Author: Momo Chan

Cancer in its final stage. The only chemotherapy opportunity that could save my life was snatched away by Olivia for Jason, who was in the early stages of cancer. I gave up on the doctor’s life-saving plan and swallowed a powerful pain-blocking drug. The price was organ failure and death after three days. During these three days, I gave up everything. When I handed over all my hard-earned assets to Jason, my parents smiled with satisfaction. When Olivia presented the divorce papers and I signed them without hesitation, she sighed and said I was being sensible. When I pushed Emma to call Jason “Dad”, she excitedly said Dad was the best. Even when I transferred all my property and assets to Jason, They didn’t notice anything unusual, They just looked at me with contentment and said, “Our little Adrian has finally learned his lesson.” But I’m also curious, after I die, will they remember me? Under the doctor’s pitying gaze, I swallowed the pain-blocking drug. I had three days left until my death. After taking the medicine, I went to Jason’s hospital room. Inside, Dad was peeling an orange for Jason, while Mom was chatting with him. When they saw me enter, the smiles on my parents’ faces instantly turned cold. “What, done pretending to be sick and here to cause trouble for Jason again? Adrian, I’m telling you, as long as we’re here, don’t even think about bullying Jason!” Dad said to me, his tone icy. “Our family has always been strict with discipline. I don’t know where you learned to be so wicked, jealous of Jason and even trying to steal his chemotherapy opportunity,” Mom scolded, pointing at me. “If I had known, I shouldn’t have given birth to you in the first place!” In a corner out of my parents’ sight, Jason smiled at me, his eyes full of provocation. I lowered my gaze. I had heard these words from my parents countless times before. In the past, I would have argued with them and exposed Jason’s fake persona in public, Even though my parents never believed a single word I said. But now I was tired, too exhausted to fight anymore. “Well, it’s good that you’re here. I have something to discuss with you,” Dad spoke up. I smiled faintly, “Dad, I have something to tell you too.” “Jason wants my store business and company, right? I’ve thought it over. He can have it all!” Dad was stunned for a moment, and Mom looked at me with surprise. “How did you know I was going to talk to you about this today? You agree?” I forced a smile. No wonder they were surprised and kept confirming. Jason had wanted my stores and company for a long time. My parents had said all kinds of things, good and bad, to try to get me to hand over my hard-earned business to Jason, But I had never given in. Now, as a dying man, these things meant nothing to me anymore. Seeing my serious expression, Mom finally smiled with relief and stepped forward to pat my head. “You’ve finally come to your senses!” “Jason has always been more excellent than you since school. Even though he’s sick now, his financial management skills are better than yours,” “We feel at ease letting him manage your stores and company,” I forced a smile and handed the transfer agreement to Jason. After seeing Jason sign it, my parents happily held my hands, calling me a good child over and over. A hint of mockery arose in my heart. How ironic. Only when I gave in to Jason would Mom smile at me. But I was also curious, If Mom discovered Jason’s true face and found out about my death afterwards, Would she and Dad regret it? In the evening, I returned home. I saw my wife Olivia and daughter Emma cooking in the kitchen. Perhaps because of my late-stage cancer, I closed the door quietly. The mother and daughter seemed not to hear me as they laughed while cooking. Olivia turned around with the dish and saw me. Her smile froze for a moment before returning to normal. “Adrian, when did you get back? I didn’t hear anything.” I silently looked at the dish in Olivia’s hand – stir-fried vegetables, Jason’s favorite. Judging by its appearance, it looked as good as a professional chef’s work. It’s quite ironic. I was about to die, And only now did I learn that Olivia, who had lived with me for 5 years, could cook. In the past, she always complained about my cooking. Under Olivia’s “influence”, Emma gradually started to look down on me too. I worked hard for this family, but in the end, I didn’t win any respect. If it were before, I might have started ranting hysterically, But now I just calmly walked past them and sat on the sofa, sorting through the things in my bag. Seeing my silence, Olivia hesitated for a moment. After putting the dish on the table, she came over. “Adrian, I have something I want to discuss with you today.” Olivia bit her lip somewhat unnaturally, hesitated for a moment, but still spoke up: “It’s about your brother Jason.” My heart sank, and a not-so-good thought suddenly came to mind. The next second, Olivia’s words left me stunned: “After Jason’s cancer chemotherapy surgery, he’s been very depressed. So your parents want me to marry Jason, to cheer him up,” My ears were ringing. It took a long time before I found my voice again. “So, you agreed?” Olivia sighed, “Adrian, although Jason isn’t your biological brother, he’s still family after your parents adopted him,” “Besides, it’s just to cheer him up. Once Jason is discharged from the hospital, I’ll still be your wife, Emma’s mom.” Before I could speak, Emma chimed in: “That’s right, Dad. Uncle Jason has been feeling really down lately. You should try to understand him!” I silently looked at the mother and daughter in front of me. This was the woman I had loved for years. This was the child I had raised with great effort. I asked myself, I had never done anything wrong. To my family, wife, and child, I had always been conscientious. In the end, what I got was their betrayal. But it doesn’t matter now. If Jason wants everything, I’ll give it all to him. All of it, I don’t want any of it anymore. I looked up at Olivia, “Alright, I agree!” Olivia’s eyes flashed with surprise, “Really?” She quickly took out divorce papers from the drawer and put them on the table. I smiled bitterly. Olivia, oh Olivia, you can’t even hide your eagerness? I picked up the pen and quickly signed the papers. After signing, Olivia’s face was full of relief, her expression solemn and affectionate. “Adrian, after Jason is discharged, we’ll remarry. Don’t worry, I’ll never let you down!” After saying this, Olivia also signed the divorce papers. After signing, She looked at me and sighed, “Adrian, you’ve become much more reasonable than before. I’ve made mistakes in the past too, I was wrong,” “After Jason gets better, Emma and I will come back to take care of you!” “That’s right, Dad!” Emma also spoke up like a little adult, “Dad is so good to Uncle Jason, I’m proud of you!” Looking at them, my heart turned to ashes. Before this, I had held onto a last glimmer of hope for Olivia and Emma. But now… Forget it. Apart from death, I have no expectations left. I stood up, intending to go around them and return to my room to rest. A strong wave of dizziness hit me, and I couldn’t help but faint. In the moment before everything went black, I saw Olivia’s anxious face. I was awakened by a chill. When I opened my eyes, I found myself still lying on the floor. Looking at Olivia and Emma again, both mother and daughter were looking at me with disappointed expressions. “Mom, I told you, Dad was faking it again!” Emma said. “Dad, can you stop being so childish? You’re really holding us up from visiting Uncle Jason at the hospital!” Faking it? At this moment, Olivia also spoke with disappointment: “Adrian, can you stop making a scene?” “I’ve told you, even though we’re divorced, I still love you. You don’t need to use such childish tricks like pretending to faint to test me!” After hearing Olivia’s words, I finally understood. The pain-blocking drug I took could shield me from all illness and pain for these 3 days. During this time, I would look like a normal person, with complexion no different from others. But the side effects were severe. After 3 days, I would die from organ failure. It seems this drug is really effective. I struggled to stand up, “It might be low blood sugar, it’s nothing. I’ll go to the hospital with you.” “There are some transfer procedures that still need Jason’s signature.” Olivia nodded. There was no surprise on her face. It seems my parents must have told her in advance. After arriving at the hospital, Jason was watching TV in the ward. “Adrian, you’re here!” Jason’s face was still very pale, But his spirits were clearly much better. However, I didn’t miss the smugness and arrogance in his eyes. “Adrian, thank you for trusting me and letting me manage your business. Don’t worry, I won’t let you down!” “That’s right, Adrian. Letting Jason manage your stores and company is great. You can stay at home and enjoy the dividends every day!” Mom said with a smile. I took out the remaining paperwork from my bag. “In that case, let him manage all my assets too,” “This way I won’t have to worry about anything in the future.” Everyone in the ward was stunned. “Adrian, are you serious? You want to give all your assets to Jason?” Olivia grabbed my arm, her eyes full of surprise. This time, it was my turn to be confused. In the past, they always sided with Jason, giving him whatever he wanted. If I didn’t agree, they would scold me endlessly. How come now that I’m giving everything to Jason, They don’t understand? Dad was the first to come to his senses, his eyes full of satisfaction, “This child has finally learned his lesson, he’s grown up! Our efforts in raising you weren’t in vain!” “Adrian, you’ve learned to accept your brother now, that’s a good thing!” “From now on, you two live well together, and we can rest easy even when we’re old!” Rest easy? Dad, Mom, you’ve been fooled by Jason’s fake persona for too many years. Do you really believe Jason will manage everything well for me? My head started spinning again, and my nose felt itchy. I touched it and realized it was a nosebleed. “Adrian, why are you having a nosebleed? The weather isn’t even dry lately?” Mom asked at this moment. My hand paused as I wiped the blood. I couldn’t help but look at them and speak: “Dad, Mom, if one day I really die from illness, would you regret it?” But Mom’s expression didn’t change at all, she just smiled and glanced at me, “Your complexion looks so good, how could you possibly die from illness? Stop saying such unlucky things!” “Yes, Jason is different. When he gets better, we need to make sure he eats well to recover!” Dad said while looking at Jason with concern. “I think so too!” Emma chimed in, “Dad is very healthy, Uncle Jason is the one we’re most worried about!” The last glimmer of hope in my heart disappeared completely. I have nothing left to look forward to… I looked down at Emma and smiled, “Emma, didn’t you always want your Uncle Jason to be your real dad?” “I agree now. Jason is your dad now, why don’t you call him Dad?” Emma’s eyes lit up with joy, “Really?!” I smiled faintly, “After you call him Dad, you can always eat the food he cooks and have him accompany you from now on!” “This has always been your wish, are you happy?” Emma jumped up excitedly, “That’s great! Dad is the best in the world! Thank you, Dad!” After saying this, Emma let go of my hand and hugged Jason. My parents and Olivia watched this scene with satisfaction. I turned to leave, looking back at them one last time. My parents were playing with Emma together with Jason, while Olivia stood by with a smile on her face. No one noticed me. I closed the door of the ward and left the hospital. With only one day left until my death, I had nowhere to go. In my busy and rushed life, I had never taken the time to truly enjoy myself. I booked a ticket to Seaside City to see the ocean at night. I wanted to go hiking, But I couldn’t hold on any longer. Just before I was about to faint, I dialed a number I hadn’t called in nearly 5 years. Then everything went black and I lost consciousness. When I woke up again, I was already in the hospital. I turned my eyes to look at the time. Only 6 hours left until my death. And beside me was my childhood friend Kevin, with reddened eyes. Years ago, Kevin had strongly opposed my relationship with Olivia, saying she wasn’t worthy of my lifelong commitment. But I didn’t listen. I had a big fight with him, which led to him not attending my wedding. I know I shouldn’t bother him now, But besides him, I really couldn’t find anyone else in this world. “What’s going on with you? Weren’t you so proud after marrying Olivia?” “Wasn’t your family of three living happily? How did you end up like this? Why did the doctor say your organs are starting to fail?” Kevin’s voice choked up. I smiled at him while wearing an oxygen mask. When we were young, we made a promise that if one of us reached the end of their life, The other would handle everything afterwards, no matter what. I could no longer speak, so I struggled to raise my hand and point to my bag. Kevin took out several documents from the bag. He looked at the documents for a moment, then nodded slightly and put them in his own bag. Fortunately, our understanding of each other hasn’t changed. We could understand each other’s thoughts without words. Only 3 hours left until my death. I gave up on resuscitation. After another bout of unconsciousness, I woke up. Kevin showed me his phone. It was a message from Jason: [Adrian, I won! I got everything of yours] [You thought you could compete with me? You only have yourself to blame for not being capable enough. Who told your parents to like me so much?] [Just quietly leave the family! I’ll help you take good care of your parents, and your wife and daughter too!] After reading this, Kevin, a hot-blooded young man, cried and cursed in the ward. I sighed self-mockingly in my heart. In my life, I had never regretted anything, except for asking Dad to sponsor Jason. I first saw Jason in a run-down orphanage. At that time, I was following my teacher as a young volunteer at the orphanage. It was snowing heavily that day, and all the children were huddled inside to keep warm. Only Jason was in the backyard, picking leftover bones from the garbage to eat. I couldn’t bear to watch and begged my father to sponsor Jason. After that, Jason and I became close brothers who shared everything. The next year, Jason came to my class. As soon as he arrived, he won the favor of teachers and classmates with his excellence. Whenever someone praised him, I was also very proud. Until later, things started to go wrong. My friends inexplicably began to distance themselves from me, while treating Jason as their best friend. The girls who liked me also gradually became cold towards me, and instead professed their love for Jason. Even my parents began to frequently invite Jason home for meals and to stay over. They even divided up my room to make it Jason’s room. I was too naive and insensitive back then. I never thought that Jason’s specialty was taking away everything that belonged to me amid others’ praises. By the time I realized it, My room was gone, My family was gone, Everything of mine had been occupied by Jason. Actually, I once asked Jason why, but his answer left me feeling cold all over: “Adrian, did you think I would thank you for sponsoring me? How could I possibly thank you?” “I really can’t stand the way you show off in front of me. I will definitely take everything away from you,” “I just want to see your desperate expression after I’ve taken everything from you!” … I once thought I could drive Jason away. I also thought I could make my parents and Olivia see through his facade. But I was too naive. I underestimated Jason’s methods, and overlooked the fondness my parents, Olivia, and even Emma had for him. I lost completely. Only 9 minutes left until my death. My consciousness began to fade, and my vision started to blur. But I still saw the message Mom sent me on Kevin’s phone: [Adrian, have someone repaint the walls of your house in the next few days. Your brother has a favorite color!] [Also, your brother will be discharged in half a month. When he’s out, move some of your things out. Jason needs to put his stuff in!] Even in the last moments of my life, Mom was still concerned about Jason. It seems I really wasn’t important in her heart. So be it then… Kevin seemed to be crying and shouting something in my ear, but I couldn’t hear anymore. I’ve fought for so many years, I’m really too tired. Finally, I can have a good sleep… On November 24th, Adrian Sullivan passed away at Seaside City Hospital at the age of 29. Jason was watching TV in his hospital bed when the door suddenly opened. He looked up and saw a man enter – his biological father. “What are you doing here?” Jason’s eyes flashed with disgust, but also a hint of fear. Frank sneered, “Well, if I hadn’t abandoned you at the orphanage back then, how could you have met such a rich family?” “I’m out of money. Transfer me $100,000!” Jason sat up abruptly, glaring at Frank. “Why should I? Have you ever taken care of me for a single day since I was born?” Frank sat down leisurely on the sofa in the hospital room. “Cut the crap, Jason. Let me tell you, I know all about your dirty tricks.” “You better transfer the money to me quietly, and we won’t have to get ugly. Otherwise, you know what I’m capable of!” Jason’s hands clenched into fists. After a long moment, he finally relaxed them. “Fine, give me some time. I need to be discharged before I can make money.” Frank scoffed, “You don’t have the luck to be born a young master, but you’ve got the illness of one. It’s just early-stage cancer, wasting so much money!” “I’ll give you two days. If I don’t see the money in two days, I’ll go find your adoptive father in the Sullivan family!” Frank kicked open the door and left. Jason violently smashed the glass cup on the bedside table. He was breathing heavily, his eyes filled with intense hatred. Why… Why could everyone else have such a happy life, while he was only fit to be abandoned at an orphanage by such a beast of a father? Why did he have to live a life of being looked down upon? He had worked so hard to take over Adrian’s place, pushing the Sullivan’s son out of the family. He absolutely refused to go back to that hand-to-mouth existence! Jason got up from the hospital bed. After tricking Adrian out of the chemotherapy opportunity, his recovery was progressing faster day by day. He would be discharged soon. But now, he just wanted to quickly sell off all the property, stores, and companies he had snatched from Adrian, Then transfer all the money overseas in batches, and leave the country under some pretext. This way, his beast of a father would never find him again, And neither would the gullible Sullivan family. Yes, he had to get this done as soon as possible! He told the nurse at the station that he was going out for some fresh air, then went downstairs and called a taxi to the bank. At the bank, Jason handed his card to the teller, his heart trembling with excitement. Soon, Adrian’s money would be his. He would finally be free. But then, the teller suddenly looked up, giving him a strange look. “Sir, the name and identity on this card don’t match yours,” “Sir, did you bring the wrong card?” Jason was stunned. “How is that possible? When we were doing the paperwork earlier, my family had already transferred the ownership of this card to me!” “Could there be a mistake on your end?” The teller shook her head, “Sir, the owner of this card is still Mr. Adrian Sullivan, and this card has been placed under a property protection freeze at our bank!” Jason was dumbfounded. Property protection freeze?

