going straight upstairs to the walk-in closet to pack. I only took a few changes of clothes and the mementos my parents had left me. The rest — the designer bags, couture gowns, and jewelry Ethan had bought — I didn’t even glance at them. “Well, well, well, trying to run away in the middle of the night?” A sarcastic voice suddenly came from behind me. I turned around to see Chloe leaning against the doorframe, wearing a burgundy silk nightgown, holding a glass of red wine. That nightgown was my mother’s favorite. It was passed down to me. I had cherished it, barely daring to touch it. Now, it was being worn by an ungrateful snake. A surge of pure fury rushed to my head. “Take it off,” I stared at her, saying each word slowly and deliberately. Chloe not only didn’t take it off, but she deliberately puffed out her chest, chuckling smugly. “What’s wrong, Eleanor? Ethan said this dress was just gathering dust, so I could wear it. I think it fits perfectly.” She walked in, high heels clicking, her eyes scanning my suitcase with contempt. “Eleanor, you don’t need to overreact. Ethan said your family only gave him a little money back then, and he’s repaid it all, with interest, over the last ten years.” “He doesn’t love you; he was just repaying a debt. Now that he’s met me, he knows what true love is.” “You’ve hogged him for ten years, shouldn’t you be satisfied?” I looked at her face, twisted by jealousy and triumph, and felt a sudden wave of pity. I walked up to her, and without warning, I raised my hand. Slap! A loud slap landed on her face. Chloe stumbled, the wine glass in her hand falling to the ground and shattering. Red liquid splattered onto the expensive carpet, a stark, alarming stain. “You… you dared to hit me?!” She clutched her face, staring at me in disbelief. “And what if I did?” I looked at her coldly. “This dress is my mother’s heirloom. Who do you think you are to wear it?” “And also, did Ethan not tell you that the startup capital for his company was given by my father? The down payment for this mansion? I paid for it. And the CEO position he now holds? Half the shares are in my name!” “You thought you snagged a trophy husband? Wrong. All you snagged was a dog I raised!” Chloe was stunned by my words, her face turning green then white. Just then, the front door was violently pushed open. Ethan stormed in.

“Eleanor Vance! What are you doing!” He immediately shielded Chloe behind him. Seeing the slap mark on her face, his eyes turned vicious. “You actually dared to hit her?” I sneered, “What, you feel bad for her? Then take her and get out of my house.” “Your house?” Ethan looked as if he’d heard the funniest joke. “Eleanor, are you out of your mind? This mansion is registered under my name!” “Is it?” I zipped up my suitcase, straightening up to face him. “Then you’d better check the purchase contract from back then and see who really paid for it.” Ethan’s face changed. When we bought this house, he had no money at all. I secretly used all my personal savings and investments, unbeknownst to my father, to cover the cost. Even though it was registered in his name, the transaction records were all there. “Eleanor, do you really have to make this so ugly?” He gritted his teeth. “Fine, you can leave, but you’re not taking anything from this house! You’ve lived off me all these years; what right do you have to take anything?” I looked down at the suitcase on the floor. It contained only a few old clothes and my parents’ photos. “Don’t worry, I find the trash you bought disgusting.” I pulled my suitcase, walking out without looking back. As I passed them, I paused and looked at Ethan. “Ethan, remember what you said today. Starting tomorrow, everything the Vance family gave you, I’m taking it all back, piece by piece.” Stepping out of the mansion, the night wind on my face, I felt a clarity I hadn’t felt in years. Ten years. I’d spent ten years of my youth to see a man’s true colors. The cost was high, but thankfully, it wasn’t too late. I pulled out my phone and found the hidden list in my contacts. On the list were three hundred names. Over fifteen years, I had used my private account to continuously support scholarship recipients. Many of them had lost touch, many were still toiling at entry-level jobs. But some had already grown into towering figures. I dialed the first number on the list. After two rings, the call was answered. A deep, steady male voice came through. “Eleanor?” “Liam.” I looked at the flashing neon lights in the distance, my voice calm. “I’m getting divorced.” There was a second of silence on the other end, then the sound of a chair being pushed back. “Where are you? I’ll send someone to pick you up immediately.” “No need. I’ll send you my location. Tomorrow morning at ten, bring your people and meet me.” “Got it.” Liam didn’t ask any unnecessary questions, his response quick and concise. After hanging up, I hailed a taxi and went to a five-star hotel in the city center. After a hot shower, I lay on the large bed, staring at the ceiling. Ethan Hayes, you thought I, Eleanor Vance, was a mere clinging vine that could only depend on you. But you didn’t know that for the past ten years, though I didn’t work outside, I planted an entire forest. Now, it’s time for this forest to overshadow you.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “417034”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

I lost my sight at three and my parents at five. When I was eight, my brother Thomas was claimed by a wealthy family and became the true heir. The spoiled, troublesome fake heir Robert was kicked out. I stood between my two brothers and pushed Thomas. “Thomas, I can’t hold you back anymore. Go live the good life.” Thomas crouched down and pinched my cheek. “Did I say I wasn’t going to take care of you anymore?” Later, the good-for-nothing Robert also became a reliable brother. They became my solid sky, my steady ground, my cane that I tapped forward with every step. They told me, “Chris, do you know why the baby mix-up happened?” “It’s because the world wanted us to come to you and become your two eyes.” I always knew I couldn’t live without Thomas. When I lost my sight at three, my parents abandoned me. Thomas walked for five hours to bring me back. The thin boy’s back carried me steadily. I heard him say firmly, “If you don’t want her, I’ll raise her.” When I was five, my parents died in a car accident. Thomas had just started his freshman year of high school and was one of the top students. At the funeral, people came and went. They said, “Thomas, your sister will hold you back for the rest of your life.” They said you should find a dark night and abandon her. So that night, Thomas woke me up. I didn’t cry or fuss as he picked me up. Thomas carried me for a long time. When he stopped, I felt sunlight warming my face. Thomas said, “Chris, this is sunrise. You can’t see it, but you can feel it.” Thomas pinched my cheek. “The sun rises every day, just like I’ll be by your side every day.” That day, sitting among the crowd watching the sunrise, I heard people humming and singing. Someone handed me a candy. Thomas said, “Chris, this world is beautiful. Don’t be afraid. Grow up bravely.” I nodded, half understanding. Later, Thomas worked part-time while going to school, supporting both of us by himself. When I was seven, I started at a school for the blind. The stylus made dots on the braille paper. The first word I learned was “brother,” the second was “Thomas.” But on my eighth birthday, I waited at the school gates and Thomas never came. Later, I heard my teacher talking to someone nearby, handing me over to an unfamiliar pair of hands. The teacher said, “Chris, you’ll go with him from now on.” I touched his face. “Who are you?” He said, “I’m your brother.” I shook my head. “You’re not my brother. My brother is Thomas.” He was silent for a moment before saying, “My name is Robert. From now on, I’m your brother.” The teacher explained to me that they’d been switched as babies, and this person was my real brother. Thomas was someone else’s child. The teacher put it gently, but someone standing nearby, eager for drama, said: “I saw Thomas get into a luxury car. He’s definitely gone off to live the good life. He’s not going to remember you.” Someone else said, “I know Robert. He’s the school bully. Fighting, skipping class, causing trouble—he does it all.” “The Davis family found out he wasn’t their real child and kicked him out. Now he’s got a blind sister too. Talk about bad luck.” I was scared. I stood there crying. I cried until the crowd gradually dispersed, leaving only the breathing of the person in front of me. I wiped my tears and asked him, “Thomas went to live the good life, didn’t he?” He said yes. I said, “Then I’ll go with you.” Then I added carefully, “I’m very good. I can do a lot of things by myself.” He touched my head and picked me up. His arms weren’t as solid as Thomas’s, but they were thin and strong. I said quietly, “Can I call you Robert?” He said yes. After a while I said, “Robert, I’m sorry.” He didn’t speak for a long time. I tentatively touched his face, felt his earring, his eyebrow piercing. I thought he might be a scary person. But I heard him say, “Don’t be afraid. I’ll protect you from now on.”

Robert and I were halfway home when I heard a large group of footsteps. They laughed as they approached. “Robert, weren’t you so arrogant before? Didn’t you walk around like you owned the place?” “Now you’re not the Davis family heir anymore. Let’s see who’s going to worship you now. Brothers, if you’ve got a grudge, now’s the time! Get him!” Robert ran while carrying me. The group chased us fast. I said frantically, “Robert, put me down! Run!” Robert and I were backed into a corner. He still held me tightly. He turned his back, letting those people punch him over and over again. When someone tried to pull me from his arms, he fought back desperately. I was so scared I screamed, “Robert! Robert!” He held me so tightly, no matter how much they kicked and beat him, he wouldn’t let go. Suddenly a gust of wind swept past. Someone kicked them away. “Let them go!” It was Thomas! He stood in front of Robert and me. “I’d like to see who dares to touch them again!” Some in the group still wanted to fight, but their companions pulled them back. “This is the real Davis family heir. Let’s go!” After the crowd scattered, Thomas tried to pick me up. Robert instinctively didn’t let go. Thomas’s voice was cold. “Let go!” Thomas carried me home. Robert’s footsteps followed behind us the whole way. I touched Thomas’s face. His brows were tightly furrowed. He must have been very angry. I’d grown up in his arms since childhood. I rarely even got bumps or bruises. I said quietly, “I’m fine. Why did you come back?” He didn’t answer me. He walked faster and faster until we reached our door and he opened it. When the door was about to close, Robert grabbed it. I heard Robert say, “She’s my sister.” Thomas sneered. “You can’t even take care of yourself. Let go!” I didn’t hear any more of their conversation. They must have been facing off in silence. I broke the silence and asked again, “Thomas, why did you come back?” I felt Thomas’s gaze. He must have looked at me. He said, “This is my home.” I shook my head. “No, Thomas’s real home is somewhere very wealthy. I want you to go live the good life.” I’d been holding Thomas back since I was little. When my parents were alive, he only had to worry about my daily care. After they were gone, the burden of life plus me weighed on him until he could barely breathe. He studied during the day and worked part-time until late at night, often so exhausted he fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. He had a deep scar on his back from being hit by something heavy while moving cargo. It took seven stitches. Every time he carried me on his back, I could feel that scar. I cried and said, “Thomas, please go.” He crouched down and gently wiped away my tears. “Chris, now that you have him, you don’t want me anymore?” In the end, Thomas didn’t leave, and Robert came inside. After Thomas wiped my tear-stained face with a towel, he told me to wait in my room. Blind people are always more sensitive to atmosphere and people’s emotions. I was afraid they would fight, so I secretly opened my door a crack to listen to them talk.

