Author: Momo Chan

My boss offered me 500,000 dollars just for my breast milk. I thought he wanted it to feed a baby. But then I saw him lying there, weak and almost lifeless. After drinking my milk, he suddenly regained his strength. That’s when I realized he was using it as medicine. Later, he offered me five million dollars to nurse him directly. For the money, I said yes. And then, he asked me if 50 million would be enough for me to… * My boss called me into his office that day. I was freaking out, terrified that he was going to lay me off. If I lost this job, I wouldn’t have a dime coming in. Back when I was pregnant with my daughter, Lily, my previous company basically forced me out. After prenatal checkups and hospital bills drained what little savings I had, I had no choice but to ask my husband for money. Every single time, he gave me this attitude. He’d constantly nag me, saying, “You don’t need to buy this,” or “That’s a waste of money.” And he always ended with, “Look, I’m broke too.” Thank God I had plenty of milk and could breastfeed. Still, diapers aren’t free, and neither are clothes. My daughter’s clothes were already too small, and with winter here, she needed warm clothes. Honestly, if I hadn’t lucked out and found this job, she wouldn’t even have diapers or warm clothes. Relax. My boss said gently as he sat across from me. This is personal. I relaxed a little. And then my boss smiled faintly at me. My boss was good-looking, came from a very wealthy family, and clearly never had to worry about money. God, I wish I could be him. I hated myself for being so naive back then, marrying my husband and having a child at that age. Now my life is miserable, and my child has to suffer with me. Are you currently breastfeeding? I’d like to buy some of your breast milk, if that’s okay. Don’t worry, I’ll pay you. I naturally assumed he had a baby at home, or maybe a friend whose wife wasn’t producing enough milk. In my mom groups, there were always mothers who didn’t have enough milk and asked if anyone had extra. But usually, it’s free. If you have extra, you just pass it on. So I said, ‘Sir, if you need it, you don’t have to pay me. My baby can’t finish it anyway, and the extra just goes to waste.’ He quickly said, ‘Absolutely not. I don’t like owing favors. And I need it supplied on time every day. If you don’t accept payment, I won’t feel comfortable making specific demands.’ Ah, so he did have conditions. Fair enough. If I didn’t take his money, it would be awkward for him to demand anything. So I nodded. ‘Alright, but you don’t have to pay much.’ If I kept him happy, he probably wouldn’t fire me. Then, he asked for my bank account and directly transferred 500,000 dollars to me.

I stared at him, completely shocked. ‘This… this is way too much!’ He stopped me before I could say more. ‘Just take it. I have many specific requirements. Plus, you’ve done your medical checks, so I feel safe about your health. I also have some pretty intrusive requests, so you deserve this. Staring at that 500,000-dollar balance, my eyes stung with tears. Minutes earlier, I had only about 80 bucks left in my bank account. I didn’t even buy lunch at work anymore. To save money, I would go to the company pantry and eat the free crackers and bread there. I was really that poor. So even if my husband and mother-in-law treated me like dirt, I didn’t even dare to get a divorce. If I did, they might fight me for custody. Even if I got custody, who would take care of her? I’d still have to rely on my mother-in-law for help. On top of that, leaving my husband meant renting my own place. I really regretted being so young and naive, rushing into marriage and motherhood. Every step felt impossible. But with these 500,000 dollars from my boss, a huge part of my problem would be solved. He told me his conditions. First, you need to pump the milk in my office every day. You can’t do it anywhere else, because I need to make sure the milk is clean and safe. That sounded reasonable. I’ve heard that he came from a wealthy family, and rich people were always afraid someone might try to harm them. Second, to make sure the milk is nutritious, you’ll eat three meals a day prepared by my personal chef. Wow. The wealthy really live in a different world. But this was good for my daughter too, and I was actually getting the better end of the deal. I wouldn’t have to eat dinner at home, so I wouldn’t have to face my husband or my mother-in-law. It’s perfect. Third, I don’t want you to have sex during this period. Me:??? Okay, that is definitely crossing a line. But hey, the man just gave me half a million dollars. Besides, I don’t want to touch my husband ever again anyway. So I nodded readily. Then I went into his private lounge to pump. It was kinda humiliating to be honest. Stepping into his private space doing such personal things. But ever since I became a mother, my pride had taken a back seat. For the money, and for the future of my daughter and myself, I gritted my teeth and sped through the process. I walked out holding two bottles of milk. Mortified, I asked, “Sir, I’m done. Should I put these in the fridge for you?” Without even looking up, he said, I’ll handle them later.

My boss had me eat dinner in his office. The food was healthy, filling, and actually delicious. After pumping milk once more, I clocked out and went home. I had to hide my bank card first. I was afraid my husband would find out. I wanted to divorce him. But not yet. The timing was not right. I needed to get through probation first and make sure I had a steady income. That money from my boss was my safety net. And I needed to wait until my daughter was old enough for daycare. But honestly, the thought of daycare still made me nervous. And I had no one else to help me watch her. So for the time being, I was trapped. When I got home, my mother-in-law just dumped the baby on me and headed out to a bar. My husband was just sitting there, glued to a game on his phone. He did not make much money either, yet I had been pathetic enough to hope he’d help out with babysitting. But every time I asked him to do anything, he always found an excuse to wiggle out of it. Before the pregnancy, he had been the perfect, devoted husband. He had done everything—the cooking, the cleaning, the laundry. He had promised to treat me like a queen. But as soon as I was pregnant, the mask slipped. He stopped doing housework, stopped giving me money, and kept saying we needed to save money. If I’d seen his true colors back then, I wouldn’t have looked at him twice. I was in the room, breastfeeding the baby. Looking around that cramped, messy rental apartment, I felt so lonely and hopeless. I couldn’t stand the thought of my daughter living like that. At night, Lily slept between us. My husband started pawing at my pants. He used to be so affectionate, making me feel cherished. But at that time I felt like I was just a hole to him. A tool for his release. There was no foreplay, no nothing. I told him no. He snapped, “It’s been long enough since the baby was born. You’re fine to have sex now.” We struggled, and I landed a sharp slap across his face. He slapped me right back. In the dark, we just stared at each other in silence. He started ripping at my clothes again. I grabbed my phone and smashed it right against his head. He flicked the light on and screamed at me, “Cyrus! What the hell is wrong with you?!’ His eyes were wild. I froze, paralyzed by his rage. The baby woke up and started wailing. I pulled her close, trying to quiet her down. That just made him angrier. He gave me a hard shove, and before I could react, I hit the floor with the baby in my arms. Luckily, I hit the ground first and held her up so she wouldn’t get hurt. My mother-in-law burst into the room. Without a word, she rushed over and slapped me. “You worthless bitch! How dare you talk back to my son? Who the hell do you think you are? I could not fight back at all. The baby was terrified and crying even harder. My husband just stood there, coldly watching his mother beat me. After she was done, she snarled at me, “You better serve my son right, or I’ll make your life a living hell. Who do you think you are? A useless second-hand bitch. Just suck it up, shut your mouth, and serve my son! Then she turned to my husband and said: ‘A woman only learns to behave when you rough her up. You treated her way too well, and it made her forget who’s in charge here.’ He said: ‘I get it, mom. Take the baby out.’ She reached for the baby. I knew exactly what he was planning to do. It wasn’t the first time he had forced himself on me. He had even told me: ‘Are you a nun or something? We’re married. I can do whatever I want to you, and the cops won’t do a damn thing!’

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The Chieftain gathered every unmated male and told me and sister to choose. Male shifters are ranked S, A, B, or C. My sister Lyra chose the clan’s only A-rank wolf shifter. She bore him five litters. Every single one B-rank. He raged. Cast her out. Tore the bond like it was nothing. The other males wanted nothing to do with her either. And me — I chose a B-rank snake shifter. One litter. Ten cubs. Every single one A-rank. The whole clan named me the Sacred Daughter. My mate inherited the Chieftain’s seat. Lyra couldn’t stand it. She killed all my children and pushed me off a cliff. When I opened my eyes again, we were back. Back to the day of choosing. I came back to myself just as Lyra pressed her body against the snake shifter’s side. “Chieftain.” she said sweetly. “I choose him.” I understood immediately She’d been reborn too. Actually, my sister and I weren’t from this world. But we couldn’t find a way back. In the end, we would just have to adapt to the rules here. But this time, I absolutely won’t let her control everything! * In this world, Male shifters are born ranked — S, A, B, or C. The higher the rank, the more valuable the male. C-rank males were everywhere. B-rank was considered a prize. A-rank was rare enough to cause a stir. As for S-rank — even the elderly Chieftain had never seen one. Females in the Beastlands were fewer than males. Their social standing was higher, which standing on the children they bore. The higher the rank of your cubs, the higher you climbed. In our last life, Lyra had wanted to be the top female in the clan. She’d gone straight for the only A-rank wolf shifter without blinking. She’d told me to choose Voss, the snake shifter. “Snakes have two, you know.” she’d said, with that conspiratorial smile of hers, “But they lay eggs. Hatching eggs is so much easier than live birth.” I’d listened. I’d chosen Voss. We bonded, and I fell pregnant quickly. One clutch — ten cubs — every single one A-rank. This clan had existed for over a century. Among clans,They’d never had more than five A-rank shifters total. The Chieftain declared Voss his successor on the spot.

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On the day I was supposed to marry Bernard, heir to the Godfather, his adopted sister threatened to kill herself. For her sake, Bernard abandoned me and fled the wedding. I became the laughingstock of the entire city. When I saw the mocking looks from the guests, I immediately announced, “Whoever is willing to marry me today, I’ll marry him!” Three years later, Bernard returned with his adopted sister, Sandra. Bernard stared in shock at my swollen belly, then asked through gritted teeth, “Whose child are you carrying?” I smiled. “A child of this family, of course.” …… Bernard yanked me up in a fury. “You bitch! On the day I was supposed to marry you, I left with Sandra. I haven’t been back for three years. How could that child possibly be mine?” I found it laughable. I had never said the child was his. Besides, he was not the only man in this family. “Of course it isn’t your child. You don’t deserve to be my child’s father.” Hearing my answer, Sandra covered her mouth in shock. “Mignon, even though Bernard abandoned you at the wedding and eloped with me, you are still his wife!” “All these years, you’ve been enjoying the wealth of the Ben family. How could you shamelessly cheat on him and get pregnant with another man’s child?” I glanced at her, my expression calm. “Sandra, you openly carried on an incestuous relationship with your adopted brother, Bernard. I doubt anyone could be more shameless than the two of you.” At that, Sandra’s eyes instantly reddened. Tears fell in fat drops as she turned to Bernard with a wounded look. “Bernard, for the past three years we’ve kept a proper distance, but she betrayed you and got pregnant. Now she’s even trying to frame us.” After hearing Sandra’s words, Bernard’s breathing grew harsher. Then he raised his hand and slapped me hard across the face. “You shameless bitch! You’re carrying another man’s child, and you still dare slander me and Sandra? Get out of my house right now!” A sharp pain exploded across my cheek, and the force of it left my mind blank. Three years ago, Bernard and Sandra eloped, leaving me alone at the wedding to be mocked by everyone. Back then, I had been helpless and humiliated, raging inside but unable to do anything. Anger overwhelmed my reason, and I announced on the spot that I would marry whoever was willing to marry me. What I never expected was that the man who stepped forward would be Bernard’s uncle, Bowen. Bowen was the adopted son of Bernard’s grandfather. He was the strongest fighter in the Ben family, and the person their enemies feared most. Even Bernard was afraid of this cold, distant uncle. After Bowen and I married, everyone treated me with exceptional warmth and courtesy. When I became pregnant, Bowen was overjoyed, and he cared for me even more carefully. If Bowen knew Bernard had hit me, he would make Bernard pay. Thinking of the child in my belly, I frowned and said coldly, “If you leave now, I’ll pretend this never happened.” I thought they would at least restrain themselves. Instead, they did not appreciate it at all. Sandra reached out and grabbed my hair. “Bernard, she must be scared! She wants to drive us out and use this child as a bargaining chip to take everything from you.” Bernard’s expression changed. He glared at me and cursed, “What a despicable woman. So this is your plan? I won’t let you succeed!” I broke free from Sandra’s grip, anger filling my chest. “From the day you eloped with Sandra, the old Godfather already announced that you no longer had anything to do with this family.” Sandra laughed softly, as if mocking my “nonsense.” “The old Godfather was only speaking in anger. Bernard is his only heir. How could he possibly announce that Bernard has nothing to do with the family?” Bernard’s face also filled with smugness. “I am the only blood-related heir of the Ben family. Naturally, I am the only one who will inherit the title of Godfather.” I instinctively placed my hand on my belly. After all, Bowen was already the Godfather now, and my child was also the Godfather’s heir. At that moment, Bernard’s eyes widened. He raised his hand and pointed at me. “You shameless bitch! Are you trying to pass your child off as mine so he can seize the Godfather’s position in the future? I’m going to teach you a lesson today!” He slapped me hard again. I clutched my belly and fell to the floor, accidentally knocking over a teacup. Looking at their vicious expressions, fear rose inside me. I was afraid they really would hurt my child. I could no longer worry about anything else, and I tried to tell them the truth. “He isn’t an illegitimate child. He is…”

Before I could finish speaking, Bernard bent down and grabbed my hair violently. “For the past three years, Sandra and I have been wandering from place to place, while you lived a rich, happy life in my home. It’s time you paid the price.” His eyes searched around, finally landing on the broken shards of the teacup. His gaze turned vicious. He grabbed a shard and shoved it into my mouth. The sharp porcelain cut through my lips and tongue, and blood flooded my mouth. I lifted one arm to protect myself, but Sandra stepped on the back of my hand. Pain made my whole body tremble, but I could not make a sound. After Bernard shoved the shards into my mouth, he spat on me, then clapped his hands and stood up. Sandra’s gaze fell on my belly. She stepped closer and closer until she was only ten centimeters away from it. Terrified, I grabbed her ankle tightly with both hands to stop her from doing anything. This child had not come easily. To me and Bowen, he meant everything. Sandra laughed mockingly. “Mignon, you look like a bitch protecting her litter. How ugly.” Bernard stared at my belly and frowned. “If word gets out that I was betrayed, what happens to my reputation? Sandra, stomp her to death. Kill the child too.” As I spat out blood and broken porcelain, I shook my head desperately and forced out the truth through the pain. “This child… is… Bowen’s…” Bernard froze for a moment after hearing that. Then he burst into loud laughter. “Mignon, if you want to lie to me, at least come up with a better excuse. The entire Ben family knows my uncle doesn’t like women.” Sandra agreed. “You really are shameless. After being exposed, you dare slander Bowen?” “Bernard is the Godfather’s heir. Do you think he’d be fooled so easily, you idiot?” Bernard and Sandra had eloped for three years without sending even a single letter home. The old Godfather, York, had been utterly disappointed in him and finally gave up. Within the family, he issued the announcement that Bernard was completely cut off and that the choice of Godfather would be changed. But the two of them clearly knew nothing about it. To avoid provoking them further, I did not argue. I could only try to explain the origin of the child in my belly. “I’m not lying. I really am carrying Bowen’s child.” “If you don’t believe me, send someone to Bowen and confirm it.” Bernard gripped my chin. “Bowen has always been cold-blooded and ruthless. If he knew I couldn’t even handle something as small as my wife cheating, he’d only think I was useless. When it came time for me to inherit the Godfather’s position, he would never agree. He might even steal my place…” “Mignon, I’m guessing this is another scheme of yours, isn’t it?” Sandra gave a cold snort and stepped on my belly. “Bernard, why waste time on this loose woman?” “Why don’t we just kill the child? Then we’ll tell the old Godfather and make him understand that Mignon was the one who was shameless and betrayed you. He definitely won’t blame you for running from the wedding then.” A sharp pain tore through my abdomen. I could feel the child turning wildly inside me, and an unprecedented, indescribable terror surged up. I looked at them and begged, “Please, let my child go…” Sandra suddenly laughed, as if she had thought of a wonderful idea. “Kneel. Crawl like a dog. Bark while you admit you’re a filthy, promiscuous woman. If you do that, I’ll let your child go.”