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Cristian Logan, my husband, was known as a wonderful man in the circle, but I knew that he had an affair with a young girl behind my back. His eyes blurry with drunkenness, he smiled as he complained to those around him, “Georgina is good in every way. She’s beautiful, gentle, dignified, and considerate. But after getting married, I realized that women are all the same.” The man who once swore to love me for a lifetime was now lifting the chin of the girl in his arms and making a flirtatious comment. “Men, after all, like women who are feisty.” Others teasingly chimed in, “Since your wife is so boring, why don’t you get another one?” “I can’t do that!” Cristian blurted out, “The person I love the most will always be my wife.” I calmly turned around and left. It was true that he loved me. It was also true that he had cheated on me. The laughter and banter in the private room grew louder and louder, while I, standing at the door, felt icy cold all over. This unexpected encounter caught me off guard and revealed the true face of my husband. I had a girls’ night with my best friend. But she had to leave first due to some urgent work. I thought of going home, but unexpectedly, I saw Cristian. So I planned to give him a surprise, but he gave me a shock instead. I followed my husband and the others here and located him easily. These trust-fund babies were incredibly extravagant. They had booked the entire top floor of Platinum Club. No stranger was allowed to go in, so they didn’t even close the door. I stood from a distance and watched as my husband who had kissed me goodbye this morning chatted animatedly with a young girl in his arms. “I’m not as dissolute as you guys. I’m very devoted,” he said. “My first love, my true love, and my wife will always be Georgina.” His voice was filled with pride. But his hand was around another woman’s shoulders. There was a hint of melancholy in Cristian’s eyes. “Georgina is good in every way. She’s beautiful, gentle, dignified, and considerate. But after getting married, I realized that women are all the same.” My nails dug into my palm, causing pain, but it was nothing compared to the pain in my heart. Someone asked in confusion, “Isn’t your wife nice?” “On the contrary, she’s very nice,” Cristian replied. There was a glint of desire in his eyes that I couldn’t fathom. “But men, after all, like women who are feisty… especially in bed.” He gave a knowing look, and the men sitting there immediately understood. Hearing this, I felt a chill run through my body. Our intimate moments had actually become topics for him to discuss. And I was the one being looked down upon. Others chimed in teasingly, “Since your wife is so boring, why don’t you get another one?” “That’s right. You’re strapping, rich, and powerful. You can have any girl you want, Cristian.” “Yeah, as long as Cristian wants, girls would come running to him.” “I can’t do that!” Cristian immediately denied it. His eyes were determined as he blurted out, “The person I love the most will always be my wife.”

Upon hearing this, the girl in Cristian’s arms became upset and wriggled in his arms. “If you love her the most, then what am I?” The girl’s big eyes were tinged with a delicate look of grievance and just the right amount of resentment. Her fingers poked at Cristian’s chest. “You just said in bed that you loved me the most…” The men beside them burst into laughter. “Silly girl, how could you believe what a man says in bed!” “You’re just his mistress. How could you compare yourself to Cristian’s legitimate wife?” The girl’s eyes immediately welled up with tears as she tugged at the hem of Cristian’s clothes and pleaded. “Cristian, look at them…” The girl’s choked voice had a soft, babyish tone that made people feel sorry for her. Cristian pinched the girl’s chin and, boldly leaned down, and passionately kissed her in front of everyone, making them blush in embarrassment. But all of this seemed so strange to me. Cristian was always gentle, restrained, patient, and considerate to me. I never expected that my gentle and refined husband had such a despicable side. After the kiss ended, Cristian casually wiped the corner of his mouth. The girl’s lipstick smudged on his lips, making him look strangely alluring. He sneered and looked at the others, “Ellie Lynn has been with me for two years. She is my girlfriend. You all better watch what you say.” Others were shocked. “No way, Cristian. Are you serious?” “She’s been with me since she was 18. I was her first in both bed and kiss. I have to take responsibility.” “Aren’t you afraid your wife will make a fuss over this?” someone asked. “What can she do? She doesn’t have a job, and she’s relying on me for everything. Where could she go without me?” Others flattered him. “That’s right. Your wife loves you so much, Cristian. She definitely wouldn’t want to leave you.” “That’s right. It’s normal for a man to have one or two women outside, especially someone like Cristian.” “Exactly. Every man wants a few women outside while maintaining his marriage intact. It’s just a man’s nature…” I couldn’t bear to listen to their vulgar words anymore. So I turned around and walked out mechanically and numbly. I didn’t even think about going in and questioning him. When I walked out of the club, I felt my whole body go stiff. The night wind blew, making me feel even colder to the core. The man who once swore to love me for a lifetime, kissed me every morning, and brought me a cup of warm milk every day had betrayed me and become a disappointment in the end. I thought I would cry my eyes out, be heartbroken, or even be hysterical. But none of that happened. There was only a calm and rational realization. It was true that Cristian loved me. It was also true that he had cheated on me. But perhaps he didn’t know that Georgina, who he thought just like other women had always been stubborn. She would never tolerate any form of betrayal. I knew that my marriage with Cristian was over.

When Cristian returned, I was sitting at the dining table having breakfast. He walked towards me holding a bouquet of roses with the morning dew on them, wearing a familiar and ingratiating smile on his face. “Honey, I’m sorry. I had a business dinner last night that went on too late, so I just stayed at the company for the night.” As he spoke, he leaned in to kiss me. I instinctively resisted inwardly and stepped back subtly. When we got married, Cristian had sworn that he would never stay out overnight. In fact, he had often been out early and back late for more than half a year, always using the excuse of being busy with work. Last night marked the first time he had spent the night away from home. But I knew if he did it once, he would do it countless times more. I looked into Cristian’s eyes, and it seemed that I could glimpse what it would be like if I kept turning a blind eye on him staying out all night as a regular occurrence in the future. I cast a casual glance at him and asked, “Have you changed your clothes?” Cristian had not only changed his clothes but also taken a shower, sprayed on some perfume, and carefully tidied himself up. He was a meticulous man. “Yes, I have. After the business dinner, I smelled of cigarettes and alcohol. I don’t want to reek that smell in front of you. Look, I’m wearing the clothes you picked for me. I left them in the company’s lounge.” He picked up the milk I had left and took a sip. “These clothes suit me so well. You have such good taste, honey! “Why is this milk cold?” I said calmly, “Don’t drink it. I was about to dump it.” “That’s okay. I’ll drink it anyway. I’m happy to eat whatever you leave behind.” I watched coldly as Cristian drank the milk, and I couldn’t discern if he was just pretending. Everything seemed so genuine. Unfortunately, I had witnessed what he did last night.

“Honey, are you unwell today? Why do you seem… a bit strange?” Cristian was indeed perceptive. He could easily notice even the slightest change in me. Perhaps it also showed that I wasn’t as good as him at being inconsistent in words and deeds and being two-faced. I forced a smile and made up an excuse casually. “It’s nothing. Maybe it’s because you didn’t come home last night, and I didn’t get a good rest.” A trace of pity welled up in Cristian’s eyes. He roughly pulled me into his arms and planted a firm kiss on my forehead. “I’m sorry, honey. I should have come back last night. I was just worried that I would disturb you if I returned late at night, but I didn’t expect… Sorry. It’s all my fault.” The thought of him passionately kissing another woman last night made me feel disgusted at his move. Overwhelmed by a wave of physical revulsion, I hastily pushed him away. “Honey, what’s wrong?” “It’s nothing. The cold milk tasted fishy, and it made me feel sick.” Cristian quickly poured a glass of warm water and handed it to me, gently patting my back. “If you’re not feeling well, I’ll skip work today and stay home to keep you company.” Some words seem to be spoken only to be contradicted, because just as he finished speaking, his phone rang. Cristian promptly hung up the phone, saying, “I told you I’m going to stay home with you today. Nothing is more important than you.” But the caller was persistent and continued to call. Cristian was annoyed and was about to hang up again, but I said calmly, “Answer it. Maybe it’s something important.” “That’s thoughtful of you, honey.” Even though he said that, Cristian answered the phone quickly. Along with that, he instinctively walked outside, deliberately creating some distance between us. He had never avoided answering calls in front of me before. Maybe it was because the house was too quiet, or maybe I had good hearing. I heard that girl’s voice, whining just like it had been last night. The water cup that Cristian had handed me still had some warmth left, but my heart had already turned completely cold. “Honey, I’m sorry. There’s an urgent matter at the company.” I looked up at him, and the anxiety on his face looked so real. “I promised to stay home with you today, but… It’s the end of the year, and there are a lot of things going on in the company recently. Honey, I…” “You can go. I’ll be fine.” I forced a smile, suddenly realizing that I had worn such a smile countless times. In fact, there had been signs before, but I just hadn’t noticed them. Cristian was obviously distracted, yet he still feigned reluctance to leave. “Thank you, honey.” He leaned in again and kissed between my eyebrows. “Rest assured, honey. I promise to come back early tonight. Wait for me at home, okay?” And then he left. He walked briskly to go and see another woman. And I made an appointment for a medical checkup for myself. If one failed to make a decisive decision when necessary, they’d only endure more suffering in the end. I should sever all ties with him, both physically and emotionally.

When the results of my physical checkup came out, I wasn’t pregnant, and my body had recovered well. I got pregnant half a year after I married Cristian. I still had a job at that time, and I was completely unaware that I was pregnant. Unfortunately, there was an accident at the work site. I tumbled to the ground and miscarried the baby. When Cristian found out, he was furious. With red eyes, he told me how much he felt sorry for me. A man’s tears can, in fact, be a powerful weapon. I was also very sad about the miscarriage. But I couldn’t bear to see my beloved husband consumed by worry all day long. Eventually, I relented and decided to resign. Later, I spent nearly two years conditioning my body, and it was only in the past half year that I started thinking about having another child. I hadn’t taken any contraceptive measures during the few intimate encounters I’d had with Cristian previously. Since I had decided to leave, I didn’t want any unwanted surprise. I was walking out with my medical report when I spotted that familiar figure not far away, the man who had claimed he was swamped at the end of the year, my husband. He was standing in front of the obstetrics and gynecology department at this moment, looking down at the delicate woman in front of him. When the woman spoke, her voice was hoarse with sobs, and there was a hint of humble flattery. “Cristian, can you please let me keep it? This is our child, and I really… can’t bear to give it up.” Cristian frowned, and impatience showed in his eyes. “No. My wife hasn’t even had a child yet. How can you have children first?” “I’m begging you.” The woman tugged at his sleeve and pleaded, “This is my first child. The doctor said that my body isn’t that well, either. If I have an abortion, I don’t know when I’ll be able to have another child.” This woman clearly knew how to use tears and vulnerability to her advantage. “Your wife has also experienced a miscarriage. You know how painful it is and how harmful it is to a woman…” Her words swayed Cristian a little. She continued to press her case, “I promise I’ll be good. I will never show up in front of your wife, and I won’t cause you any trouble. Please, let me keep it. My mother once had my fortune read. She said that my first child will be a boy.” Seeing that Cristian was hesitant, the woman took the opportunity, “You also said before that your wife’s health has been poor since the miscarriage. The doctor also said that the damage she suffered last time was severe, and it would be difficult for her to have a child in the future… “I can be a surrogate mother for you guys! “Cristian, you know how hard it is for a woman to give birth, right? It’s like going through hell. You love her so much. How can you bear to let her go through the pain of childbirth? “Besides, many rich people nowadays hire surrogates. Just consider me a surrogate… I am willing to do it.” The woman looked at him pitifully, “Cristian, even though you only see me as a plaything, I truly like you. “You can consider this child hers, and I’m just giving birth to it. She can raise it later. I will never fight for it or make a fuss. Please…” Cristian looked at her calmly and remained silent for a long, long time. I watched him from a distance, and even my breathing rose and fell with Cristian’s decision. Finally, Cristian let out a long sigh. “Go for the checkup first. We’ll talk about it later.” I turned around expressionlessly and hid in the shadow of the corner. Given our years of tacit understanding and mutual familiarity, I knew that Cristian had caved in.

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While we were on a yacht trip, my wife Miranda’s first love, Aaron Moore, deliberately sabotaged our yacht, causing it to sink to the bottom of the sea. In my past life, when the yacht broke, I immediately asked my wife, who worked as a Coast Guard officer, to save me and our daughter. Although our daughter was saved, Aaron sank to the bottom of the sea that very day. Miranda comforted me, telling me not to worry. She not only let me rest in the hospital to recover from my injuries but also bought seafood to help replenish my nutrients. However, she tricked me into feeding both myself and our daughter a highly toxic blue-ringed octopus. Before I died, Miranda showed her vicious face and said, “Honey, baby, you killed Aaron. I will make you pay with your lives.” Heaven had mercy on me, and I was reborn back to the moment when the yacht sank. This time, I would repay everything. As the waves kept flooding into the cabin, the yacht rocked so much that I could hardly stand. I tightened my grip around my daughter. The dizziness and nausea made me want to vomit. I turned and threw up in a corner. As I vomited, I suddenly snapped out of the horrific scene of my past life. This time, instead of rushing to my captain wife and asking her to fix the yacht, I immediately called the coast guard’s emergency rescue hotline. Huddled in the corner, I looked at my daughter in my arms, waiting for the crew and sailors to come. From a distance, I saw Miranda, wearing a uniform, running in the opposite direction of the room I was in. When I saw her helping the seemingly unconscious Aaron walk to the highest point of the yacht, I felt relieved enough to call for help from the others. The sailors seemed to think I was just joking, as they teased me for a while. The yacht’s tilt grew worse, and in the corner I was in, some unknown octopuses had already crawled inside. The sea smell made me continue to vomit until I coughed up blood. Still, they ignored me, choosing instead to help other passengers with their bags and belongings, not even sparing me a glance. I endured the constant nausea, pulled the octopuses off me, and climbed toward the highest point of the deck with my daughter. However, the few remaining intact life jackets were all put on Aaron. Miranda didn’t even bother to look at me and simply placed Aaron on the life raft she had repaired. My brain was spinning due to the rocking, and the nausea kept intensifying. In my past life, when I realized the yacht had a leak, Aaron and I ran to Miranda’s room, but in order to protect me and our daughter, Miranda left the only intact life raft for us. By the time she found out that the other life rafts had been damaged, she turned to look for Aaron, only to find that his room had already been submerged due to the tilting of the yacht. Later, the coast guard recovered the wreckage for an entire week but never found his body. At that time, Miranda comforted me, telling me it wasn’t my fault and told me to focus on recovering. She even reduced her time at work and took special care of me. But when I was about to be discharged, she took me and our daughter to the very area where Aaron had gone missing. In front of me, she took out a blue-ringed octopus and shoved it into our daughter’s mouth. I recognized instantly that it was the highly toxic blue-ringed octopus. My daughter’s face turned dark purple, yet Miranda’s grotesque expression was truly horrifying. She asked, “Nathan, do you know that drowning is one of the most painful ways to die? Aaron was so afraid of pain, but he died like that because of you! I’m going to make you suffer a thousand times more than he did!” She tied a stone to my body, and I sank to the bottom of the sea with my daughter. This time, I only wanted to save myself and escape from this terrifying woman.