Thomas’s voice carried a cold mockery. “Robert, you’ve been causing trouble for me at every turn at school. I haven’t even settled the score with you yet, and now you’re rushing over here?” I nervously picked at my fingers. Robert was silent for a moment. “I’m giving you back your life. You go be the Davis family heir. From now on, you can do whatever you want to me. I’ll take it.” “But she’s my sister. I’ll be the one protecting her from now on.” Thomas raised his voice. “I raised her. How is she suddenly your sister?” Even through the door, I could feel the tense atmosphere between them, neither giving an inch. Robert continued, “Everyone in the Davis family has a businessman’s mindset—profit above all. In their eyes, you coming back here is the same as giving up everything.” Thomas sneered. “Who wants their stuff anyway?” Robert said with certainty, “They demanded you stop caring about Chris. That’s why you came back.” When I heard this, my heart trembled. I pressed so hard that my nail dug into my flesh and drew blood. Robert snorted coldly. “That’s exactly the kind of people they are.” “But you don’t need to feel burdened. You really don’t have any obligation to take care of Chris now. I will.” “What’s all this ‘you will, I will’ business? Did I agree? Stop acting like you’re the heir and ordering people around.” Robert was so blocked by Thomas’s words that he couldn’t say anything. After a while, I heard Thomas say, “You’re not leaving no matter what, are you?” Robert said nothing, making it clear he wasn’t leaving no matter what. Thomas laughed coldly. “I’m only not beating you up because I don’t want to scare Chris.” “If you’re staying, you’d better behave yourself. Don’t provoke me.” Thomas’s tone was unusually harsh. I thought he and the scary Robert might start arguing any second. But Robert didn’t say anything more. He silently backed down. That day, I only half understood what Thomas and Robert said. I touched my eyes in frustration. When you lose your sight, you can never get very precise information. Just then Robert came into the room and called out, “Don’t touch.” I obediently put my hand down and felt my way over. As soon as I got close to him, I smelled a faint scent of blood. I grabbed his hand. “Robert, did you fight with someone again? Are you hurt?” Robert said, “I’m fine.” Whenever someone was hurt and I couldn’t judge the specific situation, I always felt very uneasy. I asked quietly, “Did they go to your workplace to cause trouble again?” All the household expenses depended on Thomas, and we were visibly struggling to make ends meet. After Robert moved in, he also swallowed his pride to find work. But his grades weren’t good enough to tutor, and when he was moving things on the street, those thugs spotted him. After mocking him, they went to his workplace every day to cause trouble. Not only was the money Robert earned not enough to deal with the trouble, but he also came home with injuries every day. I held his hand distressingly. That’s when Thomas came back too. He must have been caught in the rain. Water dripped onto the floor. Thomas said, “It’s fine. Just a light rain. Only got a little wet.” From the sounds, Thomas went into the bathroom, and then Robert followed him in. They spoke in low voices, but a blind person’s ears are unusually sharp. “Are you sick? It’s pouring rain and you couldn’t take a cab home? Aren’t you afraid of catching a cold?” “Saving money. I’m not that delicate.” Thomas paused before continuing, “Look at yourself, covered in injuries big and small. Take care of yourself first.” “Also, if you really can’t earn money, just forget it. Don’t make more trouble for yourself.” They both seemed quiet for a moment. “Why are you still standing there? Get out. I need to shower.” I heard every single word. I sat on the couch, using my fingernail to scratch my palm over and over.

A few days later, when Thomas wanted to take me for an eye checkup, I refused to cooperate. I lay on the bed and wouldn’t get up. “My leg hurts.” Thomas rubbed my calf. “Did you twist it yesterday?” “No, I just don’t want to move.” “You don’t have to move. Thomas will carry you.” I said, “Well, my head hurts too. I want to sleep.” Thomas seemed to laugh. He rubbed my head. “What are you overthinking now?” He picked me up from the bed. “I’ll figure out the money situation. It’s not your problem to worry about.” I felt a bit sad. “I don’t want you both to work so hard.” He pinched my cheek. “When I see Chris, I’m not tired anymore.” In the end, I obediently went with Thomas for the checkup. Before we left, I asked, “Where’s Robert?” Thomas said, “He went out early this morning. Haven’t seen him.” Thomas took me through several alleys. I heard the sounds of a fight. He was about to pick me up and walk faster when I tugged his sleeve. “Thomas, I think I heard Robert’s voice.” At first Thomas walked forward a few steps as if he hadn’t heard, then sighed and stopped. He put me down at the alley entrance. “I’m very close by. Just stand right here and don’t move. If anything happens, call me immediately, okay?” I nodded and listened to Thomas’s footsteps heading deeper into the alley. I pressed my ear against the wall and heard Robert’s voice through the chaotic noise: “I won’t fight back today. I’ll let you beat me up fair and square. But after this, none of you better interfere with my work!” That day’s checkup, Thomas and Robert took me together. I heard Thomas also dragged Robert to the emergency room and got some topical medicine. I touched Robert’s hand distressingly. “Does it hurt?” “Serves him right,” Thomas said while applying medicine to Robert. “Playing the hero.” Robert hissed lightly but ignored Thomas’s sarcasm. He pinched my cheek. “Doesn’t hurt. I’m fine.” Although Thomas’s words were harsh, his attitude toward Robert had clearly softened a lot. The house had two bedrooms. It had always been one for Thomas, one for me, and Robert sleeping on the couch. When bedtime came, I lay in bed. I heard Thomas’s voice from outside. He said to Robert, who couldn’t even stretch out his arms and legs on the small couch, “Come sleep in the room.” I listened to the sounds of doors opening and closing and fell into a deep sleep in the darkness. After that, not only did their relationship improve, but Robert was able to find work too. I secretly asked Robert, “How did you win him over?” “Who won him over?” He didn’t tell me at first. Later, when I annoyed him enough, he said, “I used to cause trouble for him because I once saw him teasing you and I thought he was bullying you.” “So I went to seek justice. Later I found out you were his sister.” “That day when we got into the fight, those people spilled all the stupid things I’d done.” He made me laugh so hard I was giggling. He poked my forehead. “Oh, so you dare laugh at me?” Robert and I were messing around when Thomas finished cooking noodles. I held my fork and ate slowly. I heard Robert ask, “Where’s mine?” “First you have to say, ‘Thank you, Thomas.’” After Thomas spoke, Robert was quiet for a moment, then asked somewhat awkwardly, “Why should I?” “You’re eating food that I made.” Knowing Thomas was deliberately teasing Robert, I laughed on the side. After a while, Robert still hadn’t spoken. Thomas said, “Very principled. Starve then.” “Thank you, Thomas.” The days passed like this. The abandonment and rejection I’d feared never happened. I even gained another brother. They would come to the school for the blind together to pick me up, each holding one of my hands. When we encountered puddles, they’d lift me up together and shout with a laugh, “Jump!” Now Thomas and Robert were in their last semester of senior year. Thomas still made Robert study. After they both got off their part-time jobs, Thomas would go over problems with Robert in the living room while I sat to the side listening to them talk. Thomas tapped Robert’s head with a pen. “Pay attention. Getting into a good college will save us a lot of money!” “Thomas has fallen into the money pit,” Robert turned his head to tell me. “There’s an ad downstairs offering big money for surrogacy. You should tell Thomas to go earn it.” I pushed him with a laugh. “Robert! You’re so bad!” But sometimes they would avoid me when talking. Once I was lying on the couch with my eyes closed, and they thought I was asleep. Robert spoke in a low voice. “The Davis family hasn’t contacted you again?” Thomas’s voice was also very quiet. “They’ve called a few times asking me to come back. Same old story—stop caring about Chris and come back to inherit the family fortune. I said it’s impossible.” Robert’s voice carried a hint of worry. “They’re not going to give up that easily…” After I accidentally overheard this, I didn’t dare show it on my face, but my heart was always anxious. Maybe the more you fear something, the more likely it is to happen. One day, someone knocked on our door. After the door opened, I could feel the air gradually grow heavy.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “417033”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

The prominent Davis family had struggled for a decade with fertility issues, making their newborn daughter, Lily, an incredibly precious miracle. At Lily’s extravagant birthday party, I, Chloe, the newly hired nanny, was about to witness Lily become the heir to their immense fortune. But just as the nanny, Brenda, carried Lily away to change her diaper. Suddenly, I heard a sobbing baby sound coming from inside the swddle: [Don’t hand me over to this bad nanny! She’s going to swap me with her own daughter!] [Anyone who can save me from this will be my godmother, and I’ll give her five hundred million!] My body stiffened. I stared in horror at the malicious nanny. Just then, from not far away, another wicked baby voice chimed in: “Once my nanny-mom completes the swap, all of the Davis family’s money will be mine!” “Good thing Lily and I look so much alike; no one will notice. But even if they do, they can just blame the new nanny!” Without a second thought, I lunged at Brenda, snatching Lily from her arms.

“You can’t give the baby to Brenda! She’s trying to secretly swap her!” I was desperate to save Lily, my face contorted with urgency. “Brenda brought her daughter too, she’s hiding somewhere, just waiting to swap with Lily.” “Please, you have to believe me. Don’t let her touch the baby!” The Davis family and all the guests froze, their eyes widening in shock. Mr. Davis clenched his fists, his face turning crimson. “Chloe, are you out of your mind? Stop this nonsense and let go of my daughter!” Sarah, Mrs. Davis, looked at me as if I’d gone crazy. “Brenda has been with our family for five years; her integrity is beyond question. How could you make such baseless accusations?” No one believed me. Brenda’s expression remained calm as she refuted my claims. “Chloe, I know I’m more experienced with babies than you, and you’re probably afraid I’ll outshine you.” “But this is between us. We can discuss it privately. Don’t scare little Lily Davis.” As she spoke, she tried to step forward and grab the baby. “She just had a dirty diaper; it needs to be changed quickly, or she’ll be uncomfortable!” Mr. Davis’s eyes hardened. He gestured to his bodyguards, who moved to follow Brenda. Lily, who had been quiet, suddenly burst into tears. [I knew something bad was coming, but I thought I could avoid it. Am I doomed?] [Why doesn’t Dad believe her? Now only Chloe can protect me…] When Lily cried, Sarah’s eyes immediately welled up. “Chloe, you’ve scared my baby! What exactly do you want?!” Brenda was nearing, a sly smirk on her face. I clutched Lily and retreated quickly. “Lily cries whenever Brenda gets close, and calms down when she’s away. That proves Brenda’s intentions aren’t pure, and Lily is scared of her!” “Babies understand everything; they can tell who’s good and who’s bad. Just watch!” Lily cooperated perfectly. When I moved back three feet, Lily quieted down. But the moment I took a step towards Brenda, Lily would wail. Sarah, a keen observer, paused, then frowned. “Brenda, why is my daughter so distressed around you?” “Yet, with Chloe, my daughter doesn’t seem scared at all.” Brenda’s face flickered for just a second. Then, she aggressively turned her accusations back to me. “Chloe must have drugged Lily! All these tricks are just to steal the baby!” “Mr. Davis, you can’t let her go on like this. Lily will suffocate if she keeps crying!” Mr. Davis’s expression grew darker and darker. In a flash, three bodyguards and Brenda had me cornered. My legs were trembling with fear. With nowhere left to go, Grandma Margaret suddenly tapped her cane heavily on the floor and stood up, her voice firm. “Chloe, you say Brenda is trying to swap my granddaughter.” “Then tell me, where is the other baby Brenda brought?”