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This is my third year as a professional organizer, and today I received an anonymous order. When I arrived at the client’s home, the entire apartment was strewn with sex toys. The girl looked at me, embarrassed. “Sorry you had to see this. My boyfriend is just so clingy.” I smiled, reassuring her. “I get it. You two are clearly very passionate. It means you have a great relationship.” To my surprise, she brightened up. “You don’t know the half of it. My boyfriend just can’t keep his hands off me once he sees me.” “Last time, we were right in the middle of dinner, and he just had to grab me for a quickie.” “And he still wasn’t satisfied afterward. He didn’t stop all night. My legs felt like jelly when I went to work the next day.” “I told him I couldn’t take it anymore, but he insisted it was ‘a sign of his love’.” I looked at the signs of their passionate encounter all over the room, then thought of my fiancé, Ethan, who hadn’t touched me in three years. I shook my head, ready to start working. Just then, the client’s phone rang. She blushed, looking at me. “See? He wants me again.” The caller ID clearly displayed “Ethan Vance.” But wasn’t that my sexually unresponsive fiancé? …

Chloe turned, slipped into the room, and picked up the call. “Ethan, you miss me that much?” “Then come over today, please?” The male voice was silent for a moment, then agreed. “But no staying overnight, okay?” “I’ll make it up to you next time.” I froze, mechanically putting on my mask and gloves. A voice in my head screamed, desperately telling me it was just a coincidence, just a similar name and voice… I pulled out my phone and opened my chat with Ethan Vance. The last message was him wishing me a happy birthday. I quickly typed a few words: [What time do you get off work today?] Then, I turned off my screen and started working. Chloe’s coy, flirty voice from her call kept drifting into my ears, but I pretended not to hear it. Usually, time flies when I’m working, but today, seconds felt like hours. By dinnertime, the living room was already tidy. I adjusted my expression. “Ms. Miller, your order was for two days. I’ll come back tomorrow to organize the bedroom.” Chloe saw the spotless living room and grabbed my hand, her eyes sparkling. “Wow, thank you!” “Hehe, my boyfriend is coming over soon, and he’ll be so happy to see the place clean.” “Though tonight, he’s going to have me pinned down again…” I forced an unnatural smile and left the apartment. Pulling out my phone, I saw Ethan had only replied to my message five minutes ago. [Overtime at the office today. Can’t have dinner together. I’ll be back late.] Overtime again… He started his own law firm six months ago and often didn’t come home until midnight. But I never worried, after all, Ethan was sexually unresponsive. He would even vomit uncontrollably if he was intimate with a woman. I gripped my phone tightly, letting out a long breath, trying to calm the bitter wave rising in my chest. Just then, Ethan’s second message came through: [Honey, happy birthday. I know organizing involves a lot of bending over, so I specially ordered you a massage chair. It’s already been delivered home. Sorry I can’t be with you tonight. Once this busy period is over, I’ll make it up to you properly.] Seeing the words “make it up to you,” my eyes welled up. Ethan was always so thoughtful. For three years, no matter how busy he was, he always kept my well-being in mind. How could a man like that be the same man who was flirting with another woman on the phone just now? I must be too tired lately, my nerves are shot, I misheard. That night, I returned home to find a huge massage chair sitting quietly in the living room. I lay down, feeling the relief on my back, and that little flicker of doubt in my heart vanished. I habitually opened Instagram, just scrolling casually before bed. Suddenly, a newly posted update popped into my view. It was from today’s client, Chloe Miller. It was an intimate photo, not showing faces, just a man and woman intertwined in dim light. The caption read: [He said this was his way of making it up to me.] My breathing instantly hitched. In the photo, the man was tightly embracing the girl’s waist, and on the back of his hand, gripping the bedsheet, there was a dark brown scar. That scar, I would never mistake it in this lifetime. Three years ago, after my night shift, I was dragged and sexually assaulted by several strangers. It was Ethan Vance, passing by, who fought desperately to save me. That scar was left when he took a blow for me then. Later, I suffered from severe depression and wanted to die. He, as my lawyer, stood by me to win the case, sending the bad guys to prison, and pulling me out of the abyss. It was natural for us to become a couple. But for these three years, every time things got intimate, right at the last step, Ethan would suddenly rush into the bathroom and vomit violently. He’d apologize to me with a pale face, saying he had a psychological barrier. Because I felt for him, and because I was grateful to him, I never doubted him for a second. I even thought a sexless marriage for life was fine. But now, this man was sweating it out on another woman’s bed. I trembled all over, my stomach churning. With trembling hands, I screenshotted the post and sent it to Ethan, exactly as it was. My fingers stiffly typed a few words: [When you’re with her, don’t you feel like throwing up?]

Less than a minute after I sent the message, Ethan’s FaceTime call came through. I took a deep breath and pressed the answer button. On the screen, Ethan wore a neat shirt, gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose. The background was clearly his law firm office. “Anya, what’s with that bizarre screenshot you sent?” He frowned slightly, a hint of helplessness in his voice. “I’ve been at the firm all night reviewing case files, I haven’t even had dinner. Are you overworked lately, starting to overthink again?” He turned the camera around. Files were piled on his desk; he was indeed alone. Seeing the bloodshot eyes, my tense nerves suddenly relaxed, and a wave of immense guilt washed over me. “I’m sorry, Ethan. I just… the scar on that person’s hand looked so much like yours.” “Silly,” he smiled gently. “All scars pretty much look the same. Get some sleep. I’ll be home soon.” In the middle of the night, there was a faint sound from the front door. Ethan hugged me from behind, whispering in my ear. “Anya, happy birthday.” “Honey, I missed you so much.” An indescribable impulse surged through me. I turned and climbed onto him, actively kissing his lips. Ethan stiffened for a moment but quickly responded with fervor. We kissed and caressed in the darkness; everything was going incredibly smoothly. Just as I thought we could finally overcome that obstacle, Ethan suddenly pushed me away as if electrified. He stumbled into the bathroom, and immediately, heart-wrenching sounds of vomiting echoed from inside. I lay stiffly on the bed, his warmth still lingering on my body, but tears silently soaked into my pillow. Immense feelings of hurt and humiliation enveloped me. Sure enough, it still wasn’t possible. I wouldn’t force him anymore… The next day, I composed myself and, as agreed, returned to Chloe Miller’s apartment to finish the remaining work. Chloe was in exceptionally good spirits today, wearing a sexy slip dress and chatting with me. “Yesterday was quite a scare, but we got away with it. My boyfriend’s shrew of a fiancée almost found us!” My hands, folding clothes, paused. She giggled and continued to boast. “But my boyfriend is so smart. To placate that stupid woman, he just took me right there to his office!” “You wouldn’t believe how thrilling it was on the office desk. While he was on a FaceTime call with his fiancée, I was ‘helping’ him under the desk.” My mind went blank. I quickly pulled out my phone and opened the screenshot of my FaceTime call with Ethan last night. I zoomed in on the image, then zoomed in more. Finally, in the shadow at the bottom right corner of Ethan’s desk, I saw a scrap of pink lace dress. Exactly like the one Chloe was wearing right now! “Oh, what are you looking at?” Chloe leaned closer, her gaze falling on my phone screen. She first froze, then the innocent look on her face instantly faded. She scrutinized me from head to toe, then covered her mouth as if suddenly realizing. “Oh, so you’re the fiancée who got raped, huh?” “What was your name again? Anya Hayes, right?” My body went cold. I stared fixedly at her. Chloe curled her lips and decided to just lay it all out. “Do you really think that hero-saving-the-damsel-in-distress act three years ago was destined by fate?” My heart clenched. “What do you mean?”

“Use your brain. That alley didn’t even have streetlights. How could Ethan just coincidentally be passing by there in the middle of the night?” Chloe giggled. “Those strangers? Ethan actually paid them to put on a show for you, just so you’d be completely devoted to him!” “What are you saying…” I felt like I’d been plunged into an ice bath. Three years ago, I was about to confess my feelings to my crush from college, whom I’d liked for years. On the way, Ethan Vance blocked my path, holding a large bouquet of roses, and publicly confessed to me. I rejected him without hesitation. “I’m sorry, Ethan. I have someone I like, and I’m going to see him today.” I still remember how Ethan, always so proud, instantly had his face darken when he heard that. At the time, I just thought he was bowing his head in sadness. But I never imagined that it was on that very night I was dragged into that unlit dead-end alley… “Too bad the act went too far, though.” Chloe leaned closer to me. “He didn’t expect those strangers to get carried away by lust and get serious.” “Even though Ethan sent them to prison, he’s been completely disgusted by you inside.” “He told me, every time he sees you, he remembers you being pressed down by those men. He thinks you’re tainted goods, he couldn’t even get it up with you, so how could he possibly touch you?” A loud, heavy slap landed squarely on Chloe Miller’s face. My palm tingled with numbness, and my blood ran cold. “Shut up!” My eyes were red, and my voice was so hoarse it didn’t sound like my own. Chloe, clutching her rapidly reddening and swelling face, shrieked in disbelief. Just then, the apartment door was opened from the outside with a code. Ethan Vance walked in, carrying two takeout bags, and happened to witness the scene. “Ethan!” Chloe’s tears instantly burst forth, and she flung herself into Ethan’s arms. “She hit me! Your fiancée is so mean!” The moment Ethan saw me, a flicker of panic crossed his eyes. But when he saw the slap mark on Chloe’s face, that bit of guilt instantly turned into accusation. “Anya Hayes, what are you doing?!” He pulled Chloe behind him, frowning at me. “What couldn’t you talk about calmly? Why resort to violence? When did you become such a shrew?” “A shrew, me?” I pointed at this disgusting pair, tears of despair streaming down my face. “Ethan Vance, that act you put on three years ago was so convincing!” Hearing me bring up three years ago, Ethan’s face changed, but he quickly forced himself to be calm, sighing. “Since Chloe has already told you, I won’t hide it anymore.” “It was indeed an accident back then, but I also paid the price and got you justice, didn’t I?” He sounded self-righteous. “I just can’t get past it emotionally. Every time I touch you, I feel disgusted. What am I supposed to do?” “But I never thought of abandoning you. Our wedding next month will proceed as planned. I will still take care of you, and I’ll continue to cover your mom’s medical expenses.” “I just need Chloe to take care of my… needs. You can be Mrs. Vance, and we can all just live in peace, right?” Chloe, hiding in his arms, peered out and provocatively raised her eyebrows at me. I looked at this man before me, finding him terrifyingly unfamiliar. So his “heroic” act back then was just a calculation. And his kindness to me for these three years, was it just charity… “Ethan Vance, you disgust me.” I wiped away my tears, my back stiffening. “Cancel the wedding.”

I returned to the apartment we shared, packed my things, and moved back to my mom’s old apartment. Walking in, my mom was sitting on the sofa, wearing her reading glasses, happily cutting out wedding decorations. Seeing me return with my suitcase, she froze. “Anya, what’s wrong? Did you fight with Ethan?” My mom quickly put down her scissors and, taking my hand, tried to comfort me. “You’re getting married soon. Ethan is such a good boy. Back then, when you went through such a terrible thing, if it weren’t for him…” Hearing about that incident, my heart clenched, stinging like needles. After my incident, my mom couldn’t bear the shock and suffered a sudden, severe heart attack, barely surviving after three days and nights in critical condition. Since then, doctors said she absolutely couldn’t endure any more stress. That’s why for these three years, I had always been so compliant with Ethan, humble to my very core. I suppressed my tears and forced a smile. “It’s nothing, Mom. Just some pre-wedding jitters. I’m coming home for a few days.” As soon as I settled in, Ethan’s call came through. “Anya Hayes, are you done with your drama? I’ve provided for you all these years, what more could you want?” I trembled with anger, but he just scoffed and continued. “Don’t forget, Dr. Adams, the lead surgeon for your mom’s heart bypass surgery next week, was arranged through my father’s connections.” “I advise you to face reality, come back, and apologize to Chloe and me. Then we can put this behind us.” “You’re the ones who are wrong, why should I apologize?” I hung up on him abruptly. To prevent my mom from seeing anything amiss, I went out as usual the next day to take organizing jobs. But halfway through work, my phone started ringing wildly. It was an emergency call from the hospital. “Is this Ms. Anya Hayes? Your mother suddenly collapsed from a heart attack and is currently in critical condition. Please come immediately!” I rushed to the hospital like crazy. As soon as I burst through the emergency room doors, I saw Chloe Miller. She was sitting on a bench in the hallway, admiring her freshly done nails. When she saw me, she smiled smugly. “You’re too late.” “I specially went to visit your mom on Ethan’s behalf, and casually told her that Ethan had arranged for you to be assaulted back then, and now he despises you, thinks you’re tainted goods, and doesn’t want you anymore.” After hearing that, I completely lost my mind. Screaming, I lunged forward, grabbed her hair, dragged her fiercely to the ground, and like a maniac, strangled her neck. “Stop it!” A strong force suddenly pushed me away. Ethan Vance had arrived at some point. He kicked me to the ground and tenderly picked up Chloe from the ground, holding her in his arms. My forehead hit hard against the iron corner of the bench, and blood instantly streamed into my eyes. At that moment, the emergency room door opened. Dr. Adams walked out anxiously. “The patient’s condition is very critical. She needs open-heart surgery immediately, or she won’t last five minutes!” I scrambled up, wanting to beg Dr. Adams to save my mom no matter what, but Ethan blocked me. He looked down at me. “You want the surgery? Fine.” “Now, get on your knees and beg Chloe for forgiveness.” I bit my lip hard, my mouth filled with the metallic taste of blood. My mom, my only relative, lay in the emergency room. I smiled miserably, my legs buckled, and I knelt with a thud before Chloe Miller. “I’m sorry.” I raised my hand, slapping myself repeatedly across the face. “I was wrong. Please, save my mom.” My face stung, but my heart was already numb. Chloe snuggled into Ethan’s arms, curling her lips in satisfaction. Only then did Ethan snort coldly and nod to Dr. Adams. I slumped down outside the cold emergency room, praying for a miracle. After what felt like an eternity, the doctors slowly wheeled a gurney out. I scrambled forward on my hands and knees but stopped stiffly. On the gurney, there was only a stark white sheet, quietly covering my mom’s face.

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After five years together, on the day of my wedding dress fitting, my fiancé, Liam, abandoned me alone at the bridal shop. He had to rush my sister Ashley’s pet cat, which had a mild case of diarrhea, to the emergency vet. Over the phone, his voice was filled with impatience. “Chloe, can you stop being so dramatic? Is a cat’s life not more important than you trying on some dress?” “Fine, then the wedding is off.” I calmly took off the custom-made wedding dress, worth three hundred thousand dollars. He was convinced I was just throwing a tantrum. After all, everyone knew I loved him without an ounce of dignity. He thought that in less than three days, I would come crawling back to him, begging him to reconcile, just like before. But he didn’t know I had just landed an offer from a multinational investment bank, with an annual salary of three million, and was about to leave. As for him? Whoever wants him, can have him. After all, love that comes too late is worthless. And my life, it was just beginning.