I never expected that in this life, she would be even colder and more ruthless, not willing to give us even a single life jacket. Watching my daughter’s life slowly slipping away, I clutched her tightly in my arms and dragged myself over to her with great difficulty. Grabbing the hem of her uniform, I used all my strength to plead with her, “Give me a life jacket. Save our daughter, please!” To my surprise, she ignored my plea for my daughter’s sake and shoved me away, then turned and walked off without a second glance. My body lost balance, and I stumbled, my knee crashing painfully against the deck. The sharp pain shot through me, and the pungent fishy smell from the deck made it hard to breathe. The pain and the stench overwhelmed me, but I immediately checked on my daughter in my arms. Seeing that she was unharmed, I finally let out a sigh of relief. But just then, a more mocking voice reached my ears. “Nathan, what are you pretending for? Isn’t it just that you want to steal Aaron’s life jacket? You’re really shameless. Aaron’s unconscious, and you still want to take his things. If you hadn’t damaged the life rafts, we would have escaped by now! Don’t touch the captain with your dirty hands!” “A man who would sacrifice everyone on board just to satisfy his own desires should really be sent to a mental hospital for treatment. And stop fooling around. If it weren’t for your daughter, Miranda would have divorced you a long time ago. Do you really think you’re worthy of competing with a star like Aaron?” I knew Miranda had always looked down on me, but I didn’t expect even her crew to think I was mentally ill. But the swaying of the yacht and the intense pain in my knee made my thoughts blur, and the water was now rising past my calves. The crew was busy tending to other passengers, and no one even spared me a glance. Just before I lost consciousness, I heard voices around me. “What’s wrong with your crew? There’s an injured passenger here, about to die, and you’re still busy saving the yacht’s property?” “Ma’am, don’t worry. We all know him. He’s fine. He’s just making a scene to get the captain’s attention.” “Hey, some passengers are asking why we’re not helping Nathan. Maybe you should have Miranda check on him.” Sure enough, Miranda came, but she didn’t come to save me. She came to scold me. I only vaguely saw the tip of her leather shoes, and then I felt the excruciating pain as her shoes kicked me in the head. Miranda viciously said to me, “Nathan, I’m here, are you happy now? I really think I should send you to a mental hospital. Why did you break the life rafts? Do you really need such a scene to compete with Aaron for attention? The whole yacht is stuck here because of you!” I could only force a bitter laugh. Even in this state, she still thought I was jealous, and she still thought I, a seasick person, could have damaged all the life rafts. I was about to explain, but the nauseous feeling returned, and I could only start vomiting again. The area around my knee had gone numb from being soaked in water. I couldn’t even throw up bile anymore, but I still reached out, trying to touch her pants. I hoped that before the coast guards arrived, I could at least take my daughter to a safer place. But she kicked me away and stepped right onto my leg. “Don’t think that using our daughter as an excuse will make me soften. If it weren’t for my health, I wouldn’t have even bothered to give birth to her. You’re still trying to fool me, but you don’t know that Aaron just woke up. He said he saw you holding a fruit knife, trying to cut the life rafts. This act is getting old and boring.” After saying that, she ground her foot into my leg. The next moment, a passenger nearby screamed out, “Are you crazy? Are you trying to kill him?” To my surprise, Miranda didn’t even look back. She said, “Look at the color, bright red, clearly paint. Normal blood wouldn’t be this color. Don’t worry about him. He’s the reason we’re all in danger. He deserves a little punishment for what he’s done.” After the intense pain, everything in front of me went black, and I lost consciousness completely.

In my dream, it felt as though I had returned to the moment when I first reunited with Miranda. It was at an alumni gathering. She wore a captain’s uniform, looking graceful and beautiful. Despite the attention she attracted from everyone around her, she remained cold as ice, keeping her distance from others. Her demeanor made my heart flutter all over again. I began to pay close attention to her schedule and found excuses to appear by her side. Whether through alumni events or marine conservation activities, I did everything I could to create chances for accidental encounters. At first, she remained indifferent, but I didn’t back down. I took the opportunity to invite her to discuss sailing-related topics or to share carefully prepared gifts like nautical instrument models and specially crafted lanterns. I tried my best to appear interesting, independent, and someone who understood her world. Gradually, she started to warm up to me. After one dinner, I noticed her gaze toward me had changed. Hope sparked in my heart, and I boldly pursued her, giving her more thoughtful little gifts and even preparing customized gear for her crew. She didn’t give me a clear response, but she didn’t refuse either. I thought I was getting closer to happiness. Finally, she accepted me. I believed this was the beginning of our beautiful life together, but little did I know, it was the beginning of a nightmare. After we got together, she became increasingly distant, always using work as an excuse to cancel our dates or leave on sudden missions at sea. I believed in her loyalty to her work until the day of our wedding, when the truth was revealed. That day, I received a sudden email from Aaron, her first love. After his divorce, he reconnected with Miranda, and I had been completely unaware. Their relationship had quietly resumed while I was dating Miranda. In the email, Aaron openly described every moment they spent together after reuniting. Their emotional entanglements over the past 10 years had never truly been severed. It turned out that Miranda’s coldness toward me stemmed from the fact that she had always been by Aaron’s side. Her so-called work and tasks were just a cover for their secret relationship. I felt immense pain, but I didn’t have the courage to confront her. I was afraid of losing her, and I couldn’t bring myself to face the brutal truth. In my previous life, when Aaron died unexpectedly, she remained so calm, even making me think I was the only one left standing. During that time, she took me to several remote cottages away from the city and even personally designed a room with a sea view for me. Her gestures, which seemed to promise me a stable life, made me let down all my guard. But I was terribly wrong. It wasn’t until I died at her hands that I realized all her “care” was part of a carefully planned revenge. She had never truly loved me. The only person she had ever loved was always Aaron. When I woke up, I found myself in a hospital room, surrounded by unfamiliar faces, but Miranda was nowhere to be seen. “Are you okay?” a woman beside me, dressed in a coast guard uniform, spoke in a calm yet concerned tone. “I’m from the Coast Guard. When I was aboard inspecting the yacht, I found you unconscious on the deck. Your condition wasn’t good, so we immediately brought you to the hospital. How are you feeling? Is anything hurting?” The first thing I did when I regained consciousness was ask about my daughter’s whereabouts. “I’m sorry,” she said carefully, “the doctor said… your daughter had already passed away when she was brought in.” Her words, though gentle, couldn’t soften the blow. I gave a bitter smile. “It’s not your fault. I knew it already. Thank you for bringing me to the hospital.” Even a complete stranger could tell something was wrong with my body, but my wife, the woman who had been married to me for five years, had never once shown any concern. Seeing my mood darken, the officer furrowed her brows, her tone turning serious. “You were in a dangerous condition. Why didn’t the crew on the yacht take immediate rescue measures? If we hadn’t arrived in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable. Where is your family? Why hasn’t your child’s mother shown up?” I forced a nod, my voice barely audible. “She… is gone.” The officer gave me a complicated look, as though wanting to say something, but in the end, she simply sighed. She offered to help contact my family and stay with me at the hospital until I recovered. I declined her kindness and transferred the hospitalization and surgery fees to her before urging her to leave.

Although the officer had left, the public opinion surrounding the maritime accident had already begun to ferment. News of the yacht’s leaks and malfunctioning rescue equipment quickly spread online, becoming a hot topic of discussion. Someone had taken a blurry photo of me being carried off the yacht by the coast guards, and it quickly sparked a discussion on social media. The comment section was filled with doubt and anger. Netizen 1: [A big yacht is leaking, and all the rescue boats fail? What kind of management is this?] Netizen 2: [A yacht this important doesn’t even have backup equipment? How irresponsible!] Netizen 3: [If the coast guards hadn’t arrived, this man might have died on the yacht, right? Where were the crew? What were they doing? Why didn’t anyone help him right away?] Netizen 4: [What happened? Can we trust a fleet like this?] These doubts and criticisms no longer had any effect on me. My disappointment in Miranda had already hollowed me out, and those comments online were probably just the beginning for her. But for me, they were far from enough. I opened my phone, preparing to send Miranda a message to file for divorce. However, before I could type a few words, a message popped up first. It was from Aaron. [You’re in this hospital too? I just heard. What a coincidence.] His message seemed neutral, but there was an unmistakable air of superiority in his tone. He followed up with another message. In the photo, Miranda stood by his bedside, her brows furrowed, her face focused as she discussed his condition with the doctor. Even in this simple side profile, it was clear how much Aaron meant to her. I stared at the photo coldly, yet my heart remained calm. Such scenes were too familiar to me now, familiar to the point where they no longer stirred any emotions. I closed the message and immediately dialed Miranda’s number. The phone rang several times before she finally picked up. Her voice was laced with clear impatience. “Nathan, what do you want? Isn’t everything chaotic enough?” “Miranda, let’s get a divorce,” I said directly, without any preamble.

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After starting her job, my daughter earned her first significant paycheck. She bought a brand tie for her father and expensive health supplements for her grandparents. Even her aunt, who had married far away, received a gold necklace. I thought I could also get a gift from her, but she snorted, “You are the cause of my childhood pain. Why should I give you something?” My husband, instead of disciplining her, belittled me. “You treated her strictly when she was young. Do you think she will forget what you have done? You expect her to be filial to you, huh?” My daughter took the whole family on a vacation but left me alone at home. One night, due to old wiring in the house, a fire broke out while I was sleeping. I died in the blaze. My family took the compensation money from my death to start a new and pleasant life. But then, I opened my eyes and found myself back when my daughter was in sixth grade of primary school. She was crying and throwing books at me, yelling, “You’re such a control freak! Why are you my mother?” I calmly pulled out an agreement. “I won’t discipline you, but words are cheap. Sign this, and you’ll be free.”

“Why are you so controlling? You won’t let me do anything I want. Why do I have to do things your way? I hate you. Why don’t you just die?” My daughter, Greta Miller, cried while throwing books at me. The corner of a book hit my chest, and the pain made me gasp. My mind cleared instantly, and when I looked around, I found that the decor was eerily familiar. The suffocating sensation from the thick smoke seemed like it had happened just seconds ago, and the pain in my chest reminded me that what I had experienced wasn’t a dream. I picked up a textbook from the floor and saw the words “Grade Six” on the cover. I thought in astonishment, “I’m reborn, back to the time when Greta was in the sixth grade!” My daughter Greta Miller faced the transition from elementary to middle school. If she couldn’t get into a prestigious middle school, her education would lag far behind others. So during this year, I had been closely monitoring her studies and even hired renowned tutors for her, trying everything to ensure she got into the city’s top middle school. However, halfway through the semester, Greta couldn’t take it anymore. When she got home, she threw her backpack on the floor and stormed into her room. I reminded her to put her backpack away properly, and she exploded, hurling those hurtful words at me. She tore the review materials I had printed for her into pieces and threw them in my face. “If you’re so eager to study, why don’t you go study yourself? You always impose your ideas on me. You’ve never even asked me if I want to go to a prestigious middle school! You’re such a control freak. You make me feel suffocated!” Almost every week, Greta would have one of these outbursts. I calmly picked up the scattered textbooks and placed them on her desk. “You told me that you wanted to go to a prestigious middle school.” When Greta learned that the prestigious middle school adopted a university-style education system with no morning study sessions and elective courses, she was determined to get in. Hearing what I said, she gave me a disdainful look, filled with arrogance. “With my grades, getting into a prestigious middle school is a piece of cake. What business do you have meddling in this? My teacher said my scores had already exceeded the admission line. Why are you more anxious than me? If you want to push yourself, go ahead. Just leave me alone.” As Greta spoke, her emotions grew more intense, and her grandmother, Rose Miller, quickly came in to comfort her, “Don’t cry. Your mom is just crazy. With your excellent grades, I believe you’ll get in.” Then, Rose turned to glare at me, clearly annoyed. “You have gone too far. Greta is just a child. Don’t push her too hard.” Greta’s grandfather, Frank Miller, chimed in, “Don’t bring your work stress home. Greta is just a kid. If you drive her into depression, you’ll regret it later.” Listening to their defense of Greta, I couldn’t help but sneer, “I’m pushing her too hard? She only studies for an hour each night and goes to tutoring only half a day on Saturdays. For her enough sleep, I’ve even rescheduled her classes to Saturday afternoons. She’s in sixth grade, and the exam is in three months. At this rate, she won’t get into a prestigious middle school.” Greta didn’t even consider what I said and charged at me, trying to hit me. “You’re crazy. Experts say elementary students need enough rest. Yet you still send me to tutoring. You’re a control freak. You’re the cause of all the pain in my life! I’m not your puppet. Why do you always try to control me? Do you only feel satisfied when I’m a mindless study machine under your command?” Just then, my husband, Phillip Miller, burst into the room, his eyes full of blame. “Blanca Jones, can’t you let her rest a bit more at night? She’s just a kid. If she doesn’t want to study, then let her be. Why are you forcing her? You’re driving this family crazy!” His words were filled with complaints about me. Suddenly, memories of the previous life flooded back. I had tried to explain to Greta the importance of effort, but all I got in return was her misunderstanding and resentment. How ridiculous! My daughter, whom I had raised, blamed me for ruining her childhood. I turned to look at Greta and said calmly, “My previous approach was wrong. Tell me what you want me to do in the future.” Greta, nestled in Phillip’s arms, froze for a moment. Her eyes were full of inquiry as if she was trying to figure out if I was serious or sarcastic. “Are you serious?” I nodded. Seeing my calm reaction, she became emboldened. “I want you to never interfere with my studies. You can’t stop me from doing anything.” Without hesitation, I agreed, “Sure.”

Perhaps my response was too quick, and Greta simply couldn’t believe it. She stared at me with a suspicious look. “You’re lying, right? You promised me like this before, but you went back on your word the next day.” Phillip rolled his eyes at me with a frown and spoke with disappointment and accusation in his voice, “Blanca, I’ve had enough of you. Greta is just a child. You should let her rest more and enjoy the outside world instead of keeping her chained to her study all day. She’s so young and already shows signs of depression!” Rose added fuel to the fire, not caring that she was making the situation worse. “Blanca has issues. If she keeps educating Greta like this, Greta will have problems. She used to be such a nice girl, but now she cries at the drop of a hat. I’m considering taking time off work to take her to a psychologist.” Frank chimed in with a cold snort, “Take her to a psychologist? The one who needs therapy is Blanca! She’s the root of all the current problems. I can’t believe we were so unlucky to have her as our family.” Seeing them united against me, I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly, “Why are you so worked up? I haven’t even said anything yet.” Rose shielded Greta behind her, glaring at me as if I were an enemy. “I know you. You said you wanted Greta to rest, but then you pushed her to study. You’ve gone back on your word more times than I can count!” I pretended not to hear her and turned to Greta. “Do you have any other requests?” She looked at me, pouting, “I don’t want to go to tutoring classes. It’s the weekend, and I just want to sleep in at home. And you can’t control how long I use my phone. I want to play on it as much as I want.” I agreed without hesitation. A flicker of joy flashed in Greta’s eyes, and she immediately printed out an agreement. “Words are cheap. Sign this, and you can’t change your mind later.” Phillip reminded her to make two copies of the agreement to prevent me from reneging later. I picked up the pen. Rose and Frank stared at me as if they were waiting for me to sign so they could celebrate right away. I quickly signed the agreement. Finally, I would be rid of this ungrateful daughter, and there was a part of me that was almost looking forward to it. When I was pregnant, the doctor warned me about poor sperm quality and recommended bed rest. To keep the child, I quit my job and stayed in bed for half a year until Greta was safely born. But compared to her peers, she was weaker both physically and intellectually. Without my constant effort and support, she wouldn’t have kept up with her classmates. Despite this, she believed she was exceptional thanks to the constant praise from her grandparents. In my previous life, I gave up my career to guide Greta through her studies, hired tutors, and even brought in professionals to create a learning plan for her. Being a stay-at-home mother meant relearning all the knowledge alongside the child. It was tiring, but seeing her grades improve made every late night and early morning worth it. Eventually, under my guidance, Greta got into a top university and landed a job at a famous enterprise after graduation. However, when she earned her first paycheck, she bought gifts for everyone except me. When I asked her why, disappointed, she told me I had no right to expect anything from her. Later, she took the whole family on vacation but left me alone at home. A fire broke out due to old wiring, and I was trapped inside and burned to death. As my soul floated in the air, I saw Greta standing by my charred body, staring blankly. The first thing she said was, “Serves you right. You did this to yourself.” At that moment, I let go of everything. Looking at the agreement, I suppressed my excitement. “I hope you won’t regret this.”