The moment she spoke, Lily babbled softly. [Grandma’s right. If they find Brenda’s daughter, everything will be clear!] [Go, Chloe! Five hundred million dollars depends on you!] Grandma Margaret was clearly giving me a chance to prove myself. My breath hitched, and I immediately calmed my mind, trying to use the baby talk to pinpoint Brenda’s daughter’s location. But Brenda’s daughter seemed to be deliberately defying me. At this moment, I couldn’t hear her voice at all. Seeing Brenda’s hand reaching out for Lily, I panicked, grabbed Lily, and sprinted towards Grandma Margaret. But I’d only taken two steps when Brenda sped up, catching me and yanking my hair roughly. I stumbled, falling hard to the ground. To protect Lily, I twisted my body mid-fall, making sure my head and back took the brunt of the impact. I saw stars from the impact, but I forced myself to get up, wincing from the pain. I urgently handed Lily back to Grandma Margaret. “Grandma Margaret, from now on, please don’t let Lily out of your sight. Especially don’t let Brenda touch her!” Brenda and I locked eyes. The hatred in her gaze felt like it could tear me apart. Grandma Margaret had still harbored some doubts, but when she saw Lily grin at me and stretch out her tiny hands as if wanting to grasp me, she seemed to vaguely realize something. “When you fell just now, you’d rather hurt yourself than let Lily get injured.” She shot a pointed glance at Brenda. “Some people, however, appear enthusiastic but completely disregard whether Lily might get hurt.” Brenda’s face flushed, and she quickly cried out in protest. “I was just worried about Lily, so I might have been a bit rough. Mr. Davis, you know I’ve been with the family for five years; I would never do anything to harm Lily!” Mr. Davis, still in shock, his veins bulging on his forehead, thundered, “Chloe almost hurt our daughter! I won’t let this go!” I desperately wished Lily could speak, could explain everything and get me out of this mess. But no matter how anxious she was, Lily could only produce blurry, innocent baby sounds that no one but me could understand. Sarah, seeing my distressed expression, softened a little. “Lily seems to really like Chloe. I don’t think she’s a bad person. Since no real harm was done, maybe we can just let it go?” With kind Sarah coming to my defense, Mr. Davis’s face remained tense, but he suppressed his anger. “It’s Lily’s birthday party today, so I’ll let you off this time.” “Now get out of here. If you dare cause any more trouble, I’ll make you regret it!” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Grandma Margaret holding Lily tightly, with Sarah close by. Relieved, I turned to look for Brenda’s daughter. Only by finding the other baby could I completely end Brenda’s scheme! But for some reason, Brenda’s daughter hadn’t made a sound since. I scurried around like a headless chicken, completely clueless. Where had Brenda hidden the fake Lily? There weren’t many places to hide a baby here. Why couldn’t I find the child no matter where I looked? After searching everywhere, inside and out, I still found nothing. I gnashed my teeth in frustration, then had a thought. If I couldn’t find Brenda’s daughter, I’d just stick by Grandma Margaret and keep a close eye on Brenda, making sure she didn’t get another chance. But unexpectedly, just then, I heard Lily’s faint cry for help. [Help me, I’m stuck in a very dark, stuffy place! I’m so scared!] [Chloe, please come save me! I don’t want to die!] My heart sank. I never expected that Brenda would succeed again after I’d only been gone for a few minutes! Without even considering Mr. Davis’s warning, I bravely turned and rushed back into the banquet hall. “Something’s wrong! Lily Davis has been swapped after all!”

The air froze again. Everyone stared at me as if I were insane. The fake Lily in Grandma Margaret’s arms also shivered. [How does this nanny know I’m the fake Lily? Never mind, she has no proof. I’ll just pretend to cry to distract them!] Immediately, heart-wrenching wails echoed through the banquet hall. The fake Lily cried, trembling, as if she were about to faint. Sarah, whose maternal instincts were heightened, immediately panicked. “Chloe, shut up!” “We only left our daughter for a few minutes to use the restroom. How could she possibly be swapped so easily?” To others, it sounded like a desperate baby’s cry, but to my ears, it was a clear, insidious plot. [If I just cry and act pitiful, making the Davis family feel sorry for me, Chloe will be doomed!] Mr. Davis’s gaze was like daggers, making my heart pound. But I couldn’t back down. If Lily was left in that stuffy place for another five minutes, she would be dead. And then Brenda might even blame me, and I wouldn’t be able to explain it even with ten mouths! “Brenda, where have you hidden Lily?!” “Hand her over now, and it’s not too late! If anything happens to her, you’ll spend the rest of your life in jail!” Brenda’s face stiffened, a flicker of hesitation in her eyes. I then shouted to Grandma Margaret, “Two babies, there must be something different about them! Grandma Margaret, look closely! I’m sure you can spot the difference!” Grandma Margaret frowned, half-believing, half-doubting, and slowly lifted the child, intending to take a closer look. But the fake Lily started fussing uncontrollably. [I won’t let them look!] [Hope Mom doesn’t give up. Just a few more minutes, and Lily will be dead!] After a few seconds of internal struggle, Brenda hardened her heart, falling to her knees to feign distress. “Chloe, I don’t know what I’ve done to offend you.” “If there’s an issue, we can talk outside. Please stop scaring the Davis family and Lily…” What was supposed to be a lovely birthday party had turned into chaos because of me. Mr. Davis, enraged, threw a wine glass at me. “Chloe, are you done or not? I don’t believe anyone would dare to touch my daughter!” I couldn’t dodge it. With a sharp ringing in my ears, I was hit, my head bleeding. The bodyguards, grim-faced, surrounded me, vowing to teach me a lesson. I stumbled backward, enduring the intense pain, and desperately emphasized to them, “You have to believe me! This isn’t your biological daughter! If you don’t believe me, get a DNA test!” “Lily Davis is hidden in a very dark and stuffy place. The priority is to find her immediately!” “Any later, and her life will be in danger!” In a daze, Lily’s whimpering baby voice grew even weaker. [So stuffy and hot, like there’s fire burning above me. My head feels heavy…] [If no one comes to save me, I’m going to pass out…] I keenly picked up on the details in her baby talk. But if I just ran off now, everyone would think I was fleeing, and no one might follow. To keep the Davis family’s attention, I gritted my teeth. I lunged forward, snatched the fake Lily, and then ran towards the kitchen. “If you want your daughter back, follow me!”

Sarah shrieked, the first to follow me. Mr. Davis reacted, his roar almost piercing my eardrums. “Prioritize my daughter’s safety!” He and the bodyguards, supporting a stumbling Grandma Margaret, followed me through the winding corridors. The fake Lily in my arms let out an even more desperate wail. [Chloe can’t find Lily! She can’t ruin my plan!] Brenda was blocked by a large group of bodyguards and couldn’t keep up with me. Blood was still flowing from my forehead. I exerted all my strength, distinguishing Lily’s increasingly faint baby voice. [Such a choking smell of smoke, I can hardly breathe.] [Am I… destined to die here?] Her choked sobs tightened my heart. Driven by adrenaline, I burst into the hotel kitchen like a woman possessed. Under the terrified gazes of the staff, I held the fake Lily in one arm and frantically yanked open every cabinet. “A place that’s hot and smells of smoke… it must be the kitchen…” “Lily, cry out! Tell me where you are…” But in my ears, apart from the fake Lily’s malicious curses, I could no longer hear Lily’s baby voice. My chest ached with anxiety, and my eyes were stinging. Lily, just hold on a little longer. I’ll save you soon. Mr. Davis, who had caught up, stood a short distance away, his gaze terrifyingly fierce. “If my daughter gets burned by the fire, I’ll make you pay with your life!” My eyes were swollen with desperation, but my voice was trembling yet firm. “She’s not your daughter!” “Your biological daughter is in one of the kitchen cabinets! You have to believe me!” “Please, help me look! She’s about to lose consciousness!” Sarah was already crying hysterically, completely drained. She ran her hands through her disheveled hair, pleading with me. “Chloe, name your price! We can give you anything! Please, just let go of my daughter!” My mind was solely focused on finding Lily. One cabinet door after another was forced open, but inside were only food and various kitchen utensils. Amidst the clatter and bangs, Lily let out one last weak whimper. [I think I hear Chloe’s voice…] [Chloe, save me, I’m right in…] Before Lily could finish, I followed the sound and spun around, looking at a dish cabinet in the deepest part of the kitchen. “Lily’s in there! Go save her!” My chest was heaving, my only thought to rush over there. But behind me, two strong bodyguards lunged at me simultaneously. One snatched the fake Lily and returned her to Mr. Davis. The other clamped down on me, making my bones creak. In desperation, I could only appeal to Sarah again. “Sarah, please, take a good look at this child!” “I’m sure you can tell the difference between her and your own daughter!” Sarah was about to breathe a sigh of relief. Hearing my words, maternal instinct made her subconsciously glance at the fake Lily. She looked at the little red face, her brow furrowing slightly. Brenda, seeing this, eagerly tried to pull Sarah away. “Don’t listen to her crazy talk; she’s a lunatic. It’s too hot in here; Lily will be uncomfortable. Let’s go now.” Sarah saw the child’s red face and eventually let Brenda pull her away. My body felt weak, my mind a blank slate. I couldn’t think of anything else. However, while no one was paying attention, Grandma Margaret, leaning on her cane, walked to the dish cabinet, half-believing, half-doubting. Seeing her raise her hand, full of indecision, I croaked out, clinging to a last, slim hope. “Grandma Margaret, just one look, please, just one look…” “Your Davis family’s precious baby is in there. Whether she lives or dies depends entirely on you…” Mr. Davis could no longer stand my raving. “How dare you curse my daughter? My daughter is perfectly fine!” Brenda, hiding in a corner, sneered. The fake Lily even let out a strangely sinister giggle. [I knew Mr. Davis wouldn’t doubt me.] [Go peacefully, Lily. From today on, the Davis family’s billions are all mine!] Seeing Grandma Margaret’s raised hand fall again, tears and blood blurred my vision, plunging me into utter despair. Lily, I’m so sorry. Not only did I fail to save you, but I’ve also ruined myself. “Lock Chloe in the freezer! I’m going to…” Just as the bodyguards were about to forcibly drag me away, Grandma Margaret squinted and peered into the crack of the cabinet door. The next second, her pupils constricted, and she shrieked in terror. “Don’t go! There’s… there’s really a baby hidden inside!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “417032”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