“Just because I didn’t go with you to try on wedding dresses and went to take care of Ashley’s cat instead, you want to call off our wedding?” On the other end of the phone, Liam’s voice dripped with condescending mockery. “Chloe, are you out of your mind? Is that all it takes?” “Yes, that’s all it takes.” I looked at myself in the mirror, dressed in the pure white wedding gown, my eyes devoid of any emotion. “I’m breaking off the engagement with you. We’re done.” Liam scoffed into the phone. In the background, I could hear my sister Ashley’s overly sweet, affected voice trying to soothe him. “This is the eighth time you’ve threatened to break up with me this year. Chloe, you’re an adult. Stop playing these dramatic games. I’m exhausted.” “I’m absolutely certain I want to break up. Do you understand?” I had never felt this clear-headed in my entire life. Liam gritted his teeth, his voice cold and hard: “Fine, you’ve got nerve. If you dare walk out of that bridal shop today, even if you get down on your knees and beg me later, I won’t spare you another glance. Don’t you dare regret this!” The call was abruptly disconnected. I took a deep breath, called the sales assistant, and unzipped the back of the dress without hesitation. The wedding dress was heavy. The moment I took it off, I felt the five-year-old boulder that had been weighing on my heart shatter on the floor with it. Just as I changed back into my regular clothes and was about to push the door open to leave, my phone screen lit up. It was a photo from Ashley. In the picture, Liam was bending down, carefully feeding goat milk to a Ragdoll cat, his profile so tender it could melt. Below it was a caption: “Piglet is throwing another tantrum? Oh my, I’m so jealous you have so much free time to get emotional every day. Liam is just too kind; he can’t bear to ignore even a cat. Sis, don’t be mad at him, okay?” “Piglet.” Seeing that nickname, my stomach lurched, and a wave of disgust shot straight to my head. My name is Chloe. When I was little, I was chubby from a medical condition. Ashley had always rallied all the kids at school to call me “Piglet,” and once even pushed me into a mud pit, saying pigs belonged in the mud. Ashley calling me that was one thing, but I had explicitly told Liam thousands of times that I hated that nickname, that it was a lifelong childhood trauma. Yet, just two days ago, Liam, in front of his shady friends, chuckled and patted my head, saying, “My Piglet just has a big temper.” I froze on the spot, but he blamed me for not being able to take a joke. Now, Ashley was using that condescending tone to sicken me again. I didn’t send a long message arguing with her like before, nor did I hysterically call Liam to confront him. I simply saved the screenshot, closed the chat, and muted both of them. Stepping out of the bridal shop, the sun was blinding. I hailed an Uber. “To the airport, please.” To hell with love, to hell with family. I was done playing along.

“Are you crazy? You actually broke up? Even returned the wedding dress?” My best friend, Sophia, sat across from me, so shocked she spilled her coffee. I calmly stirred the ice in my cup. “We broke up. This time, it’s for real.” “No way…” Sophia swallowed, looking at me like I was an alien. “Chloe, don’t get mad at me for being blunt, but breaking up just like that? That’s not like you at all. You used to be completely obsessed with him.” “That was then, this is now. I find him disgusting.” I took a sip of my iced Americano. The bitter taste spread through my throat, yet it cleared my head completely. Sophia sighed, reaching out to cover my hand. “If it’s over, it’s over. You should’ve dumped that jerk ages ago. But the question is, can you really let him go?” *Can you really let him go?* I had asked myself that same question countless tear-filled nights in the past. Could I really let go of Liam? Five years ago, I was a chubby girl, bloated from long-term hormone medication, and insecure to my core. That day, I was working part-time at a convenience store when a wealthy woman in designer clothes insisted I had stolen her diamond ring, which she claimed had fallen on the counter. She pointed her finger at me, cursing: “It was you, you fat pig! Look at your pathetic self, probably never seen anything this expensive in your life, have you? Hand it over, or I’m calling the cops!” I was speechless, sweating nervously, surrounded by onlookers who were all pointing fingers at me. “It wasn’t me, I really didn’t take it, the surveillance camera is broken, but I really didn’t take it…” I was so anxious I started crying, but no one believed me. Just as the woman raised her hand to slap my face, a hand with distinct knuckles firmly gripped her wrist. I opened my eyes and saw Liam, dressed in a white shirt. He stood in front of me, his voice clear and firm: “Ma’am, although the surveillance camera is broken, I was standing behind the shelves the whole time. I saw with my own eyes your ring fall into a pocket in your own handbag. If you continue to be unreasonable, I will report you for slander.” The woman froze, rummaged through her bag, and indeed found the ring. She eventually slunk away. As the crowd dispersed, I nervously clutched the hem of my shirt, unable to utter a complete thank you. He turned to me, smiled, his eyes sparkling. He gently said, “Don’t be scared. If you didn’t do it, no one can wrongly accuse you.” In that moment, Liam became the only light in my otherwise bleak life. Later, I desperately worked to lose weight, desperately tried to be good to him. I thought I had found a lifeline, that I, someone who had been unlucky for over twenty years, finally deserved a little bit of love. The day I confessed my feelings, Liam’s eyes welled up. He pulled me into a hug. “Chloe, you don’t need to change anything for me. You’re adorable when you’re plump, and beautiful when you’re thin. As long as it’s you, I love you.” I remembered those words for five years. I thought it was a mutual salvation. Until Ashley returned home, until she, as my “sister,” forcefully wedged herself into our lives. That’s when I realized Liam’s tenderness was never exclusive to me. He could shine his light on me, but he could just as generously cast it upon Ashley. And I? I was just a cheap prop he used to feel good about himself and showcase his kindness.

Ashley first contacted Liam using the excuse that her “computer was broken.” “Chloe, I heard your boyfriend works in IT. Can you send me his SnapChat? My computer crashed, and I urgently need to work on some files.” My sister and I had been at odds since childhood, so her sudden friendliness took me by surprise. I foolishly sent her Liam’s contact. For the next two weeks, Ashley didn’t contact me again, and I assumed the computer was fixed and the matter was over. Until one day, the three of us accidentally met out and went to dinner. While ordering, I was about to choose a mango pastry when Liam suddenly pressed my hand, blurting out, “Don’t order that. Ashley is allergic to mangoes.” My whole body froze, a buzzing sound in my head. I had never told Liam that Ashley was allergic to mangoes. I turned to Ashley, who was covering her mouth, giggling, “Oh my, Liam has such a good memory. I just casually mentioned it when we were chatting the night before last, and you actually remembered.” The night before last? Chatting? I looked at Liam, feeling a chill run through me. So, without my knowledge, they had become close enough to chat late at night. On the way home that day, I lost my temper with Liam for the first time. “Why were you secretly contacting my sister behind my back?” Liam, however, looked innocent, even a little impatient: “Chloe, do you have some kind of paranoia? She’s your own sister! She just got back to the country; she doesn’t know a lot of things. What’s wrong with her asking me? Aren’t I taking care of your sister to make a good impression on your family, for our future?” “But you crossed a line!” I yelled, my eyes red. “Crossed a line? I just helped her fix her computer and chatted casually for a bit. How is that crossing a line? Piglet, can you stop being so sensitive? Are you serious about making such a fuss over something so trivial?” *Piglet.* He called me Piglet again. I instantly felt all my strength drain away. I thought that by showing him my scabbed wound, he would be sympathetic, but instead, he unhesitatingly rubbed salt in it. From then on, Ashley seemed to have a get-out-of-jail-free card, becoming more and more brazen. I’d ask Liam to pick up a package for me on his way home from work, and he’d put it off for three days, saying he was too tired. But if Ashley wanted late-night street tacos from across town, he’d immediately put on his jacket and drive halfway across the city to get them. For Valentine’s Day, he gave me a wilting, discounted bouquet of roses. For Ashley’s birthday, however, he spent half a month’s salary to pick out a limited-edition necklace for her at a boutique. I argued, I cried, I even confronted my parents. But what did they say? “Ashley is your sister! What’s wrong with Liam helping her out? You’re not even married yet, and you’re already controlling your man so tightly. With your petty and small-minded personality, who would ever want you in the future?” “Ashley has always been more outstanding and sensible than you! Her testing your boyfriend for you is for your own good! Don’t be ungrateful!” Everyone stood on their moral high ground, accusing me. Everyone thought I was making a mountain out of a molehill, that I was an irrational lunatic. Over time, I even started to doubt myself: Was I really too narrow-minded? Did I really have a mental illness? I fell into a deep cycle of self-destruction, checking his phone like a maniac every day, looking for clues, only to be harshly shamed by him using the excuse of “family loyalty.” What truly made me give up completely, what made me finally tear that cancerous growth from my heart, was the day I had surgery last month.

Last month, I had stomach pain for over two weeks straight, and medication wasn’t helping. The doctor recommended I undergo minimally invasive stomach surgery immediately to remove a suspicious polyp. I was terrified. I told Liam a week in advance, hoping he could accompany me to the hospital that day. He was staring at his phone screen, not even looking up when he said, “I have a big project at work next week; I really can’t get away. It’s just minor surgery. Go by yourself, don’t be so delicate.” Suppressing my heartache, I signed the surgical consent form myself and lay alone on the cold operating table. After the anesthesia wore off, I was in so much pain I was covered in cold sweat, unable even to pour myself a glass of water. Weakly, I pulled out my phone, wanting to call Liam and hear his voice. The call connected; the background was a bit noisy. “Hello, Liam, are you done with work? I’m in so much pain…” My voice was trembling. “I’m with a client right now. It’s really loud here, so I can’t talk. Just drink some water and take it easy.” He spoke quickly, hanging up the phone in less than ten seconds. I stared at the black screen, tears silently streaming down my face. Just then, I wanted to get some hot water from the dispenser at the end of the hallway. I leaned against the wall, painstakingly moving one step at a time. As I reached the corner, I suddenly froze. Right outside the orthopedic clinic diagonally opposite, my boyfriend, who was supposedly “with a client,” was kneeling on the ground, his face full of concern, massaging Ashley’s ankle. Ashley, wearing killer heels, leaned delicately against a chair. “It’s all your fault, insisting on taking me to that walking street. My feet are all blistered.” Liam carefully applied a bandage, his tone unusually gentle: “My fault, my fault. I’ll carry you downstairs later, okay?” In that moment, the cold draft in the hospital hallway chilled me to the bone, cutting through my thin patient gown. I didn’t rush up and slap them, nor did I cause a scene like a furious banshee. I just stood there quietly, watching them laughing and chatting as they entered the elevator. Suddenly, I felt so tired. So incredibly tired. For a man who didn’t love me, for a sister who never respected my dignity, I had tormented myself, making myself out to be a pathetic fool. A “knight in shining armor” doesn’t just turn into a villain; the signs were always there. He wasn’t clueless about boundaries; he just didn’t care about my feelings. Whether he was trying to curry favor with my family under the guise of “taking care of my sister” or using the “sister” excuse to flirt with Ashley, I no longer cared to investigate. I, Chloe, never want anything that’s tainted. I leaned against the wall, slowly walking back to my room, pulling the covers over my head, and sleeping a surprisingly peaceful sleep. From that day on, I stopped arguing with him, stopped checking his phone, and stopped getting angry over Ashley’s provocations. Liam still thought I had finally “grown up” and learned to be “generous.” He didn’t know that when a woman stops arguing with you, it means she has completely given up on you. I started furiously preparing for the final stage of the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) exam, while secretly submitting my resume to several top investment banks in New York. I was never inferior to Ashley growing up. My college entrance exam scores were dozens of points higher than hers, and I won national scholarships every year in university. But my parents were biased, pouring all the family’s resources into the manipulative Ashley, forcefully cutting off my chance to study abroad and pushing me to start working early to support the family. But now, I refused to accept my fate. When my gaze was no longer fixed on Liam and Ashley, that despicable pair, I found my world to be incredibly vast. With my stellar resume and an almost perfect interview performance, I smoothly landed a Senior Associate position at a top-tier investment bank in New York, with an annual salary plus bonuses reaching close to three million. Everything was ready; all that was left was a dignified breakup. Initially, I had intended to calmly explain things to him on the day of the wedding dress fitting. But he just *had* to go take care of Ashley’s cat. So be it. Go live your life with that cat.

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My alpha husband Michael suddenly brought home a she-wolf nanny with a five-year-old child in tow. He said they were a struggling mother-son duo and he wanted to give her a job. But late that night, in the basement, I saw Michael roughly taking that woman, Emma: “Sweetheart, thank you for giving me a child.” Emma shuddered, whimpering softly, “Then when will you finally Mark me?” Five years ago, I nearly burned to death because of Michael’s enemies, losing my ability to become a mother forever. Back then he held me and cried his heart out, saying over and over that it didn’t matter if we had children or not—having me was enough. Turns out it was all lies. I stood in the shadows, a cold smile twisting my lips. A man this filthy? I don’t want him anymore. Victoria POV Michael and I had been married for nine years. We were the power couple everyone admired in our social circle. I was the daughter of the chairman of Vanguard Group, one of the top financial conglomerates. He was the alpha of Silver Crest Pack, one of the most powerful werewolf packs in North America. Though ours was an arranged marriage, our relationship was the envy of everyone. That belief shattered completely the moment I saw Michael holding a five-year-old boy. The reason was simple: that child wasn’t mine. Michael, always so cold and aloof in front of others, was now using the most indulgent tone to coax the child: “Alex, listen to your mother.” My brain buzzed. I couldn’t hear anything anymore. Five years ago, in a fire targeting Michael, I was accidentally burned. Michael slashed open his palm and used his blood to heal my burns. But he couldn’t save my baby. After that, I completely lost the possibility of becoming a mother. I remembered Michael gripping my hand tightly by my hospital bed, eyes red as he swore: “I don’t need children, Victoria. I only need you.” Those vows still seemed to echo in my ears, but the scene before me shattered everything. He was holding a child he had with another woman, tenderly calling his name. I pressed my hand hard over my mouth to keep from crying out, then turned and ran. At the entrance, my friend Jennifer was startled by my ashen face. I grabbed her, my fingertips ice cold, my voice hoarse: “Jennifer, help me investigate Michael. He might have a son.” Only now did I understand. All these years he’d cherished me like a treasure, but it was just sugar-coating a bullet. When I got home, I received a message from Michael: “Three more days on this business trip. Miss me?” The message was followed by a kissing emoji. I stared at the text as tears fell. For the past five years, he went on business trips to Europe every autumn for a month. I’d always thought he was working hard for his career. Now I understood—that month was reserved for his other family. Snow had started falling at some point, covering the oak tree outside the window. I scrolled through the information Jennifer sent me. The woman’s name was Emma, a Delta’s daughter who grew up with Michael. He’d gotten into fights at football games for her, and bought her rare vintage watches at auction. When they were eighteen, they discovered they were fated mates. I’d heard that a werewolf’s fated mate is arranged by the Moon Goddess. For werewolves, it means their soul has found its other half and become complete. But some people try to gain higher positions of power through alliances, agreements, or even forcing arranged marriages on their children. So Michael ultimately didn’t choose Emma. Instead, he chose to marry me through an arranged alliance to gain Vanguard Group’s support. But he didn’t reject her. Instead, he sent her to Europe. They’d secretly built a little family there, hiding it from everyone. My phone rang. Michael’s name flashed on the screen. I bit my lip hard, letting it ring over and over, before finally answering with trembling hands. “Why did it take you so long to pick up?” His voice was warm as always. “Were you being bad again? Not eating properly?” My fingers curled into fists. He used to hold me like this too, laughing softly as he asked: “Not eating properly again? If you get too thin, it’ll break my heart.” I would shake my head: “No.” Then he’d kiss my earlobe, laughing low by my ear: “So disobedient? Victoria, do I need to watch you every second?” I’d thought we’d be like that forever. This was the first time I lied to him, my voice muffled like I was actually sick: “I have a bit of a cold. I was already asleep.” “A cold?” His tone immediately turned anxious. “Is it serious? I’ll fly back right now.” “No need.” I quickly stopped him, my voice carrying a distance I didn’t even notice. “I took medicine. I’ll be fine after some sleep.” I was about to hang up when I heard a woman’s lazy, intimate voice through the phone. “Michael, Alex is asleep, we can…” Michael hurriedly hung up the call. He was with that woman right now. Looking at my silent phone, I couldn’t hold back anymore. I broke down crying. Jennifer rushed into the room and held me with heartache. “Sweetheart, it’s okay. I’m here.”