Greta took my words as a final act of defiance. She snorted at me and carefully placed the agreement in her small safe, treating it like a treasure. “I won’t regret this. Without your intervention, I’ll live more freely and happily.” She casually tossed her school uniform aside, jumped onto the bed, grabbed her tablet, and started playing a game. “Come online. I’m going to have a good enough time playing today.” She gave me a smug look as if waiting for me to say something to stop her. She had astigmatism since birth, and by the time she was in second grade, her vision had deteriorated to 400 degrees. To protect her eyesight, I spent thousands of dollars on corrective lenses and strictly regulated her screen time on phones and tablets to prevent further damage to her eyes. But Rose thought I was overreacting. “You think playing on a phone can blind her? Nonsense.” She even gave Greta another phone and deliberately said, “Greta, this is the new phone I bought you a few days ago. Play as much as you want. No one can stop you.” In the past, their behaviors would have infuriated me, but now, I didn’t care at all. What Greta had said spurred me on. I thought, “Instead of pushing her, I should push myself.” In my previous life, I gave up my career to take care of her. I had received job offers from several big companies, but I turned them down to focus on her life and studies. This time, I was going to rewrite my own story. My best friend, Nora Evans, heard that I wanted to find a job, and she was thrilled. “Blanca, you should have done this long ago. Why stay with those ungrateful people and waste your youth?” Even she saw things more clearly than I did. Nora and I made plans to meet for dinner. It wasn’t even eight o’clock when I got a call from Rose. The moment I answered, Rose’s angry voice came through. “Where the hell are you? We’re starving!” I cut into a piece of steak and put it in my mouth. “What does that have to do with me?” Rose instinctively retorted, “How doesn’t it? You used to cook for us!” I shrugged. “You are not disabled. Can’t you cook for yourselves? You said that you came to the city to help me take care of the kid and do household chores. If you can’t, go back to the countryside with Frank.” With that, I hung up and continued discussing my new job with Nora. Fortunately, with my solid qualifications, the company quickly responded, offering me a position with a monthly salary of 12 thousand dollars and weekends off. When I signed the contract, I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. For the first time in a long while, I felt relaxed. In the past, I had always focused on improving Greta’s grades and taking care of my family, but I had only neglected my own well-being. Being with Nora made me realize how fulfilling and vibrant my life could be. After parting ways with Nora and returning home, I found the house in a mess. Phillip sat on the sofa with a straight face. Seeing me come in, he shot me a cold look.

“I thought you had died somewhere,” Phillip muttered angrily. I didn’t bother to argue with him. I had to prepare for my new job starting tomorrow. Seeing that I wasn’t responding, he lost his temper instantly. “Blanca, look at what you’ve done! The house is a mess. I work hard to support this family so you can take care of things at home. But you can’t even do that well. What good are you?” His words were accusatory, belittling me as if I were nothing. “Greta has been playing on her phone since she got home from school. Her eyes will be damaged. And she hasn’t written a single word of her homework! How does she expect to get into a prestigious middle school?” Phillip threw a blank worksheet at me, visibly agitated. Watching him panting and fuming, I couldn’t help but laugh. Phillip’s face turned even colder. “What are you laughing at?” “I thought you didn’t know! Huh, you do realize that staring at a phone hurts her eyes, and not doing homework will affect her grades?” I sneered. Phillip frowned, clearly not expecting such a direct rebuttal. He awkwardly scratched his nose. “Don’t give me that nonsense. You can’t just let Greta behave like this. You’re her mother. Don’t you feel guilty watching her fall apart? She means the world to you. You’ve vented your anger. Now it’s time to take responsibility.” With that, he plopped back onto the sofa, picked up his phone, and started scrolling through short videos, as if his words were an order to me. I pulled out the agreement I had signed in the afternoon. “I’ve signed the agreement, and I intend to keep my word. Shouldn’t we set a good example for our daughter? Besides, if you care so much about her, why don’t you step in and manage her education?” In my previous life, Phillip had always played the good cop to take all the credit when it came to disciplining Greta and left me to be the bad guy. Phillip snorted, “I’m exhausted from working every day. Can’t you handle things at home and educate her well?” I slapped my job application in front of him. “Sorry, but I’ve gotten a job now.” And the salary was higher than Phillip’s. Phillip was stunned, reading the application three times before accepting the reality that I had found a job. But he still wasn’t ready to give up. “Why do you need to go out and work? Don’t I earn enough to support the family?” He had gotten some nerve to say that! He only gave me 2,000 dollars a month for living expenses, which included utilities, food, and even medical bills for his parents. It was already a blessing that I didn’t have to subsidize him every month. I turned to question Phillip, “Would you be willing to stay home if I gave you 2,000 dollars a month?”

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After the video in which the imposter daughter, Evelyn Anderson, framed me was exposed, my parents and my fiancé, Jonas Hawkins, stood up for me and gave me love and support. With an assured mind, I handed over the evidence to them, authorizing them to manage the matter in its entirety without any reservation on my part. They told me that Evelyn had met with a fatal car accident all of a sudden right when she was being driven out of the house. And I, without a shadow of a doubt, bought the story. It wasn’t until the fifth year of my marriage that I accidentally caught sight of her, who was presumed to have perished in that car accident. She was holding a little boy in her arms while tightly clutching Jonas’ hand, saying, “Jonas, if it weren’t for my parents and you, I’m afraid I would really have been tossed in jail by that ruthless woman, Renata. Lucky for me, Mom and Dad got rid of the evidence, and they even set up a jewelry studio for me. To keep her from getting suspicious, you even sacrificed your own marriage. I really appreciate you for what you’ve done for the past five years.” With a tender gaze fixed on the little boy, Jonas softly murmured, “Just think of it as me making up for Renata’s mistakes for you. As long as you and the little one are doing okay, I can set my mind at ease.” It turned out that the family I once thought was filled with happiness was, in fact, merely an elaborate hoax jointly fabricated by my parents and Jonas. My parents, my husband, and Evelyn were the real happy family, leaving me out completely. And I was nothing more than a fool who had been deceived for five years. Be it family love or romantic love, if it was not the one and only, true kind of love that I was longing for, then I would rather let them go.

At the hospital, with his eyes filled with tenderness, Jonas took the little boy by the hand and said softly, “All these years, you’ve been living a life way more decent and easygoing than that so-called real daughter, Renata. But you gotta be careful. Don’t let her catch on.” Evelyn snuggled coyly into his embrace, murmuring with a delicate giggle, “Jonas, if it weren’t for you, I’m afraid I would really have been tossed in jail by that ruthless woman, Renata.” Jonas knitted his brows a bit, yet he didn’t shove her aside. Merely, he swiveled his head to the little lad next to him. Then he reached out to ruffle the boy’s hair and spoke up, “Forget about this. It’s all that matters that Finn is alright. In a couple of days, it’ll be his birthday party. Mark, Tess, and I will be there on time, using the excuse of coming to pay our respects to you.” Finn Hawkins had no clue what the grown-ups were chatting about. All he did was fling himself into Jonas’ arms, whining and cuddling up to him. The sweet and harmonious vibe of the family attracted numerous envious looks from passersby, including me. I was on the verge of a breakdown. Leaning helplessly against the wall at the corner, my body gradually slid down until I finally collapsed on the ground, drained of all my strength. Evelyn was never driven out of the family home, or punished, nor did she die in a car accident. In the past five years, she had been living it up, far more content and triumphant than I, the actual victim. To add insult to injury, she even bore my husband’s child. My biological parents, my husband, and every single person close to me had all been toying with my life, all because of her. The happiness I had always believed in turned out to be nothing more than a colossal deception. Consumed by a sense of utter despair, I dropped to the floor, limp and defeated. Before I knew it, I picked up the ringing cell phone. The voice of my mom, Tess Miller, came from the other end of the phone, and she said, “Renata, I heard from Bree that you went to the hospital today. You haven’t had a break in days. Hurry back and get some rest. You look awful, and it makes me worried.” Just like on ordinary days, her tone was brimming with gentleness and concern. But now that I had learned the truth, every word from her made me feel as if I was plunging into an icy abyss, and a chill ran down my spine. She didn’t actually care about my feelings. All she was worried about was that I might run into Evelyn and uncover the truth. I uttered a few words in response, letting her know that I was at the Children’s Disease Exchange Conference on the first floor. Just as I expected, she was seized with sudden panic. She quickly urged me not to move around and instructed Jonas to come to me without delay. Five minutes later, he showed up, gasping for air. His voice was laced with urgency and, far from sounding concerned, it carried an undertone of reproach as he blurted out, “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? You’ve been doing surgeries these days. It’s wearing you out. Look at you. You don’t look so good today. Don’t hang around the hospital anymore. Let me take you home and get some rest.” His eyes flitted about, and his countenance betrayed a rather conspicuous air of guilt. He grilled me and said, “There are quite a lot of acquaintances here, right? Have you bumped into any of your old classmates or friends?” I tightened my grip until my fingernails cut into my palms, the sharp pain bolstering me to muster a smile and say, “No. I just miss you. Let’s go home. Mom said she cooked up the mushroom soup.” As he heard my denial, the deep frown on his forehead instantly smoothed out. Along the way, he talked and laughed with me. His gestures were thoughtful, and his tone was tender, making it seem as if the moment when I had witnessed him cheating just now was merely an illusion. However, not a shred of love could I perceive in his eyes any longer. The seemingly perfect love I had once believed in turned out to be nothing but his means of atoning. Just how deeply must he have loved that family to be willing to stake his marriage on it?

Jonas worded it with great delicacy. “Babe, I’ve been talking with your parents these days. It’s gonna be Evelyn’s Memorial Day in a couple of days. We wanna go and pay our respects. I know she did you wrong before, but she’s gone now. Mark and Tess raised her for so many years, and she and I grew up together, you know. We’re worried that it might upset you. So we thought it’d be better if just the three of us go. You…” I interrupted, “Go ahead. I’m not going.” Upon catching sight of my surprisingly accommodating manner, he couldn’t hold back the smile on his face. He inched closer and murmured affectionately, “I just knew you were the most understanding person. You just stay home and have a rest, okay?” Without betraying a single emotion, I deftly evaded his attempt to placate me with a kiss and tossed out a perfunctory response, “We’re outside. Let’s head home now.” I averted my face, pretending to be shy. However, in my tightly clenched palm, I had pinched myself so forcefully that the skin was already a blurred mess of blood. It hurt so much… My hand was in pain, and so was my heart. Upon arriving home, I nonchalantly fabricated an excuse to get rid of Jonas before slipping into his study. My trust, given without reservation, has led him to have no defenses against me. The moment I clicked, the computer screen sprang to life, revealing a photograph of Jonas, Evelyn, and Finn, a perfect family of three. The sight of it was like a stab to my eyes, making them ache with a bitterness that seeped into my bones. The computer was password-protected. I cast my eyes downward and tapped out several numbers on the keyboard. Just as I had expected, it was the birthday of Finn. Inside the photo album were page after page of photos, all showing the family beaming with joy as they faced the camera. Jonas had even recorded every single detail of this small family meticulously. The one-month-old celebration that he and Evelyn hosted, the parents’ meetings they attended together, and countless photos of their family activities were displayed on the screen. The more I scrolled downwards, the weaker my legs felt, as if they could no longer bear my weight and were on the verge of giving way. My lips trembled uncontrollably. Shock and grief engulfed me, leaving me gasping for air. It was not merely on account of Jonas. Rather, it was also due to the other two principal figures in these pictures, my parents. Everyone had been trifling with my life and emotions just to keep Evelyn out of harm. All of a sudden, it dawned on me that each time Jonas was interviewed, he would invariably wrap up the session by saying, “I love my family.” I had mistaken it for his reserved yet genuine affection for me. Looking back now, I just found myself ridiculously wrong. The recipients of those words were never limited to me alone. Evelyn and Finn were also part of it. It turned out that this love was never one of a kind. I forced a wry smile, feeling that my heart, which was already broken into pieces, could no longer hold on. I practically stumbled my way out of the study. A slight vibration came from my phone. In the split second when I caught sight of the message, I jerked to a halt. It was from Evelyn. Evelyn: [Hey, you saw it today, right? The happy scene of our family. Jonas and your parents shelled out the cash and put in the effort to set me up with a jewelry design studio. And now I’m living it up, all comfortable and fancy. Renata, what’s the big deal that you’re the biological kid? So what if I nearly screwed you over? Anyway, you’re the one nobody loves. Tomorrow morning’s the anniversary celebration of my studio. Wanna come and see for yourself just how happy Jonas and I are?] Right at this very moment, I heard Jonas’ voice coming from behind. He said, “Renata, I have to go on a business trip tomorrow. Go to bed early and don’t stay up waiting for me.” I didn’t show up at the studio. And I simply ignored Evelyn’s sly little digs. Instead, I bribed the servants in her house. Since they were all out today, I seized the opportunity, dressed up as a newly recruited cleaner, and managed to slip into the villa where she was currently living. This was the cream of the crop among the luxury housing developments under Hawkins Group. Every inch of it screamed opulence. In the very center of the living room, a gigantic family photo was blatantly on display. There was Jonas, Evelyn, Finn, and, unbelievably, my parents, all standing in a neat row, gazing straight at the camera with beaming, blissful smiles. I barely had time to rest my eyes on it for a moment before the maid Georgia grabbed me and yanked me away. She stated. “This is the calligraphy piece Finn’s grandpa Mr. Mark Anderson himself penned when Mr. Finn Hawkins was born. And that thing over yonder, I know it looks a bit all over the place, but it was Mr. Mark Anderson, holding Mr. Finn Hawkins’ hand, patiently guiding him to write each stroke. You be extra careful when you wipe them, got it? Mr. Mark Anderson just adores these. Every single time he drops by, he’ll gaze at this for ages. Keeps going on and on about how talented Mr. Finn Hawkins is.”

Tears welled up in my eyes uncontrollably. I quietly turned my head away, not wanting anyone to notice. My dad Mark was a celebrated calligrapher. Since being reunited with the family and officially recognized as his daughter, there were times when I, in private, pleaded with him for one of his calligraphic works or paintings. But he would always turn me down with a smile, saying gently, “I haven’t written for ages. I’m all out of practice. Just forget it.” It dawned on me that it wasn’t that his skills had grown rusty. The truth was, he just wasn’t willing to create anything for me. Georgia went on. “And these sweaters, make sure you wash them in cold water. Mrs. Tess Anderson knitted every single stitch for Mr. Finn Hawkins with so much care. I heard that even her own daughter didn’t get treated like this.” I chose to remain silent and didn’t pick up on that conversation. Presumably, the bitterness inside me was so overwhelming that I had lost the ability to speak. I felt like a thief, greedily longing for the affection that slipped out from Georgia’s idle chitchat, secretly peeking at the happiness that belongs to others. Actually, Evelyn was right. I was the one who was unloved. Georgia kept on speaking, “And these photos here, they’re all of Mr. Hawkins and his family at various times. He checks them out a lot. You gotta wipe them clean real carefully, frames and all, you know.” My gaze flitted across each and every one of those photos. In every single phase of their lives, Jonas had always been there, never once missing out on the important moments. As for me, I had nothing to show for our relationship but a solitary wedding photo. It was a stark contrast to their collection of memories. When I had tentatively brought up the subject of our lack of photos together, he had merely brushed it off with the excuse that he wasn’t fond of taking pictures. A pang of bitterness welled up inside me. I bowed my head and tugged my mask up more forcefully, desperately trying to hide the tears that had already welled up and dampened my face. Before I could even pull myself together, a sound came from the doorway. Georgia looked at me and said, “Looks like they are back from the amusement park. I’d better hurry over to the kitchen and check how it goes. Alright, pick up your stuff and go get busy.” In the foyer, Finn was snuggled up in Jonas’ arms. Whatever it was that he had murmured, it had both Jonas and Evelyn doubling over with laughter. Then the nanny took Finn away to change his clothes. Hiding in the shadow of the pillars, I listened intently to the conversation between them. Evelyn uttered, “Jonas, I know that Finn’s arrival was an accident. Back then, I just couldn’t hold myself back, and, well, we had him. And you’ve been so good to us, taking care of us and staying by our side all these years. But now, he’s growing up, and I don’t want him to always have to hide like this.” Jonas wavered for quite a while. In the end, he reached out, took her hand, and gently drew her into his embrace, murmuring soothingly, “No, he won’t. Just don’t go and make a fuss in front of Renata, okay? As for the rest, I’ll sort it out. Just relax and take Finn to his birthday party. We have already cooked up some excuses. Renata won’t find out.” I was shocked in a flash. In the past, Jonas had always been harsh and stern with Evelyn. Back then, he swore his love for me with unwavering determination. When it came to Evelyn’s underhanded act of drugging him, he was full of contempt, and he saw her with intense loathing, warning her harshly not to meddle in our relationship ever again and that he didn’t want to lay eyes on her anymore. I actually believed him and opted to forgive him, pretending to be oblivious. Never did I expect that it was all nothing but deceitful lies. I couldn’t stomach staying there a moment longer. Gripping the voice recorder and mini camera in my grasp, I spun on my heel and made my way to the backyard, intending to get out of there as quickly as possible. Little did I expect that, upon emerging, I would bump into Jonas. The moment my eyes met this familiar face, a throbbing pain, dull yet intense, coursed through me, yanking at my very core and nearly causing my knees to buckle. I instinctively grabbed onto the railing at my back to steady myself, then lowered my head in a show of respect, holding my breath as I waited for him to walk past. However, after just a couple of steps, he suddenly wheeled around and came back. His eyes fixed on me, burning with scrutiny as he asked, “Are you new here? I don’t recall seeing you. Why are you wearing a mask?”