Ethan Vance’s first love was a lunatic. She’d follow us when we ate, and threaten to jump from a building when we dated. Several times I suggested calling the police, but Ethan always urged me to endure it. He’d say Serena Bellwether was young and naive, telling me not to bother with a crazy person. Until the day of our engagement party, Serena snuck in past security. She tore my wedding dress and smashed my champagne tower. Then she pushed me, three months pregnant, down the stairs. This time, Ethan finally exploded. Ignoring all explanations, he sent her directly to a psychiatric hospital. I thought our days of trouble were finally over. But that very night, Serena, who should have been in the hospital, appeared downstairs at my house. Under the cherry blossom trees, their petals flying everywhere. The girl who had abandoned him years ago asked him with tear-filled eyes. “Ethan, you still love me, don’t you?” “Your engagement party played my favorite music.” “Your fiancée wore the wedding dress I designed, and you went to my favorite restaurant for dates.” “Even near your house, my favorite cherry blossoms are planted.” “Ethan, open your eyes and look at me! I refuse to believe you’ve truly moved on!” Ethan hadn’t moved on. He fell silent for only three seconds before lowering his head and kissing her. He kissed her with a desperate, almost savage intensity, as if to vent all his pent-up frustrations. Only after completely releasing the resentment in his heart did he let go, his eyes still red. “Yes, I can’t let go.” “But Serena, what makes you think I, Ethan, a man of my standing, would marry someone who abandoned me like discarded goods?” Serena didn’t answer. She simply rose on her toes and kissed him. Ethan’s body stiffened for a moment. Just when I thought he would push her away, He, his eyes red, pulled her into his car. Under the night sky, the car rocked violently. What the two did was obvious. And I was so disgusted I couldn’t speak. Dating for ten years, I always knew Ethan had a crazy first love. That person was obsessive, willful, and unreasonable. She left him when he was at his lowest, then relentlessly hounded him to come back after he’d rebuilt his life. Every time Serena appeared, Ethan would tell me with an impatient look, “She’s just a lunatic, why bother with her?” But now, he was entangled with that lunatic. My stomach churned violently. I stumbled to the bathroom and threw up until I saw stars. I don’t know how long I was sick before Ethan finally returned. He was straightening his rumpled clothes, creased from Serena’s embrace. Seeing me, he immediately rushed to my side. “What’s wrong, Chloe? Is it a lingering effect from what happened earlier today?” “Don’t be scared, I’ll take you to the hospital right now.” He draped his jacket over me and helped me walk out. But the scent of his cologne, mingling with hers, only made me more nauseous. I roughly pushed Ethan’s hand away, unable to bear his touch. Ethan thought I was still angry about the day’s events. His expression grew impatient. “Chloe, you’ve always been so understanding, haven’t you?” “Why are you still angry with me about what happened today? Serena is just crazy, don’t stoop to her level. I’ll make it up to you tomorrow, okay?” Make it up to me how? By punishing her in the car again? Or by making her his mistress, to humiliate her? I couldn’t bring myself to ask. Ethan stood beside me for a while. Feeling bored, he quietly walked out. Sleep was impossible. I stared blankly at the ceiling.

My mind was filled with images of them kissing. I thought and thought, still feeling a deep sense of injustice. I wanted to confront Ethan and get to the bottom of it. As I reached the study door, Ethan was sitting by the floor-to-ceiling window, lost in thought. His eyes were fixed on the direction Serena had left. In his hand was the ring Serena had given him years ago. I suddenly recalled Serena’s words. I turned and looked around. Pink curtains, juvenile decor, cherry blossoms everywhere. This was supposed to be our marital home, paid for and decorated by me, yet there wasn’t a single thing that suited my taste. It was like how I disliked light music and Western food. Yet Ethan would still, without fail, take me to that high-end Western restaurant. At first, I thought Ethan simply didn’t understand these things. Now, looking back, he wasn’t ignorant. He had simply woven all his love and longing for Serena into the fabric of our shared life. The answer was painfully clear, no need to ask further. I wiped away my tears, a bitter understanding settling in my heart. Just as I was about to turn back, I accidentally knocked over a nearby vase, shattering it. The sharp crash of the vase startled Ethan, making him turn around abruptly. The ring in his hand rolled to my feet. I instinctively bent down to pick it up. The man, who had just been full of melancholy, suddenly rushed over. Roughly, he snatched the ring from my hand. “Why are you touching my things!” The edge of the ring cut a deep gash into my palm. The wound was deep, but I didn’t feel the pain. Perhaps, I had grown accustomed to it. When we first started dating, Ethan had also lost his temper with me over this ring. I thought the ring was ugly. I felt that its cheap, childish craftsmanship didn’t suit his businessman’s demeanor. But he insisted it was his lucky charm, and no one was allowed to touch it. A lucky charm? No, it was plainly a memento of his longing. I glanced at Ethan’s bare finger, a bitter smile touching my lips. “Ethan, where’s our wedding ring?” As if remembering something, Ethan’s angry expression softened a little, and he lowered his voice. “I forgot. Maybe I left it at the engagement party.” He didn’t forget. Serena threw it away. I saw it with my own eyes tonight. He had carefully cherished the ring Serena gave him for ten years. Yet, he casually tossed my wedding ring by the roadside. “Forget it then, it’s not important anyway.” Ethan sighed. Just as I was about to turn away, he suddenly gripped my hand. I thought he had noticed the cut on my hand. The next second, I heard him say casually, “Chloe, let’s just cancel our wedding. We can just sign the papers.” “You’ve seen Serena’s condition.” “She has mental health issues and can’t handle any kind of stress.” It was the same excuse again. The first time, Ethan and I were on a date. Serena followed us to the restaurant and put something in my food. I was sick with severe vomiting and diarrhea for days, almost ending up in the hospital with dehydration. Ethan said she was just young and naive, telling me not to bother with her. The second time, on our anniversary. Serena threatened to commit suicide by jumping off a building if he didn’t return to her. Ethan said she just couldn’t accept us being together. The third, fourth, fifth time… She killed my pet kitten, threw away my competition entry. Every time, Ethan would tell me, “She’s just a lunatic, why bother arguing with a crazy person?” “We just need to be more careful in the future not to provoke her.”

Back then, I didn’t realize the indulgence hidden in his words. Looking back now, he must have been enjoying all of it. Enjoyment led to indulgence. His affection made him willing. My efforts and presence were just a cruel game in their twisted relationship. My heart ached intensely, and I recoiled from Ethan’s touch. The fresh blood from my palm dripped onto the floor with my movements. Ethan finally noticed my injury, and his expression instantly became tense. “How did this happen?” “Honestly, you’re impossible. Why didn’t you tell me you were hurt?” I had told him, but no one cared. Once, I was attacked by one of Ethan’s enemies, and the situation was critical. I called him dozens of times, but he never answered. It wasn’t until I was in the hospital that I found out: Serena had deliberately led them to me. She even faked being sick to take Ethan’s phone and block all my messages. Because of that incident, I lost our first child. Ethan felt deeply guilty after learning the truth. But when I truly demanded he punish Serena, His guilt turned into impatience. I should have understood then. The person he truly loved was never me. And those who aren’t loved never get the luxury of being willful. Thankfully, I understood now, and it wasn’t too late. I pulled my hand away and, under Ethan’s gaze, tended to my own wound. Ethan watched me for a long time. His eyes held tenderness, guilt. And a hint of something I couldn’t quite decipher. But I no longer wanted to be entangled with him. Before Ethan could speak again, I turned away first. “It’s nothing serious. Get some sleep.” “Tomorrow, we still have to clean up the mess Serena left behind.” Ethan, feeling guilty and unsure how to comfort me, Hesitated for a long time, then only sighed softly. “Alright, get some rest.” “Since you don’t want to see me, I’ll sleep in the study tonight.” “If you need anything from me, remember to let me know anytime.” No need. From now on, I wouldn’t need him anymore. Back in my room, I cancelled our planned honeymoon trip and called my mom, who was overseas. After listening to my story, Mom sighed deeply. “I told you from the start that Ethan wasn’t reliable, but you wouldn’t believe me.” “Now look, you’ve suffered, haven’t you?” “Forget it, come back when you’ve had enough. Your father and I miss you terribly.” “Don’t be too sad, wounds always heal.” Yes, wounds always heal. Just as my feelings for him would eventually subside. I looked at the plane ticket Mom had sent me. My heart ached, and tears fell uncontrollably. For myself, and for the past ten years. I spent a sleepless night. By the time I woke up, Ethan had already left. On the living room coffee table lay a brand-new diamond ring. He was always like this. Every time Serena caused trouble, he would offer me some form of compensation. Flowers, bags, diamond rings. But he would never send Serena away. If they truly couldn’t let go of each other, then I’d grant them their wish. I packed my things and headed to the hospital alone. Halfway there, a red sports car suddenly swerved and hit me. I couldn’t react in time and was thrown hard to the ground. In an instant, the world spun. Excruciating pain radiated from all over my body, spreading to my very core.