Victoria POV When I opened my eyes again, the view outside was blindingly white. “Victoria, how are you? Do you feel sick anywhere else?” I heard a familiar voice. Opening my eyes, I saw Jennifer’s worried face. Jennifer sat by the bed, her eyes bloodshot. She must have stayed up all night watching over me. “…I’m fine.” Memories from before I passed out flooded back. I forced myself to sit up. “Sorry for worrying you.” Jennifer nodded, her voice trembling with lingering fear: “You scared me to death yesterday. I was so afraid you’d do something…” Halfway through her sentence, my phone rang. I answered, my voice already calm: “Dad.” “Victoria, why does your voice sound hoarse? Were you up all night again?” “I’m fine, Dad. Isn’t the Zurich branch short-staffed? I’d like to go handle it.” My father paused. “Why do you suddenly want to go to Switzerland?” “I want a change of scenery.” I glanced out the window. “Jennifer’s going back next month too. I want to go with her.” My father was silent for a long time before finally sighing. “Alright. Whatever you want.” I hung up. Jennifer looked at me with concern: “Are you sure about this?” I nodded. The lawyer sent the drafted divorce agreement to my email. I stared at the screen. Every word hurt to look at. I hadn’t figured out how to bring it up to Michael yet. We were entangled in too much—decades of friendship between our two families, extensive business dealings. As I left Jennifer’s apartment and got in my car, I saw a familiar figure. Michael. What was he doing here? He wasn’t supposed to be back for three more days. The man wore a well-tailored custom suit, his figure tall and lean, though his eyes showed fatigue. He walked over quickly and pulled open the car door. “You sounded off on the phone. I was worried, so I flew back overnight.” He pulled me into his embrace. This embrace once made me feel so safe. Now it only made me tremble uncontrollably. My head was full of Emma’s voice and images of that child calling him “Dad.” I clenched my hands, forcing myself not to push him away. He used to hold me like this too, laughing softly as he asked: “What are you overthinking now? Hmm?” I’d shake my head: “Nothing.” Then he’d hold me tighter, laughing low by my ear: “Little liar. You’re not allowed to leave me. Wherever you go, I’ll find you. Understand?” I used to think I could never escape. But this time, I was the one choosing to leave. “You seem thinner.” He stroked my cheek with his thumb, his eyes full of concern. “When I’m not home, you don’t eat properly again, do you?” I couldn’t understand how he could say these things so calmly to me when just the night before he’d been with his “true love” he was supposedly forced to leave. I didn’t want to explain. I just shook my head: “No, I’m just a bit tired.” I saw he wanted to say something more, but from the corner of my eye I caught sight of a slender figure standing not far away. Emma. She wore a white dress, her long hair flowing over her shoulders, looking pitiful and delicate. Almost simultaneously, Michael’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen. So did I. The caller ID showed Emma. Michael’s expression became conflicted. He quickly hung up the call and kissed my forehead apologetically. “There’s something urgent at the pack. I have to go. Be good and wait for me at home. Tonight I’ll take you to that Italian restaurant you love.” With that, he hurried to his car. After his car drove away, Emma walked over to me in her high heels. “Miss Victoria.” She smiled as she introduced herself, her gaze full of assessment and provocation. She wouldn’t even call me Luna or Mrs. Whatever. When Emma saw me, she knew I’d figured everything out. Her smile deepened. “I see Miss Victoria already knows about Alex and me.” She paused, unable to hide her smugness. “Miss Victoria, the Luna position will only ever be mine.”

Victoria POV I took a taxi and followed them to the Silver Crest Pack’s packhouse. Emma’s car had just stopped at the entrance. I paid and walked in after her. Honestly, I rarely came here. I had my own work to handle. And Michael’s company was doing well. Most of Silver Crest Pack’s young wolves chose to work at the company and live in the city. Those who stayed at the pack were mostly Omegas and some young children. Plus some warriors necessary to protect the pack. Michael and I were too busy to touch the ground, so all these people were managed and cared for by the Elder Luna. I followed her to a building that looked like a clinic. Walking in, I saw a boy lying in one of the hospital rooms. It was Alex. His face was pale, his leg covered with some kind of medicinal paste. Michael was yelling at a healer. “Why did he suddenly run to the forest and step in a trap? Is this how you watch him?!” I recognized the healer too. He was the one who healed my burns. “Michael, calm down! His injury is fine.” He tried to reason with him. “Besides, what’s the point of yelling at me?!” I hid behind the wall, my heart growing colder the more I listened. “I told you from the start—if you only want a child, you shouldn’t have kept Emma around! And now? The kid runs out looking for her every time she leaves, and you don’t have the heart to be firm. What kind of situation is this?” “Victoria is my Luna, but the pack can’t be without an heir.” Michael’s voice was weary. “Besides, Emma is my fated mate. My wolf can’t lose her.” So this was the whole truth. He couldn’t lose my business support, and he didn’t want to reject his fated mate. Perhaps that would mean losing something. I knew that when werewolves Mark their fated mates, they become stronger. So conversely, maybe rejecting one’s fated mate would weaken him? Just then, the hospital room door opened. Emma walked in carrying a cup of water, her eyes red. The moment she saw the child in the bed, tears fell. “It’s all my fault… it’s all my fault for not taking good care of Alex…” She cried with her shoulders shaking, looking especially pitiful. Michael softened. He stepped forward and pulled her into his arms, comforting her gently: “It’s not your fault. Alex is our child. I’ll heal him.” Those five words—”our child”—hit my heart like a sledgehammer. Emma leaned against him, sobbing: “Michael, I know I shouldn’t expect anything. As long as I can stay with Alex while he grows up, I’ll be content…” Michael was moved by her words. He lifted his hand and wiped away her tears with his thumb. The gesture was intimately painful to watch. I clenched my palms, nails digging into my flesh, but I felt no pain. The pain in my heart had already overwhelmed everything else. I turned and left, my footsteps numb. Outside, it had started snowing again at some point. Snowflakes landed on my face and melted, ice cold. I couldn’t tell if it was snow or tears. I returned to the company soaking wet. The receptionist stood up in alarm when she saw my disheveled state. “Miss Victoria, what happened? Should I call Mr. Michael? He’ll be heartbroken seeing you like this.” To others, this would sound perfectly normal. To me, it was the ultimate irony. Heartbroken? He was heartbroken over another woman right now. I didn’t say anything. I walked straight into the conference room and locked the door. I leaned against the door, my body slowly sliding down. I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I buried my face in my knees and cried out loud. I thought I’d already gone numb, but seeing that family of three with my own eyes, I completely broke down anyway. Nine years of feelings, all those moments of life and death together… none of it was his true heart. He didn’t want to lose anything, so he kept two women on the side. I don’t know how long I cried. Only after my tears ran dry did I support myself against the wall and stand up. I walked into the restroom in the break room. Looking at myself in the mirror—eyes swollen red, face deathly pale—I suddenly laughed. What was the point of crying? I changed into a spare business suit and transformed back into that lofty business elite. The dozens of messages and missed calls from Michael on my phone—I didn’t even look at them. In the evening, I dragged my exhausted body back to that gorgeous manor villa. I’d already decided. Tonight I would pack my things and leave. But when I pushed open the door, I saw Emma and Alex sitting in my living room.

Victoria POV The crystal chandelier in the living room shone brilliantly, but my eyes were ice cold. Emma wore a brand new maid’s uniform. Seeing me, she immediately stood up and bowed respectfully: “You’re home.” And that boy named Alex was taking a limited edition model car and smashing it on the floor. It was from my favorite collection series. I’d put in so much effort to complete the set. “What is going on here?” My voice was cold as ice. Michael hurried down from upstairs, forcing an unnatural smile: “Victoria, you’re back. This is… a nanny Mother sent over. She said we’re too busy and need someone to take care of us.” He pointed at Alex, telling a clumsy lie. “This child’s… father passed away. It’s been very hard for them…” I was shaking with anger. “His father passed away? Michael, do you think I’m an idiot?” I pointed at the child who looked almost exactly like him, my voice trembling. “Do you think it’s fun to carve out my heart piece by piece like this?” Seeing I was truly angry, Michael panicked and grabbed my hand. “Victoria, don’t be angry,” he said urgently, making his position clear. “If you don’t like it, I’ll have someone take him away immediately!” His false show of love only made me sick. “Waaah—” Alex seemed frightened and suddenly burst into tears, pointing at me and screaming: “Bad lady! You’re bullying my mom!” “Alex!” Michael scolded sharply. Emma immediately rushed over and held her son, saying to Michael with red eyes: “Alpha, please don’t blame him. He’s just… just shy around strangers.” Michael’s tone softened as expected. Watching this painfully glaring scene, I felt cold all over. I shook off Michael’s hand forcefully and walked upstairs without a word. The bedroom door slammed shut, cutting everything off. Michael stood outside the door for a while, murmuring a few soothing words. Hearing no response, he turned and left. Soon after, my phone received a message. It was from Emma: [Miss Victoria, if you keep Michael locked outside, don’t blame him for coming to me for comfort.] I deleted the message and got up to leave the bedroom. The villa was very quiet. Somehow I ended up at the door to the basement wine cellar. The door was ajar, warm yellow light spilling out. I walked closer and clearly heard a woman’s panting and a man’s muffled groans from inside. “Michael… slower… it hurts…” “Isn’t this what you wanted? Afraid of pain but you still dared to seduce me here?” Michael’s voice was husky, tinged with impatience, but his movements didn’t stop. “I’m warning you, Emma, don’t provoke Victoria anymore, or else…” The woman’s moans drowned out the rest of his words. I stood frozen in place, my whole body ice cold. By dawn I was lying back in bed, staring at the ceiling with empty eyes. Nine years of passionate love, his grand pursuit of me. All of it shattered in this moment. This time, I was the one who didn’t want him anymore.

Victoria POV The next morning when I came downstairs, Emma had already taken off that offensive maid’s uniform. She’d changed into a water-green silk dress that outlined her shapely figure perfectly. Only then did I realize Emma’s features were somewhat similar to mine. No wonder. No wonder Michael chose her. Or rather, no wonder he chose to marry me through an arranged alliance. “You’re up? Come have breakfast.” Emma greeted me warmly, like she was the lady of the house. As she spoke, she deliberately turned to the side, revealing the scattered red marks on her neck—intimate and glaring. But what really made my pupils contract was the brooch pinned to her chest. A vintage brooch set with a pigeon blood ruby, dazzling and brilliant. I recognized it. That was the pack’s heirloom, passed down only to the Luna. I remembered that years ago, Michael had asked his mother for this brooch for me, but his mother coldly refused, using my inability to have children as the reason. “A human woman who can’t even bear children—does she deserve to be called the pack’s Luna?” The Elder Luna’s harsh words still echoed in my ears. And now, this brooch symbolizing status and recognition was brazenly worn by a mistress. In this moment, I completely understood. How laughable was my earlier thought of maintaining the decades of goodwill between our families, not wanting to make things too ugly. It turned out that in the eyes of the Elder Luna and even the entire pack, Emma—the woman who could bear an heir—had long been recognized as their Luna. And I was just a clown kept in the dark, occupying a position I wouldn’t give up. A human they never respected but had no choice but to curry favor with. Michael came downstairs wearing a casual loungewear set. He first exchanged a knowing look with Emma, then quickly walked over to me, reaching out to feel my forehead, looking worried. “Why are you so pale? Did you catch cold last night? Don’t go to the company today. I’ll stay home with you.” Watching his masterful performance, I only felt my stomach churning. Every second I stayed with him made me feel suffocated. I found him dirty. “No need.” I coldly pushed away his hand. “I have a lot to handle at the company.” Just then, Emma came over with a cup of coffee, saying softly: “Michael, your coffee.” She naturally reached out to straighten his slightly messy collar. And Michael actually lowered his head instinctively, cooperating with her movements. It was an incredibly familiar, habitual gesture. More hurtful than any deliberate showing off. The servants around us gasped. Michael seemed to realize something was wrong and immediately stepped back, creating distance from Emma. He picked up his coat, walked to my side, and pressed a light kiss to my forehead. “Wait for me to come home.” He used the exact same indulgent tone he’d used in the wine cellar last night when speaking to another woman.

Victoria POV After Michael left, I calmly finished breakfast. I didn’t look at Emma again. I went straight upstairs and started packing. Those things Michael had given me, filling the entire walk-in closet—I packed them one by one and called my assistant to have them all sent to auction. “Donate the proceeds to charity in my name.” If I was going to make a clean break, I’d do it thoroughly. “Is Miss Victoria planning to run away from home?” Emma appeared behind me at some point, leaning against the doorframe with a smug smile. “Makes sense. A woman who can’t have children, occupying the position beside Michael all these years—it’s time to step aside.” Her words struck precisely at the most painful places in my heart. If this were before, I might have gotten angry, might have lost control. But now, I just looked at her calmly. “The Luna position? If you like it so much, take it.” I pulled out the divorce agreement I’d already signed from my bag and handed it to Emma. “Here.” Emma’s smile froze. She looked at the document in shock. Then she looked at me and told me something I never knew. “Do you know? In the werewolf world, only a formal mate ceremony is recognized by the Moon Goddess as a true mating. But human marriage…” She waved the document in her hand. “We’ve never recognized it.” So this was the fundamental reason those werewolves didn’t recognize me as Luna. In their eyes, their alpha had never truly chosen me. But I laughed, looking down at her with a hint of amusement in my tone. “But I and my business partners all recognize this arranged marriage. However, since you think I’m unimportant, then have Michael sign this agreement.” I was like a queen bestowing grace upon a jumping clown. “If you don’t have that ability, even if you shout a million times that you’re the one he chose, you’ll only ever be a mistress who can’t see the light of day! You can throw your weight around in your pack all you want, but you have no place in this city.” Emma’s expression changed several times before she finally snatched the divorce agreement, her eyes flashing with greed and wild joy. Though she was suspicious of how readily I was letting go, she believed more that I was just being stubborn. How could a woman who’d been pampered by Michael for so many years really be willing to let go? Watching Emma hurry away with the document, a hint of mockery flashed in my eyes. After packing the last piece of luggage, I sat in the living room quietly waiting for Jennifer to pick me up. My gaze swept over the empty living room, and I suddenly realized I hadn’t seen Alex, that child, from morning until now. An inexplicable doubt rose in my heart. Just then, the villa’s door was violently pushed open from outside. Michael rushed in frantically, followed by the Elder Luna with an ashen face, and… Emma crying piteously. “Victoria!” Emma rushed at me like a madwoman and shoved me hard toward the table edge. “Where did you hide my Alex?! What did you do to him?!” I was hit so hard my vision went black, and a sharp pain shot through my elbow. I steadied myself and looked coldly at the crazed woman before me: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “You still dare to lie!” Emma suddenly grabbed a fruit knife from the fruit bowl, the sharp tip pointed straight at my throat. “You can’t even tolerate an innocent child?! Victoria, how can your heart be so vicious!”