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I disappeared on the day of my daughter’s kidney transplant surgery, despite being a perfect match. No matter how much my mother-in-law begged on her knees, I refused to return to the hospital room. While she was panicking, my wife was rushed to the same hospital by ambulance after a severe car accident. When I heard she might become brain-dead, I didn’t hesitate to sign the form to give up treatment. My series of shocking actions made me the target of public outrage. But as the situation escalated, I smiled. Perfect. This was exactly what I had been waiting for… Today was supposed to be the day I donated a kidney to my daughter Lily. But just before the surgery, I decided not to go through with it. I lit a cigarette and sat on a bench near the hospital’s flower bed, starting to play a game on my phone. Just as I began a new match, a shrill female voice rang out: “Jack Wilson! Your daughter is lying in the operating room waiting for you to save her life, what are you doing hiding here?” My mother-in-law, Margaret Johnson, rushed up to me, her face contorted with anger as she berated me. I ignored her, focusing only on my game. Our mid-laner quickly got ganked, and I couldn’t help but turn on voice chat to curse: “Is mid lane playing with their feet? Even an elementary school kid could play better than you!” Feeling ignored, Margaret grabbed my phone from my hands. When she saw I was hiding to play games, her eyes turned red with fury. She smashed my phone on the ground and screamed: “What time do you think this is? Lily is still lying on the hospital bed waiting for you. How can you be so heartless as to abandon her here and play games!” I looked up at her irritably. The usually elegant and sophisticated lady now looked like a ferocious beast. I couldn’t blame her for being so angry. After all, Lily was the apple of her eye. Unfortunately, at just eight years old, Lily had developed severe kidney failure and would die without a transplant. And I, the only person with a matching blood type, had suddenly disappeared from the hospital room an hour before the surgery was scheduled to begin. “Come back with me right now!” Seeing that I was still unmoved, she reached out to grab my arm, barely containing her rage. However, the difference in strength between a man and woman was too great. With a light brush of my hand, she fell to the ground, unable to get up for a long time. Seeing me push down a woman in her sixties, a crowd of onlookers quickly gathered around us, pointing and gossiping: “Young man, you should talk things out properly. You can’t treat elderly people like that!” Margaret, emboldened by the crowd, began to shout: “Everyone, please be the judge! My granddaughter urgently needs a kidney transplant. My son-in-law is a perfect match, but he disappeared on the day of the surgery. What kind of father does this?” “I won’t do it. I’ve changed my mind. The transplant will affect my normal life. If Lily dies, so be it! Emily and I can always have another child!” I replied coldly, arms crossed. Hearing this, Margaret sat on the ground and began to wail. “Jack Wilson, Lily is your own flesh and blood. How can you casually say such things about letting her die!” She pounded the ground with her fists as she cried out: “My poor Lily! It’s all Grandma’s fault! If only Grandma could be a match for you, I’d give you both my kidneys if I could!” The onlookers joined in criticizing me: “This man is too cruel! Donating a kidney won’t kill him, yet he’s unwilling to save his own daughter!” I turned and snapped at them harshly: “Don’t try to guilt-trip me! Donating a kidney won’t kill you? Why don’t you try getting tested to see if you’re a match? Maybe you could donate instead!” The crowd was momentarily silenced by my retort, glaring at me with hostility. I checked the time and clicked my tongue impatiently: “Do you have anything else to say? If not, I’m leaving. I have a pile of work waiting for me at the company!” With that, I made to step around Margaret and leave the hospital. But I was stopped by her assistant who had been standing by her side: “Mr. Wilson, you’ve always been the person Lily trusts and relies on the most. Even when you’re too busy with work to play with her, you’re still the person she loves most. If you walk away today, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life!” He pulled out a glass jar from his bag, filled to the brim with colorful paper cranes. Seeing the jar, I was momentarily stunned. I recognized it as the Father’s Day gift Lily had given me recently. I remembered how she had looked like a little rabbit with her red eyes, carefully handing me the glass jar: “Daddy, this is my Father’s Day gift for you. I know you’re very busy, but can you please open it and take a look?” Her face had been full of hope, but I had carelessly placed the jar on the shoe rack, saying: “I know, Lily. Daddy will look at it when he’s not busy.” After that, I had been so caught up with work that the inconspicuous glass jar had been left to gather dust on the shelf… Robert randomly unfolded one of the paper cranes and began to read what was written on it: “Daddy, you promised to come to the parent-teacher conference, but you broke your promise again.” “Mom said you’re busy with work and told me to understand. I know you’re working hard to buy me more beautiful princess dresses. Even though I cried secretly, I can understand, Daddy.” “Daddy, Chen Le in my class said she’s never seen my father and that I’m a child without a dad. I got into a fight with her. How could I not have a father? My daddy is the best daddy in the world!” “Daddy, I heard Grandma say I have a very serious illness and might die. I don’t know what dying means, but I’m really scared I’ll never see you again…” He read several notes, and as I listened, my eyes gradually reddened. I had married into the Johnson family, and after the wedding, my mother-in-law had entrusted me with running the company. To prove that I wasn’t just living off my wife’s family, I had worked tirelessly without allowing myself any slack, terrified of ruining the company. The time I spent at home was indeed very little. But Emily had never said a word of complaint, taking meticulous care of all my needs. Our daughter Lily had always been well-behaved, never disturbing me when I was working. I owed both mother and daughter a great deal. The onlookers sighed with emotion: “What a sensible child, what a considerate wife! How can this man not know to cherish them!” Robert, seeing the wavering in my expression, continued to reason with me: “Mr. Wilson, even if your health isn’t as good as it is now after the surgery, the Johnson family’s money is enough to ensure you’ll never want for anything!” “Yes, you’re right, but I still don’t want to do the transplant.” Unfortunately, my hesitation only lasted a few seconds. Thinking about the impact on my health, I said no more and pushed past him to leave. Seeing me about to leave, Margaret crawled forward on her knees, grabbing my pant leg. She kowtowed as she begged through her tears: “I’m begging you, Jack Wilson. As long as you’re willing to save Lily’s life, I’ll give you anything you want!” Afraid I wouldn’t believe her, she took out her phone and called her lawyer: “Make an inventory of all the assets under my name. As long as the surgery is completed successfully today, I’m willing to give all my assets to my son-in-law!” I snorted coldly: “Who knows if you’ll go back on your word after the surgery!” Margaret gestured for her assistant to bring pen and paper: “I’ll write up an agreement right now. As long as you’re willing to do the surgery, I’ll take you to handle the paperwork as soon as you’re discharged!” She hurriedly wrote out the agreement, signed it, and pressed her fingerprint on it, carefully handing it to me. I glanced at it disdainfully, then tore the agreement into pieces and threw them in her face: “No amount of money can buy my health. I said I won’t do it, and I mean it!” The onlookers all criticized me: “Even tigers don’t eat their cubs. How can you be so selfish!” A burly middle-aged woman next to us spat on my suit, cursing as she helped Margaret to a nearby chair: “This man has a heart of stone. It’s no use kneeling to him, old lady.” Just as everyone was indignantly condemning me, a woman suddenly shouted: “Doesn’t anyone think this scumbag looks familiar? I feel like I’ve seen him online before!” “Ah! I remember now! I saw a few days ago that the new boyfriend of rising starlet Sophia Evans looks just like this man. He’s the CEO of Sincere Fortune Company!” someone immediately chimed in. After shouting this, she took out her phone to show everyone. It was an entertainment news article from a few days ago, showing me walking intimately with a female celebrity. In another photo, we were walking into a hospital hand in hand with a little boy between us, laughing and talking. Margaret was thunderstruck, swaying as if about to collapse: “No wonder, no wonder you’re unwilling to save my granddaughter. You’ve already betrayed my daughter and even have your own love child!” Robert also looked at me in disbelief: “The 17th? I remember Lily’s condition was very bad that day, she even had to be rushed to emergency. I stayed with Mrs. Wilson at the hospital all night. I can’t believe you were meeting someone else under the guise of working overtime!” A huge shitstorm descended on me, but I just smiled and nodded: “That’s right, I admit I was with Sophia that day. I saw Emily’s text, but I’m not a doctor. What use would I be if the child fainted?” Some of the men, seeing my nonchalant attitude, were already rolling up their sleeves, ready to beat me up. As they flexed their muscles around me, I raised my chin: “My company has the best team of lawyers. If you dare to touch me, be prepared to go to prison!” As we were arguing, an ambulance came wailing into the hospital. The doctor pushed a blood-covered woman towards the emergency room, shouting for us to make way. The woman on the gurney was covered in blood, but I recognized her at a glance as my wife, Emily. Margaret and Robert clearly recognized her too, and hurriedly dragged me along as they ran towards the emergency room. Emily was quickly pushed into the operating room. I grabbed a passing doctor and learned that Emily’s car had suffered a severe accident on the highway due to brake failure. Her condition was extremely critical. Margaret collapsed to the ground as if all her bones had been removed, mumbling: “My poor daughter, how could you get into a car accident…” Robert’s eyes were also red with anxiety, pacing back and forth like an agitated lion. Only I, feeling my legs ache from standing too long, casually found a chair and sat down. After the surgery, the doctor told us with regret: “The patient has severe cerebral hemorrhage. We’ve done our best, but now it’s up to her own resilience.” Margaret, who had heart disease, fainted upon hearing that her daughter was in such a state. The nurses hurriedly carried her to a ward for emergency treatment. Seeing that I was still calm, the doctor continued: “Do you want to transfer the patient to the ICU? The patient still has breathing, and transferring to the ICU can maintain her for a period of time. In the best case scenario, she might become a vegetative patient in the future, but there’s also a risk of losing both life and money.” Robert quickly grabbed the doctor’s hand: “No problem, we agree to transfer the patient to the ICU. No matter how much it costs, I’m willing to save her!” I clicked my tongue impatiently: “Robert, you’re just my mother-in-law’s assistant. What kind of family member are you? You have no say in this!” Shaking off his hand grabbing me, I shook my head at the doctor: “No need, doctor. I choose to give up treatment!” Just then, Lily, who had somehow heard the news, ran barefoot to me and hugged me, begging: “Daddy, please save Mommy! I don’t want to be a child without a mother!” I frowned impatiently: “Mommy is very seriously injured. Daddy can’t do anything. You should go back to your hospital bed!” “Daddy, are you afraid there’s not enough money to treat Mommy? I don’t need my surgery anymore, let’s use all the money for Mommy. Daddy, please don’t give up on saving Mommy!” Lily cried until she was almost fainting. Robert threw himself on the ground, shouting angrily: “Jack Wilson, the Johnson family is so rich, money is just a number to you. Why won’t you save Emily!” The doctor quickly prepared the consent form for giving up treatment and handed it to me. “Sir, if you decide to give up treatment, the patient can only hold on for at most half an hour. Are you sure you want to give up treatment?” I nodded and, ignoring Lily’s cries, picked up the pen and signed my name. The doctor took the consent form and sighed: “We’ll bring the patient out now. If you have anything you want to say to her, do it quickly. She could stop breathing at any moment!” Soon, Emily was wheeled out. Robert struggled to crawl to the bedside and held her hand, weeping uncontrollably. Lily also threw herself by the bed, crying out: “Mommy, please open your eyes and look at me one more time! I’m so scared!” Margaret, supported by a nurse, walked out of the emergency room, calling Emily’s name over and over. Unfortunately, in just five short minutes, Emily stopped breathing completely. Suddenly, the air was filled with heart-wrenching wails. Only I not only didn’t shed a single tear but began to calmly arrange the funeral affairs. The onlookers told Margaret what had happened in a jumble of voices. When she heard that I had signed to give up treatment, she rushed at me and slapped me hard across the face several times: “Jack Wilson, are you even human! You were just a poor boy from the countryside. If you hadn’t married into the Johnson family and taken over the company, how could you possibly be living the life you have now!” “My family has treated you well, and now my daughter has been in a car accident, yet you’re not even willing to save her life!” Robert also knocked me to the ground, punching me in the face again and again: “You heartless bastard! Emily really had the worst luck marrying you! You won’t save your wife or your daughter. I see you’re trying to wipe out the Johnson family! I’ll make sure you’re ruined today!” Unfortunately, Robert was no match for me, and he was quickly thrown to the ground. As the commotion grew louder, the scandal of Sincere Fortune Group’s CEO abandoning his wife and daughter and beating his mother-in-law quickly attracted reporters from a well-known local TV station and a social media influencer with millions of followers. As the TV station reporter’s camera focused on us, they held the microphone towards me: “Mr. Wilson, you’re a well-known local entrepreneur and one of the Ten Outstanding Youths, always presenting an image of philanthropy and moral excellence to the public. Do you have anything to say about this situation?” “I have no obligation to explain my motives to anyone. I can only say that if I had to do it all over again, I would make the same choice!” I declared firmly. Seeing the influencer excitedly start a livestream, Robert sneered at the camera: “Aren’t you arrogant, Jack Wilson? I’ll expose you today! Let everyone see what kind of beast in human clothing you are!” He supported Margaret as they both began to tearfully recount my actions. My daughter Lily also cried out: “Daddy, why are you doing this to Mommy? If you don’t want to save Lily, Lily can die! But Mommy loves you so much, she’s given you everything! How can you be so heartless as to not save Mommy!” Margaret and Lily hugging each other and crying moved countless people. But I just stood with my arms crossed, sneering: “Which law says I must donate a kidney to my daughter or save my critically injured wife! If you have the ability, take me to court or send me to prison!” My attitude infuriated everyone. The comments in the livestream were scrolling by rapidly, all condemning me. “Is this even human? He’s worse than an animal!” “Jack Wilson, why don’t you just die! Damn it! This makes me so angry!” “My God! If I were this old lady, with all my loved ones harmed by this scumbag, I’d rather go to jail than not stab him to death!” Just then, the police shouted for people to make way as they pushed through the crowd, and my expression finally showed a hint of change. “We received a report that Mrs. Emily Wilson’s car accident was not an accident but man-made. We’ve examined the car, and there are indeed signs of tampering with the brake pads. Mr. Jack Wilson, you need to come with us to the police station for questioning!” Robert grabbed my collar: “You had the car serviced just a few days ago, and the brake pads were newly replaced. Did you tamper with them? No wonder you wanted to sign to give up treatment!” Margaret also knelt before the police, begging: “Officers, you must help me punish this beast in human clothing. I’m an old woman with poor health. My son-in-law killed my daughter and now won’t save my granddaughter! He must be trying to wipe out the Johnson family!” The influencer continued livestreaming: “Everyone, there’s a new twist! It turns out Emily’s car accident was man-made, and the biggest beneficiary, Sincere Fortune Group’s CEO, has become the police’s first suspect!”