I struggled to lift my head and look. The driver was Serena Bellwether. She emerged from the driver’s seat, her face impassive, and stomped hard on my lower abdomen. “You wretched bitch, using your pregnancy to steal my Ethan!” “Today, I’ll kill this bastard, and Ethan will be mine again!” Large gushes of blood poured from between my legs. The pain made my tears stream down. I wanted to tell her that I didn’t want Ethan anymore. In a few hours, I would leave and never return. I wanted to beg her to call the hospital. My body was too fragile to endure any more hardship. But the intense pain made me unable to speak. Serena’s face grew increasingly twisted. Just as I thought I was about to pass out, Ethan suddenly rushed over and pushed her away. They started arguing. But I couldn’t hear anything anymore. My world blurred into a hazy illusion. Love, Ethan, the child. Along with the scattered cherry blossoms on the ground. Everything vanished without a trace. When I woke up again, I was in the hospital. The baby was gone. Though I had prepared myself for the possibility of losing him, I never imagined it would happen in such a brutal way. Ethan displayed the same remorse as before. He held my hand, offering soft words of comfort. “I never thought Serena would be so impulsive.” “This time, I promise I’ll teach her a lesson.” A lesson? Forget it. Without Ethan’s indulgence, how would Serena dare to go this far? He could never bring himself to truly punish Serena. Just as he never truly cared about me. My heart was already numb from the pain. I closed my eyes, touching my flat abdomen. “This is the second one.” “What?” Ethan had forgotten. This was our second child, lost at Serena’s hands. He always habitually ignored everything related to me. Ignoring the love I had for him, which was slowly withering away. This time, I refused to endure it any longer. Taking a deep breath, I looked up at Ethan. “I’m calling the police.” “I want Serena to face the consequences of her actions!” “That’s impossible!” Ethan quickly pulled his hand away. “You’ll ruin her life if you do that!” “Then who will be responsible for mine?!” The pain in my body spread to my heart. I was trembling all over. “The doctors said my body has been so severely damaged that I might never be able to have children again!” “Who can give back everything I’ve lost?!” Serena couldn’t, and neither could Ethan. He couldn’t even answer the question. He could only, after a long silence, slowly say, “Serena only did this because she loves me too much.” “You’re about to become Mrs. Vance, so don’t stoop to her level over these issues.” I didn’t argue then because of love. I loved him so much that I didn’t want to make things difficult for him. But now, that love was gone. All my devotion and love for Ethan had died under the cherry blossoms that night. I refused to cling to the empty title of Mrs. Vance, trading it for a pitiful scrap of sympathy. After Ethan left, I called the police. At 4 PM, Serena was arrested by the police. At 5 PM, Ethan had her bailed out. At 5:10 PM, Ethan sent me a message. “Why did you call the police? Do you know how much this has hurt Serena?” “She was so traumatized at the police station, crying non-stop. You need to come over and apologize to her immediately!” I didn’t reply. At 5:20 PM, Ethan sent another message. “If you don’t come, I’ll have to comfort her physically.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “417031”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

The Brandi family had two adopted sons. One was me. The other was Lace. On the day Annie Brandi, the eldest daughter, got engaged to Lace, she was in a car accident. Both her legs were crippled. Lace cried as he tore up the engagement. And I, to repay a debt of gratitude, married Annie. After the wedding, I took care of her for ten full years. I helped her through rehab, helped her stand again. For her, I gave up my chance to go to college. But I never expected that on the day she finally stood up and took over the family business, she would suddenly announce she was bringing Lace back home—Lace, who’d been scammed out of all his money by a sugar mama—and that she wanted to divorce me. I’d raged and questioned her. I’d smashed everything in the house. I’d even begged on my knees. But Annie remained stubborn as ever. Even my adoptive parents felt that someone like me—who never even went to college—was no longer worthy of Annie in all her current glory. In my fury, I coughed up blood right there and leaped from the top floor of the Brandi family mansion. When I opened my eyes again, I’d returned to the day the Brandis were choosing a husband for their daughter. …

Old Mr. Brandi stood on the platform, his eyes and brows radiating joy. “Today is not only Annie’s twenty-second birthday, but also the day she chooses her fiancé.” “The Brandi family and the Andrews family have been friends for generations. We’ve watched both Carter and Lace grow up since they were children.” “Annie, tell us—who do you choose?” Mrs. Brandi smiled gently beside him. “I’m guessing our daughter will choose Carter. This boy has been steady and responsible since childhood, and he’s helped Annie so much.” Whether in academics or ability, I was far superior to Lace. Everyone in the Brandi family had already privately decided it would be me. In my previous life, it was also today. Annie chose Lace without hesitation. I suppressed the love in my heart and planned to apply to the farthest university possible and never come back. But that very night, Annie was in a serious car accident. Both her legs were crushed in a compound fracture. Lace coldly tore up the engagement agreement at the hospital and ran away that same night. Annie clenched her fists but silently accepted it. Everyone’s eyes turned to me. Under invisible pressure, to repay the Brandi family’s kindness in raising me, and for my own pathetic secret crush— I gave up my guaranteed admission to Harvard and married her, crippled as she was. I took care of her for ten full years. In return, after she stood up again, she brought Lace back and kicked me out. She even forged psychiatric evaluation documents and drove me to jump to my death. The memories receded like a tide. While I was lost in thought, Annie had already grabbed Lace’s arm without hesitation. “Dad, Mom, I choose Lace.” The whole room erupted. Mrs. Brandi froze. “Annie, did you misspeak? Carter, he…” “I didn’t misspeak!” Annie cut her mother off sharply. “In this life and the next, I could never choose Carter!” Annie clutched Lace’s arm tightly, a triumphant smile curling at her lips as she continued, “Dad, since I’ve already chosen Lace, it’s not appropriate for Carter to stay with the Brandi family anymore.” “Give him some money and have him move out today.” “From now on, he has nothing to do with the Brandi family or the Andrews family assets!” “I never want to see his face again for as long as I live!” The words were utterly heartless. Old Mr. Brandi frowned deeply. “Annie! What are you thinking? We raised Carter too. How can we just throw him out?” “If we don’t throw him out, who knows what vicious things he’ll do behind our backs?” Annie sneered. “I’m doing this for the Brandi family’s peace.” I raised my head and met Annie’s gaze. In the depths of her eyes lurked deep disgust, wariness, and even a trace of hatred. I understood immediately. She had been reborn too. In the previous life, after she stood up again, she’d listened to Lace’s manipulation. She became convinced that I’d deliberately bribed the driver to cause that car accident to get her, that I’d destroyed her legs. She also became convinced that I’d used underhanded methods to drive Lace away and stolen what should have been his. So she hated me to the bone. Seeing her now, looking at me like I was a snake, the weight that had been hanging in my chest suddenly lifted. I’d been struggling with whether to stop tonight’s horrific car accident. Since she was so determined, believing that staying away from me would set everything right— Then I would grant her wish. “Fine.” Annie was clearly stunned, her brow furrowing tightly. I stepped forward, standing tall, my voice calm. “Mr. Brandi, Mrs. Brandi.” “Annie’s right. Since she’s made her choice, it really isn’t appropriate for me to stay.” Without acknowledging the shocked looks around me, I turned and headed upstairs. I pushed open my bedroom door, feeling a liberating sense of relief. I packed a few changes of clothes and the belongings my birth parents had left me. As for the luxury watches and sports car keys the Brandi family had bought me over the years—I didn’t touch a single thing.

After packing everything, I carried my suitcase back downstairs. The people in the hall hadn’t dispersed yet. Annie looked at my suitcase and let out a cold laugh. “Carter, stop playing hard to get. Let me tell you, don’t even think about any more schemes. I won’t let you manipulate me like you did bef—like you used to!” “Once you walk out that door, you’ll never get a single cent from the Brandi family!” I stopped. “Annie, don’t worry.” “The Brandi family’s money doesn’t interest me.” “But before I leave, there are some things that belong to me that I need to take.” I pulled out a document I’d prepared earlier from my bag. “Mr. Brandi, these are the core patent rights to the Andrews family technology that my birth parents left behind.” “Since I’ll have nothing to do with the Brandi family from now on, please sign this document and return these patents to me.” Old Mr. Brandi’s expression shifted. Lace immediately sneered from the side. “Carter, have you lost your mind?” “Those Andrews family patents are completely outdated. What use are they to you? You think you’re going to get rich off that junk?” Annie’s face was full of contempt. “Dad, give them to him! Since he insists on being so petty about it, return those useless papers to him. That way he can’t go around saying the Brandi family coveted the Andrews family’s assets!” Old Mr. Brandi hesitated. Years ago, my parents had died in a car accident while saving the Brandi couple. To silence public gossip, the Brandi family had adopted both Lace and me. Naturally, the Andrews family’s business and patents came under Brandi family “management.” Over the years, the Brandi family had already sucked dry all the Andrews family assets they could liquidate, leaving only these foundational technology patents they considered obsolete. “Carter, why put yourself through this? You’re a grown man—what use are these to you?” Old Mr. Brandi said with false concern. “This is the only memento my parents left me. Sign it.” My tone was firm, leaving no room for negotiation. The intermittent glances from surrounding guests put pressure on both Old Mr. Brandi and Mrs. Brandi. With a flourish, Old Mr. Brandi signed the transfer agreement and stamped it with the Brandi family seal. I carefully checked the documents, confirmed everything was in order, and put them in my bag. They had no idea that these seemingly outdated foundational patents would become the most critical breakthrough in the new energy technology sector over the next three years. In my previous life, Annie had used these patents—which I’d given away for nothing—to propel the Brandi family to become the wealthiest in the West. In this life, I would never again hand them the knife handle. “Mr. Brandi, Mrs. Brandi, the debt of raising me is greater than heaven itself, but my parents already repaid that debt with their two lives.” “From today on, I, Carter, and the Brandi family are even. All ties are severed. We owe each other nothing.” Annie stared at the suitcase in my hand, sneering. “Nice act. Just don’t come crawling back the moment you step out that door.” I glanced back at her. “Annie, I wish you and Lace a lifetime of happiness.” “Whatever you do, don’t regret this.” With that, I walked out of the Brandi family mansion without looking back. The night wind felt cool against my face. But I felt that this was the freest day of both my lives combined. Less than half an hour after leaving the Brandi family, a torrential rain hit the West. Wild wind whipped sheets of rain against the taxi’s windshield. I sat in the back seat, quietly watching the blurred nightscape outside. The driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror. “Sir, heading to the airport in this weather? Catching a flight?” I nodded. “Yeah. Going East.” “This rain is crazy. There’s been a bad accident on the overpass up ahead. Road’s closed. We’ll have to detour.” The driver muttered as he turned the wheel. Hearing the words “car accident,” my eyes flickered. Calculating the time—yes, it would be right about now. I pulled out my phone and opened the local Western news feed.