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I was buying a cake at a bakery when I overheard the staff complaining about the pressure to meet their sales targets. One employee named Skyler said: “Lucky for me, I have the sweetest boyfriend. Whenever I’m short on my quota, he just buys out the entire store.” I felt a pang of envy. My boyfriend Caldwell was a major client at my company, but he was always harsh on my proposals. He’d never bend the rules to help me meet my targets. Just then, a customer walked in and asked for Skyler by name. “Skyler, same as last month. I need 300 cakes.” “Coming right up, Lisa!” Skyler bounced over cheerfully. I froze in place. The customer was Lisa from Caldwell’s company’s purchasing department. Looking at the cakes Skyler was packing, it suddenly hit me. These were the exact cakes Caldwell bought every single day. Even at our company celebration banquets, all the cakes came from this shop. So Skyler’s “sweet boyfriend” was Caldwell. Lisa didn’t notice me tucked away in the corner. As the purchasing manager, there were few things that required her personal attention anymore. Yet here she was, treating Skyler with a respect tinged with warmth. “Wait, Lisa! Can you give this to Caldwell for me? He left it at my place last night and forgot to take it!” Skyler handed Lisa a watch. Witnessing this scene, my face must have turned deathly pale. That IWC watch was what I’d bought him with my year-end bonus last year. Yesterday morning, I’d clearly seen him wearing it when he left. By evening, his wrist was bare. When I casually asked about it, he said he’d probably taken it off during his golf game that afternoon and forgotten to retrieve it. Turns out, he’d left it at Skyler’s place. “Huh, why are you crying?” When Skyler came back, she looked startled. I stared in the direction Lisa had gone, unable to snap out of it. “Maybe because I’m too envious.” I forced one corner of my mouth up in a bitter smile. “You have a boyfriend who treats you so well.” This got Skyler excited. She sat down across from me and pulled out a tissue to wipe my tears. “Of course! Even though he’s loaded, he respects me!” “Actually, he told me I didn’t need to work. Said he’d take care of me.” Skyler stuck out her tongue. “But I don’t want to be some trophy wife!” “He couldn’t change my mind, so he had no choice but to support my girl-boss dreams!” Those words sounded so familiar. That was exactly Caldwell’s personality. He’d once urged me to quit work early too. “You’ve got such an amazing husband. Why put yourself through the grind for that measly paycheck?” At the time, I was working overtime in the study, rushing to finish a report. When I finally sent it off, I breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at him: “Having an amazing husband like you and wanting to establish my own career aren’t mutually exclusive!” Caldwell’s tone immediately soured. “You’re just working for your boss. You really think you’re creating any real value?” That conversation ended badly. It wasn’t the first time he’d dismissed my work. In Caldwell’s eyes, I could be capable, but that capability should only serve to embellish my identity as his wife. From that point on, Caldwell, as our company’s biggest client, started nitpicking everything, finding fault with me left and right. Just like yesterday. Our team had prepared three proposals for his company Radiance’s Valentine’s Day marketing campaign for Caldwell to choose from. He wasn’t satisfied with any of them. We revised them for three solid weeks. Five minutes after I sent the final draft to Caldwell’s email, I got a reply with just one cold word: “Redo.” No reason, no comments, not even a hint about what direction to take. Days of pulling all-nighters had crushed everyone on the team. I sat in my office, looking at those young subordinates outside, drowning in guilt. All I could do was sigh and decide to go to Caldwell’s office myself. “Can you at least tell me what’s not suitable?” I was somewhat helpless. He didn’t even glance at me. “If you can’t even see what’s unsuitable, Director Nivea, I suggest you switch careers.” It was so insulting. I couldn’t maintain basic business etiquette anymore. I slammed the door on my way out. Late that night, after working overtime, I dragged myself home feeling angry and exhausted, only to find a huge bouquet of flowers in the bedroom. Caldwell came out of the shower, acting like nothing had happened, smiling as he said: “I was a bit harsh during the day. These flowers are my apology.” “Don’t be mad, Nivea.” “You want to pursue your own life goals, so naturally I can’t show favoritism in business.” The same situation, the same conflict. Caldwell refused to acknowledge my soul’s outlet, yet chose to support this girl’s dreams. “What the hell is the point of a husband like that?” After hearing my story, Skyler was indignant on my behalf. “After you dump him, come back here with proof and I’ll give you free coffee!” After talking it out, I felt much calmer. Caldwell’s heart had really strayed to another galaxy. Maybe I really should come claim that free coffee.

There was another presentation that afternoon. To prevent Caldwell from finding fault, I prepared thoroughly, pushing the proposal’s creativity to its limits. I didn’t expect to be met with awkward silence after presenting. Caldwell tapped the table. Anticipating what was coming, my fists clenched unconsciously, my nails digging deep into my palms. But Caldwell wasn’t looking at me. He just addressed the person in charge from Radiance with earnest instruction: “When you do proposals in the future, don’t be like Director Nivea here—seemingly comprehensive but actually lacking focus, flashy and hollow.” Naturally, it was another wasted effort. Everyone was used to it by now, ready to pull another all-nighter to redo it. But for the first time ever, I let everyone go. “You’ve all worked hard this past while. Go out and have a nice meal, put it on my tab.” “Get some rest when you get home.” Everyone cheered, and infected by their mood, I showed a rare smile. After work, I didn’t want to go home and face Caldwell. So I drove to my mom’s house. As soon as I opened the fridge, I saw it stuffed with cinnamon cakes. All because she didn’t want to waste Caldwell’s “thoughtfulness.” My mom forced herself to eat several, which resulted in an upset stomach that landed her in the hospital for a week. After that scare, I gently hinted to Caldwell not to buy my mom so many cakes anymore. Mom already had diabetes and wasn’t in good health. But he didn’t take it to heart at all. Furious, I immediately wanted to throw out all the cakes in the fridge. “Mom, I told you not to eat these anymore. Have you forgotten about your hospital stay?” But she looked conflicted. “Won’t Caldwell be upset? He means well, after all.” Seeing my mom so timid broke my heart. Caldwell did mean well—but that thoughtfulness was for Skyler! I couldn’t tell her that. I could only swallow my bitterness. When I got home, the first thing I saw was another huge bouquet of flowers. I didn’t even want to look at it. I just felt sad. His own wife came home this late, yet Caldwell didn’t find it strange at all. After all, ever since our conflicts began, I’d been working overtime almost every day. I finally showered and lay down in bed, clean and refreshed, when he turned over and pulled me into his arms. The moment our lips were about to touch, I couldn’t help but imagine him with Skyler. I instantly felt sick. Almost as a reflex, I broke free from Caldwell’s embrace. “What’s your problem now?” He turned on the bedside lamp. His expression was terrifyingly dark. I dry-heaved, then suddenly felt a surge of impulse. “Let’s get divorced, Caldwell. Let’s stop torturing each other.” He looked at me in disbelief. “Just because I rejected your work during the day?” Seeing my tear-filled eyes looking so pitiful, his tone softened. “During the day, I was just being objective about work. Don’t take it personally.” “You know that’s just how I am at work.” He pointed at the bouquet and presented it to me like a treasure: “Look, your favorite white roses.” Seeing that I still wasn’t moved, Caldwell smiled helplessly. “How about this, Nivea. Let me apologize first, and tomorrow I’ll make it up to your team too.” “Don’t be mad anymore, okay?” Caldwell was always generous with apologies, but he never actually solved the problems. He just wrapped them up with ribbons and sent them back disguised as gifts. Even when I brought up divorce, he thought I was just being petulant. Tears instantly soaked into my pillow.

Caldwell’s compensation came in the form of desserts from Skyler’s cake shop. Various cakes filled our break room. One of the women on my team let out a long sigh. “Does Mr. Caldwell own this shop or something? Why is it always this stuff!” I couldn’t help but laugh sarcastically. “Maybe one of the employees saved his life.” Everyone rarely heard me speak in such a tone. They exchanged glances. I didn’t continue. Instead, I pressed the elevator button and went downstairs to the coffee shop. It was during work hours, so there weren’t many people. Skyler always looked carefree, nothing like the typical corporate drone. Today she seemed especially happy. “Nivea! I’m about to be promoted to shop owner!” “Today’s my last day working here. This one’s on me!” Her smile was practically overflowing. Something ugly began to crawl through my heart like ants. It was jealousy. Jealousy drove me to open my phone’s voice recorder under Skyler’s curious gaze. “You said if I had proof of a breakup, I could get free coffee from you. Does that still stand?” Skyler looked pleasantly surprised at first. “Of course! Congrats—” Before she could finish, she heard my voice from the recording. “Let’s get divorced, Caldwell.” Her face went white as a sheet. “Looks like you knew he was married.” Skyler frantically shut off the recording. She wanted to explain, but having no mental preparation, her words came out jumbled. “No, I… I didn’t mean to…” The other customers in the shop seemed to smell drama and gradually gathered around. “Skyler, you’re about to have your own coffee shop. Congratulations.” “But do you know how you got that position?” My voice was just loud enough for everyone present to hear clearly. “Last night, Caldwell had his assistant contact your regional headquarters, promising long-term cooperation.” “On the condition that this shop be handed over to ‘the person most familiar with their needs’—meaning you.” The color drained from Skyler’s face inch by inch. “Is this your girl-boss script? Enjoying someone else’s husband helping you meet your KPIs with one click?” “Is this your girl-boss script? Using someone else to exchange resources, easily getting your first shop?” By this point, the onlookers understood everything. “A homewrecker! Disgusting!” Someone spat directly onto Skyler’s shoe. She flinched and completely broke down. “Stop it, stop it, please stop!” Seeing her like this, I felt bored. I really had no desire to continue the confrontation. I was about to turn and leave when I saw Caldwell rushing over. “Smack!” The moment the slap landed, everything spun. I collapsed to the floor and couldn’t get up for a long time. Well, no need to pity Skyler anymore. I was in far worse shape than her. “Caldwell! Tell them I’m not a mistress, I’m not…” Skyler cried like a helpless little rabbit. Seeing people still taking photos, Caldwell took off his jacket and threw it over her head. He carefully sheltered the girl in his arms and ushered her behind the counter, telling the other staff to take good care of her. Only then did he come to stand before me. “In a moment, you’re going to cooperate with me and apologize to Skyler.” Caldwell crouched in front of me, making a show of helping me up, but the words that reached my ears chilled my heart. “And if I say no?” Blood trickled from the corner of my mouth. I looked at him defiantly. He smiled gently, speaking softly by my ear as if whispering sweet nothings: “Then I might have to transfer Radiance’s Valentine’s Day project to Glamour, your competitor.”

I was shaking with rage. “That won’t benefit Radiance at all!” Switching teams at the last minute was a move that would hurt both sides. But Caldwell smiled like a devil. “Remember, you’re the one who made this mess.” “I don’t really care. As long as Skyler isn’t hurt, Radiance can handle it.” “Can you?” I desperately wanted to be selfish just this once, regardless of my career. But thinking of those young faces on my team, their complete trust and reliance on me… For this project, everyone had sacrificed so much. They didn’t deserve this outcome. So I couldn’t tell which hurt more—my face or my heart. I could only agree to Caldwell’s terms. “Sorry for disturbing everyone’s day. This was a misunderstanding.” “I admit, my heart did wander outside my marriage for a while.” “But Skyler is a good person.” “She consistently rejected my advances and always maintained proper social boundaries with me.” He was actually willing to use his own reputation to protect Skyler. It was like I didn’t know him anymore. “As for my wife, she grew up in a single-parent household, so she tends to be suspicious. I hope everyone can be understanding.” To sell this lie, Caldwell directly targeted my deepest pain. When my dad died, my mom nearly cried herself blind. He was the one who supported both of us. But now, he was using my pain as a weapon against me. “She’s just been under a lot of work stress lately, so she’s seeing things that aren’t there and overthinking.” Then Caldwell turned to look at me, his complaining voice tinged with indulgent helplessness. “Stop making a scene, Nivea.” “You can’t joke around with people’s reputations like this. When we get home, I’ll make it up to you, okay?” That speech tarnished me and tarnished himself. Only Skyler remained spotless, as if she were the purest white lotus. Finally, Caldwell ran his hand through my hair. The seemingly affectionate gesture carried a heavy threat. I couldn’t help but shrink back, then forced out those words with difficulty. “I’m sorry. I was wrong about you.” Skyler’s emotions had already calmed down. Seeing me like this, she looked reluctant. She started to speak several times but ultimately didn’t have the courage to face the truth. She could only laugh awkwardly and chose to forgive. “It’s okay, I understand how you feel.” And just like that, a perfect victim was born. From now on, no matter how I tried to bring this up again, with Caldwell’s narrative set today, Skyler would forever remain unassailable. Caldwell had taught me a masterclass in my own field—marketing. I closed my eyes and let the tears flow. In that moment, I felt incredibly grateful that I’d submitted my resignation letter that morning. Mr. Mycenae had wanted to convince me to stay. But I told him that only if I left would Caldwell stop making things difficult for the company. He let out a long sigh. That sigh contained guilt toward me—far more genuine than any guilt Caldwell felt. After all, when the crowd dispersed, the first thing Caldwell did was take Skyler home. He did try to placate me, saying the slap wasn’t intentional, telling me to go home first and have the housekeeper tend to it. He said that tomorrow when he got back, I could hit him or yell at him all I wanted. Tomorrow was Valentine’s Day. He didn’t know yet that there would be no tomorrow.

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In a Dare Challenge video, I saw a conversation between my best friend, Kewell, and her boyfriend, Paul. Kewell asked Paul, “Dare you tell Joel we slept together?” Paul said, “No way.” Kewell replied, “Coward. Honestly, I wouldn’t dare either. Joel is my best friend, always has been. She’s more important than you.” The comments section was filled with people trashing them, sticking up for me. But they didn’t know that I was the one who owed Kewell and Paul. Paul had gone to jail for me, stabbing someone, and his dream of becoming a police officer was shattered forever. Kewell had been assaulted because of me, losing hearing in one ear, and she woke up screaming from nightmares every night. I clutched the late-stage cancer report in my hand, then smiled, a wave of acceptance washing over me, and called Kewell: “Can you come with me to try on wedding dresses?” I had nothing else to give them, only a wedding. Of course, I wouldn’t be the bride. She would. Kewell arrived while I was trying on wedding dresses. A satin mermaid gown, adorned with pearls – Kewell’s preferred elegant and sophisticated style. She looked confused. “But don’t you like elaborate, long-train gowns?” “I thought I’d change my style,” I said with a soft smile. She didn’t notice how pale my face was; her eyes were fixed on the dress, sparkling. Before that incident, she often used to dream with me about her future wedding. She said she wanted to walk down the aisle in a satin mermaid gown, with the venue covered in champagne-colored roses… Kewell, I remembered it all. I took her slightly cold hand. “Could you try it on for me, please?” Kewell flinched as if my hand’s warmth had burned her. “No, that won’t do. A wedding dress is so sacred, I…” “But I’m a little tired! Just help me out.” I whined and nuzzled into her neck. Kewell finally nodded. She always had a soft spot for me. Without a second thought, she changed into the gown. In front of the huge full-length mirror, her eyes sparkled like a little girl who’d found a treasure. But then, Kewell’s eyes welled up. She turned her back to wipe away her tears, choking back a sob. “Are you going to marry Paul in this?” I nodded. “Yes.” Her voice trembled. “Then, congratulations, Joel.” I lowered my head, silent. Suddenly, a furious shout broke the quiet. “What are you doing?!” I turned to see Paul. I was about to speak. Paul grabbed my wrist without a word and dragged me towards the changing room. He wasn’t careful with his strength, gripping my wrist so hard it felt like he was trying to crush my bones. His strides were long, and I gasped, struggling to keep up. He was blinded by rage, not noticing his force as he violently slammed me against the changing room wall. My whole body shook with pain, and tears streamed down my face, an unwelcome betrayal. “Joel, do you even have a heart?! You asked Kewell to try on a wedding dress for you, knowing full well she can never get married because of you!” My lips were pale, and I struggled to open my mouth to explain. Paul’s bloodshot eyes shot me a venomous look. “How could you be so heartless, twisting the knife in her wound?” No, that wasn’t it. I wanted to explain, but I didn’t know what to say. Should I tell him I saw Kewell’s account and knew they’d slept together? Should I tell him I didn’t want to hurt her, that I was giving her the wedding and him? Should I tell him I was dying soon? But all those words choked in my throat, impossible to say. Paul coldly dropped a single sentence. “You’ve disappointed me greatly.”