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My Husband Won $30 Million in the Lottery and Immediately Moved in with His Mistress The man who had been living off my income suddenly wanted me to leave with nothing but the clothes on my back. When I refused, he started smearing my reputation online. His actions caused my father to have a heart attack, and he just stood by and watched him die. Then, I was tortured to death by thugs he hired. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day he bought the lottery ticket. I looked at Lucas, who was about to leave, and smiled, “Honey, I’ll go with you.” He looked at me suspiciously, “What for?” Hearing his words, I narrowed my eyes. In my previous life, on this day, he went out and bought a lottery ticket, unexpectedly winning $30 million. That same day, he brought his mistress home and asked for a divorce. The man who usually acted meek and played the role of a stay-at-home husband at home became unbridled once he had money. He hired the best lawyers at a high price, trying to make me leave with nothing. He even posted my phone number and address online. Some radical netizens found my home, terrorizing me by smashing windows and banging on doors at night. They even placed funeral wreaths at my door. I was too scared to leave the house. When my father went to confront him, he saw Lucas being intimate with his mistress. Already suffering from heart disease, the shock was too much, and he collapsed on the spot. Lucas watched my father take his last breath without lifting a finger to help. I didn’t even get to see my father one last time. When I was on the brink of a mental breakdown, Lucas brought five thugs to invade my home. “If only you had agreed to the divorce from the start,” he said. “I wouldn’t have had to go this far.” “Fiona is pregnant, and I can’t let our child be born out of wedlock.” With that, he turned and left the room. After my death, he and his mistress lived in my house, spent my money, had a son, and lived happily ever after. They never worked a day in their lives, living off my fortune. Meanwhile, they claimed I had committed suicide, and that was the end of it. Heaven gave me a chance to relive my life. This time, I’ll make them pay for what they’ve done! I placed my hand on Lucas’s arm and looked up at him. “I promised my fans I’d buy some lottery tickets as giveaway prizes,” I said. “They all say I’m lucky to have such a good husband, and they want to borrow some of my luck.” “I just asked Fiona to bring the car over. The three of us can go together.” Being so close, I clearly felt his body stiffen. I knew that today was his anniversary with Fiona, and they had planned to spend it together. He hadn’t expected me to tag along. Pretending not to notice, I continued, “You don’t smoke, don’t drink, and you’re faithful.” “I must be the luckiest woman alive.” In reality, I thought, I must have the worst luck in the world to meet someone like you, who not only destroys my family but also steals my property. “Well, you’d better keep me close then, so other women don’t get any ideas,” he said, gently holding my hand. I felt a wave of disgust and casually shook off his hand. How was I so blind to fall for him in my previous life? Not only was he a freeloader, but he actually thought he was such a catch that everyone wanted him. Just as we reached the ground floor, Fiona pulled up in her car. “Rose, Lucas, hop in!” she called out.

Fiona was wearing an apricot-colored dress today, making her look stunningly beautiful. It seemed Fiona had put a lot of effort into their anniversary celebration. In my previous life, it took me a long time to find out. Lucas and Fiona had grown up together as childhood sweethearts. She was lively, cheerful, and gentle as water, always ready with a compliment, which greatly satisfied Lucas’s vanity. At home with me, he played the role of a dependent husband, but with Fiona, he was a hardworking man fighting his way in the world. When I was busy with work and needed to hire an assistant, he even recommended his “cousin” Fiona. When I was around, they were “cousins.” When I wasn’t… Lucas never dared to mention divorce to me. Because I had money, and he had no job, no source of income, he had to swallow his pride and please me for the sake of money. The look in Lucas’s eyes as he gazed at Fiona was full of infatuation, so obvious! How blind I was in my previous life! I pretended to be jealous, “Honey, you’re looking at Fiona like she’s a piece of candy.” “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you two were a couple.” My words caused a flash of panic in their eyes. Fiona waved her hands frantically, “Rose, don’t joke like that. Lucas is my cousin.” “Is that so?” I said. My gaze moved between the two of them, my tone flat as I got into the car. My question left them both squirming uncomfortably. The car ride was extremely quiet. Lucas kept glancing at me, his lips moving. But in the end, he said nothing. “Fiona, how long have you been working as my assistant?” I suddenly asked, breaking the silence in the car. I clearly saw both Fiona and Lucas stiffen, unsure if they were startled by my sudden question or if it was their guilty conscience. “Th-three years,” Fiona stuttered. Fiona had been my assistant for three years, and Lucas’s mistress for three years. And I had been kept in the dark for three whole years! I didn’t say anything, but Lucas couldn’t sit still. He spoke urgently, “Why are you asking about this? Fiona works hard and has taken good care of both of us.” Seeing how desperately he was trying to defend Fiona, I found it amusing. I remembered how Lucas had brought Fiona to me in my previous life. “Honey, Fiona is my cousin. Her parents passed away, so I need to take care of her.” “Sister-in-law, Lucas is my only family now. I’ll work hard for you, I promise.” The way they called each other ‘cousin’ sounded so sincere back then. As the car stopped, I turned my head and stared intently into Lucas’s eyes. A flash of panic crossed his eyes before it was quickly replaced by a smile. I smiled and said, “Oh, nothing. I was just thinking that since Fiona has been with us for three years, it might be time for a raise.” “I didn’t expect you two to react so strongly.” I pushed open the car door and got out before either of them, heading straight for the lottery store. “Boss, give me all the tickets with the number 7 in them. I’ll take them all,” I said. The shop owner looked confused. “That’s quite a lot. Are you sure you want them all?” I nodded firmly. Lucas, who had followed closely behind, heard this and came over to pat my shoulder. I shifted away, feeling disgusted. “I was thinking of buying one with a 7 today too. Can I have one, honey?” he asked. “No,” I replied without hesitation. There was no way I was going to give him a chance to win $30 million again. My whole family’s lives depended on it. The smile on Lucas’s face froze. Fiona stepped in to smooth things over, pulling out five dollars. “Lucas, I think tickets with 8 are good too. Eight sounds like ‘prosper’, right?” “Sounds good,” he replied. The two exchanged a sweet glance, making me feel sick. “Lucas, how about it? Did you win?” Fiona asked. Lucas held his head and sighed softly, shaking his head. In my previous life, when they went out to celebrate their anniversary, Fiona suggested buying a lottery ticket for fun. Unexpectedly, they won $30 million. Lucas immediately saw Fiona as his lucky charm and proudly brought her to me to show off. Now, the $30 million lottery ticket is in my hands. Whatever happens next is up to me. The next day, I went to claim the prize with the ticket. After taxes, there was still $24 million left. I transferred all of it to my father’s bank account. Just in case. I was afraid Lucas might check my account balance when I wasn’t paying attention. In my previous life, I had earned quite a bit from my social media work, so I used to give Lucas $50,000 every month. It was meant to cover his expenses for staying at home and taking care of me instead of working. Ever since we started dating and even after we got married, Lucas had never had a job. He would say things like, “Honey, my colleagues always isolate me. I don’t know what I’ve done wrong.” “Honey, you work outside, I’ll be your supportive partner at home.” “I love cooking and doing laundry for you. It makes me so happy.” Back then, I was so blinded by his sweet talk that I kept supporting him. And he had the nerve to use my money to keep a mistress! Every time I think about this, I shake with anger. When I got home, I saw Lucas and Fiona sitting at opposite ends of the sofa. Fiona’s hair was slightly messy, and her lipstick was smudged. Both of their clothes were wrinkled. I could only imagine how intense things had been between them before I arrived. I wondered if they had gone all the way. I hope Lucas didn’t get too scared. “R-Rose, weren’t you supposed to be shooting a commercial?” Fiona stammered. “Yeah, honey, why are you back so soon? Why didn’t you tell me to pick you up?” Lucas added. Looking at the panic on their faces, I found it quite amusing. “Oh, they suddenly canceled the shoot,” I said. I took a couple of steps, then suddenly turned back, “What were you two doing just now? You both seem out of breath.” The two on the sofa froze. After a long moment, Lucas finally spoke. “We were just doing some exercises, that’s why we’re so tired.” I nodded as if suddenly understanding, then went into the bedroom. I opened my phone and registered a new TikTok account, posting: “Can you believe it? I won a $30 million lottery ticket in a giveaway!” I tagged myself in the post. I invested a lot of money to promote this post, just to make sure Lucas would see it. As expected, the post went viral. During lunch, Lucas’s expression was very gloomy. “You saw that post about your fan winning $30 million in the giveaway, right?” I nodded slightly, lowering my head to sip my soup. My indifferent attitude successfully angered him. He slammed his rice bowl on the ground, shattering it. Furious, he shouted, “That lottery ticket, I saw it! It was the one I asked you for!” “If you had given it to me then, I would have won the $30 million!” “That money should have been mine!” Looking at his angry face, I found it laughable. “I bought it first, why should I have given it to you?” “We’re… we’re married!” he sputtered. Now he remembers we’re married. Where was this thought when he caused my father’s death and ruined my life? “I don’t care. The winner should have been me. Go and get that ticket back,” he demanded, seeming to have lost his mind, shouting wildly. I ignored him and went back to the bedroom. Lucas made a phone call in the living room. No need to guess, it must be Fiona on the other end. After feeling wronged by me, he was running back to his comfort zone. I wanted to push him to the edge. After all, even a cornered dog will jump over a wall. No wonder he’s so anxious, because at this moment, Fiona had found out she was pregnant. In my previous life, it was also around this time, but I found out a bit later. Lucas now desperately wants to divorce me. If we don’t divorce, his child with Fiona will be born out of wedlock, and they’ll always face the risk of me finding out and kicking them out. But right now, he has no job and no money. His only source of income is what I give him. That’s why he was so angry when he saw the fan win $30 million. In his eyes, that lottery ticket should have belonged to him. He had asked me for it first, but I didn’t give it to him. It wasn’t just $30 million, it was his leverage to ask me for a divorce. While Lucas was out, I installed hidden cameras in inconspicuous corners of the house. I picked up my phone and made a call, “That show, I want to participate.” I slept the entire afternoon in my room. When I woke up, I found that Lucas had returned, and Fiona was here too. The bowl he had smashed at noon had been cleaned up, and now they were in the kitchen making dinner. Seeing me come out, Fiona hurried over and took my hand, “Rose, Lucas didn’t mean it this afternoon. He told me he was just too angry.” “Please don’t hold it against him.” I pulled my hand away and sat down at the dining table, resting my chin on my hand. I smiled, “I’m not holding it against him. Winning or losing is all about luck.” “I guess Lucas just wasn’t lucky.” He really wasn’t lucky. Who told him I would be reborn to the day he bought the lottery ticket? Thinking about this, I struggled to suppress the urge to smirk. Lucas’s cooking skills were indeed very good. If he had always been honest, I wouldn’t have minded giving him more money to spend each month. Unfortunately, he wasn’t honest and insisted on keeping a mistress. “Honey, can you lend me a million dollars? I want to invest in stocks,” Lucas asked. I replied, “Didn’t you already lose half a million in stocks last month?” “I’ll let that half million slide, but don’t even think about this million.” Lucas: “But…” Fiona’s sudden retching interrupted Lucas’s words. I put down my chopsticks, pretending to be surprised, “Fiona, are you… pregnant?” “No, no, I just have a bit of an upset stomach lately. I’ll be fine after a few days of rest.” As Fiona finished speaking, a glass of water appeared in front of her. When she started retching, Lucas had already gotten up to fetch water from the kitchen. What a considerate and caring man, indeed. “Fiona, since you’re not feeling well, I’ll go to tomorrow’s event alone. You stay at our place and let Lucas take care of you.” “Rose, will you be okay by yourself?” Fiona asked. I nodded. “Lucas, take good care of Fiona while I’m away on this business trip for two days.” Take very good care indeed, because after today, both of you will be disgraced. The next day, they saw me off at the airport. As soon as they got home, they fell into each other’s arms, kissing passionately.

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The day my mother, Mia Hayes, was diagnosed with leukemia, my boyfriend Adam Maxwell’s childhood friend Alisha Jenner volunteered to donate bone marrow to her. But on the day of the surgery, I was hit by an out-of-control car at the hospital entrance and fell into a coma. When I woke up, the bone marrow transplant had failed, and my mother had died. Adam stayed by my side in devastation, pulling me back from despair. On the third anniversary of our marriage, which happened to be the anniversary of Mia’s death, I accidentally overheard him talking with his assistant, Eric Chapman. “Mr. Maxwell, we’ve taken care of the driver, doctor, and nurse from back then. No one will ever know about Ms. Jenner’s fake donation.” Adam sighed with relief, “Good. Charlotte’s mother’s death was ultimately Alisha’s fault, but I can’t let Charlotte destroy her.” At that moment, my world shattered. It turned out that the Jenner Group heiress’ charitable bone marrow donation, meant to boost the company’s corporate image, was a fraudulent scheme. My mother’s death was nothing but a stepping stone for Alisha’s rise. Alisha and Adam were both killers!

“Mr. Maxwell, do you intend to keep this matter hidden for the rest of your life?” Adam’s brow furrowed slightly as he replied, “This is the best solution I could think of. Now, Jenner Group has been revived from the dead. Alisha has entered the entertainment industry and become the star she always wanted to be. As for Charlotte, I’ll spend the rest of my life making amends to her.” Eric couldn’t stand his behavior and spoke urgently, “Back then, Ms. Jenner fled at the last minute because she was afraid to donate bone marrow. Mia literally died waiting on the operating table. How is that any different from deliberate murder? Mr. Maxwell, why are you doing this? After all, Ms. Hayes is your wife!” Adam closed his eyes, his brow creasing in pain. “Alisha was just too scared. She didn’t mean it. Besides, Mia’s leukemia meant she wouldn’t have lived much longer anyway. Charlotte only experienced an ordinary car accident. I’ve given her love and a family, all she wanted most!” Eric’s emotions suddenly flared up. “Mr. Maxwell, is this really what Ms. Hayes wanted? Is what she wanted, this deceptive love tainted with her mother’s blood, this marriage of atonement that feels like charity? You and I know that if Ms. Hayes discovers this, everything will be completely ruined!” Eric’s words pierced Adam’s heart. Adam choked harshly on his cigarette twice. He forcefully crushed the cigarette butt in the ashtray and impatiently warned, “Then I’ll never let her know! Keep your worthless conscience to yourself and shut your mouth! Otherwise, I’ll deal with you, too!” My whole body trembled so violently I could barely stand. Tears had smeared my face without me noticing, and the cold throughout my body was suffocating me. My mother’s death wasn’t an accident! Alisha hadn’t donated bone marrow to my mother as she had solemnly promised. And my mother, full of hope, lay on the cold operating table, never receiving the life-saving bone marrow. Instead, she received news of her daughter’s car accident and her own death. My mother and I parted hastily this way without seeing each other last time. It was a scheme personally arranged by my husband, whom I considered family. His tenderness and his devotion… It all was to save another woman in his heart. And the marriage I thought was happy was just his arrogant, condescending charity. It was absurd! That one word was enough to summarize my life these past three years. I collapsed onto the cold marble floor of the waiting room as if all my strength had been drained away. I waited until the footsteps faded into the distance before sitting quietly on the sofa. I sat there for exactly four hours. Adam finally appeared during lunch break. His expression was no different than usual as he reached for my hand. “Charlotte, you came without telling me? You should have let me know. I’m sorry you had to wait so long. Why are your hands so cold?” I looked down as he cupped my hands in his, warmth surrounding them from all sides. My heart felt like it was being twisted by a knife. “It’s just a lingering effect from the car accident years ago.” His movements paused as he pulled my hand to his cheek. “That’s my fault. I shouldn’t have sent you to get those documents alone.” I withdrew my hand and contained the hatred that nearly spilled out, saying softly, “It’s not your fault. It will get better with time. I didn’t want to disturb you since I knew you were busy. Your secretary mentioned you have another meeting soon. You should go. Oh, and please ask Eric to make me a coffee. He always makes it perfectly.” Adam had always been incredibly attentive to my needs. He gave Eric clear instructions when he left and sent me hand warmers. “Ms. Hayes, here’s your coffee and the hand warmers Mr. Maxwell requested.” I didn’t respond. I just silently got up and locked my office door. Then I turned around and gave Eric a complicated look. Eric felt uneasy under my stare and couldn’t help asking, “Ms. Hayes, is there something else you need…”