Sure enough, a bright red headline popped up. [BREAKING! Serious accident on Western overpass—black Maybach crushed by dump truck, owner suspected to be daughter of Brandi family conglomerate!] Below were several blurry photos from the scene. The front of the Maybach was completely deformed, the driver’s cabin crushed into a heap of scrap metal. A shocking pool of blood on the ground had been washed across the pavement by the rain. The news updated in real time: [Brandi family heiress’s legs trapped by deformed cabin, compound fracture, facing risk of permanent disability.] Looking at the photos on the screen, my finger paused. In my previous life, because I’d been worried about her, I’d secretly followed their car. When the accident happened, I’d risked the car exploding and smashed the window with my bare hands, nearly giving my life to drag her out. Because of my timely rescue, though her legs were disabled, the nerves were preserved. That’s why she’d had hope of standing again later. But in this life, she’d been trapped in that deformed car for a full half hour before firefighters got her out. She’d missed the optimal rescue window. Those legs of hers were finished. Annie, enjoy the rest of your crippled life locked together with your true love. I expressionlessly swiped away the news. Then I opened the back of my phone and pulled out the SIM card. I rolled down the window and tossed it out. The tiny chip was instantly swept away by the rain, disappearing into the dark sewer. In my previous life, to take care of her, I’d given up my guaranteed admission to Harvard. In this life, I’d already contacted a top professor in Harvard’s finance department in advance. Tomorrow morning, I’d report to her lab. I was going to pursue the bright future that truly belonged to me. As for Annie— That was the path she chose. … At that very moment, at Western General Hospital. The red light outside the emergency room had been on for five solid hours. When Old Mr. Brandi and Mrs. Brandi arrived, Mrs. Brandi’s legs gave out and she fainted. Lace stood in a corner of the hallway, his face ashen, irritably tugging at his tie. The emergency room doors swung open. The attending physician walked out covered in blood, his expression grave. “Mr. Brandi, we saved her life.” “But… your daughter’s legs suffered compound fractures with massive nerve death.” “We did everything we could, but she’ll likely… spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair.” The words hit like a thunderbolt. Lace’s eyes went wide in disbelief as he staggered back a step. Spend her life in a wheelchair? Crippled? Lace had dreamed of taking over the Brandi family empire! If Annie was crippled, wouldn’t he have to spend his whole life serving a paralytic and enduring people’s pitying stares? Just imagining it made Lace feel nauseated. Several nurses wheeled out a hospital bed. Annie was still unconscious, her legs wrapped in thick bandages, blood still seeping through. The air reeked of blood and disinfectant. Lace recoiled in disgust, afraid the blood would stain his expensive shoes. “Lace…” Old Mr. Brandi looked at him with red-rimmed eyes. “You’re the one Annie cares about most. You have to stay with her.” Lace forced on an expression of grief, his voice stiff. “Mr. Brandi, don’t worry. I’ll definitely take good care of Annie.” “I… I’m going to smoke a cigarette and collect myself. Then I’ll come stay with her.” With that, he turned and hurried toward the end of the hallway without a backward glance.

The next morning, Annie woke to excruciating pain. As the anesthesia wore off, her legs transmitted tearing agony mixed with a strange numbness. She stared at the white ceiling as her memory gradually returned. Feeling the pain in her lower body, something suddenly occurred to her. A moment later she relaxed, weakly managing a pale smile. Why had she still gotten in an accident even after driving Carter away? Whatever. Carter just loved her too much. She knew it—he was definitely playing hard to get, so desperate to take care of her. Depending on his behavior going forward, maybe she could forgive him after all. But in this life, without that scheming Carter getting in the way— Her Lace must be standing guard by her bedside like a devoted protector, right? “Lace…” she called hoarsely, struggling to turn her head. But the bedside was empty. No sign of Lace. Only Mrs. Brandi sat there with swollen eyes, looking like she’d aged ten years overnight. “Mom… where’s Lace?” An ominous feeling rose in Annie’s chest. Hearing her voice, Mrs. Brandi’s tears spilled over again. “Annie… stop looking for him.” “That ungrateful traitor—he ran.” “When he heard your legs were crippled, he went back to the villa overnight, cleaned out your safe, tore up the engagement agreement, and fled the country.” Annie’s brain went blank with a buzzing sound. “Impossible!” She struggled violently, and the searing pain in her legs made her gasp. “Mom, you’re lying! Lace loves me so much—how could he run?” “Did Carter drive him away!” She shouted incoherently. A nearby nurse couldn’t take it anymore and cut in coldly. “Miss Brandi, last night when the doctor announced you might be permanently disabled, the disgust in Mr. Lace’s eyes—everyone in our entire department saw it clear as day.” “He complained that the blood on your legs was dirtying his designer shoes. He used smoking as an excuse and ran faster than a rabbit.” The cold beeping of medical equipment filled the hospital room. Each sound seemed to mock her self-deception mercilessly. Annie stared at the empty doorway. Her heart felt like it was being crushed by an invisible hand. How could this be? Without Carter’s scheming, why did she still have the accident? Why did Lace still run? What went wrong? Just then, an unexpected figure appeared at the door…

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “417030”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

I was reborn, brought back to life on the very day my roommate wanted to swap online boyfriends with me. Waking up from the excruciating pain of being stabbed, I heard Isabella complaining to Chloe, who was on the bed opposite, about her online boyfriend. “I suggested going to the movies, and he said, ‘How about studying at the library instead?’ I suggested a walk in the park, and he said, ‘How about a lab project instead?’” Isabella rolled her eyes. “Three months of online dating, never met, never spent a dime on me. It’s so boring.” She saw I was awake, hopped off her bed, and grabbed my arm. “Catherine, you have an online boyfriend too, right? Why don’t we swap?” I looked at her, saying nothing. In my last life, I refused her. And what was the result? My online boyfriend was a good-for-nothing jerk, pretending to be a rich kid online, sweet-talking me into dating him. I fell for his lies, flunked my exams, and only got into an average university. After graduation, he conned me into taking out online loans, and I ultimately died by a debt collector’s knife. Meanwhile, Isabella’s online boyfriend was a brilliant student, excelling in both academics and character. He pushed her to study, got into a top-tier university himself, and dragged her along to an elite institution. They went from college sweethearts to walking down the aisle, but on their fifth wedding anniversary, Isabella’s secret lover burst in and stabbed her. That’s when everyone found out she’d been cheating, embezzling funds, and faking her degree all these years. Now, looking at Isabella’s expectant gaze, I nodded. “Okay.”

The first thing I did after getting Isabella’s social media account was link it to my phone. Isabella scoffed, watching my actions. “Seriously? I won’t go back on my word.” I ignored her. In my last life, she didn’t go back on her word, but in this life, I wasn’t going to gamble. After logging in, the last message in the chat history was from the guy, asking Isabella to the library, to which Isabella had responded with a sarcastic eye-roll emoji. I scrolled further back. They had been chatting for three months, and the total word count was less than what my online boyfriend and I exchanged in a week. Every time, he initiated the conversation, asking how many problems she’d solved that day, which concepts she didn’t understand, or if she needed help organizing her notes. Isabella would usually reply with “Mhm” or “Oh,” and most of the time, she didn’t reply at all. For three months, Isabella found him unromantic and never even met him. He, however, kept actively asking her to the library, but Isabella always made excuses to push him off. Perhaps it was this contrast that made Isabella conclude he was a boring bookworm, which conveniently benefited me. It had been three days since their last chat, and Isabella hadn’t replied. I quickly tapped the input box, typed a few words, deleted them, and repeated the process several times before finally sending a message: 【Isn’t meeting like this a bit too casual?】 He replied quickly: 【Then what do you want to do?】 I thought for a moment, then typed: 【Let’s go for a run on the track tonight. 800 meters. The loser does ten practice tests.】 This time, he paused for a few seconds. I stared at the screen, my palms a little sweaty. A message popped up: 【Okay.】 I breathed a sigh of relief. Even though I was reborn, my memories of studying hadn’t faded. This life, I had a chance to turn things around. I immediately got out of bed, packed my backpack, and got ready to leave. Isabella was chatting with Chloe, laughing loudly. “I’m meeting my boyfriend for bubble tea tonight. There’s a new trendy spot that just opened, and I haven’t been able to go, but tonight someone’s finally treating me!” She glanced at me, her tone boastful. “My new boyfriend? He’s so generous. You can tell he’s willing to spend money on me.” I didn’t reply, just slung my backpack on and walked out the door. After dinner, I waited for him by the track. My heart was pounding, not because we were meeting, but because I knew this man could change my destiny. In my last life, the first time I met my online boyfriend, Federico, he dragged me to a bubble tea shop, ordered two of the most expensive drinks, and then told me he’d forgotten his wallet. I ended up paying. I wondered if Isabella would manage to get anything out of him this time. Footsteps sounded behind me. I turned and saw a guy walking over. He was tall, with clear, sharp eyes, and held a bottle of water. His name was Gabriel, and in my last life, I’d seen his face on TV. I felt a little guilty and avoided eye contact. He looked at me, then handed over the water. “Warm up first, or you’ll cramp.” I took the water and started jogging slowly behind him. Neither of us spoke; only our footsteps and breathing filled the track. When we finished, I leaned on my knees, panting. Gabriel stopped beside me, glanced at his stopwatch. “Four minutes and two seconds. You lost.” “Ten practice tests,” he said. “Start tomorrow.” I looked up at him. In the moonlight, his expression was serious, and he looked handsome and fresh. “Okay.” My heart thumped uncontrollably, and my face began to flush. He nodded, then turned and walked away. I stood there, watching his retreating back, then looked down at the water bottle in my hand. My heartbeat returned to normal. Catherine, you don’t need a man; you need a top-tier university. By the time I returned to the dorm, it was almost ten. Though my legs were wobbly from exhaustion, I felt incredibly happy. In my last life, this was the day I started down the wrong path. This life, no more. I looked at Isabella’s bed; it was empty. Chloe poked her head out. “Isabella said she’s not coming back tonight. She went to an all-night karaoke with her online boyfriend.” I didn’t reply, just lay back on my bed and closed my eyes.

From that day on, Gabriel and I started studying together. I’d be in my own classroom during class, then go find him after. We’d work on our respective problems in a corner of the library, occasionally swapping notebooks with our incorrect answers. He spoke little when explaining problems, but every word hit the mark. Once, I got stuck on a function problem. He looked at it for two seconds, then tapped a number on the paper with his pen tip. “You missed this condition.” I reread the problem. Sure enough. “How do you see that so fast?” I asked, a little unconvinced. “Because I’ve seen all the problems you’ve gotten wrong,” he said. “Your main issues are careless calculations and missing conditions, not a lack of understanding of the concepts.” I froze. He’d even looked at my incorrect answers? I buried my head deeper, pretending to be diligently working on the problem. But my heartbeat was too loud; I was afraid he’d hear it. Meanwhile, Isabella started skipping classes frequently, and her allowance grew. In the dorm, she’d look at me with disdain, always flaunting things subtly. “Federico bought me another bag. Do you know, that brand costs thousands?” I advised her, “You should really study. Exams are coming up.” Isabella rolled her eyes. “You’ve been spending too much time with Gabriel, your brain’s become a stick in the mud just like his.” She glanced at the practice test I was working on and scoffed. “What’s the point of studying all day, every day? Women, you’ve got to enjoy yourself while you’re young.” I didn’t say anything more. Some paths, you only know they’re pitfalls after you’ve walked them yourself. I had already walked that one once. The day exam results came out, I had moved up thirty-two places. I snapped a picture of my report card and sent it to Gabriel: 【Thank you.】 He replied with a picture of his own report card. He’d also improved, ranking fifth in his grade. I smiled at the screen. Isabella, seeing me smile, leaned over to look and her face immediately soured. “What’s so great about getting lucky?” she suddenly blurted out. “Everyone knows what your real abilities are. Don’t think just because you got lucky on a test once, you’re hot stuff.” I put my phone away and ignored her. The class bell rang, and Federico came to the classroom door to find Isabella. She went out for a moment, and when she returned, a new bracelet adorned her wrist. Isabella deliberately extended her hand and waved it in front of me. “Pretty, right? Federico bought it for me. It cost thousands.” I glanced at the bracelet. I’d had one just like it in my last life. At the time, I thought it was a designer brand and carefully treasured it. Later, I found out it was fake, costing less than fifty dollars to make. Isabella saw I wasn’t speaking, assumed I was envious, and smugly withdrew her hand. “What good are good grades? Marrying into wealth isn’t about scores; it’s about having good judgment and knowing how to pick a man.” I remembered Federico’s cold, detached expression as I lay dying in my previous life. “Yes,” I said. “You definitely need good judgment.”