He turned and left with Kewell to change. The sales assistant looked at me awkwardly. She asked, “That wedding dress…” Recalling the fleeting sparkle in Kewell’s eyes, I pulled out my card. “I’ll take it.” This was their first wedding gift from me. Soon, I arranged the second gift. I submitted a new wedding plan to the wedding planning company. They looked troubled. “The new plan is completely different from the previous one, Ms. Schmidt.” I felt a pang of guilt, remembering how they’d worked sleepless nights on the first plan. “Can I pay extra?” After I offered a generous amount, they promised to deliver a flawless champagne rose-themed wedding in a month. I smiled faintly and told them, “The bride’s name needs to be changed as well.” The assistant, who had been smiling moments before, gaped at me. “I’m dying soon. I want the two most important people in my life to take care of each other.” There was no malice in my eyes, only a pure innocence that made the assistant think I was joking. “It’s late-stage cancer, no cure. Please don’t tell them.” I spoke each word clearly, and the assistant stammered, “O-okay…” Stepping out of the store, I slowly exhaled. But a wave of nausea hit me, and I doubled over, dry heaving until I vomited blood. I fumbled in my bag for my medication, only to realize I’d accidentally left the special pills, disguised as regular stomach medicine, in Paul’s car. Frantically, I pulled out my phone and called Paul. “Paul, my stomach hurts, and my pills are in your car. Could you…” In the past, Paul would panic if I so much as scraped my finger, running a mile to get me iodine and bandages. But today, he was unusually silent. “Are you doing this on purpose?” Cold sweat broke out on my forehead from the pain. “W-what…?” I almost wondered if I was in so much pain I was hallucinating. “Did you also see Kewell’s Ins post? You know she’s drunk at a bar right now and it’s dangerous, yet you’re using these petty tricks to get my attention and stop me from going to get her.” “I’m not.” The pain made my vision swim, and my heart felt like it was being pounded by a blunt object. A thick cloud of injustice crept into my heart, and my nose began to sting. “Enough. You’re getting so selfish. Kewell already sacrificed so much for you once.” “She can’t be hurt again. Buy your own medicine.” I nodded, wanting to say ‘okay,’ but realized the call had already been disconnected. I gazed at the empty street, forcing myself to stay upright, though my body felt like it would collapse, and headed back to the hospital for more medication. It hurt so much! I hated pain. I had booked euthanasia abroad, just three days before the wedding. After taking my medicine, I started writing my will at home. As I wrote, my eyelids started to droop. I slumped on the desk, my mind hazy, and dreamt of the past. Kewell, Paul, and I were eighteen, the inseparable trio, the ‘It’ crowd of our city. But everything changed the day I accepted Paul’s confession and went home. My adoptive uncle, Richard, had been drugged. His eyes were bloodshot as he looked at me and the roses in my hand, asking, “Joel, don’t you love me?” I had only ever seen him as an elder, never harboring any other thoughts. He crept closer, knocking the phone out of my hand before I could call for help. He cornered me against the window, and I screamed for help to Kewell and Paul, who hadn’t gone far. They burst in, seeing Richard pinning me to the floor, and Paul’s eyes turned red.

He grabbed a fruit knife from the table and plunged it into Richard’s back. Kewell, fearing what might happen, held Richard in a death grip as he tried to chase us. Gripping his waist tightly, she didn’t hesitate. “Joel, take Paul and go! Something bad will happen!” I struggled to drag Paul away, who looked ready to go back and finish him off. I thought that if I separated Paul from the scene while he was in a fit of rage, nothing else would happen. I thought the tragedy had stopped there, but I was wrong. It was only just beginning. My uncle, Richard, whom I had respected and loved since childhood, my usually refined uncle, had assaulted Kewell under the influence of drugs. When we returned to the villa with the police, I saw a memory I would forever wish to forget. Kewell lay pale on the wooden floor. Her clothes were in tatters, blood gushing from one ear — Richard had slapped her — and her face was marred with bite marks. She was rushed to the hospital. But assault wasn’t flirting; her injuries were so severe that she would never be able to have children. Upon learning the news, Kewell’s mother lunged at me and slapped me hard. “Why was it Kewell who got hurt, not you?!” “It’s all your fault, you’re a walking disaster.” A tidal wave of guilt swallowed me whole, and in a daze, I walked to the hospital’s rooftop. I told myself I needed to atone to Kewell. But Kewell pulled me back from the edge, crying, “What about Paul and me if you die?!” “Please don’t die.” I smiled and nodded, but secretly hid a fruit knife in my sleeve. It was all for me; I wanted Richard to pay for what he did to Kewell. I pushed open the villa door, and an eerie silence hung in the air. Richard was dead. He’d slit his wrists in the bathtub. He’d left a suicide note and a letter of apology and understanding. My eighteenth year, my youth, ended so abruptly. When I woke up from the nightmare, I realized Paul hadn’t come home all night. I opened Ins, and Kewell’s private account popped up on my feed again. This time, the video showed two hands intertwined on a bed, with the wedding bed I’d personally picked out as the background. The caption read: “Sorry, Joel, this is our last indulgence.” I smiled helplessly. Kewell was so foolish. That wedding house was their third wedding gift from me. Why the rush? But then, the pain of the double betrayal by my best friend and the man I loved surged through my heart. I rushed into the bathroom and dry heaved over the sink. I looked up and realized tears were streaming down my face. When the pain reached its peak, I started hallucinating. In the mirror, it was a vibrant, youthful Kewell, looking up with her innocent face, asking me: “I want a satin mermaid gown, a wedding covered in champagne roses… Do you remember all of it?” I smiled faintly, nodding at the empty air. “I remember, I remember it all, Kewell.” Happy wedding, Kewell and Paul. The sound of a key turning in the lock came from the door. I haphazardly wiped away my tears and walked out. Paul walked in, supporting Kewell with one hand and holding my pill bottle in the other. Their eyes met my swollen, red eyes, and for a fleeting moment, they showed shock and concern. Then, Paul frowned deeply. “How long are you going to keep making a fuss? Shouldn’t I go get Kewell, considering her state?” He threw the pill bottle at my feet. “Stop playing the victim for attention, okay? Haven’t we sacrificed enough for you?” I bent down to pick up the pill bottle, saying calmly, “Okay, thank you.” Perhaps I was too calm, Paul looked bewildered for a moment.

Kewell turned and pushed Paul’s supporting hand away. She limped over and spread her arms in front of me: “What’s wrong with you, Paul? Why are you yelling at Joel?!” I saw her slightly trembling arms and that one ear that could no longer hear. I suddenly remembered countless times in the past when she had stood in front of me like that. When a dog chased me in elementary school, Kewell spread her arms to shield me. In middle school, when the school bully forced me to be her girlfriend, Kewell stood in front of me. And during the incident with Richard, it was her who stood in front of me. My nose suddenly stung, and I tried to suppress the injustice I felt. “I’m sorry, I won’t make a fuss anymore.” Hearing my words, Paul’s body trembled. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something. But I pulled Kewell and turned upstairs, playfully toying with her hand. I began preparing their fourth wedding gift. I asked casually, as if it didn’t matter, “Is your ring finger still size twelve?” “Mm-hmm,” Kewell replied distractedly. Then she smiled and asked, “Are you getting me a gift?” “Yes, and you’ll love it.” “How do you know what I want?” I looked at her gently. “Then tell me, what do you want?” Kewell gently flicked my nose. “I want you to be healthy and live a long, happy life.” I smiled and said, “Okay.” But deep down, I sighed. I’m sorry, Kewell, that’s one wish I can’t fulfill. I returned my wedding ring and exchanged it for Kewell’s favorite brand. The woman’s ring, a size twelve, felt unusually loose on my hand. It was then I realized that the illness had wasted me away to skin and bones, yet Kewell and Paul hadn’t noticed. In the past, if I lost even a pound, they’d get furious and blame each other for not taking good care of me. Now my cheeks were hollow, my wrists alarmingly thin, and neither of them had noticed. I placed the ring in its original box so they could use it directly on their wedding day. After doing all this, I found I didn’t even have the strength to lift my wrist. I took a deep breath, feeling as if the pain in my stomach would kill me instantly. I forced myself to the garden, wanting to see the white rose bush my mother left me. I’d already left this house to Kewell. I thought that if they lived in the marital home permanently, and if they weren’t too bothered by the morbid thought, I hoped my ashes could be buried under this white rose bush. Like I was returning to my mother’s embrace. But the scene in the rose bush made my eyes burn, the pain making it almost impossible to breathe. The entire white rose garden had been carelessly torn up and trampled. I screamed at the people, “What are you doing?!” The gardener, confused, replied, “Mr. Paul asked us to change them. He said he was getting married soon, and he didn’t like white roses; he wanted champagne-colored ones instead.” My body swayed precariously, and a mix of injustice and a flicker of unexpected hatred crept into my heart. Even if he didn’t love me anymore, he could have told me. Why did he have to destroy the only keepsake my mother left me? I stopped everyone, telling them to restore the rose bush to its original state. My eyes burning, I ran to the study; I needed to talk to Paul clearly. I needed to tell him everything. I was dying soon; he shouldn’t bully me anymore. He and Kewell could be together in peace. I wouldn’t blame them; it was just me paying my debts. I pushed open the study door. He looked up, his eyes bloodshot, clutching several papers tightly in his hands. I looked closer and realized they were my cancer reports. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

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After seven years of marriage, I was finally pregnant. I excitedly told my husband, Damien Cross. His hand froze mid-air, cigarette between his fingers. Then he let out a cold laugh. “Elena Rivers, how many times are you going to play this disgusting trick? Even if you really are pregnant, a vicious woman like you doesn’t deserve to carry my child. Go to the hospital tomorrow and get rid of it.” Three years ago, he was a helpless patient who had lost his sight in a car accident. I dragged him out of a burning building, my voice hoarse from smoke inhalation. Now his sight was restored. He held my “best friend” in his arms while throwing acid on my hands. I wanted to tell him my brother was still in the ICU, fighting for his life. But before I could speak, he threw a document at my feet. It was a Patent Transfer Agreement. The competition piece I had spent two years perfecting would now bear her name. “Sign it,” he said, looking down at me. “Or tomorrow, your brother’s ventilator gets unplugged.” I didn’t want to love this man anymore.

Elena POV I stood alone at the end of the hospital corridor, ultrasound report in hand. Despite the heavy smell of disinfectant, the air felt sweet for once. Eight weeks pregnant. The heartbeat pulsed like a strong, vital seed. I touched my still-flat stomach and couldn’t help smiling. The doctor’s words still echoed in my ears. “Miss Rivers, your body is in poor condition. Long-term exposure to chemical compounds has caused hormonal imbalances. This pregnancy is incredibly precious. You must stay calm and avoid any emotional extremes.” I carefully folded the ultrasound report and tucked it into my coat’s inner pocket, right over my heart. Today was my third wedding anniversary with Damien Cross. I couldn’t wait to tell him this news in person. Maybe for the baby’s sake, he’d be a little nicer to me. Even just a little would be enough. I took a cab to Cross Corporation headquarters. The whole ride, I stared out the window at the passing streets, rehearsing over and over what I’d say when I saw him. When I reached the executive floor, the office door wasn’t fully closed. A thin gap remained. I raised my hand to knock, but froze mid-motion. Through the gap, I saw Lily White. Lily wore a pure white silk dress. She was perched delicately on Damien’s lap. And that man who was always cold and distant with me was now bent over her, carefully applying ointment to her wrist with a medical cotton swab. “Does it hurt?” Damien’s voice was low and husky, so gentle it could melt. We’d been married for three years. Even when he exhausted me in bed, I’d never heard him use that tone. Lily wrapped her arms around Damien’s neck, her voice soft and sweet: “A little. But with you here, it doesn’t hurt so much anymore.” Standing outside the door, I felt my blood run cold. Even my fingertips went numb. I pushed the door open. It made a soft sound. Lily caught sight of me from the corner of her eye. She immediately jumped off Damien’s lap like a startled rabbit and hid behind him. “Damien, Elena’s here… Did she misunderstand something? You should explain. My wrist injury just flared up and I came to get some medicine from you.” Damien looked up. The moment he saw it was me, all the tenderness drained from his face. Only undisguised disgust and coldness remained. “Who gave you permission to come in?” He pulled out a tissue and slowly wiped his hands, as if he’d just touched something dirty. I instinctively hid my hands behind my back and clutched the ultrasound report in my pocket so hard my knuckles turned white. “Today is our wedding anniversary.” “Anniversary?” Damien laughed like I’d told the funniest joke. He picked up a thick document from his desk and threw it at my feet like garbage. Papers scattered across the floor. “Sign it.” I looked down at the top page. In black and white, it read: Patent Transfer and Lifetime Ghostwriting Agreement. “Lily’s olfactory nerves have deteriorated again. The doctor says she might never be able to distinguish complex scent profiles anymore.” Damien lit a cigarette and looked at me through the pale smoke. “Her solo fragrance exhibition is next month. Starting today, every formula you create goes under her name. You’ll be her shadow.”

Elena POV I looked up at him in disbelief. “That’s my entry for the Grasse Master Perfumer Competition. I spent two whole years on it. Countless nights in the lab to create that formula.” “You owe her this.” Damien slammed his hand on the desk and stood up, walking toward me step by step. He grabbed my chin, squeezing so hard I thought my bones would break. “Three years ago, if you hadn’t pushed Lily down the stairs to force me to marry you, would she have lost her sense of smell? She’s a genius perfumer and you destroyed her! Now you’re handing over a few formulas as compensation. That’s nothing!” Tears welled up in my eyes from the pain, but I bit down hard, refusing to let them fall. “I didn’t push her! I’ve explained a thousand, ten thousand times. She lost her footing!” “Shut up!” Damien shoved me away violently. I stumbled backward several steps. My lower back slammed into the hard wooden table. The pain made me gasp. I instinctively covered my stomach. “I don’t have the patience for your lies.” Damien looked down at me like I was worthless trash. “You don’t have to sign. Tomorrow morning, the hospital will disconnect your brother’s ventilator. Go ahead and test me. See if I’m a man of my word.” My whole body went cold. My brother was my only family in this world. My only weakness. Three years ago, a car accident left Jamie in a vegetative state. He was kept alive by expensive imported machines and medications. Damien knew exactly how to control me. Like a venomous snake, he struck precisely at my pressure point. I looked at this man I’d loved for ten years and suddenly felt like I was staring at a stranger. Slowly, I bent down and picked up the papers and pen. My hands shook so badly I could barely hold the pen, but I still signed my name on the last page, stroke by stroke. Each stroke felt like carving into my own heart. Lily hid behind Damien. As she watched me sign, a barely noticeable smirk crossed her lips. I put down the pen and straightened up. I took a deep breath and reached into my pocket, touching the ultrasound report. “Damien, I’m pregnant.” I said it quietly. Damien’s cigarette-holding hand paused for a moment. But quickly, the mockery in his eyes deepened until it was overwhelming. “Pregnant? Elena Rivers, how many times are you going to play this disgusting trick?” He stepped forward, his gaze coldly sweeping over my flat stomach. “Even if you really are pregnant, a vicious woman like you doesn’t deserve to carry my child. Go to the hospital tomorrow and get rid of it.” In that moment, my heart shattered completely into dust. I didn’t argue. I didn’t cry or make a scene. I just looked at Damien one last time, then turned and walked out of the office. Outside, it had started pouring rain. The icy rainwater pelted my body, bone-chillingly cold. I’d barely stepped off the entrance stairs when a sharp, twisting pain tore through my abdomen. My vision went black. My legs gave out and I collapsed into a puddle. The rain instantly soaked through my clothes. Just then, a black Maybach pulled up in front of me. The door opened. Damien’s bodyguard stepped out with an umbrella, looking down at me expressionlessly. “Mrs. Cross, Mr. Cross has instructed that since you’ve signed the agreement, you’re to report immediately to the basement lab. You have three days to complete the new fragrance. Miss White’s launch event can’t wait.” I clutched my stomach, breaking out in a cold sweat from the pain. I couldn’t even form a complete sentence. When the bodyguard saw I wasn’t moving, he stepped forward and dragged me into the car like I was lifeless cargo. The car door slammed shut, blocking out the sound of rain. I curled up in the back seat. I felt something warm slowly trickling down the inside of my thighs.