In the next instant, my sudden movement cut short his words. I slowly picked up the wedding photo of Adam and me from the desk. In the picture, we looked so happy, our smiles radiant. CRASH! Right in front of Eric, I violently smashed the frame to the ground, shattering it into pieces. “Tell me properly, Eric! How did Adam and Alisha cause my mother’s death three years ago?” The sun was setting when Adam finally finished his meetings and returned to the office. He found me napping on the couch and couldn’t resist quietly walking over to pull me into his arms. “Are you bored? My secretary told me you actually spent the whole afternoon talking with Eric. Our genius director, Charlotte, is going stir-crazy during this research trip to Northweston.” Over these past three years, I had established myself as a hot new female director in the film industry, winning numerous prestigious awards at home and abroad. I was famous for being extremely strict about scripts and actors. Even Alisha, with all her family wealth, couldn’t land a role in my films. Adam never interferes with my work and instead supports me completely. My success also adds considerable prestige to his career. Adam’s affectionate gaze swept across my face as he playfully pointed at the corner of my eye. “You haven’t been resting well, have you? Your eyes are all red from exhaustion.” I instinctively turned my head, avoiding Adam’s hand reaching toward me, forcing a slight smile. “I’ll be fine after some sleep. By the way, I have good news. You know how you’ve always wanted me to create a commercial film specifically for Alisha? I recently got an excellent script. I plan to try something different. To generate publicity, I will host a grand character reveal event before filming.” When news related to Alisha was mentioned, Adam’s superficial emotions instantly became animated. His face showed excitement, followed by confusion. “A character reveal event? Where did this idea come from? Director Hayes, you’re famous in the industry for keeping a low profile, and besides, don’t you usually think Alisha’s acting is…” I laughed mockingly to myself. Of course, I was doing this for them. Otherwise, given Alisha’s terrible acting skills—she just widened her eyes, frowned and screamed, I’d consider her out of place even as a background character. I displayed a sorrowful expression and slowly leaned into Adam’s embrace. “I’ve always owed Alisha a proper thank you. She volunteered to donate bone marrow to save my mom. Even though the outcome… well, she genuinely donated her marrow. I recently heard from a doctor friend that bone marrow transplant surgery causes significant harm to donors. I can’t be an ungrateful person.” Adam’s body tensed as he held me. My words left him speechless. As the main culprit, he was filled with nothing but guilt. He held me tighter, his warm lips lingering on my forehead. “Your mother may be gone, but you still have me. We will never be apart. I’ll treat you well for the rest of my life.” I silently hugged him back. Eric’s revelation from this afternoon flashed through my mind, and all warmth vanished from my eyes. A cold, mocking smile slowly formed on my lips as I thought, “Save these touching words for later. After you watch the role announcement event, you can tell me all about it.”

I had just arrived home when the doorbell rang urgently. The servant opened the door and saw it was Alisha. “I came specifically to thank Charlotte! Since Charlotte announced on Twitter that she’s not only choosing me for the lead role but also hosting a special launch event, I’ve been trending everywhere! All those brands and investors who looked down on me are now approaching me for collaborations.” Alisha was thanking me with her words, but her body was telling the truth as she brushed against Adam. “This is the diamond Addie gave me last month. I’m just passing along something beautiful. It’s for you, Charlotte!” I lowered my gaze to look at it. It was one of the two pieces Adam had purchased at an auction last month. In the light, the difference was noticeable. The one he had given me was more ordinary than what Alisha held. Adam’s expression beside me suddenly became tense as he carefully observed my reaction. My smile didn’t falter. I accepted the gift and played along with her act. “You’re too kind, Alisha. I always knew you were a born actress, just waiting to be discovered by someone with an eye for talent. When we get to the role announcement event, I guarantee the audience will see you in a new light.” My insincere praise made Alisha glow with delight. She completely missed the storm brewing beneath my words. However, Alisha’s arrival gave me the perfect excuse to get Adam out of the way. “I have some script issues to deal with upstairs. Adam, please entertain Alisha for me. Don’t neglect the future star of my billion-dollar movie!” Adam froze for a moment, then forced a laugh and quickly agreed. The words “billion-dollar movie” completely went to Alisha’s head. She just grabbed Adam’s arm and grinned. I turned and entered Adam’s study, hearing their laughter from downstairs. [Password incorrect. Please try again.] I stared at the message on the computer screen and shook my head mockingly. I changed my birthday to Alisha’s, and the computer unlocked instantly. It was filled with Alisha’s photos, portfolios, endorsement deals, and Maxwell Group’s sponsorship records. He even kept copies of her schedule. I’ve felt uncomfortable with Adam’s excessive attention toward Alisha these past three years. But whenever I tried to discuss it, Adam would put on a helpless act. “Alisha donated bone marrow to your mother. I’m just showing gratitude on your behalf. Charlotte, don’t overthink it.” With one mention of gratitude, all my feelings were completely shut down. He knew the whole truth, yet he deliberately put me on a moral high ground. As if the moment I criticized Alisha, I’d be disrespecting someone who saved my mother’s life, proving myself ungrateful. My memory abruptly cut off as my eyes scanned the jumbled information on the computer. “Found it!” The staff lists, event plans, chat logs, payment records, and detailed notes on where everyone involved ended up afterward are included. My three years of “ignorance” had finally caused Adam to let down all his defenses. The truth sat before me, plain as day, yet I had never questioned or touched it. I laughed bitterly as tears fell onto the desk. “Packaging a murderer as a lifesaver? Adam, you’re the real director here.”

After copying the evidence, I played it smart. I didn’t take the elevator but went down using the staircase in the corner of the villa. I found that Alisha was nestled in Adam’s arms, giggling flirtatiously. “You’re so clever, Addie. I’ve become the life-saving hero, which gives me the perfect opportunity to launch my career, and our family stocks have even risen. I don’t have to donate bone marrow to that old woman, and Charlotte will be forever grateful to me.” A devious glint flashed in Alisha’s eyes as she spoke with cold-blooded contempt. “After that old woman died, I not only had to pretend to be in pain and lie in bed for a month, but I also had to cry and kneel in front of Charlotte’s bed to apologize. No one has ever dared to treat me like this! I really gave those mother and daughter too much face! Fortunately, those paparazzi and marketing accounts were quite effective, achieving all the intended results. I guess I’ll reluctantly forgive that old woman for the suffering she caused me!” With each sentence, the guilt in Adam’s heart transformed into a sharp thorn, piercing him more painfully. As soon as the words fell, Adam abruptly pushed Alisha away from his embrace. Frowning, he lowered his voice and scolded her. “Alisha, watch your language and respect the deceased! Never bring this up again, or you won’t be welcome here anymore!” After saying this, he turned to leave. Alisha was stunned, completely surprised that Adam would reprimand her over Mia. She immediately rushed forward and hugged his waist, looking hurt. “Okay, okay, I won’t mention it again! I just missed you, that’s all. We haven’t seen each other for so long, and I have so much I want to tell you.” This time, Adam didn’t push her away. I watched them coldly, my palms already marked with blood from my own fingernails. “Mom, just hold on a little longer… Soon, I’ll tear off these two hypocritical masks at the event!” I turned around and headed down from the elevator. When I came down, Alisha was still on top of Adam, flirting and fooling around. This was definitely not the kind of distance friends should have. Seeing me arrive, Alisha put on an innocent smile instead. “Charlotte, are you done with your work?” Adam turned his head to look and immediately pushed Alisha away, explaining frantically. “Charlotte, let me explain. Alisha accidentally tripped on the corner of the table, and I was just…” I raised my hand to cut off Adam’s transparent explanation and smiled politely. “I understand. If there was really something between you two, why would I be the one marrying you? The maid says dinner is ready. Let’s eat first.” Despite my generosity, Adam’s expression remained uneasy. He kept sticking close to me during dinner, serving me food and wiping my mouth. Alisha forced a smile visible to everyone, and halfway through the meal, she found an excuse to leave. This time, Adam didn’t comfort her. I continued to play innocent, cooperating with his performance of deep affection. After all, without him, how could my grand scheme “take the world by storm” three days from now?

Three days later, Alisha’s character reveal event officially began. “Ms. Hayes, what’s the name of this new film?” “Ms. Hayes, why did you choose Alisha as the lead actress for this movie?” “Ms. Hayes, why are you making an exception for Alisha by promoting her so publicly and even livestreaming the entire event?” The currently most popular female director publicly supported an actress like this for the first time and had repeatedly stated during promotions that this would be her most proud work in her lifetime. The media and many fame-chasing social media influencers rushed to the event venue, hoping to capitalize on the massive buzz. Under the flashing lights, I smiled as I faced a barrage of questions from the crowd and calmly said, “For this film, Alisha was always the perfect lead in my mind. I can confidently say that her performance will completely change everyone’s perception of her. She’ll make her mark in film history.” My words caused a wave of murmurs and gasps from everyone present. Alisha’s arrogant expression intensified from beside me. Her recent surge in popularity had clearly gone to her head, making her think she was above everyone else. She was just waiting for the movie to be filmed and released so she could become the biggest movie star around. As soon as I finished speaking, a reporter asked, “But according to audience feedback and other directors’ opinions, Alisha might not be as talented as you claim. How would you respond to that, Ms. Hayes?” That question stirred up a storm, and countless inquiries flew at me. My expression remained unchanged as I calmly directed everyone’s attention to the big screen. “For this press conference, I specially prepared a teaser. After watching it, I believe all our media friends will have their answers.” Alisha beside me suddenly changed her expression and whispered in confusion, “Charlotte, what teaser? I’ve never heard about this!” Adam, in the audience, also gave me a puzzled look. I stepped back and tilted my head, speaking in a gentle tone. “Please enjoy, everyone. This is a movie teaser I’ve carefully prepared for a long time!” The big screen shows two people embracing tightly in a hospital room in the next second. It was Alisha and Adam! “Addie, I’m scared! Bone marrow transplants hurt so much. That old woman is going to die anyway. I don’t want to do the surgery. Can you help me? I just need to pretend I donated after the fact. We can fool everyone and boost my company’s image!”

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I, Caroline Ward, am the woman of Blake Harris, the mafia boss. After we got married, he spoiled me to the sky, flaunting our love to the media. I thought he loved me deeply. He couldn’t help but announce his love for me to the world. Until one day, I overheard a conversation between him and one of his men. “I live in both the criminal and legal worlds, with so many enemies. If I don’t make Caroline my weakness, how could Megan be safe?” I realized then that all the pain I had suffered for him was a joke… If that was the case, then I was no longer willing to be a living target for him! “Blake, you’ve gone too far! Caroline’s wounds haven’t healed, and she only had a small argument with someone, yet you’re rushing to see her? You’re putting both yourself and Caroline in danger!” It was the voice of Blake’s friend, Zachary Coleman, coming from behind the walls. I stopped in my tracks, stunned for a moment. The villa had many soundproof rooms, so unless someone was particularly agitated, one couldn’t hear anything. But after a moment, I heard the sound of something being thrown. “What do you mean, you only love Megan? Caroline has been her scapegoat all these years! You’ve never loved her. Why won’t you let her go? If it were that other woman, you’d be dead by now!” “Shut up! If I don’t make Caroline my weakness, how could Megan be safe? “I haven’t treated her badly, being my wife for so many years.” Blake’s voice was clear and deep. I leaned against the wall, struggling to process the information I had just heard. All these years, Blake loved someone else? And I had been nothing more than a scapegoat? I stumbled back to my room, my abdominal wound from trying to protect him tearing open again, bleeding through the bandage. But the pain in my body was nothing compared to the ache in my chest. The apples Blake had carefully sliced for me by the bed now felt like a cruel joke. He had treated me so well, too well, in fact. So openly, so lavishly, everyone around us envied me. Blake had many businesses along the border, managing both the legal and illegal worlds. In five years, I had been kidnapped three times for him, taken a knife for him twice, and even took a bullet for him once. I had risked my life for him, thinking he loved me deeply, but it had all been a lie… “Did you just go out?” Blake’s voice suddenly came from behind me. I turned, tears streaming down my face, meeting his eyes, which usually sparkled with affection. I had secretly rejoiced countless times, thinking how lucky I was to be married to such a handsome man. But now, in his eyes, I saw an icy coldness that cut right through. “Caroline, are you afraid of me? Where did you go just now?” He was too sharp. I barely managed to smile awkwardly. “I just woke up. When I saw you weren’t here, I got scared and didn’t know what to do.” From an ordinary student to the woman of a mafia boss, it only took one night. After my first kidnapping, I developed a lasting fear. As soon as I couldn’t see Blake, I would tremble with fear. He didn’t seem to doubt me. He gently stroked my lips and chin, his fingers tracing my jawline before they moved to my neck and down my spine. I couldn’t help but gasp. His restless hand lingered on my waist, the heat from his palm searing my skin. “Tomorrow, I’ll be gone for a day. Stay home and behave.” He kissed my lips lightly, his words warm against my ear. I shivered, gripping his shirt tightly. “Blake, my wound… my wound…” His expression changed instantly. In two quick moves, he undressed me, staring at the blood-soaked bandage with a furrowed brow. “Caroline, do you want me to die of heartache?” He carefully changed my bandages, his concern evident, no trace of pretense on his face. But the words I had just heard kept replaying in my mind. Where was he going for that day he would be gone? To see that woman, the one I had risked my life to protect?

That night, Blake held me in his arms and slept deeply. But I couldn’t sleep at all. I stayed awake all night, only closing my eyes after confirming that he had boarded his flight the next morning. The distance from the bedroom to the study wasn’t far. In his small study, everything was about me. From our first anniversary to my most recent birthday, every little thing had been neatly arranged. Anyone who saw it would be moved by the depth of his love for me. Only I knew that in the hidden compartment of a drawer, there was a diary that didn’t belong to me. Blake had told me about it when he was drunk. That night, he kept apologizing. At the time, I was so absorbed in him that I didn’t pay much attention to it. The next day, he’d forgotten all about it. I pulled open the hidden compartment and brushed the dust off the diary. The password was intricate, showing how much the owner valued it. I never imagined that my studies in cryptography would come in handy now. The password clicked open, and on the first page, Blake’s bold, strong handwriting wrote words, Megan. The next ten pages were all about how much he loved Megan. The words were careful, intense, and timid in a way I had never seen before. With me, he was always so calm and collected. I thought it was because he had matured and no longer had the fiery passion of youth. So he just didn’t love me… The last page was written in a messy scrawl. [Megan was assassinated. She was right. People like us should never have lovers! I’ll send her off!] The writing turned to yellow ink. The words became fewer and fewer. [The girl is so easy to fool.] [Today, I remembered Megan. The girl thought I was talking about her. It’s fine. Let her misunderstand. That way, Megan will be safe.] [As long as she can be my wife, even if she gets killed, she wouldn’t mind.] [I will be punished. I arranged a kidnapping. Everything was within my control. She was triggered, and for the rest of her life, she’ll never be able to leave me. I’ll spend my life making it up to her.] I pressed my eyes shut, terrified that tears would fall. It turned out the person he had always wanted to be with openly was never me. Our meeting, our love, our marriage, our happiness, from the beginning to now, was all just my Truman Show. I closed the diary carefully and placed it back where it belonged. As I stepped out of the study, I allowed the tears to fall. I curled up into a ball. Scenes from my first kidnapping flashed in my mind. At that time, Blake and I were inseparable. I had just come out of the hospital and was planning to tell him about my pregnancy. But as soon as I got into a car, I lost consciousness. Those beasts dragged me across the ground. The coldness and brutal torture made me lose the baby. When Blake rushed in and held me in his arms, all I could manage was a blurry consciousness. It was then that I developed a psychological condition. I couldn’t be away from Blake for long, and my health completely deteriorated. Blake comforted me, saying it didn’t matter if we didn’t have a child. It turned out, from the very beginning, that he never planned to have a child with me. He was the one who had crushed all possibilities. What I thought was redemption and deep affection was actually a carefully orchestrated scheme by him! The pain in my chest made it hard to breathe. I couldn’t resist the physical reaction, collapsing on the bed, convulsing. Amidst this extreme pain, I slowly became calm. Every detail of being with Blake flashed through my mind. In these five years, I had faced countless life-and-death situations. Every time, he had risked his life to save me. His care for me was real. He wasn’t worried about me dying. He was afraid that once I was gone, the danger would fall on his beloved. Shivering, I picked up my phone and checked Blake’s transaction records over the years. He had a company overseas that mainly dealt in jewelry. All the gifts he had given me in the past few years came from that company.