Because of this improvement, I trusted Gabriel’s abilities even more and studied harder. Isabella’s grades, however, plummeted, and she couldn’t keep up with her classes anymore. Her gaze towards me grew increasingly strange. Then, the rumors started. Chloe secretly told me, “Isabella’s been going around telling people you and Gabriel are dating, just so he’ll help you cheat on tests. She also said…” “Said what else?” “She said you don’t know how much you ‘gave up’ to improve your grades, that you’re too young to be so immoral, clinging to Gabriel because he’s smart, and tomorrow you’ll be fawning over the school’s bad boy because he’s handsome.” She looked at me, cautiously. “She also said you have no self-respect.” My hand, holding the pen, tightened. Chloe looked at me worriedly. “Catherine, maybe you should keep some distance from Gabriel? Until this blows over.” “I’m not dating,” I said. “We’re just studying together.” Chloe opened her mouth, about to say something else, when our homeroom teacher suddenly appeared at the classroom door. “Catherine, to the office, please.” In the office, Isabella stood in the corner, a smirk of schadenfreude on her face. Gabriel was there too, standing beside his homeroom teacher, Mr. Davies. I was a little nervous, but my expression was calm. Ms. Hayes, my homeroom teacher, asked, “Catherine, what’s your relationship with Gabriel?” “Study buddies,” I quickly said. “Gabriel and I both struggled with certain subjects, so we’re tutoring each other.” Isabella cut in, “Does tutoring require you to always be glued to each other? Together during breaks, together during evening study, and even together coming and going on weekends?” I ignored her, intending to continue explaining, when Gabriel suddenly spoke. “I like her. Is that a problem?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “417029”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

After getting clawed by Taylor again,I finally drove myself to the ER. The nurse peeled the towel away and sucked air through her teeth. “Honey.Honey.” Four claw marks from my shoulder damn near to my wrist.Deep enough to see pink. “Your beastman ever been through socialization training?” “Graduated top of his class.” Taylor Jones.Pureblood silver fox.Rank-S compatibility.Five hundred thousand dollars—my entire savings.Every overtime shift.Every packed lunch.Every dollar I didn’t spend on myself for three years. Twelve months ago,he begged me to choose him.Before anyone found out he was infertile. Now my phone was buzzing. “It’s just a scratch.Did you seriously go to the hospital?” “Dramatic much?” “I’m hungry.Come home and cook.” Then a fourth message.A screenshot sent to the wrong thread.Dinner reservation.Eleven Madison.Two seats.Tonight. That would be Ava. Ava.Grade-A human.Family money.She wanted Taylor for her bloodline program.Taylor played along.She didn’t know he was infertile.Nobody did except me and the Bureau. I paid dollars to save him from being discarded.Now he was helping another woman build a family. I locked the phone.Set it facedown on the exam table. One hour later I walked into the Beastman Bonding&Registration Center. “I’d like to replace my beastman.” The receptionist pulled up my file.Eleven months and three weeks of cohabitation.Ten days from permanent bonding. “Can I ask why you’ve decided to request a replacement?” “He doesn’t like me.” “…Excuse me?” “I think your training program failed.I’ve met strays that behaved better than him.If this is what a certified companion beastman looks like…then I think dogs deserve an apology.” Walking into the Center brought back the memory of how pitiful Taylor had looked that day.Before Taylor was diagnosed infertile,his auction price had once made financial headlines.He begged me to pick him up.

The receptionist’s face scrunched up.”That really shouldn’t happen.Hostile rejection from a bonded beastman is extremely rare.” I shrugged.”Guess I’m just unlucky.” “No—Ivy,please.”She stood up.”If there was a breakdown in our training process,that’s on us.That is not on you.” “This time,”I said,”I’m hoping you can match me with a dog type.” She gave me a soft smile.”Come with me.” I followed her through frosted glass doors into the back.Long hallway.Clean lighting.It reminded me of the first time I came here—how nervous I was,how carefully I’d counted the money in my account three times before walking in. In the new era,male beastmen had taken over most reproductive roles.When I bought Taylor,he cost five hundred thousand dollars.Every overtime shift.Every packed lunch. The showroom was bright and sleek.Holographic profiles rotated on a massive screen—face after face.Leopards.Snow lynxes.All gorgeous.All trained.All way out of my price range now. I watched them cycle through. “Is there…anything else?” “What type are you looking for?” “Dog type.Golden retriever,maybe.”I’d read online that golden retriever beastmen were naturally affectionate. “I’m so sorry,Ivy.No canine models available right now.”She paused.”But given your situation,we can put you on priority.First in line.” “…Okay.” She walked me back toward the lobby.As we passed through the corridor,a thick registration handbook started slipping under her arm.Something fell from between the pages. A photograph.Landed faceup on the tile. I bent down before thinking. Cold gray eyes.Sharp vertical pupils.Broad shoulders tapering to a narrow waist. And behind him—pointed ears.Silver-tipped. A fox. The receptionist noticed and sighed.”He’s actually the most obedient beastman we’ve ever trained.” I was still holding the photo.My thumb had landed right across his chest without me realizing. “Then why isn’t he assigned?”

“Corporate wanted to test a new market segment with him.” She hesitated.”But most humans won’t take foxes.Too unpredictable.He’s scheduled to be sold to an underground beast arena tonight.” “A fighting pit?” She nodded.Didn’t look happy about it.”He was raised for companionship since he was a kid.Temperament conditioning,emotional regulation,all of it.And they’re sending him to a cage.” She lowered her voice.”The ones they send there get torn apart.Sometimes there’s not even enough left to send back.” I looked at the photo again.Gray eyes straight into the camera.Not angry.Not sad.Just waiting. “I don’t care about fertility,”I said.”I just wanted someone—or honestly,maybe a dog—to come home to.Is he really obedient?” Her face lit up.”Extremely.” I looked at the photo one more time.Another fox.After everything Taylor put me through,I was really about to choose another fox. “Then I want this one.” “…For real?” “If nobody else wants him.” They brought him out for inspection. Taller than I expected.Broader.But the way he carried himself was small—shoulders curved in,chin tucked. He lowered his head.”I hope you’ll take me with you.” A pause. “The sooner the better.” Then he knelt.Right there on the tile floor.This six-foot-something fox beastman,on his knees in front of me. I didn’t move.Nobody had ever knelt for me before.Not once. He looked up and his ears—somewhere between a dog’s and a cat’s—pricked slightly toward me.Like he was already listening for what I needed. A good-looking guy with zero confidence.That got me.I won’t pretend it didn’t. I was done for. The paperwork took another hour.The receptionist handed me a sealed contract folder.”Ivy,I think he’s really lucky to have met you.We’ll deliver him to your registered address this evening.” “Thank you.” After finishing at the center,I headed to the mall.Place was packed the way it always was.Everyone tired from work. But happy.

Most of the people there were low-grade humans with their equally ordinary beastmen.Just regular couples doing regular shopping on a regular Tuesday night. Maybe one day that could be me.I took the subway home.Walked up four flights with the bags cutting into my fingers. I unlocked the apartment door and heard the TV already on. My hand froze on the knob for half a second. Taylor was home.He was never home.Usually he was out with Ava until midnight.But there he was,sprawled across the couch,tail flicking lazily over the armrest. It lashed once when he saw me. “Where the hell were you?You didn’t even make dinner.” “Living broke with you is bad enough.”He leaned up on one elbow.”Now I can’t even eat.” “I figured you’d eat at Ava’s.”I set the bags down by the door.”You don’t like my cooking anyway.” I said it simply:”Last birthday I spent all afternoon in the kitchen.You threw every dish in the trash.” He didn’t say anything to that. I crouched by the bags and started pulling stuff out.Chew sticks.A steel grooming comb.Fish oil supplements.I lined them up neatly beside the sofa. Taylor appeared behind me at some point. “…You’re treating me like a dog now?” I kept my face turned away from him. He picked up the comb between two fingers.”I don’t need this cheap stuff.My fur would get wrecked with a comb like this.” He glanced at the fish oil.”This brand isn’t even pure enough.” Then,quieter than before:”Whatever.Since you already bought them…I guess I can try.” “They’re not for you.”

Watch👉 https://cps-front.novelix.live/app-api/ext/new/20260620voNwCBeOON 🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “Novelix” app 🔍 search for “ni471516”, and watch the full series ✨! #Novelix

I’ve had a special ability since childhood—I can hear shadows speak. My father and stepmother didn’t believe me. They thought I was deliberately lying to get their attention. My stepsister, Lily, mocked me as a freak and rallied the girls at school to ostracize me. After graduating from college, Lily hooked up with a mafia boss. But on the eve of their wedding, the mafia boss was shot and fell into a coma. When he woke up, his memories were stuck at age ten. Lily immediately called off the engagement: “Make me marry an idiot? Absolutely not! I’d rather die than marry him!” Facing the mafia boss’s armed family downstairs, my father fell into despair. Just then, I heard the mafia boss’s shadow speak: “That bitch Lily! The doctor said my amnesia is only temporary. With proper care, I’ll recover in three months.” “I already bought her an island and a villa, planning to give them to her as gifts. Guess she doesn’t need them now! Once I recover, I’m going to kill her!” When I heard about the island and villa, my eyes lit up. I took the initiative and said to my father: “Dad, I’m willing to marry him in her place!”