Elena POV The basement laboratory of the Cross estate never saw daylight. The air reeked of sharp alcohol mixed with various high-concentration synthetic compounds. The bodyguard threw me inside, then locked the heavy metal door from the outside. “Mr. Cross says if you can’t finish the perfume, you don’t need to come out.” The bodyguard’s cold voice came through the door crack. I lay on the ice-cold tile floor, clutching my lower abdomen, gasping for breath. The warmth between my legs continued, but I didn’t dare think about what it meant. I gritted my teeth and used the edge of the lab table to pull myself up, bit by bit. I couldn’t collapse. Jamie’s life was still in Damien’s hands. Even if it killed me, I had to finish this perfume first. For the next three days, I stood at the lab table day and night. To achieve the ultimate olfactory experience, perfumers can’t wear gloves while working. We have to use our fingertips to feel the temperature and texture of the essential oils. High-concentration acidic solvents and volatile chemicals mercilessly corroded my hands. My once slender, fair fingers were now swollen and red. In some places, the skin had started peeling and bleeding. Every time I touched a glass vial, it felt like needles piercing my skin. But I didn’t care about the pain. I just mechanically measured, mixed, shook, and sniffed. The dragging pain in my abdomen grew more intense. I forced myself to keep going with high doses of painkillers. When the medication kicked in, I’d have brief hallucinations. I’d find myself back ten years ago. Back then, Damien had lost his sight in a car accident. His temper was explosive, like a wild animal. He smashed everything in his room. I was the one who stayed by his side every day, using lavender and cedarwood aromatherapy I’d blended myself to slowly calm his rage. I even damaged my vocal cords rescuing him from a fire. For half a year, I couldn’t speak at all. But when he finally removed his bandages and regained his sight, the person standing before him was Lily White. She wore the same clothes as me. She sprayed on perfume I’d created. She effortlessly took credit for everything I’d done. The timer’s beep pulled me back to reality. The last drop of Bulgarian rose essential oil fell into the flask. The liquid turned a mesmerizing pale gold. It was done. I slid to the floor, completely drained. I looked at the bottle of perfume that contained all my heart and blood, and smiled bitterly. A few hours later, the metal door opened. Damien walked in. Without even glancing at me, he grabbed the perfume from the table. “Tonight is Lily’s celebration party.” He tossed out the words. “You’re her assistant. You have to attend.” I didn’t even have the strength to refuse. That evening at eight, the city’s most exclusive hotel. Elegant guests mingled. Champagne flowed. Lily wore a designer gown and priceless jewelry. She looked like a noble princess surrounded by admirers. The captivating scent she wore was the fragrance I’d created with my life’s blood. Camera flashes exploded. Praise filled the air. “Miss White, this perfume is absolutely stunning! You truly are a genius in the perfume world!” Lily leaned sweetly against Damien, her smile radiant. “Thank you, everyone. I really have to thank Damien for all his support.” I stood in the corner wearing a cheap black work suit, invisible. I was even holding Lily’s backup heels for her. My hands were covered in rashes and cuts. Every tiny movement sent sharp pain through them.

Elena POV Halfway through the party, Lily went to the restroom to touch up her makeup. I was required to follow her in. The restroom was empty. No cameras. Lily looked at me in the mirror. Her sweet expression vanished instantly. “Elena Rivers, how does it feel watching someone else dressed to the nines, taking credit for your work while everyone applauds?” She reapplied her lipstick slowly as she spoke. I kept my head down, my voice hoarse. “I already gave you the perfume. What more do you want?” “I don’t want anything.” Lily turned around. She walked toward me in her four-inch heels, staring at my damaged hands. “I just think your hands are an eyesore.” The moment the words left her mouth, Lily pulled a small glass bottle from her purse. It was industrial-strength corrosive acid, normally used to clean stubborn stains from lab equipment. She unscrewed the cap and without hesitation poured the entire bottle onto my right hand.A piercing scream tore through the restroom. The sizzling sound of flesh burning mixed with the searing pain nearly made me pass out. I clutched my right hand and collapsed to the floor, writhing in agony. At that moment, the restroom door was kicked open violently. Damien charged in. The instant the door opened, Lily dropped to the floor, clutching her dress, tears streaming down her face. “Damien! Help me! Elena’s lost her mind. She was jealous I won the award and tried to throw acid on my face. I dodged and it hit her hand instead…” Damien looked at me. His eyes were as cold as ice. He didn’t look at my mangled, bloody hand. Instead, he strode to Lily and carefully helped her up. “Are you hurt anywhere?” “I’m fine. Just my dress got dirty…” Lily sobbed pitifully. Damien turned his head and glared at me. Then he lifted his foot and kicked me hard in the shoulder. “Elena Rivers, you’re absolutely vicious!” The kick sent me sprawling. I landed on my back on the cold tile. I held up my nearly destroyed right hand toward Damien, tears mixing with cold sweat streaming down my face. “It wasn’t me. She did it to herself. Damien, look at my hand. I’m a perfumer!” “Someone like you doesn’t deserve to be called a perfumer.” Damien cut me off. “Security!” Several guards rushed in immediately. “Throw this lunatic out! Don’t let her ruin Lily’s celebration!” The security guards dragged me through the hotel lobby. Outside, snow had started falling. They threw me mercilessly into the snow. The hotel’s heavy revolving glass doors closed, cutting off all the warmth inside. I lay in the knee-deep snow, my right hand numb with pain. But worse than my hand was my stomach. A crushing, twisting agony swept over me like a tidal wave. I struggled to turn over onto my back and stared up at the black sky. Snowflakes landed on my eyelashes and melted into icy water. I felt something warm slowly melting the snow beneath me. Blood spread from under my skirt, blooming across the white snow like crimson flowers. “Baby…” I closed my eyes in despair and lost consciousness completely.

Elena POV When I woke up again, I was staring at a stark white hospital ceiling. The smell of disinfectant filled my nose. I tried to move my fingers. My right hand was wrapped in thick bandages. The slightest movement sent sharp pain through it. But I didn’t care about my hand. Instinctively, I reached with my left hand to touch my stomach. Flat. That feeling of connection, of life growing inside me, was gone. The hospital room door opened. A doctor in a white coat walked in, looking at me with sympathy. “Miss Rivers, you’re awake.” I opened my mouth. My throat was so dry I couldn’t speak. I could only look at the doctor pleadingly. The doctor sighed and shook his head. “I’m sorry. You were brought in too late. We couldn’t save the baby. And…” The doctor hesitated, as if he couldn’t bear to continue. “Because you were frozen in the snow for so long and suffered severe hemorrhaging from the miscarriage, your uterus sustained irreversible damage. You… you may never be able to become a mother again.” Those words hit me like a sledgehammer to the skull. I didn’t cry. I didn’t scream. I didn’t even shed a tear. I just stared at the ceiling. I don’t know how much time passed before the door was violently shoved open again. My father, Robert Rivers, stormed in furiously. He didn’t look at my face. He didn’t ask about my condition. He rushed to the bedside and raised his hand, slapping me hard across the face. The sharp crack echoed in the quiet room. My face whipped to the side. Blood trickled from the corner of my mouth. “You useless piece of trash!” He pointed at my nose and cursed. “Do you know Damien Cross just pulled funding from the downtown project? Rivers Corporation is about to go bankrupt! I raised you all these years so you could strengthen our relationship with the Cross family, not so you could offend him!” I slowly turned my head and looked at this man who was my biological father. “I lost my baby.” I said quietly. “So what if you lost it! It was just a clump of cells!” He waved his hand impatiently. “As long as you’re still Mrs. Cross, you can adopt a child later! Right now, the most important thing is for you to get out of this bed and go kowtow to Lily White and apologize! As long as Lily’s happy, Damien will leave Rivers Corporation alone!” I looked at him and laughed. This was my family. In their eyes, I was never a living, breathing person. Just a bargaining chip to trade for profit. “Get out.” I said coldly. “What did you say?” He stared at me, as if he couldn’t believe his ears. “I said get out!” I don’t know where I found the strength, but I grabbed the water cup beside me and hurled it at his feet. “I’m not part of the Rivers family anymore! Whether you live or die has nothing to do with me!” The sound of shattering glass startled him. He looked at me like I was crazy, cursing as he backed out of the room. “Fine! You’re tough! Don’t ever think about coming back to the Rivers family!” The hospital room fell silent again. My throat felt unbearably dry, like it was on fire. I pulled the IV needle from the back of my hand. A bead of blood welled up at the puncture site. I ignored it. Barefoot, dragging my weakened body, I slowly made my way out of the room toward the water dispenser at the end of the hall. When I reached the corner by the stairwell, I heard familiar footsteps. It was Marcus, Damien’s assistant.

Elena POV I instinctively stopped and hid in the shadows by the wall. “Mr. Cross, we recovered the hotel restroom security footage.” Marcus’s voice was low, but in the empty stairwell it was crystal clear. “Miss White was the one who threw the acid on Mrs. Cross’s hand. Also…” Marcus hesitated, seeming to choose his words carefully. “I rechecked the medical records from three years ago. Miss White’s olfactory nerve atrophy is due to a hereditary genetic defect. It wasn’t caused by falling down the stairs at all. Mrs. Cross… she really was wrongly accused.” I froze in place. Even my breathing stopped. I gripped the corner of the wall so tightly my nails bent backward, but I couldn’t feel the pain. Through the crack in the door, I caught the scent of cigarette smoke. Damien leaned against the stairwell wall, a cigarette between his fingers, the ember glowing and fading. Half his face was hidden in shadow. I couldn’t see his expression. After a long silence, he exhaled a stream of smoke. His voice was cold, mechanical. “So what?” Those words stabbed into my heart like a knife. “But Mrs. Cross’s hands are destroyed. She’ll never be able to create perfumes again. And she just miscarried. The doctor says she can never have children…” There was a hint of sympathy in Marcus’s voice. “She brought it on herself.” Damien threw his cigarette on the ground and crushed it viciously with the toe of his expensive leather shoe. “If she hadn’t used her father’s favor to force me into marriage and ruin all my plans, would she be in this situation today? Lily White is just an excuse.” He looked up, his eyes utterly merciless. “I wanted her to know that forcing someone to give her something that doesn’t belong to her comes with a price. Elena Rivers only deserves to rot in the gutter.” The stairwell door swung open. Damien strode away. Marcus sighed and followed. I leaned against the cold wall and slowly slid to the floor. So that was it. He knew everything. He knew I didn’t push Lily. He knew Lily’s sense of smell wasn’t my fault. He knew Lily staged the whole bathroom scene. He just didn’t care. He simply hated me for marrying him. Ten years of secret love. Three years of marriage. Countless days and nights of humble devotion. I’d even sacrificed a child and my own hands. In his eyes, I’d brought it all on myself. I covered my face. I didn’t make a sound, but tears flooded from between my fingers like a bursting dam. I was a complete and utter joke. I once thought that if I tried hard enough, I could eventually warm his cold heart. But I forgot, you cannot warm a stone. It will only freeze you to death. I don’t know how long I sat on the floor. Then my phone suddenly vibrated in my pocket. I numbly pulled out my phone. The screen displayed “City Central Hospital ICU.” That was the hospital where Jamie was. I frantically pressed the answer button, my fingers trembling. “Miss Rivers, you need to come here immediately. Your brother is in heart failure. He needs emergency bypass surgery right now. But Cross Corporation just froze your brother’s medical account. Without payment for the surgery, we can’t operate.” My mind exploded. “I’m coming right now. Please save him. I swear I will get the money.” I hung up and ran downstairs. I wasn’t even wearing shoes. My feet were cut by broken glass in the hallway, leaving a trail of bloody footprints.

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“You’re Mr. Hart’s granddaughter?” Four years after our breakup, Ethan Pierce stood at the door asking me this, his tone so distant, as if we had never met. Before I could answer, a bright, cheerful voice came through his phone. “Let’s go set off fireworks together after dinner.” Four years ago, that same voice had forced him to choose. He dumped me on the spot and told me our seven years together were just a way to make Vivian jealous. I gripped the gift bag tighter, my knuckles turning white. Mr. Pierce Senior was Grandpa’s old war buddy and also my secret patient. They did not know that the “worthless woman” they mocked relentlessly, the one they abandoned without a second thought, was actually the only surgeon who could save his life. Then Vivian deliberately kicked over the fireworks. The launch tubes aimed straight at me. Ethan rushed past me and threw himself over Vivian, shielding her with his body. Searing pain exploded in my eyes. “Natalie, Vivian passed out. I’m taking her away first. Find somewhere safe and wait for me.” Fine then. I will hide somewhere he will never find me again.

Natalie’s POV With Thanksgiving approaching, Grandpa’s war buddy returned home due to illness. As the secretly hired specialist surgeon, I accompanied Grandpa on a visit. I never expected to see Ethan Pierce answering the door, my ex-boyfriend who had cut contact four years ago. The moment our eyes met, we both froze. Ethan broke the silence first. “You’re Mr. Hart’s granddaughter?” Before I could respond, his phone rang. Vivian Ross’s bright voice came through. “Let’s go set off fireworks in the suburbs after dinner. We’ll pray for Grandpa and wish him a successful surgery.” My hand clenched around the gift bag. Four years ago, that same voice had demanded hysterically: “Choose! Her or me, Ethan? Natalie Hart or Vivian Ross?” Vivian had pointed at me sitting nearby, her laugh cold. “Ethan, I know you got together with Natalie just to provoke me, to make me see my own heart clearly. Well, I see it now. So what about you? If you want me, break up with her. Right now.” My heart seized. I looked instinctively at Ethan in the booth, hoping he’d deny it. If he just explained, I’d believe him. Because I couldn’t believe that seven years together, three years dating, had only been manipulation. But Ethan just looked at me silently, his eyes showing the relief of truth finally exposed. Clearly dissatisfied with his silence, Vivian grabbed her purse from the table and smiled coldly. “You’re hesitating. Fine. Since this decision is so hard for you, I’ll back out. You and her can stay together.” She turned to leave, but Ethan pulled her into his arms, coaxing gently: “You’ve got to give me some time to process, don’t you? If I’d known that one kiss with another girl in front of you would make you see your feelings clearly, why would I have wasted all that time?” In that moment, I dug my nails into my palm, forcing down the burning sensation in my nose. So he thought being with me was wasting time. But I had truly loved Ethan Pierce for seven years. Seven years. I’d offered him my most precious love. At first he ignored it. Later, when he finally accepted it, it was only to use me as a tool to provoke the woman he actually loved, to make Vivian face her own feelings. So what did that make me? A catalyst for their love? I was about to speak when Ethan, still holding Vivian, cut me off. “Let’s break up, Natalie. We’re done.” Seeing his complete indifference, my heart still couldn’t help but ache. I forced down the tightness in my throat and asked: “Why me?” “Because you liked me.” He tilted his head slightly, his smile carrying a careless arrogance. “You chased me for four years straight. You threw yourself at me. I chose to do you a favor. Shouldn’t you be grateful?” He paused, then laughed softly. “At least be grateful I let you into a world you could never have entered on your own.” In that moment, I finally realized he truly had never liked me. And from the very beginning, he’d looked down on me. He chose me only because I was loyal enough and had no connections, so I’d be easy to dispose of. That day, I don’t remember how I fled the club in humiliation. I only remember the mocking, jeering looks from everyone in that private room, drowning me.

Natalie’s POV I stood by the street and pulled out my phone to call a car. My fingers were shaking, but I accidentally opened Instagram instead. Ethan, who almost never posted on Instagram, had posted something two minutes ago. A photo of him and Vivian kissing, surrounded by their friends, filled my screen. The caption read: “I always thought I couldn’t love someone properly. Being with you taught me I was just saving all that love for you. Hello, girlfriend.” The comments were full of congratulations. Even friends who’d recently praised how well Ethan and I matched had changed their tune. “A real princess looks best standing next to you. Congrats on finally being with the woman you love.” The emotions I’d held in all night finally broke. I cried uncontrollably, mourning the waste of my genuine feelings. I thought Ethan’s devoted attention to me over our three years together came from love. I never imagined he was deliberately performing for Vivian to see. I was just a tool in their emotional tug-of-war. Seven whole years of liking him. Even just thinking about him had made my face flush and my heart race. In that moment, all of it turned to ashes. “Ethan, why are you standing in the doorway like that? Let the guests in!” Mrs. Pierce’s voice pulled me back to the present. I looked away and greeted her politely, then walked past Ethan into the house. Over the years, I’d heard many stories about Mr. Pierce Senior from Grandpa, but I never imagined he was Ethan’s grandfather. And Mr. Pierce Senior was also the patient I’d secretly taken on. The atmosphere at dinner was warm. My phone kept buzzing. I glanced down to see a screenful of messages from my daughter. A smile tugged at my lips as I typed a reply. “Baby, Mommy misses you too. I’ll come home as soon as I finish work.” She replied instantly: “Only miss your daughter? Not me?” My smile deepened. I typed “miss you too” and put down my phone. When I looked up, my gaze collided unexpectedly with Ethan’s dark eyes. Just one glance, and I looked away, returning to my meal. The next second, Mrs. Pierce warmly placed a steamed crab on my plate. I looked up to speak, but Ethan across from me suddenly said casually: “She can’t eat that.” The atmosphere went quiet for a moment. Everyone looked at him questioningly. Ethan cleared his throat and explained: “I’ve heard many people are allergic to seafood. Just mentioning it.” Mrs. Pierce turned to me. “Natalie, can you eat it?” I paused for a second, then shook my head calmly. “Actually, I am allergic.” Ethan’s lips curved almost imperceptibly. Mrs. Pierce kindly replaced it with other food. I thanked her politely, ignoring Ethan’s occasional glances. After dinner, the adults started chatting. Seeing me sitting idly, they asked Ethan, who’d just finished a phone call, to take me to set off fireworks. I started to decline, but Ethan had already grabbed his jacket and walked over. “Come along. It’ll be fun. I’ll drive you back after.” His familiar tone made Mrs. Pierce look over. Not wanting to arouse suspicion, I followed him to the car. “You can drop me at the nearest subway station.” I said politely. Ethan acted like he hadn’t heard, driving on his own. I repeated myself. This time Ethan finally glanced at me. “Why so nervous? You don’t actually think I want to get back together with you, do you?”

Natalie’s POV I looked at him calmly and said quietly: “That’s not what I thought. I just need to video call my daughter later. I can’t get back too late.” At that, Ethan laughed carelessly. “You’re lying to remind me you’ve moved on, aren’t you?” He turned to look at me, his smile deepening. “But don’t you think that tactic is a bit childish?” “Don’t worry. Even if you wanted to get back together, I wouldn’t choose you. So you don’t need to go through all this trouble making up excuses to avoid me. I’m only bringing you because Grandpa said the Pierce family doesn’t neglect guests.” With things at this point, I didn’t want to argue further. That would only make me seem petty and unable to let go. I could only text my daughter to tell her to sleep early tonight. After some time, the car stopped in front of a suburban villa. The moment I pushed open the villa door, everyone inside looked up at me, their faces showing surprise. “Natalie Hart.” Someone spoke first, their voice mocking. “Four years ago when your PhD application failed, Ethan wanted to help you out of past sentiment, but you ran off abroad without a word. We all thought you had such backbone. Guess things didn’t work out overseas, so you came crawling back to him?” Laughter erupted throughout the villa. “Sucking up to Ethan beats working odd jobs abroad. After all, his pocket change could feed her for a lifetime.” “Too bad there is no chance now. Ever since Ethan left medicine to take over the family business, Pierce Group’s market value has multiplied who knows how many times. And our Vivian is now the hospital’s star surgeon. They’re a power couple. Stop your wishful thinking. You weren’t good enough before, and you are even less so now.” “Don’t say that.” Vivian spoke up at the right moment. “If it weren’t for Ethan and me, Natalie wouldn’t have left the country in anger. She is struggling so much now. Ethan and I are responsible.” She walked over to me, her tone condescending. “Tell you what, our hospital is hiring janitors. The job market’s tough right now. If you can’t find work, I’ll mention it to the director and get you in. The pay isn’t high, but it’s still six thousand dollars a month. Should help with expenses.” I looked at her calmly and declined. Someone immediately shouted at me: “Natalie, you came back to the country and showed up in front of Ethan again. Aren’t you just trying to get something out of him? Stop pretending! Vivian’s kind enough to offer you a job and you’re being picky? What, too embarrassing and the money’s too slow?” A man holding a wine glass walked over and grabbed my wrist. “Seeing how pathetic you are now, drink one glass and I’ll transfer you a thousand bucks.” “If you want fast money, come to me. I’ll introduce you around…” The group burst into mocking laughter. Vivian stood to the side as always, watching me with haughty disdain. But this time, I didn’t run. I took the glass, about to throw it in the man’s face, when Ethan, standing nearby, suddenly crushed out his cigarette and grabbed the man’s arm hard. “Behave yourself.” His expression was angry, his eyes cold. The man yelped as Ethan’s grip hurt him. Vivian tugged on Ethan’s sleeve, her tone displeased. “What are you doing?” His face stayed cold. “Today, Natalie Hart is a guest of the Pierce family. Anyone who disrespects her is slapping my face. Understand?” He released the man, who didn’t dare challenge Ethan but glared viciously at me.

Natalie’s POV I looked up at Ethan instinctively, surprised he would actually help me. Vivian was grinding her teeth, but she smiled and changed the subject. “You know Chris always jokes around. Why turn on your friend over an outsider? We came to set off fireworks. I’ll go light them.” Ethan nodded, his tone softening. “I’ll help.” “No need.” Vivian deliberately held his arm tighter. “I told you this fireworks show is my gift to you and Grandpa. You just need to enjoy it.” Ethan smiled and reached up to tap her nose. He glanced unconsciously in my direction, but I wasn’t even looking at them. I was looking down at my phone. I looked up at the same moment and saw the row of fireworks in the yard tip over due to Vivian’s “mistake,” the launch tubes aimed directly at where I stood. “Watch out!” Ethan’s face changed. He rushed forward, but as he passed me, he accidentally knocked me to the ground. Before I could react, I saw Ethan shield Vivian tightly under his body. The next second, exploding fireworks splashed into my eyes. Instantly, searing pain exploded deep in my eyeballs. It hurt so much I couldn’t even scream. I tried instinctively to move away, but waves of flames burned my hair and back, searing through my clothes, scorching my skin. Endless darkness and terror overwhelmed me. All I could do was crawl desperately sideways, my fingers searching blindly for an escape route. Just as I reached my breaking point, my fingers suddenly touched someone’s shoe. Like a drowning person grabbing driftwood, I clutched desperately at their pant leg. Even using all my strength to steady myself, my voice shook terribly. “Please, help me…” But before I finished, the person in front of me pulled away without hesitation. A familiar deep voice hit like a hammer, shattering my last shred of hope. “Natalie, Vivian passed out. I’m taking her out of here first. Find somewhere safe and wait for me. I’ll be right back.” I let go, all hope gone. Then, with my burning, bloodshot eyes, I struggled inch by inch toward the edge. The next second, a pair of hands suddenly helped me up. I was trembling all over, about to thank them, when someone shoved me hard. I fell heavily into the pool. Mocking laughter erupted by the poolside. “Natalie, a drowned rat should look like a drowned rat. How dare you compete with Vivian for a man? Did you go abroad, find out no man wanted you, and decide to come back crawling to Ethan? Give up that idea. Once Mr. Pierce Senior recovers, they’re getting married. So behave yourself, or we’ll make your life hell.” I struggled in the water despite the pain throughout my body. I tried to speak, but my throat made no sound. Finally, exhausted, my body sank uncontrollably toward the deep end. The suffocating feeling made me lose consciousness completely. When I woke up again, the heavy smell of disinfectant filled my nose. The hospital room was empty and quiet. So quiet I could hear doctors talking in the hallway. “The patient’s cornea is severely ruptured and detached. There’s an extremely high probability of blindness…” The doctor’s words stabbed into my heart like blades. I bolted upright. Pain shot through my entire body. In my agitation, I practically rolled out of bed.

Natalie’s POV The room door burst open. Footsteps approached. Following the sound, I grabbed desperately at someone’s sleeve. “Doctor, my eyes can’t go blind!” My voice shook with utter terror. No one understood better than me what a working pair of eyes meant to a surgeon. They were my foundation. The future I’d earned through more than a decade of youth, countless sleepless nights. I was almost begging, my voice hoarse and broken. “Please, whatever surgery, whatever treatment, as long as it can save my eyes, I will cooperate with anything. I’m a doctor too. I can’t lose my eyes.” A soft voice tinged with mockery suddenly came from the doorway. “Natalie, I know you’re upset about your injury, but even now, can you stop lying to save face?” Vivian, wearing a hospital gown, walked slowly into the room. “You didn’t even get your degree before you ran off abroad in disgrace. Where do you get off calling yourself a doctor? Saying this now just makes you look ridiculous.” Her words hit like a slap across my face. Memories I’d buried with time suddenly became sharp again. Years ago, when Vivian and I competed for the school’s only PhD slot, Vivian took my year-long core thesis, changed the author name, and submitted it for evaluation. I lost the position. Afterward, I reported Vivian for plagiarism. But Ethan provided false testimony for her. The professor knew Ethan and I had been in a relationship. Seeing him not only refuse to favor his girlfriend but actually testify for Vivian, plus given the Pierce family’s influence, the scales naturally tipped. I could only continue appealing to the school. But during my appeal, they leaked compromising photos of me and spread rumors. They reported me to the school for academic misconduct and promiscuous behavior. Under public pressure, the school finally voided my thesis and added a mark to my record. I confronted Vivian angrily, but Ethan stood in front of her, his tone carrying condescending judgment. “Natalie, I already explained this. Vivian accidentally deleted her thesis, so she asked for yours to reference. Stop being so relentless.” “As for whoever spread those rumors about you, I already tracked down their IP address. This whole thing has nothing to do with Vivian from start to finish.” He paused, his tone dismissive. “Your grades are good anyway. If you don’t get it this time, there’ll be other chances. But this opportunity is crucial for Vivian. I can’t let her get written up. I can’t let her face any risk.” He couldn’t let Vivian face any risk. So he used my thesis and trampled my reputation to pave her path. If not for my excellent academic record and résumé, the school would have voided my thesis and I would have faced far worse consequences. At that point, forget continuing my PhD. I might not even have graduated. But Ethan never considered any of this for me. Fortunately, I’d long since stopped expecting anything from him. Fortunately, during those years orbiting around him, I never stopped studying. That’s why I had the chance to be recruited by a top global medical university. Everyone thought I went abroad because I was too ashamed to show my face. They didn’t know I went to study advanced medicine. Later, I earned my place in the medical field through solid credentials and skills. But now, my eyes had gone blind. All my efforts and ambitions vanished in an instant.

Natalie’s POV I smiled silently. Before anyone could speak, I raised my head, my gaze locked on Vivian’s direction. “Do you know I’m the visiting specialist surgeon your hospital hired? I came back to the country to…” Before I finished, Vivian suddenly clutched her chest and laughed. “I don’t know where you heard that our hospital secretly hired a specialist surgeon for a large sum, but do you know who they are?” She looked me up and down, contempt practically spilling from her expression. “The internationally renowned doctor we invited is a legend in global cardiac surgery. She earned a lifetime achievement nomination in international medicine at a young age. Top hospitals around the world line up for her to operate. Even the country’s best medical teams rely on her expertise.” She looked down at me with my bandaged eyes and disheveled appearance, her tone dripping with mockery. “Natalie, you think you can impersonate someone like that? Your eyes are blind, fine, but has your brain gone blind too? Are you making up these ridiculous lies?” The medical staff nearby couldn’t help but laugh quietly. Vivian smiled and raised her voice deliberately. “Dr. Wilson, could fireworks possibly damage someone’s brain? Maybe you should examine her head carefully. We were classmates once. Since she’s a patient at our hospital, we should take care of her. Early detection, early treatment, right?” This time the young nurse laughed out loud, clearly thinking I’d lost my mind. I ignored their mockery and turned my head slightly, my voice cold. “Vivian, whether I’m her or not doesn’t matter.” “What matters is that you injured my eyes. As the victim, I have the right to hold you legally responsible.” Vivian’s expression changed, but she quickly laughed, unfazed. “It was just an accident. Why are you making such a big deal out of it? Just because your eyes are damaged, you’re going to pin this on me?” “There are security cameras at the scene.” I wasn’t affected by her arrogant attitude at all. “Whether your actions will be judged as intentional isn’t up to you or me.” “Also, all medical risks, economic losses, and damage to the hospital’s reputation caused by the patient not being able to have surgery on schedule due to my blindness, you should bear full responsibility for all of it.” My words were clear and logical, hitting every weak point. But the next second, she laughed. “Natalie, you’re really committed to this act, aren’t you?” Before she finished, I’d already fumbled for my phone on the bedside table and dialed the police. The mocking smile vanished from Vivian’s face, replaced by a flash of panic. She turned to look at Ethan, her expression turning pitiful. “Ethan, does she know I’m at a critical point in my promotion? Is she using this to get revenge on me?” Ethan stepped forward and snatched the phone from my hand roughly. “Natalie, that’s enough. This was just an accident. What exactly do you want?” He looked down at me. His tone was cold and impatient. “Vivian is about to get promoted. Whether or not the police determine this was intentional, the publicity would damage her reputation. Your eyes are already damaged. Calling the police won’t fix them. Why do you have to be so aggressive?” My hand froze mid-air for a moment, then reached for the phone. “Ethan, give me back my phone. You have no right to make that decision for me.”

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