That company didn’t profit at all. The yearly revenue, aside from the fixed 100 million Blake sent, was supplemented by funds from the Harris Group. The company’s business was wide-ranging, and every product he had created had appeared on that woman, Megan. I found Megan’s account on Facebook. She was living comfortably in a seaside villa. In her latest update, she held hands with a man. The caption read: [My dearest you, worlds apart, yet so close.] I zoomed in on the picture. The man wore the same ruby wedding band as Megan, and there was a white mark on his wrist. Blake had once told me he didn’t like wearing rings. That was why, at our wedding, everything was there except for the rings. I really thought he didn’t like them. I made a bracelet by hand and put it on his wrist. That day, he kissed the bracelet, saying it was his amulet and that he’d never take it off. But as soon as he saw Megan, he took it off. He didn’t dislike wearing rings. He just didn’t want to wear one with me. I scrolled further. On February 14th, Blake gave Megan a sapphire necklace carved from the finest stone. That day, Blake gave me a necklace made of blue diamonds. On July 7th, Blake bought the best silk and made a full set of clothes for Megan. That day, Blake gave me a silk scarf. I flipped through the pages, burying myself in the pillow, laughing wildly in silence, my body twitching. My pulse seemed to stop in this madness. In Blake’s eyes, I was just a sidekick to Megan, a scapegoat. All the gifts he gave me were just afterthoughts prepared for Megan. Five years of love, gone in a moment. I cried the whole night. During that time, Blake sent me a message. I used to think he loved me, that he always wanted to know how I was doing. Now I realize he was just afraid that I, the scapegoat, would run away. If that was the case, how could I let him get what he wanted? The next morning, I contacted my lawyer, asking him to cancel all my identity information as quickly as possible. Blake came back in the middle of the night. As soon as he entered the house, he eagerly buried his face in my shoulder. “Caroline, did you miss me? I couldn’t sleep a wink last night without you.” The dark circles under his eyes made it seem like he hadn’t slept a bit. If this had happened before, I would’ve been deeply touched. But now, I didn’t dare to move. He didn’t love me. This pretentious look of deep affection made me sick! “Shy?” He looked down with a laugh, pulling me into his arms and with a soft moan from me. I was like his doll, not cared for, not even considered if I was asleep. Tears slipped down the corners of my eyes, quickly absorbed by the pillow, as though sadness had never been there. The next morning, as soon as I opened my eyes, I saw Blake’s grim face. Thinking about his reputation, I flinched in fear. “Your phone’s ringing. What did you cancel?” I quickly looked at my phone. It was a message from the lawyer. He had already taken care of canceling my identity, and in three hours, it would be final. I smiled awkwardly, “It’s nothing. Just an email account I used before. It had been inactive for so long, and I was worried it might be reclaimed, so I just canceled it.” “Mm.” Blake leaned closer to me, his gaze intense, gripping the back of my head as if trying to steal every breath I had until I had no strength left and collapsed in his arms. “Caroline, don’t lie to me. Don’t betray me.” I nodded desperately, tears brimming in my eyes. The terror was so intense that my fingertips grew cold. Soon! Soon, I would escape from him! Soon, Blake would never have Caroline by his side again! Just then, my phone rang, and Blake took a step back. “What? Megan’s back? Who brought her here? Wait for me. I’m going now.” Blake’s voice was dark, and he hurried out without even looking at me. I kept telling myself to breathe. Before leaving, I still had one thing to do. Even though I had canceled my identity, I didn’t want the name Caroline to be linked with Blake anymore. I steadied my emotions and received a message from the private investigator. It was a string of numbers. Megan’s phone number. “Hello, I’m Blake’s wife. Let’s meet.”

The meeting place was chosen by Megan. It was at the city’s biggest hotel. Behind a screen, I could hear heavy breathing. “Can’t you listen to me? It’s not safe with me right now.” I had seen Blake cold and gentle, as well as every other side of him. But hearing his helpless voice for the first time shook me. “I miss you so much. I’m about to get married, and you still won’t see me. Is it true that you’ve really fallen for your wife?” “Stop saying that. I’m doing this to keep you safe.” After exchanging words of affection, Blake finally left. He was always cautious, but this time, he didn’t notice that someone else had slipped behind the screen. I couldn’t see my own expression, but it was probably bitter and mocking. “Blake is gone. You’re really pathetic. But as a woman, I’m still willing to hear you out.” Megan stepped out from behind it, a smug smile on her face, her eyes full of the pride of a victor. Her skin was flushed, and her outfit was both flattering and stylish, accentuating her figure. The exposed skin on her body was smooth and flawless. I looked down at my casual clothes. Ever since I got together with Blake, I didn’t dare wear anything nice because I lacked the courage to show the scars on my body. The constant injuries made me seem so much weaker than Megan. She just stood there, scanning me from top to bottom, and it was already the greatest insult. “I’m not here to fight you over Blake. I’ve been by his side long enough. He might have feelings for me too.” After being with Blake for so many years, I learned how to use others’ power to my advantage. “You came here today to make me give up, didn’t you? I know I can’t compare to you. I just want one autograph from him to remember him by.” When I left the hotel, my steps were much lighter. Over the past couple of days, I’d tried everything to cling to Blake. At first, he went along with it, but eventually, he became impatient. But it didn’t matter. As long as my goal was achieved, I didn’t care. Two days later, Megan gave me the signature I asked for. When I saw it, I breathed a sigh of relief and quickly went to print the divorce papers. By the third day, my identity was completely erased. I gathered all the gifts Blake had given me, including that diary, and placed them in the most visible spot in the villa. These things that belonged to someone else were better off returned to their rightful owner. As for all of my belongings, they were burned to ashes the moment I stepped on the plane. In the airport lounge, I took out my phone and sent Megan a message. Just two words: [Thank you.] Just as the phone was about to turn off, Blake’s text popped up in the notification bar. [Baby, I’m almost home.] [I bought the birthday cake. It’s your favorite strawberry cake.] [Sorry, baby, Megan isn’t feeling well. She’s all alone here, so I need to go check on her…] The phone shut off completely, and the dark screen didn’t show his next words. But I didn’t need to see it. I already knew he was going to be with Megan. I crushed the SIM card and threw it in the trash. Following the boarding announcement, I stepped onto the plane. Meanwhile, in the ballroom, Megan lay softly on Blake’s chest, a faint flush on her face from the alcohol. “Blake, I’m fine. Go back to Caroline. I’m the one being selfish. I couldn’t help myself, I just missed you, so I called you.” Her eyes were full of tears. Blake’s phone lay next to them, the screen flashing dimly. It wasn’t until they left the ballroom that he noticed the dozens of missed calls on his phone. The moment he answered, his friend Zachary’s panicked voice came through, trembling. “Blake! A lawyer came to the company with the divorce papers! Caroline found out about you and Ms. Foster! “We can’t reach Caroline! We’ve tried every way, and we can’t get in touch with her!!”

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My girlfriend’s first love once saved her life, and in return, she promised to do three things for him. The first was when I proposed to her. He called her away and took her on the Ferris wheel, leaving me waiting. The second time was when I was in the hospital, sick and alone. He convinced her to go with him to see the northern lights. For eight long years, I silently watched, bearing it all. Then, at our wedding, she made a shocking confession that she hadn’t married the man she loved the most. With a gentle tone, she tried to soothe me, “Zack, after this, I’ll have nothing to do with Julian anymore. Can you forgive me just one last time?” But this time, I couldn’t take it anymore. If she hadn’t married the right person, then I wouldn’t force myself to be that person. As the priest stood at the altar, asking if I would take her as my wife, a knot tightened in my chest. My gaze instinctively moved to Victoria Hale’s first love, sitting quietly in the audience. Julian Pierce’s confident smile was like a weight on my heart, and it made everything feel colder. When Victoria finally said “I do,” I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. But just as I thought it was over, she spoke again, her voice cutting through the tension, “I have a song I’d like to sing for my groom.” The song was for me, but her eyes never left Julian’s in the crowd, and I could feel the bitterness rising in my throat. The priest handed over the stage, and Victoria began to sing. But as the music filled the air, I felt the room grow colder, like I was drowning in ice. I recognized the song right away. It was one Julian had written himself and it was called “Not Marrying the One I Love.” For eight long minutes, Victoria sang. Eight minutes that felt like an eternity, as I thought back on the eight years I’d spent loving her. From the moment I’d first fallen for her in college, to the years that followed, through graduation, my career, and everything in between. She’d always been tangled up with Julian, and I had quietly accepted it. Even when she married me for the sake of her family’s business, I endured it all. But now, as I watched my parents, their faces twisted with anger, and saw the way Victoria and Julian looked at each other, something inside me snapped. I couldn’t keep pretending it didn’t hurt. Victoria must’ve noticed the change in me, because she put the microphone down and slowly walked toward me. “Zack, I’m sorry. Julian said this is the last time. After today, I won’t have anything to do with him anymore.” Her words were like empty promises. As if I should believe that everything would magically be fine between them just because she said so. I knew what was really going on. Julian knew he could never marry Victoria, so this was his way of humiliating me. At least this wedding would be the nightmare I’d carry with me for years. Looking at the woman in front of me, pretending to be so sincere, I suddenly felt sick to my stomach. I took a step back, distancing myself from her, and tossed my wedding ring onto the floor. “If you didn’t marry the one you love, then go marry him. He’s right there.” My voice rang out, cutting through the room. The murmurs of the crowd swirled around us, and for a moment, Victoria’s face flickered with embarrassment. “Zack, stop this. Today’s supposed to be our wedding.” “Yeah? Well, it’s not happening. You’re free now. Go be with the person you really want,” I shot back. Then, I turned to face Julian, who was watching from the crowd. “Julian, congratulations. You won. I don’t want her anymore. I hope you two have a lifetime of happiness.” I wasn’t holding back anymore. Julian was a well-known music producer in our circle, someone who had used his connections to force his way into our lives. Now, I was going to make sure they both felt the consequences of their actions. I dropped the microphone to the floor, shrugged off my suit jacket, and walked away, pulling my parents along with me. On the drive home, my parents didn’t say a word. They didn’t scold me, not even once. My mom just pulled me close, holding me in silence, offering what little comfort she could. Loving Victoria in silence for eight years had been a pain I could never fully explain. We were from the same world, same university, same circle. If it weren’t for her family’s business crisis, Victoria would never have agreed to this marriage. I knew that. I’ll admit, I was desperate. But after two years of being with her, I honestly thought I’d won her over. Even though she’d always put Julian first, I stood by, hoping she would one day choose me. My family had never wanted to get involved with the Hale family. After all, they were the ones trying to climb the social ladder by marrying into ours. But because I insisted, my parents had reluctantly gone along with it. If I had forgiven her today, it wouldn’t just be my pride that would be shattered. It would be my family’s as well.

When my mom saw how much I was hurting, she couldn’t keep quiet any longer. “Zack, if you still want to marry her, we can put pressure on the Hale family. Victoria will definitely come and apologize.” But I knew that even without my parents intervening, Victoria would still come to apologize. She would do it because she had no choice. I shook my head slowly. “Mom, I’m sorry I’ve embarrassed you. I’m done with Victoria. It’s over. I’m the one letting her go.” Mom didn’t argue. “It’s probably for the best. A woman like that… you’re better off without her.” She didn’t say anything else. Instead, she simply ruffled my hair, offering comfort in silence. Knowing I was still struggling, my parents planned a family trip to try and take my mind off things. I selfishly picked Kanvas, where Victoria and I had once gone to see the Northern Lights. It had been one of the most beautiful moments of my life, and now, I needed that place to help me let go of everything. For a whole week, I tried to put the past eight years behind me. But when I got back home, the media storm had already started. The internet was ablaze, and it was all aimed at me. Julian’s fans had twisted my words from the wedding and spread them online, editing my statements to make them look like I had said, “If you love Julian so much, then go marry him. I’m done with you.” They didn’t know the full story or understand the scene at the wedding. But they made it sound like I was the one who had dragged Julian into the mess. What hurt more was that Victoria and her family had said nothing. They let the storm brew and only allowed the fans to continue their attack on me, without a word of defense. In just a week, rumors were so widespread that my death photo was circulating online. But I knew deep down that this kind of media frenzy didn’t just happen on its own. Someone had to be behind it, stoking the fire. Even my family’s PR team couldn’t put out the flames. And I immediately thought of Victoria. When I called her, I could hear Julian’s voice in the background. “Victoria, are you going to address all this drama online?” Her voice was as cold as ice, unaffected, like none of this had even fazed her. “Zack, if you apologize to Julian, we could still have a wedding. I’d still marry you,” she said, as if nothing had changed. The self-loathing hit me hard. Why had I even hoped she’d be different? I couldn’t help but let out a bitter, empty laugh. “Victoria, how much lower can you both go? You let this mess spin out of control online, and instead of explaining yourself, you want me to apologize?” “If it weren’t for you, Julian wouldn’t have almost lost his job. You’re the one who deserves all that hate,” she replied, still sounding so high and mighty. I didn’t waste another second and hung up the phone. Turning to my parents, I managed a dry smile. “Dad, it’s time to pull all funding from the Hale family. A woman like that doesn’t deserve any more of our energy.”

There was no deeper reason behind my words. I just wanted to see if Victoria could still demand an apology from me without my family’s financial support. As for the online rumors, I didn’t bother directly addressing them. Instead, I simply paid to have the trending topic removed. The reason behind this was simple. I wanted to see if there was someone pulling the strings behind these rumors. By the time morning came, that trending topic was back at the top of the headlines. That was when I knew. Someone was deliberately trying to bring me down. Once I had my target, everything else fell into place. It was right then that my phone began buzzing non-stop with messages from Julian. During the seven days I’d been away, he’d sent me countless photos of himself with Victoria, along with his messages. [Zachary, do you really think Vicky loves you? The only person she cares about is me.] Among the dozens of photos, one stood out, sharp and painful. It was of Victoria and Julian embracing on a mountaintop, the sunset casting a golden glow over them. My heart clenched. Victoria had once told me she didn’t like outdoor activities, but here she was, climbing the city’s tallest mountain with Julian. For a brief moment, I felt a sting. But more than that, I just thought how foolish Julian was. All the public opinion that had been focused on me was now turning in another direction. I wasn’t bothered by using Julian as a shield, whether or not he was the one behind all of this. I took those photos, along with the screenshots he’d sent, and sent them to a few marketing accounts I’d bribed. In just two hours, the narrative completely flipped. Even though Julian had spent a fortune to push his own trending topic, he couldn’t compete with the proof I held in my hands. Once that was done, my phone exploded with his messages, crude and filthy insults flooding my screen. Victoria also called me more times than I could count. It was probably more than we’d spoken in the entire three years we were together. The irony wasn’t lost on me. I pretended I didn’t see any of it. After a few days at home to clear my head, I got back in the car and headed to the office. Just as I parked, someone suddenly rushed toward me from a distance. My instincts kicked in, and I tried to retreat back into the car. But it was too late, and she was too fast. The woman came straight at me, a knife gleaming coldly in her hand. Pain exploded in my abdomen as the blade pierced deep. For a moment, everything went blurry, and I could barely stay conscious. With what little strength I had left, I grabbed her, refusing to let go. Even if I died, I wasn’t going to let her escape. In the haze of my vision, I could hear her speaking into the phone. “Julian, don’t worry. I’ve taken care of this bastard. No one will ever hurt you again.”

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