Lily, who normally bullied me relentlessly, rushed over and hugged me when she heard I’d take her place: “Luna, you’re really willing?” I nodded. She hugged me tighter: “That’s more like it! I’ve always been so good to you, always looked after you at school. Now you’re marrying him in my place—it’s only right.” “Besides, it’s not like any man wants you anyway. Even though Jason has become an idiot, he’s handsome and has a great body. You’re not losing anything by marrying him.” She glanced at Jason standing by the door and licked her lips: “Honestly, I’m a little reluctant to let him go!” I pushed her away without retorting. Getting away from this family and earning an island and a villa—I really wasn’t losing anything. But Jason’s shadow was already trembling with rage. “Lily, you always pretended to be pure and gentle, always said your sister Luna bullied you—turns out it was all lies! You’re the vicious one!” “If I weren’t just a shadow, I’d strangle you right now!” I shrugged and went downstairs to invite Mrs. Grant to tea, then said to her: “I’m the Grant family’s eldest daughter. If you don’t mind, I’m willing to marry Jason in my sister’s place.” Mrs. Grant’s face had been filled with worry. After Jason was shot, they announced to the outside world that he would recover quickly. If he got dumped at this critical moment, other mafia factions would think Jason was down and the Grant family was finished. They’d move to absorb their territory. I had clearly become the Grant family’s lifeline. Mrs. Grant grabbed my hand excitedly: “You’re really willing? But Jason hasn’t recovered his memory yet, so we can’t hold a wedding ceremony.” “As long as you take good care of him and fulfill your duties as a wife, when he wakes up, I’ll definitely give you a generous gift.” I nodded obediently: “I’m very good at taking care of people. I’ve been tutoring since I was sixteen to earn my tuition.” Jason’s shadow said in surprise: “Her family isn’t poor though? Why would she need to earn her own tuition?” I pretended not to hear the shadow’s words and worked hard to sell myself. “I can also teach music. I’m very patient…” My stepmother eagerly chimed in: “That’s right, Luna was born to serve people. She can also do laundry and cook.” “Having her take care of Jason is perfect. I agree to this marriage. You should take her back right away.” My stepmother threw me out the door like discarding trash, unable to wait another moment. And my father, as always, let my stepmother bully me without intervention. Jason’s mother smiled, then stood up and said to me: “Come with us. Don’t bother bringing luggage. I’ll have the servants prepare new things for you.” At that moment, Jason actually came over on his own, took my hand and said: “You’re my wife? I want you to build LEGOs with me!” The moment I walked out the door, Lily’s shrill mocking voice came from behind: “A freak and an idiot—a perfect match.” Jason’s shadow cursed: “That bitch Lily! When I wake up, I’m giving Luna ten million immediately, just to piss Lily off!”

After returning to the Grant house, Mrs. Grant wiped away tears sadly: “Jason was shot in the head. It’s a miracle he’s even alive. But the doctor said as long as he’s well cared for and given enough affection, he can recover his memory in three months. But if he suffers another shock, he might stay like this forever.” “I was going to tell Lily this, but she was so heartless she refused before I could even finish.” “Luna, during this time, you must take good care of Jason. Nothing can go wrong!” What Mrs. Grant meant was that I needed to stay by his side to help awaken his memories. At the same time, Jason’s current condition couldn’t be seen by outsiders. She was busy fending off attacks from competitors. So she needed someone trustworthy to stay with Jason twenty-four hours a day. Jason’s shadow sighed: “I thought Lily would stand by me through thick and thin, but she completely broke my heart.” “I wonder if this Luna will be the same as Lily…” I smiled slightly. Then I brought Jason, who only had memories up to age ten, to the study. “Didn’t you want me to build LEGOs with you?” “Yes!” Jason, who was six-foot-three with an eight-pack, actually showed an innocent smile. I tapped his chest, then said: “I can keep you company, but on one condition! After we finish the LEGOs, you have to let me read to you.” This was also what Jason’s mother had instructed—read him company financial reports, political and economic books. It would help him recover his memory faster. Then I heard the shadow’s praise: “Seems like she’s more reliable than Lily. But I need to keep observing.” I started competing with Jason to build LEGOs. Unsurprisingly, I won. Then I took out finance books and history books and started reading to him. The shadow sighed again: “That Lily has reading disabilities. I didn’t expect Luna to be so smart—she even understands finance books and can analyze international situations. I wonder what other surprises she has that I don’t know about.” I smiled secretly. It seemed I’d already won his initial trust. The next day, even Jason’s mother looked at me with new eyes. I had just finished shaving Jason’s beard, making him look much more refreshed. A newly released movie was playing on TV, and I’d explain things to him from time to time. Jason liked pineapple smoothies, so I made them for him. Jason’s mother said: “Since his memory got stuck at age ten, he’s never been this well-behaved.” On the second night, after I finished reading to Jason, he insisted I stay. “My bed is huge. Just sleep next to me.” Looking at his sexy chest muscles under his pajamas, my face turned red. If I didn’t know he hadn’t recovered his memory yet, I might have actually fallen for him. Before turning off the lights, I secretly glanced at his shadow. The shadow was in a good mood: “This Luna really is pretty good. Once my body fully recovers, I’ll definitely give her a grand wedding and make her my real wife.” My face turned even redder. I hugged my blanket and lay down beside him, quickly hearing his even breathing. That night, I slept very well.

Later, while I was taking care of Jason, his shadow kept talking to itself: “How does Luna know I love Italian opera? Looks like she did her homework. Not bad.” “The company’s stock price went up. Looks like the crisis is over.” “She’s just like my mom. When I was little, my mom also made me eat carrots.” “Ah, this carrot cake smells so good! Too bad I’m just a shadow!” Under my care, in less than a month, Jason recovered some of his memories. But his memories were confused. Sometimes he was like a ten-year-old child, sometimes he suddenly became twenty years old and acted like he didn’t know me at all. One afternoon, I had just washed my hair and was blow-drying it when he suddenly had the expression of an adult and asked me: “Who are you? Why are you in my bathroom?” I was startled. I wanted to explain to him, but then I remembered the doctor had warned that he couldn’t be shocked at all during these three months. So I answered: “I’m a new maid your mother hired.” “How come I don’t know about this?” Jason grabbed my wrist and moved closer. I heard his shadow say anxiously: “This idiot, that’s your wife! You’re hurting your wife! Let go of her right now!” I explained to Jason: “My family kicked me out, and Mrs. Grant kindly took me in. Please don’t fire me. I have nowhere else to go…” Jason’s expression softened. After warning me, he let go of my hand and said: “This is my private bathroom. Don’t come here anymore!” After hearing his words, the shadow got even angrier: “If you can’t speak properly, just shut up! She’s your wife. You two will be showering together in the future!” Hearing the shadow’s complaint, images of us showering together quickly flashed through my mind, making my face burn. I said to Jason: “I’m sorry, Mr. Grant. I’m new here and don’t know the rules. I promise I won’t come to your private bathroom again.” After saying that, I hurried away with my head down. Later, during a hospital checkup, the doctor said excitedly: “Mr. Grant is recovering faster than expected! His memory is gradually returning. As for the memory confusion, it should stabilize in about a week!” Jason’s mother gripped my hand excitedly: “Thank you, Luna! After he recovers next week, I’m going to throw a party to show all our competitors that Jason is in top form.” News of Jason’s recovery somehow reached Lily’s ears. One afternoon, Lily suddenly came to see me. She glanced at Jason sitting on the lawn making butterfly specimens, then roughly dragged me to a corner. “I heard Jason is going to recover his memory? He still looks like a ten-year-old idiot to me.” I sneered: “Why do you care so much about my husband?” Lily slapped me across the face: “Your husband?” Lily pointed at my nose and warned me: “If Jason really does recover, you better get lost. I’m the woman Jason truly loves anyway!”

The shadow in the distance saw me getting bullied and roared: “Bitch! How dare you hit my wife! Luna, fight back!” “Once my body and memory fully recover, I’m definitely not marrying you! The only wife I recognize is Luna!” After saying this, he paused: “But speaking of which… after I recover, will I be able to keep my recent memories? What if I forget everything?” “Oh no, what if my body really forgets and thinks Lily was the one who took care of me? What do I do?” “I’m just a shadow! How can I tell myself?” Rubbing my cheek, I felt equally anxious. If Jason really married Lily after this, not only would my island and villa be gone, but Lily would take crazy revenge on me! The shadow quickly said: “I almost forgot about my mom. She already knows Lily is a bitch. And she knows Luna is already my wife.” “No matter whether I remember Luna in the future or not, my mom definitely won’t let me marry Lily.” But unexpectedly, Lily thought of this too. She immediately went to find Mrs. Grant. “You know how much Jason loves me. I didn’t want to break off the engagement before—my parents forced me to! Today I secretly came to see you because I want to tell you that I’ve always loved Jason.” “Please give me another chance. Let me stay by Jason’s side and take care of him!” After speaking, Lily actually knelt down crying. And Mrs. Grant actually seemed to waver. She consulted with me awkwardly: “Luna, you’ve worked hard during this time. But Jason really did love Lily before, and Lily has always been a kind girl. Maybe she really was forced by your parents to break off the engagement.” “How about you just let them be together? Don’t worry, I’ll give you a generous bonus and a villa.” Seeing me nod obediently, the shadow exploded: “Luna, can you have some backbone? Why are you handing over your achievements to someone else?” I sighed. If Jason liked Lily, what was the point of fighting for him? I might as well take the money and quickly leave this place to live a peaceful life. The shadow lamented in frustration: “Forget it, I can’t count on anyone. I’ll just have to work hard to retain these memories myself!” After Lily won over Mrs. Grant, to be safe, she released news to the media early: “My wedding with Mr. Jason Grant will be held next month.” Everyone outside thought it was Lily’s devoted companionship that created Jason’s miraculous recovery. It was time to go to the hospital for rehabilitation treatment again. The doctor said: “This should be the last treatment! If this treatment goes smoothly, Mr. Grant will fully recover!” And the shadow started getting anxious: “Luna, I hope after this treatment, my damn brain can remember everything between us!” I clasped my hands together. I hoped for the same. But none of this was under my control. Lily stood beside me and mocked: “Soon, I’ll become Jason’s real wife.” After a long wait, when Jason walked out of the treatment room, although his appearance hadn’t changed, his eyes were completely different. They were sharp and fierce, with a cold edge. I thought, this is it. He definitely doesn’t remember me. Lily eagerly rushed over: “Jason, you’ve finally recovered! I’m Lily, the one you love most! Do you know how sad and scared I’ve been these three months?” For some reason, I felt a sourness in my heart, even jealousy. Dejected, I was about to leave. The next second, Jason suddenly spoke: “These three months, you were really that sad?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “417028”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster